that no polluted, guilty, helpless, miserable, perishing creature of the human race, that comes to Jesus craving eternal salvation, shall in any wise be rejected: it is not supposable that any feeble, tempted, harassed disciple, who relinquishes self-confidence, and trusts in him, shall not receive mercy to pardon, and grace to help. For his "grace is sufficient" for the necessities of countless millions of souls; and his strength is exhibited as perfect and complete, in supporting and assisting every faithful servant, however weak.

We see, then, what is our duty. It is, not to be anxious and solicitous to possess high talents, eminent gifts, great resources, splendid establishments; for these of themselves will be unavailing; but it ought to be our anxiety and our solicitude, that the "power of Christ" may rest upon our souls, our Churches, our Ministers and our Missionaries,— our home Pastors and our Apostolic Evangelists. (I speak of their office, not of their persons; the office is Apostolic, whatever the character of some who fill it may be.)

However, this is rather beside my main object—it is not any office, nor any person, that can produce the effect desired; it is the Saviour's "power" resting (as our English translators have it) on the agents of the work. There is great emphasis on the word rest. It is not a casual visit, not a momentary stay. It is (as some would render it) an 66 entering in, and taking possessing of the soul;" a "taking entire possesion of, and dwelling in." For the word has an allusion to a tent in which a person dwells, or which overshadows and protects him. And this last idea is that adopted in the Syriac, Italian, and English translations; all expressing a wish that the Divine power of the Lord Christ should" overshadow," " rest upon," be permanently placed over, and protect or defend him who is weak, and conscious of his own infirmities.

Now, then, if they would follow the example of Paul, how should disciples regard their infirmities? With repining and discontent? With envious feelings towards more highly gifted persons? No! But with humility, and submission, and thankfulness, and even with a hyperbolical

or ultra feeling of satisfaction, or of glorying; knowing that the Saviour's power is most likely to be present with the weakest of his servants-the lambs of his flock; and the strength derived from his overshadowing power, is a better defence, a more efficient auxiliary, than the inherent strength of the strongest. "If I must needs glory, (says St. Paul,) I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities." And the word infirmity is of very extensive application; it denotes weakness, sickness, bodily frailty, poverty, or indigence; a being destitute of authority, dignity, or power—a condition in man's eyes contemptible; and also sufferings, or afflictions, and persecutions. But had he not explained himself, as in the words of our text, how inexplicable would his assertions have remained; as it is, he is perfectly intelligible: and no where does he make a secret of his imperfections. "Ye know," says he to the Galatians, "how through infirmity of the flesh, (i. e. bodily infirmity,) I preached the gospel unto you at the first, and my temptation (or affliction) which was in my flesh (a Jewish expression for body,) ye despised not nor rejected." So far indeed from making a secret of his infirmities, or of repining and discontentedly grieving about them, he asserts, that in consequence of the Lord's gracious promise, he took pleasure in them. His words are these, "That the power of Christ may rest upon me, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong."

In this passage you perceive he gives all the latitude of meaning to the word "infirmity," which we just now noticed; "reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses," are all included; but it must be at the same time observed, that they were endured for "Christ's sake;" which leads us to this conclusion, that, although the gracious promise of the Saviour's over-shadowing power, and all-sufficient grace, is fairly extended to every humble believer, under all circumstances, there is a special reference to private Christians and to public servants, who suffer for righteous

ness' sake.

I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in distresses, for Christ's sake. How extraordinary the language! How intense the devotion to Christ's cause! How completely superior to all distrust of the Saviour's aid! The idea evidently is, the more we suffer with him, and for him, the more secure and certain are we of his constant and almighty aid. This is indeed throughout the doctrine of the Scriptures. "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be."-"For, as our sufferings on account of Christ abound, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." -"Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for their's is the kingdom of heaven."-"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." There is, in all these passages of God's Word, the same principle pervading them; viz. that the faithful and devoted servant, however great his infirmity, however few his talents, however small his success; if he do but labour and suffer in his Lord's cause, he shall be recognised, supported, honoured, and rewarded. When Heaven looks on mortal efforts, it is not the high talent alone, not the lofty perfectionist, but the sincere and devoted servant, who is honoured with approbation and divine protection. Most Christians have had the proofs and exemplifications of this, in their own experience. It has not been the most highly gifted, but the most sincerely devoted, on whom the Saviour's power has most conspicuously rested. It was, we believe, a view of the case, similar to that which has now been taken, which induced St. Paul to declare, that if he must needs glory he would glory in his infirmities.

Observe, finally, the encouragement which is afforded by this subject to engage in the Saviour's cause. To the young disciple, whose often violated resolutions dispirit, and depress, and discourage from adventuring onward in the Christian warfare, I would suggest, that however necessary the use of means to avoid temptation, and to resis

evil, certainly is; still it is not less necessary to look beyond and above oneself to the Divine Saviour, and place our entire confidence and only hope of success absolutely in his power resting on us; ye know He has said, "Without me ye can do nothing. Can the branch bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine? No more can ye, except ye abide in me." But, on the other hand, he also says to those who are dicouraged, on account of their weaknesses and infirmities, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Let not then your heart fail you, nor your hands hang down in remissness and inactivity; but take courage and press onward, looking to Jesus, whose over-shadowing protection, and whose ever-present power, constitute such a stimulus and defence, as shall ensure to the feeblest Christian an ultimate and complete victory over all his enemies.

To all sincere and devoted Ministers of the Word, Home Pastors and Foreign Evangelists, this subject affords the greatest encouragement. We sometimes have seen the necessary qualifications of Ministers and Mis sionaries drawn in such a high style of natural and intellectual, as well as moral and religious perfection, that I am sure no modest man could ever deem himself at all fitted for the service of his Lord. But the Master himself has not thus stated the case; Paul has not so stated it. The Apostles of our Lord have not led us to suppose that they were men exempt from the passions and the infirmities, and the wants and the imperfections of other men. As if it came by their own wisdom, or power, or goodness, that they "made men whole," converted many thousands, and radicated Christianity in the world. They too had strifes and contentions among themselves and with their fellow-disciples; and whatever painters may represent on the canvass, or orators declaim from the rostrum, there is no reason to believe that the great Apostle of the Gentiles either possessed a fine person, or a powerful voice; but there is reason to believe, from his own testimony, as well as from tradition, that he had unprepossessing bodily defects, and was, according to the taste of the times, an

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inferior public speaker. Oh no! it was not a commanding gentlemanly* person, nor a smooth and graceful oratory, nor the absence of human imperfection in temper and conduct, that converted the nations. The vessels which bore the Gospel "Treasure" were not vessels of gold or silver, or precious stones, but "earthen vessels," that the excellent and soul-transforming power should manifestly appear to be of God, and not of man. It was the "Lord working with them,"-it was the divine "power of Christ" resting on them, which caused the primitive Evangelists always to triumph and spread the savour of Christian knowledge in every place.

The false Apostles were those who preached themselves, exhibited their fine persons and their fine speeches, and practised a dishonest secret craftiness, and handled the word of God deceitfully, and by specious glosses, to please man's taste, corrupted it.

But the true Apostles set up no claim to external accomplishments; St. Paul does not deny the truth of the allegation of his adversaries, that his bodily presence was WEAK, and his speech contemptible. "But (says he), though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge." "We preach not ourselves, but Christ the Lord; as of sincerity, as of God in the sight of God, speak we in Christ."

I infer, therefore, my brethren, that every one who possesses ad ue knowledge of Christ's Gospel, unfeigned love to the Saviour, a sincere desire to glorify Jehovah, by receiving himself, and bearing to others the glorious Gospel of God, is justified in his endeavours to do so, and to hope that the Saviour's power will rest on him, whatever or how many soever his personal infirmities may be.

In accordance with these principles, my brethren, your preacher ventured at first to undertake the work of an evangelist; on the same principles he has hitherto persevered in it, and those alone are the principles which still encourage him to go forward in the work. Pray for

Some Patrons of Missions, in distant parts of the world, have requested to have "gentlemenly" Missionaries sent to them.