brought to this Seminary, and led to form habits adapted to the work, encourage me to go forward.

"It remains for me to consider the teachings of the Spirit-an important part of the inquiry-I expect no miraculous communications; but I believe the Spirit does teach the saints to understand the word and the providences of God, and that it does point out the path of duty. O that I might be taught by him, and understand his teachings.

"March 24. A few hours to-day I devoted to the important inquiry respecting missions. After imploring the divine presence I read the 52d, 54th, 59th, 60th, 62d, and 65th chapters of Isaiah. The promises of Zion's enlargement are really cheering, and I think I have some faith in their accomplishment. God has promised and he will do it.

"When my faith is strong, I feel like laboring, and making sacrifices for the church, and for the souls of men. I can go any where, do any thing, bear any sufferings, if the Head of the church be with me. Is it the Holy Spirit that excites these sensations? If not, why this love to missionaries? this missionary enthusiasm? this earnest desire to go to the heathen? this willingness to leave my country, my friends; yea, all my friends, for the sake of carrying the Gospel to those who are destitute of it? this willingness to leave all, to hazard all, to be no where at home, to suffer losses, and endure hardships-Whence arises all this, if the Holy Spirit is not operating on my heart to lead me into this way of serving God? When I have most sensible communion with God, and experience most sensibly the influences of the Holy Spirit, then I feel most anxious to go among the heathen. May I not call this an indication, that this Heavenly Guide approves of my purpose to go? May I not hope, that it is his influence which has made a life of trial look so pleasant, and weaned me thus from the society and friends I naturally love so much? To what nat

ural principle can I attribute all this?-O divine Teacher, I do see, and I would gratefully acknowledge the tokens of thy approbation. I bless thee for them-yield myself to them, and go as thou hast bid me. I give thanks for all the various means, by which my attention has been directed to the subject, my habits formed, and my feelings prepared for the work. O what a privilege that I should be called to this work! I, who am so sinful, so feeble, so unworthy. When I think what I was when a child, and what I have been ever since, I am greatly astonished. Out of nothing as it were, but ignorance and sin, the Lord Jesus is, I trust, preparing himself a missionary. I know I am poorly qualified, but I have a pleasing conviction that the Lord calls me to the work, and I trust in him. I read the promise, 'Lo, I am with you, always,' and my heart rests with unreserved confidence on the gracious assurance. Blessed Jesus, I go-Thou wilt go with me, for thou hast promised, and thy promise will not fail.

"July 14, 1817. I have had, since I wrote last, a comfortable assurance that I was not deceived, in thinking it my duty to be a missionary. This opinion is more and more confirmed by reviewing the subject, by conversation with judicious friends, and by waiting upon God for direction. My wishes and expectations have generally been directed to the heathen world. Many of my most judicious friends think I ought rather to go into the destitute parts of our own country. Here is a question, which I would give a faithful and impartial examination. This inquiry may respect the comparative importance of the fields, the prospect of supply, and my particular qualifications.

"Importance of the fields. In our own country there are ten millions of people. Most of these have opportunity to hear preaching occasionally, and to read or hear read religious books. There are in the world probably as many as 500 or 600,000,000,

who never hear from preachers or books, any of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity. What a vast disproportion as it respects the importance of the fields!

"The prospect of supply. There are supposed to be between three and four hundred missionaries among the heathen. Not more than one to a million. In this country, forty or fifty were employed last year, [1816] beside settled ministers. Probably several to every million of souls. Besides, I observe that young men are much more willing to be missionaries in this country, than among the heathen. Many are ready to engage in domestic missions, where one is ready to go to the heathen.

"Particular qualifications. Some have given me to understand, that they think me better qualified to itinerate, to form societies, &c. than to engage in the study of languages, and other things connected with a mission to the heathen.

"I think it is my wish to be wholly devoted to Christ and the church. It would be pleasant to be a domestic missionary to select some destitute field, and labor there for life. When I look at this, it is really a self-denial to relinquish the object. But the great want of men among the heathen, weighs heavily on my mind. If better men would go there, I would cheerfully stay here. But shall we all stay? Christ has said, 'Go into all the world.' And this is the commission under which I act. It may be, I am better qualified, in some respects, to preach among the destitute of our own country, than among the heathen. But there are so few who will go there, and so many who need to be taught, I cannot hesitate. If a multitude were ready to go abroad, it might be my duty to stay; but as it is, if I do not greatly mistake, it is my duty to offer myself for foreign service. Should the Committee of the Board see fit to accept me, and Providence allow me to go,

I hope, and believe, it will be my happiness to spend and be spent for the heathen.

"O thou great Head of the church, I give thee thanks, that thou hast given me this comfortable assurance that it is thy will, I should go among the wretched pagans. It is what I have long desired. I give thee thanks, that I was so early led to devote myself to this work, that my wishes and resolutions have been so long maintained, and that now, upon reviewing the whole, I have such consoling evidence that I have followed the leadings of thy Spirit and Providence. Do thou assist me in deciding all the questions that may hereafter demand my attention; and in gaining all the necessary qualifications. Cheerfully and unreservedly I dedicate myself anew to thee. Lord Jesus, my Saviour, my King, I am thine; thine to go where thou shalt send me; thine to endure what thou shalt lay upon me, and to do what thou shalt bid me. So may thy grace help me. Amen and Amen.

"The question, which seems now to demand my attention, relates to the field of labor. To what part of the heathen world shall I direct my attention? The American Board have two general fields. one in Asia, the other in our western wilderness, Perhaps some other field may be soon selected. The south sea islands, and South America have been thought of. Now it is desirable to know, as soon as possible, in what field we are to labor, that our prayers, meditations, reading, and conversation, be directed towards it.

"At present I have no predilection for one field, rather than another. If I am not deceived, I am willing to go north or south, east or west, as Providence may direct. May I be directed to that field, in which I can do most for Christ and souls, whether it be a field of safety or of danger, of comfort or of trouble, of honor or of reproach,

"Aug. 10. Since writing what precedes, my mind has rested quietly in its decisions. I do not recollect, that I ever felt more fully satisfied with any result of the kind. I thought I had that full assurance of duty, which I had so long desired and prayed for, and for want of which I had suffered so much anxiety. Since that an event has occurred, which renders it necessary for me carefully to examine the subject again.

"My respected Instructors have given me to understand, that they think me better qualified to aid the cause of the Redeemer in this country, as an agent in behalf of charitable objects, and as a domestic missionary, than to labor among pagans. So others have thought before. Should I, in opposition to the wishes and advice of all these judicious and pious friends, persist in my purpose of laboring among the heathen, and at last find myself unqualified for that work, and mistaken as to my field of labor, while I might have been doing good in this country, and thus be ready to sink with discouragement and regret; how would the recollection of their kind advice torture my sinking spirits. If I go, I must risk this. Let me not go without evidence that God approves, so that I may hope he will prosper me, or support me under trials; or at least give me the comfort of believing that I have to bear only such trials as he sees fit to bring upon me in the path of duty. I had determined to go among the heathen in view of the risk of life, reputation, happiness, and even usefulness.

"My Instructors suggest no new considerations; -but the fact that, with their enlarged views, their advantages for judging, and their expansive benevolence, they think I ought to relinquish my purpose, should make me hesitate. I wish to give their advice all the weight it deserves.-O that God would guide me. Since they have spoken to me on the subject, my feelings have been very deeply