only living and true God. The people who had long lived in darkness, saw a great light; and upon them that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, the light shone. "In a little time, thousands of persons embraced the Christian religion in Jerusa lem, and in other parts of Judea. In heathen countries its success was still more astonishing. Churches were planted in all the principal cities of the Roman empire, before half a century had elapsed from the resurrection of Christ."-Dr. Alexander. Had the same spirit and efforts been continued, long since every heathen land would have enjoyed the gospel, and divine truth, like a robe of light, would have covered the earth. But the true spirit of Christianity declined, and with it missionary zeal and effort declined. Long did that spirit of vital Christianity slumber profoundly. The night of darkness regained much of its lost domain. The sun of righteousness only occasionally, and in general but feebly, shed his beams through wintry clouds on the wide-spread and awful gloom. On some favored regions, and in some signal instances, indeed, he poured forth a rich flood of glory, and changed, as in reformed Europe, midnight to noon. Christianity in its uncorrupted truth and ordinances was restored, and zeal for God, and love for souls, prompted the followers of Christ to adventurous deeds of piety and mercy. But whilst we record with gratitude and joy intense that revival and extension of true religion, we have also to mourn over its too early decline, and the operation of causes which hindered its progress and corrupted its simplicity.

The age in which we are favored to live has been signalized by many special and gracious manifestations of the power of the gospel, and the triumphs of divine grace. The Church for a series of years has experienced "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." These have given rise to much pious enterprize and effort, both by individuals and by various benevolent associations. The Bible has been widely diffused in many languages, and in many different regions of the world. This work is still in progress with augmenting energy and success, and is hastening on the auspicious time, when the knowledge of

the glory of God shall fill the earth, as the waters fill the seas. The morning of missionary effort having again dawned, the day spring from on high is diffusing its light with increasing radiance. The cheering beams of gospel truth are not only dispensed in measure more abundant through Christian lands, but many of the dark places of the earth have been illuminated. Animated with the spirit of Christ's first disciples, and feeling strong compassion for a benighted world, the missionaries of the cross have urged their way to many distant lands. The lamp of heavenly truth has been lighted up amidst the gloom of surrounding darkness: nor in vain. The wandering and the hopeless have hailed its cheeing rays, and under its guidance sought and found the way to God, and the path to heaven. In our veneration and affection should ever live those devoted and illustrious men. Living, they should have our solicitous wishes, our fervent prayers, and all that co-operation which we can employ. When summoned to their eternal home, they should be embalmed in faithful memory's tenderest recollections. Called of God, chosen and faithful, he will crown them with imperishable glories. In his church they will be held in everlasting remembrance.

"Denied to self, to earthly fame

Denied, and earthly wealth-who kindred left,
And home, and ease, and all the cultured joys
Of ripe society: In the great cause

Of man's salvation greatly valorous,
The warriors of Messiah, messengers

Of peace, and light, and life whose eyes unscaled
Saw up the path of Immortality

Far into bliss;-saw men, immortal men

Wide wandering from the way, eclipsed in night,
Dark, moonless, moral night; living like beasts,
Like beasts descending to the grave untaught
Of life to come, unsanctified, unsaved.

High on the pagan hills where Satan sat

Encamped, and o'er the subject kingdoms threw
Perpetual night-they plant Immanuel's cross,
The ensign of the gospel blazing round

Immortal truth and in the wilderness

Of human waste, they sow eternal life."-POLLOCK.

Nor can we undervalue or overlook domestic missionaries, and the benevolent and greatly efficient system of means and efforts employed at home. The spirit which animates them is the same as of foreign missions. The object is the same in kind, and in importance no less. Many dark regions in our nominally Christian land loudly call for the diffusion of the light of the gospel; and every region needs that the measure of its moral illumination be greatly increased. Bible, missionary and tract societies, with sabbath schools, and other like means, have produced extensive and blissful results. But they are still needful, and their benign effects must be multiplied and augmented a thousand fold. To desire, expect and labor for this result, there is every encouragement, and infinite obligation. God has said, Let there be light, and there is light, and the movements of his providence accordant with the promises of his word, encourage the hope, and even give the assurance that it is now on its destined progress to the perfect day. With increasing measure and effect the Bible and the spirit of God are extending their influence.

"Nor shall the spreading gospel rest,

Till through the world thy truth hath run;

And Jesus all the nations blest,

That see the light, or feel the sun."

The kingdoms of this world will become the one and universal kingdom of Christ. The knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth, as the waters fill the seas. All ends of the earth will see the salvation of God.

INFERENCES.

1st. How sublime and interesting are the views which divine revelation gives of the character and works of God, and of the manner of his operation!

His character is sublime above all created conception. To him belongs a duration which had no beginning, which feels no change, and can know no end. A knowledge which embraces with perfect comprehension his own infinite nature, as also his

purposes and works, in all their properties, relations and destinies. A wisdom which not only never errs, but accomplishes whatever is wisest and best. Truth which knows no shadow of turning. Justice which holds with even beam the balance which determines the retribution of his moral government: whilst over all, with most benignant favor, preside and prevail his benevolence and tender mercies. The God of revelation, alone, sustains a character consistent and infinitely perfect. He is a sun without a spot, full orbed and complete.

His works also, as divine revelation exhibits them, have a magnitude, magnificence, variety and excellence worthy of the only living and true God. "The heavens declare his glory, and the firmament shows forth his handy work." He is eminently "the Father of Spirits." They, in their nature, endowments, capacities, enjoyments and distinction are the noblest effects of creative power, wisdom and goodness. In these there is that regular and progressive gradation which is visible in the inferior works of God. Man, though "crowned with glory and honor," was made a little lower than the angels, whilst in the various orders of those celestial spirits there are thrones and dominions, principalities and powers. All these astonishing effects are ascribed to God as their only cause. Nor were they the result of laborious effort. He spake, and it was done. Obedient to his all-efficient volition, matter in all its immense amount and variety rose into existence, and at his word assumed its form, its place, and its relations. The gods of the heatheu are vanity and lies. Our God made the heavens, and the earth, and all that in them is. He alone is Jehovah, the living God, and an everlasting king.

2dly. How numberless, and how interesting are the evidences and effects of divine benevolence! The existence, attributes. and circumstances of creatures as God made them, all illustrate this truth. No evil was included, directly, in the design of the Creator. It all results from the violation of his declared will. Disobedience to his authority, and the abuse of his most excellent gifts are the potent cause of all the penal ill which exists in the universe. And yet how wondrous strange! Superabound

ing goodness makes deserved misery and ruin the occasion of exercising and manifesting immeasurable love! "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him may not perish, but have everlasting life." "There is redemption through the blood of Jesus, even the remission of sins according to the riches of his grace." His spirit quickeneth those who were dead in trespasses and sinsturns them from darkness to light, and elevates them to the joys of a glorious immortality.

On us the light of revelation has shone. Do we walk in its light? Do we know the true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent? Our privileges connect with them a most solemn responsibility. If we remain in sin, it will be our condemnation, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation."