Missionary-Encouragement : 
 
 A 
 
 DISCOURSE, 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 OS Wednefday Evening, the 1 6th of May, 1798, 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 PHILADELPHIA MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
 
 AND 
 
 THE CONGREGATION OF THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE. 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 By the Rev. WILLIAM STAUGHTON , 
 
 PRINCIPAL OF BORDENTON ACADEMY. 
 
 O’er the gloomy hills of darknefs, 
 Louk my foul, be Hill and gaze ; 
 All the promiles do travail 
 With a glorious Jay of grace. 
 Blefled Jub’lee, 
 
 Let thy glorious morning dawn. 
 
 Philadelphia : 
 
 PRINTED BY STEPHEN C. USTICK, 
 
TO 
 
 The Philadelphia Missionary Society , 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 DISCOURSE, 
 
 WHICH APPEARS IN PUBLIC AT THEIR REQUEST, 
 
 IS VERY RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY 
 
 The AUTHOR. 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 ISAIAH LV. Ver. 12. 
 
 Ye Hull go out with joy, and be led forth with peace : ihe 
 mountains and the hills (hall break forth before you into 
 finging, and all the trees of the field (hall dap their hands. 
 
 W HEN ancient predictions of glory 
 to the righteous are contemplated, the habit of 
 beholding the impiety and infamy of the world, 
 greatly diminilhes the rapture they are deligned to 
 .infpire. We regard the excellent events they 
 foretel, as objeCts of delire, rather than objeCts of 
 expectation ; and, though the faithfulnefs of the 
 divine teftimonies fuller not our languilhing faith 
 to expire, when we contrail times with prophecies, 
 we are led to place the period of blelfednefs at a 
 diflarice far remote. 
 
 But let us hope that more diligent attention will 
 furnifh ideas more encouraging. 
 
 It is true, that though the knowledge of the Lord 
 Avail cover the earth, men are perifliing for lack of 
 knowledge : having the underftanding darkened, 
 being alienated from the life of God through the 
 ignorance that is in them, becaufe of the blindnefs 
 * of their hearts. 
 
 It is true, the depraved paflions of the human- 
 foul are every where revealed. Iniquitous policy 
 and mad ambition controul the aClions of nations. 
 The banners of war are unfurled ; — fleets on the 
 ocean, armies on the fliores are meditating and at each 
 other projecting deftruCtion. In the private circles 
 
 B 
 
6 
 
 of life, uncleannefs and inebriation prevail. The 
 God of heaven is blafphetned, his fervants are 
 pitied or defpifed, his holy oracle is trampled under 
 foot, and the great principles of piety, like tares in 
 the harveft field, are declared pernicious, and 
 induftriouily rooted up. 
 
 It is true, mifery is every where difcernible. 
 Difeafes generated by crimes are confuming the 
 bodies of thoufands, and a convi&ed confcience 
 chaitifing their fpirits. The depopulations of peili- 
 lence are feen, are heard of, and widows and orphans, 
 moving over fields of daughter or to dwellings of 
 poverty, are raiding their piteous lamentations. 
 
 It is true, but, why ihould we amplify this 
 
 afflicting detail ? Though we continue to fhroud 
 mankind in darknefs and guilt till deftruftion and 
 death fay “ it is enough,” we mull even then 
 remember, that the meafures of Providence are not 
 controllable by the offences and calamities of men ; 
 that the luitre of prophetic truth cannot be concealed, 
 and that in the fulfilment of prophecy, the groffeft 
 darknefs has frequently preceded the moil; marvellous 
 light. 
 
 Under thefe imprefflons we are about illuilrating 
 this animating prediction, “Ye ilia.ll go out with joy 
 “ and be led forth with peace, the mountains and 
 “ hills ihall break forth before you into finging, and 
 “ all the trees of the field ihall clap their hands.” 
 
 This paffage appears to have been written about 
 the clofe of the reign of Hezekiah. Prophecies had 
 been delivered foretelling the certain and impending 
 diffolution of the houfe of David and the captivity 
 of the people. After Hezekiah’s recovery from 
 iicknefs, the king of Babylon fent to him letters 
 and a prefent. — Letters perhaps to make the king 
 of Judah his ally in his meditated revolt from the 
 Ling of Affyria, and a prefent or offering exprefflve 
 of his veneration for a perfon, the fign of whole 
 recovery was the going backward of that fun, he 
 
7 
 
 had been accuftomed to adore as the fovereign 
 deity ! Hezekiah, left of his G^d to the vanity of 
 his heart, as though eager to*' prove himfelf a 
 dcfirable confederate and a proper fubjeft of the 
 honours he had received from the heavens, lhews 
 to the meflengers of the fon of Baladan “ the houfe 
 “ of his precious things, the filver, the gold and 
 “ the fpices, and the ointment, and all the houfe of 
 “ his armour, and all that was found in his tr.eafures: 
 
 “ there was nothing in his houfe npr in all his 
 “ dominion that Hezekiah fhewed them not,” 
 
 But immediately after this circumftance Jehovah 
 made manifefl: the folly of the prince, by foretelling 
 the fate of the people. Then faid lfaiah to Heze- 
 kiah, “ Behold the days come, that all that is in 
 “ thine houfe, and that which thy fathers have laid 
 “ up in flore until this day, fhall be carried to 
 “ Babylon: nothing (hall be left, faith the Lord.” 
 To ManafTeh the fucceflor of Hezekiah the Lord 
 fpake by his fervants the prophets, faying, “ I will 
 “ forfake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver 
 “ them into the hand of their enemies ; and they 
 “ lhall become a prey and a fpoil to all their 
 “ enemies.” 
 
 But in wrath he remembers mercy. Not more 
 clearly is the captivity of Judah foretold than her 
 glorious deliverance ; not more, her fin than her 
 repentance, her tranlient difgrace than her perma- 
 nent honour. Yes, ye children of Judah, from 
 yerufalem , ye lhall go out with weeping and be led 
 forth as prisoners of war; the mountains fhall mourn, 
 the hills fhall tremble, and the trees of the foreft 
 fhall howl in fympathetic woe ; but, yet, from 
 Babylon , ye fhall go out with joy and be led forth 
 with peace, the mountains and the hills fhall break 
 forth before you into finging, and all the trees of the 
 field fhall clap their hands. 
 
 The prophet foretels a variety of events which 
 were to attend Judah’s refloration, well calculated to 
 
8 
 
 awaken tranfport. See yonder the welcome ambaf- 
 fador ! How beautiful upon the mountains are the 
 feet of him that brifigeth good tidings, that publiiheth 
 peace; — that faith unto Zion, thy God reigneth! 
 Hark! The voice of him that crieth in the wildernefs, 
 prepare ye the way of the Lord, make flraight in 
 the defert a high-way for our God. 
 
 Hear the language of Jehovah, he fpeaks to the 
 deep — “ Be dry, and I will dry up the rivers to Cyrus. 
 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places 
 flraight : and 1 will break in pieces the gates of brafs 
 and cut afunder the bars of iron. For Jacob my 
 fervant’s fake, and Ifrael mine eleCt, I have called 
 thee by thy name. 
 
 Tot/je heav&ns zndearth. “ Drop down, ye heavens, 
 from above, and let the ikies pour down righteouf- 
 nefs ; let the earth open and let them bring forth 
 falvation.” 
 
 To Zion in affliction. “ Awake, awake ; put on 
 thy llrength O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, 
 O Jerufalem ; ihake thyfelf from the duft, arife, 
 looie thyielf from the bands of thy neck, O captive 
 daughter. No weapon that is formed againit thee 
 ihall profper ; and every tongue that fhall rife againft 
 thee in judgment thoufhalt condemn.” 
 
 But is this word of Jehovah firm ? It is firm as the 
 ordinances of heaven, it is firmer than the moun- 
 tains of the earth. “ For this is as the waters of Noah 
 unto me ; for as I have fvvorn that the waters of 
 Noah fhould no more go over the earth ; fo have I 
 fwosn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor 
 rebuke thee. The mountains ihall depart and the 
 hills be removed, but my kindnefs ihall not depart 
 from thee, neither ihall the covenant of my peace be 
 removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.” 
 
 - Are the expeditions of fo great a deliverance 
 reafonable ? They are reafonable as the expedition 
 of the rifing of vegetation under the iniluence of 
 protecting fnows and refreihing rains. “ For as the 
 
9 
 
 rain cometh down and the mow from heaven, and 
 rcturneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and 
 maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give 
 feed to the fewer and bread to the eater : fo fliall 
 my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it 
 fliall not return unto me void, but it fliall accomplifli 
 that which 1 pleafe, and it fliall profper in the thing 
 whereto 1 fent it/’ 
 
 It is generally confefled that the prophecies of 
 the Bible allude to diftinX and diftant periods of 
 time. That while a prophet announces the ruin of 
 the enemies of Jerufalem, the deliverance of Judah, 
 and the bleflmgs flie lliould enjoy, he frequently 
 carries forward our reflexions to the dcflruXion of 
 every antichrift, the eftablifliment of the kingdom 
 of the Mefliah, and the evangelical and immortal 
 happinefs of his fubjcXs *. Left the propriety of 
 fuch a mode of illuftration fliould be difputed, a lew 
 ideas fliall be fuggefted in its vindication. 
 
 The error of rdlriXing prediXions to their imme- 
 diate lubjeXs, may be proved from their fuperiority 
 to the capacity of fuch fubjeXs. For example, of 
 Solomon his infpired parent faid, “ In his days fliall 
 the righteous flourilh ; and abundance of peace fo 
 long as the Moon endureth. He fliall have dominion 
 alfo from fea to lea, and from the river to the ends 
 of the earth. All nations fliall ferve him. His 
 name fliall be continued as long as the fun.” 
 
 To aflert that the dominion of Solomon extended 
 from the lake of Sodom to the Mediterranean fea, 
 
 * The fubjetf of Ifaiah’s prophecy includes in it three diftinft: 
 parts. The deliverance of the Jews from the captu ity of Babylon ; 
 the deliverance of the Gentiles from their nnferable (late of 
 ignorance and idolatry ; and the deliverance of mankind front 
 the captivity of fin and death. Thefe three fubjefts are fubor- 
 dinate to one another ; and the two latter are (hadowed out under 
 the image of the former. They are covered by it as by a veil ; 
 which however is tranfparent and fuffers them to appear through 
 it. Lowth’s T 'r inflation of ffaiah. 
 
10 
 
 from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt, 
 is to affign but a mean fulfilment to fo grand a 
 prophefy. But what mean thefe exprellions, “ abun- 
 dance of peace fo long as the moon endureth — a 
 name continued as long as the fun.” Solomon, alas 1 
 has flept with his fathers and his very fepulchre is 
 no more. At midnight the moon ftill walks in her 
 brightnefs, but war, captivity, and penal retribution 
 have demoliftied the kingdoms of Ifrael and Judah. 
 In the morning, the fun ftill comes forth as a bride- 
 groom, but the name of the fon of Bathfheba is not 
 known by a thoufandth part of the human beings 
 it enlightens. The prophecy muft be fulfilled — In 
 Solomon, with all his glory, it cannot. Behold then 
 a greater than Solomon here. It is Jefus only, 
 whofe name fhall endure forever, and whom all 
 nations (hall ferve; whofe dominion is an everlafting 
 dominion, and his kingdom from generation to 
 generation. What flattery declared of Casfar, 
 truth afferts of the Mefliah. It is he “ who fhall 
 “ terminate his authority by the ocean, his fame by 
 “ the ftars *.” 
 
 The fcriptural application of fome prophefies to 
 different events and periods, induces us to contem- 
 plate others in the fame light. Of fuch an application 
 take the following inftance from Hofea xi. i. “ Out 
 of Egypt have I called my Son.” This text certainly 
 refers to the days of Mofes, when Ifrael by a fuccef- 
 cdfion of miracles was delivered from the tyranny of 
 Pharaoh. It has an allufion to the days of Hofea, 
 and feems defigned as a preface to a prediction in 
 in the 5 th verfe of the chapter. It alludes to the 
 days of Chrift. c ‘ The angel of the Lord appeareth 
 “ to Jofeph in a dream faying; Arife, and take the 
 “ young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, 
 “ and be thou there until I bring thee word: for 
 
 * Imperium Oceanoj famam qui terminct aflris. Virg. 
 
“ Ferod will feek the young child to deftroy him.” 
 Jofeph was there until the death of Herod : “ that 
 “ it might be fulfilled which was fpoken of the 
 “ Lord by the prophet, faying, out of Egypt have I 
 “ called my fon.” Nor fhould I conceive the 
 words at all mifapplied, were they produced as 
 illuftrative of the calling of finners from the power 
 of Satan to God, or of the church from obfeurity 
 to noon-day. 
 
 Predictions of this capacious nature are proper 
 both as parts and proofs of a divine revelation. 
 The fulnefs they difeover, while it aftonifhes the 
 faculties, invites the inveftigation of mortals, and 
 proves the pages the production of a mind capable 
 of comprehending at a glance the part, the prefent, 
 and the future. 
 
 Such predictions are accommodated to the 
 difpofitions of men. Does an infidel queflion the 
 fulfilment of a prophecy? For his plenary conviction, 
 or that he may be left without excufe, its accom- 
 plifhment fhall be repeated. Is the impreifion of 
 the importance of a prediction weak on the mind 
 of a Chriftian, becaufe fulfilled at a diftant period, 
 or at a diftant place ? He fhall feel its grandeur, 
 blufh at his error, and give glory to his God, while 
 he beholds it performed in the prefence of all the 
 nations of the earth. If the prophetic morning ftar 
 be diferedited, or the day be declared far diftant, 
 the majeftic fun fhall diffufe univerfal conviction 
 and reproof. 
 
 In the government of the world, in the progrefs 
 of redemption, Jehovah has been pafling from 
 ftrength to ftrength. As the ritual dilpenfation 
 was an emblem of evangelical glory, fo Jewifh 
 predictions embrace the falvation of Gentiles. The 
 polity of the Jews muft neceflarily have been 
 demolifhed, becaufe of its carnality, becaufe of its 
 reftriCtion. But how admirable are the meafures 
 of heaven ! Hebrew prophets have been infpired 
 
12 
 
 to foretel that the abundance of the feas fliould be 
 converted, and that the forces of the Gentiles fhould 
 come. They have been employed to prophecy 
 down the prejudices of their nation, and prepare the 
 way for that glorious miniftration under which there 
 is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcifion nor uncir- 
 cumcilion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free : but 
 Chriffc is all and in all. 
 
 Thefe obfervations juftify the application of our 
 text to the times of the gofpel, and fuch an 
 application may lead us to explain it as illuftrative 
 of the influence of Chriftianity. 
 
 I. On Miflionaries themfelves, and 
 
 II. On the people to whom their million is 
 directed. 
 
 The fele&ed paflage may reprefent the influence 
 of the gofpel, in producing in the heart of a 
 Miflionary zeal, tranfport, and tranquillity. “ They 
 lhall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.” 
 
 Superftition may fend her votaries inaflive to her 
 cells ; avarice may fit in wretched concealment, idly 
 pondering over perifliing bags ; indolence and 
 infenfibility may fold the arras for Humber, but 
 Chriftianity is the parent of attion. I.iften to its 
 precepts — “ Work out your own falvation with fear 
 and trembling. Gird up the loins of your mind, 
 be fober and hope to the end.” Did competitors at 
 Olympic feftivals, fight, run, wreftle, with all that 
 agony the dread of infamy and the love of renown 
 could infpire ? Rival their ardour* fight the good 
 fight of faith, run the race fet before you, wreftle 
 with principalities and powers. The world is your 
 theatre of aflion. 
 
 Diminilh its mifcries. Be eyes to the blind, be 
 feet to the lame, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, 
 vifit the imprifoned, that the bl'cfling of him that is 
 ready to perifti may come upon you. 
 
 Diminilh its crimes, ye preachers in tire fanfluary I 
 Ye meffengers to the heathen 1 Prophecy aliens. 
 
ye lhall go out with joy, and he, to whom prophets 
 gave witnefs, commands your zeal. Our text fore- 
 tcls your fuccefles, a preceding verfe contains your 
 meflage. Ho ! every one that thirfteth, come ye to 
 the waters : and he that hath no money, come yc, 
 buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without 
 money, and without price. The great fupper is 
 prepared. Go out ye minilters into the ftreets and 
 lanes of the city. Go out, ye Miffionaries, into 
 the high-ways and hedges and compel to come in 
 that the houfe may be filled. Go ye into all the 
 world, preach the gofpel to every creature. A 
 man qualified for the fphere of a millionary looks 
 forth on the fea of the world ; notwithflanding his 
 fears, and difappointments, at the word of his 
 faviour, he calls his net and becomes a filher of men. 
 He is led forth by a convi&ion of the value of a 
 foul, by the attraftions of divine love, by the 
 openings of divine providence and by the hand of 
 his fellow Chriftians. Are miflionary focieties 
 eltablilhed ? he hearkens to their inltru&ions, enjoys 
 their patronage, and lhares in their addrefles to the 
 heavenly throne. Clad with zeal as with a cloak, 
 his faith fubfhntiating the hoped for bleffing, the 
 fearing of the name of the Lord from the well, and 
 his glory from the rifing of the fun ; he cries, I will 
 go in the llrength of the Lord God, I will make 
 mention of thy righteoufnefs, even of thine only. 
 
 Chrilfianity produces in the hearts of its miniflers 
 or milfionaries the emotions of joy. They who bear 
 the velfels of the fanftuary with joy, may draw 
 w r ater from the wells of falvation. 
 
 The faithful Miflionary poflfelTes the joy which 
 fprings from confcious integrity. Re&itude and 
 pleafure are alfociates. In the tranfgreflions of an 
 evil man there is a fnare, but the righteous doth 
 fing and rejoice. We acknowledge the purefl: 
 conduft may be aferibed to the bafefl; motives. 
 Though a Miflionary, fired with love to God and to 
 
 C 
 
r 4 
 
 man, fubjeft himfelf to perils by Tea and perils bf 
 land. Though he pafs over toilfome hills and 
 gloomy defarts, his only fuftenance the berries of the 
 foreft and the waters of the brook. Though he be 
 wet with the fflowers of the mountains, and embrace 
 the rock for want of a fhelter. Though like Jacob 
 when the fun is fet, he have only the hones of the 
 place for his pillow, and his life be endangered from 
 wild beads or wilder men : neither his piety, his 
 fortitude, nor his fufferings can fecure him from the 
 imputations of calumny. But let calumny prepare 
 its bitterefh accufations. Term him, ye children of 
 the wicked one, a deceiver, a fanatic, or let him 
 fuffer reproaches from falfe or miftaken brethren ; 
 he approves himfelf a minifter of God, in much 
 patience, in afflictions, in neceffities, in diftreffes ; 
 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the 
 armour of righteoufnefs. He is as forrowful, yet 
 alway rejoicing. Perceiving that primitive mifflon- 
 aries who were in perils by the fea and in perils by 
 the heathen, in wearinefs and painfulnefs, in cold and 
 nakednefs, differed the moll cruel reproaches, as 
 their follower, with them he cries, our rejoicing is 
 this, that in iimplicity and godly finccrity, not with 
 flefflly w ifdom, but by the grace of God, we have had 
 our converfation in the world. He is a good man 
 and is fatisfied from himfelf. 
 
 But not more does he rejoice in the purity of his 
 motives, than in the excellency of his caufe. It is 
 truth and muff prevail. Jefuits have endured 
 exceffive fatigue, and have cxpofed themfelves to 
 dangers and deaths for the diffemination of their 
 erroneous fentiments ; but the miffionaries we 
 contemplate labour not, fuffer not, that ecclefiaflical 
 thunders may terrify the heathen, that human 
 creeds may be impofed by civil force, that a crofs 
 may be worn , that a holt may be worfliipped. They 
 acknowledge no fovereign over confcicnce but him 
 whom winds and fea obey ; no fyftem of faith, no 
 
x 5 
 
 rules of conduft inconfident with his holy oracles. 
 They go out with joy while they refleft, that though 
 fuperftitious zeal and literary artifice, the malice of 
 individuals and the perfecutions of empire have been 
 employed for its dedruftion, the Gofpel they deliver, 
 Hands like an awful column firm proof agaiod the 
 winds, the lightnings, the earthquakes of envious 
 ages. — They addrefs themfelves to their work 
 animated by a conviction, that the word of the 
 Lord abideth for ever. 
 
 The gofpel mifiionary goes out with the joy which 
 fprings from benevolence. Good will towards men, 
 enters into the foul of the gofpel. Through all the 
 word of God a felfifh temper is forbidden — We 
 mult do good and communicate. None of us liveth 
 to himfelf, none of us dieth to himfelf. Miflionaries 
 are commonly fent among nations who have changed 
 the glory of the incorruptible God into an image 
 made like to corruptible man, and to birds, four- 
 footed beads, and creeping things. His fpjrit, like 
 the apodle’s, is dirred up within him, while he 
 perceives cities and kingdoms wholly given to 
 idolatry. There he views a fellow creature doing 
 homage to a tree, and yonder another Hands adoring 
 a river. In one place, fifties are aflembled to worfhip 
 a rat, a hawk, a crocodile, or a beetle. In another, 
 hundreds are venerating a cow, a frog, a ferpent, 
 or a done. Does the good man go out in the 
 evening, his eye affe&eth his heart while he fees 
 multitudes blefling the moon as the queen of heaven, 
 and the dars as her attending armies. In the 
 morning, not like Ezekiel, only in vifion, he beholds 
 men with their faces toward the ead worfhipping the 
 fun. He finds himfelf among a people, who, as the 
 natural confequence of their depraved conceptions 
 of the deity, are full of unrighteoufnefs, fornication, 
 wickednefs, covetoufnefs, malicioufnefs ; full of 
 envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, Rom, 
 i. 29. 
 
1 6 
 
 Nor does he in the affli&ion of his foul behold 
 only the crimes of heathen nations, he hath feen and 
 can bear witnefs that their forrows are multiplied 
 that feek after another God. The fword, the 
 peftilence, the noifome beaft, and the famine, 
 frequently fpread defolation over an idolatrous land. 
 Heathens, confcious of guilt, apprehenfive of danger, 
 and ignorant of the way in which fin can be 
 removed, feek mental eafe in corporal torture. It 
 is from hence, the horrible pra&ices of torturing, 
 burning, drowning, and facrificing human beings 
 have taken their rife. — Though enormities fo grofs 
 as thefe we have named do not obtain among 
 American Indians, yet there are evils among them, 
 fome of which we (hall name before we clofe our 
 difcourfe, which loudly call for our pity and zeal. 
 
 But O how delightful the work to fupprefs thefe 
 fins and calamities ! How fuited to the feelings of 
 the heart in which the love of God is lhed abroad ! 
 Is ‘ joy a delight of the mind, from the confideration 
 4 of the prefent or affured approaching poffeffion of a 
 4 good ?’ The miffionary of Jefus then goes out 
 with joy. He rejoices in prefent good — Such is 
 the poffeffion of the grace of God in his own heart, 
 the being invefled with the office of a teacher of 
 the ignorant, and the lhare he enjoys in the prayers 
 of his fellow Chriftians. But his heart is infpired 
 with a facred enthufiafm while he contemplates the 
 good, of the approach of which he is fo well allured. 
 He goes out with promifes of fupport. I, the Lord 
 thy God will hold thy right hand, faying unto thee, 
 Fear not, 1 will help thee. I will make thee a new 
 lharp threlhing inftrument having teeth : thou (halt 
 threffi the mountains and beat them frnall, and lhalt 
 make the hills as chaff, and thou lhalt rejoice in the 
 Lord and lhalt glory in the God of Ifrael. I have put 
 my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in 
 the lhadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, 
 and lay the foundations of the earth, and fay unto 
 
*7 
 
 Zion, thou art my people — Lo I am with you alway, 
 even to the end of the world. 
 
 He goes out with profpe&s of fuccefs. Whatever 
 degree of bleffmg may attend particular millions, it 
 is certain that the goi'pel of the kingdom (hall be 
 preached in all the world for a witnefs unto all 
 nations. The Meffiah has alked and has received 
 the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermofl: 
 parts of the earth for his poffellion. The heroes of 
 antiquity were filled with tranfport at the ambiguous 
 anfwers of the oracle of Delphos. Favourable 
 refponfes from the gloomy cavern of Trophonius, 
 would render the credulous Grecian fearlefs in the 
 midlf of the mod dreadful danger. An American 
 Indian, relying on the friendly dreams of a footh- 
 fayer, goes forth to war with all the confidence of 
 fuccefs. But how infinitely greater is the encourage- 
 ment of a man of God. He credits no dreamer of 
 dreams. He believes in the Lord his God and is 
 eftablilhed. I have not fpoken, faith Jehovah, in 
 fecret, in a dark place of the earth : I the Lord fpeak 
 righteoufnefs : I give direct anfwers. — The promifes 
 in Chrift are yea and amen. When Jefus was 
 about to be feparated from his difciples, and was 
 commiffioning them to publilh his gofpel, having 
 given them promifes of fupport and profpe&s of 
 fuccefs, he faid, thefe things have I fpoken that my 
 joy might remain in you, and that your joy might 
 be full. 
 
 Ye fhall go out with joy and be led forth with 
 peace. The difciples of Jefus poffefs peaceful 
 difpoiitions. Pride, obftinacy, and feverity, are 
 frequently charged on the profeffors of Chriftianity. 
 If the charge be true, the guilt is wholly their own. 
 Ignorance may be proud, bigotry may be obflinate, 
 and malice may be fevere ; but the gofpel is defigned 
 to make the ignorant wife, and the ill-natured 
 gentle. It teaches us to put off as a fliameful 
 
i8 
 
 covering, all anger, wrath, and malice, and to put 
 on, as our faired drefs, bowels of mercies, kindnefs, 
 longfuffering. 
 
 Miflionaries go forth with peaceful meflages. 
 With angels they proclaim, on earth peace. Theirs 
 is the word which God fent unto the children of 
 Ifrael, preaching peace by Jefus Chrid. 
 
 Mahomet, for the propagation of his religion, 
 encouraged his followers to make profelytes by force 
 of arms. Thefe are his words in the Koran, “ When 
 “ ye encounter unbelievers drilce off their heads.” 
 — “ As for thofe who fight in the fervice of God’s 
 “ true religion, God will not differ their work to 
 “ perifh, he will lead them into paradife.” How 
 different the words of the Prince of Peace! Put thy 
 fword into the fheath, faid he to Peter, and imme- 
 diately touched and healed the man whofe ear Peter 
 had cut off. Jefus anfwered to Pilate, If my king- 
 dom were of this world, then would my fervants 
 fight, that I diould not be delivered to the Jews ; 
 but now is my kingdom not from hence. 
 
 Of fuch who deviate from the Arabian religion, 
 the falfe prophet fays, “ kill them wherever ye find 
 <c them but when our Lord fird fhewed himfelf 
 after his refurreftion to the difciples who in the 
 hour of darknefs had all forfook him and fled, he 
 faid, Peace be unto you ; as my father hath fent 
 me fo fend I you. 
 
 But peaceful as are the difpofitions and meflages 
 of the propagators of the gofpel, they have often 
 been charged with feditious defigns. Guilt has 
 turned the moral world upfide down. It refembles 
 an inverted pyramid, which only the longfuffering 
 hand of God prevents from falling into awful ruin. 
 When the apodles by manifedation of the truth, 
 by revealing one mighty to fave, were delirous of 
 placing the fearful pyramid on its balls, the Jews 
 of Theffalonica cried, thefe that have turned the 
 
l 9 
 
 World npfide down are come hither alfo, thefe all 
 do contrary to the decrees of Csefar.* 
 
 There is a fenfe in which Chriil himfelf came not to 
 fend peace, but a fword; the difciples are imitators of 
 him. They go forth armed to deftroy that peace of 
 the world, by which men engage not to difturb each 
 others quiet in the way to hell. Peace without 
 righteoufnefs is but a dead calm, before a defolating 
 tornado. Peace, peace, to him that is far off and 
 to him that is near, faith the Lord, and I will heal 
 him. But the wicked are like the troubled fea, 
 when it cannot reft. Tremble ye Herods of the 
 earth ; vociferate ye Demetriuses ; your thrones, 
 your Ihrines are in danger. Not becaufe Ihrines and 
 thrones are delired by the fervants of the mod high 
 God, but becaufe your thrones are founded in 
 blood ; your flirines are but polifhed blafphemy. 
 Jehovah appears as the God of peace, when he 
 bruifes Satan beneath the Chriftian’s feet. Believers 
 appear ftill as the Ions of peace, when their preaching 
 produces rage and tumult. Angry effetts may 
 follow; but the true end of the fpread of the gofpel, 
 is the eftabliihment of joy and tranquillity. This 
 will be fully demonftrated as we proceed to difplay 
 its influence. 
 
 II. On the people to whom a chriftian million is 
 dire&ed. 
 
 While Miflionaries go out with joy and are led 
 forth with peace, mountains and hills break forth 
 before them into finging, and all the trees of the 
 field clap their hands. In the Old Teftament, 
 allufions to hills and mountains are very frequent. 
 The land of Judah is called the country of the hills. 
 Jolh. x. 40. Prophets derived their emblems from 
 
 * In Cluny, a city of Spain, there Hands a column, ere&ed 
 by Dioclefian which has this infeription, ‘ To Dioclefan, Jovius, 
 aud Maximinus, Ctefars, for having enlarged the empire and for 
 having extirminated the name of Chriftians those disturbers 
 OF THE PUBLIC REPOSE.’ 
 
20 
 
 furrounding objects. Would they give dying 
 mortals a ftrong idea of the eternity of God? They 
 cry before his footftool, Thou haft been our 
 dwelling place in all generations, before the 
 mountains were brought forth, from everlafting to 
 everlafting thou art God. Is a fenfe of the majefty 
 of Jehovah to be imprefled on the hearts of the 
 people ? Hills are feen fmoking at his touch. They 
 reveal him weighing mountains in fcales and hills 
 in balances. Would they exprefs abundance of 
 temporal good ? Hills flow with milk and mountains 
 drop down fweet wine, for the cattle and the vines 
 are there. Have they to reprefeut a ftate of 
 tremendous defpair ? Wretches are heard crying. 
 Rocks ! fall on us, mountains ! cover us. Would 
 they exhibit the end of all things ? Hills are 
 departing, mountains are not found. Does a jealous 
 God draw near to judgment ? Who can ftand before 
 his indignation ? Iiis way is in the whirlwind and 
 in the ftorm, clouds are the duft of his feet ; the 
 mountains quake at him and the hills melt ; but 
 when prophets difplay the God of falvation, the 
 deliverer of his people, mountains and hills break 
 forth before them into finging. 
 
 There is a ftrange power in the human mind of 
 converting every thing, in imagination, to the likenefs 
 of itfelf. The mind feems as capable of acting on 
 external objefts, as external objects are of atting on 
 the mind. Does an individual mourn ? To him all 
 nature appears to partake his forrows. Does he 
 rejoice ? Mountains and hills feem to feel his 
 raptures, and trees of the field to clap their hands. 
 
 When the Lord turned again the captivity of 
 Zion, the people were like them that dream. Their 
 mouths were filled with laughter, and their tongues 
 with finging. But there was ftill greater occafion 
 for triumph, than their releafe from Babylon. 
 
 The Hebrews often afleed, and God often granted 
 figns from heaven. When our Lord was working 
 
the mightieft miracles among the Jews, they were 
 impatient for a fign. They had conceived the 
 Mefliah was to refcue them from Roman fervitude. 
 Falfe Chrifts had perl'uaded the people to follow 
 them, promifing them miracles and figns of liberty. 
 Unlefs the dead were raifed, or the ocean calmed as 
 pledges of approaching victory over Rome, they 
 were conlidered as inadequate proofs that Jefus was 
 both Lord and Chrift. To the Jews no fign but 
 the prophet Jonas was given. No other was needed. 
 But when an event feerned remote from the promife or 
 the threatening, figns the moll finking enfued. Eli ! 
 this (hall be a fign unto thee, that tlijre fhall not be 
 an old man in thy houfe forever^- Hophni and 
 Phineas fhall die both in one day. Hezekiah ! this 
 fign {halt thou have that the Lord will heal thee, 
 the fun fhall go backward ten degrees on the dial 
 of thy father. Ahaz ! the Lord himfelf will give 
 thee a fign, that the counfels of Rezin and Pekah 
 fhall not hand : Behold ! a virgin fhall conceive and 
 bear a fon and fhall call his name Emmanuel. 
 Shepherds ! this fhall be a fign unto you, ye fhall 
 find the babe wrapt in fwaddiing clothes, lying in a 
 manger. O Judah ! thy deliverance from captivity 
 is a token of future, greater bleffings : it fhall be 
 for an everlafting fign, that fhall not be cut off, v. 13. 
 Let us not fuppofe ourfelves, brethren, uninterefled 
 in the refioration of the Jews from Babylon. We 
 have already jufiified the application of ancient 
 predictions to the difpenfa'ion of the gofpel ; while 
 we perceive that their primary fulfilment is only a 
 pledge of their re-accomplifiiment in the latter days, 
 let our faith be ftrong and our joy be full. 
 
 Wherever the glorious gcfpd of the bleffed God 
 is circulated, there are glad tidings of great joy ; 
 and they, whofe hearts receive it in its power, are 
 excited to fing aloud of the great faLatiop i brings. 
 There are a variety of fenfes in which Christianity 
 may be viewed as tending to promote the happinefs 
 
 D 
 
22 
 
 of any people. Let us contemplate its effects, firft, 
 on men in general ; and fecondly, on believers in 
 particular. 
 
 We know that to an unbelieving world, the 
 publifhing of the gofpel is folly and madnefs. Far 
 from rejoicing, modern infidels, like infidels of old, 
 are grieved at the preaching of Jefus and the 
 refurrecHon. The carnal mind is enmity againft 
 God ; but yet carnal minds derive many temporal 
 advantages from the very fyftem they abhor. The 
 deftruclion of the tares is delayed, becaufe the wheat 
 is yet in the field. 
 
 The diffufion of C.hriftianity is a mofl joyful event 
 in regard of the reftraints it impofes on vice. It 
 leffens the number of vicious examples. It fets 
 iniquity before men in the mofl hateful light. 
 Conviction glares on the guilty mind, hidden, awful, 
 unexpected as the lightning, and the finner trembles 
 in fpite of himfelf. 
 
 Contemplate its influence on idolatry. Wherever 
 the chriftian flandard has been planted, idols have 
 been broken and confounded. Where are the 
 deities of Greece and Rome ? Who now adores the 
 divinity of Juno, or as a fuppliant, places a facrifice 
 on her altars ? fEolus and Neptune ceafe to be 
 venerated, fince he hath appeared who holds the 
 winds in his fifl, and the waters in the hollow of 
 his hand. Pluto and Proferpine are worlhipped no 
 more ; the aflonifhed idolater perceives, that he who 
 was dead and is alive again, hath the keys of hell 
 and death. Venus the adulterefs and Jove the 
 whoremonger*, have fled before a religion which 
 declares, that whoremongers and adulterers God 
 will judge. Their names are yet known, becaufe 
 heathen authors are hill read in chriftian fchools ; 
 
 * “ Quis locus eft templis auguftior? hac quoque vitet. 
 
 In culpam fi cjux eft ingeniola fuam. 
 
 Cum fteterit Jovis xde : Jovis fuccurret in xdc, 
 
 C^uam nmltas matres fecerit illc Deus.” 
 
 Ovid. 
 
but their worfhip is abolifhed for ever ; their 
 temples exhibit only broken arches and proftrate 
 columns. The Dagons are fallen, becaufe the ark 
 of truth has been brought near them. Once he 
 who would commit inceft, he who would indulge 
 intoxication, might gratify his vicious defires in 
 adoration of a god or a goddefs, but this pretence 
 for the propriety of vice is urged no longer. 
 
 The holy fcriptures provide a perpetual preventive 
 againft idolatry, in the appointment of one day in 
 feven for religious inflruction and worfhip*. 
 
 Contemplate the influence of Clniftianity on 
 tuitions at war with each other. Since it is the 
 tendency of the gofpel to eftablifli peace; fince, when 
 the latter days come, in which the chriflian religion 
 (hall be univerfal, the people (hall learn war no 
 more ; it may reafonably be expelled, that the 
 horrors of hollility, in proportion as it prevails, will 
 be diminiihed. Formerly, the laws of war were 
 rigorous in the extreme; Chriflianity has ameliorated 
 them. Formerly, confident that vaffalage or death 
 muff be the fate of the vanquifhed, men fought with 
 a ferocity approaching to madnefs ; but, Chriflianity 
 has taught the (hewing of mercy, has eflablifhed a 
 habit of exchanging prifoners, and rendered war lefs 
 deflruftive, by making captivity lefs dreadful. In 
 the prefent day, through countries where the gofpel 
 is not known, prifoners of war are vi&ims devoted 
 
 * “ If it be examined into, how it came to pafs that the Jews 
 were fo prone to idolatry before the Babylonilh captivity, and fo 
 ftrongly and caucioufiy even to fuperftition fixed againft it after 
 that captivity, the true reafon hereof will appear to be, that they 
 had the law and the prophets every week conftantly read unto 
 them after that captivity, which they had not before. And it 
 is not to be doubted, but that if this method (of reading and 
 explaining the fcriptures on the Lord’s day) were once dropped 
 among us, the generality of the people, whatever elfe may be dor«e 
 to obviate it, would in feven years relapfe into as bad a ftate of 
 barbarity, as was ever in pradice among the worft of our Saxon 
 pr Danilh anceftors.” Prideaux. 
 
24 
 
 to torture and death. The Indians, among whom 
 you, my friends, are defirous of diffufing the light of 
 life, afford a moft painful proof of this truth *. 
 May this reflection fire your zeal. 
 
 Contemplate the influence of chriffianity on civil 
 government. There have been and are bad govern- 
 ments, where our holy religion has been profefled ; 
 but were it abfent, fuch governments would be far 
 worfe. The evils that have attended political 
 adminiftration in Europe, fince the reign of Conftan- 
 tine, have arifen from the monflrous aflociation of 
 the church and ftate. Ambition for the fceptre 
 gave rife to the mitre, and transformed the pretended 
 defendants of humble fifhermen into haughty 
 pontiffs. Chriffianity, itfelf, an angel of light, has 
 been preffed into fervices fuited to a dtemon of 
 darknefs. But as this age of revolutions advances, 
 the vile abfurdity of being vicious for virtue’s fake 
 is expofed, and the political union of the kingdom of 
 heaven with the government of the world is generally 
 condemned ; for what concord hath Chriff with 
 Belial ? 
 
 Yet even in countries, where this unnatural 
 connexion fubfifts, when the Bible has been free, 
 for the perufal of the people in their native language, 
 governments have witnelfed the value of the chriff ian 
 
 * When Indian vigors with their captives arrive “ at the 
 village or camp, the women and children arm themfelves with 
 {ticks and bludgeons, and form themfelves into two ranks, through 
 which the prifoners are obliged to pafs. The treatment they 
 undergo before they reach the extremity of the line is very fe ere. 
 Sometimes they are fo beaten over the head and face as to have 
 fcarcely any temains of life, and happy would it be for them, if 
 by this ufage an end was put to their wretched beings. But 
 their tormentors take care that none of the blows they give prove 
 mortal, as they wifh to referve the miferable fufferers for more 
 fevere inflidions. The prifoners dcllined to death are (tripped, 
 every part of their bodies blackened, the fltin of a crow or raven 
 is fixed on their heads ; they are then bound to a flake, with 
 faggots heaped around them, and obliged, for the lafl time to 
 fing their death fong.” Carver’s Travels. 
 
25 
 
 fyftem. A member* of a national church thus 
 expreflfes himfelf. “ The efte&s of Chriftiauity have 
 been important. It has foftened the adminiftration 
 of defpotic, or of nominally defpotic governments. 
 It has abolilhed polygamy. It has retrained the 
 licentioufnefs of divorces. It has put an end to the 
 expoftire of children, and the immolation of Haves. 
 It has fupprelTed the combats of gladiators, and the 
 impurities of religious rites. It has banifhed if not 
 unnatural vices, at lead the toleration of them. It 
 has greatly meliorated the condition of the laborious 
 poor, that is to lay, of the great mafs of every 
 community, by procuring for them a day of weekly 
 reft. In all countries in which it is profeffed, it has 
 produced numerous eftabiilhments for the relief of 
 iicknefs and poverty, and in fome a regular and 
 general provision by law. It has triumphed over 
 the flavery eftablilhed in the Roman empire : it is 
 contending and 1 trull will one day prevail againft 
 the worfe flavery of the Weft-Indies.” 
 
 The fame divine fyftem commands and teaches 
 magiftrates to be minifters of God for good. It 
 enjoins on men a faithful regard to the juft laws of 
 their country. It expofes and condemns the fins 
 which are a difgrace to any people, and enforces the 
 righteoufnefs which exalteth a nation. The correal 
 ideas of liberty and equality, America pofleflfes, have 
 been drawn from this fource. It eclipfes that 
 fplendour of the rich and the mighty, before which 
 the vulgar flirink into veneration and fervility. It 
 regards all men as finners, and proclaims a common 
 falvation. It dire&s men of every clafs to aflemble 
 for worlhip together, and foretels their general 
 meeting around the throne of the Judge of all. It is 
 now renovating the civil inftitutions of the earth, 
 and prefaging the period, when the kingdoms of 
 this world fhall become the kingdoms of our Lord 
 and of his Chrift. 
 
 * Archdeacon Pale 
 
26 
 
 Contemplate its influence on agriculture. It beats 
 fwords into plough-fhares, and fpears into pruning- 
 hooks. It cherifhes the focial temper : as naturally 
 as ftreams flow together into the ocean, real 
 chriflians feek the communion of faints. Inftead of 
 roving far didant, each one, with pious ardour fays 
 to his friend, where thou lodged; I will lodge, thy 
 people fhall be my people, and thy God my God ; 
 where thou diefh will I die, and there will I be 
 buried. With this fervour of fpirit it combines 
 diligence in buftnefs, and excites that contemplation 
 of the works and character of God, w ith which the 
 culture of the earth is fo congenial. 
 
 To the abfence of thefe w j e mud aferibe the 
 appearance of prodigious forefts in the interior of 
 this country, with fcarce a fpot devoted to tillage. 
 Indians are fo frequently fending the red hatchet 
 from nation to nation, their paflion for hunting 
 which feparates them from their villages and 
 connexions is fo powerful, and fo great is their 
 averfion to labour and contemplation, that hufband- 
 ry, the mod effential fupport of animal life, is little 
 regarded. But, brethren, circulate the gofpel 
 among them ; then, indead of the thorn fhall come 
 up the fir tree, and indead of the brier fliall come 
 up the myrtle tree ; then fliall the wildernefs and 
 folitary place be glad, and the defart fliall blofTom as 
 the rofe. 
 
 Contemplate the influence of Chriflianity on 
 literature. We are ready to acknowledge that 
 learning contrafled with piety is trifling, and that 
 God hath chofen the weak things of the world to 
 confound the wife ; but we believe that while 
 religion proflrates the pride of pedantry, it promotes 
 folid literary information. 
 
 What is literature ? Is it knowdedge in languages ? 
 Only the volume of infpiration teaches us the origin 
 of their confufion. To be able to receive and convey 
 ideas in feveral languages is fo far from being 
 
2 ? 
 
 contrary to the religion of Jefus, that one important 
 evidence of its truth is the gift of tongues. Is it 
 acquaintance with hirtory ? The Bible is the molt 
 ancient hirtory, and is fo full of allufions to the 
 curtoms of different nations, that an able expofitor 
 muff be a hiltorian. Is it the knowledge of the hea- 
 vens ? The man after God’s own heart w'as a devout 
 aftronomer. Bind the fvveet influences of Pleiades, 
 loofe the bands Orion, and then prove that the 
 contemplation of the ftars does not influence to 
 humility and devotion. Does it confift in relearches 
 into nature ? The wifeft of men fpake of trees ; from 
 the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the 
 hyffop that fpringeth out of the wall. He fpake 
 alfo of hearts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, 
 and of fiflies. Our divine Lord refers us to the 
 lilies of the field, and to the birds of the air, for 
 leffons of wifdom. Is it acquaintance with moral 
 philofophy ? The New Teftament contains a fyftem 
 of morals, general as the connexions of man, and 
 pure as the chara&er of its author. Is it the know- 
 ledge of the belles-lettres ? Where are the human 
 compofitions which equal the fong of Mofes, the 
 pfalms of David, the prophecies of Nahum, the 
 prayer of Habakkuk, the revelation of John, the 
 lermons of Jefus ? 
 
 In that fublime fpecimen of ancient compofition 
 the xxviiith chapter of the book of Job, the patriarch 
 reprefents the miner as fetting an end to darknefs, 
 overturning mountains by their roots, and fearching 
 out all perfe&ion ; the ftones of darknefs and the 
 fhadow of death. The fubterranean cavity he forms 
 is termed a path which no fowl knoweth, and which 
 the vulture’s eye hath not feen. The providence 
 of Jehovah is an obfcure profound. 
 
 Deep in unfathomable mines, 
 
 Of never-failing (kill, 
 
 He treafures up his bright defigns, 
 
 And works his fovereign will. 
 
28 
 
 There is in them a way which no mortal knows, 
 which angelic penetration hath not feen. A proof 
 of this we may derive from the manner in which 
 the literature of the ancients and the New Teftament 
 itfelf were preferved, when the barbarous nations 
 laid waft e the whole empire of Rome, Conftantinople 
 excepted. 
 
 Chriftianity is native wifdom ; fuperftition is 
 imitative folly. Divine providence had prepared 
 the eloifter of the monaftery, a way the vultures eye 
 had not feen, for the fecurity of monuments fo 
 valuable. But it was the fuperftition of monks 
 which gave being to monaftic inftiiutions ; it was 
 fuperftition in the barbarians which made them 
 venerate the cell and the temple. More than feven 
 fucceflive centuries were ancient writings facred and 
 prophane thus aftonifliingly preferved. 
 
 In the feventh century, Anglo Saxons were as 
 illiterate as American Indians, but their converfion 
 enlightened their minds and promoted the interefts 
 of literature. Before that event there was no fuch 
 thing as learning nor the means of obtaining it, in 
 that part of Britain which they inhabited. 'I heir 
 ancient religion had a tendency to infpire them v ith 
 nothing but a brutal contempt of death and a lavage 
 delight in war. As long, therefore, as they 
 continued in the belief and in the praflice of that 
 wretched fuperftition, they feem to have been 
 incapable either of fcience or civility, but by their 
 converfion to Chriftianity they became accellible to 
 both.* You know the application I willi to make 
 of this circumftance to the people whofe converfion 
 is the objett of your exertions and prayers. 
 
 Soon as the gofpel at the Reformation began to 
 fpread ; foon as the chains of fuperftition were 
 broken, fcience came forth from her cave bound hand 
 and foot with the grave clothes which the rude 
 manners of ages had call around her. Then the 
 * ILluflrations of Prophecy, Vo!. II. p. 677. 
 
29 
 
 voice of prevailing truth faid, Loofc her, and let 
 her go ! In the fame proportion as the light of the 
 gofpel increafed, the province of learning was 
 irradiated, and the fame valuable effeCt will follow 
 on its propagation to the end of time. Thefe are 
 bleflings which men in general enjoy from the 
 diffufion of the word of life, but there are bleflings 
 infinitely fuperior which abound to believers in 
 particular. 
 
 But O how great, how numerous are they ! Bom 
 not of blood, nor of the will of the flcfli, nor of the 
 will of man, but of God. The joyful Chriflian looks 
 up to the ruler of heaven and cries, abba, father ! 
 Behold, faysjefus, I make all things new ; the believer 
 feels his creating power. Old things pafs away ; 
 his hopes, his fears, his joys, his forrows, his 
 companions, his profpeCts, all things become new. 
 He looks over the lift of his offences, and his heart 
 is filled with confufion and deep repentance ; he 
 looks to his fuffering Redeemer, and rejoices with 
 joy unfpeakable, while he hears him fay, fon, thy 
 fins are forgiven thee. He is bleft with accefs by 
 the new and living way to the heavenly throne. 
 While a believer is lifting his cry and looking 
 up, Jehovah is bowing the heavens and coming 
 down. He draws nigh to God; God draws nigh to 
 him. God contemplates and is delighted with his 
 own perfections ; the believer contemplates in his 
 humble meafure, and is delighted with the perfections 
 of his God. A Chriftian holds communion with 
 the fupreme majefty. Laugh ye prophane ! employ 
 your railings againft the good man’s experience ; 
 he minds it not. If we fay we have no fellowfliip 
 with him we lie, for truly our fellowfliip is with the 
 father and with his Son Jefus Chrift. “ So the 
 moon holds bright communion with the fun the 
 fovereign planet ; fo fhe receives and reflects his 
 beams, fhe fhines glorioully in a dark hemifphere 
 and moves onward, fublime in her heavenly courfe* 
 
 E 
 
3 ° 
 
 regardlefs of all the barking animals which betray 
 their fenfelefs malice.” 
 
 The fervant of Chrift poflefles the pleafures of a 
 good confcience. Why did Cain exclaim, every 
 one that findeth me fhall flay me ? Why fmote the 
 knees of Belfhazzar together ? why were the joints 
 of his loins loofed ? Becaufe a hand wrote he knew 
 not what upon a wall. Why did Herod on hearing 
 the fame of Jefus cry, John Baptift is rifen from 
 the dead. Why? becaufe the horrors of a 
 guilty confcience terrified and confounded them. 
 But believers, exercifing themfelves in the work of 
 faith and labour of love, have a confcience void of 
 offence toward Cod and toward men. 
 
 The day glides fweetly o’er their heads. 
 
 Made up of innocence and love ; 
 
 And foil, and fdent as the fliades, 
 
 Their nightly minutes gently move. 
 
 Undifhirbed by the accufations of guilt in his own 
 confcience, he anticipates with calm delight the 
 folemnities of the final judgment, jurtified by faith 
 in Chrift freely from all things, his fears vanifli ; For 
 who fliall lay any thing to the charge of God’s 
 eleCt? God that juftifieth ? Who is he that con- 
 demneth ? Chrift that died ? He is rifen again and 
 is at the right hand of God making interceflion! 
 
 When afflictions come upon a Chriftian, he can 
 perceive they are intended for his good, and that 
 they are impofed by the hand of his beft friend. 
 He regards himfelf as a fellow fufterer with the long 
 train of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoftles, and Martyrs. 
 He knows his afflictions work out his glory, his 
 light afflictions, a weight of glory, afflictions which 
 arc but for a moment end in a weight of glory, far 
 more exceeding and eternal. 
 
 He overcomes the falfe maxims, the hard 
 fpeeches, and fierce refentments of an evil world, and 
 has a right to the tree of life. The hopelefs 
 phyfician, the throbbing pulfe, the filmed eye, the 
 
3 r 
 
 meafured grave, the defcending coffin, to a believing 
 mind are not horrible, they are divinely pleafing. 
 Sin, the ffing of death, the worm of hell, is dcffroyed. 
 Let worms riot on this body, this corruptible (hall 
 put on incorruption. This earthly houfe may now 
 be demolilhed, and it may lie for ages uninhabited 
 and defolate, but it lhall become a temple incon- 
 ceivably glorious. When the trumpet founds, on 
 the refurre&ion morning, believers lhall fpring from 
 their tombs, lhake themfelves from their duff, 
 trample on the broken powers of the grave, pur on 
 their beautiful garments, and rife in a cloud to meet 
 their coming Lord. They lhall pafs the gate into 
 the Holy City, receive the crown of life and the 
 palm of vi£tory, and join with the harpers on the fea 
 of glafs in an everlaffing anthem of praife. 
 
 Thefe are glories which are referved for believers 
 above; but there are glories, which are foretold and 
 (hall be enjoyed here below. He is looking for what 
 is termed the latter-dayof glory, when the knowledge 
 of the Lord lhall cover the earth as the waters 
 cover the place of the fea ; when, before the miniffry 
 of the gofpel, mountains and hills lhall break forth 
 into finging, and all the trees of the foreff lhall clap 
 their hands. 
 
 But may we hope this bleffed period is nigh at 
 hand ? We may. Are our reafons alkcd for our 
 indulging fo pleafing an expe&ution ? They are fuch 
 as the following. 
 
 Firft, the rapid fulfilment of ancient prophecies. 
 There is a general correfpondence between the 
 writings of one prophet, and thofe of another ; but 
 the book of Daniel, and the Revelations of John 
 are peculiarly harmonious. Daniel exhibits ftrong 
 outlines; John a more finilhed likenefs; but the 
 objett is the fame. Their predictions are Angularly 
 explicit on the future ftate of the chriftian church. 
 — Perilous times and times of refrelhing are foretold. 
 Though of the day and the hour of their arrival 
 
3 2 
 
 mo man knoweth, fo as to be able to fpeak with 
 juftifiable confidence, yet there are fuch allufions* 
 to the period in iboth John and Daniel, as muft 
 powerfully ftrike, while they ferioufly employ the 
 pious mind. The time when the powers of the 
 earth fhall be ftiaken, may be known in fome 
 meafure by the great and vifible fuppreflion of Papal 
 Power . Rome at the Reformation received a blow, 
 file has never recovered ; but, lately her plagues 
 have come upon her with dreadful violence. The 
 event which has engaged the prayers of faints on 
 earth, and of martyrs at the foot of the altar, is now 
 accomplilhing. Arrayed in purple and fcarlet, 
 Rome, the mother of harlots, fhall be drunken with 
 the blood of the faints, and with the blood of the 
 martyrs of Jefus, no more. The angel has dallied 
 the millfionc into the waters. The beafi is exiled ; 
 Babylon is falling ; the horns are broken ; the 
 merchants are weeping ; all heaven is rejoicing. 
 Why Ihould the chrifiian world be filent as midnight, 
 when the rays of the morning are beaming upon 
 them ? Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy 
 apoftles and prophets ; for God hath avenged you 
 on her. Rejoice over her, ye inhabitants of the 
 
 * Both John and Daniel fpeak of a time, times, and the half 
 or dividing of a time, which period anftvers to the forty-two 
 months, in which the Holy City thal! be trodden under foot, and 
 in which the ten horned bcaft (hould enjoy his power ; ai d to the 
 thoufar.d two hundred and three fcore days in which the two 
 witneffes fhall prophecy in fackcloth, and in which God fhall feed 
 the woman in the wildernefs ; each intending in prophetic llyle 
 the fpace of one thoufand two hundred and fi\ty years. Did we 
 know when to fix the beginning of this period, calculation would 
 be eafy anddecifite; but this is involved in darknefs . ... It 
 deferves remark, that in the year 529 the Jullinian code, the 
 bafis of ecclefialtical ufurpation, was | ublifhcd, about the fame 
 time, the power of the Pope was declared fupreme, and then the 
 order of Benedidtine monks was tourded. 1 260 years added to 
 this date brings us down to the year 17S9, when the Aflembly 
 in France aliened civil and religious liberty. Mighty commotions 
 have followed and continue (till to altonilh the nations. 
 
33 
 
 earth, join with the people in heaven in faying, 
 Alleluia, falvation, and glory, and honour, and 
 power unto the Lord our God. 
 
 Old Babylon, after the conquefis of Cyrus, 
 continued gradually to decay. In the fame pro- 
 portion as the llraelites were loofened from their 
 captivity and re-inflated in the goodly land, the 
 pride of nations became a defolation. So we may 
 expeft that as the church of Rome the myflical 
 Babylon declines, the church of Chrifl the true 
 Ifrael will rife. The ebbing of the tide produces a 
 flood on oppofite fliores. 
 
 The eaflern as well as the wellern Antichrirt is 
 evidently declining ; the great river Euphrates is 
 drying up, and a way being made for the kings of 
 the eaft ; the fovereigns probably of Perfla and 
 Tartary. Enfeebled by Ruflia on the north, and 
 above all by its internal corruptions, the Turkifli 
 empire is tumbling into ruin. The figns of the 
 times infpire a vigorous hope, that the follies of the 
 Koran will foon be forgotten, and the mofque and 
 the brothel be known no more. 
 
 Our expectations are (Lengthened, fecondly, by 
 obferving what we fuppofe to be the harbingers of 
 the day, when mountains and hills (hall break forth 
 into fong. 
 
 Perhaps the predicted events that attended the 
 deftru&ion of Jerufalem, are emblems of the general 
 deftru&ion of vice: it is certain much of our Saviour’s 
 language in the xxivth of Matthew, carries our views 
 beyond the then, coming cataflrophe. Jerufalem 
 fliall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the 
 times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. If fimilar events 
 to thofe which preceded the ruin of the Jewifh 
 polity fliall precede the overthrow of the anti- 
 chriftian governments of the earth, their end is 
 afluredly not difiant. The trees now flioot forth, 
 and we fee and know, that fummer is now nigh at 
 hand. 
 
34 
 
 Wars and commotions introduced the final victory 
 of Titus over Jerufalem* ; but at what time has war 
 prevailed more deftru&ively than at the prefent ? 
 Nation is rifing againft nation, and kingdom againlt 
 kingdom. There is now upon the earth the diftrefs 
 of nations, with perplexity ; the fea and the waves 
 roaring. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, and 
 for looking after thofe things which are coming on 
 the earth. The ocean is burdened with fleets 
 and the fhores all noify with warlike preparations. 
 The objeft of modern wars is not the acquifition of 
 loft territory, the reparation of injuries, or the 
 punifhment of infult ; it is the entire deftru&ion of 
 the oppofing power. When thefe things begin to 
 come to pafs, then, faith our Lord, look up and lift 
 up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. 
 
 Did peftilences precede Jerufalem’s vifitation ? 
 How much are they now prevailing ! We need not 
 crofs the Atlantic for proofs. The wafting that 
 deftroys at noon-day, has in this city flain its 
 hundreds. There is fcarcely a principal town in 
 the United States, in which men have not fallen 
 viflims to peftilential fever. 
 
 Were many deceived in Judea by falfe prophets ? 
 Men of this defeription are to be found both in 
 America and Europe, and their numbers arc 
 increafing. 
 
 Did the flaughter of the Jews follow the preva- 
 lence of grofs infidelity among them ? When did 
 infidelity ever raife the head of oppofition againft 
 the truth, fo vigoroufly as in the prefent day ? It 
 was common with the Jews juft before their over- 
 throw, to make a jeft of divine things, and to deride 
 as fo many fenfelcfs tales and juggling impoftures, 
 the facred oracles of their prophets ! Such is the 
 teftimony of Jofephus. Who cannot bear teftimony 
 that at the prefent time, divine fubjefts are held up 
 
 * Vide Jofephus, Newton on the Prophecies, Edward’s 
 Mifcellaneous Obfervatioos, & c. & c. 
 
35 
 
 to public derifion ; that Chriftianity is termed a 
 juggle ; that its defenders are pronounced impoftors ; 
 its prophecies abfurd, and that in the view of 
 thoufands it merits the contempt of every philofophic 
 mind ? It deferves to be well confidered, that fince 
 the gofpel fyftcm has been introduced, there never 
 was a time when infidels were fo numerous. Eccle- 
 fiaftical Hiftory informs us of the various oppofition 
 it has fuffered. At one time it was oppofed by 
 attempts to reconcile it with heathen philofophy, at 
 another by clothing it with the trappings of fuper- 
 ftition. With a ficklenefs refembling king Nebu- 
 chadnezzar’s, men have at one feafon declared its 
 enemies ought to be put to death, and at another 
 have martyred millions of its friends : but infidelity 
 like the prefent is no where recorded. 
 
 Until within thefe few years, infidels were few as 
 ferpents in a cultivated country. Their chara&ers 
 were concealed under the name of chriftians, and 
 their fentiments when publilhed, occafionally and 
 cautioufly introduced in the midft of a relation of 
 hiftorical fa&s*. But now reftraints are lhaken off, 
 and men glory in their unbelief. The hoary finner 
 and the deluded youth unite to affert that the religion 
 of Jefus is folly ; while hand in hand they practice 
 the vices it condemns. 
 
 But what means this mighty revolution in the 
 world of feeming chriftians ? Are ye at a lofs, my 
 hearers, to form a judgment on what you daily fee 
 and hear ? Let Jude inftruft you : “ Beloved, 
 remember ye the words which w'ere fpoken by the 
 apoftles of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; how that there 
 lhould be mockers in the last time, who Ihould 
 walk after their own ungodly lulls.” Jefus hath 
 told us that God wall avenge his own ele<ft, he w ill 
 avenge them fpeedily. “ Ncverthc/e/s, when the Son 
 
 * This was notorioufly the cafe with Bolingbroke, Gibbons, 
 and Hume. 
 
3 ^ 
 
 of Man cometh lhall he find faith on the earth V* 
 Shall he not rather find infidel infatuation ? Peter 
 tell us, that “ there fhall come in the last days, 
 fcoffers walking after their own lulls and faying, 
 where is the promife of his coming ? for fince the 
 fathers fell alleep, all things continue as they were 
 from the beginning of the creation.” Indeed, while 
 we indulge all that diffidence, which the nature of 
 prophecy and our fubjeClion to millake require, there 
 is fuch general, fuch great, fuch novel and fuch 
 various oppofition now made agaiuft the Lord and 
 his Chrill, that we feel little difficulty in faying, 
 Little children, it is the last time : and, as ye 
 have heard that Anti-chrill fliall come, even now there 
 are many Anti-chrift’s, whereby we know it is the 
 
 LAST TIME. 
 
 In conjunction with thefe remarks, we may obfervc 
 that the important improvements which of late years 
 have been made in fcience, feem to be opening the 
 way for the introduction of the latter days. 
 
 The art of printing has contributed greatly to the 
 illumination of the minds of men*. Books, the 
 grand medium of information, are now widely 
 circulated and eafily obtained. The labour of 
 tranfcribing is no longer requifite. In each quarter 
 of the world the Prefs is in motion, and will, we 
 trull, under the divine hand, prove an auxiliary 
 mean of caufing the earth foon to be full of the 
 knowledge of the Lord. Improvements in natural 
 philofophy have of late been great and rapid. 
 Numerous machines are invented which leflen 
 manual labour. The tilling of the ground is better 
 underllood, ealier effected, and far more advanta- 
 geous. The properties of vegetables are better 
 known, and more generally appropriated. The 
 fcience of medicine has undergone an amazing 
 
 * Confcious how much printing tends to diffeminate knowledge, 
 the Turks i igoroudy forbid it in their empire, led it (hould produce 
 a change in their religion and government. 
 
37 
 
 revolution. The difeafes of the animal fydem are 
 chided with greater perfpicuity and removed with 
 increafing facility. Improvements in navigation 
 have been equally great. 1 he confident feaman 
 now erodes an ocean of a thouland leagues with 
 more fafety, than men anciently pafled a river of a 
 thoufand yards. Guided by his faithful compafs, 
 he ventures on the pathlefs deep, bids adieu 
 to joyful {hores, and through awful billows in 
 company with the dolphin, the (hark, the whale, and 
 the fea-lnake, fearches for lands on the other fide of 
 the globe. By ingenious traverfings, the oppofition 
 of the winds is overcome and the fame blaft is made 
 to drive along: vefTels in everv dire&ion. It is from 
 hence that lands feparated from each other by wide 
 and turbulent waters are united in manners, in 
 interefl, and in profperily. It is by means of navi- 
 gation we look for the edablifhment of the gofpel in 
 the iflands of the earth. Surely, Great Redeemer ! 
 the ifles wait for thee, and the fhips of Tarlhifh firft, 
 to bring thy foils from far. MiiTionaries upon the 
 ocean (hall go out with joy, weaves like mountains 
 fliall break forth before them into finging, and as 
 they approach the remotefl fliores, the trees of the 
 foreds (hall clap their hands. 
 
 The natural rights of men have been more clearly 
 afeertained and more confidently afferted than in 
 ages pad, and a revolutionary fpirit is now gaining 
 ground through the whole province of civil and 
 ecclefiadical inflitution. Wickedaefs is employed 
 by Providence in ruining wickednefs. Among the 
 powers of the earth as in the army of the Midianites, 
 the Lord feems to be fetting every man’s hand 
 againd his fellow'. Infidelity demolidies fuperdition, 
 and impatience of every redraint is the ruin of 
 tyranny. 
 
 For feveral years pad, how has the mind of man 
 been agitated ! Events which anciently occupied an 
 age, are now accomplidied in a day. Political 
 
 F 
 
3 » 
 
 calculation is altogether defeated, and men {land 
 wondering what will be the iffue of the extraordinary 
 procefs. As an accelerated velocity in matter 
 implies an approximation to the point of attraction, 
 fo the increafing rapidity in the motions of the 
 governments of the earth, intimates their nearnefs to 
 that flare of reft, when the Prince of Peace (hall fway 
 an univerfal fceptre. The four grand monarchies 
 are deftroyed, in the latter of which the God of 
 heaven fet up a kingdom which {hall never be 
 deftroyed. The ftone, which brake in pieces the 
 image, compofed of the gold of Aflyria, the filver of 
 Perfia, the brafs of Greece, and the iron of Rome, 
 has fwelled into a mountain and is filling the earth. 
 Its progrefs many of the offended fons of men are 
 ftriving to retard ; but the effort is as foolifti and 
 ufelefs as the conduft of the Thracians in difcharging 
 arrows at the heavens, becaufe angry at unfeafonable 
 {howers. Stop the revolution of the earth, arreft 
 time in its flight, and then try to hinder the advance 
 of the Redeemer’s kingdom. Ilufli the roaring of 
 fummer thunders, and then filence the deepening 
 groans of creation, waiting for the adoption. 
 
 It is a pleafing prefage that a Mission ary Spirit 
 has gone forth in the world. Among the rivers in 
 Afia, in the wilds of Africa, and on the mountains of 
 America, publifhers of falvation are to be found. 
 The firmament of the church is widening and new 
 flars are difplaying the new creation’s glory. 
 Hindoos are ceafing to worflup their Ganges, and 
 idols are famiftied. The Ethiopian is chilled with 
 the view of his crimes, and the Greenlander warmed 
 with redeeming love. From the uttermoft part of 
 the earth have we heard fongs, even, glory to the 
 righteous. 
 
 My Brethren, 
 
 In the interior of the country we inhabit, there 
 are thoufands of Indians who are covered with grofs 
 darknefs. We have brought our families and our 
 
39 
 
 manners to their (bores, let us (hew them, that we 
 have brought with us a volume which may prove a 
 light unto their feet and a lamp to their paths. Let 
 us point them to the mark of the prize of the high 
 calling of chriftians, a mark by which they may 
 “ fleer” with confidence through “ the wildernefs” 
 of this perplexing world. 
 
 Let neither their imagined virtues* nor their real 
 vices prevent your exertions. 
 
 Arelndiansw/jc/erfn/’ Send the gofpel among them. 
 This will teach every one how to poffefs his veffel 
 in fnn&ification and honour. It will {hew to them that 
 marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; 
 but that whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 
 
 Are they filthy in their manners and perfons ? 
 Send them the gofpel. They will learn from it to 
 cleanfe themfelves from all filthinefs of flefli and 
 fpirit. Having their hearts fprinkled from an evil 
 confcience, their bodies wall be wafhed as w’ith pure 
 water. The body will be refpe&ed when regarded 
 as a temple for the Holy Ghofl. Health and clean- 
 linefs follow the pious obfervance of the Lord’s day. 
 
 Are Indians drunkards? Send the gofpel among 
 them. Let Miflionaries cry at the door of their 
 tents. Take heed to yourfelves, left at any time 
 your hearts be overcharged with furfeiting and 
 drunkennefs ! Wo unto them that rife up early in 
 the morning that they may follow ftrong drink, that 
 
 * “ It has become fafhionable of late years for the philofophers 
 of Europe to celebrate the virtues of the favages of America. — 
 Whether the defign of their encomiums was to expofe Chriftiar.- 
 ity and depreciate the advantages of civilization, I know not, but 
 they have evidently had thofe effects upon the minds of weak 
 people.” Dr. Rush’s Essays. 
 
 From the travels of Charlevoix, Hennepen, Carver, &c. the 
 doctor demonftrates that uncleannefs, najlinefs, drunkennefs , 
 gluttony, treachery, cruelty, id'lenefs, theft, gaming, and the degrading 
 of their women are common vices. He concludes a fhort, but 
 very inffrudive effay on the fubjedt with faying ; “ How great 
 is the efficacy of Chriftianity, which by purifying the heart, renders 
 the practice of the contrary virtues natural and agreeable !” 
 
40 
 
 continue unto night, until wine (or rum) enflame 
 them. When they know that drunkennefs at laft 
 biteth like a ferpent and (lingeth like an adder, and 
 that drunkards (hall not inherit the kingdom of God, 
 we may expeft that by this vice, whole tribes will 
 be no more deftroyed, and that Indians will ceafe 
 to glory in their (hame. 
 
 Are they gluttonous? Send them the gofpel, and 
 their belly will foon ceale to be their God. The 
 body will be kept under, and be brought into 
 fubje&ion. Affifted to put on the Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 provifion will not be made for the flefh to fulfil its 
 lulls. They wiil ufe the "world as not abufing it. 
 
 Are Indians treacherous? Send the gofpel among 
 them, that they may have their converfation in 
 fimplicity and godly fincerity. It is only by this 
 means that with refpeft to public treaties, or private 
 dealings, you will be prevented from faying their 
 tongue is an arrow Jhot out , it fpeaketh deceit : one 
 fpeaketh peaceably with his mouth, but in heart he 
 layeth wait. Embracing the religion of the king of 
 truth, they will become true men. 
 
 Are they cruel? Send them the gofpel! In Head of 
 regarding compaffion as effeminacy, they will con- 
 fider it as a mark of human greatnefs. Inftruments 
 of cruelty fiial! be fought for in vain, in their habi- 
 tations. Under the influence of Chriflianity the 
 fealping knife and the hatchet will become ulelefs, 
 and the war-hoop and death-fong be forgotten. 
 The lion and the wolf flrall become gentle as the 
 kid or the lamb. That heart cannot be cruel in 
 which the love of God is (lied abroad. 
 
 Are Indians idle?* Send the gofpel among them. 
 We commanded you, fay the apoftles, that if any 
 
 * “ Their work advances under their hand with fuch flownefs, 
 that an eye witnefs compares it to the imperceptible progrefs of 
 vegetation. They fpend fo many years in forming a canoe, that 
 it often begins to rot with age, bcfoie they finith it.” Roiilri son’s 
 America. / 
 
4 1 
 
 would not work, neither fhould he eat. We befeech 
 you that ye ftudy to be quiet, and to do your own 
 bufinefs, and to work with your own hands, that ye 
 may walk honeftly. 
 
 Are they dijhonejl ? Send them the gofpel. Let 
 them know, that this is the will of God that no man 
 go beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, 
 becaufe that the Lord is the avenger of all fuch. 
 Let him that hole, heal- no more, but rather let him 
 labour, working with his hands the thing that is 
 good. Let none fuffer as a thief. 
 
 Are Indians fond of gaming? Send the gofpel 
 among them ! By teaching its converts to come out 
 from ungodly company, to care for them of their 
 own houfliold, and to fliun deceit and lying, it 
 deftroys the injurious prattice. Such who beguile 
 unftable fouls, having hearts exercifed with covetous 
 practices are curfed children. Spots they are and 
 blemifhes, fporting themfelves with their own 
 deceivings, who (hall receive the reward of unrighte- 
 oufnels. 
 
 Are they in the habit of degrading their women? 
 Send them the gofpel, which fays, Let the hufband 
 render to the wife due benevolence, giving honour 
 to her as the weaker veffel, and as being heirs 
 together of the grace of life. Let every one of you 
 love his wife even as himfelf. 
 
 The gofpel is fuited to the removal of the vices 
 which difgrace the Indian tribes ; and where it is 
 received in power, inftead of the brier, will come 
 up the fir-tree, and inftead of the thorn, the myrtle 
 tree. Inftead of uncleannefs, there will be purity ; 
 inftead of drunkennefs, fobriety; inftead of treachery, 
 integrity ; inftead of cruelty, mercy ; inftead of 
 indolence, induftry; inftead of theft, honefty ; and 
 inftead of contempt for females, the mother, the 
 wife, the daughter, and the fifter will be loved and 
 refpected as tender, faithful friends. 
 
42 
 
 Th'S conviftion, united with an ardent defire to 
 glorify God in the exercife of Chriftian benevolence 
 towards the heathen, gave birth to the Philadel- 
 phia Missionary Society*. This Society, while 
 it is anxious that the heathen may hear the faithful 
 faying, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave 
 finners; is defirous of introducing among the Indians 
 fome of thofe arts which lead the way to civilization, 
 ignorance of which is an indireft auxiliary to the 
 commiffion of various crimes. The introduction of 
 the loom, the forge, and the plough, of tame animals, 
 and of ufeful metals is contemplated; that by the 
 increafe of civil information, the wall of partition 
 
 * The Philadelphia Miflionary Society, was formed in the month 
 of January 1798. Three fermons were preached on the occafion, 
 by Rev. Morgan J. Rhees. The firft from Rom. i. iy, 16. 
 — The fecond from Rom. x. 12 — 15. — The third from Luke 
 xvi. 3 1 . — The objedt of the firft dil'courfe was to pourtray the cha- 
 radter of a primitive Miflionary, his commiflion, and the effedt of 
 its delivery on nations and on believing individuals. Additional 
 motives were urged to encourage a million among the American 
 heathen. The fecond difeourfe had for its objedt to prove, that 
 God is no refpedter of perfons, that the riches of his grace are 
 communicated to men by means of preaching, and that the 
 preachers are fent and fupported by men as well as by God. 
 It was concluded by enforcing it as a duty, incumbent on every 
 Chrillian to contribute towards teaching all nations the principles 
 of pure and undefiled religion. The third difeourfe was applied 
 particularly to infidels and libertines, its principal objedt was to 
 Ihewthcfulficiency of Revelation. That it contains ample evidence 
 of its truth to convince any reafonable creature who will take the 
 pains to examine it and that therefore we are not to expedt 
 Jehovah will raife any perfon from the dead, to convert nominal 
 Chriftians or to convince the heathen ; that therefore it is our 
 duty to fend meflengers of peace among them, that they may 
 have Mofes and the prophets, Chrift and his apofties to bear 
 teftimony to the truth. If they rejedt, we fliall be clear from 
 their blood. 
 
 Since the above period the number of members and the prof- 
 pedts of doing good have gradually increafcd, and it is hoped that 
 ere longMiflionarics, under their cheerful guidance, and under the 
 guidance of the God of love, will go out with joy, and be led forth 
 with peace. 
 
43 
 
 between Indians and the United States may be 
 broken down, and the tomahawk and the bayonet 
 become ufelefs. 
 
 Every inftitution of this nature merits patronage ; 
 and it becomes each individual to exercise his 
 influence for the advancement of fo pious a dcfign. 
 Shall I attempt to produce farther arguments to 
 excite you to fulfil the good pleafure of God ? Shall 
 I remind you of the prodigious numbers of 
 fellow men who are yet involved in ignorance nd 
 mifery ? Shall I prels on you the value of the golpel, 
 that it confllbs of glad tidings to perijhlag farters ? 
 Shall I remind you of the example of Jefus who 
 went about doing good, and whofe zeal for the 
 houfe of God confumed him ? Shall I refer you to 
 the holy apoflles, who counted not their lives dear, 
 fo they might fulfil their miniibcrial courfe ? Shall I 
 prefs on you, that zeal for the Lord of holts has lately 
 given rife to many miffionary focieties, and refer you 
 to Scotland, to Germany, to England and to New- 
 York? Need I tell you that careleflhefs is guilt, 
 and indolence ignoble ? Shall I point you to nature, 
 full of labour all around you, and invite reltlefs 
 winds, rolling tides, riling vegetables, and revolving 
 orbs to put your inactivity to the blufli ? Shall 1 
 exhibit the encouragements to fending miflionaries 
 among the Indians, derivable from an Indian’s 
 believing in the Great Spirit and in a future Jlate; 
 from the peace now fubfifting between them and 
 us, and from their proximity to us ? Shall I aflert 
 the honor of being fellow-workers with God, the 
 pleafure that fprings from fulfilling our duty and 
 doing good, and the probability of luccefs deducible 
 from the figns of the times ? I perluade myfelf the 
 talk is unneceflary. I perfuade myfelf that you are 
 ready to cry out, How r lhall we begin to teftify our 
 zeal ? what immediate mealure lhall we adopt for 
 aiding fo benevolent a defign ? I congratulate myfelf 
 on being able to aililE your pleafures, in hopes of 
 
44 
 
 feeing this evening a fulfilment of that animating 
 prophecy. They Avail bring their fiber and their 
 oold with them unto the name of the Lord thy 
 God. At the clofe of this fervice your liberality 
 •will have a fair opportunity for its exertion. The 
 fociety, for which I have this evening the honour to 
 plead, is weak ; it has implored the fatherly care of 
 Heaven, and now would welcome aJliftance from you. 
 As yet ’tis a little one, but we truft the little one 
 will become a thoufand. In the exercife of that 
 o-enerous zeal which will give pleafure in death, an 
 expecting the Mailer’s blcffing, we hope to fee 
 mountains and hills, the Andes and the Alleghany 
 break forth into fmging, and the trees of 
 nefs clap their hands in gofpel harmony. 1 he Lord 
 will liaflen it in his time. 
 
 THE END.