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 The Importance = True Religion, and the 
 ' . Vl Care of God to Preserve it. 
 
 SERMON; 
 -. | THE SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND 
 (Incorporated by Royal Charter, ) 
 
 FOR 
 
 PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, 
 
 » 
 
 AT THEIR 
 ANNIVERSARY MEETING, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 HIGH CHURCH OF EDINBURGH, 
 FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1807. 
 
 : BY ‘WILLIAM DAULGLEISH, D. D. 
 
 \ LATE MINISTER OF PEEBLES. 
 _ ——————— — — — — — ——— ————————————_—_——— ee 
 
 Cdinburgd: ~ 
 
 PRINTED BY TURNBULL & GALL, OLD ASSEMBLY CLOSE. 
 
 SOLD BY OGLE & AIKMAN, W. WHYTE, W. DICKSON, AND 
 W. HUNTER. 
 =e 
 
 1808. 
 
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 es a” 
 
 AF FO ee 
 Ty it wh & he Bop eascres 
 
 Society Hall, Edinburgh, June 5. 1807. 
 
 ft a General Meeting of the Society in Scotland for Propagating 
 Christian Knowledge, pagan 
 
 The Right Honourable Francis Lord Napier, (in absence of the Right 
 Honourable the Earl of Breadalbane, President,) in the Chair. 
 
 The Thanks of the Soctety were given from the Chair, to the Rev, 
 Dr Dalgleish, for his excellent Sermon, this day preached before them 5 
 and he was requested to give his Manuscript of the same, to be printed. 
 for the Benefit of the Society. 
 
 JOHN CAMPBELL, Secretary. 
 
 eS 
 
 Pamphlet Colléctisn 
 Duke Divinity Schsdi 
 
The Importance of True Religion, and the 
 Care of God to Preserve it, 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Psa. xxu. 27. 
 
 All the ends of the world shall remember, 
 and turn unto the Lord; and all the 
 kindreds of the nations shall worship be- 
 
 - fore thee. 
 
 THis psalm was composed by David, 
 and contains a most remarkable prophecy 
 of the sufferings of Christ, and of the 
 glory that should follow. The Psalmist 
 begins by predicting the sufferings of our 
 Saviour at the hand of God, and the very 
 words which he was to utter on the cross, 
 “ My God, my God, why hast thou for- 
 saken me?’ He next foretels his crucifixion 
 bymen : “ The assembly of the wicked have 
 A 
 
4 
 
 inclosed me ; they pierced my hands and 
 my feet.” From the purchase of our sal- 
 
 vation by these sufferings, he proceeds to 
 
 predict the promulgation of ittomankind by 
 
 the gospel: ‘“ I will declare thy name unto 
 
 my brethren ; in the midst of the congre- 
 
 gation will I praise thee :” and then in the 
 text, he foretels a general conversion of 
 . men to God, after they had greatly depart- 
 
 ed from him. “ All the ends of the world 
 
 shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; 
 
 and all the kindreds of the nations ‘shall 
 worship before thee.” 
 
 These words. containthe four Bay pi 
 truths ; which, by divine assistance, I shall 
 briefly illustrate. 
 
 I. That to “glorify and enjoy God, are 
 the great ends of our creation and redemp- . 
 tion, and should therefore be our chief 
 care. | ial a all 
 
 Pty oer ait 
 
 Il. That to direct men in these most 
 important concerns, God, from the begin- 
 ning of the world, gave them proper ifor-° 
 mation of his character, will, and grace, as 
 
5 
 
 _ their rule of duty, and their guide to happi- 
 ‘ness. : 
 
 Ill. That before the coming of Christ, 
 . the worship of the true God should be ge- 
 nerally forgotten, and neglected by man- 
 kind. 
 
 IV. That, by the gospel and the grace 
 of Christ, all nations should be brought to 
 remember, and turn unto the Lord, and 
 
 to 0 a before him. 
 
 aE To ol and enjoy God, are the 
 great ends of our creation and redemption, 
 and should therefore be our chief care. 
 
 This is the great and fundamental article 
 of religion. Itis the primary truth contain- 
 ed in the text ; and whether we attend to 
 _ the character of God, to the nature of man, 
 or to the sacred scriptures, we have the 
 strongest evidences of it. From the views 
 which the Scriptures give us of God’s in- 
 finite. nature and perfection, and of the 
 Persons in the God-head, it is evident that 
 He_ is infinitely happy, and can derive no 
 addition to his happiness from created 
 
6 
 
 beings. His great design, then, in the’ 
 creation and government of the world, must. 
 have been the manifestation of his perfec-— 
 tions, and the conferring happiness on intel- 
 ligent creatures in proportion to their. ca~ 
 pacities. ‘Infinite wisdom does nothing in 
 vain. All God’s rational creatures are made 
 capable of glorifying him, as theirchief duty, | 
 and of enjoying him as their chief happi- 
 ness. To this noble class of beings man, 
 evidently belongs. But to what purpose 
 hath God distinguished man with a’ rational. 
 and immortal soul resembling himself, but 
 to make him capable of religion and eternal 
 life? Why hath our Maker, given us pow- 
 ers of knowing and worshipping him, but _ 
 that we should know and worship him? 
 Why hath he made us capable of imitating 
 him in all his moral perfections, but that, - 
 we might imitate and resemble him? Why. 
 hath he endowed us with faculties of choos-. 
 ing and enjoying him, as our chief: good, ‘ 
 but that we might, thus choose and enjoy. 
 him? Or why hath he, of his unparalled 
 mercy to our fallen. world, devised and | 
 vealed a scheme for our recovery, Fal, that 
 
 » we shouldheartily accede to it? IsGod the 
 Father of our spirits, and the former of our. 
 
y 
 
 7 
 
 body, and ought we not to glorify him, in 
 
 our body and in our spirit which are his ? Is 
 heour constant preserver and generous bene-- 
 factor,and ought we not toliveto his honour, 
 in whom we liveand move, and have our be- 
 ing?” Or hath God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost, revealed and offered himself to us as 
 the God of Salvation, who: will deliver us 
 from every evil, and raise us to the highest 
 happiness we can desire or enjoy, and 
 should we not embrace him as our God and 
 Saviour—love him with all our heart, er 
 serve sin with all our strength : ? 
 
 What the character of God, and the ‘na- 
 ture of man, so clearly demonstrate on 
 principles of reason, God hath expressly de- 
 clared to usin his word. “ And now,” said 
 
 he to Israel, “ what doth the Lord thy God 
 
 require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy 
 God, to»walk i all his ways, and to love 
 him, and to serve the Lord thy God, with 
 all thy heart, and with all thy soul * >?” 
 “« This people have I formed for myself; 
 they shall shew forth my praise 7.” When 
 Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, 
 
 * Deut. x. 12. + Isa. xliti, 21. 
 
8 
 
 on purpose to shew men the chief end of 
 their existence, he concluded it in these 
 words, “ Fear God and keep his com- 
 mandments, for this is the whole duty of 
 -man*.” “Seek ye first the kingdom. of 
 God, and his righteousness, and all inferior 
 things shall be added unto you,” was the - 
 injunction of our blessed Saviour. -Accor- — 
 dingly, while Mary was all attention to his 
 gospel, ‘“* she hath chosen,” said he, “ the 
 good part, which shall not be taken away | 
 from her.” But of Judas, who betrayed 
 him, he declared, “ It had been: good for 
 that man if he had not been born.” In — 
 like manner Paul, after explaining the 
 works and ways of God, affirms this funda- 
 mental truth of religion, ‘ Of him, and 
 through him, and to him are all things; to 
 whom be glory for ever}.’ And om this 
 solid principle he enjoins this comprehensive — 
 duty, “ whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, 
 or whatsoever ye ete do all to the glory of 
 God ¥, ts eel 
 
 Il. To direct mankind to nila 
 
 * Eccles. xii. 13. + Rom. xi. 36. 
 £ 1 Cor. x, 31, 
 
_ to vestigate, and of 
 
 9 
 ends of their creation and redemption, God 
 from the beginning of the world gave them 
 proper information of his character, will, 
 and grace, as their rule of duty and their 
 og 
 
 ‘God in his word assures us, that when > 
 he created man, he made him after his own 
 image, in knowledge, righteousness, and 
 holimess ; giving him at once instruction in 
 religion, and a disposition to practise it. 
 The existence of the creation demonstrates 
 the existence of the Creator; its greatness, 
 proves his mmensity ; its order, his wisdom ; 
 of his creatures, his boundless goodness : 
 so “ that the invigble things of God, from 
 the creation of the world, are clearly seen 
 by the things which he hath made.” He 
 hath endowed men with the power of reason 
 to enforce 
 the principles and duties of religion: “ For 
 the Gentiles which have not the law,” says 
 Paul, “ do by nature the things contained 
 
 - in'the law; these having not the law, area 
 
 law unto themselves; which shew the work 
 of the law written in their hearts, their 
 
 errr 
 
10 
 
 thoughts the mean-while ites = or mee 
 excusing one another oben 
 
 But in every state of man, the only per- 
 fect rule of religion is divine revelation ; 
 which confirms all the principles of natural 
 religion, and informs us of many. things ne- 
 cessary to be known, which our own reason 
 could. not have discovered. So Job, the 
 most ancient of the inspired writers, tells 
 us, “ That to man,” literally to Adam, 
 “God said, The fear of the Lord, that is 
 wisdom, and to depart from evil is under- 
 standing j.”.. Moses farther informs us, 
 that when God created man, he put him 
 into the garden of Eden, and in trial of his. 
 obedience, forbade him ep pain of death, to 
 eat of the tree of knowledgeof good and 
 evil; declaring, that while he abstained from 
 it, he should have right to eat of the tree of 
 life: thus graciously giving hislaw to man in 
 the form of a covenant. Moses also relates, 
 that to keep mankind in mind of this great 
 principle of religion, that there is one God, 
 who in six days created all things, and rest- 
 ed on the seventh, God ordained, that from 
 
 * Rom. ii. 14, 15. + Job xxviii. 28. 
 
on 
 
 the: beginning to the end of the woudl one 
 day in seven, should be observed as a holy 
 Sabbath, consecrated tothe duties of re- 
 ligion, for the honour of God and.the hap- 
 piness of man. When through the temp- 
 tation of Satan, our first parents violated 
 God’s covenant of goodness, and involved 
 themselves and their posterity in sin and 
 misery ; God revealed for their salvation 
 his covenant of grace, promising to them 
 the Saviour, as “ the seed of the woman, 
 who should bruise the head of the serpent, 
 while the serpent bruised his heel.” It -is 
 highly probable, that he at the same time 
 appointed the oblation of animal sacrifices, 
 as prefigurations of the Saviour’s sufferings 
 for our redemption, and signs of men’s com- 
 pliance with his covenant. 
 
 The first generations of men, abusing 
 their long life of near a thousand years, to the 
 - purposes of licentiousness and ungodliness, 
 God raised up Enoch, the seventh from Adam, 
 to give them a-shining example-of religion, 
 and to warn them of a future judgment. 
 The wickedness of men continuing and in- 
  ereasing, God, ‘to give them an awful de- 
 monstration of his hatred of sin, and of his 
 
 i 
 
he 12 
 
 dates of pail distro il , 
 world of: the’ungodly by. the. deluge ; but — 
 preserved righteous Noah and » his. fa- | 
 mily for re-peopling the earth. He*also 
 _ established his covenant with him, promis- 
 ed never again to destroy the earthyby a 
 flcod, and wheat in token thereof, he would re- 
 store his bow in the cloud, which, fromthe _ 
 state of the atmosphere during the. time of 
 the deluge, could not appear. For presery-. 
 ing, in some degree, religion in the old, and. ; 
 establishing it in the new world, the life of 
 righteous Noah, was prolonged for six:hun- . 
 dred years before the flood, and. ‘three hun- 
 dred and din after rar! th heaubnbipeie 
 OUT reread pea ~ 
 About ie time of his ae which was . 
 two thousand’ yeats after the creation of 
 the world, and as many before the birth — 
 of Christ, men began to degenerate: from 
 the worship of the only true God ato — 
 polytheism. In the wisdom of God itpwas 
 ordained, that true religion should be: pre- 
 served among the people from whom Mes- 
 si#h was to spring. Accordingly, ‘Ged ‘ap- . 
 peared to Abraham in Urr of theChaldees, £ 
 and called him frém among: his” idolatrous ‘ott 
 countrymen, into Canaan, established /hisco- - 
 
13 
 
 -yenant with*him, and renewed it with his 
 son Isaac; promised them a most nume- 
 rous-offspring, and the land of Canaan for’ 
 _ their inheritance; and: also that of their 
 
 seed the Saviour should be born. Jacob, 
 
 on his death-bed, having assembled his 
 twelve sons in his presence, predicted to 
 
 them, in these’ words, the advent of the 
 _ Saviour, “ The sceptre shall not depart from 
 Judah, nora law-giver from between his 
 
 feet, until Shiloh come ;. and unto him shall 
 . the gathering of the people be *.”» About 
 
 the same time, Job made a most remarkable 
 profession of his faith in Christ, for the in- 
 
 struction of the Gentiles. . “ O that my 
 
 words were now written!” said he, “ O that 
 
 they were printed in a book! that: they 
 
 ‘were graven with an iron pen and lead, in 
 the rock for ever! For I know that my 
 
 Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at 
 
 the latter day upon the earth: and: though 
 
 after ‘my skin, worms destroy this bod Ys yet 
 
 m 4 flesh shall 1 see God nit fit 
 
 The Almighty, to avea to men that he 
 
 was the only true God, and the Saviour of his 
 
 people, inflicted on impious Pharaoh, his 
 
 -. Gen. xlix, 10. - °-# Job xix. 23.26. 
 2 
 
 7 
 
th > 
 
 country, his subjects, ~via 
 
 their idolatry, many miracu 
 
 lous judgments, 
 from which the Israelites were preserved. He 
 
 brought them in safety out of Egypt, and 
 bhiroitiiyh the depths of the Red Sea,in whieh 
 their enemies, Pharach, and all his hosts, 
 
 Be. 
 ee. 
 War 
 
 were crowned. He with great solemnity ! 
 
 ratified his covenant with them at Mount 
 
 Sinai, and gave them his laws, moral,cere--_. 
 
 monial, and political, which they should — 
 
 obey. He dwelt with them in a pillar of 
 
 cloud by day, and of fire by night; and . 
 
 ’ constantly in a cloud of glory over the ark 
 of his covenant in the tabernacle, from which 
 he gave them revelations of his will, as their 
 situation required. For their support im a 
 barren and parched wilderness, he gave 
 ‘them manna from heaven to eat; and» for 
 
 drink, drew from the rock in Horeb a eco- 
 
 pious stream of water, which followed them 
 all the way, tll they reached the confines — 
 
 of the promised land. Having in this mé 
 raculous manner supported some millions of 
 Israelites during forty years, in the barren 
 desarts of Arabia, and instructed them in 
 
 the knowledge of his will, God ain ane 
 
 the idolatrous Canaanites, ard put his peo: 
 ple in possession of their land, as a centri- 
 
15 
 
 eal region of the earth; that the knowledge 
 
 and worship of the true God might be pre- 
 served among mankind. The whole tribe 
 of Levi, was by divine authority set apart, 
 as the ministers of religion, and distributed 
 among the other tribes for their religious 
 instruction. As extraordinary teachers, 
 prophets were often sent by God, to give 
 farther. revelations of his will, to denounce 
 his judgments on the wicked, and call them 
 to repentance ; and. particulasly to predict 
 the character, sufferings, and exaltation of 
 Christ; and to direct markind to believe in 
 him for salvation. That these divine reve- 
 lations might not be lost or corrupted, the 
 prophets were commanded by God,tocommit — 
 them to writing; and the priests and Levites — 
 to read them publicly to the people, that 
 * all poight: know them. 
 
 ‘The: dispensations ii God's. providence 
 aa the design of his revelations, for 
 preserving religion and virtue in the world. 
 For if God raised up powerful empires in 
 succession, to punish nations and cities for 
 their wickedness, 1 it was to. teach them, that 
 * verily there is a God that judgeth in 
 the» earth.” . If he sent, Shalmaneser king 
 
-16 
 
 of mre to destroy the prees 
 dom of the ten tribes, and disperse them 
 over his great. empire ;, or if he suffered. 
 Nebuchadnezzar to destroy. perecemine al 
 for their idolatry, to carry the Jews 
 to Babylon for seventy years; vila 
 their repentance, raised up Cyrus king of 
 Persia, to restore them to their own land; 
 it was to shew to Jews and Gentiles, “that ae 
 it is an evil thing for men to depart from. ve 
 the living God.” In short, vietonn Goat 
 fulfilled his promises, or. his threatenings 
 concerning cities or nations, his eva 
 sign, as he often declared by his prophets, 
 was, that these cities or nations, “ should, 
 know that he is the Lord.” aCe ae 
 treba, 
 TL. In the text it was ‘igiemaindallins 
 before the coming of Christ, the worship of * 
 the. true God would be generally forgotten 
 and meena by mankind. ibe a matt 
 
 “(4 fa, 
 
 This melancholy ton Pik Reesainierd 
 the world hath but too amply. verified.——_ 
 True religion, must always have ‘fpagpinns | 
 God for its object,-and his moral character 
 and revealed will for its rule. False reli-_ 
 gion originates in a departure from the wor- 
 
VW 
 
 _ ship of the | trac God. fo that of ‘dats: 
 - meni lt To this cause Moses 
 aseribed the idolatry of Israel. “ He for- 
 sook God, who’ made hm,” says he, “and 
 lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation.” 
 edie detained 
 
 him to anger they sacrificed unto devils, 
 not to God*.” From the same principle, 
 Paul deduced the practice of idolatry, by 
 the Gentiles. “ When-they knew God,” 
 says he; “they glorified him not as God, 
 neither were thankful: but became vam in 
 their imaginations, and their foolish heart 
 was darkened. Professing themselves to 
 be wise, they became fools, and changed 
 the glory of the incorruptible God, into an 
 image made like to corruptible man, and 
 to birds, and ‘four-footed beasts and creep- 
 ing things +" 
 
 “The “commencement of idolatry was 
 early’: “ Your fathers,” said Joshua to the 
 Israelites, “ dwelt on the other side of the 
 flood in old time ; even Terah,; the father 
 
 * Deut: xxxii. 15, 16, 17. . + Rom i. 21; 22, 232 
 
18 
 
 of ‘Abraham, and the father: of Neches qa 
 they served other gods *.” Tts progress 
 was gradual. Men first’ worshipped’ God ; 
 in his creatures ;. then the creatures as re- 
 presentatives of God; and finally the crea~ 
 
 tures themselves, and even 
 
 their own hands, either as presi heen | 
 bitations of gods.. The sun, which by its 
 light and heat, cheers and animates the — 
 Kibet was considered as the noblest: image — 
 of God, and minister of his providence; and 
 was the first and) most general object of 
 idolatrous adoration ; for all the nations, in” 
 Europe ahd Asia, Africa and Americay as 
 their histories inform us, worshipped the 
 sun. The moon and the other planetary 
 orbs followed of course; being nearer to the 
 earth, than the: fixed stars, they were sup- 
 posed to have much influence on human’ 
 affairs ; which, with ‘ignorant, and. ‘super- 
 stitious men, not only increased ae : 
 but also led to judicial astrology and divi- 
 nation. Accordingly, in the Shansefit, 
 which was the ancient language = 
 Brahmans in India, and among all the na 
 tions in Europe, the days of the week re- 
 
 Oe Kish” RRiW. ee ae 
 
ip - 
 
 ceived their namesfrom the sun, moon, and 
 stars, which were supposed to rule on these 
 days. 
 
 But these works of God, from being 
 worshipped only as representations of him, 
 came very early to be considered and wor- 
 shipped as so many distinct deities. So Job 
 informs us: “ If I beheld the sun, when it 
 
 _ shineth,” says he, “‘ and the moon walking 
 
 in brightness, and my heart hath been 
 secretly inticed, and my mouth hath kiss- 
 ed my hand, this also were an iniquity to 
 be punished by the judge; for I should 
 have denied the God that is above.” __ 
 
 - Angels were generally believed to be an 
 order of beings, holding an intermediate 
 rank between God and man, and were wor- 
 shipped: good angels, that they might be 
 friendly to men; and evil angels, that they 
 might not hurt them. Eminent men too, 
 the fathers of nations, the founders of king- 
 doms, or the inventors of useful arts, were 
 not only respected in their life, but believ- 
 
 * Job xxxi. 26, 27, 28. 
 ee 
 
20 
 
 ed at their death to rank with good angels — 
 in heaven, and had divine honours paid . 
 to them. Reason taught, and rational 
 heathens acknowledged only one supreme 
 God, an eternal, self-existent Being, the 
 Creator and Lord of all; but) superstition 
 gradually devised such numbers and) varie- 
 ties of inferior deities, that the worship of 
 the great Creator, was lost amidst the wor- 
 ship paid to the creatures. Heayen and all _ 
 its hosts ; earth, and every thing belonging _ 
 toit; elements, animals, and yegetables, were 
 worshipped as gods, or the habitations of 
 _gods; so that Hesiod and Varro computed 
 the gods worshipped by the heathens, to 
 be no fewer than thirty thousand. _ - . 
 
 To keep men in mind of their gods, and 
 give them neareraccessto their presence, ima- 
 ges of them had, so early as the days of La- 
 ban, begun to be made. In succeeding ages, 
 as riches increased, and the arts of engraving, 
 sculpture, and architecture advanced, idols 
 were adorned, and over the heathen world, 
 had magnificent temples built, and numer- 
 ous priests ordained to preside in their 
 worship. The Romans adopted the gods 
 of every nation they conquered, and 
 
~ 
 
 21 
 
 “built the Pantheon, as a general temple, in 
 which were placed the idols of all the chief 
 gods worshipped over the empire. | Inevery 
 heathen nation, polytheism and idolatry 
 were laid as the basis of their laws and go- 
 vernment ; interwoven with their constitu- 
 
 tion, civil and religious ; protected by their 
 
 princes ; supported by their priests; and 
 which, though: some of their wisest philoso+ 
 phers, as Socrates, Plato, and Cicero; could 
 not help disapproving, they all advised men 
 not to alter. | 
 
 “Ne We tmuléitude of gods worshipped by _ 
 the heathens distracted their religion, and 
 turned it away trom the only true God, so 
 their mean and immoral characters, shame 
 fally debased it. Cicero charges ‘with this 
 erimé, the philosophers, and especially the 
 Poets, who were more generally the instruc= » 
 tors of the people. ‘They introduced,” 
 says he, “ gods inflamed with rage, and 
 
 ‘ burning with lust. They represented to 
 
 us, their wars, their fights, their battles; 
 
 and their wounds, their hatreds and dis- 
 
 cords; they related their births, and: their 
 deaths, their complaints, their lamentations; 
 they shewed their licentiousness expressed 
 
 “sais fi i 
 
22 i 
 
 in every kind of intemperance ; their adul- 
 terles, their chains, their embraces with the 
 human species, and mortals begotten by © 
 immortals *,” 
 
 Religion is the chief part, and foundation 
 of moral righteousness. Piety and virtue 
 derive their obligation from the same ra- 
 tional nature of man, are enjoined by the - 
 same authority, the command of God, and 
 directed by the same rule, the moral cha- 
 racter, and laws of ‘God. In proportion, 
 therefore, as true religion hath beenknown 
 _ and practised by men, has been the prac- 
 tice of virtue: flourishing, as piety hath 
 flourished ; decaying, as true religion hath | 
 decayed. Most of the gods worshipped by 
 the heathens had been men, their charac- 
 ters always imperfect, and often grdssly: im- 
 moral. The worship-paid to such deities, 
 in place of improving, corrupted the mo- 
 rals of their worshippers. The sacrifices of 
 their innocent fellow-creatures, nay of their - 
 ‘sons and their daughters to devils, were what 
 devils only could have devised, and tended 
 to render men like to them. The heathen 
 festivals held in honour of Pan, Bacchus, 
 and Venus, were authorized indulgences to 
 
 * Cic. de Nat. deor. lib. 1. 
 
23 ’ 
 : dhe grossest fisatitiondieuds which, under. 
 ~ the form’of religion, i in place of raising men 
 ‘to the image of God, tended to degrade 
 them below the beasts. The corruption of 
 the morals of the heathens, from their cor- 
 rupted religion, all their writers testify : and 
 _ Paul, who knew them well, publicly affirm- 
 
 ed that, “as they did not like to retain 
 God in their knowledge, God gave them 
 - over to a reprobate mind, to do those things 
 _ which are not convenient ; being filled with 
 all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, 
 covetousness, maliciousness ; full of mur- 
 der, debate; deceit, malignity ; whisperers, 
 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, 
 boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedi- 
 ent to parents *.” 
 
 - But as before the coming of Christ, the 
 Gentiles had grossly departed from the know- 
 ledge and | profession of the true religion, 
 so the Jews had greatly degenerated from 
 the sincere belief and practice of it. The 
 Sadducees, who affected to be the chief 
 men of the nation, denied the immortality: 
 of the soul, the resurrection of the body, 
 and a future state of retribution; and in- 
 _dulged themselves in’ the pursuits of ambi- 
 * Rom. i. 28, 29, 30. 
 
 s 
 
24 
 
 tion and lusury. _ The Pharisees, who wete 
 the great professors of religion, were gene- 
 
 rally more desirous to be applauded of © 4 
 
 men than approved of God ; and “* worships 
 ped God with their mouth, while their heart 
 was far from him.” The Scribes, who were 
 the public interpreters of the law; often 
 made void the commandments of God by a 
 greater regard to the traditions of men. 
 The Priests, who were the appointed: mini- 
 sters of religion, performed its rites, its sas 
 crifices, and washings, but were not careful 
 to explain and recommend what these were 
 ' appointed to signify. The general body 
 of the nation, like their leaders, though they 
 
 retained something of the form, had’miser- 
 
 ably fallen from the power of godliness. In 
 compassion to his degenerate people, grow-. 
 ing fast in sin and ripening for destruction, 
 God sent his prophet, John Baptist, to call 
 them torepentance, to pomt out the Saviour, 
 and exhort them to embrace him; but few 
 comparatively complied with his exhortation. 
 He at the same time, sent his only begotten 
 Son, possessing all the characters of Messiah 
 the Saviour, which the prophets had predict- 
 ed. But thougha number were brought to 
 receive him, the great: body of ‘the nation 
 
25 
 
 rejected him. . More desirous of earthly 
 than of heavenly blessings, they wished 
 more for Messiah as a great. temporal 
 prince, who should deliver them from the’ 
 dominion of the Romans, and make all na- 
 tions subject to the Jews, than as a spiritual 
 Saviour, who should rescue them from sin, 
 Satan; and condemnation to ‘hell, and 
 raise them to the image and favour of God, 
 and the eternal enjoyment of himin heaven. 
 Hearing his divine discourses, full of grace 
 and truth, many of them acknowledged, 
 *« Never man spake like this man,” yet few 
 - believed and embraced his gospel. Be- 
 holding his miracles of infinite power and 
 goodness, which God only could perform, 
 many of them exclaimed with astonishment ; 
 «« It was never so seen in Israel ;’ yet the 
 chief men of the nation ascribed these mi- 
 racles to confederacy with Satan, whose 
 kingdom and power Christ came to destroy. 
 When he affirmed himself to be the Son- of 
 God, the Sanhedrim pronounced him guilty 
 of blasphemy, and adjudged him to death. 
 And though after his resurrection from the 
 dead, his ascension to heaven, and the effusion 
 of the Holy Spirit on his disciples, many em- 
 braced the gospel and became partakers of 
 
26 
 
 its invaluable benefits; yet the Jewish nation, 
 rejecting the Son of God, were rejected from 
 being his people, and exposed to his heaviest, 
 judgments. So Josephus their historian, 
 who witnessed both; their sin and their: pu- 
 nishment, says of them, “I do reckon that 
 if the Romans had made any longer delay 
 in coming against these wicked men, the 
 city would either have been swallowed up 
 by the ground opening upon them ; or have ~ 
 been overflowed by water; or else destroy- 
 ed by fire like Sodom: for it had brought 
 forth a generation of men, much more un- 
 godly than were those who suffered such 
 
 punishments *.” o. 
 
 Such was the universal degeneracy of 
 mankind, and the usurped dominion of Sa- — 
 tan over them at the coming of Christ _ 
 The superstition of the heathens, the. pre- 
 judices of the Jews, and the evil principles 
 and dispositions of both, were combined to 
 support it. Nothmg but an extraordinary 
 interposition of the Almighty was able to 
 overthrow it. ‘ For this purpose was the 
 Son of God manifested, that he might de- or 
 
 * Josephus’s Wats, Book V. Chap. 13. 
 
, a4 
 
 _ stroy the'works of the devil.” Accordingly; 
 when Christ was about to enter on his suf 
 ferings for our salvation, he said, “ Now is 
 the judgment of this world ; now shall the 
 prince of this world be cast out ; and I, if 
 I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all 
 men after me*.” Which brings me to 
 shew, } "00 cies Ont’ tf 
 
 IV. That by the gospel and the grace of 
 Christ; all nations should be brought to re- 
 member, and turn unto the Lord; and to 
 worship before him. 
 
 The coming of the Saviour was the era 
 of light, reformation, and happiness to the 
 world. Like the sun rising above the ho- | 
 
 -rizon, and dispelling the darkness of might, 
 and the shades and damps of the morning, 
 so did the Sun of righteousness, by his hea- 
 venly influence of truth and grace, dispel 
 the darkness of heathenism, illumine the’ 
 shadowy dawn of the Patriarchal and Jewish 
 _ dispensations, and bless the world with the 
 ‘clearest revelation of religion and salvation, 
 that ever was given by God to men. He 
 
 * John xii. 31, 32 
 D 
 
~ 
 
 28 
 
 confirmed that fundamental sinaivietlig 
 gion, that there is one God, a Spirit infinite 
 im essence and in al] perfection, the ‘Creator, 
 the Preserver, and Ruler of the whiverse. — 
 He revealed more clearly than had been — 
 done before, the Trimity of persons’ in the 
 Godhead ; the works they. severally perform 
 in the scheme of our salvation ; the regards 
 that are due to them; and the blessings’ we 
 derive from their joint operations. | He in= 
 stituted Baptism in the name of the Father, 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, asthe — 
 sign of our compliance with ‘the cavenant : 
 of salvation; the Lord’s Supper, as_ ‘the 
 token of ‘our adhering to it; and both to 
 be seals on God’s part, of all its blessings. me 
 He explained the moral law in its. just 
 meaning and extent, as the rule” of our 
 duty ; enjoined by his divine authority the — 
 strict observance of it; and enforeed it by — 
 ‘his perfect example. As the most powerful 
 motives to religion, he shewed the unparal- 
 leled love of God displayed in our salvation, 
 declared the immortality of the soul, the 
 resurrection of the body, the solemn judg- 
 ment which he will hold upon alt men at. 
 the end of the world, the eternal happiness 
 in heaveri to which he will then exalt the 
 
“29 
 
 righteous, acid the everlasting punishment 
 in atl, to which he will vee: ¢ the wick= 
 ed. Dis 
 
 oY my net 
 
 For the more extensive sHigniiston of 
 the gospel, Christ called his twelve apostles 
 and seventy disciples, to co-operate with him, _ 
 both in preaching it to the Jews, and con- — 
 fizming the truth ef it by miracles. Adter 
 _ his resurrection, he gave them conimission 
 to go’and preach it to all nafions. \ Having 
 aseended: te the throne of his kingdom in 
 heaven, he, te qualify them: fer this great 
 office, sent down upom them, at the feast, of 
 Pentecost, hisHoly Spirit,mstantly endowing 
 them with the knowledge of all languages, 
 and giving such testimony to the word of 
 his grace, that when Peter explained: to the 
 Jews that miraculous event, three thousand 
 souls were converted to the faith and. obedi- 
 ence of Christ.  ‘* Theze were: there; dwell- 
 mg at Jerusalem,’ says: Luke *,. “Jews, 
 devout, men, out of every nation under hea- 
 ven, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites ; 
 and. the dwellers m Mesopotamia, and Ju- 
 dea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 
 
 = Acts-it. 5,°9; 10; tle 
 
: 
 ‘ 
 
 $0. 
 
 Phrygia, est Pamphylia; in rapping 
 the’ parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and stran= 
 gers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes’ 
 wai Arabians,” who witnessed these wonder- 
 ful works of God, and could ‘not *fail ‘to 
 publish them in all these’ countries: Our 
 Lord foretold, that before the destruction — 
 of Jerusalem, which took place about thirty- 
 eight. years after’ his death, “the gospel — 
 should ‘be published among all nations *.” 
 Paul testifies, that before’ that secon 
 gospel: ‘was preached to every creature which 
 is under heaven.” About asedicon ibe 
 after the ascension of Christ,’ Pliny” the 
 younger, stated to’ Trajan the’ Emperor, 
 that the Christian Religion’ “ had ‘so over- 
 spread cities; villages, ne the open country, 
 that the heathen temples were almost wholly: _ 
 deserted {.” In the year of our Lord, 209., 
 Deceit in his public defence of Christi- 
 anity, made this declaration of its ‘most ex- 
 tensive spread; “ The Parthians, said he, the 
 Medes, the Elamites, and those who dwell in 
 Mesopotamia, Armenia, Phrygia, Cappado- 
 cia; the inhabitants | 3 Pontus, and Asia, 
 ~t Rs ; oft: { : 
 * Mark xiii. 10. + Col. i. a 
 t Plin. lib. x. Epis. 97« 
 
 a) 
 
31 
 
 and Pamphylia ; those who dwell in Egypt, 
 _those’ who» possess the region of Africa, 
 which is’ beyond Cyrene}; the’ Romans ‘in 
 their colonies’ the Jews and other nations 
 dwelling near Jerusalem; also the nume- 
 rous people of the Gaetuli, and many other 
 nations of the Moors; the Spaniardsthrough 
 all their territories, and the diverse nations 
 of the Gauls; the places: of the Britons, 
 which had been inaccessible to the Romans, 
 were yet become subject to Christ ; likewise 
 the Sarmatians, and Dacians, and Germans; 
 and Scythians, and many hidden nations, 
 and provinces, ‘and islands unknown to ‘us, 
 which I cannot enumerate ; in all which 
 Christ: reigns, possessing an empire more 
 extensive than any of the four great monar- 
 _ chies *.” 
 
 During the three first centuries of Chris- 
 tianity; the heathen Roman emperors, insti- 
 gated by Satan, and their attachment to 
 idolatry, attempted in ten cruel persecutions, 
 to destroy the Christian church... But these 
 persecutions both preserved the purity of 
 the gospel, and contributed to the propaga- 
 
 4, 7 
 
 or 
 Le 
 
 * Tertul. advers. Judzos. 
 
32 j 
 tion of it. In the steieial wedendall 
 Constantine the emperor, having been cons 
 verted to the Christian faith, abolished 
 heathenism, declared Christianity. the au- 
 thorised. religion of his extensive 
 nae gave it sbisdcas coc. auto 
 : 100 Marie anohing 
 sisi ctbse cpedibeel sibepepealiaa of religion, — 
 ‘lakes those which preceded: it, was by the 
 depravity of men: corrupted andi, abused ; 
 and, the abuse of it was’ punished by God's 
 righteous judgments. The: Arians, Pelagians 
 and other heretics, early corrupted: the 
 church with their errors, and distracted it 
 by their ammmosities and divisions. . The 
 barbarous nations from the north, hy their 
 destructive wars and xavages, greatly dis= 
 turbed the church, and in the year 476) 
 put an end to the Western empire. The 
 degenerating church of Rome; to: imerease 
 her wealth and: dominion, corrupted the 
 truths of Christianity with. errors, its) wor-. 
 ship with idolatry, and cruelly persecuted 
 the faithful, who would not. submit to her 
 anti-chmistian dictates. About: the same 
 tume Mahomet contrived Ins: political im- - 
 posture, which, by the arms of his followers, - 
 the Saracens and’ the Turks, was forcibly 
 
83 
 imposed on many nations, to the great op: 
 pression of the churches in Asia and Africa ; ° 
 and the destruction at last of the eastern 
 empire. From the negligence of Christians 
 to propagate the gospel, and of mankind to 
 receive and preserve it, many nations are 
 
 -- still in heathen darkness. The Jews, through 
 
 et 
 
 their unhappy prejudices, have generally re- 
 jected the gospel, and excluded themselves 
 from its benefits. And it must be confess- 
 ed, that the Protestant churches, though 
 reformed from the corruptions of Popery, 
 have, in too many instances, declined from 
 the purity and vigour of the Christian 
 faith. | 
 
 - But as under the Patriarchal dispensa- 
 
 tion there wasa revival of religion, after the 
 
 flood; and as under the Jewish dispensation, | 
 there was a revival of it after the Babylon- 
 ish captivity ; so the word of God largely 
 assures us, that there will be a more glori- 
 ous revival, a more universal establishment 
 of it, and a much longer duration of its pu- 
 rity and power, in the latter period of the 
 
 _ dispensation of Christ. Thus to Abraham 
 _ God promised, “ That in his seed should all 
 
34, 
 the nations of the’earth be Nd te 
 Christ himself God hath’ P omised, * I w al 
 
 give thee the heathen forthine 1 
 and the uttermost parts of, ae 
 
 possession }.” David: pr edicted, that) in ; 
 
 consequence of the sufferings, ‘and -under 
 
 the reign of the Saviour, “vallithe ends of. 
 the world shall remember and ‘turn ‘unto ; 
 the Lord ; and all the kindreds of the na- — 
 
 tions, shall worship before him.” «© The 
 
 earth,” says Isaiah, “shall be full of the 
 
 | knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover 
 the sea. And imthat day there’ shall bea 
 
 - root of Jesse which shall stand for.an ensign ; 
 
 of the people; unto it shall the Gentiles 
 seek, and his rest shall be glorious .”. mh, Cons 
 cerning the persecuting Power, that-should 
 rise out of the ruins of the Roman’ em- 
 pire, and “ should wear out the saints of 
 ‘the Most High,” Daniel prophesied, * that 
 
 the judgment.shall sit; and. they shall take 
 
 away his dominion, to consume and destroy 
 
 it unto the end. And the kingdom, and | 
 
 ae 
 
 dominion, and the greatness of the 
 
 shall be given to the ane of the saints 
 
 iP 
 oly 
 
 * Gen. xxii. 18. + Psal. ii. 8. - 
 t Isa. xi. 9, 10. ; 
 
 —— a 
 
85 
 
 of the Most High, whose kingdom is an 
 everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall 
 serve and obey him *.”. Our Lord predict- 
 _ ed, that “ Jerusalem,” for the rejection of 
 the gospel, “shall be trodden down of 
 the Gentiles, until the time of the Gen- 
 tiles. be fulfilled +.” “ But. if the fall of 
 the Jews,” says Paul, “ be the riches of the 
 world, and the diminishing of them, the 
 riches of the Gentiles, how much more their 
 fulness? For blindness in part has happen- 
 ed to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles 
 be come in, and‘so ali Israel shall be sav= 
 ed f.”.. John assures:us, that in an advan- 
 ced era of Messiah’s reign, “ the everlasting 
 _gospel shall be preached to all that dwell 
 on the earth, and to every nation, and 
 kindred, and tongue, and people §.”. And 
 that then; and during the period of a thou- 
 sand. years, the power of Satan shall be re- 
 strained, and truth and righteousness shall 
 universally flourish. “1 saw an angel,” says 
 he, come down from heaven, having the key 
 of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in 
 his hand; and he laid hold on the dragon, 
 
 * Dan. vii. 25, 26, 27. + Luke xxi. 24, 
 ~ Rom. xi. 12, 25, 26. § Rev. xiv. 6. 
 
 E 
 
36 
 that old sérpent, called the Devil and a 
 and bound him a thousand years and cast, 
 
 him into the bottomless pit, and shut him , 
 up, and seta ‘seal upon him, that 
 
 deceive the nations no more, till! the:the 
 sand’ yéars should be’ fulfilled > ‘an ba € 
 that he must be. loosed a little season 
 o. eaffort of : . yee Sink, or J 
 This will be winentstt and most, bliss« 
 ful revolution, that, dunng) the progress of 
 time, shall take :place-inthe’ world! «It 
 comprehend ‘the abolition of pe 
 try and tyranny; the ic foam it 
 ehurches from. érroriand; corruption, a. 
 _ the conversion of thesJews, the Mahome~ 
 tans, and all heathen nations, income r 
 religionof Christ. These-greatevent avi 
 a close connection with one) ‘dnother;-and 
 must’therefore be accomplished, about ithe - 
 
 same time. ‘Like other. important: evdnts; 
 conducive to the honour ‘of God: and»toithe: 
 
 happiness of man, the panera pre y 
 they shall be accomplished’ hath) soufirr as 
 the wisdom of »God \saw fit; been predicts 
 ed in’scripture, that ‘men might Jook 
 ward, and be excited to prepaae for Reem. 
 
 iv ed * 
 13k Rev. xx. 152, 3. Y mod t 
 
"87 
 
 ‘Daniel foretold that the persecuting empire 
 of Rome, in its last, which is its papal form, 
 ‘shall exist “‘ for a time, times, and the di- 
 ‘viding of a time*.” John hath predicted, 
 that'the holy city, or true church of God, 
 shall be trodden under foot forty two 
 months; and that God’s faithful witnesses, 
 should prophecy a thousand, two, hundred 
 and three-score days, clothed in saekeloth }-: 
 that the woman elothed with the sun should 
 ‘be “san the. wilderness, a thousand two 
 hundred. and three-score days, and should 
 -be nourished there for a time, times, and 
 -half atime, frony the face of the serpent {.” 
 And ‘that the beast, or tyrannical power, 
 which’ he saw rise out of the sea, actuated 
 by another beast rising out of the earth, 
 prefigurative of the modern Roman empire, 
 under the influence of the Roman pontiff and 
 his: clergy, should continue’ forty and'two 
 months §. All these computations, under- 
 stood im the prophetic stile of;a day for a 
 -year, and thirty days to a-month, amount 
 exactly to the same number, even one thou- 
 sand two hundred and sixty years. If 
 
 * Dan. vii. 25 Rew, xi '2, 3. 
 » UgCChapi xii. 14.001) _ § Chap. xiii, 5. 
 g 7 e { 
 
38 i 
 
 then, with some learned interpreters, we 
 should reckon this period to begin, A. D. - 
 606, when Pope Boniface If, Supported by 
 the tyrant Phocas, set up his claim to be 
 the head of all Christian churches ; and Ma- 
 homet hatched his impious design, of ‘set- 
 
 ting himself up as a prophet superior to both — 
 Moses and Christ, it will end in 1866. «If, 
 
 with others, we should compute this period 
 from A. D. 756, when the Roman pontiff 
 received from Pepin king of France, the 
 
 temporal dominion of Rome, and of ‘the 
 exarchate of Ravenna, completing his cha- 
 
 racter as the beast with two horns, ecclesi- 
 
 astical and secular, the papal power will, 
 
 in some degree, continue till 2016, though 
 
 as Daniel hath foretold, it will be roe 
 
 ly diminished, 
 
 The first of these periods is pre? te 
 the last is not very distant : and the inter- 
 val between them seems not too much, for 
 the beginning and ‘completion of revolu- 
 tions, so many and so great. The first: pro- 
 pagation of Christianity, facilitated by the » 
 pitt of tongues and if of Beco mi- 
 
 wa mania; yet, it required @ Deletes of 
 
39 
 
 _ years. The same, we may believe, will be 
 the case, in the universal establishment of 
 ity, which God hath promised in these latter 
 days. The actual accomplishment of these 
 predictions, as of many others, will furnish 
 the most certain explanations of them, and 
 then the agreement between God’s predic- 
 tions and the fulfilment of them, will be 
 found to be in every circumstance, most 
 minutely exact. But, as by many things 
 the’ wisdom of God prepared the world for 
 the reception of the gospel, at the first com- 
 ing of Christ, so it is pleasing to observe, 
 that by many things he is now paving the 
 way, for that universal establishment of Chris- 
 tianity, which /shall be effected before his 
 second appearance. By the first preaching 
 of the gospel were the heathen nations con- 
 verted, from the worship of idols, to the wor- 
 ship of the living and true God); and_we | 
 are assured, . that as the means of the univer- 
 sal establishment of truth and righteousness 
 upon earth, ‘ithe gospel shall be preach- 
 ed to every nation, and kindred, and peo- 
 ple.” Through their criminal inattention 
 to Christ and: to Christianity, the Jews 
 have long continued in enmity to him; 
 now they are beginning to study more 
 
‘ 4 
 
 40. 
 
 carefully ‘the | eben salad 
 Messiah, and to have vomeseeenigeae 
 course with Christians, than in former ages: 
 The corruptions of Popery and the impos- 
 ture of Mahomet, were hatched invtimes of 
 ignorance, and have all along beer 
 
 ed by ignorance, and’ by keeping the’ word 
 
 of God, out of the hands and minds of 
 men: «Now, a spirit of free inquiry! anto 
 religious truth, and a disposition to consult 
 
 the oracles of God, as the! rule of it; is — 
 
 happily reviving; and by the artiofprint: 
 ing, the diffusion of all useful knowledge is 
 greatly’ facilitated. In Europe, the conyul+ 
 sions. and revolutions which have of. late 
 
 taken’ place in France, in Gérmany,)iand- 
 
 in’ Italy; have removed or shaken the chief 
 
 pillars, on which the fabric of popish cortup> 
 tion and tyranny hath so long’ rested. » The 
 empires :of Turkey and Hindostan,. which | 
 have ‘long ‘been the supports of Mahome- 
 tanism, dre,. ‘by: their: internal, weakness.and. s 
 
 _ corruption, tottering, and ready tov: ald. 
 The light.of the gospel,:at’ the Protes ant 
 Reformation, made ai general discovery of 
 
 the errors, .idolatries, and! tyranny of Pos 
 pery,and recoveredto trueChristianity, mul: — 
 titudes in’ many of! the nations: of Burope, 
 
 . 
 
4} 
 
 Golonies of Christians from Britainand other 
 Protestaiit countries, carried thé gospel to the 
 , long: ibenighted heathens)in America; ‘* ‘who 
 had not: yet) heard its fame,;nor seen; its 
 glory.” . Many provinces of Hindostan have 
 become. subject to. the British empire, and 
 wall} we hope, soon become: partakers of.our 
 invaluable: privileges... In. Mahometam and 
 heathen .countries; Christians; have » beem 
 preserved, and 1 many of them-are increas= 
 ihgyas-seeds: of that gloriousshanvest, whieh 
 God hath . promised: in the latter: days of 
 his Son’s kingdom. In Britain, in several 
 countries of Europe,in India, and in many | 
 States of /America, Christian: Societies have; 
 been formed, and are nobly exerting theme 
 _ selvesto: have the.scripture translated intoall, 
 _ Janguages;:andodisseminated among all na- 
 _ tions, as, the: /best: means. of diffusing’ over, 
 them the hght.of hfe, |For the same pious, 
 and benevolent; purpose, Christian Mission< 
 aries have been{ sent out; to, preach, and to. 
 plant the: gospel any Fartary:2in, the, ‘north, 
 
 in Africa: im the south, in Indian the east, 
 and in America im the west ; whose zealous 
 labours have been .crowned with remark- 
 able success. And, which is not the least, 
 promising» symptom, many thousands, of 
 
42 
 
 pious men of all denominations) “at 
 many countries, forgetting’ their ‘little dis! 
 tinctions, have united, under the’ ‘most how! 
 nourable of all appellations,' the name of 
 _ Christian, and for the best of all-designs, the 
 universal spread of the gospel; and are dai- 
 ly'and fervently supplicating. the God! of 
 _all-grace, that by his special blessing: onthe - 
 means, which they employ, ‘all ends of the! 
 earth may soon see the salvation. of God ;: 
 that so. men may be blessed: in» ramus 
 all nations ey call him blessed.” ‘bo’ : 
 eg 108 ¢ 
 Thus ia i sahil idjnotileaa oe, 
 
 portant truths: contained’ in the tenia 
 the proper improvement of them, let. us 
 ever live under the serious belief and im 
 pression, that to glorify and enjoy God, 
 our Creator and Saviour; arethe great ends’ 
 of our existence, and can be attained only 
 by" the knowledge and: practice of ‘true: 
 religion... Let us. admire the special care. 
 _ of God, to preserve among men the know- 
 ledge of religion, and thence learn its in 
 finite importance. Let us be’: to. 
 God, that while so great 4 part of the 
 world is’ involved in the darkness of hea~ 
 thenism, the imposture of Mahome* and. 
 
43 
 
 _. the corruptions of Popery, we are: bless~ 
 _ ed with the religion of. the only true God, 
 our Creator and Saviour, in all its purity 
 and perfection, as revealed in the gospel. 
 Let us make the Revelations of God the _ 
 rule of our faith ; the scheme of salvation 
 he hath held forth to us,: all our desire ; 
 his promises the ground of: our hope ; and 
 his precepts the law of our temper and con- 
 duct.» Let us bless God, who, amidst, the 
 convulsion and wreck of nations, hath pre- 
 served our happy country in possession of 
 its invaluable privileges, civil and religious. 
 ‘No: nation’ under’ heaven ‘enjoys: such ad- 
 “vantages'for improvement in religion and. 
 ‘happiness, and for.**extending them to 
 -others, as Britain.. Our best way to have 
 our privileges as a‘church and tiation pres 
 ‘served to us by God, is, that we: duti- 
 fully improve them’ to his glory and. the 
 happiness: of mankind, by -doing what. lies 
 in-our’ power to’ promote the interests of 
 ‘true religion and» virtue in the world. As 
 our Lord hath enjomed, let our fervent 
 ‘prayer to God be,~“ Our Father which:art 
 ‘in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy 
 “kingdom come ; thy will be done in earth, 
 
44, 
 a itisam heaven*:?)' In. our several ‘sta- 
 tions and relations. in society, “ letjour light — 
 so shine before men, that others, seeing our 
 
 good works may. -be induced: to lpn 3 
 
 _ Father whieh is im! sheaven.” >And 
 fervent:prayers, our good examp wa 
 zealous exertions; let) us do every thing an 
 our power, that |“ all the ends of the world 
 may remember and turn unto the Lord; and 
 all the ‘kindreds: of icomicimeeniae wore 
 — before “_ do doo vw niolala 799 
 
  .gead ie” bevise 
 
 viaile tlie satateds of the Socnbry; IN 
 ScoTLa NDo por: PRobaGaniN@ Cu ris- 
 rpano KNOWLEDGE, ; whom Tihave: now 
 the honour. to! address, shave, long: and emi- 
 nently? contributed 0 this noblest, of de- 
 signsio. his. respeetable Society: ine now 
 existed near century.) It ongmate be 
 the bbest of principles, piety, torial 
 charity tomen. dt, was instituted, for the 
 best of spurposes, the: vhonour of Gods;and - 
 ethe happiness tof’ men in. time, and .eterni- “ 
 ty ;iand: thesé purposes, it’ laboimrs to pre- 
 mote by the best of means, the) knowledge 
 and practice of trae religion and virtue. Its 
 
 begimmings were smalt; but, by, the’ bless- 
 
 * Matth. vi. 9, 10. 
 
45 
 
 ing of God, the bounty of good men, and 
 the excellent administration of its Direc- 
 tors, its funds have gradually increased.— 
 At your numerous schools, established in 
 the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, 
 near SIXTEEN THOUSAND children, of 
 both sexes, are training daily in important 
 knowledge, religious and literary, and in 
 those arts, by which they may become use- 
 ful members of Society. Since the first 
 establishment of the Society, many thou- 
 sands have blessed God in time, and will 
 bless him to eternity, for the benefits they 
 have derived from this most useful institu- 
 tion. Go on, then, brethren; go on, and 
 prosper in your pious, patriotic, and bene- 
 ficent design. In the prosecution of it, -you 
 co-operate with God, in his noblest work, 
 ie to open mens eyes, and to turn them from 
 darkness to light, and from the power of 
 Satan unto God; that they may receive 
 forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among 
 fan that are sanctified, by faith which 
 is in Christ Jesus.” Amen. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 tS 
 
4 aa fade 
 aaa ! er. bepiajinn 
 
 Berto . Ws Ibis ise of hee 
 al iia ae x he ub ch 
 = ui diaiuis fiat Repel. Tw 
 ec «fells atte in’ 
 i¥y iin nae tin Hug i i 
 RL aL ii ¥ aa et 
 
 a FEE iA ne ie 
 ie a 4 st ie yay 
 ee 
 ow ae re 
 
 tO Helle ny Says aah oad? 
 
 | at bg i 
 Oy: Rate ea ee 
 
 : sige aR torn wad 
 
 Lg 
 a hint 
 esi 
 G Sil ‘bia 
 
 ye dite é Set ms 
 
 oat 
 " Vien | ed 
 
 a 
 
APPENDIX. - 
 
 Society Hall, Edinburgh, March 31. 1808. 
 
 HE Rev. Dr Dalgleish, who preached at the last 
 ’. Anniversary, the sermon which is now published, 
 died, after a short illness, in the month of September. 
 He.was a worthy and learned clergyman ; highly use- 
 ful, and much respected in that part of the country — 
 where he lived. The Sermon was prepared by him- 
 self for the press, and is faithfully printed from his 
 manuscript. 
 
 The Directors record, with regret, the names of se- 
 veral benefactors and members of the Society, who 
 have died since the last Appendix was published.—Sir 
 William Forbes of Pitsligo, Baronet, lately Preses of 
 _ the Committee of Directors, died last year. His phi- 
 lanthropy and public spirit are generally known, and 
 have rendered his death a loss to ‘his country. The 
 Directors have, on different occasions, been indebted 
 to his, zealous co-operation and liberal support, in pro- 
 moting the objects of the Society. About two years 
 since, died. David Dale, Esq. Merchant in Glasgow. 
 Few characters have more adorned the Christian profes- 
 
48 
 
 sion. He was, indeed, full of faith and offgood of works. 
 In those various commercial schemes which his enter- 
 prizing and. benevolent mind devised, and which Pro- 
 vidence so remarkably prospered ; he combined the se~ 
 veral objects of Pye. advantage a yea utility. 
 Alive to every thing which concerhe velfare of 
 his fellow creatures, he liberally patronized ‘works of 
 beneficence, designed to promote their temporal or 
 eternal interests. Mr Dale was the gentleman alluded 
 to in a former Report *, who, as soon as he was informed 
 of the intention of the Directors to print a new edition 
 of the Gaelic Old Testament, transmitted, without any 
 solicitation, 200/. to help forward that Wn pontaild under- 
 taking.—To these departed friends, the Directors have 
 now to add, Mr James Knox, Writer in Edinburgh, 
 has officiated as Clerk to the Society since 1796. His 
 eminent worth, his modest and unassuming tiranners, his 
 intimate acquaintance with the detail ‘of the Society's 
 business, and his faithful services in the duties of» his 
 department, entitle his memory to the respect and gta« 
 titude of the Directors, and render his lamented death 
 a loss to the eee which i hoe not soon be repaired. 
 or Hoon? otk" 
 oli is Now a year, daceth printingrof the new edition’ 
 of ‘the Old Testament’ in Gablic was finisheds *!'Contd 
 plaints had been frequently made, that*theotranslation 
 of the fourth volume was too free, ‘corresponding more 
 to Bishop ‘Lowth’s ‘translation of Isaiah, than to the 
 English version. \For this circumstati¢e, however) no 
 blame canbe imputed to the worthy and learned ‘trans- 
 lator of that part of the Old ‘Testament, thé’ Tate Dr 
 Smith of ‘Campbeltown, who thoughe it’ his duty to 
 
 * See Appendix to Dr Ogilvie's Sermons 1802, p.12. > wo) 
 
49 
 
 make considerable use of the version of Bishop Lowth, ~ 
 and to avail himself of the remarks of some late wri- 
 ters, distinguished by their skill in Biblical criticism: 
 His translation is allowed, by Gaelic scholars, to pos- 
 sess'a high degree of merit. But notwithstanding its 
 acknowledged excellencies, the ‘effects of so great a 
 difference betwixt the Gaelic and English versions, were 
 found to be extremely inconvenient. The Directors, 
 therefore, judged it necessary, that the fourth volume 
 should undergo a'careful revisal, and be rendered more 
 conformable to the original text, and to the English. 
 translation. © This has been done, accordingly, by the 
 Rev, Alexander'Stewart of Dingwall, whose qualifica- 
 tions for sucha work are well. known to the public *. 
 And the Directors-are assured by gentlemen, in whose 
 judgment they have>the fullest confidence, that Mr 
 Stéwart’s labours have greatly improved the version, 
 and rendered it fitter’for general use. It is proper 
 to state, that the most considerable variations in the 
 present, from the former edition of the Prophetical 
 Books, are'to be found in the prophecy of Isaiah; any 
 alterations ‘that occur in the version of the other Books, 
 ‘are hot so niaterial.———This edition consists of 20,000 
 copies.” It is'printed in two volumes Demy duodecimo, 
 ‘with a neat type, and on: good: paper, and sold by the 
 Sub-librarian’ at 26 6d per copy in'sheets, or 3s 10d 
 ‘sound in sheeps’ To offer the copies to sale at so low 
 2/price ‘as might -be «within the reach of the lowest 
 ‘classes of labouring people, appeared to the Directors, 
 "after due deliberation, a plan better ‘adapted to pro- 
 ‘mote the general circulation of the Bible, than to dis- 
 tribute a great number of copies gratis, and to de- 
 
 * Mr Stewart has published a Gaelic Grammar, which is held, by 
 good judges, in high estimation, : 
 
50. 
 
 mand for those that are sold, a price more adequate to 
 the.value of the book. At the same time, the 
 tors are ever ready to attend to proper applications for 
 copies, to be given away to persons -who cannot afford 
 to purchase them. ‘They certainly feel great satisfac- 
 tion, in offering to a numerous class of their country- 
 men, so correct aversion of the Holy)Seriptures, in 
 their own lenghonaes at so moderaterngnice-ad 7 biugt 
 i} bewhaj .viwtetedls 
 The diesels teas with pleasure, their acknow- 
 lecigaitint to the Correspondent Board in London, for 
 their continued attention to the interests of the ‘So- 
 ciety, and for the liberal, contributions which they. trans- 
 mit from year to.,yeat.’ They have repeatedly inti- 
 mated that these benefactions have become ‘so essential 
 to their establishment, that, in making up the scheme, 
 they are regularly:counted upon, as forming a,part,of 
 the annual revenue of the Societys i. 21 .bagebaom has 
 ‘ Fre v sidazgliar Je Oct 96d Shglt > g9RRIR os 
 “Then nature. sof the Society’s business,.does snot afford 
 to the Directors frequent opportunities, of presenting to 
 the world, details that; will’ be: felt_as) generally).in- 
 téresting. It is: not: often that..they shave it in. their 
 power. to annowitice, that large, accessions »have»been 
 made to their funds, from ther donations er bequests of 
 munificent benefactors), or to explain to the’ publicjthe 
 ‘various new arrangements, to which such benefactions 
 ‘give rise. The labours of the St 
 
 chists, and Missionaries, must, necessarily, 0 RD 
 a gradual and imperceptible influence... Np 1 
 
 effects be fully ascertained,,,till. the indi 
 
 -have enjoyed these advantages,shall have mingled. with 
 society, and displayed, in the various departments of 
 
 life, the result of the information, and habits thus ac- 
 
51 
 
 quired in their early years. On this point, the Direc- 
 tors feel themselves warranted to speak with confidence; ~ 
 and they appeal to facts, well known to all who are ac- 
 quainted with the former and Present state of the High- - 
 lands of Scotland. 
 
 The existence of the Society for a complete century; 
 has afforded sufficient opportunities of appreciating the 
 value of its exertions. Its utility is well understood; 
 and acknowledged by all enlightened and liberal men, 
 who feel an interest in the prosperity of their country. 
 The schools on its establishment; have had a large share 
 in promoting those improvements in the condition and 
 morals of their countrymen, that have been advancing, 
 for more than half a century, in different parts of the 
 Highlands. Nor have the- beneficial effects of its 
 ~ exertioris heen confined to the civil and temporal 
 
 interests of men. The sacred Scriptures have been 
 furnished to many, who were ready to perish for lack 
 of knowledge ; and schools have been opened where 
 youth of ‘both sexes are taught to read,—-an advantage, 
 without which, even the word of life itself, could be 
 nothing more than a dead letter, altogether unprofitable 
 to those who possessed it. Many of the Society’s 
 teachers have been distinguished by their real piety, 
 exemplary conduct, and diligence and zeal. in discharg- 
 ing the duties of their office. From undoubted testi- 
 monies, there is reason to believe, that their labours 
 have, through the divine blessing, been successful in 
 _many instances, in bringing those under their charge, 
 to the experience and practice of true religion, and to 
 the enjoyment of the gospel salvation. 
 
 G 
 
52 
 
 The continued aisbfultites and success of this instita- 
 tion, it is evident, must depend on the chatacter, tas 
 lents, and diligerice of the teachers, who are employ+ 
 ed by the Society, in carrying forward their designs, 
 To procure the services of well qualified ‘and respecta+ 
 ble men, must be admitted to be an object of the last 
 importance. | But to attain this object, it is indispensi- — 
 bly necessary, that the teachers be provided! with the 
 means of subsistence, suited to their condition, and to 
 the services which they render to theit country, it 
 catnot otherwise be expected, ‘that men of suitable 
 talents and character will enter into the service of the 
 Society. It is unnecessary to point out the eonse- 
 quences that must ensue, if men shail be employed as 
 Society teachers, depressed by indigence, and in re+ 
 spect of education and habits, hardly raised above the 
 mere vulgar. Possessing no personal respectability, 
 little or no advantage could be derived from their Ja-~ « 
 bours. The importance of applying a remedy for this 
 evil, is an object with which the Directors have Jong 
 been deeply impressed, and it thas repeatedly been 
 brought before the view of the public *. But the pro- — 
 "gressive depreciation of money, and consequent advance 
 on all the articles of living, without taking into view 
 the temporary hardships produced by unfavourable sea- 
 sons, increase the difficulties of the teachers from year 
 to year, and imperiously call for some general effectual 
 relief. As the revenue of the Society is completely ex- 
 hausted by the expenditure of each year, the only | 
 means left to the choice of the Directors will be, to 
 erect no new schools, and to reduce the numt of 
 
 * See Aprendix to Dr Brown’s Anniversary Sermon, p. 69—73. 
 and Appendix to Dr Ogilvie’s Sermon, p. 10. , s 
 
53- 
 
 those, at present. on their Scheme, in those places 
 ‘where they may be most easily spared. | ‘The Directors 
 
 would feel much regret, were-they obliged to. resort to 
 
 this measure ; but there seems to be'no altemn ive, un- 
 * Tess they shall be enabled-by new benefactions, to pra- 
 videymore effectually for the comfort jof .a ‘deserving 
 elass)of men, who haye such strong, Bigientes on Pe h- 
 
 berality \of. ipa ial 
 
 @ iD. G2 - : 2212 “siles D 
 
 ( d WEC - 2 é 
 
 O40 0s . , uomsi3q 
 
 ; ss 
 
 oo, tc - A 
 
 a4 — vi A 
 
 ryoz2 yisetoo 3 re 
 
 4 Jon esab . et 5 ud 
 
 B24: 2 
 
Od 
 
 Abstract of the Scheme of the Socie ’s ea, 
 ment for the year, from \st Ma aT, 
 1st May 1808. 
 
 | 2 gt 
 188 Schools on the first Patent, : € 2739 0 0. 
 23 Superannuated teachers on ditto, -) SaRe loged 
 15 Missionaries and Catechists, - -) 135% 00 
 6 Gaelic Bursaries, = A - i wy word FF 
 101 Schools on the second Patent, ~ Bue @ 
 4 Superannuated teachers on ditto, - 20 0 0 
 
 — 
 
 337 Amount of the Scheme, - 3,954 oa 
 
 As all the Reports for this year have not yet been re- 
 ceived, the number of Scholars cannot be precisely ascertain- 
 ed. But there is reason to believe, that it does not fall 
 greatly short of 16,009. 
 
55 
 
 The PRESIDENT, DIRECTORS, and 
 . OFFICERS of the SOCIETY fer the year 
 
 1808. 
 The Right Honourable joleo Earl of Reeders Presi. 
 dent of the Society. 
 Commitice of Tivtciank. 
 
 William Maedonald, Esq. of St Maton Clerk to the 
 Signet, Preses. 
 
 Robert Scott Moncrieff Esq. of Newhalls. 
 
 David Freer, Esq. Clerk to the Signet. 
 
 ‘The Rev. Thomas Snell Jones, Minister of Lady Glenor- 
 chy’s Chapel, Edinburgh. : 
 
 John Waugh, Esq. Merchant in Edinburgh. 
 
 James Forrest Esq. of Comiston, Clerk to the Signet. 
 
 The Rev. Walter Buchanan, D. D. one of the Ministers 
 of Canongate. ~~ . 
 
 John Balfour, Esq. of Pilrig. 
 
 Robert Pitcairn, Esq. ‘Writer in Edinburgh. ~ 
 
 The Rev. David Dickson, ery ‘one sao the Ministers of 
 St Cuthbert’s. 
 
 William M‘Lean, Esq. Merchant in Edinburgh. 
 
 The Rev. Sir Henry Moncreiff- Wellwood of Tullibole, 
 
 Baronet, one of the Ministers of St Cuthbert’s. 
 
 Alexander Bonar, Esq. Banker in Edinburgh. 
 
 Robert Dundas, Esq, Clerk to the Signet. 
 
 The Rey. James Robertson, D. D. one of the Ministers of 
 
 South Leith. 
 
56 
 
 », Officers of the Soeieiye \\* eit 
 
 The Rev. John’ Rene D.D. one of the Ministers of 
 
 Edinburgh, Secrezary. 
 Alexander Duncan, Esq, Clerk to the es Freanae’. 
 Jobn Dickson, Esq. af Coulter,’ Advocate, Camperoller. 
 James Bonar, Esq. Solicitor of Exeise, Accountant. 
 Archibald Lundie, Esq. Clerk to the Signet, Bookbolder. 
 John Pitcairn, Esq. Merchant in Edinburgb, Librarian, © 
 John’ Dickson, Esq. Clerk to the Signet, Clerk. ve i. W, 
 Mungo loves Oper ; Phi) oe 
 
 aol 91D .pelbcoeaatt, hieeatt 
 _ Annual, and other Benefactions are received by the Secre- 
 tary, Treasurer, or any of the’ dere: ° QGinea of the So- 
 ciety in NE i pel dhs V afta 
 
 OF 2i9inw , ¥ + iw pPecn 149T20 4 ATE aa] 
 
 ATM fr 
 
 * Ty Lonpow, BY 
 
 The Rev. Thieiva| Rutled ge, D.. D.: psi 
 scceonea a perme 
 ‘Charles. acs Esq. M. P, Treasurer. .. God 
 Or any of the sidinen tal of the Corresponding Board, 
 
 ~ nd by 
 Thomas Coutts, keg Ca. Bonk in the Sern 
 
 i) id 
 
 rer ‘ 
 Toned . so we 1 «alae 
 5 fel waco tohrignort, 
 
 ora.) > 
 
 a? 
 
57 
 
 FORM OF A BEQUEST OR LEGACY. 
 
 Item, 7 give and bequeath the sum of 
 to Tue Society 1 Scor- 
 LAND FOR PropaGatinc Curist1an KNoWLEDGE ; fo be 
 applied, either to the general objects of the institution, or to 
 such particular purposes, consistent with these objects, as the 
 
 donor may think proper. 
 
 N. B. Those who may be pleased to etl this Society 
 with Bequests or Legacies, are intreated to express their, 
 intention in the very words above directed, and particu- 
 larly to take care that the words im Scotland be not omit- 
 
 ted. 
 
 eee ee] 
 TurnguLt & Gatt,. Printers, 
 Old Assembly Close. 
 
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