sion of the General Assembly in each year: that the distant ministers and elders of the church, who attend that judicatory, might be enabled, without any additional inconvenience, to discharge their duty as members or officers of the Society; that the affairs of the institution might be annually inspected, and, as far as proper, controled by the members of the Assembly; and thus a more minute knowledge of its plan and proceedings, and a deeper interest in its affairs, extended to every part of our Church.

Such an Association, in this Address, and in the accompanying Constitution, offers itself to the patronage of the Presbyterian Church. It may perhaps appear to some, in this day of liberal exertion, when partition walls which have hitherto divided Christians are daily falling down, and when different denominations are coming together for exertion in a common cause-in such a day, it may appear to some, as if confining this Society to the Presbyterian Church were scarcely defensible. We wish to cherish no feelings, nor to engage in any plan which may be considered as unfriendly to other portions of the Church of Christ. We rejoice in the growing spirit of harmony and love among the different denominations of Christians. But we are persuaded, that in concerns of this nature, both energy and harmony of action are best secured by each particular church acting for itself. Let as many denominations as approach to agreement in sentiment come together, and mutually co-operate in great missionary plans for spreading the knowledge of our common salvation :-but surely there is no concern in which every church is more clearly called upon to act independently, than in selecting and training her own ministers; and if each church act for herself in this matter, with a proper spirit, such a method of proceeding will be found to produce a generous and useful emulation rather than hostile feelings.

Soine, however, may be at a loss to know in what manner such a society as now solicits your patronage will be likely to increase the number of candidates for the ministry. It cannot, of course, either make young men pious, or impart talents to them. This is readily acknowledged. But still such an association can do much. None who are acquainted with the state of the Church will doubt that there are at this moment in our country, at the plough and in the shop of the mechanic, many valuable young men of ardent piety, and of good natural talents, who would be glad to serve the Church in any way that Providence might point out, but who have no means of their own for obtaining a suitable education for the holy ministry; and who, left to themselves, will never come forward for that purpose. One great business of this Society, and its auxiliary branches, (one, at least, of which it is hoped will be formed in every Presbytery,) will be to search out such pious and promising youth; to inform them of the provision made for their case; to take them by the hand; to overcome their diffidence ; to bring them forward to the view of the churches; and to con

duct them through every stage of their education, until they are prepared for the pulpit.

It is not proposed to collect the young men supported by this Society in any one place, or to require them to pursue their Aca demical or Theological course at any one seminary ;-but to edu cate them wherever it may be most convenient to themselves, most economical, and most agreeable to the several auxiliary societies who may select and support them.

It is possible that some may altogether doubt the propriety of educating ministers on charitable funds, under the impression that it is, on the whole, best that all candidates for the ministry should support themselves. And even some of the youth who might be selected as the objects of this bounty, may feel reluctant to accept of charitable aid.

In reply to all objections of this kind, let it be observed, that very few who are able to support themselves appear to be coming forward to the work of the ministry; that the exertions of this Society will by means diminish the number of such; but that if no others are brought forward, large portions of our country must experience a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord.

But do not all scruples, on the part either of the Church or of young men, on this subject, arise from the want of correct attention to some radical principles? Is not the Church the moral pa rent of all the youth within her bosom? Has she not a right to the services of the best of them? And may it not be asserted, without fear of rashness, that in the present state of the Church and of the world, whenever young men are found, who unite fervent piety with the natural talents adapted to the office, it is the duty of such to seek the gospel ministry; and that it is equally the duty of the Church to single them out; and if they have not the means of com ing forward themselves, to bring them forward, and to endeavour to give them all that preparation, which depends on human means, for the service of the sanctuary? It is as clearly her duty, a duty which she as really owes both to her Divine Head, and to herself, as the ordinary provision which she makes for the support of the word and ordinances. Or rather, it is to be lamented that she has not been always in the habit of considering this as an essential part of her ordinary provision for the maintenance of the means of grace.

If any of the children of the Church need assistance in obtaining an education for the sacred office, from what source can they so properly receive it, as from the Church, their moral parent? Every consideration of nature, reason, and scripture, point to this pa rent as the most suitable provider. Assistance from individuals may be given reluctantly, or may be suddenly and capriciously withdrawn-but the Church, as long as she has the feelings of a mother, can never be either reluctant or weary in providing for her beloved children. The aid received from individuals may excite, in delicate minds, a painful sense of dependence ;-but it

would surely be improper for a child to feel pain in receiving from the hand of parental affection. Nay, may we not confidently assert, that when a pious youth is willing to devote his talents for life to the service of the Church, it is but an act of mere justice in the Church to furnish him with the means of comfortable support while he is preparing to serve her?

Nor is it any solid objection to the system of educating young men for the ministry, on charitable funds, that some of them, after obtaining an education, never enter the ministry, and that some others are by no means distinguished ornaments of the sacred office. It were just as reasonable for parents according to the flesh, to say, that many youth whose parents do much for them, turn out ill: and that, therefore, they will take no pains, and incur no expense, in educating their beloved offspring. No wise parent thinks or speaks thus. He is willing to do all in his power for promoting the welfare of his children, and to labour and incur expense whenever there is a rational prospect of a favourable result; and having done so, to leave the event with infinite wisdom. And the Church ought to be willing to take the same course, and run the same risk with respect to her children.

We shall attempt to obviate only one more objection, which may possibly find a place in the minds of some. It is that the Presbyteries are already doing, and have been doing, for a number of years, all that they can to bring forward and educate young men for the gospel ministry; and, therefore, that such a society as is now proposed is unnecessary. This objection, though specious, has no real solidity. It is notorious to all who attend the General Assembly, and listen to the annual reports of Presbyteries on this subect, that the system now in operation is inefficient and inadequate. A number of the Presbyteries pay little attention to the subject; and none of them are proceeding with that energy in the business which is considered as desirable, and which the wants of the Church require. Besides, some of the Presbyteries have considerable funds, and the means of raising more, but have few or no young men to educate ;-while other Presbyteries have, by far, more young men than funds. The Education Society now formed will be so far from interfering with the exertions already in train, that it will add vigour, and give more extensive and useful effect to them. It will form a great medium of communication betwen the Presbyteries, as so many auxiliary societies, and give system to the exertions of all. It will open a central and convenient treasury for those Presbyteries which have more funds than young men; and it will furnish resources for those which have more young men than means of educating them.

Such, dear brethren, are our views on the subject. We are persuaded that the subject now brought before the Church to which we belong, is one of most deep and vital importance. We entreat your serious and prayerful attention to it. It is manifest that the Society which solicits your aid cannot be expected to produce its

due and desirable results, without the general and zealous co-operation of our Presbyteries and Churches. But with such co-operation, there is every prospect, under the Divine blessing, of rendering a service to our Church, and to the cause of the Redeemer generally, beyond the reach of human calculation.

We venture, therefore, to express a most respectful but earnest hope, that our Reverend Presbyteries will, as soon as convenient, either in their Presbyterial capacity, or by committees, form themselves into Societies, auxiliary to this great object; that individual congregations, whose local circumstances admit of it, will do the same; and that all classes of persons, who wish well to the cause of Zion, will come forward; and, with their substance, as well as their prayers, endeavour to do their part toward furnishing the churches with the messengers and the Word of Life.

PIOUS PARENTS! will you not take a deep interest in this immensely important concern? Will you not be willing to contribute your mite toward the education of your own sons, or the sons of others, whose hearts the Lord has touched, that they may be prepared to serve the Church in the ministry of reconciliation? There is a day coming, when, to have contributed efficiently to the preparation of one able and faithful gospel minister for the sanctuary, will appear more important, and will afford greater pleasure in reflection, than the greatest mere temporal benefaction that can possibly be bestowed on mankind. Temporal benefits perish in the using:-but the labours of one faithful minister of the gospel may be the means of extending blessings to nations the most remote, and posterity the most distant, as well as through eternal ages.

PIOUS YOUNG MEN! we call upon you to ponder this subject deeply in your hearts. To you, under God, we look for ministers of that Church which the Redeemer hath purchased with his own blood. We entreat you to come forward, and to consecrate yourselves to the service of that Church. Can you make choice of any other profession so desirable, so noble, so God-like, as the ministry of reconciliation? If not, then pray for the prosperity of this Society; endeavour to excite the zeal and liberality of others for its support; and crown all by devoting yourself to the holy cause which it is formed to promote.

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN OF EVERY CHARACTER AND AGE! the errand on which we come to you in this address is no common one! We have all too long neglected our duty to the Church of God. Let us, then, humbled by the past, and animated by the prospects of the future, rouse from our lethargy, and begin to act in earnest. Our Master requires it of us. The calls of destitute Churches, who can find none to break to them the bread of life, require it of us. The cries of frontier settlements, who look and entreat in vain for missionaries, require it of us. The miseries of the poor heathen, who are perishing by millions for lack of knowledge, require it of us. Yes, brethren, if you love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, if you love the Church to which you belong,

if you wish to prevent a famine of the Word of Life from desolating our land-come forward to the help of the Lord against the mighty. By order of the Managers,

E. S. ELY, Corresponding Secretary.

ROBERT RALSTON, President.

MONTHLY EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY,

For November, 1818.

From the Rev. Professor Van Ess.

Marburg, June 16, 1818.

The resolution of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society has made me happy beyond the power of expression. Now I shall be able to carry on the great work of God, to which his unmerited grace has called me, a weak instrument, with means more commensurate with its vast extent, and to enlarge the sphere of my operations.

I see, already, in spirit, mountains depart, hills remove, and a high-way preparing for the increase of the word of God, both far and near; for He who has helped us will continue to bless his word and his work. Obstacles, which, like gigantic mountains, appal our eyes, are by him wafted out of sight, as a feather is breathed away, and as an atom vanishes before the wind.

From June, 1816, to June, 1818, there have been distributed by me, 101,195 copies of my New-Testament; and if the edition with large print had been ready a year sooner, 50,000 copies more would have been issued.*

It is my earnest request to the British and Foreign Bible Society, that they would enable me to have at all times at my disposal 36,000 copies of my Testament, half small and half large print, which, together with carriage and binding, would cost about 21667. sterling. This sum I would entreat their generosity to assign in the name of Jesus Christ, for the salvation of immortal souls, in order that the work of God, which is also your work, may not for a moment be obstructed in its way to greater and wider extension.

Every thing which you have had the goodness to communicate to me of the wonders which God has wrought by means of the Bible Society, has highly delighted me, and filled my heart with gratitude to God. Indeed, who is there that does not here observe the finger of God? He does wondrous things; praisèd be his name! That important prophecy-"The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come"-is developing before our eyes. "Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."

I might have sent you a volume of copies of letters; but having had only one clerk in my office for these several days, he has been occupied with important correspondence; I have therefore made him copy but a few. However, the echo of every letter is this:-Fruits of godliness, of repentance, of regeneration, of the knowledge of God and of Christ; comfort, peace, and consolation, are produced, every where, by this seed of God sown in hope. An altogether new spirit is observable in many schools among the children, through whom the parents also are made acquainted with this Book of books. To thousands and thousands to whom the New Testament was before unknown, it has now become the greatest treasure, and the most precious jewel.

My church is frequented by many Jews, and numbers of them are fond of reading my New Testament.

Several pious ladies labour effectually in dispensing blessings by means of the New Testament with which I furnish them.

*To enable this indefatigable distributor to keep the stock of German Testaments required, the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have voted him a further grant of 20004; he having previously distributed 223,341 copies!