The blessing of Heaven needed.

'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' No exertions of men, however great, will avail to the raising up of a pious and learned ministry without the special blessing of Heaven. We should, therefore, most importunately beseech the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. This, indeed, he has taught and encouraged us to do. And when all his people, in united, continual and fervent aspirations, address the throne of the Great Eternal, he will not be inattentive unto the voice of their supplications. Persuaded of this, the Directors of the American Education Society have ever taken a special interest in the Annual Concert of Prayer on behalf of colleges and public seminaries of learning. A circular letter, by their order, was addressed last January to the beneficiaries of this Society in reference to this Concert, calling up their attention to the duty of fasting and supplication on behalf of the conversion of the multitudes of the dear youth of our land, now in a course of education.* God most manifestly has heard the prayers of his children on such occasions. During the last year, the blessing of the Holy Ghost descended on a number of these institutions of learning, and some souls were converted to Christ. From information recently received, it appears that a promising state of religious feeling exists in a number of our colleges at the present time. May the period soon arrive when they shall be not only schools of literature and science, but also nurseries of morality and religion. The Directors have also recommended a monthly Concert of Prayer on Tuesday, immediately succeeding the first Monday of each month. The object of this meeting is to pray particularly for the American Education Society, its officers, members and patrons, for the young men connected with it, and also that God would convert multitudes of our youth, and inspire them with an ardent desire to preach Christ and him crucified. Were all Christians thus to pray, the God of heaven, he would prosper us.

Demand for Ministers.

There has not been for the last thirty years so great a demand for ministers in New England as at the present time. Many va

cant churches exist, and their call is, "Send us Pastors." In the South and West there is a "famine of hearing the words of the Lord." Between three and four thousand ministers are needed to supply the destitute evangelical churches in this country.

The different benevolent societies say, "Give us Agents, or the cause we have espoused will languish and die." Fifty such Agents ought to be employed immediately, in order to arouse the country to suitable efforts.

The Home Missionary Societies are presenting from all quarters the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us." Five hundred ministers, besides those now in service, are needed, and, could they be procured, would immediately be employed for the building up of Zion in our own beloved country.

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions are peremptory in their demand for more laborers. Fifty-five missionaries are this year required to be sent into pagan lands, and one thousand, it is thought, might be employed to good advantage, could men and the means to support them be procured.

There is one more demand. It is from the East. Dr. Scudder of Ceylon, a Foreign Missionary, has addressed an appeal to the pious young men, to the ministers, and to the churches of this country, on this subject. The call by him, is from the four winds of heaven, and it is for ministers to supply the world. And this call will wax louder and louder, as it is wafted on every breeze, till the world's redemption is accomplished.

Conclusion.

This Society is engaged in a great work-a work of no less magnitude than the salvation of the world. In it the church is engaged; angels are engaged; the sacred Trinity are engaged. This glorious work will be accomplished. As a pledge of this we have the purpose, perfections, covenant and oath of the immutable God. As a pledge of it, we have too, the providence of him, who for the salvation of his church divided the Red Sea, rolled back the waters of Jordan, caused the rock in Horeb to become a fountain, the heavens to rain down bread, and the sun and moon to be stayed in their circuit. The Lord will spread the triumphs of the cross, till the whole earth shall chant the praises of the Redeemer,

* See "Letters from the East," an interesting little work, by John Scudder, M. D. Missionary in Ceylon.

7

and the song of salvation shall echo from shore to shore. "Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. He is the king of glory." He is the king of glory." How is this conquest

to be obtained? By the instrumentality of the church. Christians then must enlist in this war, and enlist for actual service, and for life. The church must become a well disciplined army, and every soldier must know his place and duty under the great Captain of salvation. There must be a mighty onset against sin, Satan, and his hosts, before this world will be wrested from the powers of darkness, and brought into subjection to the Prince of peace. But "the weapons of this warfare are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." Every opposition will yield to effort and prayer. Then let the church be electrified with holy zeal, and act in unison with the King of heaven. Let there be more fervent prayer, more abundant labors, more enlarged charities. There must especially be an augmented number of ministers, for it is to a great degree by their agency, that "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" is to be fought, and the victory won. Ministers, therefore, of great souls, glowing with love to God and man, who aim at nothing less than the conversion of the world, must be raised up. We come then and ask of parents their consecrated sons for this blessed purpose; we ask young men, filled with love to Jesus and love to souls, to enter the ministry of Christ; we ask the churches from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, to give us their "tribute money," in this glorious cause; we ask their prayers, that he who is the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into his harvest, that the whole earth may be gathered. It is his prerogative to raise up ministers, and it is our part to co-operate in this blessed work. "The Lord hath given the word; great shall be the company of those that publish it." "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

By order of the Directors,

WILLIAM COGSWELL, Secretary.

Expenditures and Receipts of the American Education

Paid, Grants to Beneficiaries, viz.

Paid by Parent Society, the drafts of Treasurer's of Branch
Societies,

do.

$5,628

Paid by
to Beneficiaries within its limits, . 13,350-18,978 00
Paid by the Branch Societies, .

Printing 4,500 copies of 16th Annual Report, including Paper, &c.
Blanks, Stationary, and Books for the use of the Rooms,

Postage of Letters, Papers and Pamphlets,

Fuel, Porterage, &c. and Repairs on the house owned by the Society,.
Rent of Rooms, and Tax for one year,

Clerk hire, and expense of a Boy in the Rooms,

Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer's Salaries, and Travelling
expenses; together with the expenses of Agents employed in the
service of the P. Society and of Br. Societies,

Quarterly Register, allowed for the numbers distributed gratuitously
by the Society, also for the cost of the Journal, which is printed for
gratuitous distribution,.

Interest on Money hired for the use of the Society,

Balanco of account, April 30th, 1832,

23,665 00

42,643 00

424 00

156 16

232 88

163 58

427 87

3,406 41

461 05 138 87

48,053 82

3,588 05

BOSTON, MAY 25, 1833. Having examined the above account, I find it well

vouched and correct.

PLINY CUTLER, Auditor.