in another place, by the benevolence of a single wealthy individual.

In different parts of our own country, many have engaged in the same good work with no inconsiderable zeal and success. Indeed the amount of good already accomplished in the United States, by means of Religious Tracts, can never be estimated, till it is revealed in the light of eternity. But much remains to be done. No Society has hitherto been established, on a plan of operation sufficiently extensive and permanent to answer all the great purposes for which such an institution is needed. To create a Society that shall possess means adequate to these purposes, is the design of the plan herewith presented to the public.

It is to be distinctly understood, that this Society is not designed to interfere with the province of religious Magazines. Much of the matter which renders these periodical works especially valuable to their readers, is not adapted to the design of Tracts. These must be simple, serious, practical. They must be intelligible to theway-faring man,' and the tenant of the cottage. Learned criticism, discussions in polemic theology, and even articles of religious intelligence, unless comprised in a few sentences, can have no place in these little pamphlets which are designed for promiscuous and, to a great extent, gratuitious dispersion among those, who otherwise would scarcely read any thing. Instead of diminishing, they will doubtless increase the demand for religious Magazines.

It is to be understood also, that this Society is not intended to supersede, or to interfere with any of those Tract or Moral Societies which are already established. On the contrary, its primary object is to aid such Societies wherever they are formed; to multiply their numbers, to encourage and increase their efforts, till their salutary influence shall be felt in every village of our country.

Too long have good men stood still, in criminal supineness, or silent despondence, while a flood of licentiousness has been sweeping away the institutions of Christianity, and the landmarks of our fathers. It is time that they, who have slumbered amidst these growing impieties, or have wept over them in secret places, should unite in a

common effort to‘strengthen the things that remain, and that are ready to die.'

The period is portentous. While war with its dire calamities rages over Christendom; while the worst passions of men are let loose from restraint; while the world is overturned and the earth rent in pieces; it becomes the friends of Zion to adore the righteous Providence that is thus smiting the nations. But it becomes them not to sit down in sloth. God has made every man responsible for the use or abuse of his personal influence. Whether that influence is great or small, he is sacredly bound to employ it in doing good. The field for action is extensive; the motives to action are various and momentous. In this Christian land, the Sabbath is dreadfully profaned, and in some places, is in danger of being utterly forgotten. Multitudes throng the road to death. These immortal creatures cannot be brought to consideration, till they are first brought to read. They cannot read without books; and a great proportion of them will never have books, unless they are furnished by the hand of charity. Here then is an urgent call for the exercise of Christian benevolence, on a large scale. The NEW ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY is established for the purpose of publishing a great variety of the best Tracts that can be procured, by selection, or original composition, and in such quantities as to supply all the demands of individuals or Societies, in different parts of the country. The deep interest which this subject has already excited, the promptitude and liberality with which many have entered into the plan, and contributed the means for its execution, is regarded as an auspicious omen that it will be attended with the blessing of Heaven, and the cordial cooperation of the friends of religion.

AN

ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS,

RECOMMENDING THE

DISTRIBUTION OF RELIGIOUS TRACTS.

When Jesus was on earth, he went about doing good. Can he claim the name of a disciple who does not imitate the example of the Master? Are we not in this respect peculiarly called on to have the same mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus? A spirit of active benevolence is one of the distinguishing features of Christianity. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, is a precept enjoined by the authority, and illustrated and enforced by the example of the Redeemer, with an energy which nothing but the blindness and obduracy of human depravity could resist.

Where the Gospel has its full influence, it calls into exertion all the powers of the soul; and produces the most tender concern for the happiness of mankind. This concern does not evaporate in unavailing pity; but rouses to action, and girding itself for service, inquires,' What can be done toward banishing human misery, and making man happy? While the temporal necessities of the poor and the afflicted are affectionately inquired into and relieved, the Christian, enlightened from above to view the state of man, as an immortal being, is most concerned for his eternal blessedness. This is the grand object he is called to pursue with sevenfold ardor; and it is an object so vast, that if we saw all its excellence and all its importance, it would cover us with shame and confusion for our past negligence, and pierce us to the heart, while we recollect so many precious opportunities of usefulness which now, alas! are irrecoverably lost. We have all need to go again, and sit down at the feet of Jesus, and hear him discourse on the one thing needful. We have all need to go and stand at the foot of the cross, and look up, and see in the death of Jesus the value of immortal souls; and learn thence the proper employment of beings destined for eternity. If Jesus condescend to teach us, and open our eyes to see the state

and worth of souls, we shall, with eager desire to become instruments of their salvation, cry out in tender pity, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

This is the age of ingenuity. How many discoveries useful to individuals and to society have been made since we first trod the stage of life, and took our part in the drama of human affairs. But is there an object in which the ingenuity of the mind should be so ardently employed as in searching for the best way, and the various means of doing good to the souls of men? Would it not be to the most humiliating disgrace of Christians, if the mechanic, the manufacturer, the artist, and the philosopher, were all actively employed with the utmost stretch of thought to find out what may be useful in their peculiar art or science, while the professed disciples of Jesus employ no energies, nor exert the vigour of their souls in their proper department, the cause of their blessed Master? Let us not be excelled by any; and, if possible, let the maxim, That the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light,' become inapplicable Whatever may be said as to past negligence, let it now appear that we are busied in discovering every way of access for divine truth into the human heart; and that we are resolved to employ every means we can think of as conducive to that end.

to us.

Among many others, none of which should be neglected, there is one which merits peculiar notice, and which we would earnestly recommend to the serious attention of the disciples of Jesus, as calculated to be of eminent and extensive benefit: namely,

THE DISTRIBUTION OF RELIGIOUS TRACTS.

To this subject many zealous followers of the Redeemer, who are a blessing to the generation in which they live, have never turned their thoughts; and at first sight may not perceive its great utility but when they have examined it maturely, they will find that there remains one method of doing good, which they never used, and which they will now have the pleasure to employ.

:

The advantages which may be expected to result from

the distribution of Religious Tracts, are indeed so many and so great, that, where duly weighed, it is to be hoped they will have a powerful influence on the mind of every lover of Jesus and of souls. The following will be readily allowed, and carry with them their own recommendation.

It is a method which is likely to do good. Is not divine truth the grand instrument, of which God makes use for the conversion of sinners, and for the edification and comfort of saints, till they come, in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ? All the wonders of faith, holiness, and patience, which Christians have displayed, have been wrought by the influence of truth upon the soul. In the promulgation of truth by preaching, which was God's first way of making the Gospel known, there are assuredly some peculiar advantages. But in doing it by writing, there are advantages also; and it has this recommendation, that it is God's chief way of making himself known to the human race from age to age, and of presenting truth to the minds of men from day to day in every land where the revelation of his will is known. Are there not thousands and tens of thousands now in glory, whose first impressions of religion, as well as their future improvement, have been made by reading; and is it not calculated to be as useful now, as ever? What is a Religious Tract, but a select portion of divine truth, designed and adapted to make the reader wise unto salvation?

It is an easy way of doing good. Every one has not the talent of talking to those he meets with, especially to strangers, on subjects of religion. They who possess this talent cannot see what should hinder any body from conversing about eternal things, as readily as they do. But there are many pious people who find it extremely difficult to speak for God, and for the salvation of their fellow crea

tures.

come.

Some have a diffidence which they cannot overThey know that they ought to warn sinners of their danger; but how to do it they cannot tell. Here is a method by which it may be done with case. Choose from your collection of Tracts what you think is suited to the person to whom you wish to speak. It is not hard to say, 'My friend, read that, and tell me what you think of