the reasons of the captivity, it is very observable how frequently the prophets dwell on this, as the great reason why the Jews were rejected from being the people of God; they disobeyed the voice of the Lord, and disregarded his prophets. And if we look at the true cause of the calamities which have since befallen the Jewish nation, the destruction of Jerusalem, their dispersion among all nations, and their being every where base, degraded, and insulted, we shall find a similar cause,-they knew not in their day the things belonging to their peace, and rejected the words of Christ and his Apostles, till at length God's long-suffering and patience were exchanged for his righteous indignation and tremendous vengeance.

Such a history, with such an inspired account of the real cause of all their calamities, is pregnant with solemn admonition. Every Jew that we meet seems to proclaim in our ears, Take heed that you now attend, in this your day, to the word of God! While your privileges are continued, lay hold of them; while your day of trial is prolonged, be diligent; while you have opportunity, believe and obey to your eternal salvation!

The danger of neglecting divine truth will appear more clearly from considering, first, the excellence of the salvation proposed to us. We will, then, notice the sin and danger of disregarding it.

The message which christian ministers bring is weighty enough to call for all our attention. The glorious truth which they have to declare is nothing less than the highest evidence of divine love that we can imagine-God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Consider a little the greatness of the salvation pro

distinct religious institutions, chiefly within the last thirty years, raising nearly £500,000 a year for diffusing divine knowledge.

God has also given to Christian nations new facilities to communicate his truth. While the principle of general education has been recognized, the new system of mutual instruction, with its ramifications, in infant and adult schools, first spreading in our own country, is now diffusing itself with extended blessings through the heathen world. The printing press * now seems in some degree, to meet the want of that which distinguished the apostolic age, the gift of tongues, and new improvements give to that vast engine for diffusing divine truth an increasing power of immeuse advantage. Modern inventions come in to aid intercourse among the natious, and the progress of the Gospel. Each fresh discovery in arts and in science pays tribute to the Saviour, and facilitates his work. A state of general peace, almost through the world, and of outward rest from its various enemies, gives the church every advantage for exertion.

superstition of Rome, and followed the word of God instead of human imaginations; in purity and zeal they walked with God, and glorified him on the earth; they triumphed not in their lives only, but in their deaths at the stake: but see them following vain imaginations, and however they might reflect on the Papist's superstition, the Papist might pity them for denying the Lord that bought them." See his Sermons.

*Fox in his Acts and Monuments, dwells at some length on the importance of printing,-"hereby tongues are known, knowledge groweth, judgment increaseth, books are dispersed, the Scripture is seen, &c. &c. By this printing, as by the gift of tongues, and as by the singular organ of the Holy Ghost, the doctrine of the Gospel soundeth to all nations and countries under heaven: and what God revealeth to one man is dispersed to many, and what is known in one nation is opened to all.” Page 650, edition 1610.

If we take also a very cursory review of the progress of missionary efforts, it may well lead us to lively hope. Remember the torpor and death on this subject fifty years back; remember the accounts formerly given of the innocence and happiness of various heathen countries, and observe the change of feeling now!

The actual state of the heathen is so generally known among Christians, as to refute all that infidels and others have alleged, of the simplicity, excellence, and purity of man without the Gospel, and to excite greatlyenlarged feelings of sympathy and compassion for their real darkness, and wickedness, and misery. The cause of missions now excites an interest among all those who have any pretentions to the name of Christian. Such a missionary feeling has been roused, that several hundreds of Christians have in the last thirty years rejoiced to leave their country, and have devoted their lives to labour for the conversion of the heathen. The means employed by the societies which have been formed are various and extended-such as the preaching of the Gospel in heathen languages; the translating, printing, or circulating of the Scriptures, in one hundred and fortytwo different tongues or dialects; the instruction of many tens of thousands of heathen children; the introduction of female education; the forming of many seminaries and colleges for training up native teachers; the calling forth from obscurity of numbers of estimable men, qualified by eminent and peculiar gifts, and employing them in a high and holy work, each in spheres suited to his talents. Never before could that promise, Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, (Dan. xii, 4.) be said to be so amply and extensively realized as it is in the present day. It is peculiarly verifying by events continually taking place.

The success already given to this work, under each society, is amply sufficient to demonstrate the possibility of accomplishing the whole when it shall please God to pour out his Spirit. The missionaries have in great numbers practically exhibited the spirit and genius of Christianity, in the midst of those heathens who had before seen little but its dishonour by the lives of worldly and dissipated Europeans.

The different missionary societies have acquired much valuable experience respecting the difficulties of this work, and the most proper instruments to be employed. Christians of different denominations that have taken a part in this work, have had a growing esteem and affection for each other, that has very perceptibly united those that love the same Saviour and his cause much more to each other.

In addition to this, it can be now truly asserted that many thousands of the heathen in different parts of the world, in Western and Southern Africa, in India, in the South Sea Isles, in the West Indies, and in America, have already been by these efforts converted to Christianity, and great numbers have died in the Lord. The whole work of the conversion of the world, on the large scale, notwithstanding some disappointments, continues year by year to advance and increase, and all the efforts, prayers, and charity which have yet been expended in this cause are already amply repaid, and more than repaid.

But the most cheering sign of all is, that in the midst of the great increase of external exertion, God's servants on the one hand feel and acknowledge that the church of Christ is by no means yet duly roused to the importance and magnitude of the work, and to that enlarged spirit of prayer and exertion to which we are called:

nd on the other, have been disposed by his grace. ore generally to renounce all dependence on outward reparation, or on any power, save the power of the Holy Spirit. And, though there be yet but little of a general spirit of supplication through the Christian church, who can count the increased number of fervent prayers now offered up by individuals, or the thousands of little societies that meet weekly, monthly, or quarterly, to pray for the coming of Christ's kingdom? From whom does this spirit of prayer come? Can it possibly be offered up in vain? Shall it not be still more enlarged? O may the sacred flame of Christian intercession spread, and grow, and increase, till all that make mention of the Lord keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isa. lxii, 6, 7.

A minute survey of the unchristian world, Jewish, Mahomedan, and Pagan; or of the Christian world, Greek, Roman, or Reformed, would shew us much indeed, to move our sympathy, and to mourn over; but, much to sustain sanguine hope, and excite to zealous exertion. In every profession of religion there is a general excitement and movement, that must issue in great results; perhaps in arduous conflicts, before the day of final triumph.

Thus, if you look at the means by which divine knowledge is to be diffused, and all difficulties removed, those very means are in extensive operation; the Gospel is preached to a vastly increased and increasing extent, and the spirit of prayer is enlarged for the subverting of Satan's dominion by the abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit. It is a high honour, Christian reader, to have been born in such a day, if we do but discern and rise to our privileges and discharge our duties. The present

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