and all who enter there must be renewed in the temper of their minds, and he made meet for the inherit

ance of the saints in light. preparation for heaven, the can judge, do not possess. their motives sordid; and ly vicious and depraved.

But this most essential heathen, so far as we Their hearts are hard; their characters eminent"The dark places of the

earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." Are those monsters in the shape of men, whose cruelties have been related in this discourse-are they fitted for the society of the blessed above? Have they the temper of the holy Jesus? Their hands red with blood, and their lips stained with human gore; are they prepared for a holy heaven, and the pure enjoyment of a holy God? The melancholy conclusion is inevitable, that the heathen generally are the heirs of perdition. They are the worshippers of devils, and the children of the wicked one. The mighty current of time is rapidly sweeping them away, and as rapidly pouring them into the abyss below.

2. From what has been said we learn, that much remains yet to be done, before the triumphs of the Church on earth shall be complete.-Hitherto, the Church has existed in a state of comparative depression, and has ever been struggling against the wrath and power of her enemies. She has been obliged to flee into the wilderness from the face of the Dragon, who has poured forth his poisonous floods to overwhelm her. But she is soon to come forth. Her triumphs are predicted, and will be accomplished. They are expressly promised, and will certainly be fulfilled. "The kingdom, and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most

High."-But before this desirable event is realized, much, very much, remains to be done. "The dark places of the earth" are many, and they are all “full of the habitations of cruelty." These dark places must be enlightened-every species of cruelty must be abandoned-a host of idols must be destroyedsuperstitions hoary with age, and supported by the most inveterate propensities, must be done awaymultitudes of Missionaries must be raised up, sent forth, supported, and blessed-the Holy Spirit must be extensively poured out-millions of hearts must be renewed-and, the King of grace and of glory must ride forth in the chariot of his salvation from conquering to conquer. And under his powerful guidance, the conflicts and triumphs of his Church, however arduous and great, will be speedily terminated. "The darkness of a hundred ages will be scattered; the strong man armed will be ejected, as an usurper ; millions of his miserable captives will be delivered; and the river of the water of life will flow in a thousand new channels bearing upon its unruffled current the blessings and the triumphs of the cross."

3. If the condition and the cruelties of the heathen have been accurately described; then it is the dictate not merely of christian benevolence, but of humanity, to extend to them the relief and blessings of the gospel. This certainly is the dictate of christian benevolence. How can those, whose religion prompts them to seek the good of others, and who profess to love their neighbour as themselves-how can they hear, without emotion, of enormities and wretchedness such as have been described? And believing that the gospel, and this alone, can put a period to these evils; how can they refrain exertion to extend to every be nighted soul, the light and privileges of the gospel?

But we rejoice in the confidence that the benevolence of Christians is in some measure excited to this great object. They have begun to feel for a world lying in wickedness. Their hearts have begun to bleed for the debased millions, involved in misery and crime and who are constantly pouring into an awful eternity.

There is another class, however, who, it should seem, would feel interested in this subject, and for whose conduct it is difficult to account. They evidently possess strong feelings of humanity. They can sigh and weep over the woeful scenes and pages of a romance, and are not backward, in some respects to alleviate the distresses of real life. It may be they perform many charitable deeds; but their charities are limited to a very small circle. They mourn over the sufferings which are endured immediately around them, but have no sympathy for those in distant heathen lands. They cheerfully contribute to the erection of alms-houses, asylums, and hospitals, for the poor, the friendless, and insane; but have no bowels of compassion for the helpless infant sacrificed to idols, the decrepid father abandoned by his children, the widowed mother consuming on the funeral pile, or the deluded victims who are annually crushed to death under the wheels of " the modern Moloch." They hear of the horrible cruelties which are practised and endured in the dark places of the earth, but harden their hearts against them, and refuse to make any sacrifices or exertions for their alleviation and removal.-The conduct of such persons is palpably inconsistent, not only with the benevolence of a Christian, but with the common feelings of humanity. It is inconsistent with that humanity which they exhibit in respect to other things. Is not

human suffering the same in other regions and quar ters of the globe, as it is in our own? Is not life as valuable, and the soul as precious elsewhere, as here? Why then should we not extend our sympathies and charities to the utmost limit of the miseries of our race, and cheerfully engage in the great enterprize which has been undertaken for the conversion and renovation of a world ?-The spiritual privileges we enjoy we have no right to monopolize; and if we are Christians, we have no disposition to do it. Under a sense of their value, we should be in earnest to disseminate them, among all the benighted beings who now sit in darkness, and dwell in the habitations of cruelty. Thus may we enjoy the satisfaction of obeying and pleasing our Divine Redeemer, of following in the steps of his holy Apostles, and of evincing our attachment to him and his cause. We may have the satisfaction of bearing some humble part, in promoting the promised triumphs of the gospel, and in terminating the cruelties and miseries of man.

DISCOURSE XII.

THE ADVANTAGES OF ATTENDING TO MISSIONARY

INTELLIGENCE.

Acts xv. 12.

"Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audi ence to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them."

WHEN Paul and Barnabas had returned from their first mission to the heathen, they "gathered the church of Antioch together, and rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." Afterwards, when they were sent on a question of general interest and importance, to the apostles and elders, and to the church at Jerusalem; "the multitude here gave audience unto them, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them."-It will not be doubted, that Paul and Barnabas acted wisely, in making public the Missionary Intelligence which they communicated on these occasions. Nor will it be doubted, that, the multitude at Jerusalem, consisting of "the apostles and elders and the whole church," acted wisely, in 66 giving audience" and attention to this most gratifying intelligence. They must have considered it as not only important, but deeply and joyfully interesting, to listen to their beloved brethren, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and the wonderful works of God.