determined to decide, and act as soon as he can, the prime of life, waiting for their fathers to ascertain the will of God, this investigation die, that they may occupy their places?* A will be of little use. For he has then no rea-minister of the Church of Scotland, in a recent son to expect that God will teach him his will; and even if he should, what will it avail so long as he is himself undecided whether to obey or not? Besides, if he do not decide whenever duty is made plain, he has fearful reason to apprehend that he will be deserted by that Spirit which God has graciously given to guide him into all truth-left in darkness and doubt about his duty, and even of his acceptance with God, and consequently his usefulness be materially impaired. When the Israelites refused to enter upon the conquest of Canaan as soon as God directed, they were driven into the wilderness: Deut. 1:40. Next, as to the principles upon which this investigation should proceed. The question of personal duty to the heathen is often involved in unnecessary obscurity by the manner in which it is proposed. "Is it my duty to go to the heathen?" Now if Christian and heathen lands were equally well supplied with the means of grace, this form of the question might pass without any serious objections. But even then we might with equal propriety ask, "Is it my duty to remain at home?" When, however, we take into consideration the great disparity between the two fields, or rather the two parts of the same great field, there is a manifest impropriety in the form which the inquiry too generally assumes. Why? Evidently because it assumes false principles upon which to base the decision. It assumes that, unless some special reasons for going are presented, duty bids him stay. Now, upon what principles of evidence or reason it is at once concluded that the least destitute portion of the world has the first claim upon our services, and that too in the face of our Lord's ascending injunction, it is difficult to conjecture. But suppose the investigation to proceed upon these principles, how many will ever find the reasons sought? Some indeed cannot avoid seeing them; but the great mass of those whose duty it clearly is to go would probably never find them. Consequently, they would never go. And may not inany, whose proper place is among the heathen, now be found in Christian lands, in consequence of having acted upon these principles? Else, why is it that more than three hundred and fifty ministers of the Presbyteri. an church in the United States, beside agents, editors of religious journals, and professors in literary institutions, are written" without a charge." Why is it that so many of our young men spend the first four or five years of their licensure about our cities and large towns, or in temporary agencies, looking for a comfortable situation with a large salary? Why is it that so many hundreds in Scotland spend * Minutes of General Assembly. letter to this country, writes as follows: "How are you supplied with preachers? We have a considerable number for whom there is not a field in Scotland,† and many of them promising young men. If any of them should think of emigrating to your country, would they be likely to obtain a respectable settlement among your congregations? If they could be useful in Christ's cause among you, it is a pity they should remain unemployed."-A respectable settlement! Who ever before heard of such an inquiry where the Spirit of Christ and his apostles and martyrs reigned? Why not say, if they could be useful in Christ's cause among the heathen, it is a pity they should remain unemployed? It is enough to make the heart of benevolence writhe with anguish to hear these candidates for "respectable settlements," when they are told of a vacant church, a destitute flock of the fold of Christ. Do they inquire what opportunity it will afford them to testify their love to the Chief Shepherd by their toil, and labor, and self-denial? How large is the field of usefulness? or what the prospect of successfully directing immortal souls to "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world?" No; they are "promising young men;" they must look for something else; their inquiry oftener is, How much will they give? Is it a pleasant situation? Are the people respectable? And are these the men to minister at that altar "where there is nei ther Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncir. cumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all and in all!" Since it is such "a pity they should remain unemployed," it might be well for them to offer themselves to some missionary board. They would, then, if they possessed the proper spirit and qualifications, soon be furnished with parishes extensive enough, and congregations numerous enough, to satisfy their most enlarged desires for usefulness-settlements rich in precious souls for their hire. But, again, suppose the question examined *Missionary paper A. B. C. F. M. No. 15, pp. 3 and 4, where the writer says, "In Scotland alone there at present not less than one thousand educated ministers without charges many of them employed as farmers, and many of them as common parish school.mas. ters-waiting for the removal of the present incumbents, that they may succeed to their livings!" + Is Scotland so thoroughly supplied with the preached gospel? or does this mean, that there are not respectable settlements for their surplus preachers? Philadelphian, July 30th, 1835. and settled on this principle; and because no special reason for going is presented, the inquirer determines to remain at home, can a conscience enlightened by the simple truth as it is in Jesus, and at all imbued with his Spirit, in view of the situation and wants of the heathen world, rest satisfied with such a decision? There are other difficulties which frequently harass the sincere inquirer on this subject. One is the difficulty of ascertaining the motives which induce us to enter upon the missionary work. On this point the mind is sometimes so perplexed as to regard motives as the test of what is duty. Now it is evident that a man's motives can be no index at all to the path of duty. The simple question of duty must be settled independently of the motives which actuate him. Otherwise, no obligation can rest on any one to perform any duty until he has satisfied himself that his motives are pure. The sinner cannot be bound to serve God until his heart is changed and his motives purified. If so, where is his sin? in what does it consist? not in refusing to serve God; for that is not his duty. But it may be asked, would it be right for me to go under the influence of improper motives? This question may be answered by asking another; would it be right to serve God in any other way from improper motives? The question here evidently does not turn upon the purity or impurity of the motive. You are bound to do your duty both to God and man, and to see to it that your motives are pure too. Impurity of motive is a sin to be repented of, not an excuse for the neglect of duty; nor can it ever indicate the path of duty on this subject, any more than in the case just supposed. But if this difficulty applies to one side of this question, it does to the other also. Are you sure, then, that your motives are pure in remaining at home! Surely there is, at least as much danger of acting under an improper influence in the latter as in the former case. Settle this then before you decide to remain at home. Another difficulty is the want of a missionary spirit. Upon the meaning attached to the term "missionary spirit" depends the solution of the difficulty. If by it is meant a kind of passion for missions, which has sprung up without reason and been cultivated without any correct or definite views of the subject, the want of it is not at all to be lamented. But if by it is meant that spirit, the only true or reasonable missionary spirit, which constantly breathes forth its ardent desires for the salvation of perishing immortal souls and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom over the whole world, no man, saint or sinner, is at all ́excusable for not possessing it. Every minister of the gospel is bound to possess such a spirit, and without it he is unfit for his high vocation. It, then, the want of such a spirit is to be regarded as conclusive evidence that it is his duty to remain at home, the evidence is equally conclusive that he ought at once to abandon all thoughts of entering upon the sacred functions of that holy office. Again on this principle, if any one wishes to avoid the trials and responsibilities of a missionary life, he has only to neglect the subject altogether-to neglect to cultivate such a spirit. Then he will never possess it, and will of course be excused from that service. Thus his own sin is made to free him from a service, which otherwise had been most solemnly obligatory. What obligation, it may be justly asked, cannot be cancelled in the same way? This spirit is, like every other Christian grace, a plant which thrives only under diligent culture and withers from neglect-one which every Christian is bound to cultivate. Since Christ was the first missionary our ruined world ever saw, it is safe to say "the spirit of missions is the Spirit of Christ;" and "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." The only other difficulty to be noticed here is a deficiency in talents. Where this defi ciency is clearly made out, it is as clearly the duty of the individual to remain at home. Peculiar stations, however, require peculiar qualifications, natural as well as acquired; and there are situations in heathen lands to be occupied by almost every variety of talents. We do not here intend to assert that none have talents for usefulness at home who would not only be useless but a burden to a mission abroad. Many, however, may mistake a deficiency in acquirements for a want of talent. It is conceded, that this defect may be as fatal as the other, if circumstances do not admit of its being supplied. But until this is clearly ascer. tained, no deficiency of this kind can become a tenable ground of decision to remain at home. It may be adopted, as a general rule, that no deficiencies can form a reasonable excuse for not going to the heathen but such as are not supplied by the promises of God to all who trust in him, or may not be made up by a dili gent use of the appointed means. (To be concluded.) BASLE INSTITUTION. In the Committee room of this Institution, are suspended on the walls portraits of ninetyeight missionaries, sent forth by the German Missionary Society to the heathen world, in the last nineteen years. Of these missionaries seventy-five are still laboring in different parts of the earth, but chiefly, in India. WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. PLEDGE OF THE SYNOD OF PITTSBURGH- pledge of the synod to raise $15,000 for the UNION OF PRAYER AND CONTRIBUTIONS. support of foreign missions. It appeared that the day had been generally observed that a A resolution was passed by the Synod of number of churches had taken up collections Pittsburgh, at their mecting in October last, to and subscriptions for the purpose specified— use vigorous exertions to raise, in the churches that others had made arrangements for doing within their bounds, during the ensuing year, so at approaching communion seasons-and the sum of at least $15,000 for the support of missions under the care of the Western Fo- funds of several benevolent institutions, and some had stated times of contributing to the reign Missionary Society. The Executive would attend to this object in its appropriate Committee of this society, at a meeting held season in their system of operation. The December 5, resolved to adopt measures to amount, therefore, that will be raised within carry out the purpose of the synod, and ap- the bounds of this presbytery cannot yet be pointed a committee of their number to pre-ascertained. But, in reference to particular pare and forward a circular to the members of churches, we may speak with considerable the several presbyteries which compose said synod, earnestly requesting their particular attention to this important object on the first Monday of January, 1837-the day of general concert of prayer for the conversion of the world-or, on the Sabbath immediately succeeding; and that the pastors and sessions would forward, as soon as practicable, reports of the collections made in their respective congregations. certainty, on the evidence presented in the statements of their pastors. But more complete information will be given hereafter in the Chronicle. The first Presbyterian church of Pittsburgh will probably raise, within the year, little short of $800, inclusive of $600, pledged by a unanimous vote of the persons pre-ent, to support a missionary in the foreign field, with the amount that will be raised by the Young Ladies' Missionary Society, and the collections that will be made at the monthly concerts. The sccord Presbyterian church will probably raise at least $500. The third church, which sustains a missionary in China under the care of the American Board, will pay to our treasu rer about $250; the first Presbyterian church of Allegheny, not less than $500; the church of the Northern Liberties, from $150 to $200; the church of East Liberty, about $180; that of Bethany, $185; Hopewell, $30; Raccoon, The contributions of these churches will be published with more precision and certainty after they shall have completed their collections and made their reports to the treasurer. Agreeably to a recommendation of the last General Assembly to all the churches in their communion, to observe the first Monday of this year as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer for the conversion of the world, all the Presbyterian churches in this city and vicinity assembled at their several places of worship, and employed the principal part of the day in religious exercises. Sermons appropriate to the occasion were delivered. Prayers were offered for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, the spread of his gospel among men of every nation, kindred, people, and tongue, and the effusions of his Holy Spirit to give efficacy to the word of his grace, for the conviction, conversion, sanctification, and final salvation We have received little information of the of countless multitudes of our degenerate and contributions that have been made in the ruined race. And, under the full conviction churches of other presbyteries since the cirthat action to promote the cause of God ought cular of the Committee on this subject was ever to accompany prayer, the business of con-issued. But we trust that they will all be tribution for the support of missions among cordial in the work, remembering the words the heathen was taken up, and an opportunity of our Lord-" It is more blessed to give than afforded to the people present to "honor the to receive." "Give, and it shall be given you; Lord with their substance" by contributing, according as he had, prospered them, to the good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over." funds of the society, to aid in the grand enterprise of sending the gospel to all men every where who are yet "sitting in the region and shadow of death," and are living "without God and without hope in the world." At a meeting of the Presbytery of Ohio, held | ult. and manifested very commendable zeal in January 12, inquiry was made at the members in relation to the observance of the day of fast. ing, &c. above mentioned, and they were requested to state what had been done in their respective churches toward redeeming the A LADIES' MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Pittsburgh was organized on the first Monday of January the efforts of the church to raise $600 to support a missionary. They will probably raise, by their subscriptions and collections, nearly or quite one half of this sum. The officers of this society are-Mrs. Robinson, President; Mrs. Peebles, Secretary; Mrs. Denny, Treasu- | and beloved country; to which he has returned, rer. under a sense of duty, with the hope that his impaired health may be renewed. There is THE YOUNG LADIES' MISSIONARY SOCIETY much reason for gratitude to the Giver of every of the first Presbyterian church have, during the last year, raised, partly by subscription, blessing, that his useful life has been prolonged— but chiefly by the use of the needle, the sum of that under all his afflictions, labors, and travels $100, to promote the cause of missions. Of by sea and by land, he has been sustained by this sum, $35 have been appropriated for the the right hand of the Most High-and that support of schools in Northern India; $35 for the support of schools among the Western Indians; there is ground to hope that he will be instruand $20 for the support of schools at Smyrna. mental of good in the increase of a missionary The officers for the present year are-Miss spirit in our churches, and be so much invigoMary B. Herron, President; Miss Isabel Wrated in health as to be able to return and reCraig, Vice President; Miss Hannah B. Laughlin, Secretary; Miss Harriette M. Craig, Treasurer; Miss Mary Porter, Agent. REINFORCEMENT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MISSION. sume his labors of love among the perishing heathen of India. Letter from Rev. John C. Lowrie to one of the Secretaries of the Western Foreign Missionary Society. The Executive Committee are making preparation for sending out, as soon as possible, a reinforcement of our Mission to Smyrna. At a meeting, held January 3, it was resolved that the Presbytery of Washington be requested to attend to the ordination of Mr. William M'Combs on Wednesday, the 25th inst. and that Messrs. E. P. Swift, D. Elliott, J. W. Nevin, and S. Thompson, be a committee to meet with said presbytery at that time, in the borough of Washington, for the purpose of or-again with the American saints. ganizing the Mission Family destined for Smyrna; and that the Corresponding Secreta. ry, then and there, deliver to them the In NEW YORK, 28th Dec. 1836. REV. AND DEAR BROTHER SWIFT: Through the good providence of our heavenly Father, I have made this stage of my long journey, and now the way seems nearly at its end. It is a great privilege, trusting that I enjoy it while in the path of duty, to find myself once more in the land where "my brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh" have their home, and where I can hope to hold fellowship structions of the Executive Committee." This reinforcement consists of Rev. William M'Combs and wife, and Mr. John M'Clintock and wife; of whom the two latter will go out in the capacity of teachers. It is the purpose of the Committee to add to their number one ordained minister, one teacher, and one physician, with their wives, if they can be obtained and the means of their support secured. THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of this city, under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. John Black (as we are credibly informed) have resolved to raise funds sufficient to sustain, as a missionary to India, Rev. Joseph Caldwell, of the same church, who has recently been received by the Executive Committee of the Western Foreign Missionary Society. It is gratifying to observe in this Christian denomi. nation evidence of the rise and progress of a missionary spirit. ARRIVAL OF MR. LOWRIE. The following concise letter from Rev. John C. Lowrie, our missionary to Northern India, gives intelligence of his arrival at his native "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!" May the rich experience of past goodness and mercy awaken feelings of affectionate gratitude, sincere devotion, and humble confidence in my poor heart towards our gracious and blessed God! I trust 1 do feel sincerely desirous to have suitable feelings in lively exercise towards God and his service. But I am writing merely to tell you that I have got thus far; knowing that you feel an interest in my sayings and doings, and that you have offered many prayers for me. God has heard them, we may perhaps believe; and I sincerely trust that I shall find yet more fully that he regards the prayers which yourself, my dear brother, and other Christian friends have made in my behalf. I landed this evening about sunset-after a very severe voyage from England-in tolerable health-and with a very strong wish soon to have the great satisfaction of seeing yourself and many other beloved friends. But I shall probably be delayed here a day or two, before I can get my things through the custom house, as the ship has not yet got up to the city. I have not yet seen any person, nor heard any news, I mean respecting the cause which only is great, that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tomorrow I hope to see some of the good people, and to bring up, partially, the arrears of the last thirteen months' news. To-night I refrain from writing more at length. Particulars of ever, to yourself and your beloved family, and the voyage, &c. I hope to communicate before to any others of our Christian friends whom long in propria persona; and as I am much you may happen to see. fatigued this evening, I shall only add the assurance of my sincere Christian affection, as Yours in the gospel of Christ, JOHN C. LOWRIE. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE, Selected and Condensed for the Chronicle. TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES INTO of persons or things divine, and human work AFRICAN LANGUAGES. azure ground with vermilion letters is used; in worshiping earth, a yellow ground with black characters; for the worship of ancestors, a white ground with black characters; for the sun, a carnation with vermilion characters; for the moon, a white ground with black cha manship in flags, banners, and destructive cannon. The temporal high-priest, when he The Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary worships heaven, wears robes of azure color, in Society are attempting to effect a translation of allusion to the sky. When he worships the the Scriptures for the benefit of the Foulah and earth, his robes are yellow, to represent the surrounding tribes, in that part of Western clay. When the sun is the object, his dress is Africa which is called by the French geogra-red; and, for the moon, he wears a pale white. phers, Senegambia. The expenses, excepting The king, nobles, &c. wear their court dresses. such aid as the British and Foreign Bible So- The altar for sacrifice to heaven is round, to ciety may afford, will be met by the friends at represent heaven; the altar for sacrifice to the Southampton, whose zeal originated and sup- earth is square. The "prayer-boards" are of ports the Foulah Mission. Translations are various colors, for the same reason as the emalso in progress in South Africa. The Com-peror's robes. In worshiping the heavens, an mittee of the British and Foreign Bible Society believe, that, if the Scriptures were translated into only two or three native languages, they would be understood by all who can read in a population of near 500,000 souls, who are perishing for lack of knowledge. The success of several missionaries in translating, and circu-acters. lating portions of the Bible among tribes bordering on the colony, affords good hope of more abundant prosperity. The gospels are already printed in the Namagua. The missionaries of the London Society at Kuruman have printed the Gospel of Luke in Sichuan, and are translating the Scripture Lessons of the British and Foreign School Society. Many of the Bechuanas can read fluently, and value the Scriptures. The Wesleyan mission-press and the imperial concubines and prinaries have translated the historical books of the Old Testament, part of Job, the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, part of Ezekiel, Joel, Malachi, and the New Testament, into Caffre; and some of these are printed. RELIGION OF THE CHINESE. Intelligence respecting the religion of the Chinese must, at present, be interesting to the friends of missions who are taking measures to send the gospel to that vastly numerous, but very singular people. The following is derived from the Chinese Repository, published at Canton. Objects of Worship, in the state-religion, are the universe, as a whole and in detail; and, subordinate thereto, they have gods celestial and terrestrial, and ghosts infernal. They worship the work of their own hands, images priest; but subordinate to him are the kings, Priests. The emperor himself is the highThe sect of philosophers monopolizes both the nobles, statesmen, civil and military officers. civil and sacred functions. At the grand stateworship of nature, neither priests nor women are admitted. It is only in the sacrifice to the patroness of silk manufactures, that the em sacrifices, the Chinese hierophants must precesses may take a part. For the first order of pare by ablutions, change of garments, a vow, and a fast of three days. Ceremonies.-The Chinese require that the victims be whole and sound; and prefer an azure-black color. For the grand sacrifices, the victims are to be purified nine decades (ninety days); for the medium classes, three decades; and for the herd of sacrifices, one decade. The sacrifices to heaven are offered on the day of the winter solstice; those to earth, on the day of the summer solstice; the others, at regularly appointed times. The ceremonies are bowing, kneeling, and knocking the head against the ground. When the emperor officiates, he never knocks his head against the ground. What he requires of the greatest monarch, he will not give to the greatest object of his worship. The three kneelings and nine |