S1GJVS OF THE TIMES. 
 
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 AtlONC 
 
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 AT 
 
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 NOV. 1, 1810. 
 
 BY JEDIDIAH MORSE, D.D. 
 
 Pastor of the Congregational Church in Charleston n. 
 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOCIETY, 
 
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 1810 . 
 
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K 
 
 SIGNS OF THE TIMES. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE 
 
 THE SOCIETY 
 
 FOR 
 
 PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL 
 
 AMONG 
 
 THE INDIANS AND OTHERS IN NORTH AMERICA, 
 
 0 
 
 AT 
 
 THEIR ANNIVERSARY, 
 
 NOV. 1, 1810. 
 
 BY JEDIDI \H MORSE, D.D. 
 
 Pastor of the Congregational Church in Charlestown. 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SOCIETY, 
 
 by Samuel T. Armstrong, Charlertown. 
 
 1810. 
 
AT A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY, NOV. 1, 1810, 
 
 Voted, That the Rev. Dr Pouter, Rev. Mr. Bates, aw) Dantel D. 
 Rogers, Esq be a committee to present the thanks of the Society to the Rev. 
 Dr. Morse for his sermon, delivered before them this day, and to request a 
 copy of it for the press, to be printed for the benefit of the Society. 
 
 AB1EL HOLMES, Secretary. 
 
 DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS; TO WIT: 
 
 BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the nineteenth day of November, A.D. 1810. 
 anil in the thirty fifth Year of the Independence of the United States of America, 
 Samuel H. Walley, Treasurer of the Society for propagat- 
 ing the Gospel among the Indians and others in North Amer- 
 ica, and on their behalf, of the said District, has deposited in this Office th. I itle 
 of a Hook, the Right whereof he claims as Proprietor in the Words following, to 
 ■ant: Signs of the Times. A Sermon, preached before the Society for propu cit- 
 ing the Gospel among the Indiana anil others in Aorth America, at their anni- 
 versary, Nov 1,1810 Bv Jedidiah Morse, D. D Pastor of the Congre- 
 gational Church in Charlestown. 
 
 In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, “An 
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 and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, duriug the times 
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 during the times therein mentioned; and extending the Benefits thereof to the 
 Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints.’’ 
 
 WM. S. SHAW, 
 
 Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
SERMON. 
 
 DANIEL xii. 4, 10. 
 
 BUT THOU, OH DANIEL, SHUT UP THE WORDS AND SEAL THE 
 BOOK, EVEN TO THE TIME OF THE END; MANV SHALL RUN 
 TO AND FRO, AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED. 
 MANY SHALL BE PURIFIED AND MADE WHITE, AND TRIED; 
 BUT THE WICKED SHALL DO WICKEDLY; AND NONE OF THE 
 WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND; BUT THE WISE SHALL UN- 
 DERSTAND. 
 
 OUR blessed Lord once addressed the Pharisees 
 and Sadducees, in a way of keen reproof for their 
 criminal inattention to events which were mani- 
 festly fulfilling most important prophecies, in the 
 following language; “When it is evening, ye say, 
 it will be fair weather; for the sky is red. And in 
 the morning. It will be foul weather to-day; for the 
 sky is red and lowering. Oh ye hypocrites, ye can 
 discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern 
 the signs of the times?” Daniel’s seventy weeks* 
 were then nearly completed. The sceptre was de- 
 parting from Judah; Elias had already come in the 
 person of John Baptist, as the forerunner of the 
 Messiah; the numerous prophecies relating to his 
 
 * Dan. ix. 24. 
 
4 
 
 character, doctrine, and miracles, were visibly fulfil- 
 ling, and a general expectation of his coming prevail- 
 ed over the world. Had these Pharisees and Sad- 
 ducees taken due pains to acquaint themselves 
 with these prophecies, and with the singular events, 
 which were accomplishing them; had they been as 
 attentive to these “signs of the times,” as to the 
 signs of the weather, they might easily have perceiv- 
 ed that these were the times of their expected Mes- 
 siah, and that their nation was shortly to be given 
 up to awful punishments for rejecting him. 
 
 “That, which hath been, is now; and that, which 
 is to be, hath already been.”* “Is there any thing 
 whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been 
 already of old time, which was before us.”f Are 
 there not many of the present generation of men, 
 who resemble these ancient Pharisees and Saddu- 
 cees? They can “discern the face of the sky;” they 
 are wise to prognosticate the course of events with 
 respect to political and commercial affairs; but they 
 “discern not the signs of the times;” they arc crim- 
 inally ignorant of the Scripture prophecies, which re- 
 late to the present period, and inattentive to events, 
 which are remarkably fulfilling them. But this, 
 however, should not surprise us; since the prophet 
 has given us warning, that at this period “the wicked 
 shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall un- 
 derstand.” 
 
 * Ecclcs. iii. 15. 
 
 t Ch.i. 10 
 
5 
 
 The verses of the text may with propriety be 
 read in connexion. The intervening passage is a 
 digression, and may be included in a parenthesis. 
 The import of the verses thus connected, is this; that 
 “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be 
 increased;” and that the effect of this increase of 
 knowledge, in conjunction with other causes, will 
 be, that “many shall be purified, and made white, 
 and tried.” 
 
 The person, who addressed Daniel in this proph- 
 ecy, and directed him to “shut up the words, and 
 seal the book to the time of the end,” was none 
 other than the Lord Jesus Christ. In the tenth 
 chapter of this prophecy,* a more particular ac- 
 count of this personage is given. “Then I lifted 
 up mine eyes and looked, and behold a certain man 
 clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine 
 gold of Uphaz; his body also was like the beryl, and 
 his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes 
 as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color 
 to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the 
 voice of a multitude.” Any one, who will take the 
 pains to compare this description with that, which St. 
 John, in the Revelation,! gives of Jesus Christ, must 
 be convinced, that the personage here described, who 
 is the same, that addresses the prophet in the text, 
 can be no other, than the Son of God. This might 
 be farther confirmed by a comparison of Daniel xii. 
 
 * v. 5. 6 
 
 f Rev. i. 13—20. 
 
6 
 
 5, 6, 7. with Rev. x. 2. 6. in both which places the 
 personage, alluded to and described in the text, is 
 “ represented, as setting his right foot on the sea, 
 and his left upon the land, as Sovereign Lord of both 
 elements.”* 
 
 The prophecy under consideration, which was 
 dictated by “Him that is true,”f describes events, 
 which were to happen in the last times , or “in the 
 time of the end,” and must of course remain ob- 
 scure, till the events predicted shall be about to hap- 
 pen, or be actually passing in view of the then exist- 
 ing generation. 
 
 The prophecy in the text is then yet to be fulfilled; 
 or, perhaps to speak more correctly, is fulfilling by the 
 events of the present times. This appears from the 
 prophecies connected with the text. The victories 
 of Mahomet, or the rise and establishment of his do- 
 minion, and also the destruction of his power, seem 
 plainly foretold and described in the five last verses 
 of the chapter preceding the text.| “And at the 
 time of the end,” i.e. of the prosperity of the Roman 
 empire, “the king of the south,” meaning Mahomet, 
 “shall push at him: and the king of the north,” the 
 Turks from Scythia, § “shall come against him like a 
 whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and 
 with many ships, and he shall enter into the coun- 
 
 • Lowth. 
 
 j- ltev. iii. 7 . $ Dan. xi. 40 to the end. 
 
 § Newton- 
 
7 
 
 tries, and shall overflow, and pass over. He shall 
 enter also into the glorious land, and many countries 
 shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his 
 hands, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the 
 children of Ammon.” It is remarkable, that while 
 the Turks from the north overran Syria, Palestine, 
 and the other neighboring countries, Edom, Moab, 
 and Ammon escaped, and have never been conquered 
 by any nation; and their inhabitants, the Arabs, to 
 this day, receive an annual tribute from the Ottoman 
 emperors, for the safe passage of their pilgrims and 
 caravans to Mecca. “He,” meaning the Turkish 
 emperors, continues the prophet, “shall stretch forth 
 his hand also upon the countries, and the land of 
 Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power 
 over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all 
 the precious things of Egypt, and the Lybians and 
 Ethiopians shall be at his steps.” These prophecies 
 have all been literally fulfilled. Egypt, with her im- 
 mense treasures, Lybia and Ethiopia, embracing the 
 northern parts of Africa, fell under the dominion of 
 the Turks, and so remain to this day. 
 
 Events, which are yet future, are foretold in the 
 two following verses; “But tidings out of the east, and 
 out of the north, shall trouble him; therefore he shall 
 go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to 
 make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles 
 of his palaces between the seas in the glorious holy 
 mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none 
 
8 
 
 shall help him.” Mr. Mede supposes, that these 
 “tidings from the east, and the north, which shall 
 trouble the Turkish emperor, may be the return of 
 Judah and Israel from the countries east and north of 
 the holy land, as in these countries the greater num- 
 bers were dispersed, and. remain to this day.” The 
 return of the Jews to their own land, is expressly 
 predicted by the prophet Ezekiel;* and to this event, 
 and to the assistance, which shall be given them by 
 the Christian nations east and north of the holy land, 
 this prophecy may refer. Tidings of such assist- 
 ance from these nations would doubtless trouble the 
 Turkish government, who are in possession of the 
 country, which is to be restored to the Jews. 
 
 But other writers on prophecy give the passage a 
 different interpretation. Persia lies to the east, and 
 Russia to the north, of the Turkish dominions. For 
 centuries past, it is well known, that the Turkish 
 emperors have been apprehensive of a junction of 
 these two formidable powers, and have exerted all 
 their policy to prevent it. It is known also, that 
 there is a tradition current among the common peo- 
 ple in Turkey, that their empire will one day be 
 overthrown by the Russians; also that a mutual 
 affection and confidence subsist between the Chris- 
 tians of the Greek church, vast numbers of whom 
 are inhabitants of the Turkish empire, and the same 
 denomination in Russia, where this is the estab- 
 
 • Chap. mix. 5 last verses. . 
 
9 
 
 lished religion; and that the former consider the lat- 
 ter, as those “ whom ancient prophecies mention, as 
 designed by God for their avengers and deliverers 
 in after ages.”* So the Greek church interprets the 
 prophecy under consideration. 
 
 On the whole, it appears most probable from the 
 language of this prophecy, that the Persians on the 
 east and the Russians on the north will, at a period 
 not far distant, unite in one grand effort against the 
 Turkish empire to overcrow it; that the Turks will 
 establish their camp and collect all their strength 
 “between the seas of the glorious holy mountain,” 
 i.e. in the land of Canaan, between the Mediterranean 
 and Dead Seas, whence they will go forth with great 
 fury against their combined foes, “to destroy, and 
 utterly to make away many.” “Yet he,” i.e. the 
 Turkish power, “shall come to his end, and none 
 shall help him.” This will complete the ruin of the 
 Mahometan power, or the eastern antichrist. The 
 overthrow of the western antichrist, which is also 
 predicted in this chapter, will happen about the same 
 time. 
 
 “And at that time,” says the prophet in the 
 chapter, which contains our text; that is, at the 
 time w r hen the great events of which we have 
 spoken, shall be passing; when the antichrists of the 
 east and the west shall be falling (for they are to fall, 
 
 • Sec Sir Paul Rycaut’s Account of the Greek Church, c. iii. p. 83. 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 agreeably to the prophecy, nearly at the same time) 
 by the means, which God hath ordained for that pur- 
 pose; “at that time, shall Michael stand up, the 
 great Prince, which standeth for the children of thy 
 people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as 
 never was, since there was a nation, even to that 
 same time.” “And at that time thy people shall be 
 delivered, every one that shall be found written in 
 the book;” that is, Israel, God’s chosen heritage, 
 who shall have been preserved till this time a dis- 
 tinct people in all the nations, among which they are 
 dispersed, as entirely so, as if their names were reg- 
 istered in a book, shall now be delivered, collected 
 and established in great peace and prosperity in the 
 holy land. The prophets, and after them our Lord, 
 and his apostle John in the Revelation, all represent 
 the time of the conversion of the Jews, and their re- 
 turn to the holy land, as a time of great trouble. 
 
 After these and the contemporary events, which 
 we are led from the prophecies to expect, shall have 
 happened, then will follow, how soon after we know 
 not, the general resurrection of the dead, and the final 
 judgment, to which the following verses undoubtedly 
 refer; “And many of them, that sleep in the dust of 
 the earth (many being here put for all*) shall awake, 
 some to everlasting life, and some to shame and ever- 
 lasting contempt. And they that be wise, shall shine 
 as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn 
 many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.” 
 
 % 
 
 * Horn. v. 15. 
 
11 
 
 The Lord Jesus Christ, by his Spirit, having 
 dictated to his holy and beloved prophet the whole 
 series of grand events, which were to happen from 
 the time these prophecies were penned, to the com- 
 plete establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth, 
 and even to the end of time, directs Daniel to close 
 his sacred records, which would remain obscure, 
 and but partially understood, “till the time of the 
 end,” till the events predicted should be actually hap- 
 pening in view of the world. Then many will be 
 running to and fro through the earth, and knowledge 
 will be increased. And as these times will be full 
 of trouble, such as the world at no former period 
 ever witnessed; and also times of increased light and 
 knowledge; both will conspire to purify the souls of 
 good men, who shall have understanding in the 
 times. “Many shall be purified, and made white, 
 and tried, and the wise shall understand; but the 
 wicked shall do wickedly, and shall not understand;” 
 they shall be given up to blindness and obstinacy of 
 heart, because they will persist in their wickedness, 
 against all the light and evidence, which shall sur- 
 round them, and they shall have nothing to support 
 them under the trials, which shall befal them in that 
 awful period. 
 
 Such I conceive to be the meaning of the text. 
 In fixing it, I have consulted the best helps within 
 my reach. I have been thus particular in bringing 
 into view and explaining the prophecies, imme- 
 diately connected with the text, for the purpose 
 
12 
 
 of ascertaining, as far as practicable, the time, when 
 w f e are to expect the events, which it predicts. If 
 our interpretation be correct, the events, which are 
 to fulfil this prophecy, are near at hand, or they may 
 be even now passing in view of the present gener- 
 ation. In the sequel of this discourse therefore I 
 propose, 
 
 I. To exhibit evidence to shew, that the proph- 
 ecy in the text has not yet received its ultimate and 
 highest accomplishment, but is probably fulfilling 
 by the events of the present time. 
 
 II. To shew what effects we are to expect will 
 follow these events. 
 
 i 
 
 III. To apply the subject. 
 
 I. I am to exhibit evidence to shew, that the 
 prophecy in the text has . not yet received its ulti- 
 mate and highest accomplishment, but is probably 
 fulfilling by the events of the present time. 
 
 Some prophecies, says Lord Bacon, “are not ful- 
 filled punctually, at once, but have a springing and 
 germinant accomplishment throughout many ages, 
 though the height, or fulness of them, may refer to 
 some one age.”* Precisely of this character, I con- 
 ceive, is the prophecy now under consideration. To 
 the period, when the Christian religion was first in- 
 
 * Advancement of Learning. Book ii. in English. 
 
13 
 
 troduced and propagated in the world, the words of 
 this prophecy may be literally applied, “Many ran to 
 and fro through the earth, and knowledge was in- 
 creased.” And “many were purified and made 
 white, and tried,” by cruel persecutions. “The 
 wicked” then “did wickedly, and none of the wicked 
 understood” the signs of the times; “but the wise 
 did understand.” 
 
 Wonderful was the revolution effected in the 
 World by the introduction of the Christian religion. 
 The preparations made for this event, by the prov- 
 idence of God, corresponded with its magnitude. 
 The Roman empire embraced almost the whole 
 world, and its inhabitants universally spoke the 
 Greek or Roman language. These were the 
 languages of their courts, of their laws, of their 
 priests and learned men, of their worship, and of 
 their books generally. These circumstances, it 
 is easy to conceive, were adapted wonderfully 
 to facilitate the spread of the Gospel. The Jews, 
 in consequence of their frequent captivities, were 
 dispersed extensively among the surrounding na- 
 tions; and, having carried with them a knowledge 
 of the true God, prepared the way for the con- 
 version of those nations. The Hebrew Scriptures 
 had been translated into the Greek language, and 
 were thus prepared to be dispersed and read in due 
 time among that extensive portion of the heathen 
 nations, to which this language was vernacular.* 
 
 See Note A. 
 
14 
 
 About this time also the proselytes of the gate , as 
 they were called, were greatly multiplied. These 
 were persons from various parts of the world, who 
 had renounced heathenism, acknowledged and wor- 
 shipped the true God, but had not fully embraced 
 Judaism;* and thus, freed from the prejudices of both, 
 were prepared to receive the new religion, which 
 Christ came to establish. The first Gentile converts 
 to Christianity were chiefly of this class of people. 
 We may add, as another remarkable event prepara- 
 tory to the spread of the Gospel, that previously to 
 the advent of our Savior, philosophy and the arts 
 were cultivated to a great extent, and advanced to a 
 high degree of perfection. Thus the minds of men 
 were refined and prepared to examine the evidence 
 on which Christianity claimed to be believed; and, 
 through the power of the Holy Ghost, to embrace, 
 defend, and propagate its sublime and heavenly doc- 
 trines. The heathen nations moreover had become 
 tired of their religion, and of their idol godsr they 
 had ceased to consult their oracles, and to respect 
 their priests, and sighed for a change. f 
 
 These preparations being made by the providence 
 of God, the expected Messiah made his appearance, 
 and set up his kingdom in the world. His disci- 
 ples, at first few in number and of no reputation or 
 influence among men, soon increased to a multitude. 
 Within less than forty years after the death of Christ, 
 
 * See Jennings’ Jewish Antiquities, vol. i. p. 131. 
 f Millar’s Hist, of Christianity, vol. i. p. 255. 
 
15 
 
 Iiis gospel was preached, and by great numbers em- 
 braced, in all the celebrated cities and countries, and 
 even in the remote provinces and villages, of Asia, 
 Europe, and Africa, comprising the whole of the then 
 known world. The Sun of Righteousness darted 
 his genial beams in every direction over the earth. 
 The heralds of the Savior, sent forth, “their sound 
 into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the 
 world. ”* Before the generation, who were cotem- 
 porary with our Lord, had “passed away,f the 
 Gospel was preached throughout the world, (i. e. 
 through all the Roman empire, among gentiles as 
 well as Jews,|) for a witness unto all nations.” 
 
 Clement, a fellow laborer with the apostles, as- 
 serts, § that “St. Paul taught the whole world righte- 
 ousness, having preached both in the east and in the 
 west, and travelled to the utmost bounds of the 
 west.” It is believed by many, that he preached the 
 gospel even in Britain. According to Justin Mar- 
 tyr, || “there was no nation, no sort of men, whether 
 Gieeks or barbarians, no country, however rude or 
 unpolished, where prayers and thanksgivings were 
 not presented to the Father and Creator of all things, 
 through the name of the crucified Jesus.” Lanctan- 
 tius says, If “the Christian law is entertained from 
 the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, 
 ■where every sex, age, nation, and country, does 
 
 * Rom. x. 18. f Matt. xxiv. 14. 34. 4 Guise. § Ep. ad Cor. 1 c. v 
 || Dial, cum Trypho, p. 341. If De Justitia, lib. 5. c. 13. p. m. 433 
 
16 
 
 with one heart and soul worship God.” Irenaeus 
 and Tertullian bear full testimony to the same facts. 
 The latter,* after enumerating the principal portions 
 of the world, where the gospel had been preached, 
 concludes thus, “In all these places the name of 
 Christ reigns, because he has now come, before 
 whom the gates of all cities are set open, and none 
 shut; before whom doors of brass fly open, and bars 
 of iron are snapt asunder; that is, those hearts, once 
 possessed by the devil, by faith in Christ are set 
 open.” 
 
 The opening of the Christian era, and the first 
 spread of the Gospel over the world, we may there- 
 fore consider as commencing the fulfilment of the 
 prophecy under consideration. At this period “ma- 
 ny ran to and fro through the earth, and knowledge 
 was increased. Many were purified, and made white, 
 and tried.” 
 
 It has received a “germinant accomplishment,” to 
 use the words of Lord Bacon, in succeeding ages of 
 the church; particularly during the three first centu- 
 ries, and when Constantine ordered all the heathen 
 temples to be destroyed, and established Christianity, 
 as the religion of his empire, about the year 331. 
 Also, and especially at the period of the Reformation, 
 and the consequent revival and spread of the true 
 religion, as well as of learning, philosophy, and the 
 useful arts. 
 
 * Adversus Judcos, cap. 7 ■ p. m. 98. 
 
17 
 
 But considerations brought into view in the be- 
 ginning of this discourse, and others of great weight, 
 lead us to conclude that the highest and complete 
 fulfilment of this prophecy is yet future; or perhaps 
 we have entered on the period, in which it is to re- 
 ceive its full and ultimate accomplishment. Judging 
 from the course of events for the last half century, 
 particularly of the last twenty years, we are constrain- 
 ed to believe that God in his providence has been, 
 and is preparing the world for some grand revolu- 
 tion, some wonderful display of his sovereign and 
 almighty power. Such a revolution is plainly fore- 
 told by the prophets; and from the language, which 
 they use in describing it, as well as from the prepar- 
 ations, which are making to introduce it, we are left 
 to infer that, though in many points it will resemble, 
 yet it will on the whole far surpass, in magnitude 
 and effect, that which took place at the opening of 
 the Christian era. 
 
 Whether the world is again to be reduced to two 
 languages and one grand empire, so far, as shall 
 be necessary to free intercourse and the diffusion 
 of useful knowledge among the various nations 
 of the globe, cannot be foreseen. What God in his 
 providence has once done for the accomplishment of 
 one grand Revolution, he can and may do again, if 
 necessary, to effect another of a similar kind and of 
 greater magnitude. By a more extensive com- 
 mercial intercourse among the nations; by wars, 
 
 conquests, and revolutions; bv raising up a mod- 
 
 3 
 
crn Alexander, to subjugate a large portion of the 
 world; by an increase and diffusion of knowledge, 
 derived from travellers, and enterprises for discovery; 
 especially by means of Missionaries, who are already 
 scattered in every part of the world, and every day 
 are increasing in number, and exploring some new 
 region; not only learning the languages of the na- 
 tions, but communicating the knowledge of their 
 own; by all these and other means, which Divine 
 providence may ordain, may not the English and 
 French languages become to the world, what the 
 Latin and Greek languages were before the Chris- 
 tian era? And may not the vast domains of some 
 modern Alexander, become united with the domin- 
 ions of some other great power, corresponding to the 
 Roman Republic in the days of Alexander, and so 
 the mass of mankind, be once more combined in 
 one grand and universal empire. 
 
 As, by their peculiar situation, the Jews were former- 
 ly made subservient to the conversion of the Gen- 
 tiles; so this remarkable people are to be used, ac- 
 cording to prophecy, for the same end, at some fu- 
 ture period. The conversion of the Jews, and their 
 to return the Holy Land, will accomplish so many 
 prophecies, in so public and signal a manner, as to 
 confute and silence infidelity in every form. The 
 attention of the whole world will be excited to this 
 wonderful display of the mighty power of God, in 
 fulfilling his word; and the effectual influence of 
 his Holy Spirit, converting the nations, and bringing 
 
19 
 
 in “the fulness of the Gentiles,”* will render 
 genuine Christianity universally triumphant.f 
 
 But it is time to direct your attention to events of 
 the present day, which remarkably correspond with 
 the prophecy under consideration, and appear to be 
 fulfilling it in its highest ultimate intention. All, who 
 have taken pains to acquaint themselves to any con- 
 siderable extent with what has been passing in the 
 world, particularly since the commencement of the 
 American Revolution, and who duly consider the 
 existing state of things, and the prospects of still 
 greater changes, than any which have yet taken place, 
 must be constrained to acknowledge, that it is now 
 true, in a degree more remarkable than at any former 
 period of the world, that many are “running to and 
 fro in the earth, and that knowledge is increasing.” 
 We now enter an immense field, over which we 
 have time only to cast a rapid glance. 
 
 Men of enterprise and intelligence, moving in all 
 directions, by land and sea, prompted by motives of 
 gain, of literary curiosity, of fame; or by the refined 
 and exalted motive of benevolence to the souls of 
 men; are running to and fro, exploring every inhab- 
 ited spot on the globe; publishing and circulating, in 
 various languages and forms, accounts of their dis- 
 coveries, and thus adding immensely to the stock of 
 useful knowledge in all its branches. The details. 
 
 * Rom. si. 25. 
 
 f Note B. 
 
20 
 
 which would abundantly illustrate and confirm the 
 truth of what we have now asserted, would fill vol- 
 umes, and will not be expected in a single discourse. 
 We can only point your attention to a few promi- 
 nent facts out of the multitudes, that crowd upon the 
 mind. 
 
 First, as to the American Continent, “many are 
 running to and fro” through this portion of the 
 globe, “and knowledge is increased.” The north- 
 western and northeastern coasts of this extensive 
 Continent, the only parts of the seacoast, before un- 
 known, have been minutely surveyed, by skilful navi- 
 gators, and an acquaintance formed, and commercial 
 intercourse opened with the native tribes bordering 
 upon them. These things have prepared the way 
 for planting a number of English, Russian, and 
 Danish colonies in regions, which, till within a few 
 years, were classed under the head of “ Unknown 
 Lands .” These colonies, formed by Christian and 
 civilized nations, (for different purposes indeed,) are 
 doubtless designed by Providence, as so many 
 stands, whence, in due time, will be diffused over 
 those dark regions the light of science and relig- 
 ion. In aid of this desirable event, the interior of 
 North America has been lately explored by enter- 
 prising travellers in different directions, from the wa- 
 ters of the Atlantic to the coasts of the Pacific 
 Ocean; so that few portions of it, of any great extent, 
 now remain unknown.* 
 
 * Note C. 
 
21 
 
 In like manner, the interior of South America has 
 been extensively traversed by men of science, and a 
 knowledge of the inhabitants, and of the situation and 
 resources of the several countries, acquired. These 
 discoveries, together with the revolutions and changes 
 in government and property, which have happened, 
 and which are still taking place in rapid progression, 
 have already prepared the way, and are opening it 
 still further and wider, for the heralds of the Savior 
 to go forth into every corner of the Continent, where 
 inhabitants are to be found, to proclaim the glad tid- 
 ings of his Gospel. Multitudes of these heralds, 
 taking up their cross, and putting their lives in their 
 hands, have already spread themselves, in different 
 stations, either among the heathen tribes, or in 
 the frontier and destitute Christian settlements, over 
 a great part of the Continent, from Greenland on the 
 north, to Patagonia on the south.* And multitudes 
 more, we may reasonably hope, will shortly be add- 
 ed to them, when it is considered, that Missionary 
 and Bible Societies are increasing beyond all former 
 example, which of course must increase the means 
 of supporting Missionaries and diffusing religious 
 knowledge; and that the Lord, in a wonderful man- 
 ner, is inclining the hearts of suitable men to engage 
 in this self-denying service, and providing means for 
 educating them for this purpose. f 
 
 From the Western we direct your attention to the 
 Eastern Continent. There too, in a still more re- 
 
 * Note D. 
 
 ■j- Note E. 
 
22 
 
 markable manner, “Many are running to and fro, 
 and knowledge is increased.” We behold scenes 
 of amazing interest on that vast theatre; scenes 
 which are rapidly fulfilling this, as well as other 
 prophecies of Scripture. 
 
 It is remarkable, that the doctrine of Mahomet was 
 forged at Mecca, and the supremacy of the Pope es- 
 tablished by a grant from Phocas, in the very same 
 year, that is, Anno Dorn. 606 . Hence it is inferred, 
 that, as the eastern and western antichrists besran 
 their reign together, their expected overthrow will 
 happen about the same time; and that time, accord- 
 ing to the best interpretation of prophecy, is proba- 
 bly near at hand, even at the door. The over- 
 throw of these gigantic powers, which will shake all 
 nations by their fall, is to be speedily followed, ac- 
 cording to prophecy, by the return of the Jews to the 
 Holy Land; and this signal event by the conversion of 
 the Gentiles; and thus “the kingdoms of this world 
 will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his 
 Christ.”* 
 
 Preparatory to these tremendous and delightful 
 events, and during their progress, as a part of the ap- 
 propriate means of their accomplishment, “Many 
 will be running to and fro through the earth, and 
 knowledge will be increased.” Several of the proph- 
 ecies, by different events, will be fulfilling at the 
 same time. Accordingly we find that, while the Papal 
 
 * Rev. xi. 15. 
 
23 
 
 and Mahometan powers, assailed by wars, which 
 are deluging in blood and desolating one country 
 after another, are tottering to their final fall; and while 
 the instruments, raised up and fitted by Divine prov- 
 idence to destroy these powers, are executing their 
 bloody work, “Many are running to and fro, and 
 knowledge is increased.” Voyages and enterprises 
 for discovery by sea and land have been planned and 
 executed to an uncommon extent, and with great 
 success. The islands in every ocean have been vis- 
 ited; the coasts and harbors of every country on the 
 globe have been surveyed. The vast interior re- 
 gions of Africa, which a few years since were un- 
 known to the civilized and Christian world, have 
 been penetrated, in various directions, by adventurous 
 and intelligent travellers, and are likely soon to be as 
 well known, as other portions of the globe; and es- 
 tablishments are already formed, with prospects of 
 extensive good effects, for diffusing among them a 
 knowledge of the sciences, and of the arts of civilized 
 life.* 
 
 In Asia, in ways still more remarkable, “many are 
 running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing.” 
 The Asiatic Society! has effected wonders in the 
 acquisition and diffusion of useful knowledge in that 
 populous portion of the world. Travellers of great 
 name and authority have visited some of the princi- 
 
 * Note F. 
 
 t Founded in 17&4, by Sir William Jones, who was its brightest or- 
 nament. 
 
24 
 
 pal nations of Asia, and have added largely to the 
 general stock of knowledge. 
 
 These discoveries, and the information, which in 
 consequence of them has been acquired, relative to 
 the character, languages, manners, customs, relig- 
 ion, government, and history, of the nations visited, 
 have prepared the way for Missionaries of the 
 cross. These self-denying friends of the Redeemer 
 and of the souls of the heathen, filled with Christian 
 zeal, are flocking in great numbers to this vast field 
 of Missionary labor, which has long been whitening 
 for harvest. From Great Britain, and her colonies, 
 whose Missionary and Bible Societies, literary es- 
 tablishments, and other benevolent, richly endow- 
 ed, and well directed Associations, have done more 
 for the diffusion of Christian and other useful 
 knowledge, than all the world beside; from Ger- 
 many, Denmark, Holland, and we are happy now to 
 add, from New England, have gone, and are going 
 forth, a succession of Missionaries, who are spread- 
 ing themselves in Europe and its islands, in North 
 and South America, in the West Indies, in the isl- 
 ands of the Pacific Ocean, in Africa and its islands, 
 in New Holland, in the thickly peopled islands in the 
 Indian Ocean, in China, in Tartary, in Ilindoostan, 
 and in many other parts of Asia.* Many of these 
 
 * A fall account of these Missionaries, of their labors, sufferings, and 
 success, is given in the reports of the London, Baptist, Edinburgh, 
 United Brethren’s, and other Missionary Societies in Great Britain; 
 compendious extracts of which may be found in the Panoplist and Mis- 
 sionary Magazine, and other works of the kind in the United Stales. 
 
25 
 
 Missionaries, with almost incredible industry, perse- 
 verance, and success, are engaged in translating the 
 holy Scriptures, into the languages of the most nu- 
 merous Pagan nations. Thousands, probably mil- 
 lions, of copies of the sacred volume, in these differ- 
 ent languages, have already been printed and cir- 
 culated among people, ignorant of the Gospel.* 
 Many have been the converts of these holy men 
 of God, and among them not a few of the learn- 
 ed and influential men of these heathen nations, 
 who, full of love to the Savior, and zeal for his 
 cause, of thankfulness for the blessings they have re- 
 ceived, and concern for the souls of their country- 
 men, have themselves become successful preachers 
 and Missionaries of the cross. f And what is wor- 
 
 thy of particular notice, a seed sown by one of the 
 Apostles of our Lord in the heart of Asia, which has 
 ever since been germinating, secluded from the eye 
 of the Christian world, has been lately visited, and 
 under the nurturing care of wise and faithful ser- 
 vants of Jesus Christ, is likely to prove an eminently 
 fruitful branch of the Christian church, in a region 
 desolate and barren in the fruits of righteousness. I 
 allude to the Christians of St. Thomas , or as they are 
 now called, the Syrian Christians , in Malayala, a se- 
 questered region of Hindoostan. These Christians,! 
 
 * Note G. 
 
 •j - See “The Star in the East,” a Discourse by Rev. Dr. Buchanan, 
 reprinted in Philadelphia by Bradford; and in Boston by Monroe & 
 Francis; a discourse, which should be read by every Christian. 
 
 t More than 200,000 in number having’ 55 churches. 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 whose faith and worship resemble those of the 
 Church of England, and who have among them an- 
 cient and authentic copies of the holy Scriptures, pro- 
 fess to have descended in regular succession from 
 converts to the Christian faith, made by St. Thomas, 
 one of the twelve Apostles of our Lord, who it is 
 said here preached the Gospel, and suffered martyr- 
 dom.* These Malayalan churches are connected 
 with 215 other Christian churches in Mesopotamia 
 and Syria, which are oppressed with difficulties and 
 struggling for existence.! Measures have probably 
 \ been adopted effectually to relieve these churches, to 
 
 strengthen the things which remain and are ready to 
 die, and to render them, as from their local and rela- 
 tive situation they may be rendered, subservient to 
 the extensive propagation of the Gospel in the re- 
 c ' gions around them. 
 
 But I must forbear. The subject is vast and in- 
 exhaustible. The events of the present day seem 
 to be adapted and designed, by the Providence 
 of God, to prepare the world to receive the Gospel; 
 and at the same time the appropriate means are 
 preparing and in operation to an extent altogether 
 unparalleled for diffusing the knowledge of its blessed 
 truths to every creature under heaven. Thus we see 
 that at the present period, “Many arc running to and 
 fro through the earth, and knowledge is increased.” 
 
 • Note H 
 
 t Panoplist vol. iii. p. 52 7 - 
 
27 
 
 1 have time only to glance very briefly over the 
 second branch of discourse, which was, 
 
 II. To shew, what effects we are to expect from 
 the events, which have been briefly described. “Many, 
 (says the Prophet,) shall be purified, and made white, 
 and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none 
 of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall un- 
 derstand.” Such are the events we are to look for, 
 whenever the prophecy we have been considering 
 shall be fulfilling. If we look back to the opening 
 of the Christian era, to the time when the Apostles 
 of our Lord first preached the Gospel in the world, 
 we shall perceive with delight its astonishing effects 
 upon the characters and conduct of men. In all, who 
 enjoyed its benign influence, and embraced its divine 
 truths, it produced amiable, holy, and heavenly dis- 
 positions. In the humble disciples of Jesus, every 
 quality, which could adorn the human character, was 
 to be found; and great, in the first ages of Christiani- 
 ty, was the multitude, of these children of Gon, scat- 
 tered in different parts of the world. Still there were 
 multitudes more, who persisted in doing wickedly, 
 and did not understand the things, which belonged to 
 their peace. 
 
 Effects like these, but in magnitude and extern 
 still greater, we are to look for, agreeablv to prophe- 
 cy, at the period of the other grand Revolution in 
 the Christian church, of which we have spoken, and 
 which is yet to come. If such effects begin to exist. 
 
28 
 
 at the present day, to a remarkable extent, they fur- 
 nish evidence, that this prophecy is now fulfilling be- 
 fore our eyes. 
 
 The terms, “purified, made white, and tried,” 
 when used by the Prophet to express these effects, 
 plainly indicate that the period, when “many shall 
 run to and fro through the earth, and knowledge shall 
 be increased,” will be a period of great sufferings. 
 And such a period we are forewarned by the Prophet 
 to expect; “And there shall be a time,” (and this 
 time is that, in which the prophecy under considera- 
 tion will be accomplishing,) “and there shall be a 
 time of trouble, such as never was since there was a 
 nation, even to that same time.”* How many years 
 this period of trouble will continue we know not. 
 Judging from the present state of the world, we have 
 probably entered upon it. Its darkest part is doubt- 
 less yet to come. For we are taught in the prophe- 
 cies to expect that the world, which now lieth in 
 wickedness, is one day to be punished with most 
 awful judgments of Heaven. “Behold the day of the 
 Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce an- 
 ger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall desti oy the 
 sinners out of it. For the stars of heaven, and the 
 constellations thereof, shall not give their light: the 
 sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the 
 moon shall not cause her light to shine; and I will 
 punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for 
 their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the 
 
 • Dan. xil. 1. 
 
29 
 
 proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of 
 the terrible.” (Isaiah xiii. 9, 10, 11.) Also, Isa. 
 xxvi. two last verses. “Come, my people, enter 
 thou into thy chambers, and shut thv doors about 
 thee; hide thyself, as it were for a little moment, un- 
 til the indignation be overpast. For behold, the 
 Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the inhabit- 
 ants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also 
 shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her 
 slain.” 
 
 / 
 
 While the Lord shall be thus executing his strange 
 work, in punishing the nations for their wickedness, 
 he will, at the same time, by new and uncommon 
 means, be spreading his word, and the light of his 
 Gospel, and increasing every species of useful knowl- 
 edge; and will, by the instrumentality of this knowl- 
 edge and these judgments, purify multitudes of peo- 
 ple, who will hereafter be numbered among those, 
 who will be arrayed in white, and will have come out 
 of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and 
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb.* 
 
 Are not effects of the mixed nature, we have 
 now described, every day produced, and coming 
 to our knowledge from every" part of the world? 
 While the judgments of God are in the earth, are 
 not some of the inhabitants in every part of the world 
 learning righteousnessPf Look at the tragedy, which 
 is now acting on the theatre of Europe, at which the 
 
 Rev. vii. 13, 14. 
 
 f Isaiah xxvi. 9. 
 
30 
 
 world is gazing with astonishment; what are its ef- 
 fects? Are not multitudes purified by it, and made 
 white, and tried? Is not God, in this manner, re- 
 moving those obstacles to the progress of useful 
 knowledge and the pure Gospel of Christ, which for 
 ages have been accumulating in that region, where 
 ignorance and superstition have prevailed to so great 
 an extent among the people, and preparing the way 
 for better times, and a better order of things? Amid 
 these scenes we behold the Christian church remark- 
 ably preserved, awake to her true interests, and 
 zealous to advance them; tried by various opposi- 
 tion, yet purified and made white by her sufferings; 
 rising in glory, increasing daily in numbers, and ex- 
 tending her influence rapidly over the world. Thus 
 the wrath of man is made to praise God, good is 
 educed out of evil, order out of confusion. The 
 church, during this dismal period, will resemble Is- 
 rael in the land of Goshen, at the time when the 
 darkness, which was felt, brooded over the Egyptians; 
 her members will have light in all their dwellings, 
 be shielded from the destroying angel under the 
 wing of the Almighty. While the wicked, who will 
 obstinately persist in doing wickedly, and who will 
 not understand the prophecies, nor observe the signs 
 of the times, nor regard the judgments of Heaven, 
 will resemble the Egyptians, when under judicial 
 darkness; the things, which belong to their peace, 
 will be hidden from their eyes; they will be left to 
 fill up the measure of their sins, and to ripen for 
 some signal overthrow. “T or, behold, the day 
 
31 
 
 cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the 
 proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; 
 and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saiththe 
 Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root, 
 nor branch. But unto you, that fear my name, shall 
 the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his 
 wings.* 
 
 Such, as we have now exhibited, is the evidence, 
 that the prophecy in the text has not yet received its 
 highest and ultimate accomplishment, but is now re- 
 ceiving it in the events of the present time; and 
 such are some of the effects, which we may expect 
 to follow these events. The application of the sub- 
 ject remains. 
 
 The period of the world, in which we have our 
 probationary existence, is an eventful period. The 
 aspect of the times is portentous in an uncommon 
 degree. Changes and revolutions, which affect not 
 
 only the peace and prosperity, but the existence of 
 
 * 
 
 nations, are continually announced to the public. 
 Indeed we may now say, what was said more than 
 twelve years ago, and with still more evidence to 
 support its truth, than then existed, that, “Wonder has 
 succeeded wonder for so long a period, and in such 
 regular succession, that wonders have now become 
 the ordinary course of events.”! 
 
 * Malachi iv. 1, 2. 
 
 t Dr- Dwight’s Sermon on 4th of July, 1798. 
 
My design in selecting the text, and my single ob- 
 ject in the preceding discourse, has been to awaken 
 the attention of my audience in general, and particu- 
 larly that of the religious Society now assembled, to 
 the “signs of the times.” If this object have been 
 in any degree attained, by the facts and observations 
 now presented before you, we shall the more readily 
 perceive, what are our appropriate duties, and be 
 more easily persuaded to discharge them. 
 
 If there be any reasonable foundation to believe, 
 that the representation, we have given of the pres- 
 ent state of the world is correct, it is surely high 
 time for us to awake out of sleep, to fix our eyes 
 on the great events, which are passing before us; to 
 compare them attentively with the predictions of the 
 inspired prophets, and then to act wisely for ourselves, 
 for our families, for the church of God, for our coun- 
 try, and for our fellow men in general. The course, 
 which wisdom dictates to us with reference to these 
 several objects, is obvious. Our first care should be 
 for ourselves, that our own peace be made with God; 
 knowing that there is no safety in perilous, nor in- 
 deed in any times, but in his friendship and protec- 
 tion. Our next care should be for our families, which 
 are a part of ourselves, that they be dilligently and 
 faithfully instructed and governed, and so far, as de- 
 pends on us, prepared to meet and endure the tri- 
 als, which await them. No pious parent, who 
 loves his offspring, and discerns the aspect of the 
 times, will be satisfied without doing all he can, 
 
33 
 
 to secure their salvation. After that we should 
 be concerned for the church, the ark of God, in 
 which all its true members will be safe, during this 
 stormy period of the world. Her interests should be 
 dear to us. For her prosperity we should continual- 
 ly pray. “For Zion’s sake, we should not hold our 
 peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake, we should not rest, 
 till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, 
 and the salvation thereof, as a lamp that burneth.” 
 While we perceive a deluge of troubles about to 
 overwhelm the world, we should lift up our warning 
 voice, and do what we can to persuade all, over whom 
 we have influence, to enter into the ark, that they may 
 be safe. Love to that country also, which our off- 
 spring after us are to inhabit, with such scenes of trou- 
 ble in prospect, should excite in us deep solicitude, 
 and prompt our fervent prayers for its reformation, its 
 safety, and prosperity. We should feel a tender 
 sympathy for a suffering world, and pray that the 
 righteous God would in mercy cut short these days 
 of his vengeance, and hasten the period of the Re- 
 deemer’s universal reign, when his will shall be done 
 on earth, as it is done in heaven. 
 
 These duties wisdom prescribes to us all; and 
 the peculiar aspect of the times, and the pros- 
 pect before us, imperiously demand our attentive 
 performance of them. The friends of the Redeem- 
 er, we have reason to expect, will discern these pro- 
 phetic signs of the times, and be prompted by them to 
 vigorous exertions in his cause; but the eyes of his 
 5 
 
34 - 
 
 enemies will be closed. “The wicked shall do 
 wickedly, and shall not understand.” Infidels, and 
 those, who harmonize with infidels in sentiment 
 and practice, will not perceive, what God is doing in 
 the earth. While he is using them, as instruments in 
 his hand, to accomplish his prophecies; intent on their 
 own purposes, they will think they are prospered. 
 “Whom God wills to destroy, he first permits to be 
 infatuated.” The Apostle has given us warning that 
 there will come in the last days scoffers , walking af- 
 ter their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise 
 of his coming? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all 
 things continue, as they were from the beginning of 
 the creation.”* If such characters should appear, 
 and such language be heard, in these times, which 
 bear so many marks of the “ last days,” we shall not 
 be surprised. 
 
 To the Christian Society now assembled, to pay 
 their annual and united homage to God in his sanc- 
 tuary, I now turn my address. 
 
 Fathers and Brethren. “The Society for propagat- 
 ing the Gospel among the Indians and others in 
 North America,” is the first Institution of the kind es- 
 tablished in America, and yet it is but of recent ori- 
 gin. It has been in operation but twenty three 
 years. During this period, we have the satisfaction 
 to believe that its exertions have been extensively 
 
 * 2 Peter iii. 3, 4. 
 
35 
 
 useful, not only to the few remains of Indian tribes, 
 still among us, but more especially to the destitute 
 inhabitants of the eastern division of this Common- 
 wealth, to which its attention has been hitherto prin- 
 cipally directed.* 
 
 4 
 
 The grand design of this Society is sufficiently 
 expressed by its name. This design, its members 
 have endeavored, according to their means, to ac- 
 complish, by supporting Missionaries, aiding the 
 settlement of Ministers, patronizing Schools, and dis- 
 tributing the holy Scriptures, and useful books of 
 various kinds, in places where such aid seemed pe- 
 culiarly important. The funds of the Society, aided 
 by liberal grants from the Legislature, for a course 
 of years, and other donations of large amount, which 
 delicacy forbids me more particularly to specify, have 
 enabled the Society to do much in these ways, for 
 the religious improvement of a large and very useful 
 body of our necessitous fellow citizens. For a few 
 of the last years, the Society has directed its atten- 
 tion, and a portion of its funds, to the destiiute in 
 several of the neighboring states.f The field of 
 usefulness is every day extending; and, were the funds 
 of the Society much larger than they are, they could 
 be employed to great advantage in meliorating the 
 condition, and promoting the salvation, of the igno- 
 rant and suffering part of our fellow men. 
 
 • For a particular historical account of the origin, proceedings, and 
 present state, of this Society, see Appendix. 
 
 | To Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, and Canada. 
 
36 
 
 Since the establishment of this Society, many oth- 
 ers have been instituted for like purposes, in this, and 
 in most of the other states; and yet there is ample 
 scope for all their exertions, and for the employment 
 of all their means. The increase of these Institu- 
 tions, the liberality with which they are supported, 
 and the zeal with which their pious and benevolent 
 objects are pursued, and the success with which 
 their labors are rewarded, augur well to our coun- 
 try, and to the cause of our Redeemer. Let the 
 members of this parent Society, which has led the 
 way in these benevolent and most useful establish- 
 ments, be animated with increasing zeal in their la- 
 bors of love to the souls of their fellow men, and still 
 maintain the rank they sustain, and be an exam- 
 ple in Christian zeal and fidelity, to other similar 
 Institutions. Let love to God, and love to men, 
 prompt and govern all our measures and exertions; 
 so shall we manifest that we are among the “wise, 
 who understand,” secure the liberal patronage of the 
 friends of the Redeemer, and best accomplish the 
 grand object of our Institution. 
 
 Particularly let the peculiar and serious aspect of 
 the times, and the wonderful means, which are in op- 
 eration in all parts of the world, to effect the same 
 glorious object, which we have in view, inspire us 
 with corresponding ardor to be co-workcrs with our 
 fellow Christians, and with God, in alleviating the 
 miseries, which have already come, and are fast thick- 
 
ening, upon our guilty world, and which are prepar- 
 ing the way for the millennial peace. 
 
 To our efforts let us join our prayers and say, 
 “Arise, Oh Lord, let thy work appear before thy ser- 
 vants, and let the whole earth be filled with thy glo- 
 ry.” Let the united prayers of the multitudes of thy 
 saints on earth come up before thee, as incense, 
 that the great voices may soon be heard in heaven, 
 saying, “Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent 
 reigneth.” “The kingdoms of this world are become 
 the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he 
 shall reign for ever and ever, Amen.” 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 • * a»-» <*•*.„«,„ ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 : . j * - -St 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ ■ vSESa 
 
 .V! 
 
 
 i 
 
 
NOTES 
 
 Note A. p. 13. 
 
 ABOUT two hundred and seventy years before the birth of Christ, 
 the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into the Greek lan- 
 guage, and deposited in the famous Alexandrian Library, by 
 Ptolemy Philadelphus, one of the kings of Egypt.* Here they 
 remained neglected, till the time of our Savior. At this peri- 
 od this version was rescued from obscurity, and brought into use 
 among all who spoke the Greek language, heathens as well as 
 Jews. Our Savior and his Apo .ties all quoted this version, as 
 did the primitive fathers. All the Greek churches used it, and 
 the bible of the Latin churches, was a translation of it. The con- 
 verted nations had the Scriptures translated into their language 
 from this version, as the Illyrian, the Gothic, the Arabic, the 
 Ethiopic, the Armenian, and the Syriac. 
 
 It is remarkable, that at the time when the Septuagint trans- 
 lation of the Scriptures was made, God had brought under the 
 dominion of the Greeks, by the instrumentality of Alexander 
 the Great, all the eastern nations of the world; and that they con- 
 tinued members of the Grecian Empire, at the time of our Sav- 
 ior; and during the period of the first propagation of the Gos- 
 pel. “In this manner did God remarkably prepare the way for 
 the preaching of the Gospel, which was then approaching, and 
 facilitate the union of so many nations of different languages and 
 manners into one society, and the same worship and doctrines, 
 by the instrumentality of the purest, most copious, and correct 
 language in the world, and which became common to all the 
 countries, which were conquered by Alexander.”! 
 
 Note B. fi. 19. 
 
 The late movements among the Jews, particularly the convo- 
 cation of the Grand Sanhedrim}: at Paris by Bonaparte, (July 
 
 * Various fabulous and contradictory accounts of this translation have 
 been given by Aristeas, and other authors. Those who wish to see a full 
 and satisfactory view of this whole subject, may consult Pndeaux’s Con- 
 nections of the Old and New Testament, part ii. chap. i. p 28 — 64- 
 } Rollin’s Ancient History, vol. vi. p. 79. Etheridge's edition, 
 t This Assembly consisted of 111 members. 
 
49 
 
 15th, 1806,) may be considered as distant indications that the 
 period of their dispersion is drawing to a close, and that a way 
 is preparing for their return to the holy land. In remarking on 
 this extraordinary assembly and its designs, it has been said, 
 “The Deputies from the Dutch Jews and those from Frankfort 
 on the Main, have been admitted into the Sanhedrim of France 
 and Italy, and have declared their determination to adhere to its 
 decisions. It will doubtless be the policy of Bonaparte, to at- 
 tach to his person and government, the whole body of this dis- 
 persed, and enterprising people, and to avail himself of their 
 services in promoting his ambitious views. The ready entrance, 
 which they obtain into every country of Europe, makes them 
 peculiarly fit instruments for his purposes.”* What effects are 
 to follow from this meeting of the Grand Sanhedrim, and in 
 what ways it may tend to effect the return of this scattered peo- 
 ple to the country of their ancestors, cannot be foreseen. 
 
 This extraordinary people, by a standing miracle, have been 
 preserved for nearly 1800 years, distinct from all the nations 
 among which they have been dispersed. By means of their holy 
 scriptures they have maintained a general uniformityin their reli- 
 gious faith, and a knowledge of their original language, in which 
 they can readily converse, and maintain intercom’s with each oth- 
 er. The meeting and transactions of this Grand Assembly may 
 therefore be intended by Divine Providence, (though the Emperor 
 of F ranee, who convoked it, doubtless had quite different objects in 
 view,) to give rise to a more intimate and extensive connexion 
 and correspondence between the scattered remains of the tribes 
 of Israel, wherever they are found, and to lay plans for combin- 
 ing their pecuniary means, and their influence in effecting, in 
 due time, not merely the ambitious views of an earthly monaich, 
 but the purposes of Heaven, and the object of the desire and ex- 
 pectation of this people, viz. a return to the holy land. The 
 following extracts from the work alluded to, give countenance 
 to these conjectures 
 
 The learned and eloquent President! of this Sanhedrim, in an 
 address to the Commissioners of the Emperor, has the following 
 sentence. “Methinks I see the muse holding her immortal 
 burin,, and tracing on her adamant table, amidst so many 
 deeds, which make this reign so conspicuous, that which the 
 hero of the age has done to destroy utterly the barrier raised be- 
 tween nations , and the scattered remains of the most ancient fxeo- 
 f.le.” This expression marks the extent of the views of this 
 Assembly. 
 
 In a communication of the Emperor to the Sanhedrim are 
 the following passages, from which some of his views may be 
 collected, that have a bearing on the subject in question. 
 
 • Christian Observer, vol vi. p- 405. 
 
 -f Abraham Furtado, of Botirdeaux. 
 
41 
 
 “In return for his gracious protection, His Majesty requires 
 a religious pledge for the strict adherence to the principles 
 contained in your answers. This assembly, constituted as it 
 is now, could not of itself give such a security. Its answers, 
 converted into decisions by another assembly, of a nature still 
 more dignified and more religious, must find a place near the 
 Talmud, and thus acquire, in the eyes of the Jews of all couti- 
 trics and of all ages, the greatest possible authority. It is also 
 the only means left to you to meet the graud and generous views 
 of His Majesty, and to impart, to all of your persuasion, t\\c\Aes&- 
 ings of this new era. 
 
 “The purity of your law has, no doubt, been altered by the 
 croud of commentators, and the diversity of their opinions 
 must have thrown doubts in the minds of those who read them. 
 It will be then a most important service, conferred on the whole 
 Jewish community, to fix their belief on those points which have 
 been submitted to you. To end, in the history of Israel, an as- 
 sembly capable of attaining lie ob ject now in view , we must go 
 back to the Great Sanhedrim, and it is the Great Sanhedrim, 
 which His Majesty this day intends to convene. This senate, 
 destroyed together with the temple, will rise again to enlighten 
 the people it formerly governed: although dispersed throughout 
 the whole world, it will bring back the Jews to the true meaning 
 of the law, by giving interpretations, which shall set aside the 
 corrupted glosses of commentators; it will teach them to love 
 and to defend the country they inhabit; it will convince them 
 that the land, where, for the first time since their dispersion, 
 they have been able to raise their voice, is entitled to all those 
 sentiments, which rendered their ancient country so dear to 
 them. 
 
 “Lastly, the Great Sanhedrim, according to ancient custom, 
 will be composed of seventy members, exclusive of the Presi- 
 dent. The duties of the Great Sanhedrim shall be to convert into 
 religious doctrines the answers already given by this assembly, 
 and likewise, those w T hich may result from the continuance of 
 your sittings. 
 
 “For you will observe. Gentlemen, your mission is not ful- 
 filled; it will last as long as that of the Great Sanhedrim, which 
 w ill only ratify your answers and give them a greater weight; 
 His Majesty is, besides, too well satisfied with your zeal and with 
 the purity of your intentions, to dissolve this assembly before 
 the accomplishment of the great work in which you are called 
 to assist. 
 
 “In the first instance it is fit that you should name by ballot a 
 committee of nine members to prepare, with us, the ground- 
 work ol our future decssuions, and of the decisions of the Sanhe- 
 drim. iTou will observe that the Portuguese, German, and Ital- 
 ian Jews, are equally represented in this committee. We also 
 invite you to acquaint the several Synagogues of Europe of the 
 meeting of the Great Sanhedrim without delay, that they mav 
 6 
 
42 
 
 send deputies able to give to government additional information, 
 and worthy of communicating with you.” 
 
 The Sanhedrim, in reply to the Emperor’s communication, 
 say, that “his Majesty the Emperor, in allowing the formation 
 of a Great Sanhedrim , has anticipated the wishes and the wants 
 of all those, who profess the religion of Moses, in Europe, 8cc.” 
 They direct “That a proclamation shall be addressed by this As- 
 sembly to all the Synagogues of the French Empire, of Italy, 
 and of Europe, to acquaint them, that on the 20th of October 
 next, (1806,) the Great Sanhedrim will open in Paris, under 
 the protection, and by the special permission of his Majesty.” 
 
 In the address of the Israelites of Frankfort on the Main, to 
 the Grand Sanhedrim, are the following expressions indicative 
 of their views. 
 
 “May the glorious example of France extend beyond the lim- 
 its of its Empire'. May the humanity of its sovereign gain 
 ground over the whole earth , and produce a noble sentiment of 
 emulation, by which we shall be admitted to share the happi- 
 ness of our brethren, instead of a barren sentiment of admira- 
 tion! May the Rulers of mankind lend an attentive ear to the 
 mournful voice of an insulted nation! O Divine Goodness! deign 
 to cast a look of mercy on a people formerly the object of thy 
 complacency? Inspire the masters of the world! Move their 
 hearts in favo r Israel /” 
 
 The President, in his reply, echoes these sentiments in the 
 following language. 
 
 “The impulse given by France, the influence of its opinions 
 on the European continent, indulge a hope that many states will 
 be proud to follow its example. 
 
 “The time will come when people shall no longer give vent 
 to those odious and ridiculous passions which were gratified 
 by our humiliation. 
 
 “The career of esteem and of consideration is open for us; 
 let us enter it with a bold step; let us divest ourselves of the rust 
 of prejudices. Thus shall we conquer the prejudices of 
 others.” 
 
 In 1809, a society was formed in London for the express pur- 
 pose of promoting the conversion of the Jews to Christianity. 
 They commenced their active labors in March, of this year. 
 From their report in November following, it appears that their 
 benevolent efforts are likely to be extensively useful. A chapel 
 has been opened for Rev. Mr. Frey, who preaches sabbath even- 
 ings, to a crowded audience, many of them Jews. Their free 
 school, not confined however to Jews, contains upwards of 300 
 children. One of the principal Jews in the kingdom, has lately 
 been baptized, and made, vice president of the society. A 
 learned Rabbi lately from Palestine, has embraced the Christian 
 faith, and is placed under able instruction, in hope that h'* 
 
43 
 
 may become a minister of the gospel, in due time among his 
 brethren in his native country.* 
 
 From the foregoing, the reader will perceive, that the first 
 steps, in Divine Providence, toward a return of the Jews to the 
 Holy Land, are probably already taken, in the events now brought 
 into view. The Grand Sanhedrim, of Europe, t composed of re- 
 presentatives from every community in this quarter of the world, 
 under the protection and direction of the Emperor of France, 
 may, it is conceived, at no great distance of time, attach to it- 
 self, and bring under its influence and control, all the scattered 
 remains of this people throughout the globe. Such a course of 
 events, with the concurring efforts to convert them to the faith 
 of the Gospel, it is easy to perceive, prepares the way, and 
 very naturally leads on to their return agreeably to prophecy, to 
 the land of their fathers. 
 
 ‘‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God; now w ill I bring again 
 the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house 
 of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name. After that they 
 have borne their shame, and all their trespasses w hereby they have 
 trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and 
 none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from 
 the people, and gathered them from out of their enemies’ lands, 
 and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then 
 shall they know that I am the Loud their God, which caused 
 them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gath- 
 ered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any 
 more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: 
 for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith 
 the Lord God.”$ 
 
 jYote C. fi. 20. 
 
 The Russians were the first to survey the North West coast 
 of America. After them, Cook, Meares, Dixon, Vancouver, 
 La Perouse, and many other able navigators, American as well 
 as European, have almost perfected our know ledge of this coast. 
 Mr. Hearne, in 1769, to 1772, and Mr. Mackenzie, in 1789, pro- 
 ceeding from the English settlements on Hudson’s Bay in dif- 
 ferent courses to the N. W. visited the Frozen Ocean. In 1792, 
 1793, the latter gentleman had the honor of being the first Eu- 
 ropean, who visited the Pacific Ocean, by an inland journey from 
 the English settlements above named. Captains Clarke and Lew-! 
 
 * Christian Observer, vol. viii. p. 739. 
 
 f Europe contains probably one half the whole number of Jews on the 
 globe; and these embrace almost the whole of the learning and talents of 
 the nation. More than 13,000 Jews inhabit the single city of Prague 
 
 i Ezekiel xxxix. 25, to the end. 
 
44 
 
 is, under the auspices of our own government, have since visit- 
 ed this Ocean in another direction. And I am informed, that a 
 little colony is already on the way, partly by land across the con- 
 tinent, but principally by water, with a view to plant themselves 
 on the waters of the Pacific Ocean, at the mouth of Columbia riv- 
 er. The Russians have a settlement on this coast further North, 
 which, according to Hassel , consists of about 800 souls.* In 
 Greenland, the Danish government have a colony of 6,100 souls. 
 The British colonies are spreading their settlements around 
 Hudson Bay, on the Labrador coast, (of which country Mr. Cart- 
 wright has published an interesting description,) and in Upper 
 Canada. The enterprising inhabitants of the United States arc 
 already in companies passing the Mississippi, and planting 
 themselves in the newly acquired territory of Louisiana. Jour- 
 nies from the Atlantic states, to the Pacific Ocean, will proba- 
 bly soon become as common, and excite as little public atten- 
 tion, as a voyage round the world. 
 
 Note D. ft. 21. 
 
 In Greenland the United Brethren, or Moravians, and the 
 Danes, support missionaries, at Lic/itcnau, Neivhcrrnhut , and 
 Lichtenfels ; the former place is surrounded by heathen in- 
 habitants, among whom the missionaries are laboring with 
 zeal and success. But the inhabitants around the other two 
 settlements, consist chiefly of persons baptized by the Brethren, 
 and educated in Christian principles. Those, who do not belong 
 to the Brethren’s church, have all been baptized by the Danish 
 missionaries, so that no trace of paganism is now left in 
 THAT NEIUHHORHOOD.t 
 
 In Labrador the Moravians have missionaries stationed at 
 Okkak , Nain , and Hofiedalc. In this cold and dreary region, 
 among the poor Esquimaux, these intrepid soldiers of Jesus 
 Christ, are pursuing their labors with increasing “joy and 
 thankfulness.” One of their reports} slates, that the poor In- 
 dians, “were remarkably diligent in their attendance upon Di- 
 vine worship; and seemed to take great delight in every oppor- 
 tunity afforded them to hear the gospel.” These missionaries 
 had established schools for the instruction of young men, which 
 are represented as in a flourishing state. 
 
 This exemplary sect of Christians, the United Brethren, have 
 missionaries established also at Fairfield, in Upper Canada; 
 among the Chippcway Indians, on the Tonguakamick; at 
 Pctquotting, on the river of the Hurons; at Goshen, and among 
 
 * Hassel’s Tables, 1809. 
 
 t See the 38tli No. of the periodical accounts of the Brethren. 180-1 
 
 i Sec No. 39. 
 
the Delaware Indians, on the Wabash;* in Surinam, South 
 America, at Paramaribo, Bombey, and Hoop, on the Corentyn; 
 also, in the Danish West India Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, 
 and St. Jan. In these islands they have five settlements, in 
 which the number of Negroes in their congregations amounted, 
 in 1807, to 10,557. In 1805, 207 adult negroes were added to 
 these churches by baptism-t To Dcmerara, Monte Video, Bu- 
 enos Ayres, and other stations in South America, and in sever- 
 al of the West India Islands, missionaries have been sent from 
 England; and a number also into Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, 
 and the other British colonics north of the United States. Add 
 to these, the various religious associations in the United States 
 support missionaries among the Cherokee Indians in Tcn- 
 nesee; the Wyandots, at Sandusky, on Lake Eric; the Oncidas, 
 and the remains of the Stockbridge tribe in New York; the 
 Marshpee and Vineyard Indians, in Massachusetts, and the 
 Narragansetts, at Charlestown, Rhode Island. And beside these 
 are supported a great number of temporary and stationary mis- 
 sionaries, along the extensive frontier of the United States, and 
 in the destitute parts of their interior settlements. 
 
 Note E. Ji. 21. 
 
 Without pretending to a precise knowledge on the sub ject, we 
 reckon within the limits oftheUnitedStates, at least fAirlt/Mission- 
 ary Societies of different descriptions and denominations of Chris- 
 tians;and fifteen Bible Societies; the latter, all instituted within 
 the last three years, and three fourths of them within the last year. 
 
 Theological Institutions have been established at New York, 
 (1805,) by the Associate Reformed Church; the stated number 
 of students from about 10 to 15. Also at Andover, in Massachu- 
 setts^ 1808, )the whole number of students since admitted, between 
 sixty and seventy 4 Andat New Brunswick, New Jersey, (1810,) 
 by the Dutch Reformed Church, which is just commencing its 
 operations. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
 
 * This tribe, within a few years, has been visited by a Delegation 
 from the Stockbridge Indians, (who are under the care of Rev. Mr. Ser- 
 geant) at the head of which is Captain Hendrick, with a view to intro- 
 duce among them the Christian religion, and the useful arts. This mis- 
 sion has been patronised, and, in part supported, by The Society for prop- 
 agating the Gospel among the Indians, &c. A school was to be establish- 
 ed here, and a master of the Stockbridge tribe was engaged, and went 
 on with the Delegation, to keep it. See Appendix. 
 
 f See No. 46, of their Periodical Accounts. 
 
 i Four of these, viz. Messrs. Adoniram Judson, Samuel Newell, Sam- 
 uel Nott, and Samuel J. Mills, have already devoted themselves to mis- 
 sionary labors in foreign countries, and two others are destined to amis- 
 sion in the interior of Georgia, and are on their way thither. 
 
.46 
 
 at their meeting in May last, resolved on founding a similar in- 
 stitution somewhere within their bounds, and are collecting 
 the necessary funds for the purpose. Besides these, there are 
 funds to a considerable amount attached to the Colleges at Cam* 
 bridge and Princeton, and to the Academics at Exeter, (N.H.) and 
 Andover, (Mass.) for the support of theological students. 
 
 Institutions of this kind, and particularly for the purpose of 
 educating missionaries, are established at Closfiort in England, 
 where in 1807, there were thirteen students; also at Iloxton, Eng- 
 land, and at Berlin, in Prussia, wherein 1805, were^ve students. 
 
 Note F. /i. 23. 
 
 Among other establishments alluded to, which have in view 
 the benefit of the inhabitants of this benighted quarter of the 
 world, I have pleasure in mentioning, particularly, “The Afri- 
 can Institution,” to which the abolition of the slave trade 
 gave rise, and which was formed in London in April, 1807. Its 
 members in point of rank, talents, wealth, and good influence, 
 are among the first characters in England. 
 
 The objects of this noble institution, and the means of effect- 
 ing them, will be best learned, by the following extracts from 
 their Rules and Regulations. 
 
 “ Resolved, 1. That this Meeting is deeply impressed with a 
 sense of the enormous wrongs which the nativ es of Africa have 
 suffered in their intercourse with Europe; and from a desire to 
 repair those wrongs, as well as from general feelings of benev- 
 olence, is anxious to adopt such measures as are best calculated 
 to promote their civilization and happiness. 
 
 2 . “That the approaching cessation of the Slave Trade liitherto 
 carried cn by Great Britain, America, and Denmark, will, in a 
 considerable degree, remove the barrier which has so long ob- 
 structed the natural course of social improvement in Africa; and 
 that the way wi ll be thereby opened for introducing the comforts 
 and arts of a more civilized state of society. 
 
 3. “That the happiest effects may be reasonably anticipated 
 from diffusing useful knowledge, and exciting industry among 
 the inhabitants of Africa, and from obtaining and circulating 
 throughout this country more ample and authentic information 
 concerning the agricultural and commercial faculties of that vast 
 continent. 
 
 4. “That the present period is eminently fitted for prosecut- 
 ting these benevolent designs; since the suspension, during the 
 war, of that large share of the Slave Trade, which Iras common- 
 ly been carried on by France, Spain, and Holland, will, when, 
 combined with the effect of the Abolition Laws of Great Britain, 
 America, and Denmark, produce nearly the entire cessation of 
 fbat traffic along a line of coast extending between two and three 
 
47 
 
 thousand miles in length, and thereby afford a peculiarly fav- 
 orable opportunity for giving a new direction to the industry 
 and commerce of Africa. 
 
 “To prevent misconception concerning the views and meas- 
 ures of the African Institution, it may be proper in the first in- 
 stance to declare, that it is the Society’s fixed determination not 
 to undertake any religious mission, and not to engage in com- 
 mercial speculations. The Society is aware that there already 
 exist several most respectable Institutions formed for the dif- 
 fusion of Christianity, and means not to encroach on their prov- 
 ince. It may also be proper to premise, that it will naturally 
 become the duty and care of the Society, to watch over the exe- 
 cution of the laws, recently enacted in this and other countries, 
 for abolishing the African Slave Trade; to endeavor to prevent 
 the infraction of those laws; and from time to time to suggest 
 any means by which they may be rendered more effectual to their 
 objects; and likewise to endeavor, by communicating informa- 
 tion, and by other appropriate methods, to promote the Aboli- 
 tion of the African Slave Trade by Foreign powers. 
 
 “The means which it is proposed to employ for the purpose 
 of promoting civilization and improvement in Africa are of the 
 following kind. 
 
 1. “To collect and diffuse, throughout this country, accurate 
 information respecting the natural productions of Africa, and, in 
 general, respecting the agricultural and commercial capacities 
 of the African Continent, and the intellectual, moral, and politi- 
 cal condition of its inhabitants. 
 
 52. “To promote the instruction of the Africans in letters and 
 in useful knowledge, and to cultivate a friendly connexion with 
 the natives of that Continent. 
 
 3. “To endeavor to enlighten the minds of the Africans with 
 respect to their true interests; and to diffuse information amongst 
 them respecting the means whereby they may improve the pres- 
 ent opportunity of substituting a beneficial commerce in place 
 of the Slave Trade. 
 
 4. “To introduce amongst them such of the improvements 
 and useful arts of Europe as are suited to their condition. 
 
 5. “To promote the cultivation of the African soil, not onlvby 
 exciting and directing the industry of the natives, but by fur- 
 nishing, where it may appear advantageous to do so, useful 
 seeds and plants, and implements of husbandry. 
 
 6. “To introduce amongst the inhabitants beneficial medical 
 discoveries. 
 
 7. “To obtain a knowledge of the principal languages of Af- 
 rica, and, as has already been found to be practicable, to reduce 
 them to writing, with a view to facilitate the diffusion of informa- 
 tion among the natives of that country. 
 
 8. “To employ suitable agents and to establish correspond- 
 ences as shall appear advisable, and to encourage and reward 
 
48 
 
 individual enterprise and exertion in promoting any of the pur- 
 poses of the institution.” 
 
 The subscriptions to this institution have been very liberal,* 
 and the prospect of success encouraging. The aid of the United 
 States, through theSecretaryof the Association has been solicited in 
 a correspondence with the President of the Society for promoting 
 the Abolition of Slavery in the United States, and with other Amer- 
 ican gentlemen of respectability. In one of his letters he states the 
 strong reasons, which exist, to induce the American govern- 
 ment and the American public, actively to co-operate in accom- 
 plishing the plans of this Institution. 
 
 “The success,” he says, “of any endeavors for the civilization of 
 Africa, must depend on the degree in which the continuance of 
 the Slave Trade on that coast can be prevented. Much has been 
 done bv the legislative enactments of Great Britain and America. 
 Your Congress however, do not seem to have been aware of the 
 subtle evasions, which men, practised in this trade of blood, 
 would have recourse to, in the prosecution of their nefarious 
 practices. Accordingly, it appears, that American ships, using 
 the Swedish, Spanish, and Portuguese flags, and some even sail- 
 ing under their own, have appeared in the African seas, for the 
 purpose of procuring slaves, to carry to the colonies of Spain, 
 Portugal, Sec. What is wanted in order to destroy this system 
 is, in the first place, an act of Congress, rendering it highly pe- 
 nal in any American citizen, to be engaged in this trade, either 
 as a capitalist, or as an agent, under any flag, or under any cir- 
 cumstances. But above all, a contract or agreement between 
 Great Britain and America, that the cruisers of both nations 
 shall be empowered indiscriminately, and mutually to enforce 
 their Abolition laws. At present, the American laws pro- 
 hibiting the foreign Slave Trade, are a dead letter, because they 
 have no cruisers on the coast of Africa, or in the tropical lati- 
 tudes, to carry them into effect. If once, however, it were un- 
 derstood, that these piratical violators of the laws of their own 
 country, as well as of the dearest rights of humanity, were ob- 
 noxious to seizure by British cruisers, and to subsequent condem- 
 nation, much more would be done in a few months to remove the 
 grand obstacle, to the improvement of Africa, than could other- 
 wise be effected in a series of years. On this subject the gen- 
 tlemen abovementioned have been strongly solicited to use 
 their influence to produce a willingness, on the part of the 
 government of the United States, to accede to such an agree- 
 ment, to which I am persuaded there would be no objection on 
 this side of the water; and from which many happy effects, not 
 only to Africa, but to ourselves also, might be. anticipated. The 
 co-operation of the two countries, in one common purpose of be- 
 nevolence would serve, it might be hoped, to draw more close- 
 ly the bond of union between them, and would unquestionably 
 
 * The first year they amounted to 29Tf>/ 2, sterling. 
 
49 
 
 strengthen in the minds of all benevolent men, the existing mo' 
 tives for desiring a perfect amity to be perpetuated between 
 them.” 
 
 It is hoped that the American government and people are not 
 wanting in a disposition to lend their legislative aid and private 
 influence, to the accomplishment of an object, which, when un- 
 derstood in all its contemplated consequences, cannot fail to ex- 
 cite the warmest approbation, and even admiration, of every 
 humane, upright, and liberal mind. 
 
 JYotc G. ft. 25. 
 
 We have received from Rev. Dr. Carey, an authentic account 
 of the state of the translations, and printing the Bible, in Nov. 
 1809, as follows. 
 
 State of Printing and Translating the Bible, November 9, 1809. 
 Translated to Printed to 
 
 
 N. Testa. 
 
 0. Testament- 
 
 N. Testament. 
 
 O. Testament. 
 
 Sungs krit. 
 
 The whole 
 
 Ch.vii.* 
 
 The whole 
 
 Exodus xxx. 
 
 Benglee, 
 
 Unto 
 
 The whole 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Orissa, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Job to Jer. 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Job to Isa. viii. 
 
 Hmdoostance, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Job to Mai. 
 
 Rom. xii. 
 
 Not begun 
 
 Mahratta, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Job to Prov. 
 
 John’s Gospel 
 
 DiltO 
 
 Seek, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Genesis 
 
 lshcctcompos’d 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Chinese, 
 
 Ephesians 
 
 Not begun 
 
 Mat. xii. 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Guzeratee, 
 
 Acts 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Not begun 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Telinga, 
 
 The whole 
 
 Gen. to Job 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Kernata, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Genesis 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Barman, 
 
 Uncertain 
 
 Not begnn 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 (l)Persian; 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Matthew 
 
 Ditto 
 
 (2) Malay, 
 
 The whole 
 
 The whole 
 
 The whole 
 
 Whole Am. 1758 
 
 (3)Tamul, 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 (4)Malayala, 
 
 Acts 
 
 Not begun 
 
 Not begun 
 
 Not beg in 
 
 (9)Cing"laese, 
 
 Uncertain 
 
 Uncertain 
 
 The Gospels 
 
 Uncertain. 
 
 WILLIAM CAKEY. 
 
 For a particular account of these translations, the reader is re- 
 ferred to the Panoplist, and Missionary Magazine, for June, 
 18 '0. p. 36. 
 
 To the above information we add, that the New Testament 
 has been translated and printed in the Turkish language, by 
 Mr. Brunton, a missionary from the Edinburgh Missionary So- 
 ciety in Tartary, and thus prepared to be distributed and read 
 
 * The copy is imperfect hers. 
 
 filf By Rev. C. Martyn and N. Sabat. ("2 J Printed by the Dutch Gov- 
 ernment, 1755. CV By the Missionaries on the Coast. ('ij By the Syrian 
 bishop. (5 J Uncertain. All the other translations are in onr hands. May 
 the Lord enable us to finish them. 
 
 7 
 
50 
 
 throughout the Turkish Empire, which contains more than 
 24,000,000 of souls. The Bible has long since been translated 
 into the Arabic language, which is spoken not only in Arabia, 
 but has been extended by means of the Mahometans, through 
 the eastern, and over a large part of the northern and western, 
 coast of Africa. Missionaries and others acquainted with this lan- 
 guage, might preach the gospel, and spread other useful knowl- 
 edge, in almost every part of Africa. 
 
 “The Susoo language is spoken very generally on the coast 
 of Africa, for about 150 miles to the northward of Sierra Leone. 
 It is understood by the greater part of the Foulah and Man- 
 dingo nations; and is the vernacular tongue of the country of 
 Jalonkadoo, a large kingdom, in the mountains, from which 
 the Niger is said to take its rise.”* A grammar and vocabu- 
 lary of this language have already been made by Mr. Brunton, 
 and some Susoo tracts have been printed. These may prepare 
 the way for a translation of the Scriptures into this language. 
 
 Note H. fi. 26. 
 
 The Portuguese, who visited Malabar, in the East Indies, in 
 the seventeenth century, inform us, “That from ancient monu- 
 ments, writings, and constant tradition, which the Christians they 
 found in these parts preserved, they learned that St. Thomas 
 came first to Socotra, an island in the Arabian sea, and thence 
 to Cranganor , where having converted many, he travelled fur- 
 ther to the East, and preached the gospel with good success, 
 and returned to the kingdom of Coromandel , where at Malifiur 
 the metropolis, near to the mouth of the Ganges, in the gulf of 
 Bengal, he began to erect a place for divine worship, til! he was 
 prohibited by the priests, and the prince ®f the country. But 
 upon convictions by several miracles, the work went on. The 
 prince himself embraced the Christian faith, and his example 
 was followed by great numbers of his friends and subjects. The 
 Brockmans fearing this would spoil their trade, and extirpate 
 the religion of their country, pursued the Apostle to a tomb, 
 whither lie used to retire for his devotions: while he was at pray- 
 er, they load him with darts and stones, and one of them ran him 
 through with a lance. His disciples took up his body, and buried 
 it in the church he had lately built, which was afterward improv- 
 ed into a fabric of great magnificence.” From these early con- 
 verts to the Christian faith, “there is said to have been a contin- 
 ued succession of those called Christians of St. Thomas in those 
 parts, unto this day. The Portuguese found them in great 
 
 * Religions Monitor, vol. vi.p. 43. 
 
numbers, at their first arrival in several places, no less than 
 fifteen, or sixteen thousand families.”* 
 
 In 1806, the Rev. Dr. Kerr, senior chaplain of Fort St. George, 
 and Rev. Dr. Buchanan, Principal of the college of Foit Will- 
 iam, the former by desire of the governor of Madras, the latter by 
 appointment of the government of Bengal, visited these Chris- 
 tians, and inquired extensively into their history and present 
 state. Their very interesting reports, may be seen at large in 
 the Paooplist for April, 1808. vol. iii. p. 518, to 532. 
 
 One of these gentlemen, in a letter to his friend in England, 
 after giving an account of his visit to the celebrated Hindoo 
 Temple, at Juggernaut, “which appears, (he says,) to be the 
 chief seat of Moloch in the whole earth, and the centre of his 
 dominions in th</ present age;”t thus describes, in contrast, the 
 scene presented by the Christian churches of Tanjore. “Here 
 
 * Millar’s History of the propagation of Christianity, vol. i. p. 296. who 
 quotes, as his authorities. Mallei, Hist, rerum Indicarum. lib. 2. p- 85 — 
 88. Osorius de rebus Emanuelis, lib. 3. p. 119. and Dr. Cave’s Lives of 
 the Apostles. 
 
 ■}• Since preparing this note, the following more full description, prob- 
 ably from the same pen, of the awful “moral darkness,” in which the 
 Hindoos are involved, has fallen under my notice. In hope that it may 
 add to the motives of Christians, to promote the spread of the blessed 
 gospel in this benighted region, it is here subjoined. 
 
 “1 have indeed (he says) seen that darkness; but it is not easy to des- 
 cribe it. No man can know what it is, who has not seen it. It is no 
 less dreadful, than when the Israelites beheld at a distance, the thick 
 darkness of Egypt from their dwelling in Goshen, where there was light. 
 
 I have been, in what the Scriptures call ‘the chambers of imagery,’ 
 Ezek. viii. 12; and have w itnessed the enormity of the pagan idolatry in all 
 its turpitude and blood. I can now better understand those words of the 
 Scriptures, ‘the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cru- 
 elty. Ps. lxxiv. 20. I have seen the libations of human blood, offered 
 to the Moloch of the Heathen World; and an assembly, not of two thou- 
 sand only, which may constitute your number, but of two hundred thou- 
 sand, falling prostrate at the sight before the idol, and raising acclama- 
 tions to his name. 
 
 “But the particulars of these scenes cannot be rehearsed before a Chris- 
 tian assembly; as indeed the Scriptures themselves intimate to us, Eph. 
 v. 12. I only wish the Great Council of our nation could behold this dark- 
 ness; then there would be no dissentient voice, as to the duty of diffusing 
 light. It may suffice toobserve, thatthe predominant characters of idolatry 
 are the same, which the Scriptures describe; cruelty and lasciviousness! 
 blood and impurity! I may further notice, that the fountain head of this 
 superstition in India, is the temple of Juggernaut. That temple is to 
 the Hindoos, what Mecca is to the Mahometans; it is the sacred spot of 
 their superstition. 
 
 “It will give you satisfaction to hear that the Gospels have been recent- 
 ly translated into the language of Juggernaut. The Christian world is 
 indebted to the labors of the missionaries .of the Baptist Society in India, 
 for this important service.”* 
 
 * See Sev. Dr. Buchanan's Sermon before the Society of Missions to Afri- 
 ca, and the East. June, 1810 
 
52 
 
 there is becoming dress, humane affections, and rational dis- 
 course! Here the feeble-minded Hindoo, exhibits the Christian 
 virtues, in a vigor which greatly surprised me! Here Christ is 
 glorified.”* 
 
 In the Caucasian Mountains, not far from the Black Sea, is a 
 people called Sonnas, from their country of this name, amount- 
 ing to about 2C 0,000 souls, inhabiting 60 villages, some of which 
 are towns of 900 houses. These peop e acknow ledge Jesus Christ 
 to be their only King and Savior. They pray that God w ould 
 bless them for Christ’s sake, observe the sabbath, have priests 
 who baptise their children, and administer the sacrament of the 
 Supper. They have many church books, but know not the mean- 
 ing of them. They believe in a future judgment. They are 
 said, some of them, to labor under deep convictions of sin, and to 
 pray night and day. They consider their preservation, and the 
 preservation of Christianity among them, as a miracle. They 
 innoculate their children for the small pox; have gardens 
 enclosed with stone walls, and abundance of fruit, and live in 
 harmony and conifort.f 
 
 * Christian Observer, vol. vi. p. 335. 
 
 t Rev. Mr. Brunton’s letter from Karass, Tartary, Feb. 1806. See 
 Christian’s Magazine, vol. ii. p. 45 7 - 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 INDIANS. 
 
 * ♦ * 
 
 Marshfiec and Martha’s Vincijard Indians. ' 
 
 The Society, at the annual meeting in May 1809, voted t* 
 propose to the Corporation of Harvard College, to take the 
 whole charge of the Marshpee and Martha’s Vineyard In- 
 dians; and that the Society, in consideration of their acceptance of 
 such proposal, take upon them to make the payments to Rev. Mr. 
 Sergeant, heretofore made by the Corporation. This proposal 
 was accepted; and the Society, at a meeting in November fol- 
 lowing, voted, “That, in conformity to an agreement with the 
 Corporation of Harvard College, the Rev. John Sergeant, Mis- 
 sionary to the Stockbridge Indians, receive from the Treasurer 
 of this Society 120 dollars, it being the sum which he has usu- 
 ally received from said Corporation annually, in part of his sala- 
 ry; and that this be in addition to the 100 dollars, which he has 
 usually received from the Society.” 
 
 Stockbridge Indians. 
 
 Mr. Sergeant continues his Journals with precision, and 
 transmits them to the Society with punctuality. In June 1809 
 is the following important entry: “Captain Hendrick, whose 
 name has been often mentioned in my Journals, some time in 
 October last, succeeded in part of his business, which was to 
 obtain from the Miamis and others, the native owners of the 
 country on White River, an Indian title to the same for his na- 
 tion, together with the Delaware and Munsee tribes. In De- 
 cember he went with a number of others to the seat of govern- 
 ment. From the President of the United States he obtained a 
 
54 
 
 patent for the same, that it should be the property of said tribes 
 for ever. 
 
 “In consideration of his faithful services, he was offered, and 
 accepted from the government, an appointment to superintend 
 the Indian affairs on White River, for which he is to receive a 
 handsome support. He arrived here to visit his tribe in March; 
 and set out again in April for the Western Country with a few 
 companions. 
 
 “Before he left this place he told me that now every thing 
 would be settled to the general satisfaction of the Indians: That 
 the Delaware and Munsee Tribes would make large settle- 
 ments on this river: That the school proposed by John Jacobs 
 
 would be opened immediately on his return: That I should 
 
 soon hear from him on the subject.” 
 
 Mr. Sergeant concludes his Journal by observing, “This 
 place, where I have resided with my family for about ten years, 
 has proved unhealthy for my wife and part of my family; on 
 which account I have found it indispensably necessary to re- 
 move them about four miles distance from hence, and in the 
 neighborhood of white people, and on land I obtained from the 
 State, to which I have a good title; as I can own no land on the. 
 Indian ground, only so long as I continue in office. I have 
 served the Indians in their temporal affairs for 10 years; I ne^cr 
 asked them for any reward, jieither did they ever give, or even 
 sell me, any of their lands.” 
 
 In the Journal terminating January 1st, 1810, are the follow- 
 ing extracts from Captain Hendrick’s letters, relative to the 
 proposed school among the Delaware Indians. Extract from 
 the first letter, dated, “White River, July 7th, 1809. I have at 
 last obtained a final answer from the Delaware tribe of Indians 
 
 y 
 
 who reside on White River, with respect to the school proposed 
 to be setup among them; every difficulty don’t as yet seem entirely 
 clear, but still 1 have much encouragement.” Extract from the 
 
55 
 
 second letter, dated September 3. “We are still here, attend- 
 ing to instructing the poor heathen in the way of civilized life, 
 in cultivating their lands, Sec. We constantly enjoy their smiles, 
 and intirc approbation in every plan we recommend. Mr. Ser- 
 geant subjoins: “I learn from some of our people, who have re- 
 turned the fall past, (but have promised the western Indians 
 to go back next spring) that some of the old Chiefs, who were 
 much in favor of promoting the instruction of their children are 
 dead. Other Chiefs, who have now the government of their 
 Tribes, are not so friendly in this business, but with much pa- 
 tience and perseverance Hendrick expects to gain his point, 
 with respect to school affairs, as well as the intioduction ot the 
 Gospel. There have been twelve children born, and only two 
 deaths, the year past.” 
 
 In a letter to the Secretary, dated January 1, 1810, Mr. Ser- 
 geant mentions “the new difficulties Hendrick has to struggle 
 with,” (in regard to the Western School) and adds, “I have 
 good reason to hope all difficulties will be finally surmounted. 
 I expect every mail to hear from him again. If any of your So- 
 cieties in Boston have Bibles, Testaments, or Psalm books, to 
 bestow on the poor, I could give them away to much advantage, 
 not only to inquiring Indians, but to white people, who arc poor 
 and destitute. I might mention Negroes and Mulattoes, from 
 whom I often have application. There seems to be a consider- 
 able degree of seriousness among whites and blacks in this vi- 
 cinity.” 
 
 JVarraganset Indians. 
 
 The Society has recently paid particular attention to the Nar- 
 raganset Indians. The Rev. Mr. Coe, during his mission at 
 Rhode Island the last year, repeatedly performed religious ser- 
 vice among them. He also made inquiry concerning their 
 numbers and condition; the result of which appears in the fol- 
 lowing statement of the Secretary, compiled chiefly from Mr. 
 Coe’s Journal, and communicated to the Society at the late 
 semi-annual meeting in November. 
 
56 
 
 “The whole number of Indians at Charlestown, considered as 
 of the Narraganset nation, is about 140 or 150 souls. One half 
 of this number may be under the age of 25 years, and may learn 
 to read. By intemperance and inattention to business they are 
 all reduced to poverty, and some, to an extreme degree. They 
 are subject to the general laws of the State of Rhode Island: but 
 their internal affairs are under the direction of a council of five 
 men of their own nation, and one white man, appointed by the 
 State. By them lands are leased; provision made for the poor; 
 and the persons belonging to the tribe ascertained. The quan- 
 tity of their land is estimated at about three square miles; most 
 of the valuable part of which is let out upon hire; a large por- 
 tion is reserved for wood and timber; and a small part is culti- 
 vated by tillage. Very few clear Indians are now on the land; 
 as they have for ages been intermixing with whites and blacks. 
 None are entitled to any part of the inheritance, except those 
 who have descended from their females; hence a number of 
 others, of mixed nations, live among them, who by their cus- 
 toms are not of the tribe. 
 
 “They were first converted “from public idolatry” under the 
 ministry of the Rev. Mr.Whitefield, Mr. Davenport, and others, 
 more than sixty years ago. Rev. Mr. Fisk, of Stonington, offi- 
 ciated among them a part of the time as Missionary, for many 
 years. Their Christian church, composed of persons of differ- 
 ent nations, consists of between 40 and 50 members. They had 
 a preacher of their own, John Segeter, who died about two 
 years since. He could read, and was a man “of some informa- 
 tion.” They still carry on worship on Lord’s days among them- 
 selves; and have the only house of public worship now in this 
 town. A school house was formerly built by the Society in 
 England for propagating the Gospel, and a free school was sup- 
 ported for their instruction, until the commencement of the rev- 
 olutionary war, after which all provision of that kind was discon- 
 tinued; and their school house has lately been blown down. 
 Their predispositions are in favor of the education of their chil- 
 dren in schools. When a school was kcp"t three winters ago 
 
57 
 
 about two miles from them, 15 Indian children went to it; and 
 when they heard that the white people talked of opening a 
 school among them, they took a great interest in the subject, 
 and made inquiries in Newport, from time to time, respecting 
 it. It is the opinion of Mr. Coe, that a Schoolmaster, who would 
 be able to assist the Indians in public devotion, and read to them 
 the Holy Scriptures, may be of essential service; that an able 
 preacher, who would undertake to teach the children, and offi- 
 ciate occasionally in the vicinity, would be more extensively 
 useful; and that a teacher of the school for the natives and un- 
 cultivated whites, and a public reader of the Word, may per- 
 haps be profitably employed a part or the whole of the season 
 among the tribe and in the vicinity.” 
 
 The Secretary further informed the Society, that, conforma- 
 bly to a vote of the Select Committee, he had a conference in 
 August with the Rev. Dr. Patten, the President, and Rev. Mr. 
 Tenney, the Secretary, of the Missionary Society of Rhode Isl- 
 and, relative to the erection of a school house for the benefit of 
 those Indians; that several questions on this subject were left 
 with them in writing; that Mr. Tenney soon after visited the 
 Indians; and that, by letters since received from him, it ap- 
 pears, that a school house, with additional apartments fitted to ac- 
 commodate a Schoolmaster or Missionary with lodging and diet, 
 may be built for five hundred dollars; that the Indians desire to 
 have such a house, and have engaged, in council, to find tim- 
 ber, and cut it, and to give such additional aid toward it, as will 
 very considerably lessen the expense of the building; and, that 
 the Rhode Island Missionary Society have voted one hundred 
 dollars towards it. 
 
 Whereupon the Society voted, 
 
 “That two hundred dollars be granted from the Alford fund, 
 toward the erection of a school house at Charlestown, for the 
 benefit of the Narraganset Indians.” 
 
 S 
 
Penobscot Indians. 
 
 Particular inquiry has been made respecting the state of the 
 Penobscot Indians, and the prospect of improving their 
 condition by missionary labors. On this subject letters of in- 
 formation have been received from Rev. Mr. Chapin and Rev. 
 Mr. Jenks; whose statements coincide with those of a more re- 
 cent communication from Rev. Mr. May, one of the Society’s 
 Missionaries, which, though of discouraging aspect, in regard 
 to present efforts in behalf of those Indians, contains important 
 facts and remarks, which may serve for the future guidance of 
 the Society, should the way be providentially opened for a mis- 
 sion to that tribe. 
 
 Wyandot Indians, 
 
 Intelligence of the newlyjestablished mission at Sandusky, for 
 the benefit of the Wyandot Indians, induced the Society, the 
 last year, to contribute towards its support. The worthy Mis- 
 sionary, Rev. Joseph Badger, visited Boston and its vicinity, 
 and gave so intelligent and satisfactory an account of the origin 
 of this mission, of the manner in which it is conducted, and of 
 the hopeful prospect of its utility in imparting to those wild 
 aborigines the united benefits of civilization and of Christianity, 
 that from societies and individuals he received such contribu- 
 tions, as animated his zeal and encouraged his perseverance. 
 This Society granted one hundred dollars towards the mission, 
 which, from late accounts appears to promise success.* 
 
 DISTRICT OF MAINE. 
 
 The Society, the last year, aided the settlement of Rev. Da- 
 vid Smith in the town of Temple, in the District of Maine, by 
 granting the town and society 200 dollars, on condition that Mr. 
 Smith be permitted to spend four months in the year as a mis- 
 sionary in the service of the Society. A Committee of the 
 Church and Town, in a letter to the Society, requesting its “as- 
 sistance in establishing Gospel privileges and ordinances among 
 
 * See Pauoplist lor September and October, 1810- 
 
59 
 
 them,” observed, in reference to Mr. Smith: “The Congrega- 
 tional Church and Society in this town are united in the call and 
 measures taken for his settlement.” The Secretary of the 
 Maine Missionary Society observed on this subject, “Temple is 
 forty miles from Hallowed, north of west, and is an important 
 stand, as a frontier establishment. I very much wish they may 
 be able to accomplish their desires in the settlement of the min- 
 istry; but I see no prospect of it at the present time, unless 
 they can obtain gratuities from some benevolent Society.” 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Lovejoy was stationed the last year by the So- 
 ciety where he was the preceding year; and was paid for four 
 months service. He received additional contributions towards 
 his support from the towns in which he performed his services. 
 In Sedgwick he spent 13 weeks, and “found the people to 
 which he preached very ready to receive him; and they readily 
 contributed, as was expected, to his support.” “But the mem- 
 bers of the church seem like sheep scattered upon the moun- 
 tains. There appears to be no prospect of their settling a min- 
 ister, unless they should unite with the people of Penobscot.” 
 The rest of his services to May 1809, were performed at Vas- 
 salborough. “I have more reason to think,” observes Mr. 
 Lovejoy, “that I have been useful in this place, than in any other 
 since I had the honor of entering into the ministry.” Accord- 
 ing to his Journal he preached 160 times; catechised children 
 15 times; attended 8 prayer meetings and 3 conferences; bap- 
 tized 8 children, and distributed several of the Society’s books.* 
 
 The Rev. Mr. May, according to the first number of his Jour- 
 nal, from July to November 1809, spent 15 Sabbaths in the ser- 
 vice of the Society, preached 8 weekly. lectures, visited 90 fam- 
 ilies, attended 3 church meetings, and 3 funerals, and once ad- 
 ministered Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He afterwards re- 
 sumed his missionary duties, and continued his Journal to the 
 20th May, 1810. After divine service on a Sabbath at Sunk* 
 hayes, where he had frequently performed missionary duty* 
 
 * This Missionary’s Journal for the present year is not received. 
 
60 
 
 “the people,” he observes, “having learnt my expected removal 
 to Brownsville, and the improbability of my visiting them again 
 as a Missionary, expressed many thanks to me, and through me 
 to the Society, for my past services, and hoped still to experi- 
 ence the benefaction of the Society, should they send another 
 Missionary into this vicinity. This people is at present averse 
 to sectarians, and friendly to Congregationalists.” 
 
 At the close of his Journal, June 1, 1810, he remarks: “I have 
 never had to preach, as I remember, to less than 20 persons 
 since I have removed to these infant settlements; there have 
 generally been present nearly double that number; sometimes 
 70 persons have attended. But at no one time have so many 
 been present as I thought might have conveniently assembled. 
 But the number that attend public worship rather increases than 
 otherwise. The people in general appear friendly to the stand 
 which I have taken among them; none appear to offer any 
 farther opposition, than is necessarily implied in their negli- 
 gence of public worship; and I still think that extensive good 
 may be done by the Society’s employing standing Missionaries, 
 if it be but for a few months in the year, in these increasing and 
 important settlements.” 
 
 A respectable number of the inhabitants of Brownsville, in a 
 letter to the Secretary, dated the 24th Oct. 1809, returned their 
 thanks to the Society for Mr. May’s occasional labors among 
 them, and solicited the continuance of their benefaction. “We 
 are,” they observe, “an infant settlement, the first attempts to- 
 wards settling the town being made in 1806; and, as happens in 
 most netv settlements, we cannot as a people contribute sub- 
 stantially to the support of a preached Gospel, which is render- 
 ed dear to us by our former habits and early education.” After 
 mentioning the good acceptance of Mr. May’s services, and his 
 willingness to reside with them, they “earnestly solicit the So- 
 ciety. if it be consistent with their benevolent views, to facilitate 
 that event in such a manner, tin t we might for a part of the 
 time have the benefit of his ministerial labors.” The inhabit- 
 
61 
 
 ants of the plantation of Williamsburgh, in a letter of nearly the 
 same date, and in reference to the same object, observe: “There 
 are four townships in this vicinity, viz. No. 3, and 4, in the 
 seventh range, and Brownsville and Williamsburgh, which, 
 from their local situation and occasional intercourse, arc more 
 connected with each other, than with any adjacent settlements, 
 and are whojly destitute of religious instruction of any kind, ex- 
 cept what they have recently received at the hands of the Socie- 
 ty, for which they would express their unfeigned gratitude.” 
 In consideration of these statements and requests, the Society, 
 at its last annual meeting appointed, Mr. May to a mission of 
 three months in each succeeding year, for three years, in 
 Brownsville and the vicinity. Mr. May is accordingly now set- 
 tled with his family at Brownsville. The Proprietor of the 
 town has granted him a lot of land; and the Proprietors of No. 
 4, and Williamsburg, two of the towns in which he is instruct- 
 ed to perform missionary service, have contributed towards his 
 support 113 dollars. The number of families in the four town- 
 ships, in which his entire services are to be performed, is about 
 sixty. “Beside these there are many young men without fam- 
 ilies, who are clearing lands to prepare habitations for them- 
 selves.” Mr. M. writes, “I live in the centre of these four town- 
 ships. There appears to be a disposition in the people in gene- 
 ral to attend on my ministration of the word, so far as is consist- 
 ent with the local situation and employments of the inhabitants 
 of a newly settled country, though there are some exceptions.” 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Webster performed a mission of three 
 months at Eastport and in the vicinity; and his labors appear to 
 have been acceptable and useful. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Wxlhston, the last year, performed a mission of 
 about three months at Monmouth, in the District of Maine; and 
 his services were very kindly received and gratefully acknowl- 
 edged. There are about 20 families in the Congregational So- 
 ciety there; and they appear to be desirous of having the Gos- 
 pel preached to them, and “willing to support it as far as is in 
 
as 
 
 their power.” They contributed toward the mission according 
 to their ability; and were very unwilling to part with the Mis- 
 sionary. “Even the women,” as one of the Society informed us, 
 “proposed a contribution; and it w-as truly an affecting sight, 
 to see the widow and the fatherless contribute their mite so 
 cheerfully.” 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Shaw spent two months in the service of the 
 Society, at Jefferson, Lincolnville, Mortville, Palermo, Haer- 
 lem, Vassalborougli, Fairfield, and Watervillc. “On Sabbath 
 days there w r as generally large collections of people; lectures 
 on week days generally thin, it being a busy season of the 
 year. Many appeared grateful to the Society for their benevo- 
 lent exertions in supplying them with a preached word.” 
 
 The Society, it will be perceived, directs its attention where 
 the opportunities arc favorable, to stationary missions. Mis- 
 sionaries and others, w ho have the best means of judging of the 
 advantages of these, compared with itinerary missions, give 
 them a decided preference. The Rev. Mr. Jenks of Bath, in a 
 letter of the 11th September last, to the Secretary, observes: 
 “The practices of locating missionaries, so judiciously adopted 
 of late, bids fair to be productive of much good. Our Society 
 in this quarter, are giving attention to it, and find it accelerates 
 the settlement of ministers. You will congratulate us, dear 
 Sir, on the flattering prospect of extending usefulness. Four 
 ministers, it is thought, will soon have been added to the num- 
 ber of those in Oxford County, within a year. That part of the 
 District will then be tolerably provided for, and thus allow the 
 attention of these benevolent Societies to be extended cast of 
 the Kennebec with effect, and even of the Penobscot.” 
 
 It is with peculiar pleasure, that the Society learns with what 
 spirit and intelligence measures are adopted in the District of 
 Maine for the diffusion of useful knowledge, human and Di- 
 vine, among the inhabitants. Impressed with a regard for the 
 rising generation, a respectable number, in different counties 
 
6G 
 
 from Portland to the Penobscot region, have associated upon 
 an extensive plan, and arc now incorporated under the name of 
 “The Eastern Society for propagating the knowledge of the 
 sacred Scriptures, and establishing Christian Order, Instruc- 
 tion, and Piety, in the District of Maine.” In a letter to the 
 Secretary, giving an account of this new Society, the Rev. Mr. 
 Packard observes: “We propose not only to regard with alleviat- 
 ing tenderness families destitute of the Bible, but to manifest a 
 peculiar solicitude for the rising generation. It is a part of our 
 plan to urge Preceptors and School Masters to institute weekly- 
 inquiries concerning the morals and improvement of their pu- 
 pils; and we have agree .1 to reward diligence in reading and un- 
 derstanding the holy Scriptures, by bestowing on the most dili- 
 gent in that important branch, Bibles and Testaments accord- 
 ing to their merit announced by their instructor.” 
 
 RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 Continued representations of the extreme want of religious 
 instruction in many towns in the State of Rhode Island, induced 
 the Society to employ a Missionary there the last and the pres- 
 ent year, as well in reference to the exigences of the white, as 
 of the aboriginal inhabitants. The Rev. Dr. Patten, in a letter 
 to the Secretary dated May 30 , 1809 , observes: “There is suf- 
 ficient employment in different parts of the State for at least 
 two Missionaries more than our Society can furnish, as there 
 are several considerable towns destitute of the stated preaching 
 of the Gospel, and many scattered settlements, which cannot be 
 visited without much labor and expense of time, and which will 
 have no opportunity of hearing the Gospel, unless by Missiona- 
 ries. It will be a great assistance and encouragement to the 
 Missionary Society of this State, and confer an important obli- 
 gation on the people, should the Society for propagating the 
 Gospel consider those destitute among us, as proper objects of 
 their attention and charity.” In another letter from a gentle- 
 man of eminence in Rhodtlsland, dated Sept. 1 1, 1809 , it is ob- 
 served: “The first settlers of this State made no provision by- 
 law for the support of the preaching of the Gospel or of public- 
 
64 
 
 schools; and their successors down to the present time have 
 followed their example. The means of instruction, however, 
 through the exertions of individuals, are not wanting in our sea- 
 port towns. In the adjacent country a degree of neglect still 
 prevails, as to these matters, reproachful to us as a people. 
 How the condition of the people in general is to be improved, 
 unless by the charity of the more enlightened of other places, I 
 know not. Our country towns arc illy furnished with meeting 
 houses, and still worse with publit teachers. I know not of any 
 part of New England where the labors of a Missionary would 
 be of more service, or are more needed.” 
 
 For the appointment of the late Rev. Mr. Emerson to a 
 mission in the southwestern parts of Massachusetts, including 
 also a part of Rhode Island, and for a donation of fifty dollars, 
 the Society has received the thanks of the Rhode Island Mis- 
 sionary Society. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Coe was employed last year, on a mission of four 
 months in the State of Rhode Island and the vicinity. During 
 his mission he repeatedly visited the Narraganset Indians. 
 “Monday,” says his Journal, “I rode to the Indian house of 
 worship (at Charlestown,) and the tribe generally attended, to 
 whom I again preached; upon Acts xlv. 30, 31. They appeared 
 very serious and attentive.” After worship Mr. Coe desired the 
 Council, and as many as he thought proper, to stop a while. He 
 gave a Bible to one of the members, “it being observed, there 
 was not a Bible owned in the church,” He also gave them two 
 of Watts’s Psalms and Hymns and a Testament. He then pro- 
 posed to them questions, the answers to which appear in the 
 foregoing statement respecting the Narraganset Indians. 
 
 Mr. Coe performed missionary services at Freetown, Fall- 
 river,* Tiverton, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Charles- 
 town (Narraganset,) South Kingston, Richmond, Gloucester, 
 
 • A village, partly in Massachusetts, and extending over the line into 
 Rhode Island, “respectable in numbers.” 
 
t>3 
 
 Foster, Coventry, Hopkington, Westerly, and Little Compton. 
 The ' Church in Dartmouth voted unanimously, that their 
 thanks be presented to the Society, “for the labors of the Rev. 
 Mr. Coe the present year.” 
 
 In this mission, which was closed in October 1809, Mr. Coe 
 preached 109 times; administered the Lord’s Supper 5 times; 
 attended 7 conferences; made 8 visits at schools; baptized 3 
 children; assisted at 2 church meetings; attended one funeral; 
 admitted one person to church fellowship; distributed all the 
 books committed to his care; and made 370 family visits. 
 
 “Throughout the southerly and westerly part of the State,” 
 says Mr. Coe, “there is no constant stated worship, I believe, 
 attended, excepted by the Sabbatasians and some others in 
 Westerley and Hopkington, by the people called Quakers in 
 South Kingston, and the Indians in Charlestown. T wo houses 
 of worship, and churches of our order in those parts have long 
 since been demolished. I saw four houses of worship for the 
 Baptists forsaken, and others much out of repair. The people in 
 general are greatly averse to the supporting of ministers. Some 
 devout people, chiefly of the Baptist brethren, are to be found, 
 however, in most places, who treat Missionaries with decent 
 hospitality. In most or all of those places, they may have oc- 
 casional preaching by Baptists and others. In some other 
 parts of the country they have stated worship of the different 
 orders of the Baptists.” 
 
 The account given by one of the Missionaries respecting the 
 lax state of morals, particularly of the profanation of the Lord’s 
 day, in some parts of Rhode Island, is very affecting. “Seve- 
 ral of my friends at — told me that one of their neighbors, on 
 that sacred day, had 25 men engaged in mowing his grass.” 
 “In the country of about 40 miles I passed from , the peo- 
 
 ple live generally without public worship; and no public teacher 
 of any denomination statedly labors among them.” At , 
 
 Lord’s dav, “I had three meetings, but their custom has been 
 
 9 
 
 l 
 
66 
 
 to have only one in a day. The second, being near their usual 
 time, was most attended. The audiences were attentive; but 
 
 many, it was said, were at work upon their hay.” At , 
 
 “Mrs. lamented the want of a meeting to attend, and ob- 
 
 served, that the Sabbath was generally spent in visiting.” “I 
 rode about five miles and preached at a private house. In this 
 part of the country, the people who attend appear to hear with 
 care. In this house, the woman mentioned, that she had not 
 heard a sermon before for nine months. They told me that 
 most of the people in the neighborhood spend Lord’s days in 
 their common business, and that no stated meeting was attend- 
 ed within eight miles. Religious order is little known in this 
 
 part of the country, even at tables.” At , “in compliance 
 
 with the desire of a 'poor boy, I gave him a Testament. He 
 w as in his eleventh year, and could not tell who made him, and 
 had no knowledge of existence after death.” Lord’s day. “In 
 the morning, young men and women were seen riding on a 
 party of pleasure.” “On our return,” from public worship, P. 
 M. “we met a number of white men returning from fishing, 
 with fish in baskets.” 
 
 VERMONT. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Sargeant of Chester performed one month’s 
 missionary service in the neighboring towns of Reading, Wes- 
 ton, Perry, Landgrovc, and Londonderry. At Peru he preach- 
 ed in an unfinished school house, “the only public building in 
 the town. The settlement has been effected within the last 
 seven or nine years. The town contains between 40 and 50 
 families.” In neither of the four last named towns is there any 
 meeting house. “No church in Landgrovc, nor any attempt to 
 gather one.” “The people,” Mr. Sargeant observes, “have 
 thankfully received the services from the Society, which ap- 
 pointed me, and solicit the continuation, should it be the 
 good will of the Society.” 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Osgood, since our last publication, spent three 
 months in the service of the Society, in the upper parts of Vev- 
 tnont with apparent success. 
 
67 
 
 GENESEE. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Oliver, was employed the last year on a mis- 
 sion of three months in the Genesee country. He went beyond 
 the Genesee river. The journey in the whale, was about 1350 
 miles. He preached 65 times; attended one funeral; visited lit 
 families; baptized 7 children; administered the Lord’s Supper 
 once; and formed one church. “This was in Genesee, not far 
 from the Genesee river. The church is strictly upon Congre- 
 gational principles.” The Lord’s Supper was administered in 
 that church soon after by the Rev. Mr. Ayer, a Congregational 
 minister of Bloomfield. “In Bloomfield,” where Mr. Oliver 
 preached as a missionary, “the preaching of the word appeared 
 to be attended with a Divine blessing. When l left the place,” 
 Mr. O. observes, “the attention was increasing. They have 
 one faithful minister, Mr. O. A. but there are four societies. 
 The people in that town and other places return their thanks 
 to the Society for propagating the Gospel, for youi missionary 
 exertions, and hope they will be crowned with desired suc- 
 cess. For hundreds of miles the people stand in need of mis- 
 sionary labors.” 
 
 The Bible Society of Massachusetts, and other Bible 
 Societies in the Commonwealth, formed since our last publica- 
 tion, co-operating with this, will essentially lessen the expendi- 
 tures of our Society in the purchase of Bibles; and thus enable 
 it to do more in extending Christian knowledge to remote In- 
 dian tribes, and in supporting missions in the new settlements. 
 
 Twenty three years have elapsed since the Society was in- 
 corporated by an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts. The 
 funds were commenced by a collection from the Congregation- 
 al churches, under sanction of a Brief granted by the govern- 
 ment; and have since been augmented by a private subscrip- 
 tion among the members of the Society, and other pious and 
 benevolent persons, and by sundry donations and legacies. 
 Sketches of the rise and progress of the Society may be found 
 in its preceding publications to the year 1808. A chasm the 
 
68 
 
 last year was occasioned by the indisposition of the late Secreta- 
 ry, which did not permit him to deliver the anniversary sermon. 
 An appropriate discourse was delivered before the Society by 
 the Rev. Mr. Chansing; but as it was accommodated to the oc- 
 casion on very short notice, the preacher did not see fit to com- 
 ply with the request of the Society to give a copy of it for the 
 press. 
 
 Since the last account of the state of the funds in 1808, seve- 
 ral donations have been received; and if the Society has expe- 
 rienced less public patronage than at former periods, it has 
 been peculiarly animated to the prosecution, as well as assisted 
 to the performance, of its duties by the generous donations of 
 its respected President. 
 
 The Society, sensible of its high responsibility, will proceed 
 in the culture of the extensive field, which invites its labors; 
 cherishing the hope, that it will receive the continued pat- 
 ronage of the Government under whose auspices it was insti- 
 tuted, the aid of charitable and pious individuals, the co-opera- 
 tion of similar Societies, and the blessing of that Being, who, 
 when man has planted and watered, giveth the increase. 
 
 \ > '■ 
 
 STATE OF THE FUNDS, May , 1810. 
 
 
 
 
 Income. 
 
 
 Dols.Cts. 
 
 Dols.Cts. 
 
 Old 6 per cent Stock, SI 1000 nominal, 
 
 
 
 
 real value April 5, 1810 
 
 5748 
 
 60 -i 
 
 528 61 
 
 Deferred 6 per cent, 4000 nom. real val. 
 
 3061 
 
 60 S 
 
 Exchanged and converted 6 per ct. Stock 
 
 5765 
 
 62 
 
 345 93 
 
 Union Bank Stock, nominal value, 6300, cost 67 1 3 
 
 
 441 
 
 Massachusetts State Notes 
 
 800 
 
 
 40 
 
 Bonds and Mortgages - - - 
 
 900 
 
 
 54 
 
 81409 54 
 
69 
 
 Brought forward 1409 54 
 Donation from William Phillips, Esq. to be expend- 
 ed the current year - 500 
 
 Received in November, Collection at Church in 
 
 Chaunccy Place, after Annual Sermon - - 248 26 
 
 Received a bequest from the late Mrs. Lydia Dawes, 
 through the Executor of her Will, Benjamin God- 
 dard, Esq. ------- 300 
 
 Received a Donation, through Rev. Dr. Lathrop - 20 
 
 2477 80 
 
 %* About four tenths of the SI 409 annual income, arises 
 from a Donation of J. Alford, Esq. and is appropriated exclu- 
 sively to the use of the Indians. 
 
 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED. 
 
 Since the establishment of the Society in 1787, they have pur- 
 
 chased and distributed, 
 
 Bibles - -- -- -- -- 1182 
 
 Testaments - -- -- -- - 1843 
 
 Psalters ........ 945 
 
 Watts’s Psalms and Hymns ----- 646 
 
 Primers - -- -- -- - 3494 
 
 Spelling books ....... 2741 
 
 Doddridge’s Rise and Progress - - - - 1398 
 
 Sermons and Tracts, many of them bound books - 20305 
 
 Totai 32,554 
 
 In addition to the above, the Society, in May 1809, voted to 
 expend one hundred dollars for the purchase of books for dis- 
 tribution. 
 
70 
 
 MISSIONARIES FOR A. D. 1810. 
 
 Missionaries. Places of abode. Locations. Time. 
 
 Months. W’ks. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Sewall Bath Vicinity of Pownal 6 
 
 Rev. Hezekiah May Brownsville Vicinity of Brownsville 3 
 
 Daniel Lovejoy Vassulhon ugh Vassalboro’.Sedgwick&c. 4 
 
 Nath’l. Webster Biddeford Eastport and vicinity 3 
 
 Curtis Coe Newcastle Rhode Island 4 
 
 Mr. Amos J. Coi k Eryeburg Vicinity of Fryeburg 15 
 
 Rev. John Sawyer Bangor Lincolnton,Llkinston,&c. 3 
 
 John Sargeant N.Stockbridge New Slockbridge 12 
 
 — Daniel Oliver Boston \V. parts of state of N. Y. 2 
 
 OFFICERS, ELECTED MAY 1810. 
 
 William Phillips, Esq. President. 
 
 Rev. John La.throp, D. D. Vice President. 
 
 Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. Secretary. 
 
 Rev. William Channing, Assistant Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Samuel H. Walley, Treasurer. 
 
 Rev. John Eliot, D. D. Vice Treasurer. 
 
 SELECT COMMITTEE. 
 
 Samuel Salisbury, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Eckley, D. D. 
 
 Hon. Dudley A. Tyng. 
 
 Hon. John Davis. 
 
 Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. 
 
 A complete List of the Members of the Society. 
 
 N. B. The act of incorporation provides, that the whole number of tlit 
 Society shall at no time, exceed ffty members. 
 
 Those to •whose names an asterisk * is prcfxed, are deceased. 
 
 * Nathaniel Appleton, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Barnard, D. D 
 Rev. Joshua Bates. 
 
7 l 
 
 Alden Bradford, Esq. 
 
 Benjamin Bussey, Esq. 
 
 * Rev. Jeremy Belknap, D. D. 
 
 * His Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq. 
 
 Rev. William E. Channing. 
 
 Hon. Richard Cranch. 
 
 * Richard Cary, Esq. 
 
 * Rev. John Clark, D. D. 
 
 Hon. Francis Dana 
 Hon. John Davis. 
 
 * Hon. Thomas Dawes. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Dawes. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Eckley, D. D. 
 
 Samuel Elliot, Esq. 
 
 Rev. John Eliot, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Nathanael Emmons, D. D. 
 
 * Rev. Levi Frisbie. 
 
 David S. Greenough, Esq. 
 
 * His Honor Moses Gill. 
 
 Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D- 
 Dr. Edward A. Holyoke. 
 
 Mr. David Hyslop. 
 
 * Rev. Timothy Hilliard. 
 
 * Rev. Simeon Howard, D. D. 
 
 * William Hyslop, Esq. 
 
 Rev. James Kendall. 
 
 Rev. John Lathrop, D. D. 
 
 * Thomas Lee, Esq. 
 
 * Rev. Daniel Little. 
 
 * Hon. Benjamin Lincoln. 
 
 * Hon. John Lowell. 
 
 Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. 
 
 * Hon. Jonathan Mason. 
 
 * Rev. Joseph Me Kean, D. D. Pres, of Bowdoin College 
 Rev. Elijah Palish, D. D. 
 
 Samuel Parkman, Esq. 
 
 F.liphalet Pearson, LL. D 
 
72 
 
 * Hon. William Phillips. 
 
 William Phillips, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Jonathan Phillips 
 
 Rev. Eliphalet Porter, D. D, 
 
 * Rev. Phillips Payson, D. D. 
 
 Daniel D. Rogers, Esq. 
 
 * Hon. Thomas Russell. 
 
 Samuel Salisbury, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Josiah Salisbury. 
 
 * His Excellency James Sullivan. 
 
 * His Excellency Increase Sumner. 
 
 * Ebenezer Storer, Esq. 
 
 Hon. John Treadwell. 
 
 Hon. Cotton Tufts, M. D. 
 
 Hon. Dudley A. Tyng. 
 
 * Rev. David Tappan, D. D. 
 
 * Rev. Peter Thatcher, D. D. 
 
 Mr. Samuel H. Walley. 
 
 Hon. Oliver Wendell. 
 
 James White, Esq. 
 
 Ebenezer Wight, Esq. 
 
 Samuel Williams, LL. D. 
 
 Mr. William Woodbridge. 
 
 * Rev. Joseph Willard, D.D. LL D. Pres, of Hai’v. Col. 
 
 * Rev. Edward Wigglcsworth, D. D. Hollis Professor of 
 
 Divinity in Harvard College. 
 
 FORM OF A BEQUEST, OR LEGACY. 
 
 Item: I give and bequeath the sum of to the 
 
 Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others 
 in North America; to be applied either to the general objects of 
 the Institution, or to such particular purposes, consistent with 
 those objects, as the donor may think proper. 
 
 THE END. 
 
ALSO, 
 
 Rev. John Butterwort/i s Concordance and 
 Dictionary to the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Being the most Comprehensive and Concise of any before published. 
 First American from the second London Edition , with considera- 
 ble Additions. 
 
 The Family Bible , 
 
 According to the Public Version: Containing the OLD AND 
 NEW TESTAMENTS, with Explanatory Notes, Practical Ob- 
 servations, and Copious Marginal References. In Jive handsome 
 Quarto Volumes , with It utter worth's Concordance , and Dr. Scott’s 
 Maps and Tables or without , as Subscribers choose. By the Rev. 
 Dr. THOMAS SCOTT, Rector of Aston Sanford, Bucks, late 
 Chaplain to the Lock Hospital. 
 
 CONDITIONS. 
 
 I. To be printed on an excellent paper and type, and in five handsome Quarto 
 Volumes. 
 
 II. Price to subscribers, 6 dollars for each Toluene, neatly bound and lettered, or 
 in boards at 5 dollars, '15 cents — plain calf, 8 dollars — ornamented calf, 9 dollars, 50 
 cents — morocco, 12«dollars, 50 cents. 
 
 III. Those who give their names for the whole five volumes, and choose, may 
 subscribe for the Concordance, Chronological Tables, and Maps, to be bound in the 
 last volume, at 6 dollars, 50 cents per volume for the five volumes, with an additional 
 price for extra binding — or, for die Maps, &c. bound by themselves, price 4 dollars 
 in boards — 4 dollars, 75 cents bound and lettered — to be raised when completed. 
 
 IV. Those who have the former edition of this work, or not, may give tneir names 
 for the Atlas, containing the Concordance, Maps, &c. bound by themselves — 5 dol- 
 lars, boards, 5 dollars, 75 cents, bound. 
 
 V. Those persons who in the former edition subscribed for the New Testament 
 only, have it in their power to obtain the Old Testament, if they wish it, to complete 
 their sets of this valuable work. 
 
 VI. For every nine subscribers obtained, a tenth copy will be delivered gratis, 
 provided security be given for the payment: or a proportionable allowance made on 
 all above five subscribers obtained. 
 
 VII. The Bible is going to press as soon as possible. 
 
 VIII. Subscribers will be received for the New Testament at 10 dollars in 2 vol- 
 umes, without the Concordance, &c. or with the Concordance and Allas bound with 
 it, 14 dollars, 50 cents — Concordance and Maps, by themselves, 5 dollars, 75 cents 
 bound — 5 dollars, boards — Concordance without Maps, 4 dollars, 25 cents, boards; 
 and 4 collars, 75 cents bound. 
 
 IX. Those persons who are anxious to be supplied with the New Testament of 
 the present edition, may have it on the above terms, while any are on hand. 
 
 This work is recommended by the following Gentlemen. 
 Asbbel Greek, Robert Annan, 
 
 William Rogers , Jacob J. J anew ay, 
 
 Philip Milledoler , John Blair Link, 
 
 Isaac S. Keith. Samuel S. Smith. 
 
 Jedidiah Morse. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 Sermons and Essays , 
 
 BY THE LATE REV. JOHN M’LAURIN, 
 
 One of the Ministers of Glasgow. 
 
 Published from the Author’s Manuscript? , by John Gillies , one 
 of the Ministers of Glasgow. 
 
CONDITIONS. 
 
 f. To be printed on a good Type and Paper, and to contain about S50 pages; t* 
 be neatly bound amt lettered. 
 
 II. Subscribers who shall give their names in beforetke 1st of November, shall 
 receive their volumes at one dollar after that time, 1 dollar, 12 and a half cents. 
 
 III. To those who obtain five subscribers, every sixth copy shall be given. 
 
 IV. The work will go to press, and it is expected it will be published about the 
 first of November — names coming in before that time, will be published. as patrotSs 
 of the work. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 Superb Royal Octavo Edition of the 
 
 Old and New Testaments, 
 
 FOR FAMILIES. 
 
 With the most numerous Marginal References ever before printed— 
 and those of the celebrated 
 REV. DR. THOMAS SCOTT. 
 
 Anxious as much as possible to diffuse the best of publications, they 
 offer to the citizens of America, (and solicit their usual liberality) 
 Proposals for Printing a Royal Octavo 
 
 BIBLE, 
 
 With Dn. Scott’s Marginal References. 
 
 The Commendations for Scott’s Family Bible, may be seen an 
 the Proposals for printing the second edition of the Commentary, 
 in five vols. and Notes, References, &c. in three volumes. 
 
 This octavo Bible with the References, will be exceedingly valu. 
 able xo those who have Scott’s Family Bible, as it will require but 
 this one volume to consult ull the references, in the five volumes of 
 Scott’s Commentary. 
 
 TERMS OF PRINTING. 
 
 I. To be printed in royal octavo, on paper at least as good as the specimen given. 
 
 II. Price to subscribers, (fine paper) five dollars, and on paper of a littie inferior 
 quality to the specimen; four dollars fifty cents, neatly bound and lettered— Elegant 
 gilt hacks, six dollars. — One copy for eyery nine. 
 
 III. To be put tb press when one thousand names appear to patronize the work— 
 and the names of the subscribers shat l>e printed at the end of the work, with their 
 title* as fliey shall give them —Letters post paid. 
 
 TV. The price will be enhanced to non-aubscribers. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 The Complete Duty of Man , 
 
 OH 
 
 A SYSTEM 
 
 OF DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 To which are added, Forms of Prayer and Offices of Devotion for 
 the various circumstances of life. 
 
 BY H. VENN, A.M. 
 
 Rector of Yelling, and Chaplain to the Earl of fiuohan. 
 
 CONDITIONS. 
 
 t Tobt printed on a handsome large type, and paper of the same quality as that 
 of these proposals; and to contain between 4 and 500 Sro pages: to be ucatlv bound 
 and lettered. 
 
 II Subscribers who shall give their names in before the work is published, shall 
 receive their volumes, at 2 dollars, 25 cents. 
 
 III To thnso whe obtain Jive subscribers, a sixth copy shall be given . 
 
 IV The work will go to press, and it is expected, it will be piibTishnd early in the 
 
 Spring if not before 
 
 fpi