ork of saving the nations--their efforts
are so weak that one is at loss to know which is most prominent, the
folly, or the enormous guilt.

Is it not a fact, that in our efforts for the heathen we come so far
short of our ability, that God cannot consistently add his blessing.
Can it be that the service rendered by the church as a body is
acceptable to God? It is not according to that she hath--it forms an
immense and inconceivable contrast to that measure of effort which lies
fully within her power. Is it not, then, as though an imperfect
sacrifice were offered to the Lord--a lamb full of blemish? If the
church were weak, and it were really beyond her ability to do more than
she does at present, then God would accomplish great victories by the
feeble means. He can save by few as well as by many. He would make the
"worm Jacob to thresh mountains." But since God has blessed the American
church with numbers, and with great and peculiar advantages, he requires
of her efforts that accord with her ability. The poor widow's mites
accomplish much; but the wealthy man's mites, or the wealthy nation's
thousands, when she is fully able to give millions; and her very few
sons, when it would even benefit her to spare a host of her ablest men;
what shall we say of such an offering? The reason why God blesses the
efforts of the American church may be, that there are _some widows_, and
some others too who do what they can--who honestly come up to the
measure of their ability. For the sake of these God may add his
blessing, just as for the sake of ten righteous men he would have spared
Sodom. But no very great and conspicuous blessing can be expected to
attend the labors of missionaries, such as the conversion of China, or
of Africa, till the church begins to _pray_, _give_ and _go_, according
to her _ability_; till she begins to come up to the extent of her powers
in her efforts to save the heathen. Then, when she renders according to
that she hath, her service will be accepted; it will be a sweet savor
before God; his throne of love will come near the tabernacle of his
saints, and the noise of his chariot soon be heard among the ranks of
the enemy. The church then, with Christ at their head, shall go on
rapidly from conquering to conquer, till all nations, tongues and
people, shall bow the knee before him. As soon as the church shall put
forth all her strength so as to render an acceptable service to God, it
is of little consequence