TO THE EXCELLENT AND HONORABLE HEMAN LINCOLN, of Boston, Massachusetts, my friend in boyhood and manhood-these pages are gratefully and affectionately inscri bed by THE AUTHOR. 1* PREFACE. It is not improper for an author to suggest-with modesty and deference-any claims he may think he possesses upon the attention of the reader. In the present case this may be done in few words. Being himself a layman, the writer has mingled with the laity of the church, on terms of familiarity, which the dignity justly accorded to the clerical profession more or less prevents its members from enjoying,-at least in its fulness and freeness. Those who occupy the ministerial office or other of the higher seats of influence, do not view society from that point of advantage, which those do who sustain subordinate relations. An instinctive reserve is felt by the many, when brought into communication with professional men. This arises principally from respect for those persons. Whatever be its cause, it extensively prevails, much more so than is generally supposed. These remarks are designed the better to secure a candid examination of the argument involved in the first chapter of this work. At the first blush, no great weight will be attached to it; and it is only from a deep conviction of its importance, gathered from a free interchange of thought with youthful laymen, that it is adventured. Another reason may be suggested for asking the attention of the reader. It is this :-During a number of foreign voyages the author had occasion to become somewhat acquainted with the true character of heathenism, as it exists in China, in the East Indies, and in some of the Pacific Islands. Some missionary stations were also visited, and an opportunity was presented for noticing the labors and hindrances of the foreign missionary. This intercourse left one strong impression on the author's mind,-which subsequent reading has strengthened — that the diagnosis of heathenism indicates the necessity of a more active and directly specific agency than is commonly supposed to be requisite. What the precise form of that agency should be, appeared less plainly. In this state of feeling the New Testament was naturally examined; and the former and latter missionary operations compared, both as regards their plans and successes. The result of this was a full conviction of the importance of the plan herein presented. Had the author no personal acquaintance with heathenism, he might less confidently ask the attention of the reader. A third reason is, that many persons of much experience and soundness of judgment, have expressed a wish that the author's views on this subject should be made |