The following circumstance in the history of Sabat ought not to be omitted. When his family in Arabia had heard that he had followed the example of Abdallah, and become a Christian, they dispatched his brother to India (a voyage of two months) to assassinate him. While Sabat was sitting in his house at Visagapatam, his brother presented himself in the disguise of a faqueer, or beggar, having a dagger concealed under his mantle. He rushed on Sabat, and wounded him. But Sabat seized his arm, and his servants came to his assistance. He then recognized his brother! The assassin would have become the victim of public justice, but Sabat interceded for him, and sent him home in peace, with letters and presents, to his mother's house in Arabia,

"Christian, has not lost a jot of his Arabian notions of "superiority. He looks upon Europeans as mushrooms, "and seems to regard my pretensions to any learning, as do those of a savage, or an ape.”

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And these, my brethren, are the instances I wished to lay before you, of the divine power of the Christian religion recently exemplified in the East. The conversions of Abdallah and Sabat seem to have been as evidently produced by the Spirit of God, as any conversion in the primitive church, not accompanied with a sensible miracle. Other instances have occurred in Arabia of a similar kind, and on the very borders of Palestine itself. These are like the solitary notices which, in other nations, have announced the approach of general illumination.

You have now seen, 1. Evidences of the general truth of the Christian religion in the East; and 2. Evidences of the divine power of that religion recently exemplified in the East. What conclusion, then, shall we draw from these facts? It is this: that

the time for diffusing our religion in the East IS COME.

We shall notice some other particulars which encourage us to think that the time is

come.

1. The minds of good men seem every where to be impressed with the duty of making the attempt. Nearly fifteen years have elapsed since it began, and their ardour is not abated. On the contrary, they gather strength as they proceed; new instruments are found, and liberal contributions are made by the people. Indeed the consciences of men seem to bear witness that the work is of God.

The rapid success of this undertaking must appear almost incredible to those who are not acquainted with the fact. Trans

lations of the Scriptures are carried on, not only in the languages of India, Persia, and Arabia, but in those also of Burmah and China. Mount Caucasus, in the interior of Asia, is another centre of translation for the East, particularly for the numerous nations of the Tartar race. The Scriptures are preparing for the Malayan isles, and for the isles of the Pacific sea. The great continent of Africa has become the scene of different missions and translations. North and South America are sending forth the Scriptures. They are sent to the uttermost parts of the earth; to Greenland, Labrador, and Austral Asia. We might almost say, "There is no

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speech, nor language, where their voice is "not heard."*

And this spirit, for the diffusion of the

* India, which solely occupies the minds of some persons in their discussion of the subject of missions, is but a small part of the nations which seek the word of God.

truth, is not confined to Britain. It is found among good men of every Christian nation. Perhaps on this day prayers are offered up in behalf of the work, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. We are encouraged, then, to believe, that the time is come, in the first place, by the consent of good men. When I say good men, I mean religious and devout men, whose minds are not chiefly occupied with the politics and affairs of this world, but who are looking for the con"solation of Israel;" as it is expressed in these words," Thy kingdom come."

2. Another circumstance, indicating that the time is at hand, is the general contemplation of the prophecies. The pro

phecies of Scripture are at this time pondered as seriously in Asia, as in Europe. Even the Jews in the East begin to study the oracles of their prophet Isaiah. And, what is more important, the prophecies begin to be pub