VOLUME 1, NUMBER 10. “Go yc into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,’’ RICHMOND, OCTOBER 15, 1849
Southern Baptist (ffomuntion.
Correspondence of the Foreign Board.
Communications relating to the general busi¬
ness of the Foteign Mission Uoatd, may be ad¬
dressed, | ml j>uid, to
James B. Taylor, Cor. Sec.
Richmond, Va.
Communications enclosing donations, or relat¬
ing to the financial department, may bo address¬
ed to Archibald Thomas, Treat.
Richmond, Va.
For the Commission.
Taking the Cross.
Omayagbw of holy zeal,
Burn on tho altar of my heart,
Consuming every vain desire,
Which from its deceitful depths may start.
May this my only glory be,
To live to Him who died for me!
E'en r.ow I feel the sacred flame,
And life has nought of worth to me,
Savo that I may proclaim His grace,
That 1 may “ His salration sec.”
0 may I ne’er know aught besido
Christ Jesus, and Him crucified!
My soul is sick with deep disgust,
Of wealth— of pomp— and earthly pride;
I wish not joy— I wish not case,
I wish for nought, Heaven's peace beside.
I count all earthly gain hut loss,
My joy— my glory— is tho Cross!
Lord, thou dost know how much I long,
To sco thy Zion riso and shino
Glorious, “all glorious within,"
In “garments beautiful," divine;
May I a thousand terrors stem,
Ere 1 forget Jerusalem 1
This worthless self, (and all I have,)
Dear Lord, I lay them at thy feet!
To lirejo lhet.ivere. blest indeed, v*- - -
To die for thee wero almost sweet!
My inmost soul the vow records,
I'm not my own— I am the Lord’s !
К.
A. L.
For tho Commission.
The Mount of Vision.
On tho Mount of Vision I stood, with an an¬
gel of light. And I lifted up mine eyes and
beheld a valley, lovely and flourishing as the
garden of the Lord, a fair and plenteous “ valley
of Eshcol,” peacefully reposing in the bosom
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green and beautiful hills. The angel led me
unto tho entrance of this fair valley, and 1 beheld
that it abounded in all maimer ol most pleasant
fruits and flowers, whilst streams and fountains
of water, silver-clear and bright, gushed beneath
its lovely shades. The golden sunshino flowed
over its soft, green meadows, and tho heavens
gladly smiling, as if animated with a puro and
beautiful life, bung lovingly ovet it. A delicious
fragrance, cool from tho bosoms of watered hills
and dells, flush of rainbow bloom and velvet ver¬
dure, sweet as an angel-pressure, blossed the
tranquil air. the sound of harp and lute, blent
with tho Ucatingsof gentle flocks, floated serene¬
ly round. And I beheld multitude, walking
amid these quiet shades, culling the golden fruit¬
age, reclining on tho green banks, or tending the
snowy flocks.
. I would liavo longer gazed upon this golden
scene of peace, but the angel took my hand and
led mo on until we stood at tho entranco of ano¬
ther valley, desolate as Baca! and at tho farthest
limit thereof I beheld a dark, dark ocean, en¬
shrouded in a fearful mist and cloud, Adown
this dreary valley thronged a vast procession,
crowding upon tho footsteps of the multitudes
slowly vanishing into that gulf of rayless gloom.
Wo heard tho sigh and groan heaved from the
depth of many a joyless bosom, and we beheld
tho eyes of many upturned to heaven, as if plead¬
ing fur some revelation of hope. My heart bled
for their misety ! “
0
1" exclaimed I, “is there
no hope — no salvation for these!’’ Tho angel
wept. “ Yea, there is a hope, an infinite salva¬
tion ! For whosoever shall call upon tho name of
the Lord shall be saved. But 1 how shall they
call on Him iu whom they have not believed!
and how shall they bclievo in llim of whom they
have not heard ! and how shall they hear with¬
out a preacher! and how shall they preach ex¬
cept they bo sent!’ ’’ “ And
О
where,” I ex¬
claimed, “ are those to whom it is given to make
known unto them this glorious salvation !” “In
that valley of blessing wc have just beheld."
“ And wherefore, 0 wherefore, come they not
forth with those heavenly tidings !” “Curse yu
Meroz,” said tho angel of the Lord, “ curse ye
bitterly the inhabitants thereof, bccauso they
camo not out to the help of tho Lord, to tho help
of tho Lord against tho mighty.” “ A few have
been sent,” resumed the angel after a pause, and
again taking my hand ho bore me rapidly on un¬
til wo stood upon an eminence in the midst ol
tho valley. I lifed up mine eyes and beheld a
garden, as it were a newly-planted garden, like
unto the excellency of Carmel and Shaton, blos¬
soming abundantly. Here, seated in tho pleas¬
ant shade, were people who listened joyfully to
tho voice of one who spake tho word of peace.
“How beautiful,” said the angel, “ are the feet
of them that preach the gospel of peace,— that
bring glad tidings of good things.” Here and
there, throughout this vast valley, “ the wilder¬
ness is glad for them, and the desert rejoices and
blossoms as the rose,— in the wilderness watets
break out, and streams in the desert.” 0, hail
not they who have erewhilo dwell in the midst
of that prosperity the gospel has shed abroad, —
had not they loved their own ease and glory bet¬
ter than the cause of their Lord and the happi¬
ness of their brethren.— this valley of desolation
had been cro now a valley of beauty and peace,
cvenTiko unto the one wo have just beheld! And
even now Mercy stands hy, waiting to crown with
golden success the efforts of the present dwellers
in that valley of plenty. But alas! how few
have left tho indolent repose of the bowers of
worldly pleasure ! They are “ elolhed in purple
and fine linen, and fare sumptuously everyday,”
on the price of souls! “ Is it not written,” said
I, “ If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he
is nunc of his?” The angel wept again.—
“ There bo few that have tho spirit of Christ :
of that meek and lowly Lamb of sacrifice." “Is
it notwiitten," again said I, “ ho that loveth not
knoweth not God !" Can love bo indolent, self¬
ish ! “ Nay, verily,” said the angel, “ the fruit
of love is ever self-denial." E. A. L.
For the Commission.
Prayer to Idols.
Some years ago I was aroused at night by a
largo fire in my immediate vicinity. The
darkness mado it appear unpleasantly near to my
houso ; ami hence I arose, put on my clothes,
and went out where it was burning. It was
about two o'clock in the morning. When 1 ar¬
rived I took a prominent station, so as to observe
what was going on among the busy and agitated
multitude. Some were flying for their lives,
some wero removing their goods, and ethers
standing still looking on or wailing for the water
engines; but one man was differently employed
from all tho rest.— He had taken his station
about ten step from where I was standing ;
there ho had a table, on which was placed an
idol 'facing tho fire, to which he was praying!
Said ho, “ Chu-ko, save us from lire fire: Chu-ko
save us from tho fire !” Then bo began to press
tho matter. " Chu-ko, if you don’t stop the fire
it will burn your temple.” And thus ho went on
praying short, cnergelie, and pathetic prayers,
until the fire was checked by the watermen. It
was stayed just before tho tcmplo caught, and
hence, ho doubtless thought the idol heard and
answered his prayer. Poor, blind and stupid
heathen, who shall deliver them from the fire
that never shall be quenched ! I. J. R.
Progress of Discovery in Central
Africa.
The following article from tho London Times
is valuable, as it conveys information respecting
tho almost boundless resources of Central Africa,
and especially in view of the fact’, that the pro¬
posed penetration of this country by commercial
adventurers, would open the way for introducing
the glorious gospel cf the blessed God. Ar¬
rangements for sending our accepted missionary
to that quarter will, we hope, soon be completed:
“ While
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than one Stato government is
blundering away at measures of proved useless¬
ness re mitigate, tho horrors of barbarity on the
seaboard of Western Africa, a Liverpool mer¬
chant and a sea captain have penetrated to the
interim, and have surveyed the highway, not
only to that inner region, but to the civilization
of Africa. Mi. Robert Jamieson, of Liverpool,
has collected the means and planned the enter¬
prise, with a disinterested perseverance and zeal
for discovery far above the mere trading spirit of
tho time? Mr. Becioft lias immortalized himself
as one of tho most daring, most discreet, and
most intelligent, of English discoverers. In spite
of tho obstacles aggravated rather than removed
by the proceedings of the English government-
in spite of the most disastrous mischances, Mr.
Becroft has succeeded in establishing the fact that
the interior is accessible for navigation and trade;
he has thrown light on the interior navigation up
to Timbuetoo, insomuch that only 40 miles of the
river remains to bo explored— the part between
Lever, his highest point, and Boussah, Paik’s
lowest ; the great watei-way being tho koy to
soverakfegione of beautiful and fertile country,
peopled byoivcis races, ana atroratng opportuni¬
ties for legitimate commerce of indefinite exten¬
sion. Tho lower Niger and its branches perme¬
ate an immenso delta, containing thousands of
miles of richly fertile and wooded country. The
unhealthy climate extends only for a limited
space inwards ; and ns you ascend the river the
healthiness becomes equal to that of the Tropics
generally. This region is inhabited by Negro
races, warlike, rude, yet not destitute of civiliza¬
tion, and eager for trade. On tho middle Niger,
above Iddali, tho inhabitants assumo more of the
Arab aspect, are more civilized, congregate in
towns so large that ono is mentioned which is
computed to contain 20,000 inhabitants, but the
people am less eager for trade. They are preju¬
diced agiinst strangers from tho West hy the
Arab dealers who
сото
to them in caravans
across the continent, and strive to excludo rivals
from themarket. This prejudice, however, does
not seem to ho very powerful; and tho trade
which cm repay the toilsomo transit across the
continent by land is sure to rcmuncrato
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who cone by the comparatively short and easy
path of the river. The requisites for a success¬
ful- trade with tho inhabitants of the Niger are
now well ascertained by tho experiences of Mr.
Becroft and his fellow-voyagers in the Ethiope
steamer. First, you Want iron steameis of less
draught and greater engino power ; for by such
vessels not only tho Niger but ita Tahaddah
branch might bo navigated at almost all seasons
of tho year. You want officers like Mr. Becroft,
of hardy constitutions, inured to tho climate, of
bravt spirit, discreet, and shrewd. You want
tradug managers capable of accommodating theii
manners to tho wayward dealings of a rude peo¬
ple, md able to estimate tho valuo of produce
little known. You want crews mostly of Afri¬
can blood, and at all events of sufficient stamina
to bear tho climate. It is obvious that efficiency
of navigation, the power to move rapidly, and
tact in dealing with the natives, are requisites far
mure important than more armed force. Ivory,
vegetable tallow, peppers, indigo, cotton wool,
palm oil, a sort of caravances or haricot beans',
dye woods, timber woods, skins, and a great vaj
riety of produce that is buf'sljghtly known, in¬
vite the trader. The solo desideratum is tho1
tough efficiency in the means of navigating tho
river and it is evident that a commerce of inde¬
finite extension will repay any sums laid out in
thoroughly establishing that efficiency of naviga¬
tion.
Despise not the Day of Small Things.
At the annual meeting of tho London Mission¬
ary Society, the following remarks were madi
by Dr. Cunning:—
In 1793 the income of tho Baptist Missionary
Society was £13 12 6. Andrew Fuller doubted
whether ever it would be a laige sum, but hoped
to see the day when it might be £5,000. It is
now £20,000! The London Missionary Socie¬
ty had, at its commencement, the annual income
of about £5,900 ; and Dr. Boguo hoped to sc4
the day when it would reach £20,000. It hak
now reached £63,000. Only fifty years agOj
there was scarcely a missionary society in exist¬
ence in Christendom, and -it was very remarkable
that they nearly all had their riso and oiigin
amidst the storms and convulsions which agitated
Europe in 1792. First there arose the Baptist
Missionary Society. If I am wrong as to the
order, you can easily alter the collocation of the
names. These were like the bridemaids making
ready lor the coming of the bridegroom; or like
the successive peaks of the Alps and tiie Appcri-
nines, which are, one after another, touched with
the beams of the rising sun. The Baptist Soci¬
ety was first sprinkled with the holy influence;
now it is entirely dipped in it. I have read, with
great delight, the testimony borne by the late Mr.
Wilberforce in the House of Commons, who said,
“I do not know a finer instance of the moral
oublim? than that of a poor cobbler, Dr. Carey,
when working at his stall all day, should have
conceived Ihc idea of converting the heathen to
Christianity. Milton, planning ‘ Paradise Lost,’
was not a nobler spectacle than that of Dr. Ca¬
rey planning tho conversion of the heathen.’/
The. moral is ever grand: in comparison with
the.material becomes poor and insignificant. —
That was a spectablo which angels from theii
stairy thrones might have paused to behold with
adoring gratitude, whilst heroes on the field of
battle, or monarchs silting triumphant on their
thrones, were passed by unregarded. What has
been the result! We now have missionaries in
the isles of the Pacific, in the cinnamon groves
of Ceylon, amid the plague-smitten atmosphere
of Tahiti ; the gospel is preached by them to the
Arab in his tent, to the Cossack in his steppes.
Deeper Piety Wanted.
Wo wanta deeper sort of piety in our churched.
A more realizing sense of the claims of Christ,
the valuo of the soul, the misery of men without
tho gospel, and the great ends and obligations of
the Christian profession. If the love of Christ
constrained us,— if no roan lived to himself,— if
wc fell that for every farthing of property wo
were accountable to God, and wero habitually
looking on to the day of account, wc should not
want such instrumentality as is now employed ;
or, at any rate, should want much less of it. —
Harrit.
Incidental Benefits of Missions. — The North
American Review, our most dignified quarterly,
says, “ There is not a number of the Missionary
Herald which docs not send abroad, through tho
American churches, materials of knowledge
which would be issued from the secular press
with tho longest and loudest flourishes of trum¬
pets. These are among tho valuable • incidental
benefits,’ which, in tho eloquent language of
Robert Hall, 4 Christianity scatters by tho way,
in hor sublime march to immortality.’ ".
