Forum, or the Three Taverns, would make sad havoc, not only with the grammatical construction of the language, but the evident meaning of St. Luke. It was the sight of these Christian "brethren,” some of whom went out to meet him as far as the Three Taverns, about thirty miles from Rome, and some as far as Appii-Forum, about fifty-one miles, that caused the apostle to thank God and take courage. Thus understood there is great moral beauty in the statement. Paul was full of solicitude. He knew not what was the state of things at Rome. It was a query whether there was anybody there that would in the least sympatise with him. But his doubts were now at an end. Men who would come so far to meet and comfort him, could not be indifferent to his fate. Besides, the very fact that they were "brethren," one with him in Christ, was full of comfort and encouragement. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Dr. Peck is a first-rate Biblical scholar, and we have not the least idea he will ever think of vindicating the use he has made of the passage in question. He has not examined it, but has been led astray by popular misconstruction. The text is often quoted to prove that taverns, embracing, of course, their exciting refreshments, are very good things. The sight of three of them caused even an holy apostle to thank God and take courage! To decry taverns, therefore, is to disparage St. Paul!

It is, in truth, to correct this popular error, rather than the distinguished author of Wyoming, that these remarks are made. The Doctor himself would, we are quite sure, be among the last to give the least comfort or encouragement to "tavern haunters." Indeed, bis allusion is only incidental, and, in itself, could do no great harm. We notice it chiefly because we would not have this popular volume countenance, even by implication, "viciousness of life."

We will only add, that whoever may wish to consult a graphic and reliable history of Wyoming, or whoever may desire to read some of the most exciting, and at the same time profoundly interesting narratives in the English language, will do well to make haste and procure the book of which we here take leave.

ART. VII.-AMERICAN MISSIONS.

[SECOND ARTICLE.]

1. "Thirty-Ninth Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 1858.

2. "Thirty-Second Report of the American Home Missionary Society." 1858.

3. "Fifty-Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Domestic Missions, Old School Presbyterian." 1858.

4. "Twenty-Sixth Report of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society." 1858.

INDIAN missions constitute the first division of our native work. These were noticed in our first article, published in the April number of the Review.

The second department of native, or home work, is that among the English speaking population of our country, consisting of nativeborn citizens, and of emigrants speaking our language. There is no country in the world where there is as much missionary work of this character as in our own, and the necessity for the faithful performance of it is undoubtedly unmeasured and immeasurable.

The present able missionary secretary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Report for 1858, says of these missions: "This class of missions is at present the most valuable of all our missions, in the estimation of many of our most intelligent brethren. They receive a larger support than any other class, and always have. Though, like the domestic virtues, they are but little visible to the public eye, and, of course, too little appreciated and praised, yet they are really among the most noble and fruitful enterprises of the Church."

It is trite, but true, that our political institutions can abide and prosper only in the midst of an intelligent and Christian people. And unless we have greatly overrated the intelligence and virtue of American patriotism, it may be appealed to with the utmost confidence in behalf of this department of American missions. And the Church or missionary organization which will be American not in name merely, but truly American in spirit and work, seeking the glory of God and the salvation of souls, first and chiefly on American soil, and among those in whose hands are the present and future political destiny and Christian character of our country, will have the cordial, general and efficient support of the American people. The Christian conscience and political intelligence of our citizens may be relied upon for this result. The history of the Church among us furnishes evidence of the truth of the above position. As we read that history FOURTH SERIES, VOL. X.-39

we find that, just in proportion as the various denominations have been truly American. they have had the sympathy and support of the masses. Hence, perceiving this, we have the frequent approprition of the name "American," by organizations and institutions bidding for public patronage. Figures, in connection with our benevolent institutions, sustain this view of American preference for home work. During the depression and business stagnation of the past year, the funds of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions decreased nearly forty thousand dollars, while the funds of the American Home Missionary Society fell off not quite four thousand dollars.

We

The Baptist foreign missionary funds decreased some five thousand dollars, while the funds for the home missions of the same Church increased more than seven thousand dollars. presume that the Methodist Episcopal Church has a stronger hold upon the multitudes in our land than any other, and we believe that one great reason for this is, that she is more American than any any other denomination; that she partakes more of the spirit, and has done more for the benefit of the country in which she had her origin. Her missionary funds have suffered but little during the crisis. She has no separate organization for home work, but appropriates this year, from her general treasury, about one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars to domestic missions. These figures show that home work has a strong hold upon the hearts of the people.

The importance of this department of missionary labor now under consideration, has been felt by the American Churches generally, and to a considerable extent engaged in. Much has been accomplished and much is being accomplished. But it is a growing work; it increases with an unparalleled rapidity, and keeps the hands of the Churches constantly filled to overflowing. This portion of our population not only multiplies by the natural increase of a young and vigorous nation, but by multitudes from England and Ireland, from which countries nearly all our English-speaking immigrants come. Scarcely a mission is begun in one of our cities and a depth of iniquity explored that does not lead to lower deeps; or, if on our western border, that does not lead directly to another, and still another beyond. It is evident that our Churches are very much behind in this work at present, and we fear that the odds against them is annually increasing, from the rapid growth of our population and extension of our territory, and the diversion of our men and means to distant lands.

Issuing from these open and opening doors are loud and earnest calls upon all our Churches for help; but in many, alas! too many

cases, the cry is unheeded and the door not entered. Our Churches seem to feel themselves justified, like priest and Levite, to pass by on the other side, and hasten away to Jerusalem, or Jericho, leaving their neighbor fallen, faint, and dying, without making any provision for him.

About five hundred thousand dollars are annually expended by our American Churches in this department of our missionary work: five hundred thousand more of our missionary money could not be more wisely and advantageously appropriated, or more in accordance with what would be the general judgment of American Christians, if home missions were as prominently presented to them as our foreign missions are.

The justification so often urged in this connection, that the people are within the reach of the Gospel, is not true; and if it were it would not be a sufficient justification. The Gospel is not placed within the reach of these masses in our cities, and wanderers along our borders, for whom we plead. And if so, the Spirit of the Gospel is, and the necessity of the case is, "Compel them to come in." They have positive claims upon us that have not been met. And it is not their personal salvation only that is jeopardized by this neglect; they are enemies within one of the principal strongholds of Christianity; they are in a position greatly to weaken her forces and cripple her efficiency. We conceive it to be of the first importance to the world that a pure and powerful Christianity be maintained in America. If American Churches were to do nothing more than this, they would contribute as much toward the conversion of the world to Christianity as all other Christian nations are now capable of doing. And if they do not this, their foreign efforts will be but pepper-corn contributions. We must do our own work at home well. God in his providence has called us to lay the foundations of a great Christian empire, and we must see to it that the superstructure rest not on "wood, hay, stubble," but upon "gold, silver, and precious stones."

In this department of the Church's labor the great centers of population, our cities, demand particular attention. Most denominations have their city missionaries, visitors, and tract distributors. And the reports furnished from these scenes and sinks of sin are unsurpassed in appalling features by any from heathen lands. There is no iniquity deeper and deadlier, or half so dangerous to world-wide Gospel triumph as that found in our great cities, under the shadow of our church steeples. Indeed, only under their shadow, and in the midst of Christian civilization, can evil grow so virulent in nature, and to such giant proportions. It is folly, we repeat, to reply, that

being under the shadow of our church steeples they could, if they would, avail themselves of Gospel privileges. They will not, they cannot. It is not expected that they will; it is not designed that they should. They are just as effectually excluded as if they dwelt amid rocks and valleys where the sound of the church-goingbell is never heard. No metaphysical disquisitions on ability, moral or physical, will avail to throw off from the Church the responsibility to provide for such. These centers of population and wickedness are also centers of influence. Great cities are all powerful in civil matters. Our national and Christian character and influence have been greatly impaired already from these sources, and the danger is constantly and fearfully increasing.

We cannot enter in detail upon the moral condition of our cities; it would lead us far beyond the limits we have prescribed to ourselves. We will adduce for the whole subject an extract from a leader in the Christian Advocate and Journal, August 27, 1857:

man.

"New-York, what can we say of it? What but assert that its papal masses, festering amid our suburbs, are chargeable with much of its demoralization, and afford ready instruments for our native public villains. It is said there are one hundred and ninety-two churches in this city, which can accommodate one hundred and forty-two thousand sitters, while five hundred thoussand, or four fifths of our whole population cannot attend church, if they would, for want of seats. One of our most respectable papers, the New-York Courier and Inquirer, in a leader commenting upon the state of affairs in California, makes the following remarks upon the condition of New-York: Our city is in a similar degree cursed with characters who neither fear God nor regard The assassinations, and murders, and assaults, and burglaries, and robberies, which are every day and night occurring, as our police reports testify, and the flagrant frauds which are practised at every popular election, admonish us that we have the same identical class in our midst that at last drove the people of San Francisco to such desperation. Our ministers of the law, too, have been lax. Crime of the most aggravated type daily escapes detection and punishment. This is a matter of indignant complaint among all respectable people. The feeling has become general that our executive officers, our police, and our prosecuting attorneys, and our justices, have been shamefully delinquent in the discharge of their duties, and thus all the regular machinery of justice has sunk into discredit. Such a loss of confidence is in itself a great public calamity. It must be arrested or its ultimate result will be fearful."

The statistics in this extract show the falsity of the plea that home is provided for, and hence we are at liberty to go abroad. In the great metropolis of our country the Christian Churches have made provision but for one-fifth of the population to hear the Gospel. And it is from amid such destitution that the largest contributions are made for distant lands. The extract also furnishes a dark picture of evils existing and dangers threatened-dangers which will inevitably ensue if the evils are not cured. And it is certain that the Christian religion is the only cure for the evils; and