from the apostles, by missionaries; and such gospel heralds are now going forth into all the world, and flying as the messengers of heaven, to every nation upon earth. Give a helping hand then, my brethren, and help some feeble church and scattered people support a gospel minister. Through increasing attention and property, they will shortly erect a house for God; yea, and even another congregation spring up near them.

How desirable that pagan superstition, the midnight Egyptian darkness of heathenism, and their abominable idolatries, give place to the light and power of the gospel! What a blessed view for angels to see wretched pagans and heathens from the east and the west, through a preached gospel, become lively stones in the heavenly temple, now erecting on mount Zion, in the new Jerusalem above! O that those miserable beings enjoyed the civil laws which are framed under the benign and salutary influence of the gospel! Then a man would be permitted to have but one wife; and horribly deluded parents would not put to death their children as the only means of ending their misery. Listen to an anecdote: An aged mother was standing in a school of heathen children, weeping. She was asked by the catechuman, why she was grieved and distressed. O! if you had come here ten years ago, my son had lived, and been one of this school; I should not have put him to death.

Ah! my

my friends, you have Christ and him crucified, preached unto you; and unto them that believe, he is precious. "But how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?" Bless the Lord, O ye his saints, that he is sending forth labourers into the barren and forlorn parts of his vineyard. Yea, moreover the various means and glorious efforts for extending the Redeemer's rays, are but as yet the first beams of the morning sun, compared with the full blaze of noon-day. May we, by our

prayers and substance, be awake to the calls and perishing necessities of the destitute at home and abroad. An Owyheean youth, having in this country experienced the joys of believing, was lamenting the death of his aged mother. Being asked if she died happy; No, no, said he, it cannot be; they have no bibles, no preaching, no heaven, in Owyhee.

INFERENCES.

1st. A faithful gospel minister is a great blessing. Some of the heralds of the cross are more worthy of esteem than others, according to their talents, their wisdom, and faithfulness. Those of great abilities, natural and acquired, and whose piety and zeal in the cause of Christ are eminent, should be considered among the number of the most worthy. But they who have less splendid attainments, and whose Christian walk is worthy of imitation, should be received as precious gifts of heaven. The prospects of gospel ministers depend very much upon the reception which they receive among any people; for their prayers, friendly remarks, and pecuniary aid, are the main-spring of ministerial usefulness. And such supports, by a mutual reciprocity, serve to render their labours a blessing to individuals and families, to parents and children, to schools and societies.

The establishment of churches, and a stated ministration of the word, not only serve to promote the spiritual interest of mankind, but from observation and general facts, their natural tendency and consequence are, to promote their temporal interests, to increase the value of property, and greatly to multiply the means of subsistence. Yes, what is contributed for the support of gospel privileges, is doubly repaid by a natural and gracious return of earthly blessings. But the highest object of gospel ministers is to prove a savour of life unto life, to the souls of their hearers, and to be the happy instruments of promoting their immortal in

terests.

2dly. The gospel is worthy of all acceptation. The tree of life grows out of the gospel, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. It bears twelve manner of fruit, and yields her fruit every month. Thousands of thousand, and ten times thousand, are now participating of its delicious and heavenly repast; and it proffers a rich feast to all the world, though thousands rather starve than come. The river of life flows from the gospel, and all who drink of it, quench their parching, dying thirst. It has healing streams which are flowing to the remotest corners of the earth, that all who wash, may be healed of their diseases; yea, the polluting, incurable leprosy may be cleansed and healed. Eat, then, O friends! drink, yea, drink abundantly, and wash at the head fountain of the waters of salvation. "The Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Yes, and beckoning angels at heaven's gates are looking down to see if we will come. Blessed gospel! how worthy of acceptation, which pours joy and consolation into the soul, yields the peace and balm of our mortal life; renders triumphant and victorious in the trying hour of death; and crowns with glorious immortality beyond the grave!

3dly. This subject teaches us not to esteem it a burden to be charitable, and to send the gospel to others, but to claim it as our unspeakable privilege :

Let sweet Charity attend our door,
And smiling mercy bless the poor.

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet; but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself."

Let us take a few examples. Think of the condition of an aged father and mother, bowed down with all the infirmities of old age, tattered with rags, afflicted with rheumatick complaints, and un

der a shelter which could not secure from the inclemencies of the weather. Suppose they should receive some comfortable clothing, and other aids in their necessities. How would their souls daily bless the kind hand of charity! Surely you would say, " It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Picture to yourselves a family of half famished children, surrounding their mother, preparing them victuals from provisions received from some unknown hand. Listen to the simplicity of their inquiries, Who was that charity that stopped at our door? Hear their expressions of gratitude and thankfulness. With blushing cheeks and a glowing heart, you would see the propriety of this exhortation, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

My dear hearers, we live in such plenty, that we know not what it is to want; consequently are insensible of the blessings of our charity. We know not how much good is done, when we give. Methinks I hear one say, I have no part in this matter; for I never contributed for charitable purposes. Open your heart, then, reach forth your hands, and reap the reward of the liberal. One evening a missionary, to some heathens soliciting a Bible, promised to give them one next morning. At the break of day, he saw they were lying on the ground, and had endured the dampness and chills of an inclement night. Being asked the reason, their reply was, they feared if they returned home, they should miss of a Bible. Charity once presented a Bible to a woman lately made rich in faith, but miserably poor in the good things of this life. She most thankfully received it, pressed it to her bosom, and exclaimed, Had I ten thousand dollars, and could I not obtain a Bible without them, I would give them all for one. To some, the Lord has given ability and opportunity in many ways, to do much for the advancement of his cause, and to others, but little. O may both be enabled at last joyfully to render an account of their stewardship! Have our hearts been chilled with cold infidelity, and the substance which the Lord has lent us to promote his glory, been withheld in time past? May we, then, now redeem our time, arise and trim our lamps. And may we bear in mind that the gift of a poor widow's two mites is a sacrifice at which we shall be glad to look, in the great judgment day, when the divine Redeemer shall demand the credentials of our alms-giving, as evidence of our sincerity as his friends. Amen.

SERMON XIV.

THE FEARFUL AND WONDERFUL FORMATION OF MAN.

PSALM CXXXIX. 14.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

THE royal Psalmist assigns the sentiment contained in these words, as a reason why he should praise God. And surely the contemplation of the human frame is well calculated to excite the wonder and admiration of man. He should be excited with rapture at the thought of an inquiry into a work so curious and astonishing. What a variety of parts are formed, and of uses designed within the compass of a human body! How exactly is every part adapted to its purpose, and one part adjusted to another! And though all the parts of this complex fabrick are produced and nourished from the same earth, yet how various their texture and consistence! How firm and solid the bones; how soft and pliant the flesh! how tough and flexible the muscles! how fine and feeling the nerves! how quick and lively the organs of sensation! and how promptly the limbs obey the dictates of the will!

Wonderful is the structure of the vessels which receive and distribute the nutriment, convey the blood, and carry on the respiration; and no less wonderful is the action of those vessels, in performing their respective functions. Mysterious is the power of that animal motion, on which life depends. That of the stomach, heart, and lungs, is involuntary. We can give no other account of it, than that which the Apostle Paul gives: "In God we live, and move, and have our being." The motion of our limbs is indeed voluntary; but this is equal