the Gospel to our heathen and uncivilized forefathers? We are equally assured in our day, as at any former period, of those gracious and effectual influences from above, without which even Paul and Apollos might have planted and watered in vain. "The weapons of our warfare," like theirs, "are not carnal, but mighty through God," to the demolition of the strong-holds of sin and Satan, now, as when the Apostle triumphed over them. "Lo! I am with you alway"-said our ascending Redeemer, when giving his last charge to his disciples-" even unto the end of the world." Never should it be forgotten, that it is the Lord's harvest into which we are to entreat him to send forth laborers; that the very terms of his injunction imply a prospect, and even a promise, of success; and that his blessing is sufficient to prosper the feeblest laborer in his harvest.

But success is a term of various signification; and in matters of religion we are apt to expect too much, or at least too hastily, and to be discouraged if our expectations are not realized. Yet when we consider what religion is, and what man is, who is to be the subject of it, we should not be surprised, if, in every case, and more especially in that of heathen nations, its progress should be slow and gradual. The kingdom of heaven is as a grain of mustard-seed; small in its beginnings, but in time spreading round a large circumference. In some instances, we are only sowing; in others, we are reaping the labors of those who have preceded us in the work: but a day is coming, when, whatever may have been our share in it," he that soweth, and he that reapeth, shall rejoice together," in the fruit which has been gathered "unto life eternal." We must labor in hope, and wait for the precious crop with patience. We have the sure "word of prophecy," that "the Gospel shall be preached unto all nations;" that "the knowledge of the Lord" shall at length pervade the whole earth; that "the kingdoms of this world shall become the king. doms of the Lord and of his Christ:" and in the success with which the endeavors of this and other Christian societies have been crowned, we may behold the earnest and pledge of far greater triumphs. But, if these sanguine expectations should not be fulfilled, if these delightful hopes should never be accomplished, enough has been already achieved, not only to warrant our past endeavors, and to encourage future exertions, but abundantly and everlastingly to over-pay them. Let us never forget, that the

salvation of one soul infinitely outweighs all our labor in effecting it!

It

Success, however, after all, is not our immediate concern. will be sufficient for us, if we have the testimony of conscience, as to this as well as every other duty, that we have done what we could. Happy, thrice happy shall we be, if we should hereafter receive from the great Lord of the harvest this delightful commendation!

6

Here, then, my brethren, I will conclude. May He, whose cause I have thus imperfectly attempted to plead, vouchsafe us his blessing! And Oh! "if there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, fulfill ye our joy. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Like him "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." Improve, not only as your duty, but as your highest privilege and honor, the opportunity of doing something for the glory of Christ, and the conversion of the Heathen world. Let each individual ask himself, What have I done in this sacred cause, compared to what I might and ought to have done? And be assured, that you will never repent of any exertion, or of any sacrifice, in the service of your Redeemer, and in promoting the salvation of souls. Repent,' did I say? I am persuaded, that every real Christian, like the Reformer of old, when censured for his zeal, as if he were doing too much, will feel that his conscience condemns him for having hitherto done so little. This has been a subject of regret even to the most devoted Christian, when reflecting on his past exertions, on a death-bed, and in the prospect of an eternal world. May, then, the love of Christ constrain you to listen to the call of your perishing fellowcreatures, and to the claims which I have feebly urged in their behalf! Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into his harvest: and co-operate, to the utmost of your power, in gathering souls to Christ. He will now graciously accept this proof of your love to him: and at the Great Harvest for Eternity, at the "end of the world," he will publicly acknowledge and recompense your labor. Multitudes now implore your help, that they may be converted and saved. And if, as I fervently pray, you should yourselves partake of the salvation of the Gospel, with what ineffable delight will you behold that "great multitude, which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds,

and people, and tongues," to whose conversion you, in some humble measure contributed, "stand before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, and crying with a loud voice, saying, Salvation unto our God, which sitteth on the Throne, and unto the Lamb!-Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever!"

SERMON XXVII.

THE MISSIONARY CHARACTER AND DUTY OF THE CHURCH.*

By the Rt. Rev. CHARLES P. McILVAINE, D. D.,
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio.

MATTHEW V. 14.

Ye are the light of the world.

To what particular class of persons our Lord addressed these words, whether to all his people, or only to those on whom he laid the special duties of the ministry of the word, does not admit of a question. They are part of a discourse which the Evangelist introduces by these words: "Seeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set his disciples came unto him and he opened his mouth and taught them." Now, inasmuch as there had been as yet no selection, either of the twelve or the seventy for their peculiar office, the disciples here mentioned must have been those in general who followed the ministry, believed in the claims, and embraced the doctrines of Christ. So that, in

*Preached before the Dom. & For. Miss. Soc. of the Prot. Epis. Church, in the U. S. at its triennial meeting, Aug. 14, 1835.

the application of the words of the text, we have reason to regard them as now addressed to all that profess to be followers of Christ, in other words, to the Church of Christ on earth, the associated fellowship of all that have been dedicated to him in the sacrament of baptism.

To the Church, then, belongs, in regard to the moral world, the same office for which the sun was ordained in the natural.Both were set up for the express purpose of giving light-and of giving light to all that are in the world, that their "going forth might be from the end of the heaven, and their circuit unto the ends of it, till there should be nothing hid from the light thereof."

Between the sun of the natural world, however, and the Church on earth, as the established means by which it is the good pleasure of God to shed the light of spiritual life over all the earth, there is this most essential difference. The light of the former originates in itself; but all the light of the latter is derived. It hath nothing holy, nothing beautiful, nothing radiant that it hath not received. It is the mere reflector by which it is the will of Him who said, "I am the light of the world," to transmit his effulgence. Turned away from Christ it is covered with darkness.Turned unto Christ, and occupying precisely the place, and directed to precisely the objects for which he hath ordained it, it becomes identified with himself; so that the language which would seem to be only appropriate to the sun, he applies to the satellite, and thus the Church, like her Lord, is called "the light of the world." Still, however, it becometh her most humbly and continually to feel, and glory in, her absolute dependence; and, like the forerunner of her Lord, to be ever acknowledging that she is not the light, but the mere "witness of the light," that all men through her ministry might believe.

So witnessed the golden candlestick in the tabernacle-Standing in the holy place, where no light could come but such as should issue from its seven lamps; it represented the position of the Church in a benighted world, where every ray of spiritual illumination must proceed from her agency. But however beautiful the workmanship, and precious the material of which that candlestick was made; and however excellent the substance with which its lamps were daily replenished—the light was not in them, nor could it abide upon them, till Aaron, the type of our Great

High Priest, had touched them with the holy fire of the altar of burnt offerings; nor did they continue to shine but as the same typical priesthood continually renewed their flame. So stands the Church towards the Lord-her light. Her raiment may be of wrought gold; the lamp in her hands may be no other than the primitive ministry of Apostolic institution, filled with the pure oil olive of the Holy Scriptures; but to "arise and shine," as she is commanded, the glory of the Lord must be risen upon herthe lips of her ministry, like those of the Prophet, must be touched with a live coa! from the altar of the great sacrifice for sin; the word at their mouths must be attended by the demonstration of the Spirit; and through their daily watching, and praying, and teaching, the whole membership of the Church must be so continually turned toward the will of God, and the grace provided in Jesus Christ, as that, like the face of Moses on the Mount, they may shine alway in the beauty of holiness.

Thus, when St. John was in the vision in the isle of Patmos, he beheld, in symbol, the position and duty, as well as the power and glory of the Church. He saw the seven golden candlesticks, as emblems of the whole Church in the variety of her offices and circumstances, and as appointed for the express purpose of always giving light. He saw, moreover, whence came her light. He beheld, "in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man,-and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." In his right hand were "seven stars"-" the Angels of the Churches," as the seven planets which are held in their places by the power of the sun. While the responsibility and entire dependence of the ministers of Christ, and more especially of the chief pastors and rulers of His Church are thus exhibited, how precious to those who feel their insufficiency for the things committed to their charge is the assurance that, while he will be with his whole Church to the end of the world, he will hold them in his right hand, as the special representatives of Himself, sustaining them, defending them, and filling them with the light of his

countenance.

And now, in the general view we have extracted from the Scriptures of the design of the Lord of Glory in setting up his Church, let us note with special emphasis, the very solemn and unspeakably responsible relation in which she stands towards the whole world.