wants of the heathen. He weeps and prays in secret in their behalf; and is willing to consecrate himself, a "living sacrifice," to lead the meanest among them to the Lamb. This increases, until it becomes an all-pervading feeling. As yet, he has not assumed the responsibilities and cares of the marriage life, nor those of established business. He weighs well the blessings of the former, and of the latter. An affectionate nature pleads its arguments that he should, at no distant day, gather around him an attached family; and the pecuniary inducements of a business life have their strong claims. The world pleads hard; but the example of Jesus Christ, and the groans of the perishing heathen, prevail ; and he ingenuously and ardently prefers the missionary service. Faith triumphs over sense; and the scenes of the last day, as they shall stand connected with human pursuit, seem as living realities.

Now, a variety of intensely interesting considerations rush unbidden into his mind. "Can I become a missionary!" he exclaims; "and bear some active part in that blessed work?" The suggestion seems but the flight of fancy. The thought, however, lingers in his bosom, and he ventures to look at it with seriousness. Difficulties and embarrassments, real and imaginary, now throng his way; but he is surprised that they appal him not. This gives him new strength; and after a period of faithful prayer, he resolves to try to become qualified for evangelical labor among the heathen. At this stage of his investigation, he will naturally take into account the length of time that, under existing plans, is required, in order that he may be admitted into the foreign mission

ranks. His preparatory, collegiate, and theological course will necessarily require from eight to ten years. To these must be added the time that will be necessary to acquire the language of the people to whom he may be sent. He thus finds that he will have passed the age of thirty-five before he can really commence laboring among the heathen. This deeply affects his mind, and unless possessed of an unusual degree of forecast and resolution he hardly dare commence the undertaking. This embarrassment is, of course, proportionately increased, if the person be of an age more advanced than the case supposed; and of this class there are a great number. But, as has been said, he resolves to make the effort.

Although a digression, it is well to observe, that there are a great number of young men in the churches who have passed through very much the train of feeling and thought that has been suggested, excepting that they have finally decided to remain in the various walks of secular life. The advice of older Christians has tended materially to this decision; which has been given, not for the want of confidence in the natural capabilities and moral qualifications of the youth, but from the considerations we have noticed. It is certain that there is scarcely a church in our land in which one or more instances of this description cannot be found. In some religious communities numerous cases are well known; and a general feeling obtains of sorrow that so much talent and piety should not find a wider field for evangelical effort.

The practical application to such individuals of the plan under notice, may, perhaps, be as follows. We will resume the illustration which was dropped a little way

above, and lay out for the young man a course of study which should occupy four years, provided he has at the commencement a good common-school education, comprising Grammar, Geography, Arithmetic, etc. This we deem indispensable, and if any of these elemental details be not thoroughly understood, so much time as may be necessary to acquire them should be devoted. The following general outline of each year's studies seems to us to comprise sufficient for our purpose. Of course, radical modifications upon this course of study may be made and no invasion of the spirit of our design result.

FIRST YEAR.

Review of English Education. Algebra. Elements of Geometry. Exercises in Composition. Elements of Moral Science. Natural Theology. Evidences of Christianity. Analysis of the English New Testament, one lesson each day.

SECOND YEAR.

General and Ecclesiastical History. Algebra. Geometry of Solids. Trigonometry began. Logic. Rhetoric. Evidences of Christianity finished. Natural Theology continued. Analysis of Old and New Testament, in English, one lesson each day. Perhaps some modern language, as the Malayan or Arabic.

THIRD YEAR.

General and Ecclesiastical History concluded. Connection of Old and New Testament. Astronomy. Biblical Criticism. Biblical Antiquities. Analysis of Old and New Testament, in English, continued. Intellectual Philosophy. Moral Philosophy. Malayan or Arabic continued. Exercise in Composition.

FOURTH YEAR.

Modern History. Missionary History. Chemistry. Pastoral Theology. Moral Philosophy. Analysis of Old and New Testament finished. Composition. Malayan or Arabic concluded. Review of the whole course.

During the whole term of study frequent attention should be paid to extemporaneous speaking, and to sacred music. The latter branch is of more importance than many may see fit to allow. Much that is evil is now communicated among the heathen by songs and simple ballads. In the mild climate of the East these are often made the medium of thought and sentiment. The soft and grateful evening air of inter-tropical regions woos many from the home-circle; and beneath the over-arching palm they congregate to listen to the wild melody of their children of song. Taking advantage of a law of our nature involved in this connexion, the priest of false religions puts into numbers the creed he would promulgate. On the same principle the licentious among them kindle the passions of those around. Strange !-That a principle so universal, so powerful, so obvious as the one in question, should have been so neglected, if not overlooked, by Christians in their efforts to spread the gospel among the heathen. If, in the plaintive, though martial sentiment and strains of the Marseillois Hymn, there be that which shall wake up the hidden fires of enthusiasm in the bosom of the patriotic; and if, as in the cause which led to the third Crusade, the song of the Troubadour could accomplish more than could the combined authority of kings and nobles; and if passion is led cap

tive by such an agency, surely there is that in the religion of Jesus Christ which may not only be worthy of, but which demands, such a medium. The accurate observer of heathen character, can readily see how well adapted is this instrumentality to catch the attention, and enlist the sympathies of those persons. Let no cold and severe system-maker, in whom the humanities are withered and dead, sneer at the thought of communicating sentiments favorable to Christianity through the popular ballads of a people. In fact, to borrow a trite thought, let the evening songs of the heathen tell of the precious love of the Victim of Calvary, and the army of Brahmuns and priests of Boodh may be quadrupled without harm. For these reasons, it seems to us, there should be much attention paid to sacred music by those preparing for the foreign mission service.

By comparing the foregoing plan of study with that pursued at some Colleges, it will be seen that it comprises all that is found in theirs of practical value, excepting the dead languages. The time which is consumed. in the study of the latter we propose should be occupied in the study of medicine; under the direction of competent instructors. It is believed that the theory of the medical profession may be acquired in one half of the four years, and that the remaining moiety would be amply sufficient in which to master the other studies.

After finishing the four years' course, the student should attend upon one or two courses of medical lectures; after which, it may be fairly presumed, he would be qualified for usefulness as a missionary-teacher. We say teacher, in contra-distinction from the more comprehen