reason to fear divine justice as the most powerless and feeble of our species. Their confidence in themselves and their power will not stand them in stead, when the day of fear cometh. Neither will it stand in stead those who trust in them, and place their reliance on mere human beings, on an arm of flesh, or the power of princes, or the son of man, in whom there is no stay.

There are, moreover, those in all nations of the world, who depend for help, in the evil hour, on departed men and women, whom human folly and presumption have canonized or deified, and dignified with the names of demons or saints, angels or gods. In what are called Catholic countries, or, in other words, the nations of Europe, of the Latin or Greek Churches, and foreign colonies, where the image-worship of Popery prevails; there, the poor people, and especially the oppressed and weaker sex, the women, are seen in devout prostration before Christian idols dedicated to virgins, or saints, or martyrs ;some deceased human being to whom they vainly seek in the day of fear. And in Pagan lands, whether civilized or uncivilized, as well in India and in China, as in the Islands of the Southern Sea, do our fellow creatures have recourse to imaginary powers for the removal of fear. In China they dread thousands of imaginary aerial noxious influences, to defend themselves from which they resort to charms and incantations, and the endless et cætera of a vain superstition. They trust, as their fathers have done, in lies, vanities, and things wherein there is no profit.

Your better judgment, my Christian friends, is fully convinced that neither self, nor man, nor demons, nor riches, nor power, can furnish a sufficient support to the mind in the day when calamity, and ruined fortunes, and a shattered constitution, and apprehended death, with all their terrors, make their approach. The young and inexperienced, indeed, who have not yet drunk of the cup of adversity, may pass on for a time, insensible of the truth now declared; but a day of fear is coming, in which every refuge of lies will be swept away. It is the preacher's

themselves. The real disciples of Jesus, in becoming such, think for themselves, and in their subsequent career must act for themselves, without ever expecting that their principles and conduct will always meet with the approbation of the non-discipled. Having once seen it right to become the followers of Jesus, we must be guided by his example and his precepts.

There is an evil spirit who rules in the hearts of the disobedient, and he is the god of this world.

To oppose him and subvert his control, Jesus was manifested, and he has erected a standard, surmounted by the cross, on which he died for the redemption of the world, and around it every true Christian is commanded to rally. Not a physical, but a moral and spiritual conflict, is that to which every Christian is called.

However, I dwell not on the figure; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal; we are prepared not to shed the blood of others, but to sacrifice our own as witnesses for the truth. I mention these things briefly to intimate, that a life of ease and unassailed tranquillity ought not to be expected by any genuine disciple. Satan, and the world, and evil propensities, will not leave him in peace; he must defend himself, and that sometimes in bitter conflict; and it is his duty to go forth aggressively against the empire of Satan, of ignorance, of superstition, and of vice.

It is his, however, not to destroy, but to carry aloft into the rebel camp, a proclamation of mercy from the supreme Ruler of the universe.

"I (says the divine Saviour) have all power in heaven and on earth; go ye therefore and proclaim the glad tidings of mercy to every human creature." This did the first Disciples and the Apostles of our Lord, to the extent of their means; and this, more or less, have all their true successors done up to the present day; and this is still the doing of what, in common parlance, is called, "The Missionary enterprize."

Emmanuel appeared not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. The tyrant oppressor, and artful deceiver of

We may all of us, my hearers, when we reflect on our fear of man, and the extent to which it prevails over the fear of God, see the wide-spread existence of unbelief in the human heart; and it is an unbelief which refers not to some speculative nice point of divinity, but an unbelief which seems to deny that God is; and that He is the Protector and Rewarder of those that diligently seek him. It is a spirit of practical atheism and disavowal of Providence which reigns in the human heart.

"O ye that seek Jehovah, fear not the reproach of mortals, neither be terrified at their revilings, for the moth shall consume them like a garment, and the worm shall devour them like wool; but Jehovah's righteousness shall endure for ever, and his salvation throughout all generations." Hear, again, the language of the Almighty addressed to his believing people. "It is I, even I, that comfort you; who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a mortal that shall die, and of the son of man that shall become as grass, and forgettest Jehovah thy Maker, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth, that thou shouldest every day be in continual fear because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were just ready to destroy: and where now is the fury of the oppressor? He hasteth on that shall set free the captive, that he may not die in prison, and that his bread may not fail; I am Jehovah thy God." (Isa. li.) These quotations from Holy Writ abundantly confirm what we have above asserted, that the fear of man and distressing anxiety about natural evils, indicate an absence of the fear of God and faith in him.

Not only do the declarations of the prophets and other sacred writers shew that faith in God would prevent the fear of man; but the examples of ancient worthies all tend to confirm the same idea. Noah being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, and believing in God, was moved with fear of God's impending judgments, and no longer feared the ridicule and scoffing of man, but prepared an ark to the saving of his house. By faith Abraham went

sensuality and impiety, that prevail in the dark places of the earth. And in our own land how much pride and selfishness, avarice and covetousness, earthly-mindedness and ungodliness exist. Hence it is that some false brethren laugh to scorn our feeble efforts, and just the reverse of the former objectors, argue, that so much is to be done that we can effect nothing. But none of these things need move us," , whilst we act in obedience to Him who has all power in heaven and on earth, and who bids us go and proclaim the Gospel. There are not wanting those who admit the premises, in this instance, viz. that our Lord has all power in heaven and on earth, but who draw an inference different from that which our Saviour has stated; they say 'the Divine Being must work a miracle to convert the nations, and Christians need not go and preach the Gospel.' And from this cause it is, that the divinely appointed means, the dissemination of Gospel truth, has been so much neglected.

In none of the churches of this country, whether those established and endowed by Government in England and in Scotland, or those who Secede or Dissent from them, is there, in their Constitution or collective capacity, any provision made, either of men or of means, to obey the exalted Saviour's command. Three hundred years have elapsed since the Reformation in Europe, and not more than three tens have elapsed since this precept was materially attended to. We have indeed heard much of a venerable Society of longer standing, for Promoting Christian Knowledge; but neither its existence, nor the novel Missionary Societies, invalidate what has now been said; that neither the National churches, nor the Congregational churches, have, in their Constitution, made any provision, either of men or of means, for obeying the Saviour's injunction, to disciple all nations, and teach them whatsoever he commanded. Their provisions, so far as we can understand them, are only for the farther instruction of those already discipled in their own country; nothing is contemplated by the Hierarchy of the English church, nor by the Assembled Ministers of the Scotch church, nor by the Independent Pastors of Congregational churches, for going and discipling other nations.

would purify professed churches, and assail and subdue the kingdom of Satan, in a manner that would make angels rejoice.

But here I must enter one caveat; these examples of undaunted courage and invincible fortitude refer only to those who possessed that due sense of religion, which the Holy Scriptures call, "The fear of God;" the penitent and the reconciled, through the faith of Messiah, who was then to come; and do not apply, immediately, to those who are afraid of God-those whose hearts are either ignorant of his gracious character, or at enmity against him, whose hearts are unsubdued, impenitent, and unbelieving. Let not such minds be induced by Satan to procrastinate or put off the amicable adjustment of so great a concern as God's approbation or disapprobation. All successful opposition to God is utterly impossible: Wo to him that striveth with his Maker! The dominion of the Almighty is infinitely just, and right, and good; equity as well as power are altogether on heaven's side: on rebel man's part is only wickedness and weakness. By obstinate and persevering opposition to God, ultimate and eternal ruin is inevitable. Here is a true cause of fear; ills arising from man, or from the common afflictions of life of a temporal kind, are absolutely as nothing compared with this. But, unhappily, this is too commonly the very case, on account of which no fear is felt; or if occasionally fear of the final result do cross the mind, recourse is not had to the true way of removing it, but some of the fallacious and futile expedients suggested by the great deceiver of men are resorted to. Either youth, or firm health, or a future intended repentance, or the reasonings of scepticism and infidelity, are resorted to. And day after day, and year after year passes on, and death arrives; and, it is to be feared many perish in their sins, because they will not acquaint themselves with, and yield to the striving of God's Holy Spirit; or submit to the Saviour, and trust in him, and be at peace.

However, we must not omit granting that there may be doubts in the minds of some persons, who are not desirous