DELIVERED in BOSTON, May 30, 1804, BEFORE THE a^assacijusetts Baptist e^isstonarp gwtetp. BEING THEIR SECOND ANNIVERSARY. - . ■ by THOMAS BALDWIN, d. d. MINISTER OF TUE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOSTON. PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOCIETY. 'Boston : PRINTED BY £. LINCOLN , WATER-STREET Boston, June i, 1804. At a Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, Voted, THAT the thanks of the Society be prefented to the Rev. Dr. Baldwin, for his Sermon delivered before them on their fecond Anniverfary ; and requeft a copy for the prefs. SAMUEL STILLMAN, Chairman. A SERMON. ACTS XVI. 9. “ COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA AMD HELP US.” P OUR thoufand years had elapfed before the Chriftian era, without any real improvement in the moral ft ate of the world. Darknefs ft ill covered the earth, and grofs darknefs the people. Idolatry, fuperftition, and ignorance reigned with unlimited fway. The knowledge of the true God was loft from a great part of the world, and the grofleft impiety and wickednefs prevailed. Vice did not cxift by mere connivance, but was fupported by public authority, and fan&ioncd by the impious rites of religion. Should thefe remarks appear fevere, a little at- tention to the actual ftate of mankind at this peri- od, will convince us that they are juft. The laft of the four great empires mentioned in the proph- ecy of Daniel, was now in the full tide of profper- ity. The Roman arms had been victorious in all quarters of the globe. And fo univerfal was the dominion of Augliftus Caefar, that foon after the birth of Chrift he fent out a decree, that all the world fhould be taxed. To know what the religion of the Romans was, we need not labour through the writings of Tacitus: 4 Six lines in the firft chapter of the epiftle addrefled to them by Saint Paul, will furnifh the defired in- formation. “ Profefling themfelves to be wife, (faid the Apoftlc) they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God, into an image made like to corruptible man ; and to birds ; and to four-footftd beafts ; and creeping things.” You cannot, my brethren, read the fubfequent part of this account without blufhing for the depravity of our fpecies. ' The religion of the Greeks was no better. This we may gather from the writings of the fame Apof- tle ; particularly from his account of his vifit at Athens. Here, befides altars erected to every God, which either they or their fathers had known, there was one ftanding as a monument of their fu- perftition and ignorance, infcribed “ to the unknown God.” Their morality, as might be fuppofed, was as imperfect, as their notions of a Deity were ab- furd. Wherever polytheifm was profeffed, idolatry w r as practifed. Without multiplying proofs, thefe may be conftdered as a general fpecimen of Gentile religion. The Jews, it will be confeffed, enjoyed fuperior advantages. To them were committed the lively Oracles of God. But they had greatly obfcured the glory of their holy religion by the impure mixture of their own traditions. They retained the external form, but had loft; in a great degree its fpirituality. The ftate of religion among them is very accurately deferibed by the writer above quoted. “ Behold, (faid Paul) thou art called a Jew, and refteft in the law, and makeft thy boaft of 5 God, and knoweft his will, and approved the things that are more excellent, being inftructcd out of the law.” But what improvement did they make of thefc advantages ? The Apoftle alks, “ thou that makeft thy boaft of the law, through breaking the law difhonoureft thou God ? for the name of God is blafphemed among the Gentiles through you.”* Thus we fee Jews and Gentiles nearly on a level as to the practice of religion. The times which immediately preceded the dawn of gofpel day, were emphatically ftyled by the Apof- tle “ times of ignorance .” But while the nations were thus fitting in darknefs and the region of the fhadow of death, the day-Jlar arofe, as the happy pre- curfor of the Sun of Righteoufnefs. John the Bap- tift appeared, to give knowledge of falvation by the remillion of fins. He announced the near ap- proach of his divine Mafter ; and declared that he was fent to prepare his way. “ Every mountain and hill, (faid he) muft be made low, and every valley exalted. The crooked places muft be made ftraight, and the rough places plain ; for the glory of the Lord fhall foon appear.” At length the wondrous Child was born. Angels announced the joyful ad- vent to the eaftern Shepherds. “ Behold, (faid they) we bring you glad tidings of great joy, which (hall be to all people.” While a flumbering world lay repofed in midnight filence, the mu lie of heaven fwelled upon their delighted ears, and echoed along the fpacious plains of Bethlehem. What ftrains immortal burft from angelic tongues ! “ Glory to God in the higheft ! and on earth peace ! good will towards men.” * Rom. ii. 17, 18, 23, 24. 6 For wife and holy purpofes, the gofpel for a time was publifhed to the Jews only. And the difciples were directed firft to preach to none but the loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael. But our bleffed Lord, before his afcenlion, enlarged their commiflion, and bid them go into all the world, and preach the gof- pel to every creature. Upon the authority of this commiflion, the Apof- tles itinerated throughout Judea, Samaria, and Sy- ria. While the greater part of them were engaged in Paleftine, Paul and his companions were fent on a million into Alia Minor. Taking paffage at Se- lucia, they came to Salamis in the ifland of Cyprus. Here they preached the word of God in all the fyn- agogues of the Jews. From Salamis, they went through the ifle to Paphos, where Paul was made happily inftrumental of the converfion of Sergius Paulus, the deputy of the country. From the laft mentioned place they took paffage for Perga in Pamphilia. Having reached the place of their def- tination, they went on publilhing the gofpel throughout the regions of Phrygia and Galatia. They intended next to have vilited Bithynia, but the Spirit led them another way. Therefore pall- ing Myfiia, they came down to- Troas, which lay upon the eaftern border of the Aegean fea. While Paul and his company tarried here, “ a vilion ap- peared to him in the night : there flood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, faying, “ Come over into Macedonia and help us.” Important requell ! Was it pofiible to turn a deaf ear to fuch a prefling invitation ? Could this holy Apoftle or his companions refufe to go ? Surely 7 they could not. And is not the voice of thoufands of our fellow creatures fcattered in the wildernefs crying to us, “ Come over and help us ?” Can any prefent refufe their afliftance, when the object is to promote the falvation of immortal fouls ? If you cannot go in perfon, will you not contribute fomething to aflift thofe who can ? A fingle doubt fhall not be entertained on the fubject. No, I am perfuaded you already feel the Miflionary fpirit ; and wait only to have your views directed to pro- per objects, and your afliftance will be liberally granted. From the fubjeft, thus placed before us, we are led to make the following inquiries. I. What were the peculiar circumftances of this people, which called for help from the minifters of Chrift ? II. Are there any of our fellow beings at the prefent day, whofe circumftances urge a ftmilar claim upon us ? III. What meafures ought we to purfue in order to afford them the help which they need ? We proceed then to inquire, what were the pe- culiar circumftances of the people of Macedonia, which called for Paul and his companions to come and help them. We anfwer, i ft. They were immerfed in the groffeft ignorance, and lived without God and without hope in the world. The exiftence of a Supreme Being has fre- quently been acknowledged by idolaters. But after all it muft be confeffed, that the world by wifdom knew not God. If they acknowledged that there was aGod, yet their conceptions of him were utterly unworthy 8 the S upreme Ruler of the uni verfe. They generally fuppofed him fo far removed from his creatures, as to take no concern in the affairs of men ; but that he had committed the management of every thing here, to an endlefs number of fubordinate deities. Many of thefe were, by their own confeflion, guil- ty of crimes which would have difgraced human nature in its moft depraved condition. To thefe gods, they offered their facrifices, and poured their libations upon their altars. How wretched muft the ftate of fuch a people be, who had loft the knowledge of the true God ! Their affecting condi- tion cried aloud, “ Come over and help us.” 2. They were without the appointed means of falvation. They undoubtedly felt, as mankind in every age have done, a confcioufnefs of guilt, but knew not the way of peace and pardon. The glad found of the gofpel had never yet reached their ears. They knew not how God could be juft, and juftify the ungodly. To be fenfible of our fttuation as finners ; to be confcious of our future accountability at a juft tri- bunal ; to believe the dpdtrine of immortality ; and yet remain ignorant of the only way in which par- don can be conferred upon the penitent, mull be diftreffing in the extreme. This people, though fitting in the fhades of hea- thenifh darknefs, might have heard by the Jews who were difperfed among them of the expedted Meflias. Yea, it is poflible they might have heard that he had adlually come. For his fame (we are told) went abroad into all lands. But if the name 9 of Jefus had ever reached their ears, it is probable they had no correct notions, either of his character or offices. There were many whofe prejudices would reprefent his religion as impofture, and that himfelf had been arrefted in Judea, and crucifi- ed as a malefactor. But fhould it even be fuppofect that their minds were favourably difpofed, and that they were fincerely defirous to know the truth, yet ftill they had none to inftrudt them in the way which leads to peace. 3. They needed fome perfons properly qualified to teach them the way 'of falvation by the crofs of Chrift. We are told by an apoflle, that “ faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But how {hall they hear without a preacher ? and how fhall they preach except they are font ?” The preaching of the gofpel is not only calculated to comfort fuch as mourn under a fenfe of fin, but to awaken the thoughtlefs and unconcerned. There is in mankind a ftrange indifpofition to the con- cerns of the foul. Religion is a bufinefs which they wifli to put off till a more convenient feafon. The world calls to-day, therefore heaven is defired to call to-morrow. To awaken men from this aw- ful ftupor into which fin has plunged them, the minifters of Chrift are lent like fons of thunder, to alarm them of their danger, and inftruct them how they may efcape the w’rath to come. With a view to the reftoration of loft finners, God has been gracioufly pleafed to appoint the miniftry of reconciliation. And although the moft B IO faithful and zealous preachers of the gofpel can do nothing of themfelves towards the converfion of their fellow-men; yet Chrift has promifed, and does actually fend the Holy Spirit to fucceed, and render effe&ual their feeble efforts. Armed with this divine influence, the weapons of their warfare become mighty through God to the pulling down the ftrong holds of fin. It would be prefumption in us, to attempt to limit the Holy One of Ifrael. We know that God can work by means or without them. He can communicate his grace to the hearts of finners without their hearing the gofpel difpenfed ; yet it hath pleafed him, “ by the fooliflinefs of preaching to fave them that believe.” It is impoflible, perhaps, for us fully to appreciate the privileges we enjoy ; nor can we realize the pitiable condition of thofe who are deflitute of re- ligious inftruclion. “ Where there is no vifion, the people perifh.” “ They are deflroyed for the lack of knowledge.” It is but too evident, that where the gofpel is ftatedly preached, many fet lightly by and defpife it. But others, lefs privileged, when they have opportunity to fee and hear a faithful min- ifter, exclaim with rapture, “ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that bringcth good tidings, that publifheth peace, that fayeth unto Zi- on, Behold thy God !” 4. This people were alfo ftrangers to all the ben- efits derived from communion in Chriflian ordi- nances. God hath appointed thefe as means of promoting our communion with him, and fellowfhip one with another. Where the ordinances of the gofpel are adminiftered according to divine appointment, they form a vifible diftinction between the church and the world. They were defigned exclufively for the friends of Chrift. None elfe can receive them with pleafurc, or faving advantage. Next to the gofpel itfelf, the believer prizes its precious inftitu- tions. How does his foul languifli after them, if by any means he is deprived of their enjoyment ! Like David, he pants with immortal delire after God, and longs to meet him in his temple, in ways of his own appointment. Could any worldly con- liderations induce you, my brethren, to refign fucli privileges as thefe ? Could you be perfuaded to bar- ter them for any thing earthly ? Certainly you could not. Who then that knows the value of thefe precious ordinances, does not wifh his fellow- men to participate in their bleffings ? We add once more, 5. They had no well-grounded hope of future immortality. From the darknefs and confufion which relied upon their future profpects, they were driven to feek repofe in the (hades of eternal oblivion. Stran- gers to the heaven-infpiring hope of the gofpel, they had nothing folid on which they could reft in the dying hour. If they doubted of future exift- ence, then the wide gulph of annihilation yawned before them ! If they believed the doctrine of im- mortality, what extreme anxiety mull fill the mind at the moment of dilfolution ! See the poor foul on the verge of time, without chart ! without com- pafs ! without any knowledge of its port of defti- 12 nation 1 without a pilot ! juft ready to launch into the wide ocean of eternity. Oh gloomy profpect ! Who that ever knew the foft emotions of pity could refufe to help fuch benighted beings ? Who that feels the zeal of an Apoftle would not willing- ly go and preach the gofpel to them ? We pafs to inquire, II. Are there any of our fellow beings at the pre- fent day, whofe circumftances urge a fimilar claim upon us ? After the lapfe of eighteen centuries, I wifh it could be faid in truth, that more than half of the inhabitants of the world were not ftill pagans. Do you afk where they are to be found ? The anfwer will be, in every quarter of the globe. In Alia, in Africa, in Europe, in America. Are there not unnumbered millions inhabiting the eaftern continent, whofe ears were never yet faluted with the glad found of falvation by the crofs ! In vain does the troubled confcience feek relief by confulting their Vedum or Spajiers. In vain do they implore the afliftance of Bramah and foe ! thefe are gods which cannot fave. In vain do they repeat their ablutions in the Ganges ; thefe fa- cred waters (as they term them) cannot wafh away the leprofy of fin. Its ftains are of a moral nature, and lie chiefly upon the heart. Elence their faireft hopes have nothing to reft upon but delufion ! The wretched condition of the poor Hindoos has called up the feelings of our brethren on the other fide of the Atlantic, who feemed to hear them cry, “ Come over and help us.” The attempt has been made and ftill continues, with an increafing profpctt of fuccefs. Wc will pray without ceafing for their profperity. The interior parts of Africa arc enveloped in the fame moral darknefs. Pagan idolatry, with a mix- ture of Mahomcdan impofture, fpreads over thefe burning regions, from the tropic of Cancer, to the Cape of Good Hope. A number of Miffionaries, however, are endeavouring to fpread the light of the gofpel among them. May the blefling of thou- fands ready to perilh come upon them. A cry for help has alfo been heard from afar, even from the illands of the fea. I he Soulh-fea iflands are found to contain an immenfe population ; millions of human beings, whofe fouls are as fufeep- tible of the pains of guilt, or the joys of falvation, as ours. Though formed by the fame divine fkill, and governed by the fame univerfal Providence, they remain ignorant of the firft principles of relig- ion. Their perifhing condition has excited the compaffion of fome of the friends of Jefus in the Britilh Ifle, who have fent a number of Million aries to teach them the knowledge of falvation by Chrift. Our hearts exclaim, “ The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multitude of the ifles be glad.” Without exploring the gloomy wilds of Lapland, cr the frozen regions bordering upon the pole, where man is ftill to be found in his lavage Hate, and his mind bewildered in all the darknefs of pa- gan fuperftition, let us direct our thoughts to thofe who inhabit our weftern forefts. Here are multitudes of our red brethren, who live in the ve- ry neighbourhood of profelling Chriftians, and yet after the lapfe of almoft two centuries are ftill Pa- 14 gans ! Has our example been fuch as to convince them that our religion is fuperior to theirs ? Or has it rather ferved to confirm them in their igno- rance and unbelief? Have any fuitable attempts been made to enlighten and chriftianize them ? Or have we beheld their favage ignorance with a cold unfeeling difdain ? Surely an entire indifference to the eternal well-being of any of our fellow-crea- tures very little becomes the benevolent fpirit of the gofpel. While we blame our paft negledt, we are happy to find that fome of our fellow Chrif- tians are ftirred up, to make new exertions for their converfion. May the bleffing of Almighty God crown their labours with abundant fuccefs. But an object, more immediately contemplated by this fociety, was to fupply occafional preaching in the infant fettlements in our own country. Here is ample room for miflionary labour without going among the Aborigines. What an immenfe extent opens from the St. Croix to the Miffifippi ! On the frontiers of moft of this wide range, the inhabitants are too thinly fettled to enjoy the ufual privileges of Chriftian fo- ciety. Years muft pafs away in many places, be- fore they will be fufficiently numerous, to afford an expe&ation of having a ftatcd miniflry among them. We are far from looking upon our brethren, who are fcattered in the wildernefs, either as pa- gans or idolaters. We rejoice to think there are many fincere Chrif^ians interfperfed among them. And if fo, how muft their fouls languifli for the re- frefhing waters of the fan&uary ! Will not their 1 s thoughts run back to days paft, wlien they went in company with their friends to the houfe of God ; when they fat under his fhadow with delight, and his fruit was fweet to their tafte ? May we not fup- pofe them often pleading with God, that he would fend fome of his dear fervants to help them ? To preach the unfearchable riches of Clirift, and break to them the bread of life ? Perhaps others in the language of difcouragement are ready to fay, “ Can God furnifh a table in the wildernefs ?” Yes, mourning Chriftian, he that led Jofeph as a flock, will take care of his own, though fcattered in a def- crt. He will yet open “ rivers in high places,” and caufe the wildernefs to bloffom as the rofe, and the folitary place to rejoice with flnging. In fome inftances which have already occurred to our knowledge, it has been found that children have been born, and grown almoft to manhood, without ever having heard the gofpel ; and fome without having feen a Bible !* But fhould it be ad- mitted that they enjoy the Bible, do they not, like the Ethiopian Eunuch, need fome man to guide them ? In a word ; does not the fituation of thoufands in the wildernefs cry, Come over and help us ? The kind reception which our Millionaries have experienced, wherever they have travelled, is a ftrong plea in favour of further exertions. The people, to whom they have been fent, have received them with all readinefs of mind ; and many with tears in their eyes have been conftrained to fay, “ Thefe are the fervants of the moll high God, who fhow unto us the way of falvation.” Their joy on having * See Mr. Cornell’s Letter in rft Number of our Magazine, 1 6 the gofpel thus fent to them, has called forth undif- fembled expreffions of gratitude and praife to God, as well as fincere thanks to the MilTionaries, and to the Society at whofe expenfe they are fent. Did the people appear indifferent and inattentive to the gofpel, when fent among them, or fhould they go Hill farther, and oppofe them that were fent, it would be difcouraging ; yet I am not cer- tain it would even then be duty to relinquifh the defign. But when, inftead of this, we reflect on the great diftance which many travel, the many difficulties they cheerfully encounter in affembling to hear the gofpel ; and above all, the folemn and affecting attention with which the word is received, can we hefitate a moment whether there is not a Macedonian call to help them ? 'We proceed to inquire, III. What meafures ought we to purfue, in or- der to afford them the help which they need ? i. We prefume it will not be doubted, but that we ought to fend fome of our brethren in the min- iftry to preach the gofpel to them. There are fome who can go, and whofe hearts incline them to undertake the fervice. But none , in my opinion ought to be fent, but fuch as are poffeffed of the true apoftolic miffionary fpirit f men whofe hearts are in the work ; who are will- ing to preach not only publicly, but from houic to houfe ; whofe ardent love to Chrift and to the fouls of men, will carry them through the difficul- ties and fatigues attendant on fervices of this na- ture. To travel in the new fcttlcments, a Miffion- ary muff be able and willing to endure bardnefs as a good J'oldicr of Jefus Cbfift. He will often have to encounter ftorms, cold and hunger. He mull be willing to fare hard, fleep little, and labour incef- fantly. Thefe are the men we ought to fend. No others can confidently be employed ; for it was never contemplated by this inftitution, to make provifion for a lift of invalid penfioners ; but to employ men of evangelic fentiments and approv- ed integrity j fuch as are willing to fpend and be fpent, for the good of fouls. 2. If we fend men on this laborious, felf-dcny- ing fervice, they muft be fupported. We cannot expeft them to go upon this warfare at their own charges. Nor can the people to whom they minif- ter do much for them : for it is a primary object with this Society, to fend the gofpel to fuch as are unable to provide preaching for themfelves. To defray thefe expenfes, therefore, funds muft be raifed. The method which we have thought proper to adopt for this purpofe is an annual fub- feription by the members, and voluntary contri- butions from fuch as are well-wifhers to the infti- tution. And we feel bound this evening to ac- knowledge the goodnefs of God in hitherto fuc- ceeding our feeble attempts, far beyond our moft raifed expectations. Though our inftitution is yet in its infancy, four Miflionaries have been engaged in the fervice of the Society much of the laft year. One has been employed on the frontiers of the ftate of New-York, and in the Britifti province of Upper Canada. The other three have vifited and preach- ed in the new fettlements in the Diftrict of Maine ; and in the northwefterly parts of New-Hampfhire, IS and parts of Vermont contiguous. By accounts which have been tranfmitted to the Society, we have reafon to believe, that their labours have not been in vain in the Lord. We have much to encour- age us to perfeverance. The miflionary fields are whitening to the harveft, and the faithful labour- ers are yet but few. While we ceafe not to pray the Lord of the harveft to fend forth more labour- ers into his vineyard, let us faithfully employ all the means in our power to accelerate the fame good work. It gives us much pleafure to acknowledge before this refpeclable audience, the generous patronage afforded to this Society by Chriftians of different denominations, both by public and private dona- tions. With a view to encourage the good work in which we are engaged, feveral perfons unknown to us, and others whofe names we are not at liber- ty to mention, have contributed to our funds with a liberality which ought not to be concealed. Be- fides the collection which was made at our laft annual meeting, amounting to dolls. 147; a worthy friend in a neighbouring town has contributed at different times to the amount of dolls. 150. A donation of 40 dollars, in addition to his annual fubfcription, has alfo been received from a pious young gentleman in this town. From two female focieties in this place, compofed chiefly of young women, 132 dolls. §4 cts. have alfo been received. One of thefe focieties is called the Cent Society ; that fum being the weekly fubfcription of each member. A refpeclable gentleman belonging to the town of Milton, who happened not long fince to hear one of our Miflionarics deliver a difeourfe, 1 9 in which the deftitute fituation of thofe who inhab- it the wilderncfs was deferibed ; his feelings be- came fo interefted that he refolved while hearing the fermon, that whatever money fhould be col- lected for him on that day he would appropriate to the ufeof the Society. On his return, he found that thirty dollars had been collected : the whole of which he facredly devoted according to his previous determination.* Several other generous donations, though of lefs amount, have been re- ceived, chiefly from female friends. I muft beg your indulgence while I mention one inftance more. Its interefting nature will apologize for my being particular. A young lady of the town of Medficld lately addrefled a letter to the Truftees of this In- flitution, in which, after acknowledging the good- nefs of God to her, efpecially in bringing her to truft in the Lord Jefus Chrift for eternal life, fhe adds, “ having now a defire to live to the glory of God, and to do all the good I can on earth, I there- fore take a pleafure in laying afide fome of my fmall earnings to fend to you, for the noble pur- pofe of afiifting in defraying the charges of fending fome of our brethren as miflionaries, to preach the gol'pcl to poor finners, who are perilhing for lack of knowledge. I rejoice that my hands, as well as my heart, may do fomething to help build up the Redeemer’s kingdom.” The letter enclofea a bill of ten dollars ! Whofe heart does not warm at the recital of fuch godlike charity ? Who does not wifli the pleafure of imitating fuch an example ? — Well, — “ go thou and do likewife.” * This article was omitted, through miftake, when this dif- courfe was delivered. 20 Thus, my hearers, agreeably to what was propof- ed, I have endeavoured to explain the fituation of the people of Macedonia, which called for help from the apoftles. I have alfo given you a brief fketch of the (late of our fellow-men at the prefent day, who are denied the bleflings of the gofpel. Per- mit me now to afk, Does not their deftitute condi- tion cry to you this evening, “ Come over and help us ?” An attempt to adduce arguments in order to draw forth your charity, would be to infult your feelings ; for I am perfuadcd you only wait for an opportunity to fhow your readinefs to help in fend- ing the gofpel to your brethren fcattered in the wildernefs. You will be indulged on the prefent occafion the pleafure of exprefling your benevo- lence, in a way which we hope will tend to the glory of God, and the happinefs of your fellow- men. Could you entertain the pleafing thought, that what you contribute this evening may be a mean of fending the gofpel to fome perilhing foul, who otherwifc perhaps would never hear it, and who, under a divine influence, may be brought to believe on the Lord Jefus Chriff, and fo be eternal- ly happy, you would forever blefs God for afford- ing you this opportunity. I will only add, for your encouragement, the gracious declaration of our Saviour ; “ In as much as you did it unto one of the leaft of tliefe my brethren, ye did it unto me.” That this approving language may be ad- dreffed to each of us, by our final Judge at the laft great day, grant, O Father, for the Redeemer’s fake. AMEN.