SocCetg INQUIRY ON MISSIONS AND THE STATE OF RELIGION. I THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, | Princeton, N. J. jj - j.- — r^*»2u< v c. BM If*** I C- S'<~T ~=r^>C £ D. O' ■es <((*<% ® Shelf, Section . § Hook, it* *r — knowlede, read knowledge. 45, 34, — ourselaes, read ourselves. — } 36, — every, read very. V7> 5,— pirir, read spifit. 36, 17, — oy, read joy. 89, 36, — wether, read whether. i 1 1., 23, — tophies, read trophies. ; « r, 26 — form read from. LETTERS^ ' r ’ ^ * ‘ MISSIONS. Addressed to the Protestant Ministers of the British Churches. By melvill horne. Late Chaplain of Sierra Leone in Africa. flTHEM AND BRETHREN IN THE GOSPEL MINISTRY, FROM the pulpit, and from the press, we frequently hear loud calls on Christians to respect the interests of their several Churches One whi'e, we of the Estab- lishment turn the attention of our brethren to the a- larming progress of Dissenters, and exhort each other to a skilful opposition against Sectaries. Another while ; Dissenters rouse the languid seal of their peo- ple, descanting on the excellence of their own modes of faith and worship, and indulging vehement invective against the avarice, the .sloth, and the lordliness of Episcopalians. We talk of the Interests of the Estab- lishment , the Dissenting Cause , the Baptist and Independent Interests , the Methodist Cause , and the like, until we lose sight of the Christian Cause , the Common Interests of mankind, and the diligent, peaceable service of our Master. Thus do we forsake the sublime of religion, FIRST LETTER. 2 HORNE’S LETTERS si' k Into the meanness of partizans, and inspire our flicks v\ith a fieice, sectarian zeal. We first baptise cur^pehlir interests and evil tempers into the name of the disinterested and lowly Jesu- ; and, then, contend far them, with as much warmth and pertinacity, as tho* they involved our salvation. Is not this to fight for Barabbas, and to crucify Jesus ? While we are engaged after this goodly sort, infidel- ity increases, immor\ dties are multiplied, the spirit of the world domineers in. the Church ; and its pomps and vanities insult the standard of the cross. While the Ministers of Christ sleep, and indulge their ease ; while they sacrifice to the graces and muses ; while they aspire tc the reputation of polite learning, or pro- found science ; while they toil in philosophical research, or in planting and watering the tree of civil liberty, our Adversary sleeps not. With unwearied vigilance, he makes hea .! against the kingdom of Christ ; and, not content wi h possessing his own dominions in p ace, he wars on the little territory of Jesus, mikes bold in- roads into the n -rt ,f Christendom, and strives to ui.- posse's us of what we h:/e won from his empire, by the labor of ages, and with the blood of an arm^of martyrs. Bat a few years h.ve elapsed, since a learned Eng- lishman entered upon a calculation to show, th rt were the habitable world divided into thirty parts, nineteen would be claimed by the Heathen, six w >uld fall to the Mahometan, and .ive only would remain to be apportioned am mg the divided followers of the catho- lic J^sus. Whether this cal ulation be strict’y accurate is of trivial consequence ; but we must all be deeply aff.cied by the lamentable view of human nature which it affords us. Alas ! if every sincere Chri-.tian may Say, with the Psalmist, My heart teacheth sue 'he wickedness of the ungodly ; and, if to this, he may add, as we ail allow he may, My own house, my own favorite sect, my own privileged couutry, ana the ON MISSIONS. 3 Christian Church, give sad testimony to the extensive sovereignty exercised by the God of this world, To what conclusion are we led with respect to the religious state of the Heathen and Mahometan nations ? The conclusion is obvious : if the nature of man be essentially the same, in every age and climate ; and if the Christian religion be true, the people, who have not our advantages, must greatly suffer from the want of them ; and bad as Christendom is, the Heathen world must be much worse, being sunk more deeply than ourselves in positive ignorance and vice. If this mode of reasoning be thought exceptionable, I appeal to matter of fact, as far as we are acquainted with it, by those who have visited foreign parts, and have given us a candid account of the mannersof their inhabitants. Should a more elaborate proof be required, it cannot be cailed for by any man to whom these letters are addressed. Chris- tian Ministers are too well acquainted with the grand, exclusive privilege of Christianity, to admit a doubt of what I assert. Whatever sentiments, Reverend Brethren, may be entertained by others on this subject you cannot be ungrateful for the blessings of revelation, and while you rejoice in those blessings, you must have a Benevolent desire to communicate them to a pe pie, •who knew not the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. When we consider this deep spiritual poverty of a major part of our fellow men, we are admonished, that it becomes us to do something for their relief. On this we seem agreed ; but, I am soirv to remark, that we agree, more generally, to neglect our duty, than to acknowledge its obligation. Satisaed with the cola approbation of a duty, which it is impossible for us not to feel, we dismiss prospects of wretchedness too oppressive for our faith and love ; and console our- selves with the u 'intelligible hope, that the Almighty will execute, somehow, and at some time, by worthier hands, a work too great, and too dangerous, for us lit- tle men. A z 4 HORNE’S LETTERS Fathers, Brethren, Ministers of Christ, in the pres- ence of God, I charge you — [ charge myself, with be- traying the grand interests of our master, by refusing to prop.ig.ue his gospel. I charge you with the h it-i - ua!> open violati n of Christ’s command. Go, preach the g'spel to every creature. 1 charge you with the unspeak- able gui't of burying in a napkin, those unsearchable riches, which the Apostle St Paid thought it the hon- or of his life to preach to the Gentiles Lastly, l ch rge you with doing this without shame, without remorse, and almost without an effort to do the con- tnry. These, Revetend Brethren, are heavy charges ; but l shall not find it difficult to avoid the punishment of a calumniator, by substantiating them in the pro- gress of these letters, which have for their object the spread of the Gospel, and the salvation of the Hea- then. To this object, therefore, I solicit your attention. And, by the mercies of God, f beseech you — by the bi'»o4 of J -bUs, and by our common hope, grant me a pitient hearing. Suffer not my obscurity to operate as a prejudice against the cause 1 plead* I neither de- prec te your censure, nor dare 1 despise it. But per- mi me to hope, that no infelicities of style, nor defect or genius, nor of judgment, wkh which the subject is proposed, may be allowed to obscure its splendor, or det* ci from its worth. Wou d to God tnat some one among you, whose name is vend able amon g the Church- es, had stepped foiward to save me from the odium cf this address ! But since You, wh > have characters to io-e, do not care to hazard them by b -coming re- provers in the midst of your bretl r n. allow me, who am wrhout a name, to aspire to the ho-.mu of incur- ring censure for telling truths which none of us like to hear, or wish to believe ; and foi leiiing th m with that plainness which they requiie. W en 1 consider, on lac one hand, the promise and faithfulness of God, who cannot lie, and, on the other, ON Mrs - IONS. 5 the noble cau?e I e>p ms *, 1 am animated with s'rorg c 'fifidence am* hope I cotne f>: v -.rd, not as a sectar y, n it as th-. leader of a secc. 1 .na .iot encumbered wi,h polemic armour, nor heated with polemc z • il. It is n a a question in science, politics, or in r?,h, which I lay before you. The subject 1 assert i ivo ! res the hon- or of our Religion, the .incerity of iter M nisters, the glory of Christ, and the jest interests of men i’he de- legation I pietend to is authoritative ; and I m justi- fied in speaking, with all bo.dness, the truth cl he God l serve, in the gospel nt his Son. D.pense t aen, I beseech you, with all complmaentai y foi m-. ; and allow me to address you, witn ministerial Ireedom, and to plead the cause I have undertaken, with that un- disguised and generous warmth, wh.ch it is calculated to inspire. / He thac fears men, when he should speak bold’y for God ; and timidly dissembles trutns. which, if teit aright, should he told with the strongest tones of abhore,.ce, indignation, and contempt, will hardiy succeed in writ- ing upon Missions. Fhe subject calls 1 pcj.o >, ii i di g. .-e or palliate lliem- It would concern me much to in- cur the censure of treating my Biethren in tire ministry with indecent freedom ; but I cannot think that truth, however severe, will offend tbs servant- of truth or that any of my Brethren suppose them e ves entitled to Use freedoms with the laity/ which .hey will not bear ftom the me nest of their ow n body. No, Brethren. VvT.i'e you criticise my letters, you will applaud my design. The esteem you entertain for integrity wo 1 give mildness to your censures ; and, whatever faults your better judgment may discover < thh perform:- your good wishes will accuiipany it into the world, 6 HORNE’S LETTERS and your prayer of faith drawdown the divine blessing upon it. From the mercenaries of the Christian Church, my i soul turns with loathing. Though I could move moun- tains, they would remain immoveable. Though I could inspire every real Christian with all the sensations of my own heart, the unprincipled wretch, who sees nothing in the gospel ministry but an affluent and gen- teel profession, is vulnerable to no sentiment contained in these letters. Like Simon Magus, he has neither part nor lot in this matter — Nor have I any thing to do with 7tiere moralists. The waters flow no higher than their springs. The spirit of these letters is, 1 flatter myself the spirit of Christ — a spirit which they have not re- ceived. and, with the things of which, they are unac- quainted In their good opinion, I shall, therefore, tlnnk myself to stand high, if 1 may pass for a well- meaning enthusiast. Under God, Reverend Brethren, my hopes rest on You, who are what you are called, Christian Ministers — on you who were indeed moved to engage ia the Ministry by the Holy Ghost, and are animated by a sincere iove of the Saviour whoso great- ly loved you, and by a real regard for the lost sheep, for whom our great Shepherd died. You feel your character. You have bowels and mercies. You are the disinterested oenefactors of mankind, and whatever concerns the kingdom of your Lord you call your own. F r you these letters are wiitten, and to y ,u they be- long But, in them your pious flocks will, also, claim a part, as large as that interest, which they have in the Son of David As the elect of God, holy and beloved, let us, then, mir.d the ihii gs of Chr ist, to whom we are set apart as a peculiar people ; and revolve all possible means of a vancing that glorious kingdom, for the coming of which we daily (tray Such meditations wil Ji-pose our hearts to peace. Thti> will bea down ma y c~n- troveited subjects, of apparent magnitude, to the hum- ON MISSIONS. 7 b'e level of their real importance. As we muse the fire will kindle ; and our Churches an! puhlick Meet- ings. our families ani closets sh til attest the animated devotion, with which one Spirit shall teach us to crv. Let the people praise thee , 0 GoJ , y a, let all the people praise thee ! On a subject like this, we cannot think long without feeling its attractions. It will teach us to make our requests to the Inspirer of every great design ; and, then, to rest on h : s grace, his power, and his faithfulness, to accomplish the purposes ot our hearts. As we advance, discouragements will van- ish. Obstacles will be overcome, when we learn to think them surmountable. Difficulties will be subdued as we acquire courage to cope with them. And, when the honour, glory and immortality of our inesti- mable reward, are set full in our view, no forms of death and suffering will affright us. Instead ol th it despondency, which has long frozen our benev- olent wishe--, hope, like the returning sun will bring an early spring and fruitful summer on our souls. 1' le spirit of our religion, lulled to lethargic slumbers, will revive with the energies of the apostolic age ; and the Church will again become illustrious, by her victory over the kingdoms of this w >r’J. And Thou, Lord Jesus, afflicted Father of the Chris- tian Name, blessed Martyr of Humanity, blameless Pattern, universal Priest, unerring Teacher, omnipotent King of truth, of Righteousness, and of peace, deign from thy glorious throne to smile on this weak attempt, and to accept this poor offering ! It is i tribute I present, for the life thou hast given, for the blood thou hast shed, and lor the joyous hopes thou hast in- spired, to cheer, and to direct my moital pilgrimage. Meek sp. ing of heavenly Wisdom, boundless Ocean >i univn-^al, ardent, unprovoked, and undiscout aged Char- ity, pour thy Spirit into my breast, and into the breasts of all thy servants whom 1 here address. Teach me ani them to interest out selves in this blessed work, as HORNE’S LETTERS. i becomes men, who are distinguished by thy venerable name, and honored by the ministration of '-hy glorious gospel ! Baptize us with the fire of that love which is stronger than death ! Delightfully oppress our grat- itude with the everlafting mountains of thy benefits, until every fentiment of frail mortality be suppreffed— until faith give us the victory over the world — over life and death, until love compel us to exclaim, Tea, doubt- less, and I count all things but drofs that I may win Chrijl ; and I avi willing not only to suffer bonds , but to die for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ, by whom I am crucified un- to the world and the world to me. Commending you, Reverend Brethren, the Chriftian Church, and the benighted nations, as well as their un- worthy advocate, to his protection, who takes the ten- dereft part in all our concerns, and is able to fecure and to advance them to the utmost, I remain, in the honor* ed bonds of his Religion. Your humble, but affectionate Brother, M. U. SECOND LETTER. FATHERS AND BRETHREN, THE genius and spirit of our religion, the char- acters ascribed to our Lord of the Second Adam, of the High Priest after the order of Melchizedeck, and of a Savior to all people, with many others of similar significance ; the various scriptures, which speak of the benefits of his death and intercession, of his kingdom and reign ; the prophecies and promises, loudly de- clare the intention of God, that this last and most per- fect dispensation of the everlasting gospel sho^Jd be tile religion of every tribe, and kindred, and tongue. Nay, we are repeatedly assured, in the most explicit language, that it shall be so — that the truth and mer- cy, the peace and righteousness of our Messiah’s king- ©N MISSIONS. 9 iotn, whatever temporary checks they may suffer, shall, in the end, overcome all opposition ; and that although the river of God may, for a time, be discolored and polluted, by the pernicious soil over which it has roll- ed its tide, yet it shall, at last, free itself from every foreign mixture, and send forth its ten thousand pure streams, to gladden all the nations of the globe. How ought our minds to be affected by these pros- pects ? May we not infer from each article of this enu- meration, and, much more, from the aggregate force of them all, that it is our obvious, bounden duty, as servants of God, as soldiers of Christ, and as friends of suffering humanity, to exert all our strength in diffem- inating the gofpel ? Is it not in our power to do, or at leaft, to attempt fomething worthy of the cause ? Have we not fhips, which vifit every part of the world i Have we not money — money in abundance, if we were satisfied to live with Chrillian fimplicity, and could be prevailed upon to part with it, as men fhould do, who have a better treasure in heaven ? Have we not minis- ter s who prefer this line of service, and would gladly embark lor the most barbarous clime, if they were a f- fured of Jpirited fupport, and had reafon to h pe, that the fruits of their labor would not die with themfelves ? And, if we really have it in our power thus to ferve mankind, and to fpread our Redeemer’s glory, Is it not criminal , bafe , infamous to neglect it ? Is not this infatu- ated neg'iger.ce an open vioiation of the precepts of both tables of the law ? Do we love God, revere his majeily, approve his precept', and conceive ourfelves bound by every tie, to sene h m, with all our talents, and v th ail our txrength ? How does this love, this reverence, this approbation, this conviction, accord with the astonishing coldnes.-, with which we lock upon a wond uli of cruel habitations; where virtue and pie- t) fkulk in corners ; where sin is universal, uncontroll- ed and almost unchecked ;* where the hternal Majefty is aft onted by t, e abominable idols of the heathen, and the bea.tly image of a conupi Christianity. 10 HORNE’S LETTERS We try. *h^t to love our m ighbor as ou^reVes, and to do unto all men aV we would ti e) should eo un‘o u r . ’f the* o’ seotjyieeus veice of the Piophcts and A- pmt'es, of the law and gospel. We say well ; but do we do as we siy, and practice as we believe ? Do we love in word and in tongue only, or in d< ed and in truth ? Speak' ye desolate shores of .Africa \ declare }e bloody fields of Tndostan ; bear \our impartial testi- mony , ye numerous > lands of the Western and Pacific ocean.- ! Adas ! my Brethren, we dare not abide the is- sue of the appeal. We have rot di ne unto 'hem. as we wouid, were ciicumstar. es changed, that they should h™ e done unto us. The richest fruit l v e say, these irju ^t'ous vs _ 1 ,io on die Apos- tles only l Impossible! The genius of Chi*j.iaiuty, ON MISSIONS. i r and the spirit cf th e precept, for' Id such anir.terpre- taiio • Let it be observed, is:. I he rrpo.stles ct id not preach the gospel in many countries beyond the limits of the Roman empire . and it was, in the nature of things, impossible that they should pieach it to all nations. 2. Had cur Lord meant the command to oblige the Apostles only, it would have been sufficient topiomise his protection and blessing to the end of their lives and ministry, without adding that grand am- plification, l.o ! I am with yen always, etr* unto the tr.d tf the world . 3 The fame reasons, why the Apostles fhould preach the gospel to every creature, exists in all their force at this day ; and so far from being antiqua- ted and obsolete, gain new strength with the lapse of ages. 4. Whatever exclusive privileges the Apostles enjoyed, as the first promulgators of Christianity, yet the office and duty of evejy minister of the gospel is, in spirit and substance, the fame as theirs. From all these considerations, it appears, that when our L^r J spoke these authoritative words he had in contemplation all hi« ministers of eveiy age and nation, as we! i as his !Eime- diate disciples ; and that we cannot refuse euj^iging in miflLns, without contempt of his authority, and shameful deriliction of our duty to God and men. I made bold to charge you, Honorable Brethren, (im- plicating myself in the same charge) with betraying the grand interests of our Master, with the habitual, open violation of his commands, and with burying in a napkin the sacred depoiitum cf the gospel. I think it unnecessary to enter into a formal proof of crimir.a - tions, which the whole tenor of these letters is intended to substantiate. Bur, after adducing, from the Scrip- tures, the commiffion under which we act, and justi- fy our ministry in Britain, am I not authorized to ap- peal to your confluences, and ask you, Whether you are not guilty of what I lay to your charge i What "monies ksTe wc subscribed, what a f :oc'ations Lavt we formed, 8 HORNE’S LETTERS 1 2 vh t prayers have we offered up, what animated exhor- t itioiu have we given to our flocks and to one another on the subject of missions ? How shall we exonerate our- selves from the enormous crime of which we are guilty ? Hu-li we say, we were ignorant of our dutv ? The ' old will exclaim, How dare you teach us our duty as Ci.i istians, while you continue o grofly ignorant of your own duty as Ministers ? If wr plead, that we had r.ot sufficiently considered our duty , is not everymanjusti- fied in retorting. And why did you not consider ii, e- fore you en.cred upon the gospel ministry ? In truth, we have no excuse ; and it will best become us to blush and weep in secret places, to abhor ourseives and to re- pent in dust and Julies. Were I ever so much disposed, it would hardly be in my power to exaggerate our sin and shame. You know, better than I can tell you that the ultimate reason of any, and of all the commandments, is the will and pre- cept oi God ; and that wr evince the same contempt of his authority, by the wilfu' neglect of one clear, positive duiy, as though we neglected them all According to the spirituality of the commandment we are chatgesb’e w ith the perdi ior.of all the poor Hearhens who >> our d ’- igence might have saved ; and assuredly, their souls wi J the L >rd require at our hands Contrast the infamy of out conduct with the grandeur of our calling, and the powers of language fail to give just coloring to our sin ! Had the Apostles of our Lord, conducted themselves towards us, as we conduct ourselves to the Heathen world, not al! the refinements of the eighteenth centu. y, would have emancipated us from the worship of 1 h ir and Woden But bussed he the God and Father of nur Lord Jesus Christ, their religion was of a different tem- per Having received the coremiflion of their iHver- ci:?n, they declined not to engage in this watfare. Hav- ing courted the cost they entered into the combat, ike sfer. determined to conquer or to die. Confident of ON MISSIONS. J3 the superlative excellence of the cause, for which they had drawn the sword, they threw away the seaboard and disdained capitulation with the world. l'he love of Christ, which we coldly talk of, they warmly i-:lt. They had beheld his glory, were witnesses of his holy life and blessed death, his victory over the grave, .nd his afeension to heaven Their faith was a cctnai end- ing evidence of things unseen and give a prese it subsistence to things hoped for, they knew, emphatic ti- ly, by the witness of that Spirit in their heart , whi-h was at once the seal of their adoption, and the etra-st of their inheritance, the immense grace of oar Lot a Jesus Christ. His poverty had nude them rich rich in grace, rich in faith, rich in the promise and ve- racity of God who cannot lie ; nor would they have bartered these riches for all the kingdoms of the world, and al! their glory. Poflefled of a lively hope, they purified themselves as God is pure ; and, enriched by the liberality of Christ, they sold their possessions and gave them to the poor, seeking for themselves better ■ riches. As strangers and pilgrims they expected to be hated by the world; and determining faithfully to dis- charge die ministry they had received, they knew they must suffer persecution ; and that men, who hated to be r sf dm td ; '*"'1 ! 41 oursue to the death those bold reformers who obtruded the holy light of u iith, -*‘*d forcibly dispel- led the darkness congenial to their crimes. To fuf- fer for Chrill was their glory and their joy. Stripes, chains and death were considered as the highest honours of the kingdom of that Jesus who expired on a cross ; bestowed as the prize of valor, and the re- ward of extensive services and of the most approved integrity. Unawed by thofe terrors which lhakc our breads, as far as reason would permit, they as- pired after these honours ; lived in hope of the crown of martrydom ; and envied the felicity of their fellows, who received it before them. The cross of Christ had s crucified thenxThe world and the world to them. In f hr HORNE’S LETTERS »4 the strong light which flowed from it, they beheld pover- ty and riches, ease and torture, honour and infamy, life and death, with a placid mind ; and the great world, and all thet it contained, was contracted to a point of vanity, before the faded lu tre of that eye, which wept over its sins and miseries. Before that object of endless astonishment, adoration and love, they died to them- selves and revived again to live to him. They were not their own bu' his His blood had bought them, and his love constraint! them to do and suffer ail things for his fake. They had no reserves, no drawbacks on their faith ; but, having given in their names to Christ, they would have judged themselves worthy of the fate or Annanias and Saphiia, if they defrauded him of their lives and fortunes. With them, all was sacred. It was their meat and o'tir.k to do the will of God and to fiiifh the work he had given them. The Apostles led the way and other Ministers followed, from province, to prov- ince and from kingdom to kingdom. Their King was in ti e midst of them, and they saw, byfaith, that stand lrd, with that inscription, which was afterwards feigned to lure been seen by the politick Constaptine. The world HU before such combatants ; and its pomps and vani- ties, it;: cl.es and honours, its fcience and learning. i':» aits and arms, its oofpyy_^ ce a r.-* g-Js, were subdued by the ducirme of the Cross. In this manner did the first Christians propagate their religion, being mighty, in deed and word ; and, living rather than speaking greit things, they put to flight ail tiie armies of the aliens. Their conquests were mar- ked, not with the blood of their enemies, but with their own. Truth and righteousness were their arms ; and patient sufftiing, and the doctrine of a crucified Savor, above all miraculous gifts, were the true grounds efthe astonishing success which attended their preaching. But the tide of conquest was checked too soon ; and although, for a few centuries, some illustrious names fupported the honor of the Christian arms, yet the mys- tery of iniquity, which began to work in the days ol the » ON MISSIONS. »5 Apostles, quickly spread, withering the rose of the Church subverting its faith, and corrupting its morals, until it begat a race of men more desperately wicked than Heathenism ever bred, and such alone as could be produced by the Corruptions of Christian- !t y- Brethren, I will not now demand your attention totnc melancholy desolations of the Church : nor is it my in- tention to soil, with a detail ol the transactions of a cor- rupt Christianity, this letter in which 1 have endeavour- ed to rouse you from your slumbers, by enforcing the command of Christ ; and, to provoke you to emulation, by exhibiting the labours and triumphs of the first be- lievers. They have done greatly ; and, though dead they still live and speak to the followers of their faith. It is our part to record their actions, and to give them the applause they have earned so well. But we must do more. We must tread in their steps, and derive en- couragement from their example. We must prove our- selves their successors, by occupying the extensive field they cultivated. If we refuse to do this, the praises we la- vish on them, will be, as were the sepulchres built for the old p-ophets by the phaiisaic Jews, the monuments of our hypocrisy and guilt. Surely, our Lord, his Apostles, his Martyrs and Confeflbrs, lived and died not for the benefit of England nor of Christendom alone. — O my God incline us to call a fast, to proclaim a solemn assembly, to bathe our altars with our tears to confefs our sins and treachery, to sound an alarm in God’s holy moan - tain, and to animate each other to the gloiious warfare to which we are pledged ! I he night is far spent, and the day is at hand. The latter ends of :h world are fallen upon us, and we have many considerations to excite us it it vser€ possib e, to more than apostolic labours. 1 he bast, from which tire dav springs from on high first visited us, has long been lost to Christ •, and the cre.cent of Mahomet still usurp the places where the cross once triumphed. Lithe £3 10 HORNE’S LETTERS- West, the Roman Antichrist, accurfed of God and man issinking under the reiterated strokes of divinevengeance. The G d of the Christians is baring his arm, and ex- posing the nakednefs of the Scarlet Whore with whom the nations of the earth have committed spiritual forni- cation. The prayers of the spirits under the altar are heard ; and a righteous God is avenging the blood of his faints, by giving her to drink of the blood of her children. Y ct a little while, and we shall hear the cry, Babylon the great is fallen ; and see the Almighty burning her, as with fire from heaven, by the very hands which erected and supported her hierarchy. The shouts of triumphant atheism, and the scoffs of a vain philofophy invade cur ears. Unheard of prodigiesmeet our eyes, and suspend oursoulswithastonishment and horror. The {, ime spirit and principles, which have regenerated one Christian nation to atheism, are umrking in others, and will, probably, produce the same effect. We shall soon see kindling upon Spain, Portugal and Italy, that conflagation, which nothing but tiie pure streams of the Reformation can extinguish. Even in this blessed land of civil and religious liberty, where religion has rear* cd her most august temple, we have much to fear ; and r.o human vi-dom can determine, whether the Al- mighty may not purge our tin and dross, with the same fire, which consumes the wood, the hay and the stubble of the Churches more corrupted than our ov/n. Vain arc all the admonitions of our Master, if we do not understand the signs of the day, and put forth those exertions to which they call us It is not for the Potentates of Europe to guarantee the welfare of Religion, She disdains all foreign aids. She calls net for dte succor, but commands the obedi- c: ce of earthly Kings. We, the Ministers of Christ are called upon to give the only aids of wh ch she cm, admit ; and she demands our talents, cur labors, cur for- tunes, our influence, and our lives. I>e, us fly to the suc- cor of ourbed. mother, the afflicted Cnurch of Chri.t. O ON MISSIONS. «7 let us no more fall out by the way. Let JiberalChurchmen and conlcienuous Dissenters, pious Calvinists and pious Arminiansy embrace with fraternai arms. Let the press groan 110 longer with our controversies ; and let the re- membrance of the petty interests we have contend- ed for be buried in everlasting oblivion. Let us vote that Minister, who turns one sinner from the error of his life, a wiser man than he, who demonstrates the be- ing of a God ; and study to live and preach like St. Paul rather than to speak and write with Cicero. Let us forever forsake the Schools ; and build our reli- gion on facts, and not on arguments ; on the pow- er of God, and not on the wisdom of man. Christianity addresses herself to the heart. To the heart, then, which is the great strong hold of satan, and the inexhaustible magazine of infidel sophistry, let us direct our war. Lee us be frequent in our pulpits, and from thence bold- ly denounce the menaces and promifes of Heaven. Let the erpeified Jesus be the prominent figure of our gospel ; and be held forth, for what he really is, our ftrengthour glory and our salvation. Let us not visit and converse as other men ; but always intent on the object of our com- mission, as guardian angel among our people, advise, ex- hort, reprove with all long sufferance and sound doctrine. Let us not dare 10 bury our light for six days out of se- ven ; but on every proper occasion, when our flocks can be convened, approve our faithful diligence in declaring God’s word Let us beware of what the world calls Pruder.ce ; and see that w r e do not shun the cros, of Christ, and enervate his noble religion, by over anxious endeavours to render it respectable to men of cor. apt minds, destitute of the truth, and whose opposition to t ic gospel, does not originate in the defect and obscurity f its evidences, but in inveterate hatred of its holiness and heavenly-mindtdness. B it let not our zeal, piety, and benevolence stop here. L*t us cast our eyes upon the Continent. Let us ex- it HORNE’S LETTERS lend our views to the ends of the earth. Let us hence' forth, consider it as our indispensible duty to do all that lies in our power, to preac h t’^e gospel to every creature. Let Missions be treated no mure with cold neglect, or be Vili ted with charges of enthusiasm. But in public and private from the pulpit and from the press, let us speak of hem as becomes their dignity ; and recommend them with that forcible and persuasive eloquence, with which the love of God and man should inspire us. If we do this, with becoming diligence and zeal, we shall soon have it in our power to confute a plausi- ble objection, with which infidels blaspheme our religion. The partial d ffussion of Christianity will then be seen to have originated, not with God, but men. The philanthropy of God our Savior will shine forth in its proper amplitude, as exte: d'ng to all men ; and we, the Ministers of Christ, shall he made to confess, with hon- est impartiality and ingenuous shame, that the wretch- ed ignorance and abominable vices of the heathen are chargeable on our wicked disobedience to our Master’s commands. O let us no longer give place to unbelief, idly affecting commiseration to that wretchedness, \vh: h we have it in our power to relieve ; but arise and a>.~ert our integrity and manhood. We have the key of prom- ise in our hands ; et us use it with courage, and bring to light those prisoners of many generations. I tmiin, Reverend Brethren, Your servant in the patience and kingdom of Christ, M. H. ON MISSIONS. •5 FOURTH LETTER. Fathers and Brethren , In writing upon Missions, I proposed only to call general attention to the subject, and to satisfy myself with a few hints on the m inner of conducting them. But, at the request of some friends, whom l have con- sulted, and to whose judgment 1 owe much deference. I am now prevailed upon to say, specifically, what is it l expect from my brethren in the ministry respectingMissions ; and to obtrude my own par- ticular views of the most eligible way of carrying them into effect. Of you, Reverend Brethren, I require, that you will set to heart the salvation of the Heathen, meditate on the subject with the most solemn aud affectionate feel- ings, and cultivate your zeal and philanthropy by ear- nest prayer to God, that he wou.d give you toward* them bowels and mercies. I would have you suppofe it possible , that it may be your duty to take a more ac- tive part in Missions than you have imagined ; and con- I wish y°u to divest yourselves of every ore juoice which might bias your judgment, and preclude the convictions of duty. I expect that you will not treat the subject with levity, and much less with con- tempt ; but speak of it with respect and approbation. I think, you should take opportunities of seeing the im- portance of these undertakings before 70m flocks from the pulpit ; and, by your exhortations and liberality, give them examples of zeal and benevolence. I add, that if your convictions of duty lead that way, y u should come forward with a'li boldness, and take your part isi the business, what ever it may be in serving Missions, by your pen, your influence, your advice or your personal labors, either at home or abroad. From Ministers, as connected with each other, I ex- HORNE’S LETTERS. pect. that they mutually communicate their views as to the most effectual methods of spreading the gospel, and exhort each other to a generous and noble exertion of ministerial zeal. I require them to form Affociations, for collecting money, ODtaining information, procuring mifljonaries, and tranfacdng the variety of concerns, which fall under the consideration of Millions. In these Affociations Iwish thol'eMmifters to come forward whofe character and fei vices give them moft refpectability, and will enable them to promote effectually the caufe they undertake. Last of all, having once engaged. 1 would have the Affosiadon to be actuated by a true tpirir of M.ffions. They (hould be zealous, active indefatigable. Any Minister who is not warmly affected to MuTi ms, should be excluded from the acting Committee. What thefe Gentlemen are, their millions will be. Having in their power the choice of miffionaies, and the man- agement of the m ifion, they will not fail to give to the whole undertaking defeatures and complexion, of their ('wn character — This is the sum of my requi- fitions ; and I flitter myfelf that there is in it, nothing ir- rational, nothing, to the performance of which our call- ing does not oblige us. The fmall fuccefs which has attended Millions (hould xr.clirc !!« to fufpect. tll^t they have bCCii C&ilduct- ed in the moft eligible way ; and dispose us to examine with candor any new method, which may be proposed. I will, therefore, (hew my opinion. But as I do not prefume to dictate to any mm on the fubjcct ; fo I am aware that no one plan can be formed, which wiil equally apply to Nations, who differ in their degree of civilization, their policy, their religion, and the face of their country. Whoever, therefore, are intrusted with the execution of our plans, fhouid have the diferedon- ary power, of deviating in their application as the reason of the case shall demand. ! his observation premised, a general view of the nature of Millions, and of the state •f the Heathen Nations, may enable u* to in- ON MISSIONS. fer something as to the line of conduct mod likely to ensure succefs. Before we can juftify sanguine hopes, a considerable alteration in favor of religion must take place among ourfelves. We cannot give to others, what We do not poflefs ; and before our zeal will acquire sufficient mo- mentum to effect great things for tlie -aivaiion of the Heathens, it is necefftry that a more general and serious care should prevail about the fdva r i n of our own s uls. While we look for this desirable change, we cannot do better than renew our miffionary engagements ; which will have the most favouiabie operation in bringing it about. Great designs and great undertaking = form great men. They call forth the t ents, of which we never supposed ourselves to be pofleff d ; and ^ive an exhibition of -plendid virtues, which ao not frequent the c mmon paths of life. Courage provokes courage, and e l eak ndles zeal Confi lerable fucceis, in any one imffa n, would encourage many undertakings ; ahd the activity exerted in favour of the Heathens, would n aur- ally call attention to the ways' and means of doing good among our owr countrymen. W .nt of fuccefs is the most fatal objection which lies against Miffions. We have not taken proper steps to to insure uccess We have h .rdly dared to hope tor it. A few hundred converts h:ve ccen considered as a great thing ; and a few thousand have been the ne plus ultra of our hope. A revolution must take place in our ideas on the subject. We must hope for great things. We muit attenpi great things. Until this is done, tolerable success is not to be expected. There is a proportion between the object v e embrace, and the zeal and exertion we show in accomplishing it. Such limited views as these pr eclude exertion. Where- as. where great advantages are proposed, men are forward to incur great expenfts ar.d to run gieat risks. Let u,, then, determine to give a fair trial to MilfiO..! a^d undertake something which vrtli help 32 HORNES LETTER’S *s to form a reasonable judgment of what :s, or is not to be expected fr< m them. Let cur object be to evan- gelize the Islands of the South Sea, or to obtain fbr Chrisanity a firm footing and extensive spread in India, China, Tibet, Borneo, Persia, Tartary, aid other great kingdoms. The preparation^ we make must be answerable to the views we adopt Men and money are the nerves of war. A few scattered missionaries, and paltry funds, are inadequate to fuch conquests. But, as our strength is fmall, and our forces new levies, unpractifed to these perilous encounters, I would recomme ,d to no Denom- ination of Christians to engage in a second Mission, until experience has convinced them that they are more than equal to the first. We must also be resolved to take the field in the very boldest line of service. A Mission, c« lecially such a Mission ?.s I propose, is one of those en- terp izes vshe^e the rreafuies vhi.h, at first sight, appear the most hazardous and desperate, are the n ost deliberate and successful. Men who are not di r porry to say, it lias beer, at time s, fo managed, . s to give color to their cenfures. Never he- lei\, you will oe of opinion with m-, that mimli fond ft, fe and s< her piety are contained in it ; and when we consider that every thing valu -hie to man is staked on its deteim nation, they mu t be sirai gers to the en. inputs of th human heart, and evince a want oi reason and ingenuousr.efs, which th y charge on others who up- pose men of sense will en hath on the sea of tr ubie, without having first view ed the question on evety side, and obtained that well grounded satisfaction in the pro- priety of their conduct, which may hereafter support and comfort them under all its poflibre confequen- ces. The general duty of Minifters and their flicks with refpect to Millions, we ground on the command of our Lord, the characters of his religion, the example of his Apoftles, the declarations of his Prophets, the common principles of humanity, and the whole aggre- , gate of argument, which arifes from the nature of the undertaking. But unhapily, as in many other cafes, fo , in this, what is acknowledged as of conjmon obligation , is not felt as the particular duty of individuals. In this refpect, our J.ord ar.d his houfchold may be com- . pared to the family of an opulent, indulgent Mafter of ,, many fervants, who commanding fome unpleafant bufinefs to be preformed, but intimating his pleafure in general terms, not adorefling to any particular d<" meilic, his fen ants inftead of readily obeying his cr C ■H HORNE'S LETTERS roands, are all of them difputing from his Lordfliip’s Chaplain to the fluillion in his kitchen, which of them i obliged to prtfoim his will. The Chaplain is a ger tliman, and is above fuch menial offices. His Lord certainly underftands too well the dignity of his charac- ter to addrefs fuch orders to him. The Steward de- clares his engagements bind him no farther than to ufe his per, and to overlook his Mafter’s rents and disbuvfcments with fidelity. 'I he Butler protefls he was net hired to be a footman ; and the underlings of the houfe with many piofeffions of good will, plead they are not qualified for doing their Lord’s will. In a word, the bufirefs is either left undone, or a few poor hone ft fellows, who love their Mafter and are jealous for his honour, go forth and do their heft ; but not receiving from their fellow fervantsthat afliftance which each ought to have afFordtd them, the bufinefs is done in a bungling way at laft ; and my Lord’s Chaplain, Steward, Butler, and other fervar.ts, inftead of feeling that it has mifcarried principally through their fault — inftead of being afhamedinto exertion, fay feme of them, that their Lotd “never gave fuch a txmmand,” others, “ that the time for obeying it is not cane,” others, “ that the bad iuccefs of their fellows difeourages faither attempts, and while fome are provoked that the me- nials of the he ufe fliould prefume to engage in the i u- finefs, others, “ declare it is vile dirty woik and tit only for fhullions aDd fhoe-beys.” This has been precifely cur conduct ir< M.fiior.s. But how rrat|y an individual kne w that this general duty deteimir.es on him ? This enquiry will be made with views as different, as ate the chat actors of the men who make it : fc me to find a plaufibie excuse for decli- ning their duty ; and ethers from a fircere defire to km w and to do it. To the fit ft fort, it will be impcffible to give fatisfaction. Their firft ptinc-pie, I •will ml be a vrijionury, pttcludesall conviction. Their fecond principle ON MISSIONS. 25 I ‘will justify my difobedience, determines them to demand fuch regions for the absolute certainly of their call, as they know, or ought to know, cannot he given them They de- mand their call to be demonstrated with intuitiveevidence; and while there remains a pollibility of their deceiving themfelves, prudently determine to run no hazards Be it fo gentlemen. We difmils you from the service until you have acquired more ingenuous min Is. Your swords may remain quietly in their scabbards, for this is not a war in which lath will fupply the place of Heel. You are your own demouftranons that God does not call you to midi ms ; and whatever fins you may Hand ac- countable for in the day of C.uilt, l think you will hard- ly be criminated under that Hatute of his kingdom, Go preach the gofpe! to every creature. Sincere Il.aelites, woo, like Nathaniel, have ingen* uons minda, and worfh’p God in truth, may on this fubject be fatistied. as clearly as on any other, which is involved in the truth of the Gospel. In the feriptures, in reason, in providence, in experience of our own hearts and characters ; and in our relations in private and in public life, there are to be discovered data, from which we may come by a fimple procefs of reai"oning,to a very tolerable coacluuon of what is'our duty iu this intlance. This call is certainly not of man, nor of the will of man. A fenie of the worthinefs of the undertaking, and a general delire to do the will of God, with the fo- licitations of fiiends who think highly of us, and who are of opinion, that there is a providential opening for us to go to the Heathen, do not conHitute a fufficient warrant for engaging. Much, very much mor'e than all mis Is required. The Moravian maxim, “ Never to persuade much less to urge a man toengage in millions,” has beep justilied to them by experience ; and it will ap- 3 pear pertedtiy reafonable to fuppofe, that the levers { aui pullies ot human perfuafxon, by which a man in- i different to millions may, sometimes, be excited to act £ in them, give no sufficient momentum to the foul to 2 6 ' HORNE’S LETTERS fapport it xgainft the immenfe counterpoife of flelh and blood. He, who appears polTelTed of the molt lively zeal for millions, may deceive himl'elfby faife fire, and enthufiaftick feelings ; but the man who wants fire, who is merely prompted by his friends, and suppofes a million a matter to be managed like a parish in Eng- land, equal'y deceives hiinfelf, though he declaims againft enthuliism, and would have u> underhand, that he is following the lefs fallacious light of reafon. But i exhort evei y one, whoie whole foul is not in the buii- nefs, to ltand firm againit the perfuafion of all men. fie may be allured that miilionary w r ork is to^-ough for his dudtile nature. If he cannot fay no to his friends, how ilia.il he fay no to thofe manifold temptations which will lolicit him to return ? And I befeech all who h^ve claims to realbn, to religion, or to humanity, never to attempt to persuade any one, directly or indirectly, to do any thing more in millions than he can do with pleasure and unfeigned good will. It is unreafonable to luppose that our perfuallves can operate to change the charac- ter, and in a moment to give a man fentiments and feel- ings he never had before. It is not agreeable to the e- conomy of religion, for God to leave the inilruments of his will, without inclination, as well as ability for doing it. Last of all, it is a molt inhuman persecution to in- fill on its being the will of God that any individual fhould engage in Millions, or in any degree to aifume the pro- vince of heaven in pretending to fearch the heart, and direct the conscience. This conduct is the more odious, as it is, an inflrurnent of torture, applied to none but worthy and pious minds, wiiere we have moll reafons to believe it unnecellhry. Nor will providences which appear fuddenly, and a present wiliingriefs to engage, prove our call. * Provi- dence is a mysterious bo. k, not easily legible, and bell underllood when read backwards ; and I lhall much fuf- pect that man’s call is Ihewn him Oy sudden and unex- pected openings of Providence, wiio has never beiore ON MISSIONS. 2 J made a discovery of it in his Bible, or in his own heart. From a general analogy of grace as well as nature, we are led to expect, that what is born and attains matu- rity in a day, will fade and die in as short a term. In a miffionary we look for ftrong, permanent, habits, fuch as are formed by reiterated acts. We do not mean to limit the Holy One of Ifrael ; but td refpect Him as the God of order, means and ordinances. He has eftablifhed the connection of effects with their causes ; and though He may and will, when He fees good, invert the eflahliffi - ed order of things we muft not affect more than what becomes the fragility of our nature. We muft require the horfeto be broken in for the battle. We muft ex- pect that the man called to Miffions will experience, i'uc- ceffively, all the viciffitudes of hope, fear, delire, aver- fion, confidence and defpondency, before he dips his foot in the water, or will be able to contemplate with heady courage the dangers of these depths. If there be a man, who claims exemption from common rules, and can in a moment engage in a million without a dispolition pre- viously formed, and having fo engaged, can conduct the matter aright, he is no precedent for our imita- tion. These observations premised, the fir.t thing towards constituting a call to Miffions is ability to comply with it. Let the candidate, therefore, examine himself, whether he be poileffed, in a reasonable degree, of the qualifications ueceffary for that ftation. From what he has done in the miniftry in England, he may foim feme guefsof what he is likely to do abroad, it may also be proper to take the candid opinion of his minis- terial friends, whofe favorable sentiments will fupport his diffidence, or whose honeft cenfme may check his temerity. On this fubject, if on any, we fh all be fafe to under rate our qualifications ; and, if we are humble, we fhall naturally be led to do fo. This, if it one way operates as a discouragement, will in another produce different effects, God giveth grace to the humble, and C 2 28 HORNE’S LETTERS men will give them honor. An humble opinion of ouilcives will neither damp our zeal for God, nor our benevolence to men. It will not pervert our under- standings, nor make us dishonour God by disclaiming whatever degree ol humble titnefs He may give us lor the woik. The greater the natural and acquired tal- ents of any man be, the better ; but all this is not the great thing, the one thing, the living spirit, the eye, the ear, the iirength and arms of the miflionary, Chris- tian Godliness, The Mind of Christ, The Image of G^d, — this is the qualification which a miflionary cannot do without ; which he cannot have in too great a degree ; and which if he poflefs in ftreagth and vigor, his other qualifications, however small, cannot be deem- ed defective. Upon this fubject, then, he cannot put to himself too many, or too close queftions. His felf de- nial, activity, fortitude, perfeverance, habitual diligence, and confcientious adherence to order and regularity, throughout his whole conduct, will each of them mer- ic minute inveftigation. If the result of this enquiry Le satisfactory to himfelf, he may be allured that he has, at lead, a folid foundation to build upon. 'i he fecond head of enquiry is his •wi/lingne/s to en- gage in millions. Here fomething more is required than cold approbation, cr that general difpofition to do the will of God, which influences every pi-.us man. We look for a ftrong, decided predilection — a passion for millions, if I may be allowed the term ; that fpecies of commendable enthusiasm, which enables profession- al men to magnify the dignity and importance ol their respective arts, and to purfue their object, und;r every difeouragement, until they have carried their art to a perfection, which men of colder minds could nev r have suppofed it capable of receiving. I would have him pofiefled of that ftrong pallion for m : (lions which Columbus had for discovery, and which fupported him for a long courfe of years againft the ridicule of lie whole world, agaiaft the difeouragement of having his 0N MISSIONS. 2 9 fervices rejected by different princes, againft th<* ingnt- itude of Ferdinand and ilaoeua, and against the re- peated mutiny, treacheiy, ana oilenel.-, of uis compan- ions. I would have him to enam urea oi his object, as to conlider the nardsh.p and uanger oi tile puTuit a pleafure rather than a pain ; and to find in himsed a diipohtion to lucceed, or to perish in the attempt. If he cannot eng age with u: a wuh to return to .Europe, and with a full determination, God being his helper, to die in the harneis, that man lias not the l'oul ot a genuine m llionary. Some of my readers will think I draw a glowing pic- tu e, and that my colorings oetray the glare of entiiu- fiafm. They wouid have their mitiiouary, what they call, a prudent man, a man of realbn and coolness. They will fay that he who engages wuh fo much warmth will foon have his tire damped, and betray as much cowardice in the conflict, as he ihewed courage before the oatrie. I will entreat such Gentlemen to give acandid interpretation to my terms, and to enter in- t > the fpuit oi tne writer, as well as into the force of his expretlions. Human language is detective. i'hey who use it are ft ill more imperfect. 1 may not have the felicity of expreffiug the idea I would convey, exactly fuch as it is in my own mind ; and though 1 cou,J ft map my ideas on language as clearly and torcibly, as new coin dilplays the impreflion of tile die, yet, except my thoughts had the fame currrency as tne Kings com, my reader may eaiily miftake my meaning, where I have made none in exprefling it , ana in this manner every man who writes, luuams fame cenl'urcs which are due to the precipitancy and dd'engeuuousnefs of his reader. In tne light of tnis observation, I beg lea ve to remark, that Columbu,, Cortez, C;£iar, St. l’aui, and all thofs who have done great things in the world, have poiTdfed a fire, and energy very uncommon ; and that this fire, this energy, was abs dutely eiTential to what they undertook and what they performed j bat 3 ® HORNE’S LETTERS certainly this remark does not fuppose that this fire alone affected eveiy thing. They were men of knowl- edge, of piudence, and of that coolnefs which temper- ed their fire, and gave it a proper direction. Had they not been fupported by these folid qualities, Caefar might have perilled like Catahne, and St. Paul would never have been God’s inlfrument for building the Church. If my miffionary, therefore, has more zeal than good fenfe, more fire than wtfdom to command it, he will foon find that inftead of walking in the tootiteps of an Apoltle, he is flying on the waxen wings of Icarus, or driving the destructive car of the juvenile and prefump- tuous Phaeton, Ftife fire will not diffolve real cold, nor falfe courage fupport the burft of cannon But this concefiion made, 1 infill upon it, the mif- fionary mull not only have true fire, out a large pro- portion of it ; and 1 infill upoa it fo much the moie, as I fee very little attention paid to it ; as I cannot but think, that too many good men are foicing Zeno’s coat I upon the affectionate Jefus ; and appear more afraid of offending men by being too hot, than of difpleafing God by being too cold, lnfiead of bringing the world over to Christ by the godlike irrefiftible charms of truth propol'ed without falfe ornaments, we endeavor to accommodate it to corrupt minds, by propoiing it under the garb of reafon, and with the affected fick y air and feeble tottering Heps of morality. In this manner we betray our Mailer, and lofe our own labor. And, however digreflive this obfervation may appear, I affirm it has much to do with my fubject ; for until we learn to difmifs our moral dialect, and high founding talk of reafon, there will be little right reafon or good 1 morals in the Church ; until we boldly take up the Crofs of the bleffed Jefus, and tell mankind that, in re- ligion, there is no other reafon. no other morals, than that godlike reafon. tkofe divine morals which He brought down to us from his Father’s boiom and treaf- ON MISSIONS. 3J ured up for us in his holy gofpel, we fhall never be able to carry on a war of millions, nor have apoitolic men to act in it A million, contemplated in its tiuefpiut, and in all its compal's of facntice and fuffering, is not a common thing, and men whofe minds are of a com- mon cad are unfit tor it. If, therefore, their engage- ment is fo remote from the common course of things, why ihouid miffionnes be expected to feel and think in the beaten track ? If they are to live in fire, where is the absurdity of wifhing them to be endowed with the properties of the Salamander ? If their work is apnf- tolic, hl»w is reafon violated by expecting they fhould claim alliance with the blood of St. Paul ? — Tnanks be to God, his olelfed Son does not treat the foldiers of the crol\ with that contempt they fuffer from their fel- low Chriitians ! No ; the choiceft confolations and the m hi joyous hopes aie their portion ; and if, the afflic- tions of Jel'us abound in them, they will be comforted witn the molt glorious anticipations of his kingdom and of nis joy. Nor if a young man, in the early prime of life, fhould mingle with the lambent flame he has kindled from Gou’s altar, fome i'parks of wild erratic fire, are we entitled to treat him with contempt and rejection. If his character be l'upported by l'oiid qualities, thofe fp-rks wid, with a little time and experience, be absorb- ed in the purer flame. Nay, fhould he at firft betray fome tokens of fear and foftnels, we fhould rather fym. p .-h.ze with his we .knefs than difpair of his courage. It we find in him that tried courage and unrelenting hardihood whiJi characterize the Veteran, who has wa- ded through many a well fought field, and endured the variou, climes of the North and South, we find mu_h m >re than we ai e entitled to hope. St. Paul indeed was at once made a Cnriftian and the chief of the Apof- tles.. Such power belongeth unto God, and fuch non- or to the man whom He will exalt. But, in fpite of the example and exhortations of the great Sc. Paul, Mark r- HORNE'S LETTERS. fled from the work of the apoftolic million ; neverthe- lefs, between the wholefome cenfures of Paul, and the confolatory aff ction of Barnabas, his fpirit was, through divine grace, again excited to the fight of faith, and he redeemed his character, and obtained a good report a- mong the \poftles. Let the candidate for millions be poflefled of what degiee of zeal and courage he may, no doubt the d ly will come, when withfears fi om with- in and fightings from without, he will be pressed beyond meaiut e, and feel that nothing but abounding grace and Almi hty power can confole and fupport him. But, if we mull make lonie abatement for his courage when engaged in actual fervice, and jeop-trdying his life on the high places of the field, furely we ftiould require fome tolerable degree of ardour before the fword is drawn and blood is fpilt. For if the man, who volun- teers, and is borne on the ftror.g wing of hope, nust ex- pect fuch rude Ihocks in the evil day, what are we to expect from him who enters into millions without zeal or energy, and who is, in fact, little better than a prefled jnan ? The third confideration which I (hall notice as ef- fential to a call to Millions is a freedom from fuch ties as exclude the engagement ; and they will be either of a domeftic or a miniUerial nature. L have more than once exprefled my fenri iients with refpect to the pro- priety of married men and fathers of families engaging in miflions. G neially fpeaking I do not think it ad- vifable ; but I dare not lay it is improper 1 will not difapprove the man fo lituated, who ilia.ll engage ; and, if he and his family conduct themfelves in a million as the Reverend Mr. Egede and his houfehold did in Greenland, they fhali have my warmell commenda- tion Nay, Ihouid they through human weaknefs fail in fortitude and perfeverance, the piety of the attempt will, with me, cover the weaknefs of the execution. But the propriety of fuch an attempt will in my icea depend on circHmltances. The health, strength, and ON MIS SION Si 33 habits of a mother and her children are to be eonfid- ered, as well as the degree of accomodation which can be afforded them in a nuffion Much will depend on the willingnefs of a minifter’s wife to fhare his toils and perils, and verv much wi 1 depend on his own iirength o< fou’ to fee his wife end fum y, languifhing and dy- ing, if God fhould appoint it fo, in conl’equence cf his engaging them in difficulties which they cannot fup- port If a minister tie polf fled of this fortitude, if his wife breaths the same fpirit with himfrlf ; and if they both h ; nk the venture justifiable. let them go, and give an ex mple to Chriftendom which we fo greatly want. But if he cannot infpire his wife with his own fentiments, I am clearly of opinion he has no call to Millions. I reafon thus. If it be faid, thar the wife of rhat min- ifter has not pifv to engage of her own free will, l an- fwer Chriilianity will not juitiiy a divorce by leaving her behind him, and good fenl'e will not juilify him to take her abroad into cir cum fiances of dillrets and danger, w here all her paffions will be armed to war again ft his peace and to diferedit himfelf in his rniniftry. If st be faid, that his wife is a woman of piey, the cale ft nds ftill more llrongly againft him and a dreadlui fuip'cion •will lie againfl his piety. For if a woman ot piety, his wife, the mother of his cl 'idren cannot be made to en- ter into his call, I n ult lulpcct that lie ca;ries with him abroad more religion than he exercifes at h >.ne : and can entertain very little opinion of his converting Hc-thens, who cannot conveit a god : y woman who loves him to follow him to the world’s end. — \ T or would I recommend the force < f ftrong perluafion, much lefs any thing like conjugal authority, wnth any woman. The man who docs this will find, at laft, that he rolls the (tone of Sifiphus, and when he thinks he has got it to the top of the hill, it will return with a double force, acquired by the velocity of its descent, and ciufh him to pieces. If a married man wifhes to engage in millions, his firft care is to infpire his wife 3 + HORNE’S LETTERS with a poition of his own zeal : if he can do fo, well ; if not 1 advife him to itay at home It is a base un- mani* thing to complain ot our wives ; and women were ne^er generally vi.-ious, b- fe nd o wardly, when men did not m. k them fo Godlinefs is the molt c mm indin thing on earth, and women who have the best oppoi tunnies of knowing their hu-.bands piety, and are perf»na ; i> attach' d to them, wii) not be the lad to reverr it Th m_-n who charges his wile, in n ne cases out of teii, wi l rcpioach himfeif , and I affirm when we dare imhate the Apollles, there is little fe^r of our wives lagging in cfoe race of virtue. A minister’s fh>ck fhould he as dear to him, and in fome lenfe, dearer thin his wife and children ; and if we are in polls ol uncommon honour and usefuinefs, it m.iy well admit an e qui y, How far we are juilifiable in telii quithing them ? We ate giving up a certainty for an unceitainty. i he good we lhall do abroad may beat fman proportion with that we leave .t home We may mid ke our call, or we may be called to die, while the honour of conqueft is referv cd for others. We may, for u ght we know, groan for years under the conse- quences of a precipitate conduct, and teproach our- feivts for not h iving better under flood rut Shepherd’s voice. Wh t ’he charity of others may, and fhould, le .d them to excu.’e as he error of an honed zeal, we fh i 1 probably charge on ourfelves as the proud volatile mi) take of an tins notified heart We may expofe ourselves to be the butt o! those cold (pints who never h -o religion enough to ^fpir. to exelcnce : to be admon- i(h=d with ignorant, out wounding good nature, “ I alv- ay to'd von, youmiltook y ur call, and would foon be glad to come home and to be held up as a difeourage- ment to thole w ho would do well — “ Look on that man ; he began to build, and was not abie to finith.” We may actually grieve God’s fpirit ; and never recover a poll as ufeful in the miniftry as that we rclinquifhed. ON MISSIONS. 35 And all this may be a very righteous and neceflary dif- ciplineto hum te the m n, who having omy the qualifi- cation of a crj ant in miiiti., (hall al'pire to the rank of colonel in a regiment for fortign iervice. Far be it from me to ciiscour ige any man ; but I mud hold ut nofaise col rs. l'o have a real call to millions is a great honor and a grea; felicity ; but to mi (lake our cal : is a fad thing both t ourftives and others. Nor is there any great danger c.t my cifcnuraging the man wh m G so prompts by his fpirit to m >race his calling* But lome who ate really called may be too hafty ; they m.tv mifiake their line > f march, or engage bcfote the fignal o( engaging he given. I know o ( no l'pecific rules, ft r mm whose circumft tnces may be i. finitely various. Here every one will re . o n and judge for himielt ; here he muo civeit himftlf of all prtp< fllflions on either (ide an ' m- k diligent enquiry < f that Goo, who has prom- ife I to give wifclom to all who feek it. Suppofing the m ffionary candidate has gore over all this ground to his fatisfaction, the only thing remaining to complete hts call will he a reafonable profpect of fuccef. To have this reafonable prof ect of fuccefs, hi mtafures mmt he well confulted, and he mutt be provided with every help, which the nature of the un- der oki g can require. Let him then ask himfeif, Hav l funds tqml to my undertaking, and are the p cons a d conductors f the m fli n in Lrgiand n en of zeal and fpirit, fiu h as 1 can m. ke perfect. y free v. th who entet in to all my views, and in whom I can p rf c ly confide. for every encouragement and iupport ? l)o they Lv, m pef ct y at hb-riy to act .abroad as I f r occafi n, tr t fettering me w ith cold theoretical c un.iis, and prefer i hi i g with deedion a lire of con- duct to me. wh h aniufts them by their fire fide to cl: over w i h ■ t iena ? Uul f. he can anfwer these q • o n a fa i- ‘actory. nmnner his meafures are not well taken ; ana if he is zcaious m hL put fuit he may leave D HORNE’S LETTERS 3 6 every thing ard fuffer every thing, to go to India or Japan to find his hands tied behind his back when he gets tbeie, and to pine away in vexation and difap- pointment Let i.-jn a:.k farther, Have I fellow folditrs like rinded with myfrlf, and is my million fo connected and conducted, that 1 can have a fupply ot as many of them, as my v, o^k (ball require ? Have 1 fuch an ac- qn.ur.tance with the country where I am going, of its climate, geopnphy, police and manners, a^ ) can rea- fcmjhi) expect to ai fwer upon a nial with thofe views winch hate engaged me to go there ? If he goes alone lie ihoul : be a man of no little ftature ■ h< u„h he iliould i i ve and die like D vid Brainerd, he wii in that cafe only relinquish a greater good in Eng and to do a fm I. crone abroad. Where a tolerable um er of Midi ties arc wanting a few individu Is may be e li- ve t to ; blit the gripe will not be fpre.-d— thing will be done anfwerable to the idea “ fight under the crofs. You cenfure my raihi .d',, you “ chi e my pulilianimity, and it is of little matter that “ my character link under a weight of reproach, which “ in m.my refpccts I hive deferved ; but do you arife “ and b; jealous for your God. Conqueil hovers over “ our banners, if we dare engage with lpirit 1 amin- “ iced deteated, but not difcouraged ; Idtlpairof my- “ fell, but not of the caufe of ChriiL Go, and redeem “ the honor 1 have lod. Wipe away this vile difgrace, “ ihi u 'utterable lh .me, which reits upon the ChriUian “ name Let it not be faid that in the eighteenth cen- “ tury, in Britain, among the thonlands of minillers of “ various denominations who are the glory of the “ Churches, that men are not to be found who “ f ei for man, Chriltians w r ho are not jealous for “ Chnit’s glory, minillers who cherilli the noble emu- “ iation ot following the apollles. If you will not act, “ God will raife up llones to reprove and lhame you. “ II you will not a&, you almoft juftify that temerity “ and cowardice which you cenfure. I have been de- “ feated, but it was in the field, and after receiving “ many wounds ; but you, by more Ihameful coward- 3S HORNE’S LETTERS “ ice, give up the caufe for loft without making one “ generous effort. I have been rath in thinking of my- “ lelf more highly than 1 ought to think ; fcnt you al- “ molt provoke the repetition of my raftmefs by under- “ valuing Chrift and his religion ; for when you are “ cold where you ought to be animated by the rnoft “ lively zeal, it is enough to provoke babes and fuck- s ‘ lings to take up arms, and if they cannot conquer, at “ leaft, teach us to die for the Captain of our falvation ” In this drain may he addrefs his Brethren, for whatev- cenfure may reft upon his miftake whatever want of i'anctification of heart it may infer, if this be the grand fault which lies againft his character, it is of fueha kind, efpecially when he comes to fee and confefs it ingenu- oufly.as infers alfo fomething which will fupport him un- der its confequences ; — as will, with God’s grace, lead him to real improvement, and render him more the ob- ject of efteem, than of reproach with all who love God. Next to she ineftimable and irreparable lofs of his own loul in attempting to save the fouls of others, perhaps the moil infupportable fhock a miffionary can have to fupport, far worfe than death, is that of total difappoint- ment, together with a difeovery of having mif- taken his object. Yet to this total difappointment to this dreadful difeovery, is every man liable who engages in Millions. This reflection fhould guard us againft p r eeipitate determination ; and teach us to meet difappointments half way. When we are foaring in the clouds, we fhould often bring ourfelves to the ground, by faying to ourseives, “ Perhaps I may be miftaken in my call — perhaps the molt cruel difap- pointments await' me.” Such thoughts are the more needful as men of fire, and luch miflionaries will be, par- ticularly need them. Too often we deceive ourfetves by fuppofing conftitutional vivacity is Chriftian zeal : and, though we indulge these humbling considerations to confolidate cur fpirits, as mnch as poflible, if difap- pointment be at laft our portion, we fhall find it hard enough to fupport the dreadful concuffion when it comes. ON MISSIONS. 39 Few men of candid minds are wholly blind to conflitu- tional failings ; and if the miffionary be fenfib'e that his defect leans to the fide of false fire, it will be doubly neceflary for him to labour after the ftronger qualities of gravity, firmnefs, and felf pofTeffion ; and to go forth in utrumque paratus to win tophies, or to fupport the difgrace inevitably confequent on anunfuccefsful attempt Should a miffionary fpirit be generalrexcited, many, who mean well, will be induced to venture, who, upon the trial, will find their ftrength infufficient for an apoftolic warfare. They muft, then, either relinquiffi the war, or perfift in it to their own ruin. In this dilemma, the man of feeling, honour, fpirit, may find fuch a quantum of pride, felf confidence, and impatience in his composi- tion, as he never before fuspefted. His feeling, his fenfe of honour, his fpirit, which, with a fhare ofgodli- nefs, were perhaps the fecret fprings of his engagement, will now turn their ftrength upon himfelf, excruciate him beyond imagination, and, if God’s infinite compaffionsco not prevent him, and enable him to fink quietly into his own nothingnefs at the feet of j -fus, he will become the prey of that proud lorrow, which in lcripture language, is laid to r w;rk death ; or, in the phrafeology of this world, he ' will break his heart. The man who is per sha- ded to engage in millions is free from this danger ; but he who wich the femblance of apoftolic zeal, without deep humility, meekneis and patience, fails into this ciicumftance, wail experience a hurricane of p (lions, whichbeggars alldefcription. Much ofthis I have known too well ; and 1 make tins confeffion, that my readers may learn, that 1 make a real and important difuncilon, between a 'well tempered zeal, and that fpecies (*' file which betrays levity and inconftancv of mind. One more obfervatioti I (hall make on this fubject. If we would not dtfeourage Millions, we muft bewaie how we indulge the afpenty cr cer.fure againtt thofe who ftil in their attempts. They have paid the penalty of tneir ralhnefs, as fully as any man of humrnicy c^uld 40 HORNE’S LETTERS wilTi. We fhould remember, it is eafier to attempt great things than to accomplifh them ; and if to the proud humiliationsof a man’s own mind, and those kind- lier one’s of God’s good fpirit, this poor dejected mor- tal is to be reprehended, ridiculed, or, under the pretence of p:ty, to be the object of the vile contempt of base minds, who will engage in great and perilous underta- kings ? Let Chriftians, then, imitate the dignity of a Roman Senate, and, indead of cenfuring what thou- fands can cenfure, and few dare imitate, treat fuch a one with a generous condefcention which may m ain his mini under afflictions, and encourage others to bold attempts to ferve a grateful people. After all, as real Christians are few and false ones many, he who becomes a miflionary mud expect what Ire will certainly find — contempt arid oppofition all the way through ; and though it be our duty to treat him in the way I recommended, it is evidently his duty to drive after that lowlinefs of foul, which letting itfelf under the the eye of God, is neither elated with the praife nor dejected by the cenfure of men. In learning of Jesus to be meek and lowly in heart, we fhail Hnd 1'olid and permanent red. I remain, Revrend Brethren, Your affectionate, humble fervant, M. H.. SEVENTH LETTER. Father y and Brethren, IF we would fee a general fpread of the gofpel and multitudes of ignorant Heathen gathered into the fold of Chrid, we fnould endeavour to mend the millionary road and to remove from it all unneceffary turnpikes : we fhould confider the objections, which are made to ON MISSIONS. 4i to millions, and, by giving them fatisfactory anfwers, lhake off thofe fatal discouragements, which counteraft our exertions. I beg leave to lay before you fuch of them as have fallen under my notice, together with fuch anfwers as i have made to my feveral objec- tors. The firft trite objection thrown in the teeth of the man, who ipeaks in favor of M'ffions, is, IV e have Heathen enough in England , without crofing the fea to find them. Con- vert thofe we have at home firjl and then look to those abroad. This opjeftion temiuds me of the language of our Lord, when affirming the cold, fevere air of the Pharifee, he made a trial of the faith of the Syro phcenicean woman who requeued a cure for her daughter . — It is not meet to take the children s bread , and give it to dogs. And I think, itrnaybe well anfwered by the words oi cneafflicted moth- er, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs ec.t of the crumbs which fall from the childrens table. If our Lord may decide the point, there was reafon, as well as faith, in her plea. That there are Heathen in England is a melancholy truth ; and it will be equady tiue, when Chrilt fhall come to judge the word, as it is at this day. So that, if we wait their converfron, the Heathen abroad will never be the better for our love. But, it Ihould he remem- bered, that our European Heathen perifh by the abufe of that knowledge, for the lack of which other Heathen are undone. I add, that the miaiilera who go abroad fo far from being felt as a lois at home, will be the means of doing more good among us, than if they had continued in England. For foreign Millions will have the fame influence on religion, as fo: eign com- merce has upon agriculture and manufactures. As ChritVianity prevails abroad, fo it will flourilh at home. Thus, what is alledged againll millions is a lubftantial argument for engaging in them. Others object, I know not that Go Vs time for the con - v erf on of the Heathen be yet come. When St. Paul would have goes into djia, he was inhibited by the fpirit ; and if 42 HORNE’S LETTERS St Paul was vijlakitt in fucb a point , well viay we be fo alfo. — I anfwei if my objector means to prove any thing, he ihould advance a ftep farther, and fay I knew that God’s time is not come ; and because St. Paul wos for- bidden in the courj'e of bis journey to preach the gofpel in Afa before be had v filed Macedonia and Greece , ( which were ri- per for receiving the gofpel, ) therefore , Chrifan M infers tnujl not follow the Apojile’s example, lef peradventure, they fhould aft under the inhibitions of the Spirit — But is I dont knowjm the lips of any man, to be oppofed to the author- itative com 'land of Chrift, Go preach the Gofpel to every creature ? And is it come to this, that eighteen hundred years after the dSth of Chrift, and nottfithftanding the general opinion of the Church, evinced, by her engaging, more or lefs,in Millions, from that time to this, that we are in doubt about our Matter’s will on a fubject, which, involves the Salvation of fo large a part of mankind ? If this be the cafe, how are we to know God’s will ? What muft the Majefty of Heaven do to fatisfy our un- reasonable Spirits ? An evil and adulterous generation feck for figr.s. Our Scruples (lamp our character — St. Paul’s inhibition proves the very point I contend for — that we Ihould act under the warrant of a general commiflion. St. Paul did fo. As a man of fenfe he made ufe of his reafon. He had undoubtedly Specious reafons for thinking of going fir ft into A fit ; but God who faw farther than he did, ordered him to take another rout, and after he had fulfilled that minrftry, he refumed his deiign to go into ,-afia and fpent a confidcra- ble time, there, his labors being accompanied with the fame fuccefs which attended him in other parts. We read of none of the Apoftles locking for particular in- timations of the divine will to direct their labors. Sometimes they had extraordinary intimations, and they obeyed them ; but, in their general courfe, after prayer ana ferious deliberation, they did what appeared to them the mod advifablc. Laftiy, I afk why are we in reiigion, to contravene every ptinciple of common ON MISSIONS. 43 fenfe, upon which we act in all other things ? Let us do our duty, and ceale to move the councils of Heav- en for the knowled? of what the Almighty is deter- mined to conceal. Were St. Paul on earth, and an an- gel from heaven were to preach the doffrine contained in the objection, I am confident, the apoftle would ftrip him of his luminous apparel, and iay hts doftrine under an anathem in all the Churches. An objection fimilar to the one 1 have juft anfwered, is urged in the following form — It appears that the order of events we are taught to expect from the Prophecies, is fi'jl the dejl' action of the Roman Anttchrif, t 'cn the canverfon of the 'Jems, and laf of all, the fulnefi of the Gentiles ; in which work, the converted Jews, it is thought, will be the principal inf r aments - *7 ‘he conciu/ion is that the time is not yet come for the converfon of the Heathen , and that a l our labor to effect it will be lojl To this teafon- ing, 1 anfwer firft, that prophecies comparatively ob- fcure ihould not be put in competition with the o. -.liga- tion of clear and expiicit precepts. Secondly, if all be granted which this objection alfumes, it wili not fol- low that we (liould look for the grand events we hope to fee accomp'ifhed, in indolence and careleffnefs. if none but Jewdli Chriftians dare fignulize their zeal for truth in the apoflolic way, nor a r e to be honoied with apodolic lhccefs, much, very much may yet oe done by us, long before we fluli fee righteoufnefs covering he earth, as the waters do the face of the Ge. p How does my objector know, whether the Lord may not make ui'e of the zeal of fincere Chrutians in fpreading his G >fpei, as one principal means of converting the Jews ? And how many Millions may there not be brought to God, before the fulnefs of the Gentiles fhall come in ? We are told that our religion fhaii have a general fpread, an univcrfal prevalence in the world, and we are commanded to preach the gofpel to every creature ; but inftead of occupying our talent with faithfulnefs, we fairly bury it becauie it is not ten. Be- 44 HORNE’S LETTERS c-aufe the time mty not y^t he c 'me far the grand eon- venii’n of mankind, we take >t f>r glinted, that the day is not come for the conveiiion ns, what a trifle would a Angle million of money be in the courfe of twenty years, to be raifed among the Chrifti ms of England ? And while we pay fourteen or fifteen millions annually for the advantage of civil government, what a fmail offering is fifty thoufand pounds to our Immortal Sovereign for all the bleffings of his divine religion ? Say that the fum of thirty five thoufand pounds bounded our benevolence to our Heathen breth- ren, this would be one million in thirty years. Certain- ly this money would be incomparably better fpent than the millions confumed in one year’s war ! In the laft year a fubfcription of more than twenty thoufand pounds was given to the emigrant minifters of the Gallician Church ; and immenfie fums are laid out on the fup- ON MISSIONS. 4 5 port of cur poor, every yeir. I heartily approve of this way of fp. n Imp; our money ; hut may I not ask ; is the i'piead oi Chrift’s re ig on a matter ot cor mon Char- ity, that we fhould part w itli money foi Miffions with as much reluctance as we would part with < ui blood : and think forty or fifty th uf'and pounds, which a few Gentle- men of fi mine can afF< .rd to throw away o their pleasui es eve y year, too large a ium to be pptied to ihefirlt, the greateft and molt obligatory charity under heaven ? And yet by the cxpn'ituie oi ti e ium 1 have men- tioned mk ht thoniands of rf uhen, every year be brought horn ca k ei's into it ^ hr , md turned from the po. cr of Satar to the fervice < f God. The want of men is the jait thing to be feared. There exilis, at >.hi , d y in Ln urd amontr al! dei omiua- tions Let us (uir enquire iftter .he :■ and r hey wi 1 ap- pear f3u f . .< i.g is h. fiio-.s are difeour ged and vil- ified, f w . ( them vil. brand tlnn felve 1 he e ihusiafls, by exprefling grea: forwai duels, ai d necom ng candidates f. r ram. !( U'l: i ill he fbjfcted tliat F»its do not j'Jfi'y theft / , ; ; c h p s ; for > o y'rnr has y ! bee de ved Ir an Mif- Ji-i-'s. on rib td th'-s.ey - nil toil, and valuable lives nvbi b ku' e bet’ exp n, -d on them . and nuf eh might have been ap- fi ■ te b • er pr.i;o,' l\u ope i ar.'Wf the facts a iu- o«. o. p uvr rr.ihuv ut that Miffi ins } ave been v v ir. pn p >,y c! ducted ; .>nd, that if h are not taken up v tr more ;pirir th;t y ate by no means likely t(. ! r, thti. i d but, l i fill, t! at the fuit with v ! they hav- h*en a ter.oed, p ov-s undeniably what may be cr i e v, h n wt cx r ourfeVes s we ■ u h to co. n i!t, farther that hr te Nhffi.mi though ur.pro- dndiv , t - %xc. jo niM , and have .u f.r red val- u 1> put p fe-..* They ,r juitin hie ; for th men who have adted in them have done their duty, refpect- 4 6 ' HORNE’S LETTERS. ed their confidences, felt for humanity, proved their faith, aiferted the honor of their religion and glorified the verachy faiti.fulnefs and power of God It fliall rot v,iil that the world brands theii lives with madneis, an eiieems their deaths w thout honor. Wtfdom will jnt :y her children. They have been •wife, in-tfmuch as they have been faithful t for there L i osnan, who hath eft .’ather or mother, or houfe or 1 nds, ir- ; fc h s not ! i er u. t*> tl cm. yet. ike that ve uab.c P-. o-iarch they have f< en Cor n’s day and rc- jr 'c-eu. In the ver-cin f h* prom-fes, 'll y have fc-en his feed mint, u- is 'he la d: 'n th fe « h ' »*.,& efp e'>« dent us rh- the . r-. ofhea-eo. hes hav . r. tamed a good v, p ; : through faith, and thnr bo es, like th e of Jr .os a n cl Joseph, h ve t -ke polhffi n of the lane of our inherit -r.ee. L'he • in . .« • tous hope ; and though nop oud Maufo’c-Ur , of theirs ai r ct» the eye oi man, prone to g. a. wiuj a 1 order n #••-■>! th y pageants, yet Angtis in arnica 1 e converse e 1 p> ■; t out each ii al- lowed f it, and read t e ne 1 pi ph 'these •were t-ten cf •wh- neb the wor d iue) e no •worth) ! 1 he > p e d the caufe of Chrnt with us, uor mail they akvajj plead ON MISSIONS. 47 < in vain. Their vo’ces (hall be heard, and all Europe fliall obey their call They are the forerunneis of the armies of Emanuel, and their labors the welcome crops which promife plenteous rain. Until this is brought to pil>, they have the honour to keep al ve the pirit of Millions ; and will claim a large lhare m tne victories of tb >se, who (hall come after them t Some pious men can indulge no hope of fuccefs, in Millions, whi ethe wickednefs of Europeans operates to pre- judice the Heathen againjl the go/pel We lament the fatal operui n ol prejudices which aiife from that quarter, but think they are prefled bevond all bounds ct truth. No pc p e were more prejudiced again!! Chriltianity, nor had more dreadful c. ute to he fo, than the poor I dians of Calif rnia and Paraguay ; but their preju- dices. yi lded to the force ol reafon, and the peifevering benevolence of the Jefuits. Truth is great and will prevail. No men sk f > brutifh as not to be able to di languid) between a friend and an enemy ; and fierce lion - have been lubdued by the blanailhments. of gen- tle, huin..n kin Inefs. Beyond all this we mult look to the blefli g of the God we ferve, and the almighty gr ce of our Lord Jclus Chriit. To hope the belt is pious and wife Many Moralifts, who, though bred up in the com- mon forms arid princ p es of Chriltianity, know not how to value the.r religion, object, The death cf Cbrijl n as to be willing to allow fmall intervals of repofe to his followers ; who, infiead of putting pens in our hands, lays crofles on our backs ; and who inilead of deceiving us with fair fpeeches, and alluring hopes of fe- cular emoluments, declares unceremoniouily, that if any man will not deny himfelfand follow him, although it be HORNE’S LETTERS 56 to certain death,. he is unworthyof him ! Would to God this were a fubject in which there was no place for thefe biting ironies- But I am fick at heart, 1 blufh for myfelf and the honor of my corps, and muft write what I feel. Shall the principle of honor, and the hope of flow, petty, precarious preferment, advance the children of this world to the rank of heroes, while the certain, glorious preferments held out to us by the Son of God have no power to move us, but are trod- den under foot, as though they were husks, or we were fwine ? Advance next ye fons of learning, arts, experiments, and try upon us lagging racers, the powers of your manly eloquence, and the evidence of your demonftra- tions. In the prefent century. Geography and Aftron- omy have received great improvements, at confiderable expcnce, by long, hazardous voyages, travels full of fatigue and peril, and painful obfervations taken in the Ar&ic Circle, on the fummits of the Andes, and in the Iflands of the South Seas. By thefe undertakings the names of Cooke, Wallis, Banks, Ledyard, Haughton, Maupertius, and others, have been refcued from obliv- ion, and will be handed down to pofferity, together with the names of the great Kings, whofe commands they executed, as long as the records of fcience fhail fubfift. But are obfervations of the tranfit of Venus, the menfuration of a degree of longitude, the. foiving the problem of a Southern Continent, objects of fuch magnitude ? Will they exonerate t he Princes who commandedjor the men who performed their commands, from the imputation of idle curiofity, unjuftifiable te- merity, and a wafte of treal'ure and of Blood ? If they do, and if He who made man in his own image, and redeemed him by the death of his own Son, be able to appieciate the value of an immortal foul, are there not inducements to draw the Mi lifters of Chrift to Africa, Alia, and the South Seas, infinitely more worthy of a noble mind, than the acquilition of wealth or the im* ON MISSIONS. 57 provement of fcience ? Shall religion refufe to follow, where the love of fcience leads ? Or, have the ambafla- dors of God lefs affiance on his protection, than the naturalift who exploies the dangerous chafms and tre- mendous crater of a volcano ? 0 God of the Chriflians, fuffer it r.o longer ! If the great and ftrong decline the conflict, let the bafe and weak again fliow the world, that thy Majefly cor.defcends to employ the meanefl inflruments, and that thy religion prevails net by the wifdom of man, but by the powers of thy fpirit, O Lord ! The mighty aCts of Commerce fhould not be forgot- ten. What has fhe not effected ? .She navigates every fea, levels mountains, traverfesthe defert?, and through- out the world changes the whole face of Nature. She rides the fenate, controls the neld, and difpenfes peace or war as fhe pleafes. She a Herts univerfal empire, and calling the nations, peoples, and languages to the plains of Dura, commands them to fall down andworfhip the golden image fhe has let up. From the time that Columbus led the-wny to a new world, and De Gama, skirting the coail of Africa, pen- etrated to the Indian Ocean, and the treafures of the Eaft how amiable, how uncorrupt, how fweetened with hu- man kindnefs, how marked with every character of our religion, how beneath all praife and recompense, ex- cept fuch as God can give, has been the conduct of the merchants, of Portugal, Spain, Holland, France, and England ! From that blefled aera, with what a mighty tide has their benevolence rolled to the American, the African, and the Afian fhores ! What iflands has it not peopled ? What barbarous country has it not civil- ized ! What arts and laws acknowledge not its creating power and foflering care i What emancipated flave does not extend to heaven his unfettered arrn, and bear teflimony to it ! ! ! cili hail, Chriltian Europe^! All hail, ye her feeptered Ruiers, Defenders of the faith, Moft Faithful, Mod Cath- HORNE’S LETTERS 58 olic, M-'fl Chrifti n Kings ! Ye Nobles, and 7? m'tred Bilhops of htr realms ! Ye princely Traders, and ye ie- g.l Seers ! Ye Leaders of her hofts by land and fea, w o rule the ftorm of w^r, and bid her battles bleed ! Oihers have d. ne well ; but Thou Christian Eu- rope, excelh It them ail ! The Greek, Roman, Saracen, Turkman, Tartar tword, has thinned the n itions ; but Thou, great in arts »nd arms, Queen of the Earth, and facied mother of Chrillians, halt every where planted the olive, and embraced thy fpecies with maternal arms I The fpirits rf the Incas, Montezuma, .A fun R jabs, Indian Chief-, African Princes, Kings of Y- chin and of Crmus, and the myriads of their vm< der- ed fuojects, watch over thy peace, and make interceffion for thy profperity before God ! Thy Kurelled foldiery, thy triumph mt fleets, and the numerous carriers of thy trade, return to thy blefled kingdoms lefs richly fraught with gold and coftly merchandize, than laden Qc-.p with benediction, and the grateful acclam dions of the tribes of man ? Exult ye Martyrs, in fons who thus perpeiuate your fame ! Rejoice Apultles, in thefe peaceful, righteous trophies of the crofs ! Ana Thou, Father of all, contemplate thefe fair F >rgive, God of all mercy, forgive the prefumption of this addrtfs ! For ever, if it be pv fil >le, lor ever let thefe aohorred a«fts be blotted from the memorial of thy hobnefs. But if the earth, bathed with gore, and fattened with human carc.ifles, cries loudly for vengea: ce, and if the facrifice of thine immaculate Son may not ne prohituted to varnifh crimes, and to fhield the murderer and fpoiler fiom thy thunder, grant, that in that day, when thou makeft inquifirion for. blooJ, I may not be found guilty of filence where 1 ought to have fp ken, cr be criminated for burying the talent which ought to have been employed in confolii.g he mourner, wiping away the tear from his eye, and alleviating the guhing weight of his chain, by declaring to the cap ive the glorious liberty of the children of God, and opening ON MISSIONS. 59 to !his rawlhed foul, fome profpefls of a better country, where no Chriltians ihirltfor gold, where the wicked ceafc from troubling, and the wearv are at rdt ! Do you also, Reverend Brethren, forgive the tranf- ports of my feeble mind. But the transactions 1 allude to, exceed fo far any exertions 1 have beenahie to discov- er, in the fr ozen regions of the church that 1 was leizcd with the madnefs of the multitude, and cou'd not refill the temptation of bowing my k ee and woilhippmg at the united altars cf Commerce and of Rapine. Youi fo- ber minds will reason where 1 have only felt ; but permit me to hope, that to ycur re.-soi ings you will alfo ciate a portion of my feelings, ana you wili then have fuch an application of the fubjedt as I could will). A few otter skins at Nootka Sound, foon excited the fj irit of adventure in hurope, and not long jfter the JEiiglifh and Spaniards were going to cut each other’s throats about them This, it feems, was peifedlly con- fonant to right rcafon. Nobody ful'p dted the nations were mad. And is there a man among ail the Miniiters of Chrill who will treat me as mad for exhorting my Brethren in the Gofpel Minillry, to propagate religion with as much zeal as the men of the world trade and fight for otter fkins ? God forbid ! Thus reviewing ail ranks and orders of men, we lee that the children ot this world are wifer, bolder, and and more fuccefsful in their generation than the chil- dren of light. Earneltly hefeeching the Lord to give you all to feel how llrongly they reproach us. I remain Reverend Bretheren. * ' Your affedlionate, Brother, F M. H. 6o HORNE’S LETTERS ' NINTH LETTER. Fathers and Brethren , H WING ’raced the general outline of what I have to .1 Her on Mifliions, 1 leave it to he fnied up by you? private meditations, or by feme abler artift, who may be excited to prefent you with a finifhed piece on tins ir.ti retting fu ! jt,dt. But J cannot petfuade myfelf to lay aln'e my p;.n, without again addn ffing to you ti e word oi exhortation, and when fo many are for- ward in cal ing you into the field of political, or po- le > ic bif uffion, ceitaii ly I may be hold in provoking you to lr ’ e ot the molt difintereiled kind, and to thole gnoo works which are nr It acceptable to God, as they or e.’ ate m the pureft principles. In the Reverend Mr Carey’s Publication on this fu 1 j.ct, l was Itruck w ith the following p«flage, which I fhail r quell perimllion to lay before yc u. “ A “ Chrilti n minilter i- a ptrlrn who in a peculiar fenfe “ i not his onvn ; he is the lervant ot God, and there- “ fore > u lit to be wholly dr oi '.hat lacred office-, he fol -mnly undertakes to he always er gaged, aS much as poflhle, in the Lord’s “ wo: k and not to chule his own piealure or eropioy- “ ent, or purfue ihc miniitry as a thing w hich is to “ ferve his own ends, or imei Its, or as a kind oi bye “ •wrk. He engages to go where Go. pleafes, and to “ . o or endure what He Ice fit to command, in the “ exevcife of his function He virtu .ily id farewell to “ 1 'eiu's, p e lures, a d comfort; and ttands in read- “ iuefs to e time ihe greater luff iings in the work “ of lus Lord and Ma 'er.— It is incontinent wirli min- “ iltii- to i lrale to rule ves w ith the thoughts of a nu- (l merous audnoiy, cordial friends, a civilized country, ON MISSIONS. 6 1 “ legal protection, affluence, fplendor or even a compe- “ tency. The flights and hatred of men, falfe iner.ds, “ gloomy prifons and tortures, the iociety of barbari- “ ans, of uncouth fpeech. miferable accommodation-;, “in wretch.d wildernefles, hunger and third, naked- “ nefs, wearincfs and pai.ifuinefs, hard work, and litt'e “ worldly encouragement, fhould rather be the objects “ of their expectation, Thus the Apofties aCted in the “ primitive times, a:id endured hardnefs as good fol- “ diers cf Jefus Chriil ; and though we, who live in a “ civilized country, where Chriftianity is protected by la v, are not called to fuif.-r thefe things while we “ continue here, yet, I quedion, whether all are juf- •* tified in (laying here, wniie fo many are perifhing “ without the means of grace in other lands. Sure I “ am that it is entirely contrary to the fpirit of the goi- “ pel, for its minillers to be adluated by interelled mo- “ tives. On the contrary their commiffion is a lufficient “ call for them to venture all, and like the firlt Chrif- “ tians go every where preaching the gofpel.” Thefe, Reverend Brethren, are fentiments worthy of our Character as the Servants of God. Rejected by mercenary eflayifts and faihionable declaimers they find acceptance with you, and are cherifhed in your breads ; but, alas ! how negligent are we in giving thefe princi- ples their proper culture ! Principles did I call them 3 — To what a dilemma am l reduced ? Shall I wou id you, or wrong the truth ? Better far if it be fo to of- fend men than God. No, Brethren, I dare not call them principles , otherwife than as they are principles of a fpecuiative fublime theory, which few of us care to praCtife In the clofet we fometimes meditate upon, them with delight ; in the pulpit we enforce them wt h energy ; but how foon, how very foon, do we go away, and forget what manner of men we are ? “ Who is he,” faid the beloved difciple, “ that over- “ cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jelus is 62 HORNE’S LETTERS - “ the Son of God?” Alas ! of the thoufands of our Ifrael, whether minifters or their flocks, how' few are they whole religion will bear this teft ? Where are the holy, happy fpirits who have overcome the world, and by a truly glorious vidtory calf contempt on Macedon and Rome ? Where are the men whofe converfuion is lb in heaven, who fo behold the glory of God, as to be railed above the intereils, the hopes, the fears, the pomps and vanities of our petty fyftem ? O how very few there are to whom w T e can point with our finger and fay, that man is truly apoftolic ! The great Majority of fuch as, in the judgment of Charity, may be deemed fmcere Chrillians, are nevert’uelefs, in a feeble infantile, unfettled ftitc, halting often, fometimes humbling, grieving their friends and affording triumph to their enemies. N'otwithftanding the revival of religion which has taken place in England, in the laft fifty years, what littienefs of faith, what coldnefs of love is there among us ? While we compare ourfelves among our- felves we are all difpofed to afTume praife ; but when we place ourfelves in the light of God’s countenance, with what difficulty do we endure the divine fplendor ? What doubts, what fears, too often repel our confidence, confound our fpirits, flop our mouths and prevent the delightful accents of Abba Father, which can alone gladden our hearts ? When I confider the ftate of things among us I won- der that infidels have not thought it worth their while to follow', more generally, in the track of Mandeville, and relinquilhing the attacks upon the doctrine and evi- dencies of Chriftianity, diredted their malice to a more vulnerable part, and (tabbed our Saviour through the perfons of his followers. Where truth and brotherly kindnefs find fo much to cenfure and lament, what havoc might we not expedt from ignorance, fallhood, and malignity ? This indeed appears to have been the mode of attack adopted by Voltaire and other peftife- rous fpirits on the Continent. They have prevailed. ON MISSIONS. The religion of Jefus is profcribed, his fabbath; are changed, his crofs trampled upon, and his mediation defpifed. But coffd Voltaire and his nefiriouscoiieagu .s work fuch wonders ? God forbid i The Prieds. the Prieds betrayed their God and thei r religion. fheir bigotry, i'u- perttition, fecular and fpiri.ual wickedneffes, have m ids their flocks infidels, atheifis, and a holy, righteous God has delivered them over to be deftr jyed and plundered by the miferable men whom they have provoke. i to madnefs, and caul'ed to blafphenre that venerable name by which they were called. May we fee the rod, and learn inflruction from their fall ! May we be jealou . of our rr.iniftry, and compel men to refpett it, by lb mak- ing tiie light of our holy converfatiop to Ihine b?f re them, that they miy fee our good works and glorify our Father who is in heave'n. The minidry h >.s f>ng fa.len under great contempt among us, and the laity too generally confider us as mere fecular men, who de- claim for pay and with vile grimace, one day out of feven, hold forth a language, which if true, condemns ourfeives as much as thole who hear us. Mmtead of blaming them, let us reform ourfeives. Indead of talking of the dignity of our ch ar.ufter, let its learn to feel and fupport it. Let us [how th m that we delpifc money, are luperior to popularity, and lure renounced ail meddling with what is foreign ro our calling. L»c us mark the example of St Paul, “ Giving,” as he fays, “ no offence in any thing that the mini id y be not “ blamed ; but in ail things approving ourfeives as the “ minillers of God, in much patience, in afllitflions. in “ necellities, in dillreffss, in llripes. in imprifonments, “ in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fattmgs, by ‘‘ purenef>, by know edge, by long liilfering, by kinU- “ uc * s ) by the Holy Ghod, by love unfeigned, oy me “ word of truth, by the p iwer of God, by the aimour ** of righteoiifnefs oa the right hand and on the left, by 11 honor and dilhonor, by evil report an l good report ; “ as deceivers and yet true ; as unknown, and yet v. silt HORNE’S LETTERS <4 “ known ; as dying and behold we live ; as chaftened, “ and not killed ; as forrowful, yet always rejoicing ; “ as poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, “ and yet poffl. fling all things.” Let us do this, and the miniftry will hold up its head. And (hould it be thought, that the circumstances of our iiving in a Chriftian country and enjoying the pro- tection of equal laws, difpenfe with our exhibiting fome of thofe atteftations of our miniftry, which the Apoftie enumerates, I beg leave to obferve that as a mere nom- inal Chriftianity in our countrymen will never Ihield us from contempt, hatred, reproach, and perfecution, as far as the laws, of the land will permit, in the faithful difcharge of our miniftry, fo the polfefflon and excercife of fervent and expanfive charity, both to the evil and the good, would neceffarily make us fymbolize with the Apoftles in labors, watchings, fallings, affliction, necef- fities and diftrelTes of various kinds.. An attempt to do much good is the fure way to fuffer much evil. Provided we willlet the world go on as itpleafes, andfee our fellow creatures polling to perdition without any, or with only feeble attempts to fave them, they will leave us alone, and perhaps fpeak well of us ; but let us throw ouifelves in their way, let us attempt to ftem the torrent, and we fhall find religion will receive little better treatment at this day, than it did eighteen hun- dred years ago. Our meeting with fo little perfecution lor righteoufnefs fake, is one demonftration, that our religion does not over much gall fhe Devil and his children. For he and they will certainly fight for their kingdom. But it is worfe Hill that we feem JiudiouJIy to fhun the crofs of Chrift. How many of us are quitting fome fituations, and rejecting others, which promife much ufefulnefs, merely becaufe we think our learning and talents thrown away on the poor, or our (Upends fo fmall that we cannot live upon them like Gentlemen, or becaufe our fpirits are too high to (loop to owe our maintenance to pious fiends ; or becaufe we cannot live by faith on the libeiality and faithfuinefs of Chrift, ON MISSIONS. *5 and endure the profpetf of leaving our widows and or- phans to his iupport? How tew of us prefer a poor place to a rich one, and think it a fufficient rcafon for doing fo, that we can be more ufeful, and more pious, in an humble llation. I flatter myftlf none of you, Brethren, will ask, What has all this to do with Millions ? But if you do, I an- fwer, evidently very much. While we betray this fec- ular fpirit, are fo very polite, and fo much like fine Gentlemen, what have we, or what ought we to have, to do with Miffi'ons? To what can it be aferioed, but to the prevalence of this fpirit, and of thefe manners, chat we hardly ever think of them ? Are not Heathen men ? Have they not fouls to be faved ? Dare we avow other end in our miniltry than the falvation of men’s fouls ? Are we not commanded to go and preach the gofpel to them ? Are there any difeouragements which flop the children of the worldinthe purfuit of money; and if we loved fouls as well as they love money would difeour- agements flop us ? Are the minifters of the gofpel the only men born with the fouls of women ? Have we a right to talk of dangers and fufferings, who believe the Son of God was incarnate for our fake, born in a liable, cradled in a manger, lived on alms, had no place where to lay his head, and expired like a malc- iador on a crofs ? Let moralills decline danger and fhrink at death ; but let not us, who call ourfelves em- phatically gofpel minifters, who rejoice in Chrill crucified, who preach remilfion of fin in his name, and fpeak of a life hidden with him in God, let us not follow their ex- ample ; cr,if we do, let us candidly contefs, that our wa- vering faith has no firm hold of Him, who is the ref- urredtion and the life. And if Heathen are men, have fouls, and the only end of our minillry is the falvation of men’s fouls ; if we are commanded to preach the gofpel to them, if we love fouls as well as the children of this, world love money, if we are not women in the form of men, and if the fufftrings of Jesus prohibit 66 HORNE’S LETTERS all pufillanimous clamors about fufferings and danger, is not our God jealous, does he not require cheerful, uniform obedience, and will He hold us guiltlefs, if we refufe to obey his pleafure ? Say we lhall not forfeit Hea- ven, though we all lurk at home iikc fluggards, yet is there nothing in our fouls, which afpires to heavenly praife and glory ? With this littlenefs of foul fhall we not blufn to meet the Apoflles in their Matter's joy ? Shall we be content to be faved as by fire, when we are called each of us to enter into glory like Elijah in fol- enin triumph ? O where is the Lord God of Elijah ! Or where the fpirit of him who faid“ it becometh me to ful- “ fill all righleousnefs- — it is my meat and drink to do “ the will of Him who fent me, and to finilh the work “ *hich He has given me to do ?’ How long, Brethren, fhall we rebel againft our Lord? How long, like Jonah, fhall we attempt to flee from his fpirit, and refufe to carry glad tidings of great joy unto all people ? bhould fome fneering infidel take up this publication. What would he fay on reading it ? What can we expedt him to fay ? 1 fancy I hear him exprefsing himself in the following language, “ What does this mad fellow mean ? Why does he not go to “ the Heathen himfelf ? Or if he did, can he imagine M his enthufraftical publications will make others as mad as himieif ? Let him writeforever, our Bilhops, Arch- “ deacons, andother church dignitaries will not budge an “ inch. Rectors, Vicars, and Curates, are well difpofed “ to follow' their good example, and will never be pre- vailed on to turn fpirituai kr.ight-errants. The Dif- “ fenterswho charge the Eftabliihmentas the e’derdaugh- “ ter of Rome and fay her minifters preach only for fat “ livings, have no more zeal than the men they reprove *• to encounter their miflionary windmills. Even the “ Methodifts, who connder thrmfclves as the grand “ Reformers of theday, and vapour about the hardlhips “ of their itinerancy, love to keep in fnug quarters in “ Old England, or have no flomach to venture farther *1 than our Welt India lflands, where they live in com- ON MISSIONS. 67 “ fort, and can aflame the important name of miflion- “ aries, without experiencing the hardlhips of the under- “ taking. Hie model!, quiet Moravians, are the only “ people, who feem to believe the Apollles and Prophets “ and who whether they do much or little, look the “ hardlhips of a million in the face like men. l'liis “ fellow had better think of his own preferment, and “ dream of millions on a foft bed, than thus proclaim him “ felf a fool by l'uppofing his letters can do good in the “ world.” Churchmen, Diflenters, Methodills, what will you reply to this reproach ? Shall we make a book to confute him? It will be found, I fear on the trial, that it is easier to make a hundred books, than to engage one man to prove the linceriiy of his love to perifhing tinners, by facrificing himfeif and his family to their welfare Here we are differingifrom each other in various points, and contend- ing hard to ihew that our own Sedt, whatever it is, is lodged in the penitralia of the Temple of Truth, and is the foremolt in the race for heaven ; but when the question is put, Wnich of you will forfake all, deny himfelf, take up his crofs, and, if God pleafes, die, for his religion ? It presently appears that Churchmen, Diflenters, and Methodifts, are more closely united in principle and practice than they are aware of. We all ilraightway, with one confenc, begin to make apologies and to fay, I pray have me ex- cused, while fome openly call contempt on the underta- king, and throw out evangelical jokes upon the few who coniider millions in a ferious light. Shall Churchmen, Diflenters, Metnodiils, deny these fadts, because there are among each of them a few men whofe condudt may be urged as an exception againlt them ? Surely this is disingenuou s. Many of us complain of an antichriflian union between Church and Hate, and that religion is fettered, and m ode, like a child, to walk in leading Itiings. We fay that re- ligion flourilhed moll when Ihe had to contend with as HORNE'S LETTERS the State, and had no other fupport than what fhe de- ri ved from her own native ftrength. Let this be granted. It was fo once, but it is a little problematical, whether it would be fo now. “ Tempora mutantur et nos muta- mur in illis,” Are we apojlolic Cbriflians ? Can ive I ‘ contend with hunger, thirft, cold, nakednefs, perils, and I the fword ? Can we walk without thofe leading firings ? If we can, and if we feel them fo galling, fo degrading, | 1 why do we not do fo ? Are there not two thirds of the f 1 world, where we lhall not be infulted by legal protection, 11 or be paid, like fecular men, for our labor ? Have we not full cportunity of fhewing the politicians and J great men of Europe, that Chrift, his minifters, and people, are able to uphold their religion in ■' the world, without their support and that we n can multiply now, as in the primitive times n like the polypus, when he is cut in pieces ? And yet the preciie realbn v. hy we do not engage iirMiffions is because we cannot enjoy that fecular protection, and thofe I f fecular comforts, which we have in England. To follow 111 the Son of God where he has no place to lay his head, and no other recompence to offer us, than the cup he W drank of and the baptifm with which he was baptifed, is | cl more I fear than we are able to do ; and until we can do m fo, it will remain very queftionable, whether we can walk without out our leadings firings. l‘ This appears to be the cafe fo evidently, that thofe who patronize Millions feel it neceffary to fecularize them, I oil and to put them, as much as poffible, on the fame footing Li asaparochialCure inEurope. They are afraid of alarming Id us by Ihewing the dark fide of things, and hardly conceive rc that there exifi among us men, whofe fpirit.dare afpireto > su an apoflolic warfare Hence it is, that neither they nor | we have faith to think of fubduing kingdoms ; nor are nr they to be fubdued by a few fair weather foldiers, accom- as panied by delicate women and children, educated in falh- I to ionable accomplifiiments.and accufiomed to all thedelica- thr ciesoflife j whoareabsolutely incapable ofexpoling them-, : ON MISSIONS. *9 felves to fun, wind, or rain, or of exerdfsngthose dimities which were once the ornament and praii'e of Ci listian matrons. I fear, I tear greatly, that I write to the winds and that neither Chriftian Minifters nor their wives, have piety enough for this engagement ; and that the MT- fionaries we are able to fend out wuh the equipage, they require for their camp, will do no more towards fubduing India to the faith of Chrift, than a few effem- inate Afiatics, with their Harams. and dancing girls, would do m an attempt to bring Great Britain under the yoke of the Mogul. If there were absolutely none to encourage the at* tempt, and nothing exifting at this day in the form of a m'ffion, the conduct of the minifters of Chrift would be more excusable ; but it feems, as if the providence of God had kept alive fome fenfe of duty, and fome examples of zeal, both among laity and clergy, to be a teftimony a- gainft us, and to hold us up to infamy to future genera* lions. What is done, indicates, that we know our duty and what is left undone evinces, that we have no inclina- tion to do it. We mmifters have no reason to complain of the laity. They are willing to give us all encourage- ment ; nay, they invite and folicit us to engage ; and freely offer to do all in their power to make us comfor- table ; and yet we refufe to flir. I am forry to fay, that this reproach falls more immediately on mylelf and other gofpel minifters, in the eftablifhment. The Sierra Leone Chaplainfhip went a begging pretty far before it fell into the hands of my Colleague and myfeif ; and now that we have declined it, it lies negledted, as no man thinks it worth his while to pick it up. For fome years great enquiries were made to procure an Affiitant mmifter for the Reverend Mr Johnfon, at Port Jacklbn, and with infinite difficulty, that poll is, at laft, filled ; but all the enquiries made among gofpel minifters, for three years palt, and, tvhich are ft ill making, alter an aftiitant for the Reverend Mr. Brown, at Calcutta, have 7 * HORNE’S LETTERS hitherto been without effect Whether this does us hoa- or, I leave the world co judge. I fliall h wever contrail thefe Ldh with one from Mr Spangenberg, a. Moi avian Bithop, who informs us, that whtn, at Bethlehem in North -vmerica, letters were read in the Brethren’s congregation, ftatirg, ’hat feveral of their miffionaries had been earned off ny ficknefs in the Jfland of St. Thomas, i the Wed Indies, that very da) (ever, Breth- ren offeied to go -and replace them. — This is juft what things ought to be, and any Church which can proauce fuch men may engage in Millions- That our Brethren of the various denominations of Eng’nlh LhffeT'ters have any caufe to rejoice over us in this refpedt is more than 1 know. Except the Rev. Mr. C«rey and a fiiend who accompanies him, 1 am not in- formed of any of their minifters who are engaged in mif- firps. Would to God they would undertake ft mething in this way tor Chrift, which might provoke us to jeal- ousy ! The Reverend Dr. Coke has of late years done iomethi. g in this way in our Weft India Iflands ; and might have done, much more, had the Methodift Preachers, as a btdy , given him that unequivocal fupport, to which his zeal it, fuch a caufe fhould entitle him — Hitheito thcleMiffions may be confidered as /i/'rmiflions, rather than thole of the Methodifts I am, howover, happy to be informed that his Brethren, begyn to enter more heuit’ly into the lpiritof Millions, and 1 flatter my* felf they will now embark in them, with all their f< ui, and all their ftrength. But, whether they doit or not, it is infinitely to be defired that it DiouM be done by lbme of us ; for however we may fuppofe ourfelves en- ti ed to reprove each other about modes ot faith and foi m, of worlhip, upon this ! uftnefs, I know not who may throw the. hrlt Itone. And if I take the liberty of fpeak- ing f fieely, 1 apy eal to God, it is not because I fuppofe m;ielf en:uled to reprove others lrom any merit of rny own ; but uccause i ingenuouily conlefs my .in, and am ON MISSIONS. 71 willing to come in for a full flir.re of our common lhame. Our conduct in refpedt of Millions, evinces beyond every thing t! e low degraded Hate of the ChriMian nvmftry, and th ideaswhichtoogencr. il) prevail about it threaten to degrade it itiil lower. An impm per at'ac h- xncnt to lecular imereds and honors, exerts too muchofits baleful influence over thofe whofe principles teach them better things ; but what conlequences may not be ex- pected to flow from the love of money, and the Jove of praife, when men of the firft character at d influence in the church avow them, as allowable motives of miniQerial conduct. NevertheUA, we h ve uved to hear them fo avowed, and to the ihame of human nature, but to the exemplification of the lcrip- ture declaration, that by wifdom men knew not God, lo ear toem avowed from the admirable pen of Arck- i)' ac >n Palsy. Alter adducing other re-:fons to fnew that a diflinction of orders in the minillry. is mcil con- ducive to the general ends of its inftitution he cone n es as follow — “ And laftly, that the fame fund pro i uces more i ff- «ft both as an allurement to men of talents ;o enter into the Church, and as a fbmulus to the industry ot those who arealieady in it w! cn dihributed into p izes of different value, than when cividei into qu.il fliares.” — P.ilcj’s Moral Phiioftiphy , vo). 2. [). 22). God of heaven and eajrh, wh it a flab is this to the vitals of thy religion! 1 appeal to every godly man in Lng'and, Whether all the t.l nte, all the learning, .1 r d al • .:e virtues of a P ev. can fhielci the man win avetvs tin fe lentiment' fr- m It s contempt ? And yet this i- he nam who teaches u.- morals — woo it. rudhs our young nn !f»rs — whole b«'ok is hon- ured a. - op 1: a oui Unive du es ! But who th it ada pts licfe font. merits w li engage in m ffi. 11s ? Ala, the al.ut.-m. ulus, the prizes, Mr. Paley ta k o', may in- u- ; me ' to cu-tiva; li 11 tale, t- v h as n u h cate as He has dci e, ana to write as well as ht has wntitn ; and thev nuv, G 72 HORNE’S LETTERS perhaps, draw from our ecclefiaftical lottery, as rich a prize as he has drawn; but as foon may the carrion crow beget a dove, as they will induce him to conduct him- felf in a miniftry asbecometh the gofpel of Chrifl. I'hus it i c that we are not afhamed to drive infolent bai gains w;th the Son of God, and tell him we will ftoop to r- flume the contemptib’e charatfer of his ambafll aders, if he will hold out to us rich and honorable prizes to allure men of our talents into the Church, and to Itim- uiate our indullry when we are in it. 1'ruth, virtue, re- liu'ion, God and heavenly glory, are no allurements, no lLroulus, to our afpiring minds, until they receive the c irency of this world, by being attached to the f ohcap cf um n honor, or to that pernicious metal, which can transform the ^pottles of Satan into the ministers of Chrift Others of us appear afhamed of thtfe fimonical pivdtices, and fay, “Lord 1 will followthee whitherfoever *’ th >u goeh ;only fnew me a little more indulgence than “ thou haf flie wed to thyfelf. Excuse me from watch- “ >ng and agonizing with thee in Gethfemane I will “ take up my crofs ; I only deprecate the being crucified “ upon it. i am willing tofo’fake much ; but compaf- “ fionate my weaknefs, and do not command sne to fell “ all. 1 will follow thee any where on land ; but O fpare ‘‘ me the horrors of a voyage by fea. I will preach “ for thee amongft the pooreft of my own na- “ tion ; but do not lend me to a flrange countty. “ i acknowftedge I am a miferable finner, unworthy to “ be a door keeper in thyhoufc, neverthelefs,my elocution “ is popular, I am much followed and applauded ; AV ill “ it not be more for thy glory for me to flay at home, “ while any man of inferior talents may go and preach “ to the Heathen ? I have heard that the) offer human “ la. rifices in Otaneite, eat men in New Zealand, are “ abfolutely Drutilh at Port Jackfon and that the fcorch- “ ing fun and heavy rains in Africa are inevitably fatal. “ O ict the hfe of thy fervant he precious in thy fi ht ! “ Sena me not to unumeabie barbarians, or to a clime ON MISSIONS. 73 “ where I cannot be certain of my life for a dty. Be- “ (ides the difficulties of thefe undertakings aremfuper- “ able. It is probable I mult cultivate the ground “ for my maintenance, and I have been brought up del* “ Lately from a child. Thy Apoltles who were poor “ filhermen, and never poffdfed my extenfive learning, “ elegant manners, and genteel notions, were wellfuited “ to this rough work ; yet even they preached to a civ- “ ilized people and being furnilhed with miraculous “ powers, their labours were the more productive ; but “ what Avail I do who have not their advantages, and “ have my mind fo vitiated by falfe learning, that I can- “ not (loop to the fimplicity of the gofpel ? Certai iiy “ to engage in miffions is to plough on a rock, or to “ build on the wave. O let me be any thing but a mif- “ fionary, for my foul (inks within me at the mention * of it, nor can l derive any confiderations from earth, “ heaven, or hell to make me willing to die for thy “ fake. I am not lingular in my opinion of miffions, “ for we are all agreed clergy and laity, churchmen and “ diffenters, Indian directors and parliament men, with “ few exceptions, that they are impraClicab’e ; and that “ if they were not, yet “ m'ffionaries would be a difgrace “ to any nation that we have no right to interfere in “ the changing the religion of a foreign country. They “ would certainly deftroy the Slave Trade in Africa ; n G 2 76 HORNE’S LETTERS ON MISSIONS. which may have fallenfrom my pen. Confcious inferiority bows me down, and nothing but a fenfe of duty ard the love of truth could have eredted my mind to write with the freedom l have done, and to admonifli thus loudly the minifters of Chrift, the lead of whom I confider as my fuperior. If I have offended, I befeech you to forgive me, even as God for Chrift’s fake forgiveth you. If I have, in any refpedt, overftepped the fobernefs of truth, or violated the meeknefs of wifd 'm, I rruft i (hall iind mercy of the Lord, as having done it ignorantly, from a fincere defire to promote his glory, the interefts of his religion, the happinefs of his people, the falvation of the Heathen, and the honor and dignity of his minillering fervants- I once more fubmit to your candid attention, as well as to your judicious correction, the contents of thd'e pages. I promife ferioufly to review my own obligations to act in the way I recommend to you ; and I flatter rnyfdf, that fome one will tike up the fubjedt where I have laid it down, and do it that juftice, which it cannot receive from my hands. I have the honour to fubfcribe myfelf, with cordial efleem, Fathers and Brethren, Your fellow fervant in the patience and tribulation of Jefus, M. H. PROTESTANT MISSIONS. 77 On the Efforts of Protejiant Miffionaries in the left Century. FROM the time of the reformation, to the eighteenth century, the efforts of Miffionary zeal were few and fee- ble. More attentive to preserve themselves and their flocks from the afsaults and seductions of Popery, than to extend their labours to the unknown heathen, with all the difficulties of accefs and expenfe neceff . ily attendant on fuch an undertaking, the service languifhed, and at the various establifhments which the Protedants formed in the Eaft and Africa, their chaplains attended only on. the garrifons, or ferved the few, very few churches erect- ed by the government. The Danes feem to have {hewn the mnft attention to M'ffionary attempts, and in Greenland and at Tran- quebar, in the Eaft Indies, a few labourers ttrugg.ed to difpel the thick darknefs of heathenism ; as the Eng’ith, growing in profperity and Eaitern ac- quifitions, enlarged their borders on the coaft of Coromandel, a fociety, which had been long formed for the propagation of the Gofpel, adopted the D.tnifli Miffionaries at Tranqnebar, and with the addition of a ft w excellent Germans, a succefsful Miffion was carried on in the lower part of the Carnatic ; chiefly under the care of the Danilh Miffionaries, and latterly by the zeal- ous efforts of Mr Swartz (now gone to his reward) Mr. Jaemcke and Mr. Ge'rirke ; who seem truly devote i to their w rk, and bleffed in their labours ~ut lament much the ■ fffictive reouctionof their num e by eathand the Want of labourers where the harveit might yet be plen- teous. The next confiderab’e eff rt may be juftly aferi- bed o a man, of whom the world ha- heard the butereft abuse. Count Zinzendoiff, after kinolv harbouring at Btthelfd.>rff the poor exiles from Moravia, became their ulh p and ordinary ; a. id diredting their attention to thole whom no man had cared ior, the- heathen in gen- PROTESTANT MISSIONS. 7 « eral, and the Haves in the Caribbee iflands ; he fent forth, in a great variety of directions, fome fimple-hearted and plain followers of the Lamb of God, to teftify of the efficacy of his blood, determining to know nothing but Jefus Cbrift, and him crucified. We cannot enter into the detail of their zealous labours, fuccefiful or unfucceff- ful for many of them have failed where they de- fended the greateft praise for their zeal and fidelity but the accounts which they have pu'olifhed of the (fate of their Millions, manifeft the molt patient peifeverance, and afford the pleafing profpeCf that they will have many of the heathen as ftars in their crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Soon after the Moravians revived in Germany, the Methodifts rofe up in England, and, among other inffan- ces of their zeal for Chrift and his caufe, Meffrs John and Charles Wesley embarked lor Georgia, in North America, and commenced those labours which their iuccelsors have pu r fued, with unremitting zeal, to this dav ; in the converfion, we hope, of many thousands among the Negroes in the plantations, and other heathen on the continent Some efforts were made among the Laplanders by the Swedes. The North Americans have made some at- tempts to evangelize the Indian nations in their vicinity, where the labours of a Brainerdand an Elliot deferve to be had in everlafting rememberance. The Dutch, amid all their commercial enterpiizes, have not forgotten the Gofpel, and in all places of their dominion, at the Cape, Ceylon, and the Moluccas, have brought many of the Inhabitants to the proftffi m, at lead, of Christianity. Among later efforts, we would notice, with cordial appro- bation, thofe of the Enghlh Bapiiffs ; who llirred up by O’ e of their zealous brethren, (n->« a M ffionarv) com- menced their career in India, and have exhibited degrees of zeal and perfeverance highly d efer ving of approbation. Some fmall beginnings, after ' ears of patient waiting, give promihng hope that their labour will not be in vain BAPTIST MISSION. 79 in the Lord, especially as their converts haverelinquifh- ed the call, which was confidered by nuny as an infu- perable obdac'e to th? introduction of Christianity Their tranflition of the Scriptures into the Bengalee language, now happily accomplifhed and publilhed, claims the ad- miration and praile of every true Chrillian. May that word have free course and be glorified abundant- h '■ [Miss. Trans. Introduc. vol. i. p. 7.] Particular Bapti/l Society in England for propa- gating the Gofpel among the Heathen. Me firs. Carey Sc T homas, are at prefent[ 1 795 ]in the Eaft Indies, as mdlionaries from 77 * Particular Baptifi So- ciety inEng/and , for propagating theGofpel among tie Heathen. This Society was formed by the Particular, ox Calvinillic Baptifts, in the vear 179*. Soon afterward, they became acquainted with Mr l homas, a member of their own connection, who, having been in Bengal, a furgeon of the Oxford Indiiman, in two voyages, in 1783 and 1786, had, at both times, endeavoured to fpread the knowledge of the gofpel among the natives. His endeavours were attended with fome fuccefs ; and he was encouraged to remain among them five years and a half. He then re- turned to England, with the view of promoting a mdfion more extenfively ufeful than he could himfelf cairyon. Mr. Carey, a Baptiil Mini ter, then at Leice ter, who had written an “ Inquiry into the Obligations of Chrift- “ ians to ufe means for the Converlion of the Heathen,” exprefled an inclination to accompany Mr. Thomas on a million to Bengal. After being folemnly fet apait to thi» fervice, they fet fail from Dover, June 1 3, 1793, an ^ arrived at Calcutta on the 1 ith of November that fame year. They entered directly on their labours, vilited those So EXTRACT FROM who had been converted by the minidry of Mr. Thomas, and began to tranllate the fcripture into the language of the country. [Theo. Mag. vol. ii. p. 215.] Extract from Mr. Thomas' Diary , Auguji 1 9, 1790. ‘Endeavour to recoiled a little of Farbotee’s unequalled * prayer.’ Expressions in Parbotee’s Prayer. ** T performed the rights of the Ganges ; I called this 0 good — I worfh pped wood, Sc (lone ; 1 called /^/sgood: “ 1 heard the ihaiters of men, that are all falfe and vain ; “ I called this good — Lord, I am a mod wretched crea- 1 “ ture to this day ; I know nothing — nothing ! I have “ fpent all my days in wickednefs, and have not obtain- “ ed the lead knowledge of God. O put far from me thefe “ evil things ! O make them depart far from me. I “have hearkened now to thy word. I will hear them “ no more — 1 will not the lead regard the idols of wood “ and done any more !— Vanity : lies. Lord. I will 1 “ hear no more at all these lhaders of the Hindoos ; 1 “ they are all falfe and vain. Wretched finner ! Save “ me ! O fave — lave, fave me. Give — give — O give “ — Give, O Lord ! Give me to know — Hell ! what ? “ — Heaven ! what ? — Without the blood of Chrid I “ (hall never be laved- Without the flelh of Chrid I “ lhall never live, — Lord, what is the meaning of this ? “ I know not what it is — how can I get the blood of “ Chrid ? — 0 teach me, I will do any thing thou fay’d “ — Cad ! what ? — Home ! what ? — Friends ! what ? “ —Life ! what ? — What is any thing ? all is noth- MR. THOMAS’ DIARY. 8 1 “ ing but thee. I want no money, I want nothing but “ thee. O what a wretched fi ner am I ! O tell me “ thy way ! O tell me bv Munjhee ; tell me by xhtSahaib. “ We are going to Calcutta — Many, wicked things are “ there. O keep us ali while we (lay there. “ O that I had bur love ! O that I Lad but faith ! “ — O that I had forgivenefs ! O that I had but thofe “ things which thy people have Like them— O give me like them O Lord, how many evil things are in “ my mind every day ! I am a wicked blnfphemous “ wretch ! I have fhame in me — Wicked fhame before “ the people, and wicked feai of men ; — Far, O far “ away from me, put far away my fins. Forgive me ; “ and reach me what I ftia.ll do. I v, ill do any thing. O that I did but know what to dr : O give — give— f ‘ give — Lord, what (hall, what can 1 do ?” ‘ Here he burft into a flood of tears, with now and then * fuch fervent cries, as f never before heard : he contin- ‘ ued in pray- r about half an hour. I read and explain- * ed the faithful promii'es of God to fupply the poor and * needy, and to fatisfy the thirflv foul w ith living waters ; 4 fpeke of the mind, and the inner man, dehghting 4 in God mamfefted ir th fiefh, and crucified foi fir. ; 4 that this was eating the fl fh and drinking the blood of 4 thrift. After conducing, hereturned to his boat, and, 4 a the Munfhee tells me, wept there ever his own fin- 4 fainefs, a long time.’ [Bap. Per. Acc. vol. i. p. 243 32 MR. CAREY TO THE CHURCH Mr. Carey to tbt Church at Leicefler , lately under bis Pajloral Care. Bandell, Dec 25. 1793. My VERY DEAR FRIENDS, LONG before this time I expe&ed to have fent you an account of my velfare ana oi the dealings of God with nu; but having been prevented till now, I embrace the prefent opportunity with pleafure, and referring you to Mr. Y lor an account of nay voyage and all the incidents relating to i:, 1 (hall, principally addiefs my- fe’t to jou (as to thole '..hie eternal welfare I have much at heart) refpefting the things of God. Often do 1 re- ci.lkct with a mixute of pieafure and pain, the fweet communion which l have enjoyed with you. — To you. 1 delighted not onlv to communicate the gofpel of Clnilt, but my own foul aifo, bec.uife you were dear unto me; and particularly lhail I always remember the memorable time • f my patting fr m you — that was indeed th; trial ot love ; but the great undert king in which 1 am engaged preponderated, and ftiil weighs, down in my mind every other confideration. I have c.rtainiy l ll much focial p'eaiure fince I came hither, as I ca’ not preach yet. except to my own f m- iiy, not b mg (nfh iently a qu..inted with the langu ge ; nor have 1 at prefent more than one chnilim friend to whom I can open my mind, betide my colleague Mr. Thomas - I am (unrounded by heathen — ali places in the country are full of monuments of idolatry, and every m ruing great numbers of people m-y be feen at the r.v- ei tide paying them devotion to th ‘water, which they take up in handluis and prav to ii the moil fervent n. .in- ner. Temples to Seth, Bijhno, an.. Brimha are every where to be feen ; and flowers conf. crated to facred n r ‘- p. fes, are prel'erved gro ing in rhe Itrcets of the m il populous places. Burning ‘women with their liuloanus, AT LEICESTER. 83 is a pra&ice too frequent : We were at Nuddea (an em- inent place for learning) lail Lord's day, and were infor- med that aoout a month ago two women devoted them felves in this manner The practice of fwinging by the back is veiry common, I have ften the fears arifing from it in the backs of many perfons, and a perfon now lives in the fame houfe with me who carries them in his flelh. — Notwithllanding all this they are a very atten- tive and inquifitive people, and very kind and friendly ; nor do I perceive any thing unfriendly in the conduit of the Mahometans. I feel happy in being here and begin to know a little of the language. We have been here almoft a month, and have hitherto lived with Europeans at a Portuguefe fettlement, and the people are papifts ; but next week we go entirely to live among the natives. At Nuddea , the Bramins and Pundits are very defirous that we fhould come and preach the gofpel. Nuddea is a very large town, containing about 3000 families, 800 of whom are Bramins. Could we tucceed here, the prej- udices of almoll ail the pc pie in India woutd ceaie, as it is the place which greatly rules religion all over the country. — The work is God’s, — his promile is on our fide, and in his ftrength we go forth. Bap. Per. Acc. vol. i. p. 54. H 84 MR. CAREY TO THE SOCIETY. Dehart a, Feb. 1 5, 1794. I HAVE taken a few acres cf land at Hathnabad near this place, wh ; cb is about 4 o miles Eaft of Calcutta , upon theriver yubana. An Engiifh gentleman, to whom we wtre all entirely unknown, has generously Invited us all to flay in his house till we have erected one of our o*n. This l am now engaged in ; the walls will be made of mats faflened to wooden polls, and the roof formed of bamboos, and thatched. The neighbouring inhabitants yield me a little affiftance in the work, and 4 or 5'c families intend to come and refide in our neigh- bourhood. This is occafioned by Meonjhce’s reprefenting me to them in favourable light. Although the country is an excellent foil, it has been lately almofl deferted on account of the tygers, and other beafts of prey which ir.fcit the place ; but these are all afraid of a gun, and will loon be expelled ; the people therefore are not afraid when an European is nigh. We fhall have all the neceffiries of life except bread, for which rice mud be a fubflitute. Wild hogs, deer, and fowls are to be pro- cured by the gun, and muft fupply us with a confidera- ble part of our food. 1 find an inconvenience in hav- ing fo much of my time neceffarily taken up in procur- ing provifions, and cultivating my little farm : But when rr.y houfe is built, 1 fhall have more leisure than at pre- fer t. and have daily opportunities of converfing with the natives, and purfuing the work of the miffior.. Here is certainly a large field for ufefulnefs ; much larger than you car, conceive, both among the Hindoos and MufTul- men : They are very numerous, very ir.quifitive, and very attentive to the gofpel. When I can fo far know the language as to preach in it, I have no doubt of having a Hated congregation, and 1 much hope to fend you plealing accounts. I can fo far converse in the language, as to be under flood in most things belonging to eating and drinking, buying and felling, &c. and my ear is fomewhat familiarized to MR. CAREY TO THE SOCIET Y »S the Bengalee founds. It is a language of a very fmg- ular ccnilru&ion, having no plurai except to p-ononm, and not a fingle prepofition in it ; but the c.iles of nouns and pronouns are alnvnl endlefs, all the w >r 's anfwering to our prepofitions being put after the word, and forming a new cafe. Except thefe lingulj.rit;e c , l find it an eafy language. I feel myfelf happy in my prefent undertaking ; lor though I never felt the loss of focial religion to much as now," yet a confcioufnefs of having given up ail for Go 1 is a fupport, and the work, with ail its attendant incon- veniences, is to me a rkh reve ;> .! I think the fociety would do well to keep their eve to- wards Africa, or AJia : thefe countries are noc like the •wilds of America , where long labor will fcarce'y collect fixty people to hear the word ; for here it is aimoft irn- poffible to get out of the way of hundreds ; and p*-* ich- ers are wanted a thoufand times more than people to preach to. Within India are the Mahratta country an l the northern parts to Cafe mire, without (as far as 1 can learn) one foul that thinks of God aright.* I hope you will fend me an account of every thing important in the churches, efpecially at Lcicejler. You mutl not expect my journal till next year ; I regularly keep one, which 1 intend then to tranfmit. Though I am furrounded by mercies, yet for this fortnight paft my life has been rendered ufelefs as to fpiritual things ; being for the present wholly occupied in temporal concerns ; and the fabbaths now are quite difconfolate : On one of thefe fabbath’s I am ieeking communion with you ; I feel, that a dilance of io or i 5 ,ooomi)es, cannot prevent the communion of faints. Though deprived of a personal intercourle with my European friends, I have at leaft one religious friend, and that is Ra?n Ram Bojhoo : he has indeed much timidity. * See the extract at the end of this letter. 86 MR. CAREY TO THE SOCIETY. hut is a man of very good underftanding, and well in- formed ; he is alfo a peifon of drift probity. The part where I am building my houfes, is within a quarter of a mile of the impenetrable foreft, called Sun- derbunds ; and though quite deferted before, through fear of the tygers, die people are now returning, encour- aged by my example, and we fhall foonhave 3 or 4, coo in our vicinity. Thefe people, and all others in the neigh- bourhood are much pleafed with my coming, and two or three days ago, a deputation of five or fix Bramins, with a prefent in their hands, came to thank rne, or rather to fay that they were glad I was coming to live among them ; for they have no fuch word as “ thank you”, nor any expreffion of thankfulnefs in all their language ! With refpeft to personal fafety I am juft the fame here as in England ; my health was never better ; the climate though hot, is tolerable ; but attended a I am with difficulties, Iwould not renounce my undertaking for all the world. I long to know how all the minifters do ; how the miffion fociety goes on ; whether the churches flourilh or not and in fhort every thing that occurs. Salute ail the brethren in my name, and let every minift- er and every chriftian with whom you have the fmalleft connection, know that this conveys my chriftian affeftion to them. W. CAREY. [Bap. Per. Acc. i. 73.] EXTRACT. IN attempting to propagate Chriftianity, it is of great importance to feieft the moll proper field. That perfons engaged in the work may know where it is, two inquiries naturally prefent themfelves : Firft, in what country will Miffionaries find the greateft number of pre- cious fouls t© preach to ? And, fecondly, Will the plant- ing of the gofpel among them be likely, from dieir rela- tive fituation and conneftions, to have a powerful influ- EXTRACT. 87 ence on other nations around them, fons moft fp edily and effectually to fpread Chriftianity over the v orld. While piety fends millions to tribes and n gions det ched from the reft of mankind, and utter'y unco 1 nedted with them by focial intercourfe, it is butjuftice to fay, “ j our defign is laudible, and you may do much : one ion] is of infinite value. ” But we affign the ptize for the ln'gh- eft portion of wifdom to them who feledt a country which forms a noble and promifing field of itfelf, and which, befides, prefents the pro ! bhyuld, Jrt 2 sS EXTRACT. Bengal ever be converted to the faith of Chrift, the way is plain and eafy to every other province of the empire ; and if European Miflionaries Ihould any where find dif- ficulty of accefs, Mahometan and Hindoo converts will be able to carry the gofpel into every part of it without any obftacle, and with every profpeot of fuccefs. Benefits Hill more extenfive may be expected from planting the gofpel in Bengal. The Jituation of that prov- ince, in refpect to the moji famous , civilized, and populous countries of the eajl , merits particular attention. By call- ing the eye of Chriftian benevolence on the map of the world, with pleafing furprife, Bengal will be feen placed in the center of the fouthern part of Alia, and prefenting on every fide the nobleil fields for millions which are to be found on the face of the earth. China, that world of fouls in itfelf, is at no great diftance to the eall, and an entrance into it may be more ealily obtained by Mifiion- aries from that quarter, than by the ufual channels of commeice. Thibet and Tartary, on the north, contain their millions. Beyond the ocean, Perfia to the well, calls for the confolation of the gofpel, to cheer them a- midll the darknefs of Mahometan delufion; while the fwarthy fons of Pegu and Siam, inhabiting large and fertile countries on the fouth, invite the melfengers of peace to come and proclaim the glad tidings of life and immortality. A better center of operations than Ben- gal, it is impofllble for the fpiritual wa rior to fix on for extending the kingdom of Jcfus Chrift, and for crulhing the ui'urpations of Satan and of fin. R.eften) ts obvious, nr ? to mention he almolt neceffity cf females , weli qu alified, to communicate the gofpei of Chrifl in a fltuation where fupertlit! >n lecludes all the women of reipeclability from hearing the word, uniefs from their own fex ; and the advantage which would arise from many oeing embarked together in fuch a cause, to our own fouls, when the numbers enga- ged wou d all add to the impetus of each particular foul. Independent of thrfe co''fi ’ergons, the neceffity of hai'ingproper personsto carry on the work in cafe cf our de >h, vi any otocr occur t eace in providence which might remove us from the work ; ind he importance of the number of imm >rt d f mis to whom we have accefs, requite a itrengtheni.ig of uld not change my ftation for all the fociery in EnglanJ, much as I prize i ; nor in- deed for all the wea.th in the world May 1 but be ufe- fui in laying the foundation of the Chuich of Chrilt in India, I defire no greater reward, and can receive no higher honour. Your's See, W. C. Bap. Per. Acc. vol. i. p 490. K Mr. Carey to Mr. Tates. Gobra, Jan. 6 . 1800. I AM now removing from Mudnabatty to Seranspore, with my whole family a-j effects, in company with brotner Ward. The pleafure we felt on receiving the MR. CAREY TO MR. YATES 95 account of fuch a goodly number of miffionaries'* sav- ing arrived lafe in this, country, was great indeed ; but it was fi)on checked by their not being permitted to join us. All our friends, therefore, thought it belt for us to fettie at Sera m pore Severalcircurrtft mcesumted to prefs this measure upon us ; particu!.,riy the failure of the inuigo crops lall year at Mudnabatty. which ifTued in the relinquilhmeot of that factory, together with the re- moval of the worthy owner, who had been our tteady friend and patron, to Clcutta You will inquire, What is become of thofe natives concerning whom fome hopes have been entertained ? What is become of the riung interelt at Dtnagepour ? A' d is all preaching given up at M.-.lda ? Is the ichool diipilved, and all the fruits of five years labour relinquish- ed at once ? I ant’wer : None buc myfelf can tell the conflict, and the exercises of my mind on this trying event : but neceffity has no law. Our re fou rces are too fmall to permit us to rive feparately ; and the work of printing the bible requires my infpection. 1 hope well of Sookmun, and Hurry Charron. The very laft con- verfation I had with them, gave me much encouragement. Our labours at Dinagepour have not been m vain. TheChridians also in the neighbourhood of M.a'da pleafe me much We hope to vifit thufe places once or twice in the year,be(ides correfpondiag with our friends by let- ter. The fcnool at Mudnabatty is neceffarily relinquilh- ed ; though not till we have the plealure of knowing that about fifty lads have been taught to read and write, who would otherwife have known nothing. The name and doctrines of Chrilt are known by many fo that a foundation is laid for our future efforts to t>e- come effectual. W. C. [Bap. Per. Acc. vol. ii. p. 46. * Mejfrs. Marfhmin, Brum don and Grant, with their wive/ ; Mr. Ward and Miss '[idd, afterwards * Mrs . Fountain. I .96 MRS. MARSHMAN TO MRS. SMITH. Extract of a letter from Mrs. Marsbman to Mrs. Smith. Seram pore, Feb. 13, 1801. OUR gracious God hath arifen from his feat and began to work. The caft of the country is broken ; and fatan is driven from fome of his Itrong holds 1 believe that fir.ee his refidence at Serampore. he has never trem- bte^ as ne does now. I pray that he and a’.i his colleagues, brammhans, may never reign here any more. We have had four baptifed, and more are waiting for bap- tifm. Thefe things cheer our hearts in the midft of all our difficulties. At prefent my hopes concerning the fuccefs of the gofpel in this place arc great 1 truft that God will foon call in a goodly number of his elect, and that Chrifi will foon have many of hel'e heathen for his inheritance. We have people coming almoft every day to enquire about the gofpel. I Searched my mind very minutely before I engaged id the fchool, left it ffiould be irkfome to me afterwards. However, l was enabled to leave all, and cheerfully to give myfelf up to the work 5 and through mercy 1 have not repented, and l hope I never may. I am not wor- thy of being employed in any thing belonging to Chrift ; and often wonder at the difpenfations of G d in fend- ing me to this land, where fo much grace is needed, and my daily experience is fuch that I often fear left I have none. This however, 1 know : I long for the increafe of Ch rift’s kingdom upon earth, efpecially in this be- nighted part of it. KRISTNO TO THE SOCIETY. 9.7 Kri/lno to the Society. Seraviporc , Oct. 12, 1801. TO the brethren, of the church of our Saviour Jesus Chrift, our fouls beloved, my affectionately embracing reprefentation. The love of God the gofpel of Jefus Chrift was made known by holy brother Thomas. In that day our minds were filled with joy. Then judging, we uuUei- ftood that we were dwelling in darknefs. rhiough, the door of manife lation we came to know, th it fin coo- fefiing, fin forfak'ng, Chriil’s righteonsnefi, embracing, falvation would be obtained. By light fpringing up in the heart, we knew that finners becoming repentant, through the fufferings of Chrift, obtained falvation. In this rejoicing, and in Chrift’s love believing, I obt. fined mercy. Nov it is in my mind continually to JwTl in the love of Chrift : this is th: defire of my foul Do you, holy people, pour down love upon u>, that as the chatookee,* we may be fatisfied. I was the vilefl of finners : He hath laved me. New this word 1 will tell to the world. Going forth, l will proclaim the love of Chrift with rejoicing. To finners 1 will fiy this worn: Hear finner, brother ! Without Chrift there is no help. Chrift the world to fave, gave his own foul ! Such lov.. was never heard : for enemies, Chrift gave his own loul ! Such compaffion, where Ihall we get ? For the fake of faving finners, he forfook the happinefs of heaven. I will conftantly ftay near him. Being awakened by this news, I will conftantly dwell in the town of joy. In the holy Spirit I will live ; yet in Chrift’s forrovv I wiil be Ibr- rowful. I will dwell along with happiaefs, continually meditating on this ; — Chrift 'will save the 'world ! In Chrift, not taking refuge, there is no other way of life. I was indeed a finner, prahe not knowing. This is the representation of Chrift’s fervant, KRISTNO. Bap. Per. Acc. vol. ii. p. 308. * A bird at' Serampore Thofe of them that I have feen and heard, are dear to me ; and others I love greatly for their work’s fake, though I have not feen them. I look forward to the happy day, when we fhall join them in their employment, and (hare their trials, and help to bear their burdens. We will readily fubmit to their H SMITH TO MR. SUTCLIFF. 9$ rules and orders, and hope to live with them above for ever Within the lift few years, I have been much delight- ed to hear of the i creafe of the Kedeenur’s kingdom, and the efforts made to fpread abroad the knowledge of the gofpel of Chrift, in any part of the world. I have found pleafure in reading Br-iinerd’s Life, Haw. eis’s Church Hiftory, the Voyage of the Duff, and all the Periodical Accounts. When 1 heard of luccefs atten- ding the Baptift. Miffion, it gave me much pleafure ; and have thought that I could facrifice what 1 enjoyed, to be a partaker with them of whatever they met with. But, dear fir, none can tell what they are, till they are tried. When trials come near, they wear a different aspedt to what they do at a diftance. It has given me much anxiety of mind, when I have thought of the l'a- crifices that muff be made, and the trials, trouble and difficu ! ties, which may probably be connected with the million. But thole things which have at one time ap- peared a trial, have at another appeared a pleasure. And now I can fay, “ Whate’er my duty bids me give, I willingly refign ” Concerning the profpedts before me, I can truly fay, I do not feel my mind elated, or carried away with the vain expectation that I am now going to enjoy perfedt happinefs, or that I (hall now have done with the cares and anxieties of life. Not a thought of this kind has entered my mind. I am now willing to go, and be, and do whatever the Lord appoints. I now expect new tri- als, diffi..u ! ties, and anxious cares. But the Lord reign- eth, and this has been to me a reviving thought. If he blefs me, I fhall be bleffed indeed. Whether I live in England, or India, his eye will behold me ; and 1 hope he will guide, defend, lupport, and comfort me, while paffing through this life ; and when I have fioifiied my journey, I hope to live with my exalted Saviour and Redeemer, to all eternity. Why then fhuuld 1 fear I 2 IOC H. SMITH TO MR. SUTCL 1 FF. whit is in the path that is marked out tor me ? Jefus has faid, “If ve love me, follow me and how can I follow him, if I forsake the path in which he trod ? He left his relations and friends, and fometimes eroded the fea, to glorify his heavenly Father ; and why fhould not I, if called to it ? He lived in poverty, endured perfe- ction, and at laft was put to death ; and if I am cal- led to endure the fame, why fhould I repine ? But now, dear fir, I have the pleafure to inform you, that you have been the means, in the hand, of God, ©f my enjoying many pleafant feafons, concerning my prefent profpe&s. Under many of your fermons l have been much impreffed with the importance of religion, and have been fo delighted with its beauty and excel- lence, that I have efteemed it the greateft happinefs I could enjoy, to live to God, and be devoted to his fer- vice. I felt as though parting with my relations, for this purpofe, would be no trial ; but to be engaged in the caufe of the million, would be a pleafure to me, and I fhould think it the higheil honour that could be conferred upon me. i'wo fermons, in particular, exci- ted thofe delightful fenfations of mind One from Exod. xxxv. 20 — 29 : the other from « Chron. xxix. 5. Then, dear fir, I could willingly hrve offered all that I poffefsed unto the Lord, and have confecrated myfeif to his fervice, that 1 might be his devoted fuSjedt. 1 do not wilh you to think, dear fir, that 1 take upon myfeif the character cf a milfionary, this I do not prtfume to CtO. But though the high honour of preaching the gof- pel to the poor heatrien will not be mine, yet I am willing to go, and do whatever the Lord may ap- point, and fiiall chink myfeif happy in ferviug thole who ferve him. At the fame time, having been a member of your fo- ciety for three years, and feeling myieif much united both to you and the church, your happi neis and profpe- rity will be ever dear to me. MR. WARD’S JOURNAL, lot “ When we afunder part, it gives us inward pain Yet we Ihdl iliil be joined in heart, And hope to meet again. This glorious hope revives My courage by the way. While I in expedition live. And long to fee the day.” That glorious dsy, dear fir, when I hope to meet you, with a numerous train in the heiveniy world where we fha.ll never again be parted by a wide fea; but (hall dwell together on that peaceful fhore, where there is fulnefs of j >y, and plenl'ures for evermore. Wishing you and yours every bleffing, both for time and eternity, I remain, Yours affectionately, H. S. Bap. Per. Acc. vol. iii p. 78. Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain's arrival in India is thus Jlated in Mr. Hoard's ’Journal. Jan. 26, 1803. .1 WENT down again thi morning, and about noon met the fhip : was much rejoiced at meeting with brother and lifter Ch imb rlain \Ve came to C icutta, found brother Ctrey, and proceeded to \lr. Ron’s: the tide not fetving, we laid all night , at Calcutta. Were aifo refrclhed by letters from Amer- ica. Jan 27 We arrived at Seram pore his morning be- fore the family were uo : it was an h ur of great j ' y . In the evening we wen' to Kriiuo’s: 1 c.ite:h:ic ! the children, and we i uag th. ee ay mis in deug dee : brother i Cl MISSIONARIES TO THE SOCIETY. Chamberlain joined us in “ Doya koro ” Our native friend? made inquiries whether ournew brother and filler had left father, rootlet, brothers or fifteis ! 1 never faw our native friends manifetl fuch attachment as on this cccafion. Joymoori faid, “ They cannot talk our lan- guage ; but we fee that al 1 our hearts are one : we are united in the death of Chrill.” Brother and filler Cham- berlain were deeply afkfted during the whole of the i% terview. Bap. Per. Acc. vol. ii. p. 359, The Mijfionaries to the Society. Seram pore, dug. 1803. VERY DEAR BRETHREN IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE again addrefs our quarterly epittle to you, not merely as a matter of duty: but as a matter of ei joyment to ourfelves, and of conveying enjoyment to you. When this million was fir ft begun, you engaged in it with fear and trembling, mingled with hope ; you forefaw that there would be many obftacles to overcome, and many trials to endu e. The Lord in infinite wii- d"m law proper a!fo f rfeveral years to try your pa- tience and ours ; to deny the fuccefs which you ear- re iiy ht ped for, andhad probably anticipated : yet even in that long and gloomy period, the favourable appear- ances in fevtral, though in the end aborti e, ferved to ke p up our fpli its, and to encourage you. B> apparently very dark and diftreffing providences, the feat of me m (Coo was removed from the place where thr.fe hopes were raifed j death afterwards* was fuffered to make * Died Mijfi s. Thomas, Fountain, Grant, and Bruns - dan . MISSIONARIES TO THE SOCIETY. 103 very alarming inroads upon us, and we had much to ftruggle with ; being then without a fettled habitation, and often put to lhifts for our temporal fup- port. Yet the million was never deserted of God. The removing it to Mudnabatty at firll was the mean of preferving it in its very feeble and infant Itate, and of expediting the translation of the scriptures. Its after removal to Serampore was the neceflary ftep to the ufe of our printing prefs ; to the free ufe of which, as a mean, more is to be attributed than to all other means put together. Jult at that time God opened the heart of the Danifh Governor to receive us ; and this has paved the way gradually to our being well known, and our defigns well underftood by the Englilh government. The Lord has given two good houfes with extenlive pre- mifes to the million ; has fo profpered our fchool that it greatly aflifts us in our temporal fupport, and at the fame time opens a way for the religious education of a confiderable number of thofe who are likely hereafter to fpend their lives in India, and fome of whom it may be reafonably expeited will receive impreflions at fchool which may be the beginning of falvation to them and to many others. Our prefs is conftantly at work, and is likely to be fo ; the demand for new teftaments, trails, See. being rather increafing than otherwife. The Church confifts of thirty-six members ; fourteen are Europeans, See. and twenty-two natives I’hefe have been all baptifed on a credible profeffion of faith j and have loll call, friends, and all for the gofpel. Two of them were brahmans ; viz. Krijlno Prijaud and Bhyrub.. Three were of the writer call ; viz Petumber Stngbo , Pe~ • timber Mittre , and Ram Roteen. Two were Muflulmans; two had adopted the Portuguefe drefs and habits, though formerly Muflulmans ; and the others were of the inferi- or calls of the Hindoos. We cannot fay that our native brethren are fuperior to other chriftians in lpve, zeal, knowledge, or prudence : they are fometirnes cool, and io+ MISSIONARIES TO THE SOCIETY. fometimes precipitate ; fometimes fome of them give us pain, and often pleafure. We know fomewhat of what the apoftle exprefl* d : I am jealous over you •with a holy jealoufy — / fear lejl your hearts be corrupted. We have to bear, to forbear, to hope, to fear, to exhort, to entreat, to reprove ; and after all, to carry our burden to the throne of grace, and commit the matter to Him who cares infinitely more for his church than we do. We have however much cause for rejoicing in our brethren : all cur members are in full communion except one, Petumber Mittre, who is under fufpenfion ; and with all their infirmities they are the excellent of Bengal. We love them affcdtioaately, and have reafon to con- clude that we are beloved by them. Several of them are active in talking about Chrift to others, and some have hopeful gifts. Some of them live at the diftance of feveral day’s journey from us, and are like a few grains of fait featured in the places where they live. The new teftament and the pentateuch have been publillicd a long time ago, and nearly the whole ef the firft edition of the new teftament is difpofed of. The copy is now palling under a clofe revifion preparatory to a fecond edition, which will be very foon put to the prefs. The book of Pfalms and the prophecies of Ifaiah are alfq printed. Dear brethren, pray for us perfonally, that we may all endure to the end ; and pray for us as a body, that the word of God may abound and be glorified in this dark country by our means ! We feel our hearts united to you, and truft that you are warmely reroemoered by Us in our prayers. We are aff ftionateiy yours, W CAREY. J MARSH MAN. W. WARD. J CHAMBERLAIN. FELIX CAREY. £Bap. Per. Acc. vol. ii. p. 441.3 $IR. WARD TO MR. MORRIS. flgft Mr. Ward to Mr. Morris. April 27, t8*'3. THE following piece is intended for the Period! al Accounts, if it fhouid not be th ought of too lingua a complexion for th.it'work ; it it fheuH- it is at your fer- vice. It mull he mme; flood that it is not a literal and exact conversation; it was not taken word t^ r woid from the mouth* of the ip- akers : fuffice it to lay, that the ^f-incip l circuml! antes arc t>ue You will be g ad to hear, that hitherto God hatli helped us ; and that at present, all if well. W. W. A DI ALOGUE. FOUND) D ON FACTS. Boodheesa.xhz principa petfon in this feene, was horn a Muflu man, and brought up to farming, but after wat ds became a byraggee : that is to say, he renounced his friend, and worldly occupation, ana took h - hoi in fs of a byraggee Being initui&ed by his new grroo. cr teacher, he began a life of wandering, begging, and repeating the forms of his new cafl In this way he did many adts incredibly cliff u t and painful. Hear- ing a little of the gofpel, he r >: 1 will not come in. But if you will come and lit oui, l will tell you what I have done, and why 1 have done it Thefatn.ly Come then, let us go and fit in the cow- house Boodbeesa ( Sitting with his friends round him in the cow-hou e ) You all know that 1 have never done any thing but tor the bell It was to le«k my good that I became a byraggee ; and therefore you may be fure that what I have now done, has been to Secure my Salva- tion Mother Well my Son, let Us hear. Bodheesa You know that I have wandered up and down in Search of the true way. I forfook the world, I became a byraggee, I obtained my food by begging, I have repeated the name of God continually. I have vifited ditferent holy places, l have performed the bromha f tdon,*I have performed the foorgaf fadurs together at the Gunge, which has much exhaulled my fpirits. Laft evening a number of brahmans, and others, loaded Kangalee and me with abrfe, and manifefted the greateft enmity againft the gofpeltnat 1 have even feen in the country Extradl of a letter from him in March — “ I in- formed you in my laft that I was going to Keble-elhor. Brother Kangalee and I went, and were abfent from home four days. There was a vaft concomfe of people : they heard the wordwith great attention. We were two 11 + TO THE SOCIETY. days amongft them, and diflributed, I cannot fay how many, peihaps five thoufand trails. Laft Lord’s day week was a great day -among the H-ndoos. Few lefs, perhaps more, than twenty thoufand people were at Cut- wa, to bathe in Gonga, among whom we were engaged four days without intermiflion. The Gunge people who have lately m .nifcfted much oppofition, ftirred up the country people againft us, fo that few could be per- suaded to take papers ; and they that had taken them, moll returned them, Kangalee was much discouraged, and fo was I : but 1 endeavoured to encourage him, tel- ling him that though they triumphed, yet we were not conquered. The next day we went out, and gave away fom bundles of papers, and not a dog moved his tongue againft us. The people among whom we were to-day, were generally intelligent, and could read and write. Two or three difputed One in the face of hundreds of people ingenuoufly confelTed that he was loft ; and that he did not know whether he was going, nor the reafons for what he did. This evening, reviewing the work of the day, I gave thanks to God with a heart full of joy. What a pleafute to be able to preach to a hundred vil- lages at oi.ee, and to proclaim the glad tidings of falva- tion to thoufands in a day ! The adir.iniiiration of the ordinance of baptifm has caufed a great fermentation. Numbers are wifhing there may be another foon ; and you will give me credit that in this wifh 1 heartily concur.” [Bap. Per. Acc. vol. iii. p. 225.] THE MISSIONARIES TO 1 15 The MiJJtonaries to Captain Benjamin Wickes fen. VERY DEAR BROTHER, WE cannot bid you farewell again (perhaps for the lad time as it respeds fome one, or more, or all of us) without feeling anew all thofe fcnfations which have bound you to our hearts by no common ties. We know what a large intereft we have in your heart, in your pray- ers, and in your efforts ; and oh ! dear brother, we are lure you are in our hearts to live and to die with you. Whatever changes the difpenfations of an all-wise Prov- idence may make among us, and to whatever parts of the world you may be carried in future voyages, we can- not forget you at a throne of grace, and we will cherifh the hope of feeing you again and again with frelh car- goes of miffionaries. Think, dear brother, what the king of Zion has done for India, fince you firft, in 1799, brought out miflionr ar.ies ; not merely by our means, but in a variety of ways : what a progrefs in the tranflation and diilribu- tion of the word of God into fo many languages fpoken by fo many millions of men j how many thoufands of miffionary trafts have gone all over Hindooftan, how many natives have been baptized, and fome landed fafe in glory ; what a broad foundation laid for the future extenfion of the gofpel ; what an increafe of miffionary flrength, Epifcopal, Independent, and Baptift, befide the number of native itinerants. How emphatically true refpecting India, “ Behold, the fields are already white for the harveft.” Let this be acknowledged as a conftant and infallible proof that you have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. We are^not infenfible of the many painful exercifes through which your unerring Saviour permits you to pafs. We fympathize with you veryfeofibly : yet we know how much thd'e exercifes hare flrengthened ycuj ii 6 CAPT. BENJAMIN WICKES, sex. and producedin you a rich experience of the deep things of God We pray that your ftrength may he always equal to the day of trial. May the God of all confola- tion be with you continually ; fupport you under every trial ; guide you with his unerring counfel, and finally bring you and us, and many Hindoos to his eternal kingdom. What a meeting ! what a fight will that be! Finally, deareft brother, we engage again with you to be the Lord’s, and to give ourfelves, our all to his fervice. We give you this as a token of our fenfe of the many, very many obligations we owe you ; of the entire onenefs of heart which fubfifts, and which will for- ever fubfift, betwixt us, and of the tender concern which we feel at parting from you. We are, dear brother Wickes, Your very affectionate brethren anci fillers. W. CAREY, J. MARSH MAN, W. WARD, R. MARDON, J. BISS, W. MOORE, J. CHATER, JOSHUA ROWE, WM. ROBINSON, FELIX CAREY, M. CAREY, H. MARSH MAN, M WARD, RHODA MARDON, H. BISS, ANN CHATER, E. ROBINSON, fEvaji. Int. vol. ii*. p. it 8.] MR. MARSHMAN TO DR. GREEN 117 Mr. Marjhman to the Rev. Dr. Green , Philadelphia. REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, YOU will be pleufea to hear that the Lord has not forfaken us ; but dill continues to own «ur humble and weak efforts to promote his caufe in this land Within about twenty •nomhs pall we have baptized nearly fif- ty of thofe who once bowed to dumb idois, the greater part of whom, by their walk ana conversation, afford us a degree of pleafure peculiar, perhaps, to perldns in cur circumflances. We have, alfo, the happinefs of feeing not a few of them our helpers in the work of the Lord. Had you been prefent this evening you would have felt pleafure of no common kind, while joining with us in giving the parting benediction to Jtx native brethren , going out to carry the news of life to their perilhing fellow country- men. It will be acceptable to the friends of Gcd and man, with you, to hear that their generous exertions to for- ward the tranflations of the facred feriptures into the Indian languages, are not in vain. The Lord is great- ly enlarging us in this work, and that in fuch a manner as leaves no doubt whether it be his hand cr not. The New Tellamcnt, in five languages, is now in the prefs ; the Bengalee, Kindootlhanee, the Mahratta, the Oriffa, and the Sangskirt languages ; and tranflations in five others are going forward fuccessfully. Among thefe the goodnefs of God refpedting the Chintfe, demands par- ticular acknowledgements (when we consider the num- .. ber of fouls interfiled) in giving us so able and judi- cious a tranflatcr in the perlon of Mr. Loflar, and in enabling lome of the younger branches of the family to make io rapid a progrets in the Chinefe language and characters, as wei 1 as in the originals of the feriptures, that the moll pkafing profpeCt is afforded of the fac- REV. DR. CAREY TO THE t 1 8 red oracle’s being one day, not only tranflated into that extraordinary language, but of this tranflation being fo fully revifed, and compared with other writings, in the language, as fhall remove every doubt of its fidelity and accuracy. With the moil cordial regards to our honourable thriftian brethren with you 1 remain, rever- end and dear fir, very fincerely your’-., J. MARSHMAN. Serampore, Nov. 4, 18 nC. jcvan. Int. vol iii. p, 133. Revrend Dr. Carey to the Editor of the Majf. Baptijl Mijftonary Magazine. Calcutta. Nov. 2. 1809. MY DEAR. BROTHER, ALLOW me likewife to obferve, that the caufe of our Redeemer has confiderably gained ground in India, yet it would be a very difficult thing to point diredtly to any one person as the inftrument by which this work has been accomplished ; and as difficult to fay that any individual has not been made ufeful, and contributed, as an inflrument, to the progrefs of the caufe of our Redeemer in this part of the world. A goodly number of perfons of defferent difcriptions have been converted ; in feveral of them the convictions have been begun when they were in folitary fituations, unacquainted with any. who made a profeffion of love to God, and in fome initances, without any apparent means. In others the convcrfaticn of perfons brought to the knowledge of the truth, with their relations, neighbours, or acquain- tances, has been blelfed. In feveral inftances the la- bours of our brethren, who have been converted from heathenifm, have been blefled ; and probably, in fome EDITOR OF fHE MASS. BAP. J19 few inilances, public preaching has been graciouily ow ed. In whatever way the wo: k has been effected, it is evi- dent that a very vifible work has been carried on; but it his been gradual, its progrefs is belt conceived by com- paring the prefent date of religion with what it was l'ome years ago. When I Hr it arrived in this country, Nov 1 1. >793, there was one evangelical minuter of the church of Eng- land in this town, who had been here feveral year-, and betides him, 1 knew of no one who profelfed to iove God, except myielf and my colleague, Mr. Thomas, i have, however, reafon to believe that there might then be about haif a dozen more in different parts, of the coun- try. I and my colleague removed to a great dift.mce up the country, where I had to lludy the langu :ge, and wheie we publifhed the gofpel to theinhabitan s ’.round. Sometimes we had hopes concerning feveral perlons, but whether any were really converted is to this day a very doubtful thing Atthe pei fent time, however, through the fmiles of our gracious God, things wear a different afpedt Be- tides fix evangelical clergymen of the church ot England, and two Presbyterians, or Independent miniflers ; there are nine Rations occupied (or about to be occupied) by Baptht minillers in this Presidency, and five chinches cor.tiituted, in connexion u ith our miffion, betides the church and miffion Itation at Rangoon in the Bu man empire. When I firfl arrived, there was no tranflation of the Bible in any of the Indian languages, except the Tamul, fpoken from Madras to the fouthern extremity ot the peninfula. The whole of the Holy Scriptures is now publifhed in the Bengalee language ; the whole New Teftament, and third volume of the Old Teftament (Job — Canticles) in the Oriffii language'; and the whole New Teftament in Sung-.krit. Betides tfcjs } the printing I 2C MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. °f the prophetical books in Ooriff ifi begun ; the Sungs- krit i, primed to the 25th. of Exocus ; the New Tefta- inen', to the 8th. chapter of Romans in Hindoofthannee, a; d 10 the end of John’s gofpel in Mahratta ; and a be- einning of pi inting the Gujerattee, the language of the f'e.’ks and the Chinefe has been made. The whole New Tcftament, and part of the Old is tranflated into the Telinga and Kurnata languages ; hut the printing mud be dela) .d, ti l we can get types call for them. A tranf- iation ol 1 h c New Teftament is alfo begun in the Burman language, to which we hepe foon to add that of Thi- bet. In Calcutta, the Lord has enabled us to eredt a decent place of worihip 70 feet fquare, including a poitico in front, which, however, occupies nearly half of it. The congregation is about 1 50 perfons. Thofe who are in church fellowlhip and partake of the Lord’s fupper, are about 50 ; and I truil the life of religion is felt among them. Our brother Kriftno, a Hindoo minifter, preach- es nearly every day in the week at one part or other of the town. He is much refpedted by his brethren, and owned of God. The church at Scrampore is one with that at Calcutta ; but I am not able to recoiled! the num- ber. Brother Chamberlain is with the church at Cut- wa. He lately baptized 24 foldiers, belonging to one European regiment, Stationed in the neighbourhood of that place. Brother C Carapeit Aratoon, an Armeni- an, called to the miniflry by the church at Calcutta, is fettled with the church in Jtflbre. He lately baptized four perfons. The church confifts of 15 or 16 perfons. Brother Mardon is with a fmall church at Goamalte, where he has baptized four or five perfons. Brother Fernandez is with the church at Dinagepore. He late- ly baptized fc ur perfons. The church confifts of 10 or i 2 members My feconc! fon William Carey, is fettled THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY- 121 at Sademehl, a few miles north of Dmagepore. Broth- er Roiiinlon has left Serampore to begin a million to Boutan and Thibet ; Brother Moore to fet up a Ration near Patna ; ani in a few days, Brother J 'ha Peter, an Armenian, called to the mini fry by the church at Cal- cutta, will leave this for Oorilft, where he will labour to begin a new mtlion. Brother Ch iter and my el d e ft lor, Felix Carey, are fettled in ihe mi.fi on to Rangoon m the Barman empire, where there is a pleating opening for them. 'They are flu dying the language, and have begun to preach to the Burm ins. Tins is a fh irt fketch of the pref’nt fl ite of tire work of God among us. On reviewing ic, L am c mdraiaed to rejoice in whit the Lord has wrought, a ’.a to tru c him to carry on his work to .a greater extent. I trust you will alfo join in our rejoicings, and slid to it your prayers, that the infant caafe in India m ty be follereJ by the gracious care of God, till a little one be- come a ihoufmJ, and a l":n ill one a great nation. Accept my aflurances, that I am, alfe&ionucely yours, VV. Carey. The London Mijjionary Society. THIS society was inftituted in the year 1795 ; which may be confidered an important era in the hiftory of modern millions. At the firft meeting of the society two hundred minifters,of diffierent denominations, met together, and with unanimity ‘tsolved, “ to send mifli- onaries to Otaheite, or some other of the Bcuth-Sea 1 NEW MISSIONS. 1 Hands ; and that, as soon ns poffible, a mifli n fnould be attempted to the coatl of Africa, or to Tartary, by Adracan ; or to Surat on the Malabar co.ift, or to the lflmd of.Sumatra, orto the Pelevv Iflands, as providence might direct ” These exertions of the society have been made infl.ru- ment il to rouse many to a spirit of competition for the extension of the bidfings of the Gnlpel- Since the society was organized it has received g eat afliflin.ee Torn the public : in 1796 its funds amounted to near twelve thou and pounds. This year the society pur- chased the i'nip DufiF, on board of which, in Auguft, 29 mbTiona - . ies embai bed for tiie Jflands in the south seas. Nineteen of them were left at Ot: heite, nine at Tonga- taboo, and one at Marquesas. In the following Auguft 1797, fix other mifllonaries were sent to the Foulah country in Africa. In December following, 1798, feveral others were sent out, who were taken by a French privateer and never reached the place of their destination. This year eleven of the mifllonaries left Otaheite and went to New Holland ; the society also sent Mr. Kichercr, Doctor Vende rkemp, Mr. Edmund, and Mr. Edwards, to the Cape of Good Hope. Evan. Int. vol. i. p. 13. New MiJJior.s. INDIA. THE Direflors had repeatedly announced their ear- ned defires to rend to the deluded Millions of Afia the giad tidings of the glorious Gofpel, whenever the Pi ev- idence of God fnould open a way, and furnifh fuitable NEW MISSIONS. Hi Milfionaries for fuch important ftations as abound in that highly civilized part of thglobe ; the period for en- tering upon this interefting fervice at length arrived. Meffrs. Ringeltaube, Cran, and Des Granges were ap- pointed to a million on the Coromandel coaft. Mr. R. is a native of Pruflia, who had already puffed a fhort time in India, and has fmce held his principal intercourfe with the United Brethren in Europe. Meffrs. C.and D. were about two years in the Society’s feminary at Gof- port. Thefe Brethren arrived at Tranquebar, in the month of Dec. 1804, * n company with the Rev. Mr. Vos, and Mr. Ehrhardt, deftined for Ceylon. In the inftruftions given to them by the Directors, they were recommended to form one Mitlionary ftation only, and to aft together. They were not, however, fo entirely limited to this point, as to be deprived of the privilege of judging and determining othtrwife, if it flioud ap- pear to them neceff'.ry, in order to promote more exten- fively the intereflsof the great caule committed to their hands. After much deliberation and prayer, the Breth- ren Cran and Des Granges were inclined, for various reafons, to remove from Tranquebar to Madras, with which Mr. Ringeltaube acquiefced, and, in March 1 805 they Oiled for M-»drus On their a 1 rival they were re- ceo ed in a n.oft ffeftionate manner by perlons filling refpectubie ftations in life. By the advice of their friends they were induced to fix upon a ftution in the Northern Circars, at Vizagapatam. Mr. Ringeltaubi has entered on a Million in the Tin- eveily Country, fixing his relidence at Palamcotta. The Direftors have authorized him to engage Mr. Wheatly, a perfon recommended by Mr. R as an alTiftant in the Million, and have alfo placed at his difpolal a fum of money tor the purpofe of engaging fuitable Catechifts ; or to adopt fuch other meafurcs as may appear beft cal- 124 NEW MISSIONS. culateJ to advance the Redeemer's inlereft in that dis- trict. In Jan. 1807, Mr John Gordon, and Mr. William Lee, late ftudents at the feminary, with their wives, fail- ed in an American (hip, with a view of joining the Breth- ren at Vizagapatam. Ceylon. r fhe attention of the Society was long fixed on this Ration. It was ftiongly recommended to their notice by the late highly efteemed Miflionary, the Rev Mr. Gericke, as an objeCt of the firft magnitude : he repre- fcnted, that the natives bearing the Chrillian name a* mounted to 100,000, and had been for feveral years def- titute of religious inftruCtion, and were fall relapfing in- to aftateof heathenifm. The Directors having deter- mined on a Million to this iflind, invited the Rev. C. Vos to fuperintend it ; his eminent piety and tried qua.li- fications, pointed him out as a fit perfon for this work. Mr Erhardt and Mr. Palm, two German Brethren, who flu died at the Miflionary Seminary at Berlin, were ap- poined to a fil'd in this Million. Mr and Mrs. Vos, and Mr.Ehthardt, with William Read, who accompair.ed them from the Cape of Good Hope by the deiire of Mr. Vos arrived at Ceylon in Jan. 1805. Mr. and Mrs. Palm having been detained at Copenhagen, arrived in July following. The liberality of government provides in part for the fuppo: t of each of thefe Miflionaries. Surat. A memoir having been prefented by one of the Direct- ors, who had been repeatedly in India, recommending to attention of the Society the p >puiou » citv of Surat, 45a ihe northern part of the ealtern coa t of India, above NEW MISSIONS. 12 s Bombay ; the Dire&ors were fo fullv convinced of the eligibility of this tation, that they immediately took the fubje a ud pray God that it may Lord V* ° f ? r f?£ then5n * each other’s hands in the relbondp ° Ur ? ! nd ‘ an franknefs in thus feeking a cor- hoL rlfol W 'i US ’ exciles >. n onr minds the pleafing ordinane R< r , lde I, eriCe of opinion refolding any of the our ch J- °^ t Gofpel will be permitted to interrupt that norb' an U r n u 0n f nd fel . lowlhi P- We humbly hope be g you ;o S be° 5r u l' nc l wi11 ever arife cn our part ’ and us ini be /ffured, that your affedtion is returned by :l: i,an ^ ual de S r ee._ We intreat then, very dear Broth. . > a y oil will write in the moll frank and unrelerv* M '32 I XT. ercm t he JOUR cf MESSRS. eel manner, vr.d permit us tc participate in your joys and } ir knows, that by mutual fjmpathy and mutual 0 vnf Vc may animate each other in the work of the 1 oid. We eainefliy rcqueft an intereft in your prayers. ' ■ lie he ur from feven to eight, every Yuefchy-morning we oedicate to fpcial fupplication on behalf cf the hea- then in India. Sin uk! it be fuitable and agreeable to ccdicate tb; t portion of time to the fame purpofe, the re- collection that we are joined by dear Brethren in the fame o ercife and at the lame infiant (though Providence denies us the enjoyment of their bodily prefence) may often ferve to revive our fpirits and animate our hepe. The epiitle with which we have been favoured by your Society, we confider as a frelh proof of their chrilli n candor towards us. We cannot but hope that the 1 otd is on his way to fubdue to himfelf not only die heathen in India, but all the nations now groaning under the ty- ranny of Satan- May it lie granted to you and to us fpeedily to behold his victoiies in the lend. Airudtl the difeouragements, with which we mud unavoidably meet, let us lecolledt, that He who is all-Jujjicient is in- finitely more interefted in the work than we are. That his prefence may be cor.ftantly with you is the earned prayer of, dear Brethren, yours in our common Lud. March tub, 1805. (Signed by all the Miffb-naries. ”) Milt. Imrans, vol. ii. p. 3 64. “ Exlracl from ike Journal cf Meffrs. Cran and Def granges. WE cannot elefe this journal, dear fathers and breth- en, without laying before you the importance of the fit- uation in which we are r laced, and earneltly ir.treating you to find out more M; (lion arias to affi t ns. Tn tae towa where we re'iJe, there are above twenty thou land inhabit .nts perifhing for lack of kn wledge. W thin i few miles of us oi all (id s, the. e are nu. abets of large villages where thoalands of i ea h.nsli/e i-.i tlie gi’oile t idolatry, and who claim our pity a id c •mpain m. i'hr; p' ice is neatly central, which makes i mod f-ivourab'e tor branching out into any part of the Circar s. We j have hundreds of miles right and ieit of as, where we m ;y labour with freedom, iki ig on the c 'ad, and contin- u iliy cooled by the fra breeze, makes this cay a u: i- brious ilation for Mifiionaries on their fir ft entr^nc ■ in- to the country. A European going in; > the interior of India, immediately alter his mniv.il is V-Kt.y to iiave his constitution impaired ; but by h tong the rnnnrnary Ilation on the coad, they will ne: .lTarily be detained there a year or more in learning the language, rea ch, will tend to inure them to the climate, without endan- gering their health. While they are attaining the lan- guage, they may alfo be very ufeful by preaching in Eugiifh, teaching fchools, and other nrfi jnary employ- ments, which will relieve thofe Mitlionaries, who hive attained the language, and enable them to itinerate through the whole cf the Circars ; a’ to at Hydrabad, Golconda, and Bengalore, where the I’elinga language is fpoken. This fpot is not lefs favourable for entering the Cattack and Mahratta countries. We underidand that there is but little difference in the languages. The Mahratta country appears to us a molt important field for miffionary exertions. On this account we rejoice that a million is about to be eftabliihed at Surat. Our oppofite flotations will afford an opportunity lor M'ffion- aries being fent fiom both flations into the Mahratta country. Thefe may meet each other in the center and bid God fpeed : it is not many days journey from hence. “ Glorious things are fpoken of the city of God. ' Z ion fhall break forth on the right hand and on the »34 EXT. FROM THE JOUR. & c left.” When we read the animating profpeds piefent- •d to us in the facred Scriptures, of the whole world be- coming fi.bjedts of Chrift’s kingdom, we are fure that we are not ftraitened in God ; and therefore, it would be finful to be ftraitened in our ownfouls. We are aware that the converfion of the people, in the extenfive coun- tries we hope to traverfe, will not be the work of a day, but of years : to accomplifh a work of years the Mis- fionary fociety was founded ; and we doubt not, if pref- ent advantages be embraced with fuffieient energy, that many of its members will live to lee the blefled day when the Sun of Righteoulru-fs (hall fhine with fuch refulgent glory on the millions of inhabitants of India, as wholly to difpel the dark clouds of idolatry, which at prefent ovoi lliadow them, to difFufe among them an unfpeaka- ble meafure of the light of the glorious grfpel. But more MdFionaries are wanted : our number is fmall. While we are laying the foundation, we truii our fiiends •in England will not delay to lend out numbers to raife the fnperiiiucture of a work, in the acccmplilhment of whi: h God the Father, our Saviour, the Holy Spirit, and all ••>:;'> bear the image of God, arc li< deeply inter- c'ied. Wi-uiJ to God that all the minifters in our na- tive -oiintry, the lludents at the diiFerent femmaries, and .ire religious public, pouid fee what we fee, and hear whi: we hear. Every man they .beheld bowing to a ft ock of woo 1 < r Uoi.e, would be an argument to come o ei to India and help us. 1 he horrid noife of thou- 1. aids of idoF.t is at the celebration of their fcllivals, vo.i a found like thu: der in their ears. “ Iialle.haile to c.fp c «fly of their future ut. iuinefs ; >nd, upon th whole, he writes that “ he had “ reafon to blefs the Lord ot the harveft that he had gra- “ cicully owned tiis feeble labours.” He propofes to the f'cicty to build a church, with a dwelling house at Travancore, the expenfe of which he eft’m.rtes at only iccl fo plentiiul are materials, and fo cheap is labour in that country ; and to inftilute a feminary for twelve youthc to be inft:u< 5 F°d and employed when fitted for the work : the annual expend* of each he dates at i 8 ftar pagodas, in all. a; rt, qual to 82/ per annum ; and he feems to think this a preferable pLn to having nriflion- at ies from Germany, on account of the time and expenfe incurred by the Fitter, befote they can engage in nfffion- ary labours in the native languages. FROM THE CHRIST. MAGAZINE. *39 He conceives the wild places and diftrifts he has trav- ersed, afford more promiftng fields of miffionary la- bour, than the large cowns in which many Europeans reffile, as their example is baneful, while the idolatrous juperftitions of die natives are more powerfully eftab- liffied and firengthened alfo, by the vicious lives of thofe who are chriltians only in name. Our authority, fent him laft year, will enable him, we hope, to commence his plan of eftablilhing a feminity ; and we trull our next accounts will confirm our confi- " nce in his talents, and exhibit the power and grace of God operating by hirn in the diffufion of the pure gof- of Chrift in thofe countries, which he has chofen as the fcene of his miffionary labours. Evan. Int. vol. iii. p. 282 From the Chrifliari s Magazine . New-York , April 28, 1807. On Monday, the twentieth inft. arrived at this place in the Ship Remittance f'cm London, alter a pallage or feventy nine days, the Rev. Mellrs. Morrifon, Lee and Gordon, miffionaries from the London Miffionary Soci- ety to the Sail Indies- The deftination of the fiirfl of these Gentlemen is Canton ; of the other two, who are accompanied by their Ladies, Madras. Through the goodness of divine Providence, they have been preserved amidll the difficulties of a moll wearisome and tempes- tu us voyage ; and landed in health and fpirits. I : is a lource of pure and sacred pleasure, to fee the faces of those who polfefs enough of the spirit of mar- tyrdom, to forego all the comforts, which they might enjoy in the bolom of their friends and the lap cl earthly profperity, for the purpofe of diffufing among HO A LETTER. TO MR. RALSTON. the periling Pagans the Knowledge of Jesus and of the Resurredlion. We, who enjoy, without inuriuption, in the midft cf repofe and of peace ; the gofpel of life and immortality, ought to feel our languor rebuked, and our zeal prGvoked, by fuch praise-worthy examples. A Letter from the Revrend Mr. Morrison , late M ijfionary in China, to M r. Raljlon. Qyang Turg, Dec. 30, 1807. DEAR sir , 1 FORWARD to you, by favour cf Mr. Latimer, a few lines, mentioning my safe arrival at Canton, and the receptien I met with. The Lord appeared for me and opened a door with less difficulty than 1, or my dear friends, anticipated. As 1 there mentioned, I have had some affiftance from a native who is attached to the Romilh Church, and who is, tf I am rightly informed, theii agent (i e. of the miffionarie 4 ) at this place His name is Abel Yen Pwoin Ming. 1 have nothing to ap- prehend from Abel. But the Portuguese clergy at Macao have become alarmed, and have, in the opinion cf feveral gentlemen here, written up to Pekin ere this time, refpeding me ; so that if the miffionaries there have influence enough, the probability is, that they will obtain an order for my removal from the empire. 1 am not however diftreffed about the future, “ the Lord will provide.” If obliged to leave [this place,} I purpose to leek a refideuce on the Island of Penang, among the thousands ol Chinese who are there. My opportunities of learning the language are full as many, or more than I expedted to enjoy. I continue with Mr Milner, to whom you favoured MISSIONARY SOCIETY. * 4 * me with a letter of introduction. I fhall, however, in the course of two or three days’ time, begin to board myfelf in a plainer way than in the famdy on ac- eount of the very heavy expense of a refiaence in this country The ohjeCt before us, dear fir, in this attempt, is very great and important. Three hundred millions of men, at the lapse ot eighteen centuries, are without the book of God in their native tongue ; and these three hundred millions speaking the same language. t saw, a few mornings ago, a French mifiior.ary, Monv de le Biflachre, who is lately from Tonquin. He has refided in that country eighteen years during which time he say, ciieie have be > three persecutions of the chridiaus, the number of whom he eliimates to be 260 00c. M ns- R'chiney, who, two years ago, was ordered to leave the empire of C.tina, has now obtained pernnffion to remain m. Carton as •• procureui” to the midinn at Pekin, i . is s- >d, I don’t know with what truth, that sera . .-is in t ie character of niiflionaries are expect- ed out fmm I nee. Some: tr.es pray for me, my dear fir, and permit me to v h : am v ith chriftian reg ad, your’s in the faith ci our Coui Jesus. ROBERT MORRISON. Evan. lat. vol. tv. p. 238. Mijfionary Society. Vizigapatam , Ea/t Indies . IN our lad we mentioned the much lamented death of Mr George Cran, who together with Mr. Des Gr-tta- \ 14 2 MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ges, was fettled at Vizigapatam. His lofs is mod seri- oufly felt by his surviving brother, who had himfelf been feverely afflicted with a liver complaint. He was bet- ter when he wrote laft ; but many unpleasant fymp- toms proved that the disorder was not eradicated. We rejo : ce that he has derived much affiltance from Ananderaver, the converted Brahmin. He joined the million on the 28th of May, 1808. * This evening,’ says the Journal, ‘ Ananderayer, his wife, and another native chrntian, fat down to fupper with the miffion family. Befrre fupper he offered up a thankfgiving to God, and pray'ed very fervently chat the diftinction of caj} might beuniverfally aboiifhed, and that all the heathen might be Drought with one heart to glorify God.’ By a letter, dated January 20, 1809, the following appears to have been the Hate of the tranflation of the feriptures into .he Tetinga language: * The gofpels of Matthew and Luke are complete in manufeript, and have gone through the firft correction. The gofpels of Mark and John are begun. I have now four Brahmins engaged in this service. Ananderayer takes the lead among them in affifling me ; the others are all transcribers. This work has been impeded lately by the absence of Ananderayer, who has been on a miffionary tour for three motnhs to the fouthward ; during which time he preached the gcfpel to great numbers, who heard the word gladly. His wife was baptifed three months ago. I am happy to fay that fhe increales in divine knowl- edge, and that her conversation is as becomcth the gofpel. In (hort, (he is an ornament to her prof ffion. She is under the daily tuition of Mrs. Des Granges. * There are feverai other natives inquiring after the good way, who are all under a course of religious in- ftruCtion. The young people in the fchools have advanc- ed much in religions knowledge. Finally, brethren, pray for me, that I may be kept MISSION AkY SOCIETY". Hi faithful, to my work, and thatl'may seethe arm of the JLord revealed in the converfion of the thoufands of idolaters around me. Send more miflionaries to this part of the world. I lament that Ganjum, Chicacole, Rajimundry, and Mafulapatam, which are fuch eligible fields for miflionary exertions, are entirely deftitute of the light of the gol’pe!. In all thefe the Telinga lan- guage prevails ; and, by the preaching of the gofpcl and the dillribution of the fcriptures, 1 hope they will foon become as lklen, — as the garden of the Lord. An- anderayer and his wife fend their refpe&s, and beg you to pray for them. AUGUSTUS DES GRANGES.’ Mr. Des Granges has communicated extratts of let- ters from his dear brother Cran, written during his jour- ney. They will be perused with a mournful pleafure, as they prove how much the work of the Lord continu- ed on his heart to the very laft. The loss of such a man is greatly to be lamented ; but fubmiffion to the great Difpofer of all events becomes us. * Chicacole, December 5, 1808. * I am forry to fay that this leaves me in a weak ftate. When I arrived at Colapollam , I felt myfelf confidera- bly better, but my bowels in a bad ftate. However, I was able to go into the village in the evening, and ad- drefs the poor heathen. They had killed a cow to offer in facrifice, which led me tofpeak of a more valuable fa- crifice. They rejoiced to hear ; and 1 fe miffionaries which are alrea ly gone forth to the he*u ‘.- en,and of whofe talents and piety we form them >d favour- able judgment. The Directors regret much that fin few perfons have hitherto offered themfelves as candid ices for millionary fervices, efpecially when the great advan- tages which this feminary offers, as preparatory fo the work, are fo eafy of accefs. From the imull number of young men, in this fchool of the prophets, it pleafei the Lord to deprive us of one, a few months linee. Mr. Owen, a promifing and devoted miffionary, wasfuiden- ly removed by death, at the clofe of a day, which, as ufual had been employed in ufeful fludies and exercions. The Directors lament their lofs, and entreat the Lord to repair it by the introduction of others equally pious and devoted. There are now at Gofport } only fix ftu- dents : thefej however, are diligently engaged in appro- priate ftudies and fome of them will focn be at liberty :o enter upon the great workr <4*5 EXT. FROM THE DIRECT. REP. It would afford the mod cordial fatisfadlion to the D.redlors, to fee a larger number of godly men offering themfelves to the fervice of our adorable. Saviour, in the extenfion of his kingdom among the heathen. From the number, the piety, and the zeal of our congrega- tions, it might have been expected that many, very ma- ny, would have become candidates for this honourable work, yea many more than the fociety could poflibly em- ploy ; but they flill find the labourers few, though the harveft be plenteous : they not only join with all their fellow chriftians, in imploring the Lord of the harvefi, more copiously to pour cut his Holy Spirit on the church- es, powerfully canftraining a hoft of willing labourers to fay, “ Here are we, fend us;” but they alfo earneftly re- commend it to their reverend brethren to encourage and {Emulate, by their animated exhortations and miffionary fervor, perfons in their connexions, of piety and talents,, to come forward to the help of the Lord againft the mighty, for they are affured that it is not fo much a want of zeal as a want of information on this head that keeps them back ; and that a proper reprefentation of the great variety of countries in which the gofpel is need- ed, to which eafy accefs may be obtained, where protec- tion may be expelled, and where the profpeft of fuccef3 is flattering, would incline many to prefs to the work, efpecially when they are informed that in the miffionary feminary, they may probably acquire that degree of fit- nefs for the work, an apprehenfion of the want of which, at prefent, operates as a difcouragement, and keeps them back. Evan, Inuvol, ii. p. 242 COMMISSIONERS’ ADDRESS. '47 Addrejs of the American board of Commifjioners for Foreign MiJ/ions. The American Board of Commiflioners for Foreign Millions, folicit the ferious and liberal attention of the chriftian public. The Redeemer of men, who, although “ he was rich, for our fakes became poor,” juft before he afcended up on high to give gifts unto men, gave it in fpecial ch irgc to his difciples to “ go into all the world, and preach the gofpel to every creature.” Almoft eighteen centuries have paffed away fmce this charge was delivered, an d yet a great proportion of our fellow men, ignorant of the gofpel, are “ fitting in the region and (hadow of death.” The promise, however, is lure, that the Son “ fh.ill hive the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for his poffeffion,” and-tbat the world ‘‘Ihall be filled with the knowledge of die glory of the Lord.” The long expefted day is approaching. The Lord is fliaking the nations ; his frienls in different pares cf Chriftendom are roused from theirflumbers; and unpre- cedented exertions are making for the fpread of divine knowledge, and the converlion of the nations. In our country, the miffionary fpirit is excited, and much has already been done for imparting the gofpel to the defii- tute in our r.ew and frontier fettleme'nts. But for the, millions on our own continent, and in other parts of the world, to whom the gofpel has never been preached we have yet thofe exertions to make, which comport with the Saviour’s emphatical direffions, and our di ft ingu illied advantages for promoting the great objedl, for which he came down from Heaven and labouie d and differed. A new scene* with us, is now opening. It is afeertainsd thit feveral young men, of good reputation for piety and talents, under Ti- ered and deep impreifions, hold themselves devoted for N2 INHABITANTS. life to the fervice of God, in the gofpel of his Son, a- mong the deftitute, and are ready to go into any part of the unevangelized world, where providence (hall open the door for theii miffionary labors. Is not this a divine intimation of fomething great and good ? And does it not call, with impreffive emphafis, for general attention, and exertion ? In the pre/ent ftate of the world, chriftian millions cannot be executed without pecuniary fupport. Shall this support be wanting ? When millions are per- ilhing for lack of knowledge, and young difciples of the Lord are waiting, with ardent defire to carry the gofpel of falvation to them ; (hall those millions be left to per- ilh, and that ardentdefirebedifappointed? Is there, then, inthofe, who are favoured with the gofpel, the famemind, that was in Chrift, when he freely gave his own blood for the redemption of men ? Should not this reflexion come home to the hearts of the rich, and of all who, by the bounty of the Saviour, have it in their power to contribute even their mites, for the falvation of thofe f or whom he died ! Field for Miffionary Exertions. THE harveft truly is plenteous, but the labourers arc few : pray ye therefore the Lord of the harveft that he willfend forth labourers into his harveft. Mat ix. 37, 38. Such as are but little acquainted with geography, or who have not attended particularly to the population of our globe, can form but an incompetent idea of the evils INHABITATS. *49 un has produced, and of the loud call for fervent fup- plications and vigorous exertion. The fubfequent (late- ment, it is believed, is fo far from being extravagant, that if error exifts it will be found in its deficiency and not in its excefs. HEATHEN OR PAGANS for the mod part worlhippers of idols, of priefts, of the heavenly bodies, &c. IN ASIA. Places. Inhabitants. Samocida, 1,900,000 Kamtscatka, 906,000 Japan, 10,000,000 Adjacent Ifles, 4,9 J 5, 000 New Holland, 1 3,000,000 New Zealand i,»4°,ooo New- Ireland, 2,000,000 The Friendly, "| Sandwich, ; Pelew, Iflands, *,300,000 Society, •; Kurile, J The Phillippine iflands, 150,000 The Calamines, in which are fom« catholics, 250,000 Hither India, 50,000,000 Tibet, 10,500,000 Hindoftan, M 0,000, OOO- Ifle of Ceylon, 2,000,000 N-w Britain, 700,000 New Guinea, 950,000 New Caledonia, 200,000- 150 INHABITANTS. Maldives, - * Java, Borneo, Timor, Iflands in fome of which there are Sumatra, L fnany Mahometans. Celebes, \ Boutam, 1 7,000,000 Pullo Lout, l Molucca, ) Total in Afia, 226,951,000 IN AFRICA. Negroland, 18,000.000 Congo, 2,000,000 Loango, 2,000,000 Benguela, 1,800,000 Angola, 1,500,000 Mataman, 2,000,000 Ajan, 2,500,000 Zanguebar, 3,500,000 Monoemugi, 2,000,000 Sofala, 1,000,000 Terra de Natal, 2,000,000 Caffraria, 2,500,000 Hie of St. Thomas, 10,000 Madagascar, 1,500,000 Total in Africa, 42,3 10,000 Brazil, IN AMERICA.. 15,000,000 Chili, 2,000,000 Paraguay, 10,000,000 Amazonia, 8,500,000 Peru 10,000,000 Terra Firma 10,000,000 Of negroes in a hate of heathenism. The Little Antilles, contain 150,000 The Bahamans, 22,000 INHABITANTS. *5i The Great Antilles, 300,000 The Carribees and other iflands, 400, *oo Guiana, 2,000,000 Terra Magellanca, 9,000,000- Old Mexico, 14,000,000 New Mexico, 15,000,000 Pagans north of the United States 3,000,000 Weft of the Mifiifippi, 4,000,000 Cumberland’s ifles, 10,000 Madre di Dios, 8,000 Terra del Fuego, 5,000 Total in America, 103,395,000 Of thofe who revere the falfe prophet Mahomet, and who are captivated with the errors of the Koran,, there are : IN EUROPE. Turkey, 10,000,000 The Tartaries, 2,000,000 Hies Tenedos, Negropont and Lemnos 40,000 Other iflands in the Archipelago & Mediter. 800,000 Total in Europe, 12,840,000© IN ASIA, Turkey in Afia, Perfta, (fe