holy," bless the Sabbath, and all exertions made to prevent its violation, and to promote its sacred observance. Blessed is the man,-blessed is the nation, that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.*

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Appendix B.

DISSERTATION III.

DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTS.

The benevolent Creator has endued man with rational and moral powers, and made him capable of endless progression in knowledge, holiness and happiness. He has furnished him with the means of knowledge, and presented before him the most weighty motives to the attainment of it. Knowledge is desirable, as conducive to usefulness and enjoyment. Of this opinion was Solomon. Hence he says, "that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good." Knowledge on all important subjects is valuable. It expands, strengthens, and enobles the mind, and prepares it for successful effort. This is true of knowledge in medicine, law, politics, philosophy and divinity; of knowledge in all the arts and sciences. But man is a moral, responsible, and immortal being. Most of all, therefore, is knowledge valuable, on moral and divine subjects. It would be important were our existence measured only by time. How greatly, then, is its importance magnified, when we view our existence as commensurate with eternity! Great happiness in the life that now is, and all the happiness in that which is to come, depends on our acquaintance with true vital godliness. How important, then, that all men should have, not only a speculative, but also an experimental knowledge of the religion of the

holy Jesus! "Yea, doubtless," said Paul, "and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.". And why? Because this alone could save his soul. Some knowledge of divinity may be obtained from the works of creation and providence, or the light of nature; but the chief source of divine knowledge is the Bible. This is the great magazine, or storehouse of religious truth, and "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," "able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The writings also of the pious and good, though not inspired, serve to illustrate, enforce and apply the truths of God's word. They are happily instrumental in awakening, converting, and saving perishing souls. Of this nature are the evangelical Tracts, published by various societies; formed for the express purpose of thus promoting the glory of God, and the salvation of apostate man.

Tracts, those little harbingers of light and life, are peculiarly adapted to be useful, from the nature of their contents; their suitableness to all ranks and conditions of persons; the ease with which they are distributed; and the little expense, comparatively, attending their distribution. They are faithful too. They will not flatter, nor can they be intimidated. They are, moreover, as safe as they are faithful. Drawn from an incorruptible fountain, they will not inculcate the impure and impious doctrines of Voltaire, and his associates, but the pure and heavenly principles of Christ, and bis apostles. "They glory in shining with a borrowed light. The Bible Society is often and appropriately compared to the sun. But if the Bible society is the sun, the Tract society is the atmospheric medium that reflects the glorious rays, and throws them into every dark corner of the earth." Tracts impart pious instruction in

a perspicuous, concise, and interesting manner. They must, therefore, be productive of the happiest effects. In these unassuming advocates of the cross, may be found a word in season, for the intemperate, the profane, and the Sabbath-breaker; for parents and children; for the high and the low, the rich and poor, the righteous, and unrighteous, the civilized and uncivilized. While they are highly interesting and edifying to Christians, and those in the higher walks of life, they are peculiarly calculated for persons in humble circumstances, and for the impenitent, generally, whether in Christian or heathen lands. The greater part of mankind are in a state neither of affluence, nor of freedom, even from laborious and constant employLarge books are not, therefore, suited to their use, for they have neither money to buy, nor time to read them. Among the heathen, Tracts are more profitable than larger works. The missionaries tell us, that the natives, not being accustomed to reading, will despair of perusing large books, and so never begin; or should they begin they will read but here and there a little, and to little benefit. But a Tract is easily read, and is generally read with avidity and profit. In favor of thus publishing the proclamations of divine love and mercy to the heathen, we have the repeated testimony of Drs. Morrison and Cary; Drs. Henderson, and Pinckerton, and others, missionaries to the heathen. The latter named gentle.nen view them as most valuable accompaniments to the Bible, and as peculiarly useful in this connexion to lead wandering souls to God. The following are the opinions and declarations of some of the heralds of salvation, now laboring in pagan lands.

"Greece," says the Rev. Mr. Robertson, "offers now more than ever an extensive field for the distribution of the word of God, and of religious Tracts gratuitously.

At Samos, when I was there with Rev. Mr. King, I never witnessed any thing more astonishing than the eagerness of the people to obtain a Tract." Says the Rev. Mr. Winslow of Ceylon, in a communication to the American Tract Society, "Could you provide the means of supplying not only the tens of thousands in Jaffna, but some of the millions on the continent with Tamul Tracts, we have only to say the field is large enough for your benevolence." Dr. Judson at Rangoon in his journal writes: "The great annual festival of Shway Dagong is just past, during which I have distributed nearly ten thousand Tracts, giving to none but those who ask. Priest and people, from the remotest regions, are alike eager to get our writings." Dr. Milne's testimony to the value of Tracts in heathen lands, is, "The Tract Society is a most important auxiliary in the work of converting the heathen to Christ, and though in comparison with Missionary and Bible Societies, it holds in some respects a lower place, in other respects, its utility is more immediate, more extensive, and more apparent." "A Tract distributer, at some great festival in China, where men of different tongues throughout that vast empire, are congregated, like the 'Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and dwellers in Mesopotamia' on the day of Pentecost, might speak through these Chinese Tracts, to every one in the language in which he was born." In this way great multitudes of these heralds of mercy might be sent abroad, among the 260 millions of China, who might hereby become acquainted with that Saviour, through whom alone light and immortality are brought to light. Tracts are easily distributed. The pastor in his parochial visits, as he goes from house to house, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, may disseminate them, and thus feed his flock with knowledge and understanding. The missionary, in his journeyings from