That venerable mother in Israel, who has exchanged the service of God on earth for his service in heaven, has left a legacy to her sisters-she has left the example of her faith and patience; she has left her prayers; she 35 has left the monument of her Christian deeds: and by these she "being dead yet speaketh." Matrons! has she left her mantle also? Are there none among you to hear her voice from the tomb, "Go and do thou likewise?" None whom affluence permits, endowments 40 qualify, and piety prompts, to aim at her distinction by treading in her steps? Maidens! Are there none among you, who would wish to array yourselves hereafter in the honours of this "virtuous woman?" Your hearts have dismissed their wonted warmth and gene45 rosity, if they do not throb as the reverend vision rises before you then prepare yourselves now, by seeking and serving the God of her youth. Yea, let me press upon all who hear me this evening, the transcendent excellence of Christian character, and 50 the victorious power of Christian hope. The former bears the image of God; the latter is as imperishable as his throne. We fasten our eyes with more real respect, and more heart-felt approbation upon the moral majesty displayed in "walking as Christ also walked," than up55 on all the pomps of the monarch, or decorations of the military hero. More touching to the sense, and more grateful to high heaven, is the soft melancholy with which we look after our departed friend, and the tear which embalms her memory, than the thundering plau60 dits which rend the air with the name of a conqueror. She has obtained a triumph over that Foe who shall break the arm of valour, and strike off the crown of kings. The heart-breaking necessities of a world ought to rouse us from our selfish stupor. To say nothing of the multitudes who are swarming the way to death in the most favoured regions; to say nothing of whole na5 tions in the Romish and Greek Churches, who, though they bear the Christian name, are apparently living without God in the world; to say nothing of hundreds of thousands of nominal Christians, scattered through Asia and Africa, who scarcely retain any thing of Chris10 tianity but the name; to say nothing of three millions of Jews; it is a distressing truth that more than two thirds of the population of the globe are still buried under Pagan or Mahometan darkness, and are as abominably wicked as sin can make them. 15 While I am speaking they are bursting forth to meet their doom. It certainly has become the duty of every person in a Gospel land to rack his invention, to devise means, and to strain the last nerve of his strength, to rescue those perishing nations, as he would to deliver 20 his family from a burning house. O if we loved those heathen as we do our children! but we ought to love them as we love ourselves. Heretofore we knew not how it was possible to reach them; but now a way is opened by which we may operate upon them, with as 25 much ease as though they lived at our door. If we drop a dollar into the American Bible Society, it will turn to a Bible, and find its way to India, and will travel while we sleep. If we deposit another, it will become a Bible and make its way to South America, without post30 age or risk. Thus God has opened a door by which we may pour upon the heathen the blessings of the Gospel as fast as we please, and need not be bounded by any other limit than our ability and inclination. One Bible will shed upon a benighted family a light which will ra35 diate through a neighbourhood, and descend from generation to generation. And who is too poor to give a Bible? It has been computed by those who have passed through our country, to search out its wants, that no less than five hundred thousand Bibles are wanted in 40 the United States, to furnish each family with one, that each man may have a Bible to lie upon his dying pillow. Do we hear this, and shall we sleep? There ought to be two Bible Societies, one of males and the other of females, formed in every town, and village, and 45 hamlet in America. And into one of these every person but actual paupers ought to come. Every hand in Christendom, but those which are stretched out for alms, ought to give one Bible a year, till the wants of a world are supplied. It is a tax which the God of hea50 ven has laid upon the whole population of Christian countries. Let the labouring poor work an hour longer each day, and retrench some unnecessary expenses, and they need not be excluded from this glorious work of regenerating' a world. But the coffers of the rich55 What has sealed the coffers of the rich? that they should roll in luxury and pave the way to their theatres with gold, when six or seven hundred millions of sinners are without a Bible! There is superfluous wealth enough in a few of our cities and larger towns 60 to convey the Gospel in a short time to every family on earth. God Almighty open their hearts that they may pour out their treasures by hundreds and by thousands, till the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 65 My brethren, let us no longer live to ourselves. Let us arise and put our hands to the great work in which the nations are now moving. Wondrous things are taking place in the four quarters of the globe. The world is waking up after a long sleep, and is teeming with 70 projects and efforts to extend the empire of truth and happiness. This is the day of which the prophets sung. Let us not sleep while all others are rousing themselves to action. Let every soul come up to the help of the Lord. Let not one be left behind. He that has abso 75 lutely nothing to give, let him pray. Let no one be idle. This is a great day and the Lord requires every hand in the work. EXERCISE 93. Plea for Africa.-GRIFFIN. It can no longer be made a question whether the elevation of the African race is a part of the new order of things. The providence of God has declared it. The Almighty Deliverer is already on his march to relieve 5 the woes of Africa. Her resurrection is already stamped with the broad seal of heaven. Let all the nations behold the sign, and bow to the mandate of God. Ethiopia, shall stretch out her hands to God. Let cruel and unbelieving minds raise up as many jeers and 10 objections as they may, the thing will proceed, "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." We have now arrived at the conclusion that a brighter day is arising on Africa. Already I seem to see her chains dissolved,-her desert plains turned into a fruit15 ful field, her Congo and her Senegal the seats of science and religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from the spires of their churches and universities,-her Gambia and Niger whitened with her floating commerce, her crowded cities sending forth the hum of business,20 her poets and orators standing on the same shelf with Milton and Burke,—and all her sons employed in the songs of salvation. And when that day shall come, I am sure posterity will see the names of Clarkson, Sharp, Wilberforce, Thornton, and Gregoire, recorded on the 25 cities and monuments of a grateful continent. We come to you this evening with our hands stretched out in supplication for Africa, which, though dark her skin, is one of our own mother's children. We beseech you by that mercy which you hope to find, that 30 you do not reject our suit. We beseech you by the tears which were once shed for you, that you aid us in wiping the tears of an oppressed race. I have no intention to practise on your feelings. I know too well the piety and liberality of this metropolis. I only wish to 35 spread the object before you in its own native forms,to lay open every wounded and aching part. I am sorry that I have not been able to do this with more success. Your goodness will supply the rest. You will furnish the Synod with means to prosecute their benevo40 lent designs. Beloved brethren, to live in such a world and age as this, brings with it immense obligations;-the world of all others which the Son of God redeemed with blood; -the age selected from all ages to be the season of his 45 highest triumph and reward;-the spot and time, among all worlds and periods, most interesting to the eyes of heaven. To exist in such a day, is a privilege which kings and prophets desired, but were not permitted to enjoy. If ever the servants of God were a flame of 50 fire," this is the time to exhibit themselves such. You stand, my beloved brethren, under an opening heaven 66 You stand by the tomb of a world rising from death Be not stupid in such a day. Be not half awake. Let your soul stand erect, looking out for the approaching 55 God. Let every nerve be strung to action. Great is the human effort which the day calls for; great will be the triumph which faith and patience will achieve. It is but a little while, and he that shall come, will come and will not tarry." For my part I would rather be one 60 to follow the wheels of his victorious chariot, than to enjoy the triumphs of a Cæsar. Let a prostrate world prepare to sing, "Hosanna to the Son of David! blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: hosanna in the highest!" EXERCISE 94. Abolition of the Slave Trade.-CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. Whose trophied column rises high, Brittania saw, with deep disdain, She saw, and swept her shame away, 2 Proud was the morn whose early beams And side by side, in holy band, Their country's battle fighting. Oh! if their spirits hover nigh, 3 Let France of prostrate Europe tell, The usurper shall unenvied stretch |