Home and Foreign Journal, February 1854

AND FOREIGN JOURNAL! VOLUME III. PUBLISHED BY THE BOARDS RICHMOND, FEBRUARY, 1854. OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE r NUMBER 8; SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. HOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS. MAIIIO.W ALABAMA, FEBRUARY, If.1l. California. Tin' Now York Times Ним discourse] respecting this «olden laud. How important that wo hasten ourselves to send out the purifying influences of the gospel, into tho communities which arc there soon to ho organised. May sc not hope that the men and means requisite for this work, will bo furnished by tho churches. They tell us of churches gathering in, the up-country; nf congregations that are growing into the appearance of MtrYunkoo [iiiMics; and that tho ladies and children form a goodly portion of thorn. It is pleasant to look ever the statistics of tho California school». It requires something of nn dibit to think of children in that rugged State. Wo feel not a littlo tut prised at learning that children nre thick enough there to play together. Wo had glided into the opinion tint California is exclu-ively a Mite.fnr men, that it eontd hardly, with propriety, bo call¬ ed a "..'-ter State,” er. ot least, that she had a hoarded el., ii It was very refreshing, tho little incident which one nf tii ir papers published lately: that on an occasion, us tlic minister was preaching from tho pulpit, an infant in its mull» r\« units cried nut, and disturbed tho congregation Mat the tinihor, haring tried in \a‘m to hn-h her littlo one, r«-e to go roil, when tho preacher, ceasing from his exhor¬ tation, In .'cod her not to leave .the house, saying that the cr> of an infant was me.ro eloquent than anything lie could utter.— a more touching sound than tho singer’s voices, — it siigge-leil thoughts of their own littlo ones, and their di tr luuiilten far away, more tender and protitublo than ho i.iulil in ‘pit e. And then tho big tears ciia-ed each other down the elieehs nf all his congregation. The old miners ami tho hardy inoncy-getlers were melted. We would like tu hoar of inqiarailcled success in nil the California diggings. \\ о would not object to news of nuggets larger than liaise nf litlhual. Hut better news by far is it to bear that the larns rs am stirring tho soil, and growing largo crops of grain,— that woman presides over every man’s household, and that children fleck to their schools. It is not necessary to remind our readers, “what constitutes a State.” — -V. V. 'J'imrJ, Home Missions. Wo have been much interested in looking over a sermon delivered before tho baptist Homo Mission Society, by llcv D. Shephcrdaon of Cincinnati. Wo extract a few paragraphs for nur paper. Referring to tho objection to missions, upon tho ground the-, the heathen must Le eiviliz- pd before they can ho Christianized, ho says; , > ^ ^ Philosophers and even theologians, craco prg'ued that civilization lnnat precede tho gospel, though nOne..cpuld; , fed the re’ahto.civiiiro savage tribes» .All itlek objections; 'Christ, in тЦ>Н>Щ*я)'ямЩ№-&о «w deg . .._( Wholo tribes and nations of men liavdiPVanpcd tlicir re¬ ligion and Adopted the manners of civilized life,. Princes and people have sat down together at the feet of Jesus to hear his words. Ho thus refers to impressions entertained by some, thus thcro is in tho foreign work something w Inch interferes with tho homo Hold, and that one must first ho accom¬ plished, before the other is attempted : The old objection that tho time has not come to publish tho gospel to tho ends of tho earth has loon refuted by tho consideration, that our duty is not to bo regulated by cither tho purposes or the prophecies of God, or the results of our own actions, Imt by the specific command of the Saviour to preach tho cospel to every creature. Though the times aud tlm seasons tho Father hath put in his own power, tinny things seem to indicate that Christ may lo near— that the harvest of the earth is ripe. Still in the art of printing and navigation lias greatly multiplied facili¬ ties fer preaching the gospel to the world. Intercourse among nation* has hccomo so common that foreign travel has ceased to he n distinction. This increase of knowledge aids our homo votk, and our iipprecirtimi of the homo fields. Nor should nny one suppose that men and funds uro sent abroad that are more needed at homo. A now impulse is thus created. Tho v iews of Christians are thus enlarged, atnl their aims elevated. Those who go to the heathen cflcn shed more intluonec ot homo than they would lutto done by remaining among us j what they do abroad is clear gain. Tho standard of piety is raped ; a missionary literature created : and a new impulse felt throughout the world. When llUUU 1’uritan ministers were ejected from their pulpits they seem not to have thought of the woes of tho heathen. F.liot, tho Mayhews and Rrainords, led tho way. Tho holy llamo kindled among the United Bre¬ thren.’ Great Britain felt tho impulse. America awoke. The spirit of mi.-sams spread, and it will spread, It is of God. He will create inoro self-denial, more enlightened views, and a larger munificence. The day of small things h passing nwav. When Carey and his coadjutors sailed from England fur India, ovtn tho godly felt a kind nf sur¬ prise. When Judtmn, Mills and others, left us on their errands of mercy, now emotions swelled the hearts of the pious. Since that what a host of worthies have arisen among us! Tho puMio mind has Icon changed and en¬ lightened, and tho holy causo of missions is better appre¬ ciated. Tho work abroad aids that at home. OurChineso missions will yet aid us in tho Pacific Slates. And our Herman missions already aid in the formation of German churches among us. Tho truth is, the foreign and lion c work are mutual helpers, and should both be urged on with vastly increased zeal. Tho preacher then enters into an estimate of tho vast work prosentod in tho liouw Cold.— Ho first notices, T11E POSITION OP THE GREAT WEPT: Tho position of the West is most favorable. It is tho Tory heart of a nation, every way distinguished for its climate, soil, productions anil institutions. Jt will bo the great centre of vitality and influence when, with tho ne¬ cessary channels opened, this nation will command half tho commerce of tho globe, and hold tho supremacy of the seas. Tho amphs harbors of Fan Francisco and Monterey are iu a lino climate, easy 0f ingress and egress, and from one thousand to seven lliouswd miles nearer than tho ports of 1'lngland to the great harbors of Calcutta, Bombay, China, Japan and Australia, with the larger Islands of the East. Tho distance to China would be shortened five thousand miles bya railroad across this country. 1’jckets liko tho Cellini lino would easily make the voyage from Monterey to Shanghai in twenty-nine days, allowing one day for coniine ntllio Fox Islands. Intelligence will yet сото front China to the Mississippi valley iu thirty th)*, he con¬ veyed by telegraph to Boston, aud thence to England and to all ports of Europe in ton or twelve days more. Neither tho difficulty tier tho expense rf huihliug this road will seem groat a few years hence. Tho con tin, of Anglo- Saxon enterprise, rarely uses tho word impossible in such physical natters. These two facts: first, that wo havo fivo thousand miles of «ca4ost, up-n tho I’acific, tho Gulf and the Atlantic, with a shore line of thirty thousand miles ; and, secondly, the proximity of our harbors to tho great ports of tlm nations, arc significant, eloquent facts. For a sublime purpose Providence has given us our posi¬ tion. Sit down and examine the suifaco of tho wholo earth : measure from point to point— from one natural, cmnmoveial centre to another, and ask where Providence designed tu Incite tlio nation of nations, aud you will bo compelled to admit that tho finger of God points to из as this great centre. This Huge -of God, ns Christians, wo J ought to see. This great centre, this heart, wc are most solemnly bound lo keep with all diligence, bcean-c, out of it will yet go forth the issues of life to hundreds of mil¬ lions. Tho God ot Israel haih set our bounds for his o\in glory, nnd most eloquently does our position invoke our moral energies. Am! the West mu«t ever ho tho seat cf life to this Republic, as this Republic is to tho world. THE SIZE OF ТШ. WEST. Again, the size of tho West is still underrated. It is vastly larger than a score of such strips us Ncw-Etighind. Illinois ahum would nrako forty such States ns Khodu [slum], and Minnesota sixty such. .Mission i is larger than all New England. Ohio, by no means n large Western State, equals the territory of ancient Greece without tlm peninsula, and exceeds by titty per cent, that of her seven imle]HUidetit Slates within tiie peninsula. Shu exceeds either Ireland, Scotland, or Portugal; ami equals Bel giutii, Scotland and Switzerland together. Missouri is more than half us largo ns nil Italy, with her twenfy-two mil lions: pud larger, bv the entire size cf Massachusetts and Rhode Island, thin the joint territory of the four distin¬ guished nations, Denmark; Holland, Belgium and Switzer¬ land. Add Illinois to Mi-souri, and they exceed England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales combined, with thoi- thirty millions of pimple, and yet these two States uro hut Mitall fraction of tlm great West. THE WORK BEFORE tS. But, leaving all those early struggle», our work is tho preservation of the bequeathed inlieriuney— tho evangeli¬ zation of nil this beautiful region spread out on hath sides of the “great qttcon of waters” and her tributaries. For half a century it has received tho most marked attention of ll.u civilized world. Tho reasons are obvious and tho consequences momentous. Nowhere, sineo Eden lost tho, holy p ’ $2: Ii'tho course of our conversation he made tho following tovrftlo disclosures : “I cannot receive the Bible ai a revyation from God." “And why not?” " Because thef) appears to mo not sulficicut evidence.” “Do you find, inch ovideuoc ngainit it, that you dare reject it!” 'Ho can neither reccivo it nor reject it. ” “Hoyr long have you been in this state.” “Kevcral years.” “Aid have you examined tho evidences adduced to provo tho (authenticity of tho llihle!” “I havo aeurched and read everything I could find, I havo made it a great study; but,hero I aui, still in perfect uncertainty.” “Do you feel lappy in your present state!" “Xu, I am a wretched tnaij; I wish I had the consolation of those who can be¬ lieve tho Bible.” I said to him, “Then is it honestly tho oasijwith you, that you doubt whether thcro was over such a ppsau as Jesus Christ, whether there is a heaven, or a hell,!” “Yes, sir, that is my case, but I cannot help jt.” “Should you die this night, where do you think you would go lr “1 mu-t answer you in the language of Hobbs, ‘It wnkp II F. TAKING А 5.КЛГ IN THE jjAUIC.”’ I left tlio maplij I found him and went away, impressed with tho thojjght that his case was lopsdess. . rix 'reeks afterwords, I was called to visit tVc Hgiiiari. lie was rapidly sinking under tho [owerot »' lgt.il di.-r.isq. His sentiments and views were also changed r.o less than his circumstances. 1 took him by tho hand and asked him vvbat he wi-hed mo to do, Ho replied, “l wish you, sirj to pray for me.” “And for what shall 1 ipray !” “That 1 may have repentance and preparation ' fur-death.” “Du you think, sir, that you are soon to die !” “Yes, I mu«t die, aud I fear very яти,” “Havo you any doftts now concerning tho truth of tho ItiUfl :” “I havenu doubts timv on that subject.” “Can you put your trust in tho Almighty-Saviour?” “Xo, sir, I havo no interest iu Christ.” “ . V ill you not pray to him?" “No, sir, I cannot: will you please to pray for me?" “Cun you not reiKiit!" “No, my heart is ns hard as a stouo." ’cor man 1 ihirhonsst hour, tho trying hour had now .coibn, and bis infidelity had tied. How changed the sculi- Iimbtii how changed tho views of this man since I last lliu: then a frank ami acknowledged sceptic, now a euovificcd but impenitent sinner. Then, ho could not ’in Christ, or a revelation, for want of evidence; reason is most fully convinced, yet no now eri¬ cas reached Ids heart. Fad hour, indeed, to ho con- of infidelity 1 1 kneeled by his bed side nnd tried that faith and repentance miahl bo given him., -ayer I conversed with him again, but could learn “more. Next morning a mos-ong-r came for mo— was dying. I weut, but 1 was too late. 1 -*nd looked upon him while tho spirit took ’that ” ‘ i“ leap” into eternity. Surely, it was a .“/eon in I’M . It. W. BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS': RICHMOND, FEBRUARY, I Ml, ’ pjin.wcrucvcT stronger .motives addressed to human! Ji 'gib; .Vnd.iiowbcfo gas gter so^mucb dtmo in so yitlo’ у '(EMtmgaficc of.ljic City. , , „ u "•*T(nlpant extravagance of tho city is.not dnly fearful Itjotie’of jho.graro Ibat jnuit'follow tho\itr»iu, tyt ''-"•’tit, I.iome where jjttere fmust Jib; ;a‘ tic rilegtond ►1ho .-sap.ofgV^lHhSocial benefit b.ebncentra-1 5'o{i»dfoS'ltiSwjj sogiotbing ineoric . - ‘ -. - * - ‘hil t Bountiful giving in n very happy anti successful mode of warfare against our natural covetousness, Covetousness is idolatry. Covetousness is one of (he greatest hindrances to growth in grace, and to the [.regress of the Redeemer's kingdom. Covetousness is one of the groat besetting sins of tho church. M hatover discipline therefore is well adapted to discharge the evil from nur hearts, and enthrone securely in its place the exalted prin¬ ciples of benevolence, is tu ho highly prized, and diligently pursued, This arch enemy is not to be easily vanquished. It is not a benevolent creed that will do it ; it is not mere good wishes and rc-olves, and a cold, stinted annual con¬ tribution that will du it. Blows are needed, steady, stern and eft repeated blows. Liberal giving (from the love and fdar of God) is a practical as.'. ill It upon its dominions, which never fails to produce the most happy results. Giving, giving, giving, (not beyond our means, but as God has prospered us,) is tu covetousness what that keen sword in the hands nf Samuel was to A gag, it licw.s tho ungodly Amalekito in pieces. 1 fain. 15 : 3d. 1 once heard a benevolent brother remark that when he contemplated anything considerable in tho way of giving, He was compelled to have a battle with the olil man— hi' covetousness, 1 la .probably know himself in this thing. But light lie would, and give ho would. Were I to an- iiuunco his mine, the wholo Christian community would at once rocopnire him as one extensively known for his oil repeated and princely benefactions. Did he act wisely! fnpposo ho had yielded to the ohl man, and given nothing, or given sparingly and grudgingly, lie might have re¬ tained liis name upon tlio church book, hut never have gained and eontaotof inoplexyand consumption'; tms'AcanMhat,crpocl|'( ea by marble steps and stretches out its lcanno-et in tho' wintry star-light» Society thus looks liko a huge ship; with music, and feasting, and splendor on its deck, nnd its sail J all set and glistening; while down in the held thorn nre famine, nnd pestilence, and compressed agony, and silent, choking despair. Brow lit of Western Populalion. lint wo pa's on to glance at the growth nf western popu¬ lation. And here, ton, the facts seem amazing. Wiinrnn realize that it is io'j than a century sineo all this western region wa« an unbroken wilderness, from Louisiana to Can¬ ada, held by the Indians and a few French ! Only' a cen¬ tury -inn', tlio Virginian hoy, afterwards to beenmo tho Mnsc.s of Amerigo, and acquire a tamo more illustrious than that of any other uninspired man, went forth almost alone to treat with the French commandant on tho Ohio, fee! -oo ! there ho goes ! tho immortal Washington, from Will's (.'reek, over unexplored tracts of roernw, forests and stream», ero»'rd with difficulty, exposed to tho utmost peril from hostile Indians. With his war-con t wrap) oil closely around him, his gnu and his pack upon his shoulder, and a solitary com; anion, he wades alone through falling snows and tingled thickets, shielded by Omnipotence from tho deadly shot of the savage warrior luiking in amhii-h. Ilo peri lies md, our future deliverer. Net so bad Brovidcuco ordained. Tire God whom lie adores shields liim and lends him on to victory. Two years later, (1755) you seo him st Fort DitQitesne, 1, 'ruddock falls at his side, and the •gave The Macedonian Cry. Tho cry still comes up from many a heathen land for help, anvd the appalling spiritual destitution which pre¬ vails. No careful observer of the signs of tho times can fail tu understand, that God’s hand is atretehed out to re; move the barriers which interfere with tho onward pro¬ gress of His kingdom on tlio earth. Whilst ho is thus sudering great political revolutions to tako place, ho is also exciting whole tribes and ujtiuus to perceive their spiritual wretchedness, aud to call for aid. Whence shall tlio needed help сото ! God will doubtless raiso up a host of laborers. But bow shall wo bring (bom into tho Geld ! Nut by miracle. This is not his present plan. ■Ho will call them out from tho churches. Ilo will present the claims of the perishing heathen, nnd press them upon tho heart of Ill's people. The honor nf Hu name, and tho honor of Ids iron ho will plead, and l!is people will hear and feel. They will respond to the appeal, and send their sons and daughters tu tho help of tho Lord, and to tho help of the perishing in heathen lands. Is nut this uppeal now sounding in tho cars of tho churches ! Tlio voice of God is heard in tho Macedonian cry, summoning his people In holy activity und zeal. Chi¬ us will presently need hundreds of right-hearted men, to giro direction to tlm inquiring mind of her teeming popu¬ lation. She is easting away her idols, and asking for tho knowledge nf the true God. Africa, rising from her pol¬ lutions aud beholding tho glimmering of go.qel light, is feeling after God, if, haply, she may find him. A mighty upheaving cf the popular mind is taking place in Europe, and she must ho taught tho good nnd the right way. South America is opening for the entrance of the evangelic mes¬ senger. Our own happy land, the asylum of millions from other lands, needs her thousauds of preachers of righte¬ ousness. This is tho cry, loud and piercing, which from every direction reaches ns, » Come over and iiei.p vs.” Will not Baptist churches of tho south heed this cry ! Will thpy not loojc put and thrust for(l( into tho harvest veil' qmtlific’d laborers! ii'hey nave’ the, min. Lot thorn bo sought out. ^ Letjjdod’i spiritqal m/jupneo bo invoked, •ad' the^ gifts' ho^lyi .bystov/ed lo 'cultivated nnd conso» ‘tr,. j, \r fojA;V У ■Rfflw.flr Wm lintofif p'vecnf ‘IjMe.‘'',per 'breijirert ‘a>o ре'цсгаНу lit tlp> % . enjoyment of ,l:ed|th, «fid are prosecuting tbeir workwijh i ardor and fidelity. Tlio causo «coins lo bo progressing. Let us thank God and tako courage. Wo bare only need to prosecute our work in Liberia with energy, relying on God’s promise, und tho result is cortain. “Tho wilder¬ ness und tho solitary plaeo «hall ho glad for them, tho desert «hall rejoice and blossom us tho rose.” t-d an honorable companionship with tl.o noil-beloved Г'10Г suffering frontiers all turn to Wa-hington, ns, under priisp.ions Gain». Another individual who often G'sl, tbeir only luqe. Futirlnr'os fell underlain, four hulls e , finally concluded ho must give until he felt it. He , passed through his coat.l.iaaids fell weltering in tlicir gore, carried out’liis purpose, and this was un dnubt tlio giving jot lie survived toendnre other strugg c<, f reparo a land that bles-ed his soul. Tho giving of a few superfluous ' for the Go-pel, become tlic chanqiili nf tho Ilovt.lulion, dimes, which does not graze our coders nor nur souls, is j and rear for himself a monument more enduring than bra».», no sacrifico. But tho giving that wo fed ; the giving that j and morn lolly linn tho I'ariau will over rise, though it compels eciiriomy, that takes somewhat from our convent- pierce tlio very heavens. enco— it may bo from our wardrobe, from our equipage, I A very few facts will indicate tho amazing growth of from our tat.Ies, nnd iviw and then from what our notions ’ woslorn population. In c States, wilh nn nggrcg.ito pjiptl- aml habits havo fixed amongst tlm indispensihles of condor- latmu of lire millions, contained only thirty thousand Inimi¬ table living— it is this which becomes a pious sacrifice, hunts fifty-five years ago, Twenty years ago thcro wore subjects unr faille nnd lovo to healthful discipline, fritters not fivo thousand white inhabitant» west of Michigan, where ; away our euvetiius desire», and gives tbc soul a decided . there arc now full a million. Already thcro are twelve ’ and onward impulse in the divine Yt'.o.—Mdlttry. : millions west of tlio Alleghenies, where there were loss than , I one million half a centuryago. From Ш0 to 1810, thoralio ; _ .. | of increase for tlio entire Union was 331 per cent., cist of j Offpon. I tho Alleghioics 1G!, west of tho Allegbanies 7-1, while , . . . ■ , .'that of the northwest, including Missouri, was 1P8 percent.,) 1-rom tho first week И 1Ы, to the retell, gcncc by last ^ ^ |Ы ^ ,iMa lh(, arera?c of tbo Atlantic States, j datcs.it api-ears that the amount ot emigration to I, о Th 0f the last decennary was 361 : east oftho • Territory of Oregon, is over ten thousand; which, added лц 'hanfc, abollt «(, „.I West 56. Tho east lost six! to tbo thirtj tUiuJiul already settled on her soil, and tLo rcr.rcscnlltiveJ jn C'on^rcM, and tho west gained twenty- natural increa-tf aince the taking id the bt census, must bring her present population up to forty-four or forty-fivo thousand. So that no may saf.lv calculate that Oregon will ho the next claimant for admission to tho Union аз n State. — Miss. .Idcooitt. * Yoruk, Ccnlral Africa. By the communications inserted in tho present number, it will appear that brother Bowen, at last advices, was about to pass to ljuye, in nceordaneo with tbo wishes of Kumi, tho king, who had appropriated ground, and re¬ served it fir buildings to lo occupied by the missionaries. Brother Lacy expected to follow in duo time. Brother Bonnard proposed to return to tho coast, for tho purposo of arranging for the commencement of a station at Lagos. This town i i likely to become a plaeo of conmtorcial im¬ portance, as it is favorably located for tho groat entrepot of tbo interior. Hero, if health can bo secured, our mis¬ sionaries pvoposo to plant their standard, with tho view of securing a line of operations from tho soa to tlio Kong mountains. This adventurous band cf disciples will not ho forgotten by the churches. They will ho upborne by them in all their prayers, and soon, it is hoped, a largo reinforcement will he ready to join them in tho great work of attempting to evangelize the tribes of Yoruba. “A Leap in tlic Dark.” T.I ,111* ruiilnrnl culls in 1 1 1(1 town of X We copy the following extract from tho Southern Lite¬ rary Messenger of January 1851 : It ia in the household that tho purest and holiest aflec- lions tako their earliest r iso, and around tho household that they will cling and twine with their longest and fond- — , I called cat attachment, it is in the sweet influences of family i'ndisnored when l“eu'tere'd, and was reading^ book Ho despair, gently lure the wayward and weary voyager back at once laid tho volume aside, and with much apparent to tho caliu and peaceful track that leads to tho happy tales i cheerfulness inmrcd my inquiries concerning hi л soul. | cf the blest. CoJs Ueslro) cil. — Prophecy Fulfilled. It is a most gratifying contemplation that God is bring¬ ing to pass tho prediction of Ын own word with respect to tho overturning of paganism, in a most signal manner. By the mouth of his servant Jeremiah, ho thus utters his will: “The Gentiles shall сото unto tlico from tho ends of tlm earth, and shall say: surely our fathers havo inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” This pro¬ phecy ia now being fnlfillcd in tho great empire of China. Kays a writer, who recently visited somoot tbo interior cities along tho track of tho Insurgent Army : — "Wo will now come to Silver Island, fifty miles further on. It is a hill, rising from tho bed of the river, is cov¬ ered with a rank growth cf trees and abrubbery, and overlooks the city of Chin-ki-ang-fu, which is only two miles distant, There arc many tempka on this island, Bonm of them exceedingly beautiful nnd costly; hut tho insurgents have utterly demolished every idol. So grati¬ fying a scene cf devastation I certainly never before be¬ held, Here were gilded and painted fragments of images strewn about in every direction, whilo tho clay and straw of which tho largo idols bod boon made, covorod tho floors to the depth of ono or two foot. Tho altars and tables, incenso vases and candlestick!, Budhist books, and all tho paraphernalia of idolatrous worship, were broken, lorn and scattered here and there, in irrecoverable rum j and this, too, by tho very ones who, not tbreo years ago, were willing votaries at just such shrines. Tbe images of stone were thrown from their pedestals, and bad tbeir heads knocked off. But I found one about (no feet high, in a sitting posture, richly gilt and very hexvy, who»