earnest effort to bless them, by raising them from the debasement and wretchedness into which they have fallen? The time is favourable to a union of exertions in this interesting enterprise; and God will require it of us, that we are faithful to the means and opportunities which we have of prosecuting it.

'Societies for domestic missions have the peculiar claim upon christians, that their design is the accomplishment of the very object for which Jesus prayed, as above all others, the means of securing the universal triumph of his religion; and of obviating the very difficulty, of all others the greatest, in the way to the attainment of this object. The Society, whose anniversary we now celebrate, looks to the religious and moral condition of our country; and would awaken in every heart that feels it not, a christian zeal in the cause of bringing all among us to the knowledge, faith, and obedience of Christ. We would extend the knowledge and conforts of our religion to our native Indians. We would do what we can in the great cause of making our country in reality, what it is nominally, Christian. There is less indeed, much less in this design, to gratify some of the strongest passions of our nature, than in the enterprise of converting hundreds of millions from the superstition, and vice, and misery of heathenism. But, considering the state of christendom, or at least, of a great part of our own country, is there, on the whole, less that requires and promises to repay our first care, our first exertions, and our most liberal pecuniary offerings? The reproach which heathens cast upon us, judging of Christianity from what they too often see, is just. And with as much justice, could they see more of us,-could they see how little interest is excited in the cause of the conversion of those among ourselves, who know not God, and of the reformation of those who know, but live without him in the world;—with as much justice, could they see how our domestic missionary societies are patronized, and how their anniversaries are attended, might they taunt us with the proverbs, "physician, heal thyself!" "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou mayest see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Yes, justly might they reproach us, that we are so cold, so indolent, and so sparing in this first claim upon our zeal, and labour, and expenditure in the cause of our religion.'

It is not my intention to enlarge upon this topic, but simply to present it to the serious consideration of all who feel for the interests of religion. There is an apathy most truly astonishing on this subject, from which it is exceedingly desirable that the christian public should be roused. There is perhaps no public object of an importance by any means equal, which is so coldly

advocated and so poorly patronized. There are those who devote to it their thoughts and exertions, but they are miserably encouraged and aided by the community. This is easily seen by looking at any statement of the contributions which are made for various purposes of religious benevolence. I do not possess the means of making a detailed statement on this point, nor is it necessary. The few items I can produce will sufficiently prove, that there is a less general desire to promote the spread of the gospel amongst the destitute of our own land, than to accomplish either of the other designs of christian charity.

DOMESTIC PURPOSES.

Receipts of the Massachusetts Domestic Missionary Society from Feb. 1, to May 10, $112.45: making about $450 a year. The annual contributions to the Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts, average not more than $500.

In the month of April, the Connecticut Education Society received $92. = about 1,100 a year.

=

The American Education Society, $953. about 11,500 a

year.

The contributions to the Society for propagating the Gospel amongst the Indians, &c. for 1821, were $757. The permanent fund, $23,356.

FOREIGN PURPOSES.

During April, the United Foreign Missionary Society (Conn.) received $818.93. about $9,800.

=

During the last year the receipts of the Massachusetts Missionary Society, were $1,656.

From April 18 to May 14, the American Board for Foreign Missions received $3,322.53, besides about $500 in boxes of clothing. Contributions to this Board amount to not far from $60,000 annually.*

What a poor place is found for home missions amidst all this splendid and bountiful expense! Is it not melancholy that christian compassion has so little thought for those who are suffering in spiritual want in our own growing land, and makes no more effort to keep off from our new settlements and old parishes the shadows of irreligion and heathenism! When we think

* In connexion with this is to be remembered that 12,000 copies of the Missionary Herald are distributed. We do not know how many are subscribed and paid for; but supposing it to be two thirds of the whole number, we here have $12,000 expended for foreign missions to be added to the above amount.

of the contrasts of zeal and money exhibited in the preceding statements, is not every one reminded of our Lord's cautionThese ought ye to have done, but not to leave the others undone. Is there not a criminal sleepiness in this matter? Especially, let me ask, is there not an imperious call upon those, who doubt the duty and deny the expediency of attempting the conversion of the distant heathen world, and who withhold their aid from that work on the plea that there is much to be done at home-to apply themselves earnestly to these domestic exertions? Is not indifference and neglect in them doubly inexcusable and shameful? Are they not bound to quicken their zeal and increase their efforts, lest they be convicted of a gross and disgraceful inconsistency y?

My only object at present is to throw out a few hints on a subject of great and pressing interest, to whose claims we are too insensible. I hope that others will be found to pursue it, and urge it with all the force and eloquence which it deserves.

WELL DOING THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST EVIL SPEAKING.

It is a fault finding world in which we live, and it must be allowed that there is a great deal of fault to be found. That there is ample room for censure and condemnation, is not, however, an excuse for censoriousness, and harsh and hasty judgment. It is important that vice should be discountenanced and scourged by the expression of both private and public opinion, that error. should be openly noticed, that folly should meet with the ridicule which it deserves, that the weak and the wicked should, in the proper manner, and at the proper time, be held up for chastisement and scorn-but this is no reason why the spirit of detraction should be tolerated, or why we should not complain when we are misrepresented and unjustly reviled.

But complaining will only show our sense of the injury, without bringing us redress; it will tell of our suffering, but will not prove it unmerited, nor command a cure. Neither can we

always justify ourselves by words, for we shall often lack the opportunity, and sometimes even the power. There is one method left, however, which is at all times in our power, which should invariably be adopted, and which cannot fail of successwe may justify ourselves by our actions. Explain our motives and our principles as we may, there are a great many people who will not, and a great many who cannot understand them, a great many who make it their pleasure, and a great many who

think it their duty, to put such a construction on them as we will not allow, and infer such consequences from them as never existed. It is a consolation then to know that there is a sovereign efficacy in virtue and good conduct which will either bring such people to their senses, or at any rate, place us above the reach of their ignorance or ill will.

On this subject, the words of St. Peter in the second chapter of his first epistle, are strikingly explicit and forcible. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. In the early ages of christianity, they, who were, by the force of education, habit and prejudice, strongly attached to the religion of their fathers, together with those who were, from interest, determined at all events to support it, accused the followers of Jesus of every crime and enormity for which the novelty of their faith could afford the least colour of a pretext, or which malice and ingenuity could suggest. They spoke against them, as we learn from this same chapter,' as evil doers,' and particularly as being animated by a seditious, rebellious spirit, and a design to overthrow or undermine the constituted authorities of the empire. St. Peter, therefore, earnestly beseeches them to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; to have their conversation honest among the Gentiles; so that whereas they spoke against them as evil doers, they might, by their good works which they should behold, glorify God in the day of visitation--meaning by these words, that the heathens would be so affected by the meekness, forbearance and fortitude with which the christians would endure abuse and persecution, that many would become convinced of the truth which they saw so nobly supported, and would embrace a religion so effectually recommended by the conduct of its votaries. And in order to repel the particular charge of seditious intentions, he commands them to submit themselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, he continues, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. if he had said-It is the immutable will of God, it is the eternal course and constitution of things, that uprightness, truth and virtue, shall at length prevail. Let ignorance and folly misapprehend and deride, let prejudice and malice and detraction reiterate their calumnies, let licentiousness scoff, let bigotry persecute, and let fanaticism rave; WELL DOING is the universal rhetoric, the divine, irresistible eloquence, the steady, invincible, unanswerable argument, which, sooner or later, will silence them

As

all. Only persevere, therefore, in a course of virtuous conduct, only be innocent when you are accused of being criminal, only do well when you are accused of doing ill, only obey the civil magistrate in all things lawful, when you are accused of despising and resisting his authority, and every clamour will die away -you will be first respected, then tolerated, and then believed. What was the event? The most ample success. The scene was reversed. The small stone swelled into a mountain; the mustard-seed became a tree. The humble sect which had been wronged, opposed and persecuted, gathered strength upon strength, and grew, and rose up, and burst its fetters, and scattered abroad the kindled faggots, and snapt asunder the iron rod of tyranny. It was not long, before christianity came forth from the caves of the forest and the dwellings of the dead, where she had been fearfully offering her prayers, and performing her rites, by the dim ray of a solitary lamp, and marched into the lighted temples which had been purified for her reception (alas, for her that they were not more thoroughly purified!) It was not long, before the christian name was changed from a byeword of obloquy to a title of honour. It was not long, before the christian religion became the religion of the empire; before there was a christian Cæsar upon the throne of the world.

Between those times and these, circumstances have created a most important difference; and yet there are few, even now, if any, who are so far exempted from the common lot, as not to be exposed, in a greater or less degree, to misconception and slander. In such cases, the advice of the apostle is always good advice-the very best-and they who take it will never be disappointed in its efficacy.

The standard of propriety and feeling established by society is not, at all times, and in every situation, that which is sanctioned by the heart; and the rule of action which is followed by the world does not always coincide with that prescribed by heaven. If a man is determined to remain at peace with his Maker and himself, he must sometimes be at war with those who are about him. There are laws to which he is required to conform, there are idols before which he is commanded to bow himself down, upon pain of incurring the displeasure and proscription of those who have forgotten their allegiance to the Lord of Hosts. If he persists in resisting these unauthorized demands, the threatened vengeance is taken. He is stigmatized with those epithets of opprobrium which can be pressed into any service, and which are the most appropriately ranked in that which is the vilest. He is called a coward perhaps, because he fears to offend the author of his being, and dares to endure the conse