The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, August 27, 1821, Page 46, Image 2

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aeetbs to cal! us to take our stand in Abys sinia. This version was undertaken, as tar as appears on the face of printed documents, from motives chiefly literary; and thus we see how it pleases God to bring in the aid of literature, to promote fcis own glory. It was about the year 1806, a period when this Society had not long existed, and when it had yet to struggle through domestick controversies, the report of which never reached, and, I trust never will reach the feudal Chieftains and hardy Mountaineers of Abyssinia, that this work was commenced in Cairo, by a learned native. At the mo ment when I first entered on DPgotiaii ‘n with the proprietor of the work, he had just received an interdict from Rome, which virtually restrained the printing of it. Had it taken its course to the Vatican, it might have slumbered there for centuries, instead of reaching a* it now has done, our literary friends in the Universities, by whom it will be prepared for the service of this Society. How honourable is this event for our Country! Twenty years have elapsed since the British name was made known at the month of the Nile, by the thunder of our cannon. I have twice passed over that scarce by day and by night; all was still; wnd calm : excepting the name of “ Nel- j Son's Island,” there remains no memorial | of the havock and destruction, the groans j and misery which that scene once witness- \ 4o a 'appeal Your's it is to visit the coy sources of the Nile, with the Abyssinian Scriptures, to bring peace to the afflicted natives, and; teach them a song of praise which they will. prolong forever in the realm* of bliss 1 above. Nor can I helip ve that the blessing ! of this work will he confined to Abyssinia. Sure I am, that Christianity once re anim ated in that country, whether she look to the right, to that land now falsely called “ Araby the blest,” or to the left, over the dense and barbarous regions of Africa, which no man ever yet called blest—she will certainly impart her benign character, and scatter blessings on every side. 1 feel reluctant to say any thing which might seem personal: yet perhaps I might claim the congratulation of this assembly, when I stale that thi is to be the anniversa ry of the day, when for the last time I trod the shores-of Alexandria, ready to embark on the morrow wi'h this invaluable treas ure. Never Hid I feel so overwhelmed in the prospect of a voyage ; Abyssinia seem ed to me to sav, O/nuia mea tecum portc.s. Now these anxieties are exchanged for gratitude and joy. Your congratulations, however, are per haps more justly due to one whom your Lordship brought to our recollection early in tl s meeting, (Wilberforce.) and whose absence and indisposition we all so much regret; when I allude to him,’ and to his inierest in Africa, I feel myself as nothing. Jn these days of enterprise, he is not the weary and worn traveller who can relate a few hair-breadth escapes from death ; it is he rather who has been sif'ing all the while *1 home, conflicting for 20 years with the storms of parliamentary debatp, till he dropped anchor safe in the successful meas ure of the abolition of the Slave Trade. And yet little rest diJ he enjoy, but has even since, for these fifteen years, been on a coaspless cruise, chasing the Demons that ye.f scowl mispry on the shores of Africa, and bids defiance to Briti-h benevolence. But, my Lord, that distinguished individual whom ae so highly honour, and not more honour than love, rpflecls on this great ac quisition for Abyssinia, and combines with it the success which has attended the Mis sions on the western coast; when he re members, that as the light coraoth from the cast, and sbiueth unto ibe west, so shall the of the Sou of man be ; he may yet indulge hope of that afflicted comment: and should his present sickness be even unto death, he may lay his bead with com posure on his dying pillow, and feel that for Africa, as weli a3 for himself, there is a more blessed region in prospect, “ where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.”. In reference to the same quarter of the world, Lord Cal I brope expressed his gratification, as his Lordship had done at the meeting of the Church Missionary Society, at the state of many of the liberated negroes in Sierra Leone.— 1 cannot forbear referring to another scene of this Society’s exertions, which seems to me to afford th most satisfactory evidence of the success which has attended its foreign operations. The beneficial ef fects. which resulted from th Jioper sion of the Scriptures in Africa, have been already proved by the pleasing information that the funds of this institution have been aided by contributions received even from that interesting portion of the globe ; and I have just had put into my hands a paper, containing evidence of the -ame tiict. !t may, however, be right, before I read any part of it, to guard gentlemen from expect ing any rep irt to come to us from that Continent clothed in the ornaments or ex cellency of human language ; but I am per-! suaded, that such accents of faith and hope will not the less recommend themselves to our hearts, when thpy strike upon them with something of the unspeakable charm of guileless infancy. The extract which I am about to rca! is from a report of a speech made at the meeting of the Bible Society in Sierra ‘Leone : M Gentlemen—Excuse me, for I can’t talk plain. 1 thank the Lord that he has performed this great work—that he has sent the Bible. I was sold twice in my country; and it has pleased the Lord to I bring uie in this Colony. When 1 was! brought here first, 1 was ignorant—l was j blind—l knew nothing of Jesus Christ. I \ saw some people go to pray to God, but I did not know what they were about. It j has pleased the Lord to send his servant . with the Bible; and when be preach and J ‘proclaim the Word, then the Word struck me _tben my eyes opened, and l saw what I am. By this 1 see the Lord pitied poor men. About four years ago 1 was in the way of sin, but it has pleased the Lord to lift me up with his mighty hand. The Lord says, Search the. Scriptures; there you shall find eternal life. Ido search them, and 1 know the Word of God i9 the truth.; God is no respecter of persons. ’ > 1 have, perhaps,. been the more disposed to introduce this extract, because, I confess, to my own mind nothing can more striking ly manifest the sovereignty of Divine Grace and the real greatness of Christiani ty, than when its influence is thus shewn on those who were lately the most despiseu of the human race. There is something in the attestation thus borne to the simple, original, and inextinguishable character ot Christianity, which is in the highest degree consoling and elevating to the mind; and 1 am sure that the satisfactory evidence which we have thus afforded to us of the growing faith and hope and consistency ot this poor African, will not lose any ot its proper and delightful influence on our own minds, because we find, that by it, and the Resolution which I hold in my hand, the j very extremes of human society are, as it l were, brought into close proximity in the support of this great cause; and lam con i vinced, 1 could scarcely have, adduced a proof of the benefit of this institution more mg such feelings in Hie mmns m mose Vmu have hut lately acquired (be privilege even of human beings: and that I could not have i brought forward an instance more gratify i ing to the. illustrious individual now pres -1 ent, who has always distinguished himself I by his exertions in behalf of the unhappy negro race. > v :-— LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting of the London Mis sionary Society on the 10th nit. was enli vened by the presence ofßatafe, a Prince of Madagascar, brother of the King of that Island, whose wish to obtain missionaries and artificers from England is expressed in the following letter: (translation.) “ Radama , King of .Madagascar, to (he Mis sionary Society , commonly called the Lon don Missionary Society. “Gentlemen—When the treaty was con cluded between me and the Governour, Farquhar, which has for its object the ces sation of the exportation of slaves from the island of Madagascar, the missionary, Mr. David Jones, accompanied the Commission er from the British Government, and arri ved at Tannnative, the capital of my king dom, with the intention of paying me a vis it to solicit from me leave to settle with other missionaries, in my dominions. Hav ing informed myself of bis profes'ion and mission, 1 acquiesce with much pleasure in his request. “ Mr. Jones, your missionary, having sat isfied me that those sent out by your Soci ety have no other object than to enlighten the people hy persuasion and conviction, & to discover to them the means of becoming happy by evangelizing and civilizing them after the manner of European nations ; and this is not by force, contrary to the light of their understandings; therefore,gentlemen, I request you to send me, if convenient, as many missionaries as j'ou may deem prop er, together with their families, if they de sire it, provided you send skilful artisans to make my people workmen as well as good Christians. “ T avail myself of this opportunity, gen tlemen, to promise all the protection, the safety, the respect and the tranquillity, which missionaries may require from my subjects. “ The missionaries who are particularly needed at present are persons who are able to instruct my people in the Christian re ligion, and various tradps, such as weaving, carpentering, gardening, &c. “ I shall expect, gentlemen, from you a satisfactory answer by an early opportu nity. “ Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of esteem and affection. (Signed) Rad an a, King. Additional interest was given to this meeting by the company of the Rev. John Campbell, who arrived the day before from South Africa, which country he has visited a second time on behalf of this Society.— Mr. Campbell has discovered several large towns,far north of Lattakoo—one of which, called Kurrechane, contains 16.000 inhabi fonts u/Ko h<trr mnWifClurie’! Os ITOTf Hud pottery. The chiefs of these and other places are desirous of obtaining missionaries. MISSION SCHOOL AT CORNWALL. A gentleman, in a letter dated at Corn wall Bridge, Con. May 31st. addressed to his friend at Athens, Ohio, gives the follow ing account of an exhibition at the Foreign Mission School ?.t Cornwall. “ We had an exhibition before a crowded . house, this spring, which is annual, and an swers very well to commencement with’ you. After the exercises of prayer, sing-! ing, and a sermon by Mr. Blair, a number of single pieces were spoken, and then a Cherokee council was held on the subject of war with the Osages. After a consulta tion in their own language, a Choctaw ap pears an interpreter, and gives his advice. A messenger comes and informs them, that Governour Miller had meditated a peace between their countrymen at the west and the Osages. They all join in a song. Al so, a dialogue among the Owbyheans, on | information brought them of the renuncia tion of idolatry among their countrymen: I together with an exhibition of a real idol ; brought this spring from Owhyhee. This | idol is carved in wood of a dark brown col- I our, mounted on a pedestal—the whole two I feet high, with silver plates for eyes. The 1 house was filled completely, every aisle, 46 stair, &c. All expressed the highest gratifi cation. Numbers of the 0 why henna are genteel young man ; and also the Chero kees, among whom the appearance and per formance of Elias Boudinot, John Ridge, Si David Brown, the Brother ot Catharine, would have done credit to the best white young men of their age- Elias Beudinot, in a declamation, conloed the idea more , completely by his appesfance l ba“ his argil meats, that savages are >ot capable ol being j civilized and polished. -—[Cliilicothe Rec. DEATH OF DR. WORCESTER. From a brief meiroir of this devoted servant of God, publish'd in the Missionary Herald for the present n° n, h,we copy the following partic ulars of tb closing scene of his life. “ Dun'S stay of twelve days at Maybevsbe evidently gained some strength To'theassembled Missionaries and Assi.i- imounting to twelve, besides female members of the mission families, be was ablv to impart much valuable counsel. On thefirst Sabbath of his visit he exhorted thm with the zeal and affection of an arostle, from Philippians ii. 1 —lB ; on the s/cond, he aided in organizing a mission church, and in the administration ot the Lord’s supper. How interesting the spec tacle I and to how many tender and affect ing associations will it give occasion. it rphe n * s t morning be set out for Brain onty Kin^‘ where he arrived *jib Kttfe falitfu* tn.’ Pride, who met him at New Orleans, had been with him for three months, and was about to attend himto the north, was taken ill of a fever a hundred miles from Colum bus. After waiting three days it was found that Dr. Pride could not proceed, and he subsequently returned to Mayhew. This must have been a severe disappointment to tioth. A stranger was hired, and the wea ry languishing traveller proceeded on his way to Brainerd, where he arrived sooner than could have been expected, consider ing his weakness, and the difficulties of the journey. “ On the 25!h of May he was carried in the arms of the missionaries from his vehicle to the house. Soon after his arrival, it was observed to him, (we quote from the mis sionary journal) that “ he had got almost through the wilderness.” He replied— “ This may be true in more respects than one. God is very gracious. He has sus tained me, as it were, by a miracle, thus far, and granted me one g reat desire of my soul, in briuging me to Brainerd ; and if it be agreeable to his holy purposes, that I should leave my poor remains here, his will be done.” He said farther* “ I had rather leave my poor remains here, than at any other place.” On the following Sabbath, “ the mem bers of the church, and some of the Congre gation, were introduced to him, at his re quest ; and being raised in his bed, he ad [ drpssed them in a few words. His address, though short, was peculiarly feeling and in teresting. He afterwards requested that the children might come in. He took each by the hand as they passed the bed. Hav iug all passed round in procession, they stood and sung a hymn. He was affected I to tears most of the time. After the hymn i he addressed them in a most affectionate manner, which, in turn, melted them to tears.” His complaints became more alarming almost daily, and on the 2d of June, he de sired that a letter might be written to his wife, of which he dictated a part, giving a brief notice of his journey from Mayhew to Brainerd ; requesting'Mr. Hoyt to write, as he thought proper respecting the probable issue of the sickness. On the sth the journal says : “ Our dear friend is fast going to the eternal world. In the morning we gave up all hopes of his recovery. For short intervals, during the day, he has been in a state of mental de rangement ; but even in this state his mind was employed on the great subject of build- and extending the dear Re deemer’s kingdom. •“ 6. During the day he has been insensi ble to pain, and to appearance spent much of his time iu prayer. He said if he were to choose, he had rather go and be with Jesus, than dwell in the flesh. He did not regret engaging in the missionary cause ; hut rejoiced that he had been enabled to do something toward this great object.” After an affectionate lamentation, the journal of the 7th records the afflicting event, whirKJiad been anticipated. “This morning, about 7 o’clock, he cast his eyes towards heaven, and smiling, resigned his spirit to God. Without the least apparent pain, or struggle, he fell asleep in the arms of Jesus.” Two days afterwards the last offices of kindness were performed ; a procession fol lowed the corpse to the grave ; and Mr. ! Hoyt preached a funeral sermon from Ps. I cxii. 6. The righteous skall be in everlasting ; remembrance. Thus departed from this life a distinguish ed servant of the Lord Jesus, who had lived for many years with his eye intent on heav en, and who brought down blessings upon his fellow men, by his disinterested services and his fervent prayers ; highly honoured in the circumstances of his death—on mis sionary ground bearing his last testimony to the glory of the missionary cause, sur rounded by his brethren engaged in this di vine employment—andby a church gather ed from pagans in the wilderness under his own superintendence ; the hymns of con verted Cherokees vibrfttiug in his ear, as a prelude to the song of Moses and the Lamb. Who that contemplates the preceding character, and especially who that was in timately acquainted with the original, does not see the exalting and purifying tendency of the cause of missions ? What other cause I is so grand in its extent, so beneficent in its design, so sure in its issue, so glorious in its triumphs? Compared with the terests of the kingdom ot Christ, the c n cerns of earthly monarchies are small and triflino-. 1$ is indeed wonderful that feeble men, “with their sins and * ,n l ,erf ® c ‘ ,oß *’ should be employed in a work which might well occupy the powers of seraphs and arch angels. Since, however, it has pleased God to make some of our race the instru ments of his mercy to others,we might well conclude that a fiiithfttl discharge ot such an office would conduce to the highest ele vation of the human character. So-indeed ive find it. The names of Brainerd,Sivartz, Buchanan, Martyn, stand as memorials of illustrious virtue. With these, and such as these, the name of Worcester will be in inscribed, as an example to tuture genera tions. Subscription for a Printing Press for Wes tern Asia. We are happy to state that the subscrip tion of $3,000 a year, for five years, to be expended in printing the Scriptures, tracts, school-books, &c. for the benefit of Wes tern Asia, was filled before the day fixed in the paper; and a large part ot the first payment has already been received by the Treasurer. Beside this annual sum, the friends of the design will furnish a suitable amount to pay for two presses, and founts of Greek type, and of the European alphabet; and, subsequently, of other alphabets as they from an unknown benefactor in will be applied to the preparatory expen ses; that is, the purchase of types, presses, &c. When a sufficient sum is received to accomplish this object, notice will be given. It is not desired, however, that contributors of small sums should appropriate them to this object; as it is supposed a sufficient amount may be obtained from a few large subscribers. Should the present disturbances in Tur key continue, and render the security of a press on the continent of Asia doubtful for a season ; there is every reason to believe it might be put in operation in some of the ! islands of the Archipelago, whence its pro ductions might be sent with the greatest ease to all the countries around the Medi terranean. [Miss. Herald. Houses of worship in London. In 1816, an official statement of places of Religious Worship laid before parliament, gave id London, 166 of the Established Church, 136 Dissenters (English); 19 Dutch and German Protestants ; 13 Roman Catbolicks; 6 Jews; 6 Quakers, 346 in all; giving according to the population of London, the average of 3122 persons to each place of worship. Wesleyan Missionary Society. The Wesleyan brethren have 147 Mis sionaries engaged in Africa, America, and different parts of Europe. In Ceylon they have taught more than 2000 children 1o ‘ read the Hoiy Scriptures, and many of the I natives have been converted. In the W. In-’ dies,many planters have applied to the Co mmittee to send Missionaries to instruct their negroes, being well convinced that Chris tian negroes, are far more valuable than any other. During the past year they have printed an Bvo. edition of the New Testa ment in the Cingalese language, having before printed an edition in 4t0.; 2000 copies of the Book of Pslams, and a good number of the book of Job, together with a large quantity of inferiour publications for the use of the schools. CHRISTIANITY. There never was found, in any age of | the world (says Lord Bacon) either philoso phy, or sect, or religion, or law, or discip line, which did so highly exalt the publick good, a9 the Christian faith. The Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Synod of South- Carolina and Georgia, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums for the use of the Chickasaw Mission : from the Female Tract Society of Indiautown, per the hands of Rev. R. W. James, $ 20 from the Salem Union Auxiliary Soci ety, per Rev. Mr. M’Whorter, 104 i From the Concord Society per same, 21 | From Mrs. Martha Piowden,per same. 1 _ . „ $146 South. Evan. Intel, of the 4th inst. for the missionary. DECISION—No. 11. [concluded, j Persons of an irresolute character, what ever their pursuits, consider the existence of difficulties in their way as peculiar to their own case, and as conclusive evidence that they are out of the course for which nature designed them. In this they foifet, that these difficulties, so far as they are re al, equally obstruct the paths of others, and that so far as they are imaginary they are chargeable upon their own indecision. In a resolute person, the former class of diffi culties only stimulate exertion ; the latter instantly vanish before the light of his rea son and the energies of his mind. The languid and unsuccessful efforts of the timid and irresolute are not to be attrib uted to their having mistaken the proper object of pursuit ; unless it should be found that their obstacles are such as no industry can overcome. They are to be ascribed to their indecision. And this quality, if indul ged, will defeat them in the prosecution'of any important object whatever ; since n 0 such object is unattended with difficulties. Unless, therefore, they become resolute, they may almost a? well give over all ex ertion. Because if it is evident that our Author designed us for action, it is equally certain that he requires us to use our powers with vigour and a steadiness of pur pose ; since without this, no important end can be accomplished. As the prosecution of important ends demands the exertion of the intellectual powers, it is evident that indecision, by relaxing the energies of the mind, must effectually obstruct their accom plishment. In considering this subject we cannot but reflect on the folly and imbecility of the man who is destitute of decision. We fre quently see persons discouraged by their condition without the least necessitj', and waiting with a shameful timidity for a change of circumstances to give spring to their exertions, expecting perhaps that ne cessity will supply a stimulus ,to their lan guid resolution. We sometimes witness this conduct of men even in instances where, on a moment’s reflection, it must be apparent, that without some previous exertions cn their part, their circumstances will only be come the more discouraging, and that de if Onto of itself produce the wished for change. They who are unde cided respecting the course to be pursued, and waiting for a change of to form their plans, manifest nearly We same folly that a person w ould exhibit who should calmly seat himself by a river’s side and wait a passage till all its waters shall pass by. The conduct of the man of decision is the reverse of this. To him no difficulties are discouragements. Opposition and ob j stacles only strengthen his resolution, in crease his energies, and draw forth his re sources. He reflects that he was made to exert his strength, that ho is capable of surmounting almost any difficulties, that great difficulties always occur in the prose cution of a desirable end, and that such af | ford the noblest exercise to his powers.— With these reflections he is determined to go forward ; and not expect a way to open ! before him without his exertions, nor wait to be impelled, like a machine, by fatal ne cessity. Such a man is truly great, even when unattended by the appendages which usually accompany reputed greatness. His greatness is founded in his own mind. It is not unsuitable to my purpose to no j tice the unhappiness ami perplexity of the I irresolute man. The man whose purpose changes with every change of feeling, and every variation of circumstance : who is attracted by the novelty of every new ob ject, and disheartened by every new diffi culty, is no better fitted for enjoyment than for action. The greatest uncertainty at tends his realizing his most flattering hopes. Though his energies may be sometimes roused, the impulse is momentary. And so languid and fluctuating are all his efforts, that be cannot assure himself of sufficient perseverance to enjoy the most brilliant prospects that greet his eye, or to secure the most engaging objects that solicit attention. He must lose all confidence in himself, and distrust his best endeavours and strongest resolutions. He must ever be perplexed by the multiplicity of his ob jects, and wearied with the constant change of purpose and pursuit, without receiving satisfaction from any. The close of a long life cannot console him with the retrospect of any important enterpriie performed, of any noble design accomplished. He can then only review a series of half formed resolutions, of languid endeavours—a con tinual struggle with difficulties and discour agements—the waste of his time— the loss ot his strength—and the employment of his valuable powers to no desirable purpose. This picture may seem overdrawn ; but if j we keep in view the character it is design ed to portray, we must acknowledge it to be just, and drawn from life. In contrast to this, let us notice the hap piness that attends the progress of the man of decision. Such is the constitution of man, that the exercise of his powers in their proper direction, that is, in the ac complishment of some laudable end, to which they are adapted; is invariably atten ded Vith satisfaction. The acquisition of such objects of pursuit is also sufficient to reward the most arduous and persevering labours. It is also certain that the rewards of virtue are experienced by those, and by those only, who use with vigour the pow ers with which their great Author has en dowed them. To do otherwise is a crimi nal perversion. But to employ them in reference to the end of our creation must secure his approbation. The joys inspired by a confidence in this truth in the breasls of the virtuous are incomparably more val uable than the riches of Peru, than all the wealth of the indies. Cer vinos.