in search of truth to numerous miracles wrought in attestation Christianity, to a host of martyrs who have sealed their testimon with their blood, to the fulfilment of numerous prophecies, as many proofs of its divine origin, and to the simple fact, that it ha spread, and is spreading, by means not human :-all which, to reflecting mind at least, must be quite as convincing as to see mira cles wrought. The truth is, that as the work of conversion is the peculiar work of God, now, as then, the same divine power must be exerted to give success to the preaching of the Gospel. Neither speaking with tongues, nor working miracles before their eyes, converted men; and perhaps the active zeal, pure love, and holy lives of the Apostles carried conviction to the heart of their hearers, as much as their miraculous gifts. These were all means, in the hand of God, for extending the boundaries of the Church; and for aught that appears, the same means, or any others equally calculated to give all the glory to God, might be attended with as happy results. Indeed, we have reason to think, that without the gift of miracles being renewed to the Church, there will yet be a far more glorious and extensive triumph of the Gospel, than took place in the primitive ages. We are not left to ask doubtingly, how can this be, for we have the sure word of prophecy, that it shall be; and “ hath God said it, and shall he not do it ? hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" "I have sworn by myself," saith God, "that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." "It is not for us to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power;" and in every inquiry into the reasons why the spread of Christianity is not more rapid, we are to refer all ultimately to the sovereign will of God. Bearing this in mind, and premising also, that with regard to particular instances of greater comparative success, or want of success, we are not competent to discover fully the causes of this difference, but can say only that He sendeth rain on one city, and not on another, we may humbly endeavour to answer the inquiry, Why the efforts now made to propagate Christianity produce no more fruit.

I. The first reason which I would venture to mention is, the small number of missionaries, and the feebleness with which they are supported. It may be thought, on comparing the number of missionaries now in the field, with that in the early ages of the Christian Church, that there can be no reason for attributing any want of comparative success to want of numbers. It may seem, on looking over the list, that "great is the company of the preachers." It is true, that it is greater than was probably the whole number of the disciples at the time of Christ's ascension. We are told that he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, and this is the greatest number mentioned. There are more missionaries than this now in the field. But in estimating their efficiency in extending Chris

tianity among the heathen, we must count those only who are actually labouring among the heathen. In doing this, we must make large deductions for invalids, much allowance for such as do not learn the native languages, so as to be effective labourers, and still more for those who, from peculiar circumstances, are engaged in work not strictly missionary. In most missionary fields, such is the insalubrity of the climate, that no small proportion of those who enter it are soon broken down, or disabled for their work. Some cannot, or do not learn the native languages; and if they labour at all with the natives, do it under such disadvantages that they are usually soon weary, and retire from the field. A greater class than either of these, though on the missionary list, are almost wholly employed in schools, in superintending translations or publications, in the management of temporal concerns, or in preaching as stated pastors over churches, and to Christian congregations. It is not necessary to say that these are all usefully employed, that they are doing as much good as though they were devoted more exclusively to the heathen, or that their employment is, in many cases, auxiliary to the missionary work. All this may be granted; but as they are not exclusively engaged in making known the Gospel to the heathen, they are not to be reckoned as so many full labourers in the missionary field*. When then all these deductions are made, we shall find in the ranks, instead of 600 effective missionaries, less probably than half that number. There are in India at eighty stations, extending from Bombay to Bankok, and from Ceylon to Delhi, at the present time not far from 130 missionaries, besides a number of assistants and native labourers. But we should err in thinking that the 200 millions, who may be supposed to inhabit the extensive and immensely populous regions around these stations, are enjoying the active and direct labours of these 130 missionaries. Were this the case, and were each missionary a Paul, what would they all be among so many? On the most self-denying, energetic, laborious system, there could be by no means a pervading influence excited by 130 missionaries among 200 millions of ignorant, stupid idolators. It is like so many drops of fresh water thrown into the Dead Sea, the Sea of Sodom, in the expectation that its waters will become fresh, whereas even the rains of heaven do not purify it. But when we consider that of these 130, one-fifth, at almost any given period, are

* The classification of our worthy correspondent does not, we think, exhibit his usual discrimination. If to give their whole minds and their whole time to the heathen be any mark of exclusive devotion, then those who are engaged in the education of the natives, or in translating the Scriptures for their use, have a claim among the foremost to the proud title of full labourers: none suffer more, none labour more, and perhaps none are equally successful. Indeed our correspondent's practice was a successful confuta tion of his own remark.—ED.

on the sick list; another fifth are perhaps, through want of abilit or inclination, or family circumstances, not actively employed a declaring to the natives, in their own tongue, the wonderful wors of God; and more than another fifth, in part or wholly, employed in various important labours, either as preparatory or auxiliary 20 missions among the heather, or in strengthening the things that remain and are ready to die among nominal Christians,-how few will be left to go forth into the highways and hedges of idolatry, as did great multitudes of the early Christians. Perhaps we could not have a fairer instance of what is actually done, on any considerable scale, than what this city affords. There are no doubt some fields with a few labourers more separated from European society, where the missionary is not obliged to preach the word first to his own countrymen, and where he directs his efforts immediately to the conversion of Pagans; yet almost every mission of this kind is on a small scale. All the principal places, where there are a number of missionaries, will be found on examination to claim as much missionary labour for the Christian part of the population, as does Calcutta. There are on the list for this city and vicinity, thirteen missionaries with several assistants. Let it be considered how many of these, devoted to native labour, from their knowledge of the language, their health, their zeal, and their actual engagement in preaching the Gospel to the heathen, publicly, and from house to house, are really effective missionaries; and how many, in various ways, are necessarily occupied with other concerns. Let then an estimate be formed by any one who has a knowledge of the subject, and applied to all India, of the amount of real missionary labour performed by 130 missionaries and their assistants, from what is done by thirteen missionaries and their assistants, in Calcutta. Let him extend the calculation through the world, and will he find that there is so much effected by 600 missionaries as to make it a matter of great surprise, that 600,000,000 heathen are not in a fair way of being speedily converted? Will he not rather say, the means are totally inadequate, as respects the number of men employed? This is not all. There is a great deficiency as to the facilities given them for labour. They are often straitened as to funds. If the missionary is himself supported, he has not ample means for making the utmost of every advantage he might gain, by establishment of schools and Christian institutions, the circulation of tracts, and the free distribution of the Holy Scriptures. A missionary, who by a residence of some years has become inured to the climate, while one-half of those who came out with him have fallen victims to it, is allowed to waste his time in doing what another man might do just as well, or to waste his strength in the single-handed efforts of a common soldier, when he is qualified to be the leader of a valiant band of native helpers, were but the means of qualifying and supporting them, put in his power. The progress of Christianity among the

heathen is therefore slow, because the labourers are few, and because they are not efficiently supported*.

II. The second reason which I would mention is, the want of right motives in missionaries, and in the church which sends them forth. We live in what is called the "Age of Benevolence," and there is every reason to believe that both missionaries, and those who support them, are in a good degree actuated by the spirit of the age. Still no doubt improper motives often influence both those who send and those who are sent; and these may prevent the blessing. Much of a worldly spirit often creeps into societies, and there is something like a strife among them which shall be greatest, which shall have the largest income, or employ the most missionaries. To provoke one another to love and good works is well, and even that worldly emulation, which takes place between societies and sects of Christians, is by the Great Head of the church, turned to good account. But when, as it would seem is sometimes the case, to secure the patronage of the great, alliances are entered into with those who have no real love to Christ, and to increase a missionary fund, flattery, and praise, and addresses of thanks are multiplied, so as to stir up the worst sediment of the human heart, can we expect that the stream of benevolence will run strong and clear from such a source? I reverence the opinion of the good and the wise who manage the benevolent societies of the day; I bow to the declaration of Scripture, "the earth helped the woman:" but I cannot think that he who looketh on the heart doth not regard the motives of those who support or direct Christian missions; or that the money given from worldly motives, is equally valuable with that given from love to the Saviour, and to the souls of men. On the contrary, as we are told of some one who caused his wages to be put into a bag with holes, so it may be with monies raised by intentionally addressing the corrupt passions of the natural heart. In the appropriation of these monies also, so

* We do not think this first reason a good one. Paul was single, and without funds; yet in a few weeks he accomplished more than has been done here in many years. The mere number of missionaries is a very small thing in itself, and great only as evidencing the absence of the missionary spirit in the Church. This, and the want of faith, are perhaps the true reasons for our comparative want of success. In the early ages of the Church, every Christian was a missionary. He felt it to be as much a part of his duty to spread the knowledge of Christ, as to read his Bible, or keep holy the Sabbath day. Laws were made, embassies sent, wars waged for this purpose. So well known is this fact, that Gibbon makes it the foundation of his attack on Christianity. The means were not always the best, but the spirit was universal. How different now; when a man thinks he has discharged his whole missionary duty by putting down his name in a subscription book! And well, if he even does so much! The other remarks of our correspondent are excellent. He has probed the wound with a bold, and yet a tender hand; and we are confident, that his paper will be read with interest by all who are friendly to missions.-ED.

cieties may be influenced by a worldly spirit. In the choi of a missionary field, in the individuals to be sent, and in the prep rations made, popular feeling and prejudice may be too much sulted. There may be a worldly policy, instead of that "wisdom which cometh from above." It would be invidious to mention instances where something of this kind has appeared. The attentive observer of missionary transactions may find them; and he will find too that such missions have been either purified or blasted. God will be honoured, and trusted too, in this work; and he crommands us to " cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." The unassuming humble Moravians, going forward in the spirit of their Master, without worldly show or parade, have effected more, with very limited means, than some societies with tens of thousands a year, and under the patronage of many great names.

The motives which govern missionaries themselves, however, are still more important in the account. If they engage in the sacred cause of missions, from ambition, love of novelty, or the influence of any motives except love to God and men, there is a sufficient reason at hand, why missions do not prosper. God will be sanctified in all them that approach him. But worldly motives creep into the hearts of the best men. The missionary, who leaves his native country full of love, and zeal, and humility, on finding his situation among the heathen more easy perhaps than he anticipatedon being flattered by public notice of his labours-on seeing his name connected with some important mission, may insensibly find himself acting too much from worldly excitement, too much under the impression that what he does will be told of, and too little in the humble retiring spirit of his Master. He may, almost without knowing it, begin to do many things to be seen of men. Here is a danger common to all missionaries, and into which too many fall. In various other ways the better motives of a missionary may depreciate. By the debilitating influence of a deleterious climate, by the perverseness and unmingled depravity of the heathen with whom he comes in contact, he may lose much of his zeal and love. Sometimes a mere regard to character may keep him at his work, instead of deserting his post and returning home. By his peculiar situation, he may be liable to the influence of sectarian prejudice, and forgetting that, in becoming a missionary to the heathen, he entered upon the broad platform of Catholic Christianity, he may begin to feel a proselyting spirit, and perhaps unnecessarily turn away from the heathen, to extend the influence of his peculiar creed over nominal Christians. But as it would be endless to shew what improper motives may find a place in the heart of a missionary, so it is unnecessary to prove, that with such motives he cannot expect the blessing of God on his labours. 3. Injudicious management of missions may be given as a reason why they are attended with so little success. The mis