fered mercy, which cannot degrade him, but may melt his heart into grateful and ingenuous humility; which will elevate him in the true dignity of his feelings and character, while it brings his selfish haughtiness low. It comes to the most debased and miserable outcast, and tells him, that while all others have deserted him, his Maker has not; even he may be recovered to the honor and the joys of the sons of God. It exhibits the beauty and sublimity of holiness, a glorious combination of justice and compassion, which, if the heart were not essentially depraved, the otherwise amiable and noble-minded could not contemplate without admiration and love. II. The importance of preaching the gospel may be perceived, in the second place, in the object it aims to accomplish. By exhibiting the nature of holiness in the character and work of Christ, and the malignity of sin in his death on the cross, it aims to awaken the consciences of men; and by proclaiming forgiveness to the penitent and believing, and setting forth the benignity of God, in that sacrifice by which only he could be just and yet justify one who has sinned, it aims to bring them to repentance, and reconcile them to God, and reclaim them to the purity and elevation and happiness of holiness. It aims to recover them from the servitude and degradation of inordinate passions and appetites, by inspiring within them a spirit of confiding love to God, which will regulate all other affections, and harmonize all other feelings of the soul. It is the object of the gospel, not to exercise an arbitary authority over the minds of men, or bind them down under burdensome and servile rites, or force them to render the abject homage of a superstitious devotee, or confine them to exact and rigorous precepts; but by the manifestation of kindness, and the offer of pardon, to call forth a holy emotion, that will bring them willingly and heartily to God and to duty. This is that liberty where with Christ maketh his disciples free; and they whom Christ thus maketh free are free indeed. The gospel meets men not as a judge, but as a friend and mediator. It cannot be satisfied by rebuking a few prominent vices, intemperance, fraud, licentiousness; but aims to purify the fountain from which these streams of pollution flow. It is not the object of the gospel to strike away here and there an unsightly limb from the tree of depravity, and prune it into fairer proportions; but to root out the noxious plant. It would reform men, in the only way in which they can be truly and thoroughly reformed, by reforming their desires. It aims at nothing less than a change of heart. It is the avowed object of preaching the gospel to affect a radical change in the heart of every man, and with it to change his character and influence and condition and prospects. It is to lead the avaricious man to lay up for himself treasures in heaven; the ambitious man to strive for that crown of glory which fadeth not away; the man of pleasure to regale himself with those pleasures which flow perpetually at God's right hand; the weary and faint ing to repose with calm confidence in him who giveth heavenly rest; it is to teach the highminded to discern what is noble in holiness; and make the mean-spirited look up and feel himself immortal, and estimate the value of his soul; — it is to sweeten the sympathies of domestic and social life; to make home and the family the dwelling-place of peace and harmony and honor and joy; it is to fill the city and village with just such families, and fill the state with just such cities and villages; and cover every land with just such states; it is to exchange the hovel of filthiness and debauchery, and the hut of the savage, for the purest and most honorable dwelling on earth; and the temple of heathen abominations, for a sanctuary of hallowed worship of God and his Son; to cheer the drooping Hindoo, and warm the heart of the Laplander with the same holy spirit; to melt down the wall of selfishness that surrounds the heart of man, and cause the waters of benevolence every where to flow; to break off the chains of the bondslave, and bid Ethiopia stretch forth her hands to God; to inspire the song of redeeming love where the war-whoop echoes in the forest; to make the desert blossom as the rose, and the islands of the sea be glad; it is to renovate the world; to make the whole world prosperous, the abode of love, love to men and love to God, - to make this earth a nursery of souls for heaven. - III. The importance of preaching the gospel is manifest, in the third place, in the certainty of ultimate success. prise, or to mere human wisdom, one more chimerical, than when, under the authority of their crucified leader, the eleven uneducated apostles, with a few adherents like themselves, of the lower ranks, set forth on the purpose of changing the hearts, the religions, the institutions, the manners, and the character of the world. Without wealth, or learning or power, save the simple power of preaching Christ crucified, in the midst of a city and country whose government and religion and prejudices were all against them, they commenced their work. In a few weeks their acknowledged numbers are increased to more than three thousand; they spread themselves through the land; city after city yields to their persuasion and example: persecution rising in wrath, cannot stop them; refined Athens and polished *Corinth, and lordly Rome, listen to the preaching Jew, and receive his doctrine; philosophers and statesmen are converted to the faith; and soon the wide empire formally, and by authority exalts Jesus of Nazareth as the King of kings. In the most discouraging moments, we may look back, and strengthen our courage on this first triumph of the gospel. And though Christianity suffered a shock in its first contest with the superstitions of the world, and, during the ages of darkness that came on, its light shone but feebly amidst the gloom, it was yet, meanwhile, fastening itself stronger on the minds of men; and when the day of Reformation dawned, it was found to be not then Never was there a bolder enter the question, whether Christ was the true teacher, but what he had taught. His religion, though perverted, became woven into the fabric of society; and, at this day, the governments and institutions of those nations which have the most commanding influence in the world, are based on its principles; and those who have imbibed its spirit, among these nations, are rising in their united strength, to carry on the work of their Master to its final victory. The religion of the gospel is a self-propagating religion. They who have truly received it, feel themselves bound to teach it to others; and these again, when they feel its power, must teach it to others still. But it is not its essential nature, nor its past history, nor its present condition, on which we build our faith of certain success. We have a more sure word of prophecy. It is predicted, in that book, whose predictions have never failed, that "the heathen shall be given to the Son for his inheritance; the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." And with these predictions we cannot doubt. difficulty of success, the opposition of men, various wickedness, the perversions of the gospel, and the conflicting opinions and personal contentions of those who profess to receive it, do not stumble us. If the great principle which the gospel assumes, be true, if this be a fallen, depraved world, these things are just what we should expect; instead of making us waver, they do but The their |