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which the LORD hath blessed.Then his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts" appears in his glorySee 44th and 61st chapters of Isaiah.

More particularly-to one, go to the inhabitants of Africa-to another, encounter the perils of the deep, that you may visit the Islands of the sea-to another, go to the long-benighted heathen of the east-to another, repair to the heathen round about thy borders who are "perishing for lack of vision"-to another, go 66 strengthen and confirm your brethren" who are deprived of the privileges they once enjoyed. "Gird up, all of you, the loins of your mindsbe strong-I am your shield and your exceeding great reward.”

To others who do not minister in holy things, is the com

3. God will try and prove our professions of love to him, by seeing how far we will yield an implicit, persevering obedience to his commands, without "conferring with flesh and blood."At times when true religion is most unpopular and most opposed, when the multitude have gone into idolatry, when the "love of the lukewarm has waxed cold, and the enemy is coming in like a flood;" then is there a special call for the real friends of Christ to appear open-mand given, and not in words of ly for him, and evince that they "doubtful disputation," "Charge are neither "ashamed of his them that are rich in this world, words nor terrified by their ad- that they must not trust in unversaries." Apparent difficul- certain riches, but in the living ties and impossibilities are not God, who giveth us richly all to weigh against the promises things to enjoy; that they be reaand plain commands of God.- dy to distribute, willing to comThe promises we have had be- municate; laying up in store for fore us. The commands are themselves a good foundation equally positive, "Go, teach all against the time to come, that nations-go preach the gospel they may lay hold on eternal to every creature.” life." Honor the great Melchisedec with your substance, in love to him and to the souls of men, and it shall be an odour of a sweet smell, well pleasing to God."

In whatever part of the vine yard the servants of God are placed, ought they not like Abraham to listen to the calls of duty and promptly obey them, even if they present difficulties as great as the voluntary 66 leaving of country, kindred," and friends-yea, the parting with an only son, or the " resisting unto blood ?"

Few are, as yet, called to great extremities. In the present day, however, some ambassa-] dors of Christ recognize such a command as this, "Get ye out of your country and from your kindred, and come into those lands which I shall shew you."

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Missionary Sermon.

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The aspect of the world at the | souls ;"—not to plunder their present day, is calculated great-property; but to impart to them ly to awaken the attention of the the "true riches ;"-not to tear friends of Zion. See, on the them from all they hold dear one hand, the activity of the ad- and doom them to slavery, but versary of souls. Having overto convey to them and theirs the spread Asia, Africa and the "freedom of the children of greatest part of Europe and A- | God.” merica, he has threatned and purposed to overwhelm the "residue," and involve the whole earth in misery. For hundreds of years he "has made war with the saints;" but now, in "great wrath," appears to be bringing on the hottest of the battle :The trumpet does not give an uncertain sound."

See, on the other hand, the King of Zion "awaked as one out of sleep." Psalm lxxviii. 65. "The spirit of the Lord hath lifted up a standard against the enemy," according to his promise. The Lord, before our eyes, and before the eyes of many people, is giving demonstration of his power to "bruise Satan, to set at liberty the captive," and to bow the most stubborn hearted. His " arrows are made sharp in the hearts of his enemies; whereby the people fall under him."

Cannot the voice be heard from one place and another, “Come over and help us. Come ye to the help of the Lord against the mighty ?"

See examples of those who have heard and obeyed, in the Apostolic Vanderkemp, and other men "like minded"“like minded”—men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus." The oceans begin to be traversed, and the most distant regions to be visited; not to destroy the lives of the wretched inhabitants, but to "save their

Fathers and brethren, and all present who profess to fear God:

To us who are now alive is the cause of the blessed Redeemer committed. This is the cause which has employed the counsels of eternity, and in which the great Jehovah makes all his glory to pass before his intelligent creatures.

This is the cause, for which the "Father gave his only begotten Son," for which the dear Immanuel shed his most precious blood upon the cross, and for which the Holy Ghost still condescends to visit these abodes of sorrow and spiritual death.

This is the

cause which has engaged the eager desires, the ardent prayers and the laborious exertions of "the excellent of the earth" in all ages;-to which God has made, and will make all events in the history of man subservient ;-which takes from the grave its victory, bringing in a glorious resurrection from the dead; and is to make millions and millions happy "in the presence of God and of the Lamb" forever and ever.

To the professed friends of Christ, now upon earth, is this cause committed. "The fathers and prophets" are gone. "Having served their generation by the will of God, they have fallen asleep" not however, till they | had bequeathed this cause to us with their dying breath. Shall

we be indifferent whether it fail in our hands or not? Will any one hesitate to do with his might what yet remains to be done, "redeeming the time?" "This I say, brethren, the time is short." Soon we bid adieu to this earth, and our state is decided for eternity.

If through fear, or shame, or indifference, or dislike to the service of Christ, we utterly hold our peace; "burying our talent in the earth;" we may depend on being disowned before his tribunal at the last day.

How great, on the other hand, is the encouragement of duty? "Them that honor me, I will honor," saith the Lord.

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N answer to this inquiry, it was remarked in the former number, that they who walk in the light of God's countenance, embrace the gospel plan of salvation and build their hopes upon the righteousness of Christ alone. And, secondly, as a natural fruit of this temper of mind, and a precious benefit of a justified state, they enjoy sweet peace, calmness and serenity of mind. We now proceed in the enumeration and say,

3. It implies a weanedness from the world, and a supreme delight and joy in God. I join these together, because they are in their nature inseparable, and are both implied in the same ex

When the church was reduced to a low state, and in the view of her enemies to inevitable destruction, in the days of Mordecai, we observe in him a noble example of faith and zeal. He, no doubt, well understood the promises relating to the day of Christ; and in particular, that he must descend from the Jews. He believed the promises. The honor and faithfulness of Jehovah were pledged for their fulfilment. Therefore, tho' in the midst of danger, he did not hesitate to appear decidedly and boldly in behalf of the people of God, and to take every prudent|ercise. measure for their defence. To his hesitating and timorous daughter, who then held an important station, and whose cooperation was necessary, he de-ion with God, casts a shade clares," in the full assurance of faith, enlargement and deliverance shall arise to the Jews; if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, it shall arise from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed."

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The light of God's glory shining into the heart-attracting the affections-transforming the soul, and imparting the divine pleasure of commun

over the whole material world, and creates an holy indifferency towards all the fading, perishing enjoyments of time and sense. This is the very spirit and genius of Christianity in the soul— the fruit of that blessed religion Christ hath taught us; who says,

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On the light of God's countenance.

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worth of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple; and whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Here we Here we are given to see that, that temper of mind which essentially characterizes a true child of God and disciple of Jesus, is a supreme love to, and delight in the Saviour, and the despising of every other object of enjoyment, when set in comparison or competition with him. This is the general instruction of scripture, and the genuine disposition of the Godly. "The friendship of the world is enmity against God. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him."-(1 John ii. 15.) The Apostle Paul, in regard to his own views and feelings, expresses himself in very bold and striking terms. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ."And the Psalm

ist :

1

"There be many that say who will shew us any good: Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us; thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time, that their corn and their wine increased. "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon

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the earth whom I desire beside thee."

4. To walk in the light of God's countenance implies an holy nearness to God-sweet access to him, and a sense of his gracious presence. This This is a spiritual nearness. God is essentially present with all his creatures, and they are ever in

is immediate view; but he is present in a different manner with his children, and they have a very different sense of his presence, from what any other men have or can have. It is the joyful sensation of a dutiful, affectionate child, in the presence of his father, whom he loves and fears-enjoying his parental caresses, the smiles of his countenance and the tokens of his fatherly favor and affection. Such are the feelings and enjoyments of the child of God, but ineffably more sweet and endearing. The pious soul enjoys an holy intimacy with his heavenly father, and with a childlike freedom and confidence, utters all his complaints and his wants, his sorrows and his joys, his hopes and his fears and desires, into his gracious and attentive ear ever open to his cries. He pours out his whole soul into his bosom, and rolls all his burdens on the Lord. And God manifests himself unto his people otherwise than he doth to the world. He comforts them with his presence, and manifestations of his special love and favor. He feeds them with hidden manna. is near to them in all they call upon him for. He hears their cries. He answers their prayers, and is a very present helper in all times of trouble. Such blessed nearness to, and communion with God, do holy souls en

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joy. The light of his counte- | their Christian conversation may nance gives them this nearness, and causes them to see him who is invisible, and to rejoice in his presence. Therefore the Psalmist prays, with such fervency, "Cast me not away from thy presence," and in pleasing expectation of this blessed enjoyment, exclaims, " In thy presence there is fullness of joy.”

have an easy opportunity of read-
ing the laws of Christ, every
day; and will discover in them a
conscientious regard to God's
authority and a filial fear of of-
fending him. This is the way
in which they are directed to
adorn their profession, and re-
prove and reform the unbeliev-
ing world.
"Let your light so
shine before men that they may
see your good works, and glori-
fy your father who is in heaven."
It is true, they are very imper-
fect, and may often fall into sin
and dishonor their Christian
character and profession; but
this is not walking in the light
of God's countenance, but de-
parting from God and walking
for a season by the light of their
own fire. It is because, as is
sometimes the case with them,
they are walking in darkness
without light. But the habitual
tenor of their lives savours of
obedience, of spiritual minded-
ness and devotedness to God.—
And the earnest desire of their

5. To walk in the light of God's countenance, implies a faithful and conscientious discharge of all the outward duties of Christianity. It has been observed that this light has a transforming effect, and assimilates the soul to God. The natural tendency of it, therefore, will be to cause the soul to exemplify the divine image in outward life, by acts of cheerful, holy obedience, thro' all the various paths of duty to God and his fellowmen. "Ye are my disciples," saith Christ, "if ye do whatsoever things I command you." Grace is not a lifeless, inoperative principle in the heart, but it is vigorous and powerfully ac-hearts, the subject of their daily tive. It will discover itself by its proper genuine exercises and fruits. This is the end and design of the Saints' spiritual creation. They are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." And this is the end of their eternal election, as appears by what immediately follows, "which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." This is the nature, and these the proper exercises of the new crea

prayer to God, is, “Oh, that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes-guide me by thy counsel-teach me thy way, o Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

6. To walk in the light of God's countenance implies, the absolute dependence of the saints upon the constant special and supernatural influences of God's spirit, for the preservation of spiritual life in their souls, and When the law of God is the holy exercises of grace.—He written upon the heart, every that gave them spiritual life, precept is inscribed, and the soul must also prese ve it, and quickwill have respect to all God's en their graces. The same precepts; they will be exem- power which created them in plified, copied and drawn out in Christ Jesus unto good works, daily life-so that all beholding | must also work in them both to

ture.

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