A NEW YEAR. Ill 



never yielding to supineness and discourage- 

 ments in my Ministerial labours, and toils in 

 the wilderness. Of all men. the Missionary 

 most needs strong faith, with a simple reliance 

 upon the providence and promises of God 

 in the trials that await him. His path is 

 indeed an arduous one. Many unexpected 

 circumstances will oppose his conscientious 

 endeavours to fulfil his calling ; and difficulties 

 will surround him in every shape, so as to put 

 his patience, his hopes of usefulness and 

 steady perseverance severely to the test. He 

 will often exclaim in the deep conviction of 

 his mind, who is sufficient for the great under- 

 taking? — Experience in the Missionary field 

 has convinced me, that there are indeed but 

 few among a thousand qualified for the difficult 

 and exalted work. If that eminent Missionary, 

 St. Paul, abounding in zeal, and in all the 

 graces of the Spirit, thought it needful to 

 solicit the prayers of the Churches that " the 

 word of the Lord might run, and have free 

 course," how earnest ought our entreaties 

 to be of all friends of missions to " pray for 

 us," who, if we feel aright, must feel our own 

 insignificance, in our labours among the 

 heathen, and in our services to the Christian 

 church, when compared with the labours of 



