He received his license to preach, in the year 1785; and he was ordained at the age of twenty-five. He visited many of the churches in Maryland and Delaware and Pennsylvania. For some of them he preached once or twice in the month; in them all, fruits of his labors appeared; and his name is remembered with peculiar delight. In the year 1800, he received a call from the Welsh Tract church, in Delaware, to become their Pastor, which he accepted. Their dear and highly esteemed Elder, John Boggs, sen. had become very infirm, and wished to resign his charge. Mr Ferrell had supplied them once a month, and sometimes oftener, for seven years; during which time they had become much attached to him. He had now more time to devote to study, which he improved to great advantage to himself and them. They had two meeting houses, one in the Tract and the other nine miles to the east, called Bethel. In the former he preached three Lord's-days in the month, and one in the latter. Often also, in the afternoon, he would preach in some of the little villages; and he had the pleasure of seeing his labors blessed of the Lord. Naturally amiable in his disposition, and very familiar and spiritual, his conversation was peculiarly edifying; and, while there was a delightful degree of cheerfulness, there was nothing of levity; but sobriety sat on his pleasant brow, untarnished with moroseness.

He examined his subjects thoroughly. He had his materials all in order; and he would bring out of the depths of the everlasting gospel, one precious gem after another, to instruct, enrich, and comfort, till the Christian's soul was filled with delight, and fixed on heavenly subjects. Every one was sure of his portion in due season. In all his ministry, he was very careful never to confound the law and the gospel. The trumpet gave the certain sound. The invitations and promises were never indiscriminately applied to the people. The children's bread was given to them and to them only; and the denunciations of the law were delivered in clearness to them to whom they belong. He appropriately interspersed experimental and practical religion with the doctrine he advanced. In all his sermons he was plain, but not vulgar; pathetic, without enthusiasm. He was himself solemnly impressed with the subject, and with his responsibility to the Judge of the living and the dead. His views of divine truth accorded with the confession of faith adopted by the Philadelphia Baptist Association, A. D. 1742; and he preached them with so much wisdom, that they commended themselves to every man's conscience. As a pastor and bishop, he was well qualified to feed and oversee the church of God. In his introductions he generally commented largely on the context. This part of the service was deeply interesting to intelligent as well as inquiring Christians, because it was full of instruction, and closely connected with the subject he had in hand. He was honest, laborious, faithful and successful in his ministry. To his people he was very affectionate and attentive; and their love to him was reciprocal. They lived in the greatest harmony. As a neighbor he was kind and obliging. As a husband, no man could be more tender. As a father he was indulgent, but at the same time he endeavored to train up

The Importance of Information on Missionary Topics. 79 his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Their attachment to him was very great.

His love to his ministering brethren was manifest to all who knew him. He was ever tender of their feelings, more especially the young ministers. Let them be ever so weak, if he discovered marks of real piety, he was their friend and their father. He rejoiced at the prosperity of Zion; and it filled him with delight to see the labors of God's servants blest. His mind was too richly imbued with the Holy Ghost to be jealous, lest any of his brethren should be more successful or more highly esteemed than himself. In prayer, he conversed with God, as a child with a father, and evinced an humility, an holy unction and fervor, which edified, cheered, and deeply impressed the soul.

Our dear brother had been long afflicted with an incurable disease, yet he was generally able to attend to his domestic and ministerial duties. Still it was evident to all his friends that his earthly tabernacle was about to be dissolved, especially the week before one of their seasons of communion. On that occasion he chose for his text John xiv. 1. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. Although unable to stand, except as he supported himself by the desk, yet he preached a long sermon, and one of the most powerful and evangelical he ever delivered. It was as one announcing his last message to man, and then about to step from the pulpit into heaven. When he had spoken some time at the communion, and dismissed the assembly, he was asked how he could exert himself so much; and he replied, "I must do my work and die. This is my last sermon. My labors are now done, and the time of my departure is at hand." He went home, and, reclining on the bed, remarked to those around him, my work is done. He grew weaker every day, and conversed but little; yet he was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Not long before his death, he said, "When we are about to change houses it will create some anxiety of mind; but, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." In all his sickness he manifested great patience, calmness, and resignation of soul, trusting in that precious Saviour he had so frequently and affectionately recommended to others, looking and waiting till his change should come; which occurred about six o'clock in the morning of August 22, 1820, in the fifty-eighth year of his age.

Some of our readers will recognise the following as an Address which was delivered before the Society for Missionary Inquiry in the Newton Theological Institution, at the last anniversary, by Mr JOHN STEVENS, late a Tutor in Middlebury College.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A GENERAL DIFFUSION OF DETAILED AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ON EVERY TOPIC CONNECTED WITH MISSIONS.

It is not my design, on the present occasion, to dwell on the vast importance of the missionary enterprise, nor directly to urge

80 The Importance of Information on Missionary Topics.

the duty which rests upon all Christians to engage in it, nor yet to present the motives which should incite us to the performance of this duty. The paramount importance of this enterprise to the dearest interests of our race, we all fully believe; the imperious duty resting on all to promote it, we readily acknowledge; and no one, who has felt the least kindling of love to God in his breast, can avoid feeling in some measure the motives which prompt him to aid in extending the blessings of the Gospel.

And sometimes, indeed, while listening to the earnest appeals of the eloquent advocate of the missionary cause, we may have felt ourselves ready to make any sacrifice, and to engage with the utmost alacrity in the prosecution of any plan designed to meliorate the condition of men. But no sooner have the spirit-stirring notes of the orator's voice ceased to vibrate on the ear, than the emotions excited within us begin to subside. The objects which had been sketched to our view, and had for a moment awakened our sympathies, fade from our sight; our momentary ardor abates; our sudden resolutions are forgotten.

We cannot indeed rid ourselves of the conviction of sober judgment that the missionary cause has claims upon us, and is worthy of our most vigorous exertions. But our attachment to this world's concerns, our love of ease, and our fear of encountering the sneers of worldly men come over us, and obscure our view of the object; and thus check every rising desire, and every incipient resolution to obey the last command of our Saviour.

What we would fain call reason too, and piety even, are summoned to quiet and confirm us in our inaction. It is not to be denied, we say, that the condition of the heathen is deplorable. But what can we do to alleviate it? Our feeble exertions will be in vain. The work is the Lord's. It is our part to repose confidence in him, and to believe that he who has promised, will in due time fulfil the promise, that his Son shall have the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession.

True, the work is the Lord's; and it is the Lord's work to fasten upon the minds of Christians the conviction that they are the appointed agents whose duty and noblest privilege it is to co-operate in the accomplishment of the work. Yet, at the same time, it is obligatory upon us to cherish and deepen the impression first received in the Christian school respecting the duties which we owe to the heathen; to turn to account the susceptibilities which our Maker has given, and the natural principles which he has implanted within us, in order to awaken our minds to a full view of the claims which rest upon us; and to learn, by all the means within our reach, the manner in which our efforts must be directed, so as to lead to the happiest results. As having a direct bearing on these points, I have chosen for the subject of a few remarks, the importance of a general diffusion of detailed and accurate information on every topic connected with missions.

The subject, perhaps, may best be illustrated by pointing out the effects which the diffusion of knowledge on these several topics will naturally produce. To mention some of these shall be my endeavor.

THE PAST HISTORY OF MISSIONS.

THE beneficial effects which will result from an acquaintance with the past history of missions will first be noticed. This history is no other than the history of the propagation of the Gospel. In tracing the history of the spread of the Gospel over countries now called Christian, the inquiry, By what means has this been effected? will be an object of attention. What, then, do we learn are the means that have been employed? Has God, in any instance since the days of the apostles, interposed by a miracle? Has there been at every step ་་ a wonder wrought upon the earth to make her children listen" to the heavenly message ? Has the announcement of this message been attended with terrific thunderings, as of Sinai? Or has a loud voice from the Invisible proclaimed to dark and pagan tribes the way of salvation? The page of history answers, No.

True it is, that when God condescended to reveal his will, he gave signs to convince incredulous men of its divine origin; and at the communication of each successive portion, he endowed his messengers with the power of working miracles to confirm the truth of their message. But after the inspired volume was completed, and truth was indelibly enstamped upon its pages by a supernatural hand; it was left to be disseminated without the same direct interference of divine power. Carrying on its face the impress of divinity, its precepts and its doctrines were to be enforced upon the minds of men by an agency which in its external character is no more than human. Go, and teach all nations," is the simple command by a compliance with which, without miraculous aid, the Gospel, since the apostolic age, has been spread over the countries which now enjoy its blessings. And just in proportion to the zeal, and wisdom, and simplicity of aim, with which the followers of Christ have put forth their efforts in obedience to this command, has been the efficacy of their exertions. What has been, will be. So the constitution of our minds compels us to believe.

With such a lesson thus drawn from the page of history, how can the feeling which has till recently so long possessed the minds of Christians, and of which they are not yet entirely divested, the feeling that they have nothing to do in order to pour light upon the nations, be any longer cherished? And with the conviction which such a lesson must fasten upon the mind, that the Redeemer's empire must be extended by the faithful exertions of his friends, how can they daily utter the petition, "thy kingdom come," and yet stand aloof from every plan in operation to advance its interests?

THE PRESENT STATE OF MISSIONS.

We next notice the effect of our acquaintance with the present state of Missions. Here our attention will naturally be turned to take a survey of the different posts on heathen ground where the standard of the cross has been planted. We may number the faith

ful soldiers who rally around each, and take account of the zealous endeavors of each band, to bring all that are near them to acknowledge allegiance to him under whose banner they have enlisted. And would we learn the distinguishing name of those to whom each one of these pioneer bands severally belongs; on the standard of one, we shall see written, the Presbyterian mission-on another, the Baptist mission on another, the Methodist mission-on another, the Episcopal mission on another, the Moravian mission—and on another, the Roman Catholic mission.

At this view, there will be forced upon the mind a comparative estimate of the exertions which each denomination is making to promote their Master's cause. And, judging from what is before us, the magnitude of these exertions will seem to measure the fidelity and the strength of attachment of those who make them, to the cause of Christ. But, it will perhaps be said, not all those just now named are engaged in spreading the pure Gospel. Some of them have another object in view than that of pointing out to men the way of salvation. Their proceedings are governed by a worldly policy. Their chief design is to uphold and extend an earthly dominion. Let then the objects and motives of some be such as have just now been suggested still even their example will on this account bring with it a no less forcible admonition, and will incite to action with a no less powerful impulse. Do we profess to receive the gospel in its purity, and to aim with a single eye at the promotion of the divine glory? Do we assuredly believe that no earthly attachments are stronger than that of the sincere Christian to his Saviour; and that nothing in the whole compass of earthly grandeur is to be compared with the crowns of glory which await the faithful and zealous followers of the Redeemer? Where then is the proof that our profession is sincere, and that our belief is founded in truth? Where, but in our conduct? We must then either give up our confidence in the efficacy of these motives, and abandon the assumption that we more than others are actuated by their influence; or we must exhibit such a course of conduct as will justify ourselves in claiming, and such as will compel others to yield to us, correctness of belief and sincerity of profession. By exciting such reflections as these, a knowledge of what is now going forward in the wide field of missionary labors, will produce a salutary effect.

And will not such reflections arouse all hearty advocates of uncorrupted Christianity to assume an attitude worthy of their character; and to act with a zeal, an energy, a decision, and a perseverance which shall sink into comparative littleness all the efforts made by those who corrupt, degrade, and turn to selfish purposes the high and holy principles of the gospel?

But the attainment of full information respecting the present state of missionary operations, whether we wish to ascertain the extent of the power which is applied, or the degree of commendation due to those who apply it, will require something more than a survey of what is doing on foreign ground. We must return from this survey back to the sources where they originated,—to the churches at