bility of the missionary life. This holy eminence must be maintained. Level it, and the missionary spirit is suppressed, and every mission to the Heathen is dead. What is the purport of your presenting yourselves here-a spectacle to God, to Angels, and to men? What means this deep feeling; this extended moving and melting of heart?— Let the devotement of the Missionary come to be regarded as in no manner or degree eminent, or especial,—and all this feeling will subside; this moving and melting of heart will cease; and Christians and Christian ministers, finding enough to do at home, will forget the command of the ascending Redeemer, and leave the poor Heathen to perish. Let it then be repeated, and let it be impressed on your minds indelibly, this eminence of sacred devotedness must be maintained.

Hitherto, though Christians, you have been like other Christians, labouring for yourselves, or your families. Henceforth you are to labour for Christ, and all the fruits of your labours, are to be held as irrevocably consecrated to him, for the purposes of his mercy towards the dwellers in the midst of the seas.

You have given yourselves to him for this service; you have made your vows, and you cannot go back. If it be not so, and if this point be not fixed with you, immoveably, stop where you are, and not venture to set foot on that board, which is to bear this holy Mission, to the scene of its labours, and trials, and eventual triumphs.

He who putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not fit for the kingdom of heaven: least of all is he fit for an office in this kingdom so holy as that of the Missionary; for a service in it so sacred as that of the missionary work.

Sincerely devoted, however, as you may now be, you will not feel as though you had already attained, or were already perfect; but remember, that you are still in the body, encompassed with infirmities, and appointed to temptations. If then you have renounced the world; be sure that in this renunciation, there be no reserve. If you

have crucified the flesh; be sure that you make the crucifixion complete,-not sparing the right eye, if it offend,— resolving decisively on the destruction of the sin that easily besetteth you. In the scenes of your mission, there will be urgent need of all this.

Whatever of earthly privations, or labours, or sufferings, or perils await you, they are comparatively as nothing. You may glory in them all; you may count them all joy. Other things, Dearly Beloved, are before you. Your mission is to a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without order, and where the light is as darkness.

To be far removed from these loved dwellings of Zion, where the glory of Jehovah rests with healing and vivifying radiance,—from these temples and these altars of the living God,-from the thousand salutary influences, restraining, quickening, and cheering, of this extended Christian community; to have your residence in the midst of a strange people, who know not Jehovah, nor his ways; on whose dwellings the light of heaven has not shone; to be surrounded with idols, and morais and altars of abomination, and exposed to the impurities, the corruptions, the nameless and numberless baleful influences of an untutored nation, walking after their own lusts, and fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind:-These will be matters of no light kind.-If even here, amidst abundant means, the divine life is hardly maintained, how will it be in that region of death? What will you do there, if not devoted, heart and soul and body, to Christ? And what will become of this Mission, and all the hopes of the church suspended upon it?

We say not these things to distress you, and from no boding distrust respecting you; but that you may have them always in remembrance; and being dead forever to the world, and all that is in the world which is not of God, you may be alive in Christ Jesus, and have life, more and more abundantly through faith in him. You will find Him

in Owhyhee, as you have found him in this land,-a Sun and Shield. His gracious word, Lo,I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,—was sufficient for the first Missionaries of the Cross:-it will be sufficient for you. Sufficient for all the purposes of safety, of support, of guidance, of consolation, of strength, of courage, of success, of triumph, of glory. Abide fixedly on this word, and you will have nothing to want, and nothing to fear; and by example, as well as by instruction, will teach the wanderers of the Isles, to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded you.

2. SUBORDINATION TO RIGHTFUL DIRECTION. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus is a kingdom of order. Missions for the advancement of this kingdom, are to be maintained by a regular, though simple and free polity. The free-will offerings of many Churches, and many thousands of individuals are cast into one Treasury, and committed, for application to the intended objects, to persons duly appointed to the high trust. Upon these sacred funds, and under this constituted direction, approved persons, freely offering themselves for the holy service, are sent forth to evangelize the Heathen. The compact, explicit or implied, engages to them affectionate and provident patronage, maintenance and aid; so long and only so long as they conform themselves to the instructions and regulations of the service. Contempt or disregard of the instructions and regulations, would tend to confusion, and every evil work. The humble and devoted Missionary, therefore, will consider a due observance of the directions of those who are instructed with the weighty concerns of the Mission, as a point of sacred duty on which much is depending. If in his judgment the service might be benefitted by an alteration or modification of any part of the system, or any special order, he may reasonably confide, that his representations made in a proper manner, will receive kind and considerate attention: for of all men in public trust, the managers of Missionary concerns, have evidently, the least inducement to treat those who act under their direction, with unkindness, or neglect, and

the strongest motives to render them every facility, encouragement and aid in the faithful prosecution of their work.

Nor is it much to say, considering the advantages which the managers should be supposed to possess, for a correct judgment, and the responsibilities under which they act, that it will be a very rare case, in which the cause might be served by a Missionary acting upon his own opinion, in repugnance to their established regulations, or deliberate decision.

Like the members of other Missions, you will find it convenient, and necessary to form yourselves into a body politic, having rules and regulations of your own, but conformable or not repugnant, to the directions of the Board, or Prudential Committee; for the orderly management of your joint concerns,-for the due distribution of your means of support, your trusts and your labours,-for the keeping of regular Records, and Journals,-for your correspondence with the Secretary, and accounts with the Treasurer, of the Board, and for various purposes, important to the welfare and success of the Mission. Your economical polity will be founded on the principle established by the Board; "That at every Missionary station, the earnings of the members of the Mission, and all monies and articles of different kinds, received by them, or any of them directly from the funds of the Board, or in the way of donation, shall constitute a common stock, from which they shall severally draw their support, in such proportions, and under such regulations as may from time to time, be found advisable,and be approved by the Board or by the Prudential Committee." And in your general system and particular arrangements, proper regard will be had to the distinction between Missionaries, and Assistants; to respective qualifications for different trusts and parts of the work; to the convenience and satisfaction of individuals; and to the essential interests and objects of the Mission.

To regulations or assignments thus rightfully made by the body, as well as to directions, proceeding immediately

from the Board, or the Prudential Committee; every member will hold himself bound to give heedful observance. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief as he that doth serve. This injunction of the sovereign and gracious Lord of Missions, cannot sink too deeply into your hearts. The spirit of it is vital to the Missionary Character, and to the Missionary Cause.

3. UNITY ONE WITH ANOTHER:-Unity founded in brotherly love,-on charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned,

The words of the Lord Jesus, spoken to his disciples and apostles, just as he was on the point of resigning himself to the Cross, for them and for us, are never to be forgotten: THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YE Love one anotHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. GREATER LOVE HATH NO

MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. YE ARE MY FRIENDS, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU. Yes, says the disciple, who on that same evening, leaned on His bosom, Hereby perceive we his love, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren. This sentiment was felt by the first Christians, and especially by the first Missionaries of the Cross: and the exclamation was extorted from their heathen observers, and other enemies, "See how Christians love one another." The same sentiment should be felt, must be felt now; and especially, by the members of every Christian Mission in heathen lands, and the same impression must be made, on all who have opportunity to observe their quenchless charity, and their indissoluble unity.

You feel now, Dear Brethren, little need of injunction or exhortation on this point; you do love one another; and your feelings would persuade you that your mutual love can never be abated,-your affectionate union never be