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efficacy and value of the gospel, we must not stop at the contemplation of mere matters of sense, and of blessings, which, after all, may be no more than temporal. What think you, let me ask, of the establishment of a Christian church, and the preaching of the gospel? What think you, I mean, of the power and effect of these things? Do you suppose, for a moment, that, when the cross of Christ is preached, it is a matter of uncertainty whether or not it shall work the spiritual and eternal welfare of lost man? When the ministers of the gospel proclaim the pure word of an almighty God and merciful Redeemer, is it doubtful whether or not their word is clothed with power, and the souls of men are saved? God knows, indeed, and he has declared to us the awful truth, that, even where his word is preached, there are multitudes of hearers who are not thereby made wise unto salvation. But there are others into whose hearts the word enters with all its energy, and in the fulness of its blessing. Well do we know that the gospel of our Saviour is the appointed and consecrated word of life; and we doubt not that, wherever it shall be faithfully proclaimed, there will be those who shall start up from the dead beneath the sound of it. "Go ye," said our Lord, "and make disciples of 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." (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.) "As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isa. lv. 10, 11.) Here are the promises of God, and here is the faith of the ministers of Christ. He who hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation is with us wherever we proclaim it: and we know that, by the power of his Spirit, our ministry shall prosper. Regard it as a truth never to be doubted, that where the visible church of the Redeemer is set up, where the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments are duly administered, there are the direct and unfailing means of the conversion and spiritual advancement of fallen man. Send to the benighted heathen the gospel of Jesus; and remember that you convey to them that which is the power of God unto their salvation. Let the ambassadors

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of Christ go forth into the regions of darkness and death; and, remembering that they who go forth are workers together with God, expect that, at their approach, many shall shake themselves from the dust, and shall awake to the glory of their message, and shall rise up to welcome them with that joyful acclamation, " How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. x. 15.)

II. But how, let us ask, may it be said that the spread of the gospel, and the conversion of the nations, will redound to the glory of God?

It is, indeed, a marvellous instance of the love and condescension of the Most High, that he chooses to be glorified by effecting the salvation and happiness of man. But, brethren, for this we have the certain authority of Scripture. "The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek," says Christ by his prophet Isaiah, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." (Isa. lxi. 1, 3.) And it is recorded among the promises of prosperity to the gospel church, "Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever;

the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified." (Isa. lx. 21.)

Now, God is glorified by the spread of the gospel, because, in the first place, he is thereby made known to mankind in his true character. Low and degrading is the idea of the Supreme which is framed by the untaught mind of man. The vain gods of the heathen are either the creatures of a wild and extravagant fancy, or the patterns of human infirmities and of abominable vices. Meanness of power, and cruelty of purpose,-a limited authority, with a tyrannical abuse of it, -fear, hatred, and jealousy, on the one hand,— vain-glory, and sensual indulgence, on the other, -these are the qualities which the ignorant worshipper attributes to his idol; and, having done this, it remains for him only to copy the vices of his imaginary god, to distrust his power, or to dread his tyranny and vengeance. My Christian brethren, did we but estimate aright the ignorance, blindness, and stupidity of man concerning the attributes of his Maker, we should know how to value that blessed revelation which gives us a right knowledge of the highest and best of Beings. While all false systems of religion have debased and distorted man's apprehension of the Deity, it is the Bible alone that has revealed him in the truth of his nature, and has presented to

mankind, so far as their feeble powers can endure the sight, the great Ruler of the universe, enthroned in his high dominion, far above all other majesty and power, and dwelling in the light of unsullied purity and infinite perfection.

Nor is this all. We have yet a further message for the benighted nations of the world. We have for them the new and gladdening announcement,-not only that the sovereign Lord is a pure, perfect, all-pervading Spirit,-not only that he is a wise, just, holy, and almighty Being,—but also, and especially, that "God is love!" And we can point to one fact, above all others, in proof of this declaration,—a fact, the power of which has already been acknowledged far and wide, and which is destined to remain for ever a monument of conviction, and an unerring guide to blessedness and peace. We can point to the cross of Jesus, and say, Behold, how he loved us! "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John iv. 10.) Yes: herein is love; and if you teach the poor idolater to look, with humility and faith, to the crucified Redeemer, you take all darkness and anguish from his heart, and you bring him within the influence of light, and hope, and consolation. He will soon cease to be afraid of God; he will

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