vowing and swearing to Him, that they shall use faithfully the means
of attaining the high end contemplated by them, which he has put into
their hands to be employed for him? How have not the efforts of these
societies been accompanied by this method of recognising the Author of
inspiration? How have not the Churches of Christ gone into this
exercise, as called to feel and acknowledge the vast solemnity of their
endeavours? How have the contributions of the faithful, for this end,
been merely offered to men, but not vowed openly to God? Even the
contributions of the Macedonian Churches, given for the poor saints at
Jerusalem, were offered in this manner.[224] How have their
prayers--moving heaven to pour down the Spirit to accompany the reading
of the word, not been accompanied by the vow or oath to the Most High
God, binding themselves to bestow with their hand the means of sending
it that are or that may be in their power, and to continue to beseech
Him for his blessing, until he cause the knowledge of His glory to cover
the earth as the waters cover the sea?

Would that we could add as an additional illustration a reference to all
existing Missionary Societies, supported even by those who belong to the
true Church of Christ; and that grounds identical with those which
separate those Sections as ecclesiastical bodies from one another, did
not exist to make it unwarrantable for them to associate in such a
general missionary enterprise as has sometimes heretofore been
conducted. It is not competent to the design of the reference that is
here made to this subject, to show in detail how different Sections of
the visible Church appear not to be justified in supporting in common
missions directed by missionaries holding some scriptural views of
various denominations, without concurring in their sentiments on church
government and other matters. Suffice it to remark, that differences in
regard to these things, are by no means unimportant. The principle
adopted in the constitution of the most influential of such societies,
that the peculiar views of no given sect, but the evangelical
sentiments entertained by all, should be inculcated, however, is
perhaps best fitted to promote the ends of an institution calling into
operation such a variety of missionaries as it employs. Yet it provides
not for diffusing the whole truth. It may perhaps be unnecessary here to
say, that it is the desire that such an institution should be impro