series of conversational meetings, and missionary libraries are being formed both there and in North Staffordshire. A Society which took its rise from and was at first in connection with the Parent Society, but now acting independently of it, has been formed in Dublin on exactly similar principles, but substituting the Irish Society for the Church Pastoral-Aid, and adding the Hibernian Bible Society. This association has taken the title of "the Young Men's Society for Ireland, in aid of Missions at Home and Abroad," and great hopes are entertained that it will successfully establish itself and extend its operations throughout that country.

Such is the Young Men's Society, and its history affords another illustration of the truth that we ought never to despise the "day of small things." Small at first, like the grain of mustard seed, it has flourished under the divine blessing, and is now growing up into the great tree, extending the shadow of its branches on every side. Its results, even so far as it has gone, have been neither inconsiderable nor unimportant. It has drawn the attention of many to the work of Missions, and made them to take an intelligent interest in their progress-it has provided religious associates for many young men who are isolated from their families, and thus preserved them from the influence of bad example, and many christian friendships have sprung up among its members, who, but for this Society, would most probably never have been drawn together.

There never was a period in the history of the church when its members were more loudly called upon than they are at the present time, to unite their efforts to support it against the cold latitudinarianism of nominal professors on the one hand, and the open attacks of avowed enemies on the other. This Society, therefore, being formed on evangelical principles, and seeking to unite the energies of young men for the spread of evangelical truth, it is hoped that it will attract the sympathy

and support of all those who are animated with the same earnest wish to promote the extension of the Saviour's kingdom, and the Committee earnestly invite all young men to join its ranks, and to unite with them in this great and glorious work, whereby they will become a blessing to themselves, to their country, and to the world at large.

A LECTURE,

BY THE REV. W. CADMAN, M.A.

MY CHRISTIAN BRETHREN,

I FEEL that before making any observations upon the subject selected for this introductory Lecture, you will expect me to explain why the President of this Association does not appear, according to announcement, as Lecturer. I have his authority to say that he is very unwillingly absent, and to express his regret, that in consequence of some misapprehension in the course of the communications that passed between him and the Committee, he had made another engagement before he knew of their arrangements for this evening.

The duty of addressing you devolves, therefore, upon me, by his request. In attempting the discharge of this duty, it is encouraging to remember, that the Spirit of God can work by any instrument, however feeble, and that He invariably gives His blessing to His own truth, without confining it to the individual by whom that truth may be set forth. The promise is to the Word, not to the man. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

It is encouraging to me also, as a minister of Christ, to see so large an assembly brought together for such an object as that for which we are met, and especially to see so many Young Men banding together in the holy warfare in which Missionary Societies are engaged.

With pleasure, then, and with thankfulness to God that He has put it into your hearts to unite in His service, I would endeavour to animate and encourage you, by attempting some illustration of the subject appointed for consideration, namely, "The Duty of the Young Men of England to aid in the Missionary Work."

I have to show, that to aid the missionary work is a duty, and especially the duty of Young Men, and still more especially the duty of the Young Men of England.

But before speaking of the duty of aiding in the missionary work, it is desirable to take a previous step, and shew the necessity of such aid.

I. Now, when we look abroad into the world, we perceive that the eye can rest upon only a few bright spots on its surface, illumined with the light of the glorious Gospel. As respects the remainder, and by far the greater portion, we see only what the Scripture calls "the dark places of the earth;" and knowing something of the depravity of man in his state of alienation from God, we are prepared to expect that they will be found" full of the habitations of cruelty." And such is in fact the case. The universal testimony of those who with the lamp of life have penetrated these dark places, tells Generally speaking, the condition of our heathen fellow-creatures has been found to be, both as respects temporal and spiritual things, truly pitiable. Even under the most favourable circumstances, where civilization and science have in some degree taken the place of barbarism and ignorance, and shed upon the surrounding darkness, such glimmerings of light as they are able to furnish, the religious condition of the people has been found to be still such as must excite christian compassion.

us so.

For, after all, as heathens, they continue vain in their imaginations, their foolish heart is darkened, and whatever religious feelings they possess are called forth in the worship of imagined deities, which enlightened reason itself tells us can be "no gods;" so that even under the most favourable outward circumstances, the minds of our heathen fellowcreatures are enslaved by the superstitions and debased by the cruelties and vices, which idolatry never fails to produce. There are, indeed, some few instances (and they are very few) in which the people sitting in darkness have been found without any immediate professed object of worship; but of them it may be said, that "selfishness," which is the bane and characteristic of fallen human nature, is their god; for they have no concern except for their present wants; they are sunk so low in nature's scale, as to do simply what instinct or

sagacity would seem to prompt, and are thus scarcely distinguishable from the beasts that perish. Now the question arises, why are we different from them? Turning to the only true source of information, the Bible, we are furnished with some important truths bearing upon this point.

We learn, first, that God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." That we, therefore, are placed on a spot of the earth enlightened by the truth of the Gospel, while the lot of others is cast in dark places of the earth; that we have privileges, both as respects our worldly and religious condition, which so many others have not, is God's doing, and ought to be viewed as an evidence of HIS distinguishing favour.

We learn, secondly, that God has purposes of grace as respects others; that the time shall come when the world generally shall be enlightened; the time, namely, when "the Lord shall build up Zion, and when his glory shall appear," for a consequence of this favour to His ancient people shall be, that "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."

We learn, thirdly, that until then, individuals of all nations, tribes, and tongues, shall be brought out from darkness to light, and that those who have been already enlightened, shall be the instruments of bringing them out. What conclusion, then, are we to gather? When we read God's Word, we see what are his purposes of grace, and how they are to be accomplished. When we consider the present condition of the world, we see that his purposes of grace are not yet accomplished. Must we not conclude, therefore, that there is yet work for us to do as God's instruments? And whether our eye rest upon the glory promised in the WORD, or upon the darkness prevailing in the WORLD; whether, on the one hand, upon the assurance that there are those not yet gathered to the Lord, who are to be gathered unto Him, and this, by the instrumentality of the members of His church; or, on the other hand, upon the millions who know not God in India, in China, and in other heathen countries, to say nothing of Mahommedans, Jews, and mere professing Christians, we cannot but see and