it not for the existence of faith, we had never attempted or carried on the work, and in which we are compelled to a simple dependance on the divine promise. How fearfully unpromising, at first, the field of Missionary labour! The imagery of Ezekiel's vision here seemed to rise before us in sad reality; a valley of dry bones, very dry; from that valley ascended a noxious atmosphere, tainting every good design, and counteracting every means of purification. To cultivate this unpromising field, men are sent forth of like passions as ourselves; men, too, pretending to no extraordinary eminence, as to rank, or literature, or secular influence; men, too, who, with every human disadvantage, have had to contend with the most appalling difficulties, not the least of which has arisen from the apparent frown of providence, in scattering their hopes, when the fields were already white to harvest.

Such

circumstances as these demand the exercise of a strong and unconquerable faith; reason staggers at the attempt to calculate upon the probable issue, and with impious scorn the man of the world exclaims, "What do these feeble men? even that which they build, if a fox go up, it shall even break down their stone wall." But faith ascending the Mount of Prophecy, can behold mountains levelled, plains exalted, and the whole tract made ready for the triumphant car of the gospel; and while she surveys the scene of opposition, like mountain upon mountain, rising high, and threatening an impassable barrier, she lifts up her exulting voice," Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it."

If, then, faith is necessary to the success of our labours; if without it nothing great or good can be effected; if God will not bless, except when faith is exercised; we see the connexion between the extension of the work without us, and its revival within us; for what is a revival of religion, but a revival of our faith, the soul's firmer grasp of truth, in consequence of clearer views of its nature, and the evidences on which it rests ? an increase of faith, indeed, is only another mode of expressing an increase of religion.

Again, Is prayer necessary to the extension of the work of God, a revival of religion supposes the most fervent spirit of prayer. That prayer must accompany exertion, is acknowledged and felt by every sincere Christian. It is acknowledged and felt even in relation to places and times in which the most efficient instrumentality is employed; after we have done all, alike by public and private means, we must look to Him who alone giveth the increase. On account of the widely diffused means in our own country, and those means not a little important, we are in danger of neglecting prayer, and of supposing that prayer is only necessary for the extension of the work abroad; when we turn our eye to distant lands, and view the darkness, sombre, and unmitigated brooding over that moral chaos, upon which, as yet, there has not darted a ray of light, and upon which there has not operated any system of means, save that supplied by the humble Missionary; it is then that we feel as if nothing but that voice which said, "Let there be light," can dispel the spiritual gloom; and this feeling, perhaps, more than any other, originated those invaluable prayer-meetings which are held on behalf of missionary objects. Prayer, how

ever, is equally needful for diffusing the Gospel at home. To that Gospel the opposition, though of another form, is, perhaps, as strong, or even stronger, in a professedly Christian country than in one wholly given to idolatry; the feeblest ray of light is sufficient to discover the grossness of idolatry, and, at least, to convince the judgment, if the heart be not affected; but it were a hopeless task, if divine grace were not promised, to attempt convincing men who are born in a Christian country, surrounded with Christian instruction, and are presenting a Christian exterior, that they are not Christians indeed; like the Jews of old, they take refuge at the horns of the altar; and though evincing no decided attachment to God and his cause, cry out, with the most self-complacent emotions, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these." Did we rightly estimate the force of opposition arising from this, and other sources, we should more fully see the importance of prayer for home, as well as abroad; and around the different institutions would revolve, in beauteous succession, our meetings for prayer, as they now adorn and strengthen our Missionary Society. Would that there were more of the spirit of prayer; that a portion of that excitement, called forth on other occasions, was summonsed for a holy convocation for prayer. Prayer is that which opens heaven," causes the stream of divine influence to descend. Nothing, nothing can resist its efficacy, for, in fact, it brings to our aid all the perfections of God; and "if God be for us who can be against us." If prayer is necessary to the extension of the work of God, we see the connexion between that extension and the revival of religion; for if there be

one characteristic of a revival more prominent than another, it is to be seen in a fervent spirit of prayer; it is to the solitude of the closet that the truly pious resort; it is there that eminent holiness takes its rise; there that it gathers strength; there that it finds its richest delight; the deeper the tone of religion, the more fervent the spirit of devotion; in vain, indeed, are all professions of revival in religion, unless they begin, continue, and strengthen in prayer.

Again, Is liberal and self-denying exertion necessary to the extension of the work of God, a revival of religion supposes the existing desire to make such exertion. It is our happiness to live in a day of liberal exertion; we call it liberal, in comparison with former times, though we are far from thinking, that it has come up to the claims of the cause. The age of sacrifice has scarcely yet arrived, though we think that we discern its hopeful dawnings in the noble career of the missionary, and next to him, in the generosity of the humble classes of society. Still, however, the great problem, what Christianity can make its professors do and suffer, has yet to be demonstrated-still has the world to learn, that Christians can make sacrifices for the attainment of their object, as splendid as the world's votaries do for theirs. There are, it is well known, sources of influence yet untouched-coffers of gold yet unlocked-ways and means yet undevised, which must be brought out, ere any thing great and good shall be accomplished. The first Missionary Festival, if it may be so denominated, must recur, when "no man said that aught he possessed was his own," but each one brought his all and paid it at the foot of the cross. Holy and elevated men! your

names are engraved on a tablet more durable than brass! Whereever the Gospel is preached shall your liberality be known. May the remembrance of your zeal quicken our languid spirits!

It is not merely self-denial, as it regards pecuniary matters, that we seek to promote, but also, as to talent, rank, influence, the social endearments of life; in short, every thing which we possess. We would say to the man of talent, "deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Christ." Leave for a while the classic ground, in order to help on the cause, by your advocacy and defence of it; let the man of influence deny himself of the minor appearances of respectability for the sake of the common cause, and let us all feel that whatever is dear to us in life ought to be surrendered if duty calls. Oh! if there were a vigorous and simultaneous combination of all in all, what glorious things should we see; this world would again become a Paradise-a fit habitation for the Deity; angels and men would re-associate in the work of praise, and that Jubilee would commence, which would never terminate, and the grand, universal chorus would be heard Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."

Now, if there be a revival of religion, it will lead to this marked and self-denying exertion. Christians will then see so much glory in the system of truth, as to constrain them to do and suffer any thing for its promotion; all subordinate interests will bend to the interest of the cause, and in comparison with its claims, be felt as nothing. Oh! could we view the cause in the light of eternity, and behold the radiance that is thence reflected upon the least advance which it makes: if all the freshness of first impressions were re

N, S. NO. 67.

vived when we viewed the allcommanding importance of religion, what a stimulus would be given to our zeal, a stimulus strong and constant, and inevitably leading to the most splendid results. For this strong and unvarying impulse in vain shall we look to any other source than the revival of religion. By the pressure of external circumstances the moral machinery may proceed occasionally at a rate unusually rapid; but it is only principle of the highest order, that supplies the spring of perpetual motion, of motion as rapid as it is perpetual.

It were easy to pursue this train of remark; to survey every grace of the Christian character, and to show the necessary connexion which exists between the revival of every grace, and the extension of the work of God. Facts, however, are the best vouchers for the truth of our observations. In referring to the annals of the church, when do we find a more extended diffusion given to the truth-has it been when its members were distinguished by worldly importance, immense resources, or a splendid apparatus of means? It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader, that so far from the church then being successful, it was not even active; it was slumbering away its immortal energies, or rather appeared "dead, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." It is true of the church collectively, as of its members individually, when it is weak then is it strong; when it has nothing, it possesses all things." Look at the first missionaries, how weak and foolish did they appear; so despicable did they seem, as to be scarcely worthy of the name of existences at all: "Things which were not," mere abstractions, or nihilities. And yet these things confounded the men who were wise, and noble, and great- but 2 Z

how? Theirs was an ardour that knew no rest, until the wished-for object was attained, an ardour that originated in principle, that was sustained by principle, and was constantly revived by principle. With this one simple element of character implanted by Divine grace, they proved omnipotent; nothing could resist the powers of their spiritual weapons; they went on conquering and to conquer. If from this golden age of the church's history we look to the successive periods which have stood out conspicuous for usefulness, we shall find that these periods are marked by a corresponding degree of holiness: in our own country, when the church awoke from the trance in which she had been long held, and when a revival of religion spread its healthful influence among her inhabitants, then a benignant eye was cast upon the heathen. When the heathen have become enlightened, and have felt all the freshness of first emotions, their zeal for others has been at the same time awakened; the islands of the southern seas are a beautiful illustration of this, presenting, as they do, the aspect of utility combined with piety; the diligence in doing good keeps pace with the fervour of piety; and though costly donations are not to be expected, yet in feeling, in self-denying exertions, and in all the essential features of benevolence, there is no inferiority. Thus, in fact, as well as in theory, it is true, that the extension of the work of God is intimately connected with the revival of religion.

If the preceding observations are correct, it will follow, that in all our religious societies, it is a revival of religion which is especially needed. It is not patronage-it is not respectability—it is not even money, considered apart from the influ

ence of piety. Such things, indeed, may rear a stately edifice, and gild it with every attraction, but there will be no presiding divinity, if religion be not there. The glory is departed so soon as religion departs; the decline of the one is indissolubly connected with the decline of the other. Strongly impressed with these sentiments, we think it must have been peculiarly grateful to the Christians of this metropolis to have commenced their late anniversaries with solemn united prayer. In the days set apart for prayer, there must be an untold measure of good done. Such days carry with them the germ of unprecedented usefulness, at least, of modern usefulness; and, indeed, already the effects are becoming visible in the increased spirituality of churches, and in the accessions which are witnessed to their number. May we go on in this good work and we must prosper; we say, must. Nothing can withstand the importunity of prayer: this one point gained, all is gained-this lost, all is lost. The remarks now made in reference to religious societies, will apply to Christian churches. Let churches know that it is not numbers that are necessary to more extensive usefulness, nor gifts, nor popular appeals; though each of them may be useful, they are not necessary; let piety prevail; let faith and prayer be in more lively exercise, leading the members to more humility, consistency, harmony, and benevolence, and our churches will shine with a brilliancy that no rich endowments or splendid attainments can confer.

Finally, the samere marks will apply to individuals. Let individuals know that it is a revival of religion within them that will most effectually conduce to the extension of the work without them. Individuals often think, if they had the property of one, or the influence of