into his harvest;" "send them" by the efficacious word of his power; óлws exбaλp, ut ejiciat, vel extrudat, "thrust them out" by his grace working in them, and his providence ordering of circumstances concerning them. It is no wonder if flesh and blood shrink from the employment of carrying the Lord's message to a barbarous people. Moses would fain have been excused from going into Egypt; and he multiplied evasions and pretensions till the Lord was angry with him. (Exod. iii. 10-14; iv. 1, 10, 13, 14.) When the Lord sent Paul to preach the gospel among the Gentiles, that he might hearten him for that difficult and dangerous work, he promised him protection: "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." (Acts xxvi. 17, 18.) They stand in need of a mighty presence of God with them who have just cause to fear, that those people will seek their death to whom they bring the word of life and salvation. I thought this scripture so apposite to the matter in hand, and so directive to private Christians, that it may plead my excuse for this enlargement upon it.

(2.) That private Christians may be sure to mind it, our Saviour hath put it into the rule of prayer: "Thy kingdom come." (Matt. vi. 10.) I have read, that it is one of the Jews' maxims, touching prayer, Ista oratio, in quá non est memoria regni Dei, non est oratio; "That prayer in which there is no mention made of the kingdom of God, is no prayer at all.” When we pray, "Thy kingdom come," we beg that the gospel, which is the rod of Christ's power and the sceptre of his government, may spread all the world over. For where the gospel is believed and obeyed, there doth Christ reign over fallen man as Mediator.

(3.) The saints, under the Old Testament, prayed for the calling and conversion of the Gentiles under the gospel-dispensation: "That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee." (Psalm lxvii. 2, 3.)

(4.) When, by the preaching of the gospel in any place, the people were wrought upon, and brought to believe in Christ, they were exhorted to pray that the word of the Lord might be carried to all other parts of the Gentile world: "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (2 Thess. iii. 1.) And such prayers are not to be thought to be lost, or put up to God in vain. That prediction or promise," And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly," (Rom. xvi. 20,) did doubtless excite many a prayer; and that promise was eminently accomplished, and those prayers which were grounded upon it, and put up to God in faith, took effect, when the kingdom of Satan, administered in the idolatries of the Gentiles, was laid waste, and the Christian profession was advanced, by Constantine the Great. Having now so inviting an occasion offered to me, give me leave to present a request to you; and it shall be in the words of

the apostle: "Brethren, pray for us," (1 Thess. v. 25,) for those "who labour" among you "in the word and doctrine." (1 Tim. v. 17.) And I hope I may without vanity enforce this request by the same apostle's argument or motive: "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." (Heb. xiii. 18.) Many reflect upon us with disparagement; and we are very sensible of our own many and great infirmities. But help us with your prayers, that we may be better, live better, and preach better. It is no paradox, but a well-weighed truth, that a godly private Christian, upon his knees in his closet, may assist the minister in his study and in the pulpit. And that I may prevail in my request, I can assure you, that whatsoever gifts or graces ye obtain from God for your ministers by your prayers, they will come as blessings upon yourselves; like the vapours that rise from the earth, being concocted in the middle region, fall down upon it again in fruitful showers : "For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours." (1 Cor. iii. 21, 22.) If any say, this is a digression from the case which I was to speak to, I would entreat them to consider what is the general scope and design of it, and they will find that it comports very well with it. Once I am sure,-that it is as much the duty and concernment of private Christians to pray for the success of the gospel, that it may be blessed to the conversion and salvation of souls in England, as that it may be preached, entertained, believed, and obeyed in the uttermost parts of the earth.

And so I will return to prosecute my discourse with two remarks:

First. That, from what hath been said touching the prayers of private Christians for the spreading of the gospel, we may be assured, that God hath determined to bestow those mercies for which he commands his people to pray.—And more than that: He usually bestows them, in the disposal of his providence, upon the intervention of his people's prayers, as may be collected from Ezek. xxxvi. 25: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Verse 27.) "I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the Heathen;" (verse 30;) compared with verse 37: "Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them."

Secondly. That no godly private Christian can object against his duty, in praying that the gospel may be carried to all nations, and be entertained by them, nor allege any excuse or pretence why they should be exempted from it.-If any hesitate, let me expostulate the matter with their consciences. Have ye received the Spirit of Christ as the Spirit of grace and supplication? and can ye not pray? Do ye feel the love of Christ warming, stirring, and constraining your hearts? and will ye not pray? Ye dearly value the glory of God, and sincerely desire

that the "earth may "be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea; " (Isai. xi. 9 ;) and can ye refrain from praying, that this may be performed? Ye tenderly compassionate the miserable condition of poor, perishing souls; and will ye not afford them so much as your prayers, that they may be relieved? Are ye not greatly affected with the distinguishing grace of God, in bringing the gospel to you, and opening your hearts to receive it? How then can ye

offer up your praises to God for so signal a mercy, without making some reflection on the deplorable state of those who have not as yet obtained the like favour, without lifting up a prayer for them, that they may be made partakers of the same grace?

Or will ye reply, that you do pray, indeed, that God would visit the Heathen world with the gospel of salvation; but ye cannot think that your prayers will contribute much toward so great and good a work?— Suffer me to debate this also a little with you. Why will you reproach the spirit and grace of prayer in saying it can avail little or nothing? when God himself saith, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James v. 16.) Those prayers

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which can mount as high as heaven, are able also to reach the ends of the earth. Why will ye by your disobedience, as much as in you lies, make void the commandments of Christ? Doth not he expressly charge you to "pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest?" and to pray that his "kingdom" may "come?" And will ye say, that the Lord Christ doth enjoin his servants to do that which is insignificant and impertinent? Why will you, by your unbelief, go about to make the promises of God of none effect? Whenas he himself hath assured us, that "he will fulfil the " regular "desires of them that fear him; (Psalm cxlv. 19;) and that whatsoever "we ask according to his will, he heareth us." (1 John v. 14.) For ever, then, beware of entertaining that temptation which is formed and cherished in the hearts of the ungodly, who say unto God, "What profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" (Job xxi. 15.) I shall close this, when I have added, that were the prayers of private godly Christians more frequent, intense, and importunate for the spreading of the gospel, it would be a hopeful indication, that the gospel is about, through the blessing of God, to find better entertainment in the world than it hath done of later years.

This may suffice to have been spoken touching the first way and means wherein private Christians, who live remote from those places where the gospel is not entertained, may be helpful to promote the spreading of it, that it may be brought to them; namely, by the prayers which they put up to God in faith for the propagation of it.

2. The second way and means whereby private Christians, who live remote from those places whither the gospel is not yet come, may promote the reception of it among them is, by a ready, cheerful, and liberal contribution of supplies and encouragements to them who labour in that holy work. And here the different abilities and capacities of private Christians are to be considered. They who are rich may cast

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in much into the Lord's treasury; and for the proportion, the apostle's rule and measure should be attended unto : Every one, as God hath prospered him." (1 Cor. xvi. 2.) When the tabernacle was to be made, every one brought something. They who had gold, silver, and precious stones, offered them; they who could bring but rams' skins, and badgers' skins, were accepted. And those good women who had nothing to bring, did yet spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, and they also were accounted and recorded among the contributors. What private Christian is there who can afford nothing? They who subsist by the labour of their hands should spare something for works of piety and charity. (Eph. iv. 28.)

To excite and encourage you to comply with this direction, I shall lay before you several examples, which will show you how practical and acceptable a work this is.

(1.) Private Christians were helpful to our Lord Jesus Christ himself, in his preaching of the gospel, in the days of his flesh, upon earth. Though "all things were made by him," and he upholds them "by the word of his power," and so "the earth is his, and the fulness thereof; 66 yet for our sakes he became poor," and was pleased to receive provisions for his subsistence from some godly women, "who ministered to him of their substance." (Luke viii. 1-3.)

(2.) The apostle Paul records it to the praise of the Philippians, that they were careful of him, and made provision for him, not only when he laboured among them, and when he was in bonds for preaching the gospel, (and I heartily wish, that all private Christians among us, yea, and such as glory in their profession, would keep pace with them so far,) but also when he was employed in the service of the Lord, among such as were then strangers to Christ and the gospel: "Now, ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." (Phil. iv. 15, 16.)

(3.) St. John, drawing up the fair character of Gaius, a private Christian, placeth this as a beautiful flower in his garland, that he was hospitable and liberal to those who, for Christ's "name's sake, went forth" preaching the gospel among the Gentiles, "taking nothing of them." (3 John 5-7.) Let private Christians take notice, that the name of Gaius and his charity are registered in the sacred scripture; and if their disposition and practice be like to his, theirs also shall be written in Christ's "book of remembrance: " "He that receiveth," and so he that encourageth, "a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." (Matt. x. 41, 42.)

(4.) Take notice, that it stands as a blot in the escutcheon of the Corinthians, that they were altogether for svayyov adaπavov, gratuitum evangelium, "a gospel that should cost them nothing." Corinth was the most convenient, and so the most frequented, port for trade in all Greece. The inhabitants are said to have been very wealthy, proud, and voluptuous. They had abundance to spend upon themselves, but could find nothing for Paul, while he resided among them, and preached the gospel to them. For this the apostle makes a very mild, but a very close, reflection upon them; enough to make their consciences to start, if they had any spiritual life and sense, and their faces to blush, if they retained any sparks of ingenuity in them: "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself." (2 Cor. xi. 8, 9.) It is a sad word, but too frequently experienced, that a faithful minister of Christ may labour, and yet live in want, in a wealthy city. And I think it cannot be rationally supposed, that such as suffer those to want who labour among them, will be very forward with their purses to assist them who preach the gospel to infidels, in the remote parts of the world.

Upon this head give me leave to say a little, as I did upon the former. London doth out-shine Corinth in trade. God grant that it may still flourish in wealth, and yet be preserved from those vices which are the usual attendants of it! May London ever have the Corinthians' advantages, and the Philippians' spirit! It will be, I hope, to the praise of God, and of many of London's citizens, to recollect what hath been done here to help-on the propagation of the gospel in New-England; and I hope also, that the care of that work is not extinct, but will revive as there may be a necessity and opportunity for it.

When I showed how private Christians might be helpful to promote the gospel by their prayers, I made a request to you, that ye would not fail to befriend those who preach it at home with your prayers, that they may receive grace and assistance from God, and be blessed with success. And now I shall take the liberty to present another to you, in the behalf of many who preach the gospel among us. Your contributions for Wales, and the collection made at Pinner's-Hall, for the encouragement of several poor ministers in the country, have afforded matter of rejoicing to many; and, I doubt not, have drawn forth many praises and prayers to God on your behalf; and let me beseech you, be not weary of well-doing, in this instance. The apostle found that professors are as likely to faint and tire in works of charity, (especially if they be frequent,) as in any Christian duty whatsoever; and therefore he fixeth his counsel and encouragement there: "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Gal. vi. 9.) Bear with me, if, in special, I commend to your care those whom the providence of God hath disposed of in