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them try, what may be done by design for such things now in our day! Thus, let them see, whether while we at home in the midst of wearisome temptations, are angling with rods, which now and then catch one soul for our Lord, they shall not be fishing with nets, which will bring in many thousands of those, concerning whom with unspeakable joy in the day of the Lord, they may say, 'Behold I and the children which God has given me!' Let them see, whether, supposing they should prosper no farther than to 'preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations,' yet the end which is then to come, will not bring to them the more happy lot, wherein they shall stand, that are found so doing.

“Let no man be discouraged by the difficulties, which the devil will be ready to clog such attempts against his kingdom with; for I will take leave so to translate the words of the wise man, Prov. xxvii. 4: What is able to stand before zeal?' I am well satisfyed, that if men had the wisdom, to discern the signs of the times,' they would be all hands at work, to spread the name of our Jesus into all the corners of the earth. Grant it, O my God; and Lord Jesus, come quickly.""

DOMESTIC MISSIONS.

(Continued from page 91.)

In the Alms-house, where depravity, ignorance, stupidity and hypocrisy are embodied, and have assumed their worst form, the difficulties of contributing to their moral and religious improvement are so great, that many feel disposed to abandon them, and give up their case as hopeless. By the same course of reasoning the Indians of our own country, the natives of Hindostan, and the seamen that navigate the ocean, might all be abandoned and consigned without mercy to the destructive power of sin. But the noble exertions of Christians, in behalf of these several portions of mankind, declare their firm belief that this reasoning is incorrect. And surely these very difficulties prove that they have the greatest need of the purifying effects of the gospel. They form no excuse; and a few instances of success are sufficient to render such cruel neglect altogether inexcusable. If ever these difficulties (as they exist in the poor of this city) are to be overcome, it is when they are overtaken by poverty and distress, and carried to the Alms-house. They have just experienced the bitter fruits of sin. They have tasted of the cup of sorrow. Their hearts, softened by afflictions, are in the most favourable state for the reception of religious impressions. And there are many instances known, in which the afflicted date the commencement of their reformation, and the commencement of their hopes, in this season of distress. And it cannot be expected that all such instances that have occurred should come to our knowledge; for many persons after they leave this place we hear of no more. Many more of those instances in which but little salutary effect is produced are brought to our observation, than of those in which a complete reformation of heart and life is effected. If but little salutary effect is produced, we become acquainted in most cases with the fact; for they are generally soon brought back again to the Alms-house; whereas if their afflictions are followed by a complete reformation, unless their constitution is greatly impaired, they can gain their own subsistence, and are seen in this abode of poverty and wretchedness no more. We cannot place much dependance on appearances in the season of their distress; for sometimes much has been realized where but little was expected. And on the other hand, hopeful appearances have been followed by an almost immediate return to sin. These cases are the most discouraging; but even these should not cause us to regret the labour we have bestowed. We ought not to conclude, when the labour is not crowned with complete success, that it is lost. They have received the knowledge of important truths at a season when it takes deep hold on the mind. Their consciences are enlightened, so that it is not probable they can sin so freely, and with so little compunction as formerly; and in some cases we have every reason to believe that the seed sown, though long buried and forgotten, has ultimately brought forth fruit to everlasting life.

But all the inhabitants of this house are not so wicked and depraved. There is a goodly number here who possess genuine piety. It is the most delightful part of the Missionary's duty to stand by the bed-side of these sons and daughters of affliction, and offer to them the consolations of the gospel.

I know not how long I may be permitted by Divine Providence to continue with you, but I earnestly desire that whilst I am your Missionary, and after I am gone, you may view those stations as committed to your charge, by the providence of God, and act accordingly. If no one is sent to the Alms-house, the most favourable opportunity for the instruction and reformation of the ignorant and depraved is lost, and the wicked return to their wickedness without any means being used to cause them to profit by their afflictions; or they die hardened in their iniquity; or should they be awakened, they will have none to direct them to the Saviour of sinners. If no one is sent to preach at Moyamensing-if it be left in its present state, the infant church must languish and die; the people will be scattered, the house in which many now assemble, and where more might assemble for the worship of God, must be closed.

And I also desire, that the personal assistance with which you have favoured me, may always be rendered unto your Missionary; for I consider this as contributing greatly to his success.

In the contemplation of those scenes of misery which I am continually called to witness, and in discharging those duties now devolving upon me, my heart frequently sickens, and my strength fails. And when I meet with those difficulties, which continually occur, in the performance of missionary labours, I am sometimes much discouraged; but I fondly hope that I have the prayers of the people of God, and believe that they have been answered. I have experienced the fulfilment of the promise of the Lord, "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be." I will still trust in his name; and since his grace is usually bestowed in answer to prayer, I now earnestly request, that whilst I am engaged in this arduous, this painful, but at the same time pleasing work, I may still be remembered in your prayers.

Yours, most affectionately,

J. H. VAN COURT.

Of E. Steel, a quarter's rent, for the Contingent Fund
Of Rev. James Patterson, a collection in the First Presbyterian Church
in the Northern Liberties, for the Professorship to be endowed by
the Synod of Philadelphia

The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. during the month of March last, viz.

$87 50

34 00

Of Rev. George Duffield, from members of the church in Carlisle, for the same Professorship

63 00

Of Rev. Dr. Moses Waddel, per Mr. William W. Woodward, his third instalment, for the Professorship to be endowed in part by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia

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50 00

the first do. of John R. Golding, esq. for do.

50 00

and the subscription of Mrs. Sarah Griffin, for do.

50 00

Of Deacon Ashley, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, per Rev. Dr.
Samuel Miller, for the Students' Fund

100 00

Of Dr. William Smith, the fifth instalment, in full of his subscription for the Permanent Fund

20 00

Of Silas E. Weir, esq. in full of his do. for do..
Of James Stuart, esq. two instalments on his do. for do.

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THE

Presbyterian Magazine..

MAY, 1822.

Communications.

FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE.

THE WASTE PLACES OF ZION.

SINCE the spirit of missions began to pervade the Church, many persons have written on this subject. We have no hope of adding any thing novel to what has been said, but we think it important to keep alive among Christians, a remembrance of the destitute state of our fellow creatures. For notwithstanding the many conquests which Christianity has achieved, and the numerous spoils which have been brought in to her from heathen lands, there is still a large field for Christian exertion. There are many places where the gospel has never been preached-places that belong to Zion by promise and by covenant. "Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession. Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee; and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant to the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages, that thou mayest say to the prisoners, go forth: to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves." The pencil of inspiration has thus gone round the earth, and marked it all out, with its kingdoms, its islands, and its deserts, as a possession sacred to the Redeemer.

On so practical a subject we shall wave a discussion of the question how far the gospel has extended already, or whether many nations have not rejected it to whom it has been offered. We believe that all the nations of the world might receive the gospel in a short time, if they had inclinations for its reception. Of course, by its daily rejection, they incur accumulated responsibility. But this responsibility, so far from relaxing the efforts of Christians, is with them an incentive to diligence. They who believe that the heathen incur no guilt by remaining VOL. II.-Presb. Mag.

2 B

as they are, in desiring the spread of Christianity, are influenced by such views only, as respect the present blessings, which the system carries along with it. These are pre-eminently great. It draws more closely all the social ties, the numerous domestic relations, the endearments of friendship, whilst it enlarges the affections, widens the field of rational duties, discloses new spheres of thought to the contemplative mind, and embellishes society with a thousand charms. No one can set a higher estimation on these subordinate comforts than the experienced Christian, yet they are not the chief reason why he desires the spread of the gospel. His conscience, purified and enlightened by the Spirit, convinces him of the obligations of all men to be holy; and that the gospel alone can restore to man that divine image he has lost by the fall.

He has found out the beauties of holiness, contrasted with the odious nature of sin; and as the precepts, the promises and threatenings of the Bible point to future scenes, he justly considers all men as the children of eternity. But above all, as the Christian system is a display of the perfections of God, he desires the promotion of the divine glory, in the enlargement of the church, and calling to a fellowship in its blessings, the perishing millions of the human race. We are willing to admit that the rays of revelation have penetrated to a much greater distance among the different tribes and kindreds of the earth, than many are apt to imagine. But let us suppose that the gospel has been offered to all mankind. So long as they continue to decline its gracious provisions, so long would it be our duty to persevere in the praiseworthy attempt, of bringing them to a better state of mind. After all, how confined are the limits of Zion! The claims of six hundred millions are but partially attended to by the church. Geography, books of voyages, with the researches of travellers, give us alarming views of the spiritual desolation, that is abroad in the earth-and were there only a single spot in the world, which the tidings of salvation had never reached, for that spot every pious heart would feel deeply interested.

Among the waste places of Zion may likewise be ranked such cities, villages, and even large tracts of country, as were once possessed of Christianity, but from which it has been taken away. Over such places a kind of sanctity is thrown, which seems to shed a few gleams of light on the clouds that shade the picture. For example, the Holy Land is interwoven with our earliest associations. We have heard with delight of its brooks, and its vineyards. Its mountains and hills, its rivers and vales, are connected with our most classical recollections. The traveller, the historian, and the poet, have here lavished their choicest stores of description.

The same kind of interest is connected with the churches of the Lesser Asia, and in some degree with those planted by the apostles in Greece. Under such circumstances it is possible that travellers, influenced by a warm imagination, may not always exhibit the degraded condition of the people in its true colours. But look at Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth.* The mosque of Omer fills the place of the temple; monasteries cover the abodes of the prophets; and the prowling Arab lurks amidst the green pastures, where the Psalmist once led forth his tranquil flocks.

The waste places of Zion extend still further. There are many regions where the ordinances of the gospel are regularly sustained-where preachers fulfil their appointed rounds of duty, but where the eye of a Christian can discover, that the spirit of the gospel is departed. Many are to be reckoned among the false teachers of the day, who speak much truth, but who withhold constantly from their hearers the peculiarities of the gospel. Before such teachers the face of the Church is like Eden, behind them it is a wilderness. It is painful to contemplate these desolations of Zion, for the memory of brighter days springs up so soon to embitter every recollection. Behold Geneva, England, and Scotland too, among whose mountains God has so often made the place of his feet to be glorious. We turn to our own country with peculiar interest, and find here the symptoms of a signal apostacy.

It is remarkable, however, that every effort to supply the waste places of Zion, meets with opposition at the present day. We have to encounter the calculations of the philosopher, the suspicion of the sceptic, and the sneers of the profane witling. Will God condemn the poor heathen? is a question often asked. We answer, did he condemn the Canaanites, when he commanded their groves to be cut down, and their altars to be destroyed, because the cup of their iniquity was full. The light of nature avails but little to man, whose moral powers are all in ruins. We challenge the records of paganism, to show the name of an individual, whom the light of nature has made a better man, whose heart it has cleansed, whose tempers it has sanctified.

Other objections arise from the fondness with which the heathen regard their systems of superstition, the strength of their prejudices, and their ignorance. "As to the obstinacy with which nations adhere to those religious tenets which they have imbibed from education, it furnishes no solid argument against our views; it is, indeed, a just and weighty reason for

*The reader may see a faithful description of the Holy Land in Clarke's Travels, p. 222.

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