Before offering the direct reply to this question, there is the previous inquiry, What is it, specifically, which they are able to do, and in which it is desirable that they should be engaged?

Here I remark, first, that their office is distinct from that of the ministry; any attempt to introduce them to the peculiar functions of the ministry, would tend to the overthrow rather than the strengthening of the institutions, which, by the constitution of Christianity and the usages of the Church, are committed to a separate order of men.

I remark, again, that there are yet some offices of teaching and spiritual counsel, in which they may appropriately occupy themselves, without at all encroaching on the exclusive province of the Pastor. Such, for example, are the direction and instruction of the Sunday School, which may be thus made a nursery of incalculable strength for the cause of religion; such, also, are occasional meetings for mutual conference and united devotion, where private Christians may speak to each other of the things that pertain to their peace, and successfully provoke one another to love and good works. These and similar operations are to be earnestly encouraged, as among the promising means of creating and cherishing that state of mind which will find its gratification in supporting the institutions of the Gospel.

Again, what further falls to their part is a generous readiness to contribute the requisite funds for the support of the Gospel in their own society,- for its support in less favored parts of the land, and for all and any well considered and feasible projects of philanthropic effort. None of these projects can be executed excepting through their means; and the degree of success attending them will be wholly in proportion to their religious charitableness of mind.

In these particulars their cooperation is not only desirable; it is imperatively necessary; we see ruin and decay impending over our churches, and the shadows of infidelity and heathenism stealing over our land, unless the people rise up to these works with spirit and power. In some points of view, the situation and prospects of religion in this land, are appalling. The broken condition of our towns and parishes in New England, and the tremendous growth of the Western world, threatening to outstrip the tardy pace of all efforts to supply it with instruction, are circumstances of fearful interest,

which give an overwhelming importance to the present discussion. What are our friends doing, what can they, ought they, do, to keep up the weakened altars of our neighbourhood, and to help in furnishing teachers to the unsupplied distance? There are no inquiries of more pressing interest than these. Several societies have been so broken by the calamitous divisions of the times, as to have arrived already at the deplorable necessity of suspending the worship of God and the ordinances of the Gospel during some part of the year. This is no better, in its consequences, than the beginning of a total suspension, a deadly indifference, and a final heathenism. Ought this to be suffered? Are the churches to look calmly on and see this ruin begin, and not make an effort to stay it? Is nobody to raise a voice and tell of the evil? Is nobody to lift a finger and point to it? Will none rise up to apply a remedy? And are all coming generations, in numerous villages, to be left to infidelity and paganism, merely because the infelicity of the times has made them too poor to obtain a minister? How can they believe if they do not hear? How can they hear without a preacher? and, situated as they are, how can one preach to them except he be sent ? We must SEND preachers to those places. Our prosperous churches, our wealthy societies, our abounding and generous laymen, must feel, more than they ever have done, that the preaching the Gospel and the institutions of Religion are to be regarded, not only as they concern themselves,—but as great and general interests, in which they are concerned wherever they exist; that the question is no longer, Whether they support the Gospel in their own village; it is, Whether they support it in their country. For we may depend upon it, it can be supported in this country only by overlooking the limits of parishes and societies, and contributing freely to the religious want wherever it exists. Some have long ago seen this partially, and have exhibited practical illustrations of the good which may be done by this mode of viewing the subject. It is well known that there are several congregations, happily rejoicing in the light of life, which would years ago have been living without Christian instruction, had it not been that the Evangelical Missionary Society ministered to their aid. And what are the means of this Missionary Society? Its funds allow them to distribute nearly a thousand dollars a year. This is the fountain from which nurture is to be spread over the waste places of this wide land;

even this, scanty pittance as it is, has been the cause that we do not mourn over many altars overthrown and flocks scattered. That Society could well expend five thousand dollars a year in this way. It ought to have them to spend. It ought not to be permitted to spend less.

Here then is a field of duty, to which our lay brethren must be earnestly called. If our portion of the great Christian Community, is to do its share toward sustaining and extending Christianity in this exposed and growing land, our lay brethren must furnish to those who are struggling for existence, that, without which their continued existence is impossible. I am aware that this will be objected to as a new and heavy demand, which cannot be borne amongst the multiplying charges of the times. But in the view of those, who perceive the serious responsibility under which the times. place them, it will not be accounted grievous. I have faith to believe, that if the earnest call of the united ministry were heard, — that if we, brethren, would assume the responsibility of ardently, urgently, solemnly, using our rightful influence, to press this matter upon their consciences, there is a spirit in our congregations to second it with acclamation. When I call to mind what they have done for our Theological School, what they have done for the American Unitarian Association, what for the Seamen's Chapel, - objects purely religious, besides their large and frequent secular charities; when I recollect the sacrifices which have been made in Baltimore and many other places; the institution of the “ ministry at large" in Boston, and the entire support of a similar ministry by one congregation in New York; when I remember these and other similar facts, I feel assured that our brethren only need to have the real necessity of the case truly laid before them, to induce them to do whatever may be necessary on their part to prevent the inroads of irreligion, through the inability of our feebler congregations to support the worship of God. New England never can be without Gospel institutions in her poorest villages, if the more favored portions of her children are kept acquainted with their wants.

I have alluded also to the vast regions beyond New England. A great work is to be done there. It will demand the zeal and fidelity of all the denominations of Christians in the older portions of the country to make it certain that that important world in the Western valleys shall be furnished with

adequate means of Christian instruction. Our denomination has its share of that work to perform. We may not dare to withhold ourselves from it. A portion of our means, as many as can be spared of our ministers, must be sent out to help in blessing and training that glorious young giant. Now is the time. Something has already been done. May God bless the beginning, and carry it to its completion! till, in all the advancing villages of that prosperous domain, the seed of life shall be planted, to grow as they grow, and expand as they extend, and shelter the future millions beneath its capacious shade. Now is the time; and may the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers unto his harvest.

There can be no doubt, then, as to the magnitude of the interests in which our lay brethren should be engaged; and we return to the inquiry, By what means shall they be brought to greater activity in them?

One of the first things necessary, is a more general and hearty union. I do not mean a formal union; perhaps that would be well;- but the machinery of external organization might be perfect, and yet little approach be made toward the accomplishment of the results proposed; it is not any form, but a spirit of coöperation, which is needful; and so long as we, as a body, shall hold jealously our principle of personal independence, so long as we shall be marked by our infinite dislike of even the semblance of control, so long it will be impossible to hope any thing from a universal and efficient combination. The associations already existing amongst us have always been impeded by this ever-operating check, and so salutary, in the main, is this extreme spirit of liberty thought to be, that no advantage to be derived from the restraints of organized action, could be thought to compensate for the apprehension of fettered consciences and compulsory beneficence.

But there may exist, there ought to exist,-a spirit of hearty union, and a wide, willing, cordial coöperation ; — springing from a zealous interest in the same great objects, an ardent desire for the success of the same great designs. Just in proportion as this mutual interest, this care for each other, this desire to help each other, this willingness to work together, shall exist, just in the same proportion will our lay brethren be made efficient agents for the maintenance of religious institutions.

In order to this, the social principle must be made active. Let various meetings be encouraged within the limits of our religious societies, at which the brethren may speak to each other on these important subjects, may collect information, gain warmth to each other's hearts, and incitement to inquiry and exertion. Any one who has had the privilege of witnessing the effect of such gatherings on the religious character of a people, — especially the life which has been kindled by them (not vegetative, but fruit-bearing life,) in the younger portions of a congregation, will be satisfied that this is a suggestion of no equivocal importance; that this is a measure on which no small portion of our hopes must rest.

In connexion with this may be suggested the circulation of books among our people, especially of religious periodical works. The press is a great instrument of information and excitement. In all departments of knowledge and worldly enterprise, it keeps alive and extends interest and zeal, by keeping the attention fixed on the discussions which are going forward and the works which are being performed. Our religious periodicals, whatever objections may be raised against their tendency to secularize religion and turn theology into politics, yet incontestably accomplish great good in the manner just mentioned, they spread information on all topics of religious inquiry and action, and keep alive a constant interest in them. The good which they thus do, would be far greater, if they had a more general circulation, if they were more universally read. The greatest amount of steadfast interest and action may be expected, when our friends shall have the same craving to see regularly some religious journal, that the merchant has to see his commercial journal; shall be as discontented without the stated supply of religious intelligence and religious discussion, as the politician would be if left uninformed concerning the movements of the political world and the affairs of state.

To this point it seems desirable that greater attention be given. Far more may be done and ought to be done, than is now done. In one hundred and seventy congregations it

would not be unreasonable to demand that there should be five thousand subscribers to some one of the more important or popular of our religious journals; yet no one of them has more than nineteen hundred subscribers; and the circulation of the most important of them has been much more limited