MISSIONS. 



321 



with gratitude, and under the persuasion, that, 

 though England is the file leader in the march 

 of Christian benevolence for sending forth 

 Missionaries into all climes, yet, that much re- 

 mains to be done in the cause of Missions. We 

 want more simplicity and more self-devotion to 

 the sacred work. 



It is not to be expected that the ministers of 

 the gospel of the present day should have the 

 same zeal for missions, as those who were 

 thrust out to their work by persecution, and 

 who had resigned whatever was dear to man 

 for the sake of conscience ; still we may look 

 forward to the time when zeal shall increase 

 with knowledge. When Christians, professing 

 a lively interest in the cause of missions, shall 

 no longer so eagerly resist every application, 

 or seek to oppose, in fearful apprehension, any 

 expressed desire on the part of their children, 

 relations, or more immediate friends, to engage 

 in the truly arduous and great undertaking. 

 tc Let us cast our eyes," says a spirited and 

 able writer on missions, " on soldiers and 

 sailors. For a small sum a day, the soldier 

 exposes his life ; and when the ball penetrates 

 his chest, or his vitals palpitate on the bayonet, 

 beguiles the anguish with the thought that he 

 falls on the bed of honour and dies in the de- 



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