place to place, may widely distribute them to good advantage.

Pious instructions will be happily succeeded by these heralds of mercy, which proclaim a Saviour, and point to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." By them instructers of schools may "Teach the young idea how to shoot," and thus be instrumental in training up a seed to serve God. Travellers, too, may sow by the way side those seeds of divine truth, which shall take deep root, spring up and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and even an hundred fold, to the praise and glory of God. All pious persons are suitable alioners of these sacred charities, and may, by distributing them, lead many to the mansions of holiness and love. These little, but faithful and pungent preachers of righteousness can find way into myriads of recesses of sin and misery, where the ministers of religion cannot obtain admittance. They may visit courts and palaces, and by their powerful eloquence, make the great and the noble tremble, as did Felix. They may visit cottages, and even the meanest hovels, and by their heavenly influence, cause the poor and ignoble to become rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. Tracts can traverse the whole habitable globe. No burning sun under the equator, nor frigid clime in polar regions, can prevent them. The cheapness of Tracts is favorable to their wide diffusion. They cost but little. A penny will purchase a book which brings life and immortality to light, and may save a soul from death. A missionary's support for one week would procure a thousand Tracts of ten pages each. In this way a great amount of good may be accomplished by small means. Millions of minds may be affected with ease and little expense. In this view of the subject, we cannot but admire the plan of the monthly distribution of tracts. It brings divine truth before the mind at frequent

and stated seasons. This systematic effort for the diffusion of these heralds of mercy, is like the "tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits and yielding her fruit every month; and the leaves of it are for the healing of the nations." While much good is imparted to others, by the exhortations, counsels, and pious conversation of the distributors, they themselves are spiritually benefited. While they water others, they also themselves are watered in return. This method of imparting religious knowledge was first adopted in the city of New York, and has since been successfully practised very generally throughout the land. Nor has it been restricted to the United States; it prevails to a greater or less degree, in other countries, and will, I trust prevail, till it shall be adopted, finally, in all Christian nations. The Tract system breathes the very spirit of heaven, and is to be regarded, undoubtedly, as one of the grand engines to demolish the kingdom of darkness and sin, and to build up the kingdom of light and holiness.

But,

Cast your eye on a map of the globe, and you will see three fourths of its inhabitants groping in the darkness of Mohammedan delusion and Pagan idolatry. blessed be God, so it will not always be The sun of righteousness is to dissipate this darkness. The trump of prophecy has announced it. All this is to be accomplished, however, not by miracles, but by the blessing of God accompanying the use of suitable means. And Tracts are greatly to help forward in this mighty achievement. From the immense number already circulated, andthe incalculable good they have already accomplished, we have a pledge that the great Head of the church will continue to smile on this work of faith, and labor of love. A fountain of Tracts should be opened in every continent, nation town, and hamlet, from which streams may continually issue to

make glad the city of our God. Tracts, like the Bible, should be published in all languages, and distributed among all people. These winged messengers should fly through the earth, carrying with them the Gospel of the blessed God, till their influence is as extensive as human ignorance and sin. Tracts have already done great good. Abundant and striking evidence of this might be adduced. Incredulity itself cannot doubt it. Most evidently the Dairyman's Daughter, and the Young Cottager have been instrumental in bringing many sons and daughters unto glory."

This has been the case with many others. The light of eternity alone can reveal the whole amount of good, which in this way has been effected. "Distributors could tell us of the sorrows of widowhood assuaged, of the profligate reclaimed, of the burdens of poverty alleviated, of anger changed to gentleness, of profane habits abandoned, of Sabbath violations ceased, the tear of penitence, and the radiant smile of hope," by the instru̟mentality of Tracts. The London Tract Society has attempted great things, and accomplished great things. It has extended its influence into the four quarters of the globe. Following so bright an example, societies of this nature have come into existence in almost every nation where the light of Christianity sheds its benign radiance. The American Tract Society at New York has been in existence only a few years. But it has attained a greatness and glory, far surpassing the most sanguine expectation of its founders. It has received, most signally, the approbation and blessing of heaven. This must be most gratifying and animating to every benevolent heart. The more it is contemplated, the more it will afford matter for grateful and admiring devotion. But though great good has been effected, much still remains to be done. We shall

see greater things than these, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The energies of such societies will be increased a hundred fold. Their march will be boldly and rapidly onward. A host of the sons and daughters of Zion will enrol their names among the friends of such institutions. The great and the wise, will covet the luxury of thus doing good. Call not this sentiment enthusiasm. If it be so; 'tis blessed enthusiasm.. Would to God the world was filled with it.

rors.

"Antoninus was one of the best of the Roman empoHis life was a scene of universal benevolence.Cecrops or Athens was held in high reputation, and attracted the attention of all the philosophers. But Antoninus discovered more than a local attachment. He looked upon the whole world as worthy of his attention, and considered it as the object of his benevolence. "Shall any one," says he," love the city of Cecrops, and you love not the city of God." How much more disinterested and pure should be the benevolence of the Christian! and to what a still greater degree ought he to practice it. İt is not a little favored spot he regards, it is not an insulated portion of the globe, that he would have fructified and converted into a paradise. It is not his own garden and fields only, on which he wishes the refreshing showers to fall. But with a noble, expansive, and generous mind, he prays, that the whole, earth may be filled with God's glory. Such a spirit produced the Tract Societies, the happy effects of which are felt in almost every direction.

What a striking resemblance to ancient Jerusalem at one of the great annual festivals, when the Israelites from every tribe presented themselves before the Lord, are the cities of Boston and New York, on the week of their religious anniversaries. Then are held the annual meetings

of the Tract, Sabbath School, Missionary, Education, and other benevolent societies, whose object is the glory of God, and the salvation of men. Such too is London; and such is Paris, which less than sixty years ago, was infidel. And I trust the day is not far distant, when such will be all the great capital places on our globe. Are not these things a sign of the Millennium's approach? Will they not accelerate the day foretold in the oracles of God, when“ all shall know the Lord from the least of them unto the greatest of them." What part shall we act in this great drama of human affairs? Let conscience decide. is the cause of Almighty God, and it will prevail.

So. *

* Appendix C."

This

Even