the encounter. They call for thousands after thousands to stop the opening of the flood-gates of infidelity; but here where the flood-gates are opened not one of them is to be seen. While with laboured ostentation they proclaim aloud their missionary efforts to convert the Hottentot and the New Zealander, here at their very doors, they sit still, and look on, and suffer heresy to proceed unchallenged, and to exhibit her arguments without refutation. I impeach, therefore,' continues this infidel leader, the clergy of this city of a breach of duty. It was their duty to be found here among us; to defend from this spot their Scripture and its doctrines, to utter in your ears and for your benefit, the arguments they idly repeat to others who have already got religion, and therefore need them not. It was their duty to save, if human efforts could save, your souls, my soul, the souls of all sinners and heretics, (so called) that ever entered these walls. Our souls are as valuable, surely, as a Hottentot's; our creed is, at the least, as infectious as theirs. It is a mere affectation of zeal, therefore, to take passage for the Cape of Good Hope, and leave unattacked the Devil's stronghold-so they nickname it-within a stone's throw of their own pulpits. Such conduct evidences a lack of boldness or of honesty. It brings into view a craft that has neither plain dealing, generosity, good temper, good courage, nor any of the nobler virtues to recommend it. By their deeds ye shall know them, said the Reformer of

Nazareth, and most advantageously do we know priestcraft.'

Thus upbraids the infidel; and, indeed, boasting infidel, you say truly your creed is infectious; it is full of pestilential and deadly poison, and multitudes perish from it, but our High Priest lives and will yet stay the plague. Yes, boasting infidel, your reproaches have some ground of truth, but the disciples of that Redeemer whom you scorn, will return prayers for your scoffs, and be roused only the more to send forth far and wide, both at home and abroad, those blessed doctrines of the God of holy love, which you in your blindness and hardness of heart would tear away from a perishing world. Yes, boasting infidel, notwithstanding all your scoffing, we profess our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, and our expectation of his coming again speedily in the glory of his Father to our world. Soon that same Jesus, whom you are denying and crucifying afresh, will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on such as you glory in being, even on them that know not God, and that obey not his Gospel.

This Saviour we confess, and make known our hope in him, and of this hope we shall never be ashamed, for his love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. And if called to tribulation, we trust that he will give us grace to glory in tribulation also, for we are fully assured that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy

to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Soon we shall stand before the Son of man; soon his faithful servants will receive his approval and partake of his glory, and this bright hope shall animate us to present sacrifices, patience, and forbearance, and be as an helmet of salvation to our heads in all the coming conflict with the powers of darkness.

With all the earnestness of one who feels the perils of the times through which we are passing, the speedy breaking up of all worldly ease and security, the unutterable danger of immortal beings at our very doors, wilfully neglecting God's worship, and of probably a yet greater number without the true and full blessedness of the Gospel; of one who feels the tremendous responsibility of Christians living in this scene, and having the means of saving souls from this death, we call every reader to exertion. By the unspeakable blessedness ever connected now with being a blessing to others, in that near glory to which all sacrifices and sufferings for the truth are but the path, I say, by all these unspeakably great considerations, we call on each to make sacrifices for help in so vast a necessity. Oh, let us cheerfully aid Societies which labour in direct, prompt, and immediate application of the only truly effectual means of help, the making known of the Gospel of Christ individually and personally, to the hearts and consciences of vast classes of those neglecting this great salvation, in the most destitute and dark parts of our metropolis, our

country, and the world. * Let us joyfully surrender all that is merely personal, all that is only prejudice, all that has but the show of spirituality, that the myriads of dying sinners around us may be taught their danger and their refuge, may flee from the wrath to come, and find salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ! What though we be misrepresented and reproached, and even have to suffer many things, we may rejoice and be glad if we are partakers thereby of that which all God's servants have passed through. In diffusing the Gospel, we may take the apostolic encouragement, Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

* Most cordially do I rejoice in all other religious institutions, whether among Churchmen or Dissenters, aiming to remedy the spiritual ignorance of London, as far as they act in godly simplicity and sincerity to make Christ known to those that know him not. In the Church of England, there are those valuable Societies, the Additional Curates, Pastoral-Aid, and District Visiting Societies; and among all classes of Wesleyans and Dissenters holding the Head, there are actively useful Societies. While Sabbath Observance Societies, Sailors' Institutions, Tract Distributing Societies, have, through the mercy of God, been greatly multiplied amongst us, a noble and yearly increasing list is presented yearly of the anniversaries of these Societies. Let us give God all the glory, and be greatly encouraged by the zeal and love which we behold in so many brethren, and be ready to assist every good work, not being weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Before closing these remarks, freely made on general sins and general duties, the author would not withhold the confession how often he himself has partaken of the evils which he points out in others, how often he has failed in the duties which he recommends to them. He prays, that he and his readers may be kept from the spirit of the Pharisee, who saw the defects of others, and discerned only good things in himself. He prays, that he and his readers may have the penitence of Daniel, in the free confession of their own participation in national sins. Oh, may we all return to God with his humiliation, who said, We have sinned and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments. Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces as at this day. Dan. ix. 5-7. And specially are all in the ministry called upon to this humiliation : Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach. Joel ii. 17. Were there to be anything like a national humiliation of this kind, what a deliverance out of all difficulties and dangers would these British Isles receive from our God, and what a blessing might we be made to the whole earth! May it yet be so! Let every reader join in the prayer!