of God, that we make provision for the wants of our fellow-men; and that we labour in our several vocations, and according to our several opportunities, to promote his glory and the salvation of mankind, by advancing in the world the kingdom of his dear Son. In this way only can we contribute to the highest interests of man in this life-to his still higher felicity in the life to come: in this way only can we enjoy the reward of turning many to righteousness, and become the happy instruments of contributing to usher in those glorious days, when "the knowledge of God shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea;" and when, "from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, his name shall be great among the heathen; and in every place incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering."

We of this church, and of these congregations, have loud calls upon us for these labours of Christian benevolence. Many of our congregations in different parts of the state are, from various causes, in a destitute and suffering condition-deprived of the stated services of a clergyman, and unable to support a stated ministry. Many, too, are the members of our church, who, in remote districts of the state, are "scattered," like ancient Israel, upon the mountains," and are "as sheep that have no shepherd." Accustomed in the old settlements, from which they have removed, to the stated services of our church, their present destitute condition is rendered more painful by the remembrance of the days which are past, when they went to the house of God with such as kept holy-day. No longer do they hear the joyful invitation"Come, let us go into the house of the Lord;"

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the joyful sounds of the sanctuary still vibrate on their ears; but these sounds, heard no more, are fast dying away. No more do they accompany the servant of their Master in the confessions and supplications of the sanctuary, nor unite with him in the praises which ascend from its courts to the God of their salvation. No more do they hear from the lips of the man of God the words of truth -when bowed down by their sins, receive the authoritative declaration of pardon. Alas! no more are their children washed in the regenerating fountain of baptism; no more do they break at the altar the bread of life, nor celebrate there the infinite love which purchased their redemption. Oppressed with spiritual want, they pour forth their tears and their entreaties. I have seen and I have heard them. Brethren, they pour forth their prayers and entreaties to you. You, who hear the Gospel proclaimed, have compassion on those who never hear the joyful sound-you, who are blessed with the services and ordinances of God's church, have compassion on those who are destitute of these sources of mercy and grace-you, who are nourished and protected in the fold of salvation, take compassion upon those who wander as sheep having no shepherd. They entreat you, as men, to establish among them those religious institutions which are necessary to nourish and preserve social order. They entreat you, as Christians, to extend among them that Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation. They entreat you, as churchmen, to aid in establishing among them that church which holds forth this Gospel in its most pure, primitive, and affecting form. They do not wish to make your bounty tributary to any selfish views.

I know that, to the best of their ability, they contribute to the support of the Gospel among themoften, indeed, when compared with their means, their contributions are unusually liberal; but their nun.bers are small, and their means comparatively diminutive. The fund for the support of missionaries is formed almost entirely of the contributions of the congregations of our church. These contributions have not hitherto been adequate to the support of a sufficient number of missionaries. Unless these contributions be increased, the present number of missionaries must be diminished, support withdrawn from many of them who have laboured with much self-denial and zeal in the vineyard of their Master, and the progress of our church in the new settlements arrested. So important did this fund appear to the convention of our church, that they have directed the amount of the contributions in the various congregations to be put on record in their printed journals. It certainly is desirable that the contributions of congregations should be first in amount, that stand first for respectability and wealth; but, brethren, more especially is it desirable, that, in the most important act of Christian benevolence, the diffusing the blessings of the Gospel, you should not be unmindful of the command-"While we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those that are of the household of faith."

SERMON XX.

HEARING THE WORD.

JEREMIAH xiii. 15.

Hear ye-for the Lord hath spoken.

THAT almighty Being whose throne is the heavens, and whose footstool is the earth, hath yet promised his especial presence in the assembly of the saints below. He whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, vouchsafes to dwell, by the ministry of his word, his sacraments, and his ordinances, in temples made with hands. The invocations of his ministering servants and people have this day ascended to the throne of him who heareth prayer; and in this temple, we trust, he hath recorded his name, and here he will come and bless the congregation of his worshippers.

For his worship, indeed, this sanctuary is primarily devoted. To excite men to the duty of homage and supplication to their God and Saviour, and to form in them the dispositions that fit them for this duty, are the great objects of the instructions which will be here delivered. Still, preaching, that is, hearing the word of God authoritatively read, or expounded, or enforced, as a mean to this important end, is a divine ordinance, an appropriate exercise of the sanctuary; and therefore, not only for celebrating his holy sacraments, for offering to his glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer

and thanksgiving, and for blessing the people in his name, but also for hearing his holy word, is this place consecrated to the Lord. And in regard to what in this place the authorized servants of the Most High may "deliver out of God's holy word, or agreeably to the same," may be applied the admonition of the prophet to Israel-" Hear yefor the Lord hath spoken.'

The message relates not to the evanescent concerns of the present life; it is not the message of erring, impotent, and perishing man; "the Lord hath spoken," that Almighty Being by whom are settled the destinies of eternity-" hear ye." Hear it

I. With humility;

II. With reverence;

III. With earnest attention;

IV. With contrition united with lively gratitude; V. With lively faith;

VI. With a firm resolution to apply it to the purposes of your salvation;

VII. With prayer for the enlightening and quickening influences of God's Holy Spirit.

These are the dispositions with which we should hear the word of God.

We should hear the word of God

I. With humility.

1. For its Author is divine; and,

2. Its truths are incomprehensible.

We should hear the word of God with humility1. For its Author is divine.

Human records may be turned over by the bold hand of criticism; genius, aspiring and unlicensed, VOL. II.

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