but a reasonable Retribution to that Country from whence they have received fo much, and an Oblation justly due to God Almighty for the whole: An Offering of Thanksgiving made in this Manner, with a religious Heart, might be a means of fanctifying the reft of their Eftates, and making them a Bleffing to themfelves and Families. Alas! if all our Bufinefs with thofe Countries is only how to get all we can from them to furnish out our own Luxury or Vanity, without any Thought of helping them to what they moft want, the Knowledge of the true God, we fhall be reckoned very unfaithful Traders, and unjuft Stewards, when God fhall call us to account.

AGAIN, As the Providence of God, by Means of Trade and Commerce, gradually opens to us a Way for the Knowledge of fuch remote Parts of the World as are yet unacquainted with the Chriftian Religion, I would earnestly recommend it to all Traders upon fuch Voyages, that they would fix in their own Minds a ferious Senfe of the great Importance of the Chriftian Religion, and of their own Duty of reprefenting it in the best and tru

est

ill Im

and fo

that is,

eft Light to those who are Strangers to it, and confequently never to do any Thing which may give them an preffion of those that profess it, hinder the Propagation of it; never to use any Fraud or Injuftice, Oppreffion or Cruelty, never to indulge themselves in any other licentious or wicked Practice whatever, whereby the Name of God and his Doctrine may be blafphemed among the Gentiles. It was the greatest Obstacle that could be given to the receiving of the Christian Religion in America, that those who firft carried the Name of it thither, exercifed fuch abominable Cruelties upon the innocent Natives, and behaved themselves fo diffolutely, and were fo abandoned to all Manner of Vice, that even their own Writers speak of it with Horrour and 'Astonishment. The Butchery of fo many Millions of People without Provocation, was enough to make a poor Indian abhor the Name of Christ, and to think that even the Heaven of Chriftians must be a dreadful Place, if any of their Spanish Mafters were fuffered to enter into it. The Memory of this is a terrible

Obftacle

;

Obftacle to their Converfion, and not to be overcome but by a long contrary Practice. I hope nothing like this has ever been done by any of our Country Men but I am afraid even they have not been fo blameless as they ought to have been. And therefore, in the next Place, I would, by the Bowels of Jefus Chrift, intreat all those who have any Concern or Interest in our Settlements in thofe Places, that they would endeavour, for the Sake of Christ, that all fuch as they have any Influence over, may be brought to live as becomes the Gofpel of Chrift. This would greatly facilitate the Conversion of their Heathen Neighbours. For that the Doctrine of the Gofpel fpread fo fast in the first Ages, was altogether as much owing to the holy Lives of Chriftians, as to the miraculous Powers of the Preachers. This is a Matter of the greatest Concern, and which ought to make the ftrongeft Impreffion upon all that ingage themselves in the Service of this Society towards promoting this great Work. This Way they may, by the Grace of God, make a great Progress without Miracles; and who knows but

if

if this Way were fincerely taken, the Succefs might be even wonderful beyond Expectation. To conclude, every Christian may at Home, in his own Native Country, contribute fomething towards the Advancing of Chrift's Kingdom abroad in the World, if he will but live fo in all holy Converfation and Godlinefs as to bring Credit and Reputation upon his Profession. If Chriftians in general would all live according to the Rules of the Gofpel, their Light would by degrees communicate it felf even to the most remote Regions. This would be a Means of making all our Prayers for the Conversion of Heathen Nations, and all the Labours of our Miffionaries effectual, to open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and Inberitance among them that are fanctified by Faith in Jefus Chrift. Which God in his due Time grant, for the Sake of the fame Jefus Chrift, &c.

FINI S.

A

SERMON

Preached before the

Incorporated SOCIETY

FOR THE

Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts;

At the Parifh-Church of

St. Mary-le-Bow,

On Friday the 16th of February, 1727. Being the Day of their Anniversary Meeting.

By the Right Reverend Father in GOD, RICHARD, Lord Bishop of Lincoln.

LONDON:

Printed by J. DOWNING, in Bartholomew-Clofe, near Weft-Smithfield, M.DCC.XXVIII.