tion, to one who goes to his account with his work undone

Invigorating and exciting influences this thought should have

upon Christian professors-Uncertain tenure by which life is held

also calculated to influence to immediate activity-Exhortation

suggested by these important facts-Opportunities not only to be

improved which are already possessed, but others should be

sought for-Henry Martyn-Immediate activity in promoting the

interests of Christ's kingdom urged by all the motives which time

and eternity can press upon responsible existence

320-322

ENTERPRISE

XII. INCREASED EXERTIONS IN THIS GLORIOUS

URGED FROM THE PROSPECT OF THE DAY OF

RECOMPENSE.

FINAL

The world's estimate of the path to honour and distinction-Different

estimate of the Christian, both as to the nature of true glory, and

the way of its attainment-Results of engagement in the ser-

vice of God in the present life-In the world to come 322-325

XIII. THE MEANS OF PROSECUTING THIS ENTERPRISE ARE AT

OUR DISPOSAL.

Exhortation to all Christians to engage afresh, and vigorously, in this
work from this consideration.

(1) By their PRAYERS:

Prayer the appointment of God, to precede the bestowment of his

blessing-Nature and properties of prayer, to render it acceptable

to God-Circumstances connected with perseverance in the duty

-Should be made by each individual Christian--By the united

Church-Its certain efficacy under circumstances specified-

Necessary connection between prayer and its answer-This truth

incorporated with the whole structure of revelation-Results at

Pentecost, Antioch, etc. etc.- Present want of greater success

owing to a neglect of this duty-Indifference to its object, or

unbelief-A spirit of prayer absolutely necessary to any signal

interposition of God on behalf of the Church-Prayer of universal

obligation-Encouragement afforded to its earnest, unremitting

performance, by past history-Should never be concluded in the

closet, or in public, without a petition for the speedy, universal

reign of Christ
325-332

b

(2) By their LIBERALITY :

Prayer must be accompanied with self-denial as to pecuniary contribu-

tions-These means absolutely necessary-Their bestowal a positive

command of God-Enforced also by reason and natural obligation-

Instances of earnest prayer for the salvation of heathens at home

and abroad, and pecuniary contributions to that object refused or

withheld-Inconsistency, hypocrisy, and sin of such conduct-

Awful vice of covetousness-Contributions should be proportional

to the means of each individual Christian-Illustration in the

practice of the Israelites and early Christians-Doctrine of pro-

portion well understood by them-To be given by poor as well as

rich-Pecuniary contributions to be given cheerfully-Without

reservation-With grateful and compassionate hearts-Con-

tinuously, weekly, or more frequently-Liberally—Not with the

inquiry, How little can be tendered?-Donations to be given also

promptly and systematically---Wonderful effects on the revenue of

the Church by continuous combination of littles-Illustration in

Jamaica-Churches appeal to different classes of individuals-

Christians should save to give-Extravagance and luxuries should

be suppressed-The rich should be their own executors and

almoners-Claims of Christ's cause on their bequests-Worldly

circumstances of donors promoted rather than diminished by

liberality to the cause of God-An increased spirit of prayer and

more enlarged benevolence not all that is necessary to secure the

more rapid advancement of Messiah's kingdom

332-345

(3) There must be PERSONAL EXERTIONS also for the accom-

plishment of this great object.

These should be answerable to the largeness of the requests in prayer
-Importance of correct knowledge of the actual state of the
heathen world, and of the successes of missionary labour-Should
be acquired by a regular and attentive perusal of missionary
publications-For real and proper interest in the cause, knowledge
also necessary of every part of the world where missionaries labour,
and where missionaries are yet needed-If possible, with the per-
son or name of each individual agent in the field-Advantages of
such knowledge in exciting prayer on behalf of such labourer and
the particular field he occupies-Great ignorance, even among
real Christians, of these particulars-Injurious consequences of
such indifference-Opposite conduct in relation to other subjects
and enterprises of the day-Duty of Christian parents and others
to interest children in missionary operations-Duty of young

Christians to communicate knowledge on those subjects-Various
ways in which this may be done-viz., by conversation, lectures,
addresses, and by becoming collectors of funds, etc. - Young
women urged also to this duty-Obligation of the Church, by its
universal and spontaneous action, to render such machinery
unnecessary-While necessary, efforts should be made to render it
more effective-To work thus for God is in the highest degree
honourable-Though arduous and self-denying, yet if undertaken
from right motives, it will issue in glorious reward-Christians not
to be deterred from prosecuting it from fear of insult, reproach, or
scorn, but to be animated by the example of their great Master,
apostles, martyrs, and missionaries of a past and of the present
age.
345-349

(4) Connected with these different modes of operation at

home, there must be SELF-CONSECRATION to the work

abroad.

Vastness and present maturity of the harvest-Great paucity of

labourers-Estimate of the ability of the Church to supply the

deficiency-Calculation of an American missionary as to such

ability-Readiness, both of Christians and others, for personal

engagement in worldly enterprises, in the prospect of adding

to science, geographical discovery, or gain-This, however self-

denying or self-sacrificing-Appeal to young Christians and others

on this subject-Description of men required for missionary work

-Difficulties in this enterprise greatly diminished-Numerous and

animating encouragements to engage in it-While the duties thus

urged upon the Christian Church, and the considerations by

which they are enforced, are so important, it must not be for-

gotten, that without one or two other ingredients, all efforts must

be in vain

349-356

(5) There must be PURITY OF MOTIVE, and simple, firm de-

pendence upon the influences of the Holy Spirit.

The cross of Christ, or love to Him, must be the all-influencing prin-
ciple of action-Love to man proportioned to the kind and degree
of love to Christ-Jesus Christ the altar that sanctifies the gift
and the giver-Influences of the Holy Spirit in this work abso-
lutely necessary-All efforts without these vain-Essential also to
the prosperity and even existence of individual piety, and to the
life and prosperity of the Church at large-Not the shadow

of an excuse to be reasonably urged for withholding aid from

this great and glorious enterprise, or for affording it in every way

to the utmost extent to which it can be rendered

356-358

.

XIV. GIVE GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT ALL THE GLORY OF SUCCESS.

The Holy Spirit the grand operator-Conversion is the production of

a "new creature"-Therefore Divine power indispensable-This

influence ensures success-God delights in glorifying Himself by

employing feeble and mean instruments
358-359

VOICE OF JUBILEE.

"What hath God wrought ?"-NUM. XXIII. 23.

"What's hallow'd ground? Has earth a clod
Its Maker meant not should be trod

By man, the image of his God,
Erect and free,

Unscourged by Superstition's rod,

To bow the knee?"-CAMPBELL.

THE ancient Jubilee of the Israelites was a Divine institution; to them the injunction, "Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year," had all the force of a Divine command. But this is not the case with regard to us"The law came by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The ordinances of Moses ceased when the dispensation under which they were instituted ended. They are not binding under the gospel. And yet, though the observance of the fiftieth year has no force of moral obligation, who does not feel that there is a force of reason and propriety? How widely, therefore, and in how many relations, has the practice prevailed! I suppose that very few reflecting persons complete the fiftieth year of their natural life without marking it as a period which claims commemoration, and without in some form or other observing it, if it be only in the privacy of their own retirement, as a kind of personal jubilee.

Some of us have also known of what may be suitably denominated a Family jubilee. I shall never