safety. Sectarianism alone is but a feeble antagonist, it is not a "thorn in our side" so much as a spur and wholesome stimulus; and need give us no alarm, if it were not for its alliance with Heathenism. Heathenism is the monster which threatens to swallow us up quick; it waxes yearly stronger, with the increase of our population, and must needs continue to increase, if the Church remains stationary. And who can say that its fury, when at length it bursts forth, will not be an instrument of just retribution in the hands of an indignant Providence to punish the lukewarmness of those who have suffered it to accumulate ?.

Nor must we, in the mean time, shut our eyes against immediate dangers, which, though less appalling, are more insidious. I mean principally the attempt of the enemies of the Church to weaken her influence under the specious plea of reform.

The Churchman must be wary as well as energetic ;—willing to amend, yet cautious not to injure. He must be careful how he meddles with existing institutions. His chief zeal should be directed to spread the Church's beneficial influence in the benighted regions of Heathenism. In this department, a work is needed

little short of the Reformation in magnitude, and second only to it in importance.

What powerful motives combine to urge on every Churchman,-whether he occupy a public or a private station,-the necessity of this most important duty! Who art thou that readest these pages? Art thou one who hast long dwelt under the shadow of the Church? hast shared her privileges from thy youth up; and hopest to die, as thou hast lived, in her communion? Surely it were superfluous to urge on thee the Christian duty of spreading to the millions, who yet sit in darkness, those high privileges and holy ordinances which thou hast so long enjoyed! Thine own heart tells thee that thou oughtest to be up and stirring for the glory of God, and the salvation of thy fellow-men.

Or art thou one advanced in years, who hast but lately found thy Saviour: one who during a long life hast thought little, perhaps, of that holy Church, whose value thou hast now discerned? Dost thou not perceive, with shame, that the present straitening of her means is owing to thy neglect, when in the prime and vigour of life thou didst nothing to maintain her influence? Immersed in the tide of pleasure or ambition, thou hast sailed on with the world's current, not

considering the evil which was fast accumulating on thy country. Wilt thou not now hasten to repair, as far as thou art able, the mischief which thou, and such as thou, have suffered to grow up? Wilt thou not, before thou goest to thy grave, make some effort to remedy the evils which thy neglect has caused?

Or, it may be, that God shall direct to these pages the eye of some one, whose conscience upbraids him with far worse crimes than neglect

-one whose heart is seamed by many a dark and deep furrow-one who feels that his evil example, if not worse, his evil instigation or allurement, has corrupted-ruined it may be, the immortal souls of God's creatures. And now thou repentest-deeply, earnestly thou repentest; and, for the sake of thy Saviour's bloodshedding, hopest, nay believest, that thy sins may be blotted out. But, wilt thou give no proof of thy penitence? wilt thou not show some sign of thy sincerity? wilt thou not strive to save the souls of others from that pit of perdition into which thou hast so nearly fallen? wilt thou not endeavour to spread to thy fellow sinners the knowledge of that Saviour, through whom thou seekest pardon? It is true no work of thine, if thou gavest thy whole substance to the

Church, could add one feather's weight to the all-sufficient merits of Christ's atonement. But dost thou not desire to give some token of thy repentance ?—some proof, if it be only to satisfy thyself, that thou canst make an effort of selfdenial?—that thy heart is changed from sin and selfishness to holiness and faith,-from the power of Satan to the love of God?

O, where are we to look, in this worldly age, for evidences of our boasted faith? Where is the faith that should be shown by works? Time was, when a conqueror, returning from victory, or one who had escaped some great peril by land or sea, or one whom God had raised from the bed of sickness; or the parent, or the husband, or the son, who rejoiced in the restoration to health and safety of those most dear to them, would feel their conscience dissatisfied, if they rendered not to God some offering of gratitude. Will it be said that this is the spirit of popery? the offspring of superstition? May God infuse into our hearts a portion of such superstition! We profess to make the Bible the rule of our faith. Where in the Bible shall we find that deeds, done in faith, and for the glory of God, are unworthy of one who has been redeemed of the Lord? Shall we suffer our belief

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in the great doctrine of justification by faith, to scare us from good works? to debar us from the exertion of that noble, self-denying zeal, which once gave its wealth and its labour to the glory of God; which raised those venerable piles which mock our puny efforts; and covered the land, throughout its length and breadth, with God's consecrated temples? Shall we identify Protestantism with the sordid, money-getting, selfish spirit, which can spend millions in costly speculation, whence profit is expected, or in gorgeous palaces, for the gratification of pride and selfindulgence; yet deems a poor edifice of brick, if even that, a fit temple for the most High God?

Shame on us! Shame and woe, if we remain as we are, slaves of the god of this world,—unworthy to be called members of the holy Church! What a marvellous spectacle is it which presents itself—the Church languishing, -heathenism yearly increasing,-crime, ungodliness, abounding more and more,—actual and imminent danger hanging over us; and thousands of rich men, so gorged with wealth, that they are unable to find means to employ it,-professing to live, and hoping to die in the Church's communion, and yet contributing nothing from their vast resources to keep her from sinking! Set