v them that the Protestant faith gives no coune to that laxity of morals, and worse than ous superstitions, which disgrace the Roman

in the east. The number of converts might led to any amount, if it were lawful to use the ul expedients to which the Romish priests for the purpose; but the faithful Missionary now, that Christianity admits of no such comwith the wickedness and superstition of man. hould he baptize a convert with whose sincerity eason to be dissatisfied. Better were it for him ad his days in sowing the seed of the Divine incheered by the sight of a single blade, than d the vineyard of his Lord with such noxious Whilst labouring faithfully under discouragee should remember that he is still doing his s work; and that he will receive from Him as laudit-" Well done, thou good and faithful -as ifhis labours had brought forth abundantncrowding the field with tares, through neglect y to examine the candidate's motives and chaor from any other cause, he would incur a responsibility, and be in a great measure ane for all the reproach which his unworthy s might bring upon the Redeemer's name. che trials of his spirit arising from such a e must find the burden hard to bear; for he e unable to rest in the Divine promises with ength of faith which would support him, if cience wholly approved of all that he had and could testify that the word of the Lord n his only guide. "He that hasteth to be

rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him" (Prov. xxviii. 22). Far be it from me so to apply this text as to appear to insinuate the possibility that any Missionary could have a questionable design in lengthening the catalogue of his converts. Yet the admonition of the passage is not impertinent. "He that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa. xxviii. 16). If a Missionary would grow "rich in faith," be filled" with all joy and peace in believing," and "abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Rom. xv. 13), he must exercise great caution in receiving those who profess to believe the Gospel.

He

He ought to subject them to a close and careful examination, and to extend the period of their probation until a reasonable time has been given for any sinister motive that may exist to develop itself. must expect especially to be tried by the dissimulation of persons coming to him for instruction, under apparent impressions of the truth, but who at length will evince that they were actuated from the first by worldly expectations. He should be prepared for the frequent recurrence of such cases in a heathen land, Many an inquirer will come day after day, listen attentively to what he hears, avow himself convinced of its truth, and seem to promise well: when, just as their teacher is beginning to rejoice over them as " brands plucked from the burning," he will be disappointed, perhaps grieved at heart, by the detection of their real motives. He cannot but feel it very hard indeed to preserve a true missionary spirit under the repetition of such disappointments.

im not be discouraged. He should be paron his guard against the feeling of distrust all future inquirers. Such a feeling may be expected to arise in his mind, under ances so painful; but he should instantly t. For, although hitherto all may have been es, yet the next may prove a sincere disciple, ld be disheartened by an apparent suspicion acher, and retarded in his progress.

ever to be confounded with suspicion.
in the admission of candidates for baptism,
ys be the Missionary's duty. But to suspect
thout cause, would tend to hurt his own
nd to chill his love for them and others:
manifest that suspicion by a repulsive man-
ld generally shut the mouth of an humble
and make his spirit sad. However difficult
may be, yet the missionary should endeavour
his mind free from distrust, and his heart
Ith affection; that he may be ready to receive
e in future with the same kindness and at-
which he would have shewn if he had never
ceived.

TREATMENT OF THE CONVERT'S PREPOSSESSIONS AND INFIRMITIES.

WHEN a missionary is sufficiently satisfied of a candidate's sincerity to baptize him, he should deal cautiously with his predilections. It can never be too freely proclaimed, that the Gospel covenant is intended to remove every yoke from the shoulders of those who embrace it. But there are many converts from idolatry in the present age, as there were from Judaism in the days of the Apostles, who cannot immediately renounce their long-cherished habits, and shake off their prejudices, to walk in the liberty of Divine truth. St. Paul saw and deplored the weakness and ignorance which led many of the earlier Christians to refrain from food which was prohibited under the Levitical law, and to celebrate the festivals of the Mosaic dispensation. He knew that all such abstinence and ceremonies were superseded by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that their retention could serve only to fetter the liberty, retard the progress, and obscure the light of the New Testament. Nevertheless, he is very cautious not to do violence to such scruples, and cherishes these babes in Christ with all the tenderness of a careful nurse. Those not sufficiently advanced in the faith to eat of his "strong meat," he feeds with "milk," even "the sincere milk of the word." Every missionary to Jews, heathen,

nmedans must expect to meet with similar in some converts to the Christian faith: nnot too faithfully emulate the conduct of St. that of a greater than St. Paul," who feeds like a shepherd: gathers the lambs with His d carries them in His bosom, and gently se that are with young" (Isai. xl. 11). The would be, comparatively, an easy work, had ing to do but to publish our message to the d denounce every one who did not instantly t in all its fulness. But "a wise masterproportions his fabric to its foundation, and with care the materials that compose it. The teacher adapts his lessons to the capacity cholar; and the faithful minister, his docd admonitions to his disciple's measure of ge and faith. But herein consists the pecuculty of the religious teacher's office. He Lo easy task thus to become all things to all yet continue faithful to his Lord. Who, an abundant measure of Divine wisdom and à love, will consent repeatedly to stop and weak over the threshold, and slowly lead ng the beginnings of the way which he has left far behind? Who would not rather exn all the sublimities of revealed truth, and to which it leads, than be perpetually inthe first principles of godliness? But withcondescension to the ignorance and infirmithe weaker brethren," no missionary, no can walk with fidelity either towards his the lambs of his flock. The Apostle Paul