Transcribed from the 1846 John Snow edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Public domain book cover] THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH ESSENTIAL TO THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD. A SERMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE DIRECTORS AND FRIENDS OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, DURING Their Anniversary IN MAY, 1846, IN THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY, SPITAL SQUARE, LONDON, BY J. H. GWYTHER, M.A. VICAR OF MADELEY, SALOP. * * * * * LONDON: JOHN SNOW, PATERNOSTER-ROW; THE SOCIETY’S OFFICES, BLOOMSBURY HOUSE, FINSBURY SQUARE. GEO. M. SMITH, IRONBRIDGE, SALOP. 1846. _Price Sixpence_. SERMON. “_Neither pray I for these alone_, _but for all who shall believe in me through their Word_: _that they all may be one_: _that the World may believe that thou hast sent me_.”—JOHN xvii. 20, 21. The last earthly act of one we love and honour, is often referred to with deepest interest, and revolved with the most thoughtful attention. It is then that the dying Parent delivers his solemn counsels, and unbosoms his most sacredly cherished feelings. If ever the tenderest and earnest workings of the heart are laid open, it is as the scene draws near and yet nearer to its close. And as our beloved SAVIOUR approached the termination of His earthly history, the strong commanding feelings of his soul were displayed, and then especially he taught his disciples what sentiments he would have them cultivate, and what objects he would have them propose; whilst by his example, he taught them in _what spirit_, and by _what means_ to _seek those_ high and holy ends. It was then, assembled with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, that He as the Great High Priest of Our Profession, breathed forth in earnest prayer, the words before us:— “The _last acts_ of the Great Mediator, were _acts of prayer_.” HE prayed! that he might impress his people with the importance of prayer. He made them _witnesses_ of his prayer, that when they hereafter might follow him their divine intercessor, _by faith_, within the veil, they might know for what ends, and in what spirit, his intercession is carried on. HIS LAST ACTS _were prayer_. It was in _prayer_ that he closed his last interview with his Apostles. It was in this exercise that he passed his hour of agony in the Garden; and when on the Cross, His dying breath was spent in repeated and solemn application.