not fo often lamented their virulent cruelty and repeated perfidies. Of late years indeed there has been established among us a mot excellent charity for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, and if the fuccefs has not as yet answered our wishes, it has been sufficient to quicken our endeavours.

It is evident from Scripture, that before the confummation of all things Christ's kingdom fhall be univerfal, that the earth fhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea, that the kingdom shall be the Lord's, and he fhall govern the nations.

It is our duty therefore to advance and haften, to the utmost of our power, this happy æra, by approving ourselves true fubjects of Chrift, and ftriving to erect his throne in the hearts of others; by endeavouring ourselves to promote Chriftian knowledge at home, and encouraging those who strive to propagate it abroad, administring such means to them as may render their labours easy, and

pave the way for their fuccefs, fo that the word of God, and the kingdom of his Christ, may grow mightily and prevail.

It is our interest, as well as duty, to pray for the coming of Chrift's kingdom, both in regard of the happy confequences attending his univerfal dominion in the ftate of Grace, and our speedier admiffion into that of Glory.

Universal Happiness must be the result of univerfal Christianity, and the world shall enjoy uninterrupted peace, when that religion which forbids all the motives to war, is fincerely profeffed by all; the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid, and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child fhall lead them.

All racking and malevolent paffions fhall then be extinguished, all bafe and dishonest actions shall then cease, and the true religion

fhall

fhall then fanctify the hearts, prefide over the actions, and blefs the lives of all men.

Thus univerfally happy, thus universally good fhall the state of Grace be, when the fullness of the Gentiles come in, and the remnant of Ifrael is gathered together; and as the time of this great reformation is uncertain, as it may be even now at our doors, how much is it our duty, how much is it our intereft to contribute every one of us his mite towards the haftening of this happy period.

And do thou, O God, who feeft how low religion is funk, both in our minds and practice, be pleafed to impart to us and to all people, fuch portions of thy grace as may purify our hearts, and amend our lives; as may incite us to the converfion of others, as well as the reformation of ourselves; quicken our endeavours to this good work, assist our infirmities, and in thy good time crown us with fuccefs, and bring all mankind under the dominion of thy bleffed fon; and when this happy time is arrived, then be thou pleaf

ed,

ed, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom of Glory, that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy name, may have our perfect confummation and blifs, both in body and foul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory, through Jefus Christ our Lord; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, be afcribed, &c. &c.

SERMON