The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, April 20, 1821, Image 1

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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.