render of yourself and of your all to Christ: you promise before God, angels, and men, to be the Lord's. With the vows of God on your conscience, then, you are virtually pledged to do what you can for advancing his kingdom, not merely in your own soul, but in the souls of others to whom your influence may extend. The primitive Christians not only professed, but actually exemplified this spirit of Christ. The apostles "counted not their lives dear unto them, so that they might testify the gospel of the grace of God." And their first converts did not hesitate to make great sacrifices to aid those intrepid missionaries in rescuing others from the darkness of heathenism, and from the damnation of hell. "As many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet." How many a modern professor, though rich, would shrink with disgust from the suggestion of his selling lands for a like holy purpose! But the man, who will let a sinner go down to the second death, rather than part with lands or money to save him, has not the spirit of Him who died for sinners. He does not love his neighbour as himself. He has not the spirit that reigns in heaven.

A proper regard for the honour of Christ and his Church, also, binds you to be conspicuous, according to your ability, in exertions and sacrifices to advance the Gospel. If, by wilfully withholding, you give the world occasion to say, 'that you are as selfish, covetous, wordly-minded, as they are;' you thus bring reproach and shame, not merely on yourself, but on the sacred name of Christ. You thereby cause many to "blaspheme that worthy name." But if, on the other hand, you show before an ungodly world, that you really regard the honour of Christ and the eternal interests of man, you thus compel others to admire the benevolent spirit of the Gospel; and perhaps lead many to unite in glorifying its Author.

You are bound, likewise, by infinite obligations of gratitude to the Saviour, to do what you can to extend his Gospel. O, think of the eternal height of that throne from which He descended; think of the dreadful curse of God to which He submitted; think of those endless agonies from which He redeemed you; think of that eternal weight of glory to which He invites you; and estimate, if you can, your obligations to the Saviour and then, act worthy of Him who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

The value of immortal souls should also stimulate and compel you to · make great sacrifices, if by any means you may enlighten and save some. You know that many millions, now on the earth, are involved in gross idolatry and crime; ignorant of the only true God and of the only Saviour. You know that every one of them has a soul, that, like your own, must live and expand for ever. You know that every one of them, by being furnished with Living Bread, and growing for ever in the knowledge and likeness of God, is capable of inconceivably more happiness, than has yet been enjoyed by all created beings in the universe;-or by sinking for ever in guilt, is capable of more misery, than has yet been endured by all the millions that have lived on earth or in hell. All past enjoyments or sufferings of all creatures in heaven, earth, or hell, have been but temporary: they can, there

fore, bear no comparison with the bliss or wo of one soul, measured by Eternity. Every soul of every sinner on earth, then, is immeasurably precious. And you know that the New Testament in Christ's blood, if received in faith, can prepare idolaters, as well as you, to stand faultless before the throne; and to become partakers of that" exceeding and eternal weight of glory." But "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 ?"

Viewing yourself, then, as a steward of God's bounty-pledged by a Christian profession-inseparably connected with the honour of Christ— bound to Him by infinite obligations-and surrounded by millions, each of them more precious than worlds-does not the Duty of exertions to save them bear upon you with infinite weight? Under such responsibilities, must lands, or houses, or money, or family advancement, or ignoble ease, be your chief desire? Must your immortal mind, your heaven-born spirit, be here wrapt up in selfishness and local interest? Or shall it embrace the human family as a common brotherhood; and do what it can, to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus?

II. But, to contribute for the advancement of Christ's kingdom is not merely a Duty;-it is a glorious PRIVILEGE.

The habit of giving with a proper spirit, tends continually to widen and elevate the mind. By employing our hearts and hands in works of charity, we become co-workers with God-we share in the honour of executing His benevolent plans-we become associates with those loftier" spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." By such employment our character is elevated in the scale of intellectual and moral beings. We take a higher rank among the creatures of God; and are qualifying ourselves, by healthful exercise, for still more elevated and more honourable employment in His kingdom of glory ;-qualifying to become kings and priests unto God for ever and ever.

The habit of contributing, with a proper spirit, is a source of purest enjoyment to the giver and the more expansive his benevolence, the more does his felicity resemble that of the SUPREME. He, whose heart has glowed with benevolence from eternity, and who, in return, has received the homage and gratitude of uncounted millions-He, who knows what of pleasure or of pain has dwelt in every bosom-He hath testified, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And every man, who, in the spirit of Christ, has eminently contributed to bless the world, will heartily respond to this testimony. If we look abroad among our acquaintance, we find, perhaps, one among a thousand, who is evidently living not to himself; but whose mind is ever contriving, or whose hand is labouring to augment the means of spiritual blessedness; and we involuntarily pronounce him the happiest man among the thousand. He is happy in life and in death. For while with one hand he scatters blessings on the world he is leaving, with the other he reaches forth to an unfading crown, and to imperishable riches at God's right hand. But, O Death! how terrible art thou to that man who is at ease in his possessions! who loveth them more than his neighbour or

his God! and, O Eternity! Eternity! how long and how dismal will be the period of thy revolutions to that man who trusts in these uncertain riches; and is not rich towards God!

III. To those who feel, in some measure, the Duty and the Privilege of contributing to advance the Gospel, we would say as to the Manner;

In the first place, as far as the nature of the case will admit, have some settled plan, or system, in regard to the amount and particular objects of your religious charities. Every man, of common intelligence, feels the importance of previous arrangement, and order, in the management of his temporal concerns. How then, without guilt, can he be content to have no system in this important work? It might be of incalculable use to the individual, as well as to the general cause of benevolence, if each Christian would, at the commencement of the year, sit down, and, with the map of the world and the realities of eternity before him, make a solemn consecration of such amount, or of such proportion of his income, as, in sober judgment, he can contribute during the year. In such a transaction he would not dare deliberately to put off God with a pittance. Or rather, I should say, in such holy intimacy with the God of benevolence, he would feel his heart new-opened—he would have no disposition to stipulate in penurious measure. Such special acts of consecration are repeatedly recommended by Scriptural precept and example. "Vow, and pay unto the Lord, your God: Let all that be round about him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared." "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on; then shall the Lord be my God; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee." It is impossible not to regard with unqualified respect the few instances of a similar character known at the present day. And were such examples common in the Churches, we should witness a much stronger and steadier flame of benevolent enterprise. Prone, as God knows even good men are, to pervert His gifts for selfish purposes, He does very properly require of them a special bond-a solemn, irrevocable covenant-devoting a reasonable portion for His service and glory.

As preparatory to the foregoing, it would not be amiss, especially for those who complain of frequent calls, to make a little estimate of what they have given the year past, and to compare the amount with what has been needlessly or wickedly expended! O, shrink not from this estimate, however mortifying to spiritual pride; for a full reckoning must one day be made, under circumstances infinitely more solemn and then wo unto him who now dealeth with himself deceitfully.

In contributing for the spread of the Gospel, it is likewise important, as far as possible, to act in concert with others, in regard to the time of giving, and the particular objects to be accomplished. Union is strength. And human nature, in all, is so constituted as to be powerfully influenced by example. It is for this reason that we are commanded to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven." The well known example of a certain poor widow who cast

in two mites, has exerted an influence, for eighteen hundred years throughout the Christian world; and will continue to do so, till the consummation of all things. Let no individual, then, presume to say, that his example is unimportant for God, who seeth not as man seeth, can cause the humblest offering to give new impulse to the charities of a neighbourhood, or nation. It is important, likewise, to maintain uniformity in the practice of giving, whenever there is a reasonable expectation. For, one individual, by withholding, may dampen the ardour of many. And the most generous benefactor may suffer materially in his character, and thus injure the general cause, if on some occasions he exhibit a total want of kindly feeling, and incur, whether justly or not, the charge of meanness.

In addition to pecuniary gifts, every person, however limited his influence nay seem to be, should inquire seriously, in what manner his peculiar circumstances, or talents, may enable him to advance the Gospel. Some Inay combine the industry of a neighbourhood, or of an extensive circle of acquaintance, in works of Charity. Some have the tongue of persuasion, or the pen of a ready writer, and may enkindle others

"With thoughts that breathe and words that burn."

Some, by a word fitly spoken, may, with the blessing of God, put it into the heart of a single family, here and there, to support a Missionary, or to educate a Christian Minister. Some, by the extensive circulation of a Tract, or other Religious Publication, may accomplish a thousand fold more, than by pecuniary gifts. In almost every village, there is perhaps some one individual, who, by a little self-denying effort, might bring all its families under the influence of Periodical intelligence; and thus, indirectly, aid all our benevolent institutions. Every individual, male or female, by occupying the talent which God has given, may secure that blest eulogium, She hath done what she could. At present, the impression is very general that some five or ten years hence, we shall look back with surprise on the little that is now doing. A plain confession that, with all our self-complacency, we are very far from doing what we could; and are therefore verily guilty. At the same time, according to the usual ratio of deaths, in less than ten years, about THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS of our race must pass into eternity—most of them now ignorant of the only Name given under heaven, whereby men can be saved. Who, then, that knows these facts, can refrain from new and memorable efforts for spreading the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Finally; what thou doest, do quickly: for time is on the wing. This year thou shalt die. This night thy soul may be required of thee. Thousands are dying every hour: And soon will the Judge descend with power and great glory, to reward every man according to his works. This will be the rule of evidence on that great day. And no other is needful, for now settling the question, whether you be in Christ, a new creature. Here is room for demonstration, what God you are serving-for what world you are preparing what is your great object of pursuit-what your rule of action --what your heart. And here may be at once decided, what shall be your transport or terror, when the heavens and the earth are shaken by the voice of the arch-angel and by the trump of God.

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I CORINTHIANS, i. 29.-That no flesh should glory in his presence.

THE gospel found the citizens of Corinth immersed in vice, and devoted, with an almost idolatrous attachment, to the false philosophy, and artificial eloquence of the Greeks. They had their masters in each of these departments, who attracted crowds of pupils, and who, as rivals, were sustained, and cheered in their competitions for intellectual fame, by the praises of their respective followers. After their professed reception of Christianity, the Corinthians still clung, with fond tenacity, to the wisdom of words; valued to excess miraculous gifts; boasted of their attainments in knowledge; and sought in the preachers of the gospel the same attributes, which they had been accustomed to admire in their heathen teachers. Hence parties arose, and divided the church with unhallowed contentions. Each had his favourite leader, who was applauded, chiefly for his supposed proficiency in the rules of reasoning, or his skill in the artifices of a studied rhetoric; while, in the eyes of his partial friends, it was a crime even to call in question his superiority to all competitors. From the heat and acrimony of their disputes, it seemed as if the Corinthians ascribed the success of the gospel to the decorations with which it was recommended to the world; and it was too plain, that, with all their professions, they had little experimental acquaintance with its transforming power. To correct their errors, and to humble their pride, is evidently a prime object of the apostle, in the context. He reproves their divisions, their party zeal, and their extravagant antipathies and predilections, as hearers of the word; he gives to the gospel the praise of achieving, through a divine influence, the salvation of men; and he pours contempt on those distinctions, by which the hearts of the Corinthians had been inflated.- "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Grecks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called," or have called you to the knowledge of Christ, and his salvation; "but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; THAT NO ELESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE."