A SERMON.

JOSHUA xiii, 1.

And there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

GOD, as the supreme Ruler and absolute Proprietor of the world, thought fit to give all the land of Canaan to Abraham and his posterity for an everlasting inheritance. This grant was again and again renewed and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, as heirs of the promise. But they were not to take immediate possession. While the Canaanites were filling up the measure of their iniquities, the children of Israel sojourned and were oppressed in Egypt; and it was not till the time of Moses, that they were delivered from that terrible bondage, and conducted by a series of miracles through the wilderness to the eastern border of the promised land. There, upon the top of a mountain, which overlooked the fertile plain of Jordan, Moses yielded up at once his commission and his life-not, however, till he had, by divine authority, invested Joshua with the supreme command, and given him

a solemn charge, accompanied with encouragements and promises, suited to the momentous duties of so high and responsible a station.

"Be strong and of a good courage, for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them. And thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is, that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed." Joshua proved himself, in all respects, worthy of the high trust reposed in him. He was pre-eminent both in counsel and in valor. Putting himself at the head of the chosen tribes, he passed the river, and led them at once into the heart of the enemies' country. Every where the idolatrous inhabitants trembled at his approach, and nothing could surpass the celerity of his marches, or the impetuosity of his attacks. Nothing could arrest, and scarcely could any thing retard, his progress. Of the fortifications which had been trusted in as impregnable, one after another submitted to his arms, and, in a word, victory crowned every enterprize. Now, had the Israelites in this state of things, vigorously pushed their advantages with a humble trust in God, they might soon have completed the conquest of Canaan. But their courage seems to have failed them in the midst of the most brilliant success. They wanted faith. There were giants in the land. The mountains were inhabited by fierce and warlike clans, whom it was thought imprudent to disturb, and this opinion was naturally strengthened by delay. Joshua was growing old. The people were inclined to sit down

very

ingloriously contented with present acquisitions, and few of them, probably, knew how large a part of the promised heritage was still in the hands of the enemy.

On the west and south the Philistines possessed a large and fertile district. The Sidonians and others held the sea-coast upon the northwest, together with all the hill country about Mount Lebanon, and the Amorites were still powerful on the coast of Jordan. Several other nations also, whom God had devoted to utter destruction, still dwelt in the land. This state of things was neither safe, nor honorable to those who had been brought thither through so many perils, and encouraged to push their conquests by so many promises. There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed, was a cutting reproof of their inactivity and unbelief. And that no more time might be lost, the aged Joshua was commanded to divide this remainder by lot among the tribes, and require them immediately to drive out the heathen, and take possession for themselves and their children.

The text admits of an easy, and I think a legitimate application to the present comparative state of the church and the world. As the nation of Israel was then militant, so is the church now. As the land of Canaan belonged to Israel, in virtue of a divine grant, so does the world belong to the church; and as God's chosen people still had much to do, before they could come into full and quiet possession of the land, so has the church a great work to accomplish, in subduing the world "to the obedience of Christ." In this spiritual and most

interesting sense, there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. The plan of my discourse, therefore, will naturally embrace the following topics: viz.

That immense regions of the earth, which belong to the church, are still unsubdued.

That the ultimate conquest and possession of all these is certain.

That, although the excellency of the power is of God, this great work is to be accomplished by human instrumentality.

That but for the lamentable and criminal apathy of the church, it might have been accomplished ages ago.

That as Christendom now possesses ample resources and ability, she is solemnly bound in the name of God, and with the least possible delay to set up her banners in every heathen land. And,

That the aspects of Divine Providence are peculiarly auspicious to the missionary enterprizes of the day.

I. Immense regions of the earth, which belong to the church, are still unsubdued. In advancing this claim of the church, to the rightful possession of the whole world, we must not forget, explicitly to recognize the paramount and supreme authority of Christ, her King. In the highest and most perfect sense the world belongs to Christ. All things were made by him and for him and by him all things consist. The covenant of redemption, also, secures to him, as Mediator, the ultimate possession of all the kingdoms of men. The glowing language of the promise is, "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree. Ask of me,

and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Christ is "made head over all things to the Church." She can possess nothing but what she holds under him and for his glory. Wherever she raises her standard, it is in his name. Whenever she is victorious, it is through his might; and all her acquisitions are subject to his absolute authority.

In this subordinate sense the world belongs to the Church. It is in effect given to her as a possession, in every promise and prediction, in which the universal spread of the Gospel is mentioned! It is her's to share in the conquests, as well as to fight under the banners of her King.

But alas! how limited hitherto, have been the conquests of the Gospel! How large a part of the land of promise remains yet to be possessed! How vast and powerful and populous are the empires of Pagan darkness and Mahometan delusion! How much ground has the church even lost, both in Asia and Africa, since the days of the Apostles and their more immediate successors! And to speak of later times, how slowly since the Reformation, have the boundaries of the Redeemer's Kingdom been extended! How few and scanty, in comparison with what remains to be possessed, are the acquisitions which have recently been made! How few even now, are the instruments, and how inconsiderable are the means employed in the missionary service! If in looking over the map of the globe, we begin with the eastern hemisphere, we shall find that nearly the whole of Asia remaineth yet to be pos