command and a promise-a command to "look ;" a promise that those who look shall be "saved." Christ's promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,"1 cannot be restricted to the Apostles. It still goes with every faithful missionary, who, in the name of the Lord, and inspired with a holy and self-denying zeal in the cause of God and the Gospel (a zeal, my brethren, which we who sit at home can hardly appreciate), publishes the glad tidings of salvation to the Indian and the African. Christ is made the head of the heathen; but it is at the hearing of him that strangers shall submit themselves unto him. This clearly supposes the universal publication of the Gospel among all nations. But how "shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent ?"2

And this brings us to the last point in the text: the motives and encouragements to this great work, with the opportunities and advantages placed in our power.

My brethren, some of you may not, perhaps, know the present state of the world as to religion.

1 St. Matt. xxviii. 20.

2 Rom. x. 14, 15.

The earth is supposed to contain more than nine hundred millions of inhabitants. Of this number, between six and seven hundred millions are still Heathens, Jews, or Mahometans. But there is a fact which comes home still nearer to us. It has pleased God to permit us to possess very extensive territories in other countries. At this present moment, a tenth of the whole human race are more or less subjects of the British Crown. Contemplate for a moment this astonishing fact. For what purpose do we think God has allowed us to have a power over so large a portion of our fellowcreatures? Is it for the mere purpose of commercial or political aggrandizement, and nothing else? It is impossible for any one who believes in the power and providence of God over the affairs of his creatures, and who likewise believes the Gospel to be the word of God, to think thus. The result then is obvious and self-evident. Eighty or a hundred millions of human beings live under the influence of our just and beneficent laws of these millions of dying but immortal men, threefourths are deluded Mahometans or wretched Pagans. Sixty or seventy millions of men, our fellow-subjects, know as yet nothing of that only Name under heaven by which we must be saved; and yet there are not at this hour1 more than two

1 Treached in 1819.

:

hundred Christian men, native or European, of all denominations, engaged in showing to these sinners the error of their ways. I plead in behalf of this cause to-day.

*

God has given us the Gospel. It is his command that that Gospel should be made known, and he makes use, as we have seen, of his creatures as instruments. Blessed be God, he has awakened a spirit in our day in the cause of missions. There are many Missionary Societies established among our Dissenting brethren, who are actively engaged in this work. The Moravian Missionary Society, to which too much praise cannot be given, with very small means and advantages, has long been labouring most assiduously. In ardent zeal, in patience and perseverance amidst difficulties, their missionaries have never been surpassed by any denomination of Christians. The Society belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, the Baptist Mission Society, the London Missionary Society, the Scotch Society, all bear their share in this labour of love. In our own Church, the Society for Propagating the Gospel, in point of date, takes the lead. It was instituted in 1647, and incorporated by Act of Parliament under King William III. in 1701.1

1 An extract from the Society's Address was here read, explain

Such, my brethren, as you see, are the views and objects, and such the present state of this ancient and laudable Society; and such the nature of the present appeal to your Christian benevolence and love. I rejoice on every account that this appeal has been made. Most cordially do I rejoice to find that a spirit of greater zeal and activity has been awakened in our Church in the great cause of missions, in spreading the name and the knowledge of that Saviour whom we assemble here to worship as our Lord and King. You know there are other Societies belonging to our Establishment occupied in the same work. There is the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which, owing to the variety and importance of its domestic concerns, has hitherto devoted comparatively but little of its funds to the purpose before us. There is likewise the Church Missionary Society, instituted solely with this view, and directing all its labours and its funds to this end. We all know the unhappy controversy which sprang up among us repecting this Society. I do not advert to this for any other reason than to

ing the views and measures of the Society, and stating the necessity of appealing to the liberality of Christians, in consequence of the very extensive field newly opened to their exertions in the East.

rejoice that this controversy has now passed off, to be remembered no more; or if remembered, remembered only to be lamented, and earnestly to pray that we witness no more such amongst us. Let each judge for himself, taking care that his judgment is according to truth, and the pure principles of that faith which he professes, as to what institution he chooses to encourage or prefer. But, oh! let nothing like strife and contention, let no unholy rivalry, no unchristian jealousy, mingle with this sacred cause the cause of the Saviour, of peace and love, who came to bring

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peace on earth, and good will to men." there not room enough for all?

wide enough for all our vessels ?

Is

Is not the ocean

Is there not a

world in darkness, and heathen idolatry, lying before us? Is there not work enough at home and abroad to fill the hearts and the hands of all, whether Churchmen or Dissenters, who love our religion, and the Saviour who came to make it known?

My brethren, the times are critical and awfu they call upon us for self-examination and humiliation. God is visiting us. We have had a long course of unexampled ease and prosperity in Church and State. It becomes us all to consider how we have used God's mercies. Outward ease and prosperity (such, alas! is our fallen nature)