speak the word without fear, and to endure all things for the word of God and testimony of Jesus, if he that has all power in his hands had promised to exert all that power for their protection.

Let us now conclude with two or three reflections. There has been of late years in the religious world a great diffusion of public spirit; I mean, a desire of imparting the blessings of the gospel to other nations. This idea is rather beyond the comprehension of the people of the world; they think it is enthusiasm pursuing its object. Christianity indeed is good, but they would rather leave it to spread by the gradual increase of civilization. But let none of these reflections deter us from assisting, according to our capacity, in the work of evangelizing the world while Christ's command is so clear, and his promise so strong. Though many difficulties oppose the spread of the gospel, yet these words encourage us to hope that it shall be universally known-that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church-that the seed, small as a mustard seed, shall become a great tree-that the ship, though tossed with tempests and weathering many a storm, shall be guided by its pilot safely into port-that the spiritual building, though apparently hindered in its progress, shall rise at last glorious from the ruins of the world.

Let us next reflect, How insignificant are all the concerns of this world in the sight of Christ! and they ought to be so to us.

He says, Go ye into all nations and preach. But they might say, have not we families to provide for, and friends to consult? Must not Peter any more cast his nets for a livelihood, or Matthew set at the receipt of custom? The fact is, that Christ considered their ease and comfort in this world as a mere trifle; and designs to teach you thereby that to embrace the gospel and obey it is your great business. He says to them, Go through the world, while your short life lasts, and prepare men for that eternal world which is close upon them. One thing is needful, and that is, not the business of this world, but of the next. This world is a mere nothing, except as in reference to eternity. It is only a pageant passing-by-a rivulet trickling into the boundless ocean a school to educate us for an eternal existence-a hospital in which we are to recover from disease. May God teach my unconverted hearers this truth, that they may so number their days that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom. They dream of lasting enjoyments on this side the grave, and of happiness beyond it; but let them collect the true state of their case from the text. You neither observe all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded, as the text speaks, nor is it your intention so to do; you would think it a very miserable state of restrictions to be obliged to it; you are therefore not of his Church. If your are not of his Church, all this power in his hands is not for you, but against you. That arm that grasps the thun

derbolt, and wields all the powers of the universe, will come down with dreadful weight on your heads, except you repent. He holds the keys of death and hell: one to open the gate through which the soul passes from the body; the other, to open that gate that transmits the soul into hell. He holds these keys, and tonight or to-morrow he may open them for you! Now therefore turn to him as a Savior through the influences of the Spirit; so will you be added to his Church, interested in his promises, and enjoy with the rest of his saints a happy eternity.

SERMON XX.

GALATIANS Vi, 10.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Ir is somewhat discouraging to observe, how many of our best efforts for the benefit of mankind prove ineffectual. Money is given away in alms, and the object of our charity is afterwards found to have been not a proper one; institutions are set set on foot for the instruction of the poor, many of whom use their knowledge to a mischievous purpose; measures are taken for the propagation of the Gospel: yet many of the schemes come to nothing.

What then! Are we to sit still, and not act, till we are sure of all the success we wish for? Let us look at the husbandman. He scatters the seed: some falls by the way-side, and the birds eat it-some where there is not earth enough, and when it grows up, it is scorched, and withers-some falls amongst thorns,

which spring up and choke it: a part only falls into good ground; and of that part, it is but a small quantity that brings forth a hundred fold: yet in the hope of a harvest of some kind he works on. So let us work, acting to the best of our judgment, and putting forth our strength, because, whatever be the success of our plans in this world, we shall not lose our reward in the next.

It is upon the certainty of a future reward, that St. Paul grounds the exhortation of the text: In due season we shall reap, if we faint not; therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men.

This is the duty which we must first inculcate; next in order, though not in importance, is the duty of paying particular attention to the household of faith.

I. Of the duty of doing good unto all men, we have heard a great deal more than enough of late years, under the name of philanthropy, or universal benevolence. There is certainly something imposing in the idea of an ardent charity, which, disdaining the narrow limits of personal relation, is impatient to have its energies felt at the extremities of the system. But the misfortune is, that it is but an idea, the nature of things presenting an insurmountable barrier to its ever being realized in practice. For the world is evidently so constituted, that we cannot act upon things remote, except through the medium of that which is near; indeed, it is impossible to conceive, how any being