of man's first disobedience. As truly as I live, saith Jehovah, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Ask of me, saith he to bis Son, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. In the Revelation which he gave to his servant John, of things which should shortly come to pass: I heard, said the apostle, great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. Here, then, is the ground of our unwavering confidence. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the word of God, until all be fulfilled. Such, then, are the means on which we rely for the accomplishment of our object, and such the grounds upon which we rest our confidence of success.

And now, my hearers, deliberately consider the nature of the missionary enterprise. Reflect upon the dignity of its object; the high moral and intellectual powers which are to be called forth in its execution; the simplicity, benevolence, and efficacy of the means by which all this is to be achieved; and we ask you, Does not every other enterprise to which man ever put forth his strength, dwindle into insignificance, before that of preaching Christ crucified to a lost and perishing world?

Engaged in such an object, and supported by such assurances, you may readily suppose we can very well bear the contempt of those who would point at us the finger of scorn. It is written, In the last days there shall be scoffers. We regret that it should be so. We regret that men should oppose an enterprise, of which the chief object is to turn sinners unto holiness. We pity them, and we will pray for them. For we consider their situation far other than enviable. We recollect that it was once said by our Lord, to the first band which he commissioned, "He that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me." So that this very contempt may at last involve them in a controversy infinitely more serious than they at present anticipate. The reviler of missions, and the missionary of the cross, must both stand before the judgment-seat of him who said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It is affecting to think, that, while the one, surrounded by the nation who, through his instrumentality, have been rescued from everlasting death, shall receive the plaudit, Well done, good and faithful servant, the other may be numbered with those despisers who wonder and perish. O that they might know, even in this their day, the things which belong to their peace, before they are hidden from their eyes!

You can also easily perceive how it is that we are not soon disheartened by those who tell us of the difficulties, nay, the hopelessness of our undertaking. They may point us to countries once the seat of the church, now overspread with Mohammedan delusion; or, bidding us look at nations who once believed as we do, now contending for what

we consider fatal error, they may assure us that our cause is declining. To all this we have two answers. First, the assumption that our cause is declining is utterly gratuitous. We think it not difficult to prove, that the distinctive principles we so much venerate, never swayed so powerful an influence over the destinies of the human race as at this very moment. Point us to those nations of the earth to whom moral and intellectual cultivation, inexhaustible resources, progress in arts, and sagacity in council, have assigned the highest rank in political importance, and you point us to nations whose religious opinions are most closely allied to those we cherish. Besides, when was there a period, since the days of the apostles, in which so many converts have been made to these principles, as have been made, both from Christian and Pagan nations, within the last thirty years? Never did the people of the saints of the Most High look so much like going forth in serious earnest, to take possession of the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, as at this very day. We see, then, nothing in the signs of the times which forebodes a failure, but every thing which promises that our undertaking will prosper. But, secondly, suppose the cause did seem declining, we should see no reason to relax our exertions, for Jesus Christ has said, "Preach the gospel to every creature." Appearances, whether prosperous or adverse, alter not the obligation to obey a positive command of Almighty God.

Again, suppose all that this affirmed were true. If it must be, let it be. Let the dark cloud of infidelity overspread Europe, cross the ocean, and cover our own beloved land. Let nation after nation swerve from the faith. Let iniquity abound, and the love of many wax cold, even until there is, on the face of this earth, but one pure church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All we ask is, that we may be members of that one church. God grant that we may throw ourselves into this Thermopyla of the moral universe.

But, even then, we should have no fear that the church of God would be exterminated. We would call to remembrance the years of the right hand of the Most High. We would recollect there was once a time, when the whole church of Christ not only could be, but actually was, gathered with one accord in one place. It was then that the place was shaken as with a rushing mighty wind, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. That same day, three thousand were added to the Lord. Soon, we hear, they have filled Jerusalem with their doctrine. The church has commenced her march. Samaria has, with one accord, believed the gospel. Antioch has become obedient to the faith. The name of Christ has been proclaimed throughout Asia Minor. The temples of the gods, as though smitten by an invisible hand, are deserted. The citizens of Ephesus cry out in despair, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" Licentious Corinth is purified by the preaching of Christ crucified. Persecution puts forth her arm to arrest the spreading "su

perstition." But the progress of the faith can not be stayed. The church of God advances unhurt, amid racks and dungeons, persecutions and death; yea, "smiles at the drawn dagger, and defies its point." She has entered Italy, and appears before the walls of the Eternal City. Idolatry falls prostrate at her approach. Her ensign floats in triumph over the capitol. She has placed upon her brow the diadem of the Cæsars!

After having witnessed such successes, and under such circumstances, we are not to be moved by discouragements. To all of them we answer, Our field is the world. The more arduous the undertaking, the greater will be the glory. And that glory will be ours; for God Almighty is with us.

This enterprise of mercy the Son of God came down from heaven to commence, and in commencing it, he laid down his life. To us has he granted the high privilege of carrying it forward. The legacy which he left us, as he was ascending to his Father and our Father, and to his God and to our God, was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world." With such an object before us, under such a Leader, and supported by such promises, other motives to exertion are unnecessary. Each one of you will anxiously inquire, how he may become a co-worker with the Son of God, in the glorious design of rescuing the world from the miseries of the fall.

Blessed be God, this is a work in which every one of us is permitted to do something. None so poor, none so weak, none so insignificant, but a place of action is assigned him; and the cause expects every man to do his duty.

1. You may assist in it by your prayers. After all that we have said about means, we know that every thing will be in vain without the influ ences of the Holy Spirit. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, it is God who giveth the increase. And these influences are promised, and promised alone, in answer to prayer. Ye, then, who love the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, until he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the whole earth.

2. You may assist by your personal exertions. This cause requires a vigorous, persevering, universal, and systematic effort. It requires that a spirit should pervade every one of us, which shall prompt him to ask himself every morning, "What can I do for Christ to-day?" and which should make him feel humbled and ashamed, if at evening he were obliged to confess he had done nothing. Each one of us is as much obligated as the missionaries themselves, to do all in his power to advance the common cause of Christianity. We, equally with them, have embraced that gospel, of which the fundamental principle is, None of us liveth to himself. And not only is every one bound to exert himself to the uttermost, the same obligation rests upon us so to direct our exer

tions, that each of them may produce the greatest effect. Each one of us may influence others to embark in the undertaking. Each one whom we have influenced may be induced to enlist that circle of which he is the center, until a self-extending system of intense and reverberated action shall embody into one invincible phalanx "the sacramental host of God's elect." Awake, then, brethren, from your slumbers. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And recollect, that what you would do must be done quickly. The day is far spent ; the night is . at hand. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest.

3. You may assist by your pecuniary contributions. And here, I trust, it is unnecessary to say, that in such a cause we consider it a privilege to give. How, so worthily can you appropriate a portion of that substance which Providence has given you, as in sending to your fellow-men, who sit in the region and shadow of death, a knowledge of the God who made them, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent? We pray you, so use the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. But I doubt not you already burn with desire to testify your love to the crucified Redeemer. Enthroned in the high and holy place, he looks down continually upon the heart of every individual, and will accept of your offering, though it be but the widow's mite, if it be given with the widow's feeling. In the last day of solemn account, he will acknowledge it before an assembled universe, saying, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me."

May God, of his grace, enable us so to act, so that, on that day, we may meet with joy the record of our life; and to his name shall be the glory in Christ. Amen.

DISCOURSE XXXIV.

GEORGE F. PIERCE, D.D.

BISHOP PIERCE, of the Methodist Episcopal church South, is a native of Georgia, and now some forty-five to forty-eight years of age. He is a graduate of Franklin College, and after some years' service in the ministry, was appointed President of Emory College, Georgia—a position which he filled with distinguished honor to himself, and the institution over which he presided.

Since his election as one of the bishops of the Methodist church, he has shown rare abilities for the discharge of the responsible duties of that office. He is highly popular in all directions, and by his sagacity and prudence, his sound judgment, comprehensive views, keen discrimination, kindness of spirit, and his zeal and enthusiasm in all the interests of the church, he exerts a widely-important influence. Bishop Pierce is of about medium height and proportions, eyes keen and dark, black hair, full and frank countenance, and dignified and gentlemanly bearings. He has the reputation of being one of the most brilliant pulpit orators in the country; possessing all the various qualities of an effective public speaker, in a remarkable degree. Never speaking except when he has something to say, and clothing his utterances, as by a kind of instinct, in words "fitly spoken," and pronouncing them with a voice, full, deep, round, and musical, perfectly controlled and modulated, he takes up into the arms of his power, the largest and most miscellaneous audience, and bears them whithersoever he listeth. As an example of the finest style of Southern pulpit eloquence, he certainly has few, if any, superiors. One peculiarity of Bishop Pierce's eloquence, is his taste and nice discrimination in the use of metaphors. He seems to think, even, with a kind of classic beauty; and his words are poured out like apples of gold. And this spontaneous exuberance of fancy, tinges and colors all his productions. It has the quality of inexhaustible variety-always ready, always new, and always natural. To use his own description of another man, "There is a delightful propriety, a minute beauty, a neat, chaste, graceful arrangement of every part. His flowers are not artificial: they all have roots, and they are redolent with the morning dew-fresh and fragrant as a vernal garden in the early day."

As the sermons of Bishop Pierce are almost always, if not universally, unwritten, few, if any, have been laid before the public. On this account, we have the greater pleasure in laying before the readers of this work the following admirable discourse, which he has kindly furnished for our use. It was preached in McKendree church, Nashville, Tennessee, April 15, 1855, in memory of the late William Capers, D.D., one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.