exertion, than were perhaps ever united in any other scheme of mercy, which, at any period of the Church, has addressed itself to the conscience and affections of the sincere believer in Jesus Christ.

A

SERMON,

&c.

JOHN, IV. 35, 36.

Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together.

THE design of the present solemnity is, to call the attention of Christians to the cause of Missions, to quicken their zeal, to stimulate their exertions, and especially to urge them to engage in fervent prayer to Almighty God for his blessing on our own Society, and on the Universal Church, in their labours among the heathen nations.

To answer this design is necessarily more difficult, as so many preceding Anniversaries

have occupied many of the chief topics connected with the question. Yet it is not, on that account, the less important: because, though the leading points may have become familiar to the minds of Christians; yet, to seize the varying appearances of events, to rouse attention to the particular duties arising from each, and to promote that earnestness and simplicity in the efforts which we are making, whereon our success, under God, so much depends, are matters of great moment.

And, indeed, the very difficulty of detailing these passing circumstances, and uniting them with some notice of the general cause of Missions, may be beneficial, if it lead us to a more unreserved dependence on Divine Grace, and to more earnest supplications for the presence of the Holy Spirit of God, without whom we can neither think nor do any thing that is good.

This reliance is the more necessary now, since there never, perhaps, was a time, when so weighty a responsibility rested on the advocate of Missionary labours. A new æra seems to have commenced. After many years of comparative depression, the mercy of God appears to be answering our prayers, by affording opportunities of usefulness, which we never could have anticipated in an earlier period of our proceedings. A great occasion,