obstinate in proportion as he is ignorant: the grosser his superstition, the more will he cleave to it, till God 'sends out his light and his truth. Prepare ye, therefore, the way of the Lord;' for till 'the Sun of Righteousness' arise on these nations with healing in his wings,' notwithstanding all the endeavours of Legislators and Philosophers, 'darkness' must 'cover the earth and gross darkness the people :' Isa. lx. 2.

This leads me to make an observation or two on, II. THE MEANS OF THEIR RECOVERY. One cannot help remarking here, on the confused and fruitless views of some pious persons. They are indeed struck with horror when the state of the Heathen is recollected. Like persons walking through a lazarhouse, they pity from their hearts the different stages of malady which lie before them, but see no present remedy. They wait for some tide or motion, they know not what. Centuries have elapsed, and hundreds of millions of souls have passed into eternity-still they wait!

But it might be of use for such persons to inquire, "Does not God work by means? Does he not command them to be used, in 'preparing his way?' Has He not promised his blessing, in the use of them? How was the way of the Lord prepared among those Gentiles, now brought to the faith of Christ? Was not our own highly favoured nation as far from God as that of any other Gentiles? and is there not reason to think we should have remained Heathens to this day had the first Missionaries thus waited, or required some perceivable shaking among the dry bones before they prophesied in this our desert?"

I know of no difficulty now before a Missionary to the Heathen, that did not meet the first Missionary to this nation. We had our human sacrifices, as well as

others. Our hearts were as hard, and our prejudices as great, as those of others; and our situation more insulated and unapproachable than most of theirs.

The ablest means, however, and the best concerted plans, can, of themselves, do nothing. The glory of the Lord must be revealed,' in his mighty power, as well as in his saving truth, 'before all flesh can see the salvation of our God.' But, as the labour of the Husbandman is connected with the influences of Heaven in producing the harvest, so, in all other respects, it has been justly remarked that it is the fool only who expects the end without the means, since it is only in the use of appointed means that desirable ends are promised.

This Society, I can safely assert, mean to 'prepare the way of the Lord' by exhibiting the only remedy for fallen nature; the cross of Christ, and the regenerating influence of his Spirit; and that in the most simple and unequivocal manner possible. They have seen folly and disappointment inscribed on every other remedy, and on all unscriptural modifications of the true remedy; and that, in every age and in every place; and they depend alone, under God, upon 'the truth as it is in Jesus.'

To accomplish their end, it is evident that Missionaries must be employed among the Heathen: for how shall they hear without a preacher?' Rom. x. 14. But it may be necessary, perhaps, to admonish a sanguine and inexperienced zeal, to pay more attention than is usually paid at this day, to the words which follow, How shall they preach except they be sent?' i. e. How can it be expected that they should succeed in such a work, till God has called and qualified them for it? The work of a Missionary is as arduous as it is honourable: he is, in an eminent degree, a living sac

rifice to God and man: he needs not, indeed, the learn ing and address of the Schools, but the higher attainments of divine knowledge and spiritual experience. Good men, like Moses, may be so sensible of the greatness of such an undertaking, and of their own inability and infirmities, that even when really called, they may err in standing back; but there are others, whom the Apostle would have rejected as Novices, lest their elation should end in their falling.* Such have a zeal, indeed, but without knowledge; either of themselves, or of the work which they would undertake. They are ready to cry aloud and spare not; but, too often, it is vox et præterea nihil, sound without sense. They distinguish not between business and bustle. Some truths, by their way of handling them, become unwholesome; being unmixed with a scriptural proportion of other important truths; this crudity, however, they mistake for the whole counsel of God;' and, regardless of admonition, confidently rush forward to declare it.

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But what result can be reasonably expected from such an experiment? Evidently, as the fact has too often declared both at home and abroad, (and I am led to speak thus much, more from what has been observed at home than abroad) that the Gospel itself, under such an exhibition of it, would be rendered suspicious, if not ridiculous and abortive. Like the rashness of Israel at Ai,† such precipitance has not only brought shame and sorrow to the Church, but cause of triumph to its enemies. Thus Israel, at another time, fell before the Heathen, but thought the presence of their ark would support their cause. Their ministers brought it into the camp; and, in a spirit of vain confidence, they 'shouted till the earth rang again.' Alas! they had but the

* 1 Tim. iii 6.

↑ Joshua vii. 4, 5.

Symbol of the divine presence, while God himself was departed from them. And the Philistines foughtIsrael was smitten-the Ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were slain :' 1 Sam. iv. 10, 11.

Those who act with the purest designs (and I am persuaded each of the present Missionary Societies thus acts) cannot with all their care prevent the intrusion of specious but unsound characters. Yet we should recollect the commendation given to one of the first churches for their zeal in this respect: Thou hast tried them that say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars.' Such carnal Gospellers may, indeed, like those of old, 'take upon them to call over those who have evil spirits, in the name of the Lord Jesus; but the evil spirit may be expected still ready to reply, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? and will probably also 'prevail against them,' till they return from their rash attempts to exorcise the Heathen naked and wounded: Acts xix. 14, 15, 16.

On the contrary, brethren, we should endeavour to find for our messenger, a man of God-instructed, experienced, holy, patient, laborious. This work peculiarly needs an apostolic spirit; and, for instances of this spirit, we need not ascend to the time of the Apostles. Look at the Missionary Swartz-one who has but lately been called to rest, after half a century spent in traversing thousands of miles, and that in a burning climate. Blessed with innumerable seals to his ministry, this man had acquired such a character among the Heathen, that when among a barbarous and lawless banditti-hordes that live by war and plunder, carried on against one another, and all around them; this man, I say, as one evidently engaged only on a heavenly design, was suf

fered to pass with his catechumen through contending parties of them, unsuspected, unmolested. They said, "Let him alone. Let him pass. He is a man of God." This Apostle of our own day has saved the inhabitants of a fort from perishing by famine, when the neighbouring Heathen have refused to supply it with provision on any other assurance than that of his word. Even that tyrant, Hyder Ally, while he refused to negociate in a certain treaty with others, said, "Send me Swartz-send me the Christian Missionary," said this Mahometan: "I will treat with him, for him only can I trust."

I make no apology for stating these facts in a sermon. I embrace them to demonstrate the importance of character in a Missionary. I am only sorry that the time will not permit me to enlarge upon them.

One fact more, however, I will mention. When the late Rajah of Tanjore was dying, and desired to commit his adopted son, the present Rajah, to this Missionary, and with him, of course, the care of his dominions; the Christian, after the example of his Master, was not to be dazzled by 'the kingdoms of the world, nor the glory of them.' He persuaded the dying prince to place the government of his son and of his affairs in other hands. But a greater honour was reserved for him, which he could not refuse: for, at his death, the present Rajah shed a flood of tears over his body, mourned deeply while attending his funeral, and has written to England for a monument which he intends to erect in Tanjore to the memory of his virtues.

God, indeed, needs neither the piety nor parts of such men as Swartz, Brainerd, and others of like mind, to effect his work; but he has made it evident that 'them that honour' him he will honour' uor have we reason to doubt but that the faithful and zealous labours of the