To God nothing is impossible ; and he who has thus
far accomplished his word, will certainly fulfil it to the end. The grain of mustard-seed shall become a great tree, and all the birds of heaven shall come and dwell under its shadow.]
In this subject will be found abundant matter,
1. For reproof —
[It is in this view principally that the words were uttered. And if St. Paul had so much reason to complain when he saw the Jews were not persuaded to embrace Christianity by one sermon, what reason have we to complain, when persons pro- fessing Christianity cannot be prevailed upon by hundreds of sermons to walk in any measure worthy of their profession ! Surely thousands of the poor heathen, — Indians, Hottentots, Hindoos, — who have received the word with gladness, and experienced the blessedness of this salvation, will rise up in judgment against us, and condemn us. Yes, amongst them there are many who value this salvation more than life itself. Ah ! how will they reprove our supineness and indifference ! Well ; — be it known unto you, that if you, who call yourselves Christians, will not value the Gospel as you ought, it shall be taken away from you, and be given to others who will bring forth the fruits thereof with gladness ]
2. For encouragement —
[When exertions are recommended for the conversion of the heathen, it is common to say, they will not renounce their superstitions; and we cannot attain their language so as to hope for any success in our endeavours. But if God has sent the Gospel to the heathen, and declared that they will hear it, we may well look to him to overcome all the difficulties that
lie in our way But it may be said, the time is not come.
What right have we to say this ? or what reason to imagine it ? If we consider the exertions that are making in the Christian world for the translating of the Scriptures into different lan- guages, and for sending the Gospel to the remotest corners of the earth, we have reason rather to hope that the time is come. But the time as it respects us is always come ; and there is no period when we ought not to exert ourselves in the cause of God, and for the benefit of our fellow-creatures. The question then is, if God has sent salvation to the heathen, who is willing
represents the progress of the Gospel. The river running into the Dead Sea, where, it is said, no fish can live, instantly healed the sea, so that living fish of every kind became innumerable. The Dead Sea fitly marked the state of the heathen world ; and the effect produced upon it by the waters of the sanctuary, marked the change which the Gospel should infallibly produce. Ezek. xlvii. 9.