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SERMON.

GAL. vi. 9, 10.

LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING; FOR IN DUE TIME WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT. AS WE HAVE, THEREFORE, OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL men.

SUCH was the exhortation of the great apostle of the Gentiles to the Galatian church, which had been planted by the blessing of God upon his missionary labours. Our text has respect to the general course of self denial and spiritual demeanour, which Christians are bound to follow; and also, as appears by the latter part of it, to the efforts of beneficence which the disciples of Jesus are requested to make, in order to promote the happiness of their fellow creatures. Be not weary, says the apostle, either in your efforts to subdue your base and carnal affections, and to live in a spiritual manner; or to promote the welfare of all men, so far as Providence may put it in your power.

It is the latter part of this exhortation, which has a special reference to the occasion on which we are assembled, and the objects in which the Society are engaged, who have this day invited you to the solemnities which are before us.

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The gospel of God, my friends, originated from the pure benevolence of him, whose tender mercies are over all the works of his hands. That benevolence which provided a Saviour for sinners, and makes daily proclamation of pardoning mercy through him to the penitent, must be pure and wholly disinterested. There was no desert in man of any thing but divine displeasure. The pity of his Maker and Judge might, indeed, have been exercised towards him, while the sentence of his holy law was pronounced and executed him. But man did, and could offer no atonement for sin-no price of redemption from death; nor could he lay his Maker and offended Sovereign under the remotest obligation, to suspend the sentence of the law. The benevolence of God then, in the provisions of his gospel, is wholly disinterested-entirely gratuitous. All that his redeemed creatures can ever render him, for the interpositions of his mercy in their behalf, can never add, in the least degree, to his essential happiness or glory. God could be moved then, by no other considerations but those of pure benevolence, to make the proclamation of pardoning mercy to our guilty and degraded race,

The design of that gospel, which he has caused to be published, is, to bring men to bear a moral resemblance to himself; to possess and to exercise in some good degree that temper, which delights in diffusing happiness as widely as the children of woe can be found, in scattering light over the regions which are covered with darkness and the shadow of death. Just so far as men possess the temper which the gospel requires, they possess the spirit in question. "Be ye the children of your Father, who is in heaven;" that

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is, imitate him, be like him, says the divine Saviour to all his followers ;-" for he maketh the sun to arise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.'

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Such was the spirit which the primitive followers of the Saviour cherished. They made no secret reserve of any earthly comfort or selfish interest; but gave up themselves and all which they possessed, to promote the cause of their divine Master. No sacrifice was too great for the promotion of such an object; property, liberty, life-all were devoted with cheerful readiness to advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. Nay, they did actually regard it as matter of joy when they were called to grievous trials, and exulted when they were counted worthy to suffer shame, for him who died to redeem them.

Thus felt, and lived, and acted, the primitive disciples of Jesus; and by the prevalence of such a spirit among them, was the way prepared for those signal triumphs of the Christian cause, by which the times when they lived were distinguished. With entire simplicity and devotedness of soul, they gave up themselves and all which they had to promote the salvation of their perishing fellow men; and the peculiar blessing of heaven every where accompanied their labours. By a few individuals, of obscure origin, of little learning, of small property, and originally of no considerable influence in society, has been accomplished a revolution in the world, greater than all the efforts of orators, statesmen, and warriors ever accomplished-a revolution which has changed the aspect of society, among the most conspicuous part of the human race; and which will be followed by consequences, in respect to the

happiness of mankind, that are unlimited in extent and endless in duration.

Shall the happy days of Christian triumph no more return to bless the earth; to animate the exertions, and exalt the hopes of those who love Zion; to rescue perishing sinners from destruction, and prepare them for glory? Yes-when the spirit of primitive ages returns, the triumphs of Christianity will again be seen to spread far and wide over the earth. When multitudes of faithful disciples shall be found, who will cheerfully leave all to follow Christ; the banners of the cross will be unfurled in distant regions, and wave as the signals of peace and joy, on the mountains of Persia, the plains of China and Hindoostan, the deserts of Africa, and among the wilds of America.

Who that loves the cause of Christ will not lift up his heart, with devout aspirations to God for the return of that primitive love and zeal, which have so long abandoned the earth? Who will not ardently wish, that the spirit of benevolence required by our text, may speedily pervade the heart and animate the life of all who profess to be the followers of him, who went about doing good? It is a godlike spirit which makes us partakers of the divine nature, which leaves our own petty and selfish interests and prejudices out of sight, and nobly devotes itself to promote those designs, that dwell on the heart of everlasting love.

Arise, every Christian must say, Arise, O Sun of righteousness, with healing in thy beams! Bless the world with that light which shone around the apostles and martyrs! Dispel the darkness that covers the nations! Usher in the glorious morning of a brighter day, when the disciples of Jesus shall be filled with that

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