THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH.

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In the light of this subject, we may see the duty and importance of constant care on the part of the church, to maintain the purity of gospel truth. One great end for which the church was instituted was, that she might be, at once, a depository and a witness of the truth in the midst of an ungodly world. It is, therefore, incumbent upon her, from age to age, to resist all the encroachments of error; to bear a decided and faithful testimony in favour of all the peculiar and most precious doctrines of the gospel; and to maintain, in their simplicity, all the institutions of Christ. When the church fails of doing this-when she allows important doctrines to be denied and opposed by those within her pale, and especially by her teachers and rulers when she knowingly and deliberately permits the truth and order entrusted to her keeping, to be trampled upon by those who are subject to her control, without bearing testimouy against offenders, by the exercise of discipline, she forgets her duty as a "witness for God;" she is grossly unfaithful to her trust; and must expect the frowns and the heavy judgments of the King of Zion. The New Testament abounds with both precepts and threatenings which import all this. If it be asked, how the church can fulfil the duty thus solemnly enjoined? The answer is, by publishing, from time to time, as exigencies may demand, her testimony to the truth, in the form of creeds and confessions; by requiring her members, and especially her leaders and guides, to witness a good confession," when they enter on the enjoyment of their privileges; by admonishing, or otherwise censuring, those who depart in any material degree from the " form of sound words" which she is pledged to sustain; and by excluding from her communion those who become radically and incorrigibly erroneous. In this way the apostolic church bore a firm testimony in favour of the truth, and "contended earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." This duty is, no doubt, always a self-denying and arduous one; and is sometimes rendered peculiarly self-denying and painful by the multiplied arts to which the corrupters of the truth are wont to recur, for the purpose of escaping merited discipline. Sometimes they plead, that they differ very little, if at all, from the orthodox faith, and, if any, chiefly in words. They conceal,cover up, and equivocate; and make it extremely difficult to ascertain what they really do believe. At other times, they insist, that

their solemn subscription to an orthodox creed, was intended by them to mean no more than that they adopted it, "as far as they considered it as agreeing with the Scriptures;" as if the worst heretic on earth might not, in this sense, subscribe to any creed that ever was framed; and thus, by a solemn perjury, defeat the acknowledged design of the whole transaction! Such are some of the base and criminal arts by which those who depart from the faith," render it difficult to exercise upon them the discipline which they merit; and, of course, increase the arduousness of the church's duty. Still her duty remains: nor can she acquit herself to her Master in heaven without faithfully discharging it.-Miller.

AMERICAN SOCIETIES.

(From Reid and Mattheson's Visit to the Churches of America.)

THE Bible Society was not instituted till the year 1816. Its receipts, in the first year, were 19,218 dollars; but it met with such general sympathy, that it made rapid advances upon that amount. The last year, its income was 88,600 dollars; making an increase on the previous year of 3,665 dollars. The amount of Testaments and Bibles printed during the year, is 149,375 copies; and since the formation, it has issued 1,644,500 copies.

Its first attention was directed to the domestic claims. In May, 1829, the resolution following was unanimously adopted:

"That this Society, with a humble reliance on Divine aid, will endeavour to supply all the destitute families of the United States with the Holy Scriptures, that may be willing to purchase or receive them, within the space of two years, provided means be furnished by its auxiliaries and benevolent, indivi duals, to enable the board of managers to carry this resolution into effect." This noble and patriotic resolution was carried out in the spirit which suggested it; and I have every reason to think, that so far as the nature of the pledge allowed, it has been redeemed. Certainly, the American people are the very people to deal with such a resolve.

One good purpose enacted, strengthens the mind to bring forth another. When the demands of home were, for the time, answered, the Christians looked round for another world to conquer. A proposition was made in 1833, to do, in concert with other societies, for the whole world, what had been done

for the States. Such a proposal evidently required to be looked at with greater caution, in all its bearings, before a society could pledge itself with propriety or honour. It stood over. The sense of the sister society here was sought. I was the instrument of conveying it, and offering the needful explanations. The proposal was modified, and submitted to the meeting in the following terms :

"In view of the Divine promise as to the ultimate spread of the gospel over the earth; of the signal success of the Bible cause during the present century; and of the numerous translations of the Scriptures already made; of the establishment of able and faithful missionaries in almost every Pagan and Mahommedan country; and of the wide extent of commerce and international communication; it is the serious conviction of this Society, and is therefore

"Resolved, That were the friends of the Bible in Christian countries to exercise that faith, to offer those fervent supplications, to make those efforts and sacrifices which the present aspects of Providence and the word of God demand, but a short period need pass away before the families of all nations might be favoured with the light of revealed truth.

Resolved, That in consonance with the sentiment expressed in the preceding resolution, this Society will steadily aim, and, under the blessing of God, employ its best endea vours, in concert with similar institutions, towards effecting the distribution of the Bible among all the accessible population of the globe, within the shortest practicable period."

"Resolved, That the zealous and united prosecution of this grand object be affectionately and earnestly recommended to all the Bible Societies and friends of the Bible in this country and in foreign lands.”

This proposition, thus qualified, was unanimously accepted. There can surely exist no objection to it. It is, indeed, the expression of what we all desire; but the expression is useful. It awakens the sentiment where it is dormant ; it presents a recognised and sublime object before the eye; and it creates sympathy with every other society in every quarter of the world, from the instant conviction, that it is only by the union of all, that it can be accomplished. I trust the resolutions will be responded, as with an angel's voice, from the father land.

The American Board for Foreign Missions was formed in the year 1810. It was first suggested at an association of ministers, by some young students, who were anxious to devote themselves to missionary labour. Its rapid growth is

evidence sufficient, that it has laid firm hold on the convictions and affections of the churches. Its receipts, in the last year, are 145,844 dollars; being an increase on the former year of 15,270 dollars. In the same period, forty-eight persons have been sent out; nineteen ordained missionaries; two physicians; two printers; other assistants, twenty-five; total, forty-eight. The present state of this prosperous society is as follows:

It is the intention of this Society to send out at least an equal number of missionaries this year. Its proceedings are reported in The Missionary Herald, a well-conducted periodi cal, now commanding a sale of about 15,000 copies. It should be observed, that it embraces only the Presbyterian and congregational denominations; and not more than 2,500 churches are at present contributors.

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The Home Missionary Society is a remarkable instance of sudden advancement towards maturity. It was constituted in 1826. It commenced by some previous movement with 104 missionaries; in the first year this amount was increased to 169; in the second to 201; in the third to 304'; in the fourth to 392; in the fifth to 463; in the sixth to 509; in the seventh to 606; and in the eighth and last to 676. The income has risen in proportion to this demand. The receipts during the last year were, 78,911 dollars, which is an advance on the former year of 10,284 dollars. It has contributed to revive the domestic societies connected with the Presbyterian and Reformed Church bodies; so that there are now about one thonsand missionaries employed by these societies in the United States and in the Canadas; and about fifteen hundred churches supported or assisted through their instrumentality. Apart from these, are to be computed the efforts put forth by the Methodist, the Baptist, and other religious bodies, for the same object

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Undoubtedly, the astonishing success of this society is to be referred chiefly to the deep sense of its need on the minds of the people; but no small proportion of it must be ascribed to the confidence which has been inspired by its management.

It was my privilege, frequently, to plead its cause: to become acquainted with its detail; and to witness, in the West, its labours; and I have certainly never met with an institution under more excellent government. And this is the more remarkable, when the brevity of its existence and the rapidity of its growth is borne in mind... 1.

There was danger that its sudden advancement, and the - crying claims made on it from the wilderness, might have betrayed it to hasty and unwise measures. On the contrary, while it moved with surprising energy, it has acted with equal prudence. It has started on the principle of employing no one as a missionary who had not enjoyed a regular education for the ministry. It has accepted no man for this service who would not have been deemed eligible to act as a Christian pastor. It has thus saved the ministry from degradation; it has inspired confidence in the congregations needing help; and by maintaining the character of the missionary in full equality with that of the pastor, it has secured his usefulness, and disposed the most respectable men to look to its service, as offering an inviting, as well as an important, field of exertion. From the want of some such principles of action, so simple, and yet so wise, what mischief has been done, where there was, doubtless, a sincere desire to do only good!

The Education Society has for its object the preparation of young men of talent and piety for the Christian ministry, either for home or foreign service. It was formed in 1815; and although claiming priority of existence to the Home Mission Society, it has recently owed much of its success to the principle on which it has acted. They are admirably calculated to work in harmony, and to the highest issues.

This institution does not provide itself with the means of educating its beneficiaries; it merely sees them placed in the existing colleges, and meets the expenses which are consequent. The applicant is required to produce, from his pastor and others who know him, certificates of his talents, piety, need of pecuniary aid, and preparation to enter on a collegiate course of study; and if he is accepted, he is required also to enter into an engagement to refund the expenses of his education at a future time, should he be able, and should the society call on him so to do. The society have a discretional power to cancel the engagement under particular circumstances. This ar rangement had been adopted subsequently to its formation, and is considered to work with advantage. %%,=་% ཀུ@, During the past year, 1834, it had by 203kg an