preach, and ye who hear, are too apt to aim at, or to look for, something more or something else than preaching CHRIST. Were St. Peter or St. Paul to come to earth and occupy our pulpits, in every word and action of the one would be at once heard the declaration "LORD, thou knowest that I love thee;" (John xxi. 15, 16, 17;) and every text, and every sermon of the other would announce, "I am determined not to know any thing among you, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” 1 Cor. ii. 2. If we depended less upon ourselves, and our ecclesiastical institutions, rites and ceremonies, and much more upon the power of the HOLY GHOST; if we, more importunately and more directly, asked for the devout prayers of our people, and if you, my brethren, prayed for us more frequently and more fervently than you do; if we more uniformly followed our exhortations and our appeals with practical and personal conversation; if we kept CHRIST more vividly before the souls intrusted to us; if we preached more, of sin and salvation, guilt and pardon, depravity and holiness, enmity against GoD, the absolute necessity of a change of heart, and of a transfer of the affections from self to Him who died for us that we might live to him ; a new and bright era would then soon open on the Church. The first missionaries who traversed Germany, and France, and Western Europe, with such glorious success, in all their teaching held up "CHRIST crucified," as the only means of our redemption from the wrath to come. And by the fervent preaching of this cardinal doctrine of salvation, their efforts were peculiarly and eminently blessed. The Moravians had long toiled in Greenland without visible success, until the incarnation and the sufferings of CHRIST became their theme. But from the hour that they told of the judgment-hall, and Gethsemane, and Calvary, their whole prospect brightened.* It was said also by the missionary Brainerd, "Happy expe * CRANTZ'S "History of Greenland," Vol. I., Book V., 6th year, $ 2.—in the Lond. ed. of 1776, pp. 385-387. The narrative is very striking. rience, as well as the word of God and the experience of CHRIST and his apostles, has taught me, that the very method of preaching, which is best suited to awaken in mankind a sense and lively apprehension of their depravity and misery in a fallen state, to excite them earnestly to seek after a change of heart, so as to fly for refuge to free and sovereign grace in CHRIST as the only hope set before them, is likely to be most successful in the reformation of their external conduct. I have found that close addresses, and solemn applications of divine truth, to the conscience, strike at the root of all vice; while smooth and plausible harangues upon moral virtues and external duties, at best are like to do no more than lop off the branches of corruption, while the root of all vices remains still untouched."* And some also of the most faithful and successful preachers of our day, have recorded it as the result of their experience, that they labored ineffectually, until RECONCILIATION UNTO GOD, THROUGH CHRIST, became the prominent and pervading subject of their preaching. It has been well observed, that "CHRIST crucified is God's grand ordinance." By this, the kindreds of the earth are at last to be reclaimed from sin. Had he so willed, our blessed LORD, after he had suffered, died and risen again, might in his own person have traversed the wide world, made the grand tour of nations, and with great power spread abroad a saving knowledge of his love. How glorious, O how glorious a picture might, by this means, have been displayed to the eye of sympathizing angels. But JESUS, in his own person, never passed beyond the limits of the land of Palestine. In our hands he left his work of missions. They were his parting words, before he ascended to the Father, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Mark xvi. 15; Matt. xxviii. 20. * Jon. Edwards' "Memoirs of the Rev. DAVID BRAINERD:" Dwight's edition, 1832, p. 326. + Dr. CHALMERS of Edinburgh is a remarkable instance of this. See the extracts from his "Address to the Inhabitants of the Parish of Kilmany," at the end of this Sermon. + CECIL'S Remains. But how have we fulfilled the trust confided to us? Not even one fourth of the human family have yet heard the glad tidings of the Gospel. There are yet worlds of mind to be explored, six hundred millions, in the wide realms of Asia, Africa, and the isles. But their conversion shall finally be effected, and effected by a faithful exhibition of the love of CHRIST. If he be lifted up, he will draw all men unto him. (John xii. 32.) The Gospel motive is indeed omnipotent. In his glowing fervor, the Apostle felt the full import of his words, when he exclaimed, "I can do all things, through CHRIST which strengtheneth me." And one of the earliest missionaries on our continent, when he beheld the LORD'S work, amid all his difficulties, prospering in his hands, wrote that memorable adage, "Prayers and pains, through faith in CHRIST JESUS, can do any thing !"* There is none other such motive as the love of CHRIST: there is none other such moral power as the power of the Gospel. It is a simple principle, like that of the philosopher's lever, or like the silent impulse that now moves all worlds. Yet this simple principle is effecting upon earth a mighty revolution, that is transforming the whole family of man, and will continue thus to act, until all the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our LORD and of his CHRIST. Every soul that loves the Lord JESUS in sincerity, can exult at the bright prospect, and exclaim, "Ride on, thou Most Mighty, conquering and to conquer: thy kingdom come; thy will be done." The more vivid our apprehensions of the love of CHRIST, the more energy will be imparted to our interest in his glory. A deep sense of pardon will beget a corresponding sentiment of love. Having much forgiven, the renewed soul will love much. As CHRIST died for all men, the sincere believer will desire that all men may come to a heartfelt, saving knowledge of redemption. True Christian charity cannot be circumscribed. It is as free as the Spirit that inspires it, unrestrained, unbounded, and with no law, no limit, but the love of CHRIST. - ઃઃ * These were the words of ELIOT, at the end of his Indian Grammar. See Mather's Magnalia: Vol. I. Book III. Part III. Life of Eliot. Hartf. ed. 1820. p. 507. VOL. III.-16 All the appropriate themes of Gospel charity, are so many concentric circles around the follower of JESUS. But as, in primitive days, our divine Master and the earliest propagators of the Gospel, made cities and large towns the especial scene of their solicitudes; while we, as Episcopalians, are apostolic in our origin, let us aim also to be apostolic in our missionary zeal. THE PROPAGATION OF OUR FAITH IN CITIES, I would observe then, is EMPHATICALLY APOSTOLIC. It was to populous communities, that our LORD devoted his chief labors. In Jerusalem, Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida, most of his mighty works were done. In his first directions to the twelve, and to the seventy, he spake, in a particular manner, of their entering into cities; and when persecuted in one city, they were to betake themselves to another, until they had gone over the cities of Israel. The apostles also, we find, spent their most powerful efforts, amid the dense population of such cities as Jerusalem, and Antioch, and Iconium, and Rome, and Ephesus, and Philippi, and Corinth, and Athens. Great cities, moreover, have at all times been the great source and centre of ungodliness, as Nineveh, and Babylon, and Jerusalem in ancient days, and now Paris, London, and our metropolis of the new world. As the followers of CHRIST, you do well, my brethren, to make our city your chief missionary care. As earthly conquerors send their embattled legions and array their armament against the enemy's stronghold, it is wise in you, as the children of light, to concentrate against the citadel of the spiritual enemy the chief weapons of your warfare. We cannot discern, as yet, the actual dimensions of the object contemplated in our City-Mission, or catch a glimpse of its numerous Protean forms; as at one time it exhibits the daring front of blasphemy and atheism, and at another the meek aspect of humble piety; now the vacant gaze of gross ignorance, and now the haggard look of want. Yes, and beside these, there is a mixed multitude, of every age and every variety of character; the stranger, and the widow, and the fatherless, and many youth without a spiritual friend, who all appeal to us, and earnestly implore our efforts in their behalf. Among this multitude are literally thousands, who are as unacquainted with the Gospel, as the wild man of the woods, or the idolater of Asia;-and the only sound they hear, associated with our faith, is the sound of our church bells. All these are viewed by our Mission, not as a mass of mere suffering humanity, but as a mass of moral depravation, a wide waste of mind. And who shall think of penetrating this array of ignorance and profligacy? Who shall go forth against this fearful adversary of CHRIST'S cause. And who shall undertake to gather to the Gospel fold these sheep scattered abroad without a shepherd? We say, A single man of God may undertake this. A single man, my friends, our first missionary,* has actually ventured to begin the arduous work. He has gone into the strong-holds of the enemies of righteousness, with none other weapon but the sword of the Spirit. He has explored the wide region, solitary, single-handed. And as one who in some measure knows what have actually been his cares, and self-denials, and laborious services, I can bless God, that there hath been among the people such a herald of the truth. name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, he has held forth the cardinal doctrine of reconciliation; and, by God's grace, he has called into active exercise the Gospel motive; so that the eyes of many have been opened, by his means, to discern the love of JESUS, and to feel the power of the Gospel in their hearts and lives. In the More than once, like the ancient messengers, (Numb. xiii. 17-30,) returned from searching the land, he has, before the elders and all the congregation, reported to us the observations which he has made there; not dwelling on the gigantic discouragements that have encountered him, but exhibiting to our eyes some precious fruits which he has gathered, - a delightful evidence, that the conquest which we contemplate is richly * The Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler. |