be desolate." "Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." Christians, "Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you."

Thus, my brethren, I have quoted largely from inspired witnesses-from Kings, and Priests, and Prophets, and Apostles, by whom the Almighty spake to man; distinctly setting before you, the divine permission for frail, sinful, human creatures to trust in God when fear cometh; and whilst doing this, you will have perceived very clearly, that it is a sin not to do so; that to trust in self, or in creatures, or in silver or gold, is not only useless but wicked; is a spiritual idolatry, perhaps not less offensive to heaven, than bowing down to stocks and stones.

I might, in discoursing on this subject, dwell at length on the glorious perfections of the Most High God, to whom we should cling in the day when fear cometh. His omnipotence, by which he created and controls the universe; every creature, from the highest angel to the meanest insect; every element of the physical world, in all their most minute and most tremendous combinations; the storms and tempests of the atmosphere, the raging of the sea, the volcanic fire, and the trembling earthquake; plague and pestilence, the devouring sword and pale famine all wait on his Almighty behest. And to this omnipotent power is joined omniscience, omnipresence, infinite wisdom, inflexible justice, inviolable truth, boundless goodness and mercy. We presume not to think that we can describe adequately the incomprehensible God; but, my fellow-men, these are some of the perfections of the High God, who commands our reverence, and requires our trust and he is in Christ reconciling the world to himself.

"In all troubles and adversities then, of what kind soever, under all afflictions that may befal us, of loss or pain, of poverty or sickness, of reproach or persecution for righteousness' sake; and under the most fearful apprehensions of danger and distress, to all human appearance inevitably threatening us, in our persons and private concernments, or with relation to the public peace and tranquillity, or to that which ought to be infinitely dearer to us than all these,

the great concernments of our souls, and of all eternity; when we have no hope any where else, no visible means of help and redress; when we are almost in despair of avoiding the danger, and warding off the blow that is made at us; when ruin and destruction seem just to have overtaken us, and are ready to devour us with open mouth, and swallow us up; when we are reduced to the greatest extremity and distress that can be imagined; in all calamities that may befal us; in life and in death, in our greatest fears and troubles, let us ease our hearts, by reposing ourselves on God in Christ, in confidence of his support and deliverence, of his care and providence, to prevent and divert the evils we fear; or of his gracious help to bear us up under them, and of his mercy and goodness to deliver us from them when he sees best." "Help us, O Thou Most High! in the day when fear cometh, to put our trust in, and cling to Thee !"

"Finally, let us so trust God as to use every prudent and lawful means for our security and preservation from evil: and, at the same time, never employ any unlawful means for our ease and preservation, or rescue from the evils which we fear, or lie under: for we may rest assured, that God is never more concerned to appear for us, than when, out of conscience of our duty to him, we are contented rather to suffer than work our deliverance by undue means. Let us commit ourselves to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator:' and do nothing, no, not for the cause of religion, which is contrary to the plain rules and precepts of it."

I ought not to close without one word more of exhortation to those doubting, anxious spirits, who fear that their sins are too great, or too many, or too long persevered in, to obtain pardon; and who at times have a fearful looking for of judgment. Of all fears, visionary or real, this is the most frightful and awful. In this state of mind, procrastination or delay removes us not from the cause of fear, but every day is bringing us nearer to the thing feared-the judgment seat of Christ.

To this apprehension nothing can bring relief but the

glad tidings of complete justification, or remission of sin, and full acquittal in the sight of God, on account of the righteousness and merits of the Redeemer and Surety, received by an act of faith, which is commonly called, the blessed Gospel doctrine of Justification by faith: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!" The "fearful" are the "unbelieving," against whom a wo is denounced in the Book of Revelation. He who hung upon the cross, and endured the penalty of divine justice. instead of a guilty world, is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins; He died for the ungodly—to save sinners was the very end of his mediatorial work. If thou desirest salvation from sin and its future punishment, fear not, only believe." Sinners that come to Jesus for salvation, he will "in no wise cast out." He is able to save to the uttermost, and he is willing; what occasion then has a sincerely repentant and returning. sinner to fear? Again do I say, agreeably to the Scriptures, O thou anxious doubting penitent, only believe in Jesus, and fear not either his willingness or his power to save thee. In the day that thou art in fear, O thou feeble Christian, cling to Emmanuel; God with us-Jehovah Jesus. Amen!

DISCOURSE XXIII.

BEING A MISSIONARY ADDRESS, DELIVERED At the rev. h. f. burder's CHAPEL, ST. THOMAS'S SQUARE, HACKNEY, DECEMBER 5, 1825.

THE LORD CHRIST'S COMMAND TO
CHRISTIANIZE ALL NATIONS,

GROUNDED ON

The naσa ežovσia, "complete authority," possessed by Him in heaven and on earth.

MATT. XXVIII. 18-20.

Και προσελθων ὁ Ιησους ελάλησεν αυτοις, λεγων· εδόθη μοι πασα εξουσία εν ουρανω και επι γης. Πορευθέντες (ουν) μαθητεύσατε παντα τα έθνη, βαπτίζοντες—Διδασκοντες, &c.

"And (Jesus) came unto them and said, Given unto me is all power in heaven, and on earth; go ye therefore, and disciple all nations; baptizing them, and teaching them, to observe whatsoever I have commanded you.”

In the midst of the ignorance, error, and perversity of judgment which prevail throughout the world, were a man to decline adopting a course of action for himself, till all his neighbours, acquaintances, and friends agreed in recommending one to him, he is not likely ever to come to a decision.

Men are individually accountable to a supreme authority for their actions, and therefore they must act for

"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen: and have the keys of the unseen world and of death." Rev. i. 18. (See Howe's discourse on the Redeemer's Dominion over the Invisible World.)

themselves. The real disciples of Jesus, in becoming such, think for themselves, and in their subsequent career must act for themselves, without ever expecting that their principles and conduct will always meet with the approbation of the non-discipled. Having once seen it right to become the followers of Jesus, we must be guided by his example and his precepts.

There is an evil spirit who rules in the hearts of the disobedient, and he is the god of this world.

To oppose him and subvert his control, Jesus was manifested, and he has erected a standard, surmounted by the cross, on which he died for the redemption of the world, and around it every true Christian is commanded to rally. Not a physical, but a moral and spiritual conflict, is that to which every Christian is called.

However, I dwell not on the figure; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal; we are prepared not to shed the blood of others, but to sacrifice our own as witnesses for the truth. I mention these things briefly to intimate, that a life of ease and unassailed tranquillity ought not to be expected by any genuine disciple. Satan, and the world, and evil propensities, will not leave him in peace; he must defend himself, and that sometimes in bitter conflict; and it is his duty to go forth aggressively against the empire of Satan, of ignorance, of superstition, and of vice.

It is his, however, not to destroy, but to carry aloft into the rebel camp, a proclamation of mercy from the supreme Ruler of the universe.

"I (says the divine Saviour) have all power in heaven and on earth; go ye therefore and proclaim the glad tidings of mercy to every human creature." This did the first Disciples and the Apostles of our Lord, to the extent of their means; and this, more or less, have all their true successors done up to the present day; and this is still the doing of what, in common parlance, is called, "The Missionary enterprize.”

Emmanuel appeared not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. The tyrant oppressor, and artful deceiver of