up the darkness of the pagan world; this, instead of diminishing her splendour, will cause her to shine with increasing lustre. Augment their happiness, and you secure your own. Redouble your efforts, and send Ambassadors unto the heathen.

Second, let us consider the advantages arising from the spread of pure and undefiled religion, as it respects the universe at large. From the sublime height of ancient prophecy-extensive promise-and boundless grace, look forward with delight, and behold the future prospects in the Christian church. First, in her augmented numbers; and, second, in her splendid triumphs.

1. In her augmented numbers. What was said with relation to Israel, will then apply unto all nations. "He shall cause them that come out of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit!" This song may then be sung in Zion, "Thou has increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation." This increase of Christian converts, will arise from the diffusion of evangelical truth, through pagan and other lands. The prophet Isaiah sets this forth in glowing colours. "The Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." Who can possibly ascertain the immense number of Christian converts, that will arise in the latter day glory of the church of Christ? Can we count the drops of water in the ocean? The stars in heaven's vaulted arch? The blades of grass that ever grew, or the leaves upon the trees, during the summer's reign? Christian converts will then be like the dew drops of the morning, or such a countless multitude, as will defy the powers of calculation. If such will be her augmented numbers, let us now turn,

2. To her splendid triumphs. Jehovah will then make her "an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." This triumph of the Christian church, will be complete over all her enemies. For thus speaks the prophet: "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall perish: yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." This triumph will extend over the monsters, sin and Satan. Hear the words of St. John: "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." These complete triumphs over such enemies. will finally issue in the prevalence of pure and undefiled religion; of peace, harmony, and prosperity, through out the universe. Hear again the great prophet, so often quoted before: "Thy people shall all be righteous. I will make thine officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates

praise." What a transcendant sight, a Christian universe! Never more to be heard, the roar of cannon, or the din of arms. The shrill clarion, or warlike trumpet, has for ever ceased its sound, for hostile armies are no more. What a golden age!

6

The savage wolf, no longer fierce,
With infant lambs shall play,

And heaven the pristine curse reverse
In that Millennial day."

But will not the triumphs of Christianity be apparent over every species of idolatry upon the face of the earth? Let but the gospel continue its progress through the Indian territories, and the consequence will be a graceful triumph over the idolatry now so prevalent. Instead of thousands and tens of thousands exulting in the movement of the monstrous idol Juggernaut,' when drawn upon a stupendous tower, or falling down before the horrid shrine of this Moloch' of the east, those heathen rites will be demolished, their altars overthrown, and, according to the words of ancient prophecy, their idols cast to the moles, and to the bats. The idolatrous temples overthrown, upon their ruins will arise others, dedicated to the living God, with worship corresponding with true christian rites. When christianity gains the ascendancy, Dagon must fall before the Ark, and fall to rise no more. What a splendid triumph, when all false worship and superstition shall be superseded, by that which is rational, scriptural, and divine. But, the splendid triumphs connected with Christianity, will ultimately be extended beyond the present scene, and have their final accomplishment in a state of glory. "And I John saw the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God." Such will be the triumphs of Christianity in every part of the universe, wherever its benign influence extends, whether in highly favoured Europe, benighted Asia, barbarous Africa, or enlightened America. To this happy issue, all scriptural efforts to evangelize the heathen and the world at large, contribute their share. Who then would refuse to cast their mite of assistance into so valuable a treasury; that is expended in the augmentation of Christian converse, and celestial triumphs, in the kingdom of grace here, and the kingdom of glory hereafter?

INFERENCES.

If such is the glorious result arising from Missionary exertions at home and abroad, we infer, 1. That it is the indispensible duty, and inestimable privilege of every denomination of Christians, to

range under this standard, in a way of hitherto unparalleled and vigorous co-operation. Let the friends of the best interests of mankind, forget their non-essential differences, and form an immense and social band, in aid of the cause of Christianity, the cause of God. The attempt to christianize the world, that it may be happy, is at once the most god-like and amiable trait that can possibly adorn the human character. This, indeed, is an object beyond the compensation of an earthly recompence; but an heavenly remuneration will be the sublime reward. "For they that turn many to righteousness, shall shine in the firmament of glory for ever and ever." Let the sons of wealth, with liberal hand, and unbounded generosity, deposit a part of their treasures in this royal bank of heaven, to be drawn out as necessity requires, to enrich the universe-to promote the spread of the Redeemner's kingdom in the heathen, and in other lands. This glorious kingdom shall be established, though a thousand worlds oppose; and happy indeed are they, who, either by the prudent expenditure of their property, or the use of any other talent, lay a stone in this celestial building, and aid the rise of this spiritual empire. May I be permitted to address Christians of every name, in the language of John the Baptist, saying, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." Many mountains of difficulty are already levelled with the plains; obstructions are gradually giving way, and the reign of the adorable Immanuel appears in many parts to be begun. The greatest and best of men, Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, have lent this cause their willing aid. That design must be worthy of incessant solicitude; which will disperse the ignorance, abolish the idolatry, and ameliorate the condition of the human race. By having the gospel transmitted to their shores, they are put into the possession of an invaluable treasure, which will make life profitable-age venerable-and death comfortable. We infer, 2. The amazing dignity, combined with the most extensive utility, of the ministerial character. Now, then, (saith the apostle) we are Ambassadors for Christ. How high is the office, and how dignified the object, to be called of God, and sent by men, to bear the glad tidings of peace, and exercise the ministry of reconciliation. Were these things properly considered, would not many of our younger brethren (trained or now training for ministerial duty in our different colleges, seminaries, and acade mies) be seen girding on the harness, receiving their credentials, and moving about in different directions, inquiring for vessels to conduct them as Ambassadors unto the heathen. Reprehensible indifference would then be done away, and when the Macedonian call was repeated, Come over and help us, one and another would be saying, "Here I am, send me." To a benevolent mind, to a soul expanded by charity divine, how desirable an employment. Ye sons of the prophets, now arise, and enter upon this blessed

carcer. To stop the wandering sinner in his course, to save him from the jaws of the devourer, to rescue him from the paths of the destroyer, to convert him from the error of his ways, and deliver him from death eternal; this, of all engagements, is the most important. Enter the spacious fields as yet untrod by the messengers of peace; your feet will appear beautiful, when seen upon the mountains that bound the horizon of heathen lands. What are the honourable and lucrative offices of the greatest personages here upon earth, when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, and put in competition with the station and dignity of a genuine Minister of the Gospel? The one may cast a dazzling glare upon the eye of the beholder, but the other strikes the mind with an excellent glory. Every true minister of the Gospel is a representative of the mighty Jesus; declares his will, and acts under his immediate seal. Are they not imitators of him who became a Missionary, himself, travelling both by land and water, with ardent and unwearied zeal. Behold, with astonishment, this sacred personage, seated on the side of Jacob's well! See him entering Jericho with his humble followers! And hear him saying, when making his attendants Missionaries, "Go ye out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Be stimulated to exertion by the remembrance of those worthies who have signalized themselves in the cause for which we are now pleading, and who are now shining as stars of no ordinary magnitude in the firmament of glory-I mean Brainerd, Swartz, Wesley, Whitefield, and others that might be named. Behold also, with becoming veneration, some, who have laboured long and faithfully, and who are yet spared to aid the advancement and extension of the rising church, How inferior are the most useful men in every other sphere, compared with such characters as these. We venerate the names of the sympathetic Howard, and the philanthropic Wilberforce; but how far do they fall short of the ministers of the altar. To emancipate, to console, to instruct, to lead from idol temples and idolatrous practices-to liberty, to happiness, to knowledge, to the instituted worship of a gospel church, is yours, ye messengers of God; and this is the grand design and ultimate end of missionary effort.

"Far o'er the burning sands of Afric's land,
Our gen'rous Missionaries widely stray,
And promulgate the gospel's joyful sound,

And teach the knowledge of the living way."

In order to facilitate the triumphant progress of the Redeemer's kingdom throughout the universe, we infer-Finally, the absolute necessity of an implicit adherence to the means accurately prescribed in the Sacred Scriptures. The means employed by the Messiah in the administration of his glorious kingdom, are the gospel, of

which he is the illustrious theme; the sublime doctrines of the cross, connected with which are evangelical ordinances and divine institutions, such as the sacraments of his covenant, the Sabbath of the Lord, and the whole connected beautiful circle of instituted worship. The grand efficient means to which the gospel owes its success, is the divine agency of the Holy Spirit. It is emphatically called the ministration of the Spirit. By aid of divine operation, recruits are selected from the mass of sinners, and disciplined or trained, to augment the armies of the living God. By the use of such means, and the continued aid of the divine blessing, the kingdoms of this world, will become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. Zion will arise, she will put on her beautiful garments, and become the praise and the glory of the earth. Let us, as Britons, clasp the gospel to our hearts as an inestimable treasure. But let Britons also, like illustrious suns of the moral world, diffuse the light of truth to all around. Let us henceforward share our noblest blessings with every land. Let us, especially, send more Ambassadors unto the heathen. By persevering and successful exertion, the melodious voice of divine revelation will sound through every clime, and be heard with increasing pleasure. Christianity will erect her throne in every breast, the gospel will diffuse its benefits throughout the earth, peace with all its joys, shall wave her branch in view of every land. What a bappy day, when

"Peace, with her gentle dove, again

Shall settle on Britannia's plain;

And where abroad the cypress rears its head,
Shall plant the blooming olive in its stead."

The reign of God our Saviour will be universal, and Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, be consolidated into a living temple, to celebrate the praises of the triune God for ever and ever! Amen and Amen!

THE TRUTH OF GOD DEFENDED.

REVIEW OF "STRICTURES," &c..
(Concluded from page 749.)

THE dangers which Dr. Milner apprehends from young stu dents devoting too much of their time and attention to Biblical criticism, at the expense of neglecting to acquire a competent knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible, are by no means fanciful. His observations on this subject, some of which we shall subjoin, evince his profound and accurate knowledge of Divinity, and of the human mind.

"Dr. Marsh appears to me to lay abundatly too much stress on