them more or less influence, which is, of course, exerted for the establishment and diffusion of those habits and customs in which they have been trained. It is, in many instances, no disqualification to a missionary that he has been, in the earlier part of his life, engaged in some manual labour, nor that his mental and moral cultivation are not of the highest and most refined nature. By these circumstances, the amount of useful influence which he can exert, is often greater than it could be otherwise. In no few instances, missionaries have introduced in uncivilized countries, many of the more useful arts, or improved the rude skill of the natives-enhancing their comforts, and lessening the precariousness of subsistence which is usually found in semi-barbarous tribes. The physical benefits thus conferred, give the herald of the Gospel a hold on the heart, not otherwise to be obtained; and secure for him a respectful and attentive hearing as to the great message which he has to announce. To aid the great work of civilization, the influence of the press once, nay still, though not so extensively, deprecated by the mistaken friends of religion-is largely employed; and the influence of education, another cause of terror to the timid and the designing, is brought to bear. This machinery, if it does nothing more, must amend the physical and moral condition of those who are subject to its power; they will, as a matter of course, rise in the scale of existence-rise, as it were, to a new and a better life; and within a few generations, there will be seen the delightful spectacle of flourishing cities, an intelligent population, and a cultivated and fruitful soil-where before, barbarism and sterility and rapine, had universally prevailed. Viewed in this light, the effects of missionary enterprise deserve no small meed of praise. It is well that barbarous countries are civilized -it is better that they are civilized, without the cost which has heretofore been paid for the benefits which were gained. Let any one compare this mode of extending civilization, with that which chiefly prevailed in ancient times; let him trace the peaceful steps of the missionary, and then the bloody path of Alexander, and declare which way is preferable. But benefits of a higher order, have abundantly followed the labours of the servant of the Cross. On Greenland's icy mountains, On India's coral strand, Where Afric's sunny fountains -the sounds of salvation have been proclaimed, accepted, and made a blessing. In some instances, as at Otaheite and the neighbouring islands, a nation has been born in a day-success the most splendid and gratifying, has been reaped. These triumphs, however, are not the rule, but the exception. Still, it is not to be denied, that the power of the Gospel is felt, in different parts of the globe, by thousands, who but for missionary labours, would yet have been in the bonds of iniquity, superstition, and idolatry. Now, let our readers contemplate the great work, the outline of which we have sketched, and say, if there is not in it much to strike the imagination, to affect the heartto call for our best wishes, as well as our prayers. Is there any employment in which they would prefer that the contributions of the charitable should be expended, than in endeavours to extend, at home and abroad, the blessings of knowledge, goodness, and vital religion? Let the mere man of the world deny, if he can, that there is something truly great in those splendid acts of benevolence -in myriads of persons being actuated by a principle so hostile to the narrow policy of worldlings, that it is "more blessed to give than to receive"-in thousands of recipients being rescued from the thraldom of debasing ignorance and superstition, and ten thousand times ten thousand of the rising generation growing in knowledge, regular habits, and pious dispositions, as they grow in years. To recur to our former illustration:-Let him look at states that he is apt perhaps to extol to the skies; let him seek in Greece and Rome, the parallel of the delightful spectacle now placed before him, and he will in his researches be met with scenes of cruelty and blood, far worse than those which in this day disgrace even the lowest part of our population; or, if his quest be made in the month of May, when benevolence actuates so many thousands of our fellow countrymen with new, strong, and pleasurable emotions he may hear of the unbounded licentiousness of the Floral games; and then let him determine which employment of the season is better-which sacrifice more pleasing to God. One concession we think even the unbeliever must feel himself bound to make-namely, that the Christian religion has done much to raise the tone of moral feeling, and purify the motives, not merely among the more elevated, but also among the working classes of society. This is too obvious to admit of denial. And we ask our Unitarian brethren, if these holy labours find not an approval in their breasts-if they do not desire to bear their part in the great work of civilizing and evangelizing the world? It is a work, it seems to us, in which, after the example has once been shown, no Christian should hesitate to join. We are not ignorant of the peculiar circumstances in which Unitarians are placed, and the difficulties which hence arise to their engaging actively in missionary labours. Still we would have them look to such labours as their imperative duty, to be entered on at every convenient season, whether at home or abroad. Let the duty be fully recognised, and then the tone of society amongst us, will remove some and obviate other difficulties; and we shall either find or make a way, to do at least more for the extension of the Gospel by missionary efforts, than we perform at present. We do not wish to be understood, as the indiscriminate eulogist of the societies to which we have, in this paper, made allusion. We see faults as well as merits in them, and in their machinery; more than we have room even to mention. We can never divest our minds of the thought, that the doctrinal principles which they are conveying to every part of the globe, and infusing into the minds of the rising generation, are for the most part, as we think, heathen corruptions in a Christian garb. We cannot but believe, that these corruptions hinder the progress of the Gospel, and impair its influence. Nor would it be difficult to collect from missionary reports, instances in confirmation of this assertion. In these things we are bound to bow, in humble resignation, to the ordinations of His providence who out of evil constantly educes good; while we rejoice to observe, that the antidote accompanies the bane, in the mental activity and means of correct information which attend on missionary labours. From the diffusion of the Bible, we hope every thing. It will, as it has done and is daily doing, either neutralize or subvert error; and if the process is not so rapid and extensive as could be desired, the great object that should engage our attention is, that we do not by our unfaithfulness give error an undue advantage. Let us each do our duty; and in the way of duty, we may without anxious concern, leave the result to the disposal of Him who ordereth all things well. The want of success, which either does, or by our orthodox brethren is supposed to attend on the labours of our ministers and missionaries, is often mentioned to show that the hand of God is against us. The inference is rather rash, as the objector might be made easily to feel, by a detail of instances in which, considering the extent of means he has in his power, the most signal failures have been suffered. Without referring, however, to missions actually abandoned; we find in the Missionary Register of the last twelvemonth, even in spite of the vagueness of language, which labours to make what is small appear great, and what is insignificant appear considerable abundant proof, that orthodox missionaries have often, to quote the words of one of them, "to exercise that faith which against hope believeth in hope." G. C. S. Sunday Evening.-By John Bowring, Esq. L.L.D. WELCOME the hour of calm repose, Who wak'd the morning's earliest beam. And in this wilderness beneath It may be that th' Eternal Mind Bends sometimes from its throne of bliss; But in an hour so bless'd as this An hour of calm tranquility Silent, as to welcome Thee? Yes, if the Great Invisible, Descending from his seat divine, But in the heart of man, who bears Now let the solemn thought pervade Then hold communion, Lord! with Thee, Thy image, purified from sin That love which over all is shed, To Him alike the living stream And the dull regions of the grave; All watch'd, protected all by Him Whose eye can see, whose arm can save In the cold midnight's dang'rous gloom, And the dark prison of the tomb. Thither we hasten-as the sand Drops in the hour-glass, never still; What is our duty here? to tend From good to better, thence to best; Grateful to drink life's cup, then bend Unmurmuring to our bed of rest; To pluck the flowers that round us blow, Scattering their fragrance as we go. |