management, or render the intelligence incredible, fuppofing the prince to be wife, as well as gracious? The cafe is precifely the fame with God. If it be but granted, that it is Mercy extended to those who escape, this abfolutely deftroys the force of any objection that can be drawn from the number or circumftances of thofe that perish.

There is in this refpect a beautiful and inftructive analogy between the course of divine Providence, and the methods of divine grace; and much in both must be resolved into the wisdom aud fovereignty of God. There is an immenfe variety in the diftribution both of natural advantages and fpiritual bleffings; and it is vain for us to expect that we fhould be able to affign the whole, or indeed alinost any, of the grounds either of the one or the other. But if neither fort is merited, if both are the ef fects of free undeferved bounty, this cuts off all cause of complaint; and as to the difference which we observe in fact, particularly with regard to the laft, we must be content to fay, with the apoftle Paul, "For God hath conclu“ded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wifdom and "knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, "and his ways paft finding out!"*

From thefe obfervations it will plainly appear, that departing from the principles above laid down, is a very great injury to the cause of truth, and ftrengthens that of infidelity. If they are founded upon the word of God, as I hope has been fufficiently proved, then no good can poffibly flow from fofiening or difguifing them, in order to leffen their oppofition to the pride and prejudices of corrupt minds. Has fuch conduct in fact leffened the number of infidels, or reconciled them to the doctrine of Chrift? On the contrary, have they not become more numerous, and more bold in their oppofition to the gofpel, in proportion to the attempts that have been and are made to fuit it to their tafte? Nay, have they not made ufe of innumerable paffages from Chriftian writers in fupport of their own caufe? For in all fuch cafes, as Chriftians fpeak

Rom. xi. 32, 337

merely the language of natural religion, or magnify the prefent powers of the human mind, in order to rear up a felf-righteous fcheme, they are confidered by infidels, and juftly, not as defending the gofpel with fuccefs, but as yielding up the great point in debate, and coming over to their own party.

I proceed now to make fome practical improvement of this fubject. And, in the

Thefe

ift place, From what hath been faid, you may fee the real, the unfpeakable moment of propagating Chrif tian knowledge. It is indeed, fo far as it is cordially embraced, turning men "from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." words have a deep and interefting meaning, if underftood as above, but not otherwife. Let us only fuppofe those who deny or call in queftion the abfolute neceffity of falvation through Chrift, employed as miffionaries in converting the Heathens: how cold, how ambiguous and inconclufive the arguments with which they would endeavor to prefs the change! But the view of it given above, must in the ftrongest manner difpofe every ferious perfon to fupport fuch a defign, and powerfully animate to diligence those who are employed in carrying it into execution.

It is allowed by all, that doing good, and communicating happiness, is the most excellent character; that promoting the intereft of our brethren of mankind, is a natural fruitand expreffion of our love to God, and an imitation of the divine benignity. But what comparison is there between any acts of beneficence that regard only the prefent life and the welfare of the body, and thofe that affect the everlafting interest of an immortal fpirit? As far as God's redeeming grace is fuperior to his providential care, so far muft our fincere and fuccefsful endeavors to promote the falvation of the foul, excel any relief or help we can give to the wants of the body.

The laft of thefe purposes, however, is often celebrated by infidels, in oppofition to the other, which they delight in treating with derifion and fcorn. But as nothing can be more evident than its comparative excellence, fuppo

fing its reality; fo there is not the leaft contrariety between the two designs: so far from it, that they are strongly connected together, and are always best promoted in conjunction. There may be indeed fingle inftances of perfons, from oftentation or other falfe motives, parting with their goods to feed the poor, who have no true love to God or their brethren. But in general, it is certain, that thofe who have "their treasure in heaven; who love "not the world, nor the things of the world;" which, however hard a faying it may appear, is the real character of every Chriftian, will more easily communicate of what they poffefs to those who stand in need. True religion always enlarges the heart, and ftrengthens the focial tie. Every believer muft view his poor brethren in several endearing lights, as children of the fame heavenly Father, as under the fame original guilt, dependent on the same Saviour, and preparing for the fame judgment; whereas wicked men, however various their characters, do habitually, by luxury and felf-indulgence of fome kind or other, feed their pride, increase their wants, and inflame their appetites. This not only gives them a narrow turn of mind, but often wastes their fubftance; and fo neceffarily obftructs their liberality, by taking away both the inclination and ability to bestow.

And as thofe who have a juft concern for the everlasting intereft of others, will be moft difpofed to relieve their prefent diftreffes; fo the bounty of fuch will always be beft directed, and followed with the happieft effects. They never feparate the two great ends, of making men happy in this world, and heirs of eternal life; and will therefore have it as their chief care, to promote induftry and fobriety in all whom they take upon them to fupply. It is too often feen, that what is dignified with the fineft names, and reprefented as the effect of generofity, humanity, and compaffion, is wholly without merit in the giver, pernicious and hurtful to the receiver. How many diffolute livers are not covetous, only becaufe they are under the dominion of a contrary paffion? In the mean time, what thev beflow, is either entirely thrown away by an indifcriminate profufion; or, as is more commonly the cafe, it

is worse than thrown away, being confined to the moft worthlefs of all wretches, who are their affifiants or companions in their crimes. In oppofition to this, a rel Chriftian, fupremely governed by the love of God, will direct every action to his glory; and while compaffion, ftrengthened by a fenfe of duty, excites him to deal his bread to the hungry, he will have a ftill fuperior folicitude to preferve them from fin. Inftead of an injudicious fupply of fuel to their luft, which is easy to a flothful, and gratifying to a carnal mind, he will endeavor to fit them for heaven, by fuitable inftruction; and refcue them from want and idlenefs in this world, by lawful induftry.

These two great purposes have been jointly promoted by the fociety in Scotland for propagating Chriftian knowledge. They have been promoted with a moft laudable zeal and diligence, and with a fuccefs fully equal to the means the fociety are poffeffed or furnished with for carrying them on. The promoting of true religion, loyalty, and industry, in the highlands of Scotland, was the first object of their care: and the importance of encouraging it has been reprefented in the ftrongeft light on many former occafions of this fort, and is well known. But there is another part of their defign, to spread the knowledge of Chrift, the only Saviour of finners, among the unenlightened Heathen nations. On this, the fubject of my difcourfe leads me to speak a little more particularly.

Of the importance of fuch a defign every one who believes the gospel muft be fenfible. But, except the very reftricted efforts of the fociety, little or nothing has ever been attempted by the British nation. And is not God, in his righteous providence towards us at prefent, manifeftly and feverely punishing us for this neglect? Are we not engaged in war with a potent and formidable neighbor, in which the fupreme Difpofer of all events hath vifibly written difappointment on every one of our attempts? Did not this war take its rife from the difputed limits of our territories in America? And are not our colonies in that part of the world expofed to the moft cruel and mercilefs depredations? Are not families, which ought to be

quiet and peaceable habitations, frequently alarmed in the filence of the night with the cry of war; and the tenderest relations often butchered in each other's prefence, and that by a people of a flrange language, while the weak mother and helplefs infant can only lift a fupplicating eye, but cannot afk for mercy? Who then are the inftruments of this cruelty? Muft we not anfwer, Thofe very Indians, a great part of whofe territory we poffefs, and whom, with a contempt equally impolitic and unchriftian, we fuffer to continue in ignorance of the only living and true Ccd, and Jefus Chrift whom he hath fent?

Such a particular interpretation of the language of Providence may be thought bold; but there are many circumftances which, in a manner, conftrain us to confefs its propriety. We have been a nation early and long favored with the light of divine truth, and are therefore bound to communicate it to others. That diftant country was a refuge to many of our pious forefathers, when flying from the rage of ecclefiaftic tyranny; and the territory either taken from, or ceded to us by thefe people, has been the great fource of wealth and power to this nation. But what feems chiefly to warrant this application is, that the care taken by our enemies to convert the Indians, is the chief, if not the fingle caufe of their fuperior intereft among that people. Their free, independent manner of living, makes the British temper, character, and customs, in all other refpects more agreeable to them. But being once converted, not to the Chriftian faith, but to the Romifh fuperftition, they are inviolably attached to the French intereft. And that politic, but fraudulent nation, are able to cover and excufe their own treacherous defigns, by the ungovernable and favage barbarity of their Indian allies.

Can there be therefore a more noble, a more important, or more neceffary exercife of Chriftian charity, than enabling the fociety to carry on their ufeful and falutary fchemes, especially to extend their miflions to the Indian tribes? Who that knows the value of immortal fouls, can refufe to contribute his fhare in promoting this excellent defign? Who that fears the juft judgment and displeatage