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produce all these excellent fruits, by deep humility: by the complete mortification of self-wisdom, selfrighteousness, and self-will; of ambition, vain glory, desire of pre-eminence, or human applause : by genuine poverty of spirit, deep contrition before God, and unaffected modesty before men. "Be ye, therefore, clothed with humility.”

IV. I would suggest a few thoughts on the special Encouragements by which Missionaries may be animated in their arduous work, and enabled to meet that question which must occur to every humble reflecting mind, in the prospect of such a service, "Who is sufficient for these things?"

It is not here to be expected that I should mention the general encouragements of the gospel, which have no peculiar relation to this case more than to others: and which, though inestimably precious, are as much so to us here at home as to Missionaries abroad. These, my dear brethren, I trust you well know and I need only exhort you, in every moment of depression to recollect them; and to say, "Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? "and why art thou so disquieted within me? "Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, "who is the health of my countenance and my God."

But there are some special encouragements for Missionaries, as such, which must not be passed over, in this general manner.

1. The special nature of your undertaking being exactly an attempt to execute the commission given to the apostles, and their successors in the Christian Ministry, if duly considered, is replete with encouragement.

Το you, if simple, and faithful in your endea

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vours, to you, I say, especially belong such promises as these "Lo! I am with you always, even "to the end of the world:" "I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries "shall not be able to gainsay or resist:" "I will "not leave you comfortless, (or orphans,) I will come unto you: "Be not afraid, but speak and "hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no "man shall set on thee to hurt thee:" in short, all the promises made to the apostles as the Missionaries of Christ to the world at large; except those which relate immediately to their high office, as infallibly communicating "the whole counsel of God" to the church and to the world, by their preaching and their writings; and to the miraculous powers by which they confirmed their doctrine to mankind.

2. The consideration that the most eminent men neither had, nor thought they had, in themselves any more sufficiency than others of the human race, is a source of encouragement.

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"Their sufficiency was of God:" "From the "fulness of Christ they all received." Their wisdom, holiness, and competency for their important work, and all success in it, were from Him alone. His fulness is still the same. "He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Your object and motive are the same: "the weapons of your warfare" the same: and you are authorized to expect the same communications from his fulness, and a portion of the same blessing on your labours. Go forth then in his strength and remember, that your success must be "not by might, "nor by power; nor by human wisdom; nor by learning, genius, or eloquence; "but by the Spirit ." of the Lord of Hosts."

3. You may confidently assume that for no persons, or at least for scarcely any persons on earth, are so many prayers incessantly and fervently poured out, as for you, and your brethren in missionary labours,

And this, to those who know the value and prevalency of the fervent prayers even of one or two persons, needs only to be hinted, to inspire courage and confidence. While you are labouring amidst difficulties abroad, we shall be without excuse, if we do not daily implore every blessing on you, on your souls, families, and labours, with all earnestness and importunity.

4. Finally, my dear brethren, you, if faithful unto death, have scriptural ground to expect peculiar honour and distinction at the day of Christ, your Saviour and your Judge: both as having attempted to honour his name and promote his cause, in regions most completely subjected to the sway of his great adversary, the Devil; and this, by willingly renouncing all earthly interests, connexions, and indulgencies, and submitting to bardships, labours, and self-denials peculiar to the service which you have undertaken: and also, even should you not live to witness any great success, in that you will scatter seeds of divine truth where none have before been sown; and no doubt, at the last day, many, whom you never saw, will bless God for sending you into the regions in which they dwelt; and so, at least, preparing the way for their being turned from darkness to light, and from "the power of Satan unto God."

V. I had purposed to conclude with Counsels and Exhortations; but I have anticipated most of the subjects which I intended to introduce: and I have

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already far too much trespassed on your time and patience; except as the example of St. Paul, who, for the last time addressing his fellow Christians, being about to depart on the morrow, continued "his speech until midnight," can plead my excuse. I shall, therefore, only drop two or three hints. 1. Let nothing induce you to neglect all due care health.

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Let no influence or persuasion prevail on you to neglect such rules, for the counteracting of the insalubrity of the climate, as competent persons have laid down. Let no ardour for any special service, no motive of convenience, or even of economy, prevail with you to take voyages or journeys, at those seasons in which experience proves that they are perilous to European constitutions, Rather submit to frowns and censures from ill-judging men, than risk your valuable lives in such romantic attempts: I say valuable, not to yourselves so much, as to mankind; to us, who long for the conversion of the heathen; to the Society, and the common cause of Christianity. Remember, I say, that you are not your own: you have no right to throw away your lives. In all cases, where it is indispensible, you ought to venture them freely: but not without some adequate object; and that must be a great object indeed, which, in your situation, is adequate to the life of a zealous and able Missionary.

There is a sort of amiable easiness, and a disposition to yield every thing to others, without any regard to what may become of yourselves; which may here mislead you. By declining or postponing particular attempts, attended with extraordinary

danger, (I speak especially with reference to the climate; the rains, the damps, the diseases peculiar to it ;) your lives may be preserved for objects of ten-fold greater importance.

God forbid that I should be thought to plead for a timid, cowardly care of life and health! I admire the man, who "regards not his life," when an important object is before him: but men of this character are too valuable, and too ready to expose themselves, to be left without counsel and caution not to do this without good reason.

2. You, my dear friends, are going to join some other Missionaries already settled in Africa. I shall leave it wholly to others to give you advice and instruction concerning this, as to other things; but let my parting counsel be, "Let all your thinGS "BE DONE IN LOVE:" "Let nothing be done through “strife, and vain-glory: Do all things without "murmurings or disputings."

Remember, remember, I say, that Satan's grand object is, to divide those who seek the subversion of his kingdom. Be fully and constantly aware of this, and resolutely and pertinaciously oppose this his grand object. Endeavour "to stand fast in one "spirit, with one mind, striving together for the "faith of the gospel." "Love one another; and "marvel not if the world hate you."

Force the Africans to say, 'See how these Chris'tians love one another! how free they are from ' selfishness, covetousness, ambition, vain-glory, ' resentment! how ready to "bear one another's "burdens;" to bear with one another's infirmities; to sympathize in one another's joys and sorrows! They are as one body animated by one soul!'

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