in truth, otherwise we cannot wish the prosperity and advancement of it.

This King of Zion, who sways a sceptre of grace over those who cordially submit to him, is likewise armed with a rod of iron, to dash in pieces his obstinate enemies; and therefore, to all such, his coming must be most terrible; and neither their inclination nor interest will suffer them to desire it. No man can wish the increase of a power which he knows to be opposite to him, especially when the opposition is so great, and the difference so irreconcilable, as that which subsists between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan; for the one must necessarily be built upon the ruins of the other. Let us then, my brethren, throw down the weapons of our rebellion, and yield ourselves to this gracious Sovereign; and then the increase of his power shall become the matter of our joy. Let us invite him into our hearts, and erect a throne for him there; or rather, let us beseech him to erect one for himself, to cast down every thing within us that would exalt itself against his authority, and to take the full and perpetual possession of our souls. Let us unfeignedly accept of him, in the whole extent of his office as Mediator; that standing related to him as the members of his body, we may derive from him wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and every thing necessary to our complete redemption. Let us secure to ourselves a title to the protection and privileges of his government, by submitting to the laws and constitutions of it; and then it will become easy and natural to us, to pray for the prosperity of a kingdom to which we belong, and the glory of a Sovereign who employs all his power and authority for our good.—A

2d Duty incumbent upon us, in consequence of our using this petition, is to endeavour, by all the methods

we can, to persuade others likewise to become the subjects of this kingdom.

Many indeed call Christ, "Lord, Lord; but few," alas! "do the things which he says:-they profess that they know God, while in works they deny him,-being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate." And shall not this move our pity and compassion? Can we look around us, even within the limits of the visible church, and see human nature exposed in every deformed and sickly shape? Can we behold multitudes of men, who are called by the name of Jesus, counteracting the most sacred obligations of conscience, and even pouring contempt upon the only Saviour of lost sinners? Can we see all this, I say, and not afford our helping hand? Do we pray that the kingdom of God may come, and will we do nothing to introduce it into the hearts of others, who by nature are less disposed to entertain it than we ourselves once were? If we are sincere in using this petition, let us show our sincerity by our endeavours to obtain what we ask. Let us labour, with all our might, to awaken poor sinners to a sense of their danger, that they may fly to the protection of that merciful Saviour, who hath expressly said, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." John vi. 37.

Various are the means which may be used for this purpose: I shall mention one, which all of us may employ, and that is a holy and exemplary life. There is grandeur and majesty in the image of God, which exacts homage to itself from every heart. There is something within us, which, in spite of our degeneracy, confesses and approves of what is right; truth in our speech; justice and honesty in our commerce with others; patience under affliction, and pity to the afflicted; a generous contempt of the world, and a readiness to do good

to all. These are virtues which the worst of men secretly honour, and the practice of them explains them better, and enforces them more, than words can do. Would we then prevail with men to become Christians indeed, let us draw out Christianity in our lives, and make it visible to their eyes, and it will speak for itself more intelligibly and convincingly than we can do: for men, by beholding it, will see at once, that it is not only excellent, but, by the grace of God, practicable too. This is an argument that hath more persuasion in it than any other can have; and then it is recommended to us by our Lord himself, (Matth. v. 16.) " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

3dly. If we sincerely desire the prosperity and advancement of Christ's external kingdom, we will manifest this by our endeavours to support and maintain it where it is already established, especially among ourselves.

This is an evidence which may reasonably be expect. ed from us; and indeed without it, all our professions of love to the Redeemer, and of zeal for his glory, must pass for vain and flattering pretences, which deserve no credit. We only mock God, when we pray that the religion of his Son may become universal, and fill the whole earth, if at the same time we do not discover, by our conduct, a hearty concern for its continuance in our own land; yea, if we do not actually resist and oppose all attempts whatever to carry it away from us.

It hath pleased God to distinguish us by our religious privileges above most other nations in the world. They were purchased by our fathers, with the expense of much blood and treasure; and it would be highly criminal in us to resign them tamely, but far more to throw

them away with our own hands: yet forgive me to say, that they are chargeable with a crime not less than this, who either openly attempt, or secretly wish, to bring one to the throne of these kingdoms, whose principles oblige him to pull down what we apprehend to be the kingdom of Christ, and to carry us back to that antichristian slavery, from which we have so happily escaped.

There is such a manifest inconsistency between this petition and the practice of such people, that it is surprising they do not observe it; and it must appear still more wonderful, when we consider that the persons who are chiefly chargeable with this inconsistency among us, cannot be supposed ignorant of the meaning of this excellent prayer, which, by their ordinances, they oblige themselves to use so frequently, and even press as a necessary form upon others. But surely to pronounce the words of it cannot be of such efficacy as to atone for actions which contradict the sense of it; nor indeed do I suppose that they expect this from it. I rather believe, that inveterate prejudice and strong delusion hinder many of them to perceive this obvious inconsistency.

But let us, my brethren, "stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and not suffer ourselves to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Let us show our sincerity in using this petition, by resisting all attempts to remove the candlestick from among ourselves; let us bless God for the religious privileges we enjoy, and not suffer them to be violently wrested out of our hands, under any pretence whatever let us not even expose them to the smallest danger, but guard them as the most valuable part of our property; and especially, let us be careful so to improve them, that we may never provoke God himself to deprive us of them.-In the

4th and last place, Let us extend our regards to those dark and miserable corners of the earth, which are full of the habitations of cruelty and wickedness.

Let us not only pray, that the gospel may be sent to them; but let us do what we can to make our prayers effectual, by embracing every opportunity which the providence of God affords us, of conveying to them this inestimable blessing. It is our honour and happiness to have a Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge erected among us by royal letters patent, (and countenanced by an annual donation from his majesty of 1000 pounds Sterling) whose business it is to attend to this very thing. The progress they have already made, is at once a convincing proof of their fidelity, and a manifest token of the divine favour and acceptance; hitherto, indeed, their pious endeavours have been mostly laid out in the remote and barbarous parts of our own native land, though they have not been wholly confined to these. They have been enabled to employ some missionaries abroad; of whose success among the Indians, especially of late, they have received such agreeable accounts, as gives the delightful prospect of a large accession to the kingdom of our Redeemer. The fields are already growing white in those parts, and promise a rich and plentiful harvest, were more labourers employed to gather it.

Here then is an opportunity, which God, in his Providence, affords us of obtaining the answer of our own prayer. By this Society, he demands a proof of our sincerity, and, as it were, offers us the honour to become fellow-workers with himself in gaining new subjects to his Son. Let us with thankfulness embrace the offer, and contribute as liberal an assistance as we can for carrying on this glorious design.