ticks; and take from them all Ignorance, Hardness of Heart, and Contempt of thy Word, and fo fetch them them Home, Bleffed Lord, to thy Flock, that they may be faved among the Remnant of the true Ifraelites, and be made one Fold under one Shepherd, Jefus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the holy Spirit, one God World without End. Amen.

: Cor.

I Cor. IX. 12. latter Part.

Left me bould binder the
Gospel of Chrift.

T is both to our prefent Purpose, and according to the Mind of the Apostle, that by this Care and Caution of not hindring the Gospel of Chrift, we fhould understand the not obftructing or wilfully retarding the Advancement and Propagation of that glorious Gofpel: Nay farther, that we fhould have a fervent Affection and Zeal to fpread and promote the Knowledge of it, for the Converfion and Salvation of ignorant Souls. The Apostle here could glory in this Office, that the Difpenfation of the Gospel was committed to him; (Ver. 17.) and that to carry on the good Work, he could deny himself, nay make himself Servant unto all, (Ver. 19.) that he might gain the more: For this firft planting of Chriftianity in the Lands of Darkness, had given him the Character of an Apoftle, (Rom. XV. 16.) and the fingular Honour of an Apoftle of the Gentiles, (Eph. III. 8.) being more especially feparated and fent to gather in the Outcafts of the Gentile World. Hence he argues with his Firft-Fruits of Achaia, the Corinthians, Am I not an Apoftle? Are not ye my Work in the Lord? (Ver. 1.) If I be not an Apoftle to others, yet doubtless I am to you for the Zeal of mine Apoftleship are ye in the Lord, (Ver. 2.) i. e. ye Corinthians from prophane Heathens are become, by my Preaching, with God's Bleffing on it, the Difciples of Chrift, Profelytes to his true and holy Religion. Yet it feems fome among

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mong them had detracted from his Labours of Love, had objected to him, as if he ufd too much Freedom in taking a Sifter or Wife for a Companion and Comfort in his Travels; and likewife that he receiv'd a Support and Maintenance from his People, When he might as well forbear working, as feem to feek the Wages of it. To both thefe Objections of thofe that examin'd him, i. e. accus'd him, and fet up a Sort of Inquifition against him; fays he, (Ver. 4.) Mine Answer is this: Have we not Power, i. e. a Right to eat and to drink, to have a Sufficiency of Food and Rayment for our Pains? And have we not Power, or lawful Liberty, to lead about a Sifter, a Wife, as well as other Apoftles, and as the Brethren of the Lord and Cephas? (Ver. 5.) Then he refumes the Argument of a competent Maintenance for the Minifters of Chrift, and recommends it from the Reafon of the Thing it felf, and from the Authority of the Mofaick Law; And again, in Equity he appeals to their own Confciences, (Ver. 12.) If we have fown unto you fpiritual Things, is it a great Matter if we shall reap your carnal Things? However, when he had clearly afferted his Right, then he reminds them how tender he had been in the Demand and Ufe of it: NevertheLefs, fays he, (Ver. 11.) we have not used this Power, i. e. not rigorously infifted on it; but fuffer all Things, or bear with many Inconveniencies, left we should binder the Gospel of Christ.

The Words thus naturally open themselves into the great Work of this Society, the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts among Infidels and Heathens. And after fo many excellent Difcourfes to this Intent, (a) upon Ten feveral Anniversary Meet

(a) The Charter dated June 16. 1701. apppointed a Yearly Meeting upon the third Friday in February; which has given Oc

Meetings on this Religious Occafion; I beg Leave to reprefent the fatal Lets and Impediments that would most effectually stop the Courfe of your

Occafion to these following Sermons. I. A Sermon Preached before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, at their firft Yearly Meeting on Friday, Feb. 20. 1701-2, at St. Mary-le-Bow, by Richard Willis, D. D. Dean of Lincoln, on Phil. I. 27. Striving together for the Faith of the Gospel. H. A Sermon Preach'd before the faid Society, on Friday Feb. 19. 1703. by the Right Reverend William Lord Bishop of Worcester, not Publifh'd. III. Of the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts. A Sermon Preached at St. Mary-le-Bow, Feb. 18. 1703-4, by the Right Reverend Gilbert Lord Bishop of Sarum, on Malachi I. 11 For from the rifing of the Sun, unto the going down of the fame, my Name Shall be great among the Gentiles, &c. IV, A Sermon Preach'd before the Society, by the Right Reverend John Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, Friday Feb. 16. 1704-5. on Acts XVII. 30, 31. And the times of this Ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all Men every where to Repent, &c. V. A Sermon before the Society, Friday Feb. 15. 1705-6, by the Right Reverend John Lord Bishop of Chichester, on Acts XVI. 9. And a Vifion appeared to Paul in the Night; there ftood a Man of Macedonia, and prayed him, faying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. VI. A Sermon Preached before the Society for Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, on Friday the 21ft of Feb. 1706-7. being the Day of their Anniversary Meeting. By the Right Reverend William Lord Bifhop of St. A faph, on 2 Cor. IX. 2. And your Zeal hath provoked very many. VII. A Sermon Preach'd before the Society, Feb. 23. 1707-8. By William Stanley, D.D. Dean of St.Afaph, on Matt. IX. 37,38. Then faith he unto his Difciples, The Harveft truly is plenteous, but the Labourers are few, &c. VIII. A Sermon Preach'd before the Society, by the Right Reverend Sr. William Dawes, Lord Bifhop of Chester, on Friday Feb. 18. 1708-9. on As XXII. 21. Depart, for I will fend thee far hence unto the Gentiles. IX. A Sermon Preach'd before the Society for Propagation of the Gospel, on Friday Feb. 17. 1709-10. By the Right Reverend Charles Lord Bishop of Norwich, on St. Matt. XI.5. The Poor have the Gospel Preached to them. X. A Sermon Preached before the Society, on Friday Feb. 16. 1710-11. By the Right Reverend William Lord Bishop of St. Alaph, on Acts XXVI. 18. To open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, &c.

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pious

pious Endeavours, and conspire to hinder the Gospel of Chrift.

They are indeed too many to be diftinctly handled; the chief of them are thefe: I. The affecting Conqueft and ufurping temporal Dominion, rather than enlarging the Kingdom of Chrift. II. The driving on Trade and fecular Interest and Gain, rather than feeking the Glory of God and the Good of Souls. III. The practifing Injustice, Fraud and Oppreffion, instead of providing Things Honeft in the Sight of thofe Heathens. IV. The exerciling of Force and Cruelty to compel them to be Converts, inftead of the perfwading and convincing of them. Vthly and Laftly, The fetting an ill Example among them, by any Loofenefs or Profaneness, to make void the Doctrines that are preach'd unto them. Any of thefe indirect Ways will affuredly and deplorably hinder the Gospel of Christ.

"The first mighty Let and Impediment in plant"ting this Gospel amidst any Heathen Country, "would be the affecting Conqueft, and ufurping

temporal Dominion, rather than enlarging the "Kingdom of Christ.

For why, the Laws of God and Nature have given to all People a Title and hereditary Claim to their Native Country, and the Liberties and Properties belonging to it; and have to that End imprinted a noble Inftinct and Ardour on their Minds, to defend their Places of Birth and Abode, and to refift all Foreign Power that attempteth to invade them, or any way violently to difpoffefs them. Hence the Difciples of our Lord, when firft turning to the Gentiles, took Care to apprife them, that they came among them only for their Souls Sake, and to direct them to a better Country, that of Heaven, without meddling with their fettled Portions here on Earth; as the Difciples of a fpi