ing moral resurrection of the nations to new life and activity in the service of God-a resurrection to be effected by humbler instrumentalities, and with far less observation, than those by which the great designs of mercy and of wrath toward this fallen race shall be consummated; both of these resurrections, however, are inseparably connected in the mighty chain of divine purposes circling earth and heaven, binding God to man and man to God, for the brightest display of the Ineffable Glory. We take no part in the recovery of the world to Christ, that bears not directly on the manifestations of eternal wisdom, holiness and love, in "that great day for which all other days are made; " not a savage of our Western wilds, nor a Hottentot or Hindoo of distant lands, shall be brought to the knowledge of the truth, without adding to the joyfulness of the hour when death shall be swallowed up in victory.

The words before us suggest three distinct but closely connected topics, deserving our consideration.

I. The duty of the church to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord."

II. The difficulties to be met, and only overcome by perseverance in this work—" be ye steadfast and

unmoveable."

III. The promised reward-" your labor shall not be in vain in the Lord."

I. The duty of the church-to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord."

1. The nature of the work demands it.

To reconcile man to God, through the enlightenment of his mind and the renovation of his heart, though more than can be accomplished "by might or by power," is the work committed to human hands, moved and guided by the Holy One. No audible voice from heaven calls forth the man dead in trespasses and sins to spiritual life and action, nor does the lone arm of Omnipotence raise him from the depths into which he has fallen, and "put him among the children;" but the voice of his fellow man arrests and instructs him, and the hand of his brother gently leads him from the precipice overhanging the world of death, and conducts him to Jesus' feet. Feeble instrumentality this, it is admitted ;-but, ordained of heaven, it is no less necessary to the soul's salvation, than the energy of the wonder-working Spirit himself.

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And, the field of labor is broad. Man's enmity to God is at once entire and universal. Its developments indeed, are affected by circumstances of time, place, education and social condition; but whether it assume the robes of an angel of light, or the blood-dyed garments of the veteran warrior whether it slay indiscriminately the children of Bethlehem, or repeat prayers on the house-topwhether it offer superstitious devotions at Jerusalem or Mecca, at Rome or Benares, or exonerate itself of every religious obligation, its vital character is still the same; it is determined and proud rebellion against the authority of the Most Highclaiming that

"All is not lost; the unconquerable will,

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield
And what is else not to be overcome;

That glory, never shall his wrath or might
Extort from me."

The world is cursed by Satan's rule, and lieth in wickedness. As is the master, so is the servant. The whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now; nor will it be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, till the church shall more and more abound in the work of the Lord.

2. God's purpose in the establishment of the church evinces it.

The church has a name and constitution, ordinances and modes of worship, that determine by their simplicity and variety the great end of her existence. God has formed her to reflect his image, vindicate his honor, extend his authority, and enforce his claims; and for this, he has clothed her with his own beauty, breathing into her a measure of his Spirit, and requiring of her an homage involving the cheerful sacrifice of all earthly good on the altars of truth and holiness. She is the pillar and ground of the truth, the salt of the earth, the light of the world. She has one master, even Christ; and to her are given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that the souls of men may be loosed or bound, as her faithfulness or negligence shall decide.

Not for the edification and comfort of members gathered into her bosom without efforts of her own,

and still less, for the accumulation of worthless honors and emoluments upon herself, has she been called into being; but that she may proclaim in every land Jehovah's name, and summon all nations to the obedience of the faith. By opening the eyes of the blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, and causing the tongue of the dumb to sing, she is to become "an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations."

Such was God's beneficent purpose in her establishment;—not that she might conceal the lively Oracles, and substitute for them the traditions of men; not that she might fill the world with lying wonders, plant the gold-garnished cross upon the hill-top and surmount it with a crown of thorns; not that she might parade her armed battalions and pour forth vollies of thunder in honor of an idol; not that she might invent new terms of salvation, and grant indulgences and remission of sins for the vain repetition of prayers and the payment of money; nor that she might decree arbitrary modes of worship, and compel men by menace and torture, or allure them by flattery and falsehood to adopt a humanly contrived system of faith and practice, violative both of reason and revelation-but, that she might maintain "the law and testimony" in their integrity, explain and enforce their teachings, exemplify their spirit and diffuse their life-giving influence, instructing all men in the first principles and subordinate details of duty, by the energetic ministration of God's word and ordinances, the maintenance of seminaries of science, the operations of the press, and whatever other instrumentalities bear

on them the imprimatur of Heaven. For these ends, and for these alone, was the church established by him who made the world and marshaled the hosts of heaven; and for the same ends she is still sustained in her conflict with the powers of earth and hell.

3. The commission given by Christ to the first disciples contemplates it.

"Go ye therefore and teach all nations—all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo! I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Paramount is the authority that issues this command, plain the duty it enjoins, and full of grace the promise that attends it. "Beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things;" and while they bear witness to the truth" a mouth and wisdom are given them, which all their adversaries are neither able to gainsay nor to resist.”

But the work of the Apostles and their successors in office, turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, belongs equally to the entire body of the church in all generations. Christ's ministers are but the heaven-appointed leaders of

"The sacramental host of God's elect".

ordained heralds of the great salvation embodied in the visible church; nor are the labors and selfdenials involved in the execution of this high commission more exclusively theirs, than are the honor and happiness of the promised results. The com