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business and bustle. Some truths, by their way handling them, become unwholesome; being unmixed with a scriptural proportion of other important truths ; this crudity, however, they mistake for the whole counsel of God;' and, regardless of admonition, confidently rush forward to declare it.

But what result can be reasonably expected from such an experiment? Evidently, as the fact has too often declared both at home and abroad, (and I am led to speak thus much, more from what has been observed at home than abroad) that the Gospel itself, under such an exhibition of it, would be rendered suspicious, if not ridiculous and abortive. Like the rashness of Israel at Ai,* such precipitance has not only brought shame and sorrow to the Church, but cause of triumph to its enemies. Thus Israel, at another time, fell before the Heathen, but thought the presence of their Ark would support their cause, Their ministers brought it into the camp; and, in a spirit of vain confidence, they shouted till the earth rang again.' Alas! they had but the Symbol of the divine presence, while God himself was departed from them. “And the Philistines fought-Israel was smitten—the Ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were slain:' 1 Sam. iv, 10, 11.

Those who act with the purest designs (and I am persuaded each of the present Missionary Societies thus acts) cannot with all their care prevent the intrusion of specious but unsound characters. Yet we should recollect the commendation given to one of the first churches for their zeal in this respect: Thou hast tried them that say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars. Such carnal Gospellers may, indeed, like those of old, “take upon them to call over those who have evil spirits, in the name of the Lord Jesus ;' but the evil spirit may be expected still ready to reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know,

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but who are ye?' and will probably also “prevail against them," till they return from their rash attempts to exorcise the Heathen naked and wounded :' Acts xix, 14, 15, 16.

. On the contrary, brethren, we should endeavour to find for our messenger, a Man of God-instructed, experienced, holy, patient, laborious. This work peculiarly needs an apostolic spirit; and, for instances of this spirit, we need not ascend to the time of the Apostles. Look at the Missionary Swartz—one who has but lately been called to rest, after half a century spent in traversing thousands of miles, and that in a burning climate. Blessed with innumerable seals to

. his ministry, this man had acquired such a character among the Heathen, that when among a barbarous and lawless banditti–hordes that live by war and plunder, carried on against one another, and all around them: this man, I say, as one evidently engaged only on a heavenly design, was suffered to pass with his catechumen through contending parties of them, unsuspected, unmolested. They said, “ Let him alone. Let him pass. He is a man of God.”. This Apostle of our own day has saved the inhabitants of a fort from perishing by famine, when the neighbouring Heathen have refused to supply it with provision on any other assurance than that of his word. Even that tyrant, Hyder Ally, while he refused to negociate in a certain treaty with others, said, “ Send me Swartz --send me the Christian Missionary,”—said this Mahometan: “I will treat with him, for him only can I

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I make no apology for stating these facts in a sermon. I embrace them to demonstrate the importance of character in a Missionary. I am only sorry that the time will not permit me to enlarge upon them.

One fact more, however, I will mention. When the late Rajah of Tanjore was dying, and desired to VOL. III.

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commit his adopted son, the present Rajah, to this Missionary, and with him, of course, the care of his dominions; the Christian, after the example of his Master, was not to be dazzled by the kingdom of the world, nor the glory of them. He persuaded the dying prince to place the government of his son and of his affairs in other hands. But a greater honour was reserved for him, which he could not refuse : for, at his death, the present Rajah shed a flood of tears over his body, mourned deeply while attending his funeral, and has written to England for a monument which he intends to' erect in Tanjore to the memory of his virtues. *

God, indeed, needs neither the piety nor parts of such men as Swartz, Brainerd, and others of like mind, to effect his work; but, he has made it evident, that them that honour' him he will honour:' nor have we reason to doubt but that the faithful and zealous labours of the Missionaries, sent by different Societies at this time among the Heathen, will be crowned with success—will be, did I say? they have been already. May God add to them a thousandfold!

Among other Means, let us recommend to our Missionaries to dwell on such truths, as are simple and essential; that they carefully avoid positions, which remain doubtful even among real Christians; and that, while others only amuse or distract the flock, they should labour to feed it. Certainly, says a great Author, as those wines, which flow from the first treading of the grape, are sweeter and better than those forced out by the press, which gives them the roughness of the husk and the stone; so are those doctrines best and wholesomest, which flow from a gentle crush of the Seripture, and are not wrung into controversies and common-place." On the topic of Means I would also remark, that, * See note D.

while, through education and connections, the most upright and useful men will be found in different denominations of Christians-and-while this diversity in circumstantials, when wisely and charitably conducted, may be overruled to the producing greater general effect (as the loadstone is found more powerful in parts than undivided)-so the greatest care should be taken, that, in this variety of effort, a unity of design may be preserved. Each Missionary Society is our natural ally we should cordially co-operate with it, so far as is consistent with our plan: we should rejoice in its success; and should carefully watch lest on any occasion a carnal jealousy should tempt Ephraim to envy Judah, or Judah to vex Ephraim:' Isa. xi, 13. By performing our own proper parts in the grand concert, we may give a greater force to the harmony. On the contrary, if, influenced by narrow views, we waste our strength in weakening a common interest, certainly no greater gratification can be afforded to the prince of darkness and of discord :—nothing can be more opposed to the mind of Christ. 'Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him because he followeth not with us; but Jesus said, Forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us: Luke ix, 49, 50.

I am necessarily restrained, in a single discourse, from remarking on other means proper to be employed in this work, such as Translations of the Scripturesdispersing useful Tracts-forming profitable Connections and watching providential Openings, especially in countries under some civilization. These depend on a variety of circumstances, and will I doubt not be wisely regarded by this Society. I need not speak of pecuniary assistance, since the public liberality of Christians, on these occasions, is above praise.

One means, however, should never be forgotten: I mean fervent prayer to the Lord of the Harvest, that he would multiply those faithful labourers, which we

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now find such difficulty in procuring; that he would direct and support them in their labours; that, according to his promise, he would make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert:' Isa. xliii, 19. Without the arm of our God, we have painful experience how little we can do, even in our own families; and, with it, we need not fear to “prepare the way of the Lord' among the Heathen.

I therefore proceed to the last consideration, namely,

III. THE MOTIVES TO ATTEMPT IT.

1. The GLORY OF GOD, surely, should stand first of these.

The Lord hath formed all things for himself. He could propose no inferior end; and this, his glory, should be our prime motive. But with this grand end he has connected the salvation of sinners; and that, by such an astonishing display of his grace in Christ Jesus, as claims the affection of our hearts as well as the acquiescence of our understandings. On this ground let us join the Universal Church, in crying Thy kingdom come;' in seeking to promote this kingdom to the utmost of our power; in cherishing a holy grief and indignation, that ignorance and idolatry should cover so large a part of the earth, and that so little zeal should be felt for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ in a land partaking so largely of his benefits.

While, therefore, the enemies of God point the finger of scorn at this our attempt to declare his glory among the Heathen,' Ps. xcvi, 3, let us give glory to his name by trusting, that, at the blowing of his great trumpet, they shall come who are ready to perish, Isa. xxvii, 13-that, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, his name shall be great among the Gentiles,' Mal. i, 19-that He will say to the North give up, and to the South keep not back,

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