SERMON XXI. THE DUTY OF PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. GAL. vi. 7, 8. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. IN the moral harvest, here mentioned by the apostle, mankind often pursue a very preposterous course. Impatient of self-denial, and eager to enjoy life without any delay, we sow that which will produce the most rapidly, however worthless the fruit, and neglect that whose fruit is eternal life. If we would be wise, we must be more patient, and be content to go forth to the field of life even "weeping," if necessary, so long as we bear with us "good seed," that hereafter we may come again with joy, and bring our sheaves with us. For "be not deceived; God is not mocked;" he will not suffer himself to be treated for ever with contempt. He permits you now to of the very decided countenance which it has received from your Excellency. The ministers of the Christian faith, acting principally by a spiritual authority, and having, as a body, an express command from their divine Master to make his religion known to all men, are bound, within their respective spheres, to obey this benign injunction, even should they not meet with that countenance and support, which, from the nature of their objects, they might be led to expect. How much more are they bound and encouraged to proceed, with alacrity, in the performance of their duty, when those who are elevated in station are no less distinguished for their solicitude in promoting, both by their influence and example, those important interests which religion has in view! That the Church in Antigua may ever continue to enjoy such countenance and protection, is the sincere and fervent prayer of one, who has the honour to be, With the greatest consideration, and the most unfeigned respect, Your Excellency's obliged and very obedient servant. SERMON XXI. THE DUTY OF PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEdge. GAL. vi. 7, 8. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. IN the moral harvest, here mentioned by the apostle, mankind often pursue a very preposterous course. Impatient of self-denial, and eager to enjoy life without any delay, we sow that which will produce the most rapidly, however worthless the fruit, and neglect that whose fruit is eternal life. If we would be wise, we must be more patient, and be content to go forth to the field of life even "weeping," if necessary, so long as we bear with us "good seed," that hereafter we may come again with joy, and bring our sheaves with us. For "be not deceived; God is not mocked;" he will not suffer himself to be treated for ever with contempt. He permits you now to sow as you will; but with this clear understanding, that as you sow, so shall you reap, and thus become instruments to yourselves of punishment through his justice, or through his mercy of reward. As sure as a base seed will produce a base plant, or a poisonous seed a poisonous plant, so certainly will a worldly practice terminate in corruption, and holiness alone spring up hereafter into everlasting life. Let us make then our option. If so determined, let us look only to this present world ; let us think only of the body; let us study only to be rich; let us spend our money exclusively upon our own wants, comforts, amusements, pleasures; let us have regard simply to our interests, and think nothing of our duties; let self be all in all, God and our neighbour nothing. But mark the result; and let us make up our minds for that also. The objects of our pursuit are passing away, and the end is "corruption :” we may enjoy them for a short time, and then they will die. And for the man, thus exclusively devoted to time and self, what remains when the business of this brief life is over; when his pursuits are cut short by death, and can no longer be continued? What harvest has he provided for himself in the world to come? Corruption still; -the "gnawing worm," the "devouring fire." Shall we plunge, my brethren, into this dismal gulf; and, for the sake of reaping of the flesh,' 6 incur a speedy loss of all we now cherish, and then of our immortal souls too? God forbid we should be so infatuated, so mad, so desperate! Let us instead give up the unprofitable and dangerous labour of "sowing to the flesh;" let us remember that undying spark of heavenly flame," which the Spirit of God hath breathed Yea let us "sow to the spirit," that "of into us. 66 reap everlasting life." What is it, then, to sow to the spirit? What, my brethren, but to live for that better part of our nature which is heavenly and immortal, but which, through the corruption we inherit, is so constantly in danger of being debased, subdued, and brought into captivity, by the flesh? To "sow to the spirit," is to seek, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, the restoration of the spirit to the divine favour, to cultivate its improvement in this life, and so to provide for its happiness in the next. These must become the grand objects of our pursuit: and accordingly the whole ordering of our principles and practice must be subservient, more or less directly, to the interests of the soul; and every thing, even the commonest actions of our lives, be invested thus with a spiritual importance and value. He who sows to his flesh, compels his spirit to stoop and bend, in order to become the slave of his pleasures, or avarice, or |