Newspaper Page Text
feo, 47. Vol. If.
Ifgftcrtcan Colonization Society.
EjytFrom the Baltimore Morning Chronicle.
?| Wb| re rejoiced to find that the Society
&e3tgbl|shed for the colonization of Africa,
in their mission with a forti
daunted by publick censures, or by
SpjnrtptiL but temporary embarrassments.—
TPfcWSs the only way in which great pro
jects, can ever be expected to command
‘jloccfess ; and, if a homely expression may
MSljaardoned. to bring fortune to her bear
ings, We think that this project has sel
sin been defended on its proper grounds ;
V'dry and cold calculation has been made,
tis what will be thn probable etpense of
transporting a given number of the African
population to the land of their progenitors.
The’iuevitable expense attending the ac
complishment of such a project, is then
compared with the statistical ac
count of the increase of the Africans. It is
I shown, by an accurate calculation, that
superflux of sable population will not
crceptibly diminished by this attempt
lonize Africa. We will now admit,
ae sake of argument, and for the sake
jument alone, that this humanity, cal
ed hv dollars and cent=, and which de
it- existence from the ledger instead of
lible, is sound and true in alllts parts ;
the superflux of black population will
ay the colonization of Africa, be per
bly diminished. We may now ask,
> language of bishop Llnndaff, and what
? Must we infer that this project roust,
or this reason, be abandoned? This
e language of logicians, is a complete
cqnitur. No; the main object of the
fixation is not to rid ourselves of this
rfiux of black population. It is to re
iho outrages, the wrongs, the indigtii-
Ihat we and our ancestors have perpe
d on the Africans ; it is to how, in the
e records of American history, that,
|li>t withstanding our ancestors and some un
principled wretches now in existence have
jgbea guilty of the crime of m instealing;
that they have made a traffick of human
l blood, bones and sinews,—still, by the phi-
Hfenthropick exertions of the present day,
Rajhis very traffick redounds to the perma-
Hcnt blessing of the Africans. The project
ijp, to teach to those wild sons of nature the
Benefits resulting from civilization—to bear
Hnto those regions the glittering beams of
Hhe gospel taper—to introduce all the sooth
- ing blandishments ofrefinement and benev-
Wolence, amongst savages whose fathers once
■struggled with imperial and immortal Rome
■for thn empire of the world. It is to make
■the descendants of Hannibal reassert their
Kown dignity. Africa, at the present hour,
[| presents to the eye of antiquarian research,
of ancient art existing in mar
-8 Lie, the proud column and the sculptured
iobelisk, remnants of former grandeur, of
< splendour and imperial magnificence, rival
ling even Rome herself in the day of her
i most dazzling glory. We are told, indeed,
k that the Africans are incapable of all this;
|we are told all Ibis mawkish nonsense at
i the very time while we are admiring such
splendid monuments of departed greatness
executed by the ancestors of these Africans.
There is no harm in speaking boldly and
decidedly on such topicks, since congress
themselves have virtually adopted the same
language ; since they have said that to be
guilty of man-stealing is piracy, and is a
7 crime punishable by death.
’ Now, if amidst the swarming visions that
futurity presents to the view, it should be
stated that the time will arrive when in the
language of Divine inspiration, “.Ethiopia
ehall stretch forth her hands;” when her
darkly verdant forests, now inhabited by
lions and by tiger-:, and by the still more
awful constrictor, shall resound with the
praises of the God of Jacob ; when temples
dedicated to the service es the true and the
only Jehovah, shall out-rival in maguifi
cene and grandeur, those, formerly devoted
to sanguinary and imaginary Deities ; when
law and humanity, and benevolence and
Christian love, shall succeed to those drea
ry regions where the serpent now twines;
and we have the word of Divine prophecy,
that this day will he accomplished. With
t what exulting transport will it be said by
I posterity, that our ancestors brought about
’ a change so mighty 1 The descendants of
Hamiicar and of Hannibal, will hereafter
ilcr.k under the sweeping folds cf the star
spangled banner, and exclaim, these are the
blessings that e have acquired by the ser
vitude of our forefathers in America. The
accomplishment of Divine prophecies, is
uo-.v hastening on, and the members of the
Colonization Society, are themselves igno
rant of the mighty part that they are act
ing in this eventful drama. We are nil,
every son of Adam, bet an instrument in
the hands of Divine Providence, for the
fulfilment of his own designs. .Ethiopia
is destined to stretch forth her hands to the
living God; to the God that wc Christians
worship. She is destined to enjoy her
Sabbaths, her baptisms, her sacraments;
and (he Colonization Society is, in a man
ner unconscious to themselves, now em
ployed in bringing this mandate of Divine
Providence to ils full and entire accom
plishment.
iimry au<! cunning are two apprentices of des-
I -natch and skill -, but neither of them ever learns
his master's trade.
THE MISSIONARY.
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD , AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. —Jesus Christ.
WHAT 19 A REVIVAL OF RELIGION?
[We cull the following extracts from a Discourse
delivered not long since in the City of New
York; and cannot but hope it will prove ac
ceptable to our readers in both town and coun
try.] Ev. Intel.
We talk about revivals of religion with
out any definite meaning, and hence many
honest mind 9 are prejudiced against them.
Some identify them with the illusions of a
disturbed fancy, while others give them a
place among the most exceptionable ex
travagancies and the wildest expressions
of enthusiasm. But we mean none ofthese
things when we speak of revivals of reli
gion. It is no illusion—no reverie—we
present to your view ; but those plain ex
hibitions of the power and grace of God
which commend themselves to the reason
rnd conscience of every impartial mind.
The showers of divine grace often begin
like other showers, with here and there a
drop. The revival in the days of Hezeki
ah, arose from a very small beginning, in
the early stages of a work of grace, God is
usually pleased to affect the hearts of some
of his own people. Here and there, an!
individual Christian is aroused from his stu- j
por. The objects of faith begin to pre- \
dominate over the objects of sense, and his
languishing grace? to he in mere lively and
constant exercise. In the prog!ess of the
work, the quickening power of grace per
vades the church bowed down under a
sense of their own stupidity and the impend
ing danger of sinners, the great body of
professing Christians are anxious and pray
erful. In the mean time, the influences of
the Holy Spirit are extending to “ those
who are. without, •’ and the conversion of
one or two, or a very small number, fre
quently proves the occasion of a very gen
eral concern among a whole people. “ Eve
ry thing now begins to put on anew face.
Ministers are animated, Christians are so
lemn, sinners are alarmed. The house of
God is thronged with anxious worshippers,
opportunities for prayer and religious con
ferences are multiplied, breathless silence
pervades every seat and deep solemnity
every bosom. Not an eye wanders, not a
heart indifferent. Eternal objects are
brought near, and eternal truth is seen in
its wide connexions, and felt in its quicken
ing and condemning power. The Lord is
there. His stately steppings are seen, his
own Almighty and Invisible band is felt, his
Spirit is passing from heart to heart, in his
awakening, convincing, regenerating, and
sanctifying agency upon the souls of men.
Those who have been long careless and
indifferent to the concerns of the soul, are
awakened to a sense of their sinfulness,
their danger, and their duty. Those who
“ have cast off fear and restrained prayer,”
have become anxious and prayerful. Those
who have been “ stout-hearted and far from
righteousness,” are subdued by the power
of God and brought nigh by the blood of
Christ. The King of Zion takes away the
heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh.
He causes “the captive exile to hasten,
that be may be loosed, lest he (lie in the pit
and his bread should fail.” He takes off
the tattered garments of the prodigal,
clothes him with the best robe, and gives
him a cordial welcome to all the munifi
cence of his grace. He brings those who
have been long in bondage out of the pris
on house, strikes off the chains that bind
them down to sin and death, bestows upon
them the immunities of sons and daughters,
and receives them into the glorious liberty
of the children of God.
And is there any thing in all this o full
of mystery that it has no claim to our con
fidence? Behold that thoughtless man!
Year after year has passed away while he
has been adding sin to sin, and heaping up
wrath against the day of wrath. But the
Spirit of all grace suddenly arrests him in
his mad career. The conviction is fasten
ed upon his conscience that lie is a sinner.
Fallen by his iniquity, he views himself ob
noxious to the wrath of an offended God.
He sees that he is under the dominion of a
“carnal mind,” his sins pass in awful re
view before him, and he is filled with keen
distress and anguish. He is sensible that
every day is bringing him nearer to the
world of perdition, and he begins to ask, if
there can he any hope for a wretch like
him ? But, O! how his strength withers,
how his hope dies !—He is as helpless as
he is wretched, and as culpable as he is
helpless. The “arrows of the Almighty
stick fast within him, the poison whereof
drinketh up his spirits.”
But behold him now ! In the last extrem
ity, as he is cut offfrom every hope, the
arm of sovereign mercy is made bare forj
hi? relief. The heart of adamant melts;
the will that has hitherto resisted the di
vine Spirit and rebelled against the divine
sovereignty, is subdued; the lofty looks
are brought low ; the selfish mind has be
come benevolent; the proud, humble ; the
stubborn rebel, the meek child of God.
Jesus tells the despairing sinner where to
find a beau) of hope ; the voice of the Son
of God proclaims “ forgiveness of sins ac
cording to the riches of his grace and the
Angel of peace invites and sweetly urges
the soul, stained with pollution, to repair
to the blood of sprinkling; stung with the
guilt of sin, to look up to Jesus lor healing
and life.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CO. GA?) FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1821.
Is this an idle tale ? Nay believer, you
have felt it all. And if there is no mystery
in this, why should it be thought incredi
ble that instances of the same nature should
be multiplied, and greatly multiplied, in a
given period ? If there are operations of
the Spirit above the ordinary dispensations
of grace, they may exist in very different
degrees at different times. And if'the im
mediate and special influence of the Holy
Ghost are to be expected in the edification of
a single saint, or the conversion of a single
sinner, why may they not he expected in
the edification and conversion of multitudes ?
It is not above the reach of God’s power,
nor beyond the limits of his sovereignty.
God can as easily send down a shower as a
single drop, he can as eas.ly convert two us
one, three thousand as one hundred.
Now this is a revival of religion. We do
not pretend to have traced its features with
exactness. God is a sovereign. “ The
wind blowetii where it listeth.” Still,
wherever God is pleased to manifest his
power and grace, in enlarging the views, in
j enlivening and invigorating the graces of his <
I own people , and in turning the hearts of con
j siderablc numbers of his enemies , at the same
time to seek and to secure his pardoning mer
cy, there, is a revival of religion.
— -**:o:o:?&:o:o: <*—
FROM TUB “ LATTER DAY LUMINARY.”
BAPTIST BURMAH MISSION.
When through the medium of an East
Indio paper we had heard of the return of
brother Judson to Calcutta, we were fillet!
with anxiety, lest by some new edict from
Ava, or by some untoward treasures among
the police officers at Rangoon, the employ
ment of farther means to enlighten the
Burmans had bean interdicted. While we
mourn that the sickness of Mrs. Judson and
the want of medical aid at Rangoon made
the visit to Bengal necessary, we pray that
if it be the will of the Lord, the life of this
valuable sister may bo prolonged, and re
joice to find that the victories of the Cross
are increasing in Burmah. From the sub
sequent journal it will appear that five new
converts have been baptized, who, togeth
er with the former, are willing to suffer
shame and death for the Lord’s sake ; and
that the spirit of solemn inquiry is gaining
ground. Brother Jcdson is so impressed
with the importance of being present at
Rangoon, that it is probable be will have
to leave Mrs. J. at Calcutta or Serampore.
under the care of an eminent physician,and
for a while “ work the work” of the Sav
iour who hath sent hi.n alone.
Continuation of Extract from Mr. Judson's
Journal.
(Continued from page 114.)
March 21th. —Brother and sister Cotrnan
took leave of us, and embarked for Bengal.
28th. We have converted one of the
rooms lately occupied by brother Colman
into a sort of chapel for evening worship,
and conversation with those of the disci
ples and inquirers that live on the mission
premises, and for the stated worship on the
Lord’s day; thus finally abandoning the
zayat, where, since our return from Ava,
.we have had worship on Lord’s day with
closed doors. The little chape! we call the
new zayat. May its blessings prevail above
the blessings of its progenitor.
Jlpril 1 st. In the evening we had a final
conversation with Moung Shwa-ba, and be
came fully satisfied with the evidences of
his conversion. We therefore expressed
our willingness to receive him into church
fellowship, and 1 announced to him my in
tention of baptizing him tomorrow- on
which he expressed his gratitude and joy.
April 2d. Lord’s day. At night, afier
dark, we went privately to the accustomed
pond, and baptized the new disciple. Af
terwards sat down to tne table of the Lord,
two foreign and four native communicants.
Three inquirers were admitted to be spec-
(ators.
April 14. The women mentioned March
26th, spent most of the day w ith Mrs. J.
They regularly visit about cmr.e a week.—
1 mention the visit of today, because it has
afforded pretty satisfactory evidence, the
principal one of the company, by name Mah
Man-la, has experienced divine grace.—
Her husband is one of the visiters, who
came with Oo Yan,on th n 11th.
April 15th. Moung Sbwa-ba has for some
days been telling of a viit to Shwadoung,
his native place, to communicate the treas
ure which he has found, to his numerous
relations arid friends. This evening, after
expressing his desires, he said it had occur
red to him, that it might be proper to ask
permission or license so to do. Not that
he aspired to set up as a teacher, far from
that, hut he wanted to feel, that, in com
municating the Gospel, he was proceeding
in a regular authorized manner. He thought
that if two or three disciples could be rais
ed in each of the large towns, it would
much facilitate our operations. He was
sure, that at least one in ten of his relations
and friends, on hearing his story, could not
help embracing the new religion. Ise
cretly exulted at hearing his proposal, so
evidently the result of Christian principle,
and exhorted him to constant self-examina
tion and prayer, as the means of discover
ing his own duty and the Divir.? will.
April 16th, Lord’s Day. Early in the
morning, the teacher, Moung Shwa-gnong
came in, after an absence of just a month.
He was soon followed by Oo Yan and hiss
two friends. They spent the whole day
with me; all appear hopeful. The teach
er remained as usual, after the others had
left, and thereby afforded me an opportu
nity for private conversation. He admitted
that all his objections to positive commands
were removed ; and that it was his desire
to be a full disciple ; hut when urged close
ly on the subject, he intimated that his wife
and friends were oppesed to his taking any
decided step; and that if he did, he was,
moreover, exposed to imminent danger of
persecution and death. He mentioned
these things with so much feeling, and such
evident consciousness of simple weakness,
as completely disarmed me. My heart was
wrung with pity. I sincerely sympathized
with him, in his evident mental trials. I
could not deny the truth of what he sa:J ;
but gently hinted, as thy day is thy strength
shall be, and proposed the example of the
apostles and martyrs, the glory of suffer-
I ing for Christ, &c. But the thought oftbe
iron maul, and a secret suspicion, that isl
was in his circumstances 1 should perhaps
have no more courage, restrained my
tongue. We parted with much solem
nity, understanding one another better
than before. I shall not probably see
him again very soon, for it is too danger
ous for a man of his distinction to be seen
coming frequently to the mission house.
April 20. Mah Men-la and her friends
have been with Mrs. J. all day. She gives
increasing evidence of being a real disciple,
but is extremely timid, through fear of per
secutiou. One of her remarks deserves
notice,as a natural expression of true Chris
tian feeling. I am surprised, said he, to
j find this religion has such an effect on my
j mind as to make me love the disciples of
j Christ more than my dearest natural rela
| liens. She is a woman of very supericur
j discernment and mental energy. One of
| the women who has frequently accompani
j ed her in her visits, met with a tract at old
| Pegu, about six weeks ago, and came all the
j way to Rangoon, chiefly she says on that
account.
I This day I have finished the translation
iof the epistle to the Ephesians, begun be
fore I went to Ava, but intermixed on ac
j count of the weakness of my eyes. It is
I with real joy that I put this preciou? wri
! ting into the hands of the disciples. It is a
great accession to their scanty stock of
Scripture, for they have had nothing hith
erto but Matthew. Intend to give them
Acts, as fast as my eves will allow.
April 30. Lord’s Day. One of the busi
est days I have ever spent. Not a multi
tude of visitants as formerly. That we can
not expect in present circumstances. But
beside the usual evening assembly, there
I were eight or ten present at worship, some
of whom were with me from nine in the
morning til) ten at night. Mah-Men-la and
her company were with Mrs. J. who, by
the way, has had a serious attack of the
liver complaint, for a fortnight past, and is
now in a course of salivation.
Oo Yan, after having searched out all
their difficult points of religion, came to
day to the ne plus ultra —How are sin and
eternal misery reconcileable with the cha
racter of an infinitely holy, wise, and pow
erful God ? He at length obtained such sat
isfaction, that he could not restrain laugh
ing, from pure mental delight, and kept re
curring to the subject, and repealing my
remarks to <bose around him. He was ac
companied, as usual, by his two friends,
Moung Thah-a and Moung Myat-lah, hus
band of Mah Men-la. With these came al
so one Moung Yo, a disciple of Moung
Shwa-gnong, a poor man, but a sharp reas
oned He was or pretended to be on the
semi-atheistick plan. After ascertaining
his precise ground, I used an argument
which, in a late combat with Oo Yan, I
found quite invincible. It is simply this :
“ No mind, no wisdom—temporary mind,
temporary wisdom —eternal mind, eternal
wisdom.” Now a9 all the semi-atheists
firmly believe in eternal wisdom, this con
cise statement sweeps, with irresistible
sway, through the very joints and marrow
of their system. And though it may seem
rather simple and inconclusive to one unac
quainted with Burman reasoning, its effect
is uniformly decisive. No sooner is this
short sentence uttered,than one significant
ly nods his head, as if to say, there you
have it. Another cries out to hisoppouent,
you are undone, destroyed. Another says,
talk about wisdom ; where else will you
find it ? The disputant himself, who was,
perhaps, preparing a learned speech about
the excellence and efficacy and eternity of |
wisdom, quite disconcerted by this unex
pected onset, sits looking at the wreck of
his system, and wondering at the simple
means which has spread such ruin around
him ; presently he looks up (for the Bur
mans are frequently candid) and says, your
words are very appropriate. And perhaps
his next question is, how can I become a dis
ciple of the Goil you worship ? All ,the vis
iters today, and indeed all the semi-atheists,
are despisers ofGaudama, and the establish
ed religion of the land. Mour.g Shwa
gnong has disseminated his heresy in Ran
goon for several years; but since he has
become aenuaisted with us, he frequently
Price, j f 3,50 pr. am. or,*
’ C $3,00 in advance.)
tells his adherents, I know nothing ; ifyou
want true wisdom, go to the foreign teacher,
and there you will find it. I have reason
to believe, that this heresy is not confined
to Rangoon, but is taking root in various
parts of the country, and preparing the way
for the Christian religion. 0 for toleration,
a little toleration. We will be content to
baptize in the night, and hold worship in
private ; but we do pray that vve may not
be utterly banished from the land ; that
we may not be cut up root and branch.
O that these poor souls, who are groping in
the dark, feeling after the truth, may have
time and opportunities to find the precious
treasure, which will enrich them forever
more. We are all looking with anxiety
towards the golden feet. Our viceroy,
Moung Shwa-thah, has gene thither on a
visit, and it is doubtful whether he will re
turn or his rival, Mya-day-men. If the
latter, there is some reason to hope that
we shall keep footing in Rangoon, at least
during bis administration.
May 5. Another visit from Moung Myat
!ah and his wife, which has afforded us good
reason to hope, that he also has become a
true believer. His wife appears the same
as usual. They are both gaining courage
in regard to an open profession of the Chris
tian religion, and begin to wonder at the
backwardness of their former oracle,Moung
Shwa-gnong.
May Blh.—Moung Thah-a, the friend of
Moung Myat-lah, ha- spent most of the day
with me, and given equally good evidence
of being a true disciple. He was former
ly an officer under government, and amas
sed considerable property, which he most
ly spent in building pagodas and making of
ferings. But he obtained no satisfaction,
found no resting place for hi? soul, until ha
became acquainted with the religion of
Jesus. He now rests in this religion, with
conscious security—believes anil loves all
that he hears of it—and prays that he may
become fully a true disciple of the Saviour.
Both of these men are respectable house
holders, rather above the middling class.
They live in a little village called Nan daa
gong, about half a mile from the mission
hoofce. Moung Myat-lah, lias a large fam
ily ; but Moung Thah-a has none; and
were it not for an aged mother wfv> de
pend? on him, he would foiiow me, he says,
throughout the world.
May 12th.—The three visiters from
.] Nan-duu-gong have been with n part of
the day. Ouecharacteristick trait in tiie-e
people is a particular love for the scrip
tures. They almost quarrel with one an
other, for the only copy of the Ephesians,
which I have given them, and I therefore
determine to spare them another, as soon
as it is done. They say, that the transla
tion of this epistle is plainer and more easi
ly understood, than that of Matthew, which
is very encouraging to me, as I made it,
without the assistance of any person, not
even a Barman teacher. My old teacher
went to Ava, some months ago; and lam
now afraid to employ another, lest he
should become too well acquainted with
the disciples and inquirers, and betray them
to government.
May 14th, Lord's Duy.—A very busy day
with the Nan-dau-gong visiters, and the
usual evening assembly.
May 18th. —Mah Myat-laand Mah D hr,
who have frequently accompanied their
relation, Mah-Men-la, came to day by
themselves. They appear to he under
solemn religious impressions, sensible of
their sin and danger, and anxious to obtain
an interest in the Saviour; hut are yet un
enlightened, in regard to the way. Mah
Baik also, sister of Moung Thah-lah, who
formerly afforded us some encouragement,
but afterwards fell off, has recommenced
visiting us. We hope, (hat dining several
months confinement, she lias not in vaiu
meditated on the truths she formerly heard.
She says, that her mind is changed, that
she loves the Saviour, and trusts in him
alone for salvation from sin and bell, and
desires to become his disciple in full by re
ceiving baptism. Her husband, Moung
Nyndwa, and Moung Thah-yah, anoihep
resideut in our yard, whom, I think, I have
not yet mentioned, are constant attendants
on evening worship, and seem to be mak
ing slow advances in the knowledge and
love of divine truth. Moung Shwabn, the
last baptized, begins to appear to great ad
vantage—has very correct ideas of the
gospel-ystem —and communicates truth to
the inquirers, with much feeling and ani
mation. In zeal for the extension of the
Redeemer's kingdom, he surpasses the old
er disciples. This is the man, who, from
not knowing that there was such a being
in the universe as a God, became a specu
lative believer, a penitent, a hopeful reci
pient of grace, and a candidate for baptism,
all in the space, of three days. Some of
the above-mentioned have, on the contra
ry, been several months in making similar
attainments, and are yet found wanting.
Thus diverse are the operations of the Ho
ly Spirit.
May 22d.—Spent several pleasant hours,
with some of the Nan-dau-gong people.
Mah Men-la ventures at last to request
baptism, but wishes to wait a little to see
whether her husband nud foaie of bf
friends will cot join her.
