Nor ought we to omit, on this occasion, to make honorable mention of the liberal plans of the "London Missionary Society." The first operation of that body, in sending forth, at once, a "great company of preachers," displayed a noble spirit of zeal and unanimity; and manifested a laudable and well-grounded confidence in the ultimate success of the great design. The merits of that Christian Expedition have not, perhaps, been sufficiently acknowledged at home. But the sending forth a ship to the Pacific Ocean at that day, was a great event in the history of the Gospel; and will no doubt be recorded in the books of the Heathen World in ages to come.*

That I may lead your thoughts to the serious contemplation of the measure which I have proposed, I shall now recite to you a prediction of the prophet Isaiah, and the interpretation of it by the Jews of the East.

The prophecy to which I allude is in the xviiith chapter of Isaiah. It begins in our Translation with these words: "Woe to the land;" but it ought to be translated "O land!" being an address of affection and respect. "O land! shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto:" and concludes with these words: "In that time shall the present be brought unto the

*Our approbation here refers not to the place selected for the first mission, but to the spirit which sent it forth. Those, who now blame the choice of the place, did not themselves, perhaps, anticipate the difficulties. A country which is protected by a regular government, is indeed the most suitable. But a regular government will not always receive a mission, of which we have several examples. Besides the Gos pel is to be preached to Barbarians as well as to Greeks; and Savages have become obedient to the Gospel in every age.

Lord of Hosts of a people scattered and peeled, to the place of the name of the Lord of Hosts, the Mount Zion."

This prophecy, which had been considered by some of the learned in this country, and first, I believe, by the late Bishop Horsley, as referring to these times, I proposed to the Jews in the East; who, after some deliberation, gave me the following explanation:

"The prophecy in this chapter relates to the restoration of the Jews to their own country. The nation here addressed, by a kind compellation, ‘O thou land,' was to send a message to the Jewish People; and this was to be a message of kindness."

I then desired they would describe the character of the nation, which was to send a message of kindness to the Jewish People, according to the prophecy. They stated these four particulars concerning it.

1. That the place of the nation was beyond the rivers of Cusн, that is, to the west of the Nile; for the prophet was on the east of the Nile when he delivered his prophecy.

2. That it was a land "shadowing with wings;" which signifies that it should be of great extent and power, and capable of giving protection.

3. That it was a Maritime Nation "sending ambassadors by sea in vessels of bulrushes:" a figure for light ships, not burthened with commerce, but light for despatch; carrying merely the TIDINGS OF GLADNESS: and that the ambassadors sent in them were messengers of peace. When I expressed some doubt as to the character of these Ambassadors, we referred to the old Arabic Translation of Isaiah, which happened to be at hand; where the word for Ambassadors is rendered Prophets or Preachers.

4. That the issue of this embassy would be the restoration of "the people scattered and peeled to the Lord of Hosts in Zion:" and that, at the period when this should take place, there would be a shaking of the nations; for it is said, in the third verse, that God "would lift up his ensign on the mountains, that all might see: and blow his trumpet, that all the inhabitants of the earth might hear."

When I endeavored to shew that all these characters centered in Great Britain, and that she was actually sending forth messengers at this time to all nations, the Jews were alarmed at their own interpretation, and began to qualify some parts of it. I then demanded what they really believed to be intended by the mission of these "ambassadors." They answered, that they understood the embassy in a political sense only; and that the nation spoken of was merely to afford its aid to restore them to their temporal kingdom.

But, whether the prophecy have a temporal or a spiritual sense, I submit to your judgment, and not to that of the Jews in the East.

Let us then, my Brethren, obey the prophetic mandate, and "send forth ambassadors in light ships; saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled," dispersed in all lands: "to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto." For from the time since they came forth from Egypt, accompanied by signs and wonders, they have been a terror and a wonder to all. Send ye ambassadors "to a nation expecting and looking out" for the Messiah, who is also the desire of other nations; and announce ye to all, That the "Desire of ALL nations is come," Hag. ii, 7. "Lift ye up the ensign upon the mountains, that all the inhabitants of the world may see; and blow ye

the trumpet," the Great Trumpet of the World's Jubilee, "that all the dwellers on the earth may hear."

"Ye are the light of the world." Let not your light be confined to this spot, in a northern region. Put away the reproach, that ye are known out of your country, merely as a Commercial People. Even as a Commercial People, you are, at this moment, shut out of the countries of Europe. Obey then the present providence, and resort to the ports of distant lands; carrying the message of kindness to a people who "stretch forth their hands," and will receive your commerce, and the Gospel together.

It is not your duty to wait till the nation send forth messengers at the public expense. Perhaps that period may never come. It may be, that our Church knoweth not how to promote such an object, but by the instrumentality of subordinate societies: even as the State sometimes administers the government of a remote branch of the empire by the same means. Two Societies were instituted about a hundred years ago; but the period for great and successful exertion was evidently not then come. You are a Third Society, established in more auspicious times; and others may follow.

It is not your duty, I say, to wait till the Nation, in its public capacity, begin to send forth preachers to the Gentiles. If that event should ever arrive, you prepare the way. If Individuals did not begin, the Universal Church would not follow. What measure of great public utility was ever executed by Church or State, which was not first proposed by Individuals? which was not first resisted by the greater body; and, perhaps, defeated for a time?

Consider, finally, the example of the Great Author of our Religion. Draw your light from Christ. At

the first promulgation of his Gospel to the Heathen World, he gave his commission to individuals. During three hundred years, the Ministry of the Gospel was committed to individuals: I mean they were not associated by any authority of temporal empire: and by them the conversion of the nations was effected, under the direction of their respective Churches in Rome, Corinth, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. It may be the Divine will that the promulgation of the Gospel at this time should be effected partly by the same means.

Your object and that of the Bible Society is the same. It is, to give the Bible to the World. But, as that Sacred Volume cannot be given to men of different nations until it be translated into their respective languages, it is the province of your Institution to send forth proper instruments for this purpose. Your Society is confined to Members of the Established Church. You do not interfere with the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," nor with that "for Promoting Christian Knowledge:" for neither of these professes the precise objects to which you would confine yourselves. It does not seem to be possible to frame an objection to your establishment. When the design and the proceedings of your Institution shall have been fully made known, you may expect the support of the Episcopal Body, of the two Universities, and of every zealous Member of the Church of England.

It has been objected to that Noble Institution to which we have alluded, the British and Foreign Bible Society, that it is in its character universal; that it embraces all, and acknowledges no cast in the Christian Religion: and it has been insinuated, that we ought not to be zealous even for the extension of