cause of God and religion, that you may be entitled to the highest rewards given to those who improve the talents committed to their trust, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

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In the above remarks, I have supposed a Christian to be possessed of an annual income of £800. Were he possessed of an income of £2000 or £3000, I have no hesitation in saying, that he ought to devote at least the one half to the promotion of the great objects of religion and general philanthropy, and that one whose income is £200, or under, not descending below £50 or £60, should devote at least the one tenth of it to the same purpose. This proportion is no more than what was imperatively demanded by government, as a compulsory tax on all such incomes, during the late war; and the same sum is now requested on a voluntary principle, for a higher and nobler object.

Let Christians seriously consider, as in the presence of God, and as indebted to him for the hope and prospects of eternal life, whether they dare, or ought to refuse it. As to all lower incomes than those alluded to, a certain proportion ought likewise to be allotted for the same objects, except in the case of absolute poverty. Perhaps a twentieth, or a thirtieth at least, is the lowest rate or proportion which should, in any case, be allotted to the service of God.

2. Consider, that all the pecuniary efforts you can possibly make, are essentially requisite for the enlightening and regeneration of society, and that your parsimony may be the means of retarding the universal promulgation of the gospel.

I have already shown, in chapter VI., the vast extent of the enterprise to be undertaken, and of the work to be accomplished, and the immense sums requisite for carrying them forward; from which it will appear, that all the liberality that every Christian can display, is absolutely necessary in order to promote the renovation of the physical and moral world, and to diffuse the knowledge of divine truth among the nations. Almost all the departments of the social state require to be remodelled-uni

versal education, on a broad and universal basis, requires to be established in every land-the poor require to be furnished with employment, instruction, and comfortable habitations—“the face of the earth" requires to be “ renewed," and the deserts, marshes, and barren wastes, transformed into fertile fields, and luxuriant vegetationthe 600 millions which people heathen nations, require to be instructed in the knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent-the "isles afar off must be visited, and vast continents explored, that their inhabitants may be visited with the day-spring from on high and the knowledge of salvation." The gospel must be published to all nations, and the way prepared for the triumphant reign of Messiah over all kindreds and people. Every valley must be exalted, and every mountain and hill must be levelled, to prepare a high way for the approach of Him "to whom is given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him"-" whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." All these extensive and important objects require to be accomplished by the combined efforts of the citizens of Zion, in connexion with the movements of Divine Providence and the operations of the Divine Spirit, and an imperious call is addressed to every one to engage in this holy enterprise. Say not ye, therefore, as the ancient Jews, "The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." "For, thus saith the Lord of hosts, consider your ways; go up to the mountain, and bring store, and build this house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith Jehovah. Be strong, all ye people of the land, and work, for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts. For thus saith the Lord, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the

strength of the kingdoms of the heathen, and I will give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

Now, therefore, my brethren, listen to the admonition: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, CONSIDER YOUR WAYS;" consider whether you have yet done all that is in your power, to accomplish the purposes of the Most High. Consider whether your indifference and parsimony have not prevented the preparations requisite for rearing the spiritual temple of Jehovah. And if you are convinced, that, were you weighed in the balance, you would be found wanting, it is now time to make up your deficiency, and to awake to spiritual activity, and to holy enterprises. Will you allow the love of the world to prevent the extension of the gospel, and to retard the approach of the millennial era, and the full glory of Messiah's reign? Yet this ye do, if ye do not come forward, with cheerfulness, to devote all the treasures you can possibly spare, to prepare the way for the proclamation among all people of "the salvation of our God." What a sad reflection is it, should conscience accuse us, that we have been guilty of standing as obstructions to the progress and prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom? It is not unlikely that a reflection of this kind may occasionally damp the joys of individuals, even in the celestial mansions. We are told of some who shall be saved, "yet so as by fire," implying, that, though they shall be rescued from perdition, yet a mark of disapprobation will be set upon certain parts of their conduct, which will prevent them from receiving the higher rewards of the heavenly state. But every Christian should so act as to render himself worthy of the highest approbation of his Lord and master, and of the higher seats in the mansions of bliss. Those to whom God has given abundant treasures, have the best opportunities of thus distinguishing themselves; and we know, moreover, that "to whom much is given," from them "much will be required." Let it never then be surmised of you, that your conduct appears as if you set a higher value on the pomp and fashion of the world, in laying up treasures on earth, in providing portions for your children, or in living in luxurious abundance, than

in hastening the arrival of the millennium, or in aiming at the highest honours of the celestial kingdom. Let the promises of your God and Redeemer, the pleasure of beholding the gradual progress of the world's regeneration, and the glorious prospects presented to your faith, animate and encourage you to come forth as a Christian hero in the cause of universal benevolence; and although you should be sneered at by the men of the world, "great shall be your reward," in that kingdom where they who have been instrumental in turning many to righteousness, "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars forever and ever.” *

* It is not a little unaccountable, on Christian principles, that so many wealthy professors of religion leave the world, without bequeathing any portion of their substance for religious and philanthropic purposes. An aged gentleman, a professor of religion, who had for many years attended a respectable dissenting place of worship, died a few weeks ago, leaving money and property to the amount of £20,000. But, although he was unmarried, and had no children, nor brothers nor sisters, not a single pound of it was devoted to the public, charitable, or religious objects—while the one half of this sum might have been appropriated to such objects, without the least injury to surviving relatives, most of whom stood in no need of it. About a month ago, a lady informed me, that a gentleman in one of our populous cities had died worth £300,000. I replied, in the words of the late J. B. Wilson, Esq., "He has died wickedly rich." She was startled at the reply, and said "that he was a respectable character, and had acquired his wealth in an honourable way." ." I asked, how much of it he had left for the purposes of religion and philanthropy? She replied, "that she had heard of nothing being left for such purposes, but he had, no doubt, given during his life, something for charitable objects; and that it was very proper and dutiful for a man to provide for his family, that they may move in their proper station; for we are told, that he who provideth not for his household, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," &c. I replied, such a man ought to have left at least, £20,000, for rational and religious purposes, without in the least injuring his family, in whatever station they were brought up, and I could not but entertain a very low opinion of that man's Christianity, who could accumulate so much wealth, and leave none of it to promote the cause of religion and the best interests of mankind. But my worthy female friend could not be persuaded but that a man might lawfully do with his own as he pleased, and that his family were entitled to the whole of what he possessed. This is a

3. Consider the import of the words of your Redeemer, "It is more blessed (or happy) to give than to receive."

The disposition to communicate happiness to fellowintelligences, is one of the characteristic traits of the true Christian, by which he is distinguished from the selfish and avaricious soul, and from the world that lieth in wickedness. It is the source of all natural and moral good, the spring of all public and private happiness, and the only real excellence of moral and intelligent beings. A disposition to receive happiness from others, but never to be instrumental in imparting it, would create a vast blank throughout the universe; and its countless tribes of inhabitants would remain forever destitute of enjoyment. Creation might present a scene of beauty and fertility to the eye, but the affection of moral beings would be cold and chill as the frosts of winter, and their hearts would never thrill with joy amidst surrounding associates. But from the voluntary and benevolent agency of intelligent beings, beginning at the great first cause of all enjoyment, and descending through every subordinate rank of intellectual existence, flows all that happiness which is enjoyed, either in earth or heaven, by every rank of moral agents, whether men or angels, cherubim or seraphim. This is the plain import of the maxim of our Saviour: "It is more happy to give than to receive," namely, that the communication of good ought to be the great object of every Christian, and that it is more desirable and honourable to impart enjoyment to others than to receive it from them.

I cannot conceive a source of greater happiness on earth, than that which would flow to a Christian, whom God had blessed with abundance of wealth, in distributing at least the one-half of his substance, in works of piety and beneficence. He might soon behold, every where around him, the young trained up in knowledge and vir

fallacy which ought to be removed from the minds of professed religionists, as it implies a virtual denial of our dependence upon God, and of our obligations to consecrate our wealth and talents to the accomplishment of his benevolent designs.