diversities in external forms; but, in the grand design of promoting Christianity, all these should disappear.'1

In general, the interest of a charitable or pious institution, properly speaking, is the power possessed by that society of glorifying God, and doing good to men: and, if good can be more advantageously done by another society, it is equally entitled to assistance and support; and the wise and benevolent will countenance all, in proportion as they are likely to be useful, and none in opposition to the rest.

These considerations have determined me to undertake the present service, though well aware that some persons might misunderstand my intention, or object to my conduct.-But still, a difficulty of no small magnitude seemed placed in my way.

Almost, if not entirely, every subject relating to missions, has been pre-occupied; and this, not only from the pulpit, but in the most permanent form of printed sermons, collected in volumes. What more can be said, or need be said, concerning the deplorable state of the gentiles, or the obligations of Christians, according to their ability to attempt their conversion? What objection to such exertions remains unanswered, or inadequately answered? Can any thing, except ignorance, selfishness, indolence, and indifference about the honour of God and the salvation of souls, maintain any further opposition to the general design? On which side soever the subject is viewed, it might seem to be exhausted; nay, a peculiar kind of genius

Account of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East.

is necessary even to say the same things in another way, and with the appearance of novelty or variety.

There is, however, one encouraging consideration, that repetition itself, if restricted to the more essential topics, cannot prevent a plain and earnest discourse upon the subject from affecting and interesting every compassionate and pious mind.

But, in fact, a circumstance, which can scarcely be too deeply regretted, determined me to the text which I have chosen, and to which I now return : I mean the difficulty that has been found, in procuring an adequate number of competent missionaries, especially among our own countrymen, by several of the societies instituted for this important object. This, I am persuaded, has exceedingly tended to prevent success, and in many instances has chilled the ardour, and checked the liberality, which would otherwise have been manifested.

I would by no means be supposed to intimate that nothing, or that but little, has been done. My views of the transactions which have taken place, since this society was instituted, are very different. I am persuaded far more important good has been done, and preparations made, and that far more extensively beneficial effects will follow from these exertions, than is generally supposed, or than do at present appear. Yet the want of a far greater number of missionaries, endued with the genuine spirit, has had a greater effect in retarding our progress, than any backwardness of the public to furnish pecuniary aid; nay, than the unfavourable circumstances of these eventful times; or even than the heavy losses and severe disappointments, by which it hath pleased God to try the faith and pa

tience of the active and zealous friends of the

cause.

A more particular consideration of our Lord's command to his disciples, as contained in our text, therefore, seems not unseasonable: and may he so direct and prosper what shall be spoken, that it may produce a more general and earnest compliance with the important injunction !

We find the same words, or nearly, spoken by our Lord on two distinct occasions: first, when he appointed the twelve apostles; and, secondly, when he sent forth the seventy disciples. The context in the former instance calls for our peculiar attention. "When he saw the multitudes, he was "moved with compassion on them, because they "fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep "having no shepherd. Then, saith he to his dis"ciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the "labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of "the harvest, that he will send forth labourers "into his harvest."

By comparing this passage with St. Luke, it appears highly probable that, at this important crisis, "Jesus went up into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

"2

At the time when our Lord gave this injunction, and enforced it by his own example, the spiritual worship of the true God was at a very low ebb. The Jews were generally satisfied with barren forms and notions, and with human traditions ; their teachers were blind guides and hypocrites; and their builders disdainfully rejected the precious

'Matt. ix. 36, 38.

2

Luke vi. 12, 13.

corner-stone which God had chosen: while the gentiles (that is all other nations) were sunk in gross idolatry, except that a few had philosophized themselves and each other into various kinds of practical atheism: so that they were "without ، Christ, without hope, and without God in the "world." A remnant, no doubt, was found in Judea and in other countries, both of pious Jews, and of gentiles who by their means had got access to the Greek version of the scriptures, and, like Cornelius, were earnestly inquiring after the salvation and the Saviour there revealed :—a most encouraging circumstance to those who are now labouring to get the scriptures, or part of them, translated into different languages, and diffused among the nations! Yet the state of the world was, in general, most deplorable. "Darkness covered "the earth, and gross darkness the people."

But it had been foretold that, in the times of the Messiah, “the gentiles would come to the light, "and kings to the brightness of his rising." Nay, "that he should be for a light to the gentiles, and "for salvation to the ends of the earth." It was the revealed purpose of God to break down the partition-wall between Jews and gentiles; to revive the power of godliness among a large number of the former, and by their means to bring into the church an immense multitude of the latter: so that, in a short time, the true worshippers of the living God should be increased a thousand, nay, ten thousand fold. This was the plenteous "harvest" to which our blessed Lord referred in the words of my text. But the labourers were few," very few, compared with the harvest. There were, indeed, many

priests and scribes, who were ministers of religion according to the immediate appointment of God; or teachers of the people, who "sat in Moses's "seat;" and why should not these be employed?

Do you ask why? the answer is obvious: Because they set themselves against the Messiah and his cause. And, in every age, they who follow their steps, and persevere in so doing, will be laid aside and excluded from any share in the honourable service, however regular their external appointment; and others, from a different quarter, will be sent forth as labourers into the harvest, amidst the objections and opposition of those who are thus superseded.

At that awful crisis when the scribes, and priests, and rulers stood around the cross of Immanuel, and joined with the multitude in scoffing at his dying agonies, and making even his undeniable and beneficent miracles the subject of their cruel and impious mockery; when the apostles concealed themselves through fear; and the seventy disciples seemed finally dispersed, and almost every favourer of the cause was led to despair of it: had any one, at that crisis, I say, stood forth and predicted, that within two months many thousands would trust in the crucified Nazarene as their almighty Saviour worship him as their God, obey him as their exalted King, and wait for his coming as their omniscient Judge; and that, within twenty or thirty years, unnumbered millions, through a vast extent of countries, inhabited by tribes most discordant in their manners and interests, would determine to glory in him and in his cross alone; and should he have added, that all this would be accomplished by