closely connected. Let this frame-work molder by sloth, or be shaken by excess, or be crushed by overstrained exertion, and you are lost to the cause, to which you might otherwise have been long and usefully devoted. If you do not go down to an early grave, you will be a dead man, while you seem to live. Oh, how many departed ones have been lamented as martyrs to excessive application, who have died, "as the fool dieth," the miserable victims of indolence and luxury! The missionary enterprise demands men of a widely different stamp,-men, who have consecrated their bodies as well as their souls, a living sacrifice to Jesus Christ,-men, who will spare no pains to preserve their lives and health unimpaired, that they may toil long, and vigorously, and joyfully for their Savior. It demands men, who will give such attention to exercise, to cleanliness, to diet, as their physical necessities require. For our part we do not wish to see missionaries toil on, when exhausted nature pleads for repose. We dread to see them encounter hardships, which threaten to crush them in an hour. We think there is positive guilt in exposing themselves to dangerous precipices, devouring volcanos, and deadly malaria. We cannot reckon it among the virtues of David Brainerd or Henry Martyn, though their memory is as sweet to us as the dew of heaven, that they subjected themselves to trials which so soon exhausted all their strength, and snatched them so prematurely away from the abodes of misery, which they were blessing by their labors of love. We wish to see missionaries go forth to the field of their exertion with such habits, as may by the blessing of a gracious Providence insure them a long, a useful, and a happy life. But this cannot be, unless their physical habits are of a healthful tendency.

On the intellectual qualifications, appropriate to the missionary work, we have a few hints, which we shall venture to suggest in this connection. In our apprehension, it is idle talk, to say how much or how little actual information will answer the demands of such a service. We have no patience, we frankly acknowledge, with those rabbis, who teach, that for intellectual qualifications, the missionary only needs to acquire "the knowledge of history and of the present state of mankind," or a "knowledge of English, and of chimistry, in its simplest form, as applicable to daily phenomena, and daily uses." Whether his office demands of the christian missionary much or little learning; whether the riches of science or the refinements of literature are more appropriate to his design; or whether both united should belong to his intellectual acquisitions, are points, which we shall not undertake to settle. But we shall venture strongly to affirm, that the missionary should have received so much mental discipline, as may enable him to employ his powers in his proper office, with promptness, decision, and effect. And we add, without scruple or hesitation, that so much

discipline he cannot in ordinary circumstances have received, without acquiring a considerable amount of most valuable knowledge. At all events, his mind must have been raised to such a state, as to place within his reach those acquisitions, whatever they may be, which the prosecution of his work demands.

Some men dream, that the acquisition of foreign tongues-a task, for which the foreign missionary should of course be prepared-requires little else than the exercise of a ready and tenacious memory. This is a delusion, in which no philologist ever yet indulged. Which of the various states of mind, we are ready to ask, that are requisite to successful effort in any department of study, do not philological pursuits demand? A good memory, it is admitted, will be brought into full and profitable exercise. But this is not the only power, which must be tasked. A constant necessity will be laid upon the mind to exercise, as far as possible, a nice discrimination, a correct taste, a lively imagination, a sound judgment. The translation of one of Esop's fables, will often carry the tyro through the very same states of mind, through which the subtle jurist passes in deciding an intricate law-question. This statement it would be easy to illustrate and support, by giving an analytical view of the process, through which the mind must pass in making any philological acquisitions. But we forbear. To us, it is most evident, that the strongest and most cultivated mind will find on missionary ground, full play for all its powers in the study of the foreign and perhaps imperfect languages, which may claim its attention. The discipline afforded by merely reading history and observing chimical experiments, may be very ill adapted to prepare the missionary for the arduous services in which he is to be employed.

The prejudice ought not for a moment to be indulged, that because the heathen are involved in thick moral darkness, small intellectual acquisitions, and slight mental effort, will be requisite to furnish them with appropriate instruction. Facts, stubborn and notorious, decisively evince, that they are often distinguished for shrewdness, sagacity, and acumen; for skill and ability, if not in defending their own superstitions, in giving point, and force, and effect to plausible objections to christian truth. Missionaries must stand constantly prepared, not only to expose the absurdities and wickedness of idolatry; but also adroitly to repel whatever attacks may be made upon the gospel, and to exhibit it before the eyes of the heathen in all its native beauty and glory. We much doubt, whether less talent, and skill, and address are requisite to impress the truths of the bible on the dark minds of pagans, and the uninformed minds of children,* than are requisite to successful efforts

Respecting the efforts, which are requisite to furnish instruction, adapted to the minds of children, we rejoice in the indications, which show, that a salu

in furnishing religious instruction to cultivated intellects. The mortifying statement of Buchanan ought not soon to be forgotten; "I have sometimes been ashamed to see the christian missionary put to silence by the intelligent Bramin, on some point relating to the eastern nations, or to the present state of mankind." And we apprehend, there are on heathen ground communities, where ignorance of the leading principles of philological or natural science in a missionary, would operate equally to the discredit of the christian

cause.

And what shall we say in this connection of the labor of translating portions of the sacred scriptures into other languages? To those, who, with any proper qualifications, have attempted for themselves to translate a single chapter, nay a single paragraph of the old or new testament into good, idiomatic English, we need not utter a syllable, to create the fullest conviction in their minds, that the task is at once in a high degree arduous, difficult, and delicate. To others, who on such subjects are chiefly influenced by the authority of names, we would say, What think ye of a work, which gave full exercise to all the powers, and drew forth all the resources. of such a man, as MARTIN LUTHER? What if you had seen him intensely engaged hour after hour, and day after day, in tracing the relations of a single particle, that he might fully, clearly, and accurately apprehend its meaning, and give it an appropriate place and just expression? You need not be reminded that this reformer was well nigh crushed with the weight of cares and labors, which the welfare of "all the churches" imposed upon him. You would regard the argument as most superfluous, which should be employed to prove, that Martin Luther was in the highest sense of the phrase, a practical man. You would frown on the writer, who in the most distant manner should drop the intimation, that Luther could waste his time and strength in literary trifling. Judge then, from his unwearied, exhausting labors, how great a task it must be to translate the bible. But this task, when undertaken by the missionary must be still more difficult, delicate, and perplexing, from the necessity often imposed upon him of actually creating no small part of the language, into which the sacred text is to be rendered. Appropriate helps and learned friends are often at too great a distance to be consulted. The responsibility of preparing "the word of the Lord" for the pagans;-almost alone, with few good books, in a foreign language, imperfect it may be in its structure, poor in appropriate words, and unsettled in the use of terms, might well fill

tary change is going on in the public sentiment. We rejoice to see some of the best talents and most cultivated intellects, skilfully and successfully employed in the noble work of teaching the young how to think, and feel, and act. Such names as Gallaudet-we wish there were many such-we love to see on the title-pages of the books, which we put into the hands of our children.

the most gigantic and accomplished mind with painful apprehensions. No man, competent to estimate the magnitude of such a work, could attempt it without intense anxiety and a trembling hand. And is this the work to be committed to uncultivated, unpractised minds? We know of no words of sufficient strength and point, to furnish the rebuke, which such a careless disregard of the highest interests of the church deserves. The missionary work demands the most vigorous, well-furnished, and highly disciplined intellects, which can be found among the ministers of religion. Let men, enriched with such gifts, be anxiously sought for and fully employed, in the sublime design of evangelizing the nations.

And here we must be permitted to say, that it is with heart-felt and lively satisfaction, we contemplate the intellectual character and literary acquirements of many of the men, who have gone forth on errands of mercy to the heathen world, under the direction of the American Board of Foreign Missions. With a number of these individuals, it was our delightful privilege to be intimately acquainted. And certainly, they were surpassed by very few of their companions in study, in the glorious enthusiasm, the wakeful diligence, and distinguished success, with which in preparing for their sacred office, they devoted themselves to intellectual pursuits. High stations of literary responsibility in their own country, they were well prepared to occupy with honor to themselves and advantage to those around them. Nor have these men since they entered upon the appropriate field of their labors, disappointed our expectations. Their official labors, so far as they have met the public eye, have been strongly marked by weighty thought and rich illustration; by appropriateness, impressiveness, and power.

There is another class of missionary qualifications, to which, it may not be uncharitable to doubt, whether sufficient attention has been paid by those, who propose to engage in the work of proclaiming the gospel to the heathen; on which, a sufficient stress may not always have been laid by their instructors and directors. We now refer to what we shall call, without pretending to speak with philosophical exactness, the social qualities, requisite for missionary life. The nature of their design, and the field of their exertions, will often require missionaries and their families to live to

* One of the most distinguished judicial officers of the British government in India, stated to the conductor of this work, that during a long residence in Hindoostan, he had never met with missionaries or religious teachers, who were so well qualified for their work as the American missionaries. A similar testimony to the ability and judgment of our missionaries in Ceylon, was given in very strong terms by a scientific gentleman in the service of the East India Company.

gether. They must do this amidst multiplied privations and severe self-denials. They will have occasion for an exhaustless fund of meekness, patience, and cheerfulness. Much of a yielding, accommodating, forbearing and forgiving spirit they will need in their mutual intercourse with each other. Though in saying so, we may provoke a smile in our readers, we do not hesitate to affirm, that missionaries should be greatly disintinguished for good nature. This quality when modified and sweetened by the "grace of God," will spread perpetual sunshine around them. We hope we shall not appear arrogant, if we say, that when our thoughts have followed the candidate for missionary employment into his closet, we have been tempted to wish, that we could infuse into his heart the spirit of such inquiries, as the following. Perhaps at your father's hearth, you belonged to a considerable circle of brothers and sisters. What influence had your conduct upon that interesting and beloved circle? Did you breath upon them the spirit of forbearance, amity, and love; or were you peevish, hasty, and domineering? Did you secure for yourself their confidence and affection; or did they look upon you with aversion, suspicion, and distrust? And since you began to cherish hope in the mercy of the Savior, of what stamp has been the social intercourse, existing between yourself and your friends? In what light were you regarded by your companions in study? How did you act your part amid the scenes of domestic life? Have "little things" been apt to "put you out;" to make you querulous and unhappy? Are you prone to look upon the "dark side" of every transaction and event? Are you prompt, rigid, unyielding in exacting every iota of what you deem your right? Are you overbearing, positive, or vehement in maintaining your opinions? Are you fond in your connection with others of having the "pre-eminence?" Do you love to talk about yourself? Are you "particular," nice, fastidious in the accommodations, you demand? These and such as these are questions, which every one, who would engage in the missionary work, ought frequently to ponder, ought carefully to weigh, ought rightly to determine.

If in touching upon missionary qualifications, we do not dwell long on the unutterable value of cordial, earnest, and consistent piety, the reason may be found, not in any slight sense we may be supposed to have of the necessity of this qualification; but in the frequency, felicity, and power, with which this point has been illustrated and enforced. We scarcely need repeat what has been often said, and what cannot be too deeply felt, that warm, lively, devoted love to God our Savior, and a tender, genuine, compassion for the souls of men are the very foundation of the missionary character. These are the very warp of the web. Their sweet influence must reach and modify every other attribute. They must