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THE 
 
 BLESSEDNESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 • LIBERAL: 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED IN THE MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH, 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 NEW- YORK MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 At their first Institution, November i, 1796. 
 
 ————yd— 
 
 By ALEXANDER M'WHORTER, D. D. 
 
 Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Newark. 
 
 They glorify God for your liberal distribution unto all men. 
 
 a Cor. ix. 13, 
 
 NEW- YORK: 
 
 Printed by T. and J. SWORDS, No. 99 Pcarl-ftr.eet. 
 
 —1796.— 
 
 5 
 
At a Meeting of the New -Tor k Miffionary 
 Society, on Wednefday, the zd of November, 
 1796, 
 
 Resolved unanimously, 
 
 THAT the thanks of this fociety be given 
 to the Rev. Dr. M'Whorter for his fermon 
 preached before them laft evening, and that 
 he be requefted to furnifh a copy of it for 
 publication. 
 
 Ext railed from the Minutes, 
 
 JOHN M. MASON, Sec'ry, 
 
THE 
 
 BLESSEDNESS, &c. 
 
 Isaiah xxxii. 8. 
 
 'The liberal devifeth liberal things, and by libe- 
 ral things Jh all he ft and. 
 
 HE religion revealed in the fcriptures, 
 is a moft amiable and beautiful fyflem. So 
 perfect are its proportions ; fo facred the con- 
 nection between its truths, its graces, and 
 its duties, that violence offered to the one, 
 affects all the reft; mars its univerfal fym- 
 metry, and introduces deformity and con- 
 fufion. 
 
 Thofe truths and duties which relate to the 
 glorious Jehovah, ftand as primary princi- 
 ples. Thofe which relate to ourfelves and 
 our neighbours, hold a fecondary place ; yet 
 fo ftrict and neceffary is their alliance, that 
 the whole is as really made void by an in- 
 fringement on the latter as on the former. 
 
 To 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 To religion, as exhibited in the Bible, re- 
 ligion, as tranfcribed into the human heart, 
 bears an accurate refemblance. The work 
 of the Spirit on the foul anfwers to his reve- 
 lation in the word, as in water face anfwereth 
 to face. Thofe doctrines and duties which 
 immediately refpeft the Father, Son, and 
 Spirit, and are of the firft importance in 
 Chriftianity, are alfo of the firft moment 
 with a genuine Chriftian. A due regard, 
 and confcientious practice of all the focial 
 virtues, are connected with them, as confe- 
 quences are connected with their premifes, 
 or effects with their caufes. 
 
 Hence the excellence of true religion will 
 appear, in fome meafure, in a truly religious 
 character. Its different branches fupport and 
 ftrengthen each other. Love and repentance 
 towards God, and faith towards our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, infure love to our neighbour; 
 while the latter does not, in the leaft, dimi- 
 nish refpecl: to Jehovah, or an attention to the 
 offices of devotion — Each have their proper 
 {ration and influence. 
 
 As in the reception of divine grace the 
 foul of man is renewed, fo it is thereby open- 
 
 ed 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 ed and enlarged. Filled with a generous be- 
 nevolence, he is difpofed to proportion the 
 effects of his love unto all, according to the 
 divine will. With a cheerful hand will he 
 fcatter benefits ; but his benevolence, directed 
 by wifdom, as well as impelled by zeal, will 
 felecl, for its principal efforts, thofe objects 
 to which it can be moft ufefully applied : and 
 furely, my brethren, if any occalion could 
 boaft. a folid claim to your pious benefactions, 
 it is the occafion on which I now addrefs you. 
 A lociety, inftituted with the nobleft defign 
 which mortals can execute or conceive ; the 
 defign of fending God's falvation to our de- 
 folate frontiers, and the gloomy regions of 
 Paganifm, intreat your aid. From him who, 
 by free and efficacious grace, hath been tranf- 
 formed in the renewing of his mind, they 
 look for the exercife of that philanthropy 
 which enters into the effence of the Chriflian 
 character; and their application is ftrongly 
 recommended by our perfuafive text — " The 
 liberal devifet.h liberal things, and by liberal 
 things /hall he ft and. ' ' 
 
 The original word here trannated liberal, 
 is frequently ufed in the facred oracles, and 
 
 always 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 aiways communicates great ideas. It is ren- 
 dered Princes and Nobles in the 47th and 
 83d Pfalms; becaufe it becomes thofe who 
 move in the higher grades of life to be of 
 exalted minds. Sometimes it is rendered free, 
 to exprefs eminent generofity. When Heze- 
 kiah had fan&ified the temple, and confecrat- 
 ed the people, he ordered them to bring fa- 
 cririces and thank-offerings into the houfe of 
 the Lord. This they ail did : but it is added, 
 that lbme did more ; i* As many as were of 
 a free heart brought in burnt-offerings."* 
 We like wife find this epithet applied by David 
 to the Holy Spirit of God : " Uphold me with 
 thy free Spirit.' ? f From thefe, and other apr 
 plications of the term, we may reft allured, 
 that when it defcribes a character, and to that 
 character great and precious promifes are 
 made, it neceffarily implies grace or holinefs. 
 
 In difcuffing the general principles of the 
 text, with a particular reference to the occa- 
 fion of our afTembling here this evening, per- 
 mit me, 
 
 I. To explain the temper recommended; 
 and, 
 
 II. To 
 
 * 2 Chron. xxix. 31. f Psalm li. 12. 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 ll. To confider the bleffings connected with 
 it by divine promife. 
 
 I. I am to explain the temper recommend- 
 ed — It is liberality. 
 
 When man came firft from the hand of 
 his Creator, upright and holy, he pofTefTed, 
 in the higheft degree, this liberal or benevo- 
 lent principle: for he was made after the 
 image of God, and formed for the greateft 
 ufefulnefs and felicity. But when he com- 
 menced rebellion againft God, he loft it with 
 the other features of the divine likenefs, funk 
 down into himfelf, and is now, alas ! under 
 the government of felfifh motives and felfifh 
 ends. 
 
 With man, ill this degraded ftate, Jeho- 
 vah could hold no communion, fiich as he 
 cultivates with good and holy beings : but 
 having formed a defign of mercy, did not 
 immediately give him over to eternal perdi- 
 tion, as he did the apoftate angels. In con- 
 fequence of his purpofe of grace, his eternal 
 Son was conftituted a fecond Adam, to heal 
 the breach that was made by the -firft, and re- 
 cover that which was loft : wherefore it pleat- 
 ed the Father, that in him all fulnefs fhould 
 
 dwell ; 
 
( « ) 
 dwell ; the Holy Ghoft was given him with- 
 out meaiure, and he became the fource of 
 every blefling to his feed. Of his fulnefs he 
 transfufes into them grace for grace, regene- 
 rating them by his almighty power, and re- 
 producing in their fouls that image of God 
 which confifts in knowledge, and righteouf- 
 nefs, and true holinefs ; for they are created 
 anew, in (Thrift Jefus, unto good works. 
 Their inward corruption is fubdued ; delivered 
 from the predominance of fordid and felfifh 
 principles, they both yield themfelves fervants 
 unto God, and glow with charity to men. 
 From the beft of motives, to the beft of ends, 
 they become truly liberal. Of an elevated 
 and benevolent difpofition, they companionate 
 their fellow creatures. Unfeigned love moves 
 them to deeds of kindnefs ; and opportunities 
 of indulging this divine temper afford them 
 exquifite pleafure. They devife liberal things* 
 Unlike the churl, who hoards up for himfelf 
 alone, they employ a portion of what the 
 benignity of God hath given them, for the 
 promotion of his glory ; for the advancement 
 of the Redeemer's kingdom; for fuccouring 
 the diftrefled ; and communicating; to the ig- 
 
 * DO 
 
 norant 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 iiorant and periihing a knowledge of the plan 
 of life eternal. 
 
 But, further, the liberal man is defcribed 
 in the text, not only as one who cheerfully 
 contributes, when dented, to works of mercy; 
 but, as one who voluntarily feeks occaiions 
 of doing good. He devifeth liberal things. 
 Strong folicitation ; arguments of intereft or 
 of reputation, are not neceffary to touch his 
 heart, or open his hand. Incomparably more 
 effectual and uniform is the principle of his 
 action. Full of good fruits is an eflential cha- 
 racteristic of that wifdom, or religion, which 
 cometh down from above; and the fum of 
 which is, love to God, and love to man. 
 u Whoib hath this world's goods, and feeth. 
 " his brother have need; and mutteth up his 
 " bowels of companion from him, how dwell- 
 " eth the love of God in him !" 
 
 Such is the liberal fpirit diffufed from Jefus 
 Chrift; fuch the fpirit imbibed by all who 
 obey the gofpel. A principle of true religion 
 will operate in acts of tendernefs and benefi- 
 cence to our fellow men. " The liberal de- 
 vifeth liberal things." 
 
 That thefc are the generous effects of fav~ 
 
 ing truth, received in the love thereof, may be 
 
 K demonftrated 
 
( io ) 
 
 demonftrated by the moft irreiifiible proof; to 
 wit, that which arifes from universal and in- 
 conteftible fa6t. 
 
 Such was the difpofition of our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, whofe example was a perfect pattern of 
 every virtue. It was the bulinefs of his life to 
 heal the difeafes, confole the forrows, and 
 relieve the wants, of all that applied to him. 
 Though he was in the form of God, and thought 
 it no robbery to be equal with God, yet he 
 made himfelf of no reputation, condefcended 
 to the lowefl: offices of goodnefs, preached the 
 goipel to the poor, and at laft laid down his life 
 in the mofr. painful and ignominious manner 
 to procure the happinefs of men. 
 
 The fame temper likewife influenced the 
 holy apoftles : from their whole hiftory it is 
 evident, that the good of mankind was the 
 object of their unwearied exertions ; and that, 
 in this labour of love, they did not refufe to 
 fpend and be fpent. 
 
 Of fuch leaders, the primitive Chriftians 
 were not unworthy followers. It is recorded, 
 to their honour, by the Holy Ghoft, " Nei- 
 ther J aid any of them that ought of the things 
 which he pojfejfed was his own"* And in ftricT: 
 
 conformity 
 
 * A&s iv. .3 r . 
 
( M ) 
 
 conformity with this we are allured, by an 
 eminent hiftorian, " That the bounty of the 
 primitive times was almoit incredible."* 
 
 And, indeed^ a funilar conduct hath, in 
 all ages, been the diflinclion of thofe who 
 have given the fulleft evidence that they were 
 the fubjecls of divine grace. One of the 
 ftrongeft features in the character of the early 
 Chriftians, and of thofe who, in later times, 
 have come neareft their illuftrious piety, is 
 their activity in fpreading the gofpel of the 
 kingdom. In this, no facrifices were too coft- 
 ]y, no labours too oppreffive, no dangers too 
 terrifying, for their liberal and refolute fouls. 
 Lavifh not only of their wealth, but of their 
 eafe, their comforts, their lives ; they count- 
 ed themfelves amply rewarded in the triumphs 
 of the crofs ; and, O my beloved brethren ! 
 how necelTary for us is a portion of their fpirit 
 to difcharge the duties to which the provi- 
 dence of God loudly calls us ! What mul- 
 titudes of our brethren in our fcattered fron- 
 tiers, and among our Pagan neighbours, have 
 need — not a need of your food and raiment, 
 t>ut a need infinitely more important — a need 
 
 of 
 
 * Dr. Cave, in his Primitive Christianity. 
 
( a ) 
 
 of that foul-faving gofpel which you enjoy. 
 Let your bowels of compaffion be opened unto 
 them; lend them this momentous blefmig; 
 and, " Let us not love in word, neither in 
 tongue, but in deed and in truth."* 
 
 From explaining the temper of the liberal 
 man I proceed, 
 
 II. To cohfider the blefiings connected with 
 it. By liberal things Jha/I he fraud. 
 
 By favours received from the liberal hand 
 of God, both of a fpiritual and temporal kind, 
 he fhall be fupported and eftablifhed ; he mail 
 be happy in the peace and approbation of his 
 own mind ; the providence of God will ren- 
 der his name as precious ointment; and the 
 grace of God will abundantly fatisfy his foul 
 both here and hereafter. 
 
 In attempting a brief detail of thefe truths, 
 which the promife in the text implies, I be- 
 gin with remarking, that the gratification 
 ariiing from the exercife of Chriftian libera- 
 lity is the moft refined and lafting. We are 
 commanded to remember the words of the 
 Lord Jefus, how he faid, "it is more blefTed 
 to give than to receive."f The pleafure of 
 
 the 
 
 * i John iii. 18. 
 I Afts xx. 35. 
 
( '3 ) 
 
 the o-iver tranfcends that of the receiver. To 
 promote fome public utility, or to enlarge the 
 kingdom of the glorious Immanuel, are 
 fources of purer delight than benefactions to 
 ourfelves, or the increafe of worldly ftores. 
 
 The truly liberal finds no fmall compla- 
 cency in imitating the moft illuftrious perfon- 
 ages that have appeared in the world. It 
 was Job, a man who feared God and efchew- 
 ed evil, that faid, " If I have withheld the 
 poor from their defire," the poor in temporal 
 and fpiritual things, " then let mine arm fall 
 from my moulder blade, and mine arm be 
 broken from the bone."* Time would fail 
 me mould I mention Mofes, David, the pro- 
 phets and the apolHes, in whom this virtue 
 confpicuouily fhone. Jefus Chrift, the pat- 
 tern of all excellence, came down from hea- 
 ven to illuminate our poor and guilty world, 
 and to enrich it with the glories and bleffings 
 of an happy immortality. " He who was 
 rich became poor, that we, through his po- 
 verty, might be rich."f Nay, one attribute 
 of Jehovah himfclf is, " That he is good, 
 and doeth good." 
 
 To 
 
 * Job xxxi. 1 6, z%. 
 ■\ Cor. via. 9. 
 
( «4 ) 
 
 To the refemblance of the great and good, 
 the man whofe temper we are confidering, 
 adds the pleafure of being held in eftimation 
 by thofe around him. The favourable opi- 
 nion of others, procured by virtuous deeds, 
 is a defirable acquifition. All who know the 
 liberal man, blefs him, and pay him a tribute 
 of undiffembled praife. Yea, there is fome- 
 thing in his character not only amiable in it- 
 felf, but amazing in its operation; turning 
 afide the fhafts of envy, and extorting rer 
 fpe6l even from the worft of men. Thus the 
 f acred oracles affirm, " He that diligently 
 feeketh good procureth favour."* 
 
 Who can defcribe the bleffednefs accruing 
 from the confcientious difcharge of our duty ? 
 In keeping the commandments of God there 
 is a great reward. " He that hath mercy on 
 the poor," O remember the poor Heathen, the 
 poor who are deititute of the bleffings of the 
 goipel! " happy is he."f "The merciful 
 man doth good to his own foul."i He hath 
 the promife, " That the Lord will deliver 
 him in time of trouble; will preferve and 
 
 keep 
 
 * Psalm xi. 27. 
 f Prov. xiv. 2t. 
 % Prov. xi. 1 7, 
 
( "5 ) 
 
 keep him alive, and he mall be bleffed upon 
 the earth."* He alfo receives the bleffings 
 of the deftitute. The bleffing of thofe who 
 are ready to perifh comes upon him. " He 
 will regard the prayer of the deftitute, and 
 not defpife their prayer."f 
 
 The fcriptures abound with ample promifes 
 to the liberal, of the good things of this life; 
 and as far as thefe can be confidered a bleffing, 
 he furely enjoys it. Therefore, one way to 
 increafe in worldly things is to be bountiful 
 and charitable. I do not mean profufe and 
 prodigal. There is a wide difference between 
 them. Oftentimes the prodigal and extrava- 
 gant do leaft in acls of beneficence. All their 
 profufion is for the gratification of their own 
 lufts. Hence, they have no ground to hope 
 for a bleffing. But the benevolent man has 
 numerous promifes in the word of God. 
 46 The liberal foul fhall be made fat, and he 
 that watereth fhall be watered himfelf alfo." J 
 " Give, fays our Lord, and it (hall be given 
 unto you."§ My dear brethren, let us water 
 
 the 
 
 * Psalm xli. i, 2. 
 f Psalm cii. 17. 
 J Prov. xi. 27. 
 § Luke vi. 38. 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 the parched parts of our country, and thef 
 barren wildernefs, with the dews and lhowers 
 of celeftial grace: let us pour the living wa- 
 ters of the gofpel upon thofe who enjoy them 
 not. " There is, faith Solomon, that fcat- 
 tereth and yet increafeth."* God blefieth 
 the munificent hand, which fcatters in works 
 of piety and charity ; it (hall be returned into 
 his eftate, by invifible means, many fold; 
 as corn increafeth to the hufbandman by be- 
 ins fcattered or ibwn. ." Honour the Lord 
 with thy fubflance, and with all the fruits of 
 thy increafe ; fo ihall thy barns be filled with 
 plenty, and thy pre fifes mall burft out with 
 new wine."f " Call: thy bread upon the wa- 
 ters, for thou malt find it after many days." J 
 But, there would be no end in retailing the 
 promifes made to the liberal. Let us be 
 wife, ftedfafi, perfevering, and abounding in 
 this duty according to our ability, and as wc 
 may have opportunity. 
 
 But,' what far, very far exceeds all that I 
 have mentioned, is the acceptablenefs of 
 ChrifHan liberality to the eternal God. Our 
 
 o-reateft 
 
 * Prov. xi. 24.. 
 f Prov. iii. 9, 10. 
 .!: Ecc. xi. 1. 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 gfeateft care mould be to pleafe our heavenly 
 Father; for his favour is life, and his loving 
 kindnefs is better than life. And it is the 
 happinefs of the charitable, that he is pleafing 
 to God. " To do good, and to communicate, 
 forget not, for with fuch facrinces God is well 
 pleafed."* Behold how the apoftle Paul ex- 
 tols the beneflceiice of the Philippian Chrif- 
 tians who administered to his fupport, while 
 he was propagating the gofpel among the 
 Macedonian and Theflalonian Pagans. His 
 ftrong and emphatic language, intended, no 
 doubt, for the encouragement of all Chriftians 
 who engage in the fame dignified work, de- 
 fences our notice. I have " received," fays 
 he, " of Epapbroditus, the things which were 
 fent from you ; ari odour of a fweet fmell, a 
 facrince acceptable, well pleafing to God."f 
 
 A fure teftimony,' not only that his deeds 
 are, in themfelves, acceptable to heaven, but 
 that he is interefted in the divine favour, is 
 a part of that blelTednefs which belongs to the 
 man of evangelic liberality ; and it is infinitely 
 preferable to the accumulated riches and ho- 
 
 C nours 
 
 * Heb. xiii. 16. 
 t Phil. iv. 18, 
 
( '8 ) 
 
 ii ours of this world. To love our brethren 
 ' of the houfhold of faith, and of the family 
 of mankind, is reprefented as a certain evi- 
 dence of real ChrifKanity. And this love doth 
 not confift in mere profefiion, but in deed and 
 in Sruth, in unaffected fincerity of heart, and 
 in folid acts of righteoufnefs and mercy. 
 
 Laftly, The crowning blefling of him 
 whofe character we have been contemplat- 
 ing, is, Great will be his reward in heaven. 
 Our glorious Redeemer allures us, that the 
 fmalleft. acts of beneficence, flowing from a 
 right fpirit, mail not pafs unnoticed in the 
 great day of retribution. If he who gives a 
 cup of cold water in the name of a difciple, 
 mall not in any wife lofe his reward, how im- 
 menfe mail be the reward of thofe who fend 
 the everlafting gofpel to thofe parts of the earth 
 where gloomy Ignorance, and wild Superfti- 
 tion hold an uncontrouled dominion ? How 
 unfpeakable the profit and honour of thus 
 contributing according to the will of God, and 
 making to ourfelves friends of the mammon of 
 unrighteoufnefs, that when riches cannot re- 
 deem us from the grave, we may be received 
 to everlaftinq? habitations ! Here is a noble 
 
 way 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 way for ChrifHans to lay up in ftore a good 
 foundation againft time to come. Here we 
 are fure of acquiring more than an hundred 
 fold. 'This will be bartering fublunary and 
 fading things for heavenly and durable riches. 
 This is laying up treafure above, where nei- 
 ther ruft. nor moth doth corrupt, nor thieves 
 break through and fteal. Of fuch high dif- 
 tinclion is liberality among the Chriitian 
 graces and virtues, that Chrift honours it 
 with peculiar marks of approbation. Hear 
 how he addrefles thofe who exercife it : — 
 " Come ye bleiTed of my Father, inherit the 
 kingdom prepared for you from the founda- 
 tion of the world ; for I was an hungred, and 
 ye gave me meat ; I was thirfty, and ye gave 
 me drink ; I was a ftranger, and ye took me 
 in ; naked, and ye cloathed me ; I was fick, 
 and ye vifited me; I was in prifon, and ye 
 came unto me.*'* The eternal Judge doth 
 not bring forward, as the reafons of his adju- 
 dication, any perfonal attentions paid to him- 
 felf, but charitable attentions to the members 
 of his body; that is, to his difciples. The 
 perfons by whom thefe are duly performed, 
 
 are 
 
 * Matt. xxv. 34, 35, 36. 
 
( *• ) 
 
 are the righteous and happy, who fhall go 
 away into eternal life. 
 
 If, then, the approving voice of our fel- 
 low men ; if the teftimony of a good confci- 
 ence ; if to emulate the greatefl and heft of 
 mortals ; if to imitate the beneficence of God 
 himfelf ; to refemble tjie Holy Jefus ; to en- 
 joy, here, his exceeding great and precious 
 promifes, and tp fit down with him, here- 
 after, on his throne of glory, conftitute the 
 highefl felicity of which we are capable, the 
 man whom renewing grace hath formed to 
 liberal affections, and liberal deeds, fhall be 
 fuper-eminently blefledl. 
 
 Having explained the character defcribed 
 in our text, and enumerated fome of the blef- 
 iings attached to it, I feel a fingular fatisfac- 
 tion in remarking, before I clofe my difcourfe, 
 that you have a precious opportunity of dif- 
 playing the one, as preparative to the enjoy- 
 ment of the other. 
 
 I have already hinted, that a fociety of the 
 moft. beneficent nature, has juft been erected 
 in this city. Defigning, under God, the 
 eternal salvation of multitudes of our 
 fellow men, it contemplates evangelical mif^ 
 
 fions 
 
( » ) 
 
 {ions to the deftitute parts of our country, and 
 to the Heathen tribes on our borders. 
 
 The wildernefs on our frontier is fettling 
 with aftoniihing rapidity. Many of thefe fet- 
 tlements are thin, fcattered, and poor. One 
 object of this fociety, therefore, is, to fupport 
 gofpel miffionaries among them, in order to 
 keep up feme fenfe of religion, and an order- 
 ly worfhip of God, until they can be collected 
 into regular congregations, and enabled of 
 themfelves to maintain the miniftry of the 
 word and ordinances of Chrift. 
 
 Every Chriftian muii fee and feel the im- 
 portance of f uch a meafure. To preferve the 
 gofpel among our new fettlers will not only 
 be of the higheft confequence to them and 
 their children, but will tend to make them 
 peaceable, comfortable, and happy members 
 of the national community. Therefore, our 
 civil, as well as religious interefts, mould en- 
 gage us to liberality in the promotion of an 
 object of fuch magnitude. 
 
 The other capital object of the fociety, I 
 mean the introduction of the gofpel among 
 the poor, benighted Indians, mould lie equally 
 near our hearts. If we have tafted that the 
 
 Lord 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 Lord is gracious, do we not cordially wifh 
 that they alfo may be brought to the hopes 
 of life and immortality ? Their fouls are as 
 precious and valuable as ours. Let us vigor- 
 oufly exert ourfelves to diffufe among them 
 the knowledge of the blefled Jesus. Let our 
 ardent prayers afcend to the God of heaven, 
 that he would crown this, and every limilar 
 attempt, with abundant fuccefs ; and while we 
 pray, let us devife liberal things, and expand 
 our hearts, and pour forth our treasures, for 
 fo glorious and God-like a purpofe. 
 
 Should the Lord render us inftrumental in 
 evangelizing the Indian nations, we ihall 
 thereby humanize and civilize them; from 
 favages, we ihall turn them into men ; from 
 bloody enemies, into friends and brothers; 
 and, what is infinitely more, they will be 
 introduced to the friendship of God, and to, 
 the inheritance of eternal life. 
 
 Contemplate, for a moment, what the zea-, 
 lous Chriftians in Europe are doing amidfr. the 
 horrors of war, and the din of arms. They 
 are propagating the gofpel in Africa, the 
 iflands of the South Seas, and even in the Eajl- 
 Indies.* Their great fouls are fending Chrif-* 
 
 tianity 
 • * See the Appendix. 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 tiariity round the globe ; their intention is to 
 plant it in every land; and that the Son of 
 God fhall have the uttermoft parts of the 
 earth for his porTeffion. The ChrifKans in 
 Denmark, Moravia, Scotland, and England, 
 feem all moving in this glorious work, and 
 lavifhing their thoufands, and ten thoufands, 
 for its accomplimment. 
 
 Wherefore, let us emulate their noble ex- 
 ample in our acls of ChrifHan liberality for 
 the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 We are bleffed with peace ; we fit every one 
 under his vine, and under his Jig-tree ; we 
 have abundant opportunities of doing good; 
 and, as munificent heaven is loading us with 
 its benefits, let us evince our gratitude, by 
 fending the foul-faving gofpel to our Heathen 
 neighbours. They lit in darknefs and the 
 fhadow of death, and fee no light. 
 
 If we enter into the fpirit of this newly- 
 formed fociety, who knoweth but, as the 
 fruit of our cheerful and pious efforts, the 
 wildernefs fhall bloflbm as the rofe, the day 
 fpring from on high vifit the favage abodes, 
 and the blerling of manv who are readv to 
 perifh defcend upon us. 
 
 IVhofe 
 
( n ) 
 
 Whofe land do we inhabit ? In whofe Coun- 
 try are we growing in riches and profperity ? 
 What compenfation to the natives can equal 
 the gofpel of Jefus Chrift ? Let us then, in 
 the name of God, and with a charitable frame 
 of fpirit, fend them this glorious gofpel, which 
 will make them rich to eternal life. 
 
 You may reft allured, that whatfoever you 
 give to God, by giving it to this afTociation, 
 for extending the kingdom of his Son, fhall 
 be frugally and faithfully expended. 
 
 Acceffions to the fociety's funds, arifing 
 from contributions, donations, fubfcriptions, 
 or otherwife, together with their difburfe- 
 ments, mail, every year* be duly publifhed, 
 that evey one may fee the ufes to which his 
 charity is applied. Their progrefs and fue- 
 cefs will alfo be publifhed, that each bene- 
 factor may have the pleafure of beholding the 
 fruits of his liberality in doing good to the 
 fouls of men. 
 
 Now, my dearly beloved brethren, to mul- 
 tiply arguments, or motives, to open your 
 hearts in Chriftian tendernefs, or your hands 
 in Chriftian aid of fo glorious a deiign, would 
 be preflmg your tried generoiity, and, per- 
 haps, 
 
( *5 ) 
 
 haps, wounding the fenfibility of ibme who 
 are more ready to give than to receive. 
 
 The many charitable inftitutions which 
 call upon the citizens of New-Tork for their 
 yearly, monthly, and daily bounty, demon- 
 strate that they are not difpofed to be weary 
 in well-doing, and ought to feal the filent 
 paufe on the lips of the fpeaker — I therefore 
 ceafe, praying that the bleffing of Jehovah, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, may reft 
 upon you and your children, and upon all 
 the free-hearted and liberal throughout all 
 generations. Amen and amen. 
 
 D APPENDIX. 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 IHE reader of the foregoing fermon Vvill, no 
 doubt, be gratified with a brief relation of thofe 
 events which preceded and occafioned the eftabiifh- 
 ment of the fociety at whofe requeil it was deli- 
 vered. 
 
 Different denominations of Christians in Great- 
 Britain have lately difcovered a more than ordinary 
 folicitude to extend, to infidel nations, the knowledge 
 of the Lord Jefus Chrift. An harmony, unparal- 
 leled, perhaps, in the modern hiflory of the church, 
 reigns among thofe who, in every denomination, 
 love the unadulterated gofpel. By a communica- 
 tion of fentiment, not lefs rapid than univerfal ? 
 they appear to have entertained, nearly at once, the 
 fame willies, and the fame views. Coincidence in 
 principle and defign, fpeedily produced a coinci- 
 dence of.meafures; and afTociations were immedi- 
 ately formed in various parts of the ifland, for vigor- 
 ously executing what they had fo nobly conceived. 
 Befides the fociety recently instituted among the 
 particular Baptifts, and limited to their own religi- 
 ous connections, other fccieties, on a more exten- 
 
 five 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 five plan, have been erected in London, Glaigow, 
 Edinburgh, Paiiley, and New-Caftle. 
 
 The Baptifts have already fent out miffionaries to 
 India and Africa: what the fuccefs of the latter 
 has been, we have not heard; but every Chriftian 
 will rejoice that, by the latefl accounts from India, 
 the profpect is moil flattering. That fome folid 
 conversions to the faith of Jesus have taken place 
 there is no reafon to doubt ; and from the anxiety 
 which multitudes of the natives fhew to hear the 
 gofpel, thefe appear like the early firfl fruits of 
 fields that are ripe ahead y to harveft. 
 
 A chief ground on which it was fuppofed and 
 predicted that the focieties would fail, was the dif- 
 ficulty of obtaining miffionaries. But when the 
 Lord begins a work, he will never want inftruments. 
 It was in this faith that the focieties proceeded ; and 
 they have not been difappointed. Numbers, whofe 
 hearts the Lord had touched, offered themfelves 
 for this felf-denying and dangerous fervice : and on 
 the 28th of July laft, twenty-nine miffionaries, un- 
 der the direction of the fociety in London, were 
 folemnly fet apart for a miffion to the South-Seas, 
 and fliortly after embarked for the delightful ifland 
 of Otaheite. 
 
 The London fociety, though not a year old, had 
 already received donations, &c. to the amount of 
 nearly £. 12,000 flerlinc;, or 5-^,332 dollars. They 
 
 have 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 have purchafed a fhip, and we hear that the cap- 
 tain, his officers, and the chief of his crew, are 
 men of piety — A rare affemblage of feamen ! 
 
 It was impoffible, on receiving intelligence like 
 this, that Chriftians here mould not feel their hearts 
 warmed, and their emulation excited. Although 
 their means are fcanty in proportion to thofe of their 
 brethren over the ocean, they could not help afking 
 themfelves, and one another, What can we do in 
 the fame glorious enterprize ? They faw the fpiri- 
 tual defolations of our frontier, and the forlorn 
 condition of our favages. They could not help 
 wifhing to fend them relief. They felt themfelves 
 conftrained to attempt their falvation ; and accord- 
 ingly a number, both of the clergy and laity, after 
 ferious conference, came to the refolution of infti- 
 tuting a Miffionary Society in the city of New- 
 York, and of endeavouring to obtain the concur- 
 rence of Chriftians throughout the continent. 
 Themfelves and their attempt they commit to 
 him whofe ftrength is made perfect in weaknefs, 
 — Their Addrefs and Conflitution follow. 
 
 Nevv-York, November 18, 1796. 
 
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