If such were the missionary's home on earth, he might, indeed, labor gratuitously all the days of his life. In an humble cottage--rather an unsightly cabin--we sometimes see the wife of his youth, in garments quite as unsightly as those of her children, impatiently waiting "their sire's return, to climb to his knees the envied kiss to share." But, when the supper table is spread, what a beggarly account of almost empty plates and dishes! Whose soul would not sicken at such a sight? I have twice, if not thrice, in days gone by, when travelling on my early missionary tours--over not the poorest lands nor the poorest settlements, either--witnessed some such cases, and heard of more. I was then my own missionary, with the consent, however, of one church. I desired to mingle with all classes of religious society, that I might personally and truthfully know, not the theories, but the facts and the actualities, of the Christian ministry and the so-called Christian public. I spent a considerable portion of my time during the years 1812, '13, '14, '15, '16, traveling throughout western Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. I then spent seven years in reviewing my past studies, and in teaching the languages and the sciences--after which I extended my evangelical labors into other States and communities, that I might still more satisfactorily apprehend and appreciate the _status_, or the actual condition, of the nominally and profest religious or Christian world. Having shortly after my baptism connected myself with the Baptist people, and attending their associations as often as I could, I became more and more penetrated with the conviction that theory had usurped the place of faith, and that consequently, human institutions had been, more or less, substituted for the apostolic and the divine. During this period of investigation I had the pleasure of forming an intimate acquaintance with sundry Baptist ministers, East and West, as well as with the ministry of other denominations. Flattering prospects of usefulness on all sides began to expand before me and to inspire me with the hope of achieving a long-cherished object--doing some good in the advocacy of the primitive and apostolic gospel--having in the year 1820 a discussion on the subject of the first positive institution enacted by the Lord Messiah, and in A. D. 1823 another on the same subject--the former more especially on the subject and action of Christian baptism, the latter more emphatically on the design of that institution tho including the former two. These discussions, more or less, embraced the rudimental elements of the Christian institution, and gave to the public a bold relief outline of the whole genius, spirit, letter and doctrine of the gospel.