We know what these spoils shall be. They are the spoils of the adversary of our souls; they are spirits snatched from the dominion of Satan; they are brands plucked from the great burning pile. The missionary's unbloody trophies at a future day shall be the dark and swarthy children whom he had begotten in a distant land. The trophies of his victories shall be, that when he rises at that great resurrection morn, when the voice will be uttered that shall awaken the dead-then a Schwartz, and a Judson, and a Morrison, and a Brainerd, and an Elliot, shall rise, surrounded by their spiritual children, and shall stand before the Lord, and say, "Behold me and the children whom God hath given me." We believe from Scripture that there are peculiar honours and blessings in reserve for all the faithful ministers of God, who shall shine as stars for ever in heaven. But, for my own part, I deeply feel that the missionary's reward, if difference there be, and the missionary's crown, if difference there be in glory, must be brighter far than ours-must be far more exceedingly glorious. I always reverence a missionary, let him come from whom he will, and be sent by whom he may, if he bear the name of JESUS on his lips, and wear the garb of heaven's pilgrims, and walk worthy of his profession: I reverence that man from the ground of my heart, and would like to be in his situation.

But, beloved brethren, are we then deprived of participation in those blessed and glorious trophies which are prepared for every humble man of God who has laid down his life for Jesus' sake, and in preaching his Gospel? No: it is the assurance of my text-and the assurance, by analogy, of all Scripture-that those who "tarry at home shall divide the spoil." How condescending is our God!

It is to be observed that those who tarried at home must have been Israelites: those who tarried at home" guarded the stuff:" those who tarried at home were the daughters, and the wives, and the relatives of Israelites-believers too and therefore they shared their spoils. Doubtless they helped them with their prayers, as Eli did when the ark went out before the people of the Lord; his heart went along with it: he "tarried at home," and, had there been a victory then, he would have "divided the spoil." So it will be with us. Those are intended in my text who are assisting in this blessed work: the promise is extended to every class of people who are helping it forward; whether it be those in this city who sacrifice their valuable time, and leave their business, their occupations, their counting-houses, and their offices; or whether they leave the scenes of polished life, and shut themselves up for hours, labouring, and toiling, and calculating for the good of institutions like these; or whether it be the humble collector of the poor man's pence, who goes silently from house to house, and quietly helps forward; or whether it be the poor-even the very pauper, who, having nothing to give, gives his prayers and his sympathies, and down whose care-worn cheeks the tear will steal when he hears of missionary sorrows, and on whose countenance a smile will play when he hears of missionary triumphs: he shall divide the spoil: a cup of cold water given to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, shall have a disciple's reward.

See, I pray you, beloved brethren, what encouragement there is in this precious page of God's Word to lead us to believe that, at that triumphant moment, when the missionaries, the apostolical men, shall be coming from the

east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, each at the head of his respective family-that then shall those whose names have never been whispered in missionary annals, who have never received the plaudits of great assemblies, who have never been flattered by their fellow creatures, but who have been working for God, silently and secretly, and praying for the glory of his name, come and put in their claim; and it shall be admitted. "She" perhaps it is put in that very form to reach the particular case: for who are the most effectual supporters of institutions of this nature? Are they not Christian women? If it can be said, "She hath done what she could," she shall infallibly share the missionary's spoils: she shall partake of his crown of glory, and enter in, with him and his children, to the everlasting abode of the blessed.

Now, beloved brethren, having endeavoured to establish these four important points, allow me, in conclusion, to draw two or three practical deductions from them.

Is it the Lord that gives the word? Then I say to you all, Be careful to embrace that word yourselves. If it is the Lord that gives the word, the Gospel of your salvation, and you trifle with that word, and reject that word, it is not the preacher you reject-it is not Paul nor Apollos you reject; but it is the word of the Everlasting God. O, let that thought sink into your hearts: it is the very word of GOD. When the minister opens the Sacred Volume, when he speaks to you in the name of the Lord-however feeble his talents may be, however small and insignificant his gifts-if he bear simple testimony to the name of Jesus, if he speak according to the law and the testimony, it is at your peril you reject the word; it is no longer the word of man, but in deed and in truth the word of God.

Is there no reason why I should pray you to suffer this word of exhortation? Must I suppose that all who assist on occasions like these have themselves received that word in the power of it? Ah! beloved brethren, it needs something deeper, something further than apparent missionary zeal and missionary exertion. to prove that we ourselves have drank at those waters which we are holding out to others. There is, even in these sacred things, a danger to the speakers, and a danger to the hearers, and a danger to the most diligent labourers in the Lord's vineyard: if you substitute efforts for the salvation of others in the place of efforts for your own salvation, O then indeed you will be miserable losers. I fear that there will be found some at last in the great day of account, who have mingled in religious society, who have spoken all their life-time the language of Zion, who have borne the profession of consistent Christians, who at the great day will be "weighed in the balance,” and be "found wanting." It is not for me to say to any one of you, "Thou art the man ;" but O that each might say, "Lord, is it I?" O that each one might turn within the narrow chamber of his own heart this night, and say, "Now I have been engaged all this week, and for many days, in hearing and telling the heart-stirring truths of the proclamation of Jesus. I have heard much to delight, much to cheer, and much to animate me: now let me look into my own heart. How is it there? Has this word taken deep root there? Have I felt its sanctifying power? Has it

changed my heart? Has it made me a self-denying, self-devoted Christian ?" I bless God, beloved brethren, that I may go back to my people, and say that all I have heard this day has had a practical and a spiritual tendency; that I may say it is not now the custom at these great metropolitan meetings (as I used to think it once was, and I have not attended them many years) rather to applaud one another, and to flatter one another, than to give the glory to God. I bless God for the truths I heard this day, and pray that they may be remembered, and prove efficacious in our lives.

Again-but this point I have in part anticipated-if it is the Lord who gives the word, and the company of preachers is great, let us give Him all the glory. Let us remember, that if there is a single individual sinner converted in any one of your congregations, it is not you that have done it. Let us remember, that if there be any Hindoos, or Hottentots, or New Zealanders, or Indians, brought to the knowledge of the truth, it is the work of God. It is as little in our power to convert a single soul as to convert the world. The man that can meet the simple-hearted missionary as I have done, and heard him tell, “I have seen these men live to the Lord; I have seen them die to the Lord"—I pity the man who does not believe it: and if we do believe it, let us give to our God all the glory, and say, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us; but unto thy Name be all the praise;" humbling man in the very dust, and exalting the glory of our great God.

If it be the Lord that gives the word, and sends out the preachers, and if there be such a call for the preachers, what do we, beloved? "The harvest truly is great, and the labourers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth more labourers into his harvest." There has been much said this day upon the subject of prayer. Now I venture to recommend something on this subject to you. Let me recommend to each master and mistress of a family-to Christian men labouring in the Gospelto you all when assembling in social meetings for prayer-earnestly to lay this particular matter before the Lord-that he would send out more labourers into his harvest. It is, confessedly on all hands, the point we need the most; it is the common complaint of all institutions; it is the want of the word. Now, the Lord is waiting for our prayers: if he will but pour out upon us a spirit of grace and supplication, you will see what an army of preachers will rise up. Put him to the test: say to him, as they of old used to say, "Lord, thou hast said." So Jacob reasoned in prayer: so Moses reasoned in prayer. Go this night, and say, "Lord, thou hast said that thou wilt give the word, and the company of the preachers shall be great." O, let us lift up our united hearts to God that he will pour out this great supply of grace upon his Church; that he would stir up ministers, young men, and men in the prime of life, to lay aside the luxuries, the comforts, the ease, and the vanities of home, for the discomforts, and oft-times the bodily and mental sufferings, of the missionary work abroad.

Finally is it true that "she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil?" What a motive, then, for fresh exertions here. But let me not be mistaken: it is not all that tarry at home that will divide the spoil. It is not you (if such be here) who are tarrying at home, settling down upon your lees: not you who

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are at ease in Zion:" not you who are living in luxury, and pomp, and selfindulgence, while millions are perishing around you: not you who fold your arms in careless indifference, and leave the heathen to God's uncovenanted mercies. No: you tarry at home, it is true; but you will never share the missionary spoils. The man who serves his God with that which costs him nothing will never share the missionary's crown. That was a noble testimony of David when he said, "I will not serve God with that which costs me nothing." I put it to your consciences-What does your religion cost you? What of self indulgence? What of self-mortification? What little pleasure and comfort have you given up? I could tell you of many poor people who have given up what to them were all but necessaries of life, that they might have something more to give to the glory of God. Have you done this? If those who have large establishments would reduce them but one-third, and give the rest to God, what a fund would be produced! The principle of self-denial is not known yet in the church of God. Blessed be God, it is known by some; but it is not adequately known or felt by professing Christians. They think, for instance, if when attending these meetings they put their trifle into the plate, or if they give an annual subscription of what is considered a handsome amount, they think they have done all that is required of them. But is this the way God will reason when he brings you to account for the talent he has given to you? With shame you will say, "I spent eight hundred a year on myself, and gave but fifty for the glory of God." I believe there are many Christians who do this. I say the lowest scale on which a Christian man should give would be a tenth of his whole property to the glory of God. If I could speak of the glorious results that would follow if you would all determine to give a tenth of your income to God, you would be surprised. You would have whereof to give to charities of every description: we should not then hear the complaint which is often made, "There is nothing but calls for charity" No; you would be ready yourselves with the gift: you would be like as they were in apostolic times. It was not necessary then to send ministers to implore alms: they had to restrain the people from giving; they felt a delicacy in taking from their deep poverty and affliction: but the people pressed it on them; they came forward and said, "Take mine, take mine."

It is a remarkable circumstance in the history of the church of God, that no great revival of religion has taken place without great benevolence bursting forth. How was the tabernacle built in the wilderness? By the free-will offerings of the people: so ready were they to give that the proclamation was made throughout the camp, "Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary:" for what they had was enough, and too much. So it was when they built Solomon's temple: so it was on all occasions when they revived the worship of God; the offerings of the people could hardly be restrained so it was in the apostolical days: and until those days are revived amongst us, the work must move on tardily. I pray, therefore, that the Lord would pour out upon us a liberal spirit, a large heart, an open hand, freely to contribute of our abundance to them that are ready to perish.

I think it unnecessary to say any thing respecting the particular institution for which I am pleading. As far as my judgment can go, and as far as my

information goes (and it is not a little on this point) I can most conscientiously commend the cause to your hearts and consciences. I do believe that whatever may be given to-night will be employed for the glory of God. There was one who stood over against the temple," and saw the people as they threw their different offerings into the Lord's treasury. Though he is invisible now, he will watch what each man's heart does for him; he will see whether you try to escape the pain of giving, and will tell you of it another day, when he will bless and applaud those servants who have heartily given to the Lord.