The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, February 02, 1821, Image 2

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■re bng, silently water every portion of nlie field sowed with the word of God; and, with the divine blessing, would render lux uriant and plentiful the Christian harvest.” The writer proceeds to offer several Suggestions, ig regard to the best methods of extending the knowledge of Christianity in the Turkish empire. He dwells on the vast good, which could probably be effect ed by a printing establishment, with Greek, Turkish, and French types, (the latter comprehending the general European al phabet,) at Smyrna; and another at Jeru alero, with Greek, Svriack, and Arabick haracters. In the most unqualified inan ler he sanctions the opinion, which the Committee formed originally, that ‘ Smyrna .3 by farthe best situation in the Levant for a permanent missionary establishment, on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, having a frequent communication with all the parts of the Ottoman empire ; r.nd that it is the best place in those regions for learn ing Greek, Turkish, Italian and French, and for the security and liberty, which for eigners and Christians enjoy.’ The ad vantages of an extensive printing establish ment may he conceived, when it is stated, that though the Greeks are very fond of reading, there is not a single newspaper, or other periodical publication, in all the Turkish uominioiTS. There is little reason to doubt, that the shores of the Mediterra nean afford many of the best openings to Christian enterprise; and it surely is not too much to anticipate, that the churches of this country will delight to send back to those central parts of the earth, the inestim able blessings, which were derived from thence, but which have, in the righteous visitations of Providence, been so long banished from the countries, where they were first enjoyed. From the Charleston Courier. REMEMBER ME. “ This do in remembrance of me.”—Christ. These were the remarkable words of qur Saviour, at the close of the most solemn wdinance, ever instituted in the Christian Church. It was on the dismal night in which he was betrayed, that he assembled his disciples together, to commemorate his dying love. The twelve had been con stantly with bira during his publick ministry, and the subjects of his private admonitions and instructions ; —he loved them in life— and in death was anxious to leave them a legacy that should be as lasting as time it self. That behest was the sacred em blems of his own body and blood ; and was not only bequeathed to bis apostles, but to all who should believe on him in every age . of the world; guarding it at the same time, by the most terrible thuuders of the Al mighty', that the unworthy might not dare to approach it—for it was holy, and not to be polluted by unsanctified hands, without risking condemnation. “This do,” srIJ the heavenly instituter “in remembrance of me.” Yes, it is to be done in remembrance of him, whose mem ory should be cherished while gratitude warms the heart of man. The sufferings he was about to encounter were of no ordina ry kind. He had already received almost every contumely from those, he was anx ious to preserve, but the cup of affliction was not yet full. He was to be betrayed by one of his professional friends, denied by another, and forsaken by all; to be mock ed by his enemies, and suffer the agonizing death of the cross—that man might regain ’bis forfeited allegiance to his Maker. All this he well knew, but he did not shrink from this accumulation of woes. He left bis apoFtles the sacred ordinance of the Supper, to cheer their prospect as they journeyed through this vale of tears. What heart cao remain unmoved, on pe 'using the sacred pages, as they rehearse ‘his affecting solemnity'? For the last time, the Saviour of the world, with his humble followers, surround the homely board. His . pestles were no more in bis human character to hear his warning voice ; he was shortly to be torn from ihem by bis cruel persecutors; the land was to be dyed with his blood, and they were to be left destitute of earthly support. He, who for a long time had been their companion and adviser, was about to resign his charge ; and to prepare them fur his trying hour he now called them together, for he was ho more to drink wine with them till he drank it anew in his father’s kingdom. “ This do in remembrance of me,” is applicable to you, kind reader. Are you a hoary headed transgressor ? Remember the eleventh hour is not too late to prepare for death ; and during your remaining days re collect your dying Saviour ; his agony in the garden, when he sweat drops of blood, so intense was his struggle foryou. Then in mercy to yourself remember your Sa viour, and devote the remnant of your life to his service. Are you in possession of youth and strength, and does health and hilarity ani mate your countenance ? These are rapid ly passing away; the evening vespers may be chaunted over your lifeless corse—and the morning’s sun may light you to your charnel-house. Remember the dying love of your injured Redeemer; he was fond of youth, and counselled them for their good. One he tenderly loved, and wept over him with brotherly affection. He weeps over you when he looks from his abode, and sees you hurrying to your own destruction. Pause then, and return to him, and you will drink wine new with him in Para dise. Are you fast going the way of all flesh, and Jiaye you in patience possessed your “souls, looking beyond temporary afflictions, jikgii the means of weaning your affections IBBR earth?—You do, indeed, remember him, and he does not forget you. He will acknowledge you before assembled angels, when your grey hairs go down to the grave. Persevere, and ae your head blos soms for the tomb, your heart ripens for un eternity of happiness. Are you in the morning of life, and have you placed your hope on (hat Saviour? Fear no evil—he will never leave nor for sake von, but will guide you securely thro’ all the dark mazes of this howling wilder ness—the fiercest dragons of the pit may assail, but they cannot injure you, for his omnipotent power will be exerted for your redemption. Trials, afflictions, poverty and distress will only he momentary —your bliss will be endless. Remember your Heeding Saviour, anil all will go well. In the lat agonies of expiring nature, and when the dark mists of death obscure your earthly vision, your soul will look up to him with a hope as cheering as the meridi an sun to the beclouded mariner. In death he shines upon all who have remembered him. Your humble Bible Essayist too, in tak ing his reluctant farewell, hopes that you will sometimes remember him before that Throne, where, the petitions of the high and the low mingle together—where rank and distinctions are nothing—and where the fervour of devotion is alone pre-eminent. If he has alleviated but one woe of the heart, he is amply rewarded, and it will cheer his way as he pursues his assiduous avocations. —-o :o:o: CLOSE OF THE YEAR. From the Baltimore. Morn. Chronicle, Jan. 1. There is a peculiar solemnity that at tends the close of the year.- VVe look I around on the white banks of December, I and they seem associated wiih hoary heads, ! with loss of memory and of sight, end all those harbingers of a swift approaching eternity. We turn for consolation to our friends and relations, to the companions of our earliest years, and we are again re minded by the rising mounds that cluster around our feet, that they also have depart ed to that “ bourne friim whence no trav eller returns.” Finally, the heart oppres sed and disconsolate, is compelled at last for support on the stay furnished by Gospel hope. We are compelled to confront the visage of the king of terrors,and to look upon our selves, warned as we are, by the per vading mortality around us, as candidates for the tomb. This obnoxious fact is ob truded on our notice in such a variety of forms, that there is no escape, no resting place from such contemplations. But while we dwell on this melancholy specta cle with humble hearts and confidence in the Divine mercy, the shadows of death begin to kindle with a purple light. We feel that we are not to remain forever the subjects of the king of terrors—that there is a state of existence beyond this transito ry life—we are admonished of this fact by the resurrection of the flowers, by the re volving course of the seasons, by the re-ap pearance of the sun, and by all the analo gies furnished by external nature. Vague and unsatisfactory as these analogies are to the cravings of an immortal soul—they at least preach to man that there i3 another state of being—another world to inhabit.— Here philosophy trembles and retires ; her taper can afford no more light—it seems rather a species of lurid darkness than of illumination. The proudest philosophers of antiquity were here compelled to fore go their inquiries. With all the gigantick graspings of their mighty minds they could penetrate no further, and they were at last coerced to submit to death with a sort of gloomy acquiescence, as a thing inevitable, as a dispensation imposed on humanity, not to be avoided. Those heart-cheering, those animating hopes were reserved for revela tion to inspire, and they could only have been afforded by revelation. Since that blessed period, the shadows of death have been'illuminated by a divine light. Angels have drawn up the curtains, and we behold realms of joy and sorrow, regions of de light and mansions of woe ; we behold this existence connected with an interminable state hereafter. Death is now viewed in a more awfully interesting light ; it is that link that connects the life of man with that of angels or demons hereafter; he is told of the reword, and of the punishment. The good man now looks around with different views—to him the snows of December, and hoary hairs, the loss offriends, their graves gathering around his footsteps, the gradu al departure of his own senses, produce new ami soothing associations—he beholds in the ravages of winter, the return of the vernal months—he sees in the graves of his friends, and the decay of his own con stitution, that the time is near at hand when he shall meet those beloved comrades of his heart, in the regions of light and glorv ; he drops the body to soar an immortal spirit from the grave—he sees on the gath ering tempest of death, the bow of mercy expanded in all its lustre. While we tender to our friends the com pliments of the season, we feel a sort of foreboding heaviness of heart, that many, who now peruse these pages, and rejoice with us on the arrival of another year,will, before another annual revolution of the seasons, be cold and insensible, either to the applause or censures of man; we com mit them to the blessings of that Being, whose tender mercies are over all the works of his hand. FROM THE GUARDIAN. CAROLINE AND SOPHIA. You recollect, iny dear young friends, who read the Guardian, that we promised to give ydu some further account of Caro line and Sophia. When we mentioned them last, Caroline had just turned out to see the world : Sophia had devoted herself to the service of God and the Saviour. They were both diligent in the profession. Car oline thought of nothing but dressing, dan cing parties, company, &c. Her waking hours were wholly devoted la Inis objiwl m and even’ in her dreams, she was generally repeating \he scenes of the day. Sophia became teacher of a class in the Sunday School, to which she was very attentive, and which soon became one of the best classes in the school. She joined the Fe male Bible Society, a Female Missionary Association, and another female Society for visiting and comforting the poor when sick and distressed. These Societies required a small annual contribution in money. This money she determined to raise by • little more industry every day ; and by saving a little in the expense of her cloth ing. Through the blessing of God on this industry, and this saving, she had, at the end of the year,the full amount which these societies required, and something more for other charitable purposes. She spent more than her proportion of time in visiting the poor *nnd the sick; she visited, at their own houses, all the children in her class in the Sunday School, once every three months. Both the children and their parents were always delighted to see her coming. The poor and the sick were al ways pleased when it was Sophia’s week to visit them : for the members of this So ciety always visited in turn. Sophia per severed in the most cheerful obedience to her mother, was punctual in the discharge of all her religious duties, both publick and private, and made a very pleasing pro gress in the knowledge and practice of true religion. Caroline, decked out in ell the ornaments and tine things that money could procure, with a number of companions, both male and female, like herself, was hurried from one scene, of what she called pleasure and amusement, to another. Her parents had indulged her so long that now they had no authoritv over her. She nev er thought of regarding their wishes, un less they agreed with her own way. When she could get two or three of her compan ions to go with her, she would go to church. She had never been taught to fear God, or respect religion. But now her conduct was more indecent than ever. The con gregation saw Ler come in with dread and sorrow : for they were sure to be interrupt ed with her impious levity. She would take the most conspicuous seat in the church she couid get, and, in the most shameless manner, laugh and talk during the whole service. Once or twice (he clergyman thought it his duty to give her a gentle reproof; but she did not regard it . she seemed rather gratified with it, be cause it attracted mure notice. God was not in all her thoughts. Caroline, during this season of her gaiety and merriment, often passed Sophia, but never spoke to her, nor seemed to know her. And yet there was one circumstance happened be tween, which, I hope, you will be pleased to hear. Mrs. Wells, a poor woman, was very ill; and, for several days, it was thought she would not live ; but the doc tor now said she was better, and likely to recover. It was Sophia’s week to visit the sick. She was returning from her visit to Mrs. Wells ; and the joy which she felt from the hope of the poor woman’s recove ry, was strongly expressed in her counte nance. Caroline was rolling by, in her fine carriage, wjh two or three of her com panions. One of them, Miss Fitzborn, was struck with Sophia’s appearance ; and ask ed who that was. O, said Caroline, it’s Soph Burney; I suppose she has been whining and praying with some of the beg gars ! This remark, together with Sophi a’s induced Miss Fitzborn to inquire after Mrs. Burney; and ur.e even ing, after darky she ventured to call, and spent half an hour in conversation with Mrs. Burney and Sophia. A few days after this conversation, Miss Fitzborn left the place and returned home, which was about fifty miles distant. Such was the im pression she carried with her, that she for sook her gay companions and amusements, commenced reading the Bible, visiting the poor and the sick, opened a Sunday School, and has, ever since, been diligent in doing good. No person doubts the sincerity of her piety. 1 In the same town in which Mr. Foster lived, Mr. Carlton, a young gentleman of handsome person, and French manners, had commenced business as a merchant. His capital was small, but it wa3 thought, with prudence and attention to business, lie might succeed. He was, however, more fond of amusement and pleasure, than was consistent with his interest. He paid his addresses to Caroline, and shortly after they were married. Caroline determined to have a splendid establishment of her own. She might have lived with her fa ther, as she was his only child ; but this would not satisfy her; she must see com pany at home. Anew carriage, and furni ture of the most expensive kind, were pro cured ; and they lived in the highest style. Sophia received proposals of marriage from Mr. Henson, a young man who had commenced business as a mechanick ; his proposals were accepted, and they were married. Mrs. Burney resigned to them her house, and lived with them as one of the family. Mr. Henson was sober, indus trious and pious. His business increased every month ; for he was always punctual to his promise, and truly honest in doing his work. His customers were so pleased, (hat they recommended him to all their ac quaintances. He soon became quite inde pendent in his circumstances. One of the greatest pleasures he derived from this, was, that Sophia able to give more than she had done, to charitable and religious purposes. Five years after Caroline’s marriage, her father died; and on the settlement of his affairs, it was found that he was worth no thing ; every part of his property was bare ly sufficient to pay his debts, which were demanded with great rigour. Mr. Carlton had great expectations from the wealth of his father in law: but was now obliged of disappoint mjnt, for he knew the consequence, fix months afj terwards he tailed. Ail his property, his be<ls, and even the least article of kitchen furniture,was sold under the hammer, and a large amount remained, still unpaid. Mr. Carlton determined not to bear the shock. Next morning after the sale, he borrowed a pistol, walked a little distance from town, and shot hitnself; for he had no 3ense of religion to keep him from such a horrid crime. Caroline was now left with two small children, without a cent, and almost without a friend. Her former companions in folly and vanity now deserted her. She had treated those whom she considered be low her with so much neglect and haughti ness, that very few of them even pitied her. She wms permitted to go into a small house on the back streets ; and supported herself for several months, by selling her clothes. This resource at length failed, and she was brought to absolute want. Her children suffered for clothing, and cried for bread. Though in great distress, yet she was too proud to let it be known that she could re ceive any thing in charity'. There was scarcely any kind of work she knew liow to do. She could have danced, for she was better at that than any thing else ; but no person would pay her for it. She might obtain employment as a teacher of musick, or needle work ; but she is not ca pable of teaching ; for she had neglected these branches of her education. Misera ble in this world, she is unprepared for the next; for all her distress has not led her to God as her refuge. Sophia often passes by her door after dark, and giving a gentle tap, leaves something on the sill for Caro line and her chifdren, and then walks on, that it may not be known who left it. Sophia enjoys all the comforts and con veniences of life. Though not wealthy, yet she is respected by all, on account of her piety and usefulness; by her friends and acquaintance she is dearly beloved. From this short history', my dear young friends learn the difference between obedi ence and disobedience to your parents; between industry and idleness ; between a life of usefulness, and one that is useful to nobody; between the service of God, and the service of sin. Let this truth dwell in your minds and impress your hearts—‘‘God liness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Y. F. oOJfOo—— WONDERS OF CREATION. Remarks on Physical Creation , bij Rev. Da vid Simpson. The grand evidence of Christianity rests beyond doubt on the claims of Revelation ; but this consideration should not prevent our attention to the auxiliary testimony which is furnished by the Author of nature in his physical creation. While we daily study the former, we shall do well to pay all due attention to the latter, according to our opportunities of in vestigation. To an enlightened observer, they both carry indubitable marks of their great Original. ‘ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth is full of his riches.’ The most perfect catalogue of stars before Hersche! appeared,did not con tain quite 5000, but by the vast superiority of his glasses, he hath discovered 44,000 stars in a few degrees of the heavens ; and by the same proportion, it is supposed that 75,000,000 are exposed in the expanse to human investigation. Lalande supposes that a glass of Herschel’s power may dis cover 90 millions of stars in the whole sur face of the heavens, and that even this number is but small in comparison with what exists. All these stars are of a fiery nature, and conjectured to be so many suns with their systems of planets moving round them. We know the sun to be the centre of the system. It is accompanied with 29 planets, besides about 450 comets. What an amazing idea does this give us of the works of God ! And if ’’such be the work, what must the Workman be ! Every part of nature, with which we are acquainted, is full of living creatures, with stores of every kind to supply their neces sities. This little globe of ours is known to contain within its bowels a great variety of valuable minerals, and to be covered by about 20,000 different species of vegeta bles, 3,000 species of worms, 120,000 spe cies of insects, 200 species of amphibious animats, 550 species of birds, 2,600 species of fish, and 200 species of quadrupeds.— How immense then must be the number of j individuals ! One fly is found to bring forth j 2,000 at a time, and a single cod-fish to pro- j duceconsiderably more than three millions! and a half of young. Ltwenhoeck tells us j that there are more animals in the melt of a single cod-fish than there are men upon ! the whole earth ! And when it is consider-1 ed, that the earth itself, with all its furni- j ture, is no more, when compared with the i whole system of things, than a single grain J of sand when compared with a huge moun-! tain, we are lost in the immensity of God’s 1 works, and constrained to cry out, ‘ Lord, i what is man that thou art mihdful of him, i or the son of man that thou visitest him !’; And if to this immensity of the works of. creation, we add the admirable structure of the whole, and the exquisite perfection of every part, we shall not fail of being ex- : ceedingly affected with the ineffable wis dom of the Divine Architect. To bring this consideration more within the grasp of human comprehension, let us take to pieces and examine the several parts of any one creature which God hath made ; and we shall find a perfection among its sev- j era! powers, and an adaption of its situation j in the grand scale of existence, farsurpas-j sing human skill. Let the most perfect anatomist that ever existed, make his ob servations upon the human frame : let him examine with the greatest possible atten tion, the tout ensemble of the structure, then hjfahim proceed to the several parts, of ‘Vvmch the microcosm is composed ; first, tfife jSoweftsSjf the mind ;#tbe understand ing, tnte viT!7the ndfcmor’^nie Iftinscience, and the various affections ; next the five senses—tWe touch, the taste, the smell, thn hearing, and the sight ; afterwards let him proceed to the* sewer a I fluids of the body ; and then to the 300 bones, the 40 different sorts of glands, the 466 muscles, the 40 pair of nerves, the fibres, the membranes, the arteries, the veins, the lyniphaalucts, the excretory vessels, the tendons, the lig aments, the cartilages ; and let him ex plore the whole and every part with the greatest degree of accuracy, knowledge and judgment that ever centered in man; and then let him honestly say, whether he. could suggest the very smallest irpprove ment in any one respect. If he were an atheist before such an investigation, like the celebrated Galen, he would be convert ed to the belief of the Divine Existence, would compose a hymn in praise of tho Creator ot the world, and sjng wiih the great progenitor of mankind: “ These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty, thine tiiis universal frame. Thus wondrous fair! Thyself how wondrous then? Unspeakable ! who sitt’st above these heavens, To us invisible or dimly seen In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought,and power divine.” GENERAL SUMMARY. Charleston, Jan. 13. From a notice in the Boston Recorder, it appears that, by the advice of physicians, and at the request of the Prudential Com mittee of the A. B. Commissioners for For eign Missions, the Corresponding Secreta ry (Dr. Worcester) of the Board, was to embark at Boston, about the Ist of January, for New Orleans, for the benefit of a sea voyage, and a southern winter ; and with a view to objects of importance at the Mis sionary establishments in the Choctaw and Cherokee Nations. Mr. Ward is said to have been success ful in collecting funds for the College in Serampore, from Christians of all denomi nations in N. York, New Haven, Hartford, and Worcester. He preached in several of the pulpits of Boston, during the week ending on Saturday, Dec. 23d, and was on the evening of that day to deliver a discourse on the subject of Hindoo education in the Park st. church, with a view to a collection for the promotion of that object. We are so struck by it, that we cannot help remarking the prodigious, superiority ofhenevolent interest in the towns of the North and East, which these facts exhibit. In them the critical affair of a charity ser mon may be successfully transacted any evening in the week. How doleful would be the issue of such an experiment in out good city. But we are willing to hope that the times are about to change with us. A noble benefaction was made lately to the Belfast (Ireland) Charitable Society.— In a collection in Dr. Mana’s church for that institution, two bank post bills of£soo each were found in the receiving plates. In the list of benefactions to the Thelog ical Seminary at Andover, are the following —Samuel Abbott, Esq. SIOO,OO0 —William Bartlett, Esq. s4o,ooo—Mrs. Norris. S3O, 000—Wm. Phillips, & Son, $15,000 —John Norris, Esq. slo,ooo Rufus Brown, Esq. 10,000. Evan. Intel. THE MISSIONARY. MOUNT ZION, FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1821. Within the course of a few years, a material change has taken place in the publick opinion upon the importance and necessity of an educa tion for a Minister of the Gospel. It is now al most universally conceded that no one ought to sustain so important an office without previous preparation, and that he who undertakes to teach others, should himself first be taught. The gen eral prevalence of this sentiment is the natural consequence of the more extended information which has been diffused through the community by the instrumentality of schools, academies colleges. In no nation, a*d in no period of our own history, have the concerns of education com manded so much attention as they do in this country at the present time. While the publick mind is thus enlightened, it would be strange in deed if the clergy should be the only class of peo ple doomed to ignorance and insignificance. But it may be said to the credit of every denomination of Christians, that they are now vieing with each, other in establishing seminaries of learning, and’ in furnishing facilities for the education of those who are designed for the Ministry. Though these institutions and these measures are yet in their infancy, their beneficial effects are already seen and acknowledged, and at no distant period their importance and utility will be more fully devel oped. There is however one subject intimately connected with the foregoing, which has not claimed so much publick attention and upoJ which even among professing Christians there is much difference of opinion. We allude to the ■ importance, the necessity and the obligation of furnishing the Preacher of the Gospel an adequate support. In the remarks we may make upon this subject, we wish it to be distinctly understood that we are not actuated hy any unfriendly or uncharitable motives towards those who differ from us in opin ion. Convinced in our own minds, that the full benefits of the Gospel will not be experienced in this country until there is a material change of opinion in this particular, and believing that such a change will take place, we profess to be guided by a pure regard for the best interests of religion and of society. Nor must it be supposed that we are contending that the minister of the Gospel should be enabled to live in a style of splendour above his fellow citizens, but only that he should be above want, and sustain an equal rank with the respectable part of the community 0 f whioli he is a member,