tral Asia. We might almost say, "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”

And this spirit for the diffusion of the truth, is not confined to Britain. It is found among good men of every Christian nation. Perhaps on this day prayers are offered up in behalf of the work, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. We are encouraged, then, to believe, that the time is come, in the first place, by the consent of good men. When I say good men, I mean religious and devout men, whose minds are not entirely occupied with the politics and affairs of this world, but who are "looking for the consolation of Israel;" as it is expressed in these words, "Thy kingdom come.'

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2. Another circumstance indicating that the time is at hand, is the general contemplation of the prophecies. The prophecies of scriptures are at this time pondered as seriously in Asia as in Europe. Even the Jews in the east, begin to study the oracles of the prophet Isaiah. And, what is more important, the prophecies begin to be published among heathen nations; and we may expect that every nation will soon be able to read the divine decree concerning its f.

The holy scriptures are translating into various languages.

When the gospel was first to be preached to all nations, it was necessary to give a diversity of tongues; a tongue for each nation; and this was done by the Divine power. But in this second promulgation, as it were, of the gospel, the work will probably be carried on by a diversity of translations, a diversity of scriptures; a translation for each nation. Instead of the gift of tongues, God, by his providence, is giving to mankind a gift of scriptures.

4. Another circumstance, which seems to testify that this work is of God, is the commotion in the bands of infidelity against it. "Herod is troubled,

and all Jerusalem with him." A spirit hath issued from the mouth of infidelity, which rageth against Him whose Star appeared in the East, and would destroy the work in its infancy. It rageth not against the Romish church in the east, though that be Christian; nor against the Armenian church in the east, though that be Christian; nor against the Greek church in the east, though that be Christian; but it rageth against the religion of the New Testament, that vital religion which aims at the conversion of the hearts of men.

Our Saviour hath said, "The gospel shall be published among all nations." But these resist the Divine word, and say it cannot be published in all nations. Our Lord hath said, "Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." But these allege the gospel cannot be preached to every creature, for that "the bond of superstition is too strong, or that the influence of christianity is too weak."

These are unguarded words, and ought not to be heard in a Christian country. These are presumptuous words, arraigning the dispensation of the most high. Such words as these were once spoken by the philosophers of Greece and Rome, but the gospel prevailed, and first erected its dominion among them. In process of time the barbarous nations of Europe yielded to its sway, of which we are evidences at this day. And the nations of Asia will yield to the same power, and the truth will prevail, and the gospel shall be preached over the whole world.

5. The last circumstance which we shall mention, as indicating that the period is come for diffusing the light of revelation, is the revolution of nations, and "the signs of the times."

Men of serious minds, who are erudite in holy scripture, and in the history of the world, look forward to great events. They judge of the future

from the past. They have seen great events; events which, twenty years ago, would have appeared as incredible as the conversion of the whole world to Christianity.

At no former period have the judgments of heaven been so evidently directed against the nations which are called Christian, as at this day. It is manifest that God hath a controversy with his people, whatever be the cause. The heathen world enjoys a comparitive tranquillity. But Christian nations are visited in quick succession by his awful judg. ments. What, then, is the cause of the judgments of God on his Christian people?

If we believe the declarations of God, in his holy word, we shall ascribe the judgment of Christian nations, at this day, to their rejecting, so generally the testimony of Christ. That nation which first “denied his name before men,” was first given up to suffer terrible judgments itself, and is now permitted to become the instrument of inflicting judgments on others. And this is agreeable to the ordinary course of God's just and retributive providence. That kingdom which first seduced others by its infidelity, is now become the instrument of their punishment. The same retributive providence is "making inquisition for the blood of the saints." The massacres, fires, and enathemas of a former day, filled the minds of men with dismay. We forget these scenes, but all things are present with God. And as a nation cannot be punished as a nation in the next world for its iniquity, it must be punished in this world; and its "sins will be visited to the third and fourth generations." For a long time, (as men count time,) God kept silence; but the day of retribution is come at last, and the seats of the inquisition must be purged with blood.

From the fury of these desolating judgments we have hitherto been preserved. "Righteousness exIteth a nation." (Prov. xvi. 24.) It would appear

as if God would thus do honor to a church holding pure doctrine, and to a state united with that church which hath defended the true faith, amidst the superstitions and corruptions which have so long reigned. in the Christian world. Latterly, indeed, it should seem as if God had selected this nation, as for-. merly his chosen people of Israel, to preserve among men a knowledge of the true religion; for we have been called to stand up, as it were, "between the living and the dead," in defence of Christian principles. And although it be true that we have fought rather for our country, than for our religion, yet it is also true that religion is, in present circumstances, identified, in a certain degree, with the existence of our country. And we trust, that it is in the purpose of Providence by saving the one, to save the other also.

Let this nation, then, weigh well what it is, in God's moral administration of the world, which saves her at this period. Let her beware of infidelity, and of that moral taint which ever accompanies it. It is true that many of our chief men begin to "laugh at vice," like Voltaire! Let us recal to view the experience of France. We beheld infidelity gradually infecting that nation, even as poison pas seth through the human frame, till the whole body of the great was saturated. Then was their iniquity full, and God's judgment began. Now, though it be true that the faith of our church is pure, that "she holdeth the head," that she is founded on the Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles; though it be true that there is in the midst of her a large body of righteous persons, men possessing sound learning, enlightened zeal, and pure charity; men who are called by our Saviour "the light of the world," and "the salt of the earth;" yet it is equally certain that the greater part of her members are not that cription. It is certain that the spot of moral di begins to be visible at a distance. And we

not but that the true state of the nation may be this, that there is just "salt" enough, (to use the figure of the gospel,) to preserve the body from corrup

tion.

Let us then weigh well what it is which, in the present circumstances of the world, saves this nation. If it be the divine pleasure to save us, while other nations are destroyed, it cannot be on account of the greatness of our empire, or of our dominion by sea, or of our extended commerce. For why should the moral governor of the world respect such circumstances as these? But if we are spared, it will be, we believe, on account of our maintaining the pure religion of Christ as the religion of our land, and of our promoting the knowledge of that religion, and of the blessed principles which accompany it, throughout the rest of the world. This may be a consideration worthy of the divine regard. And this, though it be no pledge of our duration, is the chief assurance of our perpetuity. On this chiefly, (viz. our being an instrument of good to the world,) must depend our hope of surviving the shocks and convulsions which are now overwhelming the other nations of Europe.

Let us now recapitulate the evidence noticed in this discourse, which encourage us to believe that the time is come for disseminating the knowledge of christianty in the heathen world.

1. The facility with which christianity is propagated generally in Asia, wherever the attempt has been made.

2. The peculiar success that has attended our own endeavours to promote the religion of the Bible. 3. The conversion of illustrious persons in Asia, by means of the Bible alone.

4. The translation of the Bible into almost all the languages of Asia; promising, as it were, a second promulgation of christianty to the east.

5. The general contemplation of the prophecies in Europe and Asia.