ities
for fitting themselves for the work are such, that nothing but criminal
delinquency can hold back a very large army from entering the field.
This is an immense advantage committed to the American churches, for
propagating the religion of Christ. It is another very precious talent
committed to their trust, which if they fail to improve, they treasure
up guilt.

Again, the American churches possess a great advantage in the facilities
so generally enjoyed for accumulating wealth. The road to comfort and to
affluence is open to all; and notwithstanding all reverses, the remark,
as a general one, is still true, that the prosperity of the United
States--of the whole mass of the people--is altogether unexampled, and
that enterprise is vigorous and successful. In the greatest strait, how
much retrenchment has there been in the style of living? And as we look
into the future we see, (God's providence favoring,) that wealth is
destined to flow in upon the land like a broad and deep river. Look at
the extent of territory, bounded only by two rolling oceans; and at the
resources which from year to year are developed--varied, unnumbered, and
inexhaustible. If then unto whom much is given, of them will much be
required, what may not God justly demand of American Christians?

Another advantage which the American church possesses, is the Spirit which
has been poured out upon her from on high. God has been pleased to bless
her with precious revivals. The Holy Ghost has come down frequently and
with power, and gathered in multitudes of souls. What God has wrought
for the American Zion has been told in all lands, and every one applies
the Saviour's injunction, "Freely ye have received--freely give." One
great reason, perhaps, why the blessings of the Spirit are not now more
richly enjoyed, is the neglect of Christians to make this return, and to
labor gratefully for the destitute and the dying. It _was expected_, and
justly too, that the land of apostolic revivals would be the first to
imitate the apostles in the work of saving the heathen. A failure to do
this may bring a blight upon the churches, if it has not brought it upon
them already.

Surely, if there is a nation on earth to whom are intrusted many talents,
ours is that nation. Our ability is not small. We must come up to a high
measure of Christian action, before it can be said with truth, that we
are _doing what we can_ to save our ruined race. The United States, a
nati