[If the following lines should serve no other purpose than to recall the reader's attention to the affecting Appeal of the Missionaries, published in the Magazine of last January, their object will be attained. The Appeal was drawn up by Mr. Judson. It should be frequently read, that Christians may know what to ask in supplication, for their missionary brethren.]

A cry-a cry-is on the air!

It comes from Asia's peopled plain;
A voice of grief, of love, and prayer-
O Christian, shall it come in vain?

Hear us, for we are in distress!

It is not for ourselves we plead;
Though toils and cares upon us press,
Our toils and cares we little heed.

But oh, to see on every side,

Souls wrapt in error's darkest gloom;
Borne on by sin's tremendous tide,
Hastening to sin's eternal doom!

To see new realms to truth expand,
Where truth was never known before;
Fields ripened to the reaper's hand-
Mines rich in everlasting ore-

To see, to hear, to think, to know,

All this-for deathless souls are there!

And yet have none for us to go

This, this is more than we can bear!

O Christians! in the land we love,
And only left these souls to save-
Have ye no feeling hearts to move,

When Pity pleads across the wave?

Oh, hear the thrilling cries we hear,

From Bankok, Yah-heing, and Lah-bong;

From tribes whose names ne'er reached your ear,
Unknown to science and to song.

Pity imploring Arracan!

Remember sainted Colman's dust,
Kyouk-pyoo awaits the man,

Who shall accept the sacred trust.

And Ava, with her golden towers,
Dear, dreaded Ava! leave her not;
For God shall haste the destined hours,
When all our sufferings there forgot;

We shall behold her sovereign bow,
Lowly before the King of kings;
And souls that seek Gaudama now,
Shall fly to Jesus' sheltering wings.

THE MISSIONARY CONCERT OF PRAYER.

[The following article we select from the Minutes of the Warren Association, for 1833, for its peculiar importance, and valuable suggestions. It was prepared by the Rev. J. O. Choules. May it have its desired effect!-Ed.]

This world is not as God made it, and is nothing like what he will have it to be. Jehovah called it into existence to become the theatre for an illustrious display of his glory, but the introduction of sin has marred the perfection of its beauty, and now the world only answers its original end, as He produces the result by a display of divine power and grace.-Although sin and Satan are now rioting in the extent and richness of their spoils, yet their cause is a ruined one; for He that sitteth on the circle of the heavens has purposes of mercy to the world. He has established a kingdom in it which shall survive the material universe, and whose victories and triumphs shall demonstrate, that in every conflict He is the overcomer.

It is delightful to look at Zion, and then anticipate her progress from the page of prophecy; for glorious things are spoken of her in reference to the enlargement of her boundaries, the increase of her inhabitants and the honors of her King. To accomplish all this, Jehovah travelled in the greatness of his strength-for this, the councils of peace were convened, and the purposes of his eternal love were early revealed in promises, types and shadows-for this, increased light was afforded in successive ages; and at last, to destroy the works of darkness, and dethrone the prince of the power of the air, in the fulness of time God accomplished the promise which he made to the fathers. The Lord Jesus Christ came into our world, lived, died and rose again; and having become King in Zion, he ascended to his throne.

In their departing moments, the hearts of men are full of the things which are dearest to them; and how often do we see "the ruling passion strong in death!" The Saviour's heart was set upon a kingdom; when about to quit this province of his dominions, he committed the interests of his newly established empire to the care of his friends, and gave regulations for its universal extension;"Go ye forth, and preach the gospel to every creature." The Master's will was made known, and the disciples' duty enjoined. Obedience was yielded by the followers of the Saviour, and they went forth preaching every where, and Christ was with them.

But too soon the church became corrupt; under a mistaken policy she formed an alliance with the world, and forgot that spirituality was the livery of the church, and separation her watchword. The crucified One frowned upon the folly, and the disciples had days of darkness. We are called however, to mark the watchful care of God over his church, in preserving to himself a people in the darkest ages. Zion was not without witnesses, although they testified in secret places. At the Reformation, the set time to favor Zion seemed to have arrived; God raised up a rare race of men for the

exigences of the age. Providence lent her agency to the economy of redemption, and all events combined to aid them in their enterprize.

The art of printing gave access to the minds of men, and the state of Europe presented an unprecedented field for the spread of truth. Ever since the days of Luther, Calvin and Melancthon, the church has been upon the march; it is true, she has known vicissitudes but her cry has been, onward, and in the conflict, voices have been heard, crying, "The battle is the Lord's!"

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries beheld a large augmentation of the assemblies of the faithful in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany; but the chief object of the watchmen on the walls was to comfort and instruct the church, and there was a strange inattention to the enlargement of her boundaries.-This was pathetically deplored by the excellent Baxter, in his last days-a period of life when truths and facts are very apt to assume their true importance and proper relations. Perhaps this supineness was owing in a great degree to the prevalence of persecution and the difficulties of access to heathen lands, impediments which are no longer insurmountable.

The rapid increase of the North American colonies, and other circumstances, paved the way for an extension of Christian effort, and in 1732 the missionary flame was kindled in the Moravian church, or, as they term themselves, the United Brethren, a name which may be envied. The history of this body is little known on earth, but its record is on high, and that church is illustrious in the heraldry of heaven. Then came Whitefield and Wesley, like angels of light-men who by their labors might almost have appropriated to themselves the character of the angel in the Apocalypse. From this period tides of holy influence have been poured out, and heaven has been receiving vast accessions from the redeemed out of the nations of the earth.

The formation of the English Baptist Mission was introduced by the existence and spread of a fervent spirit of prayer. The Northamptonshire churches set apart the first Monday in the month, as a season for special supplication to God, for the spread of the gospel and the effusion of the influences of the Holy Spirit. The good men who devised this scheme knew and felt that all success in labor came down from the Father of lights. The meeting was soon adopted by all the churches in Christendom, and continues to the present.

In England, the missionary prayer meeting is regarded as one of the deepest interest. It is always crowded, and often affords a delightful earnest of the day when all flesh shall come and appear before God. We can think of no meeting on earth that attracts so much of heavenly notice as the Missionary Concert. How must the glorified inhabitants of heaven look down upon the militant church in this her nearest approximation to the celestial state! At these occasions, Zion seems ready to go forth to her destiny and duty. Arrayed in panoply divine, she stands all armed and ardent for the foe.

But all that is glorious and gladdening in religion is allied to the solemn; and so here we would remark that the Monthly Concert is tremendous in its relations. We would ask, Are Christians in earnest on these occasions, in saying, Thy kingdom come? Then follow them home, and see if there is the reiteration of that prayer at the family altar? Is it made as earnestly at that consecrated spot, and in the secret retirement, as at the meeting? Is the appeal to Heaven followed by efforts as strenuous as the prayer was earnest and tender?

Is there any anxious examination to discover answers to prayer? Are Christians conversant with the circumstances of the militant church? She is in the battle field. Do her friends ask for tidings? Tell us not of friendship which can consist without anxious inquiry after welfare, participation in joy, and sympathy in mishap and grief. O there must be an awakening up in the church. Christians must become familiar with the intentions of God to the church, and observant of his providential interference on her behalf.

To all who duly regard the subject, it must be a matter of profound regret, that the concert of prayer for missionary purposes occupies so small a share in the affections of the American churches. Is a prayer meeting a thermometer by which you may determine the spiritual state of a religious body? Oh, then, by a visit to our concerts on the first Monday evening in the month, what inferences are we to form? Go to our large cities-examine our churches in the length and breadth of the land, and say, where is there a healthy, vigorous action? Brethren, the thing is entirely wrong, and we are verily guilty of neglect in this duty. Allow us to say that the whole matter is wrong.

The meeting itself is not sufficiently regarded as important. There is an obvious deficiency in preparation for it. And here ministers stand reproved. It is believed that few public interviews between pastors and people receive less direct anticipation and forethought. No meeting should receive greater attention-for what sublimity of subject, and what materials to work with, does it not present? There are the miseries of the fallen, and the energies of the renewing Spirit-prophecy and its perpetually growing accomplishmentthe victories of grace-the triumphs and sacrifices of love, kindled at the cross-the progress of civilization, and the advance of literature the formation of churches-the glorious death-beds and the peaceful graves of those who rest in hope;-these are the topics which should be brought to the people, and ministers should talk of the glory of Christ's kingdom, and the majesty of his power.

It is not enough to read mere journals and letters. Ministers should arrange the facts, and place the history of the progress of truth in some particular city, country, island, empire, or continent, clearly before the audience. The secretaries of our missionary societies ought to regard it as a very important part of their duty to furnish the churches, from month to month, with statements lucid

*

and affecting, in reference to the grand contest of destiny. Nothing can excuse the omission of this service; and if their duties are too arduous, and prevent the performance of this labor, fresh help should be called in, which may permit its execution. In vain shall we look for a missionary spirit until proper and adequate attempts are made to awaken and impress the public mind.

The addresses delivered at these meetings should not be tame, lifeless and unpremeditated efforts, but result from the ablest exertions of the intellect, and the warmest affections of the heart. It is on these occasions that we should have the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary, the empty sepulchre, the ascending Saviour, the sinking world, the gaping pit, the gnawing worm, the immortal song, the heavenly harpings, and the one redeemed family!

Beloved brethren, permit us to call your attention to this subject. Our churches are happily coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty; but vain is the help of man. O let us not forget that there is a derived omnipotence in prayer. O let the thousands of Israel put God in remembrance of his promises-let them take hold of his strength.

It is declared in holy writ that prayer shall be made for the Saviour continually. Christians, you cannot neglect this duty without violating every principle of consistency, of benevolence to your fellow-creatures, and of well-regulated self-interest. O think of the honor which Jesus confers, in permitting us to intercede on his behalf. He stands in no need of our supplications on his own behalf, for he is the object of the Father's unbounded complacency, and all things are placed in his hands. How astonishing, then, that he should ask for our supplications in his behalf;-that he should permit us to breathe an entreaty for him;-that he should place us, whose every act was one of rebellion against him, whom he had to create anew, before we would take any part in his service,-that he should place us around his golden altar as priests and intercessors for him; that he should, as it were, change relations with us, placing us in the office of intercessors for him, though the acceptance of our prayers, and the salvation of our souls depend entirely on his intercession for us.

Let us never forget the certainty of the success with which we pray for Christ and his kingdom. At the very moment when such a prayer is offered, at that very moment does the Almighty answer it in the divine intent, though he may wisely delay, for a time, to reply to it. The petitioner may forget his own supplication, but He is still mindful of it; and however obscure the petitioner may be, He prizes the prayer; it is a prayer for his well-beloved Son, and as such, it is music in his ear, of which he loses not a single note. It is a prayer for the accomplishment of an object in which he has bound up his own glory, and to the success of which he has pledged every perfection of his character. In such petitions man takes his stand on the immutable promises and everlasting covenant of God;

* Cannot this service be supplied monthly, by means of this Magazine.—Ed.