or a worshipper of mortal men, however excellent; but I will be a teacher of the Gospel, and a publisher of the praise of Christ, and will not shun to deliver the whole counsel of God, upon this all-important matter of the Missionary work and I will speak it with the more plainness because the heads and leaders thereof are now before me, that haply the Lord may carry the principles, which I am about to deduce from his holy word, into the Court and Citadel of this great and glorious cause, to which our countrymen, ever forward and ever foremost in a good work, have set their shoulder, resolved to maintain it unto the death. hold Mes structions the great complete to Missionaries Apostolical But when I took to myself this high com- but to upmission of counselling the counsellors, and siah's injudging the judges of this great undertaking, to the I besought the Lord, that he would cast out Twelve, as all thoughts and conclusions which had their charter and origin in myself, all fears and apprehensions guide of the Missionary which came in from other quarters, and that Work, and he would make of my organs of thought, feel-drie ing, and speech, an instrument wherewith to after the declare the mind and will of His Holy Spirit of School. truth. And, that I might not be wanting in my duty of searching his revelation, I examined every where for a basis and as it were a constitutional charter of missionary associations, and a rule for them to proceed by in all their transactions. And having found, as it seemed to me, for reasons which I shall show hereafter, such an abiding constitution, four times repeated in the Gospels, and given at large in The METHOD of the discourse. the tenth chapter of Matthew, which I have read as the ground of this discourse; I gave thanks, and said :-Now my way is clear before me; I will be an expositor of these instructions of my Redeemer; here is the matter of my discourse; here are the everlasting instructions of the Missionary; this let me endeavour to comprehend, and set forth unto the people. And being, as it seemed to me, directed of God, both in the matter and mauner of this discourse, I gave thanks, and took courage, and being delivered from my fears, I now proceed upon my course rejoicing, and hope to steer safely through that mountainbillow, whose rough top came threatening to overwhelm my scarce sea-worthy bark. Having entered with caution, I resolved next to proceed with order in handling this great question of the Missionary Work; and it seemed to me best to set forth my thoughts after the following method: First. To give an exposition of the Missionary estate, as it is laid down in the fore-mentioned chapter of instructions given by Messiah to the first apostles of his kingdom. Secondly. To examine if it was meant to be of continual authority in the Christian Church, as the Constitution of Christian Missions. Thirdly. To examine how much of the success of the Apostolic age depended upon their exact adherence to the spirit and letter of this Constitution. Fourthly. To show, from the history of Christian Missions subsequent to the primitive times, that they have been prosperous in proportion as they conformed to, and unsuccessful in proportion as they departed from, the spirit and letter of Messiah's Constitution for the Missionary estate. Fifthly. To study it in practice, and consider what good fruits at home, whence the Missionaries and abroad whither they progo, ceed, would come from the exact fulfilment of it. Sixthly. To explain the office of a Missionary Society in carrying it into effect. Lastly. To show the duty of private Christians to support all such institutions, as endeavour to conform themselves to the appointment of the Lord, and to keep on the great work of converting the nations. So that our whole discourse will be an argument founded upon our Lord's words, and concluding for the support of this cause for which we are assembled, and throughout instructing those who are engaged therein. Now, brethren, I ask your patience, the patience of this religious and Christian assembly, to hear me at length upon this, the most important question of the present times; and not to restrict me to the bounds which are observed in ordinary discourses, but, as they do in the courts of justice, and the national assemblies, to give me a latitude commensurate with the weight and importance of the question, which not of my own will, but by request of this great Society, I come forward to advocate. According to this plan, the first thing to be considered is the Office of the Missionary, as it is laid down in these words of Messiah, who himself was Heaven's high Missionary to the earth, and fulfilled to the letter every one of the instructions which he gave unto those who should travel in his footsteps. 15. ORATION I. MESSIAH'S CONSTITUTION FOR THE MISSIONARY ESTATE. not, like voys, and with im posing pomp stance, WHEN kings send out ambassadors to repre- God doth sent their person and their interests in foreign men, fit courts, they choose out from amongst the out his enpeople, men of high name and reputation, well skilled in the ways of the world, and the takings, policy of states; whom, having clothed with powers plenipotentiary, and appointed with and circumofficers and servants of every kind, they send forth, accredited with royal letters to all courts and kingdoms, whither they may come, furnished with grace and splendour to feast the common eye, and laden with rich gifts to take the cupidity or conciliate the favour of those with whom they have to do. Also, when a or with nation fitteth out a journey or voyage of dis- help. covery, as we now do to the Polar Seas (which, as it is the third time, may it be blessed' with threefold success !), they choose out men of fortitude, humanity and skill, upon whom to bestow a valorous and steady crew, who will not be daunted by the dangers, nor baffled by the difficulties of the work; and having called in the whole science and art of the country, to fortify and accommodate the danger-hunting men, they launch them forth amidst the hearty cheers and benedictions of their country. And scientific |