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If, however, after your most serious and conscientious endeavours, you are not able to find satisfactory evidence, that Christ came from God; you must al

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Is not this view of things a loud call to the friends of the gos. pel to use every possible means to promote the spread of it among the nations?" If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed," is the language of inspiration. Are we in no danger then from that spirit of slumber which overspreads our minds? Ought not every man, who has any concern for his own future happiness, to lend an helping hand to promote the salvation of the many millions of souls, who now sit in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death? The Moravians have herein the greatest merit. That small sect has done more to spread the honour of the Redeemer's name among barbarous nations, than all the Protestants in Christendom. These worthy people begun their missions in the year 1732, and have now, in different parts of the world, and those several of them the most unpropitious, no less than 26 settlements. In these settlements near 140 missionaries are employed in superintending about 23,000 converts from the heathens!

The king of Denmark sent out two persons in the year 1705 to Tranquebar on the coast of Coromandel, which mission has been continued to the present time with considerable advantage to the cause of Christ, in that part of the world.

The Society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, and that for promoting Christian knowledge in the highlands and islands of Scotland, were both begun about the year 1701, and have both been extremely useful in spreading the knowledge of the Redeemer's name.

The Society for promoting Christian knowledge was begun in the year 1698, and has been carried forward with considerable spirit for near one whole century. At present they have six missionaries in the East Indies, and one in the islands of Scilly

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low at least, with Rousseau, that he was an extraordinary man; one of the first characters that ever ap

From these missionaries some very pleasing accounts have been published in the several annual reports. The efforts of this ho nourable society have been very considerable also in the distribution of Bibles and other religious books of various descriptions. The Bibles sent out the last three years averaged 5,228 each year, the New Testaments and Psalters 9,333, Common Prayers 9,738, Other bound books 10,562, and small tracts 69,754. A charity of a most extensive, valuable, and important nature! But, a principal object with this society, is the education of poor children.

The Baptists have lately sent out two persons to the East-Indies, but the fruit of their labours does not yet appear to be considerable. The mission is in its infancy.*

The Europeans in that country are very generally in a state of infidelity. This confirms what has been said by the natives in broken English; Christian religion-Devil religion! Christian much drunk-Christian much do wrong, much beat, much abuse others."-The natives are apt to say in making their bargains"What, dost thou think me a Christian, that I would go about to deceive thee?" "It is a sad sight," says one of the first missionaries, "to behold a drunken Christian, and a sober Indian; a temperate Indian, and a Christian given up to his appetite; an Indian that is just and square in his dealing, a Christian not so. O what a sad thing it is for Christians, to come short of Indians, even in moralities! to come short of those, who themselves believe, to come short of heaven!"

Considerable effects also may be expected to arise from the two settlements on the coast of Africa and New Holland; if we compare America two or three centuries ago, with what it is at the present period.

The Methodist connexion has been considerably successful in winning souls to Christ in the West Indies. In the year 1794, they had upwards of a dozen preachers employed in the different islands, and near 8,000 blacks in society, besides others of different descriptions.

The Missionary Society in London have taken up the deplorable situation of the of Heathen nations with great spirit; and present prospects are very promising. How far it may please the great Head of the church to succeed their endeavours in behalf of the heathen, remains yet to be proved. Be this as it may, the

* There are now, 1808, sixteen Baptist missionaries in Bengal. They have made a number of converts, some of whom are preachers. Large numbers attend upon their sermons. The Bible has been translated into the Bengalee language.-Phil. editor.

peared upon earth.(9) See then that you blaspheme not his name; treat his cause and interest in the world with respect; walk according to the best light you have; be virtuous in your own way, and do all you can-not to make converts to infidelity-because when men commence infidels, they usually become immoral, but to lead your fellow-men into the paths of piety and virtue, under some denomination or other. If, indeed, you can fairly, by sound argument, and solid evidence, explode the divine authority of the gospel, we are so far from being afraid of

persons concerned shall not lose their reward. The attempt is honourable. Every believer in Christ Jesus should throw his mite into one or other of these treasuries of heaven. More noble still, however, is he, who laying aside all party prejudices, and narrow plans of human policy, contributes according to his ability, to every scheme set on foot for the salvation of his fellow-creatures, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. I cannot conceive how any man, who professes to believe in the name of Christ, can be at rest in his spirit, without making some effort to advance the honour of his name. It is a black mark upon him. Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion-that put far away the evil day-that lie upon beds of ivory, that stretch themselves upon their couches, that eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall-that chant to the sound of the viol—that drink wine in bowls-but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Thanks be to God, that though a spirit of infidelity is rapidly spreading itself through the old rotten churches of Europe, yet there is a fire kindled in the hearts of thousands that shall never be extinguished, till all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. A missionary spirit is beginning to shew itself, all through England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, and America, which shall finally diffuse itself through every nation under heaven.

Why do not our unbelieving countrymen form societies, and send out missionaries to convert the nations to pure deism? If they are in earnest, and if they consider their principles as the only true and important ones, they certainly ought se to do, or else they fall under divine condemnation.

(9) Most of the modern dabblers in science, allow that Jesus Christ was one of the greatest geniuses, and most extraordinary men that ever appeared upon earth. Others deny his very

existence !

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consequences, that we call upon you to do it. (60) Try then what you can do. Exert all your talents. Call forth every latent power of the mind. your stores of ancient and modern lore.

Bring out But no ridi

(60) Atheists and unbelievers have more or less abounded in every age of the world. In Noah's time the whole human race was gone astray. In the days of David, the fool said in his heart, There is no God. Scoffers appeared in the age of the apostles, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? I remember reading of a man in the last century, who was a great enthusiast against the Bible. Either to display his wit, or his fanaticism, he proceeded in the following truly curious manner;

In the year 1649, as Mr. Fawcett was preaching in his church, at Walton upon Thames, towards the close of the afternoon, six soldiers entered the church. One of them had a lantern in one hand, with a candle burning in it: in the other hand were four candles not lighted. When Mr. Fawcett had gone through the service of the day, and dismissed the congregation, this man called to the people to stay a little, for he had a message to them from God. Not being permitted to ascend the pulpit, or to address the people any farther in the church, he went into the yard, where the congregation collected around him. He told them that he had had a vision, and had received a command from God to deliver his will unto them; and which they must receive upon pain of damnation. "It consisted," he said, "of five lights.-That the sabbath was abolished, as unnecessary and ceremonial.-And here," said the man, “I should have put out my first light; but the wind is so high I cannot kindle it.-Tythes are abolished, as Jewish, and a great burden to the saints of God, and a discouragement of industry and tillage.-And here I should have put out my second light, &c -Ministers are abolished, as antichristian, and of no farther use, now that Christ himself descends into the hearts of his saints, and his Spirit enlivens them with revelations and inspirations. And here I should have put out my third light, &c.-Magistrates are abolished, as useless, now that Christ himself is in purity of spirit come among us, and has erected the kingdom of the saints upon earth. Besides, they are tyrants and oppressors of the liberty of the saints, and tie them to laws and ordinances, mere human inventions. And here I should have put out my fourth light, &c.-Then, putting his hand in his pocket, and pulling out a little Bible, he shewed it open to the people, saying, "Here is a book you have all in great veneration, consisting of two parts, the Old and New Testament. I must tell you, it is abolished. It contains beggarly rudiments, milk for babes: but now Christ is in glory amongst us, and imparts a fuller

cule! no laughter! no sneers! The occasion is too great and serious. Come forward in all the dignity of good sense, in all the majesty of conscious integrity, in all the zeal which the love of truth inspires, furnished with languages, knowledge, experience, observation, and either honourably overthrow the cause of the gospel, which we assuredly deem the cause of truth; or, like Jenyns and Pringle, openly acknowledge that you are convinced and conquered. This would be manly. This would be acting in a manner worthy the character of lovers of truth. And on such men the God of truth himself would look down from heaven well pleased.

I have already called your attention to a variety of characters from among the moderns, some good, others bad, some believers, others unbelievers. I would wish you to take the Bible into your own hands, and read it carefully and coolly over, as a book of common history only, without any regard to its divine original; and then endeavour to form an impartial judgment what course you ought to take, and what the event of your present conduct will be. To bring the matter to a short and easy issue, turn to the thirty-seventh psalm, read it seriously over half a dozen times, and consider its contents. Do not be rash, foolish, head-strong, and reject this, and the other sacred records, without either rhyme or reason; but be cool, deliberate, sober, well-advised, and determine to choose the side of prudence, discretion, and safety.

Let the several historical characters record

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measure of his spirit to his saints than this can afford; and therefore I am commanded to burn it before your faces." taking the candle out of the lantern, he set fire to the leaves; and then, putting out the candle, he cried-" And here my fifth light is extinguished."

This is not the only madman whom we have known to burn his Bible.-One, to be more witty than his sagacious brethren, roasted his Bible before a slow fire!

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