each nation, there has the divine blessing been abundantly bestowed. We undervalue not other means, especially schools, and the printing press; but the preached gospel is the great means, and the great blessing is where that means is in full operation.* We see this in Polynesia, in West Africa, and in the West Indies. In other stations where missionaries have been more recently established, and the languages had to be acquired, and the heathen have not therefore been able to say, We hear every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born, the wonderful works of God, there has been comparatively little progress; so that we may say, 'Tell us how far the word of God is diffused and received, and we will tell you how far true religion with all its beneficial effects succeeds.' The first gift of the Holy Spirit, was to enable the first teachers to speak in other tongues; and the first use of that gift was to preach the Gospel.

We would however fully, again and again, allow and assert that whatever moral and civilizing benefits may arise, little or nothing, and in some cases worse than

A Missionary who has laboured for several years among the Heathen, observes, "The kingdom of Satan, I am convinced, will never be shaken to the ground, till Missionaries become preachers of the word: till they place their hope of success on the public preaching of the Gospel, knowing that the word is mighty through God to the pulling down of all the strongest holds of the Devil. Had I a son going forth as a missionary to the heathen, my advice to him should be-- My Son, meditate on the word; pray and preach; shew all kindness to all men for their benefit; but let nothing divert you from the one work of preaching the Gospel."" He observes, that education of children, translation of Scriptures, circulation of tracts, &c. are blessed works; but if the missionary engages deeply in them, his heart will be turned from his main office, and though he may occasionally preach, he will cease to view it as the great appointed means of saving sinners.

nothing, as it regards spiritual benefit, results from the words of men who occupy the pulpit without declaring, or without feeling themselves, the great truths of Christianity. It is ONLY the divinely-appointed, the grand and unadulterated, the pure and sublime doctrine of free salvation by a crucified Redeemer, wisely and faithfully preached by men who feel its power, and live under its influence, that is made fully efficacious, through the divine blessing, to the results which have been stated.

History then fully confirms the general principles of this chapter, and the word of God is clear on the subject. Let one passage suffice. As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth fortk out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier, shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord

The Reformers felt the importance of this distinction: Tindal, one of the first translators of the Scriptures into our own language, cays, "Where the word of God is preached purely, and received in the heart, there is faith, the Spirit of God, and there are also good works of necessity, wheresoever occasion is given. Where God's word is not purely preached, but men's dreams, traditions, imaginations. inventions, ceremonies, and superstition, there is no faith, and consequently no spirit that cometh from God; and where God's spirit is not, there can be no good works, even as where an apple tree is not, there can grow no apples, but there is unbelief, the Devil's spirit, and evil works." See Fathers of the Church, vol. i, page 59.

for a name, and for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isa. lv, 10–13.

This subject is of great practical importance. We may learn from it one of the most valuable means of benefiting our fellow-creatures. Here is the moral lever which removes the load that oppresses the world. Here is the secret spring that sets the whole machinery of national prosperity in regular and beneficial motion. Do we wish to advance our country yet higher in the scale of moral excellence? Do we wish to benefit our sister Island? let us aid every wise plan for promoting the preaching of the gospel; let us throw our whole influence to increase religious instruction, to circulate religious works, to multiply faithful ministers, and to advance the building of churches, and look in fervent prayer to the Lord of the harvest, who invites and commands us to pray to him to send forth labourers. Do we wish to promote the welfare of the whole earth? let us aid, as widely as we can, the diffusion of divine truth. It will be a blessed leaven that will spread itself with a powerful and penetrating, with a pervading and beneficial influence in every land, every city, every village, and every family, till the whole earth be leavened.

But there is a yet higher and more important benefit, not merely affecting us as creatures of a day, or as members of nations, which must all end with this world; but affecting our state through eternity. We will consider this in the following chapter.

CHAP. III.

Preaching the Word the Special Ordinance of God for the Salvation of his People and the manifestation of those who are lost.

THE most important aspect in which we can regard

the ministry of the word is, that it is the grand · appointed means for the salvation of man. It is valuable as promoting the happiness of nations and the present welfare of man; but its highest commendation is, that it is the means which God usually blesses to our salvation. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. i, 21. This being a point of such immense moment, and very often asserted in the Holy Scriptures, it will be profitable to consider it at some length.

When our Lord first gave the commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, he added this all-important sanction-He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Mark xvi, 16. The circumstances in which these, words were spoken, are such as greatly to increase their importance. The Lord of life and glory had gone through the scene of his humiliation, and had finished that work of redemption which he came to accomplish. He had overcome the sharpness of death; he had risen from the grave; and having thus obtained an eternal salvation for ruined sinners, he appeared for the last time to his followers. His beloved disciples, filled with love, and

reverence, and admiration, hung round about him. He led them out to Bethany, and the last charge which he gave them before he ascended to his original glory, was the commission just mentioned-a commission, important in every point of view; but especially important as comprising the appointed means for conveying to the human race the vast blessings which the Son of God came into the world to obtain.

The words which our Lord uses in his last commission given to his Apostles, evidently imply that preaching is God's special ordinance for salvation. The Apostles shew this at length in various parts of the Epistles. (See Rom. x; 1 Cor. i, 3.) St. Paul says the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth. Rom. i, 16. After the general statement, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, (Rom. x, 14.) the Apostle proceeds, with a course of questions which fully shew that hearing is the great mean appointed of God for obtaining those graces which are connected with our salvation - How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? See how inseparably he links together salvation, praying, believing, hearing, preaching, and sending. He, who says, Believe that thou mayest be saved, says also, Hear, that thou mayest believe. We have no warrant to expect salvation in any other way. Hearing is then God's appointment; it is his special ordinance for communicating faith, and all its blessed results. Its effect depends not on the perfection or imperfection, the meanness or dignity, the degree, or gift of grace in the minWhether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, (men

ster.