even the injuries of those whom he desires to bless. But so was the sacrifice great, when the Apostles "left all, and followed Him" who was despised and rejected of men:" and He allowed it to be great, when he pronounced his solemn blessing upon those who had done this, and upon all who should hereafter do it, following their example. If we "give unto the Lord that which costs us nothing," what do we "more than others?" He, which, "soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he, which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." In truth it is something like hypocrisy, to lament over the pitiable case of the heathen, and to desire that "the knowledge of the Lord may cover the earth," any to "pray the Lord of the Harvest that he may send forth laborers into His harvest;" and then to grudge those laborers, if they are taken from among ourselves; to withhold the instruments, by which the blessing must of necessity be conveyed.But let us hope better things, though we thus speak." Let us hope that the examples, which have been already seen, of truly disinterested labors, of the renunciation of this world's best endearments for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. may be an earnest of a glorious season now beginning, when great shall be the company of those who publish the word of the Lord.

3. Proceeding to enforce the principle of the text, I may say to others."Freely give" yourselves, your lives-some may, perhaps, be present here to whom such an exhortation will not be improperly addressed--" Freely give" your lives—to the honorable work of an Evangelist." Yet I am too mindful of the weakness of our nature and of what the Cause requires, to wish this work undertaken by any one rashly or unadvisedly. Sit down first, and count the cost." Consider the dangers, the difficulties, the sacrifices: but do not consider these alone: have respect, also, to "the recompense of the reward." In full and unhesitating faith, contemplate the assurance of our Blessed Lord, "Verily I say unto you, there is no man who hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."

For my own part, I will confess that, as far as I have pursued that instructive study, the Biography of Missionaries, I have been particalarly struck with the fulfillment of the paradoxical promise, manifold more in this present time." I have generally seen,

that as many as have entered their names in the glorious book of "Apostles, and Prophets, and Evangelists," have taken upon themselves a laborious, a toilsome, a painful, profession; but no man's consolations have been like theirs. They have wandered through a wilderness of moral misery; but their path has been guided and cheered: they have not been left without the pillar of cloud to screen them by day, or the pillar of fire to enliven the darkness of the night. The delightful intercourse of earthly friends has been denied them; but they have enjoyed the presence of God: He has "come unto them," and "made his abode with them:" they have borne the burthen and heat of the day; but they have realized the promise, that "as their day was, so should their strength be." In the midst of their usefulness, death has intercepted their labors; but their hope has been "full of immortality." Beyond that of others, the Missionary's "conversation is in heaven." His employment in his Redeemer's service keeps him in perpetual intercourse with his Redeemer. His difficulties and his necessities maintain a salutary feeling of dependence within him. Good or ill success equally draws him closer to God. He is encumbered less than most men with those earthly cares, which press down the soul, and chain it to things present. The world is truly "crucified unto him, and he unto the world."— And although, in the approach towards this state, there will be many a painful struggle of "the flesh against the spirit;" yet when, by the grace of God, it is attained, it is its own exceeding great reward: for it has with it "the peace of God which passeth all understanding," which this world can neither give nor take

away.

4. One offering remains, to which I may invite you with still greater urgency, because it is an offering undoubtedly within the power of all. Some may have neither fortune, nor influence, nor friends, nor talents, to contribute; but all may "freely give" their prayers toward the conversion of the heathen. And, without prayer, what spiritual good would be achieved, by the highest authority, or the most splendid abilities, or the most lavish contributions? Prayer must draw down that heavenly increase, without which even Paul would have planted and Apollos have watered in vain. Prayer gave the Apostles their success; and they, in return, demanded the prayers of their converts, that God would "open to them a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ."

The object must be a holy object, which is prosecuted by prayer: other measures may originate in a spirit of party, or in sicular enterprise; but fervent cff.ctual prayer" will only be excited by the love of souls. Other means, too, are of doub.ful result; but, of prayer, we confidently trust that it will not altogether fail: and the recent annals of Missions warrant the belief, that God is still pleased to be distinguished as one who hears and answers prayer. A light, still dim indeed and feeble, yet a light now gleams upon the heathen lands, more visibly than in former times. And in no former time have such carnest supplications been raised toward the throne of Grace, from so many domestic altars, and so many Christian hearts, imploring that the lives of these good men who have gone forth may not have been spent in vain.

In conclusion, brethren-This Discourse will have answered its purpose, if it shall lead any one among you to inquire what he' has individually done toward freely imparting that which he has freely received; whether he has contributed as much toward establishing his Redemer's kingdom, as, in his particular circumstances he was bound to contribute. No doubt there are those among us, who would in vain disclaim this evidence of their faith: for their "praise is in all the churches." But there must also be others, conscious to themselves that their exertions in the cause have been not only unworthy of the object, (for of such an object what exertions can be worthy?) but unworthy of their own acknowledged duty and profession. Oh reflect, my brethren, how guilty this indifference must appear in the sight of the Son of God! He did not think it much to leave the bosom of the Father, with whom He was before all worlds: He did not think it much to take upen him the infirmities and sufferings of man: He did not think it much to feel the heaviest burden of sin though without its guilt, and to urdergo its direst penalty: and can there be such apathy in men, that they should deny Him the glories of a triumph so hardly achieved, and grudge him the fruits of His victory! Every scul taken from the power of Satan is a jewel added to His crown; and every soul which Satan still retains through our neglect or delay, is a jewel withheld from His reward. As far, then, as depends on you, let Him "see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." Let Ilim behold you, from his throne on high, contemplating is unspeakable love, till some portion of it kindles in your own bosom. Let Him behold you meditating on your own

reconciliation with God through "the blood of the everlasting covenant," till you are filled with a desire to carry forth the olivebranch of peace to those who are still at enmity with Him, still "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel." Let Him behold you co-operating with his mysterious plan for the redemption of the world. He has left it to your co-operation. He has designed to make you his instruments. He has paid down the ransom; and has commanded you to go forth, and publish the glad tidings.Follow the example which He has set up for your admiration. Though his attributes were infinite, He employed them all in love to man-his omniscience, to warn; his mercy, to invite; his power, to convince; his manhood, to minister; his Godhead to redeem! And now, He calls on you to devote your faculties to his service, or rather to the service of your fellow-creatures for his sake.— He expects you to give this proof, that the mercies bestowed on you have not been bestowed unworthily. The time is short to any of us, during which such proofs can possibly be given. Provide wisely against that hour, when one token that we have been united to the Saviour, in true and lively faith, will be more dear to our recollections, and more soothing to our hearts, than the praises, or the treasures, or the glories of a thousand transitory worlds.

SERMON XXXII.

THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH.

By the Rt. Rev. HENRY RAIKES, M. A.,
Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester.

1 CORINTHIANS, xiv. 15.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.

Or all the situations in which man can be contemplated during his pilgrimage upon earth, the most awful, the most affecting, the most sublime, is the moment when he approaches God in prayer. There are moments (no doubt) in the lives of individuals, which have been made the subject of narrative from the interests which were involved and the circumstances which attended them-moments to which we look, even in reading the narrative, with astonishment and awe; and when we shudder at the thought of what our feelings would have been had the trial been ours. But what interview with an earthly sovereign can be put in comparison with this, when man presents himself before Jehovah? What interests can be canvassed upon earth which resemble those of eternity? Or what is the whole world, when weighed against the salvation of a soul?

In approaching an earthly sovereign, we do but approach a fellow-creature raised a little above ourselves by some perishable distinctions of circumstance, and invested with some portions of delegated authority;-of authority too, delegated for our good, not for his elevation; to be employed in our service, not exercised at his discretion.