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VOLUME
1,
NUMBER
3;
“Go
ус
into all the world and preach the gospcl.to every creature.
<&: ;
MAR. I;», 1549,
,Squtl)cnj Baptist Convention.
Correspondence or the Foreign Board.
Communications. relating to Iho genera) busi¬
ness of tho Foreign Mission Hoard, maybe ad-
‘diessal, post paid, to
James I).. Taylor, Cor. See.
Richmond, Ya.
Communications enclosing donations, or.rclat-
■ing to.tlio financial department, may bo address-
'Yd to ' Archibald Thomas, Treas. '
Richmond, Ya.
Rcsults.of Missionary Labor.
If there existed a region on iho faco of tlm
‘earth where, in defiance of the iaw which com¬
mands, 11 Thou shall have, no other gods before
mo,’’ tlio Divino Lawgiver himself were forgot¬
ten, and demons placed on his tlirono Jwherethe
moral darkness had for ages boon deepening and
concealing abominations, till diabolical ingenuity
itself had exhausted its hideous devices; and
where a cloud stored with the bolts of divine dis¬
pleasure 'had been consequently collecting and
impending, ready every moment to discharge a
tempest of dcatruelion, would ho not lo an in-
sttument of immenso'good who should hold up a
light in the midst of that darkness, by which the
•deluded worshipers should see that they had been
sacrificing to devils, not to God, and before
which thoso demons should fly ?
Such regions there arc. The empire of polythe¬
ism is a realm of diabolical dominion. It assembles
its votaries only to blas'phemo tho name of God ;
erects its temples only to attract tho lightning of
'tho impending cloud on their devoted heads j calls
them atound its altars only that in tho very act
•of supposed atonement they may complete their
guilt; and given thorn a protended revelation only
'“ that they should believe a lie." And such an
angel of mercy is the Christian missionary. To
say nothing, at present, of the decline of idolatty
in India, and of the conversion of some of the
tribes of Africa and North America, where now,
we ask, is tho idolatry which lately revelled in
the Sandwich, the Marquesan, tho l’aumotu,.the
Tahitian nnd Society, the Austral, tho Hervey,
the Navigators, the Friendly islands and New
Zealand, and in all tho smaller islands In their
respective vicinities? Idolatry still reigns In
Western Polynesia, and still steeps its victim* in
blood and guilt: what benevolent power has
swept tho curse from Eastern Polynesia? The
missionary of tho cross has been there, proclaim¬
ing that “there is one God and one Mediator
between God and man, the man Christ Jesus ”•
.nnd about ninety islands have "cast .their idols lo
the moles and to the bats," and about 400,000
Idolaters have become the professed .worshipers
of tho only living and true Got],
We admit, that tho mete abandonment of idolatry
is very remote from scriptural conversion to God.
Hut if the inspired History- exhibits tho Almighty
in ono continued oontest .with idolatry, is it no¬
thing to find, though it
Ъе
only about tho fifteen
hundielh part of hi* infatuated' foes lay down
their amis, and virtually acknowledge their guilt !
If tho mere casting out of a demon was a benefit
to the dispossessed avhich called for Ins ardent
nnd lasting graiitude.'is it nothing for whole de¬
moniac communities to have tho fiend oFidolatry,
whoso name is'Lcg'ion, cast out of tho body pol¬
itic, and -to be now found" clothed, anil in their
right' mind?” Tho renunciation of a'falso re¬
ligion is at least ono step 'towards tho adoption of
the true ono.
If we knew of a region where tho sun of
knowledge — if ever it shown there— set long
ages ago ; where the absence of truth has not
insrdly left tho mind vacant, hut in actual pos¬
session of destructive ertors/likca deserted man¬
sion converted into a don for robbers and murder-
'ersj and'Whcre truth ’is not-orily ’lost to man, and
•fatal'error la in full possession, 'but'wheio 'man b
actually lost to tho' truth— lost to tho power of
'•even .intellectually apprehending it when first
presented to his mind and if th ere existed a prii-
cess by which that darkness could he pierce!?,
those errors exploded, arid' this powor vestorl3,:
would not ho be a great benefactor who should
attempt and conduct it to a successful issue?
That region is heathenism ; that process is edit
cation; and that benefactor the Christian. mission¬
ary. Visit, in thought, the
200,Ш
youthful
and adult scholars sitting at his feet to: receipt
instruction, and imagine what' all tbosolmmorta)
beings would have .been' if left to themselves!
A considerable number would' doubtless have
been destroyed in infancy, had ho not gone to
their rescue ; while, for the rest, tho past would
have been all a fable, the future a 'blank, and the
present would have been spent in a perpetual
conflict whether the fiend or the brute should
predominate in their nature. Does the rcadef
deeply commiscrato such a condition? Let him
remember that tho depth of his compassion re a
measure, however inadequate,^ for estimating the
value of that process which enables them to
emerge out of it. Let him observe further, as
the
ргоеезз
advances, how the faculties recover
their proper pliability', how tho understanding rejf
joices in tho power of apprehending truth, arid
reason gradually resumes its throne, and oven
the countenance itself is humanized, “losing the
wild am) vacant Elate of the savago" in the mild
and intelligent expression of tho reasonable
being; and let him remember' that the pleasure
which he experiences in marking the transforma¬
tion is another measure by which
До
estimate the
value of missionary effort.— Greet Conanission.
The Redeemer's Last Command. ’
aqtl.yo: gavdgie.no meat,. [! wqs, thirsty anti ye.
gave me.nq.drink, .1 was a strange; and yo.took
rim not in;, naked ;and.'ye clpthod me not; sick
anil in. prison and ye visited ’.mo. not,.. Verily J
say. unto you,, inasmuch
аз
ye, did It not unto one
-of the least of these, ye did it not.lpgie.?!
'Those. >ylio; have, made, themselves, attainted
with tho operations of our different benevolent
societies are owaroV that, according, to the usual
dispehsStions of Providence'; rjie .contributions of
'thechuicl^must.belincieaseib-hundred Told ije-
fote the, world, 'will.be.subjugated te.Christ.^iBut
alas !. how few. are 4ha draughts -which are be-,
stowed upon this subject.' How. ft; w are willing
toij»art.5vilh:Uieii:,m<iney.eyen,'to„saye:60uis. ;My.
brethren, how is.it, .with you? Are you living
unto; yourselves, or unto Him -who died for -you
and, wsq again? All of you are engaged .in
seeking .the treasures of -the world. What are
you seeking them for? b it that you, may hoard
them up for your own gratification and for the
use of your heirs? iff this is
у
pur. object, .the
day'ia coming when nothing hut unmingled .re¬
gret will be. the consequence. You .will then
find, that your bwn. happincss would have been
much .increased .bad you spent, them for. Christ ;
and tha; your heirs would haye been much mure
benefited, had you , though! loss of them, and
more of the cause of your Saviour. There is a
njost sad, deliisibn, abroad in the. Christian, church
regarding, the Jaymg'np.of.prpperty. The, on?/
legitimate aim which, any follower of the ;Ite-
deemer.can have in seeking largely the treasures
Of the world is, Thar he may buy the bread of
life andj present, it, to those who .are dying for.
Want of it. What hemeeds. to supply the
Тет¬
рад;!
and epiritual waitf§ofdii? ojyri.im'mediate
dors.of th? cross.- Could I,but .do tbis;-Ipdoubt5<
not that distant heathen .continents- would ,-;in.
coming days, murmur. their,, deep thankfulness jo,
you, and tho isles of the tea would ejap their
iiands with
)6у.—1Ш.г
In such a day as this, in which God has jdurifly iie-feels.hjTO^^V
jponod door after door 'fertile entririco of Tils' ^eak too ritleri; tp^forget.tn'al!uiC ; 6it;5\-fIin»iXy^pC
gospel, and when the Macedonian cry, “Come
over and help us,” is heard from all parts of the
world, if any professed Christian refuses to do a
part in fulfilling what are evidently God's de¬
signs, how can ho have evidence that he is a
true disoiplo of Christ?. How can lie go to the
Lord's tablo nnd sincerely obey the command.
“ Do this in romembranco of me,” while ho re¬
fuses to obey tho command which is equally
binding, " Go ye into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature." Were I a pastor
of an American cliuich, it appears lo mo that 1
should, without delay, endeavor to promote the
object I havo now been advocating. And is
there no pastor in our land who will take the
load in this business! — no pastor who will set
tho oxamplo of giving at least one tenth of his
annual income, and who will leave no means un¬
tried to induco his people to follow his.steps! 1
do believe that if a pastor could he found who
would be the means of the general introduction
of tin's custom, he would bo -one of tho greatest
benefitctois tho church ever saw. Tiiousande of
souls which now, humanly speaking, must be
lost, would, in 'the day of judgment, rise up nnd
call him blessed. Let this practico obtain, and
soon wo shall find many who will not give mere¬
ly a .tenth, but ono .half, .or .even more of their
incomo to-tho Lord. There will benojoom.to
contain tho.offorings -which shall bo brought.in,
In tho equipment and sending forth of an
army of an earthly king, much expense must
necessarily bo -incurred. . The same remaik will
apply ,tn the equipment and sending forth of .an
army of the King of heaven. And this ex¬
pense, as I have already observed, must be in¬
curred. It is as much the duty of Christians to
give their money to send the gospel to every
creature, as it is the duty of tho ministers of
Christ lo go and bear it to every creature. No
ono can bo exempted from contributing a pmpor-
tionatc part of tho expense which must bo met
to effect this object. The poor arc to give of
their penury as well as the rich of their abun¬
dance. 'He Who does otherwise'^ Eilghla Christ!
arid can expect nothing e!sb iii tie day of judgt
m'ent than 'the address, “For i was Ih'ungeied
mankind is in reality a part of his own family,
and that he is bound to spend his surplus funds
upon them. He seems too little to feel that if
he docs not provide for them also, he hath denied
tho -faith and is worse than an infidel.— Dr.
Scuddcr.
Christian Mothers.
Mighty instrumentalities
зге
needed for the
conversion of tho woild, and as they are not now
to bo found in tho church of God, wo must look
for tho required ihelp from -those -who aw a?
present in the nursery. To the coming genera¬
tion our eyes turn with intense inte;est. It must
be trained in habits diffeung from those which
chain their fathers to-earthly things. It must be
fashioned to a new standard. The missionary,
spirit must bo infused into tho heart of tho rising
generation while it is in its infancy, and tho im¬
pression must be made mow.. ‘Tho hope of tho
church in. our own land and the world rests, .in a
‘great degree, under .God, on iho infantsons and
daughters of pious mothers. ,
Christian mothers, our hearts ;are .sick and
faint with the burden
«Т
perishing millions. 'We
look over tho moral landscape, and our eyes are
wearied with Ihe .dreariness of tho prospect.
Wo look to- you, and hope again beams upon us.
Wv look to you as God's agents not only in
training labarersfor orir,own1and,'but in training
missionaries for tho whole world. The hearts of
the coming generation arc, in an'important sense,
in youc ha nils — ‘taking shape frrim your tuition.
In tho cradles you rock, lie infolded tha hopes
of Christies! nations. As tho potter shapes the'
clay, so should you endeavor, under God, to
shape the heart df the generation which is now
growing up, that' h may become a missionary
generation. A gteat responsibility in reference
to raising up ministers of the' gospel devolves
upon you. Would that I could convince you of
ihisfruili. Would that
Г
could awaken in ydii
emotions corresponding irisoma degree riiththe
importance of it, and lead’ you to -'such' action as
may; through' the agenty of tho Holy Spirit; re-
sult In-inducing your soria to become
атЬззпа-
ife
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>•
, Interesting, -Fact.
if V.
Referring to-'tlid!'iiihiiencd '(jf "tW gospel, in
Southern Africa; brieofthd mfcslbriktics'of tha
Americari.'Hoard’Uius writes;— ’* ' '* '
. -*• #•
.•/;
I have been particularly^pfcawi, fwhile at
Uralazi, in witnessing the example, of, an old
woman, tho first convert in iho . mission.. . Often
■before tho exercises on the Sabbath, andkduringt
tho intermission,.? have seen her clad in neat ap¬
parel, seated on. a mat .amid’a. group of. females,
and addressing them in . a most animated manner,
avhile, from the solemnity of her looks, and their
appearance, I judged she was telling them of
something'-rcliting to tlm gospel. And I, have
been' pleased to' -observe that those who \yer«
generally around dier, -paid most' attention' to the
preaching in the meeting-house. This female has •
long been -in the habit of taking other female*
away with her into tbo- bush' fpr prayer,
and often convening with those abouf h'er ^on¬
cer mng their souls. Thus -does tho influence of
the gospel increase ; -'and as’ . I -pee mew ones'from
time to time coming but from- their 'sins, and
uniting their efforts oh the side of* Christ, J look
for -increased good to result from the labors of all
to 'the blessed pause. One light after another It
kindled in^th'e midst-efyhe dirJrhcss ; arid though
buta few are yet seen, Hook forward to the day-
when; multitudes of, others sf$i;lUazeTortb/and
the cleir heanis of the Sun of rightebrisnesa. shall- '
burst on ’this 'land, . arid all
.Ъ®
merged in'jft
;gbTiaus‘hghV^,y;-.^i'Y^C!.^^«^^r-'
• ' t 'r ' - — ?*:•*
A Great Wart Before
ж
■
Whatever may be.the issue :of the great. con-
fiiet in Europo, as lo. forms of: government, it is
almost, certain that religious liberty will, he se-.
cured, and tho press will be .unshackled. 13ut
resources for, making these blessings available ia'
the work of general evangelization, tvill.be inad¬
equate, unless help come from abroad. American
Christians and societies will havo an enterprise of
untold, magnitude before them.- Already soci¬
eties .and delegates from Germany, France, and
Ireland are pleading with almost desperate im¬
portunity for the •crumbs, that fall from tho table
of our, charity. When tho din of arms, and th*
conflict of opinions and races shall die .away,
there will
сото
such a cry as never before
pierced the ear of the church :: not the muified
wail of stupid idolatry, nor. nf, bigoted Islamlsm,
nor of blinded Judaism, -but: the trumpet-call .of
wakening intelligence and conscious want, from
nations yearning for: such afaith as has afforded
из
anchorage, while they Jiave been tossed and
driven and almost wrecked by the tempest.
•Are. we prepared to .meet and .cordially ,(•
respond to isueh a -providential .claim? ?3.our
conviction of the -value -of' the gospel,
,аз Ал
grand conservative elemeut.of a’ republic, ideep
and practical. enough-to impel us to give univer-.
sality .tout at home, and thcn.with openjiand to
provide for its diffusion abroad, on tho .divine
principle,- '“Freoly ye have received; freely
give?" H our faith itrong enough to conneot
all -theso. wonders in tho drama of Europo .with
the throne .of God, and .with ;hi3 purposes of
mercy towards 'an .apostate «world American
Messenger. , . n ::r. ;■
Praying and Giving.
The venerable father’ Sewall of Maine, onee
entered a mecting-ic. behalf of foreign missions,
just as- the 'collectors of the contributions -were
resnming i their -seat*. The chairman- nf'Vtbe
meeting requbstbd !hlm ‘to lead iri! prayer.’ ''Tha
