plunge into the fight, like those who compassed Jericho, with the ark for their standard and the trumpets for all their weapons. We can scarcely fail to remember the words which echo these and interpret them:The armies which were in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean'-a strange armour against sword-cut and spear thrust."

Yes; Christians are soldiers, as well as priests. This Psalm, addressing the Great Captain, says, concerning believers in every age of the Church :

"Thy people shall be right willing for war

When Thou shalt marshal Thine army."

It is the scarcely cynical saying of one of the philosophers, that “ war is the normal condition of mankind." The past records of the world are mainly those of mutual carnage. The history of mankind, like Ezekiel's scroll, is "full of grief, lamentation, and woe." Christians, also, are soldiers. They have "armour" to bear, "weapons" to wield, a "warfare" to maintain; but they "fight a good fight." Every blow they strike smites down evil; every battle they gain is a welcome spectacle to good angels and to God."The King goes forth to conquest; but He goes not forth alone. Behind Him come His faithful followers, all pressing on with willing hearts and high courage. Alone He offers the sacrifice with which He atones; but we, too, are priests. He rules, and His servants rule with Him. But ere that time comes, they are to be joined with Him in in the great warfare, by which He wins the earth to Himself. As Captain of the Lord's host am I now come.' He wins no conquests for Himself; and now that He is exalted at God's right hand, He wins none by Himself. We have to fight His battles as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. From His height He watches the conflict-nay, He is with us while we wage it. Our King's flag is committed to our care, but we are not left to defend it alone. In indissoluble unity the King and the subjects, the Chief and His vassals, the Captain and His soldiers, are knit together; and wheresoever His people are, in all the danger and hardships of the long struggle, there is He, to keep their head in the day of battle, and make them more than conquerors."

What a wonderful army is that of the combined Christian Church! Believers in every age and of every nation compose it. "A number which no man can number, of every language, tribe, and people," serve in this

"Sacramental host of God's elect."

These mighty myriads are led to battle, not by Alexander or an archangel, but by Him who is the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person.

"One army of the living God,

To His command we bow."

They are willing soldiers-"right willing for war." A Parliamentary

wit once apologised for his late attendance in the House, by saying, "I was detained on my way by looking at a Volunteer dragged to his duty." The true Christian need no violence to keep him in the ranks. A soldier means, literally, one who fights for pay, reminding us of the fact that many soldiers were mercenaries, whose motto was"He that fights and runs away,

May fight for gold another day."

But the true Christian needs no bribe to make or keep him brave. The motto on his shield is "Amor vincit omnia"-"The love of Christ constrains." The rank and file of the Redeemer's army try to be like that hero of a "hundred battles," who, at the conclusion of his campaigns, could say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;" and who, in the prosecution of his momentous warfare, could exclaim, concerning a thousand dangers, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, that I may finish my course with joy."

This verse teaches us that Christians are benefactors as well as priests and warriors. The usefulness of the "morning dew" is an emblem of the benefits which the disciples of Christ are able to confer upon the world. They are converted that they may be the means of converting others; they receive light that they may diffuse it; having experienced the sweetness of the Divine pardon, they are to say to those around them, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." In ancient time the Lord caused it to be promised, by the pen of his prophet Hosea, "I will be as the dew unto Israel," and this gracious promise the Lord fulfills through the medium of the holy and beneficent life of Christian men and women; and thus that other prophecy is accomplished, which promises that "Israel shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord."

"Remember other symbols by which the same general thought of Christian influence upon the world is set forth with very remarkable variation. 'Ye are the light of the world.' 'Ye are the salt of the earth.' The light guides and gladdens; the salt preserves and purifies; the dew freshens and fertilizes. The light, conspicuous; the salt, working concealed; and the dew, visible like the former, but yet unobtrusive, and operating silently like the latter. Some of us had rather be light than salt; prefer to be conspicuous rather than to diffuse a wholesome silent influence around us. But these three types must all be blended, both in regard to the manner of working, and in regard to the effects produced. We shall refresh and beautify the world only in proportion as we save it from its rottenness and corruption, and we shall do either only in proportion as we bear abroad the name of Christ, in whom is 'life, and the life is the light of men.'

The above beautiful thoughts are quoted from one of the Rev. Alexander Maclaren's sermons called "Soldier Priests," already

referred to. The perusal of it has mainly led to the penning of this paper, and we cannot close without most earnestly commending the discourse to the thoughtful attention of all our readers.

Protestant Missionary Conference in Shanghai,

N view of the inadequacy of the present Mission force in China

which assembled there in May last, composed of more than a hundred missionaries:

"1. China is by far the largest heathen country in the world. Including its dependencies, it embraces a territory larger than the whole continent of Europe; or, excluding the Mohammedan kingdoms, it is about equal to all the rest of the heathen nations combined.

"2. It is also beyond all question the most important. The discoveries of Livingstone revealed a grand feature for Africa; the wealth of India is well known; but no heathen country in the world can for one moment be compared to China. Its mineral resources alone rival those of the Western States of America, and indicate that China will be one of the great nations of the future.

"3. The Chinese, though the oldest nation in the world, are as full of vigour and promise as ever. Intellectually they are fit for anything. In diplomacy and mercantile enterprise they have proved themselves a match for the ablest and most far-reaching minds among ourselves. There are those among them who have mastered every new art and science we have set before them. Their enterprise and perseverance are proverbial.

"4. At the present moment, one feature of the Chinese character deserves special notice. They are the great colonisers of the East. The natives of Cambodia, Sumatra, Java, the Philippine Islands, Timor, Borneo, the Sandwich Islands, &c., fall before civilization. Europeans cannot cope with the insalubrity of these climates. The Chinese alone have proved themselves able to maintain vigorous physical life in these regions. They are entering them by thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands, every year, and that in an everincreasing ratio. They are also rapidly colonising Manchuria, Mongolia, and Thibet. It is clear, therefore, that the Chinese will ultimately become the dominant race in all these vast countries.

"5. A stream of immigration has of late set in towards Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific States of America, which is widening every year. It will prove a blessing or a curse just in proportion as the fountain is cared for."

We will not pursue this line of thought further: the dark features of Chinese life and character oppress us. Chinese civilization has been set against Christian civilization. Those who draw this comparison cannot have mingled with the Chinese people. Underneath their showy exterior, the most pitiful, debasing, and cruel customs prevail. The highest authority in the land testifies to this. The Peking Gazette, day by day, demonstrates the prevalence of the grossest superstition among all classes, from the emperor downwards.

We will not seek to harrow your feelings by entering into details. Of old it was said that men "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." The Chinese go further than this. They not only worship the dead, and idols of wood and stone, but also, in many districts, the most loathsome creatures. Mere civilization is no criterion of the moral condition of the people. We have all read of the debasing worship of the ancient Egyptians, the horrid rites of the cultivated Phoenicians, and have stood aghast at the immorality of Greece and Rome during the most glorious epochs of their history. We do not say that the Chinese have reached the same depths of iniquity; but we do affirm that, with the exception of immoral rites in religious services, parallels can be pointed out in China, at the present day, to almost every form of degradation, cruelty, and vice which prevailed in those ancient kingdoms. Human nature is the same in all ages, and, left to itself, more or less faithfully fulfils the appalling picture drawn by the apostle Paul. And what aggravates the case is that the literati and rulers of all grades-notwithstanding occasional proclamations to the contrary-make use of the prevailing superstitions to influence and govern the people. Thus the educated, instead of seeking to enlighten and elevate the masses, only bind the fetters of ignorance more effectually upon them. There is, therefore, no hope for China in itself.

Under these circumstances, millions pass into eternity every year! What an agonizing thought! Souls of men, endowed with the most glorious faculties, perishing for lack of that knowledge which has been entrusted to us for diffusion!-Souls which might be emancipated from sin, transferred into the kingdom of God, and thus established in a career of ever-widening intelligence and ever-deepening joy, to "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever."

How long shall this fearful ruin of souls continue? Ought we not to make an effort to save China in this generation? Is God's power limited? Is the efficacy of prayer limited? This grand achievement is in the hands of the Church. If we faithfully bring our tithes into the storehouse, and preach the Gospel everywhere, then the windows of heaven shall be opened, and blessings showered down upon us, till there be not room enough to receive them.

There are many indications of promise. (1) Thirty-seven years ago there were only three native Christians in all China in connection

with Protestant Missions. Now there are at least twelve or thirteen thousand. (2) A much larger proportion have applied for baptism during the past year than in any previous year, and the candidates have been generally of a higher type of character. (3) The empire is more open than ever for the preaching of the Word, and the Chefoo Convention of last year, together with the proclamations agreed upon, is proving a mighty instrument towards the more effectual opening up of the vast interior. (4) Not only is the country open to our efforts, but the minds of many, in different quarters, have been more or less aroused from their lethargy. (5) Multitudes are reading our books, and not a few are eagerly investigating the nature and bearing of western innovations.

We earnestly appeal to the whole Christian world for help. There are still eight provinces in which there is not one resident missionary. In others there are only two or three; and, taking China as a whole, we stand as one missionary for Massachusetts, or two for Scotland.

Young men, first of all we appeal to you. Standing on the threshold of life, it is clearly your duty to consider how you may employ the talents God has given you, so as in the highest degree to promote His glory. There is no field in the world where devoted Christian workers may so effectively and extensively serve their generation as in China: and where the foundation work of the present is connected with such grand results in the future.

If, after careful consideration and earnest prayer, this call awakens a response in your heart, say not hastily that you have no qualifications. Perhaps you are better qualified than you suppose; or it may be your duty to qualify yourself for this service. There is in China a wide sphere for all kinds of talent. While we chiefly need men able to preach the Word, to instruct the converts, and watch over the native church, training it for self-government; we also need medical men, to heal the sick and train up native physicians; men of science, to elucidate the works of God; and men of literary tastes, to translate or compose books and to wield the power of the press in guiding and moulding public opinion; also, teachers, colporteurs, printers, &c.; and last, but not least, devoted women, to penetrate the homes of the people and save the women of the country-their Chinese sisters.

Young men, let us freely speak to you. You hold in your hands the incorruptible seed of the Word, fitted to awaken eternal life in dead souls, and transform worms of the dust into heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Can you hesitate to respond to our call? Can you prefer to spend your lives in comparatively narrow spheres, when you might exert an influence on vast multitudes? The fields are white unto the harvest, and everything is inviting you to noble service. It is a field where the most varied gifts and graces, the loftiest talents, the most extensive and accurate erudition will find abundant room for their highest exercise. It is a service in which an archangel would rejoice. Can you turn a deaf ear to our solemn appeal, to the call of God,-and the silent cry of the millions of China.