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institutions, and how interested Europe is in gazing on its progress. When you think, then, that by the means of this Society, the word of God is circulated to so great an extent there, (though all their own writers abundantly inform us of the immoral and irreligious state of the population,) we cannot be too thankful to God that we are permitted to be the instruments in his hands, to share in any measure in so good a work.

Let me, then, my brethren, commend this Society to your constant care; let me beg you to look on its operations attentively, they grow upon the mind in proportion as you investigate it. Among the earliest of the religious institutions springing up in our day, it seems to me to hold a prominent place and to be more calculated than any other to hasten the establishment of the Saviour's Kingdom in the world, if indeed it is his will that, by such an instrumentality, that kingdom should be set up, that if human means are to be employed in the advancement of that object, humanly speaking, there is no instrument so important in such a case.

Every Missionary, wherever he is placed, begins a translation of the Scriptures into the language of the place, if it has not before been effected. Without it, the missionary converts could scarcely become enlightened believers," built up in their most holy faith;" without it, a mission could scarcely be advanced; without it, it would be impossible that the few missionaries labouring in different parts of the world could scatter the Gospel far and wide around them, their exertions would be materially crippled without such instrumentality.

If then, we love the missionary cause, if we wish to see the Gospel advance both at home and abroad,—if we wish to see Europe Christianized,-if the word of God gives us many promises undoubtedly to lead us to expect it, let us be zealous in promoting the great work, which, in the Providence of God, has been begun.

Now to God the Father, &c.

AN ESTABLISHED RELIGION.

(From the Pulpit, No. 782.)

THERE are some wants which the animal instincts of our nature leave safely to encumber us, since they are sure of being provided for, as hunger and thirst, and other such natural propensities, operating as a physical necessity; he who feels them will take means to satisfy their craving, as the more he feels them, the more sure he is to endeavour to obtain relief. But it is not so with the wants of nature affecting the more refined and noble part of our constitution. It is not so, for instance, with the want of education, I mean common secular education; on the contrary, the more ignorant people are, the less civilized they are; the less they know of the utility and advantages of learning, the less they bestir themselves and take means of supplying the defects in their education. Sure I am that I may apply the same doctrine to the want of religious education, where it is almost self-evident that the very want of that instruction is pretty sure to prevent its necessity from being felt, and to prevent the demand, therefore, from being voluntarily supplied by the individual. This is my first article of belief.

My other objection is, that the establishment of a church, whether you call it in connexion with the State or not-I will not argue on a phrase-but the establishment of one body of clerical men set apart to instruct the people in their moral and religious duties, has, by practical experience, always been found to have a tendency to exclude that very great evil, the opposition to which is of paramount importance, not only to the policy of the state, but to the interest of religion itself-I mean the unbridled license of fanaticism. These are two grounds-the second by no means an unimportant one-on which my deliberate opinion is formed, and fixedly formed, until I shall be otherwise convinced, in favour of some religious establishment.—May, 12, 1834.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY W. HARDING, 11, RED LION COURT, AND 14, GRAY'S INN TERRACE.

Printed by C. Roworth and Sons, Bell-yard, Temple-bar.

THE

CHURCH OF ENGLAND PREACHER. Patronized by the Clergy and others.

"THE IMPROVEMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES."

A SERMON

Preached in the Episcopal Chapel, Gray's Inn Lane, St. Pancras, ON THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 13, 1837,

BY THE

REV. THOMAS MORTIMER, B. D.

MINISTER OF THE SAID CHAPEL.

TEXT.—" Redeeming the Time."-Ephesians, chap. v. part of verse 16.

THE text is a very short one, it is easily remembered, but it contains an Apostolic injunction of very great importance -of very great importance to all who wish here, on earth, to get prepared for the heavenly state hereafter. By some the words have been rendered (and I think, not incorrectly) "buy up the opportunity." Time rapidly passes away, but the Christian, seizing it as it passes, devotes it to his God. How important is this to every one of us!

Without, then, any further prefatory remarks, let me just take the words as they are brought before us, leading us to notice three things:

:

I. The opportunity given.
II. The opportunity seized.
III. The opportunity lost.

There are three grand ends for which time is to be improved. The first respects our own spiritual benefit; the second, the good-the present and eternal good-of others; and the third, the glory of the great God whom we serve.

I shall leave the first; for he that does not improve the time or redeem the opportunity for his own spiritual improvement, is not likely to be the man to "buy up the opportunity" for the good of others, or be earnestly solicitous to promote the glory of God.

[No. 2.]

C

This first is necessarily included in the other two; necessarily included in it, because, if there be no personal dedication to God, there will be no laborious effort to promote the honour of His name, and to spread His salvation among men. Of the two remaining particulars, I will especially direct your attention to the latter, namely, the seeking to promote the spiritual good of others. The glory of God is involved in this. If I wish to promote the honour of my Saviour's name, "which is above every name," I shall seek to bring my fellow-men acquainted with that name. I shall seek, according to my limited means, according to my limited sphere, according to my limited ability, to bring my fellow-men to a knowledge of my Redeemer, because, in so bringing my fellow-men to a knowledge of Jesus, I am promoting the highest glory of God. With such views, let me consider the important subject brought before us in the text, limited as I have proposed to limit it, to the spiritual good of others. Consider then, the opportunity given-the opportunity seized-the opportunity lost; or, if you wish it better expressed, the opportunity presented the opportunity embraced-the opportunity neglected. But why do I prefer the word "seized" to the word " improved?" Because I wish to convey the idea that time is not standing still while you are deliberating, whether or no you shall use and apply it to the grand purposes for which it was given.

There is an old English proverb, "that time and tide wait for no man." And verily does the Christian need to be reminded that he is to seize the passing opportunity, he is to grasp it and hold it as fast as he can, while he endeavours to make, and leave upon it some impression that shall tell in the world to come-that shall tell to the good of immortal souls, and to the glory of the great name of the ever-blessed and everlasting Jehovah. What then," you ask, "is my design?" I answer, to follow up the last Thursday evening's subject; to try, as God may help me, to lead you all to be up and doing; to do something, however little, for Christ-for souls-and for eternity; and that, because "the night cometh, wherein no man can work."

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Let us first then, look at-I. The opportunity given. Every human being capable of using his reasoning faculties, and capable of speaking to his fellow-man, has some part to act for God and for eternity. However poor a part, however mean a part, however low a situation in life he may fill, there is not a man that breathes whose spirit and conduct shall not have some moral influence upon others. Perhaps Perhaps no grand opportunity may be given at first, he may long to do good; and the man who longs to do good to the souls of others, because God, in his infinite mercy, has done good to his soul, that man will pray for opportunities that man will look out for them--will expect them-will be very anxious that, in God's good time and way, he may have his expectations gratified, and his desires fulfilled in the welfare of immortal souls.

You mark I am speaking of real Christians; as to other men, alas! we must say, "all seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's.' They are seeking the wealth of this world-the honours of this world-the pleasures of this world; but the man who is born of God, next to his own soul's salvation, is seeking to promote the salvation of others. In proportion as they are nearly related to him or connected with him, in proportion as they form part of his family, of his kindred, of his acquaintance, his anxiety will increase he will look for an opportunity of addressing them on the great concerns of eternity.

It does not, indeed, become a son to speak to a father in the same manner and style in which it becomes a father to speak to a son. A father is to be approached with unaffected reverence, to be treated with the greatest respect; but still, where a truly pious child has a worldly parent, the child-the youth, the young man, or, it may be, of higher years of maturity-will occasionally venture to speak to such a parent on those grand topics of religion the holiness of God-the nearness of an eternal state-and the absolute necessity of conversion, in order to salvation. This he must do, but he will watch for the best season, and will pray, not only for the opportunity, but for power, wisely and effectively to improve it.

Or it may be the case of a brother instead of that of a parent. That brother may be careless, thoughtless, trifling,

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