acceptance of man. As a code of laws, its excellency is undisputed-its precepts have been eulogized cven by its enemies! Its predictions bear the marks of inspiration, and relate to the grandest features of human history.

The resurrection of the dead-the final judgment of all mankind, and the eternal destinies of all created intelligences, are also among its revelations. Its promises are eminently calculated to support the mind of the sinking penitent, the afflicted believer the persecuted disciple, and the dying saint, and its faithful warnings have been the means of turning many to righteousness, who shall "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever."

The rites and ceremonies of pure Christianity are few and simple, and easily comprehended; its yoke is easy and its burden is light. It reqires no pilgrimages but those of faith, and prayer, and love; the first to the cross; the second to the throne of grace; and the last to the abodes of affliction and want. It enjoins no penance but that of unfeigned sorrow for sin, and a life of self-denial. To the guilty it offers pardon without money and without price. To the weary and heavy laden, it affords rest; and to the troubled, peace. Judaism, in comparison of Christianity, is as the light of the moon to the light of the sun; while Mahommedanism and Paganism are as the glimmering of the stars; and Infidelity is as a sky obscured by clouds, whose angry thunders roll, and vivid lightnings flash but to alarm and terrify, and whose meteors blaze but to astonish and affright.

The most distinguishing feature of the Christian religion is, Love. "God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son." "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor." "Love your enemies," says Christ, "bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." From the overflowing fountain of infinite goodness the Christian derives the principle of love, and in imitation of the example of "Him who loved us, and gave himself for us," he ex ercises himself in the work of benevolence.

To Christianity the world is indebted for all that is worthy of the name of charity. What institutions for the relief of suffering humanity has it not founded? What associations for the bettering of the condition of the poor, has it not formed? What energies has it not employed to rescue man from the degradation of sin? What sacrifices has it not made? What sufferings has it not endured, in order to lessen human woe, and increase human happiness? "To dissipate the most accumulated ignorance-to put to shame the boldest vice-to correct all manner of irregularities in society-to subdue the most inveterate enmity to God, and hatred to man-to root out wickedness from the earth, and to

restore peace on earth and good will to man, it has lent its influence and its councils, its eloquence and its prayers." To rescue the slave of sin, and to let the oppressed go free, it has given its gold and the blood of its martyrs. Where are the ignorant it has not offered to instruct-the vicious it has not endeavored to reclaim-the profligate it has not assayed to reform-the abandoned it has not directed to a better course?

Behold, in Christianity, the oppressed praying for the tyrant, and the injured forgiving the aggressor! If the Christian religion be what it professes to be, a revelation from God, if its doctrines, its precepts, its promises, and its predictions be in harmony with the character of an all-perfect Being, and the best interests of man; if the evidence of its divine origin be clear and convincing, and the truth of its alledged facts can be demonstrated; if in comparison of this, the Mosaic economy, which was evidently of God, were only "the shadow of good things to come, and could never make the comers thereunto perfect"-if that dispensation had no glory in comparison of this, may we not safely conclude that it was the design of heaven that this religion, which, at the first, was as "a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains," should fill the earth with its fruit?

If, again, compared with this divine system, all others are but gross impostures, having their origin in the pride and ambition of the human heart, being so framed as to foster and gratify every corrupt propensity of an evil nature, and requiring the power of the sword to defend them, and the sanction of re

mote antiquity or kingly power to keep them in countenance, does it not follow that that dispensation which was to "bring in an everlasting rightousness, and make an end of sin," should be the one that infinite mercy designed to break in pieces and destroy every opposing interest, and should stand forever and forever?

If, once more, there be no other system which offers pardon to the guilty, reconciliation to the penitent offender, adoption to the stranger and the outcast, purity to the polluted, peace to the disconsolate, and hope to the dying, is it not desirable that this should prevail, that this way of our God should be known in all the earth, and this, his saving health, in all nations?

There is one feature of the religion of Christ, which its advocates are apt to overlook-the obligations which it imposes upon its friends and followers to improve their talents, to let their light so shine before men that they may see their good works, and glorify their Father who is in heaven. The principles of reciprocal kindness, and of active benevolence, are strongly inculcated by the founder of the Christian religion. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "Be ye therefore merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful." 66 Freely ye have receiv

ed, therefore freely give."

That these principles may be brought into successful operation, it seems necessary that Christians should make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the present moral condition of the world,

and of the spiritual wants of their fellow men. On the supposition that the world contains 800 millions of inhabitants, and that 600 millions of that number are destitute of the blessings of Christianity, we see at once how much the exertions of Christians are needed, in order that the world may become evangelized.

Part of the above 600 millions, it is true, (the Jews) have "the lively oracles of God," which they may consult; but, alas! alas! the veil is on their heart. Their temple has fallen-their prophets are dead-their priesthood has vanished. For them, no Moses now lifts his rod to guide them through the desert, or strike the flinty rock whence living waters flow; no Aaron offers incense, or Joshua draws his sword; no pillar of a cloud overshadows them by day, or illuminates them by night; no manna falls from heaven around their tents, or. trump of Jubilee proclaims their captives free. Not even so much as a dispensation of miracles, and types and shadows of good things to come, proclaims to them that the day of their redemption draws nigh.

"See where o'er desert wastes they err,

And neither food nor feeder have;

Nor fold, nor place of refuge near;

For no man cares their souls to save."

They were, indeed, the natural branches of the good olive tree, but they are now broken off, and lie withering on the ground. The tree itself is, in a certain sense, cut down, the branches are cut off, the leaves and the fruit are scattered, the beasts are