^75 rcm\ Sennets SERMON, OCT 1 2 '62 33 3 1 LILIf'ERBD BEFORE TBS MASSACHUSETTS MISSIONART SOCIETY, AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON, MAY 27, 1800. Br NATHANIEL EMMONS, D.D. Paftor of the Church in Franklin, Maffachufetts. tUBllSHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY* To which is added, An ABSTRACT of the PROCEEDINGS, and FUND of the SOCIETY ; AND AN ADDRESS to the PUBLIC. Cfjarleflotott : Printed and Sold by SAMUEL ETHERIDGE, 1800. A SERMON. id. CHRONICLES, XV. 7. EE YE STRONG THEREFORE , zir iVOT r0£/£ HANDS BE WEAK : FOR YOUR WORK SHALL BE REWARDED . - There was fuch a peculiar and intimate con* nection between the civil and religious inflitu- tions in the Hebrew republic, that the caufe of religion was neceffarily and deeply affected, by both the good and bad adminiftration of govern- ment. Hence it became a proverb in Ifrael, te When the righteous are in authority, the peo- ple rejoice : but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Religion never failed to flourifh under the fmiles and patronage of wife and pious princes ; nor, on the other hand, did it ever fail to languifh and decay under the frowns and oppofition of unwife and wicked rul- ers. This in fome meafure appeared, while the whole houfe of Ifrael were happily united in one civil as well as religions community ; but it hill more clearly appeared, after the revolt and apof- tacy of the ten tribes. In the days of Jofhua, Jfrael was holinefs unto the Lord , and the firft fruits of I C 4 1 his increafe ; but after his deceafe, and while there was no king in Ifrael, the caufe of religion vili- bly decayed, and never revived until the days of David and Solomon. While they were in the adminiftration of government, they made noble and fuccefsful exertions to promote the public worlhip of God, and diffufe a fpirit of vital piety among all dalles of people : But after Reho- boam the fon of Solomon and Jereboam the fon of Nabat divided the nation, religion received a molt fatal blow. In the kingdom of Ifrael it was greatly corrupted ; and in the kingdom of Judah it was generally neglected. Rehoboam and Abijah were both unfriendly to the caufe of God, and did much to obftruct and retard its progrefs. Accordingly, when Afa afcended the throne of Judah, he found religion in a low and languifhing hate. Iniquity had long abounded , and the love of many had waxen cold. But this deep declenlion, inftead of weakening, awakened his holy zeal, to revive the linking caufe, which lay fo near his pious heart. His firft fincere and vigorous efforts in favor of religion, were high- ly plealing to the God of Ifrael, who fent a Pro- phet on purpofe to ftrengthen his refolution and perfeverance in accomplilhing the good defign, which he had fo nobly conceived, and fo fuccefs- fully purfued. This is the agreeable account, which the facred hiltorian gives of fome of the firft ads of his pious and profperous reign. “ So Abijah llept with his fathers, and Afa his fen C 5 ] reigned in his {lead. And he did that which was right and good in the eyes of the Lord his God. For he took away the altars of the flrange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves : And commanded Judah tofeek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and commandments.” After he had proceeded fo far, “ The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the fon of Oded. And he went down to meet Afa, and faid unto him, Hear ye me, Afa, and all Judah and Benjamin j the Lord is with you, while ye be with him ; and if ye feek him, he will be found of you : but if ye forfake him, he will forfake you. Be ye ftrong there- fore, and let not your hands be weak : For your work {hall be rewarded.” This feafonable meflage from the God of Ifrael, gave new life and vigor to Afa and all his pious fubjeCts. For it is added, “ And when Afa heard thefc words, ’and the prophefy of Oded the prophet, he took courage. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the ftrangers with them out of Ephraim and Menafiah, and out of Simeon : For they fell to him out of Ifrael in abundance , when they faw that the Lord his God was with him.” In this connection, the # words of our text natural- ly fuggeft this animating truth to our prefect confideration : That the friends of God have good ground for unfhaken refolution in promoting the caufe of religion. [ 6 3 / To fet this fubjed in a proper light, I lhall en- deavor to fliovv, I. That refolution is neceffary in promoting the caufe of religion. II. That the friends of God have good ground to be bold and^ zealous in promoting fuch a noble and important defign. I. Let us confider the neceffity of refolution in promoting the caufe of religion. Resolution is the effence of that mental ftfength, which gives energy to all the powers and faculties of body and mind. It is compof- ed of love, zeal and confidence, which are the moft operative affedions of the human heart. When a man has conceived a defign, which engages his fupreme affedion, which engrofies his whole attention, and which he firmly be- lieves he is capable of executing, he then feels a ftrong refolution to call forth all his latent pow- ers into vigorous exercife, to accomplilh the ob- jed of his wifhes. Such refolution has always had a principal influence m effeding all the great things, which have ever been effeded by the men of the world. Equal refolution, though of a different kind, is no lefs neceffary in pro- moting the caufe of religion, than in promot- ing any other great and difficult undertak- ing. Men of piety may have time, and op- [ 7 ] portunity, and learning, and wealth, and powsr, and influence, to promote the caufe ot truth, and yet never exert themfelves in this great and good dclign, unl^fs they poflefs a firm and un- lhaken relolution. But all good men, who have this noble quality, are properly prepared to ei'poufe the caufe of God, amidft a frowning world, lienee the infpired writers unitedly in- culcate refolution as the principal thing necefla- ry, in order to fucceed in promoting the inter- efls of religion. “ Be ye fhong therefore, and let not your hands be weak,” fays the prophet to Afa and the men of Judah, who were engag- ed in this pious and important work. When Jchofhaphai viflted his kingdom, and difeovered the prevalence of vice and irreligion, he exhort- ed the proper reformers, to be bold and zealous in the difeharge of their difficult duty. “ Be- hold,” fays he, “ Amaziah the chief prieft is over you in all matters of the Lord ; alfo the Le- vites fliall be officers before you.” But not- withftanding all this aid and protection, he adds, “ Deal cour age oujly , and the Lord fliall be with the good.” When Shecaniah, a bold and zealous friend of God, urged Ezra the prieft to efpoufe the finking caule of virtue and piety, for which, he had been fervently praying, he plainly inti- mated, that relolution was indifpenfably necef- fary to effect a religious reformation. te Arife, for this matter belongeth unto thee ; we alfo will be with thee : Be of good courage and do C 8 ] Tf we now turn our attention to thofe, whom Cod has employed as eminent inftruments of building up his kingdom, we {hall find, that a bold and perfevering fpirit was the moft prom- inent trait in their character. Though Mofes was a man of meeknefs, yet he was no lefs a man of firmnefs and refolution. He feared not the wrath of the king, nor the frowns of his court, nor the murmurs of the falfe and faint- hearted Ifraelites ; but boldly purfued the caufe of God, in defiance to the united oppofition of all the enemies of the church. Elijah difplayed peculiar courage and zeal in appearing on the Lord’s fide, and efpoufing his caufe, at a time of general, and as he thought, of univerfal deelenfion. He not only oppofed and confound- ed all the prophets of Baal ; but even dared to deliver the meflage of God to Ahab, whom he knew had been feeking his life. It was a firm and unfhaken refolution, which enabled Nehe- miah to carry On and accomplilh the work of God at Jerufalem, in oppofition to all the in- trigues and threats of Sanballat and Tobiah, and their numerous confederates. For, be- ing admonilhed to confult his perfonal fafety, he nobly replied, c< Should fuch a man as I flee ?’* What invincible firmnefs did Daniel, Shadrack, Mefhack, and Abednego difcover, when they maintained the worfliip and glory of the only true God, before the mouth of the lions’ den, and the flames of the burning fiery furnace ? A [ 9 ] A bold and undaunted fpirit was the moft ftrik- ing lineament in the character of John the Bap- tift, who was fent as a pioneer, to prepare the way of the Lord. The meek and lowly Jefus him- felf was the lion of the tribe of Judah. He fpake with a courage and boldnefs, with which never man fpake. His undaunted refolution, in purging the temple, furprifed even his difci- ples, until they recolle&ed it was written, “ The zeal of thine houfe hath eaten me up.” The holy apoftles imbibed the bold and zealous fpirit of their Divine Maker, which rendered them fuperior to all oppofition, in fpreading the gof- pcl among both Jews and Gentiles. This the enemies of truth moll fenftbly felt, and moft ex- plicitly acknowledged. For we are told, “ When they faw the boldnefs of Peter and John, — they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jefus . And when thefe two apoftles were arrefted in their work, they bid defiance to the threats of their malignant oppofers, and made this folemn appeal to their confciences : « Whether it be right in the fight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but fpeak the things which we have feen and heard.” Paul, that chofcn. velfel to bear the mefiages of grace to thefe fit- ting in the region of the fhadow of death, was a man of aftonilhing refolution and zeal. He dared the dangers of the fea, anH the perils of the wildernefs. He attacked the falie religion B C 10 ] and vain philosophy of pagan priefts and morah ills. He regarded not the terror of tyrants, nor the rage and violence of perfecutors ; but bold- ly declared the whole counfel of God. And though his friends frequently advifed him to avoid the dangers and evils, to which he expos- ed himfelf in the caufe of Christ ; yet his per- fevering zeal and refolution would not fuffer him to defert, nor neglect the benevolent de- fign, which he had determined, at all hazards, to purfue. Hear his bold and undaunted lan- guage. “ Behold, I go bound in fpirit unto Je- rufalem, not knowing the things that {hall befal me there : Save that the Holy Ghoft witneffeth in every city, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none cf thefe things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myfelf, fo that I might finifh my courfe with joy, and miniftry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to teftify the gofpel of the grace of God.” Luther was raif- ed up to purge away the errors and delufions of the Church of Rome, and to fpread the pure truths of the gofpel through many of the ftates and kingdoms of Europe. This was a molt ar- duous and dangerous talk ; accordingly to fit him for his work, God infpired him with a bold enterprifing, unconquerable fpirit. This ani- mated and fupported him, amidft the greatcft labors and contefts, that have ever perhaps fall- en to the lot of any individual, fince the days of the apoftles. As Calvin ftood next to Luther in £ i* 3 f * a. A propagating truth in oppofition to error j fo next to that great reformer, he pofleffed the largeft fhare of genuine refolution and fortitude. But though Zuinglius was a man of more pene- tration and knowledge, and commanded a more elegant and perfuafive pen, than either Luther or Calvin j yet, by his great timidity and irrefo- lution, he often injured the glorious caufe, which he fincerely wifhed to promote. Thus it appears from the experience of ages, as well as from the teftimony of feripture, that a pious and perfever- ing refolution is indifpenfably neceffary, in or- der to propagate the gofpel, and build up the kingdom of Christ in the world. I now pro- ceed to Ihow, II. That the friends of God have good ground for fuch unfhaken refolution, in pro- moting fuch a great and good defign. The pre- cept in the text is connected with an animat- ing promife. “ Be ye ftrong therefore, and let not your hands be weak : For your work fhall be rew'arded.” Here I fhall mention a few of the weighty motives to bold and vigorous exer- tions in the caufe of religion. i. The friends of God have often been fuc- ceeded in their hncere attempts to promote his glory in the converlion of finners. He has been pleafed to allow them the privilege of being workers together with him, in firengthening and [ >* 3 enlarging his fpiritual kingdom. This privilege they have fometimes zealoufly improved, when they faw religion was declining, and multitudes of Tinners were perifliing in their fins. At fuch a time, Afa fet himfelf to revive the finking caufe of God. He firft prepared the way, by removing the obftacles which flood oppofed to his pious defign ; and then ufed the proper means to awaken the attention of his fubjects to the things which belonged to their everlafling peace. In this arduous work he perfifted for years, and happily fucceeded in attaining the object of his defires, his prayers, and exertions. His fon Je- holhaphat followed his good example, and car- ried on the work, which his father had fuccefs- fully begun. After feveral wicked princes had reigned over Judah, Jehoiada the pried, in the minority of Joafh, ftrengthened the things that remained and were ready to die, and, by his vigorous exertions, brought about a great refor- mation in religion. You remember, that Heze- kiah, Jofiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah, were firm and faithful friends of God ; and every attempt they made to promote his caufe was crowned with fignal fuccefs. I might mention the apof. tles, Luther and Calvin, David Brainard and ma- ny other mifilonaries, who have done much to fpread the favor of Christ’s name among both their own countrymen and heathens. ' So many inftances of fuccefs in fo many ages and ^ parts of the world, in promoting the caufe of religion, [ *3 3 clearly demonftrate that the work, though at- tended with great and innumerable difficulties, is really practicable. And this practicability af- fords a folid ground of encouragement, in un- dertaking and purfuing the benevolent defign. There is fomething extremely animating in the profpeCt of fuccefs. It always infpires the mind with irrefutable zeal and fortitude in feeking a defirablc objeCt. This alluring motive, God, in his providence, holds up to the view of his friends, who are fincerely engaged to promote his caufe. 2. The promotion of religion is fuch a noble and laudable defign, that it is even glorious to fail in the attempt. In all great and difficult undertakings, there is always more or lefs dan- ger of being eventually difappointed. It is not in man to command fuccefs, even in his moft lawful and benevolent purfuits. The men of the world are often fruftrated in accompiilhing their v.'ifeft and beft concerted defigns. A.nd the friends of God have not unfrequently been dif- appointed in their pious efforts to fpread the knowledge of truth and promote the interefts of religion. Many focieties formed for this benev- olent purpofe, have failed of anfwering their own and the public expectation. But in all cafes, in which the failure has not been owing, either to the negligence, or the unfaithfulnefs, or the defpondency of thofe employed, in concerting £ *4 1 and executing the defign, their attempts have always met with general approbation and ap- plaufe. Melvill Horne appears amiable and re- fpe&able, notwithftanding his want of fuccefs in his million, and notwithftanding his own ac- knowledged timidity and irrefolution. Some of the more ancient promoters of religion, by their bold, though unfuccefsful attempts, endeared their names to future ages. At a time of great degeneracy in Judah, “ The fpirit of God came upon Zechariah the fon of Jehoiada the prieft, who flood above the people, and faid unto them. Thus faith God, why tranfgrefs ye the com- mandments of the Lord, that ye cannot pros- per : Becaufe ye have forfaken the Lord, he hath alfo forfaken you. And they confpired againft him, and floned him with ftones at the commandment of the king, in the court of the houfe of the Lord.” This bold and fincere attempt to promote the reformation and falvation of finners, though it failed of defired fuccefs, finally reflected peculiar honor upon the name of Zechariah. For, when Christ told the Jews, that the blood of all the prophets fhould be required at their hands, he mentioned in particular “ the blood of Zacharias, whom they flew between the temple and the altar.” Christ himfelf labored in vain and fpent his ftrength for naught, in preaching the gofpel to the Jews ; but though Ifrael were not gathered, yet he was glorious in the eyes of his [ J 5 1 Father. The apoftles pl eached the fame gofpcl in many places, with little or no fuccefs ; but yet they were a fweet favor of Christ in them that perifihed, as well as in them that were faved. John Wickliff was unfuqcefsful in the fame work in which Luther fucceeded ; but yet his noble, though unfuccefsful exertions, have ren- dered his name illuftrious through all the pro- teftant nations. If good men fiiould fail of fpreading the gofpel to the extent of their de- fires and expectations j yet their fincere and vigorous attempts fhall meet the juft approba- tion of both God and man. Some feem to be backward, to engage in this work, for fear they {hall not fucceed. They imagine they fee a lion in the way ; but fuppofing there Ihould be a li- on in the way, or fuppofing the worft that can be fuppofed, that fome unforefeen obftacles Ihall arife, which cannot be furmounted, it will be glorious to fail, after they have done all that was in their power to do.’ This the friends of God ought to confider as a folid foun- dation for fortitude and zeal, in undertaking and profecuting fuch a noble and laudable de- fign, in which they have nothing to lofe, but much to gain, by their moft zealous and bold attempts. 3. Those, who efpoufe the caufe of religion, have reafon to expeCl the peculiar prefence and afiiftance of God in their pious exertions. The caufe of religion is emphatically the caufe of / [ 16 ] God, in the promotion of which his heart is wholly engaged. The zeal of the Lord of liofts centres in the execution of his purpofe of grace towards this fallen world. For the attainment of this grand object, he is conftantly employing every creature, and directing every event, in the univerfe. ] While any of his friends, therefore, feel his fpirit and heartily efpoufe his caufe, he mult be pleafed with the motives of their con- dud, and afford them all the protection and af- fiftance which they need, in doing their part, to promote his gracious defign. Accordingly we find exprefs promifes of his prefence with thofe, who fincerely endeavor to promote his caufe. He directed Azariah to tell Afa and the men of Ju- dah in his name, “ The Lord is with you , while ye be with him.” He engaged to aflift and pro- tect Jeremiah, while pleading his caufe, in the midft of the moft formidable oppofition. “ Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arife, and fpeak unto them all that I command thee : Be not difmayed at their faces' : Left I confound thee before them. For behold, I have made thee this day, a defenced city, and iron pillar, and brazen walls againft the whole land, againft the kings of Judah, againft the princes thereof, againft the priefts thereof, and againft the peo- ple of the land. And they fhall fight againft thee, but they fliall not prevail againft \hct,for I am with the ; , faith the Lord , to deliver thee.” Ezekiel tells us, that God gave him a fimilar [ >7 ] promife in a ftmilar cafe. “ And he faid unto me, fon of man, go, get thee unto the houfe of Ifrael, and fpcak my words unto them. Behold, I have made thy face ftrong againft their faces, and thy forehead ftrong againft their foreheads. As an adamant, harder than flint, have I made thy forehead ; fear them not, neither be dif- mayed at their looks, though they be a rebell- ious houfe.” The command, which Christ has laid upon all his faithful minifters to fpread the gofpel, is enforced by a promife of his continual prefence. “ Go ye therefore and teach all na- tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft ; teach- ing them to obferve all things whatfoever 1 have commanded you. And lo , I am with you alway even unto the end of the world.” (Such peculiar promifes of divine fupport, protettion, and af- ftftance, apply to all thofe, who are heartily en- gaged to fpread the knowledge and bleflings of the gofpel among the perifliing children of men, and are defigned to infpire them with refolu- tion and zeal in the great undertaking. Every fincere chriftian, every faithful minifter, every pious and zealous miflionary, may adopt the language of the apoftle, and fay, “ I can do all things through Christ which ftrengtheneth me.” Whofe hearts and hands, therefore, muft not be ftrong, while they are fincerely engaged in that work, which they know is highly pleaf- ing to Christ, and in the performance of which, c [ 1 8 ] they have juft ground to expect his promifed prefence and protection ? Efpecially when they conftder, 4. That their benevolent defires and exer- tions to advance the interefts of religion, fliall certainly be attended with the approbation and prayers of all good men. Thefe have univerfal- ly imbibed one fpirit, and heartily defire the profperity of Zion. Here the diitin&ion of dif- ferent denominations ceafes to operate, and ad- mits an entire union in fentiment and feeling. Good men, in whatever denomination of chrift- ians they are found, unitedly feek the fpread of the gofpel and the prevalence of religion. And though they may differ in opinion, refpecling particular meafures to promote the common caufe of chriftianity ; yet they really unite in the general object, and fincerely pray, that it may be eventually obtained. f They feel the fpi- rit of Paul, who faid, “ Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and ftrife j and fome alfo of good will. What then ? Notwithftanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached ; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” The friends of God univer- fally wifh well to, and heartily pray for tliofe, who are lincerely engaged in fpreading the gof- pel, and promoting the falvation of ftnners. A- greeably to the direction of Christ, they daily offer up their defires to God in that compre- [ *9 ] henfive petition, “ Thy kingdom come.” And whenever they fee any fuccefsfully employed in building up this kingdom, they naturally join with and alfilt them in the good work. We have a Itriking inftance of this in the context. Though the ten tribes had generally revolted from the true God, yet there were fome pious men among them ; and thefe united heart and hand with Ala the king of Judah, in promoting the caufe of true religion. Accordingly it is faid, “ They fell to him cut of Ifrael in abundance , •when they faiv that the Lodd his God was with him.” The fincere and fuccefsful promoters of religion will always have the approbation and prayers, and in that way at lead, the concur- rence and afliftance of all good men. This, in- deed, makes them really ftrong ; and ftrength is a peculiar fource of refolution and zeal. Befides, ^5. They are equally fur e of the efteem and affection of all thofe, whom they lhall be inftru- mental of converting. Though men are natural- ly averfe from being awakened, convinced and converted ; yet after they have become reconcil- ed to God, they never fail to feel a peculiar af- fection for thofe whom they view as inftrument- al of their fpiritual and eternal good. Paul bears teftimony to the ardent affection, which fome of his hearers had felt towards him, whom they had viewed as the inftrument, under Goe, of their favins: converfion. “ I bear you record, o J [ 20 ] that if it had been poffible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” How much have faithful and fuc- cefsful miffionaries been beloved and carefied, by thofe to whom they have carried the gofpel, which turned them from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ? No men in Judah were more fincerely efteemed and venerat- ed, than Afa, Jehoiada, Hezekiah, and Jofiah, who were the happy inftruments of reforming and converting fmners. If men are faithful and fuccefsful in feeking the falvation of fouls, they will not only deferve, but receive the grat- itude and efteem of thofe, whom they are the means of bringing home to God. This confid- eration may well fupport and animate them, in fuffering all the reproach and oppofition they may meet with, in fpreading the gofpel, and tak- ing the fubjedts of the prince of darknefs out of his hands. I muft add, 6. That all the fincere endeavors and extra- ordinary exertions in favor of religion, {hall finally meet a glorious recompenfe of reward. God has promifed to reward men for the faith- ful improvement of all their talents. And what better ufe can they make of the bleflings of prov- idence, than to employ them in building up the kingdom of God ? This is the moft important defign carrying on in this world, and even in any part of the univerfe j and, therefore, to be [ 2 1 ] inftrumental in promoting this, is to do the greateft good, which lies in the power of man to do. No perfon can employ his time, his inter- eft, his knowledge, and all the weight of his character, to a better purpofe, than that of fpreading the gofpel, and promoting the eternal interefts of his fellow men ; and there is no other way, in which he can fecure a more am- ple reward, in the great day of retribution. But befide the parable of the talents, we find particular promifes to thofe, who make pecu- liar exertions to build up Zion. Such is the promife in the text. “ Be ye ftrong therefore, and let not your hands be weak : For your work lhall be rewarded.” The fame idea is fuggefted by the apoftle James. ** Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one con- vert him ; let him know, that he who convert- ed a finner from the error of his way, lhall fave a foul from death, and hide a multitude of fins.” The apoftle Paul fays to chriftians in general, “ Be ye ftedfaft, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as ye know that your labor Jhall not be in vain in the Lord.” And the prophet exprefsly declares, “ They that be wife lhall Urine as the brightnefs of the firma- O ment ; and they that turn many to righteoufnefs, as the ftars forever and ever.” Thefe prom- ifes of a glorious recompenfe in a future ftate, ought to animate good men at this day, as they [ 2 * 3 animated Mofes, the prophets, the apoflles, and even Christ himfelf, to the moft bold and vig- orous exertions in the caufe of religion. It now remains to improve and apply the fub* jeft, with proper freedom and plainnefs. In the firft place, it is natural to conclude from what has been faid, that the friends of God have been very, negligent in promoting his caufe in the worlds When a man, merely for the want of refolution, does not perform any important work, which belongs to him to per- form, and which he has time, opportunity, and abilities to perform, we never fcruple to fay, that he is guilty of negligence. < It is certainly the proper bufmefe of the friends of God to pro- mote his caufe., He formed them veffels of mer- cy for his own ufe. He called them out of dark- nefs into marvellous light, that they might be Ci the light of the world, and the fait of the earth.” And he has commanded them to feek the intereft of his kingdom above every other objeft. It is, therefore, their appropriate and important bufinefs, to promote the caufe of religion. And it muft be acknowledged, that they have long had time, opportunity, and ability, to perform the duty devolved upon them. But have they been faithful ? Are there not many indubitable marks of their negli- gence ? Does not the ianguilhing (late of relig- ion, bear teftimony to their timidity and indo- lence ? Had they been bold, and zealous, and [ 2 3 3 a&ive in the caufe of God, would there have been fo many of the human race, at this day, involv- ed in *Jewilh, Pagan, Mahometan, and Papal darknefs ? (Have there not been chriftians in Afia ? Why then has Alia been fo long perill- ing for the want of gofpel light ? Have there not been chriftians in Africa ? Why then has Africa been l'o long perilhing for the want of chriftian knowledge ? Have there not been chrift- ians in Europe ? are there not many there ftill ? Why then is fo great a part of that quarter of the world ftill ignorant of the pure doctrines of the gofpel ? Has there not long been a fucceffion of pious men in America ? Why then are there fo many of the aboriginals ftill perilhing in their native barbarity and ignorance ? Have we not many godly minifters in thefe United States ? Why then are there fo many declining churches, fo many deftitute congregations, and fo many individuals abandoned to vice, irreligion, and infidelity ? f These are plain indications of negligence in the friends of God, for years, if not for ages paft. /Had chriftians in every age poflefled the fpirit of the apoftles and the primitive believers, what great things would they have done to promote the caufe of Chp.ist ? Or had they been as wife as the men of the world, and as zealous to promote the falvation of others, as finners are to promote their temporal interefts, the gofpel would have long fince been carried to [ 24 ] the ends of the earth. / Or, indeed, if the fame zealous, bold, and undaunted fpirit, which has lately fired the breafts of chriftians in Europe and America, had fired their breafts but a few years ago, the face of religion would have un- doubtedly appeared, at this time, unfpeakably different. | Nothing has been wanting, fince the revival of learning, the invention of printing, and the difcovery of the magnet, to prevent the univerfal fpread of the gofpel, but merely chrift- ian refolution and zeal. This long and great negligence calls for the humiliation of chriftians in general, and efpecially of chri Ilian minifters and magiftrates, who ought to have been the firft in zeal and refolution to promote the caufe of Chrisx and the fpread of the gofpel. The world now looks like the field of the flug- gard, becaufe chriftians, like the fluggard, have been crying, ec A little fleep, a little {lumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep.” The pre- fent melancholy ftate of chriftianity throughout the world, reproaches ail its friends for their paft irrefolution and negligence, i The next thing to be inferred from what has been faid is, that none will ever do much to forward the work of fpreading the gofpel, with- out a large fhare of chriftian zeal and refolution. Men may be pious and fincerely wifli well to the benevolent defign, and yet do more to de- feat, than to accomplifh it, if deftitute of a truly miflionary fpirit. In order to carry into effcdl [ 25 ] fuch a difficult and laborious undertaking, thoic, who enter upon it, muft be all awake and alive to the important objeft before them. But none will feel a proper concern for others, who do not feel a proper concern for themfelves. None will be greatly engaged to promote religion abroad, who are not equally engaged to promote it at home. None have any encouragement to em- bark in the adventurous caufe of propagating the gofpel, unlefs their hearts glow with love to God, and a tender concern for the fouls of men. They muft be weaned from the world ; they muft be ftripped of mercenary motives ; they muft be willing to deny themfelves and take up the crofs ; before they can poflefs that firm and perfevering refolution, which is neceflary to meet the reproach and oppofition to be expected, in fpreading a religion, which has never failed to awaken all the malignant paflions of the human heart. They muft fit down and count the coft, left, after having put their hand to the plough, they fliould look back, and betray the caufe, which they engaged to befriend. Why have at- tempts of this kind fo often proved abortive ? Has it not been chiefly owing to a worldly fpirit , which has palfied all pious refolution and zeal ? And who can expect to fpeed better, without a better fpirit ? What will lifeiefs meetings, what Will proper refolutions, what will verbal engagements avail, without bold, zealous, per- severing exertions ? No perfon is properly pre- D t *« ] pared to be a member, and much lefs to be a miffionary, of this fociety, who has not a heart to fpend and be fpent in the arduous under- taking, and to meet all the evils and embarraff- ments, which may eventually attend it. A cold heart, a timid mind, a feeble hand, is by no means fit to be employed in a v/ork, which calls for the warmeft zeal, and the moft vigorous ex- ertions. But fince the friends of God have fuch good ground for unfhaken refolution, in promoting the caufe of religion,; we may juftly infer, in the laft place, that it is not yet too late to attempt the propagation of the gofpel through this ex- tenfive country. Though we have loft much time, and neglected many favorable opportuni- ties for fuch an undertaking ; though an awful ftupor has feized the minds of many of the pro- feffed friends of God ; though the enemies of religion have, within a very few years, greatly increafed in numbers and ftrength ; though they have fet every engine in motion, to fpread error, deifm, and even atheifm, through every corner of our land ; though, I fay, all thefe obftacles ftare us in the face, and muft be overcome, in or- der to propagate the gofpel among tliofe who are perifhing for the want of it ; yet it may not be too late to effect the difficult and important de- fign. \ Good men, as well as bad, are able to do almoft any thing, which they think they are able to do. Difficulties vanifh before refolution. C' 2 7 J There never was fo great a dcclenfion of religion in Judah, but that a reformation was always ef- fected, when good men had only zeal and refo- lution enough to attempt it. If the few friends of God in this country, therefore, were only awake, united, and pofiefied of proper zeal and fortitude, they might, under the divine direc- tion and influence, put a check upon the prog- refs of vice and infidelity, and extend the lim- its of the Redeemer’s kingdom where Satan is now reigning without control, and leading multitudes of poor, deluded creatures to eternal deftruflion. Chriftianity is a caufe, which is deftined to prevail ; and which is deftined to prevail, by the blefling Qf God on human exer- tions. This we, my Brethren, have in practice pro- felled to believe, by uniting for the purpofe of fending the gofpel to thofe, who are perifliing for the lack of vifion. “ Let us be ftrong there- fore, and let not our hands be weak,” for we have all the encouragement defirable, to purfue with vigor and fortitude the work, which we have ferioufly and deliberately undertaken. Though we and others have too long neglected it, and, by our neglect, given rife to great and formidable difficulties ; yet thefe mountains fliall become plains, before a pious, bold, mil- lionary fpirit. It has been God’s ufual method, to arife and plead his own caufe, at thofe very times, when it appeared to be on the very point [ 23 3 of extin&ion. It was when Jereboam the fon of Nebat had made Ifrael to fin, and well nigh corrupted the whole church ; that God raifed up Afa and others, to rekindle the dying, glim- mering flame of religion. It was when the two tribes and half were pining away in their ini- quities, and refembled the valley of dry bones, in Babylon ; that God awakened the zeal and bleffed the exertions of his friends, to bring about their converfion and deliverance. It was when the man of fin had defaced and nearly de- ftroyed the chriftian religion ; that God raifed up a conftellation of bold and zealous men, to efpoufe and fpread his finking caufe. : Hence the late extraordinary efforts in Europe and America