FIRST LETTER. To the PROTESTANT MINISTERS of the BRITISH CHURCHES.

FROM the pulpit, and from the press, we fre­quently hear loud calls on Christians to res­pect the interests of their several Churches. One while, we of the Establishment turn the attention of our brethern to the alarming progress of Dis­senters, and exhort each other to a skilful opposi­tion against Sectaries. Another while, Dissenters rouse the languid zeal of their people, descanting on the excellence of their own modes of faith and worship, and indulging vehement invective against the avarice, the sloth, and the lordliness of Epis­copalians. We talk of the Interests of the Estab­lishment, the Dissenting Cause, the Baptist and In­dependent Interest, the Methodist Cause, and the [Page 2]like, until we lose sight of the Christian Cause, the Common Interests of mankind, and the diligent, peaceable service of our Master. Thus do we forsake the sublime of religion, sink into the mean­ness of partizans, and inspire our flocks with a fierce, sectarian zeal. We first baptize our secular interests and evil tempers into the name of the dis­interested and lowly Jesus; and, then, contend for them, with as much warmth and per [...]nacity, as tho' they involved our salvation. Is not this to fight for Barabbas, and to crucify Jesus?

While we are engaged after this goodly sort, in­fidelity increases, immoralities are multiplied, the spirit of the world domineers in the Church; and its pomps and vanities insult the standard of the cross. While the Ministers of Christ sleep, and indulge their ease; while they sacrifice to the gra­ces and muses; while they aspire to the reputation of polite learning, or profound science; while they toil in philosophical research, or in planting and watering the tree of civil liberty, our Adversary sleeps not. With unwearied vigilance, he makes head against the kingdom of Christ; and, not con­tent with possessing his own dominions in peace, he wars on the little territory of Jesus, makes bold inroads into the heart of Christendom, and strives to disposess us of what we have won from his em­pire, by the labor of ages, and with the blood of an army of martyrs. ^*

But a few years have elapsed, since a learned Englishman entered upon a calculation to shew, that were the habitable world divided into thirty parts, nineteen would be claimed by the Heathen, six would fall to the Mahometan, and five only would remain to be apportioned among the divided [Page 3]followers of the catholic Jesus. Whether this calculation be strictly accurate is of trivial conse­quence; but we must all be deeply affected by the lamentable view of human nature which it affords us. Alas! if every sincere Christian may say, with the Psalmist, My heart teacheth me the wick­edness of the ungodly; and, if to this, he may add, as we all allow he may, My own house, my own favorite sect, my own privileged country, and the Christian Church, give sad testimony to the extensive sovereignty exercised by the God of this world, To what conclusion are we led with respect to the religious state of the Heathen and Mahometan nations?

The conclusion is obvious: if the nature of man be essentially the same, in every age and climate; and, if the Christian religion be true, the people, who have not our advantages, must greatly suffer from the want of them; and bad as Christendom is, the Heathen world must be much worse, being sunk more deeply than ourselves in positive igno­rance and vice. If this mode of reasoning be thought exceptionable, I appeal to matter of fact, as far as we are acquainted with it, by those who have visited [...] is a can­did acc [...]t of the [...] of the [...] in [...]s. Should a more elaborate proof be required, it can­not be called for by any man to whom these letters are addressed. Christian Ministers are too well acquainted with the grand, exclusive privileges of Christianity, to admit a doubt of what I assert. Whatever sentiments, Reverend Brethern, may be entertained by others on this subject, you cannot be ungrateful for the blessings of revelation; and, whilst you rejoice in those blessings, you must have a benevolent desire to communicate them to a peo­ple, who know not the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

[Page 4] When we consider this deep spiritual poverty of a major part of our fellow-men, we are admonish­ed, that it becomes us to do something for their re­lief. On this we seem agreed; but, I am sorry to remark, that we agree, more generally, to neglect our duty, than to acknowlege its obliga­tion. Satisfied with the cold approbation of a du­ty, which it is impossible for us not to feel, we dis­miss prospects of wretchedness too oppressive for our faith and love; and console ourselves with the unintel­ligible hope, that the Almighty will execute, some­how, and at some time, by worthier hands, a work too great, and too dangerous, for us little men.

Fathers, Brethren, Ministers of Christ, in the presence of God, I charge you—I charge myself, with betraying the grand interests of our Master, by refusing to propagate his gospel. I charge you with the habitual, open violation of Christ's com­mand, Go, preach the Gospel to every creature. I charge you with the unspeakable guilt of burying in a napkin, those unsearchable riches, which the Apostle St. Paul thought it the honor of his life to preach to the Gentiles. Lastly, I charge you with doing this without shame, without remorse, and, almost without an effort to do the contrary. These, Reverend Brethren, are heavy charges; but I shall not find it difficult to avoid the punishment of a calumniator, by substantiating them in the progress of these letters, which have for their ob­ject the spread of the Gospel, and the salvation of the Heathen.

To this object, therefore, I solicit your attention. And, by the mercies of God, I beseech you—by the blood of Jesus, and by our common hope, grant me a patient hearing. Suffer not my obscurity to operate as a prejudice against the cause I plead. I neither deprecate your censure, nor dare I despise it. But permit me to hope, that no infelicities of [Page 5]style, nor defect of genius, nor of judgment, with which the subject is proposed, may be allowed to obscure its splendor, or detract from its worth. Would to God that some one among you, whose name is venerable among the Churches, had step­ped forward to save me from the odium of this ad­dress! But since You, who have characters to lose, do not care to hazard them by becoming reprovers in the midst of your brethren, allow me, who am without a name, to aspire to the honor of incur­ring censure for telling truths, which none of us like to hear, or wish to believe; and for telling them, with that plainness which they require.

When I consider, on the one hand, the promise and faithfulness of God, who cannot lie, and, on the other, the noble cause I espouse, I am animated with strong confidence and hope. I come forward, not as a sectary, nor as the leader of a sect. I am not encumbered with polemic armour, nor heated with polemic zeal. It is not a question in science, politics, or morals, which I lay before you. The subject I assert involves the honor of our Religion, the sincerity of her Ministers, the glory of Christ, and the best interests of men. The delegation I pretend to is authoritative; and I am justified in speaking, with all boldness, the truths of the God I serve, in the gospel of his Son. Dispense then, I beseech you, with all com­plimentary forms; and allow me to address you, with ministerial freedom, and to plead the cause I have undertaken, with that undisguised and gene­rous warmth, which it is calculated to inspire.

He that fears men, when he should speak boldly for God; and timidly dissembles truths, which, if felt aright, should be told with the strongest tones of abhorrence, indignation, and contempt, will hardly succeed in writing upon Missions. The subject calls for enthusiasm. It requires vehe­mence [Page 6]Those feelings which carried me across the water, I still cherish in my breast. They will never forsake me. I rejoice in them. I with to impart them to every Minister of Christ, and to every child of God. This I cannot hope to do, if I disguise or palliate them. It would concern me much to incur the censure of treating my Brethren in the ministry with indecent freedom; but I can­not think that truth, however severe, will offend the servants of truth: or that any of my Brethren suppose themselves entitled to use freedoms with the laity, which they will not bear from the meanest of their own body. No, Brethren. While you criticise my letters, you will applaud my design. The esteem you entertain for integrity will give mildness to your censures; and, whatever faults your better judgment may discover in this perfor­mance, your good wishes will accompany it into the world, and your prayer of faith draw down the divine blessing upon it.

From the mercenaries of the Christian Church, my soul turns with loathing. Though I could move mountains, they would remain immoveable. Though I could inspire every real Christian with all the sensations of my own heart, the unprincipled wretch; who sees nothing in the gospel ministry but an affluent and genteel profession, is vulnera­ble to no sentiment contained in these letters. Like Simon Magus, he, has neither part nor lot in this matter—Nor have I any thing to do with mere mo­ralists. The waters flow no higher than their springs. The spirit of these letters is. I flatter myself, the spirit of Christ—a spirit which they have not re­ceived, and, with the things of which, they are unacquainted. In their good opinion, I shall, therefore, think myself to stand high, if I may pass for a well-meaning enthusiast. Under God, Reverend Brethren, my hopes rest on You, who [Page 7]are what you are called, Christian Ministers—on you who were indeed moved to engage in the Minis­try by the Holy Ghost, and are animated by a sin­cere love of the Savior who so greatly loved you, and by a real regard for the lost sheep, for whom our great Shepherd died. You feel your charac­ter. You have bowels and mercies. You are the disinterested benefactors of mankind, and whatever concerns the kingdom of your Lord you call your own. For you these letters are written, and to you they belong. But, in them your pious flocks will, also, claim a part, as large as that interest, which they have in the Son of David.

As the elect of God, holy and beloved, let us, then, mind the things of Christ, to whom we are set apart as a peculiar people; and revolve all pos­sible means of advancing that glorious kingdom, for the coming of which we daily pray. Such me­ditations will dispose our hearts to peace. They will beat down many controverted subjects, of ap­parent magnitude, to the humble level of their real importance. As we muse the fire will kindle; and our Churches and public Meetings, our fa­milies and closets shall attest the animated devotion, with which one Spirit shall teach us to cry, Let the people praise thee, O God, yea, let all the people praise thee! On a subject like this, we cannot think long without feeling its attractions. It will teach us to make our requests to the Inspirer of every great design; and, then, to rest on his grace, his power, and his faithfulness, to accomplish the purposes of our hearts. As we advance, discou­ragements will vanish. Obstacles will be over­come, when we learn to think them surmountable. Difficulties will be subdued, as we acquire courage to cope with them. And, when the honor, glory, and immortality of our inestimable reward, are set full in our view, no forms of death and suffering [Page 8]will affright us. Instead of that despondency, which has long frozen our benevolent wishes, hope, like the returning sun, will bring an early spring and fruitful summer on our souls. The spirit of our religion, lulled to lethargic slumbers, will re­vive with the energies of the apostolic age; and the Church will again become illustrious, by her victories over the kingdoms of this world.

And Thou, Lord Jesus, afflicted Father of the Christian Name, blessed Martyr of Humanity, blameless Pattern, universal Priest, unerring Teacher, omnipotent King of Truth, of Righte­ousness, and of peace, deign from thy glorious throne to smile on this weak attempt, and to ac­cept this poor offering! It is a tribute I present, for the life thou hast given, for the blood thou hast shed, and for the joyous hopes thou hast inspired, to cheer, and to direct my mortal pilgrimage. Meek Spring of heavenly Wisdom, boundless Ocean of universal, ardent, unprovoked, and un­discouraged Charity, pour thy Spirit into my breast, and into the breasts of all thy servants whom I here address. Teach me and them to interest ourselves in this blessed work, as becomes men, who are dis­tinguished by thy venerable name, and honored by the ministration of thy glorious gospel! Baptize us with the fire of that love which is stronger than death! Delightfully oppress our gratitude with the everlasting mountains of thy benefits, until every sentiment of frail mortality be suppressed—until faith give us the victory over the world—over life and death, until love compel us to exclaim, Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but dross that I may win Christ; and I am willing not only to suffer bonds, but to die for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ, by whom I am crucified unto the world and the world to me.

Commending you, Reverend Brethern, the [Page 9]Christian Church, and the benighted nations, as well as their unworthy advocate, to his protection, who takes the tenderest part in all our concerns, and is able to secure and to advance them to the utmost, I remain, in the honored bonds of his Religion.

SECOND LETTER.

THE genius and spirit of our religion, the cha­racters ascribed to our Lord of the Second Adam, of the High Priest after the order of Mel­chizedeck, and of a Savior to all people, with ma­ny others of similar significance; the various scrip­tures, which speak of the benefits of his death and intercession, of his kingdom and reign; the pro­phecies and promises, loudly declare the intention of God, that this last and most perfect dispensation of the everlasting gospel should be the religion of every tribe, and kindred, and tongue. Nay, we are repeatedly assured, in the most explicit lan­guage, that it shall be so—that the truth and mercy, the peace and righteousness of our Messiah's king­dom, whatever temporary checks they may suffer, shall, in the end, overcome all opposition; and that altho' the river of God may, for a time, be disco­lored and polluted, by the pernicious soil over [Page 10]which it has rolled it's tide, yet it shall, at last, free itself from every foreign mixture, and send forth it's ten thousand pure streams, to gladden all the nations of the globe.

How ought our minds to be affected by these prospects? May we not infer from each article of this enumeration, and, much more, from the ag­gregate force of them all, that it is our obvious, bounden duty, as servants of God, as soldiers of Christ, and as friends of suffering humanity, to exert all our strength in disseminating the gospel? Is it not in our power to do, or, at least, to attempt something worthy of the cause? Have we not ships, which visit every part of the world? Have we not money—money in abundance, if we were satisfied to live with Christian simplicity, and could be pre­vailed upon to part with it, as men should do, who have a better treasure in heaven? Have we not ministers who prefer this line of service, and would gladly embark for the most barbarous clime, if they were assured of spirited support, and had rea­son to hope, that the fruits of their labor would not die with themselves? And, if we really have it in our power thus to serve mankind, and to spread our Redeemer's glory, Is it not criminal, base, infamous to neglect it? Is not this infatu­ated negligence an open violation of the precepts of both tables of the law? Do we love God, revere his majesty, approve his precepts, and con­ceive ourselves bound, by every tie, to serve him, with all our talents, and with all our strength? How does this love, this reverence, this approba­tion, this conviction, accord with the astonishing coldness, with which we look upon a world, full of cruel habitations; where virtue and piety skulk in corners; where sin is universal, uncontrolled and almost unchecked; where the Eternal Majesty is affronted by the abominable idols of the Hea­then, [Page 11]and the beastly image of a corrupt Christi­anity.

We say, that to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us, is the consentaneous voice of the Prophets and Apostles, of the law and gospel. We say well; but do we do as we say, and practice as we believe? Do we love in word and in tongue only, or in deed and in truth? Speak ye desolate shores of Africa; declare ye bloody fields of Indostan; bear your impartial testimony, ye numerous islands of the Western and Pacific oceans! Alas! my Brethern, we dare not abide the issue of the appeal. We have not done unto them, as we would, were circumstances changed, that they should have done unto us. The richest fruit of our philanthropy has been a cold, ineffective pity. We have said, Be ye free, be ye civilized, be ye converted; but we have eaten as heartily, slept as soundly, dres­sed as expensively, and enjoyed every good thing within our grasp as freely, as though they had been as happy as ourselves. We have had no fellowship with the Savior in his agony and bloody sweat, in his prayers and tears for the salvation of mankind. Provided we may live in peace and comfort, do a little good in England, accumulate fortunes, marry wives, take care of our children, and creep into hea­ven at last, we appear satisfied to leave our Mas­ster to propagate his own gospel in the world.

To these considerations, which must have weight on ingenuous minds, permit me to remind you of the solemn sanction of divine command. The fol­lowing are some of the last emphatic words of Je­sus, as they stand recorded by St. Mark & St Mat-thew:— Go into all the world, and preach the gos­pel to every creature; and teach all nations, bapti­zing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to ob­serve [Page 12]all things, which I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Shall we say, these injunctions were laid on the Apostles only? Impossible! The genius of Chris­tianity, and the spirit of the precept, forbid, such an interpretation. Let it be observed, 1st. The Apostles did not preach the gospel in many coun­tries beyond the limits of the Roman empire; and it was, in the nature of things, impossible that they should preach it to all nations. 2. Had our Lord meant the command to oblige the Apostles only, it would have been sufficient to promise his protection and blessing to the end of their lives and ministry, without adding that grand amplification, Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 3. The same reasons, why the Apos­tles should preach the gospel to every creature, ex­ist in all their force at this day; and so far from being antiquated and obsolete, gain new strength with the lapse of ages. 4. Whatever exclusive privileges the Apostles enjoyed, as the first pro­mulgators of Christianity, yet the office and duty of every minister of the gospel is, in spirit and substance, the same as theirs. From all these con­siderations, it appears, that when our Lord spoke these authoritative words, he had in contemplation all his ministers of every age and nation, as well as his immediate disciples; and that we cannot re­fuse engaging in missions, without contempt of his authority, and a shameful derilection of our duty to God and men.

I made bold to charge you, Honorable Brethern, (implicating myself in the same charge) with be­traying the grand interests of our Master, with the habitual, open violation of his commands, and with burying in a napkin the sacred depositum of the gospel. I think it unnecessary to enter into a [Page 13]formal proof of criminations, which the whole tenor of these letters is intended to substantiate. But, after adducing, from the Scriptures, the com­mission under which we act, and justify our minis­try in Britain, am I not authorized to appeal to your consciences, and ask you, Whether you are not guilty of what I lay to your charge? What monies have we subscribed, what associations have we formed, what prayers have we offered up, what animated exhortations have we given to our stocks and to one another on the subject of missions? How shall we exonerate ourselves from the enor­mous crime of which we are guilty? Shall we say, we were ignorant of our duty? The world will reclaim, How dare you teach us our duty as Christians, while you continue so grosly ignorant of your own duty as Ministers? If we plead, that we had not sufficiently considered our duty, is not every man justified in retorting, And why did you not consider it, before you entered upon the gospel ministry? In truth, we have no excuse; and it will best become us, to blush and weep in secret pla­ces, to abhor ourselves, and to repent in dust and ashes.

Were I ever so much disposed, it would hardly be in my power to exaggerate our fin and shame. You know, better than I can tell you, that the ul­timate reason of any, and of all the commandments, is the will and precept of God; and that we evince the same contempt of his authority, by the wilful neglect of one clear, positive duty, as though we neglected them all. According to the spirituality of the commandment we are chargeable with the perdition of all the poor Heathens whom our dili­gence might have saved: and assuredly, their souls will the Lord require at our hands. Contrast the infamy of our conduct with the grandeur of our [Page 14]calling, and the powers of language fail to give just coloring to our sin!

Had the Apostles of our Lord, conducted them­selves towards us, as we conduct ourselves to the Heathen world, not all the refinements of the eigh­teenth century, would have emancipated us from the worship of Thor and Woden. But blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, their religion was of a different temper. Having re­ceived the commission of their Sovereign, they declined not to engage in this warfare. Having counted the cost, they entered into the combat, like men determined to conquer or to die. Confident of the superlative excellence of the cause, for which they had drawn the sword, they threw away the scabbard, and disdained capitulation with the world. The love of Christ, which we coldly talk of, they warmly felt. They had beheld his glory, were witnesses of his holy life and blessed death, his vic­tory over the grave, and his ascension to heaven. Their faith was a commanding evidence of things unseen, and gave a present subsistence to things hop­ed for, they knew, emphatically, by the witness of that Spirit in their hearts, which was at once tho seal of their adoption, and the earnest of their inheritance, the immense grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. His poverty had made them rich—rich in grace, rich in faith, rich in the promise and vera­city of God who cannot lie; nor would they have bartered these riches for all the kingdoms of the world, and all their glory. Possessed of a lively hope, they purified themselves as God is pure; and, enriched by the liberality of Christ, they sold their possessions and gave them to the poor, seeking for themselves better riches. As strangers and pil­grims they expected to be hated by the world; and determining faithfully to discharge the ministry they had received, they knew they must suffer [Page 15]persecution; and that men, who hated to be re­formed, would pursue to the death those bold re­formers, who obtruded the holy light of truth, and forcibly dispelled the darkness congenial to their crimes. To suffer for Christ was their glory and their joy. Stripes, chains, and death were consi­dered as the highest honors of the kingdom of that Jesus who expired on a cross; bestowed as the prize of valor, and the reward of extensive services and of the most approved integrity. Unawed by those terrors which shake our breasts, as far as reason would permit, they aspired after these ho­nors; lived in hope of the crown of martyrdom; and envied the felicity of their fellows, who re­ceived it before them. The cross of Christ had crucified them to the world and the world to them. In the strong light which flowed from it, they be­held poverty and riches, ease and torture, honor and infamy, life and death, with a placid mind; and the great world, and all that it contained, was contracted to a point of vanity, before the faded lustre of that eye, which wept over its sins and miseries. Before that object of endless astonish­ment, adoration and love, they died to themselves and revived again to live to him. They were not their own but his. His blood had bought them, and his love constrained them to do and suffer all things for his sake. They had no reserves, no drawbacks on their faith; but, having given in their names to Christ, they would have judged themselves worthy of the fate of Annanias and Saphira, if they defrauded him of their lives and fortunes. With them, all was sacred. It was their meat and drink to do the will of God, and to finish the work he had given them. The Apostles led the way and other Ministers followed, from province to province, and from kingdom to king­dom. Their King was in the midst of them, and [Page 16]they saw, by faith, that standard, with that inscrip­tion, which was afterwards feigned to have been seen by the politie Constantine. The world fell before such combatants; and its pomps and vani­ties, its riches and honors, its science and learning, its arts and arms, its potentates and gods, were sub­dued by the doctrine of the Cross.

In this manner did the first Christians propagate their religion, being mighty, in deed and word; and, living rather than speaking great things, they put to flight all the armies of the aliens. Their conquests were marked, not with the blood of their enemies, but with their own. Truth and right­eousness where their arms; and patient suffering, and the doctrine of a crucified Savior, above all miraculous gifts, were the true grounds of the astonishing success which attended their preaching. But the tide of conquest was checked too soon; and although, for a few centuries, some illustrious names supported the honor of the Christian arms, yet the mystery of iniquity, which began to work in the days of the Apostles, quickly spread, with­ering the rose of the Church, subverting its faith, and corrupting its morals, until it begat a race of men more desperately wicked than Heathenism ever bred, and such alone as could be produced by the Corruptions of Christianity.

Brethren, I will not now demand your attention to the melancholy desolations of the Church: nor is it my intention to soil, with a detail of the trans­actions of a corrupt Christianity, this letter in which I have endeavored to rouse you from your slumbers, by enforcing the command of Christ; and, to provoke you to emulation, by exhibiting the labors and triumphs of the first believers. They have done greatly; and, though dead, they still live and speak to the followers of their faith. It is our part to record their actions, and to give [Page 17]them the applause they have earned so well. But we must do more. We must tread in their steps, and derive encouragement from their example. We must prove ourselves their successors, by occu­pying the extensive field they cultivated. If we re­fuse to do this, the praises we lavish on them, will be, as were the sepulchres built for the old pro­phets by the pharisaic Jews, the monuments of our hypocrisy and guilt. Surely, our Lord, his Apostles, his Martyrs and Confessors, lived and di­ed not for the benefit of England nor of Christen­dom alone.—O my God incline us to call a fast, to proclaim a solemn assembly, to bathe our altars with our tears, to confess our sins and treachery, to sound an alarm in God's holy mountain, and to animate each other to the glorious warfare to which we are pledged!

The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. The latter ends of the world are fallen upon us, and we have many considerations to excite us, if it were possible, to more than apostolic labors. The East, from which the day springs from on high first vsited us, has long been lost to Christ; and the crescent of Mahomet still usurps the places where the cross once triumphed. In the West, the Ro­man Antichrist, accursed of God and man, is sinking under the reiterated strokes of divine ven­geance. The God of the Christians is baring his arm, and exposing the nakedness of the Scarlet Whore with whom the nations of the earth have committed spiritual fornication. The prayers of the spirits under the altar are heard; and a righte­ous God is avenging the blood of his saints, by gi­ving her to drink of the blood of her children. Yet a little while, and we shall hear the cry, Babylon the Great is fallen; and see the Almighty burning her, as with fire from heaven, by the very hands which erected and supported her hierarchy. [Page 18]The shouts of triumphant atheism, and the scoffs of a vain philosophy invade our ears. Unheard of prodigies meet our eyes, and suspend our souls with astonishment and horror. The same spirit and principles, which have regenerated one Christian nation to atheism, are working in others, and will, probably, produce the same effect. We shall soon see kindling upon Spain, Portugal and Italy, that conflagration, which nothing but the pure streams of the Reformation can extinguish. Even in this blessed land of civil and religious liberty, where religion has reared her most august temple, we have much to fear; and no human wisdom can deter­mine, whether the Almighty may not purge our tin and dross, with the same fire, which consumes the wood, the hay and the stubble of Churches more corrupted than our own. Vain are all the admonitions of our Master, if we do not under­stand the signs of the day, and put forth those ex­ertions to which they call us.

It is not for the Potentates of Europe to guaran­tee the welfare of Religion. She disdains all so­reign aids. She calls not for the succor, but com­mands the obedience of earthly Kings. We, the Ministers of Christ, are called upon to give the on­ly aids of which she can admit; and she demands our talents, our labors, our fortunes, our influ­ence, and our lives. Let us fly to the succor of our best mother, the afflicted Church of Christ. O let us no more fall out by the way. Let liberal Churchmen and conscientious Dissenters, pious Calvinists & pious Arminians, embrace with frater­nal arms. Let the press groan no longer with our controversies; and let the remembrance of the petty interests we have contended for be buried in ever­lasting oblivion. Let us vote that Minister, who turns one sinner from the error of his life, a wiser man than he, who demonstrates the being of a God; [Page 19]and study to live and preach like St. Paul, rather than to speak and write with Cicero. Let us for ever forsake the Schools; and build our religion on facts, and not on arguments; on the power of God, and not on the wisdom of man. Christianity ad­dresses herself to the heart. To the heart, then, which is the great strong hold of Satan, and the inexhaustible magazine of infidel sophistry, let us direct our war. Let us be frequent in our pulpits, and from thence boldly denounce the menaces and promises of Heaven. Let the crucified Jesus be the prominent figure of our gospel; and be held forth, for what he really is, our strength, our glo­ry and our salvation. Let us not visit and converse as other men; but always intent on the object of our commission, [...] guardian angels among our peo­ple, advise, exhort, reprove with all long sufferance and sound doctrine. Let us not dare to bury our light for six days out of seven; but on every pro­per occasion, when our flocks can be convened, ap­prove our faithful diligence in declaring God's word. Let us beware of what the world calls Prudence; and see that we do not shun the cross of Christ, and enervate his noble religion, by over anxious endea­vors to render it respectable to men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, and whose opposi­tion to the gospel, does not originate in the defect and obscurity of its evidences, but in inveterate hatred of its holiness and heavenly-mindedness.

But let not our zeal, piety, and benevolence stop here. Let us cast our eyes upon the Continent. Let us extend our views to the ends of the earth. Let us, henceforth, consider it as our indispensible duty to do all that lies in our power, to preach the gospel to every creature. Let Missions be treated no more with cold neglect, or be vilified with charges of enthusiasm. But in public and private, from the pulpit and from the press, let us speak of [Page 20]them as becomes their dignity; and recommend them, with that forcible and persuasive eloquence, with which the love of God and man should in­spire us.

If we do this, with becoming diligence and zeal, we shall soon have it in our power to confute a plausible objection, with which infidels blaspheme our religion. The partial diffussion of Christiani­ty will then be seen to have originated, not with God, but men. The philanthropy of God our Savior will shine forth in its proper amplitude, as extending to all men; and we, the Ministers of Christ, shall be made to confess, with honest im­partiality and ingenuous shame, that the wretched ignorance and abominable vices of the Heathen are chargeable on our wicked disobedience to our Mas­ter's commands. O let us no longer give place to unbelief, idly affecting commiseration to that wretchedness, which we have it in our power to relieve; but arise and assert our integrity and man­hood. We have the key of promise in our hands; let us use it with courage, and bring to light those prisoners of many generations.

THIRD LETTER.

IN my last letter, I made free to put the question. What monies have to subscribed, what associa­tions have we formed, what prayers have we offer­ed up, what animated exhortations have we given to our stocks, and to one another, on the subject of Missions? In reply, I shall be told, that the Church of England has long established a Society for foreign Missions; that the Unitas Fratrum have done worthily in the cause; that the We [...]lean Methodists have had, of late years, great success in the West-India islands; that the Particular Bap­tists have taken up the matter with spirit; that Elliott, Brainard and others have acquired immor­tality by their labors among the North American Indians; that the Danes and Hollanders have their Missions in the East; and, that the Jesuits, and other religious Orders of the Roman Communion, have shed much blood for Christ, in South Ameri­ca, China, and Japan.

Of these transactions I am not altogether igno­rant. God forbid I should depreciate their worth! The benevolent promoters of Missions merit my warmest praise; and the missionaries, who have acted up to the spirit of their engagements, are superior to all human approbation. Their record is on h [...]gh, and they will shine, as the sun in the firmament, for ever and ever. Considered in the abstract, what has been done deserves the highest commendation. But whe [...] we reflect on the sub­ject, in all its extent, we must see our labors in a very diminutive point of view. Were our Pro­phet the bloody Mahomet, were our religion a [Page 22]mere moral system, were its sanctions of less consi­deration than they are, were our own sincerity and the welfare of the world not connected so intimate­ly as they are, in the propagation of Christianity, I would celebrate our good deeds in the most jubi­lant strains. But, when I look on the myriads of men who lie in darkness and in the shadow of death; when heaven and hell open on my soul, and cast their light upon our labors; or when I stand by the side of the suffering Savior of the Heathen, and my bible tells me, that He whom I see expiring in agony, is GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, shame, grief, and indignation oppress my feelings. I cast up the sum of our labors, and, amidst such objects, mark it with a cypher. Alas! it is evident, we are still in the infancy of things; and that the missionary spirit has not yet warmed the bosom of the Church. Contemplate these objects, Reverend Brethern, which I have set before you; and say, Whether I can with truth and modesty compliment you on our atchievements? Or can merit censure, for repeating the question, What monies have we subscribed, what associations have we formed, what prayers have we offered up, what animated exhor­tations have we given to our flocks and to one ano­ther on the subject of Missions? Greenland is, per­haps the only Heathen Country, in which the ge­nuine religion of Christ has gained a firm footing for several centuries.

Neither a history of Missions, nor even a re­view of them, can have place in the narrow limits of my plan. A few observations on the views, with which they have been set on foot; the man­ner, in which they have been conducted; and the success, which has attended them, is all that I shall offer to your attention in this letter.

Missions have sometimes been set on foot with very improper views. Such were the Missions of [Page 23]the Jesuits in Paraguay, California, and other parts of Spanish America. Their end was the subjuga­tion of the poor savages to the dominion of Spain; and Christianity was a mere state engine, by which it was hoped the minds of freemen might with more facility, be bowed to the yoke of slavery. Whether those good Fathers were more honest than their employers, and were really desirous to consult the happiness of their converts, or were stimulated only by ambitious and lucrative motives, as they stand charged by their enemies, I will not presume to say. But we know well what was the end of those Missions. In one day, all the Jesuits in South America were seized, their Order abolished, and the ultima ratio regum—cannon and muskets, ap­plied with such good success to the miserable Gua­ranis, that, if they were not made good Christi­ans, they were, at least, converted into what the Court of Spain had much more at heart—passive, spiritless slaves. The Missions among the Canadi­an Indians, while that country made a part of the French dominions, appear to have originated in si­milar motives. Happily, their catastrophe was less bloody. The missionaries, indeed, fell by the hands of the untractable savages they would have converted to slavery and christianized superstition. They themselves still remain to be exterminated, as tribes of their brethern have been, by the Eng­lish bayonet and American riflemen. The Missions of the Portuguese in Angola, Abyssinia, and India, had very different things in view than the salvation of men's souls. The same may be said, I fear, of many other Catholic Missions. In this respect, Protestants are not so blameable: nevertheless, we are not, altogether, without having been actuated by unworthy views. Protestant powers have not made religion the pretext for conquest; for they have, in general, valued it so little, that provided [Page 24]they might carry on their commerce in peace, and cut the throats of the Heathens, whenever they re­sisted their encroachments, they have left them to take care of their own souls; as if it was thought Christianity could do them no good, and the injuri­es they suffered from us merited no compensation. But, to quicken the slow movements of piety, even among English Protestants, some patrons of Missions have not disdained to apply the stimulus of interest. Missions would civilize the savage—He would soon be taught to value European luxuries —Furs would purchase our coarse goods. Thus were Missions connected with manufactures and commerce, and gain became a pedestal for godliness to stand upon. If this mode of reasoning be thought allowable with those, who are not to be influenced by more appropriate motives, I affirm, from certain knowlege, that it brings a slur on all undertakings of the kind. I add, that if such an argument should engage men of improper cha­racters to act in associations for Missions, and to have any weight in the conduct of them, Missions will suffer more injury from their counsels, than they can derive benefit from their liberality. The giving glory to God in the highest, and the spread­ing of peace and good will among men upon earth are the only motives, which should influence these attempts; and, if we think to promote the cause of God, by arguments addressed to the corrupt princi­ples of man, we shall cut off our legs, before we set out in the race.

The manner, in which Missions have been con­ducted, has been as different, as the views i [...] which they originated, and the characters of those who acted in them.

In South America, the ambition and avarice of the Jesuits, or their piety (God knows which) were subservient to the politics of the Court of [Page 25]Mad [...]id; and this co-operation, so long as it conti­nued, gave an astonishing momentum to their la­bors. The Pope, the King of Spain, and zealous Catholics enriched their funds; and, that the im­moral lives of the Spaniards might not perjudice the Indians against the faith of Christ, they were prohibited from any intercourse with the Nations, who were to be converted. The Jesuits, on their part, embarked in the undertaking in great num­bers. They conducted the enterprize with wisdom, courage, and perseverance, Many of them were the victims of their zeal; falling by the hands of the Indians, or in consequence of the hardships they endured. The members of that learned Order were metamorphised into masons, carpenters, and smiths, and at once, instructed their converts in the arts of life and in the truths of religion, They prevailed; and collected the wandering tribes into villages, where they appear to have lived happy under their lenient government. But the question was, Whom these poor creatures should acknow­lege for their master, the Jesuits, or the King of Spain? Hence those jealousies, which termina­ted in the ruin of the Missions, and the abolition of the Order of Jesuits.

In Japan and China, we have memorable docu­ments of the prowess of that celebrated Order. Francis Xavier was himself a host. His labors were wonderful; and through every unhappy me­dium that we are to contemplate his character, he appears a man of the first magnitude. An eulo­gium, superior to the questionable miracles, with which his biographers adorn his life, may be col­lected from the reverence in which he was held by the Japanese, and the hatred with which he was persecu­ted by his companions from Portugal. He seems to have been too good for their purposes. The men, who have since borne witness to his worth, were [Page 26]those on whom his death is chargeable. It is well known, that this Apostle of the Indies expired in the Island of Sanchian, deserted by all his country­men, at the time he was endeavoring to penetrate into China.—But the indefatigable Sons of Loyala soon trod in the steps of this famous leader. After surmounting innumerable obstacles, which were thrown in their way from the policy of the Chi­nese, and the contempt and jealousy in which they held Europeans, they sound means to recommend themselves to the Emperor and the Mandarins of his Court; and obtained many privileges and in­dulgencies for their Order. Their skill in the Ma­thematics, Astronomy, and other sciences, and their elegant and expensive presents of curious pie­ces of mechanism, gave them great influence in a kingdom, whose Monarchs have given the most distinguished patronage to men of letters and sci­ence. Their converts in Japan and China soon amounted to several hundred thousands; numerous churches were built; books of religion were trans­lated into the native languages; and their affair wore an aspect, so favorable, as to promise a per­manent and extensive establishment of the Roman religion, in both those empires. But the Missionaries themselves sapped the foundations of the fab­ [...]ie they had erected. Intoxicated with success, they affected too much notoriety. Laying aside that [...]un [...] [...]y which had at first recommended them to notice, they betrayed a lofty and imperious spirit. They supposed the savor of the Sovereign the best security for their labors; and soon became accom­plished courtiers. The nobility, offended at the interest which a few obscure strangers had acquired with the Prince, united to destroy them. The Dominicans, who had been associated in their la­bors, quarrelled with the Jesuits; and their mutu­al ill offices rendered the Emperor suspicious of [Page 27]the consequences of introducing the papal power over the consciences of his subjects. Persecution l [...]wered. Banishment, imprisonment, and death soon followed. Great numbers of the Jesuits and of their converts suffered with invincible fortitude; and, in their last moments, approved a hope full of immortality. Christianity may be considered as exterminated in both those great Empires; ex­cept, that in the last, a few disguised priests still find means to conceal themselves in Can [...]on, to keep alive the dying embers of the mighty flame they had kindled. The Jesuits stand convicted of grant­ing to their proselytes large indulgence of hea­thenish superstition; but I see not why Protestants should be surprised at their conduct, and much less, why Papists should criminate it. Men, who offer­ed saint worship to that Moloch, Dominick, and other illustrious villains of the papal calendar, could not deal rigorously with the Chinese, for si­milar honors they paid to the benevolent Confuci­us and the spirits of their progenitors. Nor do I see, why we should think so meanly of their con­verts. Thousands of them died for their religion and if, amidst all the trumpery of antichristian su­perstition, we can discover spirits so pure and ele­vated as those of a Fenelon and Paschal, I think there is great reason to believe, that the command­ing features of revealed religion, rendered doubly impressive from their novelty, might produce the most salutary effects on the converts of China and Japan.

Of the attempts which have been made by the Society for Foreign Missions, I wish to speak in handsome terms. But, I am sorry to observe, that there is nothing on the face of the accounts of their proceedings, which have been laid, from time to time, before the Public, upon which I can ground a compliment. Their money and their labors have [Page 28]been extremely unproductive; and, I fear very lit­tle is to be expected from that quarter, until a con­siderable alteration takes place in the spirit of the Church of England, and in the manner in which her missions are conducted. We seem almost des­titute of the zeal and courage required for these en­gagements. I believe the Society are frequently at a loss to find missionaries; and, under this dis­couragement, are often obliged to take up with improper characters. We have no discipline. We have no common habits to unite our missionaries. They are thinly scattered in Missions, and not en­joying the advantages of numbers equal to their at­tempts, nor acting with united strength and coun­sels, they cannot have great success. Let cause and effect be compared together, and it will appear that these attempts have been as fruitful, as was to be expected from the manner in which they were conducted. The Society in Scotland for propagat­ing Christian Knowlege have deserved well of their country; and have made many attempts to convert and civilize the North-American Savages. Some of their missionaries have been apostolic men, and God has blessed their labors with considerable suc­cess. They have evinced a true spirit of Missions, by exposing their persons to all the dangers and hardships of living among savages. If this Society has erred in any thing, it is in exposing these ex­cellent men singly and alone, to contend with all the discouragements of such undertakings. This must have thrown a great damp on their activity, depres­sing their spirits, injuring their health, and accele­rating their death. No human mind can at all times support itself under diversified suffering and disappointment. If any man on earth needs the support of a few kindred spirits to cheer his heart, invigorate his zeal and support his patience and for­titude, it is a missionary to Heathens. David Brai­nerd, [Page 29]and a few superior minds, may have walked through life, without the consolation of a friend and comforter. But the conversion of Heathens will never be effected by a few such characters. Com­mon men must be employed, and Missions, to be successful, must be rendered, as much as possible, common things. Perhaps, we are hardly justifia­ble in exposing insulated individuals in such circum­stances of trial; and let them answer our expecta­tions ever so well, their success will always be in­adequate to the object of Missions, which is an ex­tensive spread of Christ's religion. I know not that the Dutch have merited commendation by their missionary labors. I am equally ignorant of what has been done by the Swedes. The Danes are entitled to the approbation of their fellow Christians for their labors of love in Greenland and in the East; but as I can speak of them only in general terms, and my principal intention is to confine my observations to what has been done among ourselves, I dare form no estimate of their services.

The Moravian Brethren, have been among us, what the Jesuits were in the Roman Church. They have labored, and suffered, and effected more than all of us. Their motives have been pure; their missionaries unblameable; their self denial, courage, hardihood and perseverance admirable; and their success such as to give general encouragement. They have never provoked persecution among the Heathens, nor incurred reproach among Europe­ans, by a secular, sordid, turbulent spirit. Their success cannot be referred to the learning of their Ministers, the richness of their funds, or the names and influence of great patrons. The case was for otherwise: in all these respects they have lain under heavy discouragements. We must then account for their success upon other principles; [Page 30]and they are, I think, very obvious. Their mis­sionaries have been men of ardent piety. The Brethren had it in their power to hold out no im­proper inducements to them. They are all of them volunteers; for it is an inviolable maxim, with the Moravians, to persuade no man to engage in missi­ons. They seldom make an attempt where there are not half a dozen of them in the Mission. They live together in one family, and, where they find it necessary, labor with their own hands. Hence their Missions are less expensive, than those of any other people; they can engage in more Missions, than they would otherwise be able to support; and their missionaries are enabled to subsist, where those of other denominations would starve. Their missi­onaries are entirely of one mind, as to the doc­trines they teach, their mode of inculcating them, and the discipline they exercise over their flocks. Their habits are congenial; and, accustomed for a course of years to give scrupulous attention to every rule of their Church, few cases can occur to produce diversity of judgments among them. They live together with the regularity of a monastic institu­tion; and the frequent stated returns of devotional exercises keep up the spirit of piety. They have each of them their proper department in the family, and occupied as they are, with study, private and public devotion, preaching, and the various exerci­ses of the pastoral care, they have no time to be idle. If any of their missionaries are carried off by sick­ness or casuality, men of the same stamp are ready to supply their place; and the office of a missionary does not go about knocking at a hundred door; doomed to be rejected by them all, as too often hap­pens in the Church of England Missions. Th [...] mutually supporting and inspiring one another, they are sheltered from those tempests, which discharge their fury on a few solitary beings, badly united [Page 31]together, and placed in circumstances, where the zeal and abilities of an individual, however great, can effect little.

The Methodists have lately entered upon this ca­reer, and bid fair to run it with the same success. The character of their ministers, the nature of their discipline, and the integrity of their views, are si­milar, in many respects, to those of the Moravi­ans. But there are also some features, in which they are strongly contrasted; and they will, pro­bably, produce a considerable difference in the na­ture and success of their missionary warfare, both of a favorable and unfavorable kind. The zeal o the Moravian is calm, steady, persevering. He would reform the world, but is careful how he quarrels with it. He carries his point by address, and the insinuations of modesty and mildness, which commend themselves to all men, and give offence to none. The habits of silence, quietness, and de­cent reserve, mark his character. The zeal of the Methodist blazes, and burns every thing before it. He is open, active, bold, and ardent. He sees himself in a pushing world, and pushes with the foremost. He cannot brook the general coldness; and, fearless of conseque [...]ces, censures with seve­rity what he deems censurable. He mixes in the world; makes a hundred different attempts to ef­fect his purpose; and, if bas [...]ed in them all, di­rects his labors to some other [...]u [...]rt, which affords full scope to his activity. He lives in action; and is dejected and uncomfortable, if he wants active employment. The Methodists are know chiefly for what they have done at home; the Moravians for what they have done abroad. The Moravian discipline is more severe and complicate, and re­quires a submission and docility in their people, again which the high idea of personal liberty that prevails in Europe, strongly militates. The [Page 32]Methodist discipline is more lax and liberal: and while it is sufficiently strict, in guarding men's, morals, it carries nothing in it to repel proselytes. Itinerancy is the Palladium of Methodism. Fix­ing on some favorable post, they revolve in a circle round it, perpetually making incursions in the neighboring country, and multiplying their cir­cuits and their preachers in proportion to their suc­cess. If they do not split of themselves, their is hardly any thing in the missionary line, which they may not attempt and succeed in. But they will not. I fear, be able to steer clear of persecution, as the Moravians have done; nor do I conceive, that they have patience and perseverence for a Greenland Mission. A Methodist preacher would think his life thrown away, in spending twenty or thirty years upon a few converts. And, I starter myself, the Methodists are too well acquainted with them­selves, to engage in such undertakings, while so many large and populous kingdoms are accessible to their labors.

When we come to make a general estimate of the success of Missions, both in the Roman and Protestant Communions, I fear, I should be too li­beral were I to say, that there are in the whole Hea­then world, one hundred thousand genuine converts to Christianity. And, if this be all we can shew for our labor, from the Reformation of Luther to the present day, I think it invincible demonstration, that we have not taken up the matter with a proper spirit, nor conducted it in a proper manner.

From the foregoing observations, I come to the following conclusions. First, that if we continue to go on with Missions as we have done, we can hope for no better success; and the day of judg­ment will surprize us quarrelling with each other in Europe, where we have earthly interests to en­gage our passions, and doing nothing in the rest of the [Page 33]world, where all the interests of Christ are neglect­ed. Secondly, it will be more manly and ingenu­ous to renounce all our Missions, to deny the obli­gation of acting in them, and to acknowledge that we are mercenaries, who must be paid for our pa­ter noster, than thus to go on shamefully deceiving ourselves, and endeavoring to impose on God and men, by a shew of zeal for religion, which has no real place in our hearts and conduct. Thirdly, missionaries must be united perfectly, in common principles and habits, and act with that energy which results from u [...]ited counsels and actions; and, it is with the view of shewing the necessity of it, that I have expatiated so freely on the Jesuits, Moravians, and Methodists. Fourthly, missiona­ries must be sound in larger numbers, and suitable funds must be established for the work. An en­quiry into the best way of conducting Missions, and the consideration of what steps it is incumbent on us to take in this business, will furnish matter for my next Letter.

FOURTH LETTER.

IN writing upon Missions, I proposed only to call general attention to the subject, and to satisfy myself with a few hints on the manner of conduct­ing them. But, at the request of some friends, whom I have consulted, and to whose judgment I owe much deference. I am now prevailed upon to say, specifically, what is it I expect from my Bre­thren in the ministry respecting Missions; and to obtrude my own particular views of the most eligi­ble way of carrying them into effect.

Of you, Reverend Brethren, I require, that you will set to heart the salvation of the Heathen, me­ditate on the subject with the most solemn and affec­tionate feelings, and cultivate your zeal and phi­lanthropy by earnest prayer to God, that he would give you towards them bowels and mercies. I would have you suppose it possible, that it may be your duty to take a more active part in Missions than you have imagined; and consequently, I with you to divest yourselves of every prejudice which might bias your judgment, and preclude the convictions of duty. I expect, that you will not treat the subject with levity, and, much less with contempt; but speak of [...] with respect and appro­bat [...]n. I think, you should take opportunities of setting the importance of these undertaking, before your flocks from the pulpit; and, by your exhor­tations and liberality, give them examples of zeal and benevolence. I add, that if your convictions of duty lead that way, you should come forward with all boldness, and take your p [...]r [...] in the busi­ness, [Page 35]and take your part in the business, whatever it may be, in serving Missions, by your pen, your influence, your advice, or your personal labors, ei­ther at home or abroad.

From Ministers, as connected with each other, I expect, that they mutually communicate their views as to the most effectual methods of spreading the gospel, and exhort each other to a generous and noble exertion of ministerial zeal. I require them to form Associations, for collecting money, obtain­ing information, procuring missionaries, and trans­acting the variety of concerns, which fall under the consideration of Missions. In these Associa­tions, I wish those Ministers to come forward, whose character and services give them most respec­tability, and will enable them to promote effectual­ly the cause they undertake. Last of all, having once engaged, I would have the Association to be actuated by a true spirit of Missions. They should be zealous, active, indefatigable. Any Minister who is not warmly affected to Missions, should be excluded from the acting Committee. What these Gentlemen are, their missions will be. Having in their power the choice of missionaries, and the management of the Mission, they will not fail to give to the whole undertaking the features and complexion of their own characters.—This is the sum of my requisitions; and I slatter myself that there is in it, nothing irrational, nothing, to the performance of which our calling does not oblige us.

The small success which has attended Missions should incline us to suspect, that they have not been conducted in the most eligible way; and dispose us to examine with candor any new method, which may be proposed. I will, therefore, shew my opi­ni [...]. But as I do not presume to dictate to any man on the subject; so I am aware that no one [Page 36]plan can be formed, which will equally apply to Nations, who differ in their degree of civilivation, their police, their religion, and the face of their country. Whoever, therefore, are intrusted with the execution of our plans, should have the discre­tionary power, of deviating in their application, as the reason of the case shall demand. This ob­servation premised, a general view of the nature of Missions, and of the state of the Heathen Nations, may enable us to infer something as to the line of conduct most likely to ensure success.

Before we can justify sanguine hopes, a conside­rable alteration in favor of religion must take place among ourselves. We cannot give to others, what we do not possess; and before our zeal will acquire sufficient momentum to effect great things for the salvation of the Heathens, it is necessary that a more general and serious care should prevail about the salvation of our own souls. While we look for this desirable change, we cannot do better than re­new our missionary engagements; which will have the most favorable operation in bringing it about. Great designs and great undertakings form great men. They call forth the talents, of which we never supposed ourselves to be possessed; and give an exhibition of splendid virtues, which do not fre­quent the common paths of life. Courage pro­vokes c [...]rage, and zeal enkindles zeal. Conside­rable success, in any one mission, would encourage many undertakings; and the activity exerted in fa­vor of the Heathens, would naturally call atten­tion to the ways and means of doing good among our own countrymen.

Want of success is the most fatal objection which lies against Missions. We have not taken proper st [...]s to insure success. We have hardly dared to ho [...]e for it. A few hundred converts have been considered, as a great thing; and a sew thousand [Page 37]have been the he plus ultra of our hope. A revo­lution must take place in our id [...]as on the subject. We must hope for great things. We must attempt great things. Until this is done, tolerable success is not to be expected. There is a proportion be­tween the object we embrace, and the zeal and ex­ertion we show in accomplishing it. Such limited views as these preclude exertion. Whereas, where great advantages are proposed, men are forward to incur great expences, and to run great risks. Let us, then, determine to give a fair trial to Missions, and undertake something which will help us to form a reasonable judgment of what is, or is not to be expected from them. Let our object be to evan­gelize the Islands of the South Sea, or to obtain for Christianity a firm footing and extensive spread in India, China, Tibet, Borneo, Persia, Tartary, and other great kingdoms.

The preparations we make must be answerable to the views we adopt. Men and money are the nerves of war. A few scattered missionaries, and paltry funds, are inadequate to such conquests. But, as our strength is small, and our forces new levies, unpractised to these perilous encounters, I would recommend to no Denomination of Christians to engage in a second Mission, until experience has convinced them that they are more than equal to the first. We must also be resolved to take the field in the very boldest line of service. A Mission, especially such a Mission as I propose, is one of those enterprizes where the measures which, at first sight, appear the most hazardous and despe­rate, are the most deliberate and successful. Men, who are not disposed to run all chances, and to undergo sufferings, which on the relation might freeze the blood of those who hear them quietly by their fire sides, have no business in Missions. And, if missionaries of this cast are not to be bad, we [Page 38]may, without any great detriment to the Christian Cause, wait with patience until such characters ap­pear in the world. Men of other dispositions will do, as little as has been done: and if a few indivi­duals of a peculiar turn of mind are willing to re­linquish a large sphere of usefulness in Europe for the hope of converting a handful of people in In­dia, they will not have many followers: But they will furnish for us, at home, a pretext for talking about greater things, than we have godliness or courage to perform.

I give my advice that no Mission, of the des­cription I have pointed out, be undertaken with a smaller number than ten or twelve missionaries; and that number should be increased in a treble or quadru­ple proportion, as the success attending the Mission may require. To procure a large supply of missi­onaries, I propose that an equal number of pious lay brethren should be employed in every Mission, as schoolmasters, transcribers, exhorters, and to assist in all the emergencies of the Mission, to which missionaries may not be able to give attention. Young men of twenty, or one and twenty years of age would easily be found among every Christian people, who have good natural talents and zeal for God, which would make them rejoice to be associa­ted in our labors. Their youth and inexperience would derive instruction and support from their el­der Brethren, and, after a few years trial, they might be promoted to the honorable station of mis­sionaries. Such an establishment would be the best seminary of education for missions, and, with oc­casional helps from Europe, be sufficient for all de­mands. Nor is this idea, altogether novel: the Unitas [...]ratum, in their Missions, have availed themselves greatly of the piety of their lay bre­thren.

As the expence of supporting so large a number [Page 39]of missionaries would be very great, and far be­yond the strength of any funds, which can, at this time, be set on foot, I propose that no missionary be received until he has acquainted him­self with one or other art, by which he may do something towards his own maintenance. This is, I think, a matter of indispensible necessity. The Apostles of our Lord, the Jesuits, and the Mora­vians, have experienced the advantage of practi­sing these honest arts. I have elsewhere given my reasons for discharging [...]arried ministers from this warfare; nevertheless, if such are to be found, as are desirous of engaging under all the discourage­ments of their situation, let them go. With God's blessing, both they and their wives may be very useful in a missionary family.

With such difficulties and dangers before them, it would be ungenerous and unfeeling not to give to missionaries every comfort and accommodation we can afford; but a stated salary is, in my idea of it, unnecessary and improper. A few books, and clothes, with the proper implements of their respective arts, is all they can need, and all they could retain with safety in an uncivilized country.

Suppose twenty missionaries and lay-brethren safely landed in Otaheite, they must recommend themselves by liberality, and purchase a few acres of land for cultivation, as well as a competent stock of the necessaries of the country. They will build a large house for their establishment, and erect a church for divine worship. After they begin to be acquainted with the people and country, they may, if it be thought advisable, make two or three more establishments in different parts of the Island. They will form vocabularies, and reduce the lan­guage to rule; make observation on all they see and hear, write it down, and commit it to memo­ry; they will acquaint themselves with the religi­on, [Page 40]government, and manner of the natives; be­gin to instruct youth, communicate all the know­lege they possess, learn to cultivate their lands, and, to do every thing else needful for their support. During this time they may also give the natives some historical accounts of Christianity, and the leading principles of our morals. But their grand labor will be the acquisition of the language, and the improvement of their piety, as well as the gi­ving of an example to the islanders, by the regular and frequent returns of all the exercises of piety and benevolence. In two years time I suppose [...] tolerably well acquainted with the language, and those who speak it, their affairs in good train, and the plan of operation laid down with mutual con­sent. They may now proceed to business, and open their commission with due solemnity.

If they did not before multiply their establish­ments, it will now be necessary to do it. In each department, they will open a school for youth, ra­ther than children; and others of them may be employed in travelling through the country in a re­gular itinerancy, preaching every night and morn­ing; and after a circuit of a fortnight, return to the establishment. And in this manner must they continue to act, increasing their labor in pro­portion to their success, and to their numbers. If, instead of Otaheite, they make their attempt in India, they may conduct themselves in much the same way. It may be needful to say that they should form their establishments in all the great cities of the empire, after the example of the Apostles, who soon formed Churches in Alexandria, Anti­och, and Rome.

In missionary establishments, the greatest care should be taken in giving to every man his proper department, and in preserving [...] general co-operation in all their efforts. If absolute ruin be not the [Page 41]consequence of their acting independantly of each other, yet their strength will be so diminished by division, as to produce no fruit worthy of their soil. If there be any conclusiveness in this reason­ing, it will shew the absolute necessity of each missionary's guarding against pertinacity of opinion, and the encouraging of those habits of fastidious delicacy which grow upon men who are accustom­ed in all things to consult only their private feel­ings.—Unless we can resolve on this sacrifice, we are not qualified to act in Missions.

Under the consideration of the most eligible way of conducting Missions, it may not be improper to add a few observations on the manner of preaching, [...]d the behavior with respect to some important points which will be most likely to give success to missionaries. His doctrine and the way of propo­sing it are the first things I shall notice. He should remember, that he is a preacher of the gospel, and that it is not so much moral truths, as gospel prin­ciples and motives that he is to instil into his audi­tors. The morality of Christ is the most perfect and admirable system which ever appeared, or can be conceived of, as applicable to the state and situa­tion of mankind. Considered in its due extent, it embraces our whole duty to God and men; it re­gulates not only every action of our external con­duct, but also forms every disposition of the mind, controls every faculty of the soul, and exercises a sovereign authority over every secret of the heart. It is always beautiful, and harmonizes with itself in all its parts. In no case, and to no man does it grant indulgence of unrightcousness. But to preach this moral rule in all its extent is not to preach the gospel. So far from it, that they, who have insisted upon it, so, as to obtain the name of Moral preachers, have in fact subverted the gospel, and broken the moral law into a thousand pieces, a [Page 42]few of which are gathered up, by those who mean to go to heaven by the merit of their works, and they consider themselves as enriched by their par­tial acquisitions. Archimedes, exulting in the suc­cess of an experiment in mechanics, exclaimed, Find me a place to stand upon, and I will move the earth! These Moral Preachers, are in the very dilemma of the Philosopher.—Could their engine move the earth, they want a solid spot to fix it up­on. Unless they supply this defect, their boasted morals are good for nothing; and their zeal to do good a mere beating the air. The Gospel Preach­er supplies their defect, and both magnifies and es­tablishes the law in all its extent, and spirituality, by placing it on the glorious, everlasting foundation, of Christ crucified. Justice, mercy, truth, however we may differ in the application of the terms, are things, in which Heathens will think themselves as well informed as ourfelves: But the original rectitude and subsequent depravity of man, the incarnation and death of the Son of God for our redemption, a free justification by the grace of God, a regeneration of the whole man, consist­ent universal holiness, enforced on the ground that we are not our own, but Christ's, the supernatural succors of the Divine Spirit, and the commanding doctrines of eternal judgment, are things of which they have no conception. These grand, forcible truths, with the varied apparatus which belong to them, are those on which missionaries are called to insist; and the crucified Jesus is the central point from which all the lines of our divinity must be drawn. In a word our missionaries must be gospel ministers, and not merely moral ones.

He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, said the blessed Jesus, and he that believeth not shall be damned. This should be insisted on with becom­ing firmness; but I incline to think, that we should [Page 43]not abroad, and especially in the early stages of our Mission, deal so freely in the figure anathema, as we do at home. In England every man professes Christianity, and is sufficiently acquainted with the leading principles of our faith to criminate his dis­obedience. We may argue with him from his own data, and assume with him a tone of authority, which will not be justifiable with poor Heathens. The progress of the human mind in the investiga­tion of truth is not rapid, especially when it is clouded with inveterate prejudices. We should, therefore, be careful how we bring in our damna­tory clauses prematurely, against a people, who are not acquainted with our principles, and can form no estimate of the consequences of rejecting them. This observation might, perhaps, have been spar­ed; although I hope to meet with indulgence for inserting it.

I have before said, that in another place I should give my reasons for wishing to discharge married men, and fathers of families, from this warfare. Single men will be exposed from the infirmity of their nature to think of entering into the conjugal state. This is a propensity which it would be well to discourage as much as possible, without advanc­ing so far as to criminate men for complying with the imperious will of heaven. But much attention should be paid to the manner in which missionaries ally themselves. Upon this head no certain rules can be given. Among politer nations fewer oppor­tunities will occur of marrying into noble families, and among more savage tribes I fear it is hardly to be wished. A heathen woman would be a very de­grading companion for a Christian Missionary; and the example would have a fatal tendency on our converts.

The preaching of the gospel, with fidelity and boldness, implies a considerable share of publicity; [Page 44]but nothing should be guarded against with more attention than an ostentatious display of Christiani­ty. While our converts are few, persecution is not to be feared; but as truth prevails the enemy of our salvation will stir up his emissaries. While, therefore, we shun no discovery of ourselves, as far as the prosperity of the gospel is concerned, we should be careful how we give a handle to the De­vil and his Children, by counting numbers and boasting of noble converts. In all things, it becomes Christians to carry their faculties with meekness; but in nothing should we give stronger demonstrations of humility, gentleness, and unassuming modesty, than in the introduction of our religion among a foreign people.

There are two ranks of men whom our missiona­ries should manage with peculiar caution and address —I mean the Priests and Chiefs of a Heathen peo­ple, especially the King, if their labors should fall within the sphere of royalty. Let them remember, that, in every country, Priests have a strong hold on the sentiments of mankind. If they are not sincere, humble, pious and benevolent, the oppo­site qualities may be expected to predominate in them, more strongly than in other men. In most, perhaps all systems of Heathenism, there is not on­ly much superstition, but also a large share of im­posture. As public deceivers, Heathen Priests must be bad men. Priests live by their religion; hence they are the bloodiest, and most malignant persecutors. The persecutions of the laity are affairs of policy and fanaticism, and are not in­flamed with personal rancor. The Priest con­tends, at once, for his honors, his gains, and his Gods. Here we have to cope with three of the strongest principles of human corruption, fanati­cism, covetousness, and pride; all which are dri­ven to madness by the secret guilt of unprincipled [Page 45]falshood. It is equally the interest of these men to withstand our words, as it is in their power to do so. Their friendship will, therefore, be suspici­ous; their association undesirable. An obsequi­ous, but distant, and guarded respect will be all they merit at our hands. Fair appearances and hasty overtures should not be credited from men of their character. Nor will the mind, inclining to conversion, and characterized by humility and earnestness, be discouraged by a prudent reserve in his instructor. Religious conviction is a principle too forcibly operative to be long concealed; and until it developes itself by unquestionable testimony, we should not commit ourselves to the dangers of an easy faith. If God should indeed touch their hearts, they will be the most potent auxilliaries, and worth a hundred of their countrymen.

With respect to Chiefs, we know that power, affluence and honor deprave the heart. They are an order of men, who do not, in general affect re­ligion. As wicked men, they despise and hate it; and, as wordly politicians, they fear it. Accustom­ed to command in civil matters, which they under­stand, and in which they have a natural claim to take the lead, they are forward to usurp authority in things sacred, over which, as God has given them no jurisdiction, so it is in the power of man to give them none. Did not truth compel the con­fession, I should wish not to say, that even Christi­an Priests, by bold inroads on the secular power, have strengthened this propensity in the great, who cannot now think themselves in safety, while reli­gion is free. Hence the bold attempts to bind this celestial stranger with the fetters of human laws. Without expatiating farther on this topic, it may suffice to say, that, on a smaller scale, religion and her ministers must expect to meet, in Otaheite, ob­structions similar to those under which she labors [Page 46]in Europe. To assert the freedom of religion and her ministers calls for actions and not for words. The missionary must prove by his conduct, and mi­nistry, that his religion is a heavenly thing, and himself a heavenly man. He must shew that go­vernment has every thing to hope, and nothing to fear from religion. He must inviolably ad­here to his principles; for the moment he deserts them, and treads on unhallowed ground; that mo­ment he stretches out his hand to receive the chain, and betrays religion to the secular power. By af­fecting the favor of the great we degrade our mi­nistry, endanger our own salvation, and render the men we flatter and fawn upon worse than they were before. Any extraordinary zeal to make noble pro­selytes indicates mercenary and ambitious views. The rich are no less sagacious than the poor in dis­covering the motive of our conduct. They accept our adulation, and despise us for it. Had the Ro­man Missionaries kept at an awful distance from the imperial thrones of China and Japan, they and their converts might, perhaps, have lived in peace to this day. And the imitation of their conduct, even in Otaheite, might overwhelm Protestant Missionaries in similar ruin. Piety and benevolence will command esteem, and give us all the influence we can want. Let Christian Missionaries, and their converts, shew themselves the most peaceable, loyal, and affectionate of subjects, and this not from policy, but for conscience sake.

The last thing I shall guard missionaries against, is the usurpation of dominion over their flocks, and particularly dominions of a secular kind. Such a conduct will merit the abhorrence of God and men: and must draw persecution on themselves. The state of those Islands might induce men of en­terprise, under the specious pretext of civilization, to advance farther than they intended without be­ing [Page 47]aware of the consequences; and the ignorance, confidence, and docility of their converts may be expected to throw into their hands a degree of power and influence, which are liable to the vilest abuse. Let them, therefore, meditate on the his­tory of the Church, reflect on their own weakness, and remember, that they, who succeed to their la­bors, will have a greater love of command, as they may not have their piety, and at the same time will be in circumstances more favorable to the usurpa­tion of dominion, than they themselves now are.

If Christianity is no better served by our Mis­sions, than she has been for centuries past, all these admonitions may be spared; for they will have no occasion to be applied; but if Missions should be taken up in the way I propose, and meet with the success, which I am sanguine enough to flatter my­self they would do from that way of conducting them, especially in the South Sea Islands, they are necessary, and merit all attention.

FIFTH LETTER.

THE qualifications of the missionary enter so deeply into my subject, that I cannot pass them by, without offering you my opinion. But on this point, as well as on many others, which I have discussed, I certainly do not mean to speak as ex cathedrâ. Different opinions will prevail on what I have to offer; and they, who are above others interested in it, as being willing themselves to en­gage in Missions, will certainly do well to abide by their own.

Piety is the only basis of the missionary charac­ter. Every attempt to convert others, while we ourselves are unconverted, is absurd and nugatory, On this it is unnecessary to insist. They, who are destitute of the faith and hope of the gospel, are never likely to volunteer in this service. Gold, which has transformed so many Apostles of the Devil into the Ministers of Christ, might also make them missionaries; but it is our business to pre­clude the possibility of such inducement. Let god­liness, and not gain, be the only object proposed to their choice, and we shall effectually shut the door against all mercenaries.

But in the qualification of the missionary, we must enquire not only into the sincerity of his pie­ty, but also into the power of it. We should in­jure many by questioning their piety, who are yet not possessed of that vigorous and steadfast faith, that joyous hope, and that servent love, which are absolutery necessary to support a man under all the [Page 49]sacrifices, dangers, hardships, and discouragements of a missionary warfare. The tree, that is green, flourishing, and fruitful, while it stands in a rich soil, and is theltered by a surrounding wood, might wither and die, or be torn up by its roots, if re­moved to a heath, where it enjoys-none of the same advantages. It is not impossible, that a man, whose piety would have saved himself and his neighbor, in England, might, in India or Otaheite, lose his own soul, and become a stumbling block to others. This is an awful consideration; and, if at­tended to, would prevent all rashness, either in en­gaging ourselves, or in persuading others to engage, in Missions. A tolerable strength and maturity of religion, will, therefore, be as needful as the sin­cerity of it.

Zeal is a qualification for Missions of a nature inferior only to piety. It is in a considerable de­gree its inseperable concomitant; and that man will hardly be defective in it, who enters upon Missions suâ sponte, and in compliance with the bent of his own inclination. The great matter will be to determine, whether this zeal be the pure flame of piety, and has heavenly oil to feed its fire, or is the result of an ardent temperament and a splendid imagination. When there is evidently a mixture, which I suspect is generally the case, we must discover, by a moral analysis, what may be referred to nature, and what to grace; and deter­mine on a man's qualification in this respect, as there is the larger share of valuable bullion, or of base alloy.

Here I cannot but indulge an observation, which strikes me as being of considerable weight. A Mission is an undertaking so extremely remote from the common concerns of life, and carries in it so much to revolt the heart, that when men of re­puted piety, freely offer themselves for it, there is [Page 50]a strong presumption, that, in following the bent of their own inclinations, they do not altogether mistake their proper object. We should be ex­tremely fearful in counteracting the Holy Ghost, who, if we would submit to his wisdom, would not fail to set apart proper instruments for the work. Should, therefore, one or other missionary qualification, not exist so eminently as we could wish, in the man who offers himself; yet this no­ble volunteering, in a cause, where every princi­ple of nature must be laid on the cross, seems to imply so very much, that our objections must be palpable indeed, before we are justifiable in reject­ing him. God seeth not as man seeth; and, if David's youth and unwarlike appearance had been more regarded, than the honest indignation and noble confidence, with which he came forward to assert the honor of the Lord of hosts, Israel had wanted the only champion capable of upholding his glory.

It is to be wished that the missionary's zeal should not have been lately kindled, but such as hav­ing burned for years promises to continue in its beat. But his zeal may be too hot, as well as too cold. His fire should be moderated, by some expe­rience in the ministry. Zeal and conrage will be likely to precipitate an unexperienced young man into rash measures and intemperance of mind; and he may fall the victim of impatience and disap­pointment. It is, therefore, necessary that he should have been taught to exercise a good degree of gentleness, patience, and long sufferance; by being accustomed to wrestle with the unruly will of men, by seeing many of his well meant efforts frustrated through invincible depravity, and by observing the failure of some of his most sanguine and reasonable expectations. Add to this, there is an art in managing men's minds, which nothing [Page 51]but experience can teach him, and that man will have little skill in ruling the tempest of the human passions, who has not learned to moderate the ardor of his own feelings; and who does not know when to press his point and when to decline it, when to command and when to entreat; and how to avail himself of all the molla tempora fandi.

There are some worthy,—some pious men, who are capable of every thing, and yet do very little in life. They are disorderly in all their habits and versatile in all their pursuits. Superior to fear, they are, unhappily, ductile, and receive the im­pression of minds inferior to their own. Capable of vast exertions, they are naturally indolent. With a vivacity, which often sparkles and charms, they unite a morbid melancholy which preys upon the heart. They are amiable, but not venerable. Such men may engage in Missions, but will hardly succeed in them. The missionary should possess much self denial, and be regular in all his habits. He needs not have the raizor's edge; but he must be as the blade of a well tempered knife. He must be a man of discipline and self command.

His character should be divested of sloth, effemi­nacy and indulgence. Perhaps, he should rather be capable of becoming a man of letters, than ac­tually be so. All his habits should be active rather than sedentary. A disposition favorable to the feel­ings of ardent and sublime devotion, and a delight in the exercises of the pulpit and the pastoral care, superior to what he receives from the studies of elo­quence, languages, and all things sabsidiary to his ministry, should preponderate in his character. In a word, he should be more the active man, than the contemplative one. A sound constitution, har­dened to the vicissitude of the seasons, and capable of supporting the extremes of sufferance is greatly to be desired: but a mind superior to suffering is a [Page 52]consideration of far more importance, than that corporeal vigor and hardiness which is invulnerable to fatigue and want.

We require in our missionary a disinterested, ge­nerous way of thinking and acting, above low cun­ning, servile compliance, and a presumptuous in­vasion of powers to which his character does not entitle him. We would have him sincere, open, and affectionate. Instead of authoritative commands we would arm him with prayers, entreaties, and tears. We expect that he should have learned to bear and forbear. We think that ignorance should excite his pity, and not rouse his contempt. We would not have him shun the association of the poor savages he would convert; but we should be sorry to see him sink into indolent familiarity, and indis­criminating communicativeness, which betray a re­laxed mind that has no guard over itself. Silence he should have learned to esteem as a grand partof ministerial prudence. He must be an extempore preacher, and possess a facility of conveying to the mind his ideas clear and strong, independent of those modes of speech which originate in the laws and manners of Europe. He must be far remov­ed from narrow bigotry, and possess a spirit truly catholic. It is not Calvinism, it is not Armin­ianism, but Christianity, that he is to teach. It is not the hierarchy of the Church of England; it is not the prinicples of Protestant Dissenters, that he has in view to propagate. His object is to serve the Church Universal. It is not latitudinarianism of principles, but largeness of affection, which I recommend to the missionary. I would not have him indifferent to his own peculiarities, whether they respect the doctrines he receives as truth, or the points of ecclesiastical polity he considers as most friendly to religion; but I would have him thoroughly sensible, that the success of his minis­try [Page 53]rests not on the points of separation, but on those wherein all godly men are united. He should know to what place in the grand scale of truth he is to refer cach article of his creed; and be infinite­ly more concerned to make men Christians than to make them Church of England men, Dissenters, or Methodists. Would to God this were more at­tended to among us! and then, instead of observ­ing with jealousy the prosperity of any other Deno­mination of Christians, and considering it as an obstruction to the success of our own party, we shall rejoice in hearing that Christ is preached, and souls are saved.

Much more might be said on the qualifications of the missionary; but I shall finish this subject by observing, that his character cannot be too perfect, nor his talents too great, nor too highly cultivated for this calling. But in addition to what is includ­ed in the idea of a godly man, there is a vast pro­gression of ability, between the extremes of talents, so limited as to exclude a man from Missions or so great as to give him a lead in them. We may err by requiring too much, and by being satisfied with too little. What a missionary is expected to do and to suffer should always enter into the estimate we make of his qualifications.

The man who reads the English language and has good sense enough to make use of Henry's commentary on the Scriptures, may be of inestima­ble benefit to the lower orders of people in Eng­land, though he be unfit to instruct the intelligent, and should torture the ears of the polite. Such a man may be a very proper missionary to the Negro Slaves in our West India Islands. No compass of talents is required for such a situation; nor do I conceive that such an engagement, will require one jot more piety, or bind him over to suffer more hardship, than he will have occasion to exercise in [Page 54]England, Such a Mission is rather nominal than real; as the missionary will preach the gospel in those Islands with every advantage he could enjoy in his own country.

Where a language is to be learned, European comforts to be relinquished, and a Mission is to be taken up under all the discouragements which usu­ally attend the undertaking, we require more ex­perienced piety, warmer zeal, and better talents. The missionary should at least, be furnished with the rudiments of grammar, and some general knowlege of men and things▪ as well as possessed of an understanding capable of improvement, and a spi­rit of application to improve it. For China and other nations in an improved state of civilization, he should have those talents, and that information, which render him respectable in England. But, even in China, the bulk of the people are on the same par of information with the common people in our own land, and many missionaries of inferior talents might very well be associated with a few of greater ability.

In the establishment, I believe the sentiment has prevailed pretty generally, that missionares should be men of learning; and under the influence of this idea some worthy candidates for Missions have been rejected for insufficiency. The Methodists and some Protestant Dissenters, I am apprehensive, incline too much to the opposite extreme. For I have heard it suggested among them, that their weakest ministers, who can be of little service in Europe, are very proper for missionaries. In this sentiment there is some truth; but we form very erroneous ideas of Missions, if we suppose such men only are wanting for the service. We must have men to lead as well as to follow; and even in the West India Islands, where I have supposed pi­ous missionaries of the smallest gifts to be suffici­ent [Page 55]instructors for the Negroes, there are many Europeans of intelligence who will attend their mi­nistry; and if we wish our Missionaries to be res­pectable, there should be some of better talents amongst them. In every place, but the West-Indies, a Missionary will require good talents, as well as the most exemplary piety. Under shelter of the opi­nion that men of the best talents must be kept at home, we shall give too much encouragement to that self complacency which cleaves to men of ta­lents, and grant them a dismission from the service, which they will be glad to avail themselves of. But I cannot believe those Gentlemen think soberly of themselves, as they ought to do, who suppose themselves too great and too considerable to engage in Missions. One would think that considering the nature of the work, and the disadvantages we lie under from the want of Apostolic credentials, we should wish as much as possible to supply their place by talents and learning. Piety is better than learning, and learning with piety has great advan­age over piety alone. Every thing else being equal in our Missions, that Mission will certainly be most productive which claims the most learned missiona­ries. As a man of no learning myself I cannot but feel it a little contemptuous for me and my poor Brethren, who are like myself illeterate men, to be shoved with so much good will into the hottest front of the battle, by men who are fitter for the work, but who claim that very fitness, as the apo­logy for their sitting still. On the other hand could I boast of talents and of letters, and consider myself as a leading man in the Church, I should blush to see a few subalterns generously exposing themselves in a warfare which I shunned.

Let us then endeavor to preserve a mean between these dangerous extremes. Let no worthy volun­teer be rejected for incompetence of learning; nor [Page 56]let us allow of any man's pleading his literature and popular elocution as a discharge from the war. As bringing our gifts to the Lord's treasury, let us give largely and freely, and, after all, learn to know that we are unprofitable servants. But though we could cast in our ten thousand talents, let us be­ware of treating with contempt our poor brother, who after the example of the widow, who was blessed in her deed, shall offer his two mites for the service of the sanctuary. He may, for ought we know, have presented a richer offering than us all. Our Lord, instead of throwing back the widow's mites with contempt, gave high commendation to her faith and liberality.—May I never be in the place of those who reject the pious candidate for Missions, and vilify his zeal with charges of en­thusiasm and spiritual pride—for what? Because he wants Latin and Greek! Because he has the in­solence to offer his mite to the gracious Lord of cha­rity! Because, that believing the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, he has courage and confidence in his God, to go forth with a sling and a stone to encounter a Philistine, whose gigan­tic stature and formidable arms appal all the armies of our Israel!

Somewhat similar to the question between learn­ed and unlearned missionaries, is another between married and single men, which of them we should consider most eligible for Missions. But these questi­ons seem to proceed, both of them, on a false ground. They suppose that Ministers learned and unlearned, married and single, are so very zealous of prefer­ment in this way, that our choice is puzzled, and we need great deliberation on whom we shall con­fer the obsolete honors of hunger, thirst, heat, cold, nakedness, sickness, poverty, contempt, per­secutions, and death. But the case is altogether different. We wish for some learning in our missi­onaries; [Page 57]but we must be content, for one man of letters, to receive twenty, who have no pretension to learning. It will be the same with men, who have wives and families, should we prefer them. They will not generally be prevailed upon to look Missions in the face. And as I am more disposed to reason from facts, than from preconceived theories, and much inclined to believe that men's minds, like waters, finds their own level, I conceive that, from the invincible aversion which men of learning and fathers of families shew to this business, we may arrive at the conclusion, that they are not, general­ly speaking, proper persons for Missions. A few great leaders appear absolutely necessary; and if learned men were equally willing to become missi­onaries, they would claim a preference; but as they are not equally willing, and as they will probably never be so, we not only may, but must give them the discharge they require. We must do the same with married men. I cannot persuade myself that the relations of husband and father considered sim­ply in themselves, absolutely prohibit the engage­ment; but I am fully of opinion that there is a wide difference between the case of learned and married men inlisting for this war. If there be equal piety in the learned, learning must give them great advantage over the unlearned. With respect to the married, as they must be greater sufferers in Missions than the single, they should have more zeal and piety than single men to engage them to suffer; and, even with this advantage, the incum­brances of a wife and family must lay insuperable obstacles in the way of their acting, with that en­ergy and decision we may expect from single men. As I find public opinion leaning much in favor of the claims of married men, it may be worth our while to state the reasons urged on both sides, and to examine on which they are the most conclusive.

[Page 58] In favor of the married, it is urged, that their wives would be extremely serviceable in a missi­onary establishment—that they would be very use­ful among their own sex, especially in the East where women are secluded and the sanctity of the Haram would be polluted by the presence of any but female missionaries; and that they would be a safeguard to the characters of their husbands, which might otherwise suffer from a ministerial in­tercourse with female converts. To enforce these arguments, is adduced the example of the Unitas Fratrum, who in their Missions generally make use of married men.

It is granted a pious, active, healthy woman, might be serviceable in a missionary institution: but it should be remembered that the sex in gene­ral are not calculated to support hardship; that young women, who are bearing children, more frequently require to be waited upon, than are able to wait on others; and that the care of a young fa­mily will leave them little time to aid their husbands missionary labors. And if it be considered that the men who will engage in Missions are generally such as are in the prime of their years, our missi­onary establishments may soon be expected to be very populous. With respect to the service hop­ed from them of introducing Christianity into Asi­atic Harams, I fear they will not effect much. Husbands have, in general, more influence in forming the religious principles of their wives, than wives have on those of their husbands. If the men are converted, they will carry their reli­gion home to their wives; and if they can once be prevailed on to embrace our religion, it is not unreasonable to think, that they will soon adopt our manners, and give us as free an intercourse in their families as is to be wished. The protection they may afford to their husbands morals, as well [Page 59]as their characters, I shall not affect to despise; but it cannot be weighed against the disadvantages they would lay them under in their work. Nor is the example of the Moravians to the point. They are in this, and many other respects, a singular people. And, if it might not give offence to the wives of ministers of other Denominations, I should say that their women are educated in a way which render them fitter companions for missionaries than any other women in the world. But, in addition to what I have here advanced, much more is to be said. I have recommended Missions to be taken up on a larger scale, and with a bolder spirit of enter­prize, than that in which they have been hitherto conducted. If, therefore, a sew women and their families might be settled in some situations, were accommodations are to be had for them, neverthe­less they will be unfit companions for the lar­ger part of missionaries, who will be engaged in perpetual travels and labors among a Heathen Na­tion, where they must undergo all possible hardships. I propose to send forth missionaries in large num­bers, and I suppose that the fruit of their labors, the humanity of the natives, and the largest sup­plies which can be sent from Europe, will altoge­ther form a fund very inadequate to the support of women and children. I expect, if they have the souls of missionaries in them, that they will often, between their charity and their zeal, be placed in circumstance; similar to those of St. Paul, in na­kedness, in want, in perils by land, in perils by sea, and in all the varieties of suffering. And are these men to have wives and children? Will men of a spirit like this be likely to pine for the indul­gence of a lady's lap?

If I am thought to have lost myself in the regions of romance and to be conjuring up inchanted cas­tles which never did exist, for the ideal pleasure [Page 60]of killing giants, chaining lions, dissolving spells, and freeing captive dames, I must persist, like the Knight of La Mancha, to vindicate the sanity of my intellect, and to affirm that the things I talk of have existed, and will exist again, and that until they are made to do so, I am a sober man, and read my book accurately. The soundness of their in­tellect may rather be suspected, who think of send­ing half a dozen married missionaries and their fa­milies to India, to give them snug births and good salaries at Calcutta, or other European Settlements, where they are to superintend a school, and preach to a few luxurious Europeans, and such Natives as care to come into their Churches. And for what purpose all this astonishing apparatus? To con­vert the Natives of Indostan to Christianity! And by what year of our Lord may we expect that the Gospel will be spread through that Empire? As soon might one hope to empty the sea by lading it out with buckets, or think of giving light to the world by the glimmering rays of half a dozen wax tapers! Surely gentlemen who will only pa­tronize Missions conducted on this scale, and grave­ly talk to the would of their wish to spread the gospel, cannot reproach me for credulity and en­thusiasm. I am not weak enough to suppose an Apostolic work, such as the conversion of the Hea­then Nations is, can be effected in any but an Apos­tolic way. Had the Apostles themselves set down in India to teach Schools, and to act as parochial Ministers, not all their miraculous credentials would have spread the gospel there. The Reve­rend Mr. Swartz, a Danish Missionary, and one of the most respectable and successful men, who has appeared under that character in Indostan, has so and it necessary to travel a good deal about in preaching the gospel; and a few others, possibly imitate his example—I do not mean to represent [Page 61]that Gentleman as properly an itinerant preacher; but only to insist, that he is sensible, that he must go after the lost sheep, and not leave them to seek a faithful shepherd. He therefore preaches out of doors, and lays hold of every opportunity of going among them. But, I fear his example meets not with general imitation; and, if it did, as married men cannot do what ought to be done in that way, so the number of missionaries employed there is ina­dequate to the work. Whatever difficulties, there­fore, there may be in finding a sufficient number of missionaries for such an attempt, it must be done, or nothing will be done worthy of our religion—worthy of God manifest in the flesh. And, if this is to be done, I believe few people will think it advise­able to carry wives and children into so hot a war. For whatever missionaries are willing to fusser in their own persons, they will expect, and will have a right to expect, such a support for their wives and families, as an undertaking so circumstanced could not afford them.

Single men are then the proper persons for this work. They have no ties. Private charities will not counteract public ones. They can live cheap, fare hard, and are ready for every service. If af­ter acquainting themselves with a country and its inhabitants, they think it advise [...]ble to marry, I see no reason why they should think their Europe­an blood contaminated by an alliance with the wo­men of the country; and if they make any con­verts, there will certainly be females enough whom they may marry. They will be the properest wives for them who are born in the country, speak its language, are inured to the climate, and accus­tomed to the manners of the inhabitants. Such women may be able to take a share in the hardships of a missionary life, and by their labor, as well as their connections, do something for the support [Page 62]of their Husbands. None of these advantages can be hoped from an European woman. If they are true converts, they will be animated by the zeal which attends so blessed a change; and that patriot love and warm attachment to our native land, which glows, more or less, in every human breast, will co-operate with it, to make them zealous auxilia­ries in converting their countrymen. They will attach their husbands to the country, and keep them steady to the work. Their children educated in Christianity, and endeared to the country in which they are born, and have many relatives, will some of them tread in the steps of their fa­thers; and, though they should not, they will, in other respects, countenance and support the religi­on in which they were brought up—a religion which though they should not chuse to practice, they will hardly forsake for the deformed systems of Heathen Superstition. Whereas, the men who carry out with them European women and their children, will always have it in contemplation one day to return to England; they will be looking out with anxiety for ways and means to accomplish that end; and if they see no hope of effecting it, their lives and their deaths will be embittered by the idea of leaving the women and little ones, whom they love dearer than life, destitute and friendless in a foreign land. To say, they ought to put their trust in God, is nothing to the purpose: for we are not enquiring what men ought to do, but what considering the weakness of nature they will be most exposed to do. For my own part, I confess ingenuously, that this is a feature in Missions which I have never looked at, without feeling a horror which has chilled my blood; and if I, who am so far gone in them, do not care to make such a sacri­fice, I star sew are to be found who will make it. Notwithstanding, as there are among the Ministers [Page 63]of Christ, thousands who have more faith than I dare claim, as well as more apathy than I wish to be possessed of, I have no doubt that some fathers of families will give an example, which must ex­cite admiration, though it should not invite many to imitate them.

SIXTH LETTER.

AN enquiry into what may constitute a call to missions will merit serious discussion. Some incline to treat this question with contempt, as one species of enthusiastic jargon, by which religion has been discredited in the world: and, I am for­ry to say, it has been, at times, so managed, as to give color to their censures. Nevertheless, you will be of opinion with me, that much solid sense and sober piety are contained in it; and when we consider that every thing valuable to man is staked ea its determination, they must be strangers to the sentiments of the human heart, and evince a want of reason and ingenuousness, which they charge on others, who suppose men of sense will embark on the sea of trouble, without having first viewed the question on every side, and obtained that well [Page 64]grounded satisfaction in the propriety of their con­duct, which may hereafter support and comfort them under all its possible consequences.

The general duty of Ministers and their flocks with respect to Missions, we ground on the com­mand of our Lord, the characters of his religion, the example of his Apostles, the declarations of his Prophets, the common principles of humanity, and the whole aggregate of argument, which arises from the nature of the undertaking. But unhappi­ly, as in many other cases, so in this, what is ac­knowleged as of common obligation is not felt as the particular duty of individuals. In this res­pect, our Lord and his household may be compared to the family of an opulent, indulgent Master of many servants, who commanding some unpleasant business to be performed, but intimating his plea­sure in general terms, not addressed to any particu­lar domestic, his servants instead of readily obey­ing his commands, are all of them disputing from his Lordship's Chaplain to the skullion in his kitch­en, which of them is obliged to perform his will. The Chaplain is a gentleman, and is above such menial offices. His Lord certainly understands too well the dignity of his character to address such orders to him. The Steward declares his engage­ments bind him no farther than to use his pen, and to overlook his Master's rents and disbursements with fidelity. The Butler protests he was not hir­ed to be a footman; and the underlings of the house with many professions of good will, plead they are not qualified for doing their Lord's will. In a word, the business is either left undone, or a few poor honest fellows, who love their Master and are jealous for his honor, go forth and do their best; but not receiving from their fellow servants that as­sistance which each ought to have afforded them, the business is done in a bungling way at last; and [Page 65]my Lord's Chaplain, Steward, Butler, and other servants, instead of feeling that it has miscarried principally through their fault—instead of being ashamed into exertion, say some of them, that their Lord "never gave such a command." others, "that the time for obeying it is not come," others, "that the bad success of their fellows discourages farther attempts," and while some are provoked that the menials of the house should presume to en­gage in the business, others, "declare it is vile dir­ty work and fit only for skullions and shoe-boys." This has been precisely our conduct in Missions.

But how may an individual know that this ge­neral duty determines on him? This enquiry will be made with views as different, as are the cha­racters of the men who make it: some to find a plausible excuse for declining their duty; and oth­ers from a sincere desire to know and to do it. To the first sort, it will be impossible to give satisfac­tion. Their first principle, I will not be a mission­ary, precludes all conviction. Their second prin­ciple, I will justify my disobedience, determines them to demand such reasons, for the absolute cer­tainty of their call, as they know, or ought to know, cannot be given them. They demand their call to be demonstrated with intuitive evidence; and while there remains a possibility of their de­ceiving themselves, prudently determine to run no hazards. Be it so gentlemen. We dismiss you from the service until you have acquired more in­genuous minds. Your swords may remain quietly in their scabbards, for this is not a war in which lath will supply the place of steel. You are your own demonstrations that God does not call you to missions; and whatever sins you may stand accoun­table for in the day of Christ, I think you will hardly be criminated under that statute of his king­dom, Go preach the gospel to every creature.

[Page 66] Sincere Israelites, who, like Nathaniel, have ingenuous minds, and worship God in truth, may on this subject be satisfied, as clearly as on any oth­er, wh [...]e [...] is involved in the truth of the Gospel. In the scriptures, in reason, in providence, in ex­perience of our own hearts and characters; and in our relations in private and in public life, there are to be discovered data, from which we may come by a simple process of reasoning, to a very tolerable conclusion of what is our duty in this in­stance.

This call is certainly not of man, nor of the will of man. A sense of the worthiness of the under­taking, and a general desire to do the will of God, with the solicitations of friends who think highly of us, and who are of opinion, that there is a pro­vidential opening for us to go to the Heathen, do not constitute a sufficient warrant for engaging. Much, very much more than all this is required. The Moravian maxim, "Never to persuade, much less to urge a man to engage in missions," has been justified to them by experience; and it will appear perfectly reasonable to suppose, that the levers and pullies of human persuasion, by which a man in­different to missions may, sometimes, be excited to act in them, give no sufficient momentum to the soul to support it against the immense counterpoise of flesh and blood. He, who appears possessed of the most lively zeal for missions, may deceive him­self by false sire, and enthusiastic feelings; but the man who wants sire, who is merely prompted by his friends, and supposes a mission a matter to be ma­naged like a parish in England, equally deceives himself, though he declaims against enthusiasm, and would have its understand, that he is following the less fallacious light of reason. But I exhort every one, whose whole soul is not in the business, to stand firm against the persuasion of all men. He [Page 67]may be assured that missionary work is too rough for his ductile nature. If he cannot say no to his friends, how shall he say no to those manifold temp­tations which will solicit him to return? And I be­seech all who have claims to reason, to religion, or to humanity, never to attempt to persuade any one, directly or indirectly, to do any thing more in missions than he can do with pleasure and unfeign­ed good will. It is unreasonable to suppose that our persuasives can operate to change the character and in a moment to give a man sentiments and feel­ings he never had before. It is not agreeable to the oeconomy of religion, for God to leave the in­struments of his will, without inclination, as well as ability for doing it. Last of all, it is a most inhuman persecution to insist on its being the will of God that any individual should engage in Missi­ons, or in any degree to assume the province of heaven in pretending to search the heart, and di­rect the conscience. This conduct is the more odi­ous, as it is an instrument of torture, applied to none but worthy and pious minds, where we have most reason to believe it unnecessary.

Nor will providences which appear suddenly, and a present willingness to engage, prove our call. Providence is a mysterious book, not easily legible, and best understood when read backward; and I shall much suspect that man's call is shewn him by sudden and unexpected openings of Providence, who has never before made a discovery of it in his Bi­ble, or in his own heart. From a general analogy of grace as well as nature, we are led to expect, that what is born and attains maturity in a day, will fade and die in as short a term. In a missiona­ry we look for strong, permanent, habits, such as are formed by reiterated acts. We do not mean to limit the Holy One of Israel; but to respect Him as the God of order, means and ordinances. [Page 68]He has established the connection of effects with their causes; and though He may and will, when He sees good, invert the established order of things we must not affect more than what becomes the fragility of our nature. We must require the horse to be broken in for the battle. We must ex­pect that the man called to Missions will experi­ence, successively, all the vicissitudes of hope, fear, desire, aversion, confidence and despondency, before he dips his foot in the water, or will be able to contem­plate with steady courage the dangers of these depths. If there be a man, who claims exemp­tion from common rules, and can in a moment en­gage in a mission without a disposition previously formed, and, having so engaged, can conduct the matter aright, he is no precedent for our imita­tion.

These observations premised, the first thing to­wards constituting a call to Missions is ability to comply with it. Let the candidate, therefore, ex­amine himself, whether he be possessed, in a reason­able degree, of the qualifications necessary for that station. From what he has done in the ministry in England, he may form some guess of what he is likely to do abroad. It may also be proper to take the candid opinion of his ministerial friends, whose favorable sentiments will support his diffidence, or whose honest censure may check his temerity. On this subject, if on any, we shall be safe to un­der rate our qualifications; and, if we are humble, we shall naturally be led to do so. This, if it one way operates as a discouragement, will in another produce different effects. God giveth grace to the humble, and mon will give them honor. An ham­ble opinion of ourselves will neither damp our zeal for God, nor our benevolence to men. It will not pervert our understandings, nor make us dis­honor God by disclaiming whatever degree of hum­ble [Page 69]fitness He may give us for the work. The greater the natural and acquired talents of any man be the better; but all this is not the great thing, the one thing, the living spirit, the eye, the ear, the strength and arms of the missionary, CHRISTIAN GODLINESS, THE MIND OF CHRIST, THE IMAGE OF GOD,—this is the qualification which a missionary cannot do without; which he cannot have in too great a degree; and which if he possess in strength and vigor, his other qualifications, however small, cannot be deemed defective. Up­on this subject, then, he cannot put to himself too many, or too close questions. His self denial, activity, fortitude, perseverance, habitual dili­gence, and conscientious adherence to order and re­gularity, throughout his whole conduct, will each of them merit minute investigation. If the re­sult of this enquiry be satisfactory to himself, he may be assured that he has, at least, a solid foun­dation to build upon.

The second head of enquiry is his willingness to engage in missions. Here something more is re­quired than cold approbation, or that general dis­position to do the will of God, which influences every pious man. We look for a strong, decided prediliction— a passion for missions, if I may be al­lowed the term; that species of commendable en­thusiasm, which enables professional men to mag­nify the dignity and importance of their respective arts, and to pursue their object, under every dis­couragement, until they have carried their art to a perfection, which men of colder minds could never have supposed it capable of receiving. I would have him possessed of that strong passion for miss­ons which Columbus had for discovery, and which supported him for a long course of years against the ridicule of the whole world, against the dis­couragement of having his services rejected by dif­ferent [Page 70]princes, against the ingratitude of Ferdi­nand and Isabella, and against the repeated muti­ny, treachery, and baseness of his companious. I would have him so enamoured of his object, as to consider the hardship and danger of the pursuit a pleasure rather than a pain; and to find in himself a disposition to succeed, or to perish in the attempt. If he cannot engage without a with to return to Europe, and with a full determination, God be­ing his helper, to die in the harness, that man has not the soul of a genuine missionary.

Some of my readers will think I draw a glow­ing picture, and that my colorings betray the glare of enthusiasm. They would have their missionary, what they call, a prudent man, a man of reason and coolness. They will say that he who engages with so much warmth will soon have his fire damp­ed, and betray as much cowardice in the conflict, as he shewed courage before the battle. I will en­treat such Geatlemen to give a candid interpreta­tion to my terms, and to eater into the spirit of the writer, as well as into the force of his expres­sions. Human language is defective. They who use it are still more imperfect. I may not have the felicity of expressing the idea I would convey, exactly such as it is in my own mind; and though I could stamp my ideas on language as clearly and forcibly, as new coin displays the impression of the die, yet except my thoughts had the same curren­cy as the Kings coin, my reader may easily mistake my meaning, where I have made none in expres­sing it; and in this manner every man who writes sustains some censures which are due to the preci­pitancy a [...]d disingenuousness of his reader. In the light of this observation, I beg leave to remark, that Columbus, Cortez, Caesar, St. Paul, and all those who have d [...]ne great things in the world, have possessed a fire, and energy very uncommon; and [Page 71]that this fire, this energy, was absolutely essential to what they undertook and what they performed; but certainly this remark does not suppose that this fire alone effected every thing. They were men of knowlege, of prudence, and of that coolness which tempered their fire, and gave it a proper di­rection. Had they not been supported by these so­lid qualities Caesar might have perished like Cata­line, and St. Paul would never have been God's instrument for building the Church. If my mis­sionary therefore, has more zeal than good sense, more fire than wisdom to command it, he will soon find that instead of walking in the footsteps of an Apostle, he is flying on the waxen wings of Icarus, or driving the destructive car of the juvenile and presumptuous Phaeton. False fire will not dissolve real cold, nor false courage support the burst of cannon.

But this concession made, I insist upon it, the missionary must not only have true fire, but a large proportion of it; and I insist upon it so much the more, as I see very little attention paid to it; as I cannot but think, that too many good men are forcing Zeno's coat upon the affectionate Jesus; and appear more afraid of offending men by being too hot, than of displeasing God by being too cold. Instead of bringing the world over to Christ by the godlike irresistible charms of truth proposed with­out false ornaments, we endeavor to accommedate it to corrupt minds, by proposing it under the garb of reason, and with the affected sickly air and fee­ble tottering steps of morality. In this manner we betray our Master, and lose our own labor. And, however digressive this observation may ap­pear, I affirm it has much to do with my subject; for until we learn to dismiss our moral dialect, and high sounding talk of reason, there will be little right reason or good morals in the Church; until [Page 72]we boldly take up the Cross of the blessed Jesus, and tell mankind that, in religion, there is no other reason, no other morals, than that godlike reason, those divine morals which He brought down to us from his Father's bosom and treasured up for us in his holy gospel, we shall never be able to carry on a war of missions, nor have apostolic men to act in it. A mission, contemplated in its true spirit, and in all its compass of sacrifice and suffering, is not a common thing, and men whose minds are of a com­mon cast are unfit for it. If, therefore, their en­gagement is so remote from the common course of things, why should missionaries be expected to feel and think in the beaten track? If they are to live in fire, where is the absurdity of wishing them to be endowed with the properties of the Salamander? If their work is apostolic, how is reason violated by expecting they should claim alliance with the blood of St. Paul? — Thanks be to God, his bles­sed Son does not treat the soldiers of the cross with that contempt they suffer from their fellow Christians! No; the choicest consolations and the most joyous hopes are their portion; and if, the afflictions of Jesus abound in them, they will be comforted with the most glorious anticipations of his kingdom and of his joy.

Nor if a young man, in the early prime of life, should mingle with the lambent flame he has kind­led from God's altar, some sparks of wild erratic fir [...] [...] we [...]t [...]le [...] to treat him with contempt and rejection. If his character be supported by solid qualities, those sparks will, with a little time and e [...]en [...], be absorbed in the parer flame. Nay, should be [...]t first betray some takens of feat and s [...]ess, we should rather sympathize with his [...] than dis [...]ir of his courage. If we find in him that [...]ied co [...]e and unrelenting hardihood which characterize the Veteran, who has waded [Page 73]through many a well fought field, and endured the various climes of the North and South, we find much more than we are entitled to hope. St. Paul indeed was at once made a Christian and the chief of the Apostles. Such power belongeth unto God, and such honor to the man whom He will exalt. But, in spite of the example and exhortations of the great St. Paul, Mark fled from the work of the apostolic mission; nevertheless, between the wholesome censures of Paul, and the consolatory af­fection of Barnabas, his spirit was, through divine grace, again excited to the fight of faith, and he redeemed his character, and obtained a good re­port among the Apostles. Let the candidate for missions be possessed of what degree of zeal and courage he may, no doubt the day will come, when with fears from within and fightings from without, he will be pressed beyond measure, and feel that nothing but abounding grace and almighty power can console and support him. But, if we must make some abatement for his courage when engag­ed in actual service, and jeopardying his life on the high places of the field, surely we should require some tolerable degree of ardour before the sword is drawn and blood is spilt. For if the man, who volunteers, and is borne on the strong wing of hope, must expect such rude shocks in the evil day, what are we to expect from him who enters into Missions without zeal or e [...]rgy, and who is, in fact, little better than a pressed man?

The third consideration which I shall notice as essential to a call to Missions is a freedom from such ties as exclude the engagement; and they will be either of a domestic or a ministerial nature. I have more than once expressed my sentiments with respect to the propriety of married men and fathers of families engaging in Missions. Generally speak­ing I do not think it adviseable; but I dare not say [Page 74]it is improper. I will not disapprove the man so situated, who shall engage; and, if he and his fa­mily conduct themselves in a mission as the Reve­rend Mr. Egede and his household did in Greenland, they shall have my warmest commendation. Nay, should they through human weakness fail in forti­tude and perseverance, the piety of the attempt will, with me, cover the weakness of the execu­tion. But the propriety of such an attempt will in my idea depend on circumstances. The health, strength, and habits of a mother and her children are to be considered, as well as the degree of ac­commodation which can be afforded them in a Mis­sion. Much will depend on the willingness of a minister's wife to share his toils and perils, and very much will depend on his own strength of soul to see his wife and family, languishing and dying, if God should appoint it so, in consequence of his engaging them in difficulties which they cannot support. If a minister be possessed of this forti­tude, if his wife breathes the same spirit with himself; and if they both think the venture justi­fiable, let them go, and give an example to Chris­tendom which we so greatly want. But if he can­not inspire his wife with his own sentiments, I am clearly of opinion he has no call to Missions. I reason thus. If it be said, that the wife of that minister has not piety to engage of her own free will, I answer Christianity will not justify a divorce by leaving her behind him, and good sense will not justify him to take her abroad into circumstances of distress and danger, where all her passions will be armed to war against his peace and to discredit himself in his ministry. If it be said, that his wife is a woman of piety, the case stands still more strongly against him, and a dreadful suspicion will lie against his piety. For if a woman of piety, his wife, the mother of his children cannot be made to [Page 75]enter into his call, I must suspect that he carries with him abroad more religion than he exercises at home; and can entertain very little opinion of his converting Heathens, who cannot convert a godly woman who loves him to follow him to the world's end.—Nor would I recommend the force of strong persuasion, much less any thing like con­jugal authority, with any woman. The man who does this will find, at last, that he rolls the stone of Sysiphus, and when he thinks he has got it to the top of the hill, it will return with a double force, acquired by the velocity of its descent, and crush him to pieces. If a married man wishes to engage in missions, his first care is to inspire his wife with a portion of his own zeal; if he can do so, well; if not I advise him to slay at home. It is a base unmanly thing to complain of our wives; and wo­men were never generally vicious, base and cow­ardly, when men did not make them so. Godli­ness is the most commanding thing on earth, and women who have the best opportunities of know­ing their husbands piety, and are personally attach­ed to them, will not be the last to revere it. The man who charges his wife, in nine cases out of ten, will reproach himself; and I affirm when we dare imitate the Apostles, there is little fear of our wives lagging in the race of virtue.

A minister's flock should be as dear to him, and in some sense, dearer than his wife and children; and if we are in posts of uncommon honor and use­fulness, it may well admit an enquiry, How far we are justifiable in relinquishing them? We are giving up a certainty for an uncertainty. The good we shall do abroad may bear small proportion with that we leave at home. We may mistake our call, or we may be called to die, while the ho­nor of conquest is reserved for others. We may, for ought we know, groan for years under the con­sequences [Page 76]of a precipitate conduct, and reproach ourselves for not having better understood our Shepherd's voice. What the charity of others may, and should, lead them to excuse as the error of an honest zeal, we shall probably charge on our­selves as the proud volatile mistake of an unsancti­fied heart. We may expose ourselves to be the butt of those cold spirits who never had religion enough to aspire to excellence; to be admonished with ig­norant, but wounding good nature, "I always told you you, "mistook your call, and would soon be glad to come home;" and to be held up as a dis­couragement to those who would do well—"Look on that man; he began to build, and "was not able to finish." We may actually grieve God's spirit; and never recover a post as useful in the ministry as that we relinquished. And all this may be a very righteous and necessary discipline to humble the man, who having only the qualification of a ser­jeant in militia, shall aspire to the rank of colonel in a regiment for foreign service.

Far be it from me to discourage any man; but I must hold out no false colors. To have a real call to missions is a great honor and a great felicity; but to mistake our call is a sad thing both to our­selves and to others. Nor is there any great dan­ger of my discouraging the man whom God prompts by his spirit to embrace this calling. But some who are really called may be too hasty; they may mistake their line of march, or engage before the signal for engaging be given. I know of no specific rules, for men whose circumstances may be infinitely va [...]i [...]. Here every one will reason and judge for himself; here h [...] must divest himself of all prepossessions on either side, and make diligent enquiry of that God, who has promised to give wisdom to all who seek it.

Supposing the missionary candidate has gone over [Page 77]all this ground to his satisfaction, the only thing remaining to compleat his call will be a reasonable prospect of success. To have this reasonable pros­pect of success, his measures must be well consult­ed, and he must be provided with every help, which the nature of the undertaking can require. Let him then ask himself, Have I funds equal to my undertaking, and are the patrons and conductors of the mission in England men of zeal and spirit, such as I can make perfectly free with, who enter into all my views, and in whom I can perfectly confide, for every encouragement and support? Do they leave me perfectly at liberty to act abroad as I see occasion, not fettering me with cold theoretical councils, and prescribing with decision a line of conduct to me, which amuses them by their fire side to chat over with a friend? Unless he can an­swer these questions in a satisfactory manner, his measures are not well taken; and if he is zealous in his pursuit he may leave every thing and suffer every thing, to go to India or Japan to sind his hands tied behind his back when he gets there, and to pine away in vexation and disappointment.

Let him ask farther, Have I fellow soldiers like minded with myself, and is my mission so connect­ed and conducted, that I can have a supply of as ma­ny of them as my work shall require? Have I such an acquaintance with the country where I am going, of its climate, geography, police and man­ners, as I can reasonably expect to answer upon a trial with those views which have engaged me to go there? If he goes alone be should be a man of no little statute. Though he should live and die like David Brainerd, he will in that case only relinquish a greater good in England to do a smaller one abroad. Where a tolerable number of Missiona­ries are wanting a few individuals may be converted; but the gospel will not be spread—nothing will be [Page 78]done answerable to the idea of a mission. And I confess I can see no reason for marching through fire and water to convert a Bramin in India, when with half the labor ten of our own countrymen might be converted at home; except it be to keep up the dying flame of missionary zeal, until Chris­tendom be shamed out of the folly of conducting Missions in this lazy, absurd way. On the other hand, should our information of the place we are going to be defective, we shall proceed on false principles, and when practice is discovered to be so opposite to our theory, we shall be liable to turn on the heel, and say, this is not the place to which I am called.

When a minister has patiently examined these four topics, his ability, his willingness, his free­dom from those ties which prohibit the engagement, and the reasonable prospect of succeeding, and finds them all concurring to countenance the pursuit, he will I think be in possession of every thing which ought to be desired, or can be obtained to make his call clear. He has nothing then to do, but to obey the dictates of his conscience, and, casting his care upon the Lord, to make trial of his apostleship. If he is blessed in his deed, he shall see of the tra­vail of his Redeemer's soul, and of his own, and be satisfied. His example will provoke his breth­ren to jealousy, and his success encourage our ex­ertions. If he sails, he will discourage no man who does not with to be discouraged. He may come home, and tell his Brethren ingenuously. ‘I have made the attempt and find myself inade­quate to it. Nevertheless, the foundation abi­deth firm, the obligation of the duty is the same, and do you who have more wisdom and piety stand forward as the Champions of Christ and his religion. Let no man's heart fail on my ac­count; nor suppose because I have done nothing, [Page 79]that nothing is to be done by the many veterans who fight under the cross. You censure my rashness, you chide my pusillanimity, and it is of little matter that my character sink under a weight of reproach which in many respects I have deserved: but do you arise and be jealous for your God. Conquest hovers over our ban­ners, if we dare engage with spirit. I am in­deed defeated, but not discouraged; I despair of myself, but not of the cause of Christ. Go, and redeem the honor I have lost. Wipe away this vile disgrace, this unutterable shame, which rests upon the Christian name. Let it not be said that in the eighteenth century, in Britain, among the thousands of ministers of various de­nominations who are the glory of the Churches, that men are not to be found who feel for man, Christians who are not jealous for Christ's glory, ministers who cherish the noble emulation of fol­lowing the apostles. If you will not act, God will raise up stones to reprove and shame you. If you will not act, you almost justify that te­merity and cowardice which you censure. I have been defeated, but it was in the field, and after receiving many wounds; but you, by more shameful cowardice, give up the cause for lost without making one generous effort. I have been rash in thinking of myself more highly than I ought to think, but you almost provoke the repetition of my rashness by undervaluing Christ and his religion; for when you are c [...]d where you ought to be animated by the most lively zeal, it is enough to provoke babes and sucklings to take up a [...]s, and if they cannot conquer, at least, teach us to die for the Captain of our salvation.’ In this strain may he address his Brethren; for whatever censure may rest upon his mistake, whatever want of sanctification of [Page 80]heart it may infer, if this be the grand fault which lies against his character, it is of a kind, especially when he comes to see and confess it ingenuously, as infers also something which will support him under its consequences;—as will, with God's grace, lead him to real improvement, and render him more the object of esteem, than of reproach with all who love God.

Next to the inestimable and irreparable loss of his own soul in attempting to save the souls of others, perhaps the most insupportable shock a missionary can have to support, far worse than death, is that of total disappointment, together with a discovery of having mistaken his object. Yet to this total disappointment, to this dreadful discovery, is every man liable who engages in Missions. This reflec­tion should guard us against precipitate determina­tion; and teach us to meet disappointments half way. When we are soaring in the clouds, we should often bring ourselves to the ground, by saying to ourselves," Perhaps I "may be mistaken in my call—perhaps the most cruel "disappointments await me." Such thoughts are the more needful as men of fire, and such missionaries will be, par­ticularly need them. Too often we deceive our­selves by supposing constitutional vivacity is Chris­tian zeal; and, though we indulge these humbling considerations to consolidate our spirits, as much as possible, if disappointment be at last our por­tion, we shall find it hard enough to support the dreadful concussion when it comes. Few men of candid minds are wholly blind to constitutional fail­ings; and if the missionary be sensible that his de­fect leans to the side of false fire, it will be doubly necessary for him to labor after the stronger quali­ties of gravity, firmness, and self possession; and to go forth in utramque paratus to win trophies, or to support the disgrace inevitably consequent on an [Page 81]unsuccessful attempt. Should a missionary spirit be generally excited, many, who mean well, will be induced to venture, who, upon the trial, will find their strength insufficient for an apostolic warfare. They must, then, either relinquish the war, or persist in it to their own ruin. In this dilemma, the man of feeling, honor, spirit, may find such a quantum of pride, self confidence, and impatience, in his composition, as he never before suspected. His feeling, his sense of honor, his spirit, which, with a share of godliness, were perhaps the secret springs of his engagement, will now turn their strength upon himself, excruciate him beyond imagination, and, if God's infinite compassions do not prevent him, and enable him to sink quietly into his own nothingness at the feet of Jesus, he will become the prey of that proud sorrow, which, in scripture language, is said to work death; or, in the phraseology of this world, be will break his heart. The man who is persuaded to engage in missions is free from this danger; but he who, with the semblance of apostolic zeal, without deep humility, meekness and patience, falls into this circumstance, will experience a hurricane of passi­ons, which beggars all description. Much of this I have known too well; and I make this confession, that my readers may learn, that I make a re [...] and important distinction, between a well tempered zeal, and that species of fire which betrays levity and inconstancy of mind.

One more observation I shall make on this sub­ject. if we would not discourage Missions, we must beware how we indulge the asperity of cen­sure against those who fail in their attempts. They have paid the penalty of their rashness, as fully as any man of humanity could wish. We should remember, it is easier to attempt great things than to accomplish them; and if to the proud humilia­tions [Page 82]of a man's own mind, and those kindlier one's of God's good spirit, this poor dejected mortal is to be reprehended, ridiculed, or, under the pretence of pity, to be the object of the vile contempt of base minds, who will engage in great and perilous undertakings? Let Christians, then, imitate the dignity of a Roman Senate, and, instead of cen­suring what thousands can censure, and few da [...]e imitate, treat such a one with a generous conde­scension which may sustain his mind under affliction, and encourage others to bold attempts to serve a grateful people.

After all, as real Christians are few and false ones many, he who becomes a missionary must ex­pect what he will certainly find—contempt and op­position all the way through; and though it be our duty to treat him in the way I recommend, it is evidently his duty to strive after that lowliness of soul, which setting itself under the eye of God, is neither elated with the praise, nor dejected by the censure of men. In learning of Jesus to be meek and lowly in heart, we shall find solid and permanent rest.

SEVENTH LETTER.

IF we would see a general spread of the gospel and multitudes of ignorant Heathen gathered into the sold of Christ, we should endeavor to mend the missionary road and to remove from it all unnecessary turnpikes: we should consider the ob­jections, which are made to Missions, and, by giv­ing them satisfactory answers, shake off those fatal discouragements, which counteract our exertions. I beg leave to lay before you such of them as have fallen under my notice, together with such answers as I have made to my several objectors.

The first trite objection thrown in the teeth of the man, who speaks in favor of Missions, is, We have Heathens enough in England, without crossing the sea to find them. Convert those we have at home first and then look to those abroad.—This objec­tion reminds me of the language of our Lord, when assuming the cold, severe air of the Pharisee, he made a trial of the faith of the Syro-phoeni­cean woman, who requested a cure for her daugh­ter.— It is not meet to take the children's brean, and give it to dogs. And I think it may be well an­swered by the words of the afflicted mother, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the children's table. If our Lord may decide the point, there was reason, as well as faith, in her plea. That there are Heathens in England is a melancholy truth; and it will be equally true, when Christ shall come to judge the world, as it is at this day. So that, if we wait their conversion, [Page 84]the Heathens abroad will never be the better for our love. But, it should be remembered, that our European Heathens perish by the abuse of that knowlege, for the lack of which other Heathens are undone. I add, that the Ministers who go abroad, so far from being felt as a loss at home, will be the means of doing more good among us, than if they had continued in England. For foreign Missions will have the same influence on religion, as foreign commerce has upon agriculture and ma­nufactures. As Christianity prevails abroad, so it will flourish at home. Thus, what is alledged against Missions is a substantial argument for engag­in them.

Others object, I know not that God's time for the conversion of the Heathens be yet come. When St. Paul would have gone into Asia, he was inhi­bited by the spirit; and if St. Paul was mistaken in such a point, well may we be so also.—I answer if my objector means to prove any thing, he should advance a step farther, and say I know that God's time is not come; and because St. Paul was forbidden in the course of his journey to preach the gospel in Asia before he had visited Macedonia and Greece, (which were riper for receiving the gospel,) therefore, Christian Ministers must not follow the Apostle's example, le [...]t, peradventure, they should act under the inhibitions of the spirit—But is I don't know, in the lips of any man, to be opposed to the authoritative command of Christ, Go, preach the gospel to every creature? And is it come to this, that eighteen hundred years after the death of Christ, and notwithstanding the general opinion of the Church evinced, by her engaging, more or less, in Missions, from that time to this, that we are in doubt about our Master's will on a subject, which involves the salvation of so large a part of mankind? If this be the case, how are we [Page 85]to know God's will? What must the Majesty of Heaven do to satisfy our unreasonable spirits? An evil and adulterous generation seek for signs. Our scruples stamp our character—St. Paul's inhibition proves the very point I contend for—that we should act under the warrant of a general commission. St. Paul did so. As a man of sense he made use of his reason. He had undoubtedly specious rea­sons for thinking of going first into Asia; but God, who saw farther than he did, ordered him to take another route, and after he had fulfilled that ministry, he resumed his design to go into Asia and spent a considerable time there, his labors be­ing accompanied with the same success which attend­ed him in other parts. We read of none of the Apostles looking for particular intimations of the divine will to direct their labors. Sometimes they had extraordinary intimations, and they obeyed them; but, in their general course, after prayer and serious deliberation, they did what appeared to them the most adviseable. Lastly, I ask why are we, in religion, to contravene every principle of common sense, upon which we act in all other things? Let us do our duty, and cease to move the councils of Heaven for the knowlege of what the Almighty is determined to conceal. Were St. Paul on earth, and an angel from heaven were to preach the doctrine contained in the objection, I am confident, the Apostle would strip him of his luminous apparel, and lay his doctrine under an anathema, in all the Churches.

An objection, similar to the one I have just an­swered, is urged in the following form— It appears that the order of events we are taught to expect from the Prophecies, is first the destruction of the Roman Antichrist, then the conversion of the Jews, and, l [...]t of all, the fulness of the Gentiles; in which work, the converted Jews, it is thought, [Page 86]will be the principal instruments. The conclusion is, that the time is not yet come for the conversion of the Heathens, and that all our labor to effect it will be lost. To this reasoning, I answer first, that pro­phecies comparatively obscure should not be put in competition with the obligation of clear and expli­cit precepts. Secondly, if all be granted which this objection assumes, it will not follow that we should look for the grand events we hope to see accomplished, in indolence and carelessness. If none but Jewish Christians dare signalize their zeal for truth in the apostolic way, nor are to be ho­nored with apostolic success, much, very much may yet be done by us, long before we shall see righteousness covering the earth, as the waters do the face of the deep. How does my object or know, whether the Lord may not make use of the zeal of sincere Christians in spreading his Gospel, as one principal means of converting the Jews? And how many Millions may there not be brought to God, before the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in? We are told that our religion shall have a general spread, an universal prevalence in the world, and we are commanded to preach the Gos­pel to every creature: but instead of occupying our talent with faithfulness, we fairly bury it be­cause it is not ten. Because the time may not yet be come for the grand conversion of mankind, we take it for granted, that the day is not come for the conversion of any of them; and because we do not hope for apostolic success, we determine absolutely to do nothing at all. But shall those servants be pronounced blessed, whom the Lord shall find so do­ing?

A third objection arises from the difficulty of the undertaking. Missionaries at this day, it is said, have difficulties to struggle with, which are altoge­ther insuperable; nor can men and money be raised equal to such extensive undertakings. I grant, if we [Page 87]put Omnipotence out of the question, we have little encouragement to engage in this war. But, I also insist, that the insuperable difficulties spoken of exist only in our own cowardice. The Jesuits surmounted them all. The Moravians have done the same. And other men, who will imitate their intrepidity, will be equally successful. Nor are the sums of money necessary for these undertakings so great as may be imagined.

When we have proper missionaries and have learned to conduct our Missions aright, the expence attending them will be greatly diminished. Were as large a sum as fifty thousand pounds per annum expended in Missions, what a trifle would a single million of money be in the course of twenty years, to be raised among the Christians of England? And while we pay fourteen or fifteen millions an­nually for the advantage of civil government, what a small offering is fifty thousand pounds to our Immortal Sovereign for all the blessings of his divine religion? Say thet the sum of thirty five thousand pounds bounded our benevolence to our Heathen brethren, this would be one million in thirty years. Certainly this money would be in­comparably better spent than the millions consumed in one year's war! In the last year a subscription of more than twenty thousand pounds was given to the emigrant ministers of the Gallican Church; and immense sums are laid out on the support of our poor, every year. I heartily approve of this way of spending our money; but may I not ask, Is the spread of Christ's religion a matter of common cha­rity, that we should part with money for Missions with as much reluctance as we would part with our blood; and think forty or fifty thousand pounds, which a sew Gentlemen of fortune cane afford to throw away on their pleasures every year, too large a sum to be applied to the first, the greatest, and [Page 88]most obligatory charity under heaven? And yet by the expenditure of the sum I have mentioned might thousands of Heathen, every year, be brought from darkness into light, and turned from the power of Satan to the service of God.

The want of men is the last thing to be feared. There exists, at this day, in England, a greater number of men who wish for this employment, than can well be imagined. They are to be found among all Denominations. Let us but enquire after them and they will appear. But so long as Missions are discouraged and vilified, few of them will brand themselves for enthusiasts, by expres­sing great forwardness, and becoming candidates for them.

It will still be objected that, Facts do not justify these sanguine hopes; for no fruit has yet been de­rived from Missions, worth the money, and toil, and valuable lives, which have been expended on them; and which might have been applied to better purpose in Europe. I answer, the facts alluded to, prove nothing but that Missions have been very improperly conducted; and, that if they are not taken up with more spirit, they are by no means likely to answer their end. But, I insist, that the fruit with which they have been attended, proves undeniably what may be done, when we exert our­selves as we ought to do. I insist, farther, that those Missions though unproductive, are very justi­fiable, and have answered valuable purposes. They are justisiable; for the men who have acted in them have done their duty, respected their conscien­ces, felt for humanity, proved their faith, asserted the honor of their religion, and glorified the vera­city, faithfulness and power of God. It shall not avail that the world brands their-lives with madness, and esteems their deaths without honor. Wisdom will justify her children. They have been [Page 89] wise, inasmuch as they have been faithful; for there is no man, who hath left father or mother, or house or lands, or friends or country, for the sake of Christ, who shall not receive an hundred fold in the kingdom of God. They have also an­swered valuable ends. They will justify the ways of God to men, in the day of final account, and serve to illustrate his mysterious providence. They will condemn the Christian world of unbelief. They will have given a great example to us, as hav­ing chosen affliction, not with the people of God, but with poor Heathens, in preference to all the riches and honors of Egypt. When Christendom lay asleep, they alone heard the sound of arms, and joined the blessed Captain of their salvation on the plains of Indostan, and in the frosts and snows of Greenland and Labrador. Like Abraham they went forth to a far country; and though the ac­complishment of the promise has not been unto them, yet, like that venerable Patriarch they have seen Christ's day and rejoiced. In the veracity of the promises, they have seen his seed numerous as the sands on the sea shore, and resplendent as the stars of heaven. They have obtained a good re­port through faith, and their bones, like those of Jacob and Joseph, have taken possession of the land of our inheritance. They rest in glorious hope; and though no proud Mausoleum of theirs attracts the eye of man, prone to gaze with false wonder on earthly pageants, yet Angels in amicable con­verse will point out each hallowed spot, and read the general epitaph— These were men of whom the world was not worthy! They plead the cause of Christ with us, nor shall they always plead in vain. Their voices shall be heard, and all Europe shall obey their call. They are the forerunners of the armies of Emanuel, and their labors the welcome drops which promise plenteous rain. Until this is [Page 90]brought to pass, they have the honor to keep alive the spirit of Missions; and will claim a large share in the victories of those, who shall come after them.

Some pious men can indulge no hope of success in Missions, while the wickedness of Europeans ope­rates to prejudice the Heathen against the gospel. We lament the fatal operation of prejudices which arise from that quarter, but think they are pressed beyond all bounds of truth. No people were more prejudiced against Christianity, nor had more dread­ful cause to be so, than the poor Indians of Califor­nia and Paraguay; but their prejudices yielded to the force of reason, and the persevering benevo­lence of the Jesuits. Truth is great and will pre­vail. No men are so brutish as not to be able to distinguish between a friend and an enemy; and fierce lions have been subdued by the blandishments of gentle, human kindness. Beyond all this we must look to the blessing of the God we serve, and the almighty grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To hope the best is pious and wise.

Many Moralists, who, though bred up in the common forms and principles of Christianity, know not how to value their religion, object, The death of Christ was a common sacrifice; his good spirit is given to all men; and if the Heathens obey the ad­monitions of the Spirit; they will be accepted through the merits of the Redeemer's death. Why not, then, leave them to their equitable Judge, who having given them but one talent, will not require from them the improvement of ten.—God will certainly judge them equitably, and will not ex­pect to reap what he has not sown. We grant also, that a Heathen may be saved without an explicit revelation of the gospel, though not without sanc­tification of the spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. But this does not prove, that the [Page 91]gospel is not an inestimable gift; or that it is not out duty to carry it to them. Farther, I answer question with question; and ask, if a man in Eng­land may be saved, though he cannot read his bi­ble, what need is there of his being able to read it? If simple reading be sufficient, what need is there of liberal education? If man may live on bread and water, what need of a profusion of meats and drinks? If the blind may travel from one part of the kingdom to another, by the humble helps of his dog and staff, what can there be desirable in vi­sion, and all the accomodations of i [...]s, carriages, and good roads? Not to press my objector with a hundred more such questions, I affirm, that Chris­tianity gives a perfection to man which sets him al­most on a level with angels; and, that the spiritual knowlege and piety of a Confucius or a Socrates, is no more to be compared with the attainments of the meanest child of God under the dispensation of Christ, than the knowlege of a Hottentot is to be weighed against the cultivated reason of a Newton.

The last objection, I shall notice, is of a more unequivocal nature than all the rest. Missionaries are a disgrace to any nation. Their attempts are highly dangerous; for should they succeed in intro­ducing Christianity into the East and West Indies, it would produce revolt in our Colonies, and subvert the British empire in Indostan. This objection has in substance been urged in a British Parliament, in the West India Islands, and in the debates of the India Directors. I confess, I know not how to meet it in the way of argument. The men who make it are as unsit judges of Christianity as the blind are of colors; and are as much disposed to re­ceive conviction from reasoning, as rocks are dis­posed to weep over human miseries. As the ser­vant of the Lord however I shall be told I must be meek. Be it so. The objection is either true or [Page 92]false. If it be true,—if the Doctrine of Christ does really tend to produce revolt, and to subvert empires, let us open our arms to French Atheism. Let us renounce this religion of blood, which curs­es the world with everlasting disorders and conten­tions; and rejoice that we have lived to a day, when the endless whirl of elements and atoms has produced such noble discoveries. Let us deify the fieud Marat; and let us tell all our worthy coun­trymen, who pick pockets, cut throats, and delight in such ingenuous arts, that they may dismiss all fears of vengeance from the crucified man of Na­zareth.— But Christianity never did produce re­volt and subversion of empires. It has no tendency to produce these dreadful consequences. If indeed it were proposed to send forth booted Apostles, to convert the nations by fire and sword, the objec­tion would assume the color of truth, and only the color of truth; for no unprejudiced man, who ever read the gospel would dignify such missionaries with the epithet of Christian. If on the other hand the objection be false, it can merit no answer but that of indignant silence.

Should it be said these apprehensions do not ori­ginate in any tendency which the religion of Christ is supposed to have to operate these effects, but in the accidental abuse to which it is liable from the ig­norant zeal of missionaries, the implacable resent­ments of Slaves, and the bigotted superstition of the inhabitants of India, which would render them jealous of innovations in their religion, a satisfactory answer may be given on all these heads. Missiona­ries can promise themselves no advantage from ex­citing revolt from the Government which protects them. None but good men will engage in Missi­ons, and they must abhor every doctrine which disturbs the peace of society. But a small share of common sense, and of acquaintance with their bi­bles, [Page 93]will teach them the necessity of enforcing on their converts, that salutary doctrine, which St. Paul taught to the numerous slaves of the Roman empire— Let as many servants, as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blas­phemed. Had the Apostle preached other doctrine, he would have armed one half of the world against the other, and excited insurrections and massacres throughout the empire, in which the slaves were nearly as numerous as the freemen. But, if any missionary be blind to this wholesome doctrine of the Scripture, and if he be deaf to the consequen­ces of preaching otherwise, which he will not fail to hear from every quarter, let the laws claim the penalty of his rashness. We will not exclaim that religion is violated by his punishment; and, we expect in return, that the doctrine of God be not blasphemed, and sober minded missionaries vilified, for the dangerous folly of a few hot headed men.

I have not heard that any bad consequences have arisen in our Colonies from the labors of the Mora­vian and Methodist missionaries; and I am in hopes that the fears of my West Indian countrymen are now pretty well calmed on that head. They now begin to feel the advantage of their ministry, and invite them to labor among their slaves. When once those poor creatures are made real Christians, they almost forget that they are slaves. They bless God for that afflictive providence, which tore them from their native land, and all the cha­rities of life, since it has placed them in circum­stances favorable to the knowlege of Christ, and the salvation of their immortal souls. The awful prohibitions of Christianity not only wrest the dagger from their hands, but deprive them of the inclination to use it. Instead of execrating their enemies, the love of Christ compels them to bless [Page 94]and pray for them. Such are the effects, with many others highly beneficial, which slow, natur­ally and necessarily, from the introduction of gen­uine Christianity into our colonies.

What has been said of the influence of religion in the West Indies, will equally apply to the Bri­tish Empire in India. We grant jealousies may possibly be excited among the Natives by the introduction of Christianity, especially among the Mahomedans, whose religion considers it as meri­torious to make war on all misbelievers. But, when I reflect on the general character of the na­tives of Indostan, I cannot believe any insurrections on that account very probable. If the British power there should suffer something in the attempt, the success of the attempt must give it a stability which it has not yet felt. And if the ambition and avarice of the India Company do not one day ruin their affairs, there is no reason to fear that the God, at whose command empires rise and fall, will overturn their empire for the damnable crimes of countenancing truth, piety, and benevolence. If India Directors are too far gone in earthly policy to attend to these reasonings, we need not their services. In Calcutta we dare assert the liberties of Englishmen, and the right of Christ's servants to preach the gospel to every creature. If those li­berties are refused, and that right is laughed at, I hope the East will soon be filled with missionaries, who dare suffer any thing which the Governors of India dare inflict, and who, under the fiercest fire of persecution, shall spread, on every side, the light of the Glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus.

Having run over this string of objections, and, as I hope, given them a satisfactory answer, I beg leave for a moment to call your attention to a consi­deration not irrelevant to the subject of Missions.—Is nothing to be done for the millions who groan [Page 95]under the iron rod of Antichrist? Will it be a sufficient reason for Protestant Ministers to give to Jesus Christ, for not declaring the truth of the gospel in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, that there are inquisitions in those countries, and that our lives must be the forfeiture of doing our duty? Would not the Ministers of the Gospel, in the early ages, have blushed at such a plea? What is become of the zeal which actuated our forefathers at the Reformation? Italy abounds with Materi­alists and Atheists. Even in Spain and Portugal, the gloomiest regions of hateful superstition, there is reason to believe that many thousands would give a hearty reception to the Protestant doctrine. Rome is now defended by British valor. Her Ministers, who in their turn, fall under the edge of that sword, which they once wielded until it was drunk with Protestant blood, may have learn­ed moderation from their sufferings. Fostered in the benevolent bosoms of English Protestants, wit­nessing a serious regard to religion in this country, which they could hardly believe existed among us, and observing the fraternal love which unites us, and is the happy consequence of mutual toleration, may we not hope that this is a favorable time for discussing, with candor and benevolence, the grand truths in dispute between the Roman and Protes­tant Communions? Christendom is now weary of the Papal yoke. It has been too long mistaken by many for the easy yoke of Jesus; and while they revolt from Rome, they at the same time renounce allegiance to God, and his Christ. Are no means, then, to be used to remedy these dreadful evils, but that of the exterminating sword? Surely much may be expected from rational controversy. Our books may be circulated through Europe, and they will convey the best antidote to those poisonous publications, whereby French Atheists are over­turning [Page 96]religion, morals, and government in the world. The reasons, which vindicate the proprie­ty of exhorting you to undertake Missions among Heathens, will evince the necessity of doing the same among the catholics and the followers of Mahomet. And may we not believe, that God will take it well at our hands, before his judgments wholly overwhelm Babylon, if we give a loud and affectionate call to all who fear God, in any degree, among her sons, to flee from the evil to come, and to relinquish her Communion, before she sinks in avenging fire?

Earnestly beseeching the God of all mercy, to give us in all these respects, and in every thing else which involves our duty and faithfulness, as Stew­ards of the mysteries of Christ, an honest and en­lightened judgment.

EIGHTH LETTER.

IN a former letter, I endeavored to excite your zeal by setting before you the example of the Apostles. In the present letter, I shall attempt to call forth the sentiments of shame, indignation, and self contempt, by reminding you of the conduct of the children of this world, whom our Lord pronounces wiser in their generation than the chil­dren of light.

Their superior wisdom is seen in the agreement of their principles and practices; in the fitness of the means they employ to the ends they would ac­complish; in the boldness and comprehension of their plans; and in the policy, energy, and perse­verance, with which they effect their purposes. Nor is this to be wondered at. They are children of the world. They live in their own element; and breathe a congenial air. Familiarly conver­sant with the objects around them, they tread a beaten path, and animate each other by their num­bers and their shouts. Their principles originate in their nature, are strengthened by early habits, sharpened by education, and receive their perfec­tion from that grand science the knowlege of life, in which they find the major part of all ranks ap­proving, avowing, vindicating, applauding, and acting upon principles similar to their own. They discover their leading interest with instinctive saga­city, and hunt down their prey with the fierceness of the lion, or the crafty doublings of the fox.

With the children of light, who dwell in the [Page 98]midst of darkness, it is far otherwise. Their prin­ciples, spirit, and manners, have little affinity with those of the world; and they are naturally despis­ed, hated, and ridiculed by her children. As strangers, they traverse an unknown country; as pilgrims, they enjoy few accommodations; and as soldiers, they tread on hostile ground, and fight their way with difficulty. Too often, discouraged by the severity of their warfare, and the tedious­ness of their exile, they wish for the wings of the dove, that they might flee away, and be at rest. With implacable resentments the God of this world and his armies pursue them, as the fugitives of his kingdom; and, what is worst of all, they carry in their own breasts traitors, who would persuade them to return from the fatigues of the wilderness to the flesh pots of Egypt. Their old man strug­gles against the new one, inveterate habits recur, and the stubborn principles of earthly policy, at one time, resist the wisdom which cometh from above, and, at another, modify and accommodate it to the interests of the flesh. Hence religion sits aukwardly upon us. Hence our purposes are bro­ken off, postponed, or executed with a timidity and supineness, which deprive them of half their ef­fect, and indicate that they possess but half our hearts.

But, if the children of this world often seduce us to evil, they also afford us many admirable les­sons how to do well. In the present case, we may learn much from them; and from the monarch to the peasant their conduct in their respective sta­tions, will shame the cowardice and inactivity of the ministers of Christ.

Let us first cast our eyes on the mass of men, soldiers, sailors, laborers, and low mechanics, who are called plebeians, the vulgar, the rabble, the herd. These poor men toil to extreme lassi­tude, [Page 99]allay the cravings of hunger with coarse and scanty diet, shun neither hardship nor danger in their occupations, accelerate the approach of age and decrepitude, and have their feelings tortured with the insolence of command, and the varied scenes of domestic distress attendant on poverty. Thousands of them are continually crushed in mines, burnt in furnaces, immerged in waters, poisoned, slaughtered, wracked to death with rheu­matism, or pine away in consumption. Ten thou­sand fatal casualties are daily hurrying them into eternity. Yet they do not complain, but are con­tent and cheerful. With manly firmness, they sup­port the load of life, and calmly tread the path which conducts them to their [...]nd. For six pence a day, the soldier exposes his life, and when the ball penetrates his chest, or his vitals palpitate on the bayonet, beguiles his anguish with the thought that he falls on the bed of honor, and dies in the defence of his country. For a trifling stipend, the mariner encounters all the dangers of the deep, and braves a war of elements. Amid thick darkness, loud thunder, livid lightening, and deluging rains, he mans the rocking yards, climbs the reeling mast, or toils at the laborious pump. Faithful to his shipmates, and obedient to the master, he declines no service but courageously keeps death at bay un­til he sinks beneath a mountain of waters. All this do these poor men risk and suffer, strange to tell, without one Christian principle to support the soul: While we, under all the sanctions of re­ligion, boasting patrician minds, enlarged with sci­ence, and superior to vulgar flights, dare not imi­tate their hardihood. A morsel of bread which is all they seek, and all they gain, weighs heavier on the balance than the love of Christ, the glory of God, the salvation of men, the authority of scrip­ture, the sense of right, the principle of honor, and [Page 100]all the praise and glory of an immortal crown!! Well might our Lord exhort us to labor for the bread that perisheth not, and to agonize to enter in at the straight gate!

Consider next the officers of the army and navy. They are born as well, educated as delicately, and have as large share of the good things of this world as the ministers of the gospel. They are resined in their ideas, often effeminate in their manners, and in their persons, not more robust than ourselves. But when their country calls for their swords, they come forth with a commendable gallantry; and, without the hardy habits of the private, go through the same fatigues, and confront the same perils. Not content with meeting dangers they cannot shun, the principle of honor, and the hope of preferment, push them on to seek occasions of distinction by atchievements of heroism. Never­theless, they have parents, wives, and children, as we have, who depend for a maintenance on the lives of which they are so prodigal.

But how do the officers of the armies of Christ conduct themselves? Little better, I am sorry to say, than an undisciplined militia, who have covenanted to fight only pro aris et focis; and who are encouraged to put on a red coat and parade in military pomp, because they flatter themselves they shall never be brought to push a bayonet. To see us exercise at home might give a high idea of our courage and prowess, if it were not too well understood that we had an invincible dislike to hard blows and long marches. Good God! what flowing eloquence, what strength of reasoning, what animated declamation, do we hear from our pulpits! What potent demonstrations of the truths of Christianity, what confutations of infidelity, what accurate investigation of moral duties, what vehement recommendation of Christian graces, [Page 101]employ the press! And who would not think, that among the many who write and speak such things, a tolerable number might be found to pro­pagate in foreign parts a religion of which we are so proud at home? Alas! while we have soft pulpits and well dressed congregations, snug livings and quiet cures, good food and decent clothes, and may relieve the dry study of the Apostles and Prophets, by wantoning in the circle of ancient and modern science, we manoeuvre to admiration. But to abjure all science except that of the gospel, to compass sea and land for the love of Christ, to prostitute our eloquence by stammering in a barba­rous tongue, to exchange our polished friends for savage associates, to break our constitution with hardships in a sickly clime, and to put off the fine Gentleman, that we may put on the rough garb of Christ's soldiers, are things hardly mentioned, and never taught in our colleges and universities.

What a pity it is, Reverend Brethren, that men like us so gentle and pacific, so averse to the alarms of war, so unambitious of martyrdom, and so enamoured of the sciences, should have en­listed under the banners of a Prince who affected to be neither philosopher, grammarian, nor rhe­torician: who suffered so much in his own person as to be willing to allow small intervals of repose to his followers; who, instead of putting pens in our hands, lays crosses on our backs; and who in­stead of deceiving us with fair speeches, and allu­ring hopes of secular emoluments, declares unce­remoniously, that if any man will not deny him­self and follow him, although it be to certain death, he is unworthy of him!—Would to God this were a subject in which there was no place for these biting ironies. But I am sick at heart. I blush for myself and the honor of my corps, and must write what I feel. [Page 102]Shall the principle of honor, and the hope of slow, petty, precarious preferment, advance the chil­dren of this world to the rank of heroes, while the certain, glorious preferments held out to us by the Son of God have no power to move us, but are trodden under foot, as though they were husks, or we were swine?

Advance next, ye sons of learning, arts, experi­ments, and try upon us lagging racers, the powers of your manly eloquence, and the evidence of your demonstrations. In the present century, Ge­ography and Astronomy have received great im­provements, at considerable expence, by long, ha­zardous voyages, travels full of fatigue and pe­ril, and painful observations taken in the Arctie Circle, on the summits of the Andes, and in the Islands of the South Seas. By these undertakings the names of Cooke, Wallis, Banks, Ledyard, Haughton, Maupertius, and others, have been rescued from oblivion, and will be handed down to posterity, together with the names of the great Kings, whose commands they executed, as long as the records of science shall subsist. But are obser­vations of the transit of Venus, the mensuration of a degree of longitude, the solving the problem of a Southern Continent, objects of such magni­tude? Will they exonerate the Princes who com­manded, or the men who performed their com­mands, from the imputation of idle curiosity, un­justifiable temerity, and a waste of treasure and of blood? If they do, and if He who made man in his own image, and redeemed him by the death of his own Son, be able to appreciate the value of an immortal soul, are there not inducements to draw the Ministers of Christ to Africa, Asia, and the South Seas, infinitely more worthy of a noble mind, than the acquisition of wealth or the im­provement of science? Shall religion refuse to [Page 103]follow, where the love of science leads? Or, have the ambassadors of God less affiance on his protec­tion, than the naturalist who explores the dange­rous chasms and tremendous crater of a volcano? O God of the Christians, suffer it no longer! If the great and strong decline the conflict, let the base and weak again shew the world, that thy Majesty condescends to employ the meanest instruments, and that thy religion prevails not by the wisdom of man, but by the powers of thy spirit, O Lord!

The mighty acts of Commerce should not be forgotten. What has she not effected? She na­vigates every sea, levels mountains, traverses the deserts, and throughout the world changes the whole face of Nature. She rules the senate, con­trols the field, and dispenses peace or war as she pleases. She asserts universal empire, and calling the nations, peoples, and languages to the plains of Dura, commands them to fall down and worship the golden image she has set up.

From the time that Columbus led the way to a new world, and De Gama, skirting the coast of Africa, penetrated to the Indian Ocean, and the trea­sures of the East, how amiable, how uncorrupt, how sweetened with human kindness, how marked with every character of our religion, how beneath all praise and recompence, except such as God can give, has been the conduct of the merchants of Portugal, Spain, Holland, France, and England! From that blessed aera, with what a mighty tide has their benevolence rolled to the American, the Af­rican, and the Asian shores! What islands has it not peopled? What barbarous country has it not civilized! What arts and laws acknowlege not its creating power and fostering care! What emanci­pated slave does not extend to heaven his unfetter­ed arm, and bear testimony to it ! ! !

[Page 104] All hail, Christian Europe! All hail, ye her sceptered Rulers, Defenders of the Faith, Most Faithful, Most Chatholic, Most Christian Kings! Ye Nobles, and ye mitred Bishops of her realms! Ye princely Traders, and ye legal Seers! Ye Lead­ers of her hosts by land and sea, who rule the storm of war, and bid her battles bleed! Others have done well; but Thou, CHRISTIAN EUROPE, excellest them all! The Greek, Roman, Saracen, Turkman, Tartar sword, has thinned the nations; but Thou, great in arts and arms, Queen of the Earth, and sacred Mother of Christians, hast every where planted the olive, and embraced thy species with maternal arms! The spirits of the Incas, Montezuma, Asian Rajahs, Indian Chiefs, Afri­can Princes, Kings of Achin and of Crmus, and the myriads of their murdered subjects, watch over thy peace, and make intercession for thy prosperity before God! Thy laurelled soldiery, thy trium­phant fleets, and the numerous carriers of thy trade, return to thy blessed kingdoms less richly fraught with gold and costly merchandize, than la­den deep with benediction, and the grateful accla­mations of the tribes of man! Exult ye Martyrs, in sons who thus perpetuate your fame! Rejoice, Apostles, in these peaceful, righteous trophies of the cross! And Thou, Father of all, contemplate these fair—Forgive, God of all mercy, forgive the presumption of this address! For ever, if it be possible, for ever let these abhorred acts be blotted from the memorial of thy holiness. But if the earth, bathed with gore, and fattened with human carcasses, cries loudly for vengeance, and if the sa­crifice of thine immaculate Son may not be prosti­tuted to varnish crimes, and to shield the murderer and spoiler from thy thunder, grant, that in that day, when thou makest Inquisition for blood, I may [Page 105]not be found guilty of silence where I ought to have spoken, or be criminated for burying the talent which ought to have been employed in consoling the mourner, wiping away the fear from his eye, and alleviating the galling weight of his chain, by dealaring to the captive the glorious liberty of the children of God, and opening to his ravished soul, some prospects of a better country, where no Chris­tians thirst for gold, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest!

Do you also, Reverend Brethren, forgive the transports of my feeble mind. But the transactions I allude to, exceed so far any exertions I have been able to discover in the frozen regions of the Church that I was seized with the madness of the multi­tude, and could not resist the temptation of bowing my knee, and worshipping at the united altars of Commerce and of Rapine. Your sober minds will reason where I have only felt; but permit me to hope, that to your reasonings you will associate a portion of my feelings, and you will then have such an application of the subject as I could wish.

A sew otter skins at Nootka Sound, soon excited the spirit of adventure in Europe, and not long after the English and Spaniards were going to cut each other's throats about them. This, it seems, was perfectly consonant to right reason. Nobody suspected the nations were mad. And is there a man among all the Ministers of Christ who will treat me as mad for exhorting my Brethren in the Gospel Ministry, to propagate religion with as much zeal as the men of the world trade and fight for otter skins? God forbid!

Thus reviewing all ranks and orders of men, we see that the children of this world are wiser, bolder, and more successfull in their generation than the [Page 106]children of light. Earnestly beseeching the Lord to give you all to feel how strongly they reproach us.

NINTH LETTER.

HAVING traced the general outline of what I have to offer on Missions, I leave it to be filled up by your private meditations, or by some abler artist, who may be excited to present you with a finished piece on this interesting subject. But I can­not persuade myself to lay aside my pen, without again addressing to you the word of exhortation, and when so many are forward in calling you into the field of political, or polemic, discussion, certainly I may be bold in provoking you to love of the most disinter­ested kind, and to those good works which are the most acceptable to God, as they originate in the purest principles.

In the Reverend Mr. Carey's Publication on this subject, I was struck with the following passage, which I shall request permission to lay before you. ‘A Christian minister is a person who in a peculi­ar sense is not his own; he is the servant of God, and therefore ought to be wholly devoted to him. [Page 107]entering on that sacred office, he solemnly under­takes to be always engaged, as much as possible, in the Lord's work, and not to chuse his own pleasure or employment, or pursue the ministry as a thing which is to serve his own ends, or in­terests, or as a kind of bye work. He engages to go where God pleases, and to do, or endure what He sees fit to command, in the exercise of his function, He virtually bids farewell to friends, pleasures, and comforts, and stands in readiness to endure the greatest sufferings in the work of his Lord and Master.—It is inconsistent with ministers to please themselves with the thoughts of a numerous auditory, cordial friends, a civilized country, legal protection, affluence, splendor, or even a competency. The slights and hatred of men, false friends, gloomy prisons and tortures, the society of barbarians of un­couth speech, miserable accommodations in wretched wildernesses, hunger & thirst, naked­ness, weariness, and painfulness, hard work, and lit­tle worldly encouragement, should rather be the objects of their expectation. Thus the Apostles acted in the primitive times, and endured hard­iness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and though we, who live in a civilized country, where Christianity is protected by law, are not called to suffer these things while we continue here, yet, I question, whether all are justified in staying here, while so many are pe­rishing without the means of grace in other lands. Sure I am that it is entirely contrary to the spirit of the gospel, for its ministers to be actuated by interested motives. On the contra­ry their commission is a sufficient call for them to venture all, and, like the first Christians, go every where preaching the gospel.’

These, Reverend Brethren, are sentiments wor­thy [Page 108]of our character as the Servants of God. Re­jected by mercenary essayists and fashionable de­claimers they find acceptance with you, and are cherished in your breasts: but, alas! how negli­gent are we in giving these principles their proper culture! Principles did I call them?—To what a dilemma am I reduced? Shall I wound you, or wrong the truth? Better far, if it be so, to offend men than God. No, Brethren, I dare not call them principles, otherwise than as they are princi­ples of a speculative sublime theory, which few of us care to practise. In the closet we sometimes meditate upon them with delight; in the pulpit we enforce them with energy; but how soon, how very soon, do we go away, and forget what man­ner of men we are?

"Who is he," said the beloved disciple, ‘that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?’ Alas! of the thou­sands of our Israel, whether ministers or their flocks, how few are they whose religion will bear this test? Where are the holy, happy spirits who have overcome the world, and by a truly glorious victory cast contempt on Macedon and Rome? Where are the men whose conversation is so in heaven, who so behold the glory of God, as to be raised above the interests, the hopes, the fears, the pomps and vanities of our petty system? O how very few there are to whom we can point with our sin­ger and say, that man is truly apostolic! The great majority of such as, in the judgment of charity, may be deemed sincere Christians, are, neverthe­less, in a feeble, infantile, unsettled state, halting often, sometimes stumbling, grieving their friends and affording triumph to their enemies. Notwith­standing the revival of religion which has taken place in England, in the last fifty years, what little­ness of faith, what coldness of love is there among [Page 109]us? While we compare ourselves among ourselves we are all disposed to assume praise; but when we place ourselves in the light of God's countenance, with what difficulty do we endure the divine splen­dor? What doubts, what fears, too often repel our confidence, confound our spirits, stop our mouths and prevent the delightful accents of Abba Father, which can alone gladden our hearts?

When I consider the state of things among us, I wonder that infidels have not thought it worth their while to follow, more generally, in the track of Mandeville, and relinquishing the attacks upon the doctrine and evidences of Christianity, directed their malice to a more vulnerable art, and stabbed our Savior through the persons of his followers. Where truth and brotherly kindness find so much to censure and lament, what havoc might we not ex­pect from ignorance, falshood, and malignity? This indeed appears to have been the mode of at­tack adopted by Voltaire and other pestiferous spi­rits on the Continent. They have prevailed. The religion of Jesus is proscribed, his sabbaths are changed, his cross trampled upon, and his mediation despised. But could Voltaire and his nefarious colleagues work such wonders? God forbid! The Priests, the Priests betrayed their God and their religion. Their bigotry, superstition, secular and spiritual wickednesses, have made their flocks infi­dels and atheists, and a holy, righteous God has deli­vered them over to be destroyed and plundered, by the miserable men whom they have provoked to madness, and caused to blaspheme that venerable name by which they were called. May we see the rod, and learn instruction from their fall! May we be jealous of our ministry, and compel men to re­spect it, by so making the light of our holy con­versation to shine before them, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in [Page 110]heaven. The ministry has long fallen under great contempt among us, and the laity too generally consider us as mere secular men, who declaim for pay and with vile grimace, one day out of seven, hold forth a language, which if true, condemns ourselves as much as those who hear us. Instead of blaming them, let us reform ourselves, Instead of talking of the dignity of our character, let us learn to feel and to support it. Let us shew them that we despise money, are superior to popularity, and have renounced all meddling with what is for­eign to our calling. Let us mark the example of St. Paul, "Giving," as he says, ‘no offence in any thing that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in neces­sities, in distressess, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fassings, by pureness, by knowlege, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeign­ed, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dy­ing and behold we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.’

Let us do this, and the ministry will hold up its head. And should it be thought, that the circum­stances of our living in a Christian country and en­joying the protection of equal laws, dispense with our exhibiting some of those attestations of our ministry which the Apostle enumerates, I beg leave to observe that as a mere nominal Christianity in our countrymen will never shield us from contempt, hatred, reproach, and persecution, as far as the [Page 111]laws of the land will permit, in the faithful dis­charge of our ministry, so the possession and exer­cise of fervent and expansive charity, both to the evil and the good, would necessarily make us sym­bolize with the Apostles in labors, watchings, fast­ings, affliction, necessities, and distresses of various kinds. An attempt to do much good is the sure way to suffer much evil. Provided we will let the world go on as it pleases, and see our fellow creatures post­ing to perdition without any, or with only feeble at­tempts to save them, they will leave us alone, and perhaps speak well of us; but let us throw our­selves in their way, let us attempt to stem the tor­rent, and we shall find religion will receive little better treatment at this day, than it did eighteen hundred years ago. Our meeting with so little per­secution for righteousness sake, is one demonstra­tion, that our religion does not over much gall the Devil and his children. For he and they will cer­tainly fight for their kingdom. But it is worse [...] that we seem studiously to shun the cross of Christ. How many of us are quitting some situations, and rejecting others, which promise much usefulness, merely because we think our learning and talents thrown away on the poor, or our stipends so small that we cannot live upon them like Gentlemen, or because our spirits are too high to stoop to owe our maintenance to pious friends; or because we cannot live by faith on the liberality and faithfulness of Christ, and endure the prospect of leaving our wi­dows and orphans to his support? How few of us prefer a poor place to a rich one, and think it a suf­ficient season for doing so, that we can be more use­ful, and more pious, in an humble station.

I flatter myself no [...]e of you, Brethren, will ask, What has all this to do with Missions? But if you do, I answer, Evidently very much. While we betray this secular spirit, are so very polite, [Page 112]and so much like fine Gentlemen, what have we, or what ought we to have, to do with Missions? To what can it be ascribed, but to the prevalence of this spirit, and of these manners, that we hard­ly ever think of them? Are not Heathens men? Have they not souls to be saved? Dare we avow other end in our ministry than the salvation of men's souls? Are we not commanded to go and preach the gospel to them? Are there any discouragements which stop the children of the world in the pursuit of money; and if we loved souls as well as they love money would discouragements stop us? Are the ministers of the gospel the only men born with the souls of women? Have we a right to talk of dangers and sufferings, who believe the Son of God was incarnate for our sake, born in a stable, cradled in a manger, lived on alms, had no place where to lay his head, and expired like a malefac­ [...]on a cross? Let moralists decline danger and [...]ink at death; but let not us, who call ourselves emphatically gospel ministers, who rejoice in Christ crucified, who preach-remission of sin in his name, and speak of a life hidden with him in God, let us not follow their example; or, if we do, let us candidly confess, that our wavering faith has no firm hold of Him, who is the resurrection and the life. And if Heathens are men, have souls, and and the only end of our ministry is the salvation of men's souls; if we are commanded to preach the gospel to them, if we love souls as well as the chil­dren of this world love money, if we are not wo­men in the form of men, and if the sufferings of Jesus prohibit all pusillanimous clamors about suf­ferings and danger, is not our God jealous, does he not require cheerful, uniform obedience, and will He hold us guiltless, if we refuse to obey his pleasure? Say we shall not forfeit Heaven, though we all lurk at home like sluggards, yet is there no­thing [Page 113]in our souls, which aspires to heavenly praise and glory? With this littleness of soul shall we not blush to meet the Apostles in their Master's joy? Shall we be content to be saved as by fire, when we are called each of us to enter into glory like Elijah in solemn triumph? O where is the Lord God of Elijah! Or where the spirit of him, ‘who said it becometh me to fulfill all righteousness—it is my meat and drink to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish the work which He has given me to do?’

How long▪ Brethren, shall we rebel against our Lord? How long, like Jonah, shall we attempt to flee from his spirit, and refuse to carry glad tidings of great joy unto all people? Sould some sneering infidel take up this publication. What would he say on reading it? What can we expect him to say? I fancy I hear him expressing himself in the following language, ‘What does this mad fellow mean? Why does he not go to the Heathens himself? Or if he did, can he imagine his en­thusiastical publications will make others as ma [...] as himself? Let him write for ever, our Bishops, Archdeacons, and other church dignitaries, will not budge an inch. Rectors, Vicars, and Cu­rates, are well disposed to follow their good ex­ample, and will never be prevailed on to turn spiritual knight-errants. The Dissenters who charge the Establishment as the cider daughter of Rome and say her ministers preach only for sat livings, have no more zeal than the men they reprove to encounter their missionary windmills. Even the Methodists, who consider themselves as the grand Reformers of the day, and vapour about the hardships of their itinerancy, love to keep in snug quarters in Old England, o [...] have no stomach to venture farther than our West In­dia Islands, where they live in comfort, and can [Page 114]assume the important name of missionaries, with­out experiencing the hardships of the underta­king. The modest, quiet Moravians, are the only people, who seem to believe the Apostles and Prophets, and who, whether they do much or little, look the hardships of a mission in the face like men. This fellow had better think of his own preferment, and dream of missions on a soft bed, than thus proclaim himself a fool by supposing his letters can do good in the world.’

Churchmen, Dissenters, Methodists, what will you reply to this reproach? Shall we make a book to confute him? It will be found, I fear on the trial, that it is easier to make a hundred books, than to engage one man to prove the sincerity of his love to perishing sinners, by sacrificing himself and his family to their welfare. Here we are dif­fering from each other in various points, and con­tending hard to shew that our own Sect, whatever it is, is lodged in the in the penetralia of the Tem­ple of Truth, and is the foremost in the race for leaven; but when the question is put, Which of you will forsake all, deny himself, take up his cross, and, if God pleases, die, for his religion? It presently appears that Churchmen, Dissenters, and Methodists, are more closely united in princi­ple and practice than they are aware of. We all straightway, with one consent, begin to make apo­logies and to say, I pray have me excused, while some openly cast contempt on the undertaking, and throw out evangelical jokes upon the few who con­sider missions in a serious light. Shall Churchmen, Dissenters, Methodists, deny these facts, because there are among each of them a few men whose conduct may be urged as an exception against them? Surely this is disingenuous.

Many of us complain of an antichristian union between Church and State, and that religion is [Page 115]fettered, and made, like a child, to walk in lead­ing strings. We say that religion flourished most when she had to contend with the State, and had no other support than what she derived from her own native strength. Let this be granted. It was so once, but it is a little problematical, whether it would be so now. "Tempora mutautur et nos matamur "in illis." Are we apostolic Christians? Can we contend with hunger, thirst, cold, naked­ness, perils, and the sword? Can we walk with­out those leading strings? If we can, and if we feel them so gulling, so degrading, why do we not do so? Are there not two thirds of the world, where we shall not be insulted by legal protection, or be paid, like secular men, for our labor? Have we not full opportunity of shewing the politicians and great men of Europe, that Christ, his minis­ters, and people, are able to uphold their religion in the world, without their support, and that we can multiply now, as in the primitive times, like the polypus, when he is cut in pieces? And yet the precise reason why we do not engage in Missions is because we cannot enjoy that secular protection, and those secular comforts, which we have in Eng­land. To follow the Son of God where he has no place to lay his head, and no other recompence to of­fer us, than the cup he drank of and the baptism with which he was baptized, is more I fear than we are able to do: and until we can do so, it will re­main very questionable, whether we can walk with­out our leadings strings.

This appears to be the case so evidently, that those who patronize Missions feel it necessary to se­cularize them, and to put them, as much as possi­ble, on the same footing as a parochial Cure in Eu­rope. They are afraid of alarming us by shewing the dark side of things, and hardly conceive that there exists among us men, whose spirits dare aspire [Page 116]to an apostolic warfare. Hence it is, that neither they nor we have faith to think of subduing king­doms; nor are they to be subdued by a few fair weather soldiers, accompanied by delicate women and children, educated in fashionable accomplish­ments, and accustomed to all the delicacies of life; who are absolutely incapable of exposing themselves to sun, or wind, or rain, or of exercising those charities which were once the ornament and praise of Christian matrons. I fear, I fear greatly, that I write to the winds, and that neither Christian Ministers, nor their wives, have platy enough for this engagement; and that the Missiona­ries we are able to send out with the equipage they require for their camp, will do no more towards subduing India to the faith of Christ, than a few effeminate Asiatics, with their Harams and dancing girls, would do in an attempt to bring Great Britain under the yoke of the Mogul.

If there were absolutely none to encourage the attempt, and nothing existing at this day in the form of a mission, the conduct of the ministers of Christ would be more excusable; but it seems, as if the Providence of God had kept alive some sense of duty, and some examples of zeal, both among laity and clergy, to be a testimony against us, and to hold us up to infamy to future generations. What is done, indicates, that we know our duty; and what is left undone evinces, that we have no inclination to do it. We ministers have no reason to complain of the laity. They are willing to give us all encouragement; nay, they invite and so­licit us to engage; and freely offer to do all in their power to make us comfortable; and yet we refuse to stir. I am sorry to say, that this reproach falls more immediately on myself and other gospel minis­ters, in the establishment. The Sierra Leone Chap­lainship went a begging pretty far before it fell into [Page 117]the hands of my Colleague and myself; and now that we have declined it, it lies neglected, as no man thinks it worth his while to pick it up. For some years great enquiries were made to procure an Assistant minister for the Reverend Mr. Johnson, at Port Jackson, and with infinite difficulty, that post is, at last, silled: but all the enquiries made among gospel ministers, for three years past, and, which are still making, after an assistant for the Reverend Mr. Brown, at Calcutta, have hitherto been with­out effect. Whether this does us honor, I leave the world to judge. I shall however contrast these facts with one from Mr. Spangenberg, a Moravian Bi­shop, who informs us, that when, at Bethlehem in North America, letters were read in the Brethren's congregation, stating, that several of their mission­aries had been carried off by sickness in the Island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies, that very day seven Brethren offered to go and replace them.— This is just what things ought to be, and any Church which can produce such men may engage in Missions.

That our Brethren of the various denominations of English Dissenters have any cause to rejoice over us in this respect is more than I know. Except the Reverend Mr. Carey and a friend who accom­panies him, I am not informed of any of their mi­nisters who are engaged in Missions. Would to God they would undertake something in this way for Christ, which might provoke us to jealousy!— The Reverend Dr. Coke has of late years done something in this way in our West India Islands; and might have done much more, had the Metho­dist Preachers, as a body, given him that unequi­vocal support, to which his zeal in such a cause should entitle him.—Hitherto those Missions may be considered as his missions, rather than those of the Methodists. I am, however, happy to be in­formed [Page 118]that his Brethren, begin to enter more heart­ily into the spirit of Mistions, and I flatter myself they will now embark in them, with all their soul, and all their strength. But, whether they do it or not, it is infinitely to be desired that it should be done by some of us; for however we may suppose ourselves entitled to reprove each other about mode; of faith and forms of worship, upon this business, I know not who may throw the first stone. And if I take the liberty of speaking so freely, I ap­peal to God, it is not because I suppose myself en­titled to reprove others from any merit of my own; but because I ingenuously confess my sin, and am willing to come in for a full share of our common shame.

Our conduct in respect of Missions, evinces be­yond every thing the low degraded state of the Christian ministry, and the ideas which too gene­rally prevail about it threaten to degrade it still lower. An improper attachment to secular inte­rests and honors, exerts too much of its baleful influence over those whose principles teach them better things; but what consequences may not be expected to flow from the lave of money, and the love of praise, when men of the first character and influence in the church avow them, as allowable motives of ministerial conduct. Nevertheless, we have lived to hear them so avowed, and to the shame of human nature, but to the exemplifica­tion of the scripture declaration, that by wisdom man knew not God, to hear them avowed from the admirable pen of ARCHDEACON PAIEY. After ad­ducing other reasons to shew that a distinction of orders in the ministry, is most conducive to the general ends of its institution, he concludes as fol­lows — ‘And lastly, that the same fund pro­duces more effect, both as an allurement to men of talents to enter into the Church, and as a sti­mulus [Page 119]to the industry of those who are already in it, when distributed into prizes of different value, than when divided into equal shares.’—Paley's Moral Philosophy, vol. 2, p. 323.

God of heaven and earth, what a stab is this to the vitals of thy religion! I appeal to every god­ly man in England, Whether all the talents, all the learning, and all the virtues of a Paley, can shield the man who avows these sentiments from his contempt? And yet this is the man who teach­es us morals—who instructs our young ministers— whose book is honored and applanded in our Uni­versities! But who that adopts these sentiments will engage in missions? Alas, the allurement, the stimulus, the prizes, Mr. Paley talks of, may in­duce men to cultivate their talents with as much care as he has done, and to write as well as he has written; and they may, perhaps, draw from our ecclesiastical lottery, as rich a prize as he has drawn; but as soon may the carrion crow beget a dove, as they will induce him to conduct himself in a ministry as becometh the gospel of Christ.

Thus it is that we are not ashamed to drive in­solent bargains with the Son of God, and tell him we will stoop to assume the contemptible character of his ambassadors, if he will hold out to us rich and honorable prizes to allure men of our talents into the Church, and to stimulate our industry when we are in it. Truth, virtue, religion, God and heavenly glory, are no allurements, no stimu­lus, to our aspiring minds, until they receive the currency of this world, by being attached to the fools cap of human honor, or to that pernicious metal, which can transform the Apostles of Satan into the ministers of Christ. Others of us appear ashamed of these simonical practices, and say, ‘Lord I will follow thee withersoever thou goest; only shew me a little more indulgence than thou [Page 120]hast shewed to thyself. Excuse me from watch­ing and agonizing with thee in Gethsemane. I will take up my cross; I only deprecate the be­ing crucified upon it. I am willing to forsake much; but compassionate my weakness, and do not command me to sell all. I will follow thee any where on land; but O spare me the horrors of a voyage by sea. I will preach for thee amongst the poorest of my own nation; but do not send me to a strange country. I acknowlege I am a miserable sinner, unworthy to be a door keeper in thy house, nevertheless, my elocution is po­pular, I am much followed and applauded: Will it not be more for thy glory for me to stay at home, while any man of inferior talents may go and preach to the Heathens? I have heard that they offer human sacrifices in Otaheite, eat men in New-Zealand, are absolutely brutish at Port Jackson, and that the scorching sun and hea­vy rains in Africa are inevitably fatal. O let the life of thy servant be precious in thy sight! Send me not to untameable barbarians, or to a clime where I cannot be certain of my life for a day. Besides the difficulties of these undertak­ings are insuperable. It is probable I must cul­tivate the ground for my maintenance, and I have been brought up delicately from a child. Thy Apostles who were poor fishermen, and ne­ver possessed my extensive learning, elegant man­ners, and genteel notions, were well suited to this rough work; yet even they preached to a civilized people, and being furnished with miraculous powers, their labors were the more productive; but what shall I do who have not their advantages, and have my mind so vitiated by false learning, that I cannot stoop to the simpli­city of the gospel? Certainly to engage in mis­sions is to plough on a rock, or to build on the [Page 121]wave. O let me be any thing but a missionary, for my soul sinks within me at the mention of it, nor can I derive any considerations from earth, heaven, or hell to make me willing to die for thy sake. I am not singular in my opinion of missions, for we are all agreed clergy and laity, churchmen and dissenters, Indian directors and parliament men, with few exceptions, that they are impracti­cable; and that if they were not, yet "missi­onaries would be a disgrace to any nation;" that we have no right to interfere in the chang­ing the religion of a foreign country.' They would certainly destroy the Slave Trade in Afri­ca; and some well informed, respectable Direc­tors of the India Company, are of opinion that they would "subvert the British Empire in In­dostan," which, they think, of far greater con­sequence than the establishment of thy despised kingdom. A few wretched Pariars might in­deed be converted, or rather made hypocrites by Christian charity; but there is nothing in Thee, or thy gospel, to influence Chiefs of the noble Casts (whose souls are certainly more valuable than those of the vile Pariars as is a thousand to one) to forsake the religion of their ancestors. Good Lord, what is to be done where every thing thus makes against us? O desist from thy purpose! Thou art the Savior of all men, and God is a merciful Father to them all; if it please thee, thou can'st save the Heathens without the gospel; and, if not, thy will be done. Never­theless Lord, if thou wilt force us to cultivate this unpromising field, do not think of sending missionaries out immediately, but let lay school­masters go to receive the first sire, and teach the the little children reading and writing; and then will we go, and enter into their labors: for the experience of ages has taught us, that where the [Page 122]preaching of the gospel makes one Christian, education makes ten. Hence instead of preach­ing first to the parents, and then establishing schools, for the education of the children, as the Apostles did (who knew that the sword of the spirit was of heavenly temper—an instrument into which the God of Glory had wrought all his attributes, we, having lost the art of using it, and that vigorous arm which gives it the demon­stration of the spirit and of power) we go to work another way, by educating children first; and many are of opinion, that the best way of enlightening the Heathens is by putting the moon in the sun's sphere, and having children to in­struct their parents, rather than parents to teach their children.—If Lord thou wilt seriously weigh all these things, we flatter ourselves thou wilt be of our way of thinking.’

Wild, ludicrous, and even blasphemous, as this soliloquy may be, I am persuaded, it does not con­tain a sentiment, which is not the genuine effusion of the human heart. I have traced some of them in my own heart, and I have detected others, in the language which has been frequently held to me on missions. I have only thrown them together, given them a tongue and utterance, and exposed them without disguise as they walk before God, who searches the heart. If ministers and Christians will not recognize what exists in their hearts, and lives in their lives, I have at least done my duty in set­ting it before them. If they see themselves in the glass I hold up. I trust, with God's blessing, it may produce salutary effects, call them into action, and enable them to stop the mouth of malevolent reproach; that it may no longer be said the minis­ters of Christ are, as they have been, for centuries, with comparatively few exceptions, the most dege­nerate, [Page 123]the most inconsistent, and most dastardly race of men who ever existed on earth.

Ought not we to have compassion on our breth­ren, even as God hath compassion on us? Have we looked into the heart of Jesus Christ, and is it thus we read it? Do we dwell in God, and God in us, and can we continue thus cold and obdurate, amidst the everlasting burnings of his love? Olet us prove our faith by our works, and shew men who mistake our doctrine, that in preaching justi­fication by faith, we do not set aside, but establish the moral law! By the songs of angels, who proclaimed peace and love at our Redeemer's birth; by the solemn injunction of Him who said, "Ye are my friends, if ye keep my commandments;" by the glorious Pentecost, when every language praised God; by the multitudes who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb; by the acts of the Apostles and the sufferings of the martyrs; by the expiring pangs of Jesus, and by those sins of of ours which bruised him, and put him to grief; by their remission, if we have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious; by the fearful end of that servant who buried his Lord's talent; by the cur­ses and execrations which rest upon the Christian name; by the rivers of Heathen blood which Chris­tians have shed, and which call for expiation at our hands; "if there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spi­rit, if any bowels and mercies," I beseech you ho­nored and beloved Brethren, have mercy on the Heathens, and so fulfil the joy of your Lord.

And now, Brethren, I throw myself at your feet; and ask pardon for every rash and wounding expression which may have fallen from my pen. Conscious inferiority bows me down, and nothing but a sense of duty and the love of truth could have erected my mind to write with the freedom I [Page 124]have done, and to admonish thus loudly the minis­ters of Christ, the least of whom I consider as my superior. If I have offended, I beseech you to forgive me, even as God for Christ's sake forgive [...] you. If I have, in any respect, oversteped the soberness of trath, or violated the meekness of wis­dom, I trust I shall find mercy of the Lord, as hav­ing done it ignorantly, from a sincere desire to pro­mote his glory, the interests of his religion, the hap­piness of his people, the salvation of the Heathens, and the honor and dignity of his ministering ser­vants. I once more submit to your candid atten­tion, as well as to your judicious correction, the con [...]ents of these pages. I promise seriously to re­view my own obligations to act in the way I recom­mend to you; and I flatter myself, that some one will take up the subject where I have laid it down, and do it that justice, which it cannot receive from my hands.

I have the honor to subscribe myself, with cor­dial esteem,