IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^/ y ^ e ^-«^ M!(5> ^^.^ '% ^ 1.0 [f I.I Hi Uk ^ 1^ 2.5 2.2 2.0 !.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ . 6" M.lll, ^ V2 ^ /w ^l ^ e. >> ^%J^J^ J * %?/■■ ^1 nl X Ui^ riiulUgidpiULi Sciences Corporation ,\ « r^\ '^ v ■ \ M u %•-• 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y 1458'J (716) 872-4503 r^. ^ w ^ vi^ w- M. o CiHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/iCIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian inatituta for Hiatoricai Microraproductions / Inttitut Canadian da microraproductions historiques r&)1Qft # Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filmiiTg. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically uniqub, which mav alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilme le meilleur examolaire qu'il luj a eti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-etre uniques du point da vue bibliographiqua, qui peuvent modifier una image reproduite, ou qui peuvent ex-gar une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dasaious. n Coloured covers/ Couvertura de couleur □ Coloured pages/ Pages da coulaur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagee □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees D Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicul^ „ , ,. Toronto Public Library. Reference Department, THIS BOOK MUST NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE ROOM. FEB 1 1919 HdVMH^VMitbMilit "'' -"ftrrriiffrmiMilimB 9/> TH t ]M^ V- //> 4' J-yy^ / / t Ji^i^^iK^'^'^e^ THE CLAIM OF THE SOCIETY FOB THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL, UPON ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. A SERMON BY THE RIGHT REV. JOHN INGLIS, D.D. BISHOP OP NOVA SCOTIA. LONDON: HENRY WIX, 41, NEW BRIDGE STREET, BLACKFRIARS5 AND J. G. F. & J. RIVINCfON, 8T. PAVI.'8 CHUBCHYAnCi ANO WATEaLOO PLACb, PAtS. MALL. 1840. I: i ii 8 i^-. i TI tONDos : RICH;^RD.t:LAT, rRINTEK, BREAD tTREBt HItt. !• -. j i jtaanai s,.. a mtr i 1 TO BIS GRACE THE PRESIDENT, TO THE VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND TO THE INCORPORATED AND ASSOCIATED MEMBER* •t ' THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. » RE8PECTPUIXY AND ArFECTIONATEtY PRESENTED. WITH AN EARNEST DESIRE AND PRAYER THAT IT MAY BE MADE INSThUMENTAt. HOWEVER HUMBLY, TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT PORTION OP THE CREAT WORK OP THE CHURCH WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THEIR ZEAL AND PIETY, AND TO THEIR FAITHFUL AND UNREMITTING EXERTIONS. w I 1 1 v*" o SERMON. PsAiM LXVIL— Ver. 2. That Thy way may he known upon earth ; Thy saving health among all nations. This Psalm, which the Church has twice intro- duced into her solemn services, is described as o prayer for the enlargement of God*s kingdom, to the joy of the people, and the Increase of God's blessings. The observations which have been made upon it by a commentator of distinguished piety and elo- quence are well calculated to animate the feelings which we would desire to cherish, whenever we advert to the preservation of the Gospel and its holy influence among ourselves, or to the exten- sion of its blessings to all others. And these observations are so appropriate to the subjects to which I would earnestly desire to draw the deepest attention of all who are now before me, that I do not scruple to repeat them, although they may be familiar to some who are assembled in this place. « In this Evangelical Hymn," as the pious Bishop Home observes, " the hraelltish Church is intro- " duced as partly praying for, and partly foretelling, " the advent of Christ, and the conversion of the " nations, with the joy and gladness consequent 11^ H *i 8 ' '1 ' ! " thereupon. The Christian Church now uses, and " will continue to use, the Psalm with propriety, " until the fulness of the Gentiles sliJiU be come in, " the conversion of the Jews effected, and Christ " shall appear the second time, finally to accomplish " the salvation of His chosen. " In the first verse, the Israelitish Church, by " the mouth of the Prophet, cxpresseth her ardent " desire after Messiah's advent, that God would he *' mercifid unto her, as He had promised ; that by so "doing He would bless her with the blessings of " pardon and peace, of grace and glory ; and, in " one word, that He would cause His face to shine ** upon her, or show her the light of His connte- " nance^ by the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, "making her to behold the glory of God in the " face of Jesus Christ, revising her with the glad " tidings of the Gospel, and enlightening her with " the light of salvation.'* " Nor was she studious," as the same commentator observes, immediately upon the words of the text, " Nor was she studious, "as her degenerate children have since been, to " confine the favour of heaven within her - .;n pale. " If she had a good wish for herself, she had one "likewise for others; and therefore prayed that " the way of life eternal might be hiozvn, not in Jewry alone, but over all the earth ; and that the virtues of that salutary medicine which was able to restore health and vigour to the diseased and languishing spirits of men might be published among all nations,** u *t *t l( u rf.-ii.- iiv mtii . ^'1 ii,,'..'^,-i, "-— .i_r- ^ The words before us, thus explained, Vrill not, I hope, be thought inappropriate to an address which is designed, if God should graciously be pleased so to bkss it, to excite your affectionate regard for the objects and the labours of an ancien. and venerable Society, who, in their efforts for the extensive Propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have loni? been, and still arc, most anxiously desirous to make the wmj of God known upon earth and Hh samng health amon^r all nations. And if this regard shall, by God's blessing, be duly excited in your breasts, it ^vill not be difficult to amniate your desires to partake of their continual labour of liberality and love ; nor will your ^ msidera- tion be refused to the peculiar ar. tensive and pressing calls, which are maa it the present time, to cooperate, to the » ^*nt of our ability, in the holy oVjects of the c^ociety. And whatsoever your hand fmdeth to do, be per- suaded. Brethren, to do H with ipar might, m a matter involving the dearest interests of those thousands, of those tens and hundreds of thousands, of your distant brethren, who have the claims of kindred and country to urge upon your bene- volence; and deeply connected also with the eter- nal welfere of those millions of immortal bemgs, whom the providence of God has placed under the dominion of this favoured nation. Yea, do it with all your might, as a Christian duty, in humble faith and love— and the blessing of the Lord our God will surely rest upon it. I« 8 t\ m uf. \mvi I wm mrmmmimmm rrsj«i>fB--.»^s-!r~T?I!~:»i •! i ^ I . 4 8 II iiiu) \s>.li be matter ol' suxprise, but iL is nevertheless a fact, that although it is owing to this Society, under God, that our o^^n pure branch of the Christian Churrh has any existence in a large portion of the world, the l;istory and labours of the Society are very imperfectly known, even among the members of our own communion. Although it is solely owing to the efforts of this Society, under the hcivenly blessing, that the way of the Lord and his saving health have been made known to many a settlement that was sitting in darkness and in tl.c shadow of death ; yet many, who would anxiously desive to promote a know- ledge of the Redeemer's kingdom throughout the earth, have scarcely heard of the existence of the Society. Some pious clergymen have recently and publicly acknowledged, with regret, and even with shame, as they expressed themselves, that they had taken no part in the Society's objects, from entire igtiorance of their history and designs.* It has, * A very respectable Clergyman, in the immediate neighbour- hood of London, declared soiuj time ago tliat he knew nothing of the Society's operations ; and that Jie was not aware that they ever printed reports of those operations, though this lias been the'r uniform custom for nearly a century and a half. This fact was mentioned in different |.^ce8, upcn the supposition that it was a single instance of extraordinary ignorance; but ntany similar instances were found in other parts of the country. Several persons have assured themselves they were membera of this SockUjfor the Propngatkn of the Gospel, because they sub- scribed to the Society for Prmvotimj Chrhtlan Knowledge, or the Church Missionary Society. It may be hoped that such mistakes will be corrected everywhere. 1 n ^4 9 however, liappily been found, tliat as an acqimint- ance with those objects has been increased, tho desire to cooperate in them has been excited m.l the more those who are best acquainted with tucm dwell upon the benefits and blessings dispensed l.> the Society, tl^e more desirous they become to share largely in the delight of contributing, by all possible means, to their prosperity and usefulness. I may therefore hope for your patient attention while endeavouring to interest you in the history and labours of this ancient Institution of the Church. Its origin will carry us back to the close ot the seventeenth century. It was an age of licentious- ness and profligacy ;-would to God that no similar charge could be brougiit agaiust the present time! To check these great evils, several small associations were formed, in a truly christian spirit, by a few pious members of the Church, for the reformation of morah, and for religious mprovement ; and from these associations the valuable Sockty for the Pro- 2)agathn of the Gospel took their rise. It is interesting to revert to the circumstances under which these ancient Church associations were formed. At the present time, societies of various kinds are greatly encouraged by the spirit and fashian of the age; they are easily created now for any attractive, or even plausible object. It was not so when these primitive societies were formed ; they received no aid from the common m -^ "-^ <-^ (; 10 tcistc and teeling of their day, and could only look tor support in the narrow channel through which the stream of genuine christian charity was wont to flow. Their work was carried on with such lowliness of mind, and with such entire dependence upon the Heavenly blessing alone, that no effort was made to attract the notice, and win the applause of the world ; the silent, and almost secret promptings of religious benevolence were the only sources of their earthly assistance. But the hearts and the prayers of their membera were raised to Him, whose heavenly blessing was so imparted to their labours, that their grain of mustard-seed, thus sown in faith, soon became a goodly tree ; and we can now behold its branches spreading over the four quarters of the globe, dis- pensing the blessings of heavenly hope and joy to thousands who sit under their shade in holy thank- lalness of heart, and gratefully imbibe the healing dews which distil from their leavers. It is however worthy of remark, that humble as these Societies were in their origin, and circum- scribed and silent, and almost secret, as thtir first movements were, much more is fairly to be attri- buted to their influence than would seem to have been effected by their immediate agency. They first led the way, and by their example, however un- willing to display it, they pron^pted others to works of benevolence like their own, for they could not conceal tlie good to which thev were instrumental. mLA0i!mmmm>itA^.^ "''****^**KiMWUi8SSiuSSilN£jlfli Much of the first labour and bounty of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was directed to those portions of the western world, then colonies of England, which now form the United States of America; and their early records show that these first efforts were richly blest by the fovour of that God for whose glory they were made, to whose blessing they were commended. The separation of those colonies from the British Em- pire, after the lapse of many years, necessanly terminated the Society's immediate connexion with the Church which they had planted there, and watered with unceasing care. But the good seed was so happily sown, and so richly nourished by the dews of Heavenly grace, that a plenteous harvest has followed. From one end ot those extensive States to the other, the benefits derived through the instrumentahty of the Society are still cherished in grateful and affectionate recollection. It is every where, among them, thankfully acknow- led-ed, that, under the blessing of God, it is owing to the benevolent exertions and the pious care of the SocieUf for the Pvopagathn of the Gospeh who first planted that Gospel, in its purest form, among them, that a Protestant Episcopal Church has its present existence there, where happily it now flourishes abundantly. 1 know not whether any importance can be added to a fact so gratifying as this, by an assur- ance that the person who addresses you heard ^■Wi 1 \ i « ■Bbi Kt"" tiik •"■'**'**-— — '—^* I |U ■ tliese thankful acknowledgments, during the course of a few months, from seven Bishops, nearly one hundred Clergymen, and a multitude of lay mem- hers of the Church, hi various portions of that extensive country. In the fact itself, and in such grateful acknow- ledgment of it, the Society may well see cause for their own humble thankfulness; and abundant encouragement to perseverance in their endeavours to make k/wwu the xocuf of God, in the distant parts of the earth, and His saving health among all nations. The present colonies in America were but little known at the time of the Society's first labours. The greater part of them, indeed, were then under a foreign government. In New foundland, however, which was an ancient possession of the British crown, the Society had their Missionaries early in the last century : and they sent a Missionary and a Schoolmaster with the first settlers who emigrated to Halifax, more than ninety years ago, and made similar provision for other settlements, as they were formed in the forests of Nova Scotia, and the adjoining provinces of New Brunswick, the Canadas, and iVince Edward Island. This field, though thinly peopled at first, has been continually increasing in settlers. The re\olution in America added greatly to the population of these new colonies, and the Missionaries and Schoolmasters were proportionally increased, as the funds of the Society would permit. I j!ii> ii i i > i ti « i iiii il,i.:^ ^ aim i iiiii iM , mtm»»>iimmmmmmt» I.H 17 feelings, although the recital may inflict some pain upon those feelings. Much as the Society have been enabled to accom- plish in their endeavours to promote the glory of God and the salvation of souls, they have never yet been able, even in the days of their greatest prosperity, to supply all the demands which have been made for their assistance ; their means have never been as ample as they ought to have been, and as they would have been, if the calls upon them had been more generally known. But very gi'eat and important changes have occurred, abroad and at home, which will render the Society incompetent to the discharge of their high duties, in any adequate degree, unless their hands be greathj and conti- nually strengthened ;—not because they are less aided by the contributions of the benevolent than they were in former times; for happily these contri- butions are greater now than they have ever been before ;— not because the Society are less zealous and active now than they were in the years that have passed ; for never was their labour greater, nor their zeal more cpiickened, than at the present time ;— but an extended field has been opening be- fore them, until it has become so immense, that they require a great and general and permanent support, which can only be obtained by the com- bined and permanent eftbrts of all the members of the Church, throughout the length and breadth of this favoured kingdom. l\ W i } .ii^ V-^ 18 I would first beg your attention to the rapid and astonishing increase of population in those scenes of the Society's labour which have already been brought before you. The natural increase of itself has been very remarkable ; but this has been en- larged, in a tenfold degree, by emigration from this side of the ocean ; — by emigration, let it be remem- bered, which has been encouraged here, for the convenience of being relieved from the pressure of a superabundant population at home. Hundreds of thousands of your countrymen have thus been cast upon the American colonies alone, with hardly a thought of the religious destitution which awaited them upon their removal from the land of their nativity and their religion. Those who have never had an opportunity of witnessing the straggles and privations and discou- ragements to which the first settlers in the forest are exposed, can hardly comprehend their nature, or realize their extent. But if there be u situation, upon earth, which in a most peculiar manner requires the blessings of religious instruction, and religious comfort and consolation, it is that of these poor settlers in the wilderness. These blessings were their privilege (a privilege often too little valued, while it is possessed) before they left their native home ; and it has been my lot, in many an afflicting instance, to hear the loss of it bewailed in sounds of deepest sorrow, prompted by an aching heart, and proved by a stream of tears. And well may such sorrow \vrii\i^ the hearts of those who l»oh<>Ul their children growing up without an oppor- tunity for admission within the pale of the Christian C:hurch,—who hear no messige of peace and joy for themselves or for their offspring, from the voice of the messenger of the gospel,— to whom the puhlic worship of God is no longer known, and the hread of life and the cup of salvation are no longer consecrated for the nourishment of their souls. Sad indeed is their lot who have to view, and sadder still the lot of those who have to feel, the anguish that is added to the pains of sickness, the hitterness of woe that presses upon the sorrows of the unconsoled mourner, and the terrors which crowd around the wwhited hed of the departing sinner, when no commissioned herald is within their call to proclaim that exceeding weight of glory, at the contemplation of which every pre- sent suffering is accounted light; to soothe the saddest sorrows hy the chartered promises of the Saviour's mercy, which hind up the broken heart, and comfort those who mourn; and to direct the closing eye to an incormptible inheritance, and shed hope and peace and joy, the blessed fruits of hea^ venly faith in the Redeemer, around the bed of the departing. A single instance of privation and suffering like this would surely be sufficient to awaken the sym- pathy of every feeling and rchgious heart. Brethren, I grieve to tell you there are hundreds oi such cases ; but it is in your power to assist in the relief of them; n2 "*<•■ r I-' I I il 20 and often, when I have heen passhig through such settlements as I liave described, from day to day, and from week to week, and have listened to the imploring importunities of tlie best of their inhabit- ants, and particularly of the aged and the fathers and mothers of families among them, for pastors and teachers ; and when I have been depressed in spirit at my inability to afford relief; the reflection has !)een forced upon my mind, that if their case could be fully brought before the numerous congre- gations in this happier country, and the scenes which are there continually presented could be faithfully represented here, there would soon be a Missionary and a teacher in every place where they are so greatly needed. Nor would you be without abun- dant encouragement to assist in sending them, if you could witness the gratitude which is often called forth when these spiritual wants are relieved ; gratitude which is manifested by acts as well as words, — by acts not unworthy of your imitation here. You would find aged individuals among these settlers who, though living ten miles distant from their church, have never been once absent from the public service in the space of several years. You would find children walking nearly the same distance to their Sunday School, and never absent, nor even late, during the severity of a long Ame- rican winter.* * The instances here ut writer. to came within the view of the ' — kiini&«|iK4UKi.i. ' 1 li mMW. ' .'tJ''t*fmrn T- t-^; . VS^' :** 21 8 You \ :\\ forgive the wish to have a clear know- ledge of such facts pressed upon tlie consideration of those who are able, and haply willing, to aflbrd relief; and you will join in the p- yer that the result may be greatly blessed, to the glory of God, the prosperity of the Church, and the salvation of many souls. But it is time for me to proceed to other causes of the present peculiar pressure upon the Society, and of the present claim upon those who v;ould aid them in their holy work. Let me then next direct your attention to the Eastern possessions of the empire. The field, which, within a few years, has been opened there for the labours of the Society, is immeasurable. Millions, yea, many millions of our fellow-creatures in that quarter of the world, and under the dominion of this country, now sit in deplorable darkness, which can only be dispelled by the light of reve- lation. The tcdff of God is still unknown to these pupils of pagan and mahomedan superstition ; His mving health has never yet been sufficiently carried to these nations ; but there are signs of the times in those extensive regions, which now especially invite the earnest efforts of the Society. The Church, in all her integrity, is spreading through our settle- ments there, and now exercising an holy influence over our own countrymen who are mingled with the heathen. The word of life eternal is forcing its way through the impediments of languages I-; ^ •-.} J I ■"■■**», 22 which have hitherto teen scarcely known. The native teachers are going forth, duly instructed and prepared hy the care of our Society, to triumph over all the opposition of Vasie; and the idols are now tottering, at the announcement of the name of Jesus, in the very heart of India. The Society dare not abstain from attempting to perform their part in holy endeavours to promote the conversion of these nations, and bring them in humble faith to the teaching cF the Saviour of the world, and to a share in the triumph of the cross of Christ. Another extensive and urgent call is iriade upon the Society by the rapidly-growing population \\\ the convict colonies; and the demand thus made no one, who is influenced by love of the Redeemer,. would disregard. Many thousands of our country- men willingly avail themselves of the encourage- ment which mvites emigratic^n to those shores; and these are equally objects for the benevolent carf' '^f the Society with those in the Western hemisphere, whose • L^e has ah'eady been set before you. But besides these, several thousands are forcibly sent thither every year in ^ punishment for offences committed here; and they are so trans- ported for the benefit of the inhabitants of this kingdom. It is not easy to imagine the full extent of w'?kedness, of darkest and rieadliest character, to which these victims of sin ar? carried by the enemy of souls, when removed, as they are now removed, from the influence of all those habits and -^— ^aa^ Naiteffii-'i;;:' H l'% i H i .»» restraints, which, in a Christian land like this, create ijome disconragement. and supply some check, even to the most determhied oftVnders. Dreadful, moi t dreadful, therefore, is their moral condition in the land of their !)anishment. The Sabbath is unknown among them, or known only to be most wantonly and wickedly desecrated. The name of God is scarcely mentioned by thousands, but in sounds of horrid and studied blasphemy. Reckless of all consequences, eternal as well as temporal, these unhappy offenders have already fidlen into the lowest depths of iniquity; and unless snatched, by the infinite mercies of God in Christ, as brands out of the fire, must fall into the lowest depths of perdition hereafter. To raise them from so deplorable a condition, the Society are now attending to the anxious calls which con- tinually reach them from the shores of Australia on behalf of these unhappy men ; and relying upon the goodness of God to move effectually the hearts of many benefactors, they have already sent, and are still sending, at the anxious call of the Bishop, many Missionaries to labour for their rescue.— And who among you will refuse to aid this pious work, and to join in the hope and the prayer of the Society, that the mercies of God, through the mediation of the Redeemer, may reach the hearts of these convicts, in their distant banish- mcnt, and bring back these guilty wanderers, in lowliest penitence and faith, to the home of then- % L ""1/*^' ^-Ci. i '* 1' >-^, f^'^Ste^ »^^_.i«* ^.-,„. >., I i :, i ii . I I ' *-*^. * I ■;.aaja. 24 Father and our Father, of their God and our God? But still another call has reached the Society, on behalf of several hundred thousands of the African race, who were long, too long, held in debasing bondage in other colonies of the empire, until christian sympathy finally accomplished its labour of love, and freed them from their fetters. For many y( ars a small portion of this race, in one of the West Indian Islands, was under the temporal as well as spiritual care of the Society ; and by the example which these have now furnished, they have given testimony to the wisdom which guided the Society's christian treatment of them. To these, while they were slaves, the door of gradual emancipation was judiciously opened, which was all that the Society could then lawfully do ; and they were duly prepared for entire freedom, by instruc- tion in the value of that gi'eater ema^ncipation from the bondage of sin, with which Christ can set the sinner free. The altered condition of the vast body of emanci- pated slaves has presented an oppoi-tunity, which the Society could not omit to improve, for the spiritual instruction of this long neglected race, to whom an heavy debt is due, and numbers of Missionaries, and Catechists, and Schoolmasters have accordingly been employed for their benefit, and many chapels and schoolhouses have already been erected. ^iii>i>wii'i([iiffiriini>n.i ft i MM M hy ^ .-»» H You will be prepar ed to hear that such multiphed have been thus brought and extensive claims as upon the Society could not fail to call for an expenditure much beyond their annual mcome; and you will be grieved to hear that more than 100 000/. of their capital has been exhausted. They hoped, indeed, for a long time, and might well encourage the hope, when, in fulfilment of the inspired promises of prophecy. Kings had long been the nursing fathers, and Queens the nursing mothers of the Church of Christ, that it would be universally considered the paramount duty of a christian state, to extend the richest blessing it enjoys, the possession of pure and undefiled rehgion, to the remotest corners of the empire. Unhappily this obhgation upon the State is now disputed, and the discharge of it has been too successfully opposed. The partial assistance which had always been afforded by the Government, iind was materially augmented soon after the commencement of the present century, has been chiefly withdrawn, and unhappily at the very time when there was the utmost need for its large increase. It would ill become me in this place, and upon this occasion, to express all that may be felt, and very properly felt, respecting the opinions which have been main- tained, and the policy which has been pursued, hi this matter. But however erroneous thes >pinions may be, and however unwise that policy, the Colonial' Cirurch, and many meritorious Mission- lel 26 aries and innocent families, have suffered most grievously, and most undeservedly, from the measure which has been dealt to the Society.* Nor, perhaps, can effectual relief be hoped for, until the whole body of the Church, including all her lay members, shall respectfully and continually make known their feeling with one voice, in all christian meekness, but with christian firmness, from every parish in the kingdom; and so encourage and strengthen the rulers of the land in every effort they may piously desire to make for efficient support to the Colonial Church. But in ^he mean time you will readily perceive that the whole Church, and every individual member of it, is called upon,— the laity of every rank and condition, whether rich or poor, as well as the Clergy,— yea, all without exception, are called upon to join with one heart and one mind, according to their several ability, in relieving the Society from their present emban-assment, and aiding them greatly to extend their important bene- fits on every side; and enough, I trust, has been said to satisfy you, that if the hands of the Society be sufficiently strengthened, by large and continual • It would be painful to give a detail of all the sufferings which have lately been brought upon the Colonial Church. Many of her Clergy have been involved in distress, from which they will probably never be relieved. One Missionary was compelled to sell his books, that he might purchase bread for his children. Her glebes, her schools, her colleges, have all shared in the suffering. "^^S^13ffWffHWHlM~JJ BBjW iftlP yiiff i^ y ?jh iMiiiM i tiiiliiliA iiiiii fB'M i . 27 contributions, they are not only equal to the won- derfully extensive work to which they are now called; but from their principles, and constitution, and management, are eminently qualified to be the almoners and agents of the whole Church ra this pre-eminent work of christian charity. Permit me. then, to suggest that, in addition to very liberal contributions, as evidence of heartfelt interest m the object, and as an earnest of future and constant assistance, evern member of this flock, yea. every member of the Church, should be enrolled as a per- manent subscriber to the Society. Let not the poor be discouraged because they can give but little, for that little may be largely blessed in various ways. We would not have one devout member of the Church omitted from this holy union; and, that all may 1-we an opportunity for being permanently connected with this good work, your spiritual pastors will be delighted to receive the name of coem imtMual of their flocks who shall desire to be enrolled as a member of the Society. , . , And may not this duty be pressed more strongly upon you, my christian brethren, when we advert to the striking insufficiency of all that has yet been done for the transcendent objects of the Society by this great, and prosperous, and wealthy kmgdora. which holds the loftiest station among the nations of the world. Who. indeed, can believe that the annual contributions of the whole kingdom have f 8 I I ': ■ J M // H not yet reached a fourth-part of tlie amount which the Society require for their present annual work ? and remember, for it is most important to remember, that the extent of this work is increasing, and must continue to increase, as the population in our wide- spread colonies must be continually extended. Who does not feel that this great and flourishing portion of the kingdom, eminently distinguished in science and arts, and manufactures and wealth, has not yet had its proper share in this holy undertak- ing ? Its wealth supplies millions for the great objects in which it engages with worldly objects, while perhaps only hundreds have been scantily supplied for the highest objects of Heaven. But the pious members of the Church are not deaf to the present call. They encourage us to hope for better things in future. How delightful would it be to see the members of our flocks, as in the infancy of the Church, bringing their weekly offerings, on the first day of the week, as God hath prospered them, to minister to the most distressing, because the spiritual, neces- sities of their absent and distant brethren ! Let me implore you not to regard the present merely as a common appeal to your benevolence, upon some ordinary occasion. The interests of the Church among your distant countrymen, and the eternal happiness of those members of the same spiritual body to which you belong, which ought to be more dear to you than any earthly considera- .. -■^..iM-. :£-.i...T.=. ^. y- , . li nwiimiiftn. t e I C < ■ - «Wlllll>[ >»>i iM il W I» M1»JIHMi» I 29 tions, depend so much upon the success of the exertions which the Society are now making, and must never cease to make, that you wiU surely consider their appeal deserving of your kindest consideration and your utmost bounty. Do not be satisfied with giving, in such a cause, that which you can spare without the shghtest sacrifice; rather resolve, with holy David, that you will not offer unto the Lord your God of that r^hich doth cost you nothing ; and count it a most happy oppor- tunity which is now afforded you for contributmg, from the richest of your su'stance, tc the cause of God, and of His Church, and to the salvation of many souls. This is a feeling which once animated the members of our Church throughout the land; and splendid memorials of it suiTound us on every side. Never was there a time when there was greater need of its general revival, than in the present day ; and we humbly trust that the great Head of the Church is now, in His mercy, awakening many of His faithful servants to a sense of the necessity for this revival. We rejoice to bear testimony to noble individual instances of such awakened feehng ; and to testify also, that many of the oldest members of our Society, though they cannot be numbered among the most wealthy, upon considering the great disproportion of their annual subscription of two guineas, with the amazing extent of the calls upon the Society, and the surpassing importance of the objects of y *f ^kc^( ■>>-.. tliose calls, have lately raised tlieir annual suli- scriptions to five, ten, fifteen, and even twenty guineas. May the hearts of many who can spare such contributions be effectually moved to imi* tation of such goodly examples ;---but let them not discourage the humblest offerinLCS of the poor. And now, my christian hearers, allow me, in conclusion, to inquire,— Who that is called by the name of his Redeemer, and knows the value of that name, is not ready to acknowledge that the enjoyment of such unbounded blessings and mercies as have long been extended to this most favoured land is designed to draw him more closely to that Redeemer? What Christian does not know and feel that he can only draw nigh to the God of his salvation by exercises of faith, and penitence, and prayer, and charity, the well-beloved of Heaven ? and what charity is so ennobled, as that which would largely contribute to making the way of God effectually known to all around us, by helping to provide a free course for the Gospel, and ex- tending the blessings of its saving health to the remotest part of our possessions ? May you then be animated in the fulness of an humbled, but thankful and confiding heart, thus to draw nigh to God, and be engaged in this labour of christian love. May you thus plead at the throne of grace, and plead successfully, through the only Mediator, for the long preservation of those niercies and thtwe blessings, which have been 31 most richly bestowed upon yourselves ami upon your country. May you be thus anuuatcd, by the blessing of God, with pure and holy desire and de- termination to be eminently distinguished in the noble work which now solicits the most earnest cooperation of every heart and every hand. Let the insignificance of all earthly possessions, while expended only on earthly objects, be deeply im- pressed upon your minds; and recollect the value that may be affixed to them, if blessed in their application to those objects which will be held in everlasting remembrance, when the transitory con- cerns of this fleeting world shall all pass away and be remembered no more. But, my Christian brethren, it must be your desire that, through divine grace, the work to which you are now invited, may be rendered instrumen- tal in making the way of God effectually known and followed by ourselves, and by all who pertain to us, at home, as well as abroad ; and then may you hope for that blessing from above which will animate you in the noble desire and endeavour to carry a knowledge of the saving health which h s been revealed from Heaven to the remotest corners of the earth. This indeed, in its fulness, must be the work of God, and His promise will be accomplished though man should never move in it, and all the powers of darkness should be leagued against it ; for the time is coming when the earth shall be filled with the knozdedge of the Lord, yea, as 8 ; % » I 32 extensively and completely as the waters cover the sea. In the abundance of His goodness. He gra- ciously permits His servants to assist, under His guidance, in preparing for this great display of His power and His love ; but all that we would endeavour to do must be attempted in the full spirit of that gospel which is thus to overspread the earth with its holy and its heavenly influence. And therefore, while we afford our little help, and give continually from our substance, and even to the fullest measure of our abihty, the offering must be made, not as unto man, but unto God. It must be attended by the fervent supplications of faith for that blessing from the Lord of all, which is essential to the value of the largest contiibutions of the wealthy, and can sanctify the luunblest tribute of the poor, the widow's mite, the cup of water, or the whispered prayer ; and can impart to these a value and a virtue which were never yet possessed by any unhallowed gift, however large in its amount. And to Him, from whom alone the blessing can proceed, to Fath*»r, Sc i, and Holy Ghost, three persons in one undivided godhead, be ascribed all the glory, and all the praise, now, henceforth, and for evermore. Amen. THE END. R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET lUtL, LONIIOM. I A f &ir. .i