Such was the state of the world, and such the moral tendencies of things; it was impossible to arrest her in this downward career. Apostolic zeal could not do it. All the holy fire of the primitive Christians, burning with the love of souls and the hope of heaven, could not do it. The blood of martyrs, which flowed for ages and for centuries, could not do it. Never has there been so much Christian virtue, or so vigorous, in the bosoms of God's people, as in the ages immediately succeeding the apostles. But with all this purifying leaven, the world perpetually gained upon the church.

It was not till the revival of learning, that religion revived. The contemporaneous prosperity of these two prime interests of man, is sufficient proof of their reciprocal and happy influence. And by learning, in the present instance, I would not be understood to mean the mere knowledge of letters and the abstract sciences. I embrace everything in this term, which has enlarged the boundaries of useful knowledge, given impulse to intellect, increased the facilities of intellectual intercourse, and given man just ideas of civil liberty. New inventions, and improvements in the useful arts, are comprehended in this range ;-especially the art of printing, which has been, and still is, multiplying the moral power of man, in a ratio, which no arithmetic can calculate.

From the period of the Reformation under Luther and his coadjutors, improvements in the state of society and of the world have been rapidly advancing. Nor did this great and sudden change take place, independent of a long train of anteceding causes. From the deepest decline of learning and religion, God was long time preparing the way for these important and interesting developements of truth. Ages before the Reformation, symptoms of better things began to show themselves. To specify these indications would require a particular analysis of the political history of the church of Rome, and of Europe, for the time being. Suffice it to say, that in the Reformation, we discover a maturity in the arrangements of Providence, for the opening of a new era in the history of our world. The time had now come, when the human mind, rising from its long oppressed and enslaved condition, began to think and act for itself. Hitherto all similar efforts were crushed. Now they began to create a public opinion, and public opinion to assume an importance, until it was seen and felt to be a power too formidable to be laid again under the foot of despotism. From that hour, when Luther lifted up his voice, and dared to repel the aggressions of Rome, began the march of intellectual and moral freedom. From that day, the rights of man and of conscience have been more and more appreciated. And just in proportion as the principles of the Reformation have been diffused and taken root, have the facilities of success in Christian enterprise been increased; and the state of the world has been gradually ripening for evangelical labors, till it seems to present almost one unbro

ken field, white and ready for the harvest. As in the ages of religious decline, nothing could resist the moral tendencies to deteriorate, so in these ages of reformation, nothing generous and noble can be attempted in the cause of Christ, but its efficacious influences are multiplied beyond calculation.

The peculiar favorableness of the present age for the success of Christian enterprise is sufficiently illustrated in the history of Christianity for the last thirty or forty years-especially when that history is viewed in connexion with the probable results of the numerous benevolent enterprises, now in the incipient or more advanced stages of their career.

Look at the history and success of Christian missions within this period. Although the Moravians commenced earlier, and have evinced, as pioneers in modern missions, a high pattern of Christian faith, their happiest operations and best success stand recorded, since, by long experience and providential results, they have learned, that the preaching of the ruins of the fall, in connexion with the cross of Christ, is the first, the principal, and the last duty of the Christian missionary. The Baptist mission to India, in which Pearce and Carey led the way, the former acting at home, and the latter in the field, has achieved great and glorious things in the annals of Christian enterprise. And the amazing influence of their operations, although great and sufficiently encouraging in the past, is yet to be told on the unborn millions of an interesting but debased portion of the human family. They have treasured up a moral power, in exploring the languages, customs, and learning of that eastern world, and making translations of the Bible, which even now, with all it has accomplished, has scarcely begun to operate.

And the emulation which this example has provoked in the established church of Great Britain, has covered the plains of India with another host of devoted and enterprising Christian spirits, whose love of souls and zeal for Christ will not permit them to be outdone by their brethren of other sects. Even the East India Company has been compelled to patronise missions, as they intended for self-defence, but as God has overruled, for the advancement of his cause. Many private Christian enterprises in the east, of great importance to the present and future interests of the church, have grown out of the spirit of the age, such as Buchanan's, and Martyn's, and Morrison's,-who have acted under patronage, indeed, but executed their own schemes.

A history of the achievements of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, unfolds a scroll of Divine providence, the events of which are almost as rapid and brilliant, as the pages of Apocalyptic vision. And yet, it may safely be predicted, that this religious enginery has little more than begun to operate upon the world. Justly meriting public confidence, by the purity and simplicity of its organization, by the singleness of its object,

by the openness of all its operations, and by the well earned reputation of its leading patrons and official agents, it cannot fail to secure the prayers, the religious sympathies, and, as we doubt not, the prompt support of all good men. Who would not covet to be the millennial historian of this single instrument of God's providence and grace?If its beginnings are so magnificent, in this age, when every success in Christian enterprise is only an incipient stage of some grand result, what will be the consummation of its history?

Look also at the history of Bible and Tract societies, of Home Missionary and Sunday school operations, of what is now doing for the Christian education of children and youth,-in a word, of all the benevolent enterprises of the age. These numerous and grand institutions, organized with the Christian spirit, moving onward in harmony, rising in importance, managed by system and by the rules of God's word, augmenting in energies as they advance, combining so much talent and influence, and with the promised blessing of Almighty God upon them,—were I a prophet, methinks my voice would be,-notwithstanding all the opposition perpetually starting up from men of worldly wisdom, of selfish interest, and of infidel passion-methinks my voice would be,-These shall usher in-not bring slowly-but usher in, the universal reign of the Messiah.

The uniform success of Christian enterprise, in modern times, of whatever form, or for whatever specific object, so long as the objects have corresponded with the grand purposes of Christianity, is demonstration of the favorable character and circumstances of the times. There is doubtless a something in the providence of God, or rather there are many things, a combination of circumstances, a shape and contexture of society, a determination of the moral currents, as physicians say of the blood-all which, combined with other conspiring influences, seem to give a warrant of success to all well directed and persevering religious effort. And this seems to be a fixed character of human society—a character that has been forming for ages past, and is even now maturing for higher perfection in this particular, so that still greater facilities for Christian enterprise, I doubt not, are before the church. This, I apprehend, is not a fever, as some have been disposed to name it, a transient and unnatural excitement, which is soon to pass away. It has already been of too long continuance to justify such a denomination. And not only so, but every year, every month, and every day, have given additional impulse to the feeling, multiplied its ramifications, spread out and deepened its channels, so that a man can now hardly walk the face of the earth, in Christian or in pagan lands, without crossing its currents, and feeling its influence, as he passes along. And in all this growth, every thing seems to be temperate and healthful, and rather too cool, than too much heated. The most deliberate deductions of intel

lect, and that too of the mightiest spirits of the age, are carried along by the better and holier feelings of the heart.

And this character of the world, so favorable to the objects of Christianity, I regard as the special production of Divine providence, adapted, by infinite intelligence, to the ends designed to be accomplished. The time has now come, when Christians, girded with "the whole armor of the Lord," and conducting themselves with firmness, constancy, and faith, cannot attempt or expect too much, in the cause of their Divine Master. Everything they do, in this manner and with this spirit, individually or collectively, will tell with great effect on the present and future generations.

In view of considerations such as these, the responsibilities of parents, instructers of youth, the ministers of religion, and of all who contribute to form the character of the coming age, are infinitely enhanced-enhanced in proportion to the possibilities of good vested in their hands. Let every Christian parent feel, that in training up his son for God, in praying with and for him, in impressing upon his tender age the heart subduing and transforming motives of Christianity, not unlikely he is forming a character, which, with the zeal of a Brainerd and a Martyn, and by the increased facilities of action and of moral power, shall throw out an influence on the world, as sudden and as overpowering as that of the apostle to the Gentiles. And so let every instructer of youth feel, with regard to every talented pupil committed to his charge. And can the minister of religion, whose especial duty it is to regard such considerations, forget the importance of his influence over the hopeful and aspiring youth of his pastoral charge? Let all, who have influence in educating the rising generation, feel, that characters are now forming under their hands, which are to be the instruments of enlightening and converting the world.

I cannot forbear adverting in this place to the peculiar favorableness of the structure of society, in the United States of America, for the success of religious enterprise. Here, no rank or caste has reared its barriers, impenetrable to every influence that does not proceed from itself, or appear in its own garb. These distinctions, so formidable in other nations, and so impervious to moral influence, will, no doubt, in the providence of God, be ultimately melted away, so far as is necessary to the complete triumphs of Christianity. But it is impossible for those, who have not had opportunity of observation, to appreciate the high and formidable character of these walls of separation between the different orders of society, as they exist in most of the civilized, and in many of the semi-barbarous nations.

Most fortunately and most favorably, in the providence of God, the state of society in the United States has been left on such a level, upon such common ground, that nothing can create distinction and rank, but the ever fluctuating circumstances of wealth and

personal consideration. The highest may not impossibly, and he may soon, be reached by the lowest. Here, then, over such a state of society, which exists nowhere else on the face of the globe in such purity and perfection,-here, may a united and combined Christian enterprise exercise an instantaneous and an all-pervading influence. And we need not be accused of national pride, or of national self-complacency,-(I should be sorry and ashamed to cherish such a feeling in religious thought) when we predict, that the United States are destined, for reasons such as have just been advanced, to outstrip all other nations, and to take lead in the career of Christian philanthropy.

And not only is the state of things in the United States most favorable to the success of combined Christian enterprise, which contemplates the general and more extended objects of Christianity; it is also favorable to individual enterprise of a Christian character. A judicious, well directed, and constantly applied zeal, in the hands of gifted and qualified individuals, may accomplish wonders in the course of a man's life, in behalf of any of the separate objects of Christian benevolence. Let every Christian, therefore, whom the providence of God has made conspicuous and influential, by natural or adventitious endowments, wisely and judiciously select his calling, his specific object of pursuit, in the vineyard of the Lord, and to that let him consecrate all his powers, and bend all his energies. It is, perhaps, one of the greatest mistakes of the age, and in Christian enterprise, that all are to work by the same rule, without any regard to individuality of character. General principles are for all men, but the mode of applying them should be adapted to characters and circumstances. Let every man go forward in his own way, work in his own harness, and fight in his own armor. Let Christians undertake their own individual enterprises, and be directed by their own individuality of character. Let them ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"—and when this question is decided, let them do it. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; differences of administrations, but the same Lord; diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all in all."

It is grateful to remark, that philosophy, which long time allowed herself to be courted by infidelity, has become ashamed of such alliance, and is now associating herself with that science, which holds the same offices in relation to herself, as the eye to the body in the animal economy. Popery has become a disgusting imposition and an insupportable burden to all those parts of Christendom, on which her grasp had fastened. Germany, which holds no unimportant place in the map of the moral world-foremost in biblical science, and foremost in her apostacy from correct religious thinking (strange anomaly, and to be accounted for only as the effect of taking up the study of the Bible merely as a piece of literature,