The following gentlemen now compose the American Board The names of memof Commissioners for Foreign Missions. bers residing in the same state, are arranged according to seniority. IN THE DISTRICT OF MAINE, GEN, HENRY SEWALL, REV. JESSE APPLETON, D. D. President of Bowdoin College. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, HON. JOHN LANGDON, Esq. LL. D. REV. SETH PAYSON, D. D. IN VERMONT, REV. HENRY DAVIS, D. D. President of Middlebury College IN MASSACHUSETTS PROPER REV. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. REV. SAMUEL SPRING, D. D. HIS HONOR WILLIAM PHILLIPS, Esq. HON. JOHN HOOKER, Esq. REV. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D. REV. SAMUEL WORCESTER, D. D. IN RHODE ISLAND, HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM JONES, Esq. IN CONNECTICUT, GEN. JEDIDIAH HUNTINGTON, HON. JOHN TREADWELL, Esq. LL. D. REV. TIMOTHY DWIGHT, D.D. LL.D. President of Yale College. IN NEW YORK, Hox. JOHN JAY, Esq. LL. D. HON. EGBERT BENSON, Esq. LL. D. REV. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT, D. D. REV. ELIPHALET NOTT, D. D. President of Union College. IN NEW JERSEY, HON. ELIAS BOUDINOT, Esq. LL. D. REV. ASHBEL GREEN, D. D. President of Princeton College. REV. JAMES RICHARDS. IN PENNSYLVANIA, ROBERT RALSTON, Esq. The next annual meeting of the Board is to be held in NewHaven, at the Philosophical Chamber in Yale College, on Thursday, the 15th day of September, 1814. The Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D. D. is appointed to preach the annual sermon, and the Rev. JAMES RICHARDS is appointed his substitute. SERMON, PREACHED AT NEW HAVEN, (CON) BEFORE THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING, SEPT. 15, 1814. BY JAMES RICHARDS, A. M. PASTOR OF THE FIRST FRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEWARK, N. J. BOSTON: PRINTED BY SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, No. 50, CORNHILL. SERMON. EPHESIANS iii, 8. UNTO ME, WHO AM LESS THAN THE LEast of all SAINTS, IS THIS GRACE GIVEN, THAT I SHOULD PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST. ST. PAUL was equally remarkable for the depth of his humility, and for the ardour of his zeal From the first moment of his conversion to the latest period of his life, he seems never to have forgotten that he had been a persecutor of the name of Jesus. The remembrance of his former character laid him low before God, while it inspired him with an earnest desire to live worthy of the grace by which he had been DISTINGUISHED. Having himself tasted the riches of God's mercy in the pardon of sin and the hopes of eternal life, he wished to be the joyful minister of the same grace to others, and to carry the glad tidings of peace and salvation to the ends of the earth. Fitted to this great work by many natural and spiritual qualifications, he engaged in it with an ardour, which no watchings and fastings, no labours and sufferings could overcome. From Jerusalem he passed into Syria, thence into Arabia-into Asia Minor-into Macedonia and other parts of Greece. Widely extended regions of the globe were traversed by him, sometimes on foot, sometimes alone, while continually exposed to the severest hardships and perils. Wherever he went, he was deemed an enthusiast, or a mad-man, a disturber of the public peace, an enemy to mankind. But none of these things moved him, neither counted he his life dear unto himself, if he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus." He felt the importance of his mission, and the grandeur of his own destiny. He bore about the dying of the Lord Jesus; he carried with him the treasures of everlasting wisdom and mercy. Despising the gains and the glory of the present world. his heart was strongly fixed on procuring for himself and for others the blessings of eternal life. God had especially designated him to this work, and declared him a "chosen vessel to bear his name before the Gentiles;" and though his labours were abundant, and his successes unrivalled; though multitudes in various portions of the heathen world were brought to the knowledge of the truth through his instrumentality; still his humility did not forsake him; he could retrace the labours and sufferings of a glorious life, without indulging in the emotions of pride and vanity; he could look upon the hundreds and thousands he had converted from paganism, and yet say, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." He did not doubt of his being a saint: but he felt himself to be the least of all saints because he had persecuted the church of God, and because he still lived so far beneath his privileges and obligations. That he should be called to preach the Gospel to the heathen, he considered as an instance of amazing condescension and mercy; and to this great and good work he made a cheerful and unreserved consecration of all his powers. |