ing of the past day. Oh! if we had lived as we ought to have lived, for the satisfaction of our Lord, so as to meet his approving smile, and honour his Holy Spirit, and cause fresh impulses of joy to spread through heaven itself. Oh! if we had lived as we ought in regard to the colonies of our empire, there would long before this have been Missionary societies and Missionary churches, and from our colonies, as is the case in the Polynesian Isles, would have gone forth the sound of mercy to all the neighbouring isles and the regions beyond, and we should not have had the trouble of sending Missionaries from Britain, to the distant islands of the seas; they would have been sent from our colonies; from them would have gone forth the stream of Missionary operation, and they would have been the means of evangelising the distant islands and continents. This would have furnished delightful confirmation of our own principles and spirit at home; and while I rejoice in beholding the prodigious extension of the Missionary cause and witnessing its success, yet we have reason for deep humiliation that there has not been more progress and advancement, and that we have not had more distinguished and extensive success. I believe it is as true in grace as it is in nature, that the hand of the diligent maketh rich, and that what a man soweth that shall he reap. With the purposes of heaven, I have nothing to do, nor with the laws of heaven. We must submit to those laws, and leave the results with him who has said, "Do good and communicate, be unwearied in well-doing, and ye shall reap if ye faint not." I am never to interpret the discoveries of mercy so as to neutralise the command of authority. I am never so to apply the doctrine of grace as to forget the obligations of duty. What is the result of the Missionary cause, as it has long existed among us? The revival of religion - the extension of the kingdom of Christ. After some further observations on the essential agreement and oneness subsisting amongst Christians of every denomination, derived from their union with the great Head of the Church, Dr. Fletcher thus concluded.-Let us feel that unity, and we fear nothing for the want of it anywhere else. Let us reach that centre of fellowship, and then employing our prayers, exertions, and efforts, for the evangelisation of the world, that spirit will so re-act upon our sympathies and feelings at home that we shall differ in the spirit of love, and agree in the efforts of a holy and sanctified zeal. The walls of separation will thus become lower and lower, and if not quite demolished, we shall still recognise each other as brethren in Christ Jesus. The CHAIRMAN then introduced the Rev. Dr. Patten, as a delegate from the American Board of Foreign Missions. The Rev. Dr. PATTEN rose to move "That while the aspect of the Missionary field, in general, is calculated to inspire the friends of the Society with confidence and joy, the brightening prospects of the East, and more particularly the Chinese Mission, the unprecedented encouragement afforded in the Navigators Islands, the holy prosperity enjoyed by some of the churches in the interior of South Africa, and, above all, the peaceful and happy state of our newly enfranchised fellowsubjects in the West Indies, present to this Meeting the most powerful inducements to zeal, liberality, and exertion." Having made some affecting observations in relation to several of the early friends of the Society, who have been called to their eternal rest, Dr. Patten thus continued:You were pleased kindly to introduce me as representing the American Board of Missions. They have sent myself and my colleague here to pledge the right hand of fellowship and co-operation. We are not ignorant of the advantages placed in the hands of these two nations. About 200 years since, the commerce of the world was in the hands of Spain, which did not possess a religion worthy to be given to the world. God, however, has now, in his providence, transferred the commerce of the world into the hands of England and America, and he gave it to us at the very time when he gave us not only pure Christianity, but the idea of Missions. And having the commere of the world under our control, and God opening the door in vast nations of the globe, we deeply feel that it belongs to England and America to join the hand, and to join the heart, and to say, with God's blessing, we will go on together. We will never faint-we will never tire-we will never relax our efforts until the blessing of the world's salvation shall be completed amid the joys of eternity. You are aware that there was a time of trouble and of perplexity with us-that we have just passed through the season when we were obliged to detain on the shores of America, fifty or sixty Missionaries who were panting to preach the Gospel of Christ to the heathen; when we were under the necessity of sending word to the Missionary stations that we could not send them the wonted supplies, and that they must therefore contract the sphere of their labours, and close the schools. That was a dark hour, but it was an hour, also, to strengthen and confirm our confidence in God; and whilst alluding to that dark hour, allow me to express the thanks of the Board of Missions for a donation which they received in the darkest moment of that hour. Delicacy forbids me, under all the circumstances, from mentioning the name of the individual, though I think if I were in America I should guess who it was. The Rev. J. A. JAMES.-Sir Culling Eardley Smith. Dr. PATTEN continued.-Seeing it is no secret now, an Englishman having broken the seal, let it be known that your chairman was the man. The donation came to us with the kindest rebuke, but that rebuke proved to be a most excellent oil,-"trust more in God," came with the money. Let me tell this meeting that your chairman and his lady are members for life of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. And let me tell you what is the meaning of the phrase "members for life;" it means that as much will be done, every year, as long as they live; for all others who give a certain amount as members for life, and take it as a receipt in full, are dead members they do no more. It was in this time, I said, of darkness, that this donation came, and it did us good. It not only drove us more and more upon our knees, but it drove us to a greater confidence in God. And let me remark, that there is no such thing as true prayer where it is not followed by the putting forth of all the activities that are requisite for the instrumental accomplishment of our prayers. And this may account for the fact, that there is apparently so large a column of prayer ascending up to heaven, and so little amount of blessings returning. The difficulty lies in this, that prayer is not followed by our contributions, and does not bring forth the necessary exertions. I shall detain you only to state two or three facts; and I state the facts because they are the property of all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. They are connected with prayer. There is a day observed in the United States with thrilling interestthe first Monday of the new year. The first Monday of January has been observed, for the last five or six years, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer for the conversion of the world. We are in the habit, on that day, of meeting in our respective congregations, and we have immense audiences, for the simple object of delivering short exhortations, and offering our prayers for the simple and avowed purpose of the world's conversion. I want to state a fact connected with that. The very first time that we met was a day of uncommon wrestling with the Angel of the Covenant, and the conviction was flung back on our hearts that God had heard us. It was shortly after that meeting, that a gentleman, who was then a resident in my own family, received a letter from one of the Missionary stations in the East Indies; and the writer said, Detail, my dear brother, what has been going on in America. Have not our friends been praying more than usual, for, on the first Monday of January, when I went into the Missionary school, I was met by 12 or 14 persons, who rose up and said, "We are ready; we are ready to give our hearts away to Jesus Christ;' and others came and gave the most satisfactory evidence of having experienced a change of heart." That letter was delayed; the opportunity by which the writer had expected to send it, passed away, and, in the course of a few weeks, a news paper had strayed across the intervening ocean, giving the information that the first Monday of January would be observed as a day of prayer for the conversion of the world. The writer of the letter then added a postscript, saying, he noticed this, and remarked, "Now I understand it all;" he saw the connexion between the prayer and the blessing; and thus God has taught us that there is a nearer way to the East Indies than going round the Cape of Good Hope. It is by the throne above, prayers going up, and blessings coming down. After stating two or three facts of a similar nature, Dr. Patten concluded by observing, I have heard great complaints since I have been in this country of the comparatively low state of religion. Do you wish to know how religion may be revived in your own blessed land? Religion is that singular commodity, that the more of it you export, the more of it you have at home. Only look at the world, and see if it is not true, that ever since the Christians of England, and the Christians of America have been sending religion out to the destitute abroad, religion has grown with them at home, in geometrical proportion. If you wish to have the utmost possible quantity of religion at home, I beg of you, in the name of the perishing heathen, by a regard to the glory of the Saviour, and to your own interests, to spare no effort to send the Gospel of Christ into the dark and benighted portions of this globe. The Rev. D. KING, A.M., of Glasgow, in seconding the resolution, spoke as follows: -This motion acquaints us with the suc cess of Christian Missions. Even if Missions were not so successful, should that be urged as an objection? What has been done, or is now doing by other religions? He had not selected examples from Polytheism. Wherever idolatry prevails, gross darkness covers the people. No mountain ridge, and no intervening sea bounds its desolations. It is not temporary, for centuries have succeeded centuries; and what idolatry was in the days of Abraham, idolatry is now. There are no doubt diversities in Pagan lands; for "there be gods many and lords many," and some may prefer to worship Dagon, and others may prefer to worship Baal; but they all agree in dethroning the living God, and substituting in his place, objects alike trivial and vile. Some, however, attach little consequence to religion, 4 and what they are disposed to idolise is literature. Well, then, we may ask, what is literature in these realms? What man eminent for literature has been produced in modern times in any one of these Pagan countries? When the great in science and philosophy assemble, how many come from the realms of idolaters? Few-am I not free to say, none? And if it be so, is it not warrantable to infer that even where the Gospel has not been believed to the saving of the soul, it has liberated these intellectual powers which, with impious and ungrateful hand, too often exert their disenthralled energies to destroy that very religion by which their bondage has been dissipated. When we reflect on all we owe to the Gospel, we must see that our exertions in promoting it, are very far short of what they ought to be. There is nothing that appears to me more strongly to indicate the low state of Missionary enterprise among us than the encomiums which I hear on approaches to duty.. Individuals, if they do something like what they should do, excite apparently the greatest astonishment. Let us ponder the subject anew. Let us bring into the field of spiritual conflict an army of good soldiers of Jesus Christ, worthy of the armour they carry, the name they bear, and the conquests they contemplate. But I am reminded by my motion that the work does not require to be begun-that it is begun-and that it is advancing. You have made mention of China, and how lately did that country appear absolutely impenetrable; but now we hope God will soon cut the gates of brass, and rend her bars asunder. You have heard of the Navigators Islands, and you have heard of the West India colonies; in which latter place the cause of liberty was so eloquently pleaded by your Missionaries. The slaves are more than liberated; they have not only ceased to be sufferers, but they have become benefactors. And the objects of our late, I may say desponding compassion, are this day associated with as. I say associated, for seas cannot divide them that are one in Christ Jesus; associated, because difference of colour makes no difference in Christian privilege-associated with us in imparting to others the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Renewed efforts are now necessary. We say that these efforts are to be made, but that is never the way to accomplish the work. The question is, what can I do? And the resolution we should make is, to do each one for himself what he deems his duty, without waiting for the expected co-operation. Then let us onward-amid all difficulties let us onward, until the great end we seek shall be completely accomplished. Difficulties themselves will aid us-discomfiture will be tributary to triumph-when the Lord of Hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge. The resolution was then put and carried. The Rev. Dr. LEIFCHILD rose and said, -The motion intrusted to my care is one of a very encouraging nature; it leads us to anticipate increased resources to the Society from a distant quarter-increased resources raised by its own instrumentality in distant and foreign lands-resources that will augment its vigour and efficiency, and help to carry it forward to the object and end of its existence-the conversion of the world. That is the object which this motion brings before us and leads us to contemplate, and to which the present troubled condition both of the world and the church, is leading. There is much in the present state of the world to impress a thoughtful mind with deep solicitude. Every thing around us is in a state of transition, every thing is unsettled, and undergoing some change; but who would not wish those impediments in the way of the progress of free inquiry, general liberty, and universal truth and piety, which have stood for ages, to be removed, at whatever cost, for the sake of the object which their removal is intended to accomplish? The attainment of that object will compensate us for whatever it may cost. The bright shining of the anticipated end casts back a glowing light on the dark train of the preparatory measures by which it is to be accomplished. We must look at the present troubled state of the world, as the preparation for its foretold illumination and renovation. You see the train actually laying for this future blaze of light in the circulation of the Scriptures in all nations, and the translation of them into all languages-a work that is vigorously progressing amid all the changes that are taking place. You see facilities daily multiply for increasing intercourse amongst mankind, and Christians are beginning to avail themselves of this for the rapid diffusion of religion. You see the spirit of emigration becoming prevalent among all classes, and Christians among the rest are going forth in various directions, and wherever they go, they bear with them the grains of salt that are to seasonthe particles of light that are to illuminate the world. You see the great religious societies of this country continuing, and, indeed, increasing their vigorous efforts amid the paralysing influences that are falling on all around, standing up, as it were, in lively contrast by their vigour, to the decay and decrepitude coming on all things else. You see places of worship multiplying amongst us, and crowded with attendants. You see in them fresh accessions to our great societies to help them forward in their glorious work. You see all this in connexion with the era to which we have arrived in prophecy, when the date of the duration of Antichrist, at whatever period we commence his existence, must be soon run out, and the termination of which date is introductory to the shout of "Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" Do you not, in all this, see that which relieves you by the anticipations thus awakened? that which solaces you amidst all the agitations and turmoil of the world around you? I profess to you, with perfect sincerity, that the subject of these anticipations is, to my mind, in my best moments, matter of the greatest joy, and joy that no man shall take from me. I have been told by some that we ought to suspend our joy till the renovation of the world actually comes to pass. I think otherwise. It was not foretold us for this, that we should suspend our joy. I shall endeavour to rejoice in these anticipations, without waiting for the realisation of the scene. I shall endeavour to imitate Abraham, who "saw the day of Christ," and although it was "afar off, was glad," or, as the original word implies, "he exulted and leaped for joy." I believe in the spiritual coming of Christ to claim the kingdoms of this world for his own, whose right it is to reign; and I am often led to say, in the words of the immortal Milton "Come forth, O thou Prince of all the kings of the earth; Lo, thy bride waits to receive thee: And all creatures sigh to be renewed." Yes, his shall be the kingdoms, he shall come; ye scoffers at his tarrying, hear ye not the thunder of his chariot-wheels over the slumbering world? Even now the symphony of the song is floating through the air, "Peace be to earth, and glory be to God!" It delights me to see the old friends and supporters of the Society rallying around it once more. I believe the Society has not lost any among our churches except those of whom it has been deprived by death; but instead of the fathers here are the sons, instead of the mothers here are the daughters, instead of the old ministers here are the young ones, pledging themselves with delightful ardour never to abandon the cause which has been committed to them by men whose names are dear to their hearts, and who are soon to be brought to our vivid recollection in the forthcoming work upon the Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society. No, you will not be unworthy of your ancestors-you will not forsake the cause which they have committed with confidence to your care. The Society shall not fail for friends and supporters from our churches, and I hope not from other churches, nor from the Church of England; for it is true to the principles on which it set out, and on which it invited the co-operation of all classes of Christians-the principle of diffusing the Gospel among the heathen without respect to outward forms or discipline. All Christians, therefore, may conscientiously rally round this Institution, and I hope that the Catholic ground which this and other soIcieties have taken will never be abandoned. We have a guarantee against that for the present in the presence of that liberal and enlightened Chairman who now sits before us. How little could he dream that what he did in secret would this morning have been published on the house-top? But thus it is that God verifies his word; and though in general our right hand should not know what the left does, we are not to forget that we owe something to example, and for the sake of example we are not to be afraid of letting it be known that we are concerned for the spread of the Gospel of our common Saviour. I take it upon me to say, that we shall never draw back from the Society. I tell, through you, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Religious Tract Society, the City Mission Society, and the London Missionary Society, that they shall never want for supporters among the ministers and members of Congregational churches. We are committed to the work of evangelising the world by the use of all the means in our power, and though we may die in the prosecution of the work, we shall not turn back. My dear brethren, I plead this cause before you. I know that I shall not be able to plead it many more times, but I shall commit it to you. I know that God will be with you, and with it. I know you will prove that the men who have gone from us, as they ascended to heaven, left their mantle behind them, and it fell upon you, and that you are imbued, not only with their spirit, but with their spirit in a double portion. The motion I hold in my hand goes to acknowledge the receipt of subscriptions and donations during the last year, of no less an amount than 5,000l. from its auxiliaries among the converted negroes in the West Indies, being an increase-arising from their now being paid for their labour-upon the last year's subscriptions, of nearly 3,000! 5,000l. from converted negroes for the spread of the Gospel! These are the men that they told us could not be trusted with liberty or with money. They have received the Gospel, and its principles have taught them to make the best use of their liberty and their money; and you need not be under any apprehension that the spirit thus awakened in them will ever be crushed. The bondage under which they groaned has had its chains snapped, and whoever may be in power, that bondage shall not be renewed in any form or degree whatever. The monster Slavery has there breathed its last groan, and I was glad there was that touch in the resolution of Dr. Patten, of New York, because it served to elicit those noble sentiments which did so much honour to him and to those who sent him. I pray that he will carry back to New York the tidings that we hail the last groan of slavery in the West Indies as the prelude to its expiration in America. I am told that some of these converted negroes, when they were called to contribute to the funds of the Society, responded to that call most cheerfully from their shilling a-day labour. Some presented it as a thank-offering to God for emancipation; others have presented their money with an express request that it might be employed in training men among them to go back to their native country with the tidings of the Gospel. They shall be prepared, and they shall go forth, and thus that God, who without sanctioning evil overrules it for great good, shall bring out of the dark cloud the brightest light for Africa. She shall see that her sons were sent into slavery that they might come back to her, with their peculiar adaptation to her soil and language, and convey, as could not be conveyed by any other means, the tidings of that liberty wherewith Jesus Christ makes his people free. Oh, wonderful is God in counsel, and mighty in working! His purposes shall ripen fast, The bud may have a bitter taste, As 1 we were not to be too much encou "That while the increase in the ordinary contributions of the Society at home, and the zealous efforts made by the Mission churches abroad, yield to this meeting unfeigued gratification; and while it feels especially delighted with the noble amount raised during the past year by the churches in the West Indies, it acknowledges its sacred obligations to make vigorous and self-denying efforts to increase the permanent income of the Society, so as to meet its augmented permanent expenditure; convinced that, without such efforts, the present scale of its operations cannot be sustained, although the Spirit of the Lord has crowned its labours with success. Providence is still opening wide fields of promise, and the renewed efforts of the Romish Church render more imperative than ever, the prayerful and devoted exertion of the whole Protestant community." EDWARD BAINES, Esq., M.P. for Leeds, said-Among other topics mentioned in this resolution, we have to congratulate ourselves-and I think I may say the human race-upon the effort made in the West Indies for the spread of the Gospel. It is a noble effort. It is an effort worthy of men that have become free. It is an effort that shows the exertions made in this country on behalf of the negro have not been made in vain. It is a measure that has manifested itself in one of the noblest expressions that can, perhaps, be possibly given-gratitude towards God. But upon a late occasion, and in another place-as it is the custom to call it-I heard it said that the Missionaries in the West Indies had employed themselves in fomenting a spirit of disaffection amongst the negroes, and in endeavouring to form combinations against their masters. When I heard that stated, in my place in Parliament, I had no anxiety to speak on any other part of the question then before it, but I was anxious to repel that calumny. I am perfectly convinced that that assertion, come from what quarter it may, was wholly calumnious and unfounded. I can indeed suppose that the Missionaries may have infused such a spirit into the negroes as this-that being now freemen, they have the rights of freeBut is that infusing a spirit of insubordination, and leading the negroes to rebel? Far from it; and the man who cannot discriminate between the two, I must be allowed to say, has very little discrimination indeed. But it is said in the resolution, that we have much cause for gratitude on account of the contributions that have been made through the ordinary means of the Society, and by means of which its permanent funds have been increased during the past year. That is, indeed, matter of rejoicing; and yet, as my reverend friend has remarked, it is not unmixed with cause of regret; for, on comparing the income and expenditure, the latter is found to exceed the former, in no less a sum than 10,0001. Here the negroes are proclaiming to us our duties; and shall we not hail the proclamation, coming from such a quarter, shall we not do more than hail it? shall we not imitate their example? When my reverend friend spoke of London being found unable to supply the demands of your Society, I said to myself, that surely men. |