you would give. If so, then, think, my friends, of the heavy responsibility that rests upon you all. You must at the bar of God give an account of the use you make of this testimony of God's witnesses. He calls upon you to study it, to examine it, to believe it, and to act under its influence. He is the God of reason, and therefore gives you light to enlighten you, and rational powers to examine; a God of holiness, and therefore gives you moral principles to refine your moral faculties and powers; a God of equity, and therefore he exhibits to you the grand principle to "do unto others as you would they should do unto you." And the book that is thus fraught with all that is harmonious in beauty and in principle, the book that is thus fraught with all that is suited to give glory to God, in the salvation of the guilty children of men, puts before you that salvation without money and without price, invites you to lay hold of it, and to lay hold of it "with pure hearts fervently."

I leave these observations to your serious consideration as in the sight of a pure and holy God. Let me close by observing, that at His tribunal you and I must meet at last, and, if we have rejected this great salvation, how shall we then be saved? I press the case no further: perhaps we shall not meet to consider it again till time shall be no more. We must meet then; let me urge, then, my friends, on you all the importance of so receiving Christ Jesus that you may walk with him even as he is.

180

THE ACCESSION OF THE HEATHEN TO CHRIST.

REV. J. HAMBLETON, A. M.,

ST. BARNABAS' CHURCH, KING SQUARE, SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1834*.

"Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?"-ISAIAH, lx. 8.

It is an

"Who are

THIS sixtieth chapter of Isaiah is a truly missionary chapter. Whoever doubts whether God has purposes of mercy towards the heathen world, whoever is tempted to faint in the work of missions, whoever is ready to despond at the prospects of the Church of Christ, has not got his mind and heart imbued with the spirit of this noble chapter, in order to thank God and take courage.. The text, as you may perceive, foretells the glory which is to come to the Church of Christ in the abundant accession of Gentile converts. expression of the glad surprise felt by the Church, on seeing so many converts come flocking within her pale from the distant heathen nations. these," she enquires-“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" What then is meant? Who and what are these that "fly as a cloud?" This shall be our first consideration. And, then, Why are they like to "doves" flying "to their windows?" Such, my brethren, is to be our subject this evening, when you are to have the privilege of taking your part in the interesting work of helping to send missionaries to the heathen world. I believe I am addressing a willing people, who will readily enter into the idea of its being a gracious privilege, as well as a bounden duty, to do all we can to give freely to others the gospel we have had so freely given to ourselves. If there are any persons, still indifferent to the subject of missions, or prejudiced against it, I say, they have yet to learn the value of the gospel of Christ to their own souls. I would try and not forget the case of such, while I am to bring before you all the subject of Christian missions, as it is presented in our text. And may God, whose blessed Spirit inspired our text, be pleased to assist us in considering its import.

We are first to enquirc WHO AND WHAT THESE ARE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD. Our text tells us, they are heathen converts, hastening with earnestness, in large numbers, and in a united spirit, to join the Church of Christ. The church is represented as receiving them with glad surprise; because all true members of the Spiritual Church know the multitudinous difficulties to be overcome in the conversion of even one sinner in any country, and much more in the case of many even here in a Christian land, but a thousand fold more among the heathen, where prejudice is so strong, ignorance so deep, sin so abounding, and the god of this world holds such multitudes in his iron bon lage

* On behalf of the Church Missionary Society.

There is wonder in heaven, and there should be wonder in earth, when one sinner in any place truly repents: there is great wonder in heaven and there should be great wonder on earth, when numbers of poor benighted heathens hasten to join the Church of Christ. "Who are these?" we should anxiously enquire, “Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" This denotes their coming with earnestness and haste. They come flying: "Who are these that fly as a cloud?" And why so earnest? If, brethren, you are yourselves truly converted Christians you will know why. When sinners in any land really understand their state of guilt and danger before God, when they hear from his Word, and believe what they hear, that there is a large and glorious salvation freely provided for them in Christ Jesus; when they see the time so fair, and opportunity so precious, and invitations so urgent, then they come with an earnestness of spirit well described by the expression of our text, "Fly as a cloud."

Ask you where it is they fly from? From their state of condemnation, from the brink of destruction, from the kingdom of Satan, from a world of sin, from the wrath to come. And whither do they fly? Whither but to Christ? Who else is a refuge for the poor sinner? Is not he "a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest?" To whom can the stray lamb, lost upon the dark mountains, flee, but to the Good Shepherd, who came to seek it, and who promises to gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young? To whom, but to Jesus can the heathen flee, and be assured of salvation by the Word and covenant of God? Is not he the only Mediator, Sacrifice, and Propitiation offered to this lost and ruined world? Is there any name but his given under heaven among men whereby they can be saved? To Christ, then, and to his Church, the Gentiles fly with earnestness and haste.

My brethren, you and I who are Christians were all sinners of the Gentiles: have we fled with earnestness to Christ? Does our text describe us? You must not tell me that earnestness in religion is but another name for enthusiasm: the world says it; but the world in saying it knows not what it says. Search the Scriptures and see: I invite the most worldly-minded person present to examine in his Bible, whether earnestness and seriousness of spirit are not there described as constant marks of a true Christian. Is there no earnestness meant when the Scripture says, "Flee from the wrath to come"-"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light"—“ Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation?" Is there no seriousness enjoined when your Bible Fight the good fight of faith"says, "Strive to enter in"-" So run that ye may obtain ?" What, shall man be earnest in this world's business, alive as to all its vanities, serious in indulging sin, and is religion the only thing about which it is wrong to be earnest ? Was not Christ in earnest in dying for sinners on the cross? Is not God serious in his denunciations, and earnest in his invitations? Is not death in earnest, mowing down men as though they were grass? Is not time speeding on in earnest to join eternity? Shall man, immortal man, who has a soul to be saved or lost, be the only trifler in the universe? If any among you are careless Christians, let me tell you the man who is not serious in religion is no true Christian; whoever can treat such momentous things as death, judgment, the soul's salvation, Christ, eternity, heaven, or hell, with a careless indifference, or wanton levity, is himself in all the guilt and danger of an unconverted state. Before

I can ask of such an one to care for the poor heathen, I must bid him, and I do it affectionately, to begin to care for his own poor, perishing soul. Fly, I would say, for yourself to Christ; fly with penitence and faith; fly without any further delay or excuse. Let fools, if they will, mock at your concern; God in heaven approves it.

You, too, who have fled to Christ for yourselves-you who have often felt your sinfulness and helplessness and insufficiency urge you to Christ, be not ashamed of your earnestness; mourn, rather, over your frequent coldness. Lose not the fervour of your first love. Is not heaven now nearer you? Is not your time of glorifying Christ shorter than it was? Is he become less precious? And will you not that we say to such, Be anxious to seize the favourable opportunity now given to the Christian world of endeavouring to prevail on heathens to hasten and come to Christ? Are not now the Indies open as they never were in our days, or in our fathers' days, for missionary enterprise? What means the shaking of the Mahomedan power to its very base? Is it not a summons to Christians to erect the standard of the cross, and to proclaim Jesus, the true Prophet, Priest, and King of his church? Ancient Christian churches meanwhile are beginning to revive as if from the dead. We have our missionary at Smyrna, where you remember was once an apostolic church. We have another missionary in Abyssinia, and another in the Syrian church, which was planted in the first ages. Will you not co-operate with the good Providence of God, which is now in a most extraordinary manner inviting to missionary works?

Our text not only describes their earnestness and haste, but also, I may mention, it describes the great numbers in which Gentile converts are to be seen joining the Church of Christ. "Who are these that fly as a cloud?" A single convert would not be thus described. Many vapours form a cloud; many converts make up a cloud of converts. So St. Paul says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses." It is a figure also used by heathen writers: Homer speaks of "a cloud of soldiers." The context says much of the numbers of Gentile converts who join the Christian Church: "The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee."

And in this view also our text has been in a measure previously fulfilled. How many a cloud of pious converts from among the heathen were seen flying to Jesus and his Church in the first ages? How often in those days did angels gaze with wonder and delight at some beauteous cloud rising gradually from earth to heaven, like that which the traveller witnesses rising from the lowly valley on the mountain's side, ascending upwards until lost in the brightness of the heavens? In our own day, among the many dark clouds which seem to lower around us, amidst all the infidel profaneness and licentiousness, of worldliness and intemperance, which forebode a heavy storm of judgment, is there not still, in the eye of faith, another cloud, of a brighter and more cheering aspect? I mean, is there not still a great cloud of faithful witnesses for "the truth as it is in Jesus?" Is there not a large increase in the number of pious and devoted ministers? And is not almost every such minister greatly encouraged in seeing many, young and old, high and low, becoming anxious for salvation, flocking in numbers to hear the gospel, and many who are flying for salvation to the Saviour?

And what are the accounts from missionaries in heathen lands? All, I believe, are encouraging-some in a most delightful manner. Read and judge

for yourselves. Without any thing like exaggeration, or mis-statement, with no false colouring or overwrought description, the fact I believe is, that the fields of the heathen world are fast whitening for the harvest: missionaries are graciously prospered in their work: our own missionaries in India, New Zealand, Africa, and other parts, see many "a cloud" of converts flying to the church of Christ. If in some parts the cloud is but small, have we not heard of the cloud no bigger than a man's hand which arose from the mass of waters, and swelled and spread, until the heavens were black with clouds, and there was great rain? Who that has traced the progress of light and holiness in his own soul can find it in his heart to despise the day of small things?

Once more, under our first head, besides earnestness and numbers, our text also intimates mutual union and fellowship in the converts joining the church of Christ. A cloud consists of vapours, once scattered, now condensed and united together. There should be an union of spirit among all who are truly prompted to come and join the Spiritual Church of Christ. What is it we read of the early Christians? "And the multitude of them that believe were of one heart and one soul." Often were surrounding heathens forced to exclaim, "See how these Christians love one another!" So it should be still: the world is full of discord; ambition, selfishness, and pride divide multitudes; but Christ, our Master, was the Prince of Peace; he is himself our peace; in coming to him we are to learn the secret of peace-in his forgiving love towards ourselves we are to learn how to forgive each other our trespasses. Yes, my brethren, in all true converts to the faith and love of Christ, we see a oneness of heart and spirit, a sympathy, affection, and brotherly concord, to which the world are yet strangers: they have all felt the burden of a fleshly nature and the load of sins; all have been drawn by the same grace to the same Saviour; all have heard at his lips this his new commandment, "that ye love one another." Think not that I here forget the divisions which have been seen among professing Christians: they are the spots in our feasts of charity, and the disgrace of the gospel of Christ neither think that I am recommending a hollow union, however plausible. Let Christ in his divinity, humanity, and saving grace, be the bond of union; let his spirit be the cementing principle, his gospel the one standard, his example the one pattern; and then let all who agree in these agree also to love one another, and to leave strife, enmity, and division to the world without.

And here also Christian missions claim your encouragement. What an interesting sight is that now seen every Sabbath-day in New Zealand. Large groups of converts, and catechumens, and heathens, are there gathered around the Christian missionary, hearing and joining in the pious petitions of our Liturgy, and listening to the gospel of peace, singing the praises of our Redeemer, where but a few years since all was barbarism, ferocity, and deadly hatred. Now they cheerfully allow the missionaries to be peace-makers among their tribes; now they earnestly beg to have missionaries sent among them. Can you, Christians, can you refuse such a request? They ask you for the bread of life; will you give them stones

We have thus, under our first head, seen heathen converts hastening with earnestness in large numbers and in a united spirit, joined to the Church of Christ? But why are they further likened unto "DOVES FLYING TO THEIR WINDOWS?" That is our second point. And here we have an image truly