the  spread  of  Christianity  over  the  world,  and  the
want  of  power  which  it  shows  even  in  Christian
countries ;  and  will  proceed  to  inquire  how  far  and
in  what  sense  the  religion  of  Christ  may  be  said  to
be  a  failure,  if  I  may  use  such  an  expression,  and
what  are  the  causes  of  this.  And,  secondly,  I  will
speak  of  the  hopes  of  the  future,  and  consider  whether
there  be  any  ground  for  thinking  that  the  religion  of
Christ  may  still  have  a  mission  of  glad  tidings  for  the
Church  and  the  world ;  whether,  in  the  figurative
words  of  the  prophets,  it  be  probable  or  conceivable,
'  That  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  should  cover  the
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea';  or  whether,  as
some  persons  tell  us,  the  bounds  of  Christianity  are
already  fixed,  and  the  spirit  of  the  day  of  Pentecost
has  evaporated  or  been  extinguished.  Thirdly,  I  will
speak  of  the  revivals  of  the  Christian  religion  which
have  taken  place  from  time  to  time,  or  are  taking
place  in  our  own  day,  of  the  tests  by  which  they  are
to  be  judged,  and  of  the  relation  in  which  they  stand
to  the  true  progress  of  the  Gospel.
