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discountenanced marriage, and allowed it
only to tkt people of the world, on the means
of preventing greater irregularities. Hi*
own example proved his opinion on the sub
jec., and was conclusive. True, indeed, he
had said, marriage is honourable in all.
Out if honourable ia all, then were tbejr dis
honourable who declined it. The Apostle
declined it, and therefore was dishonoura
ble, if the text be received in that seuse.
But the apostle was oot dishonourable, and
therefore the text is not to be received in
-that sense: Ergo, marriage is oot honoura
ble in all. Much had been said about the
command, multiply and replenish the earth.
Out when was this spoken? Before Adam
had sioned. After his transgression, he for
feited the privilege. Benedict Arnold had
the confidence of his country, and the priv
ilege of the constitution, before he became
a traitor at West Point: but when he had
sold his country, he was no lunger entitled
to the privileges of an American citizen.
Man in a similar situation. The Sav-.
iour, too, set an example of celibacy, and
declared that no one could be his disciple
who did not take up his cross, and follow
him in all things, and consequently in this
thing. He told bis disciples, too, that they
who were worthy to have a part in the res-:
urrectioo, were neither to be mairied, nor
given in marriage, but to be as the angels
of God. It was remarkable, also, that but
two of all the prophets had wives, and these
■had them only as signs to the Jew*. The
Church is represented as a chaste virgin es
poused to God. The Jews were not a vir
gin people, even in a figurative sense.
What could this emblem mean, then, hut
the virgm Church, such as was exhibited
this moment before our eyes, by this people
called Shakers. The very Heathens them
selves had some true nations upon this sub
ject, some sparks of the celestial fire. The
Sybilline oracles were committed to virgins.
The sacred fire of their temples was com
mitted to virgins. This was against nature,
and could only proceed from some of those
sparks of heavenly dime of which thej
weie partakers. It has been confirmed,
too, by the testimony of those who have re
ceived the gift, for the revelation of God
has not yet ceased. It has been communi
cated (o some in visions and trances, who
have had open views of the ang<ls of God,
as a virgin band, and praising God in the
dfoce. In short, it is so obviou*, and so
clearly revealed and confirmed, that no ra
tional mind can doubt it. He knew, indeed,
he was addressing people whose passions
were opposed to his doctrines, but he must
sav, that, unless wp, like themselves, should
burst the fetters by which we were holden
in bondage, and deny ourselves, and take
up our cro*s in this particular, *-e could
never be admitted into heaven. Many of
the details of this argument were loogro*#
and indelicate to be repeated, but the above
contains the sum of the reasoning. He wa*
followed by another speaker still more flu
eat, whose sayings are incorporated above.
They appeared to be illiterate men ; but
the latter, especially, seemed to be ingeni
on* aod acute in some points. He under
took to correct the present translation of
the Bible, though be made sad havock in
the rules of grammar. One thing was re
markable on this occasion, that they had no
.prayer, though I am told they sometimes
introduce it. In the course of their re
marks, they seemed to throw out a chal
lenge to any one present who thought prop
er to controvert their reasoning*, but no
one appeared to think that there was much
danger of their obtaining proselytes to such
h cause. “ Happily,” as Sillimnn remarks,
“ their example is in little danger of gener
al imitation; mankind will not, generally,
be persuaded to go on a crusade, or to suf
fer martyrdom, in the cause of celibacy, and
1 believe it will be long ere the world, ac
cording to their expectation, is all reformed
by becoming a generation of Shakers.
Toor human nature —of wbat is it not capa
ble ? what absurdity ! what impiety I (I had
almost said,) is there, which it has not sanc
tioned under the name of religion!”
MISSIONARY.
i
FROM THE MISSIONARY HERALD.
LETTER FROM THE ENGLISH MIS
SIONAY DEPUTATION
To the. American Board of Foreign Missions.
Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, i
Aug. 9, 1822. }
JfeLOVETi BRETHREN IN CHRIST t
You haite, we presume, been informed,
that the London Missionary Society have
deputed two of their numberlo inquire into
the state of their mission in the islands of
the South Seas. We, whose names are
subscribed to this letter, have the honour
to form that deputation.
f When tve sailed from England in May,
182!, we had just received information, that
the Sandwich Islands had engaged your be
nevolent regards, and that you had sent
missionaries to propagate the Gospel in (hat
Interesting portion of the heathen world.
While this important information filled our
hearts with joy, and excited in our minds
most fervent prayers that success might
httjhnd your labours of love, we were en
couraged to indulge the’ most extensive
ft ope*, by bearing that Idolatry bad already
fallen in those islands, and that the Great
Head of the •Church had thus singularly
prepared the way for his servants.
,u Tribute of Respect and Affection.
Before Ve proceed to the immediate ob ,
jed’ of this letter, allow tis, dear brethren,
•to congratulate you, on your having been
directed, by the great Head of the Church,
lo so tWnalite and pious a body of Missiona
ties, a those are, whom you have sent to
~the**‘ ‘Mand*. TS tr piety, : their laleots,
thhlr prhdecce, justify the confidence,
tvhich yon repose in them, and should chr-
in yOor hearts the hope, that thi-ir holy
lives wifl pm to silence the ignorance* jjjf
fdolish men, and (end powerfully to induce
those, who take knowledge of theft, to em
brace that Gospel, which they are animus
to make knownwhile thair affsetmnate
hospitality, and their kind and
endeavours to promote our comfort, confer
upon us a debt of gratitude, which we can
never repay. They are indeed burning
and shining lights in the midst of this crook
ed and perverse nation; and we are conti
nent, that the time is not remote, when raa
oy shall rejoice in their light.
We have had the pleasure of seeing all
the brethren, and all the sister* excepting
Mrs. Buggies; and feel truly thankful to
God, that he has permitted u to form a
friendship with his servants, in whom there
is so much to admire, to esteem ahd to love.
Obvious Benefits of the Visit.
Our arrival appeared to be the most op
portune. Many false and injurious reports
had been propagated here by some foreign
ers, respecting the state of religion in the
Society Islands, in order to prejudice the
minds of the king, and chiefs, and people of
these islands against the Gospel and the
missionaries. Your missionaries had pro
jected, a short time previous to our arrival
a voyage to the South Sea Islands, accom
panied by some of the chiefs, to ascertain
the real state of things there; but the for
eigners, by tbeir influence, had prevented
the vessel from sailing. At the time of our
arrival, the people were labouring under
the influence of the prejudices, which the
foreigners had produced among them. But
our Testimony tn the wonderful work of
God in the South Sea islands, together with
that of the people who accompanied us ap- j
pears to have confounded the opposers, and
confirmed the king and chiefs and people in
the confidence, that the prejudices which
had been excited, were false and unfound
ed. We had no idea that this important ob- j
ject was to be answered by our voyage, j
Truly God was wonderful in counsel, and
mighty in executing.
Messrs. Tyerman and Bennet, after •
respectful apology, here offer mauy valua
ble suggestions to the Committee, with ref
erence to the interests of the mission, and
the best measures for the conversion of the
islanders of the Pacifick. They then con
clude, with the following account of the
Present Religious State of the South Sea
Islands.
Having spent some time in the South Sea
Island*, (and we intend lo pass another
twelve months at least there,) it may not
be unacceptable to you to receive our views
of the state of religion in those highly fa
voured regions. You have, no doubt, read
the reports, which have been made res
pecting the state of that mission;—and be
assured, that so far from those reports being
exaggerated, much more might have been
said. The work is indeed marvellous id
nnr eyes, and excites in our hearts the most
lively gratitude to that God, who9e hand
hs been so signally displayed in it. The
inhabitants of those islands were sunk info
the lowest possible state of moral degrada
tion ; hut are now, we hesitate not to say,
viewing them as a body, the most universal
ly and conistently Christian, of any people
upon the face of the earth. The Sabbath
is universally rngarded. ‘The individual is
scarcely known, who does not attend pub
lick worship three times on the Lord’s day,
and several times in the week. The r.on
gregations are large, and as well-behaved,
as any congregations we ever saw in Eng
land. Numerous churches are formed of
pious persons: while multitudes more are
waiting for admission Full three fourths
of the people can read, and many write and
cypher- Industry is every where apparent,
and civilization ba already made consider
able progress. Towns are rising up, com
posed of house* built according to the Eu
ropean style. Our furniture is imitaled;
and the people aim at the same modes of
living and clothing. Crimes are very few.
Peace and happiness are every where ap
parent. The marriage vow is held sacred.
Infanticide is wholly discontinued. Reli
gion is (he great business of life; while sec
ular affairs, (bough not neglected, are held
a* only secondary. All the fowl wanted for
the Sahhath, is dressed on the Saturday:—
not a fire is lighted, not a canoe is seen
moving on the water, nor are any visits
paid, on the Lord’s day. Never did the
Gopel obtain a more complete and glori
ous triumph over ignorance, and sensuality,
and superstition since the world began.
Let this change afford you, beloved breth
ren, encouragement in all your labours of
love, and in all your exertions to evangel
ize the heathen world. Your prospects in
these islands are indeed most encouraging;
and that yon may soon have to rejoice -in
their regeneration, and their conversion to
Christy is, dear friends and fellcw-labourers,
the fervent prayer of yours, for Jesus 1
sake,
Daniel T verm an,
George Bennet.
MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES.
TALONEY.
We have stated more than once, that a
spirit of inquiry on religious subjects was
evidently gaining ground at this station.
Several f the Chorokee, who reside id
the neighbourhood of Mr. Hall, have, it is
hoped, “been made to feel the value of the
Gospel, and to lave its sacred truths. As
onr work is now lakeo and read by a num
ber of the Cbcrokees who understand the
English language, and as the contents of it,
at least so far as they respect the Indians,
are made known to a considerable extent
in that nation ; there will be an evident im
propriety in onr naming the individuals
above alluded to, or in our entering very
minutely into a description of individual
cases.
We shall, however, lay before our read
ers some extracts from Mr. Hall’s journal,
which have special reference lo the work
ot divine grace, which he has witnessed at
Taloney.
I Ju/y *1,1822. Sabbath. A respectable
number of the natives attended divine ser
vice. Mr. Chamberlain, being present,
preached all day. In the afternoon, he
addressed himself, through an interpreter,
to those Cherokees who cannot understand
English. The meetings were continued
more than four hours; and the people staid
more than an hour longer, for further in
struction.
.lugust 18. Sabbath. Those, concerning
whom we have a hope, remained two hours
after our publick service, desiring more
particular instruction. Many questions
were asked them, and in ail tbeir answers
they discovered a humble dependence on
the merits of Christ, and of him alone for
salvation.
Sept. 22: A brother of the Baptist de
nomination spent the day with us. He ap
pears much rejoiced to see the work of the
Lord in this place.
About the last of October they were vis
ited by Mr. Posey, late Baptist missionary
at the Valley Towns. He was much sur
prised and gratified by the change, which
bad taken place at Talooey, since bis last
visit there, nbout a year before.—On the
Ist of November, an Indian was present at
an evening meeting, who had not been pre
sent before at that place. He appeared to
be considerably auxious with respect to bis
spiritual welfare. “He knell during pray
er,” says Mr. Hall, “which I have known
no adult natives do, at this place, till they
had been brought to feel themselves to be
sioners.”—On the Bth, the two brothers,
McKee and Israel Folsom, arrived at Talo
uey from the Foreign Mission School.
j\ r ov. 10. Sabbath. This has been a truly
interesting day. Our little congregation
was composed of people from six different
nations or tribes. At our evening-meeting,
more were present than could be accommo
dated with seats.
Concerning the youths above named,
Mr. Hall, says:—“ They have left a very
favourable impression on the minds of the
people here, respecting missionaries and
their labours.”
21. Had occasion to punish one of my
scholars, the son of a widow, who I trust is
a pious woman. At noon he ran away
But as I was returning to the school after
dinoer, his uncle came with the truant.
His uncle said it was the mother's opinion,
that I did not punish the boy enough. She
wished me to deal with him, as though he
were my own. What different views does
the Gospel give those who receive it, even
with respect to family government! A
few months ago, this boy would have been
pitied and excused by his mother and
friends, to his great injury; but now they
apparently feel the*force of the sacred
injunctions, “Chasten thy son while there
is hope, and let not thy soul spare for bis
crying.” Prov. x.x, 18.
24. Sabbath. Our meeting very well
attended Appointed in the evening a
meeting for inquirers, at which our room
was full. After singing, and prayer, and a
few remarks, leave was given for any to
speak, who felt desirous to do so. Five
Cherokees spoke in turn, iD their own lan
gouge, on the great subject of religion.
The faces of some were bathed in tears,
while they were speaking. One, who had
beeD a most violent opposer, said, “It is
high time for us all to quit our bad ways.
Our frieDd Hall has been here a long while
telling us how we ought to do. We have
seen him in distress, and have not pited
him. We have viewed him as our enemy.
But taow we all know him to be our best
friend. Should I see him again in trouble,
I would give him a hundred dollars in a mo
ment, if that would relieve bim. We have
many children. What will become of them,
if they go on as we have done; 1 cannot
help weeping now, that I have listened to
wicked white men, and have not attended
to religion before.”—This man spoke 15 or
20 minuies in this strain; and his looks,
gestures, and voice, indicated that be felt
what he said.
27. It is now more than six months, since
we opened a weekly evening meeting, at
our house, on Wednesday, and another on
Friday, at Mr. Sanders’s, a mile hence.
We have, also, bad extra meetings, as cir
cumstances seemed to require. Sometimes
meetings have been held every eveniog in
the week. No one stated meeting has yet
been neglected. 6 how much a brother is
needed to assist in, or take charge of, these
great and responsible labours.
Mr. Hall mentions elsewhere, that Mr.
Butrick had preached repeatedly at Talo
ney, and in the neighbourhood, and in other
parts of the nation. More itinerating mis
sionaries are greatly needed both for the
Cherokee and Choctaw nations.
29. The converts took up most of onr
time, while together, in conversing one
with another in their oyt/o tongue. One of
them, for the first time in publick, led in
prayer. A precious few here, who a short
time since, were far off from God, have
been made nigh by the blood of Christ. O
what everlasting praise is due to Him,
who worketh all things after the counsel of
bis own will I
In acknowledging a letter from the Cor
responding Secretary, Mr- Hall says:
I have read it to the beloved converts,
and they seemed pleased to learn, that you
and the dear peoplp of God at the north,
think of them. They wish me to tell you,
that they believe they have too much hap
piness in religion to be willing to give it up
for the foolish pleasures of the world; and
that they can never be fufikiently thankful
that a teacher has been senl to them.
Mr. H. is very desirous that a church
should be organized at Taloney without de
lay ; and that those, who give satisfactory
evidence of piety, “ should be received and
acknowledged as members of Christ’s visi
ble church; for which they are desirous, if
thought worthy.” , >
For those, whp, it is hoped, have passed
from death nto life, prayers should be of
sered up, by the friends of mission*, without
ceasing. A convert in n Christian land is
exposed to great temptations; but to how
much greater, among the heathen ! When
surrounded by numerous Christian friends,
and numerous Christian privileges, and hav
ing all the support, which ao early Chris
tian education can give him; —he is still
liable to fall: how imminent, then, the
danger of one, whose acquaintances nr
mostly pagans, whose religious privileges
are few, and who, from infancy, lias had
scarcely any guide but a depraved heart!
No. VIII.
THE WOULD-BE PREACHER.
We have been pestered for years by one
of our members, who nflirms the Lord has
called him to preach the Gospel, and who
requires the church to send him fortl>. —
Fourteen years ago, at the June confe
rence, Brother E. made mention of bis im
pressions to publish the “ glad tidings” of
salvation, and wished us to examine him,
and give bim liberty to exhort and pray,&c.
as opportunity offered. To this we most
readily and heartily assented. After a while
we had two or three meetings to see what
bis gifts were, and.whether he was possess
ed of those qualifications which are desira
ble in a licentiate ; but we found, that tho’
be could quote incorrectly some passages of
Scripture and harangue with the voice of a
Stentor ; yet there was nothing to instruct
or edify us ; we chose to wait longer, and
did not therefore give him a license.
Some how or other he had always gone
up into the pulpit with our old minister,and
exhorted there ; but one of the brethren
*
who had heard his attempts more frequent
ly than the rest of us, delicately inquired if
exhortations were Dot generally given from
the floor —alleging that it was rather as
suming in a candidate to take that place to
which those alone were entitled who. had
been consecrated to the work of the holy
ministry. At this he hurst into tears, and
evidently shewed that a kind of childish
ambitioD actuated him in coveting a station
to which he had no right, and which seem
ed so much to inflate his pride. We all bad
the fullest confidence in him as a mao of
piety, but we conceived he needed many
of the qualifications which belong to the
great and important office for which he so
ardently aspired.
He continued exhorting and praying for
years, and occasionally asking a license,but
without obtaining it. Two or three weeks
ago, he came to our conference, and instead
of his usual tone of entreaty for credentials,
he demanded them, that he might be known
as a preacher ofthe gospel—declaring 1 that
he had waited long enough—that the Lord
had called him, and we were bound to send
him forth, whether we thought him quali-.
fied or not. We had always supposed that ’
the gifts of a church were subject to that
church, and that the bare dream, or unde
fined and undefinable impression of a vision
ary enthusiast was insufficient, where we
could discover none of these requisites
which would promise usefulness. He in
formed us, also, lo make out the urgency
of bis claim, that where be had been at
tending for some time in a distant county,
the church would expect him to administer
the ordinances of religion.
We were astounded at this expression,
that without any license, he had been try
ing to preach, and had raised such expec
tations. We knew not that he attempted
abroad any thing but exhortation and pray
er. Inquiry was then made of this distant
church, and it was found that two or three
members were willing enough to hear him
talk, yet the majority had long considered
him a burden, and were it not for fear of
hurting the feelings of one church who it
was supposed bad licensed him, they would
have expressed their opinion of his unfit
ness to preach long ago.
Some of the objections made by an en
lightened brother (though you may suppose
we are not all so from the description giv
en of “ My Minister”) to his ordination, I
will here put down for your numerous
readers. A: .:
1. I question whether he is called of God. —
God does not require of bis creatures im
possibilities. He commanded Moses, to be
sure, who was “ not eloquent,” to speak to
the children of Israel ; but He supplied his
deficiency by associating with him Aaron,
who could speak fluently. To be shori,
says be, I will quote the words of old Dr.
John Gill concerning the qualifications of
ministers: “ They most be of good moral
character; partakers of the grace of God in
truth ; and endowed by Christ with minis
terial gifts [Epb. iii. 7,8] ; studious ini.the
Scriptures [2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.] They
must be sent forth, they must have a mission
from Christ and that by (he church [Rom.
x. 15] and be counted faithful as the apostle
Paul was [1 Tim. i. 12.] They are to ex
ercise this ministry as u trust committed to
Them, UDd to fulfil it [Acts xx. 2-1. Col. iv.
17-4 They should be both able and apt to
leach, and study to show themselves wo:! t .
men that need not he ashamed.”
2. He cannot but come under thedenomin.
aiion of a novice. Though he is an old p ro .
fessor, nod an experienced Christian, Vc!
he is ignorant of the Gospel. Ido not UOw
mean, brethren, that he is ignorant of it,
power upon the henrt, for no one questions
his piety ; but grace io the heart, though
it is the prime qualification of a preacher
yet it does not make all men preachers. |j
the whole body were an eye, where were
the hearing?” Even with the fundamen
tal doctrines of Christianity he is U nac.
quainted. 1 question whether he can re
peat the decalogue. Lillie Sarah re .
peated these fundamental doctrines at oo r
Sabbath school last week more correctly
than he can. Almost all the pupils iu that
school are able to instruct him, # lj e Joe,
not comfort saints, nor alarm sinners, nor
defend the faith. Who is desirous that he
should be licensed but himself?
Again, brethren, 1 question the propfi.
ety of granting any man a license till h| (
qualified to be ordained, I know it is a bar
doctrine in our church, but I believe a true
one. Which ie the most important function
of the ministerial office, the administration
of the ordinances, or the preaching of
word? You will say preaching. But by
giving a license to preach when you con.
ceive the man is Dot qualified to administer
these ordinances, but must be on trial for
years—do you not virtually say the former
is the greater and more important office!
Such were his remarks, Messrs. Editor:,
but I have not room to intrude my opinion
so I bid you good bye.
Richard Orderly.
mm
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1823.
In our paper of the 10th of Fib. last, we were
induced to notice the Report ofa Committee aj
pointed by the I.egialature of South Carolina, to
examine into the condition and prospects of the
College in that State.’ This document was pub
lished by authority, and in our remarks upon it
we bad but one object in view. The Committee,
after stating that the 11 reduction of members wr.s
to he attributed to a salutary increase of disci
pliuetl go on to express their deep regret that
“ there should exist in some religious societies an
unfriendly feeling towards the college, because its
government had devolved on a layman.” The
Committee were doubtless led to make this sug
gestion by the statement of the President, which
accompanies their Report. Indeed, it is well un
derstood that they had little or no evidence
before them except such as the Faculty chose
to furnish. In this Statement, Dr. Cooper, with
his usual boldness, accuses “ the Clergy general
ly,” with “ systematick hostility to any seminary
of education which is not placed under their gov
ernment and controland this he considered
“ as the most powerful obstacle to the prosperity
ofthe institution.” Now we happened to know,
that if the clergy of South Carolina were in any
degree unfriendly to the College “ in its present
state,” it was n*t because Dr. Cooper uoi o lay
man , but because he held religious sentiment*
totally at variance with the distinguishing doc
trines of the Gospel. Os this fact his Appendix
to the life of Priestley is unanswerable prooi, To
vindicate a body .of men respectable for the.r pie
ty, talents and influence, who are, and ever have I
been the advocates of sound learning, IrtMi I
charge manifestly unjust, was our sole motive.'.’ I
saying what we did with respect to this Report, ■
We incurred, however, the displeasure of the B
Doctor, or some of his friends, and our remarki B
were denounced as mere cant —a very convenient ■
term, and always in the mouths of a certain ordeiß
of men who are unwilling candidly to expies B
their real sentiments. But this was not “ the n
head and front of our offending.” J
A few weeks since we published the commoiir H
cation of “ A Carolinian,” on the subject of the B
College, which seems to have been a crime oi ||
still deeper dye ; and for which we are assailed it
a late number of the Columbia Telescope, with4
grossness of reproach hardly.to have been expect
ed from a paper which makes any claim to ordin
ary decency. With the exception of some recefl
attacks on Judge Johnson, (who, like us, ha stv
fortunately subjected himself to the vengeance cl
the Telescope writers,) we have seldom seen a col
umn of more intemperate A ungen tlemauly ahn’f,
If the editor of Jthe Telescope imagines that be
shall, by such kind of language, induce tis or on
correspondents to follow him into the kennel,
will be disappointed. We are not “tobe HW
because he is filthy,” or be drawn into a war ”
scurrilous epithets by any thing which he caiinj
of us or of the motives by which we are actual
in the management of our paper. We are as I*
nacious as he appears to be of the right of ever;
editor to control his own press, and we assure (
the publick that The Missionary shall never W
made a vehicle of billingsgate.
We are accused of a design to exalt d*
College of Georgia at the expense of that ofb-
Carolina; and of maintaining a regular corre*P oB
dence with persons in Columbia solely with I “
view. These charges are pitiful enough to P^ s
without notice ; but lest some credence shou
be given them by those who unfortunately d* rl '“
most of their information on this point from
Telescope, and who may not understand for * a
purpose they are made, we shall take this ° cc>
sion to say, that they are entirely gratuitous,
have no foundation in truth whatever. M e
obtained our information with respect to tl |e
Carolina College from publick document*,
from person*, who, though they do uot ref *
Columbia, Icnp r something abojit the inar.-j