James M* Lagan 
 
 The obligation of Christians to 
 evangelize the heathen . • • 
 
TIIE 
 
 OBLIGATION OF CHRISTIANS 
 
 TO EVANGELIZE THE HEATHEN, 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE TUB 
 
 Perthshire Missionary Society , 
 
 On Sunday the 14th of July, 1816; 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Rev. JAMES M'LAGAN, 
 
 ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AUCHTERGAVEN. 
 
 Pert!): 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, 
 BY R. MORISON. 
 
THEOLOGICAL ei^MXN ART 
 Hall Collection 
 
 5041 Broadway, New York City 
 
 i) / * 
 
 Perth, 16 th July, 181 6 * 
 
 At a General Meeting of the Perthshire Missionary So- 
 ciety, 
 
 Alexander Murray, Esq. of Ayton, in the Chair, 
 
 The thanks of the Society were given, from the chair, to 
 the Rev. James M‘Lagan, for his excellent Sermon preach- 
 ed before them, on the evening of last Sabbath, and he 
 was requested to favour them with his manuscript, that it 
 may be printed for the benefit of the Society. 
 
 Rev. John Willison. 
 Rev. John Findlay, 
 
 ’ ? Secretaries. 
 
SexrAons 
 
 OBLIGATION, &c. 
 
 A 3EMMON* 
 
 LUKE x, 29. — Axd who is my neighbour? 
 
 THESE words, tny Brethren, contain an enquiry which 
 it is necessary toe every man seriously to make, who would 
 wisely and conscientiously fulfil one important half of the 
 Divine law. The question, we are informed, was put, as 
 it stands in the text, by a Jewish lawyer, to the wisest of 
 teachers, Christ Jesus. That the motive of it was not a 
 simple desire to learn, appears by the intimation in the 
 context, that the “ Lawyer stood up, tempting him.” And 
 when we consider the general disposition of the Scribes and 
 Pharisees, but particularly, when we attend to the circum- 
 stances of the conversation, recorded in this passage, it 
 seems no unreasonable supposition, that the whole was 
 prompted, not so much by an idle curiosity, as by a desire 
 of entangling Jesus in his talk; and thus, at the very least, 
 of diminishing his reputation and success among the people. 
 With this design the Scribe first proposes the question — 
 “ What must I do to be saved?” The reply, proper for 
 such a querist, is ready — “ What is written in the law ? 
 How readest thou ?” Jesus had openly taught, that “ who- 
 soever believed in him should have everlasting life, and 
 that he who believed not should not see life, but the 
 
 A 
 
4 - 
 
 wrath of God abode on him.” The Scribe, therefore, pro- 
 bably thought lnmself nearer his purpose, when, in oppo- 
 sition, as he conceived, to this doctrine, he could quote 
 the two great commandments of the law — “ Thou shalt 
 love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and 
 strength, and mind, and thy neighbour as thy self ” Hut 
 Jesus skilfully with-holds the advantage which he expected, 
 by urging him — not to believe — but sincerely to practise 
 the commands which he could so readily cite; well know- 
 ing, that a serious attempt to fulfil them, was the likliest 
 means of discovering to him his own insufficiency, and thus 
 leading him to seek salvation by faith in the son of God. 
 Yet he had another object in view, which was, to adminis- 
 ter reproof. While this lawyer had the commandment in 
 his mouth, “ Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” 
 his heart was secretly intent upon impairing the reputation 
 of Jesus, if not upon injuring his person. The pointed 
 reply, therefore, “ This do” had the effect of a sharp re- 
 buke. He immediately felt the necessity of standing on 
 the defensive; and, “ willing to justify himself, said unto 
 Jesus — But who is my neighbour?” “Granting that I 
 ought to love my countrymen, who observe the word of 
 God, and the institutions of their ancestors; yet am I to 
 love also, a Galilean, and a Nazarene, who puts false glos- 
 ses upon the law of Moses — rejects the venerable traditions 
 of the elders — brands with hypocrisy the most pious and 
 learned characters of the age, and sets himself and his doc- 
 trine above all that lias hitherto been revered as coniine 
 from God ?” 
 
 The definition which, in reply to this question, our 
 Lord gives of neighbourhood, must be viewed by us in two 
 lights. It bears the stamp of divine truth- — it has the bind- 
 ing force of divine uuthority. We arc neither at liberty 
 
»o question its accuracy, nor to reject its practical conse- 
 quences. It is Christ that speaks. We must both believe 
 what he teaches, and obey what he enjoins. Now he 
 conveys his instructions to the Lawyer, and to us, in the 
 following parable: “A certain man went down from 
 “ Jerusalem to Jericho, anil fell among thieves, which 
 “ stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and 
 “ departed, leaving him half-dead. And by chance there 
 “came down a certain priest that way; and when he 
 “ saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likew sj 
 “ a Levitc, when he was at the place, came and looked 
 “ on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain 
 “Samaritan, as he journied, came where he was: and 
 “ when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and 
 “ went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil 
 “ and wine, and set him on his own beast; and brought 
 “ him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the mor- 
 “ row when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave 
 “ them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him, 
 “ and whatsoever thou spendest mores when I come again, 
 “ I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest 
 “ thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the 
 “ thieves? And he said, he that shewed mercy on him. 
 “ Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” 
 It were foreign to our purpose, to make many observa- 
 tions upon the inimitable art displayed in the structure of 
 this apologue — upon the skill with which the Sovereign 
 Physician extracts the arrows of prejudice from the breast 
 of this opponent. To engage all bis patriotic and religious 
 sympathies, and make his very partialities his teachers, 
 the sufferer in the parable is a Jew. Ihe two persons who 
 first discover his painful condition, are of the same nation, 
 and of a common faith : nay they are of the priviledgecf 
 
b 
 
 order of that nation — the teachefs and ministers of that re- 
 ligion, who ought, on every account, to compassionate his 
 distress. Yet they are represented as passing by on the o- 
 thcr side — to excite the lawyer’s indignation, and to sug- 
 gest, that where the bonds of neighbourhood subsisted, in 
 all possible strength, the charities of neighbourhood might 
 be totally deficient. But the next who arrives is a Sama- 
 ritan ; one of a people who were chiefly descended from 
 the worst enemies of Jewish greatness — the Assyrians ; — 
 and yet called themselves the children of Jacob: A peo- 
 ple who had, through many generations, improved upon 
 the malice of their ancestors; and yet insisted upon being 
 acknowledged as better than brethren : A people who 
 denied the sanctity of the temple at Jerusalem, and arro- 
 gated to themselves the only true worship of the God of 
 Israel ; and yet, when political expediency required, set up 
 an idol upon his altar. According, therefore, to the Pha- 
 risaical doctrine, no bond of union could subsist betwixt 
 this Jew and this Samaritan. They were not to love as 
 friends, but to hate irs enemies. Yet the Samaritan rescues 
 the Jew, with striking circumstances of courage and gene- 
 rosity — to conciliate the Lawyer’s esteem, and to convince 
 him, in spite of himself, that where all that he acknow- 
 ledged to be the rights of brotherhood, not only did not 
 exist, but were completely and violently reversed, there the 
 social charities might glow, — and ought to glow, — in all 
 their warmth, to bring relief, through labour, expense, and 
 peril, to an utter stranger, a national enemy, and a reli- 
 gious adversary. Such is the argumentative force of these 
 statements, that the Scribe is ashamed to embrace the ab- 
 surdity of giving judgment, though in favour of his own 
 preconceptions, against the conclusion to which they lead. 
 For when required to decide which of these three was neigh- 
 
7 
 
 hour to him that fell among the thieves, he said, u He that 
 had mercy on him.” Now this is obviously the truth which 
 Jesus meant to teach : and to what does it amount ? Un- 
 deniably to this, that the ties by which man is bound to 
 man, do not consist alone in community of national origin, 
 in union of political interests, or in concurrence of religious 
 tenets, far less in the more trifling connexions of place, 
 language, and complexion; but retain their force where the 
 opposites of all these seem to establish, between the parties, 
 an irreconcilable animosity. It amounts to this, that every 
 man, is pronounced by the Word of God, a brother. More 
 particularly it implies, that whensoever a human being is in 
 distress, and we have power to relieve him, (these circumstan- 
 ces formed the whole relation betwixt the Jew ami the .Sa- 
 maritan,) then the second great commandment of the law, 
 “ Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” fixes upon us 
 its powerful bond, and interposes its awful sanction. “ Jesus 
 said unto the Lawyer, Go, and do thou likewise.” 
 
 If this be the real spirit of the passage before us, then 
 how great is the expansion of heart which Christian Cha- 
 rity is commanded to attain ! While she is to devote the 
 larger part of it to God, the remainder must afford room 
 enough to receive the human race. All kindreds, and na- 
 tions, and languages must have admission, and dwell in it 
 without being straitened. In vain would a near-sighted 
 and selfish prudence attempt to limit her bounty, by sug- 
 gesting, that one of its objects dwells in an opposite hemis- 
 phere, — that another is an enemy of her country, and a 
 third a persecutor of her faith. None of these things can 
 exclude them from her province; for after every objection 
 is made, still they are men. — Yet her views, however com- 
 prehensive, have no affinity to the sallies of an extravagant 
 imagination, that would, wander round the globe, exercis- 
 
8 
 
 ing a blind or a wrong-headed beneficence. No; she is a 
 sober calculator, the energy of whose affections does not 
 at all disturb the patient and severe investigations of her 
 judgment. It is very true, those who haVe not stretched 
 their understandings to the dimensions of her scheme, or 
 do not perceive the infallible certainty of the data upon 
 which her calculations proceed, must of necessity account 
 those undertakings enthusiastic and absurd, of which they 
 see the difficulties, but cannot see the reasons and objects. 
 But it is nevertheless equally true, that under the steady 
 light of a mind as sober as it is comprehensive, she pro- 
 ceeds in performing the task committed to her care, which, 
 we have seen, is nothing less than to relieve the wants of 
 the human race. 
 
 Because it is essential to the success of every undertak- 
 ing, that the entire case be taken into account, she calmly 
 sits down to take an exact survey, both of her own resour- 
 ces, and of the whole amount of the evils which they are 
 destined to alleviate. In viewing the latter, she does not 
 confine her attention to a small portion of mankind ; — that 
 would lead to a mighty error in the issue of the inquiry: 
 but she surveys the world and all that dwell therein. Nei- 
 ther in contemplating the sufferings incident to man in eve- 
 ry clime, does she close one eye, and look only at particular 
 kinds of them ; — that were another fallacy : but she peruses 
 the whole catalogue of miseries to which he is born, w hether 
 they affect his body or his spirit — his present or his future ex- 
 istence. By this process, indeed, such a world of sorrows is 
 brought into view as far exceeds her abilities immediately 
 to relieve. But this only demonstrates the necessity of .a 
 selection. And who docs not acknowledge, that those evils 
 are by far the most terrible, and have infinitely the strong- 
 est claims to her compassion, which ruin the immortal part, 
 
0 
 
 and consign it to incurable woe? This is the conclusion 
 which she at least will be constrained to adopt — she, whose 
 judgment is formed upon the lessons of a master, who, 
 though he could command the stones to become bread, and 
 call treasure from the bottom of the sea, chose rather to 
 subsist with his disciples upon the bounty of a few devout 
 women; but who wrought many miracles, — accomplished 
 many labours, — endured many sufferings, — expired on a 
 cross, — rose again from thedead, and now regulatesin heaven 
 the concerns of men, not to terminate the “light afflictions’* 
 of this world, “ which are but for a moment,” but to bestow 
 upon those who patiently endure them, a “far more exceed- 
 ing, even an eternal weight of glory.” With such an ex- 
 
 ample proposed for her imitation, pitying, as she does, the 
 unhappy slaves of oppression and barbarism, she still di- 
 rects the main stream of her beneficence to succour the still 
 more wretched victims of ignorance and sin. 
 
 If these abound in every region, yet they do not abound 
 alike. The sufferings of all are not equally severe, nor e- 
 qually helpless. Wherever the Christian faith is establish- 
 ed deliverance is at hand for every man who will accept it ; 
 the evil is restrained in its operation upon the whole mass 
 of society, and thousands are continually rescued from it en- 
 tirely and for ever. Whereas in the vast dominions of 
 Paganism, containing by far the greater portion of our race, 
 it spreads without control a wide-wasting destruction. 
 Xo man knows that a remedy exists, far less can any tell 
 where it is to be found. 
 
 Of these two fields for the exercise of beneficence, were 
 Charity commanded to select one to the exclusion of the 
 other, it might, in the opinion of some, be a doubtful mat- 
 ter which she ought to occupy. But then her concern is 
 with both, and all the human means for bringing Salvation 
 
10 
 
 to both, are actually committed to her management. Shall 
 she then turn away entirely from that region of thick dark- 
 ness, which, greatly as it does exceed the other in extent, 
 surpasses it still more in wretchedness ? Shall she expend 
 the patrimony of the human race upon a small, and that, 
 the least necessitous part, while the rest are perishing mi- 
 serably by her unequal distribution ? Such was not her 
 primitive course. She taught her earliest Apostles first to 
 evangelise Judea; but afterwards, to spread themselves a- 
 mong the Gentiles. She taught the great Instructor of the 
 Heathen to take upon him the daily care of all the Church- 
 es already established ; but, to delight in advancing beyond 
 the limits of all former labours, and planting the tree of 
 life in the recesses of the wilderness. And such, if we 
 would listen to them, will be her injunctions to us at this 
 day : — provided only we possess adequate means to carry on 
 the glorious work which has now, for so many ages, been in 
 a great measure interrupted. 
 
 Now, in carefully examining the sufficiency of our re- 
 sources, by the light which the word of God supplies, Cha- 
 rity finds no cause to despair, but much to rejoice and tri- 
 umph. For that word, by disclosing the revolutions of a 
 future age, and the method of their production supplies 
 her with a convincing argument that her strength is pro- 
 portioned to her task. It assures her, that against a cer- 
 tain period, Christ “ shall receive the Heathen for an in- 
 heritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a pos- 
 session.” It teaches that their conversion is not to be ac- 
 complished by miraculous means, not by a light shining 
 suddenly in the firmament, nor by an audible voice front 
 Heaven, but by the aid of human instruction. Saul of 
 Tarsus, the only person recorded to have been reclaimed 
 in that extraordinary manner, directs us to inquire, 
 
n 
 
 **' How can the Gentiles call upon the name of him lev 
 whom they have not believed ? and how can they believe in 
 him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear 
 without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they 
 be sent?” and whence, we may add, shall men be sent 
 to preach Christ, except from the bosom ol the Christian 
 Church ? If the means of evangelizing the Heathen exist 
 not there, they exist not at all : the word of God is made 
 of none eilect, anil the Saviour of men is abridged ot his 
 reward. Bat these things cannot be. We are plentifully 
 furnished with all the means of gaining a spiritual conquest 
 over the world. Recently, by the blessing of God, we 
 have been led to perceive our strength. It lias been put to 
 the trial and found elective. Its sufficiency i' no longer a 
 matter of reasoning but of experience. \\ hat was former- 
 iy testified bv faith, is now amply confirmed by *ight; ami 
 so many clear discoveries are made, both ot the extreme 
 religious and moral degradation into which the Gentiles 
 are fallen, and of the efficacy of the Gospel to reclaim 
 them, as illustrate, in a new and striking manner, the force 
 of those obligations by which Christians are bound to per- 
 severe in the attempt. 
 
 To bring home, if possible, a sense of these obligations 
 to our hearts, let us attend to a few particulars that may 
 suggest, 
 
 I. The spiritual wants of the Heathen: 
 
 II. The means which the Christian world possesses of 
 relieving them. 
 
 If we wish to gain just notions on the former of these 
 subjects, namely, the spiritual wants of the Heathen, it is 
 necessary to fix upon some standard by which they may be 
 ascertained — some rule by which they may be tried. The 
 rule which seems least exceptionable is. That degree of spi- 
 ll 
 
12 
 
 ritual knowledge and comfort which God actually imparts 
 to his people, and which he intends the human race at 
 large to enjoy. In as far as men come short of this stand- 
 ard, they ought to be regarded as suffering loss; as abridg- 
 ed of their paternal inheritance: and therefore in need of 
 assistance and supply. In this land of light and love, 
 though none can be supposed to have taken full possession 
 of the blessings provided in the Gospel, yet how many in- 
 estimable privileges, Brethren, do you actually enjoy and 
 use, of which the Heathen have no conception. All these, 
 then, which to you ar e gain, are loss if viewed in relation 
 to them : for the self-same charter which confers your right 
 to them, establishes theirs also. Let the follower of Jesus 
 Christ, then, seriously consider what benefits he derives 
 from the Gospel of Peace ; — what glorious discoveries of 
 the perfections and counsels of the Almighty — what sacred 
 delight in his worship — what wisdom in the conduct of 
 life — what firmness in temptation — what comfort in afflic- 
 tion — W'hat hopes in death : — and if he can set a price upon 
 these invaluable mercies, that price will measure and ascer- 
 tain, from what portion of their Father’s bounty the Hea- 
 then are cut off, by the inconsiderateness and sloth, not 
 to say the prejudice and insensibility, ol their brethren. 
 
 Can it be lost labour in an advocate of this cause, to 
 remind a Christian audience, with what unspeakable ad- 
 vantages their souls are favoured ? By what winds and 
 tides — what charts and beacons, they arc enabled to pur- 
 sue a prosperous course to the felicities of paradise? W’hat, 
 let me ask, is the source both of your zeal and your pru- 
 dence, in the service of your Creator ? Whence flow at 
 once the circumspection which regulates, and the sjxirit 
 which animates your course, round the whole circle of duty? 
 
 • Is it not frpm the views you obtained, at the foot of the Cross, 
 
13 
 
 both ol* “ the terrors anil mercies of the Lord ?” There 
 you beheld Eternal Justice, armed with almighty power, 
 and guided by a perfect discernment of all open, all secret 
 things, weighing in an even balance the deeds of sinful 
 men, and with a serene but inflexible displeasure, far more 
 terrible than the storms of passion, executing a righteous 
 vengeance upon the obstinate workers of iniquity. This 
 has overawed your spirits; and restrained you, not only 
 from committing sin, but even from prosecuting the work 
 of so awful a being with ignorant precipitation. On the o- 
 ther hand, you beheld the Sovereign Mercy, supported by 
 the same attributes of wisdom and power, contemplating 
 with unchangeable compassion the degradation and misery 
 of man ; — descending from her throne of glory — veiling her- 
 self in the infirmity of our flesh — asserting to herself, and 
 herself enduring, the cm se of our transgressions — proclaim- 
 ing in the end our deliverance — and bestowing pardon and 
 reconciliation, sanctification and eternal life, upon every 
 man who will accept the gift. Encouraged by this to seek 
 the face of God your Saviour, you have found bis charac- 
 ter so perfect, and bis reward so rich and so secure, that 
 you delight in consecrating all the faculties of body, soul, 
 and spirit, to bis service. — But the poor Heathen is alike 
 unacquainted with your fear and your hope. He has nei- 
 ther the one to deter, nor the other to stimulate ; for he is 
 without Christ who is the Author of both. 
 
 Whence is it, again, that a Christian is in nothing sub- 
 jected to corroding cares and anxieties ? Whence is it 
 that the peace of God, which passein all understanding, 
 keeps his heart and mind ? Is it riot because he is enabled 
 “ in all things, by prayer and supplichtion with thanksgiv- 
 ing,” to “ cast his care upon God ?” and that “ through 
 Christ Jesus” ? How sure is the success of prayer present 
 
li- 
 ed by such an intercessor ! “ Him hath the Father seal- 
 
 ed.” “ Him the Father heareth always.” How certain is 
 it, that no petition, uttered in iaith, shall be neglected by 
 the advocate! He perceives all our wants, and all our 
 expressions of them, with the know ledge of a God : He 
 
 compassionates all our infirmities and afflictions, with the 
 sympathy of a man — a man of sorrows. Here arc encou- 
 ragements which will bear the test of the strictest exami- 
 nation, leading you to the throne of grace, in the firm as- 
 surance that your complaints will be regarded, and your 
 requests answered with blessings more and better than they 
 ask. — But the Heathen who knows nothing of the one Me- 
 diator betwixt God and man, is quite a stranger to this fi- 
 lial confidence. No accredited messenger of heaven, has 
 invited him to the presence of his Creator, or pointed out 
 the way. His guides, if he approach at all, can only be 
 uncertain conjectures or obscure traditions, which arc so 
 crossed with doubts, and involved in endless perplexities, 
 as necessarily to leave him, after all, a prey to the reproach- 
 es of his own heart, and to the numberless agitations and 
 disquietudes of fortune. 
 
 Once more : whence is it that the Christian derives his 
 sober estimate both of the enjoyments and sufferings of this 
 world? — that estimate which disposes him, when required, 
 to prefer the most arduous labours of duty, to the advance- 
 ment of his worldly interests, or the gratification of his na- 
 tural passions. What, for instance, has induced him wil- 
 lingly to impose so severe a curb upon his propensities, as 
 that which coustrains him to “ love his enemies, to bless 
 them that curse him, and do good to them that despitefully 
 use him, and persecute him ?” Or how is he able so far 
 to emancipate himself from the dominion of selfish affec- 
 tions, as to employ his talents and fortune in the exer- 
 
13 
 
 else of that diffusive cliaritj, which, we have seen, I110 
 Master prescribes? The answer is easy. lie knows him- 
 self an immortal creature, and destined to immortal re- 
 wards. He secs the palm and crown prepared, which make 
 it the sober dictate of wisdom, not only to make one and 
 another surrender of interest or pleasure to duty; but in 
 the lace of all possible difficulties, to be “ steadfast, im- 
 moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;” and 
 even to lay down life itself, when the advancement of that 
 work requires the sacrifice. — But to the habit of such en- 
 nobling exertions as these, the Heathen can never attain : 
 because — he has no clear or steady insight into futurity. 
 On this momentous subject, he is again left to his conjec- 
 tures and doubts; for, let it still be observed, he is without 
 Christ, who alone “ has brought life and immortality to 
 light by the gospel.” Be his virtues, therefore, as speciou- 
 in themselves, and as pompously eulogised as they will, 
 rarely indeed will they rise above the spirit of that degrad- 
 ing maxim, li Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” 
 Yet this being, with the many millions, who, for want of 
 Christian instruction, live, like him, without God and with- 
 out hope in the world, is capable of appreciating our high- 
 est privileges; capable of sharing them : and, 1 repeat it, 
 entitled by a patent from Heaven, to have them presented 
 to his acceptance. When the Saviour says to his twelve 
 apostles, “ Go and teach all Nations,” he not only re- 
 cognizes the title of all, but couples it with a commandment 
 to the depositaries of his doctrine, which has never been 
 repealed, and from which no jot or no tittle can ever pass, 
 until its object be fully accomplished. Were we, therefore, 
 entirely unacquainted with the actual state of unenlight- 
 ened and idolatrous nations; did we know but this, and no- 
 thing more, that they fall so vastly short of that standard 
 
16 
 
 of religious improvement and comfort which God intends 
 them, by means of Christian teaching, ultimately to attain r 
 surely we ougnt to feel ourselves bound by the general law 
 of love, much more by the specific precept, to communi- 
 cate to the other Gentiles, what has betn so amply impart- 
 ed to ourselves, (a Gentile race) through the disinterested 
 labours of the primitive Evangelists. 
 
 But to stop short here, and pay no regard to the actual 
 state of opinion and practice among the Heathen, were to 
 overlook a mighty host of evils, by which the sufferers make 
 a powerful appeal to our hearts. It is a truth confirmed 
 by the uniform experience of past ages, that wheresoever 
 the doctrine of redemption bv the seed of the woman has 
 riot been taught, there the light of nature has been abused. 
 Extravagant and monstrous opinions have been universally 
 embraced, respecting the nature of God and the destiny 
 of mad. These, by a natural process, have led to enormous 
 practical corruptions; which, in their turn, have brought 
 wretchedness unto the bosom of society, and consigned fu- 
 turity to despair. The present age is far indeed Irom con- 
 tradicting the testimony of past times in this matter. At 
 this day, we see that nations unaquainted with Christiani- 
 ty, “ because they liked not to retain God in their know- 
 ledge, but have changed his truth into a lie, are given over 
 to an undiscerning mind, to do those things which are not 
 convenient: knowing, at the same time, the judgment of 
 God, that they who commit such things are worthy of 
 death.” 
 
 In the progress of their error and depravity, no doubt 
 there arc degrees. Mahomet has drawn from the Christian 
 Scriptures, the main points of what he teaches, respecting 
 the unity, perfections, and providence of God. Sc far it is 
 well. But because lie has misrepresented the office of 
 
17 
 
 Christ, and substituted, instead of the Heavenly Jerusalem, 
 a paradise of sensual delights — what is the well known eon- 
 sequence? His worship is a hollow system of ablutions, 
 pilgrimages, and penances. His followers, whatever max- 
 ims of justice may be scattered over his law, are every 
 where the agents, or else the victims, of tyranny and ini- 
 quity. And instead of imposing a wholesome restraint up- 
 on the passions, his principles are usually found to combine, 
 in the same individuals, a gross indulgence ot the luxuri- 
 ous appetites, with an untameable ferocity of temper. 
 
 Still worse is the condition of those Heathens, (for such 
 are to be found in modern, as well as in ancient times,) 
 who, following the light of nature so far as to admit the 
 unity of the Supreme God — his infinite wisdom — his eter- 
 nal power and Godhead — turn short where it most con- 
 cerns them to advance; and, contrary to the pla nest dic- 
 tates of reason, deny his providence. These represent him 
 as dwelling retired, in a state of inactive enjoyment, far 
 removed from the care of creating or governing this lower 
 world ; and if they prefer not the dominion of blind acci- 
 dent or blind fatality, commit the concerns of men into 
 the hands of certain inferior divinities who rule them at 
 pleasure. Lower still in the scale, are such as deny the pure 
 spirituality of God; confound the Creator with his works; 
 and regard the whole material frame — the heavens and the 
 earth with all the hosts of them — as parts of one anil (lie 
 same deity. These account it reasonable to worship every 
 object that is capable of becoming the instrument either of 
 good or evil ; such as the sun and moon — the souls < C men, 
 living or dead : — “ birds, and four-footed beasts, and creep- 
 ing things.” 
 
 Other systems of the learned (for these are the opinions 
 of their wise men) might be mentioned, were it necessary; 
 
16 
 
 but It is enough at present to observe, that they all termi- 
 nate in creature-worship and idolatry. To these, in their 
 grossest form, the multitude are every where addicted. 
 They rarely attain even to those lesser absurdities which 
 the philosophers misname refinements: but the philosophers 
 on the other side, join with them in adoring a motley crowd 
 of minor deities. All these, it is thought, are endow ed 
 with formidable power and sagacity. The best of them, 
 however, feel the extremes of human passions — of love and 
 hatred, hope and fear; — of pride, ambition, and revenge. 
 In many the impure and malignant dispositions greatly pre- 
 ponderate; and while none of them is absolutely benevo- 
 lent, some are a mere compound of strength, subtilty, and 
 malice. The power of all to do good is limited, but all are 
 capable of indicting evils that are intolerable to feeble mor- 
 tals. And as they are susceptible of offence, from acciden- 
 tal or mysterious causes, so they may be pacified by absurd 
 and criminal acts of atonement. 
 
 Such is the herd of Divinities which more than half the 
 human race continue to serve. How remote from the per- 
 fections of the “ King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the 
 onlv wise God ; who made all things by the word of his 
 power; who docs in the armies of heaven and among the 
 inhabitants of the earth whatever is good in his sight;’* 
 without whom an angel cannot ascend, without whom 
 « not a sparrow falleth to the ground.” The pure and spi- 
 ritual service, suited to this all-pcrfect being, exalts, invi- 
 gorates, and consoles, the mind of him that renders it. But 
 the homage paid to Baalim can only torment and brutalize 
 the worshipper. Beings limited and necessitous, like these 
 false deities, possess not sufficient dignity and worth, to 
 meet the wishes of a soul formed for the contemplation of 
 absolute perfection. It is not therefore in the exercise of 
 
19 
 
 °doration, confidence and love, that men expect to find 
 gratification, when they surround their altars. No — It is 
 in the unrestrained indulgence of appetite; which they be- 
 lieve as acceptable to their gods, as it is agreeable to their 
 own sinful inclinations. This is not a time for conducting 
 you in the steps of those travellers who have ventured to 
 look upon the detestable rites of paganism. It is enough 
 to have remarked in general, that one great characteristic 
 of these rites is Impunity; of which to name the smallest 
 part within these walls, were to profane the temple of him 
 who alone is pure. — lint if idols and demons are incapable 
 of exciting religious confidence or love, they possess an un- 
 limited power over the fears of a darkened and superstitious 
 mind. Armed with unknown and undefined powers; agi- 
 tated by passions which are gloomy and furious, in propor- 
 tion to the greatness of the beings in which they reside; 
 these frightful phantoms terrify the imagination, and drive 
 their deluded votaries to deeds of the most savage expiation* 
 Hence the other great characteristic of their worship is 
 Cruelty. Hence men are content to anticipate their wrath, 
 or glut their revenge, by executing horrible punishments 
 upon themselves. The Indian of North America, to pro- 
 pitiate his God, assembles his tribe around the consecrated 
 fire; forces both his mind and body into convulsive agita- 
 tions; and, howling aloud, perseveres, until he falls dow n 
 exhausted and speechless with his frantic exertions. For a 
 similar purpose, the Devotee of Hindostan, is often known 
 to suspend himself from a gibbet, in cruel and protracted 
 torments. The code of morals which he believes to be di- 
 vinely inspired, prescribes it as one method of obtaining 
 salvation, to parch up and emaciate the body, by exposing 
 it naked to the united heat of a vertical sun, and of a circle 
 of artificial fires. Even in that country, of comparative 
 
20 
 
 civilization, thousands of men and women annually leave 
 their homes, and undertake a journey of many weeks to the 
 temple of Juggernant, through deserts strewed with the 
 bones of former pilgrims who have perished there with 
 thirst and fatigue. Nor docs the phrenzy terminate here. 
 The world is not yet freed of such as inquire, “ shall I give 
 my first-born for my transgression ? the fruit of my body 
 for the sin of my soul ?” Many are the worshippers who do 
 not yet believe that the highest point of devotion has been 
 touched, or the greatest act of piety performed, until their 
 God has devoured the flesh and drank the blood of man. 
 Does not the Indian Moloch continue, in his annual pro- 
 gress, to crush his human victims to death beneath the 
 wheels of his chariot ? and among the nations of the south 
 sea, do not our Navigators find the rude sanctuaries of re- 
 ligion, covered with the carcases of men slain in sacrifice ? 
 From devotions such as these, how can any good thing pro- 
 ceed ? You, Christians, come in peace to the house of the 
 Invisible God. There he blesses you with his presence. 
 He satisfies your souls as with marrow and with fatness. 
 You retire instructed and thankful ; and engage in the bu- 
 siness of life with a pious courage and an improved under- 
 standing: — While the unhappy Idolater never brings into 
 the presence of his graven image, any sentiments but those 
 of unhallowed desire or shuddering apprehension ; and 
 reaps no fruit from his lengthened services, but a soul im- 
 bruted and debased, and a body disordered with riot, or 
 else broken and enfeebled with lingering tortures. 
 
 If this be the kind of intercourse which the Heathen 
 hold with those beings whom they esteem the holiest and 
 the best, what may we expect their conduct to be in their 
 relations to one another? Are we to look among them for 
 a general exercise of the social virtues? Is theirs a soil 
 
ti 
 
 where truth, justice, and mercy, may be supposed to flou* 
 rish ? Let them not be subjected to indiscriminate censure. 
 Some eminent instances of these may, doubtless, be found 
 amongst them. Hut Were it only out of concern for truth, 
 it must be asserted, that such instances are very rare, and 
 derive much of their lustre, when they occur, from the con- 
 trast iu which they stand with surrounding depravity The 
 time is past when men expected to find superior integrity 
 of character among the rudest order of Barbarians: but 
 even where civilization has made considerable progress, tlie 
 love of truth has not. kept pace with it. On the contrary^ 
 it has only served to polish doceit, to give fraud the ac- 
 complishments of dissimulation and address, and teach men, 
 by the force of habit, to despise the shame, if they can 
 escape the danger, of detection. Upon such persons, the 
 remonstrances and reproaches «f a stranger, who feels in- 
 dignation at their unworthy artifices, are quite thrown a- 
 way. They auswer all by coolly observing, That such is 
 the practice of the country. And if there are laws to re- 
 strain their iniquities, they are rendered ineffectual by the 
 corruption of the judge: who, by setting his decisions to 
 sale, renders the place of justice an advantage-ground, on 
 which the wealthy may, with greater security, oppress and 
 rob the poor. Well do the words of Scripture apply to 
 their condition; “ Thy princes are rebellious and compa- 
 nions of thieves ; every one lovetb gifts, and followeth after 
 rewards : they judge not the fatherless, neither does the 
 cause of the widow come before them.” 
 
 Strikingly as these vices appear, over the whole face of 
 the Pagan world, its deficiencies are still more remarkable, 
 in the exercises of humanity and mercy. It were saying 
 little to aver, that Heathens are generally ignorant of the 
 duty of forgiving injuries, of “not returning evil for evil,’ ? 
 
of “ overcoming evil with good.” On these points, their 
 morals are not only defective, but often inverted ; and ho 
 who excells in doing good to his friends, is reckoned an 
 imperfect character, unless he is also conspicuous for a vin- 
 dictive dexterity and perseverance in annoying his enemies. 
 But an indisposition even to the direct and simple expres- 
 sions of kindness and compassion, is a prominent feature 
 of their characters. There is in them a hardened ingrati- 
 tude, and a callous insensibility to the sufferings of others. 
 Let one illustration of this remark suffice. When the Mo- 
 ravian Missionaries, who first visited Greenland, had, by 
 the extraordinary severity of the seasons, and by their want 
 of skill in fishing and hunting, been reduced to the utmost 
 extremity, they applied for relief to the natives, whom 
 they had always treated with the greatest kindness, and 
 had often supplied freely with various necessaries and con- 
 veniences of life. But their intreaties were vain. With all 
 the marks of pinching famine in their countenances, they re- 
 peatedly approached the house of feasting, where the Green- 
 landers, in the midst of plenty, were indulging to a glut- 
 tonous excess : and not only was the least gratuitous aid 
 denied them, but their offers to purchase those offals, which, 
 in the time of their abundance, they could have easily pro- 
 cured, were now rejected by all, and their miseries made 
 the object of savage derision and insult. \ 
 
 Perhaps, however, it may be supposed that the Heathen 
 may excel in the cultivation at least of the domestic affec- 
 tions: — and no doubt many eminent, though unconnected, 
 instances may be found amongst them, of conjugal, or pa- 
 rental, or filial attachment. But is it to be supposed that 
 the household virtues can flourish, where that institution, 
 which is the foundation of home enjoyments, is universally 
 and grossly abused ? nay, where acts of barbarous cruelty 
 
23 
 
 towards the nearest kindred, have usurped the place, and 
 bear the name, of sacred duties? In one country, the man 
 of rank, and the priest of religion, attends his w idowed re- 
 lative, perhaps the mother that bare him, to the funeral 
 pile of her husband, and watches, lest by any accident, 
 she should escape with life from the flames. In another, 
 a parent, worn w ith disease or old age, is exposed by his 
 children, w ith a morsel of bread and a cruse of water, up- 
 on the bank of some lonely river in the wilderness, that he 
 may be relieved from his sufferings, by the first hjena or 
 tvger that comes to slake his thirst in the stream. In ano- 
 ther, nay in many countries, helpless childhood is conti- 
 nually falling a prey to this inhuman insensibility. Hun- 
 dreds of infants — of female infants especially, are annual- 
 ly destroyed by their parents, either as being useless and 
 burdensome, or to deliver them from the future evils of 
 life. — “ I remonstrated,” says an American Missionary, 
 “ with an Indian woman, who had recently murdered her 
 female child. Would to God, she replied, that my mother 
 had taken away my life as soon as I was born. From how 
 much misery had I thus escaped !” 
 
 I know not, my brethren, how you arc affected by the re- 
 port of these things: certain I am, that you could not endure 
 the actual sight of them, without the strongest sensations 
 both of pity and disgust. Were you to traverse only that 
 small portion of the Heathen world which is included in 
 the British dominions, on the continent of Asia: and were 
 you spectators only of what has passed there, within the 
 memory of the present generation : — or were it possible for 
 us to present, in one collected view before you, all the di- 
 versified scenes of living and breathing misery, which, in 
 that spot, and within that period alone, has been produced 
 bv Pagan piety and Pagan morals, you would turn away 
 
2 * 
 
 irom the spectacle with astonishment and horror. Or were 
 the ear your informant, and could all the sounds of grief 
 and pain, of despair and death, which have been uttered 
 by those who then and there have agonized beneath the 
 charities and tender-mercies of Idolatry, — could these be 
 brought in one dismal groan to your ears, it would shake 
 your hearts with the profoundest emotions of dismay and 
 of compassion. But what is that contracted territory to 
 the other wide and populous regions which are involved in 
 equal, or greater darkness? What is. that limited period 
 to the ages of ignorance, that extend backwards till we ap- 
 proach the flood, and must stretch forward, until the bles- 
 sed light of the Gospel has been diffused over the earth ? 
 The imagination is overwhelmed, in attempting to conceive 
 the ravages, which, within such vast boundaries of time and 
 space, superstition and error have committed, upon the 
 happiness of man. And yet, alas ! is not this the smallest 
 part? Is there not a still more capacious and enduring 
 scene, to which their mortal influences extend? We at- 
 tempt not to unveil the secrets of the world of spirits. We 
 pronounce no judgment upon tiie future destiny of men 
 who die in unavoidable ignorance of the Gospel. But this 
 we cannot doubt — this we cannot forget — that if the seve- 
 rest penalties of futurity belong to those who shall have heard 
 and abused the doctrines of salvation, yet the outcasts of this 
 description will be in proportion far less numerous, than such 
 as, through life, have had no better guides or motives to 
 holiness, than the suggestions of a weak and corrupt na- 
 ture. What, then, is the sum of the whole matter? Do 
 not the Heathen suffer the most pressing wants? Do they 
 not stand in need — in urgent need, of our compassionate 
 interference? And knowing, as we do, their distresses, if 
 we withhold our aid, what excuse shall we find to satisfy 
 
25 
 
 our own hearts, or at all to justify us in the day of judg-» 
 ment? Unless, indeed, we can truly alledge, that to ren-i 
 dor effectual assistance to any of them, was entirely out of 
 our power. 
 
 II. But in order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion 
 upon this second great question, namely, Whether the 
 Christian world is, or is not, in condition to relieve the spi- 
 ritual wants of the Heathen, it appears by no means ne- 
 cessary to discuss it in its whole extent. Tor it embraces 
 two inquiries; — the first, Whether the system of Divine 
 truth, contained in the Scriptures, would, if fully communi- 
 cated, prove a remedy adequate to their case : — the second. 
 Whether, upon supposition of its efficacy, we have it not 
 actually in our power to impart it. Now, upon the former 
 of these points, it may surely be presumed, that all Chris- 
 tians are agreed ; since Scripture and experience join to 
 testify, that, “ through the knowledge of Christ, the Di- 
 vine power hath given unto us all things pertaining to life 
 and godliness,” as well as secured our entrance “ into the 
 everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour.” The only 
 question, therefore, which we are at present concerned to 
 examine, is this, Whether it be possible for Christians to 
 present their faith to bigotted or barbarous Heathens, in 
 such a light, that they shall both understand and embrace 
 it. 
 
 If this arduous task were left to human efforts alone, we 
 readily grant it would never be accomplished. But the 
 same divine person who has commanded — “ Go and teach 
 all nations,” has added, — “ Anil behold I am with you 
 always, to the end of the world.” Upon this assurance 
 all our hopes are ultimately rested, and we confidentlv ask, 
 “ If God be for us, who can be against us ?” Yet while we 
 make this profession, let no one suspect us of an intention 
 
26 
 
 to draw him beyond the firm ground of the promise, by 
 interpreting it in too favourable a sense. Aware of that 
 danger, we will not assert, that Christ here insures success 
 to every attempt ; or even to every well conducted attempt ; 
 or indeed to any attempt at all, but with much time and 
 difficulty. It is enough if we are permitted to paraphrase 
 his language thus, “ When, at any future period, you my 
 disciples, revering my command, and relying on my power, 
 shall have associated yourselves to evangelise the Heathen — 
 when you shall have made the necessary provision for de- 
 livering my message uncorruptly — when you shall have 
 employed the due measure of wisdom, industry, and per- 
 severance in the work : — then shall my strength come in 
 aid of your weakness. Resisted your exertions may be, 
 but they shall not be defeated. Individual efforts may fail, 
 but the general enterprise shall prosper; until the predict- 
 ed period arrive, when men shall be blessed in me, and all 
 nations shall call me blessed.” 
 
 If the faithfulness of our Blessed Lord, then, is thus 
 embarked in the cause — and if God assumes to himself, 
 as the Bible declares he does assume, the care of com- 
 mending his ti utii to the hearts and consciences of men, 
 what remains to be accomplished by us, ’my Brethren, in 
 the work of enlightening the Gentiles, but the task of lay- 
 ing the Gospel distinctly before them. The doctrines of 
 salvation, in their Scriptural fulness and simplicity, being 
 once announced to them, all is done that God has left to 
 human efforts And at the present day, does any one 
 doubt that this much at least can easily be accomplished ? 
 Where do we meet with any insurmountable difficulty? Is 
 it impossible to provide a sufficient number of persons qua- 
 lified to become the Heralds of Salvation ? If not, will 
 the public deny them its suppoit ? And can we neither 
 
27 
 
 find nor excite such a spirit of’ Christian liberality as will 
 voluntarily defray the charges of their mission ? It this is 
 not to be apprehended, shall we be at a loss for able and 
 upright men, who, acting a9 stewards of the general boun- 
 ty, shall prepare and send forth these ambassadors of peace; 
 shall maintain the necessary intercourse with their distant 
 settlements; and, in a word, shall undertake the manage- 
 ment of the whole design ? These are the grand requisites 
 for conducting a project of this nature to a successful issue. 
 If these arc to be found, pecuniary means need create no 
 anxiety. The soldiers whom we would send forth to vic- 
 tory, like the chosen band of Gideon, are few in number, 
 and furnished with inexpensive arras. We require not the 
 resources of empires. Let every Christian, renouncing 
 but some needless superfluity — some trifling indulgence — 
 cast the price habitually into this treasury, and the pro- 
 duce will quickly empower us to store the world with im- 
 perishable riches. 
 
 Happily the previous, and without experience, the more 
 doubtful questions, are no longer to be decided by a de- 
 tail of arguments, but by a reference to facts. Let us only 
 look around, and we shall see all the most arduous prepa- 
 rations for this enterprise, to a considerable extent already 
 made. — Do we ask whether the public will take a general 
 concern in it? It is certain that thousands, chiefly in our 
 own country, but also in other parts of Europe, in Asia, 
 and in America, direct their attention to it with the liveli- 
 est interest. They regard it no longer as an enthusiastic 
 or impracticable scheme. They have a settled conviction 
 of its obligation ; they feel a steady confidence in its suc- 
 cess ; and while their vigilant kindness overlooks not the 
 miseries that languish at the door, a gift of mercy to un- 
 known and distant sufferers, forms an annual item in their 
 
 D 
 
28 
 
 liberalities. The spirit too, is extending to various placed 
 and to every rank in society. As the sources of informa- 
 tion multiply, that prejudice and ignorance which led many 
 to view the subject with indifference or suspicion, are melt- 
 ing away, like vernal snows, from the face of the Chris- 
 tian world : anti where these retire, the healing plant of 
 Missionary zeal, which has a secret root in every pious 
 bosom, quickened by the genial influence of knowledge, is 
 gradually putting forth its buds, and flowers, and fruit. 
 
 Do we enquire again, where the men are to be found 
 who shall direct and apply this growing bounty? It is 
 well known that many Societies exist which make this their 
 sole object. These will be found upon examination, to 
 have substantial claims to the favour and confidence of the 
 public. All their proceedings are laid open to the inspec- 
 tion of the world. In not a few of them, much solid learn- 
 ing, and a thorough devotedness to the cause, are assisted 
 by an intimate knowledge of human nature, and human af- 
 fairs. Some deserve a special regard, having been active- 
 ly engaged in Missionary labours for a long series of years. 
 These have had opportunities of observing, how men in dif- 
 ferent stages of civilization, and under the deepest shades 
 of ignorance and delusion, are affected by all the various 
 modes of Christian instruction ; and have therefore added 
 to their general prudence, that peculiar skill and sagacity 
 which are adapted to their proper work. New associations, 
 moreover, are occasionally rising up, which either contri- 
 bute to the support of those already formed, or engage in 
 separate undertakings with all the advantages of their ex- 
 perience. 
 
 Do we demand still farther, whether these Societies 
 have succeeded in providing suitable teachers ? It is cer- 
 tain many such have actually been sent forth, who have 
 
29 
 
 availed, on every s' le. ^lie strong-liolds of idolatry. Some, 
 after lengthen- d services in this warfare, have deposited 
 their bones in the scene of action. Some, their immediate 
 successors, have grown old at the post of difficulty and dan- 
 ger. Others in the prime of life have advanced to rein- 
 force these latter combatants; and more, at home, are in 
 training for future conflicts and future triumphs With 
 respect to the qualifications of these Missionaries, we are 
 nowise concerned to dissemble the fact, that out of a great 
 number, one and another, perhaps, have proved utterly un- 
 worthy of the name; or that some possess no more than an 
 ordinary share of the accomplishments necessary for the 
 discharge of such arduous duties. In this they only re- 
 semble the Apostles themselves. But like the Apostles also, 
 we find in the list of Missionaries, individuals who will not 
 suffer by a comparison with the foremost men of their age, 
 in all the excellencies of the understanding and the heart. 
 In them we see an exalted spirit of Christian piety, as en- 
 lightened as it is fervent; as practical as it is refined. In 
 them we discover, under the veil of an humble and simple 
 deportment, natural talents of the first order, and vast li- 
 terary attainments, consecrated with unwearied industry 
 and perseverance, to advance the highest interests of man- 
 kind, where there exists not the remotest prospect of any 
 earthly reward. In them we behold all the ardour of an 
 active and intrepid zeal, brought under the rigorous con- 
 trol of a prudence the most vigilant, discerning, and cau- 
 tious : and arc constrained to admire aHd to love that soft 
 lustre of their characters, which flows from blending the 
 wisdom of the serpent with the innocency of the dove. You 
 have not time to hear of the acknowledgments which their 
 worth has forced from the lips of their adversaries; or of 
 the services which they have been enabled, in a private sta- 
 
30 
 
 tion, and by the weight of their virtues alone, to render to 
 the state. But it would be inexcusable did we not by one 
 short hint, direct your attention to that most gratifying 
 scene, where Missionaries of more than one denomation, 
 while restricting themselves and their children to the simple 
 necessaries of life, are creating the means of a noble muni- 
 ficence to the Heathen, by the vigorous efforts of their ge- 
 nius, and the unremitted labour of their hands. From the 
 blessing of God upon the exertions of men so able, so de- 
 voted, so heavenly-minded as these, may we not confident- 
 ly expect the happiest results? 
 
 Here, indeed, it would seem that we might bring our 
 observations to a close, and upon the joint evidence of facts 
 and scripture now adduced, might require your assent to 
 the proposition, That Christendom possesses means amply 
 sufficient for the gradual conversion of the w orld. But lest 
 any scruple should remain unsubdued, let us proceed to 
 something yet more striking, though perhaps not more con- 
 clusive. Let us attend to the manner in which the power 
 of Christ accompanying the publication of his truth, has ac- 
 tually turned many of the Gentiles from darkness to light, 
 and from the power of Satan unto God.” 
 
 The field in which these happy revolutions have been 
 wrought is already yery extended, and presents us with a 
 multitude of decisive experiments. The Heralds of Mes- 
 siah have visited almost every latitude — have conversed 
 with the men of almost every race, and every complex- 
 ion — have tried the effect of their instructions upon almost 
 every variety of character that rude hordes or civilized na- 
 tions can exhibit ; and have seen their labours, with scarce 
 an exception, crowned with the most encouraging success. 
 Whether they travelled to regions that lie within the tro- 
 pics, or beyond the polar circle; whether they unfolded the 
 
SI 
 
 mysteries of divine wisdom to the acute Brahmun, or the 
 dull barbarian of Labrador: few. very few are the stations 
 where these generous lovers of human kind have once fixed 
 their residence, at which we cannot now point to a little 
 flock of Christian converts, gathered like wandering sheep 
 from the desert, and safely lodged within the fold of the 
 Good Shepherd. 
 
 That the change of profession in the majority of these 
 converts, has been produced chiefly or entirely by the force 
 of truth, with very few inducements front interest or ambi- 
 tion, no one who lias attentively read their history will call 
 in question. That it is not a change of name merely, but 
 a thorough renovation both of their religious belief and of 
 their active principles, that lias been effected, will be equal- 
 ly manifest from an observation of their conduct. In w hat- 
 ever view we compare their present with their former 
 character, we shall be irresistibly led to this conclusion. — 
 If we regard them in a political light, we shall find them 
 greatly advanced in those habits of subordination and in- 
 dustry, which are the foundations of national prosperity. 
 The same individual, we shall see, who from his childhood 
 felt no restraint, not even that of paternal authority, and 
 who abhorred the very appearance of subjection, has sul> 
 mitted himself to salutary regulations of a civil as well as a 
 religious kind. The wandering savage who knew no home 
 but the forest, who sought no habitation but the wigwam 
 or the cavern, and who possessed no property but such as 
 he could bear about from thicket to thicket, and from island 
 to island, has now attached himself to a spot, built for him- 
 self a substantial tenement, and stored his cottage and hi$ 
 field with articles of value. The same hand which former 
 ly refused to wield any weapon but the club or the bow, and 
 disdaining all unbloody occupations, exerted its strength on- 
 
32 
 
 ]y in war or in the chase, is now reconciled to the employ- 
 ments of man in his state of primeval innocence, or of cul- 
 tivated improvement, and plies, with assiduity, the imple- 
 ments of husbandry and manufacture. Without intimately 
 feeling the force of that truth which the Missionaries teach, 
 would such a man be persuaded by them to resign so large 
 a part of his unbounded license, and thus to endure the 
 fatigues of regular employment? 
 
 If we view these proselytes in reference to such virtues 
 as render a man in private life the object of confidence or 
 affection, we shall discover an improvement no less remark- 
 able. He who, in his ignorance, was familiar with the 
 language of deceit and malignity now speaks the truth in 
 love. He who stole, steals no more, but rather labours 
 with "his hands. The sensualist has renounced his riotous 
 living, and learned to use the world as not abusing it. Nay, 
 these new Christians, in a body, have become alive, if they 
 were not formerly so, to the leading proprieties and decen- 
 cies of life. Whatever in garb, or conversation, or man- 
 ners, could give reasonable offence to the taste of civilized 
 strangers, has been in a great measure dismissed, and a 
 manifest carefulness excited to provide things becoming in 
 the sight of all men. 
 
 In short, our conviction that Christianity in them is not 
 fictitious but genuine will be completed, if approaching yet 
 more closely, we inspect the interior features of their minds, 
 and observe the rapid progress of their intellectual and 
 moral powers towards perfection. Formerly they present- 
 ed in this view a melancholy spectacle. Exposed in many 
 distant countries to the degrading influence of many oppo- 
 site causes, the inward frame of all was enfeebled, distorted, 
 mutilated; but as might be expected, in a thousand different 
 ways. The truths, however, in which they are now insructed 
 
33 
 
 Lave proved a cure alike for every disease. The native of 
 Greenland, whose heart was once as torpid and frozen a9 
 the ice that surrounded him, converted at length to the 
 faith of Jesus, is become susceptible of all the liveliest and 
 purest sensibilities of our nature, and sheds profusely, the 
 tear of brotherly-kindness and of devotional joy. The wild 
 African whose rational faculties were become nearly extinct, 
 and who had sunk in the scale of intellectual beings al- 
 most to the level of the brutes whose habits he adopted, 
 now expands his soul to the conception of celestial and e- 
 ternal things — exerts upon other subjects also a sounder 
 understanding — and establishes upon the best foundation 
 his title to the name and dignity of a man. The native 
 American once disguised in human form the rage and cruel- 
 ty of the Tyger. An untameable fierceness and insatiable 
 thirst of revenge, joined with a cunning the most subtile 
 and insidious, were the attributes in which he delighted. 
 But he too has put off this savage garb and clothed himself 
 in the simplicity and gentleness of the lamb. I Ie is become 
 meek, patient, forgiving — and has exchanged the false gran- 
 deur of his pride for the lowly and pious magnanimity of 
 the Gospel. A different change yet tending to the same 
 point is observable in the feeble Hindoo. He has renounc- 
 ed his natural indolence ; he has forgotton his habitual 
 fears ; and braving the terrors of persecution, labours in- 
 cessently to communicate the treasure which he lias found 
 to his idolatrous countrymen. Tims we see with admira- 
 tion, men whose vices and infirmities led them far asunder 
 in the most opposite directions, drawn back again by one 
 powerful cause, towards a common centre of excellence 
 in the enlightened love of God and their brethren. We see 
 men whose wide distinctions of character seemed to mark 
 them out as the descendants of distinct families, restored to 
 
34 
 
 a fraternal resemblance, by being each created anew afief 
 the image of one Common Lord. With gratitude and 
 joy we perceive, that he, who in the days of his flesh, went 
 about healing all manner of sickness and all manner of dis- 
 eases among the people, still walks the earth in his power; and 
 in the noblest sense commands the blind to see, the dumb 
 to speak, the paralytic and the dead to rise up and walk. 
 
 Though these particulars are as well testified by credible 
 witnesses as they are in themselves decisive of the point in 
 question, yet permit me, in taking leave of this part of the 
 subject, to attempt fixing their credit and their impression 
 by mentioning one detached fact, — which in its nature ap- 
 pears so precise that there is little danger of mis-stating it — 
 so public that there can be no reasonable doubt of its au- 
 thenticity — and at the same time so unambiguous as to fur- 
 nish the advocates of Missions with a powerful argument. 
 At a station near the Cape of Good Hope the Missionaries 
 have succeeded in collecting together a large body of con- 
 verts from among the Hottentots and Buschmen, whom 
 they have settled in a thriving village, and instructed in the 
 arts of life. Some months ago the Government required 
 them to pay tax ; and as for some urgent reason the pro- 
 duce of two years was called for at once, it far exceeded 
 the immediate ability of the little colony to make up the 
 sum. Their teachers trembled lest the effect should be their 
 sudden dispersion and consequent relapse into idolatry. 
 But no. — Sensible of their blessings they resolved with one 
 mind to satisfy this unusual demand by extraordinary ef- 
 forts. Accordingly they plied their several crafts for some 
 time with redoubled assiduity, until the full amount of the 
 tax was collected. The impulse once given, they volunta- 
 rily continued their labours until an additional sum was 
 amassed, to be applied by the Missionary Society, in pro- 
 
35 
 
 jiagsting tlie Ciospel among their Heathen brethren. 
 Gratifying spectacle ! to sec so many new disciples, recent- 
 ly among the most abject of men, exercising so much sound 
 wisdom and steady principle, as under such circumstances 
 to render unto Ctcsar the tilings that were Caesar s, and 
 unto God the things that were Clod’s. 
 
 With facts like these placed in great abundance before 
 us, can it any longer be a maittcr ot doubt that the Chris- 
 tian world contains resources, of ample extent, and ot cer- 
 tain efficacy, for enlightening the nations? We haye not 
 yet exerted half ouj strength, yet thousands, in many in- 
 stances the most hopeless ol mankind, have been emancipa- 
 ted from the slavery of their sins. But millions remain be- 
 hind. — ] need not recur to the tale of their wretchedness. 
 You have not forgotten, I trust, what lias been already 
 said of their unhappy lot. But if their errors and their 
 crimes arc yet fresh in your thoughts, compare with them, 
 I beseech you, our plentif ul store of means for their correc- 
 tion. Place before your minds, in one view, the need and 
 the supply, weigh them deliberately together, and then say 
 what is our duty. Does our holy faith permit us to harden 
 our hearts against the wants and distresses of our neigh- 
 bour? No surely. Its language is, “ Be ye tender-heart- 
 ed;” and, “ Let every man look to the things of another.” 
 
 E 
 
 • “ About 1200 people belong to this settlement (Bethelsdorp). Since its 
 commencement 400 adults have been baptized, 300 of whom have been added 
 to the church during the last year. The Hottentots belonging to this settle- 
 ment h3te paid tares to the Government to the amount of nearly .£800 in one 
 year. They have contributed to the funds of this Society .£120. They are 
 now building at their own expense a school-room and a printing-office under 
 the same roof ; they make collections for the poor every Lord’s Day, and send 
 cut into the neighbouring country' a number of itinerants by whom the 
 knowledge of the Gospel is happily diffused.” — See Report of the London 
 Missionary Society. — Missionary Chronicle for June 1816. 
 
36 
 
 But what is it that now calls for our sympathy ? Consider 
 well my friends. It is the salvation of countless immortals 
 that lies at stake. Where shall the charity of the Gospel 
 find a subject of deep concern if not here ? Where a cause 
 in which her mighty energies may worthily be exhausted ? 
 
 If in the slight transactions of this life the precept of love 
 to your neighbour imposes an obligation which you fear to 
 transgress, how is its force increased a thousand and a 
 thousand fold, when applied to an occasion of such eternal 
 moment as this ! Millions of your brethren are yet in 
 darkness. They are unfortunate Pilgrims, travelling to- 
 wards an everlasting world, in a road beset with relentless 
 enemies. Before your eyes they lie plundered, bleeding, 
 perishing. Will you, with the means of deliverance in 
 your hands, act the inconsistent, the unfeeling, the unchris- 
 tian part, and after looking on their miseries pass by on the 
 other side ? Oh no ! A better purpose I trust is formed in 
 your souls. You contemplate with approbation and delight 
 the benevolent cares of the good Samaritan. You feel that 
 to imitate his example were to do that which is at once most 
 just and most amiable; and 'while your hearts prompt you 
 to have mercy on these wretched sufferers, you hear a voice 
 behind exhorting you to the deed. It is the voice of one 
 who shed his blood for them and for you. “ Go, it says, — 
 “ Go and do likewise.” 
 
 Had nothing more been requisite on the present occa- 
 sion, than merely to establish the conclusion, that it is a 
 Christian duty to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, it 
 would have been unnecessary to detain you with so large a 
 statement of facts. But it is of consequence for us to per- 
 ceive besides, with what peculiar force that duty is bind- 
 ing upon ourselves — the inhabitants of a country which en- 
 
37 
 
 joys the faith of Jesus in its purity, and which is become, 
 in our days, the great centre of religious activity. This 
 discovery we shall the more easily make, by the help of so 
 much recent history ; if we bear in mind at the same time 
 that a duty becomes imperative, and the neglect of it inex- 
 cusable, in proportion as its obligation is clear — its 
 
 PERFORMANCE EASY and its END IMPORTANT. With U 
 
 few remarks on each of these topics, I hasten to the close 
 of this discourse. 
 
 1. The obligation of instructing the Heathen was always 
 manifest from the period of our Lord’s ascension ; but it 
 has received fresh illustration from late events and disco- 
 veries. In the last and preceding century, the excellent 
 men of our own country, who were almost the first among 
 protestants to make this attempt, acted no doubt under a 
 sense of duty : Yet their views of Heathen depravity, and 
 of the power of Christians to assail that depravity with ef- 
 fect, must have been far less distinct than ours. The know- 
 ledge collected on the former of these points, has been 
 greatly enlarged and confirmed since their days, by the ob- 
 servations of many intelligent travellers. Some distinguish- 
 ed individuals, who, acting as judges and magistrates in our 
 foreign dominions, have had the best opportunities of ob- 
 serving the condition of society there, bear testimony to its 
 melancholy disorders. Above all a great body of Mis- 
 sionaries who have resided long in Pagan lands — mixed in- 
 timately with the people — and directed a particular atten- 
 tion to the state of their religion and morals, have filled 
 up the details of that revolting picture which our predeces- 
 sors viewed only in its general outlines. Again, these men 
 could have no grounds, but speculative ones, for believing 
 that Christians would combine extensively to second theiv 
 
3g 
 
 intentions. Such combination being even supposed, the 
 success of their labours in preaching the Gospel, however 
 probable from Scripture, was insured by no experience 
 precisely applicable to existing circumstances. In primi- 
 tive times, our faith had been rapidly propagated by mi- 
 raculous means. In latter ages, a corrupted Christianity 
 had gained ground, partly by lying wonders, partly by 
 force of arms, and partly by undue compliances with in- 
 veterate superstitions. But the force of the simple truth, 
 preached by uninspired men, without miracles, without in- 
 timidation, without concession, had never yet been tried. 
 At the present day, however, the case is widely different. 
 The success of the experiment is proclaimed on every side, 
 and a mass of testimony produced, not only capable of re- 
 moving the scruples of the wise, but sufficient, one would 
 suppose, to silence the most resolute objectors. If former 
 generations then acknowledged their debt to the Gentiles, 
 how much more should we? The will of Christ, indeed, 
 was always the same ; but the need of regarding, and the 
 possibility of accomplishing it, press upon our convictions 
 with greater and progressive evidence, dissipating a whole 
 cloud of objections, which, though very futile, were not- 
 withstanding very plausible, and palliated the offence of an 
 inactivity which they could not excuse. 
 
 2. The propagation of the gospel is, at all times, at- 
 tended with difficulty; such as it requires the utmost strength 
 and skill of its friends to overcome. But perhaps no age or 
 country ever presented greater facilities to its dissemination 
 than our own. To say nothing of our almost universal in- 
 tercourse with foreign nations, which, however, affords the 
 greatest advantages, the state of matters at home is be- 
 come extremely favourable, and that very recently. Our 
 countrymen, to whom I have just referred, as making the 
 
39 
 
 first Protestant efforts in this cause, had far more formic! 1 * 
 
 % 
 
 able obstacles to surmount than we. It was their lot to 
 call the first attention to the object. They had the first 
 Societies to frame; the first Missionaries to procure; the 
 first foreign settlements to establish : whereas we are only 
 called to maintain, or at most to enlarge, the edifice which 
 they have erected. — A far easier task. For now the pub- 
 lic mind is familiar with the scheme. A great and encreas- 
 ing number are trained up from their youth in those habits 
 of thinking, which will fit them, as occasion may require, 
 either to take a share in the management of the design at 
 home, or contribute to its execution abroad. The best 
 fields of foreign exertion, and the best methods of culti- 
 vating them are more clearly ascertained. The kind of 
 education necessary for Missionaries is better and better 
 understood. The means of imparting it are provided. Re- 
 inforcements of various kinds are even beginning to flow 
 in from the churches already planted in heathen countries. 
 In short, the whole system is in full and vigorous operation ; 
 and nothing more is necessary than to sustain, or if pos- 
 sible, to augment its power. The part which most of us, 
 my brethren, are called to take in its support is the easiest 
 imaginable. The toil and the care fall upon others: we 
 need only give it our commendation and our prayers, and 
 drop our mite, as God shall prosper us, into the sacred 
 treasury. But if our trouble be small, can we refrain 
 from observing, that our gratification may be great. Dwel- 
 ling at ease, and far from the dangers of the contest, we 
 may rejoice with a full heart in every fresh triumph of the 
 cross. And, Oh ! how much better were it to purchase a 
 higher relish of this pleasure, even by retrenching our 
 comforts for the purpose of enlarging our contributions, 
 than to incur the reproach of having, with an indolent 
 
40 
 
 or selfish unconcern, suffered those beneficent institutions 
 to decay, which had been reared with infinite pains, by 
 the hands of greater, and wiser, and holier men. 
 
 3. To impart to the Heathen the truths of salvation, as 
 they lie unpolluted in the sacred record, is surely a matter 
 of the highest importance. Even those who have submit- 
 ted their consciences to human authority, and loaded our 
 holy faith with superstitious inventions, are inexcusable, if 
 they neglect to disseminate the truth, as far as they are ac- 
 quainted with it. But those who admit no standard of faith 
 and morals but the Bible, and who, from this source, de- 
 rive those very doctrines, and that very morality of Christ, 
 which are destined in the end to take possession of the 
 whole earth, seem, by this circumstance, peculiarly marked 
 out to be the great evangelists of the world. They hold 
 the gospel in that very form under which it has ever been 
 found most efficacious in putting ignorance and idolatry to 
 flight ; and therefore to them is, in a great measure, com- 
 mitted the important power of converting the greatest pos- 
 sible number of mankind in the shortest period, and of 
 conducting them to the highest attainable point of know- 
 ledge and holiness. Upon the use made of so valuable a 
 talent, momentous consequences must ensue. Neglect it, 
 and many generations, in many lands, may remain in total 
 or partial ignorance, who might otherwise be thoroughly 
 enlightened. Improve it with diligence, and the same 
 large portion of our fellow men may be put in possession 
 of all the present comforts, and all the eternal glories of true 
 religion, which, but for the blessing of God upon our en- 
 deavours, might have been left to perish. 
 
 On every account, therefore, the duty which, as disciples 
 of the Lord Jesus, and subjects of the law of love, we owe 
 to the Heathen, is doubly binding upon us as protestant in- 
 
41 
 
 habitants of Great Britain in the present age. In our hands 
 is the untainted bread of life; and before us is an organiz- 
 ed system of means for distributing it, of which the suffi- 
 ciency has been fully and happily demonstrated. May it 
 not be added, my brethren, that these considerations ap- 
 ply, with peculiar force, to you. A branch of that system 
 exists in your own city — a Missionary Society, anxious for 
 your countenance, subject to your inspection, and zealous 
 to carry your benevolent purposes into effect. At this hour, 
 your duty, though it cannot be adequately enforced, has, 
 however, been suggested. An opportunity offers, (the last 
 perhaps) of performing it. You are solicited — you are ex- 
 horted — you are entreated. Give, then, in the name of 
 
 Christ, and when all the fleeting interests that might re- 
 strain your liberality shall have ceased for ever, expect 
 your reward in the blissful fellowship of many whom your 
 bounty shall have contributed to save, and in the approv- 
 ing smile of Him who himself condescended to purchase 
 us from death, not with perishing things as silver and gold, 
 but with the precious blood of his only begotten and well 
 beloved Son. Amen. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 OF THE PERTHSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC. 
 
 ■■ .. ^ 
 
 IN calling the attention of the Public to the subject of 
 Missions, the Members of the Perthshire Missionary Socie- 
 ty do not mean to dwell on the labours of the primitive 
 Missionaries, or on those seasons of refreshing, when en- 
 tire nations w-ere converted by the preaching of the Apo- 
 stles, orofapostolic men. They only beg leave to explain the 
 principles on which their association is formed, and to point 
 out facts in the modern history of the church, which clear- 
 ly prove that their scheme is neither impracticable, nor hope- 
 less. 
 
 Were this a new attempt there might be some pretence 
 for standing aloof, till the issue should be ascertained : but 
 the work has been going on ever since the time when the 
 gospel was first promulgated to the world ; and the success 
 of Christian Missionaries even in modern times is sufficient 
 to justify the most sanguine expectations, and to afford en- 
 couragement to the most strenuous exertions. 
 
 The Moravians or United Brethren, have laboured 
 with indefatigable zeal, and eminent success, in this work 
 of love. They have established churches in Greenland, 
 and Labrador ; regions which seemed consigned to perpe- 
 tual desolation ; where a barren soil, and an inclement sky 
 repelled the most hardy adventurers, and seemed to present 
 insuperable obstacles to the efforts of benevolence. But no 
 difficulties could repress the zeal of the Moravian Mission- 
 aries : they submitted to all the privations, and hardships of 
 
4,3 
 
 savage life: and, by the blessing of God, have raised thou- 
 sands of their fellow creatures, from the lowest state of mo- 
 ral degradation, and temporal misery, to the enjoyment of 
 Christian comfort, and the blessings of civilized society. 
 They have under their care upwards of 27,000 converts, 
 who conduct themselves with the utmost propriety, and 
 walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called. 
 
 The Baptists have been extremely useful in India, par- 
 ticularly in educating children, and in translating the Scrip- 
 tures into the languages of the country. In the course of 
 last year, they expended j£ 14,000 in carrying on nineteen 
 translations of the Scriptures, printing six thousand vo- 
 lumes, together with nearly twenty thousand copies of tho 
 gospels, and twenty five thousand smaller books : besides 
 supporting 53 missionaries, and educating above 1000 chil- 
 dren of various nations. 
 
 The Chubch of England has seen the necessity of mak- 
 ing similar exertions, and a Missionary Society, under tho 
 patronage of several of the Dignitaries of the church, is at 
 present, in great activity, and is expending very consider- 
 able funds in the great work of Evangelizing the Heathen. 
 
 The Edinburgh Missionary Society, has directed its 
 exertions chiefly to Russian Tartary ; and wants nothing 
 but funds to give efficacy to its plan of enlightening a most 
 wretched portion of the human race. Kattagery, a young 
 Sultan, converted by the labours of the Missionaries, and 
 who lately attended the Persian Embassy to Petersburgh, 
 is now in this country, anxious to be more fully instructed 
 in the way of truth, that he may proclaim it with more ef- 
 fect to his blinded countrymen. 
 
 The London Missionary Society was founded in 1795 ♦ 
 the fundamental principle of this Association, is, not to 
 countenance any particular form of church order or go- 
 vernment ; but to preach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, 
 to the Heathen : leaving it to Christian converts to assume 
 for themselves, such a form of government, as shall appear 
 to them most agreeable to the word of God. This Society 
 
41 
 
 Uas Missionaries in India, China, Ceylon, Java, Amboyna, 
 Isle 01 France, South Sea Islands, and South Africa. — The 
 Missionaries were in danger, for some time, of being dri- 
 ven entirely from the South Sea Islands ; but their affairs 
 have now assumed the most encouraging aspect, in that 
 quarter : and a considerable number, including many 
 Chiefs of the Islands, have renounced their idolatry, re- 
 formed their lives, and openly professed the faith of Christ. 
 — In South Africa, they have been eminently successful. 
 In a late comunication from one of tire settlements there, 
 it is said, “ The work of conversion goes on rapidly: we 
 can say, that almost every day, souls are added to us.” 
 Africanen, a ferocious plunderer, who lately desolated the 
 country, and drove the Missionaries from their stations, 
 lias now become their protector, and has a Missionary con- 
 stantly residing with him. At a late meeting of the Mis- 
 sionaries, from the different settlements in South Africa, 
 six converted natives were solemnly set apart for the work 
 of the ministry, among their brethren. 
 
 THE PERTHSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 To act in union with these Societies, or separately, as 
 circum-tances might require, a Society for propagating 
 the Gospel among Heathen and unenlightened nations, 
 was established in Perth, in the year 1796; and though it 
 has not attracted so much attention, as the importance of 
 the object which it has in view, unquestionably demands, 
 yet it still continues to exist, with a slight alteration in its 
 name and constitution, as a foundation for more extended 
 exertions; and from the annexed account of its proceed- 
 ings, it is hoped, that its labours will appear to have been 
 not altogether ineffectual. It has had to struggle with tiro 
 indifference of some, and with the hostility of others; with 
 ignorance, with prejudice, with selfishness : yet, though 
 obscure, it is unextinguished, and remains, like the sacred 
 fire in the censer of the priest, to kindle the incense of de- 
 votion before the Lord. 
 
45 
 
 The founders of this Society considered it as their bound* 
 en duty, as Christians, to impart the light of truth to these 
 who are sitting in darkness. They were satisfied that Scrip- 
 ture, and reason, and humanity, were all on their side ; 
 and so far from being shaken in their convictions, they 
 would now press them, with additional confidence and ear- 
 nestness, on the attention of their brethren. — They remem- 
 bered the last command which the Lord Jesus Christ gave 
 to his disciples, and the promise with which it. was accom- 
 panied : “ Go and teach all nations baptizing them in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost : — anil lo, I am with you always, even unto the end 
 of the world;” they remembered the zeal of the primitive 
 disciples, and the eminent success which attended their 
 labours : in deference, therefore, to this divine command, 
 and in dependence on this divine promise, which they have 
 seen realized in the history of the church ; the members of 
 the Perthshire Missionary Society, considered themselves 
 as bound, authorized, and encouraged, to contribute their 
 endeavours to the mighty work of evangelizing the world, 
 and of imparting to their helpless brethren, the knowledge 
 of salvation. 
 
 They have never been able to see any difficulty in this 
 undertaking, which zeal, and prudence, aided hv the grace 
 of God, may not overcome : they have always been per- 
 suaded, that the chief difficulty lies in overcoming the in- 
 dolence, lukewarmness, and selfishness of professing Chris- 
 tians, and that, were these evil qualities once removed, the 
 obstacles arising from the Heathen themselves, would be 
 easily surmounted. — For what difficulties are nerjo to be met 
 with, that have not always existed, anil that have not uni- 
 formly been overcome, when assailed by the weapons of 
 truth, wielded with skill, discretion, and perseverance. — 
 What nations, in modern times, are more barbarous than 
 were some of the nations of Europe, when the day spring 
 from on high visited them ? Yet w’e see them now glory- 
 ing in the knowledge, civilization, and refinement which 
 they have derived from the gospel. Why, then, should 
 
46 
 
 any one despair of converting the savage Indian, when he 
 Bees the no less savage inhabitants of Britain, of Scythia, 
 of Germany, and of Gaul, bending the neck to the yoke of 
 Christ? Or why despair of converting the half civilized, 
 or as others will have it, the highly refined Chinese, and 
 Hindoos, when we see the learned, and elegant Greeks, 
 and also the powerful and luxurious Romans, in spite of 
 all their pride of learning, or of power ; in spite of all their 
 prejudices, and their sins, yet renouncing their errors, for- 
 saking their idols, and humbling themselves before the cross 
 of Christ ? — In short, not a single objection founded on 
 the difficulty of the undertaking, can be advanced, that has 
 not a thousand times been refuted by facts : and that is not 
 daily refuted by occurrences within the range of our own ex- 
 perience, and observation : for whilst some are idly disput- 
 ing about the practicability of converting the Heathen, we 
 may daily hear of the frozen Esquimaux, the barbarous Hot- 
 tentot, or the effeminate Hindoo, renovated, and comfort- 
 ed, by the reception of the truth. 
 
 Wc do not deny that there are difficulties in converting 
 the Heathen; we only deny that they are insurmountable ; 
 and maintain, that apostolic zeal, supported by Christian 
 liberality, would find attentive hearers, and anxious en- 
 quirers after the W'ay of salvation, among those who have 
 never yet heard of the name of Christ. — We are not want- 
 ing all men to become Missionaries : we do not call on 
 those who have no fitness for the undertaking, to forsake 
 their occupations, their houses, or their lands, that they 
 may labour exclusively in the vineyard of the Lord : they 
 may be more usefully employed at home, in fulfilling the 
 duties of their respective stations. But what we want of 
 them is, that if they have not time, nor abilities, nor in- 
 clination, for the work, they would countenance those who 
 have ; or, at least, that they would throw no discourage- 
 ment in their way. 
 
 Men have been found who count not their lives dear for 
 the sake of Christ; and in whose prudence and abilities, as 
 
47 
 
 well as zeal, the public may depend, notwithstanding the 
 insinuations, or assertions of their enemies. These men 
 are entitled to support, from the usefulness of their labours, 
 whether we consider them in a moral, a literary, or a po- 
 litical point of view: they are entitled to admiration tor 
 their fortitude in encountering danger, and for their disin- 
 terested zeal for the glory of God ; and if ever the world is 
 to be enlightened, and reformed, it must be ly the labours 
 of such men as these, and not by the indolent speculations 
 of the philosopher in his closet, who is more anxious to dis- 
 play his own ingenuity, than willing to incur danger or 
 fatigue, in benefiting his fellow-men. 
 
 The timid and the distrustful shrink from such undertak- 
 ings: they pretend to be afraid to interfere with the arrange- 
 ments of Divine Providence, alleging that God will accom- 
 plish the work in his own good time and way. But if t er 
 the gospel is to be made known to the ends of the earth ; if 
 ever the prophecies, which proclaim the universality of 
 Christ’s kingdom, are to be fulfilled, it must be by the in- 
 strumentality of human means. — We are not to expect a 
 second manifestation of the Son of God, to instruct man- 
 kind ; we are not to expect a second commission to be given 
 to inspired apostles, enough has already been done in this 
 respect, for the conversion of the world : and all that is 
 wanting is, that we should shake off the inactivity of sloth, 
 and be labourers together with God, in promoting the glo- 
 ry of bis kingdom. 
 
 But unless we bestir ourselves nothing can be done. It 
 would not be more absurd to pray lor an abundant harvest, 
 whilst we neither till the ground, nor sow the seed, than it 
 is to pray, “ Thy kingdom come,” whilst we do not move 
 a finger to promote it. We must go, or send to the Plea- 
 then : they will not come to us to seek instruction ; for they 
 do not know that they need it : and though we should dis- 
 turb their prejudices ; though the ill-disposed among them 
 should say, “ These that have turned the world upside 
 down, are come hither also,” yet we must persist to instruct, 
 
48 
 
 in all meekness and long suffering, those who oppose them- 
 selves ; and endeavour to make them acquainted with the 
 way of happiness and salvation, which they have not known. 
 
 We are accustomed to hear it observed, “ Why do so 
 much abroad, when so much remains to be done at home?’ 
 It is true, indeed, that much remains to be done at home, 
 but not in providing means of grace, and opportunities of 
 hearing the glad tidings of salvation ; these are already en- 
 joyed in an eminent degree, by the inhabitants of this fa- 
 voured land ; and the only exertion required of us, in this 
 respect, is to persuade men to avail themselves of the nu- 
 merous opportunities already afforded them. — But the Hea- 
 then are not only perishing for lack of knowledge, as is the 
 case with some among ourselves, who neglect the bread of 
 life when presented to them ; but they are absolutely de- 
 prived of the means of knowledge, and languishing in the 
 most abject ignorance, and wretchedness. All that is re- 
 quired among ourselves, is, to make men appreciate, and 
 improve the religious advantages which they enjoy; and it 
 is not easy to conceive any thing more effectual to rouse 
 the careless to a just sense of their privileges, than to see 
 an earnest, and active zeal to diffuse the knowledge of God, 
 to the utmost corners of the earth. 
 
 Our countrymen have lately laboured with astonishing 
 zeal, to give a more extended circulation to the word of 
 God. Their labours have been crowned with remarkable 
 success ; they have given an impulse to the nations of Eu- 
 rope; and as the good work gees on and prospers, we 
 may anticipate, with confidence, that the] period is 
 not far distant, when every people under heaven shall 
 hear in their own tongue, the wonderful works of God. 
 — The Members of the Perthshire Missionary Society, 
 rejoice as much as any can do, in the blessed prospects 
 which arc beginning to open on a benighted world, and 
 they recommended their institution to the attention of the 
 Public, not in opposition to the Bible Society, but as a most 
 necessary, and essential auxiliary ; being convinced, that, 
 
49 
 
 though the Heathen nations should, like the Ethiopian Ea- 
 nuch, read the word of God, they never will be able to un- 
 derstand, and apply it, unless some one guide than. We are 
 taught by an authority, which the Church of Scotland ve- 
 nerates next to the Sacred Scriptures, and whose decision, 
 on this point, no church will controvert; that, “ the Spi- 
 rit of God maketh the reading, but especially the pl eaching 
 of the word, an effectual means of convincing and convert- 
 ing sinners.” It was by preaching that the gospel was first 
 diffused among the Heathen nations ; it is by preaching 
 that it is still maintained in countries professing Christiani- 
 ty ; and notwithstanding the knowledge and information 
 contained in the word of God, even those who have it in 
 their hands, would soon become ignorant of its doctrines 
 were they not enforced by the exhortations of the preach- 
 er. — How then, are we to suppose, that the unenlightened 
 Heathen are to avail themselves of the advantages present- 
 ed by the word of God, without the aid of an authorized 
 instructor, whose piety they can respect, and in whose 
 knowledge they can confide ? Put the Scriptures into the 
 hands of such a teacher : let him carry them as his creden- 
 tials among the Heathen ; and they will listen to him as to 
 a messenger sent from heaven, and perceiving that the word 
 of God is the foundation of his doctrines, and instructions, 
 they will eagerly seek to draw the water of life from this 
 welt of salvation. 
 
 It is the duty of the Christian world, to impart the 
 light of truth to those who are perishing for lack of know- 
 ledge. Those who cannot engage in the work, are at least 
 bound to wish it well : and since so much remains to be 
 done, they ought earnestly to pray, that God may send la- 
 bourers into the vineyard, and bless their labours with a- 
 bundant success. 
 
 Three-fourths of the human race are still sitting in dark- 
 ness ; not only ignorant of God, but sunk to the lowest 
 state of temporal wretchedness. Shall we make no attempt 
 for their deliverance ? Shall the British nation, formost 
 
50 
 
 in every enterprise which can lead to gain, or temporal 
 glory, and proud of its monuments of philanthropy and 
 benevolence, view, unconcerned, the temporal and spiritual 
 misery of so many millions of human beings ? We owe the 
 Heathen much : we have derived from them much wealth, 
 many comforts, and many luxuries, whilst almost all that 
 we have given them in return, is a relish for our vices and 
 the knowledge of our crimes. A happier era seems to 
 dawn on the world : and Christians of almost all denomi- 
 nations, now begin to see it to be their duty to diffuse the 
 knowledge of salvation. — The Perthshire Missionary So- 
 ciety implore of their Christian Brethren, their counte- 
 nance, their prayers, their pecuniary assistance, in propor- 
 tion as God has prospered them. — They trust that the duty 
 of promoting the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, 
 whom he has sent, has been made obvious to every un- 
 derstanding; they trust that the concsience of every one 
 who reads, or hears, will confess that this is the work of 
 God : they do not prescribe to any one what he should give : 
 but they adopt the words of the apostle, on a similar occa- 
 sion ; “ Every man, as he purposeth in his heart, so let 
 him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth 
 a cheerful giver ;” and “ he that soweth sparingly, shall 
 reap also sparingly ; and he that soweth bountifully, shall 
 reap also bountifully.” 
 
 Perth, 1st August, 1816. 
 
51 
 
 REGULATIONS 
 
 Of the Perthshire Missionary Society. 
 
 I. The designation of the Society shall be, The Perth- 
 shire Missionary Society. 
 
 II. The sole object of this Society shall be, the propa- 
 gation of Christianity among Heathen and unenlightened 
 nations. Rut on account of the stale of Ireland, and the, 
 immediate relation in which it stands to Britain, should 
 any person desire their contributions to be applied for pro- 
 pagating the gospel among their fellow-subjects in Ireland, 
 this Society will readily take charge of transmitting, a- 
 ■greeably to the directions of the donors, whatever sums 
 may be entrusted to their care. 
 
 III. The Society shall endeavour not only to obtain per- 
 sonal Subscriptions and Congregational Collections, but 
 also to form Auxiliary Societies : and as information power- 
 fully tends to excite exertion, it shall also endeavour to 
 collect and circulate information, respecting Missionary 
 objects, as extensively as possible. 
 
 IV. Every person subscribing not less than five shillings 
 annually, or five guineas at one time, a Minister whose 
 Congregation makes a Collection to the same amount, an 
 Executor paying a bequest of .£10, and the Prcses and Se- 
 cretary of every Auxiliary Society, shall be Members of 
 this Society. 
 
 V. The Office-bearers of this Society shall be a Presi- 
 dent, V ice-Presidents, two Secretaries, and a Treasurer. 
 
 \ I. The business of the Society shall be conducted by 
 
52 
 
 a Committee, consisting of the Office-bearers, twelve Lay- 
 Directors, and all the Ministers who are Members of this 
 Society : any three of these shall be a quorum. The Com- 
 mittee, shall meet four times a year, on the Tuesdays fol- 
 lowing the first Sabbaths of Jan., April, July, and Nov., 
 and shall report its proceedings to the Society. 
 
 VII. The Society shall meet once a-year, when the Re- 
 port of the Committee shall be received, the Office-bearers 
 chosen for the ensuing year, the Treasurer’s accounts au- 
 dited, and any proposed alterations on the preceding Regu- 
 lations, taken into consideration. 
 
 DISBURSEMENTS, &c. 
 
 Moravians. 
 
 Lon. Mission, 
 
 Edin. Mission. 
 
 1797. March 29, 
 
 £50 
 
 
 
 June 
 
 30, 
 
 
 £200 
 
 
 1799. April 
 
 9, 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 18, 
 
 
 80 
 
 
 1802. Jan. 
 
 12, 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 July 
 
 14, 
 
 
 90 
 
 
 1803. April 
 
 12, 
 
 
 
 *20 
 
 Oct. 
 
 11, 
 
 50 
 
 
 20 
 
 1804. July 
 
 10, 
 
 25 
 
 50 
 
 25 
 
 1805. Oct. 
 
 9, 
 
 24 
 
 40 
 
 24 
 
 1806. Oct. 
 
 15, 
 
 24 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 1807. Oct. 
 
 14, 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 1808. Oct. 
 
 25, 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 1809. Oct. 
 
 10, 
 
 
 50 
 
 20 
 
 1810. do. 
 
 16, 
 
 25 
 
 50 
 
 — 
 
 1811. do. 
 
 15, 
 
 25 
 
 40 
 
 *179 
 
 1812. do. 
 
 14, 
 
 25 
 
 45 
 
 
 1813. do. 
 
 12, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 
 1814. Nov. 
 
 16, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 
 1815. Oct. 
 
 10, 
 
 30 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 
 *478 
 
 *875 
 
 
 
 
 
 478 
 
 
 
 
 
 179 
 
 ■ 
 
 £1532 
 
53 
 
 MISSIONARIES EDUCATED by the SOCIETY. 
 
 Besides making the above-mentioned disbursements, the 
 Perth Missionary Society assisted, at considerable expense, 
 in educating four Missionaries, who are actively employed, 
 in different parts of the world, in extending the boundaries 
 of Messiah’s kingdom, the speedy establishment of which 
 among all nations on the earth, is a thing devoutly to be 
 wished by Christians of every denomination. 
 
 John M‘Donald, the first of the young men, to whose 
 education the Society contributed, is a native of Auchter- 
 gaven. Though a combination of events, which it would 
 be needless to detail, prevented him from prosecuting, as 
 was intended, a Foreign Mission, the Society have the sa- 
 tisfaction to state, that he is usefully employed in preach- 
 ing the Gospel, to a respectable congregation in the vici- 
 nity of Newcastle-under-Line. William Corner, a ne- 
 gro, from Demerara, was the second person whom the So- 
 ciety trained for Missionary labours. The rudiments of 
 his education he learned in the Parochial School of For- 
 gandenny. In acquiring a knowledge of the truth, he was 
 chiefly assisted by the Rev. Mr Willison, Minister of 
 that Parish; and after making, under his superintendence, a 
 degree of proficiency, which encouraged the hope that his 
 services as a Missionary, might be useful among the Hea- 
 then, he was recommended to the London Missionary So- 
 ciety, who, having instructed him in the way of God more 
 perfectly, sent him to South Africa, and at Bethelsdorp, 
 he is now employed, in a variety of ways, in promoting 
 the benevolent ends of his mission. The next person edu- 
 cated by the Society was John Taylor. He was a pari- 
 shioner of Scone, and member of the Rev. Mr Jamieson’s 
 congregation, by whose direction his education was prin- 
 cipally conducted, until the Society sent him to Gosport, 
 where he was placed under the care of the Rev. Mr Bogue, 
 who superintended his studies, for eighteen months, when 
 
54 
 
 he was found qualified for entering on the good work, with 
 which his soul was completely engrossed, and sent to South 
 Africa the place of his destination. John Burnet, the 
 last, and not the least promising of the young men educat- 
 ed and patronized by the Society is a native of Perth. 
 Previous to their taking him under their care, he was a 
 respectable teacher of a Sabbath Evening School in this 
 city. He had acquired, by his own industry, a tolerable 
 acquaintance with the Hebrew tongue, and in the course 
 of five months, under the tuition of the Rev. Mr Esdaile, 
 he made very considerable proficiency in the Greek. In 
 the space of four months more, the same gentleman gratu- 
 itously taught him as much of Latin, as to enable him to 
 prosecute, without the assistance of any other teacher, the 
 study of that useful language. After his talent for preaching 
 was repeatedly tried, and sufficient^ ascertained, he was sent 
 to Dublin, and afterwards to Cork, where he was ordained 
 minister of a congregation in that city, and continues to 
 discharge the duties of the pastoral office with much accep- 
 tance and success. This short account of the proceedings 
 of the Society, relating to the education of Missionaries, 
 and also of the way in which those Missionaries are at pre- 
 sent employed, will, it is hoped, be acceptable, not only 
 to those who take a special interest in the success of the 
 Missionary Society, established in this city, but to all who 
 wish well to every institution, which has for its infinitely 
 important object, the dissemination of the truth as it is ip 
 Jesus. 
 
55 
 
 OFFICE-BEARERS. 
 
 Alexander Murray, Esq. of Ayton, President. 
 
 Rev. James Scott, Perth, 
 
 John Richardson, Esq. of Pitfour, 
 Robert Ross, Esq. Provost of Perth, 
 
 Rev. John 
 Rev. John 
 
 Willison, 7 a j ■ 
 Findlay, $ Secvctancs. 
 
 Dr M‘Omie, Treasurer. 
 
 Vice-Presidents. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. 
 
 Messrs D. M'Laren, John Bower, John Blair, Thomas 
 Duncan', Joseph Jamieson, Thomas Robertson, John Lyal, 
 George Condie, Patrick Richardson, Thomas Dotte, John 
 Stalker, John Ramsay. And all Ministers who are Mem- 
 bers of the Society. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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