selves, he is uniting and strengthening his forces. While you are engaged in opposing each other, he is employed in pushing forward his conquests; and every feeling of mutual animosity you indulge, and every attempt at mutual collision you make, are so many decided victories, which he gains, even within your camp.

Be entreated then to desist from your present struggle, and direct your forces against the common foe. If your grand aim is to subdue the world to its Sovereign, this is the only way. If your plan is first to unite the feelings, and harmonize the views of all your Christian brethren, no other mode is so efficacious. Only make it evi, dent that you have a common enemy, and you would soon perceive that you have a common interest. A common enemy and a common interest would soon produce reciprocity of affection, and more speedily than any thing else, coincidence of doctrinal sentiment. Every object you propose, would thus be advanced.

Oh then strive to extinguish in all Christian denominations the spirit of unchristian jarring and rivalry; let them cease to magnify trifles, and engage in investigating the many features of striking resemblance between them. And above all, in the spirit of unfeigned humility and love, let each look, "not on their own things, but also on the

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things of others." Esteeming others better than themselves."

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What an object of surpassing beauty the church would then present what an irresistible army she would then become! I see her in her onward march toward universal conquest; each corps preserving the place in which it can act with the greatest efficiency; all rejoicing in each other's valour and achievements, all acting in perfect harmony. Every enemy she attacks quails before her: every blow she strikes is decisive. Nothing can arrest her victorious career. See! the last strong hold of the foe is assailed—it yields. Hark! the shout is heard from unnumbered lips bursting from heaven, echoed through all earth, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever."- Rev. xi. 15.

It is my earnest prayer that this happy union may soon characterize the followers of Christ, and these inestimable blessings crown their united efforts.

CHAPTER XVI.

ANOTHER objection to foreign missions was advanced by a Millenarian. He looked to the speedy appearing of "the Son of man" in person to gather in the Jews-rebuild the holy city, and subdue the heathen nations to himself. This honour he believed the great Redeemer had reserved for his second coming, and all efforts to antedate this epoch he regarded as utterly futile. He fancied that these positions were fully established by the question of our Lord himself. "When the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?"

He was answered by another of the same school, who regretted that this doctrine, so important in his eyes, should be thus misunderstood and perverted.

It was his cherished belief that very soon "the Lord Jesus would be revealed from heaven," and that the ingathering of the Jews, and what might be designated the second call of the Gentiles, would succeed this event. But still he insisted that instead of militating against the obligation of

Christ's charge, these views chimed in with all existing duties. The personal reign of Christ upon earth is a doctrine which by no means renders nugatory the established institutions of Christianity. Our blessed Redeemer has expressly declared that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." And his command to perform this work is of perpetual obligation. If any views of prophecy appeared to contravene so explicit a duty, there could be no better reason to reject those views. This however, said he, is so far from being the case in the millenarian scheme, that while we look forward with joy to the personal appearing of God our Saviour, we feel the deepest interest in having as many as possible prepared for the event.

After this discussion, there was a short silence in the assembly. As no other delegate seemed disposed to offer any farther reason for the unwarranted limitation of the gospel to Christian lands, the same old man whose inquiries and remarks had elicited the present discussion, arose, and expressed his utter surprise at the disclosures which had been made. I had no idea, said he, of the state of Christian lands. How different from that earthly paradise, which my fancy had represented, as the certain result of the gospel. I am thankful I did not know these things, while

the conflict was raging in my bosom. It might have sealed up my mind in the gloom of infidelity.

To say that the reasons assigned for restricting the gospel to Christian lands, are not satisfactory to us, to whom it has been so long denied, expresses but very little. They are only satisfactory to those who offer them, and as each party has its own reason, and these reasons differ as widely as the parties themselves, not one of them appears valid to more than a small proportion of Christians. I knew not but that some grand apology which I had never conceived, which the Scriptures, or God's controlling providence, might have furnished, would have enlightened my mind, and silenced the cavils of my pagan friends.

As I am disappointed in this respect, my brethren and myself are desirous to have other points of this great subject considered. We wish to hear discussed, without reference to the existing state of the church, or the private feelings of Christians, the comparative claims of the unevangelized nations upon the gospel. We are anxious to know, and we wish the world to know, what grand laws have been enacted in the kingdom of Christ, for the government of his servants in the diffusion of Christianity.

It was unanimously agreed that this should be the general subject of future investigation, and the meeting adjourned for the day.