Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it. Luke ix. 24.-He diea

for all.-2 Cor. v. 15.

--1 John, iii. 16,

We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

THE SACRIFICE.

See here the Warriors on the battle-field,

In dread array with gleaming spear and shield;
They rush together with the mighty roar

Of stormy ocean on a rock-bound shore;

Shields strike on shields, helmets on helmets clash,
In pools of purple gore the Legions splash.

From Latium's host the sound of triumph rings,
And Victory guides them on her crimson wings:
Then the brave Roman, fired with patriot zeal,
His life devoted for his country's weal;

The victors then in dire amazement stood,
As on he swept like a destroying flood;

His blood-stained sword through crest and corselet sank
Like Death's own angel, swift he strewed each rank:
At length he fell,-and Rome's proud banner waved
Its folds triumphant o'er a nation saved.

BEHOLD, here, the battle-field; the warriors are seen arrayed in all the pompous circumstance of war. Armed with shield and javelin, they stand prepared for dreadful combat. See! the ranks are broken; one is seen rushing into the midst of the enemy-on he sweeps like a tornado-right and left he hurls the blood-stained spear; he cuts his way through-the foe, astounded at his daring intrepidity, give back. Again they rally, and the hero falls covered with a hundred wounds; he has, however, effected his object -the ranks are broken; his comrades follow up the advantage thus gained—rushing into the breach they rout the foe, and soon victory sits perched upon their banner.

The Romans, being at one time engaged in battle against the Latins, the latter had the advantage, and victory was about to decide in their favor, when Pub lius Decius, observing how things went, fired with a generous zeal, determined to sacrifice his life for his country's welfare. He threw himself upon the ranks of the enemy, and after having committed great slaughter among them, fell, overwhelmed with wounds. His countrymen, inspired by his heroic example, rallied their forces, renewed the combat, fought with great bravery, and gained a complete victory. Decius left behind him a son, who in like manner sacrificed his life in a war with the Etruscans; also, a

grandson who sacrificed himself in the war waged against Pyrrhus. His example influenced his countrymen down to the last of the Romans.

The hero sacrificing his life for his country's good, represents the Christian Missionary falling in the midst of heathen lands. The young man already belongs to the sacramental host; devoutly attached to his Saviour, burning with zeal for his glory, he longs to do something to advance his kingdom on the earth. The two armies he knows are in the field; long, fierce and bloody, has been the contest. O! if he were permitted to turn the battle to the gate. That he may see distinctly the state of things, he ascends the mount of Vision; in one direction he beholds Africa bleeding and prostrate beneath the powers of evil-he sees tribe waging against tribe bloody and cruel wars; rivers run red with the blood of its slaughtered millions; its mountains are crimsoned with human sacrifices; its vallies resound with the wild yells of demon-worshippers. In Central Africa he sees forty millions ignorant, cruel and superstitious, covered with the blackness of night; every where cruelty reigns rampant, enslaving and destroying millions of immortal souls; and as he bends over this mass of woe, he thinks he hears Africa "weeping for her children" as she "stretches out her hands unto God."

He turns his eyes in another direction, and he beholds China-vast, populous China: an infidel refinement, mixed with abominable vices prevails; one vast chain binds them fast to the pictured idols of their own creating; there they are ignorant of Jehovah, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent; without hope in the world.

He ventures to look still further. Now he beholds the myriads of India crushed beneath a gigantic sys

tem of error-the growth of ages. The rivers as they roll, the mountains as they rise, the vallies as they open, all proclaim the deep degradation of the people. "They have priests, but they are imposters and murderers; and altars—but they are stained with human blood; and objects of worship-but they sacrifice to devils and not to God. The countless mass is at worship-before the throne of Satan, glowing as with the heat of an infernal furnacewith rage, lust, and cruelty, for their religious emotions. He looks again; their demon-worship is over, but are they satisfied? How eager their looks! how objectless and restless their movements! how the living mass of misery heaves and surges, and groans and travails in pain together. He beholds them " travellers into Eternity; how vast the procession they form, how close their ranks, how continuous the line, how constant and steady the advance! an angry cloud hangs over them-which moves as they move -and ever and anon emits a lurid flash; it is stored with the materials of judicial wrath. Thousands of them have reached the edge of a tremendous gulph— it is the gulph of perdition, and they are standing on the very brink. God of mercy, they are falling over. They are gone!"

as

Finally he looks at home; here, in his own beloved land, he sees millions of immortal souls, for whom Christ died, shut up in unbelief and ignorance. Slaves, doomed to labor in despair, and to die without hope.

"From Greenland's icy mountains,

From India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains

Roll down their golden sand;

From many an ancient river,
From many a palmy plain,

They call him to deliver

Their land from error's chain."

He hears the call; it sinks deep into his heart. He burns to carry to Africa the tidings of the God of Love to China the system of Eternal Truth—to India the sacrifice of the Son of God-to his op. pressed countrymen the Liberty that maketh "free indeed." Viewing the vast and deadly plague that desolates the earth, he longs to carry into the midst thereof the censer of incense, that the plague may be stayed, and spiritual health every where estab lished. In the spirit of devotion he exclaims, "here am I, send me."

"My life and blood I here present,

If for thy truth they may be spent."

Now he selects his field of labor; the tear of love and friendship bedews his cheek-the parting hand is given the last farewell breaks from his trembling lips-he flies on the wings of the wind to meet the foe. Soon he is at the post of duty; he flings the torch of heavenly love into the midst of midnight darkness; powerfully he wields the sword of truth against gigantic forms of error. He wrestles with the man of sin and prevails; the might of God is with him; the enemy falls before him; he takes possession of his strong places. The banner of Ėmmanuel opens its folds triumphant to the breeze;' soon the infant Church lifts up its voice, “hosanna, hosanna in the highest."

But in the struggle the Hero falls. Through the influence of the deadly climate, or through the deadlier passion of the ferocious natives, he falls. Far from home and friends he falls, and “unknelled and uncoffined" he is borne to the house appointed to all the living; the earth closes over him; not a stone tells where he lies; but his object is effected, the seed is sown. The tree of Life is planted, whose