of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; it seizes upon and operates in the heart, and is productive of the true conversion of it. For

this reason it is a rule with our brethren, that they never enter into an extensive discussion of the doctrine of God's being an infinite Spirit, of the Holy Trinity, &c. nor do they seek to open the understanding of the heathen in these points, until they believe in Him, " in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

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This same writer remarks, "We must confess, that the labour of our missionaries among the heathen is no easy employ, but requires much patience, and must be pursued with prayers and tears. The power of darkness among them, and the dominion of Satan, whose opposition is soon perceived by the missionaries, the natural blindness and pride of the savages, their heathenish prejudice against the truths of the gospel, their sinful practices, the bad examples of so many who are called Christians, the seductions laid in their way by others, and the unfaithfulness of some of those who had been touched by the grace of our Lord, are certainly such letts and hindrances, that no abiding fruit could spring from the brethren's labour, if a mightier power than their own strength, did not support and render their labour successful. These and numberless other difficulties the brethren struggle with in their undertaking, and nothing but an unconquerable desire to bring souls to Jesus, could have carried them through all the difficulties and hardships that they have had to encounter. Indeed we have reason to praise and adore the grace of our Lord, which has formed a people in the church of the brethren, who, knowing all difficulties, and having no pros pect before them, but to endure extreme heat or cold, with few or no conveniences of life, and no

hopes of gain, have offered themselves unto the Lord for his service among the heathen."

As to the manner of their appointment to missionary labours, Mr. Benjamin Latrobe, the writer above quoted, says, "When a member of the church of the Brethren has a particular impulse upon his heart to serve the Lord among the heathen, he makes known his desire, (having first weighed it well before the Lord,) to those who are appointed to direct the affairs appertaining to the missions among the heathen. Then, when there is a vacancy or a new mission begun, the desire of those who have offered themselves is taken into consideration, and after examining into the motives of their desire, and their qualifications for this important employ, such as are wanted, are nominated."

In the year 1733, three Moravian missionaries went to Greenland. But it was not till after the lapse of some years, and the endurance of almost incredible privations and hardships, that they saw any fruit of their labours, though Mr. Egede, the Danish missionary, had been labouring some years there, and afforded his countenance and assistance. At length the day dawned, and they who had sat in darkness began to see a great light. And it was here that the Moravians first proved the superior efficacy of first directing heathens to the Lord Jesus Christ, before giving them much other instruction.

The Greenlanders, and especially the women, became remarkable good singers of hymns, with which they joined some wind and stringed instru ments.

In the year 1810, the number of persons belonging to the Brethren's congregations in Greenland, amounted to 998; at New Hernhuth, 300; Lichenfels, 298; and at Lichtenau, 400.

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The island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies, would claim the next notice, only I will leave the account of all the Moravian missions in those islands, to come in immediately before those promoted there by Dr. Coke.

In the back of what was formerly the British American colonies, now the United States, particularly behind the provinces of Philadelphia, New York, &c. the Brethren have laboured among the Indians ever since the year 1740; and God has blessed the word preached by them.

In this mission especially, have the Brethren endured such privations, hardships, and multiplied and aggravated sorrows, as are scarcely to be equalled in the records of the church. The leading particulars of this mission ought to be proclaimed as upon the house-top, in the ears of all the christians upon earth.

The Brethren have at present five settlements among the Indians in North America: Fairfield in Canada, Goshen on the Muskingdum, Spring Place in the country of the Cherokees, Sandusky, and one on the river Flint, among the Creek Indians.

In 1738, two of the Brethren were sent to begin a mission in South America, at a Dutch settlement called Rio de Berbice. After encountering great difficulties, and acquiring some knowledge of the language, they had some encouraging success in different parts of the country. In a few years they had baptized about 400 persons,

In 1735, three of the Brethren were sent to Surinam, to try to introduce the gospel among the Pagan inhabitants there. After encountering many difficulties, this mission assumed a more promising aspect. But to this day the success of the missions of the Brethren in South America as been but small.

In the year 1759, with the consent of the court of Denmark, and the Asiatic Company at Copenhagen, a colony of Brethren went to Tranquebar, in the East Indies, in the neighbourhood of which they formed a settlement, with a view to establish a mission on the coast of Coromandel, and especially to establish a settlement on the Nicobar islands. And after almost despairing of this, in 1768 they established a small colony in those islands. But this mission was afterwards

abandoned.

The Brethren tried the island of Ceylon also, but with very little success. And the same re

mark will serve respecting to Persia.

The Empress of Russia having granted the Brethren some land in the kingdom of Astracan, on the banks of the Wolga, a colony was established there, and the heathen on the borders of that country shewed them great respect. But hardly any good was done, till the Brethren became acquainted with the German colonists on the Wolga, when societies were formed, and ministers appointed.

Missionaries were sent by the Brethren into Africa also. In 1767, five missionaries were sent to the coast of Guinea. But their labours were rendered abortive through the savage manners and extreme depravity of the natives. In short, though they had much success in some places, and a little in others, they have had too much reason to say, "All day long we have stretched forth our hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

The poor Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope also attracted the notice of the Brethren. But circumstances prevented the mission from being continued; but in 1792 three missionaries were sent to renew the mission, and not without

success.

The Brethren resolved to attempt the conversion of the Copts in Egypt and Abyssinia; and three missionaries went to reside at Grand Cairo for the purpose. But my materials do not inform me what success followed.

In 1740, one of the Brethren went to Algiers, where he, while preaching to the slaves sick of the plague, caught that disorder, and died. Another preached to and served the slaves there from the year 1744 to 1748.

In the year 1752, the Brethren sent four missionaries to the coast of Labrador, but could effect nothing. But in the year 1764, a Brother who had been in Greenland, and had learned the Greenlandish language, being continually impelled in his own mind to go among the Esquimaux, went to that country. It was a great joy to him, and a surprize to them, that they could understand each other. And it was thus discovered, that the Esquimaux and the Greenlanders were originally the same nation.

In May, 1770, three Brethren sailed on a mission to Labrador, and were favourably received by the inhabitants. The Brethren preached to them both in small and large companies, and ceeded to form a settlement among them.

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As I have already exceeded the intended number of pages for the mention of missions in general, I shall not enlarge upon those of the Moravians any further, except when we treat of the West Indies, What I have said on this point may serve to give a sufficient idea of the whole.

In 1794, a society was formed in London, upon a very large scale, by the different denominations of Protestant Dissenters, and called the London Missionary Society. Some of the more pious and evangelical clergy of the Established