trumpet should sound loud and long-till Christendom awakes in all her energies for the salvation of a world.

Secondly. Another means, which should be adopted for supplying the deficiency of Christian instructers, is, the establishment of societies for the education of pious, indigent young men for the gospel ministry.

Without efforts of this nature, the churches of this land will never be supplied, and the world will still lie in wickedness. For the last half century, the number of pious young men who have had ability and a disposition to obtain an education for the ministry, has not been sufficient to supply the vacancy caused by the decease of pastors. This fact may be easily ascertained by looking at the Triennial catalogues of our colleges. Pious, indigent young men of talents and good promise, must be educated by charitable assistance, or a supply will never be effected; and they must pass through a regular course of instruction; for a ministerial education is of the highest importance to those, who are to be employed in teaching others the great things of religion. It is a divine injunction, that the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and the people are to seek the law at his mouth. The prophets of the Jewish church were generally educated men. Schools for the instruction of the priesthood were established in Canaan at Dothan, in Jericho, in Gilgal, in Bethel, and in Naioth. The apostles were under the immediate instruction of Christ for three years. That a man may be an able minister, he must not be a novice, but be well instructed into the kingdom. His head must be replenished with knowledge, as well as his heart with grace. While God, in this day of revivals is furnishing multitudes of our young men with piety for this holy employment, and many of them are indigent, and have not the means of obtaining an education, notwithstanding they pant to be employed

in the work of the Lord, who can mistake the language of Providence? These men should be taken by the hand of charity and carried onward in a course of instruction, till they become qualified for the service of God in his sanctuary. To do this is the noble and sacred design of Education Societies. In this view they are vastly important. They will be an engine of mighty effect, in scattering the darkness of more than fifty centuries. Thousands of spiritual laborers will in this way, be trained up to go forth into the fields white already to harvest. There should, therefore, be a General Education Society in every country, an Auxiliary Society in every section. or county, and a Sub-auxiliary Education Society in every city, town, and parish, in which Christianity exists. This plan of operation has already commenced. The Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists and Methodists, have their Education Societies, and are educating their sons of the church to be pastors and teachers. But Education Societies can do nothing without pious young men to educate, and pecuniary ability to raise up a sacramental host of ministers for God. Pious parents therefore, should consecrate their sons to God, and train them up by their instruction and example, for usefulness in the church. A suitable proportion of them should be devoted, as was Samuel, to the service of the sacred ministry. As they come forth into life, they should be encouraged, if pious, and of good promise, to engage in this holy and benevolent work. If necessary, self-denial should be practised. Does any one say, "My son is a beloved Isaac ?" Let such remember Abraham, the father of the faithful, and see him devote the son of his old age at the command of God. Does any one say, "Mine is an only son?" Let such remember God, who who gave his well beloved Son a sacrifice for rebel man.

"Here,

In view of such examples, let pious parents say, Lord, at thy command, I consecrate my sons to thy work in the sacred ministry."

The ministers of Jesus should make efforts to induce young men of respectable talents, ardent piety, and good promise, under their pastoral charge, to commence, at once, a preparation for this holy calling. And young men, if not able to educate themselves, should solicit aid at the hand of the American Education Society, established solely for this important purpose. In such a case it is honorable and praiseworthy to do it. Many of the most efficient heralds of the cross have been charity students. God has signally blessed them as instruments of good. The wealthy in Zion, and all, as they have the means, are bound to afford Education Societies assistance. Those who have freely received, should freely give. Those who are rich in this world, should be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,-and they shall not lose their reward. A light tax, imposed upon pride, appetite, and time, will do much towards imparting to the destitute the gospel ministry. Let what is worse. than wasted in ardent spirit be expended for the education of pious, indigent young men for the gospel ministry, and multitudes would run to and fro, and knowledge be increased to the ends of the earth.* ·

Thirdly. Prayer is a means to be adopted in effecting the supply of Christian instructers. It was the direction of the great Head of the church, after stating that the harvest was plenteous, but the laborers few, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." Prayer is efficacious. When Daniel was desirous, that God should reveal to him the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which none of * Appendix G a.

the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, or Chaldeans could make known, he went to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they unitedly prayed to the God of heaven, that he would reveal this secret to Daniel; and their joint request was soon granted.-When Esther was desirous of saving the church of God, and the Jewish nation, apparently about to be destroyed, she sent to all the Jews in Shushan to fast and pray with her, and her maidens; and their united prayer prevailed. They were wonderfully saved. And, as prayers have been answered in times past, so they will be answered in time to come. Then let all who have an interest at the throne of grace, pray that God would raise up and qualify a host of young Ezekiels to prophecy upon the slain; that he would bless the means. adopted to this end; that he would pour out his Spirit upon our colleges and seminaries of learning, and cause streams to issue from these fountains, which shall make glad the city of God. He has, indeed, of late, wonderfully cast the salt of grace into them, and made it manifest that he hears prayer. Within the last two years, there have been revivals in sixteen different colleges, and between three and four hundred young men, in a course of education, have been hopefully converted to God. Let no pious soul forget the last Thursday of February, annually set apart, as a day of prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all our public institutions of learning, and also the Tuesday Evening, immediately succeeding the first Monday of each month, a season consecrated as a concert in prayer for this glorious object. The whole subject of educating pious young men for the gospel ministry, should be remembered in the sanctuary and at the family altar. God will be inquired of by his people to do it for them.

Such is a general view of the deficiency of Christian ministers, but especially in the United States; and such

are some of the methods which should be adopted to supply this deficiency. And now whose heart does not ache to behold such destitution of the means of grace, so many millions and hundreds of millions, without a Christian minister or sacrifice, without a spiritual guide or comforter! Whose hands will not be extended to relieve their necessities? For these perishing millions, you are now addressed. Your sympathies, prayers, and charities are solicited on their behalf. Deeply feel, and feeling, act. Remember them in your supplications. Pray with the spirit of the prophet Jeremiah, when he pathetically exclaimed, "O that my head were wa ́ers, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people." No feeling but this will satisfy the great Head of the church. And now, Christians, have you prayed in this manner? Have you agonized in prayer, a single half hour for this glorious cause? If you have, you will not withhold your charities. Your prayers and alms will ascend together as an acceptable memorial before God. As one of the best mediums of communicating to them your contributions, the American Education Society is presented. The object of this institution is to educate indigent young men, of respectable natural talents, ardent piety, and good promise. It has assisted many hundreds of this description. Among those who have been patronized may be found natives of every State in the Union, and some of seven evangelical denominations of Christians. The influence which the Society has already exerted upon the spiritual interests of man, is greater than can ever be fully known in the present world. Indeed, tongue cannot express; imagination cannot conceive, eternity only can tell; none but God can comprehend.

It appears by returns made to the Directors, from nine