But let us remember who are really the parties that have been thus deficient. In the acts of Government we may feel but little personal responsibility, for, as private individuals, we cannot control them. But it is not so with the stewardship of the Church, for the deficiency has arisen there not from any want of principle in the ruling body, but from want of interest in the private individuals composing the flock. We have had large and well-conducted Institutions doing their utmost: we have had appeal after appeal to our liberality, sometimes from the bishops, sometimes from military officers, sometimes from residents in the civil service, sometimes from the little band of missionaries, and sometimes even from the heathen themselves. They have appealed for money, and appealed for men, and appealed for prayers. They have urged upon us the awful necessities of millions of perishing heathen, and pressed on our attention the noble opportunities and most solemn responsibilities which we have received from God. The neglect has been with ourselves. The responsibility cannot be shifted upon others. We have not responded enough, either in men or money. There have been plenty of young men for the army and the civil service. There has been no difficulty in obtaining chaplains, but few have volunteered for Missions; and even of these few several have been deterred by their parents’ unwillingness to part with them for such a service. And so with funds: we have been content to give an annual guinea, or perhaps much less, and then leave the whole great work to others. There has been very little self-denial for God. How little have any of us ever given up for India’s good! How small have been the sacrifices which any of us have ever made for the evangelization of those many millions! I cannot but think that God is now awaking us by the rod to a sense of our responsibility. He is awaking the north wind to rouse us from our indifference. We have not listened sufficiently to India’s plea for help; so now He is shaking us from our slumber, and I trust that the result may be that we may “hear the rod, and who hath appointed it.” I do not believe that the stewardship is about to be taken from us, but I believe, on the contrary, that a new era is dawning on India. I can imagine it possible that after this experience of heathenism there will be any more deference paid to its horrid idolatry by Government; and I pray to God that his Church may rise an one man to the deep sense of its sacred trust; that we may all be brought to a deeper personal knowledge of the love of Christ, and each one act more conscientiously than he has ever yet done, under the steady recollection of India’s claims and England’s stewardship. * * * * * BY THE SAME AUTHOR. The SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES of our PROTESTANT CHURCH. Price 3_s._ Hatchard. The TIME of the END. Price 1_s._ 6_d._ Hatchard.