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It is evident that these good men are pleased with every one of these benevolent societies, and desire to assist all of them, although they may not be able to estimate their relative importance. The Missionary Society has given birth to them all-they are all its offspring, and they are all subservient to it, and have been pushed into motion by it, as the various wheels in a watch are moved by the main-spring.

And the word of God itself, asserts the unutterable importance of preaching, even to those who have not Bibles, and could not read them if they had. They might even then hear; and their souls might live! Hence the charge," PREACH the gospel to every creaturepreach the word, in season and out of season." "It pleases God by the foolishness of PREACHING, to save them that believe."" The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world." And Jesus went through all the cities and villages PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom."

But how shall the hearers "try the spirits" of the preachers and their doctrine, "whether they are of God," without Bibles? To this "law and testimony," they must bring every sermon, every book and speech on divinity; and if they do not agree with the analogy of faith," it is because "there is no light in them."

"This is the judge that ends the strife,

Where wit and reason fail;

Our guide to everlasting life,

Through all this gloomy vale."

The Bereans are commended for trying the sermons they heard even from the APOSTLES themselves. "These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, because they searched the Scriptures daily, to see if these things were so." And if they are praised by an inspired writer, for not receiving his sermons without examining by the written word, how awfully negligent are those hearers, that receive the sermons of uninspired preachers without examination!

The Bible Society is animated by a spirit of liberality. It does not require the subjects of its good wishes to be wise unto salvation without generously imparting the means, "the word of wisdom.”

Its liberality is extensive as the habitable globe; it reaches to "every nation, tongue, kindred and people." It is limited only by the prophecies and promises of God. It says of the Redeemer, "His name shall be great among the Heathen. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. His name shall be great.' This society, like the sun, is as a" bridegroom, going out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man, to run his race." This liberality begins at home; but does not end there. It is broad as the earth, wide as the sea, bright as the day, deep as the misery of fallen man, high as heaven, and its consequences durable as eternity!

The scope of its liberality is grand; aiming at the salvation of man, and the glory of God. It designs the reconciliation of man

to God; the reconciliation of man to man; the reconciliation of man to himself, in the exercise of the purest principles, and the pursuit of his highest interests.

Its liberality is pure and self-denying.

In a season of protracted war, when the taxes of the country were unusually heavy, it multiplied its gifts and its exertions.Feeling its necessities, it overlooked them, believing the testimony of the Saviour, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Sacrificing the prejudices and party designs of each community, it unites, it becomes one body; and like the sun, diffuses the beams of knowledge, in every direction; "shining more and more unto the perfect day."

The liberality of the Bible Society is divine, in its origin, its operation and its end. God is its author, his goodness is its source, divine power renders it "more than a conqueror," over every objection and impediment; and its end embraces "the barbarian and Scythian, bond and free, male and female;" shedding its influence on" the just and unjust;" turning the wilderness into the garden of the Lord. It" opens rivers in high places," and makes "the inhabitants of the rock sing." Hear its voice, as the voice of many

waters."

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"From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the CREATOR's praise arise;
Let the Redeemer's name be sung,
Through every land, by every tongue."

The Bible Society, is as liberal in its spirit and principle, as in its property. It requires no man to change his sentiments in religion, or even to conceal them. It does not seal up the mouth of any member, but allows him to present a Bible to the ignorant without "forbidding him to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved." You may comment on the Bible; but not print your comment with it. Devoutly wishing the Bible may not only be read, but understood, it does not forbid you to explain, to reason, to invite and encourage.

This society is as liberal in its operation, as in its principle. In the members which compose it, in the committees which transact its business, and in the secretaries which write for it. The churchman and the dissenter are equal in office, in labour, in sacrifices, in pecuniary aid, in affection, one to another, and in zeal to promote the success of this cause of God-this cause of man-this cause of revealed truth.

No. CVI.-FLATTERY.

"Life and death are in the power of the tongue :" it wounds and heals; it kills by false witness, and saves by truth; for "a faithful witness delivereth souls."

The tongue kills by flattery; it deceives---makes a tool of the party flattered; raises a dangerous confidence in the flatterer, and makes the dupe of flattery an instrument of injustice and cruelty. Flatter any man's sins, and you may rouse his anger against a faithful reprover, when he ought to feel indignation against himself. Flatter a man when you ought to reprove him, and you feed his pride, make him contentious and resentful, and prevent his repentance.

Weak minds believe all the flatterer says, and strong ones are too often subdued by it.

A man of the world, wishing for the assistance of a professor of religion, who happens to possess property and loves praise, has only to flatter the vain creature for his liberality, his usefulness, his integrity, his piety, or his general character, and, perhaps, the professor is gradually drawn into the spirit, the society, and maxims of the world! So true are Solomon's words: “He that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a NET for his feet." Preachers frequently flatter their hearers, especially their rich hearers, from motives of fear, lest they should withdraw their patronage and subscription from them; or, from covetousness, expecting a reward for "preaching smooth things," and supporting their favourite opinions. Distrusting God, to provide for them and their families, they trust in man, at whose sins they connive, whose sins they flatter as virtues, and whose virtues they magnify into superlative excellences. Proud of the friendship of rich men, and loving their praise, they accommodate their sermons and conversation to their passions.

Happy minister, who can adopt the words of the apostle: "Neither at any time used we flattering words”; 1 Thes. ii. 5. Those who flatter men, will flatter God also, like the hypocrites among the Israelites. What! can any one imagine God can be pleased or deceived by flattery? Yes, they "think God is altogether such an one as themselves ! "—Ps. i. 21.

In their distress they flatter HIM with praises, prayers, vows, and tears. They pretend to repentance, humility, sincerity, devotion, love to the bible, the Lord's day, the ordinances, and people of God: but the Psalmist's words are descriptive of their characters, as their deliverance often proves: "Nevertheless they did but FLATTER him with their mouth, and LIED to him with their tongue."

No. CVII.-PRAISE.

"As the fining-pot for silver and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise."-Prov. xxvii. 21; xvii. 3.

Praise, true or false, tries the character. If false, it humbles a good man, who is conscious he is not what he ought to be, and what many deem him to be. If true or sincere, he is not elated, but grateful to God and encouraged to duty.

No. CVIII.-MERCY.

How different is mercy in God and man !—different in its objects: men pardon the least guilty causes; some circumstance relating to the person transgressing, moves their mercy.

In its manner how different! Men pardon when the offender repents and asks forgiveness.

God pardons the most guilty; not for their repentance, but to induce it. God cannot be excited by any thing without himself; all depends on his own will.

No. CIX.-EXPERIMENTAL PREACHING.

Proud scholars complain of the cant, enthusiasm, and nonsense of illiterate preachers; and of the folly of thousands who have patience to hear them.

They may complain; whilst a man of sound understanding, scriptural knowledge, and religious experience, preaches to men's HEARTS, he will be preferred, by serious minds, to those preachers who address the understanding only.

On leaving ***, the other evening, a genteel man addressed me with tears: "God bless you, sir, in your soul and body, your family and your labours." I had reached his heart, described his perplexities, and instantly relieved him. This was the spring of his good wishes for me.

The next day, I preached at *

After sermon a decent

woman took me by the hand, and exclaimed, “I bless God for your experimental sermon; it reached my heart, described my bondage, and proclaimed liberty to my captive soul."

No. CX-SUPPORT OF MINISTERS.

The benefits conferred on a Minister of the Gospel, return in another shape, to the advantage of those who confer them.

What are necessaries?

1. The decencies of life, house, food, cloathing, furniture; comforts.

2. The charities in which he should assist, without diminishing the supplies of his family.

3. The benevolences which he might bestow on others, besides his immediate charge, to the credit of his hearers.

4. The education of his children; his sons liberally; his daughters reputably.

5. The means of study :-The clouds must first imbibe the

vapour

which they shed in fruitful showers on the earth. If the earth refuse this vapour; if the sea tenaciously hold its own;-farewell fertility.

We plead not for the gay, the profane, the indifferent, the inconsiderate, the lazy, or the stupid; much less for the headstrong, the hypocritical or the immoral.

Taken as a whole, what profession is less adequately paid?

No. CXI.-FALSE PEACE.

If it be asked, how antinomians support their minds while hoping for salvation and living without salvation from sin, the question is easily answered. They flatter themselves,that their creed is more sound than that of their neighbours. They are more orthodox, or sound in sentiment. They call their sentiments evangelical, whilst their tempers are malignant, covetous, sensual, or proud. Their conduct is unjust, their conversation slanderous. They talk much of the blood of Christ, the righteousness of Christ, the love of Christ to sinners; and neglect his spirit, his commands, and his example. They speak of experience, of feelings, of faith, comfort and joy. They substitute the gift of prayer, for the grace of prayer:-rail against satan and self-righteousness, as if these two were the only enemies of a christian. They declaim against socinians, arians and arminians, but are silent on antinomians. They love to hear of Christ dying for the ungodly, justifying the ungodly, pardoning and saving the ungodly; but are silent on regeneration, holiness, progressive sanctification, self-denial, spirituality of mind, and a conversation becoming the gospel. Or, if they discourse on conversion, they confine the term to opinion or sentiment:-a mere change in their views of divine truth; not in the temper and spirit of the mind.

They despise the doubtful and fearful mind, as carnal, legal, selfrighteous; and flatter themselves as enlightened, calvinistic and evangelical. Instead of judging themselves, they sit in judgment on sermons and characters. One sermon is not clear, a second is legal, a third is neither law nor gospel, but what are they? The elect, the dear people of God, believers! And what is their faith? A good opinion of themselves, presumption of their safe condition, - which neither ministers, satan, nor even sin can shake, much less cure. They date their conversion from a change of sentiment, indulge some besetting sin, and whilst they change from bad to worse, presume on the grace of God, his unchangeable love, and the merits of Christ to save them. They were converted years ago, and he that began the good work will finish it! All this is the religion of nature and education without one gracious principle.

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