head, in answer to questions formally proposed to them by the Monarch, has solemnly decided that Jesus Christ is a true prophet sent from God; that the laws contained in the Gospel are just; and that it is not lawful to blaspheme those laws. Surely a great and effectual door is opened to preach the Gospel in Persia.

We call this the age of religious charities. Compared with her conduct in past ages, the Church has done much. Compared with what ought to have been done, she has done little. If the efforts and contributions of the Church are not prodigiously augmented; the coming of the kingdom of Christ will be postponed for thousands of years. The munificence of the present age in Bibles is often mentioned. Yet, even now, only one fourth of a million of Bibles and Testaments is annually distributed. More than one half of the population of Christendom are now destitute of the Bible. These, with the Jews Mohammedans and Heathens, are an aggregate of more than 700 millions. If we view one half of this vast number as adults; according to the present ratio of supply, 1400 years would be wanting to furnish them with Bibles; even if Bibles would last, and men would live, during that long period. But Bibles rarely last thirty years; and in fourteen centuries forty-two generations go to the grave and to the judgment.

How far then is the Church behind the footsteps of Providence. Would she but quicken her pace and press forward; what a progress in the work of salvation would at once ensue; what displays of glory might not we ourselves be permitted to behold!

3. In such an age and country as this, what a blessing is Wealth, if devoted to the service of God.

Bibles and Preachers are the great means of ushering in the kingdom of Christ; and, strange to tell, Bibles and preachers can be procured by wealth. Wealth will print Bibles, will educate young men of piety, and support Missionaries. How much good may not a few wealthy individuals do. Nay how much have not a few individuals done before our eyes. In the Theological Institution in this neighbourhood about two hundred young men have been prepared for the preaching of the Gospel. These are proclaiming the offers of salvation to two hundred thousand lost sinners. Each year that institution now furnishes forty additional preachers of the Gospel; and the time is probably not distant when it will annually yield one hundred. The number of preachers, whom it will send forth in the ensuing ten years, will unquestion

fiably exceed seven hundred. Ten years hence, then,

more than seven hundred thousand immortal beings will
be furnished with the preaching of the Gospel by
its founders. Under these seven hundred preachers,
how
many revivals of religion will take place; how
many thousands of young men will be renewed by the
Holy Spirit; and thus be preparing to preach the
Gospel in their turn. Thus every year will swell
the tide of good. In the progress of a single cen-
tury, how many
millions will owe to them their
salvation. And when they hear the story told, and
the names of their benefactors recited; they will rise
up and call them blessed. Throughout millennial ages,
their memory will be sweet; and in the Final day,
what a countless multitude, while they give to God all
the glory, will yet acknowledge that, to these men under
God, they owe their possession of eternal life. What,

my brethren, is an estate, an empire, a world, to such a prospect as this! And O! can men of wealth, when God is calling on them to labour with him in this field of glory, can they be unwilling to engage. When such a summons comes to them in the name of Christ; will not the heart instinctively reply, "Lord here I am; and here is my estate. It cost thy precious blood to ransom me from death. Take what thou wilt: All that I have and am is thine."

But we need not be rich, Brethren, to aid the coming of this kingdom. The rule of the Scriptures on this subject is clear, and it is right. Every man is to give, "as God hath prospered him." The rich are to cast in of their abundance; the poor, of their poverty. If we have but two mites to cast into the treasury; God will accept it, "according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not." If we have nothing else, we have hearts. We can earnestly desire the extension of the reign of Christ; and if we thus desire it, we shall earnestly pray for it.

Brethren, it involves no trifling responsibility, to live in such a day as this. It is the day of decision. The kingdom of Satan is overturning; and the kingdom of Jesus is rising on its ruins. It is not a time to be idle. The god of this world will not give up his empire without a struggle. Christ calls for great and united efforts from his people. Every effort which they make, he seconds, and crowns with great success. A few more years, and the kingdom of Christ shall stretch from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Our children's children may see the day, when the heathen are given to him as his

inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth, for his possession. While we indulge this blessed hope, and are looking for the glorious appearing of the great God even our Saviour Jesus Christ; let us unite our hearts, and say, "Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come quickly, Amen!"

NOTE.

THE following Abstract of the number of Missionaries and of Missionary Stations is derived from three Surveys of Protestant Missions throughout the world, published in the Evangelical Magazine, and Missionary Register, for the years 1817, 1818, 1819.