Holy Ghost hath made us overseers? Can we adopt the language of Paul-a man as eminent for unfeigned humility as for other christian graces, "I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe; as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." "Now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you." Brethren, let us study the model of a pastor according to God's heart, as described by Paul in his epistles to Timothy and Titus, and especially as exhibited in his own example. What love to Christ do we perceive, which many waters could not quench, or floods drown-what zeal-what heart-felt conviction of the reality, importance, and excellency of the Gospel-what compassionate regard for the souls of menwhat faithfulness in reproof, blended with consummate prudence and exquisite delicacy of feeling-what unbending steadfastness in vindicating the truth, combined with the largest liberality in reference to things indifferent-what holy courage in prospect of danger and death, coupled with the liveliest sensibility in regard to the sufferings of others-what simplicity of intention, united with the utmost versatility of address !" You see constant devotedness to ONE great object in every variety of situation in which he is placed. Whether in the syna gogue, or on Mars' Hill, before Felix and Agrippa, or addressing the Apostles, his brethren; whether preaching to a company of believers or exhorting the elders; on the sea or on the land, in the city or the desert; whether labouring as a tent-maker in Corinth, or confined in prison for the testimony of Jesus Christ, or in prospect of death as a martyr, you discover unity in his character. In all this diversity of action and suffering, and through a succession of many years, one spirit animated him—of which his own language is the best expression. To me to live is Christ. love of Christ beareth me away. The And yet Paul was but a man, subject to like passions as we are. By the grace of God he was what he was-and God is ready to impart his grace to us in rich abundance. "Ask, and ye shall receive." "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him " My brethren, is not the gospel as glorious now, as when Paul preached it? Is not Christ as precious, is not the church as valuable, are not the souls of men as dear, is not man's life as short, and eternity as long as they were eighteen centuries ago ? Are not our obligations to him who has had mercy on us, and put us into the ministry, infinitely great? Why then should we be contented to remain so far inferior, in personal piety, to the apostle of the Gentiles? Most surely, no fatal necessity exists, keeping us down to so low a standard of religion; and though we admit not the doctrine of absolute perfection-yet we must admit, that it is possible for min isters and christians in general to arrive at a much higher degree of humility, love, zeal, faith, and fruitfulness in good works than the greatest part of us attain. Each of us, doubtless, can say with the apostle, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect." Let us then with the apostle Do this one thing, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 66 Keep thy heart with all dili gence," is an injunction peculiarly important to the pastor; yet he is in some respects peculiarly liable to neglect it. Let us be aware of this, and constantly avail ourselves of the great christian privilege of repairing to the all-sufficient Redeemer, and receiving of his fulness and grace for grace. As ministers of the word, we enjoy special advantages for the cultivation of personal religion; these it becomes us to improve to the utmost. But we must not forget that we are exposed to peculiar hinderances and dangers, against which we shall do well to be on our guard. Let us be in heart devoted to this great work. Like the apostles, let us give ourselves to prayer, and, as far as practicable, to the ministry of the word. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." The ministry of reconciliation which God has committed to us is sufficient to occupy all our time, and engross and absorb all our powers; and consequences infinitely momentous are connected with the discharge of its duties. Engaged in such a work, called to be watchmen unto the house of Israel, shall we sleep on our posts? Spiritual sluggishness is exceedingly sinful in us. JULY, 1825. The love of money, pride, indolence, selfishness-Ye men of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Let us take heed unto ourselves, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, we shall both save ourselves, and them that hear us. 2. The subject discussed admits of a very appropriate application to churches destitute of Pastors. If the doctrine contained in the text be true, then such churches are destitute of one of the greatest blessings which God can bestow on his people. Ought they to remain satisfied while in this situation? Shall a church view the gift of a Pastor as a trifling blessing?-one which they can very well dispense with ?-one which is not of sufficient value to justify them in making efforts, and enduring sacrifices to obtain, while God pronounces such a blessing great ? Brethren, ye who are members of churches without pastors, consider you are destitute of something exceedingly desirable and valuable. You want a Pastor after God's heart. This is his gift. Look then to him for it. Let earnest, united, persevering prayer ascend to him for this favour. Pray with humility and repentance. Israel was exhorted to acknowledge their iniquity, and turn unto the Lord, and then was added the gracious promise, I will give you pastors. Beseech the great Head of the church to send you undershepherds adapted to your peculiar circumstances, those whom he shall bless, and who shall be to you, and, if their lives are continued, to your children, rich and lasting blessings. But each of such churches should combine exertion with prayer. Inquire. Grudge not expense and labour in endeavouring to ascertain whether a suitable person may be obtained. Though the whole church should 26 be interested in the object, yet it || may be expedient to appoint a Committee whose duty it shall be to attend particularly to this one thing. such as he and your own conscience shall approve. If you had an adequate impression of the value of the ministry, and a strong attachment to the preached gospel, few of you would hesitate on the point of ability. Suppose each family should contribute but half as much as it would Persevere in the effort. Yield not to listlessness or despondency. God will in due time bless you with the desired gift. Meanwhile forsake not the assembling of your-expend in bringing up a child from selves together. But does any infancy to an age at which it is one say, If it be the will of God, capable of earning its own living, we shall certainly have a Pastor, would not a sum be raised sufand if it be not his will, we must ficient for the comfortable maintebe contented without one? The nance of a pastor? You are a paanswer is obvious.-If it be God's rent, and God gives you another will you should have a Pastor, it is son or daughter. Do you now his will you should pray, and in say, I must leave this child to perother ways exert yourselves to ob-ish or give it up to strangers? No. tain the object. It would be unnatural, monstrous to do thus. But suppose God had not given you that child, would you not have been too ready to think and to say, I can do little or nothing for the support of the ministry? Shall we infer from this that you love your child more than you value the gospel? that you feel more deeply interested in the temporal welfare of your little one than in behalf of the souls of your family and neighbours, or in the prosperity of Zion? If you say, God can convert my children and neighbours, whether the gospel be Place not too much reliance on being reconciled to your destitute state. Probably, should you closely scrutinize your feelings, and make suitable allowance for the deceitfulness of the heart, you might find cause to conclude that this apparent resignation is nothing better than dreadful insensibility to the value of the blessing. O brethren, awake to the vast importance of the subject: and for the sake of the church-of your children growing up around you, and of the people who must receive the gospel or perish, stir up your-statedly preached to them or not, selves to take hold of God: let your supplications ascend to him that heareth prayer, and let vigorous efforts attest the sincerity and earnestness of your prayers. You may say, We are too poor to port a Pastor. We answer, Perhaps you are more able than you suppose. Do you honestly think, that if you were to make efforts, and submit to privations and sacrifices which are practicable, and which the magnitude of the object not only renders justifiable, but actually demands, do you honestly think you would not be able to furnish an adequate support? Remember, God, who pondereth the heart, hears your reply. Let it be and he can cause Zion to prosper though no watchman stands on her walls, I answer, it pleases God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. God has sup-appointed the gospel ministry for the edification of the church and the conversion of sinners; and if you feel deeply interested in these two exceedingly important things, you will be solicitous to have the stated ministry of the word among you. But be it granted, that you cannot wholly support a pastor, you ought to do what you can. If you are ready with alacrity to do this, you may reasonably hope, that the great Shepherd will send you one, who, devoted to your spiritual in-churches are situated near togeth terests, will imitate, as far as necessity require it, the example of Paul at Corinth, whose hands min istered to his necessities, being employed in the occupation which he had learned in his early years. And where two or more destitute er, though neither alone could furnish a Pastor with adequate support, yet, unitedly, they might easily do it; and then to their spiritual interests he could be entirely devoted. [To be continued.] REVIEW. A SERMON preached at North Yarmouth,pel to the heathen was one princiFeb. 16, 1825, at the ordination of the Rev. George D. Boardman, as a mis-pal object which God had in view in the mission of his Son. sionary to the Heathen. By JEREMIAH 4. God CHAPLIN, D. D. President of Water- has effected great changes in civil ville College. pp. 41. government to effect its advancement. 5. The approbation of God is manifested by the missionary spirit which within a few years past has been exhibited by the christian church. 6. Evangelizing the heathen advances the kingdom of his Son. 7. The approbation of God may be inferred from the favour which he has shown to missionaries, and the success which has attended their labours. THE appropriate text of this missionary sermon is, Ps. lxxi. 16. "I will go in the strength of the Lord God." The object of the author is to show, 1st. That a missionary to the heathen must stand in peculiar need of divine aid; and 2nd. That he has reason to believe that all the divine aid which he needs will be afforded. The developement of the first head exhibits in a succinct manner the difficulties which a missionary must meet, within and without himself. Among the reasons which he has to expect all needful support are the following: 1. The Lord is able to support his servants. 2. He has promised to support them. 3. In past ages he always has supported them. 4. The work of evangelizing the heathen is one which evidently has the divine approbation. Under this head the author considers the following propositions, which compose about half of the whole body of the sermon. 1. It is a work eminently calculated to promote the best interests of the heathen. 2. The work of evangelizing the heathen is one in which the Lord has expressly authorized his servants to engage. 3. To prepare the way for sending the gos The characteristic traits of this sermon are plainness, good sense, and piety. It aims not at ornament, but it is never inelegant, and will be read by the friends of missions with pleasure and with profit. Its defects, whatever they may be, are visible at once from the skeleton we have given above. It has not sufficient unity of object. Its divisions are too numerous, its propositions not always well arranged, and not unfrequently one is included in another. For instance, as we have remarked, the latter half of the sermon is occupied with the proposition, God approves of missionary effort. It would seem that this assertion could not be very doubtful after it had been proved, that God had promised to assist missionaries, and in fact always had assisted them. We make these remarks not at all in the spirit of carping criticism, but with the honest desire of directing the attention of our younger brethren to the importance of studying thoroughly the plan of a sermon, the consideration above all others on which its rhetorical ex cellence depends. We should not now have made them, but for the deserved eminence of the author, and from the conviction that he would think less of us if we did not freely suggest any thing by which so good a sermon might be in any manner improved. THE MISSIONARY GAZETTEER, comprising a View of the Inhabitants, and a Geographical Description of the Countries and Places where Protestant Mis sionaries have laboured. Alphabetically arranged, and so constructed as to give a Particular and General History of Missions throughout the World. With an Appendix, containing an Alphabetical List of Missionaries, their Stations, the time of Entering, Removal, or Decease. BY WALTER CHAPIN, Pastor of the Church in Woodstock, Vermont. pp. 420. countries and places, where Missionaries have laboured, the state of the heathen, the progress 'made in introducing the Gospel, and the prospect of future success. Intelligence on these subjects and others connected with them, has been extensively circulated within a few years, and has produced an astonishing effect in awaking a spirit of Missions in the Christian publick; but these facts are scattered over the religious publications of the day, and, in a short time, must be measurably forgotten, and cease to exert their proper influ ence without a book of reference. It is true beyond debate, that the zeal of Christians, on the subject of Foreign Missions, will be proportioned to their acquaintance with the wretched state of the heathen,and the practicability of communicating to them the blessings of the Gospel; and that opposition to this cause must originate in ignorance, prejudice, covetousness, or enmity to the Gospel." The following extract will give our readers a comprehensive view of the plan of the work: “At each station is given a geographical description of the place, its relative situation, and the commencement and progress of the Mission. Under the head, Mission, will usually be found the initials of the Society which supports the Mission. These initials and other abbreviations are explained at page 7. The date following the initials signifies the time when the WE presume most of our read- Mission was commenced. The names of ers who are at all interested in Missionaries which follow the dates, are the names of the present incumbents. If missionary exertion have felt the the name of a missionary occur to the want of such a work as this. mind, without a recollection of the station Missions among the heathen are or stations he has occupied, by recurring becoming so multiplied, and occupy Missionaries, in the Appendix, the places to his name in the Alphabetical List of regions with which we have othermay be found: as for instance, against the wise so little intercourse, that it is name, Brainerd, David, the stations occualmost impossible, without devot-pied by that devoted Missionary may be ing more time to the subject than found, and thus the history of his labours either ministers or private chris-been located. If the state and progress of be traced; and so of others who have tians can appropriate, to keep the Missions in any country be sought, the whole field distinctly under the reader has the means of taking a particumind's eye. Hence there is a lar view of the whole by turning to the articles referred to at the close of each vagueness in our impressions on artic general one. For instance, the references the subject, which is exceedingly at the close of the article, Hindostan, will unfavourable to deep interest, and bring to the notice of the reader, if pursuto practical benevolence. As the ed, upward of 200 places in that country, author has correctly remarked in the preface "A vague notion of any subject produces little or no lasting impression. Comparatively little interest will be excited on the subject of missions without distinct views of the relative situation of where Protestant Missionaries have been stationed, or where they have taken efficient measures to introduce the Gospel. If a particular station be sought, it will be found in its alphabetical place, as in a Dictionary-The original and principal design of the work, however, is to supply that deficiency, which every reader of missionary intelligence must have felt |