it can constitute an "energy" of the mind and produce physical effects, in precisely the same manner as those attributes which are admitted to belong to the physical nature; and finally, how it can itself be the subject of a physical agency, and require, as is represented, an exertion of almighty power, like that which was put forth at the resurrection of Christ, to eradicate it from the constitution, and implant in its place a " taste for spiritual loveliness."

The achievement however of this formidable task is scarcely to be expected from human skill. It is a vexed and torturing mystery, that has baffled the understanding and perplexed the faith of the church at large for many ages, and whose difficulties none even of the myriads of the greatest, the wisest, and the best, who have attempted to explore its dark labyrinths, have hitherto found themselves able either to evade or overcome.

CONSIDERATIONS

ON THE

METHODS OF CONDUCTING

BENEVOLENT UNDERTAKINGS.

It is a general law of the divine administration, that the enterprises of men shall prove successful, in proportion to the wisdom with which they are conducted. This is not less the fact in affairs of religion-though often regarded as the peculiar field of divine sovereignty-than in merely secular undertakings, but is common to all departments of human agency. Wisdom in the execution of purposes, lies in the skilful selection and application of means for their accomplishment; and it is the adaptation undoubtedly of the means thus employed to produce the results which are sought through their agency, and the fact that they are formed by the Creator for the purpose of being instrumental to their attainment, that is the ground of the efficacy with which he customarily causes them to be attended. Success is accordingly the natural result of a skilful use of means, and not the effect of a special interposition of divine providence; and defeat is, on the other hand, the fit and necessary consequence of their unskilful application. It is God indeed in all instances who giveth the increase, to the planting of Paul and the watering of Apollos, as well as

to all humbler agencies, but he gives it in accordance with established laws, and conformed to the peculiarities of the agency which is the instrument of its production. Men never gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles. To obtain those grateful fruits, they must plant their proper seeds in fitting soils, and at appropriate seasons. It doubtless sometimes happens that even wise attempts to do good are unsuccessful. Such was the fact indeed, and in many instances peculiarly, with the ministry of prophets, apostles, and the Saviour himself, and such is the fact likewise not unfrequently in merely secular affairs. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, even when their powers are dexterously employed, but these deviations from the general law of providence are not more frequent, and probably are of more seldom occurrence in the former, than in the latter class of effects.

In the accomplishment of the great moral ends for which the world is sustained, a most important office is assigned to human instrumentality. Each generation of men commences its career at the same point of total helplessness and ignorance, and has to acquire all the knowledge of which it becomes possessed, and by obedience or resistance to the favourable influences which reach it, to form for itself its character, and determine its destiny; and it pertains to each antecedent in the series, to transmit to its successor the wisdom which it has gained in the struggle, to point out to it the true path to happiness, and the dangers with which it is beset, and to sway it as far as possible to rectitude and deter it from guilt, by exerting over it for that end, all the propitious influences that lie within its power. And it is by the agency of men on each other almost entirely at every period of life, and through all the gradations of so

ciety, that their character is formed, and their destiny shaped; that they are influenced to the choice of wise or of guilty pursuits; that they are led to combine their agency for the achievement of great and salutary, or pernicious objects; that they are allured to vice, or prompted to virtue. And it is in the exertion of a right influence of this kind, that the duty of life pre-eminently lies. It forms the appointed and illimitable field of human usefulness, in which by the gracious decree of providence, success is made to depend on the measure of the wisdom with which it is sought.

The results of new and important efforts for the advancement of religion, are modified still more than ordinarily, by the character of the measures adopted for the attainment of their object. Such undertakings usually, from their novelty, their uncertain success, their interference with established habits and collision with the interests and prejudices of men, encounter unforeseen and unexpected degrees and forms of opposition and difficulty; and neither good designs, ardent wishes, vigorous efforts, nor great sacrifices, alone, are by any means sufficient to ensure their The means for their attainment must be wisely chosen and skilfully applied. Error in their selection, or misjudgment in their use, may not only limit the amount of good attained, or involve a total failure; but may even throw affairs into a worse position than they occupied before, and call into activity and arm with lasting and resistless power, innumerable evils that had otherwise never obtained existence. How many unhappy verifications of this remark are furnished by the history of the church!

success.

Seasons of great and novel enterprises in religion, are usually seasons of as great danger. The extraordinary causes which give birth to these enterprises themselves,

acting on communities at large, excite many other passions and purposes beside such as have the interests of religion for their object. Periods of improvement of any kind, are generally periods also of quackery. Attempts at and pretences to extraordinary discoveries and attainments become fashionable; the minds of men at large are roused to unusual action, and give birth to new and extraordinary forms of folly and error, as well as of wisdom and utility.

The present is undoubtedly an epoch of unusual importance to the churches of our country, from the great and numerous benevolent undertakings by which it is characterised, and is destined to exert a more momentous influence on future generations, than almost any that has preceded it, and one that shall depend, at least in an equal degree with others, on the character of the measures employed to attain the great objects sought.

It is a lesson incessantly taught both by history and experience, that to project, is not of course to secure the accomplishment of good; that it is possible that even the best undertakings may be defeated by negligence or mismanagement; and that nothing but the highest efforts of skill can ensure, even under the blessing of heaven, the full accomplishment of the good that is possible, nor secure our enterprises from giving existence to evils, which may greatly limit, and possibly far outweigh, the good effects of which they are the instruments.

The questions therefore, what are the great principles on which these important enterprises should be conducted, and the means by which their objects are to be achieved, and what are the dangers of defeat or hindrance against which it is the part of wisdom to guard,-are of the most