4. I love it, however, for another reason, and that is because it is an Evangelical Society. The Gospel is its theme. Good news is its message. "Glad tidings" is the purport of all its communications. "Peace on earth and good will" is what it brings to men. "Glory in the highest" degree, in the highest attributes of His nature, in the most glorious perfections of His wisdom, power and providence, glory in the highest heavens, from the highest hierarchies in heavenly places as they behold His manifold wisdom in the Church of the Redeemer, this is what it brings to God. Free grace, free promises, free pardon, free propitiation, and free acceptance; a full, final and everlasting salvation; and all without money, and without merit though not without means-this is the blessed burden, which, as a colporteur for Christ, this Society bears, and such the priceless boon which it offers to every poor and perishing sinner.

This unspeakable gift it carries to every home and hamlet; to every mountain and valley; to every populous city and to every desolate wild; and in every season of the year, whether it be the heats of summer or the frosts of winter; in the morning sowing its seed, and in the evening not withholding its hand; never weary however wasted and worn; and though faint and sore, still pursuing knowing that in due time it will reap;-and therefore I love it.

And this balm for sin-sick souls, this one thing needful, it offers to every individual; putting it into the hands of the wayside traveller, and the voyager upon the waters; handing it to every fellow passenger on stage or rail; proffering it to the busy house wife and to the bed-ridden paralytic; to the youthful maiden, to the young man, and to the romping girl, to the impetuous boy, and even to the infant prattler that learns its A. B. C., at the knees of some grand-mother Lois;-and because it is thus good to all alike—to bond and free-to black and white-to slave and master-and is thus so like Christ “in whom there is no difference," and so like God who "has no respect of persons"-therefore I love the American Tract Society.

5. Once more. I love the American Tract Society, because it is christian and not Sectarian. It is neither Baptist, nor Methodist, nor Presbyterian, nor Episcopalian. It speaks in the name of none of these Denominations of christians, but in the name of all. It presents the peculiarity of none, but the faith and hope of all. It represents union not division, unity and not diversity, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

To every man therefore, it is welcome, and to every man it bids welcome, and hence it finds every heart and home opened, and no door barred against it on account of Sectarian exclusive

ness.

In this respect also, this Society is eminently christian as well as Evangelical. It is so in its power of association as well as in its object, and in its doctrines. Its affinities are all Evangelical and towards all that is Evangelical. It is Evangelically attractive and cohesive-drawing together and binding together, "all Evangelical christians in all parts of the United States." Its principle and object draw all that love them-"all that have like precious faith"-into association. It draws them from beyond the pale of Church association to a wider association, according to the apostolic and heaven inspired command, "nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule," "that is by that truth which we have all been led to believe-and let us mind the same thing"❞—that is, devote our united energies in love and charity, and burning zeal to the furtherance of the same glorious object.

The Tract Society is thus a sign and seal of christian union among all the different households of faith, and of unity amid all the diversity of their rites and forms. It is a pledge and an earnest of the communion of Saints. It is the rallying point to which soldiers of the Cross rush from every Sacramental host, that around their common banner and under its holy sign, they may repel the onset of their common enemies, and present a united front to their assaults. And thus we see in this Society, the present exemplification of the present oneness of all Evangelical christians, and the promise of the coming oneness of all Evangelical Denominations. Holding no communion with the world on the one hand, nor with the deniers of Evangelical truth on the other, it extends the hand of fellowship and the cup of blessing to "all who hold the Head," and "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."

6. But I love the American Tract Society further, because it is Evangelistic as well as Evangelical. It is not merely the ground, but also the pillar of Evangelical truth. It proclaims as well as preserves. It not only holds and "holds fast"-it "holds forth" "the form of sound words." It not merely prints-it publishes the glad tidings. Its sound hath gone forth, not uncertainly but with the clear and solemn tones of the Sabbath bell, into all the regions of our broad land. Among the many-voiced populations of our world-collected nation,

there is not a speech in which its voice is not heard. Like the rays of the sun, like the drops of dew, like the rain and the clouds of heaven, it visits every territory in every zone and latitude; despising none for their poverty; dreading none for their pestilence; fearing none for their enmity; courting none for their wealth; and passing not by the waste and desert wilderness. It is the pioneer of all christian efforts, the axemen of the christian army. With knapsack on its back, and leathern apron on its front, and the well sharpened divine axe, in its hand with none or scanty fare, and exposed to all weather and to all dangers, it forces its way beyond the track of any former laborers, and laying its axe to the very root of the loftiest trees, cuts them down or prunes them until they bring forth fruit meet for repentance, and thus does it prepare the way of the Lord!!

In the very spirit of zeal, girded with enterprise, and animated with impetuous ardour, it enlists the strength of youth, the perseverance of manhood, and the wisdom of age, and presses forward its multiplying co-laborers, forgetful of all that is behind, and looking earnestly to the wide wasting harvest of dying sinners and perishing souls. Leaving the ninety and nine who are within christian folds, or within watch of christian shepherds, it goes forth into the wilderness after every "one that has gone astray."

7. But once more. I love the Tract Society for what it has done, and is still able to accomplish. The seed, small as a grain of mustard seed, has become one of the greatest of trees. Its roots have struck deep into the earth. Its stem has towered aloft into the heavens. Its branches have extended on all sides, from sea, to sea, and from the frozen pole to the torrid Its blossoms have filled the air with fragrance, and its fruit has been for the healing of the nation. The birds have built their nests in its branches, and men have sat under its shadow with great delight. Like the Banyan tree, it has sent down branches in every state and territory, which have rooted themselves in the soil, and are bursting with life, budding, blossoming, and fruit-bearing.

zone.

Such it has been in time past, such it is at this moment, spreading itself like a tree of heaven planted by the waters of the river of life, whose fruit fadeth never.

And such it is capable of being to the generations, who in teeming millions, shall yet, if it is Evangelized, people this glorious empire.

Of the fruit of this tree, we have ourselves often partaken, and we found it as pleasant to the taste, as it was beautiful to the eye, and as nourishing as it was delightful, fruitful unto holiness and strength and health of soul. Yea, so quickening is this fruit that we believe no man ever carefully read one of its many tracts or volumes, without feeling that there was enough in it to guide the way-faring man, though a fool, in the way of eternal life.

Who can estimate the value of such a tree; already planted and in full maturity; growing in our very midst, flourishing on every way-side; common to all; imparting its shade to all; and dropping its life-giving and life-sustaining fruit into the hands of every passer-by! Let us cherish it! May the Sun of Righteousness shine benignantly upon it, and may the dews of heaven ever fall upon it in refreshing, quickening power!

8. And this leads me finally to say, that I love the American Tract Society, because it has thus long remained faithful to its trust. Storms have beaten upon it and raged around it. Blighting mildews have fallen upon it and withered many a now decaying or fallen branch, and adversaries have gathered and with deadly hatred, have cried "cut it down, cut it down," rase it to the very ground, let the axe destroy and then the fire consume whatever may be left. But all such efforts and influences have hitherto failed. The Constitution remains as it was thirty-three years ago. The compact is unbroken. The seal ratified in heaven, bears the original impress.

Drs. Alexander, and Rice, and Hoge, and Waddell, and Larned, and a thousand other holy men of the South-clari et venerabiles nomines!-have ceased to be its living friends, though among its original founders and life-long supporters. Drs. Milnor and Miller, and Mason, and Rodgers, and Romeyn, and Edwards, and Hallock, and a thousand more equally holy and renowned men from the North, who loved and labored and died with their brethren from the South, as fellow-members of this Society, have also passed away. But these fathers have left their spirit and their mantles behind them. Of the original founders, there still remain the venerable President and Secretaries and other officers of the Society, all imbued with the spirit, and faithful to the very letter of the original bond; and around that constitution, strengthened in the impracticability of assailing it at the last anniversary, there are thousands of devoted men both at the North and East and West, ready to unite with those in the South, in preserving that constitution

intact, and in carrying on the blessed work of reclaiming, restoring and saving lost and perishing sinners on the basis of Evangelical principles, and of love and concord, binding together all Evangelical christians in all parts of the United States.

Loving therefore as I do the American Tract Society, for each and all of these reasons, I will in another article, inquire what it has done to offend, or alienate any. EVANGELICUS.

II. IS THERE ANY REASON WHY I SHOULD NOT STILL LOVE THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY?

I have said that I love the American Tract Society because it is American, and because it unites all Evangelical christians in efforts to save sinners by the use of the same means which God has employed, and by the same blessed truths, promises and warnings which God has made powerful to the salvation of all who believe.

Is there, then, any reason why I should not still love it? Has the Society done anything that renders it either improper or impossible for me, as a christian, living in these Southern States, still to love it?

I think not; and the time, I think, has come when all may be led to feel that they can, and ought still to love the American Tract Society, and unite with Evangelical christians in all parts of the United States, in seeking the salvation of souls and the best interests of our country, by the agency of colporteurs and tracts and books, directed and controlled by our own appointed agents.

And, first, I remark that the Society is chartered, and its Constitution, therefore, could not be altered except by a new charter, a change which would be opposed by all its members at the South, by the great mass of its members everywhere, and by every one of its executive officers without a solitary exception. And since all the Society's funds have been given to it on its truly catholic basis, the civil law would assuredly prevent it from perverting them by a violent revolution.

2. The Society has never yet attempted to alter the Constitution as at first formed by a convention of Southern and other christian brethren, in any iota, affecting either its PRINCIPLES or ITS OBJECT, or ITS POWER.

3. At the last Anniversary meeting of the Society, in New York, an alteration was made in the last article of the Constitu