ably delay his coming to the heathen, for the sake of acquiring it. O brethren, hasten to the field!

not.

But, there are among you, some who have not yet decided whether it be their duty to go to the heathen or To such I can say, beloved brethren, I know how to sympathize with you. Such, for a long time, was the anxious state of my own mind on the same subject. But now it astonishes me, to think that I so long hesitated on a subject so plain. It was no doubt my sin, though perhaps somewhat extenuated by circumstances which no longer exist. When my mind was first exercised on the subject, I knew of but one in the country, who thought of becoming a missionary to the heathen; and he has not as yet, to my knowledge, engaged in the work. Besides, through all my inquiries, until I had decided on the subject, it was not known that any support could be obtained in our country. I bless God that, notwithstanding all abstacles, I was enabled to decide as I did. I verily -believe it will be matter of joy to me through eternity. Should you make the same decision, brethren, I have no doubt you will find the same satisfaction in it.

But you are not decided. Each of you anxiously inquires, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Shall I go to the heathen?" Here historical inquiries and geographical knowledge are of little avail. The decision must be made in view of one single command, and one single fact. Jesus Christ, the God of our salvation, has commanded his disciples to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." This is the command. But even at this day, there are six eighths of the population of the globe, to whom the gospel has not been preached. This is the fact. In view of this command and of this fact, how ought you to decide?

Eighteen hundred years ago, Christ gave this perpetual command; and to quicken his disciples in the obedience

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of it, he gave them the most consoling assurances of assistance, and promises of unbounded reward. But from century to century, so remiss have been his disciples in obeying the command, so unwilling to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, that may we not with propriety, consider the Holy Trinity as still saying, Whom shall we send, and who will go for us?" Is it your duty to reply, "Here am I, Lord, send me"? This is the inquiry, and how simple! What have protracted researches to do with such a decision? When the apostles first received their commission, was it an extensive knowledge of the population, religions, manners and customs of the various nations, to whom they were bid to go, which led them to obey the command? Was it a retrospective view of the former success of religion in this guilty world, or was it the prospect of an easy entrance unto the heathen, and a secure and comfortable residence among them, which made them so ready to gọ forth, at the command of their Redeemer? No: it was their love to Jesus, and their reverence for his authority, which forced them to exclaim, "Wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel," as I have been commanded. It is when missionaries form their decisions on the same ground, that they eminently glorify Christ, and build upon a foundation which no storms can shake.

I have been led to these remarks, from an apprehension that there are young men, who are pursuing missionary inquiries in a too general way, with a kind of indefinite expectation, that by and by, something may transpire, some further knowledge of countries or events may be acquired, or the subject may be presented in some new attitude, which will render their decision easy and safe. Any such expectation, it appears to me, tends only to darken the mind, and to confuse and enervate its operations. The subject is more plain and easy of decision at

the present day, if possible, than at any former period. What has been found and acknowledged a truth in England, and in some other European states, is now found by experiment to be true in America. God has promised, that he that watereth, shall be watered also himself. This gracious promise he has verified, by uniformly causing religion to flourish among nations at Home, in the same proportion in which they are active in promoting missions abroad. The whole subject then, is brought into this narrow compass:-The great mass of mankind have not yet heard the gospel preached ;-the standing command of Christ to his disciples is, "go and evangelize all nations;" and to prompt them to a full compliance, he gives the assurance, both by his promise and its fulfilment, that by their exertions for the salvation of the heathen, they do most effectually labor for the salvation of their own countrymen. In this simple form, let the subject be viewed. In this simple form, let it come to the reason, the conscience, and the feelings of every one, who is looking forward to the gospel ministry. How can the conviction be resisted? How can the decision be doubtful?

Dear brethren, bear with my freedom. Placed as I. am, in the midst of so many millions of perishing heathen, and knowing from the promise of Jehovah, (Prov. xi. 25,) "The liberal soul shall be made fat ;" and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself," that your coming forth would tend to promote religion at home, surely I have a claim on your indulgence. Allow me then to speak freely. To me, it appears unaccountable, how so many young men, by covenant devoted to Christ, can deliberately and prayerfully inquire, whether it is their duty. to become missionaries, and yet so few feel effectually persuaded that it is their duty to come forth to the heathen! It tends greatly to the discouragement of those who are already in the field. While so great a propor

tion of those who examine this point of duty, deliberately decide that it is not their duty to engage in the missionary work, what are we to think?

In general those who excuse themselves from the work, must do it for general reasons, which would be as applicable to others as to themselves, and which would equally excuse those who have gone forth to the work. Therefore, must not those men who thus excuse themselves, think either that those who engage in the missionary work do wrong, or that themselves who decline it, do wrong?.

Here it would ill become the solemnity of the subject, to cavil and quibble, and say: "What! shall we all go to the heathen? Then what will become of our own countrymen?" Let such quibblers beware how they mock the faithfulness of God. When thousands have gone forth to the heathen, and God has failed to fulfil his promise, that he that watereth, shall be watered also himself; or when he shall not have caused religion to flourish among the people at home, in proportion as they labor for thre heathen abroad; then, and not till then, let the objection be heard.

Some seem to speak as though a man must have some secret or special call, before he can decide in favor of being a missionary. If, on rational grounds, he feels persuaded that he ought to be a minister any where, and if he feels disposed to go to the heathen, I should think that no other call than this, unless in extraordinary cases, can reasonably be required. I have doubted whether I ought to be a missionary; but it was for the same reasons for which I ought to doubt, whether it was right for me to be a minister any where.

Brethren, you see that I think there are good reasons, why you should become missionaries to the heathen, and of course good reasons why I should desire it. Certainly

I do. And I greatly long to see every one of you strenuously exerting himself to diffuse the same sentiments among all the pious young men in the country. Form great plans, and execute them with great zeal and prayerfulness. Every thing that can be desired, might be done by exertion, with God's blessing. Seize every possible opportunity for impressing the subject upon the mind of every pious youth. But I must stop.

Brethren, pray for us. May the Spirit of God be with. you, guide you in all your deliberations, and make you the instruments of winning many souls to Christ.

Your affectionate brother and fellow-servant,
GORDON HALL.

The following letter from Mr. Mills addressed to “Mr. Levi Parsons, Andover, Mass," was found among the papers of the Society. Although a Memoir of him, containing many letters and papers, has been given to the public, still, this letter will probably be read with interest.

Dear Brother,

Washington, March 1, 1817.

Your favor of January 28th, was duly received. The Society you represent, wish for information relative to dif ferent parts of our own country, and other parts of the world, considered as fields of missionary labor. Were I possessed of the information you desire, I could not give it you in detail, in a single sheet, and my time is so much occupied at present, that I can only refer you to different sources whence the information sought, may be in part derived.

Much has been said, of late, in this part of the country, on the subject of colonizing free people of color. I shall send on to you, and the brethren, a number of copies of a pamphlet, giving a view of the steps which have been.