of the Spirit of life and power, in honour of that glorified Jesus of whom it testifies! By this clearer light, by these standing ordinances of Christianity, and by this fuller measure of power and grace, many might and would be rescued from sin and perdition, of whose eternal state we can at present entertain only the most awful and melancholy forebodings. Having it in our power, then, to communicate blessings which are universally necessary,-necessary to the social welfare, necessary to the moral renovation, necessary to the everlasting salvation, of men,-who does not see that we are bound to promote, as far as in us lies, the evangelization of the ignorant and wicked of every class, not merely in our own country, but in the whole world? "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."

Yes, Christians! the debt of which we speak is a debt of fidelity. God has commanded that all who possess the Gospel should diffuse it. It is not given to us for ourselves only, but deposited with us for the benefit of others. So Paul considered it, when he spoke of "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to " his "trust;" and when he referred to the first messengers of Christ as "allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel." * Ministers, indeed, have a special trust; but all Christians are stewards of this, as of the other manifold gifts of God. Now, fidelity in our stewardship requires that we do not exclusively enjoy our spiritual privileges, nor confine to nation or country what was meant for mankind.

It is a debt of gratitude.-Consider the inestimable and innumerable blessings, civil and religious, personal, domestic, and national, in possession and in prospect, for which we are indebted to the Gospel and its ordinances. It has infused principles of mildness and equity into our legislation, and conferred, under God, stability and permanence on our govern

* 1 Timothy i. 11; 1 Thessalonians ii. 4.

ment. It has given a character of unrivalled benevolence to the public feeling, which is known and read of all men by means of our various institutions of piety and charity; institutions which are a credit to religion, and an ornament to our age and country. It has materially contributed to the freedom of our persons from tyranny, and the security of our property from unjust aggression. It has promoted industry, frugality, and sobriety. It has rendered our habitations tabernacles of righteousness, in which the voice of joy and rejoicing is heard. It has made our hearts (if we have received it in the love of it) temples of the Holy Ghost, and crowned our lives with lovingkindness and tender mercies. It has soothed our sorrows, and sanctified our comforts. It has in store for us, if we be faithful, consolation in death, and eternal life beyond the grave. And what shall we render to the Lord for all His mercies? One part of the return which He expects is the diffusion of that light and truth to which, as instrumental means, we owe this abundance of grace and peace. "Herein is our Father glorified," when, not only by the exercises of personal piety, but by those of evangelical beneficence, we "bear much fruit." Finally, it is a debt of humanity.-Think of the dreadful state of sinners in general. Think of the sad condition of the heathen world in particular. Think of their present ignorance and superstition, their false worship, their bloody sacrifices, their licentious orgies, their awful subjection to Satan, and their just exposure to the displeasure of a holy God. Think of the waste of human life, to the annual amount of many tens of thousands, the victims of pagan cruelty. Think of the still more frightful and incalculable destruction of immortal souls, the victims of pagan wickedness. Think of these things; and resolve that you will attempt to lessen, at least, the ravages of death, and to deprive the prince of hell of some part of his hitherto almost undisputed tribute of blood and of souls. Your humanity prompts you to support schools for the poor, asylums for the blind, hospitals for the sick, and

charities of various kinds for the relief of the suffering and the destitute. Those who are the objects of Missionary labour have, on every principle, a claim on your compassion equal, nay, superior in strength. For, by making them Christians, you bless them for both worlds; you save bodies from suffering and death, and souls from sin and hell. O, could you hear the sighings after rest, could you trace the anxious desire of some of the heathen for clearer light and more effectual grace, you would not hesitate to relieve their doubts and solicitudes by sending them the full and explicit tidings of the Saviour's love and power.

You will permit me to mention two special circumstances respecting the debt due from us, as an evangelized people, to other nations ::

1. Our debt is chargeable with the addition of long arrears. We have but lately begun to awake out of sleep, and to think seriously of discharging our obligation. Now, our present exertions should be on such a scale of liberality as to compensate, in some degree, for the loss occasioned to the Christian cause by many past years of negligence and inactivity. We should pay the debt with interest. But,

2. Our debt to the heathen has of late been formally and publicly acknowledged. The entire religious public recognised the principles on which it is due, in their late petitions to the Legislature in favour of Christianity in India. The nation at large has virtually acknowledged it, through the medium of its executive Government, and the decision of a large majority in Parliament. We have thus confessed to the debt, in the face of heaven and earth; and are pledged, in consistency, to attempt the payment. Let us honourably and zealously redeem that pledge.

While our dear brethren, the Missionaries, are paying their part of this debt by personal service, we are called to pay ours chiefly in pecuniary contributions. As to the exact amount of the share which we ought thus individually to pay, this we should calculate according to our respective means, and our

peculiar obligations. Here you must judge for yourselves; but take one hint to guide you in your decision. It is that which is implied in the question, "How much owest thou to my Lord ?" Hast thou had much forgiven, much bestowed? Art thou a child of many mercies? Has God cared for thee with special bounty in a way of providence, or in a way of grace? Then, love much; and let thy grateful heart devise liberal things. What thou owest to thy Lord, pay to the Missionary department of His treasury; and He will acknowledge it as done unto Himself.

My brethren, I have confidence in you, that you will not be straitened in your views or exertions this evening. You will have faith in God; and, like the woman for whom Elisha interfered, you shall have oil enough to pay your debt, and enough remaining for you and for your children. We are advised by Solomon not to become sureties for others' debts. But, in this case, I think I dare be surety for many of you. You will continue, or even increase, your stated and occasional contributions to this great cause. I have been speaking to men: your compassion will be instead of rhetoric. I have been pleading for the cause of Christ, and of souls bought by His blood, with Christians: your consciences will supply the lack of eloquence.

SERMON XIX.

SECRET THINGS, AND THINGS REVEALED.

PREACHED ON BEHALF OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

DEUTERONOMY xxix. 29.

THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD: BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED BELONG UNTO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN FOR EVER, THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.

Ir was the original sin and folly of our first parents to aspire after a degree of knowledge which God their Maker had denied them at the period of their creation, and of which He had afterwards prohibited the pursuit. In this unlawful desire of knowledge which is too high for us, and to which it is the appointment of God that in our present state we shall not attain, we, their posterity, too frequently imitate their example. Vain man would be wise; wise in things which are placed beyond the reach of his faculties, and which, if known, could only minister to the gratification of a barren and unhallowed curiosity. And by the investigation of these hard and difficult questions, which elude the grasp of human understanding, he not only loses his time, (the most precious of his providential talents,) but is diverted from those better studies in which he might by diligent attention succeed; studies which are essential to his present and future welfare, and which alone tend to make him wise unto salvation.

But let it not be inferred, from these remarks, that I am disposed to countenance or recommend a stupid inattention to