missionaries.

who do not believe and profess their resolution to teach character of "all things whatsoever Christ has commanded;"-that none who do not appear to possess a simplicity of heart to relish the words of "the truth as it is in Jesus," and give evidence, by a suitable deportment, that they have felt the power of the Gospel, and submit to the laws of Christianity from a cordial attachment to our holy religion, ought to be employed in this holy, evangelical enterprise. A lively and active spirit of vital religion, accompanied with a competent knowledge of evangelical truth ;- -a warm sensibility of soul to the best interests of mankind, especially to the state of the poor, perishing Hindoos ;knowledge of human nature and of the living world, or at least that natural acuteness which readily enters into character, and quickly suggests what is fit to be spoken and done, in every varied circumstance of human intercourse; -courage to brave danger, accompanied with prudence, which does not unnecessarily provoke trials;—that self-denial, which is satisfied with little, and is willing, perhaps has been trained in the school of adversity, to submit to the disposals of Providence ;-that enterprise of spirit, which incites to action, united with that perseverance, which is not soon cooled or overcome;-and that lowliness of mind,

Mode of instruction.

which inclines the person both to think meanly of his attainments, and to submit cheerfully to whatever is necessary for his information and improvement; in short, piety, missionary zeal, firmness, prudence, and docility, will appear desirable requisites *. To crown all, an evangelical missionary must resemble, as much as possible, the lowly and lovely Jesus, forming himself, in spirit and manners, upon this most illustrious Model, and copying, in his ministry, the heavenly instructions of the great Apostle and HighPriest of our profession.

By what means he shall introduce and recommend himself and his message to the unenlightened and preoccupied natives, must be left, in a great measure, to casual occurrences and Christian discretion. That aptitude to teach, which can readily seize upon circumstances, and insinuate itself, unawares, into the subject and the hearts of the hearers, will be an invaluable talent. The formal, didactic mode of instruction seems altogether unsuitable: the colloquial and the Socratic are far better adapted, both to strike and to persuade. Never, however, must he forget the dignity of his Master, the purity of his doctrines and laws, the

*The above delineation was copied, amid the hurry of composition, from a circular Letter of the Glasgow Missionary Society; nor does it appear expedient or necessary now to alter it.

grand object of his mission. His directory, both for his personal conduct and public ministry, is given with much brevity, but with admirable precision, by the great apostle of the Gentiles: "Thou, O man of God, flee youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord, out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of God must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure may give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." Beautiful, also, is the portrait drawn by Cowper:

There stands the messenger of truth, there stands

The legate of the skies: his theme divine,

His-office sacred; his credentials clear.

By him the violated law speaks out

In thunders; and by him, in strains as sweet

As angels use, the Gospel whispers peace.
He stablishes the strong, restores the weak,
Reclaims the wand'rer, binds the broken heart,
And, arm'd himself in panoply complete,
Of heav'nly temper, furnishes with arms,
Bright as his own, and trains by every rule

2 E

Probable consequences, and

final organisation of the Indian con

verts.

Of holy discipline, to glorious war,

The sacramental host of God's elect.

How far these arrangements and exertions for evange lising the inhabitants of Hither India may succeed, dependent as the result must be upon a variety of causes, over which human wisdom and power have no controul, and particularly upon the blessing of the Supreme Ruler of all, it becomes not us confidently to predict. But that, if steadily prosecuted, they will, in all probability, produce some happy influence, though perhaps more slowly than we are willing to anticipate, may be concluded from the ordinary course of events, and from the impression which seems already to have been made. When this effect shall have become considerable; when the great mass of the people shall have been detached from their present superstitions, and enlightened in the principles of the Christian faith; when the spirit of religious inquiry shall have become general, and a considerable body of the natives shall have embraced the new religion, then other measures may be adopted for carrying on and consummating the blessed work of this holy revolution. The rest of the seventh day may be enjoined by public authority, so that at length " the land may enjoy her Sabbaths." Either at the expence of government, or by

66

the voluntary contributions of the converts to Christianity, churches may be erected everywhere, according to a regular and approved plan, for the conveniency of social worship. The stated dispensation of public ordinances may be instituted; and the congregations of the faithful organised and affiliated upon the scriptural model *. Thus, as in primitive times, the whole body of the disciples of Jesus in India will, by degrees, assume the appearance of a grand, religious association; and the magnificence of the result will correspond to the benevolence of the project.

In the natural order of things, the diffusion of the light of the Gospel amongst the subjects of our own empire, ought to precede, as it will prepare the way for, any attempts to spread the knowledge of the truth among surrounding nations. Hindostan, once evangelised, would afford the model, and the means, of illumination to the East. It would assume a new station in the universe: it would acquire a new species of glory. Always interesting, it would now be surrounded with new and brighter attractions. Having produced, from age to age, a powerful influence upon the affairs of men, it would now give another and bet

* Vide Note FF.