missionary, unless he was to be employed solely as a translator of the scriptures and tracts, or in compiling grammars and dictionaries of the native languages. Though he must be capable of close application to study, in order to acquire those extensive stores of knowledge, which so important a work requires, yet he must be more a man of active than of studious habits. He must labour in season and out of season; he must often be journeying from place to place; he must be ready to seize every opportunity of usefulness; he must ever be striving to win souls to Christ. Finally, the Christian missionary would require no ordinary share of PRUDENCE and COMMON SENSE. Some men who are not destitute of talents are yet essentially defective in these important qualities. There is a rashness about them which leads them to act before they think; they do not take a comprehensive view of things; they cannot weigh circumstances; they do not foresee consequences; they seem incapable of judging in practical matters. Such defects in a Christian missionary may be productive of the most baneful results, especially as he is often placed in new and peculiar circumstances, in which none of the ordinary maxims of human prudence will be sufficient to direct him, and where he can have no opportunity of obtaining the advice of a wise and faithful counsellor.

5thly. Examine yourself as to your DEPENDANCE ON GOD, for direction, assistance, and success. Whatever be a man's intellectual endowments, though he possess the talents and the eloquence of an angel, yet unless they are accompanied by an humble dependance on God, he is not likely to be very successful in winning souls to Christ. There is, perhaps, no feature by which useful ministers, and useful missionaries have been so uniformly distinguished, as by a deep sense of their own insufficiency, and of their entire dependance on the divine assistance and the divine blessing. "Them that honour me," says God, "I will honour, but they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." The apostle Paul, when he was in danger of placing confidence in himself, was visited with a thorn in the flesh, to teach him his dependance on God; and it is worthy of notice, that he learned this important lesson so completely, that he gloried even in his weakness. "Most gladly," says he, "will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me; for when I am weak then I am strong." The Moravians, who have been among the most successful missionaries in modern times, have in like manner been singularly distinguished by a deep feeling of their own weakness, and by their simple trust in God. Now in whose strength do you propose to go forth to the work? You will probably answer in the strength of the Lord God. But is this any thing more than a matter of theory with you? Is it merely a part of your creed? Is it not only the conviction of

your understanding, but is it the feeling of your heart? Is this feeling not simply slight and transient, but fixed, deep-rooted, permanent? Is your mind completely imbued with it? Is it the language of your heart, "Through Christ strengthening me, I can do all things: without him I can do nothing?" What the state of your mind is in this respect, it will be easy for you to determine by your prayers. Does the feeling of your own insufficiency lead you "in every thing by prayer and supplication to make your requests known unto God?" Conscious of your own ignorance, of your incapacity to judge what course it is best to pursue, of your blindness to the consequences of any measure you may adopt, and of the danger of leaning to your own understanding, do you acknowledge him in all your ways, and implore him to direct your steps? Sensible of your own weakness, and of the deceitfulness and depravity of your heart, do you entreat him to watch over you, to preserve you from falling, and to assist you in the various duties of life? Have you, in a particular manner, made your present proposal the subject of frequent, fervent, and humble prayer? Have you asked directions from Him who alone knows whether you possess the qualifications necessary for the work, and whether you will be useful in it?

Fourthly, Consider your MOTIVES for engaging in the work. Reflect, we entreat you, on the circumstances which first gave birth to the desire in your bosom to go as a missionary among the heathen. Think of those considerations which may subsequently have confirmed and increased that desire. Was it a wish for education? Some, feeling a desire for learning, and not being in circumstances to procure it themselves, think of becoming missionaries with the view of obtaining that which they could not otherwise hope to enjoy. Was it a principle of vanity? Some, witnessing the respect which is shown to missionaries, and seeing such frequent and honourable mention made of them in the present age, may propose to engage in the same glorious work, in the hope that they may also one day make a figure in the world, and see their names and their labours emblazoned in the annals of missions. Was it the ambition of rising in the world? Some, in their present situation, have little other prospect than that of labouring at some manual employment, and struggling, like their parents, with the hardships of their lot; but by becoming missionaries, they will be raised to superior rank, be introduced to better society, and have a more liberal maintainance than they could otherwise hope to enjoy. Was it the desire of visiting foreign lands? Some may offer themselves as missionaries from principles similar to those which sometimes animate the voyager and the traveller, a restlessness of disposition, a dislike to the sober pursuits and the settled habits of

ordinary life, a wish to see the wonders of other countries, and a hope of returning to tell the wonders they have seen. Was it merely a principle of feeling? Some have been touched with the deplorable representations which are given of the condition of the heathen; they have been delighted with the cheering pictures which are often drawn of the prospects of Christian missionaries; and they are animated with desire to engage in a work which presents such pleasing and such cheering scenes. Such are some of the ingredients which appear to constitute the motives of some who offer themselves as missionaries; in the same individual several of these may operate, varied in their proportions, according to his character and circumstances. Let us entreat you to exercise a careful scrutiny of your own heart, and see whether these, or similar unhallowed considerations are what chiefly influence you in offering yourself as a missionary.

But, perhaps, you feel that you are actuated by motives of a higher order. What, then, are the considerations which influence you? Are you animated by concern for the glory of God? Does it grieve your soul to think that the Creator and the Governor of all things should be unknown in that world which his own hands have made; that the grossest and most distorted representations should be given of the perfections of his nature, and that idols of the basest descriptions should usurp that honour and worship which are due to him alone? Are you influenced by the love of Christ? Does the grace of the Redeemer constrain you thus to judge, that if he came from heaven to earth, and assumed the human nature into union with the divine, and suffered, and bled, and died, for your salvation, "you should not henceforth live unto yourself, but to him who died for you; that you are no longer your own, that you are bought with a price, that therefore you should glorify him with your body and with your spirit which are his ;" that you should consecrate yourself, all that you are, and all that you have, to his service? Are you moved with compassion for immortal souls? Does it melt your heart to consider the temporal miseries of the heathen world, consisting of so many millions of your fellow creatures, but especially to think that they are exposed to the wrath, the everlasting wrath of God Almighty? Does this kindle in your soul an ardent desire to carry to them the glad tidings of salvation; to rescue them from devouring fire, from everlasting burnings, and to raise them to glory, honour, and immortality in heaven? Such are the ruling motives which ought to influence the Christian missionary; and unless these are the animating principles of your life, you may rest assured you are not called of God to engage in this interesting work.

Lastly, Consider the ENCOURAGEMENTS to the work. By the various statements which we have submitted to your considera

tion, we have no design to discourage you, but only to try you. We wish you to consider the importance of the work; to weigh its difficulties; and especially to institute a solemn investigation of your qualifications and your motives. You may, perhaps, think that the picture we have exhibited is drawn from imagination; that persons possessed of such high endowments are not to be found, and that the work of a missionary need not, therefore, be viewed in that serious light in which we have represented it. But that we are warranted in drawing strong representations on this subject, is evident from the declaration of the apostle Paul, who, notwithstanding his eminent qualifications for the work, was so overwhelmed with a sense of its solemnity, that he exclaimed, "Who is sufficient for these things?" We cannot, indeed, expect any individual to possess, in a pre-eminent degree, the whole of the qualifications which are desirable in a Christian missionary; but yet unless a man possess them in a certain proportion, and that not a small one, he is more likely to prove injurious than useful to the cause of Christ among the heathen. But though the question of the apostle implies the general truth of such representations as we have given, the Christian missionary has ample encouragement in the promise of our blessed Redeemer: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." While the apostle Paul acknowledges his unfitness for the work, he draws consolation from this consideration: "We are not sufficient of ourselves," says he, "to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who hath also made us able ministers of the new testament." On one occasion, indeed, he received a special promise of assistance and support in his work, and we may consider the same promise as addressed to every faithful missionary: "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Besides having a promise of assistance in his work, the Christian missionary may cheer his heart with a prospect of success. He has no pledge, indeed, that his individual exertions will be successful; but he may labour, and live, and die in the faith, that the cause in which he is engaged will ultimately triumph over all opposition. Nothing can be more animating than the representations by the sacred writers of the future extent and prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom. "It shall come to pass in the last days," says the evangelical prophet, "that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the tops of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." "The wilderness and the solitary place," says the same inspired writer,

"shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing." "He shall have dominion," says the Psalmist, "also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. His name shall endure for ever, his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed." Finally, The faithful missionary has the promise of a glorious reward. Though he must be indebted for salvation solely to the merits of Christ, to the entire exclusion of the works of the law, yet those who have been distinguished in the present world by their labours, and sufferings, and success, in the cause of the Redeemer, will enjoy higher degrees of glory in the heavenly world, and will have sources of happiness peculiar to themselves. "There is no man," says our Lord, "that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." "They that be wise," says Daniel, "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." And the apostle Paul, in speaking of the converts by his ministry, styles them his hope, his crown, and his glory.'

We conclude by earnestly entreating you to make your present proposal the subject of much serious consideration. A resolution of so much importance, and which involves in it such momentous consequences, ought not to be hastily taken; and if it is but lately that you have formed the desire to engage in this work, it is peculiarly desirable that you should take some time for further deliberation before you finally decide. Let us also recommend to you the reading of such books as may be useful in assisting you to come to a proper determination on the subject, and especially that you will make it matter of earnest prayer for direction from Him who alone can guide you in the path of duty.

Signed in the name of the directors.-Wesleyan Meth. Mag.

From Harmer's "Miscellaneous Works:" 1823.

LETTER ON PERSONAL AND FAMILY RELIGION,
BY THE REV. THOMAS HARMER,

Author of "Observations on various passages of Scripture.”

To Mr. R. A.

Wattesfield, October 16th, 1778.

MY DEAR YOUng friends,-For I intend this letter for all four, though the name of the eldest brother alone appears distinctly pointed out in the superscription of it. As the connexion