We do not attach so much importance to a company of missionaries, as to suppose that the Almighty would permit their fearfulness to effect such sad consequences, but the guilt is none the less on the part of the missionary. So far as he is concerned in the case above, his guilt would not be greater if his callousness should not be overruled by Him who sitteth in the heavens. God requires us to employ means for the benefit of the bodies and the souls of our fellow men, and when we neglect the use of those means, we become guilty of the legitimate consequences of their absence, whether they occur or are prevented by the hand of Providence. On a notable emergency, Mordecai said to Esther, “Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape, for if thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, and thou shalt be destroyed." Who would excuse the surgeon for refusing to dress the wound because it had become offensive? Our work is a difficult one, requiring the sacrifice of "mortal interests," but somebody must make that sacrifice. Let us therefore esteem it a privilege and an honour to be selected by Providence for this work. Our patience and faith are often tried; instances of ingratitude too often occur; and our fondest hopes are frequently blighted; but "in due time we shall reap if we faint not." I would not be understood as saying that circumstances may not frequently occur to justify missionaries in leaving the fields of their labours. Want of health, and a hundred other considerations, will often plainly evince the propriety of such a course. Indeed exceptions to all prescribed general rules must frequently be made, because called for by the emergencies peculiar to the subject. Gur perplexities, however, do not all spring up in the land of our labours. Erroneous views of this subject unhappily prevail in the United States, out of which grow many trials more difficult to manage than those which are indigenous to the forests. The prating of the malicious, who would measure our disinterestedness by their own avarice and ambition, is little more than the noise of the potsherd;-grating to our feelings, but not hurtful to our healths. But, the virtuous and the good have also their mistaken notions of the subject of Indian improvement; -their jealousies and doubts; these give rise to many sad hours which are understood only by Him into whose bosom we pour our plaint. In a land of freedom as ours is, where the people think and judge for themselves without external restraint; and while each has his own personal business, which engrosses his chief attention, and thereby is induced to decide on missionary operations without the labour of examining them thoroughly; it must be expected that public opinion will undergo many changes. There will be times when public sentiment and feelings may be awakened in a high degree, in favour of supporting missions ;-hearts will be tender, and hands will be liberal. But, in those favourable seasons, when we are allowed so plenteously the prayers, the sympathies, the counsels, and the munificence of the Christian community, let us prepare to meet the shock of reaction. We may expect it with little less certainty, than we foresee that the pinchings of winter will succeed the pleasures and plenitude of autumn. Times will occur, when they who have contributed somewhat to the support of missions will look back and inquire, what has become of our money? Be not astonished my brethren, if, after years of privation and toil, which had often threatened to overcome both your resolution and your ability to bear; and if, after the most conscientious economy and management you should be charged by many with waste and profusion in applying the munificence of the public. Be not astonished, if you should be represented as having lived in ease and affluence on the charities of the supporters of missions ;-these will be blows extending to the heart. "It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it, neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him. But, it was thou, a man, mine equal, my GUIDE and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked into the house of God in company." In the impatience of the public, plans and improvements relative to missionary operations will often be devised by those who, with the best motives, do not, equally with yourselves, possess the means of enabling them to arrive at just decisions. Forbearance on our part, and a disposition to submit in all cases which do not vitally affect the interests of the mission, will be becoming in us. But when rules are devised for the operation of our affairs which we are convinced are in themselves calculated to undermine our hopes for the future, or to plunge into ruin that for which we have toiled in days past, then it would be criminal if we should not meekly take a decisive stand. For the regulation of our conduct in this trying posture of affairs, no specific rules can be prescribed further than, when we assume this decisive and awfully responsible position, let us do it upon our knees, with eyes lifted towards the heavens, and while we extend our hand to avert the threatening evil, cry, O spare! At present the too general impression that almost any one will answer well enough for a missionary to the Indians, frequently injures both our usefulness and our feelings. If a man is in good business, possesses some property, and moves in what they call the higher circles in life, he is seldom thought of as suitable for a missionary to the Indians. While we protest against the principle, we admit that few such as last described are likely to enter our ranks, nor will any of us ever blush at our acquaintance with the humbler walks of life in days past or present. ces. We should carefully guard against selfishness in all its bearings. Let us never feel uneasy lest our fare be more homely than that of our brethren. With equal vigilance let us guard against jealousy, which would make us fear that we did not receive a due proportion of credit for our serviEach should resolve to do all within his power, let others do as they may; and if my brother should neglect a part of his business, I will endeavour to perform it, and my own too. As to praise for what we do, or the pleasure of having our names known to others, we should esteem ourselves unworthy of being missionaries if not content with the approbation of" Him who seeth in secret." A candid, unvarnished history of our affairs, is proper for us to give; the interests of our enterprize require it, and our patrons have a right to expect it; but we need not envy those who by noise would make little labours appear great. Yet while we glance at the out-lines of our trials, we have the satisfaction to know that our work abounds with pleasures as well as pains. There is a peculiar sweetness in labours of benevolence, which solicit no reward of money nor of praise, but merely that of seeing others made happy thereby; a sweetness unknown to the merchant who counts over his daily profits, and to the ambitious who are pleased with a name. b Z n P n 0 a t r 1 The Gospel never appears more precos tral wa There are also many who stir w tem kindly sympathize in car the attic u đ we add the pleasant refecte the tensas et les i quainted with our case, to S UHI PORTAS TEL The society of each orber is pelas svet, er. of other men, and all conserde C our fears, our aims are coe, our com rian bitterness carLot Lie, aut rau are soon forgot. Amidst our disappointments and decongrunts joys; for, our labours are not win her BF EL known instance of missous eve me benefitting a few, and those ve vi peculiarities of the condition of the illata ente the Indians" be focuta vir WL EC DIS tributing somewhat to da samur regret our unweaned exeren * gaitu. We should be careful in smile vr vera for T of our labours, and bence or SUCHMera » HHAR I Indian improvement in genera- ve faa tiality for a partiala paz iri wa T, at a place at when I a leszane a vaal me with whom I have become maret edi in this place then we fury we mai a ar eur various accounts, med hovruz reasons, ask are to remun vienam be decided under the aduenez vi en sware, I believe that the cause of Luta manera not a little by the party in waar en or pet car they labour. Its a ei vua sained to se which I have read suppose. The preceding remaru ni u a ke se within our control the mad mourgon ability to bear; and if, after the most conscientious economy and man- the operation of our affairs which we are convinced are in themselves At present the too general impression that almost any one will answer well enough for a missionary to the Indians, frequently injures both our usefulness and our feelings. If a man is in good business, possesses some property, and moves in what they call the higher circles in life, he is seldom thought of as suitable for a missionary to the Indians. While we protest against the principle, we admit that few such as last described are likely to enter our ranks, nor will any of us ever blush at our acquaintance with the humbler walks of life in days past or present. We should carefully guard against selfishness in all its bearings. Let us never feel uneasy lest our fare be more homely than that of our brethren. With equal vigilance let us guard against jealousy, which would make us fear that we did not receive a due proportion of credit for our services. Each should resolve to do all within his power, let others do as they may; and if my brother should neglect a part of his business, I will endeavour to perform it, and my own too. As to praise for what we do, or the pleasure of having our names known to others, we should esteem ourselves unworthy of being missionaries if not content with the approbation of " Him who seeth in secret." A candid, unvarnished history of our affairs, is proper for us to give; the interests of our enterprize require it, and our patrons have a right to expect it; but we need not envy those who by noise would make little labours appear great. Yet while we glance at the out-lines of our trials, we have the satisfaction to know that our work abounds with pleasures as well as pains. There is a peculiar sweetness in labours of benevolence, which solicit no reward of money nor of praise, but merely that of seeing others made happy thereby; a sweetness unknown to the merchant who counts over his daily profits, and to the ambitious who are pleased with a name. The Gospel never appears more precious than when preached in the smoky wigwam of an Indian. To aid in taming the wild-man, and in leading his sons and his daughters to the elevation of civilized life, and to an equality in the scale of being with neighbouring nations, afford pleasures which do not grow spontaneously in earth. There are also many who, so far as they understand our situation, kindly sympathize in our trials and delight to afford comfort; to which we add the pleasant reflection, that thousands only need to be made acquainted with our case, to interest their generous hearts in our behalf. The society of each other is peculiarly sweet, secluded from the pursuits of other men, and all consecrated to the same labours, our hopes, our fears, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.' Here sectarian bitterness cannot live, and Paul and Barnabas' sharp contentions are soon forgot. 66 Amidst our disappointments and discouragements too, we find our joys; for, our labours are not wholly lost; they never have been in any known instance of missionary effort among the Indians. We are daily benefitting a few, and those of us who feel most discouraged, have realized occurrences which have more than compensated our labours. It is not all uncertainty in relation to our success. We trust that when the peculiarities of the condition of the Indians become properly understood, measures will be provided to afford substantial relief. The indulgence of faith and hope in the case is grateful in proportion to the menacing aspect of their present condition. Should we at the "set time to favour the Indians" be found at our posts, and be made instrumental in contributing somewhat to its accomplishment, we shall have no reason to regret our unwearied exertions in so good a cause. We should be careful not to confine our views to the immediate sphere of our labours, and hence draw conclusions in relation to the subject of Indian improvement in general; nor should we be influenced by partiality for a particular place, or a particular measure. I may be located at a place at which it is desirable to remain. I have some Indians about me with whom I have become acquainted, and we all feel more at home in this place then we fancy we shall in any other; and anticipate, on various accounts, much inconvenience in a removal, and I may, for these reasons, ask leave to remain where I am. But the question should not be decided under the influence of such considerations. I should inquire whether the people of my charge could not thrive better in some other place, in the probable event of which my own convenience ought not to be consulted. I believe that the cause of Indian improvement is at this time suffering not a little by the partiality which many feel for particular places at which they labour. It is an evil which cannot be too soon corrected, and one which I have reason to believe exists to an extent beyond what many suppose. No. V. Conclusion. The preceding remarks lead us to the following conclusions. We have within our control the means of rescuing from destruction the abori |