thus ratified in darkness and secrecy, beside the slumbering capital of France, was one most momentous to the interests of our entire race. That company of seven poor students, with but zeal, talent, and stout hearts, and a burning enthusiasm, formed then a bond far more important to the after history of mankind than most of the leagues made by kings at the head of embattled squadrons. We doubt if Talleyrand ever schemed, or Napoleon, in his highest flights of victory, ever dictated so significant an act. In its moral sublimity, the act far transcended that of Cortes and Pizarro receiving the mass in a Spanish church, upon their engagement to set out for the subversion of an American empire. In the shadows of that subterranean chapel, where these first Jesuits thus bound themselves, fancy sees Africa, and Asia, and our own America, watching intently a transaction, that was to affect so deeply their subsequent history. It remains for those, rejoicing in the principles of the Reformation, to bring the devotedness and intrepidity of the Jesuit to bear upon their own purer system, in the missionary field. With the incorruptible word of our God for our chosen weapon, victories impossible to them may become easy to us; and what was but too often a forgotten motto, on the surface of Jesuitism, may become a principle at the heart of the protestant missionary, "All for the greater glory of God." *

In the missionary toils, that are to aid in ushering in this day, do we expect too much from the youthful scholars of our country? Are not its colleges already sheltering those who are destined to become the heralds of Christianity to the far heathen? On this theme, we would quote yet again from one on whose own history we should gladly have lingered longer, Francis Xavier. From one of his missions in Cochin China, this apostolic man wrote to the university of the Sorbonne, then the focus of theological science to Catholic Europe, in language much of which we doubt not a Carey or a Martyn would not have hesitated to adopt. "I have often thought to run over all the universities of Europe, and especially that of Paris, and to cry aloud to those who abound more in learning than in charity, O how many souls are lost to heaven through

* “In majorem Dei gloriam,” the motto of Loyola. VOL. VI.-NO. XXII. 25

your neglect! Many would be moved. They would say, Behold me in readiness, O Lord! How much more happily would these learned men then live,—with how much more assurance die. Millions of idolaters might be easily converted, if there were more preachers who would sincerely mind the interests of Jesus Christ and not their own."

The letter was read, admired, and copied. We may suppose there were those who applauded and transcribed that letter, but failed to obey its summons; to whose dying pillow that appeal came back, and sounded through the depths of the soul as the voice of neglected duty. May no such regrets disturb the hour of our dismission. May a life, instinct with zeal for God and love to man, and crowded with effort, make death, whether it come late or soon, the welcome discharge of a laborer found toiling at his post. And, my young brethren in Christ, permit a stranger to hope, that among the honors of your Alma Mater, and especially of this missionary association gathered amongst her sons, it may yet be recorded, that hence went forth men, who, on the stock of a purer faith, grafted the zeal of Francis Xavier, and, emulating his virtues, won a success more durable, because the means they employed were more scriptural,-men, who, sitting at the Master's feet, and reflecting his image, and breathing his spirit, were recognized, by an admiring world and an exulting church, as those who had been much with Christ and learned of him, and who belonged on earth, and would assuredly, through all eternity, continue to belong, of a truth, and in the highest sense of the words, to "THE SOCIETY OF JESUS,"

ARTICLE II.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INFIDELITY.

Modern Infidelity considered with respect to its Influence on Society. By ROBERT HALL. American Baptist Publication and Sunday School Society. Philadelphia.

The Cause and Cure of Infidelity: With an account of the author's conversion. By Rev. DAVID NELSON, of Quincy, Illinois.

THE works which we have here placed together, have very little in common, except that they relate to the same subject, and are written with similar intentions. In a literary point of view, they would never be thus associated, save on the principle of contrast. As to rhetorical merit, the abovenamed production of ROBERT HALL, it is well known, stands above all praise. It is probably the great effort, the chef d'œuvre, of a writer, who, in the judgment of Dugald Stewart has carried the English language to as high a degree of perfection as it has ever attained. He, who, in whatever he wrote, so uniformly surpassed nearly all others, has in this effort surpassed, if possible, even himself. It has not only every attribute of style, which can render composition elegant and dignified, but exhibits a specimen of argumentation singularly acute, intelligible and conclusive. The object of the writer, as he himself states it, is, "not so much to evince the falsehood of skepticism as a theory, as to display its mischievous effects, contrasted with those which result from the belief of a Deity and a future state." This course of argument was well adapted to the form which the infidelity of the period when the discourse was written had assumed. An apologetic defence of Christianity, one merely vindicating the truths of religion and answering the objections of its opposers, would not have been sufficient. The abettors of infidelity had the effrontery to urge the adoption of their principles, on the ground of their

alleged moral superiority to those of the gospel, in reference both to the formation of individual character and the welfare of society in general. It is only when the rejecters of revelation have sufficient virtue left to be hypocritical in taking such ground as this,—that is, when they do it merely to save appearances, without in heart believing what they assert, that we can have much hope of their being essentially benefited by any appeal addressed simply to the understanding. A person is not yet wholly depraved, who invents an apology for vice which he knows to be false; and it may possibly not be without some good effect, if in such a case we can place the absurdity of his plea strikingly and palpably before him. But if, on the contrary, he has already reached the last stage of moral depravation, and is perfectly sincere in thinking, that he can be as virtuous under the operation of the motives which infidelity supplies, as of those resulting from the expectation of future rewards and punishments, and the other doctrines of revealed religion, he is not likely to be much impressed by mere argument. Reason has commonly so little to do in producing such a conviction, that it cannot be expected to do much towards its removal. The heart must have become awfully corrupt, before the understanding could be so depraved. The man who sees no difference between the style of moral character which the faith of the sincere Christian leads him to cultivate, and that which the system of the infidel promotes, has in all probability very indistinct perceptions of the boundary between virtue and vice, and cannot be expected to entertain other views, till he cherishes other tastes and desires. The truth is, it is a very small part of the mischief produced by infidelity, that it weakens the motives to a life of virtue; it subverts the very foundations of virtue itself, and affords a pretence for extending the sanction of her venerable name to actions of the vilest turpitude and shame. "In vain will its advocates appeal to a moral sense, to benevolence and sympathy; in vain will they expatiate on the tranquillity and pleasure attendant on a virtuous course; for it is undeniable that these impulses may be overcome; and though you may remind the offender, that in disregarding them he has violated his nature, and that a conduct consistent with them is productive of much internal satisfaction; yet if he reply that

his taste is of a different sort, that there are other gratifi.cations which he values more, and that every man must choose his own pleasures, the argument is at an end."

Perhaps the chief advantage of books and tracts against infidelity consists in the influence which they may exert upon the wavering and unconfirmed. Such, even in communities where Christianity has the decided ascendency, will always be numerous. It is to be remembered, that temptations to unbelief constitute a part of our probation; that the evidences of truth, although sufficiently clear to convince the honest, are still not of such a nature as to extort assent; and hence, that the opinions which a man entertains respecting the claims and doctrines of the Bible, may as effectually reveal his character, as the actions. which he performs. To this it should be added, that the spirit of infidelity is essentially active in its nature, and seeks to spread itself by every mode of diffusion, which ingenuity can invent or perseverance apply. The proper corrective of these dangers, therefore, cannot be too assiduously employed. And, especially, since the evil exists chiefly among those, whom the voice of the advocate of truth does not ordinarily reach, the press must here lend its agency, and send forth its messengers, as upon the wings of the wind, through the length and breadth of the land. No finite mind can calculate the evil which may thus be prevented, or the amount of good which may be accomplished. Such agents, like those of nature, are perpetually doing their work. It is, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how."

We acknowledge our obligations, therefore, to the "American Baptist Publication and Sunday School Society," for issuing in so neat and convenient a form the celebrated discourse which has occasioned these remarks. They could not possibly have made a wiser selection. Nothing that we have ever read presents within the same limits so powerful a defence of Christianity, or exposes in a more impressive manner the mischievous tendency of infidel principles. All our readers are familiar, of course, with this eloquent production; but they will not be unwilling to renew the pleasure and gratification, which they may so often have felt in reading the following passage:—haec decies repetita placebit.