of God's word. If, indeed, any one could inform us when there would be a generation of wise men the case would be different, but no one can. The wise and the good in all ages and kingdoms have formed an almost inappreciable number of the great family of man, although a multitude will be saved which no man can number. Hence that profound thinker, John Foster, says (vol. i. p. 91), "The triumphs of religion have been most limited and small, those of evil almost infinite. We see the melancholy result of an experiment of eighteen hundred years, the whole Christian era. The result compels me to conclude that religion is utterly incompetent to reform the world, till it is armed with some new and mighty powers; till it appears in a new and last dispensation." All that appears to me to be necessary is, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon millions instead of thousands. In this case there

would be no new energy or power employed, but simply a vast augmentation of that which already exists. Thus, for example, during the thousand years that Satan will be bound, the mighty power of God's Spirit will be wondrously and gloriously displayed. "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isa. xi. 9. Let me add another prediction of prophecy, a prediction which cannot fail to fill the soul of the believer with ecstacy, seeing it has, in all probability, reference to China. I refer to the following passage in which it is generally supposed that Sinim means China: "Behold these shall come from far, and lo, these from the north and west; and these from the land of Sinim."*

*

Whilst I earnestly desire and pray that the British and Irish Churches may hear God's voice from China, and may promptly and liberally respond to the earnest and eloquent appeal made to them by the Rev. J. A. James on behalf of the land of Sinim, I cannot refrain from expressing a hope that, in so doing, hundreds of

Touching the future, no nation, either in the old or new world, is in so hopeful a condition as Britain. Among the things, however, which will trouble her, is Ireland and the Church established by law. But the greatest evil to be dreaded is the decay of vital godliness. Millions, we have reason to fear, worship no God, and millions more worship him in vain. Then, as regards the professors of religion both among conformists and non-conformists, are there not thousands who in works deny Christ? What have they to do at the Lord's table who frequent theatres? them will cease, at once and for ever, to keep down their ministers to starvation point. "The labourer is worthy of his hire." "I hate," say God, "robbery for burnt offering." At home-justice. Abroadconquest for Christ.

* Only suppose that the angel of death was commissioned to destroy in one night every family in London in which no altar was erected to the only living and true God! How many would be found alive in the morning? What a sink of iniquity, what a region of pollution, what a whirlpool of horror, what an abode of spiritual death, what an emblem of hell is a great city!

Nevertheless, there is, thank God, "a remnant according to the election of grace" among all classes of the community, not excepting the aristocracy; and some of these are men of distinguished learning, great talent, excellent genius, undeviating integrity, unimpeachable reputation, glowing zeal, self-sacrificing humility, disinterested benevolence, and exalted piety. They are found in every section of the church, and are the salt of the United Kingdom.

Yours,

J. H,

My dear Sir,

In my last letter I referred to the state of religion in this land, and to our future prospects. With regard to the continental nations, and the United States of America, to say nothing of other kingdoms, "shadows, clouds, and darkness" rest upon them. There are, as it seems to me, so many destructive elements at work, that nothing, humanly speaking, can prevent for many years the most frightful collision between popery and protestantism, infidelity and Christianity, despotism and liberty. But the Lord will be with his people.

26th, Sunday. I attended Divine service with the Independents both morning and evening. Mrs. H. was too poorly to leave the hotel. Many of the hearers, if not the majority, appeared to me to be Americans. A grandson of the late Dr.

H