Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

prospect of a converted world striving for her blessings, privileges, and rewards. HOPE exults in the eventual fruition of her most holy wish, that "all flesh may be saved;" and CHARITY kindles at the vision of an earth, which shall be the abode of love, peace, and "joy in the Holy Ghost;" and whose inhabitants shall dwell toge"ther" like brethren "in unity."

Known unto God alone are the times and seasons when this final conquest of the religion of Jesus over ignorance and sin, over passion and prejudice, superstition and bigotry, shall take place. Many ages may roll on, and numerous generations be swept away, (for with God a thousand years are but as a single day,) before the world shall witness this blessed consummation; but we have the "sure word "of prophecy" that it will occur; and we may humbly hope, without incurring the charge of spiritual pride, vain conceit, or wild enthusiasm, that our own country may be used as an instrument in the hand of God for accelerating, or at least assisting, its accomplishment.

We see the mind of the nation, as it were, intent at this very moment upon the great work. Societies are in action, establishments have been formed, missions

"

have gone forth, and individuals are busied, for spreading the light of the Gospel through the world. Our own Church, taking the lead in this "labour of love," has her ministers in every foreign land, PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, through the medium of the Word of God,' a duly-constituted Priesthood, and her own scriptural Prayer-Book; and teaching her own faith, "which is built upon the foun "dation of the Apostles and Prophets, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone" while the BIBLE, through additional channels, finds its way into the remotest corners, shedding light and life on the regions of the shadow of death;" and gently inviting into the religion of Christ, Jew and Gentile, savage and idolater; those who have not hitherto known the true God, acknowledged his Everlasting Son, or heard whether there be any Holy "Ghost."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

It is true, that, mixed up with this earnest desire and these strenuous endeavours to evangelize the nations, there are occasionally found" zeal without knowledge," mistaken views, and injudicious methods; some leaven of that imperfection which marks every endeavour of man, after a great and general good. But still the holy work

proceeds; and the very errors in its progress have the salutary consequence of warning the labourers in this service of Christian charity to pursue it with disinterested motives, by ingenuous means, and in a sober single spirit; to aim at real, and not to be satisfied with nominal, conversion; and to strive to imitate, though at an humble distance, the example of the Apos.. tles of Jesus; who not only baptized the converts"in the name of the Father, and "of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;" but preached to them "repentance for the "remission of sins;" taught them to "observe all things whatsoever Christ had "commanded them;" and made holiness, virtue, and morality, the only outward proofs of their having become "new crea"tures" in Jesus Christ.

That such was the manner in which the Apostles fulfilled the commission they were charged with by their Divine Master, is evident from all the accounts in the interesting book of their " Acts." We there find that these inspired men were "instant "in season and out of season," in the work of their ministry; labouring night and day in the spreading of the Gospel; braving enemies; encountering dangers; despising threats; enduring privations; and submit

ting to persecutions, in their endeavours to bring their countrymen to "a better mind;' and to lead the Gentiles into the fold of Christ. But they did all this in the spirit of wisdom as well as meekness; they were zealous, but sober-minded; they were fervent, but reasonable; they "drew with the "cords of love, and the bands of a man;" though "wise as serpents, they were harm"less as doves." Irreproachable in their lives, and christian-like in their behaviour, they were "ensamples" to the flocks. which they taught; and holding out a pattern of practical piety themselves, they exemplified those graces in their own persons which they insisted on in the characters of all who named the name of Christ."

Conducted in this calm, and mild, and reasonable way, and aided by the co-operating might of Jesus Christ, the effects of the ministry of the Apostles were as rapid as they were glorious and wonderful. Thousands were converted by a single preaching of one of these divinely commissioned men. The church daily and largely increased in the number of its members; and the new believers, morally improved as well as spiritually edified," walking in "the fear of God, and in the comfort of "the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

This beautiful scene, indeed, of the progress of real and heartfelt conversion to the religion of Christ did not continue long unclouded. After the establishment of the Christian faith, and the departure of the Apostles from the world, the visible aid from heaven in its behalf was withdrawn; and, though guarded by the unseen special providence of God, and the everwatchful spirit of Christ, it was committed, in a great degree, to the reason, common sense, and good feelings of mankind, (to allof which it addresses itself,) to be maintained and propagated by the ordinary means and powers of human agency. From this moment man's passions, prejudices, and interests, were mingled with the religion of the Cross. Ambition and bigotry soon infused themselves into the members of the Church. In a few centuries the Bishop of Rome lorded himself over his brethren; and claimed and exercised a power, both temporal and spiritual, utterly inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the Gospel, and subversive equally of the present and future happiness of mankind. The business of conversion, however, and of propagating Christianity, by no means ceased; but it was Christianity despoiled of all her native simplicity and beauty, which the

« AnteriorContinua »