, we
should expect that, under God, they would soon be the instruments of
converting all nations. But what, in fact, does this vast number of
professed Christians--or in other words, of the _professedly missionary
band_ of Jesus Christ, accomplish in the narrow limits of the United
States? O, there is a deplorable lack in the churches, of the deep
devotion and missionary character of our ascended Saviour.

Again, Do we _give_ as much as we ought to evangelize the heathen? It
would perhaps be a liberal estimate to say, that a million and a half of
professed Christians in the United States give, on an average, year by
year, to save the heathen, about twenty-four cents each, or two cents a
month. There are other objects, it is true, that call for contributions;
but put all contributions together, and how small the amount?

The Jews were required to give to religious objects at least one-fifth
of their income. One-fifth of the income of a million and a half of
Christians at seven per cent., supposing them to be worth on an average
five hundred dollars each, would be ten and a half millions of dollars.
This is merely the income of capital of which we now speak. A fifth of
the income from trade and industry would probably double the amount, and
make it twenty-one millions. Is anything like this sum given by American
Christians to support and propagate the religion of Jesus? What
Christians have done, therefore, is by no means a measure of their
ability.

To see what men can do, it is necessary to look away from Christians, to
those whose ruling principle is a thirst for pleasure, for honor, and
for gain. How vast a sum is expended at theatres--on fashionable
amusements and splendid decorations--not to mention the hundreds of
millions sunk by intemperance, and swallowed up in the deep dark vortex
of infamous dissipation! Men are lavish of money on objects on which
their hearts are set. And if the hearts of Christians _were set_ on
saving the heathen, as much as wicked men are set on their pleasures,
would they, think you, be content with the present measure of their
contributions?

Look, too, at what men can do who are eager in the pursuit of wealth.
Under the influence of such an incentive, railroads, canals, and
fortresses spring into being, and fleets bedeck the seas like the stars
of the firmament. Money is not wanting when lucrative investment is the
end in view. Even professed Christians can collect together heavy su