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lions of Tracts. The American Education Society have supported, and are partially supporting, several hundreds of pious, indigent young men, in their preparation for the gospel Ministry. By "the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," large and expensive establishments have been formed, in distant wildernesses, and in various parts of the heathen world; more than a hundred Missionaries have been sent out and are supported, in remote and opposite quarters of the globe; several printing presses have been purchased and are in successful operation; more than fifty schools have been established; and several thousand heathen children are now instructed in a knowledge of our arts, and of the Christian religion. Many have been hopefully brought to a knowledge of the truth, and some have already commenced preaching the everlasting gospel. A variety of smaller associations have been, it is believed, equally diligent, and in proportion to their means, equally successful.

No considerate person, I boldly maintain, can examine what has been done by the directors of our charitable institutions, without being satisfied that they have accomplished all that could have been expected; have turned the means entrusted to them to the best account; and have managed, not only with integrity, but with great wisdom and economy.

7. It may be observed again, if farther proof is wanting on the subject, that those who have the care of the charitable funds are themselves principal contributers to these funds. Much time and service are contributed by all of them; and in addition to this, if a fair estimate were made, I am confident they would be found to have contributed more, in proportion to their ability, than an equal number of any

other class. Now these persons, who have the management of the funds, must know whether they are disposed of prudently or not; and the fact that they are themselves in the habit of making fre quent and liberal contributions to them, is good evi-. dence that they know they are disposed of in such manner. Would they continue to bestow their property where they knew it would be misapplied ? Would they knowingly be the instruments of wronging and defrauding themselves?-We may apply this reasoning to a single case. The late Gov. Boudinot was for several years President of the American Bible Society, and was most intimately acquainted with all its transactions and concerns. Had there been any fraudulent practices, any misapplication of funds, he must have known it. Yet, at his decease, he left to that Society a very considerable part of his large estate. Is not this conclusive proof that

the concerns of that Society have been, and are, managed with integrity and wisdom?

8. I add still again, as evidence of the fidelity with which the religious charitable funds are disposed of, the well known fact, that those to whom they are entrusted are not enriched by them. So far from this, they have in some instances, through their devotedness to the cause, empoverished themselves and their families: more probably than was just. We have a striking instance of this in the late lamented Dr. Worcester. He was, from the first, a principal officer of "the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and was entrusted, more than any other person, with the direction of their numerous and important concerns. He devoted himself to the work with a zeal and constancy, which broke down his constitution, and brought him to an early grave. If any person could

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have practised fraud, he could have done it. If any could have enriched themselves out of the public charities, he could have enriched himself. Still, he died comparatively destitute of property, and has -left a dependent family almost without support. And yet he is one of the men who it is pretended have been growing rich on the bounty of others, and fattening from the treasury of the Lord. I do not ask, whether such a charge is uncharitable; or whether it is unjust? But I do ask, whether it is not cruel? Have not those devoted men, who are wasting time and property, health and life for the benefit of others, and in most cases without any earthly compensation-have they not enough to bear, without bearing the "evil surmisings" and cruel aspersions of a jealous slanderous world?

I have not brought this subject forward, because I think the opposition to the cause of Missions is at all formidable. We have nothing to fear from it, and we fear nothing from it. We had reason to expect it, long before it appeared. It could not be supposed, that Satan would renounce the empire of this world without a struggle. If the work of Missions was not assailed by the wicked, it would lack one decisive evidence of being a work of God. It would be the first peculiar work of the Divine Spirit, which ever escaped the opposition of men.

Nor have I brought this subject foward with the expectation of silencing opposition. I have reason to know the world too well to look for such a result. It will, no doubt, be said after all, that the public is imposed upon, that the bounty of Christians is misapplied, and that the almoners of their charities are enriching themselves. As reason has had no

hand in exciting this opposition, it cannot be expected that reason should stop it.

Nor has this subject been taken up, because I supposed the trustees of our public charities stood in need of my feeble aid, in order to vindicate them. They have God, and truth, and justice, and benevolence on their side; and what can they need more? Indeed the charges against them are so obviously malicious and unfounded, that I fear any attempt at vindication may be deemed superfluous.

But I have brought this subject forward, that we all may be prepared to act with light and understanding respecting it. If any of you, my dear hearers, are determined to enlist yourselves with the opposers of missions, you will now do it with your eyes open; and you will take the responsibility of doing it upon yourselves. You will have no occasion to say hereafter, when you and I meet at the bar of God, we were instructed no better."

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I have hoped also, by the foregoing discussion, to relieve the minds of some pious persons, who have not been able to attend largely to the subject. Such know, on the one hand, that many of their brethren and sisters are warmly in favour of Missionary objects; and this is with them presumptive evidence that such objects are good. But then they hear it asserted on the other hand, that this movement respecting Missions is all a trick, intended to filch away money from industrious people, and put it into the pockets of idle and fraudulent men. They are therefore at a stand. They know not what they ought to do, and most commonly conclude it will be safest to do nothing. Such persons have reason to be, and so far as they have been honest in their scruples I think they will be, satisfied, in view of what has been said.

Their doubts will be removed; their minds relieved; and they will be prepared to co-operate in the building up of Christ's kingdom with vigor and effect.

I have farther hoped, that by removing a common and popular objection to the Missionary work, the true friends of that work might be strengthened and encouraged to go forward in it with renewed zeal. Such know and feel, that the object they are pursuing is immeasurably noble and important. It is an object, compared with which the sublimest worldly schemes dwindle to nothing. They are aiming to impart life and salvation to perishing myriads who are immersed in deep and doleful darkness. They are aiming at the conversion and renovation of a world. They know too, that this is an object which will be accomplished. Its accomplishment is secured by the unfailing promise of God. If the opposi

tion to it were a thousand times more formidable than it now is, it could ultimately avail nothing. It could terminate in nothing but its own defeat. -The friends of Missions may also be satisfied, that the means now in operation for the accomplishment of this object are wise and proper ones. They are such as God hath himself appointed-such as he has been pleased to honor and to bless. And they may be satisfied farther, after what has been said, that whatever is contributed in a way of means to promote the great object they have in view will be most faithfulby and conscientiously applied. The pretence so often urged, that "contributions for the support of Missions do no good-they are misapplied-are squandered away on unworthy agents, and never reach their destined end"-is one of those "evil surmisings," which the Apostle condemns. It is a cruel malicious slander, which has no foundation in truth,