undervalue accessions to the church of Christ. They seek to strengthen their position at home; while Satan strengthens his position abroad. Instead of making inroads on his kingdom, they make inroads on one another and the spirit of Christian unity, and love is in danger of being consumed by the fire of sectarian bigotry or of fierce theological controversy. Every denomination has indeed a missionary society, and we all profess to unite in sustaining Bible and Tract operations; but it must be evident to every one who reflects on the subject, that even these Catholic institutions are not supported as they would be, if the unity of the Spirit existed in full operation in the Christian church. The enemies of truth take advantage of this division in the camp of Zion—this alienation of Christian affection. And is it surprising, that the influences of the Spirit of God are withheld from the church. It is here we see the chief injury done to the cause of the heathen. While this alienated state of mind exists among the disciples of Christ, there cannot be that united, and earnest, and wrestling prayer for the coming of the Saviour's kingdom, which it is the duty and privilege of the church to present. And it would be presumption to expect the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church and on the world, when there is an open and extended violation of the Saviour's command, addressed to his disciples of every age. "This is my commandment, that ye love one another." This state of division and alienation did not exist in the primitive age: persecution compressed thembrought them more closely together. They were one; or rather the love of Christ was so influential in their hearts, that they were willing to forget their little differences of opinion, and remember only the great things in which they were agreed. The same love led to united efforts to promote Christ's kingdom. There were no separate interests to consult, no sectarian objects to attain, no political power, no earthly treasures, no civil honors to defend-all their time, talents, energies, piety, could bear at once directly and undividedly on Satan's kingdom. 2. There is too much of the spirit of the world in the Christian church, including all denominations of believers. The line of separation between Christians and the world is less distinct than it should be. The grand design for which a sacred deposit has been placed in the hands of the church for the conversion of the world, has been too much lost sight of. Earthly honors and distinctions are too eagerly desired. There is wealth, and ease, and indulgence. There is too great a tendency to be satisfied with our own privileges, and our feeble exertions, while the destitutions and perishing condition of the heathen fail to awaken or affect us. That high toned piety which breathed in prophets, apostles and martyrs, and which is so essential to a right estimate of the importance of the missionary cause, exists in few minds. If some duly appreciate the value of the soul, they form the exceptions, in the midst of multitudes who seem to see no importance in its salvation. It is next to impossible to rouse Christians in general to a right understanding of their duty. The misery of the heathen does not distress them. Seldom is a tear of pity shed, though they profess to admit that thousands are perishing every day. The present wretchedness of hundreds of millions does not produce intense desires for their salvation; though they know that to them alone can the dying heathen look for help. A little temporary inconvenience-a passing political event, will excite and affect the mass of professing Christians more than the enduring agonies of immortal minds. The condition of the Pagan world seldom comes before their minds; it is hardly ever named to their children; it is not a frequent subject of meditation; it seldom forms the topic of earnest, agonizing prayer with God. The world steals over the heart; it secularizes the affections; its objects conceal the wretchedness of distant fellow men. The claims of fashion, of indulgence, of business, and worldly cares, are heard and attended to, sooner than the claims of perishing millions. This is a grievous difficulty in the way of evangelizing the heathen. 3. There is also the absence of that importunate prayer, of that spirit of intense desire for the salvation of others, and which is so plainly indicated by the expression Zion travailed. We view these difficulties as primary, both in order of time and of magnitude; as in reality greater than any to be overcome in the heathen world. They stand at the very threshhold of Christian enterprize-they rise as mighty bulwarks to heaven-they paralyze the minds of multitudes, and they discourage the exertions of the friends of Zion whose hearts are right—they give a triumph to the enemy-they retard the progress of truth and righteousness, and they postpone indefinitely the conversion of the world to Christ. They dishonor the Saviour, and keep him from his triumphs. The travail of his soul is not seen, either in the zeal, love, purity, or the obedience of his people; nor does he behold it in the accession to his spiritual kingdom of millions of heathen brought into it through the instrumentality of the church. He is not satisfied, for nothing less can satisfy his infinite desires, his divine compassion, than the united efforts of his people, and the conversion of the world. While these difficulties exist, they stop his chariot wheels in the career of conquest. The everlasting gospel is not preached to every creature— the angel does not fly through the midst of heaven proclaiming its joyful message to every kindred, and people, and tongue. With whom does the blame rest? Oh, it is an overwhelming thought that the guilt rests on the professing church of Christ. But a solemn question presents itself, and demands an answer-What have been the consequences of this state of things in the church of Christ? How has it affected the exertions of Christians with reference to the heathen? We would reply, that deep injury has resulted that it has kept down the missionary spirit, and prevented the application of the moral power of the church to the necessities of the world. Bear with me for a few moments while I appeal to facts in confirmation of the correctness of the observations which I have just made. Numerous as have been the efforts of Christians during the last forty years, and presenting as they do a striking contrast to the apathy of former generations; yet they have been few and imperfect compared either with the ability of the church, or the claims of the heathen. Looking at the magnitude of the object, and remembering that eternity is stamped upon it that it involves the happiness of hundreds of millions of human beings for ever; one feels ashamed at the small amount of Christian influence that has been made by the church of Christ. If we look at the amount of money contributed year after year, we find that all the Christians of Britain give less to the missionary cause, than is annually spent by the votaries of pleasure in their pursuit of theatrical amusements in London alone. Again, how humbling and affecting is the thought, that all that has been expended by all the great and noble religious institutions of the whole of Christendom during the last forty years, would not pay for the ardent spirits consumed in one year in Great Britain even. The calculation I have made of the amount collected, since Bible, missionary, and tract societies began their operations, brings the whole up to fifteen millions; while the cost of ardent spirits to the consumer, is every year above twenty millions of pounds. Thus for mere indulgence-for that which is not a necessary of life, but injurious to life; and the cause of unmingled misery and wo to thousands of families-more is spent every year, than all denominations of Christians in the world have expended for forty years in evangelizing the heathen! Alas for Christian zeal and Christian liberality. Could this have been so, had all religious professors, had all real Christians done their duty to God and to their fellow creatures? Impossible! And there is another affecting consideration connected with these remarksthat it is chiefly the poor; those who with difficulty can earn enough to sustain their families, who have spent all this money. Once more, if we look at the number of Bibles |