cannot endure.

full development, and the present systems of theology Creeds and confessions will crumble away before it. Who shall show a better way — who shall exhibit a purer faith- who shall set forth Jesus in his unsullied excellence? It is the duty, it ought to be considered the dearest privilege, of Unitarian Christians. And except they rally round the ark of God, it will, it is our belief, be carried away captive; the land will be visited with a season of darkness and coldness in the form of unbelief. Rather let us avail ourselves of this seasonable juncture. The fields are white to harvest, but the laborers are few. All things are ready; let us enter in and possess the land.

'But,' rejoin the cautious and the timid, is there not a fear of the body becoming zealous overmuch?" We humbly think not-that no fear can by any possibility be more unfounded. A review of the last thirty years will show that burning zeal is no essential element in our communion, and if we have been right in the views we have taken of the actual predominance of the intellect over the heart among Unitarian Christians at the present moment; if impediments and chills exist in anything like the degree which we have been led to suspect they do, the most zealous among us need not fear of his zeal overstepping the limits of moderation. We perhaps look upon zeal with rather different eyes than some others. When founded on principle, and constant in its action, and regulated by charity, it bears to us an aspect truly sublime, and the Saviour we love mainly for the righteous and fervent zeal he showed in his holy and beneficent undertaking. Of one thing, however, we may all rest assured, that

without zeal no cause can spread. Such is the uniform testimony of history. All the great moral changes which society has undergone have been effected by the ardor of zeal. What, indeed, is zeal but another word for enthusiasm ? and to enthusiasm the world is more indebted than to any other principle of the human soul. The intellect may discover truth, but enthusiasm only can give it prevalence. This is peculiarly true of moral and religious truth. The Apostles succeeded in their benevolent efforts, and the Reformers in theirs, because they were enthusiastic in the cause to which they had devoted themselves. Nor do we think it possible for an impression to be made on the multitude, on a mass so dense and impervious to whatever wears the dress of novelty, without the aid of those lofty, commanding, and irresistible emotions, which are implied in enthusiasm. The rays of the sun, the drops of the rain, fall too gently to arrest their attention; the lightning and the thunderbolt are needful to arouse and penetrate them. And we are persuaded that if, instead of desultory efforts, we arose, as a body, to an attitude of defence and onset against sin and error, penetrated with the deep, earnest, yet tender spirit of the gospel; arose, not in scattered platoons, maintaining here and there a random and therefore ineffectual fire, but individually and collectively, we could not fail to command attention, to awaken admiration, to reform the heart, and to rectify the creed.

We again, therefore, utter the voice of invitationWhosoever will, let him come. Hundreds there are, we believe, ready to respond to the call-hundreds who need only the encouragement which they ought to

receive. We call on those who have it in their power, to give the requisite countenance. We appreciate highly what ministers and laymen have already done. We are not made to disparage or forget (knowingly) any righteous effort for a cause which is in our minds identified with the cause of truth and the best interests of man. Yet it is but a few, comparatively, that have lent efficient aid, and they will be the first to acknowledge that their exertions have too often been disproportionate to their means and the goodness of the cause. Others we beseech by the love of Christ, and the mercies they have received, and by a regard to the welfare of their neighborhoods, and the happiness of immortal souls; we beseech them to aid, counsel and direct, to stimulate and sustain, all those who manifest their love of God by their love for man, and their love for man by their love of the gospel, and their love of the gospel by well-sustained efforts for the increase of its prevalence. We beseech such to compare what they have done with what they might do, and from themselves to turn to our body at large, contrasting its actual efficiency with the efficiency of which it is capable.

It is with peculiar interest and concern that we advert to the younger part of our ministers, and to those who are preparing for the sacred duties of Christian pastors. They are the hope of the church. Their habits are not yet fixed; the progress of time has not cooled down the warmth of their hearts; the influence of a former age lies as yet lightly upon them; in a word, they bring new minds and young affections into the church. Would to God that they may be enabled to devote all their energies to the great and honorable

work of leading men to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! May none of them be turned aside by the unconquerable force of circumstances to seek a livelihood and employment for their abilities in pursuits which, however honorable in themselves, have no immediate bearing on the duties of the ministry. We would have them to remember that the state of our churches, and the state of society, is such as to require, not geologists, not antiquarians, not mathematicians, not schoolmasters; but preachers and pastors, eloquent men and mighty in the Scriptures, men pervaded by one desire, that of reconciling man to God, and advancing the kingdom of Christ.

Turning from those who, by their station, are expected to be more influential than others, we call upon all individually who bear the name of Unitarian Christian. The work is yours; the duty is yours. You recognize no peculiar rights of the clergy. You do well; but, in consistency, lay not upon them any peculiar duties. You are each a minister of Christ. Every good man is or ought to be so. It is an honor to labor in your Master's vineyard. There is not one of you, however poor, but can labor, and with most desirable effect. Canst thou not, poor as thou art, adorn the doctrine thou hast professed, and, by the irresistible attraction of a holy conversation, put calumny to shame, and draw the teachable to the house of prayer? Canst thou not, by a punctual and regular attendance on the ordinances of public worship, encourage thy minister, increase the attendance, and thus cause the temple to wear a more winning and respectable aspect? Canst thou not in private visit the orphan and the widow

in their afflictions, cheer the disconsolate, discountenance vice, and plead with the sinner? Canst thou not inform the ignorant and instruct the young; or if, perchance, like Moses, thou art 'slow of speech,' canst thou not find many an eloquent spokesman who will ably plead the cause thou cherishest, though they speak not with the living tongue, but from the living page? Each one of you has a sphere of influence- we ask you to let the sounds of the gospel be heard therein. Each one has a talent - we ask of you to occupy it.

We call, then, upon the individuals of which our communion consists, to lend each his aid. Without the cooperation of the people at large little good can be done. In speaking of eminent men we often deceive ourselves; much as is due to them, we are wont to rate their individual influence too highly. We talk of the dominion of a single mind; but such a thing, in strictness of speech, is not to be found. Single and unaided, no man ever established an empire over his fellowcreatures. In reality, we forget the subordinate agents amidst our admiration of the chief-the inferiors that surround him are lost from sight in the blaze of his real or imagined glory. Yet, though forgotten, they are essential to success. Without fellow laborers, the skill and foresight of an architect, however pre-eminent they might be, would lead to no valuable result. In the same way, the wisest master builder that ever labored for the edification of the church of Christ, may, unless encouraged and aided by the operation of fellowworkers, spend his strength for nought, and labor in vain in the Lord. It was not by the surpassing and Herculean strength of an individual hand that those