undetected. The weakness, the foibles, and the imperfections of its friends, the hypocrisy and crimes of men professing it for base and sinister purposes, have furnished the counts of almost every indictment. What was there to be heard from the lips of the Saviour, which Judas did not hear? What was to be seen in the conduct of the Redeemer, which Judas did not see? Yet when he gives at once a striking description of the character of the Son of God, and a horrid representation of his own villany, he says, "I have betrayed innocent blood!"

We know that no other system of ethics, or of philosophy, has been thus applauded by enemies. Should it be said that Christianity contains the elements of all that is most offensive to man; then is it so much the more marvellous, that its very enemies are among the first to pronounce its eulogium. The very individuals who have thus preached Christ, and panegyrized Christianity, have continually writhed under its condemnatory sentence. While the soul has bled from the wounds inflicted by the severe and cutting words of Jesus, the tongue has exclaimed, "Hosannah in the highest." It is thus that "the wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain." In this way Cyrus and Darius shall build the temple of the Lord, and in this way "the earth shall help the woman," till God has subdued to himself all his enemies, or made them lick the dust of his feet.

2. As the world can only be renovated by the preaching of Christ, so even the enemies of Christ who preach him contribute to this event.

For a season of nearly four thousand years, all the nations of the world, one excepted, were left without the light of revelation. The credulous, the weak-headed, the fanatics, the hypocrites, whom infidelity has described so eloquently as the beguilers and troublers of the world, had no existence. And it is truly instructive to observe how the world was managed when left in the hands of historians, poets, philosophers, and legislators of earlier times. In these golden days of freedom from the shackles of superstition, and an imposing falsehood, we are to look for an innocent simplicity in manners, disinterested and expansive benevolence, a once-plighted faith for ever unbroken. In these days, when the gods reigned in all their glory, we are to look for purity, piety, meekness, gentleness, humanity, mercy, and love. Alas! alas!

The leaders of the nations, whether legislators, philosophers, poets, priests, or historians, were the most vicious and corrupt. Who dares mention even the systems or the examples of Socrates

and Plato as standards of morals? Who, but those who are utterly ignorant of the men and of their communications? If such a paradox may be allowed, the religion of the leading characters in Pagan nations was most irreligious, and their system of morality most grossly immoral. Many sins were practised, and even publicly defended, which must remain nameless; while many cardinal virtues were discarded, or openly outraged.

And, if the leaders of the people were grossly depraved, the people themselves were, beyond description, sunk in iniquity. The portrait drawn by the apostle, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, is frightfully correct: no part is overcharged, and the painting is a faithful likeness. Whoever brought the knowledge of Christ Jesus before nations sunk in wretchedness and crime, must indeed have been benefactors. It is scarcely conceivable that Christianity, in any form, however deteriorated, can be presented to men, without its influence and effects being superior to paganism in its very best state; and down to the present period, although intercourse with christian nations has elevated their character, yet he that accurately examines the state of any nation under heaven destitute of the gospel, must perceive that Christianity, in its moral influence, is the greatest blessing the world has ever felt.

It may be doubted whether there be a people in the world, where Christ is not preached, who worship only ONE GOD; but where he has been known, and by whomsoever proclaimed, polytheism has perished; immoralities have been banished from religious worship; the most revolting and barbarous customs have been abolished; civilization, arts, sciences, and literature have flourished; social relations and social duties have been regarded; and the unholy, disobedient, or ferocious, have been brought up to occupy the place which rational beings ought to fill. Christianity has exerted this salutary influence on the world.

But while, in regard to external circumstances and the present life, the blessed effects of Christianity on the minds of millions are beyond description important, peace of conscience and peace with God are enjoyed here, and a good hope of eternal felicity cheers and animates the soul; man is brought back to God, the author of his being and the source of his blessedness; and he who grovelled among corrupt and perishable pursuits is raised to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

If good so great is imparted, and if the gospel be only and wholly such a good, then, though an enemy publish its truths and the name of its Author, there is abundant cause for joy and exultation.

Even the bare probability that such results may be witnessed, is a sufficient cause for the most ardent hope and rational delight. And surely we may hope that, if an enemy hold the torch in the midst of the darkness, some poor wanderer may find his path, and be saved from everlasting destruction.

3. We may also be assured that God will certainly overrule the preaching of Christ, even by wicked men, to accomplish his purpose of mercy. We know from the sacred writings that in inferior matters God has controlled the movements of bad men for his own glory. The reader of Scripture history well knows that the cruelty of Joseph's brethren was subordinated to the glory of God, and a series of events the most marvellous arose from the oppressive treatment which their innocent brother received at their hands. The history of Pharaoh, the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, the journey of the chosen tribes through the wilderness to the land of promise, with all the miracles wrought in the course of their journey, have drawn the eyes of every nation where the sacred history has been read, to these astonishing displays of human depravity, and the power, dignity, and mercy of God.

I must only mention (in passing) the exertions of the same divine control over the conduct of Judas, and that of the Jews in the death of Christ. In that astonishing event the worst passions which ever were in exercise were let loose in unrestrained licentiousness. The purity, the piety, and the benevolence of the Son of God, tortured the malignant feelings of the scribes and Pharisees. They witnessed, with unutterable anguish, the exposure of their cupidity and lust; the secret wickedness, deeply concealed in their hearts, was brought to the light of open day. The God of knowledge, by his life and ministry, placed a window in the bosoms of these hypocrites, which made their souls transparent. No artifice could conceal, no evasions could shift off their reproach and eternal infamy. They were condemned by others, but what was abundantly more appalling, they were rendered contemptible to themselves. To be rid of Him who tormented them before the time, was an issue exceedingly desirable. The death of Christ was accomplished; but by that very death their exposure was complete. He died as no criminal, as no mere man could die. The power of God, in its sublimest forms, was displayed in his death; the thunder, the darkness, the rending rocks, all pronounced the condemnation of his murderers, and proclaimed him to be truly the Son of God.

But that very death secured the accomplishment of the great purposes of mercy. The most powerful foes of God and man were all subdued by this event. It was the path through which

the Captain of salvation walked to glory, honour, and eternal triumph. Had he not died, the deliverance of men from guilt and ruin would have remained for ever surrounded by insuperable difficulties. But his death removed every obstruction, rendered honourable and easy the conquest of every foe, and the emancipation of every slave. No doubt the prince of darkness himself was a most active agent in promoting the death of Christ; but had not Christ died, we can perceive no means by which that foul destroyer could have been disarmed, or the captives delivered from the power of this mighty one.

Is it not then correct to argue, that if God subordinates the malignity, ambition, and haughtiness of man to the accomplishment of his providential purposes, he will also overrule their movements to secure the fulfilment of his designs of mercy? And if he made individuals effectually publish his glorious name, though decidedly averse to such a service, much rather may we expect him to display his perfections, though an unhallowed hand remove the veil which conceals them from our view. Surely the name of Christ is so replete with important meaning, and his gospel such a declaration of the fulness of God, that an ignorant and impoverished world cannot hear without receiving divine instruction, without an ardent desire being excited to come and be enriched for eternity. So it was in the days of Paul. Many heard and believed; many saw and were made whole; many stretched forth the hand, and received the blessings of salvation. And in more modern times, who can look back on the days of Henry VIII. and many of his contemporaries, without perceiving at once how God did at that time, and will through all future ages, secure to himself glory from the very worst of men. Satan is entangled in his own net; arrows are drawn from his own quiver to wound him to the heart. It is no doubt a very painful consideration that a preacher of Christ should perish, as his damnation must be exceedingly aggravated. Yet, if one perish who has undesignedly become an instrument in securing the salvation of a large number, we lose sight of the scaffolding which has been removed and consumed, while we gaze with unmingled delight on the temple which is reared, where Jehovah will dwell for ever.

Having thus far dwelt on the doctrinal part of my subject, I shall now proceed more directly to an APPLICATION, in which I propose to draw one or two inferences from the whole: and finally, urge upon this congregation an immediate reception of that Christ who is preached to them.

1. We may infer from this subject that our cause of rejoicing is exceedingly great. Notwithstanding, there are many parts of Britain where the gospel is imperfectly preached, and with very uspicious views; yet there are thousands of holy men who preach Christ from the purest motives.

Forty years ago, scarcely an effort was made, except by the Moravian brethren, to carry the gospel of Christ to the heathen ; and now scarcely an evangelical body exists that is not attempting to spread the glorious intelligence among perishing idolaters. How delightful to know that the Redeemer is preached in every quarter of the globe, and that a holy emulation is cherished to evangelize "every kindred, and people, and tongue, and nation!" The signs of the times are most cheering and instructive. People who were regarded as scarcely rising a grade above the brute creation, are now elevated to genuine piety, and to holy converse with God. Our West Indian colonies, those lands of English barbarity, are offering their ten thousand sable inhabitants to the Saviour, as willing and exulting converts. The day is at hand-it must be at hand-when British mercy, when British justice, shall release from unrighteous bondage the eight hundred thousand whose groans have penetrated the heart of Deity.

Nor is it less cheering to observe how, in attempting to carry the tidings of Christ and salvation to the ends of the earth, the mind has been aroused to contemplate the claims of our native land. Societies have sprung up on every side; districts, and almost whole counties, which a few years ago were as dark as heathen lands, are visited by the day-spring from on high. The influence of the labours of George Whitefield and John Wesley, is yet by no means spent. Their spirit rests on their followers, and God is watering our native land with the dews of heaven; and can unbelief itself interpose a doubt of the Divine blessing? We feel for the interests of men, and their eternal welfare; but how languid, how cold are our feelings! The Son of God has his whole heart in this work, nor will it be abandoned by him till all his enemies bow down before him, till he is crowned Lord of all.

2. Let us manifest our gratitude to Him whose name is thus preached, by a more lively zeal in his cause, a more entire devotion to his glory. While all are active around us, we of all others have no time to slumber. Believing that we have a purer creed than that communion from which we dissent, be it ours to prove its salutary influence on our spirits and on our lives. Our humility, our benevolence, our liberality, our zeal, our integrity, are all to attest that we feel the name of Christ infinitely precious. Let us endeavour,