The text tells to all nations.

We that have

Such, Christian brethren, are the words of St. Paul, and they ought, when compared with the text, to suggest to us searchings of heart. us that the Gospel shall be preached St. Paul asks us, Have we seen to it? pushed our shipping to the confines of the known world, we that have drawn our wealth from every source and from every clime, from the far east, and from the far west;--have we left behind us a heritage better than gold and silver? When, as a nation, we have increased our treasure upon earth, have we taught the nations with whom we trafficked that there are treasures also in heaven? Alas! that it should be said of a Christian land,-of a land that in many respects delighteth to do good,-that its search was altogether after the riches of this world, that its preaching was rather of wealth and power and the mammon of unrighteousness, than of the unsearchable riches of God's glory, and of his "inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ." Alas! that in our unwearied search after pelf, we have left people after people untaught and unbaptized, and that in the very heart of our colonies we might hear it said, "we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost "." Sad indeed is this state of things, and sadder would it have been still, but for the operation of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, whose interests I am

8

8 Acts xix. 2.

advocating this day. For nearly a century and a half has it been at work, and like the good woman, whose record is in the gospel, it hath done what it could. But here, consider, Exhortation and precept and example is before us. The gospel is to be preached, nay, shall be preached. Our situation, by the mercies of God, is such as to further his gracious will. We rest as a queen amongst the nations; a time is given us to work great works in. If we do so, well; if not, how do we know but that the privilege may be withdrawn, and given to a nation that seeketh more after righteousness? What betided Amalek, may betide us. Ye will not forget how it is written, "Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever'.' If we will but lay the matter to heart, nothing can prove us so ungrateful as to slight his mercies, which we do, when we do not further his kingdom.

And here, it will perhaps be said, Are matters really so? Is, after all, so little done?-Many, Christian brethren, think that they do much, whereas, did they really examine their own hearts they would find that they do almost nothing. They are willing to take the credit of the nation, and the credit of many to themselves. When they read of great exertions in the cause of truth, and the spread of Christ's kingdom, their hearts, no doubt, are touched, and the flow of their feelings is warmed. They are ready to

9 Numb. xxiv. 20.

say, "surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'." This is a very common fallacy. They give the service of their lips, a mere hollow praise. But they do not forward the great work,—it is much if they give the widow's mite. They rifle the silk worm for their private ends, are clad in scarlet and fine linen, and whilst they laud the exertions of others, as far as they themselves are concerned, they leave the spread of the gospel to shiver, so to say, with cold. Henceforward, then, let not such exclude themselves when they speak of the nation as wise and understanding," as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting"." On the contrary, when they shall say, "what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? and what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous?" when they shall so say, then let the words of Moses ring in their ears, "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest THOU forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart, all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons 3."

66

3

And indeed, even if, as a nation, we have done somewhat, so little is it, as a whole, that it is not expedient for us to glory. More profitable, surely, will it be for us to read what is written to the angel of the Church of Ephesus; "These things saith he

1 Deut. iv. 6.

22 Cor. xi. 17.

3 See Deut. iv. 7-9.

that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent

4 "

Such self-examination, Christian brethren, will best befit us, and the stricter it be the better.

5 99

No

doubt we shall each one of us find how we are wanting, how much we have left undone, how little we have done to further Christ's kingdom. Then will our negligences and our ignorances be before us, and, as saith the Prophet, "This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation But then also will there be the greater chance of our doing better for the time to come. Then, it may be, (to use the words of the same prophet,) "Then the spirit of the Lord took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place "." And thus it ever will be in heaven, whatever be done on earth. God will be

1 Rev. ii. 1—5.

5 Ezek. xix. 14.

6

Ibid. iii. 12.

glorified, and his wisdom justified. Whether as we expect, or no,--whether at our hands, or by the hands of others, this "gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world." Oh! that amongst us, "the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified'!"

And now let me call your attention to what the text says next. It declares that the gospel shall be preached "for a witness unto all nations;" that is, "for an evidence of their duty, and an admonition to perform it."

Bear, then, in mind, first of all, that Jesus Christ has come into the world to make "reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness"." This in his own good time He will complete. He will gather together in one the children of God scattered abroad'. His voice, which is a mighty voice, will declare the Gospel of the kingdom. Meanwhile, as the Gospel is preached, so the evidence goes on. It is a witness still. But, as was stated before of times and seasons, we know little on such matters. Our duty is to "redeem the time." By so doing we clear our own souls. Whatever we may look to, and wish for, we must be contented to know that the word preached is a witness. Oftentimes prophets will prophesy in sackcloth, but they are prophets nevertheless. And so, “the righteous

2 Thess. iii. 1.

*See Bp. Butler's Sermons, p. 286, and infrà, p. 289.

9 Dan. ix. 24.

'John xi. 52.