There are others who do not consider them in a light quite so unfavourable, nor do they scruple to lend them their occasional sanction and assistance. But still they have their strong suspicions, and even in the act of yielding to the entreaties of the preacher, or some Christian friend, they cannot divest themselves of the impression that they might as usefully have thrown their money into mid ocean. This, we believe, is the more common feeling which prevails on the subject, a scepticism, a jealousy, an opinion, on the whole, that the project though innocent and well intended, is utterly futile and vain. They do not reflect that the great obstacle to success is the apathy of those who are so ready to prophesy failure; and who, influenced by their own predictions, will not come “to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty!"

It may be worth our pains, therefore, to offer a few considerations tending to blunt the edge of these prejudices, and to show, that so far from their bcing reasonable and well founded, there is something in the religious spirit of the age, which gives it commanding claims to the respect and active sup port of every sincere lover of God, and well-wisher to man. I am fully sensible, that to a large proportion of those

who compose this respectable audience, a discussion of this kind may seem entirely superfluous. We doubt not that many of you have long since proved by your practice that you are decided friends to the generous fanatcism whose cause we would plead: yet it may be hoped, that even such will not feel entirely uninterested in an attempt to obviate the scruples of those who have not the happiness of being like minded, and whose co-operation it would be most desirable to obtain. They will permit me therefore, to address myself particularly to these, and perhaps the result of our vindication may be their own additional establishment in the truths we wish to incul. cate.

I. In meeting the charge alleged against the spirit and projects which of late have become so extensively popular, let us admit the assumed fact in all its extent. "The Christian world is cherishing unfounded expectations-amusing itself with gazing on a bubble in the sunbeam. The schemes for the amelioration of the great human family are impracticable." Admit it all. Still we beg leave to promise an argument in behalf of this moral intoxication, which shall constrain the coldest doubter to except it from that contempt with which his

philosophic spirit usually regards enthusiastic excitements.

I begin with asking him if he has ever reflected on the redeeming quality to be found in the principles and motives from which it has originated. I believe the fiercest advocates of moderation will readily allow that there are certain cases of over-heated imagination, which it is impossible to contemplate without sentiments of esteem decidedly preponderating over those of dislike. When we see, for instance, a man fraught with sensibility, mistaking the aspirations of his warm heart for the conclusions of sober judgment, and, carried away by their influence throwing himself upon an impracticable enterprize, we may bestow one thought on his too obvious indiscretion; but how soon is it lost sight of in the splendour of his virtue ! We respect the very dreams of such a man, when, giving way to the seducements of fancy, he paints some Atalantis or Utopia, some land of pure delight, where love and joy perpetual reign ; forgetting that it is but the baseless fabric of a vision, too splendid to be realized in this vale of vicissitude and wo. We admire a philanthropic Howard, spending his life in visiting the abodes of wretchedness and despair, though perhaps, not one in a thousand has

ever put the question, what amelioration he ever succeeded in effecting. The mere spectacle of such godlike beneficence puts to flight every thing like sober calculation, and we gladly surrender ourselves to the thrilling emotions it excites!

I need say but little to explain the bearing of these reflections on the point before us. Whatever be the insuperable difficulties which lie in the way of the great Christian scheme, the excellence of the object and the motives which have induced its prosecution, are above all praise: Here we find ourselves in an impregnable fortress. The object is to raise to the Deity a tribute of glory from this fair creation-to extend the knowledge of his Son, through whom alone, he has been pleased to manifest his glory—to emancipate the family of man from the thraldom of ignorance and sin; and from the pressure of that fatal curse, which, for six thousand years, has rested on by far the greatest part of this habitable globe. To enter on this arduous task-Christians have been impelled by motives as pure as the object is glorious; by the disinterested desire, that, "the will of God be done on earth, as it is in heaven," by considering the deplorable condition of those who have no God, and by the conviction,

that as God has made of" one blood all nations of the earth," so all are capable of being restored to the felicity and prerogatives of their exalted nature. Now, we appeal to the soberest thinker, whether the charge of extravagance, in such an undertaking, be not the highest eulogy? For to what does it amount? Simply to this. The fervours of their benevolence have carried them so far beyond themselves, have so overreached their judgment and powers of accurate calculation, that they have given themselves up to the most delightful fantasies, and actually cherish the idea that the period is not far distant, when this terrible aceldama, this shocking theatre of tragedy and crime shall be restored to the favour of its celestial proprietor; and become what it was ever designed to be, a Paradise of God! Compare, my brethren, this noble frenzy with the chilling rationality which would fain displace it, and give it over to contempt: compare them, after giving to the latter all it asks, the concession that it is prudently in the right. It condemns you to hopeless despair. With ruthless hand it tears down the only refuge to which, sickened with the sight and tales of wo, you can fly for comfort and relief. It tells you in short, "Go, weep over a cursed world, doomed to perpetual