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required." He then introduced the subject of the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and announced that it is in early contemplation to establish in this parish a Branch of that Society, to collect funds for their general purposes, to which every parishioner would be solicited to contribute. Let me, therefore, very briefly explain to you what this Society is, and how it has done, and is doing its evangelical work.

The Society was founded in 1701 for propagating throughout the globe,—regardless of climate, suffering, and want,--the Gospel of our Lord. It provides missionaries for those who would otherwise be without any spiritual help: it is rapidly breaking down the idolatrous and false teaching in India and other benighted countries; and of those self-devoted ones, who have been lately sent on distant and dangerous missions, accounts have reached this country, telling of personal sufferings and privations, dangers from climate and storm, and unwearied self-denying and watchfulness, which may justly remind the readers of the holy Apostle Paul's account of his own movements, "in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils

in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often; in hunger and thirst, in fastings often; in cold and nakedness." The only class of perils enumerated by the apostle and omitted by me is, "in perils by my own countrymen;" for I cannot and will not believe, that when such holy men as the colonial Bishops, who have (God be praised!) lately left this country and all their friends and relatives, and the comforts and luxuries of civilized. life, to try unknown climes and unknown countries, to found churches and preach the Gospel of our Lord, well knowing beforehand that there they will often be unable to obtain even the common necessaries of life, I will not believe, that the small pittances remitted to them from England, by means of this venerable Society, will be (unavoidably) withheld through the selfish penuriousness and selfdeceiving caution of those they have left behind; but that the incalculably smaller sacrifice of pecuniary contributions towards maintaining these bishoprics and invaluable missions, will be cheerfully and adequately offered by "the high and low, rich and

poor," of this favoured land,- one with another." At all events, on the present occasion, we have only to look after ourselves. And may the Book of Life find hereafter recorded in it, when we shall most want witnesses and friends to aid us, that, when on earth, we did not forget that "they who sow spiritual things ought to reap our worldly things.'

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But it may be asked, "Why should those who remain in England be called upon to find funds to support Clergy for the inhabitants of distant colonies? and why cannot those inhabitants support their own Clergy, without calling upon us, who are expected to contribute to countless other charities in our own country?" Such a question, often put, is put only by those who, either on the one hand, wish for an excuse not to give, or else, on the other hand, either do not adequately appreciate the high value of the privileges they possess, in the full enjoyment of all religious services and ordinances, or are ignorant of the spiritual destitution of our colonies.

Too frequently has it occurred that a Clergyman has not been seen in a district of our colonies for months, nay even years together. When such has been the case, the Sunday is almost unavoidably

passed with very few outward marks of that sacred observance, and restraint from the common weekday occupations, which should ever distinguish its presence, children are born and die without having received the Sacrament of Baptism, and the Sacrament of our Lord's body and blood is equally unattainable. In vain does the dying Christian implore his wife or child to bring him a Clergyman to speak peace to his self-accusing conscience, or aid him in repelling the whispered insinuations and false fears with which the evil one embitters his last moments. He dies without the power of procuring a single prayer from a minister of Christ; and his lifeless body is afterwards committed to the grave in solemn and distressing silence. His widow and orphan children have no spiritual adviser near them to give them, in their bereavement, that comfort and support which he only who is divinely commissioned dare to offer, and are left to drink the bitter dregs of their cup of visitation, without any relief or alleviation from those who alone, on this earth, are authorized to speak peace and promise pardon.

But when unexpectedly one of our Church Missionaries arrives in such a district, what is his recep

tion? To many in this land, who are dull to their privileges, the enthusiasm which has in frequent instances greeted the welcome arrival would be perfectly unintelligible. His appearance is hailed with undisguised joy; worldly occupations are stopped for several succeeding days, on each of which the appointed daily Services of our Church are offered up in all their exquisite completeness and primitiveness by attentive and unwearied worshippers. Children are brought in large numbers from all the outlying posts, whither the glad news of this arrival has been joyfully carried, to be baptized,—and the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper is eagerly approached by a large proportion of the whole congregation, and generally by all admitted converts from the heathen neighbourhood. The only regret entertained is, that after the lapse of a few days, this messenger of the Gospel must depart onwards, to visit further spots equally destitute of all spiritual guidance and help; and that thereupon the privilege thus enjoyed will be lost, and be again for a long time unattainable; and the once more sorrowing groups dismiss this welcomed visitor with earnest petitions that he will urge the Society from whom he comes, to send a resident

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