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ber,' would they form, could the whole of them be assembled on some vast plain before our view! What an animating spectacle to teachers! But although this cannot be, imagination may, in part, enable them to realize such a sight; and every private individual, who is about to engage in this good work and labour of love,' may be animated by the reflection, that however limited the sphere of their exertions, they are contributing their efforts, and doing their utmost towards the well being of this countless multitude. And this leads us to another reflection. Behold the goodly company of young people in many parts of our land, animated (as we would hope) by the same feeling, preparing to commence their Sabbath morning's employment. Every teacher, as he or she is proceeding towards the school, might occasionally be encouraged, by recollecting, how many fellow labourers there are, unknown indeed to each other, and unconnected except in this common cause, who are setting out on the same noble business. Perhaps there are no hearts glowing with truer cheerfulness, gladdened with more perfect peace, than that of the pious diligent teacher, who, having early in the closet, sought a blessing on the duties and services of the day, goes forth in the strength of the Lord to engage in them.

But let us now pursue, in thought, the thousands and ten thousands, who are pacing our streets, or crossing the fields and lanes in their way to the houses of God. And could we hope that all were animated by the same motive, that all were going to listen to the same faithful truth, it would be indeed a pleasing subject of contemplation.

But let us never for a moment, disguise truth in order to indulge a pleasing vision. Of these multitudes, how many are but going to be established in error-how many to pass an idle hour-how many to satisfy their consciences with heartless forms-how many to sit careless and unimpressed even under faithful instructions! Still, however, with all these deductions, we may say there are many who are sincerely going to pay their vows unto the Lord, now in the presence of all his people,' and this is a cheering reflection.

6

The crowded streets of a large city on a Sunday morning may also afford another observation which should excite our gratitude and joy. To see multitudes, of every different denomination, quietly proceeding in open day unmolested, and unquestioned, to their respective places of worship, is a beautiful spectacle, as an evidence of freedom from a tyranny of religious persecutionevery man may now sit under his own vine, and under his own fig tree; and (whoever might wish to do it) none dares to make him afraid.' It was not always thus; and when we are walking peaceably along to a place of worship, we should not forget the times when our good fore-fathers were obliged to assemble for worship in secret places, or by night; and to hide in dens and caves of the earth,' from the rage of their enemies. And now the voice of prayer and of praise is heard in our land. What num

berless voices unite in that universal chorus which ascends even to the heavens! This then is another animating reflection for Sunday morning.

But there are many throughout our country who are absent from these solemnities not by choice, but necessity. Sunday morning has a peculiar aspect in a sick chamber. Those now on the bed of languishing, who have hitherto neglected their Sabbaths, view it with peculiar emotions, feel its value, and resolve, if they are restored to health, to improve these precious seasons in future. While the true christian from his sick bed hails its cheerful beams, and hopes for a Sabbath of rest and profit even there.

But there are some on whom this Sabbath dawns, indeed, in vain it is the first they have passed in eternity! Let our imagination visit the many chambers of death throughout our borders. These, like ourselves, have beheld many a cheerful Sabbath sun; but now, their eyes are closed to its brightness. The beans of this fair morning have, perhaps, penetrated the gloom of their chambers, and shine upon their silent walls, but they know it not. The darkness of death has fallen upon them. Ab, then, how unspeakably important is the question, how their former Sabbaths have been improved! Since there are no more of these accepted times,' these days of salvation,' for them!

6

But let our thoughts (already so excursive) wander from our own happy island, to distant climes. Recollecting that within the passage of a few hours, the same sun that beams in so cheerfully at the windows of our sanctuaries, and on the walls of our pleasant school-rooms, shines upon the plains of India-the wilds of Africa-the forests of America ;-upon the ices of the North, and the islands of the South. That the same rays are reflected from those gilded pagodas, where the millions of China flock to their idolatrous worship;-from the mosques of the false prophet;-from the gaudy temples of India ;-and light up the hideous features and grotesque shapes of ten thousand idol Gods, which are no Gods,' in every 'dark corner' of our Globe. While we are illumined by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and are instructed in the truth as it is in Jesus.' Meantime the red Indian fiercely roams the desert in search of his prey, or of his enemies. The dark 'Hindoo muses idly on the banks of the Ganges: Far in the impenetrable regions of Africa,

"The Negro village swarms abroad to play."

Ah Here

Now the fierce Arab hunts for spoil; or follows the slow caravan of spicy merchandize across the burning sands of the desert. then, what are the privileges of a Sabbath in this country! and there, indeed, through these benighted regions, the poor solitary missionary goes forth in the midst of hardship, peril, and insult, to hold up the light of truth; and would not he unite in the exclamation, surrounded as he is by difficulties and discouragements, and say what are the privileges of a Sabbath in a Christian land!

Eut now, let us return nearer home, to make a more practical reflection. This Sabbath sun that shines on the millions of the

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Contributions to educale Heathen Children.

human race, beams also on us," on me," lét every reader say; and to me the grand question is, how I shall employ it-whether I shall improve it Am I one of the open Sabbath-breakers of the land? (probably not ;) but am I not one of the countless multitude, who while in form, they keep a holy day,' yet, secretly,' say of the Sabbath, what a weariness is it! When will it be over?' Or am I one of those to whom the Sabbath is a delight, who are glad to go up to the house of the Lord.' Am I a faithful. regular, zealous teacher, preparing with others to join my beloved class? Or have I never offered my services to that good work? Am I, on the contrary, spending the intervals of worship in idleness and indulgence, and attention to my dress? If so, reader. no longer, we beseech you, waste your time in pitying or despising the poor Indian and Hottentot; no longer censure the pleasure-taking Sabbath-breaker; but let your charity begin at home, and remember, that if your Sabbaths are misimproved, you are in a far more alarming, and pitiable, and despicable situation than the untaught savage, knows not his Lord's will!' Recollect also that the period is hastening, when the Angel of Death shall swear concerning you, that "Time and its Sabbaths shall be no longer.' [Youth's Mag.

• who

In No. 12 we published a letter from Rev. Mr. May, at Chinsurah, giving some account of the deplorable state of the heathen children in India, and of the pains taken to instruct them in the principles of the Christian religion. This was followed by a communication, proposing to the youth in Sunday schools and elswhere, to form Cent Societies, for the purpose of contributing their mites to aid the efforts of the missionaries in this laudable undertaking. We are gratified to have it in our power to state that, in consequence of the reading of the above publication, the sum of thirty dollars was raised in Sunday School No. 24, in Water-street, and has been paid to Mr. Divie Bethune of this city, to be forwarded to Mr. May, for the purpose of teaching a Hindoo child, to be called after the name of the superintendent of that School. Another contribution of thirty dollars may soon be expected from the same School, to educate another Hindoo child to be called after their first teacher. Mr. Bethune has obligingly consented to forward to Mr. May any donations which may be remitted to him for this purpose.

It is earnestly hoped that those youthful attempts to honour God, and provide the means of salvation for young immortals dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, may increase. Who knows to what extent these little offerings, whether the rewards of diligence, or the fruits of self denial in relation to some trifling gratification, may be the means of turning the minds of heathen youth from the worship of their dumb idols to serve the living and true God. The palate is often gratified at the expense of health, and the toys purchased with these little sums are soon destroyed; but who can sufficiently estimate the solid, the durable, the rapturous delight which in eternity may swell the bosom of one who has been instrumental in saving a soul from everlasting death!

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. IV.] Saturday, January 10, 1818.

[No. 16.

EXCITEMENTS TO MISSIONARY ZEAL, Extracted from a Discourse delivered before the Missionary Society, by the Rev. Matthew Wilks, (England,) on Jeremiah vii. 18. The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and pour out drink offerings to other gods.

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Let me call your attention to the idolatrous worshippers exhibited in the text, and you will particularly notice their object, their ardour, and their agents: their object was the queen of heaven, their ardour was vehement, and their agents were multifarious. You also, my Christian friends, have an interest at stake-a cause to support; and that I may gain access to your judgment, that I may carry conviction to your consciences, and provoke your jealousy; I will,

1. Contrast your objects; 2. Compare your ardour; and 3. Muster your agents."

[From the third and last of these particulars, we extract the fol lowing passages :]

"III. I now proceed to muster their agents-You will here perceive that they mustered strong. Men, women, and children. Each sex, of every age, of every rank, from the prince to the peasant; all were tributaries to this waxing and waning mistress of the night.

Behold the dear infants trudging from hedge to hedge, and from street to street to gather bundles of wood! Behold them returning home, ready to sink under the pressure of their thorny and awkward burdens! Behold the father chopping the wood, placing it in the oven, and scorching his eyebrows with the blaze! See the women busily employed in kneading the dough, composed of ineal, honey, and oil! Behold them next forming it intò curious cakes, stamping them with the figure of a star, or the new moon, and handing them to their husbands! Behold them pouring out their copious libations of wine to their goddess! All business is at a dead stand. All energies are called into action in aid of the idol. What substantial property could not provide, invention and activity supply.

What, my friends! and shall we not vie with them? If ever universal and combined energies be desirable, and may be lawfully demanded, it is in the cause of Christ. None is so momentous and sublime. What character so great as the God-man? What mission so extensively, eternally, and incalculably interesting, as his? What cause ever had so many adversaries? Is there one fiend in all the countless legions of the bottomless pit; has there ever been a human being, since the fall of Adam, who has not conspired against his cross and sceptre ? Did he not endure

Q

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Discourse on Missionary Zeal.

the wrath of heaven, and the contradiction of sinners? What pri vations-what sufferings-what aspersions---what indignities--what torments did he not sustain, with the fortitude and courage of a hero, and with the gentleness and meekness of a lamb ? O Sirs, what prodigies did he not perform? Who else could have barmonized beaven and earth, God and man? Who else could have set his back against the gate of hell, and his feet against the gate of heaven, and by his own energy, though sweating blood at every pore, have shut the one, and for ever opened the other to all believ ers? O Christians, where are your energies---your agents in our +righteous cause ?

First, Have we no children to gather wood? Will you teach your sprightly sons to be fine gentlemen, and your lovely daugh ters to be fine ladies, and not teach them to act for the Son of God? If false deities required and accepted the services of children, should not you employ them for our adorable Saviour? He is no Moloch---you need not cast them into the fire for him---he loves them too well to require it---but you should train them for his

service.

On children the Lord has bestowed many favours. He pleaded their tender age at Nineveh-he took them into his arms and blessed them-he represented the effects of renovating grace by their simplicity-he justified their hosannas-and said, " of such is the kingdom of heaven." He has also employed children in eminent services. Young Miriam was appointed, at twelve years of age, to watch the fate of the infant Moses; with what sagacity did she conduct herself, to the preservation of that heaven-born minister of the Jewish nation? Young Joseph, when only seventeen years of age, was employed to preserve the Egyptian nation and his own family. A little maid was employed to pave the way for the cure and conversion of Naaman the Syrian." The young stripling David, and Solomon the child, were designated: the one to achieve a singular triumph for Israel; and the other to build and consecrate a temple to Almighty God and establish the order of

his house.

Lovely youth! can you do nothing for Christ and your fellow creatures? You know," A flower when offered in the bud, is po vain sacrifice." Do you ask me, what you can do? Pray for wis dom and grace like Solomon-teach poor children who know less than yourselves-pray for Christ's cause, and be careful of your money and lay it out on the needy. All of you may do a little. 1 expect great things in the course of this year from Auxiliary Societies, composed of children. Associate for this purpose, lay up your savings, on behalf of the Missionary Society. have had several this year at the Tabernacle and other places, and hope to increase them. May God the Holy Spirit sanctify your infant hearts for himself preserve your growing years-render your lives useful—and after death receive you to his heavenly kingdom.--Remember the children gathered wood. But, Secondly, Can the women do nothing? Say, ye holy

and

women of