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lation of those passions that set Rome on fire, to find a plea for destroying Christians. The same opposition to truth remains. It may show itself more clearly in Burmah or at Constantinople, but elsewhere it is a smothered flame. So our missionaries find it, in the contemptuous neglect of their instructions, and in the angry treatment experienced by their converts.

Lay out of the account then, that whole class of trials, which the missionary must endure from the sinfulness of his own heart, powerfully operated upon by the peculiarities of his situation; and another class arising from the separation of a thousand strong and tender ties binding him to the land of his nativity; -and only contemplate the determined opposition of infidelity; the cold indifference of nominal Christianity; the sluggishness of those, who have something more than a name to live;-together with the "gross superstition, the absurd polytheism, the monstrous idolatry—the obscene and barbarous rites, savage sacrifices, and atheistic philosophy" of the unevangelized nations; and tell me, is not the work of the missionary difficult. Blessed be God! there is a power that can sustain him!

4. The work has its pleasures too. The Lord has honored it beyond all other employments. He is himself the great Agent in every movement made toward its accomplishment. The church on earth is his delight; and the chief reflection of his glory on all other works of his hand, is derived from her. Whatever else he does, beside directly advancing her interests, is done in subserviency to her ultimate triumphs. Not a wheel nor movement in the great

machine of nature, but conspires to make Zion the joy and the beauty of the whole earth. In this point, all his counsels meet. Here he displays himself in all the glory of the God of holiness-in all the loveliness of the God of mercy-in all the terrors of the God of justice. Is there nobler pleasure in the universe than to be a fellow laborer with God?

It is a work in which God commands men to engage, with all their strength. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." What pleasure is purer, than that which flows from obedience to the highest authority, pursuing the most benevolent ends. The noblest employment in which the mighty powers of angels are engaged, so far as we are permitted to know, is "ministering to them, who shall be heirs of salvation." And as faithful missionaries are laborers together with them, so are they fellow heirs with them to the purest joys.

Moreover, it is a work that will infallibly succeed. Those divine promises, on which our confidence rests, are many, and of no doubtful import. "Ask me," says Jehovah, "and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." In addressing Zion as already shining forth in the glory of the Lord, Isaiah rises on his subject in the language of rapture; "Lift up thine eyes round about and see; all they gather themselves together: they come unto thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see and flow together, and thine heart shall be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee: the forces

of the Gentiles shall come unto thee: the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall utterly perish; thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates, Praise; thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light: and the days of thy mourning shall be ended; thy people shall be all righteous; I the Lord will hasten it in his time." The occasion does not permit me to multiply quotations from those prophecies, which are so replete with comfort to all who are waiting for the future "Consolation of Israel." But on their broad basis, I may affirm without fear of contradiction, that all who engage with pure motives in hastening their fulfilment, will find their hands strengthened and their hearts encouraged. Could you give such assurance of success to the enterprising merchant, the sails of his ships would instantly whiten every sea. Could you inspire the bosom of the patriot soldier with the same unerring confidence, with how light a heart, and firm a step, would he march into the field of battle! Happy, thrice happy, are they who pledge their lives and undivided strength to labors, which shall never be disappointed while the Almighty sits upon the throne. Let some infer from the strength of divine promises, the inutility of human efforts; let them steel their bosoms against the cries of so many millions yet urging their way, in unbroken ranks, to the world of weeping and despair-and that too by the very argument that would nerve them with invincible strength in any more earthly enterprise; they are welcome to all the pleasures of sturdy indolence and to all the gratification they can derive

from cankered silver and gold. Theirs is neither the temper, nor the pleasure, of the self-devoted missionary-whose eye is fastened on the promise, while his hands lay hold on the work, that will result in glory to God, and everlasting life, to perishing millions.

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Earth has its pleasures-they may flutter around the iron bound chest of the miser-or the voluptuary's scenes of dissipation—or the philosopher's study —but they alight no where except on the heart of benevolence. To carry relief to the agonized victim of disease-to wipe away the tear that glistens in the eye of misery, is a luxury of delight, of more value than crowns and diadems. Follow then the missionary into the wigwam of America, or the mudwalled cottage of the South Sea Islands, where a family of young, untutored immortals clusters around him. He begins his darling theme and tells them of the love of Jesus. He first catches the eye of onepresently of another-and another, till all listen with deep attention to the wondrous story of "God manifest in the flesh." They weep in view of so much goodness. They shudder at their own ingratitude. He bends the knee in their behalf, at the family altar then first erected-gives them his blessing-and retires. The seed is sown. Ere long, the husband and the wife, with their domestic band, present themselves an offering unto the Lord-hope lights up the smile of joy in their habitation-faith lays hold on everlasting things--obedience to God crowns the remnant of their days; at length they fall asleep in Jesus, and afterwards, awake to all the raptures of heaven! Has not that missionary a title to joys the world knows

nothing of? O! could we estimate the value of the soul-could we weigh it in the balances of the sanctuary as it is weighed by Him who made it-could we lift the covering which God in mercy has thrown over the torments endured by the damned, or penetrate the veil that conceals the glories of heaven, then might we estimate the pleasures, that will be derived to the faithful missionary from the labors to which he is called.

Nor may we forget the "recompence of reward” that awaits him in heaven. The Scriptures establish the principle, and urge the motive, of future rewards proportioned to the attainments here made by the children of God, and the good they may have accomplished, or had it in their hearts to accomplish. He that improves ten pounds is made the ruler of ten cities, and he that improves five pounds has rule over five cities. "Those that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

These prospects, which the faithful missionary is permitted to indulge, connected with the delight that flows from cordial obedience to the will of God, and the happy, though limited success of his labors, may well refresh his spirit amid the thousand nameless trials and more obvious difficulties that present them

selves to him.

II. Let us glance very cursorily at the evidence which missionaries ought to possess, that they are called by the Holy Ghost.

1. They should ardently love the work. Indeed it is an essential qualification of "elders,” who take the oversight of the flock already collected, that

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