appreciable share to the grand issue; and unless they can measure the amount of that share, they refuse to recognize any value that the step may have in itself. It is plain that we must be able to comprehend the whole complex result before we can have any right to say that Divine Providence is not bringing it about in the swiftest, as the surest, manner. It was a saying in ancient heathendom, The gods take time. And if the march of events beneath the control of the God of our salvation sometimes seem slow, we ought to reflect what a multitude of details, only a very minute part of which we can know anything, must enter into the fulness of the completed work.

I say, the vast complexity is quite beyond us to understand. And yet from the history of Providence in the past we may borrow an illustration or two of the way in which He has taken the ages to work in, for the accomplishment of the vast designs of His wisdom and power.

For instance, if what geology teaches us be true, with what suspense may we suppose angelic intelligences to have gazed upon that series of changes, carried on through cycles of ages, during which this world was fitted to become the dwellingplace of man! Darkness was upon the face of the deep void and formless to all seeming was the chaos; but the Spirit of God was moving upon the face of the waters: every change contributed something to the perfection of the world that was to be and at last the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy; for God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

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Take another parallel:-When Paradise was lost by sin: its mourning exiles, amid the thorns and thistles of a desolate world, would have for their comfort one sublime promiseThe seed of the woman should crush the serpent's head. Was it not natural that this promise should thrill to the heart of Eve, in the first moment of new-found maternal joy? "I have gotten a man from the Lord." Already had come the promised seed: the bowers of Paradise might bloom again, the serpent be destroyed, and the flaming sword removed from the pathway to the Tree of Life. Accordingly, the name she gave to the child was CAIN or Gain, "possession." We know how sadly she was undeceived: and through what ages of sin and sorrow the world had yet to pass before the Desire of Nations should come. "Lord, how long?" was often the Church's imploring cry. Was He not verily slack concerning His promise? We know now that the prophecy of Eden was brought to pass and not only so, but the whole history of mankind was arranged with a view to its accomplishment. Could we see all, we should know that not one preparatory step was

superfluous, while not one was missing: that the midnight anthem of the angels over the plains of Bethlehem was not delayed a single hour beyond what was needed for the world's preparation for the Christ, and that the apostolic word is most literally true, that when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.

We may find yet another illustration in the history of our own land.

Imagine for a moment that to the mind of some great and good man in bygone ages-as, for instance, King Alfred-the vision could have been unveiled of what England was to become in this nineteenth century: in civilization, commercial greatness, freedom, and religion. How glorious the prophecy and how credible to so great and farseeing a mind! But, suppose the prophecy recorded, and we shall see at once that, in many a subsequent generation, it would have been viewed with sceptical despair. In days of desolating civil war, in times of rigid spiritual tyranny amid popular ignorance and frenzy in ages when religious truth was proscribed and persecuted, and in long periods of moral debasement and vice, the realization of the vision would have seemed utterly impossible. And yet we know this day, that through all these changes and disasters, there has truly been building up stone by stone, with weary toil, but sure result, the glorious fabric of British greatness and of British freedom.

Such illustrations as these may help us to understand how a mighty purpose is most surely unfolding: even though to our eyes there should be nothing but failure and confusion. And yet our faith is not left to rest in this. Though we see not all, nor the greater part, of the Divine workings in the world, we do see enough to assure us that there is progress and hope. Christ is evidently on His throne: the Spirit of God moveth as of old upon the face of the waters.

For the results already achieved are a pledge and promise of the final issue.

A sense there is in which every conversion is a type and an assurance of the possible renovation of the world. For, that God hath made of one blood all nations of men, though socalled science in our days may question it, is a plain declaration of the Divine word. And if all men are thus essentially one, it follows that the power which in one heart wakes all that is profound and true in the springs of thought or of emotion, may in like manner influence another. That which transforms the individual may renovate the world. It is, then, a world-wide gospel that we preach. It is the "common salvation," which

we "give all diligence" to "show forth." Once, it is related, John Newton was asked whether he really believed that God would convert the heathen. "Never," he replied, “have I had any doubt of that, since God converted me!"

Nor do we rest in such inference alone. Every part of the missionary field has already its signal triumphs. The time would fail to speak of POLYNESIA, where tribes of savages have been raised into human dignity and Christian worth: of MADAGASCAR, where the olden tales of Christian heroism and endurance have formed a modern parallel; and the blood of the martyrs has proved, as in ancient days, the seed of the Church: of AFRICA and the islands of the WEST, where Christianity has measured its strength against inhuman oppression, the fetters have been stricken from the slave, while a true advance has been made, though amid calamity and bloodshed, towards that equal freedom without which emancipation is but an empty name: of CHINA, which at last has slowly unbarred her gates, and is hearing in her wondrous languages the oracles of God: and especially of INDIA, the earliest home, and still the chosen centre of missionary enterprize, where the foe is keenest, and the struggle hardest, and the discouragement often saddest; but where, nevertheless, the Scriptures of truth may now be read in all its languages; where between six and seven hundred missionaries from Evangelic Christendom minister to nearly twelve hundred native churches, preach the Gospel to myriads of willing listeners among the heathen, and are assisted by nearly fourteen hundred catechists and preachers who have turned from idols to serve the living God. Then, how have the fetters of caste been relaxed, or broken? What abolition of cruel customs and sanguinary rites have we seen! How have equal laws and rights been extended to the whole population! It is a striking fact that our own Government is spending now on education in British India as nearly as possible the same amount as is devoted to Indian missions by all our societies put together. The very "leaves of the tree of life" have been "for the healing of the nation," and the "fruit" hangs ready for them to "take and eat, and live for ever!" The darker side of the picture we fully acknowledge. Even the growth of English education, and the diffusion of popular science may, for the moment, tend to scepticism. But all truth is one: and with confidence we await the issue. The inquiring minds of the Brahmo Somaj cannot remain where they are.* The joy of a purer faith is in store for them. Some have already found it:

*We earnestly recommend every friend of missions to procure and read the lecture," Jesus Christ, Europe, and Asia," by KESHUB CHUNDER SEN.

while, to pass to another rank of life and a different order of intelligence, we have had from the district of TINNEVELLY and the mountain of BURMAH an answer to the question of the prophet, "Shall a nation be born at once?"

But what are these among so many? What, but the first green blades which here and there pierce the frost-bound clods as they relax with the gentle breath of spring? What, but the first heavy drops which descend from the clouds which have gathered silently and slowly through the long dry weeks of summer? What, but the first lisping and half inarticulate utterances of the infant's speech, which fall so gratefully upon the mother's ears? Of all these the true worth is in their promise. In achievements, too, like those at which we have glanced, have we not the promise of facts, as assuring to our faith, in their place, as the very promise of God?

We do not prefer for our mission work the claim to be the exclusive agency for evangelizing the nations. It may be the chief, the mightiest-we cannot tell. Providence has many a resource; some, perhaps, undiscovered and unimagined by ourselves. God is wonderful in working: and it is possible, at least, that influences which we are apt to term secular will bear no inconsiderable part in the establishment of His kingdom. But such questions we do not now discuss. Our duty at least is clear, and the promise that sustains us is sure.

Just two things we know-what shall be the world's Future; and what our duty in reference to it is to-day. JESUS MUST REIGN. This is the great certainty of the universe; the "must be," in comparison with which all other plans and purposes in regard to the world are but a fleeting dream. And then we must work; this also we know. Between our working and His reigning, the connection may often seem remote, and hard to trace. Nay, we may even mistake it altogether. But that connection there is: and perhaps our poor toils may find some unexpected memorial in one or another jewel of the many crowns that shall hereafter gleam upon His brow.

It is natural, brethren, especially in our great anniversary convocations to survey, more fully than we can do in the midst of our ordinary work, the whole field of our efforts. Like the Hebrew prophet of old we stand upon our watch, and set us upon the tower, and watch to see what He will say unto us. To that prophet's ear what answer came? The vision is yet for an appointed time: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

Some such lesson may well be ours to-day. Often have we heard the noble two-fold watchword. Expect great things from

God; attempt great things for God. May we add to this watchword yet another. "O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him: commit thy way unto the Lord, and He shall bring it to pass."

Then with fresh energy let us resolve to do with our might, whatever our position and opportunities, our talents and possessions may enable us to perform.

I was called the other day to the spot where a large and beautiful building was being erected, and on arrival there was little to be seen but a deep excavation where labourers were busy plying the mattock amid sand and clay. But my conductor led me over blocks of stone and heaps of rubbish to a shed, where the plans of the structure were kept. There, in its completed symmetry, the architect's ideal could be seen, while it was easy to anticipate with unerring accuracy, amid the noise and apparent confusion of the busy building operations, the beauty of the completed work. Now, at missionary services like those of the present month, we hang up in the gallery of our minds the Divine delineation of the great temple in which the world is to bow down one day and worship. The picture is before us, from its broad and deep foundation in the everlasting purposes of God, up to the glorious topstone, which, with shouting, a regenerated world will bring. We will refresh our faith and courage by anticipating its completion; and by striving to catch and imagine the sweetness of that melody of praise which shall one day roll through the sanctuary courts. Then will we descend again to the toil of the day. It will be enough for us to have walked about Zion, and gone round about her, to tell the towers thereof, marking well her bulwarks, and considering her palaces. Those bulwarks must be built up stroke by stroke. Every stone must have its finish, and every shaft its moulding. Our life-long work may be but at the corner of a column, or on the pavement of the shrine; but let us work on. The ages shall bring the headstone; and when the hallelujahs of its dedication day shall swell from earth to heaven, every faithful labourer shall be there to say, AMEN.