tion of the world, the hope of posterity, the model of the wise and virtuous, among the patriots of Europe. We refer to those benevolent and valuable institutions, which are the offspring of the Gospel, which honor God, and bless mankind, which have arisen, and continue to arise, through all our borders, and exert on every age and condition, an influence, pure and meek, compassionate and holy. We speak of those, whose objects are to distribute Bibles and Tracts; to send forth Missionaries for the destitute at home, for the heathen abroad; to establish and support the Sunday School; to convert the Sailor; to provide for the sick and the poor; to gladden the hearts of the deaf and the dumb; to promote education, temperance and peace. Be these the wonders of our land; for they are indeed pearls above all price. Who would exchange for them, thrice the Seven Wonders of the ancient world? Who does not rejoice, when he beholds such institutions, with their simple, tranquil, charitable spirit, smiling through all our land, shedding their blessings on the social and domestic circle, scattering the treasures of their love at home and abroad, and sending up to heaven the never-failing incense of gratitude, supplication and praise? Had I the power to gather into the bosom of our dear country, all the glories of the ancient sculptors, architects and painters, on the condition that such institutions should cease to exist among us, I would hold myself to have sinned a sin, never to be forgiven, were I to pause, even for an instant, in the decision. Those would indeed make our country a theatre of wonders, to the eye of taste and science; but these have dedicated her to the service and glory of God, and are daily preparing her, more and more, to act with gratitude and honor, that noble part, which becomes a free, a peaceful, an educated, a Christian people.

In the spirit, which created and sustains such institutions, this building has been erected, and is now dedicated as a Depository for Bible, Tract, and Sunday School Societies. No selfish purposes are to be answered, no ambitious views to be accomplished, no vanity to be flattered, no ostentation to be displayed. Practical usefulness is our guide, a community of labor our instrument, and the good of our fellow men, social and domestic, temporal and eternal, our end. Nor are such institutions-I speak of the great, as well as the humble-limited in the circle of their usefulness, or in the objects of their benevolence. Some are devoted to the

young, the ignorant, and the destitute, whilst others are taking thought for the old and infirm, for the healthy and the instructed. Some are dressers of the vineyard at home, whilst others have gone forth as reapers, in the plenteous harvest of foreign fields. Every age and condition, every variety of human character, every evil incident to mortality, experiences the guardian kindness of one or other of these institutions. And yet, against some of them, objections have been raised, which condemn their views, deny their obligations, and question their usefulness.

Sometimes, it is said, that it is no part of our duty or interest, to set aside, for the good of other countries, a portion of our wealth and of our services; that whilst the poor and ignorant, the vicious and unconverted, abound in our own land, they should be the sole objects of our care. But, assuredly, he, who said to us, freely ye have received, freely give, could never hold us guiltless, if having received liberally at his hands, we should only give to such of his children, as are our fellow citizens, and not to all, as our brethren. And as it has pleased our heavenly father to command, that prayer and supplication be made for all men, can we believe that we shall escape condemnation, if we give to the heathen our prayers, but deny to them any portion of our time, and labor, and riches? Besides, if the argument avail, we ought to spend no part of our income, out of our own immediate families, while a single member is unprovi ded in any thing. But, do we not see, that all men are related to us, and have claims upon us, as their brethren, under the Christian system, just as our fellow citizens of the same town or country, are connected with us, under the same charter or constitution? We are bound to our families, by the ties of natural love; to our neighbors, by the bonds of social intercourse; to our countrymen, by the obligations of patriotism; to our fellow men, by the commands, and promises, and hopes of the Gospel. And if the human race be indeed but one family, though dwelling in different lands, as brothers and sisters often reside in different cities, or villages, or countries: and if the Gospel be the Charter, the Constitution, ordained for the government of the whole human race, to the end of Time, then are our obligations to the heathen of the highest authority. Shall we not indeed, imitate the example of him, who, although he sent forth his disciples, before his ascension, only to the lost sheep of the

house of Israel, yet ordained as the unchangeable law of his church, that they should go out into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature? They waited not, till the whole land of Judea was christianized; for then had they waited until this day, and waited in vain. It was in an age of miracles, that the Spirit commanded Philip to draw nigh to the Ethiopian; that a vision taught Peter, what God hath cleansed, call not thou common or unclean; that a man of Macedonia appearing by night said to Paul, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Now, whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our admonition: and shall we profit nothing by the heavenly examples of the Scripture record, speaking as never man spake, teaching as never man taught? Shall we await, until the Angel, or the dream, or the vision, sent to Prophets and Apostles, shall come to enlighten our understandings and open our hearts? In vain may we wait; for if we hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither should we be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. And if we thus wait, for some star to lead our way, even the mild reproof, "ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" shall not be vouchsafed

to us.

But there are others, who object to the Bible and the Missionary, and the Tract Society, upon the ground, that the results produced are so disproportionate to the means employed. Is this the argument of the Christian or of the Infidel? If of the Christian, is he a Christian in spirit and in truth; or one, who hath the form, but denies the power of godliness? Assuredly, no real Christian, who hath dedicated his thoughts, and his words, and his deeds to the service of God, will ever admit the force of such an argument. His maxim is, to search the Scriptures, to be obedient to their holy commands, and to leave the issue to God. To him, the walks of duty are ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace; for he knows that he stands by faith, and he feels that he labors in love. Is he able to do and to give much, -he is content, knowing that God will do with the abundance of his offerings, just as much or as little, as he sees to be right. Is he able to do and to give but little-still he is satisfied; because he knows, (if God should so ordain) that his mite may become as the mustard seed of the parable. The faithful disciple will then do what duty requires of him, not indeed regardless of consequences, but leaving

them with enlightened faith and cheerful resignation, to be unfolded, at his own appointed season, and in his own appointed mode, by the Author of all causes, and the controller of all events. To the nominal Christian, what answer shall we give? If he supports such societies by stated contributions because he believes the truth and excellence of Christianity, he has decided the question. If he does not, I would ask him to look abroad for abundant illustrations, through the works of Creation, of Providence, of Redemption. Of Creation-for the myriads of trees and plants, the undiscovered treasures of the ocean and the mine, that have never rendered any service on our earth, as far as we are able to comprehend their use, reprove his presumptuous reasoning. Of Providence-for sunlight and shade, dew and rain, the vicissitudes of the seasons, and all the fair variety of things, have been useless, so far as we know, in millions upon millions of instances. Of Redemption-for God himself has said, that many are called, but few are chosen; and yet the scheme of redemption embraces all mankind. And when we reflect, that even under the ministry of the Savior himself, the primitive church contained only a few hundreds of disciples, how shall we suffer an apparent disproportion between the means and the results, to influence our judgment? Let us rather believe that our heavenly Father hath withheld an abundant blessing on our exertions, because the Christian world, in the narrow-minded spirit of a miser, hath sent forth gleaners into the field, few and far between, instead of a host of laborers, to reap the riches of an overflowing harvest. To the unbeliever, we shall make no reply. If he acknowledges the wisdom and usefulness of the Christian system, even in a temporal point of view, we should only address to him the argument, already offered to the nominal Christian. And if he denies them, we should hold all reasoning with him to be folly.

But there are those who complain of the thousands expended annually, in forwarding the ends of religious societies. The children of this world cast their mites by tens of thousands on the altars of vice and fashion. The Theatre alone, swallows up in one year, as in a fearful, mighty Maelstrom, more of our wealth, than all the religious societies of the union. The gambling table, inexorable as death, insatiable as the grave, consumes its hundreds of thousands; while the Demon of Ardent Spirits levies a yearly tribute

of twenty-eight millions. The children of this world are indeed wiser than the children of light; those pour out their pleasures, with a spendthrift joy, at the shrine of vice, and luxury, and fashion; but these, in the cause of God, and of eternity, and of perishing souls, too often yield up with reluctance, even the crumbs that fall from their tables. The primitive Christians dedicated to charitable uses, the tenth of their income; but a great majority of modern Christians are content to give, some the thirtieth, some the sixtieth, and some even the hundredth part. May the day yet come, and may its dawn have arisen, even now on our dear country; when her people, so privileged, and blessed and honored by God, shall bestow, with a prodigal gratitude, on the noble institutions of Religion, Literature, and Benevolence, those thousands and tens of thousands now wasted, like showers in the desert, on crimes and vices, on follies and and fashions!—And as for those, who have dedicated a portion of their worldly goods to the erection of this building, they have the delightful assurance, that it is an offering acceptable to the God of Love. Never will they repent of such an appropriation; for it well becomes them as Christians, Patriots, and Philanthropists.

This building is set apart principally as a Depository for Bibles, Tracts, and Sunday School Books, and to accommodate them and other Societies of a kindred character, in the celebration of their Anniversaries. I have said that no building can have any value, in the estimation of good sense and virtue, except its object be such as they can approve. Let us then examine the ends proposed, in setting apart this building from the ordinary uses of worldly affairs. As a Depository, its true character is to be found in the Books and Pamphlets, which are to be kept continually on hand for distribution. No one acquainted with the operations of the Societies above referred to, can doubt the expediency of providing this fountain, whence may issue those living waters, that are destined to refresh and to make glad the city of our God. I have already considered the general arguments against religious Associations; and I shall now offer some views in favor of those, to patronize which, is the primary object of this building.

1. And first as to the Bible.

That the distribution of the Scriptures should have been so much neglected for nearly three hundred years, by Prot