inconsistent with it : and another has married a wife, or intends to do so, and therefore cannot go. Much labour and little pay, is not the preferment which the generality of us affect : a thousand difficulties rise up to view ; and every mole-hill becomes a mountain. And who but God can overcome this sad reluctance ? Who can inspire men with zeal sufficient for this holy undertaking ? None but He who formed the universe : none but He who called Andrew and Peter from their nets, and Matthew from the receipt of custom. " He has all hearts in his hands, and turneth them whithersoever he will;" and can convert a proud and persecuting Saul into a humble, loving, and laborious servant of Christ. We should therefore pray to him to effect this. He is a prayer-hearing God, and will not suffer us to seek his face in vain. The whole night did Jesus spend in prayer, previous to his calling to himself his twelve disciples*'. And who can tell, if we were alike earnest in prayer, what might be effected in behalf of the heathen world? At all events, we are bound to use the means : and we have every reason to believe, that if " we would give no rest to our God," agreeably to his direction*^, he would arise for our help, and get himself praise throughout the earth.]
Improvement —
1. Be thankful for the blessings which you your- selves enjoy —
[Are you " faint," from a sense of your own guilt and help- lessness ? You have those at hand who are ready to offer you "the cup of salvation." Are you exposed to danger? You have shepherds to warn you of it, and to point out to you that Saviour who is both able and willing to deliver. It may be that some of you understand, by painful experience, what it is to feel a sense of God's wrath upon the soul, and to be harassed with " a certain fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation." O, what thanks do you owe to God, that the way of life is so plainly opened to you, and that you are so urgently called to walk in it! Be thankful, then, and avail yourselves of the privileges which you enjoy, and which " many prophets and kings have sought in vain."]
2. Endeavour to extend them to the whole world —
[This is the bounden duty of all, to whom the Gospel comes. Ministers and people are alike bound to use the efforts which are within their power : and the poorest and weakest in the universe may lift up his soul in prayer. I call upon you, then ; on you especially who are sensible of your own privi- leges ; surely it will be strange indeed if you do not shew a
0 Luke vi. 12, 13. * Isai. Ixii. C, 7.