SERMON V.

Preached the 1st of January 1809, on a stated Minister being first appointed to the Mission Church by the Court of Directors.

Ps. cxxxvi. 23. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever.

FOR several years past, we have been accus

tomed to assemble in this place on the first day of the year, for the purpose described by the prophet, Isa. lxiii. 7, to mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses."

To assist us in the same grateful service on the present occasion, I have selected a portion of the 136th Psalm, which seems to be applicable to the existing state of religion in the. world, to the circumstances of this church and congregation in particular, and to individual experience.

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The whole Psalm suggests subjects of perpetual thanksgiving, and calls upon every thing that hath breath to set forth the high praises of God; "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee." God alone doeth great wonders, and they arė placed before us in regular order, that we may make them distinct subjects of praise. God is to be praised in his sanctuary, praised in the firmament of his power, praised for his mighty acts, praised according to his excellent greatness. God is great in creation, great in providence, great in redemption, great in grace; and he is greatly to be praised.

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The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. He is governor among the nations, and his kingdom ruleth over all. He sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his name. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him; and his righteousness unto children's children.

The works of the Lord, under each of these heads, call for distinct and reiterated praise. He is the Lord our maker, the Lord our redeemer, the Lord our righteousness, the Lord our sanctifier, the Lord our strength;

and, under all these characters, every pious soul will bless the Lord at all times, and will unite in saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever."

The particular topic in the text, proposed as the subject of universal praise, is to worship the Lord Jehovah," who remembered us in our low estate."

These words also recal to our recollection the low estate of human nature, on the entrance of sin into the world. Then all was lost; God's image was lost, holiness and happiness were lost; soul and body were miserably lost, and exposed to endless perdition. "Thou hast destroyed thyself," was not only true as spoken of Adam, but of his whole race, in whom all died. There was none to help, none to uphold, and no intercessor was to be found. This was the low estate in which God found us, when remembering his sovereign and covenant mercy in Christ, he was pleased to restore us, to raise the fallen, and to save the lost. God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting

life. This is the chief mercy of the gospel dispensation, and we are bound to acknowledge that we derive it from the free grace and unmerited goodness of God. His mercy endureth for ever. From first to last, salvation is of grace, the gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. This must be the first view which the pious mind is to take of the spiritual application of the passage before us. When we were sinners, lost and hopeless, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust. He was made sin for us, and we were made righteous by him. This was grace and mercy, arising solely from the riches of Divine goodness.

The words, we think, are applicable to the existing state of religion in the world, and the diffusion of Christian knowledge through the earth.

This is a subject which would require more time than we can now give it. We shall only be able to glance at a few particulars.

The church of God was in a low estate, when the first and only true worshipper of Adam's race was slain, for being more righteous and offering a more acceptable sacrifice, than his brother, who slew him.

The church of God was in a low estate, when Noah and his family only were to be found

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found in the whole world, that then peopled the earth, fearing God and working righteous

ness.

The church of God was in a low estate, when Abraham was called, and Isaac was the only child in whose posterity the church was to be continued, and through whom the promised blessing was to be imparted to all the nations of the earth.

The church of God was in a low estate, when Jacob and his family were nearly perishing by famine in the land of Canaan.

The church of God was in a low estate afterwards, when it felt the oppressor's rod; when the children were commanded to be destroyed, and the people were in bondage and misery, which threatened their extermi nation. Then it was that God remembered his covenant mercies in Christ, even the mercies which he had promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and delivered his people with a strong arm and with a mighty hand, The church of God was frequently reduced to a low estate, and as frequently delivered from the hands of its enemies. It passed through many a fiery trial in captivity, but was still preserved, amidst afflictions and troubles, to be the joy of the whole earth; so that the mother