CHAPTER I.

WE will imagine that at the expiration of eighteen hundred years from the ascension of the Saviour, a grand assembly convened at the ancient city of Jerusalem, to discuss the relative claims of the various nations of the world to "the gospel of the grace of God." Representatives from all the different countries of the earth were present. Jews, Mahometans, Pagans, Christians, in every variety of their numerous sects had each their respective delegates at the meeting. Among this mingled multitude, so different in national peculiarity and early education, there was one common feature. Though they were the representatives, or rather the advocates, of all the nations and classes of men in the world, they themselves had been "delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son." Convinced of the absolute necessity of the gospel, they were all desirous that their countrymen should enjoy that measure of its blessings which its great author designed for them.

After the assembly was organized, it was proposed that the session should be opened by the reading of those portions of Scripture which clearly express the divine purpose respecting the universal triumph of Christianity, and the means by which this triumph is to be achieved. The following were some of the passages selected :—

i.,

Psalms ., especially the 8th verse.-"Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Psalms xxii. 27. 28,-" All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations."

Psalms lxxii. 11.-"All kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him."

Isaiah xlix. 6.—"And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my Salvation unto the end of the earth."

Jeremiah xvi. 19.-"O Lord, my Strength and my Fortress, and my Refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers

have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit."

Daniel vii. 13, 14.-"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

Malachi i. 11.-"For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts."

Mark xiv. 9.-"Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."

Revelation xi. 15.-"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.'

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Revelation xv. 4.-"Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art

holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee."

The following texts were adduced as illustrating the means by which the gospel is to be circulated among the nations:—

Psalms cxxxviii. 4.--“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth."

Mark xvi. 15. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Luke xxiv. 47.-"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Romans x. 13, 14.-"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

CHAPTER II.

AFTER the above quotations in their connexion were read, an aged and venerable form arose and addressed the assembly. His long, white robe indicated his eastern origin, while the intelligent seriousness of his countenance, and the graceful dignity of his manner, proclaimed the class of society to which he belonged. It is not without much embarrassment, said he, that I presume to speak on a subject of which I confess myself exceedingly ignorant. My object, however, is not to instruct, but to be instructed. I am but a babe in Christ. A few years ago, I had no knowledge of such a being. The pall of spiritual death shrouded my mind; but, through the mercy of God, a stranger appeared amongst us; and though I resisted his doctrines long and obstinately, I was at last overpowered, and led, by the Divine Spirit, a willing suppliant to the feet of Jesus.

Since "the sun of righteousness" arose upon my darkened mind-since the perfect sacrifice of my God and Saviour became my only