not to follow his steps in the active exercise of mercy. Do you ask further, why it has done. this? Because it is composed of churchmen, and, as members of the church, they are in the daily habit of praying, Thy kingdom come! and they know that to pray for a blessing, and not to use the means which may procure it, is either vain enthusiasm or sinful hypocrisy. Shall we constantly repeat the supplication, that God would make "his way known upon earth, his saving health unto all nations," and shall we contribute no share towards that blessed consummation? To extend the knowledge of his way, to impart to the perishing his saving health, by sending messengers to convey it, is the express design of this Society; and in so doing, it facilitates the efforts, even the smallest efforts, of spiritual benevolence, and gives effect to the feebleness of individual exertions.

Again, we admire the constitution of our church, we admire its services, and think them happily adapted to the wants and circumstances of mankind. Then shall we not extend the use of them? Ought we not in consistency to communicate what we approve? Ought we not to enable others in the same words to raise their supplications to the same God; to im

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plore his mercy in the same humble confessions; and to praise his goodness in the same joyful thanksgivings? This very Sabbath, brethren, many a congregation, in many a remote land, is lifting up holy hands to God; many a congregation which, but for this Society, would have been doubting what ought to be adored, or perhaps would have been adoring the evil one. This very Sabbath, brethren, the confession of sinfulness, in which you have joined, has risen also from the parching sands of Africa, and from the luxuriant forests of India: and, taught by the instruments which this Society has employed, multitudes of converted heathen have imitated you in the words, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth." 8 As you have borrowed them from the songs of angels, the heathen have copied them from the formularies of your church. church. Have Have you assisted in this? Has your mite contributed to this blessed exchange of heathen ignorance for christian worship? Go on, and prosper. Never was there a time when your exertions were more needed. The Society has become impoverished by its own success; and unless the liberality of its supporters keeps pace with 8 Isa. vi. 3.

that success, it will be forced to contract its operations, and relax its efforts in the christian cause. Is there one here who has not assisted hitherto, and taken no share in this work? Hasten to wipe away the stain, before it is indelible; and show, by some sacrifice on behalf of spiritual charity, that you prize what you enjoy, that you can act as well as pray, and diligently promote what you profess earnestly to desire.

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SERMON XVIII.

ACTIVE CHARITY A PART OF PURE
RELIGION.

James i. 27.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, aud to keep himself unspotted from the world.

It is evident from the tone of St. James's epistle, that among those to whom he addressed it,1 practical religion was at a low ebb. Perhaps this was more likely to be the case with the Jewish converts, than with those from among the heathen who had embraced the Gospel. The Jews had been accustomed to the name of religion. They had been used to associate with it the

The twelve tribes which were scattered abroad.

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idea of forms and ceremonies. They had always considered themselves as the people of God. It was no new thing to cry unto him, Abba, Father." And for this reason, it would be more difficult to make them understand the different relation towards God in which they were placed, as disciples of his blessed Son; more difficult for them to perceive the devotedness of heart and life to which they were called through the Gospel; to perceive that names are nothing, unless they represent realities; that forms are not piety, but the means of piety.

On this account St. James takes great pains to show the danger of being "hearers of the word" only, and not "doers ;" and so" deceiving their own selves" with the shadow instead of the substance of religion. He points out the effect which FAITH will have, when it is truly planted and rooted in the heart. And in the text he sets forth one example, one very important instance, of the way in which it will operate and direct the habits of life. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Brethren, it well behoves us to consider what