Hence minor and temporary objects of benevolence, that concern only one village, or family, or individual, are exalted into a competition with the paramount interests of the church. Hence public attention is distracted; and the little streams of charity, which ought to fall into a common current, and swell the tide of that mighty river, which is to make glad the city of God, become so many counter-currents, crossing each other's course in every direction.* Now, they who are Christians indeed, must rise above all this littleness, to more adequate views of what their religion requires. Their eyes must be opened with a broader vision, and their hearts swelled *The repeated journeys, which the author has been called to make, on account of his health, have given him opportunity to observe extensively, the influence of multiplied applications for charity, towards small and distant objects. A few persons, for example, undertake to erect or repair a church, or to establish an academy. They possess no means of their own, but entertain no doubt that, in this period of liberality, sufficient aid can be obtained from the public. An agent is despatched to distant parts of the country, who presses his solicitation on strangers, perhaps with an untiring pertinacity, proportioned to his own want of intelligence, and delicacy of feeling. Now, if he succeeds to collect more than enough to defray the charges of his journey, it is done at the expense of confounding great with small objects of charity, or of alienating many minds from all such objects. The general principle applicable to such cases, doubtless is, that good objects of a local nature should seek help chiefly from their own region; for the same reason that a necessitous individual should ask alms where he is known. And it is equally obvious that the resources of distant regions, should be promptly thrown into one common charity, in behalf of objects equally the concern of all :-objects that have no local habitation," but the hearts of Christians. 66 Though they ochousehold of God, They have a great, with more expansive benevolence. cupy different apartments in the they are brethren of one family. common interest,—a great, common work to perform. Away with rivalries and collisions. God speed to the man who labors for Christ. Let him forget himself, and sink his personal and local attachments in love to his Redeemer; and I say God speed to that man, whoever he is. Let his own conscience decide where and how he shall labor. What conclusions then shall we draw from the admonitions of this subject? Because our labors of benevolence are attended with difficulties, shall we fold our hands, and relapse into that slumber which has so long been the reproach of the church? Shall we abandon our charitable societies, and our enterprises of benevolence, because they are connected with dangers? As well might we give up our food, because we are warned against intemperance; or our breath, to avoid the poisonous exhalations of the air. As well might we give up the sabbath, and the Bible, because they are liable to abuse and the church itself, because its glory is tarnished by the imperfection of its members. No, brethren ;--the work of this age is but just commenced. Christians of former days have slept supinely, and the long arrears of their neglected labors, fall upon our hands. We have slept too, and at this moment, notwithstanding the eulogies we bestow on our own zeal, compared with the slumbers of the past, we are but half awake. The day is far spent ;-the mighty task of evangelizing the world is before us, and yet we have but just begun to open our eyes. Surely this is not the time to talk of remitting our efforts. No, they must be increased a hundred fold. New enterprises must be undertaken, new societies formed, new sources of revenue for the church devised. Every heart must beat with a higher impulse, every arm be braced with increased strength. And these measures must be public. The world must be called in to aid them. And there must be anniversaries, and addresses, and subscriptions. The names of the benevolent, and their good deeds must be made known, as examples to others. Christians must encounter all the dangers of leading on these public movements; but Christians must take care of their hearts. To act well their part in this day, they must have grace enough to mingle with the world, and yet not be carried down with the current of the world; grace enough to meet applause or reproach, and be Christians still. They must have a fervor of zeal, not to be chilled by coming in contact with the frost of apathy; a firmness of faith, not to be staggered by the shock of opposition. Ministers, especially, should be instructed by the signs of the times. We who are entrusted with the ark of God, during the journeyings and perils of the church, are responsible for the sacred deposit. Let us not be ashamed of our religion; nor conceal, nor mutilate it, from complaisance to the world. We may preach a gospel of our own which will please men. But if we preach the old-fashioned Christianity, which Jesus preached, and as plainly as he did, depend upon it, the unsanctified heart will rise in opposition. And yet, (though it is a standing paradox to unbelief,) this is the very preaching that is to be the instrument of enlisting the world under the banner of the cross. In all our intercourse with men, let us remember that our Master was crucified for the cause of truth; that the ministry which disguises his truth, he will not bless; and that they who shun the labors and trials of his service here, will lose its honors and rewards in heaven. Finally brethren, on this day of humiliation, while we mourn over our sins, and the sins of our fellow Christians, which mar the beauty, and retard the triumphs of the church; it is a precious consolation that we may commit all these interests to God, in whose hands they are safe. He can, and he will take care of this cause, in spite of our imperfection. The same Bible that warns us of our dangers, encourages our hopes. Yes, the church will survive these struggles and conflicts. The day is approaching when mountains will become plains before the chariot of our |