JOURNAL

OF

THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

MAY, 1836.

LETTER FROM THE REV. LEVI SPAULDING, MISSIONARY AT

CEYLON.

To the Pious Young Men in Academies, Colleges and Theological Seminaries, who are preparing for the Ministry.

My dear Young Friends,-My mind has for several years past been turned with deep interest towards you, and I have often thought that could I visit you I should have a few subjects for plain and affectionate conversation. Of late I have been led to think that a letter would not be unacceptable, and have concluded after much hesitation to give you a few hints, as it will be impossible in a short letter to go into details farther than to let you know the outlines of what I would say.

You are looking forward to the time when your course of studies preparatory to entering upon a life of action and responsibilities, will close; and to an honor which "no man taketh unto himself but he who is called of God as was Aaron."

It is a subject for gratitude to the gread Head of the church, that uncommon facilities are provided, even for those who have no money, for getting an education, and I trust such facilities will be greatly increased. I fear however that the church in counting up the number of her Nazarites, and that even the young men themselves, make a great mistake, supposing the effects will be proportioned to the number of laborers; and as a watchman upon an elevated and distant town, where I see more clearly than you possibly can the necessity of all the Christian armor, (Eph. iv. 10, 18.) I feel constrained to say that both the times and the work require a more elevated spirit of piety.

Remember, therefore, that you have with your own free, cheerful, and thankful acquiescence consecrated yourselves to Jesus and to his cause. With these prospects, the first subject in importance and the foundation of all others, is a proportionable and thorough cultivation of all the fruits of the Spirit, (Gal. v. 22, 23.) so as to grow up into the likeness of Christ. It is worthy of notice that "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance," are what are generally called the passive virtues. Zeal, action, self-consecration and suffering of common hardships, are not mentioned; and for this plain reason probably, that they are not so manifestly the fruits of the Spirit. You must therefore look upon your hearts as your garden; limited in extent, and most difficult of cultivation, but containing the issues of life or death not only to yourselves, but to thousands around you, and to tens of thousands who may live hereafter. Daily sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of him in all the variety of character in which he appears as your model, especially as exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit-remembering the words which he spake," as my Father has sent me, even so send I you." And how did the Father send the Son? Did he not come cheerfully? Lo I come to do thy will, O God. Did he seek to do his own will? To be great in the earth? Or did he teach his disciples to look for honor-for wealth? "Take no thought, saying, what shall we eat, what shall we drink.-Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." Though he came to his own, his own received him not. He had not 45

VOL. VIII.

where to lay his head. Loaded with abuse, and with his sufferings distinctly in view, he told his disciples that it was enough for them to be as their Lord. He sought not his own, but the good of souls; of wretched and ruined sinners. While in the world he had but one object. Hungry, thirsty, or weary; in the temple, at the feast, or at a well, he ceased not to do the will of his Fatherspending the day in teaching, and the night in prayer. This is the love which brought Jesus down from heaven and sustained him under all his sufferings; and in this connection, he looks at each of you in your retirement, in your class, at home or abroad, and says-Even so send I you. The object of his coming, of his daily labors, of his death, was the salvation of souls; and the love of Christ should constrain you to make this the object both of your life and death. You are not your own. Those feet, those hands, that head, and those powers of body and of mind are bought with the price of his blood, and should be used as his for the salvation of sinners. Keeping back even part of the price is sacrilege.

As a foundation of joy, consider the work in which you are to be engageda work to which angels might aspire-a work in which Jesus "labored and languished and bled." If then the Captain of your salvation was perfected through suffering, rejoice in tribulation also; for why should you shrink from those very providences which are designed to form in you his image? Esteem even the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, and rejoice in the Lord always. With this spirit, the peace of God which passeth all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in an elevation far above the reverses of this world.

Again how mild; and with what forethought did he answer those who came to dispute, to provoke, and to entrap him-and, turning the cheek to the smiter, how patient with those who treated him with scorn. When denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, and forsaken by all, did he criminate? Did he find fault? In all how forbearing-how ready to forgive-and even to make excuses for their defects.

Although you may have studied this subject, and so imbued your minds with the spirit of Christ as to enable you to offer yourselves living sacrifices, willing and longing and be daily consumed by the holy fire descending from the altar of God, still you will not always find it easy to observe those smaller but very important rules of common life, by which you may secure to yourselves and to all about you harmony and love. You will be thrown into circumstances and relations in which it will be difficult to be “ all of one mind, having compassion one of another." Your temper, your forbearance, your patience, your kindness, your liberality, your self-denial, will all be taxed not only occasionally but protractedly, heavily and sometimes almost beyond endurance. You will be ready to reply, when silence would be much better-ready to turn away in an angry manner, when mild behavior and a soft answer would effect wonders, not only upon the opposing party, but even upon your own spirit-ready to throw away an unwelcome subject or a wayward individual to rid yourselves of a burden, when steady perseverance would render the one pleasant and reform the otherready to write a note of crimination, demand explanations, or enter into a controversy, rather than to conquer your own spirit and disappoint the other party, by entering into your closet to pray for humility and forbearance for yourself, and the gifts of the Spirit for him.

In all these things you must take up your cross daily, and follow Christ, resolving never to give nor take offence, and that you will never let the sun go down upon an unkind or an unsubdued feeling. These principles must be so deeply wrought into your heart, that they will gain the ascendency and flow out involuntarily in corresponding action; must be a living fountain in your souls, springing up into everlasting life. Without this, what will all your learning and talent be worth? A few days since I heard the following remark; "He was the finest preacher, the most finished and eloquent pulpit orator in -; but at the same time the most unpleasant, morose and crabbed man in the world-even in his own family." The young man who is churlish, disobliging or self-willed among his associates or class-mates at school,

or with his brothers or sisters at home, will probably, if he have talent, make just such a preacher as above described; and without talent he will certainly be no better. In this connection I often think of the following passage; "And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." And if this is said of Christians in general, with what force should it rest on your minds. Fix your eyes on a group of little children, and observe their conduct and feelings towards each other and say, what makes you love one more than another? Some watch their playthings and privileges with jealousy, and are constantly teased with the very anticipations of interference. Others are just, and allow of no infringements. Others are perverse, and of course are an annoyance to all. Now you see that when the interests of these children clash, there is uniformly a struggle; but as the rules of the guardian do not allow them to take an eye for an eye, nor a tooth for a tooth-nor even of striking each other, what is the result? Certainly nothing less than envyings and heart-burnings which occasionally, at least, show themselves by a short turn-a sour or unsocial look-by exclusiveness, or a quarrel. There is one or two however whose constant care and anxiety seem to be to make others happy. They will incommode themselves, and even give up their own playthings and privileges, for the sake of harmony and the general happiness of the whole. Even when abused, they show little or no anxiety for self-defence; but ever "following that which is good, they rather suffer themselves to be defrauded," esteeming it a privilege thus to consult the general interests. As far as this language can be applied to children, by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by love unfeigned, they make many rich-and though they call nothing their own, they possess all things. They are beloved by all whose love is desirable, and respected even by the others. They are always happy, and in the midst of opposing interests their only object is to make others partakers of their own joys. The greater their own sacrifices for the accommodation or benefit of others, the greater their enjoyment. This is truly lovely, and possesses a moral power beyond all the eloquence and learning of colleges and libraries. An eloquence which the fruits of the Holy Spirit alone can impart, and a power which brings to its co-operation all the sympathies and energies of our great High Priest and Saviour.

On the subject of faith, meekness, and temperance, I need not enlarge, excepting that the word temperance has a very extensive and forcible meaning; but, as one of the fruits of the Spirit and the last in the climax, refers more especially to the heart, and implies that government of affections and passions, which keeps them in constant subjection to a holy and cheerful obedience to the will of God. Moral temperance, which sanctifies and purifies the soul by a direct and entire abstinence from all unholy food.

Now, my dear young friends, cultivate the spirit brought to view in the above remarks, "for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." Cherish also a perfect and grateful confidence in the word and providences of God; and let no consideration of a worldly nature turn you away from Christ and his cause. Feel that you are identified with him, and never ask "what shall I eat, or what shall I drink," knowing that if you are "diligent in business serving the Lord," he will never forget to send your daily bread, even though borne on the wings of the ravens. At the same time keep constantly in mind that if you would be fed as Elijah was, you must have Elijah's spirit; if you would stop the mouths of lions, and quench the violence of fire, you must live as Daniel and his companions did; if you would see the prison doors opened, every one's bands loosed, and the keeper of the prison himself converted, you must in all your afflictions pray and sing praises; if you would have Brainerd's success, you must have his spirit. God cannot deny himself. This spirit brings down the blessing with a thousand times more certainty than the pointed wire sent up to

heaven brings down the lightning; and the want of such a spirit makes your souls non-conductors, and all your labors powerless. Let this mind, therefore, be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," who made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and humbled himself," then you will be highly exalted. Then you will live so that it may be said of you, "the zeal of thine house hath eaten him up." When you open your Bibles, you will easily find the place where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." The eyes of all will be fastened on you, nor will any one be able to resist.

With these views and feelings, you will be prepared to hail that most interesting, desirable, and I trust not far distant period, when the watchmen of Israel shall see eye to eye. You will not call that common which God has cleansed, nor from any partialities to modes of organizing or governing a church, nor from any difference of opinion, short of one affecting the salvation of the soul, deny the right hand of fellowship, nor the cup of blessing, nor the communion of the body of Christ (1 Cor. x. 16, 17.) from those who have received the Holy Ghost as well as you. These party feelings, like caste among the heathens, must decrease as Christ increases, and must vanish away before "all the building fitly framed together can grow unto a holy temple in the Lord for a habitation of God." You are not of Paul, nor of Apollos, but of Christ; who does not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, and who says expressly, "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Does not the Episcopalian, the Methodist, the Congregationalist, the Baptist, and the Presbyterian believe in Christ? "Woe unto the world because of offences! it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." (Matt. xviii. 6, 7.)

Another motive for the diligent and thorough cultivation of the fruits of the Spirit is found in the fact that the laborers are few, compared with the extent of the harvest. While we pray that more laborers may be raised up, we ought to plead for a double portion of the Spirit's influences to rest on those already in the field, and on those preparing for it. Double the spirit of prayer and devotion in the hearts of these, and you more than double their moral power. In a very important sense, 300 of Gideon's army were better than the whole 32,000. They were the soul of the army, not in head, but in heart. With this measuring rod in your hand, look at the whole army of ministers in America, and select the 300, more or less, who in reality fight the whole battle. I do not mean in writing essays, or in conducting a controversy, but in leading souls to Jesus, and in feeding the flock of Christ with spiritual food. Look round and see if they are not men of prayer-of great humility-and entire selfconsecration. I do not ask where are the Brainerds, and Martyns, and Paysons, though their praise is in all the churches; but I ask where are our Nazarites, either at home or on Missionary ground, who consult not with flesh and blood-who go from place to place bound in the spirit—who count not their lives dear unto them-and who "give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word?" Where are those who, constrained by the love of Christ, have not only made up their minds to spend their days in teaching, and their nights in prayer; but who have carried out these resolutions into life, and become living epistles, known and read of all men? My dear friends, let this mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ. Then "a little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel." "Have I not sent thee?”

If any would inquire why I say nothing about missions, I reply, that my object is not to prove that you ought to be missionaries, though after a residence of fifteen years among the heathen, I might have somewhat to say on the subject; but to show that, if you have the spirit brought to view in the preceding remarks, you are fitted for any field, and will hold yourselves ready, nothing doubting, to say, Here am I, send me ; and when thus sent, you will feel that you go bound in the spirit, not counting your lives dear unto you. If you

have not this spirit, you have not the first qualification even for staying at home, and should make a solemn pause and examine the hope of your calling. Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find. Clothe yourselves with the spirit of Christ. Let your daily garments be white and spotless. Let the vow of the Nazarite be upon you. Walk as though you could feel the consecrating hand of your Saviour upon your head; and then, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. As my Father has sent me, even so send I you." "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

THE PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Extracts from a Dissertation read before the "Society of Christian Research," in the theological department of Yale college, by Erastus Colton.

OVER an area of 2,457,000 square miles, including the whole of the United States and their Territories, is spread a population of 14,000,000 souls. Of these, nearly 6,000,000 inhabit the great western valley-a surface of 1,200,000 square miles, or about one half of the whole area of the country, or two-thirds of that lying east of the Rocky Mountains.

For the good of these immortal and accountable beings, we inquire

I. What is done? In answering this question, we will briefly state facts, with as much statistical accuracy, as the data at hand will enable us to do. As the facts relate uniformly to the States and their Territories, a subsequent repetition of these names will be unnecessary.

There are 2,750,000 evangelical professing Christians. From 1825 to 1835, the estimated number of converts is 200,000. The evangelical ministers number 12,000, while there are 13,000 physicians and 9,000 lawyers. The American Home Missionary Society has 719 missionaries in their employ. In our 82 colleges the number of students is not far from 6,000. Of these 1,050, or more, are professors of religion-538 of whom are aided by the American Education Society. There are 1,016 theological students, in 30 seminaries, looking forward to the holy ministry, of whom 200 receive aid from the same Society. That Institution is likewise affording assistance to 302 young men in academies and public schools. The estimated number of pious youth between the ages of 14 and 30, is 226,000. The number of children, in a course of common school education, is 1,500,000; and in Sabbath schools, 1,000,000. In part, from the efforts of the American Bible Society, its auxiliaries and friends, 2,800,000 families possess that richest boon of Heaven to man -the sacred Scriptures. In addition to the circulation of these, tracts and religious books have been extensively distributed; and invaluable religious newspapers and periodicals have statedly issued from the press-that powerful engine of thought-to fertilize the moral wastes, like "streams in the desert," and to fan the flame of enlightened piety. Nor have any classes of the community been entirely overlooked, in the benevolent enterprises of the day. The condition of prisoners has been alleviated by the efforts of philanthropic Howards. Sailors, at 19 stations, are blessed with the stated preaching of that word, which was first promulgated in Judea, by seamen. The slaves share the sympathy of those who commiserate human degradation and suffering. And, to add but another item of good, which, though last mentioned, is by no means least in importance, 1,250,000 names stand enrolled as members of the American Temperance Society, of whom many are reclaimed drunkards. As temperance is fundamental, in the progress of education, religion, and indeed of every thing valuable to man both here and hereafter, it cannot be otherwise than a matter of joy and thanksgiving, that so many have resolved never "to taste, touch, nor handle," the deadly poison.