ed soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noon day, and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought; and make fat thy bones. And thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not, and they that shall be of thee, shall build the old waste places. Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach-the restorer of paths to dwell in."

With promises so unrestricted, have we attributed too much to the influence of missions upon their friends and supporters? And as these promises are made only to the benevolent; can they be realized, to those who neglect the most prominent objects of mercy? Since none can hope to prosper, who disobey an express command, then they who aim at the universal triumph of Christianity, and none but they can effect the blessings enumerated in these texts. "O, that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments, then had thy peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea, thy seed also had been as the sand and the offspring of thy bowels as the gravel thereof."

If then the reaction of missionary labor be so salutary to the church---if it tends to increase her piety and energy--if it aid in supplying her domestic destitution, and if it place her in the only position, in which she can expect the greatest spiritual blessings-then

IV. It must encourage, and enable the church, still more to extend her limits, and thus to return to the heathen world, the full influence of her improved condition. This consequence is certain. It would be a dictate of selfish policy, if it were only a secular interest. Missionary effort is its own reward.

We have seen that it not only demands large resourses; but supplies the resourses it demands-There is however, a nobler principle for this enlarged policy, than personal recompense. Confidence is gathered from success and energy from action. Nothing so effectually convinces the church of the impotence of her own might, and the necessity and adequacy of her Redeemer's promised aid, as the effort to restore a rebellious world to its God. It is the most stupendous enterprize, in which mortals have an agency. It taxes the utmost strength and then makes demands upon faith, which infinitude alone can meet. One reason why so little is accomplished by Christians is, they make such feeble and irresolute experiments. They

measure their duty by their untasked ability and untried faith. What has not been accomplished by those, who were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might? What would not be effected, if we took the Lord at his word, and attempted what his commands enjoin? Just so far as the church can be prompted to exertion, will she gather confidence for new and greater efforts, until finding herself omnipotent in the strength of her Lord she makes her final struggle, and lays a conquered world at the expectant Saviour's feet.

This subject teaches, that lengthening the cords of the church, is strengthening her stakes. The two are inseparable and they who confine themselves within their own limits, and labor first and exclusively to improve their domestic interests, without obeying the injunction, and following the order of the text, will probably accomplish as little at home as they attempt abroad. The spirit itself is wrong. We have no right to make that distinction between the domestic and foreign field-between ministerial and missionary obligation, which the bible no where recognizes but every where rejects. How is it possible that we can learn the rule and object of the ministerial office from the bible and yet believe that our principal exertions should be limited to the one seventieth part of the habitable world!

Our only authority for preaching the gospel--the promises and predictions of the word of God-the purchase of the Saviour's deaththe triumph of his oppressed church-the highest glory of his mediatorial reign, all demand the universal diffusion and dominion of Christianity.

The Apostles who received the commands of the Saviour from his divine lips, and who were inspired both to comprehend, and fulfill them, have marked out the course of their successors. There was a peculiar alliance existing between the seed of Abraham, and their covenant God, and it was for this reason, and not on account of mere private relationship that the Apostles were instructed to begin at Jerusalem. But how did they interpret, and obey this clause of their commission? One of them remained permanently at Jerusalem-the rest left their native land and kindred and went every where preach ing the Gospel of the kingdom. Paul has taught us his interest in his countrymen. "His heart's desire and prayer to God, for Israel" was that they might be saved. He could "wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren,-his kinsmen, according to the flesh :' and yet while multitudes of his countrymen were perishing, and he

knew it, he went far hence, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Most evidently he must either have considered his obligations, as connected more with the number to be saved, than with his personal relationship to them, or he must have believed that he was doing more for the benefit of his countrymen by foreign than domestic labor.

If then we have not mistaken the genius of the Gospel, the comcommand of the Saviour, and the spirit and policy of his Apostles, we may learn how to promote the interests of the body to which we belong. If with the purity of her faith, the harmony of her measures, and the mutual confidence of her children, the church of our fathers should arise, and in the strength of her Saviour's promise, devote her main energies to the conversion of the benighted and neglected nations of the earth; we believe she would soon far exceed her present strength and limits, and if her bright example was not followed, outgrow as well as outstrip every other Christian body in the land. We do not derogate from the importance which may attach to domestic interests; but we do dissent totally, from the opinion, that they merit that priority and almost exclusiveness of attention which they have recieved. If what has been advanced in reference to the reaction of missionary labor be true--if the corresponding sentiment of multitudes the most judicious and devoted in the land be correct, there can be no question, that our prosperity will be proportioned to our efforts in the cause. Shall we not then arise, and take a stand on this subject? Ought not the church to equip herself for this warfare? Should not all her institutions, and resources be brought to bear upon this most desirable object? We pray for her peace, and desire her prosperity-here are the means to obtain them both.

And even if there were no superior advantages resulting to our own country and kindred, from foreign missions, the command of Christ and the necessity of its fulfilment remain the same.

Christian brethren, we are debtors to our Saviour,-we are debtors to the heathen. The highest honor of the one-the greatest happiness of the other, alike demand the universal diffusion of Christianity. We are guilty of rebellion against the Saviour-we rob the ignorant and perishing of their due, if we refuse to preach the Gospel to every creature, With as much justice, may we withhold the property of one to give it to another, as monopolize the blessings of Christianity or offer them only to our friends, when they are equally designed for the world.

Christians have lost sight of their inviolable obligations. They regard the salvation of the world, as a work of gratuity: some fancy it a work even of supererogation. We all act as though we had the liberty to withhold the eternal life, and seal the eternal death of those countless millions, whom Christ has thrown upon our mercy, for their all. Nay, brethren, we act as though we were resolved, in violation of all justice and mercy, to leave a prostrate, bleeding world to perish. As Christians we must not exclude from our minds the truth that where there is one soul to be saved in America, scores are perishing in other countries. We are bound to remember that the number of Gospel ministers in America and in Pagan countries, differs, not in proportion to the multiplicity, but the paucity of souls-not according to the necessities but the supplies of the places. Here there are comparitively few to be saved; there crowds are lying in hopeless, helpless wretchedness. None of these few are obliged to sink into hell-none of those crowds, we fear can rise to heaven. They know of no Saviour.

Brethren, overlook the scanty limits which define your native land, and gaze upon the world-the Gospel field. What an affecting, sickening spectacle! Covered with the dead and dying-crowded with the ignorant and miserable-the darkness that shrouds it how deep and starless! O, how few, how glimmering, how widely separated, are "the lamps of life" borne hence by the missionaries. Islands, kingdoms, and empires, without a soul, who can teach, that there is a Saviour -and yet all totally unfit for heaven-in equal need of salvation with ourselves. If there be any thing in present suffering--any thing in spiritual ignorance-unrestrained depravity-irresistible temptation and hopeless misery--any thing in the eternal and irremediable destruction of millions of immortal beings,-compassionate majority of mankind. Who, that can leave a land where so few live to perish, and so many labor to save them, ought not to go? Would not the places now occupied, be filled? Would not the souls now taught, be instructed by others? And can we refuse to go where none will supply our places, and the souls we might rescue from hell cannot be delivered without us? If going reacts upon the best interests of the churches-if staying keeps millions out of their dues-out of heaven-what is wanting but the spirit of our office to swell the numbers of missionaries a hundred, nay a thousand fold? Who will go? Who that feels himself excluded from the privilege by some insuperable obstacle, will not interest others, and pray, and contribute, and plead

for this object? We appeal to all. Centuries have rolled away unimproved. Unnumbered millions have passed into an awful eternitylegions are daily swelling the catalogue of the hopeless dead—not a moment remains to be lost. O, when will the redeemed of the Lord sympathize and co-operate with their Saviour in reclaiming a fallen world!

Church of the living God! awake. Thy slumbers, O how guilty, how cruel! Thy husband-thy Redeemer bids thee awake: and what he says to all, he says to each--awake!

Here we would close; but we cannot. There are those present who have had no interest in this discussion-some who have probably not listened to one half of its sentiments. The reasons are ob

vious. They have no interest in the heathen and none in the churches, because they have no interest in the Saviour, and none in themselves. What shall we say to such? Shall we call them blind --deaf-dead? This might delude them, with the imagination that they are objects of misfortune, not subjects of guilt. "For this people's heart is waxed gross," in the language of the Saviour," and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Fearful iniquity! after guilt had been contracted, and pardon most generously proffered-to double that guilt by despising the pardon! And O, wondrous mercy-that not only has received the sword of justice in its own bosom; but stays the uplifted arm that would bathe that glittering blade in the despiser's heart! My impenitent hearers, if there be guilt under heaven it rests upon you -if there be compassion in heaven, it seems to have been well nigh expended upon you. What have you not deserved? for what have you not resisted? What could have been done for you and to you, that God has not done? O, let his goodness, at last, lead you to repent