ing which God has distinguished you by giving to you blessings which have been withheld from many others,-preservation from a thousand accidents,the watchful guardianship of an unsleeping eye and the support of a divine hand, during every moment, by day and by night,-the life and health of those dependent on you,-food, and raiment, and a house to dwell in,-prosperity in your secular pursuits, and an amount of business which has brought you at the rate of dollars in the year,-books and newspapers for your reading,—and as much as dollars, which you have been able to spend in recreation, in journeying, or in mere gratifications of taste or fancy, beyond the mere calls of necessity.

Or, if this enumeration needs to be varied, in consequence of sickness or reverses in your own person, or in your kindred, or those dependent on you, even here contemplate the mitigations of the calamities, and take account of what you have had of God in the alleviation of these trials, or in the good which they have or might have wrought for you.

In spiritual things, you have had fifty-two Sabbath days,—more than seven whole weeks of seasons of rest from toil, that you might enjoy the earnest and foretaste of heaven,-perhaps a hundred or more evangelical sermons,— several occasions of celebrating the death of Christ,-daily opportunities of prayer, social or private, or both,-the blessed bible, with all its promises, instructions and hopes,—perhaps a season of gracious revival in your own soul, or in the community,—it may be, the conversion of a husband, wife, or child. You have had the daily intercessions of Christ, added to the application of his atoning blood, the sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit,-strength in the hour of temptation,-many opportunities of doing good,-perhaps God has even made you the messenger of salvation to some soul.

2. For these, and ten thousand other blessings, and for those that are involved in them, what have you given to God? In other words, how much have you paid?

We hope there are many who have given to him the devout, spontaneous and abundant service of holy and willing hearts. This is right and praiseworthy. It is the proper service of the spiritual part of our natures. But is there not something more demanded of us? God lays the hand of his authority upon all that we possess. He has a right, not only to ask for the service of our affections, but also to demand a share of the worldly possessions of which he has made us stewards. And as we cannot, in spiritual service, make a fit return for all his mercies, we may make a suitable acknowledgment of our gratitude, by giving as God hath prospered us for benevolent uses.

What have you given for benevolent uses? How much for the poor, for sick persons, for the widows and fatherless, for bibles, for home missions, for the heathen, for Sabbath schools, for tracts, for seamen? How have your appropriations to these objects corresponded with your income? How much have you paid to the Lord?

It is true, God's mercies to us are free gifts. He does not bestow them for the sake of a recompense. He does not ask of us a recompense, as such. But, as a matter of gratitude, we should delight to offer him that which he does not demand. We ought to regard our obligations to him in the light of a debt.

Taking it for granted that the Christian has already given of his money, to some extent, to the cause of God, the question is still, in many cases, an appropriate one, "How much owest thou unto my Lord ?" What is the amount of the unpaid balance?

There are three considerations, in addition to the above, which may help us in determining this question. 1. What is our ability? 2. What does the exigency of the cause demand of us? 3. What is proper, as a thank-offering to Him who has given us every blessing pertaining to this life, besides the forgiveness of sins, the sacrifice of himself, and the blissful immortality beyond the grave?

A serious contemplation of these suggestions, we are confident, will show to many Christians in our country that they still owe something to their Lord. Let, therefore, the professional man, the student, the merchant, the mechanic, the laborer, the seaman, the mother, the child, weigh these thoughts. Let them revolve the question in their own minds, "How much owest thou unto my Lord ?" With increased gains, have they made a proportionate increase of their benefactions? While the treasuries of Christian benevolence are empty,while men offer themselves to go and break to the heathen the bread of life, but for want of means cannot be sent,—and still the heathen, "in their blindness, bow down to wood and stone," this is a weighty question. Let every one give it a place in his accounts of the last year, which is just closed, and in his plans for the new year. Let every one pray over it in secret, that he may act upon it deliberately, intelligently, and calmly. Let every one, again and again, not only revolve in his mind, but slowly repeat to himself in audible words,-demanding an honest reply,-"How much owest thou unto my Lord ?"

UNION TO CHRIST.

There is an apparent union between Christ and all the members of the visible church, which is formed by their receiving common gifts and influences from him, while they profess to receive his truth and to engage in his service. There is too a moral union of mutual affections between him and believers; but that upon which the enjoyment of the benefits purchased by his sufferings and death depends, is spiritual. It includes a legal union between us, as ruined sinners, and Christ, as our surety. The everlasting love of God and the covenant of grace are the bonds of it; and the placing of our sins to Christ's account that his satisfaction might be placed to ours, in the eye of the law, is the effect of it. It also includes the personal union of Christ to our nature, in order that he might meet the requirements which his legal union to us drew upon him. But all these would fail of securing to us the great object for which Christ died, unless in addition to all other relations, we have a union to him which is spiritual.

It is the spiritual characteristic of this relation that clothes it with many of its peculiar difficulties, and leads some to reject it entirely as imaginary. It differs from the ordinary relations of life, with which we are acquainted; and under the influence of our senses, we are apt to think of it as material; or if we study more refinement, we are apt to regard it as nothing more than the bonds which bind kindred spirits on earth together. But it is of vital importance to keep in mind the spiritual nature of it, notwithstanding the similitudes by which it is illustrated for us.

Then if we take the figure of the vine and the branches, which Christ himself uses, it shows that as there is a natural, intimate, vital union between them, so there is a spiritual, intimate, vital union between Christ and all true Christians, that as the vine and its branches have but one common principle of natural life, our Lord and his followers have but one common principle of spiritual life. One common purpose actuates them, as it does the leader and all the followers in any great secular enterprise. Or, to use another figure, as the head and all the members of the natural body are actuated by one common

principle of life, which makes it one, so the spirit of Christ dwells with all his people, and makes them one with him. There is a common principle of spiritual life among them. This creates a oneness, not only between Christ and his people, but between the different members of the family of Christ; as the members of the body, though many, under the influence of the same soul, are one with the head and with each other. "By one spirit are we all baptized into one body, and have been all made to drink into one spirit." (1 Cor. 12:13.) "There is one body, and one spirit." (Eph. 4:4.)

It is thus seen that it is in truth, and not simply by figure of speech, that Christ and his people are one. The spirit of Christ so dwells in them that they receive not simply his benefits, but Christ himself. They have him for their life, and are partakers of him. He lives in them, and they abide in him.

1. We may infer the moral dignity of all true Christians. Some worldly situations naturally have an idea of dignity attached to them. They impart dignity to those who occupy them, and to those who are united to the occupants, whether by marriage or by blood. A prince has honor because he is connected to a royal father.

There is great diguity in the angelic nature. Angels are the highest and the most honorable of all the creatures of God. They have the honor of beholding his face in glory. But there is no honor conferred upon creatures, no, not upon angels, equal to that which the believer derives from union to Christ. Angels are his chief and most honorable subjects; but saints are his own mystical members and spouse. Angels are appointed to serve them. They delight to do it. Christ is their common head; but he is the head of saints in a sense different from that in which he is the head of angels. Of both he is the head of dominion, but of the former he is the head of vital influence too.

The great ones of this world might frown, should the humble Christian presume to approach them; but God sets the meanest subjects of his spiritual dominion before his face with delight. With him the Christian, however humble his sphere, is before the prime minister of any state, or the prince himself. The pulpit where his word is faithfully preached, however mean its structure, is to him above the throne, though set amidst the most precious gems. The humble but sincere Christian may well prefer the sphere in which he is destined to move, to that of Gabriel before the throne of the Most High.

2. If believers are so intimately united to Christ, we infer that they ought to regard his cause as their own. It is to be feared that many who profess to be united to Christ, regard all they do for him or for his cause as lost. But all such persons lack correct views, if they do not lack the spirit of Christ, and union to him. Christ himself has gone away from us into heaven, where he neither hungers, or thirsts, or wants any more. But his members and his cause have yet many wants. In them he often hungers and thirsts, and has need to be taken in, and warmed, and fed. And he regards what is done to them as done to himself. And so what is done for his cause is done both for those who do it, and for him.

When they extend, or beautify, or enrich the kingdom of the Redeemer, they extend, and beautify, and eurich a kingdom of which they themselves are heirs. When they promote the interests of that kingdom, they promote their own. So they ought ever to view it. It would seem almost incredible that professed followers of Christ should be close and niggardly in relation to their brethren, and the interests of Christ's kingdom on earth, if they really believe that what they do for these, Christ absolutely regards as done for himself. Every one should be as much knit to the cause of Christ, as to Christ himself.—Rev. R. Taylor.

American Baptist Missionary Union.

MISSIONS, MISSIONARIES, &c., 1848-9.

BURMAH.-Maulmain Mission.—Burman department;-A. and Mrs. E. C. Judson, T. Simons, H. and Mrs. Howard, E. A. and Mrs. Stevens, L. and Mrs. Stilson, T. S. (printer) and Mrs. Ranney, Miss L. Lillybridge, resident at Maulmain; and S. M. and Mrs. Osgood, in U. S. A.

Peguan department ;-J. M. and Mrs. Haswell, temporarily at Maulmain. Karen department;-F. and Mrs. E. H. Mason, J. G. and Mrs. Binney, N. and Mrs. Harris, W. and Mrs. Moore, Miss M. Vinton, resident at Maulmain; J. H. and Mrs. Vinton, in U. S. A.

Tavoy Mission.-Karen department;-C. and Mrs. Bennett, É. B. and Mrs. Cross, at Tavoy; J. and Mrs. Benjamin, on their way to Tavoy; D. L. and Mrs. Brayton, Mr. B., at Mergui, Mrs. B., in U. S. A.; J. and Mrs. Wade, in U. S. A. Arracan Mission.-Burman department;-L. Ingalls, at Akyab, C. C. and Mrs. Moore, on their way to that station.

Karen department;-E. L. Abbott, J. S. and Mrs. Beecher, at Sandoway; H. L. and Mrs. Van Meter, on their way to S.

SIAM.-Siamese department;-J. T. and Mrs. S. S. Jones, J. H. (machinist) and Mrs. Chandler, Miss H. H. Morse.

Chinese department ;-J. and Mrs. Goddard, now in China in quest of health, E. N. Jencks, (a) in U. S. A.

CHINA.-W. Dean, J. Johnson, (b) at Hongkong; D. J. (physician) and Mrs. Macgowan, E. C. and Mrs. Lord, at Ningpo.

ASSAM.-N. and Mrs. Brown, O. T. (printer) and Mrs. Cutter, at Sibsagar; M. and Mrs. Bronson, (c) I. J. and Mrs. Stoddard, at Nowgong; C. and Mrs. Barker, A. H. and Mrs. Danforth, at Gowahatti.

TELOOGOOS.-S. S. Day, L. and Mrs. Jewett, on their way to Nellore, Hindostan; Mrs. Day, S. and Mrs. Van Husen, in U. S. A.

BASSAS. Mrs. L. Clarke, (d) Mrs. M. B. Crocker, in U. S. A.

FRANCE.-E. and Mrs. Willard, at Douay; T. T. and Mrs. E. E. Devan, (e) at Paris.

GERMANY.-J. G. Oncken, &c., at Hamburg; G. W. Lehmann, at Berlin, &c. GREECE.-A. N. and Mrs. Arnold, Mrs. H. E. Dickson, at Corfu, (ƒ) Ionian Islands; R. F. and Mrs. Buel, at Piræus.

(a) Mrs. Jencks died at sea June 27.

(b) Mrs. Johnson died at Hongkong June 9.

(c) About to return to U. S. A. on account of ill health.

(d) Rev. I. Clarke died at sea April 24.

(e) Dr. Devan was married to Miss E. E. Clark Sept. 7.

(ƒ) Miss S. E. Waldo, now Mrs. York, removed to Zante in August. Her services are still devoted to the welfare of the Greeks, though not in full connection with the Greek Mission.

CHEROKEES.-E. and Mrs. Jones, W. P. and Mrs. Upham, H. (printer) and Mrs. Upham. (a)

SHAWANOES, &c.-J. and Mrs. Meeker, Mrs. J. K. Jones, at Ottawa; J. G. and Mrs. Pratt, Miss E. S. Morse, at Delaware; F. and Mrs. Barker, at Shawanoe. (b)

OTTAWAS IN MICHIGAN.-L. and Mrs. Slater, at Richland, Mich.

OJIBWAS.-A. and Mrs. Bingham, A. J. Bingham (c), at St. Mary's, Mich.; J. D. Cameron, at Tiquamina.

TONAWANDAS, &c.-A. and Mrs. Warren, Akron, N. Y.

Total, exclusive of native preachers in Germany, fifty-five missionaries, including three printers, one machinist and one physician; and fifty-five female assistants; beside native preachers and assistants.

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE MISSIONS.

FRANCE.-Letters of Mr. Willard. We continue to receive gratifying accounts of the progress of the gospel in various parts of the department Du Nord. The faithful sowing of the word there these many years, has not been in vain. Although some seed has fallen by the wayside and some in stony places, other has fallen upon good ground, and is springing up, and gives promise of fifty and even a hundred fold. In allusion to one district Mr. W. speaks of a "revival of religion," general, if not mighty. We extract the following notices of repeated additions to the churches from his letter of Oct. 7. For previous accounts of a similar cast, see our number for November, p. 422, last vol.

Manicamp and Genlis-The work advancing. Having made arrangements to meet br. and sr. T. at Verberie 30th of Sept., I proceeded thither the day before, and having passed the night, I joined the friends the following morning as agreed upon, and conducted them to Chauny. The last ten leagues of our journey were trundled over in carriages drawn by horses; but being all the way in the pleasant and fertile valley of the Oise, we were so agree

known to me.

The next day, 1st of Oct., we went to Manicamp to hold a meeting and baptize. The little chapel was full,— the entry, more than half as large as the chapel, was full, and a good number stood in the street, listening at the windows. After the morning service, four candidates were examined in presence of all the assembly. The examination, as well as that of 13th of August, was severe, much more so than any I ever witnessed in the United States. The four candidates were accepted, and we started for the water. We had gone but a little from the chapel, when Mr. Lepoix told me that a woman from Rouy was very sorry not to have been examined. I told him she could be examined at the water side; we waited a moment for her to procure suitable clothing, and then proceeded. The place of bap

(a) Post-office address, Sylvia, P. O, Van Buren Co., Ark.

(b) P. O. address of all the Shawanoe missionaries, Westport, Jackson Co., Mo. (c) Appointed temporarily.