and to promote the salvation of men, and the glory of God. O that I were more wise, more faithful. Let me share in your prayers that I may be qualified for my work. In the mean time I will not cease to pray that God will fill you with the fulness of his grace and love. What can we do for that God and Saviour, who has done so much for us? Let us pray continually for divine guidance, and follow where the Providence and Spirit of God may lead the way.

"I am grieved to find religion so low in this part of the country. There are few ministers, few meeting-houses, few churches. The number of each, however, is increasing, and the religious state of the people is evidently improving. I preach frequently, visit much, and often converse with the slaves. I have a prospect of doing something in procuring aid for the support of foreign missions. Sometimes I cannot avoid thinking, how pleasant it would be to settle quietly in the midst of agreeable society with the comforts of home, instead of being exposed to voyages by sea, and travels by land; to all the varieties of climate, to poor accommodations, and to the opposition, the objections. the excuses, and the cavils of men. But on the whole, I bless God that I have been led along in this course, and I am happy in my work. If among all the different classes to which I preach, I may but be instrumental of saving a few, how great the favor will be. Unfaithful as I am, I do not despair of this."

After mature deliberation and consultation with judicious friends, Mr. Fisk offered himself to the Savannah Missionary Society, as a candidate for permanent support in the employment of the American Board. With him they were acquainted, and it was understood that he was appointed to the Palestine Mission, a mission which appealed with. deep interest to the feelings of Christians. Accordingly a meeting of the Managers was called, and the subject laid before them. The measure was

ably and eloquently advocated by Dr. Kollock; and after a full and deliberate discussion of it, the following resolution was moved, and with unexpected unanimity adopted.

"At a meeting of the Board of Mangers of the Savannah Missionary Society, January 22, 1819;Resolved, That this Society will employ the Rev. PLINY FISK as their Missionary to Asia, the mission being under the more particular direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Extract from the Minutes.

"L. MASON, Secretary."

While visiting from place to place, Mr. Fisk acknowledges the kindness and hospitality which he received; but he complains that very few could be found, who manifested much concern for the heathen. In many places he could accomplish but little more, than to communicate in private and in public, information respecting missions. He collected, including what was contributed in Savannah, about fifteen hundred dollars.

From Georgia he proceeded to Charleston, South Carolina. Here he had to encounter discouragements similar to those which he had already met. But such was his judgment in proposing his object, and such his candor in listening and replying to objections, that he gained the confidence, and secured the respect of the people. Soon there was manifested a disposition to consider his object, and a readiness to meet it with liberal patronage. He visited several other places in that vicinity, and in the whole received something over 1,560 dollars for the use of the Board. He established a Society, the object of which was, to support permanently a school of heathen children. Similar Societies he also established in Savannah and Augusta.

Mr. Fisk spent some time very pleasantly in Charleston, and speaks in strong terms of the very

hospitable civilities and attentions there received. He exerted a good influence, and left a favorable impression upon those, with whom he became acquainted. The following notice of him, while in that city, comes from a source which renders it worthy of remark. It is contained in a communication to the compiler, dated Charleston, 7th May, 1827. "While that eminent servant of God, Rev. Pliny Fisk, was on a visit to the South, I enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance. I can say that his visit to this place, though short, was profitable to many. His principal object was to revive, or excite a missionary spirit, by forming missionary Societies, or repairing the wastes made by time, or rather by a spirit of declension, in societies long since established. While with us, he was continually engaged in his Master's service. With propriety he might be compared to the glowing meteor, splendidly attractive, but of short continuance. the house of God he no sooner began to speak, than the attention of the audience was arrested and fixed. He convinced many of sin, if he did not convert them from the error of their ways. He often regretted, that the particular object of his visit so entirely occupied his time, and required the discussion of such subjects from the pulpit, as interfered with his addressing directly the hearts and consciences of impenitent sinners. He kindled, however, a missionary spirit which, I trust, will never subside, but continue to increase, and bring forth much fruit to the glory of God. It has frequently occurred to me, that could he have known the fact, he would have greatly rejoiced in the favorable change which has taken place here since his visit to this part of the country. Many laborers have been raised up, who are now actively engaged in the cause of God."

In

After a few weeks spent in Charleston, he resumed his journey towards the north, and improved such

opportunities as occurred in his way, to create an interest in the missionary cause.

While on his tour he was sometimes in company with the Rev. R. S. Storrs, of Braintree, Ms. to whom he addressed the following letter:

Camden, May 24, 1819.

"Dear Brother-Many a moment you have spent in sending up to heaven your fervent ejaculations for him who was for a short time your fellow-traveller. O may those prayers, and others that are offered in consequence of our mutual engagement, be accepted through the intercession of our glorious Redeemer. You have many friends in Charleston, who pray for your peace and usefulness. Dr. and Mrs. P. love you most affectionately. Do write to them often. It will do good. Dear Saints-kind and affectionate friends; I had a most comfortable home there for six weeks. Have they written you? Have you heard that they have been visited with affliction? Dear little Finley, their lovely babe, was cut down while I was there, and suddenly numbered with the dead-only two or three days sickness. But I trust they had comfort from above. You must sympathize with them, and point them to the balm which once healed your heart, when broken with parental grief. As to the King's tribute, that which has been, is now-excuses, objections, difficulties, &c. We revived the missionary Society, and made such arrangements, that an application has been forwarded for two missionaries.

"We shall travel on leisurely toward the land of our fathers. Will you give me the happiness of finding a letter from you at Goshen, N. Y. Dear Brother, what a dreary, gloomy world this is! Were it not for the hope of heaven, what could we do? Q that we may be more and more excited by this hope,

and have frequent foretastes of heaven while on earth. Let us labor constantly to be spiritually minded. Do try to get Christians around you to be more spiritual, to live more in heaven while they are on earth. Do aim at this, especially as it respects Ministers. What can we hope for, till ministers of Jesus have more of the spirit of their Lord, more self-denial, zeal, compassion for souls, and love for the churches? What can we hope for, till we see these stubborn habits of sloth give way to activity; till we feel these icy, flinty hearts melt, with the love of God. Brainerd desired to be 'a flame of fire' in the service of God? How should such a wish from such a Saint shame us, who fall so far behind him! I do believe there is a time coming, when there will be better ministers,-better Christians, better churches, and a better world."

In Raleigh, N. C. he was kindly received, and his object approved; though little was contributed to increase the missionary funds. Thence he travelled on leisurely, visiting the more important places, which lay in his course, laboring with special reference to an increase of interest in the work of sending the Gospel to the heathen. He hoped in this way to do something towards preparing the people to act with more efficiency and promptness in future, and to second more readily the application of subsequent agents. At Washington city he was favored with an interview with President Adams, then Secretary of State, who obligingly proposed to furnish him with such letters of introduction and protection, as would be valuable to him in a foreign country.

In July he arrived in his native State, and resumed his residence at the Theological Seminary in Andover, where he designed to pursue his studies, till the time of his embarkation for Asia. Under date of July 27, he thus writes:-"I am now applying myself to study, anxiously waiting the arrival of Mr. Parsons, that we may assist each other in making