his constitution, and had reason to believe that his existence in the body would be of short continuance; yet being desirous of rendering the remaining part of it as useful as possible, he purposed to go to Wales: his view in the change of his situation was to be an instrument of usefulness to his countrymen. His friends being of opinion, that his native air would be of service to him, and having some hope that his usefulness might yet be more extensive, encouraged the design he had formed, and of which he had given them an intimation. In consequence of their concurrence and approbation, he removed to Haverfordwest, where he had the special charge of the congregation settled in that place, and the prospect of being helpful to many other awakened souls in those parts. At the same time, some indications seemed to promise a better state of health, but these were. only flattering; and the hopes of all who had his recovery at heart, were soon after, to their great regret, disappointed.

In a letter, dated October 11, 1770, wherein he assured his correspondent, that he was better with respect to his asthma, and could lie down in bed and get some sleep, he thus described his state: "I ought to be thankful for every mitigation of pain, but it becomes, I think, plainer than ever, that I have a real attack of the dropsy, which, whether I shall get the better of, or it, by and by, get the better of me, is a question. I totter on my legs, and though I look pretty well, yet there are few intervals in the day, wherein I have any thing like strength either of body or mind. However, I set no bounds to my Saviour's power, if he sees it good, to continue me here a little longer; but it is hardly to be any more expected in my case. I really do all I can to support my decayed constitution, and walk most days a little in the chapel or burying-ground, till I am ready to drop down. All that I can properly desire of my gracious Lord is, that he would be merciful to me an unworthy sinner, wash me from all my unfaithfulness and transgressions in his blood, keep me in communion with himself and his people, help me to behave rightly, at least not offensively, in my sickness, and be perceptibly near to me in my last hour, whenever it is to be."

It appeared from this letter, that the congregation committed to his charge, could not receive from him, in his infirm state, that service which was indispensably requisite: and as there was reason to fear that his concern for those intrusted to his care, would incline him to attempt more than he could perform, and consequently hasten his death; it was proposed that he should change the place of his abode for another, where he might pass the remainder of his dying life, without any concern of mind relating to the duties of his office. This offer was agreeable to his own choice. And he was so much respected and beloved by all

who knew his personal qualities, that any of his friends in the neighbourhood would have given him the kindest reception, and have considered it as a privilege, to do all in their power to administer to his service and comfort. But upon farther consideration upon this subject, he wrote to his friends in London to this purpose. "I am fully convinced, that what has been proposed with regard to me proceeded from a very kind intention to make all things as convenient for me as possible. For these affecting proofs of Christian love, I shall retain, to my latest breath, a deep sense of gratitude. But some circumstances have just now occurred to me, which render it a matter of doubt, whether I should leave my station, or make a further trial of my abilities, with the assistance that is at hand, that the regular course of service, for the souls under my care, may be continued without intermission, till I depart this life."

AS. some of my brethren and friends, who heard the following Sermon, have expressed a desire to see it în print, I have sent it for insertion, if you think proper, in your widely circulated and very useful Magazine. Should it in any degree promote Missionary zeal among us, or excite the liberality of your numerous readers in support of the good cause of Missions to the heathen, it will be an abundant reward to,

Wakefield, Nov. 20, 1813.

Your's, very affectionately,
JAMES BUCKLEY.

A SERMON, preached at the Methodist Chapel, Armley, October 5, 1813, introductory to the Missionary Meeting, held at Leeds, the day following.-BY JAMES BUCKLEY.

My dear brethren, I cannot but view the occasion of our coming together this evening, as forming a particular era in the history of Methodism. We have not, as yet, had any Missionary societies, though we have long had Missions, which perhaps have not been exceeded by any, in point of usefulness, in the present day. These have been carried on, with comparative ease and quietness; their voice has scarce been heard in the streets: but now we are called, we trust, by the great Head of the Church, to an object of the greatest magnitude. Millions of the perishing heathen, in the Eastern world, are presented to our view. It is with compassion we see the darkness and superstition in which

they lie; we are anxious to send them that gospel, which we have proved to be the wisdom of God, and the power of God. Great objects require great exertions and great means; it therefore becomes necessary for us, by the instrumentality of Missionary societies, to call our friends and the Public to our help.

As the task of addressing you, on this subject, has been laid upon me, I shall endeavour to discharge it, by the assistance of your prayers, as the Lord may give ability. The portion of Scripture which I have chosen for our meditation is,

ISAIAH IV. 10, 11; .

"For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth, and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”・

The necessity of a revelation from God, must appear obvious to every one, who considers the moral darkness which hath covered the earth, and the spiritual barrenness of the human mind. Man is deprived of his original worth, his name is Ichabod: the glory is departed from him, and his honour is laid in the dust. He is not more fully deprived of his moral and spiritual excellence, than of his ability to regain it, by his own wisdom or power. In these circumstances of universal depravity and indigence, God, of his tender mercy, hath freely presented to mankind a revelation of himself, in the glorious gospel of his Son, with all its gratuitous blessings. To the happy period of the gospel dispensation, the chapter from which the text is selected, has a prophetic reference. It lifts up the voice of mercy, and divine benevolence, to a perishing world, saying, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price."

The manifestation and communication of grace, by the gospel peace, and the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like the rain and snow descending upon the earth, fertilizing the barren wilderness, and converting it into a fruitful field. These are some of the sentiments which inspired the holy prophet, when he penned the words of the text. The passage is poetic, and the figures of speech pleasingly descriptive of, The Divine origin of the Gospel-The impartiality of its blessings-The great utility of its influence, and-The prosperity with which it has been, and shall be attended.

I. THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE GOSPEL. "As the rain someth down, and the snow from heaven, so shall my word be,

which goeth forth out of my mouth." Under the term gospel, we comprehend all the revelation of God, which has a reference to the redemption of man by Jesus Christ; whether by promise, ceremony, prophecy, or historical relation.

The divine origin of this revelation of good tidings to man, is expressed by its ORAL COMMUNICATION: "My word which goeth forth out of my MOUTH." The great original promise of the gospel, proceeded out of the mouth of God to our first parent, Adam. The Lord spake unto Abraham, and renewed to him the covenant of grace. The Word of Jehovah, the Law-giver of Israel, came forth out of his mouth to Moses, from the burning bush in Horeb. On mount Sinai, he conversed with him face to face, and mouth to mouth, as a man with his friend. Thus the moral and ceremonial law, were communicated to Moses; the first, a transcript of the moral character of Jehovah; the second, a typical exhibition of the gospel of Christ.

The word of the gospel proceeded out of the mouth of Christ, who was God manifested in the flesh, and administered the glorious doctrines of his gospel to man, agreeable to the promise of God to Moses and the house of Israel: "I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." This prophecy was fulfilled in him, of whom Moses was a type: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these latter days spoken unto us by his Son."

God communicated his word to the prophets and apostles by INSPIRATION, which was as the rain and snow coming down from heaven.-As these are prepared, by the superintending hand of Providence, in the region of the air, the elementary heaven, and descend to the earth, and return not thither again, till they have answered the beneficial purposes for which they are sent; so, saith the Lord, shall my word be. It was prepared in the heaven of heavens; hence it is called the kingdom of God,-and of heaven. It came down from heaven: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.-All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." The whole of this sacred Volume came from God: either by oral communication, or direct inspiration. He, by way of pre-eminence, gives it this epithet,-My word.My Word, saith the Lord, by which my being, attributes, laws, and government, are revealed:-My Word, comprehending the system of redeeming mercy by my Son:-My Word, of instruc-. tion and illumination, which shall be the light of the world:My Word of command, sanctioned by my legislative authority, by which the world and the church shall be governed and judged: -My Word of promise, for the consolation of my people, which is as the pot of manna in the ark of the covenant, and as Aaron's

rod, ever budding, blossoming, and bringing forth fruit:-My Word of threatening, descriptive of the plagues I will pour out and inflict upon mine enemies:-My Word, which I have confirmed by the signs, wonders, and miracles of my power, and which my veracity shall preserve inviolate, and my omnipotence support, in the conversion of sinners, and the destruction of the man of sin. The establishment of this fact, is of the first importance to the subject before us. It is from this source the messengers of Christ derive their divine mission, and on this foundation the superstructure of the Christian church is raised. This revelation from God, is the universal privilege of mankind; which will appear if we consider,

II. THE IMPARTIALITY OF ITS BLESSINGS. As the rain and the snow descend indiscriminately on the barren wilderness, and the fruitful field; upon the evil and the good, the just and the unjust; it is not the exclusive privilege of one people, as the Abrahamic covenant was of the Jews, but it is sent to all the nations and kingdoms of men; it is the light of the Gentiles, and shall ultimately be the glory of God's ancient people Israel. God is not more liberal in the distribution of his temporal favours, than in the kingdom of his grace. Jesus Christ is the impartial Saviour of all the human race: so the angelic messenger testified, when he announced his nativity. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE:" and the Apostle asserts, in reference to the atonement, "That he tasted death for every man." The gospel is impartial in its divine commission. Go and preach my gospel to all the world; to every creature, says its divine Author. The Spirit is impartial in his operation: "He is that light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world." We therefore conclude, that to the gospel, and this divine light, every man is responsible. The heathen have an interest in, and a claim upon, all our spiritual blessings. Hence we infer the necessity of the distribution of the written word, among all the kindreds and tribes of men, upon the face of the earth. How small a portion of its population enjoy, or even acknowledge, a divine revelation. A variety of calculations and estimates have been given, of the population of the globe: suppose we fix on the highest number which has been given, which is near ten hundred millions of people. Of these, it is lamentable to find, sIX HUNDRED MILLIONS sunk into all the abominations of pagan idolatry and superstition. The vast empire of China, it is said, contains one half of them; India, TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS; besides the great number of idolatrous tribes, in other dark parts of the earth. If we add to these two hundred million Mahometans, who acknowledge the divinity of the Koran, we have only about two hundred millions left, who profess the Christian religion; and of these three-fourths are