aggrandizement of a third. But the world lay still in wickednefs; its diseases rankled with increasing fury, and struck deeper and deeper their poisonous roots, under the succefsive treatment of these "physicians of no value." Eighteen centuries more have nearly elapsed since "God manifested in the flesh, put away "sin by the sacrifice of himself:" and what has been done in elevating the character, in purifying the morals, in ameliorating the condition of man, that has been done without the aids of his gospel? What countries have the priesthood of unbelief rescued from barbarism? Where have they resisted the influence, or wiped off the shame, of profligacy? Where have they promoted either happiness or virtue in public or in private? Whom have they taught to "deny ungodlinefs and worldly lusts, "and to live soberly, righteously, and godly? "By their fruits ye shall know them."

How different is the genius, and how different has been the career of the gospel of Christ! When it was promulged to the Heathen, the philosopher pronounced it folly, and stalked disdainfully by the missionary of the crofs: yet through the crofs did the mifsionary preach forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting; and lo, the throne of darknefs tottered to its fall; the Gentiles" turned from idols to serve the liv

Po

"ing God." Abandoning, at once, their prejudices, their delusions, and their lusts, they

46

fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set

before them." The face of the world was changed, and the worldling knew not how. No deep speculations, no subtle reasonings, no displays of science converted the nations. The procefs was very short and very simple. Their guilt and their depravity-their certain destruction without pardon and renovationthe grace of God in sending Christ Jesus to die for sinners--his ability to save unto the uttermost and the freedom of his salvation to the most worthlefs and vile, are the truths which won the Gentiles to the obedience of Christ. It is this same gospel which, at this hour, turns men" from darkness to light," and which is destined to "carry the banners "of the erofs victorious round the globe." Those refined moral disquisitions which, under the garb of sermons, expel vital godlinefs from the church, will never introduce it among the Heathen. Whoever hopes to gain them to the faith must imitate the Apostle Paul. He must "preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbl "ing block, and to the Greeks foolishnefs; "but to them who are called, both Jews and "Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the

"wisdom of God*." Adapted to every clime of the earth, to every stage of society, and to all descriptions of its members; unveiling their real misery, and bringing near the only remedy; discovering, at once, their wants, and the means of supplying them; and, seconded by the energy of the quickening Spirit, this precious gospel fasténs on the conscience, melts the heart, thrills the very bones and marrow, and transforms the most obdurate rebel into a willing subject of Jesus Christ. When the "Lord gives testimony to the word of his grace," it shall have "free course, and be

glorified." No darknefs too dismal for it to dispel, no prejudices too obstinate to subdue. "Mighty, through God, to the pulling down "of strong holds," this very gospel shall force its way through every physical, and every moral difficulty; and in his name and strength, shall its mefsengers cast down imaginations, and every high thought that lifteth itself up against the obedience of Christ. "Every "valley shall be exalted, and every mountain " and hill shall be made low: and the crooked "shall be made straight, and rough places

plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be "revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;

1 Cor. i. 23, 24.

for the mouth of the LORD hath spoker "it*."

Come then, my brethren, let us ascend the hill of God; and, aided by the torch of the skies, let us look through the surrounding gloom, to the glories that lie beyond. See! an "angel "flies through the midst of Heaven, having "the everlasting gospel to preach to every na"tion, and kindred, and tongue, and people +." The standard of SHILOH is reared: his banner waves on high: the great trumpet is blown: the nations hear and gather unto him. From the east, from the west, from the north, from the south, they prefs into the kingdom. On the one hand, is the plundering Arab; on the other, the pitilefs Savage. Here, are the frozen children of the Pole; there, the sable tribes of Afric; and yonder, the long disinherited Jew steals silently to his Mefsiah, weeping as he goes. Hark! the din of arms, and the tumult of battle cease; Discord and War retreat back to hell; and again that hymn of Angels is heard below, "Glory to God in the highest; on earth

peace, good-will towards ment." The redeemed of the Lord raise their responsive song, "Now is come salvation and strength, and the "kingdom of our Lord, and the power of his

Isaiah x1, 4, 5. † Rev, xii. 6.

‡ Luke ii. 14,

Christ*."

Brethren, 'tis no illusion; 'tis "the sober certainty" of truth divine. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this→→→ HALLELUJAH!

AND NOW, dear brethren, shall not the first sentiment of our hearts be a sentiment of . gratitude for the grace of God manifested unto us?

Let it never be forgotton, that we, in our ancestors, were among the perishing outcasts. Yet to us hath the word of salvation been sent. Without the gospel of Jesus, we should this day have been burning incense unto idols: Without the gospel of Jesus, we should have been strangers to that blessed hope which gives to life its best relish, and takes from death both his terrors and his sting. O Christian, Christian, remember, that if thou hast escaped the wrath to come, and art made " an heir of God, "and a fellow heir with Jesus Christ," it is to the praise of sovereign mercy. Thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite; and thou mightest have been left, with the Amorites and Hittites, to die in thine iniquity. Yet thou livest; livest unto God; livest for glory; and shalt never come into condemnation, and never taste of the second death +. Thrice blefsed gospel,