And, fince it has pleafed God, by advancing our conquefts in both places at once, to open a way for propagating our religion more extenfively among them; what a glorious haryeft might we expect to reap, had we labourers fufficient for it! But, alas! the labourers are few:" and we can only " pray the Lord of the harvest," that he would dispose the hearts of those men especially, who draw their wealth from these regions, to strengthen the hands of our religious focieties; that they may be able to "fend forth more labourers into his harvest'. Then might we hope, that "the name of the Lord would become great among the Gentiles; and that in every place a pure offering would be offered unto him, from the rifing of the fun unto the going down of the fame t."

t?

But let our hopes of the future prevalence of our religion be what they may; yet ftill it is urged, "that many large and populous tracts lie at present in the groffest darkness: and, fince the Gofpel is reprefented to be fo

Matth. ix. 37, 38. ▾ Mal. i. 11.

extremely

extremely neceffary to the Salvation of the world; what is to become of those unhappy

people, who could never

truths?" The answer is

attain to its faving

They are secure in

the goodness of a merciful Creator: who, “if he gave but little to them, will require in return but little of them;" and who yet, for the good ufe they make of that little, will crown them with an happiness, proportioned to their deeds, and equal to the extent of their moral capacities.

Instead therefore of being over-curious, and needlefly folicitous about their state; let us rather be careful to fhew a proper concern for our own. We confeffedly enjoy fuperior advantages; and fhould confequently labour to excel in our improvements. We are favoured with one "unfpeakable gift," for which we can never be fufficiently thankful. We have the pure Gofpel of Chrift in our hands; and that Gospel proved to be the truth of God. As it comes to us then, fupported by the clearest atteftations of divinity; let us receive it with more reverence, and obey it with more diligence, for its

having been ratified, confirmed, and establifhed, in fo marvellous and unparalleled a manner. Scornfully to reject, or indolently to neglect it, is to ruin ourselves. "For if the word spoken by angels," if the law of Mofes," was ftedfaft; and every tranfgreffion and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how fhall we escape, if we neglect fo great falvation? which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God alfo bearing them witnefs, both with figns and wonders, and with diverfe miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost "."

2

To which bleffed and glorious Trinity, thus uniting in the fupport and advancement of Christianity, be afcribed, as is most due, all honour, adoration, and praise, &c. Amen. t Heb. ii. 2-4.

SER

SERMON XXIV.

2 COR. iv. 3.

If our Gofpel be hid, it is hid to them that

W

are loft.

E have now feen the nature and defign of those manifold dispensations, which God exercised towards mankind through the feveral ages of the world. If we confider the importance of this defign, its neceffity indeed, for the improvement and happiness of mankind; we shall foon perceive, and be fully fatisfied, that it was in no wife unworthy of Almighty God to interpofe,