positive adaptation to the welfare of others, we increase that responsibility., You have been directed to the knowledge of Christ yourselves, to the great moral remedy for the diseases of the world: you have become acquainted with the Physician of value: and those who know Christ as the great healer of moral disease, naturally direct others to him. We have in the Scriptures many delightful illustrations of the working of this principle, in relation to the diseases of the body: we see how many were led to bring the sick and the dying from great distances to Jesus-for what purpose? That he might touch them, by laying his hands of power and mercy on them, in the assurance that he went about doing good, and healing all manner of diseases. And the very adaptation to this great end, arising from their knowledge of these effects, became the ground of their own responsibility. Why should we reason in regard to moral disease, differently from what we should about natural disease? We know that Providence alone gives success in relation to the healing art: we know that grace alone gives success in relation to the removal of the moral maladies of our nature. But if you had a specific, by which, without any empyricism, you could secure the healing, or the commutation, or the removal of that awful pestilential malady, which in such mysterious forms has been permitted to visit our nation and our globe; if you knew of some absolute and infallible specific, which in any circumstances, however aggravated the symptoms, however hopeless the case might be to all human appearance, yet, that when that remedy was applied, eternal happiness would be the result; would you not deem it right and proper to impart this remedy, and the manner of applying it, not only to your fellow countrymen, but to your fellow-creatures throughout the world? And, if necessary, in proportion to the conviction you had of success as to the result of the scheme, would you not deem it right to employ your benevolence, to send that remedy to the very ends of the earth? And if you found there was a fatal prejudice, misconception, ignorance, both as to the malady, and the means of removing it—that there was great difficulty in introducing the remedy, and in inducing men to avail themselves of it-that would not paralyze your efforts, that would not prevent you from proclaiming its efficacy; but would give greater energy to your exertions in the employment of all the means by which you might hope to succeed, in inducing those who were the victims of the disease, to embrace the remedy you freely offer them.

My Christian friends, I see no essential difference between your responsibility in relation to the souls of others, and your responsibility in relation to the maladies of the body; the sovereignty of God is just as much connected with the one as with the other; and the purposes of God are just as much connected with one as with the other. You are equally commanded to make the remedy known, and to use all the means for its circulation, and all the means of its adaptation to the wretched, perishing family of man. Oh, that I might impress the conviction of this subject in some measure adequate to its magnitude! Your responsibility arises from your knowledge of the remedy-from the adaptation of that remedy to the whole family of man-from your obligation to make it known—and from the express appointment of Him who is the Physician that alone can heal all the maladies of the soul.

In the third place, let me remind you of your opportunities of acting on this responsibility. No man was ever disposed to do good who did not find ample

opportunities to do it: however limited his sphere of influence, however contracted his moral and physical powers-however little he was able to effect, no man ever honestly and sincerely felt the disposition to do good, who did not effect it. And you have opportunities. You have opportunities of a personal and local character, in relation to your own direct and immediate exertions. It would not be difficult to show our parental duties in all their application to the claims that families have upon us; the duties of masters to their servants, involving the same responsibility, and admitting of constant opportunities of acting on that responsibility; the relation you sustain to your neighbourhood, to your fellow countrymen around you, to all within the possible sphere of your influence at home and abroad. These duties and obligations arise out of the principles I have stated; and all of you, the poor as well as the rich, have opportunities of acting on these principles, and of promoting the most important and beneficial results.

But God has appointed, in order to promote these opportunities, Christian fellowship-the union of believers with each other, for the very purpose of acting out this influence. Why are Churches formed? Why is the Sabbath appointed? Why do you meet from time to time for social prayer? What is the great and ultimate result contemplated by all your meetings and associations? You say, and say justly, our personal and social welfare. But does the matter rest there? You are united, in order to increase your moral power on the surrounding neighbourhood-to widen that fulcrum (so to speak) on which to rest a lever by which to move the world around you. Every Christian, therefore, should regard the Church as appointed for this great and important end--to diffuse the savour of the knowledge of Christ at home and in every place.

And when you contemplate missionary institutions, the religious societies that adorn our country, and form the distinguishing feature of our age, who can say there are not opportunities of every class and in every corner for bringing men to the knowledge of Christ? Oh, that we had more sanctified energy, more of holy zeal, more of a bold and honest determination to confess the Saviour, wherever we have the means and opportunities of directing others to him, as the great Physician! There is in us a vast portion of cowardice, and pusillanimity, worldly temporising, shrinking from duty, fear of reproach, and dread of shame, even amidst all the facilities and privileges we enjoy ; fear of being termed fanatical, or enthusiastic, or ostentatious, or obtrusive; and in various ways the great enemy of souls diverts us from the object in which we ought constantly to be engaged. While our opportunities are so numerous and varied-while the character of the times that are passing over us is, of all things, most interesting and momentous-while we behold the chain of slavery broken, and new spheres of operation opened to our view, we ought, at the same time, to recollect that these opportunities are diminishing Every day is lessening our power of doing good, and our opportunities of consecrating our property, our time, and our influence to the service of the Redeemer, and the welfare of our fellow creatures. You are assembled to-day for the purpose of promoting the interests of the missionary cause. I need not say that all we have now advanced is in perfect harmony with its design, and that the success with which God has blessed it, and the report we are enabled to give of that success, arc direct

inducements, and most solemn motives, to perseverance and activity in the

cause.

Let me remind you, finally, of your encouragement to avail yourselves of these opportunities. You have ample encouragement in the command of the Son of God, in the assurance of his presence, in the promise of the Omnipotent Redeemer, in the success already secured, and in the certainty of eventual and final success in relation to all the objects you are permitted to contemplate. True, indeed, we see not as yet all things put under Him. There are some aspects of the moral world, and even in connexion with the scenes of missionary enterprise, that ought to fill our hearts with deep humiliation before God. It is indeed for a lamentation, that the enemy of souls, by his devices and by his fatal influences over the minds, and the manners, and the habits of men, should be so perpetually impeding and opposing the sacred work. We have reason indeed for humiliation, that even from the scenes of missionary enterprize we receive the intelligence how fatally in various ways, the intemperance, the licentiousness, and the ungodliness of those who visit the distant shores where missionaries are stationed, are counteracting the spread of the Gospel. Now, indeed, have we trials of the stability of our faith; trials of our courage, trials of our perseverance, and above all of our prayers. But we have no reason for despondency; we have sufficient to encourage to the most animated and self-denying exertions: and we are not for a moment to imagine, that the principle of faith requires the fact of success. I have sometimes thought, the most heroic examples of faith are to be found, not where the missionaries have to thrust in the sickle and reap, but where all the time is spent in scattering the seed; in toilsome labour, in self-denying, perilous enterprize, going forth weeping, from day to day; when no prospect of the harvest, when no encouraging intimation is to be perceived; when the man can appeal to nothing in the shape of forcible demonstration to give his message confidence and support; and where, resting simply on the command of Jehovah, he goes forth, exhibiting the work of faith; and thus discharges the labour of love, and thus cherishes amidst disappointment and opposition, the untiring patience of hope. These are illustrations of faith in the divine assurance.

But you have more than this. Whatever may be temporarily or partially discouraging, you have abundant reason to thank God and take courage. And when you remember what facilities the God of Providence is securing in the march of public events, in the establishment of civil and religious freedom; when you contemplate the extent of our mighty empire in the Eastern world, and the new field which is opening for commercial enterprize, the operations of Christian philanthropy, and Christian zeal, must go forward with parallel and commensurate efforts, in this great and glorious undertaking. When you look at what you have reason to anticipate as the result of persevering exertion, you have every encouragement to go forward. "Onward," is the voice of prophecy; "onward" is the voice of Providence. Be concerned, then, to "be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

My Christian friends, the appeal is now to be made to your liberality, your actual benevolence, as an evidence this morning of your faith, and hope, and love. I know too well the character of the disciples of Christ in this ancient

city, and the deep interest you have long felt in this holy cause, to believe for a moment, that you will this day fail in giving a practical demonstration of the sincerity of your convictions. Keep the great object in view I have simply endeavoured to set before you; realize to your minds the infinite importance of bringing men to Jesus, and of composing and carrying on that fellowship with Christ, that shall bear them to glory and immortality. In prospect of that day when the Redeemer shall acknowledge and reward all the service rendered to his cause, and performed in his name. Give, as God hath given you ability. Remember, he asks not what is given, but what is lent: he judges of your character, not by your actual contributions, but by the liberality which he himself has imparted to you. May it be your concern to give under that impression, remembering that Jesus still sits over against the treasury; and while he deigns to employ our services, he graciously promises to reward them hereafter.

THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS.

REV. W. JAY.

ARGYLE CHAPEL, BATH, SEPTEMBER 28, 1834.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."-COLOSSIANS, i. 12.

My brethren, the goodness of God towards his people is infinite. Reflecting upon it, David found himself perfectly at a loss for words to express it; and therefore he exclaimed, "Oh how great is the goodness which thou hast laid up for them, (which thou hast wrought for them) that trust in thee before the sons of men." He views it, you see, in connexion with glory and grace; he views it in reference to the future and the present. He tells us, they have more in hope, but they have also much in hand; they have more in reversion, but they have also much in possession. It is very true that this is not their rest; they are only strangers and pilgrims upon earth. But though their manifestation is not arrived, now are they "the sons of God:" though the vintage be not come, they have the first fruits: though they are minors now, and under age, they are heirs;" and they receive their remittances and their supplies; and they have their trainings, and their attendants, and their preparations. Witness the language of our Apostle here: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

66

Let us consider three things: the inheritance, the meetness, and the praise.

First, let us notice THE INHERITANCE itself. Here you will immediately perceive that it is spoken of as one common state: as there is one common salvation, so there is one common inheritance. And none, in consequence of this, need feel themselves troubled, because there is an ample sufficiency in it for all. An earthly inheritance, indeed, is impaired and diminished by division: but it is otherwise here. Here the number of possessors really adds to the happiness of every individual partaker: and every vessel of glory is as full, as if there were no other to be filled. All of them shine; though one star differeth from another star in glory: all of them dwell in the same heavenly Father's house, though in that house there be many mansions.

How shall we estimate this inheritance? By what standard shall we judge it? Compared with this, what is the inheritance of the worldling, abounding with all the honours, riches, and pleasures of the earth? Compared with this, what was the inheritance of the Jews in the land of Canaan-a land flowing