BERBIMA AND MITTAGONG. 117 



ful world, it behoves us to take an extensive survey of all around 

 us, that we may see the harmony and perfection of God's works, 

 and acquire a comprehensive view of the admirable " adjustments 

 which exist in creation as a whole." 



" Happy is he who lives to understand 

 Not human nature only, but explores 

 All natures, to the end that he may find 

 The law that governs each ; . . . . 

 . . . . ,. . . that does assign 

 To every class its station and its office 

 Through all the mighty commonwealth of things. 

 Up from the creeping plant to sovereign man." 



And if on any occasion it is expedient to introduce the claims of 

 religion, and to show that the investigations of science are not in- 

 consistent w^th the moral and spiritual interests of our fellow- 

 men, it must be peculiarly appropriate to dwell on such topics 

 when addressing the members and friends of a society which is 

 engaged, in any degree, how humble soever it may be, in swelling 

 the notes of that angelic anthem, " G-lory to Grod in the highest, 

 and on earth peace, goodwill towards men." To confine myself 

 to mere matters of detail, would amount almost to a dereliction 

 of duty; for whilst the Church Society, or, shall I say, the 

 Christian Church, has such claims upon its sympathies, and so 

 many in isolated spots are echoing the cry to send them help, I 

 feel happy in directing the attention of my fellow- Christians to 

 the present posture of affairs, with a view of stirring up the 

 slumbering energies of those who have the means of rendering 

 material aid to the propagation of the Grospel. Such a topic as 

 this, I must repeat, is appropriate at any time when addressed to 

 a religious society, but it is certainly so in an eminent degree 

 when we consider that legislative aid is gradually dying out, and 

 that the church must now throw herself upon the sympathies and 

 affections of the people. In such circumstances, we cannot too 

 strongly protest against the notion which even yet lingers in 

 many minds, that the bishops, or the clergy, or any church officers 

 constitute " the Church." Every believer in Christ who has 

 been admitted into the Church by baptism is a member of the 

 same, and, no matter how humble his position in society, he must 

 be regarded as an integral portion of the Church. If the laity in 

 general could realise this idea, and the responsibility which it en- 

 tails upon them, " numbers and perseverance," to use an expres*. 



