of their conversion he values more, than the soldier does his spoil or his laurels, or the merchant his abundant gain. Having "put his hand to the plough," he will not "look back," except his impaired health and strength oblige him. When unsuccessful in one place, and driven from it by persecution, and hardly escaping with life, he preaches the gospel in another, with unabated courage and ardour. If disabled for a time, he

longs to return to his work, and grieves more because compelled for a while to decline it, than for all his pain and weakness; and when recovered he makes haste to the scene of his disinterested labours.

Witness your missionary lately in England, who tasted no bread for six months, besides enduring many other hardships and escaping many imminent dangers; yet was he all in earnest to leave the comforts of his native country, that he might return to the scene of his labours in the wilds of Africa; and who, after severe experience of the missionary's life, repeatedly refused a very comfortable settlement, out of love to the poor natives among whom he laboured !1

Yet all this heroical resolution must be accompanied with a mild, forbearing, and gentle spirit; with the greatest tenderness and affection; with command over every passion, superiority to all those inclinations which enslave mankind in general, and an assiduous perseverance, amidst discouragements, often during many years of ill success.

Mr. Kircherer.

Not to recur to the primitive times, when evangelists, who far exceeded this feeble description, spread the gospel through the nations; Schwartz, Eliot, Brainerd, and many among the Moravians and others, stand as demonstrations that the Lord of the harvest is still able to send forth such labourers.

Yet all this is so contrary to human nature, and to the education and habits of men in civilized regions, and especially in such an affluent and luxurious country as Britain; that at first view one is almost apt to despond, and to conclude it impracticable to obtain missionaries of this stamp and character.

Sanguine adventurers, indeed, may at any time be found, ready to volunteer their services almost in any cause but where shall men of this eminence and excellence be found? "With man it is im"possible, but with God all things are possible."

Call to mind, my brethren, the case before stated, at the opening of our subject. Where, at the time when the Saviour expired on the cross, were the preachers who soon after carried his gospel through the extent of the then known world? Where were they who so laboured and prospered, that, had others trodden in their steps, it might seem as if our exertions would scarcely have been wanted? All these, almost, were at that time proud and selfish Jews, or blind idolaters: and the rest were prejudiced, disheartened, and cowardly disciples. "Is then the Lord's arm shortened, that he cannot. "save?" Out of these stones he can raise up, not only "children unto Abraham," but genuine successors to the primitive missionaries. Nor is there

a scoffer, a profligate, an opposer, a coward, or a man buried in the pursuit of worldly riches, in this congregation, that he could not endue with all the zeal, and love, and courage, and wisdom of an apostle. He need only speak with power, and say, as he did to Matthew the publican at the seat of custom, "Arise, and follow me," and he would "leave all and follow him." Oh, "pray ye pray ye there"fore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send "forth labourers into his harvest."

Observe again, my brethren, that this is an aid, though of primary importance, in which the poor, the unlearned, and the obscure, may concur as effectually as the wealthy, the learned, and the eminent. All cannot give, though inclined to do it; but every one can pray, whose heart is so disposed: and every one may beg of God to give him " the Spirit of grace and supplication," of fervent zeal and expansive philanthropy. And he who prays constantly and earnestly for the success of missionary designs, and that the Lord would furnish the missionaries, and prosper their labours, will be found a more valuable friend to the cause, than he who gives his money or his time, nay, than he who preaches sermons, and writes books to promote it, if he do not also unite with them his fervent prayers.

It may be thought, as the cause is that of God, he will accomplish his own purpose for his own name's sake, whether we pray or not. But let But let any impartial person simply regard the sacred oracles, and the outlines of ecclesiastical history, and ask himself, whether a fervent spirit of prayer, by the remnant of believers, has not always preceded

great revivals in religion, and gracious interpositions of God for his church?

Reasonings against scriptural instruction and undeniable fact must be false and vain, however specious. Nothing can be more enlarged and unencumbered, than the promises of God to Israel by Ezekiel; but, after all, it is subjoined, "I will yet "for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to "do it for them." Thus also Jeremiah, or rather God by him: "I know the thoughts that I think "towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace " and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "Then shall ye call upon me, and shall go and 66 pray unto me; and I will hearken unto and "ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search "for me with all your heart." 2

you ;

Accordingly Daniel (as did doubtless many others,) set himself to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer, just before the Jews were restored from captivity.

We have seen that the apostles and disciples continued instant in prayer, before the Holy Spirit was poured out at the day of Pentecost. The church of Antioch was fasting and praying, when Saul and Barnabas were called forth to go and preach to the gentiles,-eventually to Europeans; whence we Britons have received our marvellous light, and invaluable advantages.

Prayer especially honours God, and God honours prayer it brings the soul into a humble, dependent, waiting, expecting frame, and prepares the way for thanksgiving: and therefore it is proper,

Ezek. xxxvi. 24, 37.

2 Jer. xxix. 10, 13.

both in our private concerns and in public undertakings, that prayer, fervent persevering prayer, should precede every important success.

My brethren, allow me to make a remark thus publicly, which I have often made more privately; namely, that there is in general too small a proportion by far of supplication or intercession, in the devotions of Christians of the present day. Selfishness seems even to infect our religion: we seek comfort, and perhaps sanctification, for ourselves, the company, and our particular circle: but, except on special occasions, we are not apt to enlarge, to multiply our petitions and fill our mouths with arguments, in pleading for our fellow Christians and fellow sinners throughout the world; or even for our own country, and the church of God that is amongst us.

A number of Christians sometimes agree, on a particular emergency, to unite at certain times in some special requests; or meetings for prayer are appointed for such purposes: and doubtless this is highly proper, and conducive to much good. Yet prayer, thus called forth, seems to resemble the forced productions of the hot-bed, rather than the natural growth of the soil: they are raised indeed, as water from a deep well, but do not flow spontaneously, like streams from a fountain. A disposition, without any effort, to unite and enlarge in our families, our social meetings, and, of course, in our closets, as well as in public worship, or at particular seasons, for the purity, peace, and enlargement of the church; for the illumination and sanctification, and prosperity of all her ministers; for the conversion of Jews, Turks, infidels, and