reftored to union in language, fentiment, and loy al attachment; their indolence roufed to action and turned to habits of industry, and, of course, their wild uncultivated country, improved, enriched, and beautified; their mutual animofities converted into unanimous zeal in the defence of thefe united kingdoms against their common enemies; a multitude funk in ignorance, irreligion, and vice, led into the bright path of illuminating, fanctifying, and faving truth; the fcriptures, and various means of fpiritual inftruction, as well as of ufeful labour, and of perfonal and relative happinefs, plentifully provided to men enveloped in the thickest darkness of ignorance and error, poverty and wretchedness ;-If thefe are objects of magnitude and importance in your eye, these are the objects to which the benevolent zeal of this Society is uniformly and vigorously directed.The hiftory of their management and fuccefs, repeatedly given to the public, fully fhows what they have done, and what they hope and wish to do. The nobleft channels then, in which you can defire charity to flow, here open to your view: Follow their fpreading courfe with your generous contributions and your fervent prayers. The gospel of our Lord was intended to be an univerfal blefling to the human race; and the liberal charity which it commands and infpires, is one great mean of its propagation. It is not to be fupposed that the great numbers who received its beneficial influence, will always remain in one place: Many who were indebted to this Society for their education, are now in the most diftant lands, and many hereafter "will go to and fro, "and knowledge fhall be increafed. They fhall fpeak of the glory of the Mediator's kingdom, "and talk of his power; to make known to the "fons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majefty of his kingdom. Thus one genera"tion fhall praife his works to another, and "fhall declare his mighty acts-till the Lord "has brought his fons from far, and his daugh ters from the ends of the earth." What mind, warmed with the love of our Lord, and of his interefts in the world, does not burn with zeal to join in fuch an honourable employment? "Whatever then your hands find to do in this great work, do it with all your might." The time is fhort. "The end of all things is at hand. Behold, faith Chrift, I come quickly, "and my reward is with me. Then they that "be wife fhall fhine as the brightness of the fir 66 mament, and they that turn many to righte "oufnefs, as the ftars, for ever and ever." A SERMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND FOR FROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY MEETING IN THE HIGH CHURCH OF EDINBURGH, BY THE REVEREND THOMAS FLEMING, MINISTER OF KIRKCALDY. To which is added AN APPENDIX, Containing an Abffract of the PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY From December I. 1789. With a Lift of the SCHOOLS ON THE SOCIETY'S ESTABLISHMENT. EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY MUNDELL AND SON, PARLIAMENT STAIRS. Anno 1799. EDINBURGH, JUNE 3. 1790. At a General Meeting of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Chriftian Knowledge, The Earl of Leven, Prefident, in the Chair, THE thanks of the Society were given from the Chair to the Rev. Mr. Fleming, for his excellent Sermon this day preached before them; and he was requested to give his manufcript of the fame, to be printed for the benefit of the Society. Jo. KEMP, SECT |