first prepared the way, by removing the obstacles which stood opposed to his pious design, and then used the proper means to awaken the attention of his subjects to the things which belonged to their everlasting peace. In this arduous work he persisted for years, and happily succeeded in attaining the object of his desires, his prayers and exertions. His son Jehoshaphat followed his good example, and carried on the work which his father had successfully begun. After several wicked princes had reigned over Judah, Jehoiada the priest, in the minority of Joash, strengthened the things that remained and were ready to die, and, by his vigorous exertions, brought about a great reformation in religion. You remember that Hezekiah, Josiah, Ezra and Nehemiah, were firm and faithful friends of God; and every attempt they made to promote his cause was crowned with signal success. I might mention the apostles, Luther and Calvin, David Brainard and many other missionaries, who have done much to spread the savor of Christ's name among both their own countrymen and heathens. So many instances of success in so many ages and parts of the world, in promoting the cause of religion, clearly demonstrate that the work, though attended with great and innumerable difficulties, is really practicable. And this practicability affords a solid ground of encouragement, in undertaking and pursuing the benevolent design. There is something extremely animating in the prospect of success. It always inspires the mind with irresistible zeal and fortitude in seeking a desirable object. This alluring motive, God, in his providence, holds up to the view of his friends, who are sincerely engaged to promote his cause.

2. The promotion of religion is such a noble and laudable design, that it is even glorious to fail in the attempt. In all great and difficult undertakings, there is always more or less danger of being eventually disappointed. It is not in man to command success, even in his most lawful and benevolent pursuits. The men of the world are often frustrated in accomplishing their wisest and best concerted designs. And the friends of God have not unfrequently been disappointed in their pious efforts to spread the knowledge of truth and promote the interests of religion. Many societies formed for this benevolent purpose, have failed of answering their own and the public expectation. But in all cases, in which the failure has not been owing either to the negligence or the unfaithfulness or the despondency of those employed in concerting and executing the design, their attempts have always met with general approbation and applause. Melville Horne appears amiable and respectable, notwithstanding his want of success in his mission, and notwithstanding his own acknowledged timidity and irresolution.

Some of the more ancient promoters of religion, by their bold, though unsuccessful attempts, endeared their names to future ages. At a time of great degeneracy in Judah, "the spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king, in the court of the house of the Lord." This bold and sincere attempt to promote the reformation and salvation of sinners, though it failed of desired success, finally reflected peculiar honor upon the name of Zechariah. For, when Christ told the Jews that the blood of all the prophets should be required at their hands, he mentioned in particular "the blood of Zacharias, whom they slew between the temple and the altar." Christ himself labored in vain and spent his strength for nought, in preaching the gospel to the Jews; but though Israel were not gathered, yet he was glorious in the eyes of his Father. The apostles preached the same gospel in many places, with little or no success; but yet they were a sweet savor of Christ in them that perished, as well as in them that were saved. John Wickliff was unsuccessful in the same work in which Luther succeeded; but yet his noble, though unsuccessful exertions, have rendered his name illustrious through all the protestant nations. If good men should fail of spreading the gospel to the extent of their desires and expectations, yet their sincere and vigorous attempts shall meet the just approbation of both God and man. Some seem to be backward to engage in this work, for fear they shall not succeed. They imagine they see a lion in the way; but supposing there should be a lion in the way, or supposing the worst that can be supposed, that some unforeseen obstacles shall arise which cannot be surmounted; it will be glorious to fail, after they have done all that was in their power to do. This the friends of God ought to consider as a solid foundation for fortitude and zeal, in undertaking and prosecuting such a noble and laudable design; in which they have nothing to lose, but much to gain, by their most zealous and bold attempts.

3. Those who espouse the cause of religion, have reason to expect the peculiar presence and assistance of God in their pious exertions. The cause of religion is emphatically the cause of God, in the promotion of which his heart is wholly engaged. The zeal of the Lord of hosts centres in the execution of his purpose of grace towards this fallen world. For the attainment of this grand object, he is constantly employing every creature, and directing every event, in the universe.

While any of his friends, therefore, feel his spirit and heartily espouse his cause, he must be pleased with the motives of their conduct; and afford them all the protection and assistance which they need, in doing their part to promote his gracious design. Accordingly we find express promises of his presence with those who sincerely endeavor to promote his cause. He directed Azariah to tell Asa and the men of Judah in his name, "The Lord is with you, while ye be with him." He engaged to assist and protect Jeremiah, while pleading his cause in the midst of the most formidable opposition. "Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land; against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee." Ezekiel tells us that God gave him a similar promise in a similar case. "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them." "Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant, harder than flint, have I made thy forehead; fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." The command which Christ has laid upon all his faithful ministers to spread the gospel, is enforced by a promise of his continual presence. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Such peculiar promises of divine support, protection and assistance, apply to all those who are heartily engaged to spread the knowledge and blessings of the gospel among the perishing children of men; and are designed to inspire them with resolution and zeal in the great undertaking. Every sincere christian, every faithful minister, every pious and zealous missionary, may adopt the language of the apostle, and say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Whose hearts and hands, therefore, must not be strong, while they are sincerely engaged in that work which they know is highly pleasing to Christ, and in the performance of which, they have just ground to expect his promised presence and protection? Especially when they consider,

4. That their benevolent desires and exertions to advance the

interests of religion, shall certainly be attended with the approbation and prayers of all good men. These have universally imbibed one spirit, and heartily desire the prosperity of Zion. Here the distinction of different denominations ceases to operate, and admits an entire union in sentiment and feeling. Good men, in whatever denomination of christians they are found, unitedly seek the spread of the gospel and the prevalence of religion. And though they may differ in opinion, respecting particular measures to promote the common cause of Christianity, yet they really unite in the general object, and sincerely pray that it may be eventually obtained. They feel the spirit of Paul, who said, "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will-What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." The friends of God universally wish well to, and heartily pray for, those who are sincerely engaged in spreading the gospel, and promoting the salvation of sinners. Agreeably to the direction of Christ, they daily offer up their desires to God in that comprehensive petition, "Thy kingdom come." And whenever they see any successfully employed in building up this kingdom, they naturally join with, and assist them in the good work. We have a striking instance of this in the conThough the ten tribes had generally revolted from the true God, yet there were some pious men among them; and these united heart and hand with Asa the king of Judah, in promoting the cause of true religion. Accordingly it is said, "They fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him." The sincere and successful promoters of religion will always have the approbation and prayers, and, in that way, at least, the concurrence and assistance of all good men. This, indeed, makes them really strong; and strength is a peculiar source of resolution and zeal. Besides,

5. They are equally sure of the esteem and affection of all those whom they shall be instrumental of converting. Though men are naturally averse from being awakened, convinced and converted, yet after they have become reconciled to God, they never fail to feel a peculiar affection for those whom they view as instrumental of their spiritual and eternal good. Paul bears testimony to the ardent affection which some of his hearers had felt towards him, whom they had viewed as the instrument, under God, of their saving conversion. "I bear you record, that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me." How much have faithful and successful missionaries been beloved and caressed,

by those to whom they have carried the gospel, which turned them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God! No men in Judah were more sincerely esteemed and venerated, than Asa, Jehoiada, Hezekiah and Josiah, who were the happy instruments of reforming and converting sinners. If men are faithful and successful in seeking the salvation of souls, they will not only deserve, but receive the gratitude and esteem of those whom they are the means of bringing home to God. This consideration may well support and animate them, in suffering all the reproach and opposition they may meet with in spreading the gospel, and taking the subjects of the prince of darkness out of his hands. I must add,

6. That all the sincere endeavors and extraordinary exertions in favor of religion, shall finally meet a glorious recompense of reward. God has promised to reward men for the faithful improvement of all their talents. And what better use can they make of the blessings of providence, than to employ them in building up the kingdom of God? This is the most important design carrying on in this world, and even in any part of the universe; and, therefore, to be instrumental in promoting this, is to do the greatest good which lies in the power of man to do. No person can employ his time, his interest, his knowledge, and all the weight of his character, to a better purpose than that of spreading the gospel, and promoting the eternal interests of his fellow men; and there is no other way in which he can secure a more ample reward, in the great day of retribution.

But, besides the parable of the talents, we find particular promises to those who make peculiar exertions to build up Zion. Such is the promise in the text. "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded." The same idea is suggested by the apostle James. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." The apostle Paul says to christians in general, "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor shall not be in vain in the Lord." And the prophet expressly declares, "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." These promises of a glorious recompense in a future state, ought to animate good men at this day, as they animated Moses, the prophets, the apostles, and even Christ himself, to the most bold and vigorous exertions in the cause of religion.