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diff --git a/11449-0.txt b/11449-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..590f519 --- /dev/null +++ b/11449-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1697 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11449 *** + + AN ENQUIRY INTO THE + + OBLIGATIONS OF CHRISTIANS, + + TO USE MEANS FOR THE + + CONVERSION OF THE HEATHENS. + + + + IN WHICH THE RELIGIOUS STATE OF THE DIFFERENT + NATIONS OF THE WORLD, THE SUCCESS OF FORMER + UNDERTAKINGS, AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF + FURTHER UNDERTAKINGS, ARE CONSIDERED, + + + + BY WILLIAM CAREY. + + + + For there is no Difference between the Jew and the Greek; + for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him. + For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. + How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not + believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they + have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? + and how shall they preach except they be sent? + + PAUL. + + + + + MDCCXCII. + + + + + INTRODUCTION + + +As our blessed Lord has required us to pray that his kingdom may come, +and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, it becomes us not +only to express our desires of that event by words, but to use every +lawful method to spread the knowledge of his name. In order to this, +it is necessary that we should become, in some measure acquainted with +the religious state of the world; and as this is an object we should +be prompted to pursue, not only by the gospel of our Redeemer, but +even by the feelings of humanity, so an inclination to conscientious +activity therein would form one of the strongest proofs that we are +the subjects of grace, and partakers of that spirit of universal +benevolence and genuine philanthropy, which appear so eminent in +the of God himself. + +Sin was introduced amongst the children of men by the fall of Adam, +and has ever since been spreading its baneful influence. By changing +its appearances to suit the circumstances of the times, it has grown +up in ten thousand forms, and constantly counteracted the will and +designs of God. One would have supposed that the remembrance of the +deluge would have been transmitted from father to son, and have +perpetually deterred mankind from transgressing the will of their +Maker; but so blinded were they, that in the time of Abraham, gross +wickedness prevailed wherever colonies were planted, and the iniquity +of the Amorites was great, though not yet full. After this, idolatry +spread more and more, till the seven devoted nations were cut off with +the most signal marks of divine displeasure. Still, however, the +progress of evil was not stopped, but the Israelites themselves too +often joined with the rest of mankind against the God of Israel. In +one period the grossest ignorance and barbarism prevailed in the +world; and afterwards, in a more enlightened age, the most daring +infidelity, and contempt of God; so that the world which was once +over-run with ignorance, now _by wisdom knew not God, but changed the +glory of the incorruptible God_ as much as in the most barbarous ages, +_into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and +four-footed beasts, and creeping things_. Nay, as they increased in +science and politeness, they ran into more abundant and extravagant +idolatries. + +Yet God repeatedly made known his intention to prevail finally over +all the power of the Devil, and to destroy all his works, and set up +his own kingdom and interest among men, and extend it as universally +as Satan had extended his. It was for this purpose that the Messiah +came and died, that God might be just, and the justifier of all that +should believe in him. When he had laid down his life, and taken it up +again, he sent forth his disciples to preach the good tidings to every +creature, and to endeavour by all possible methods to bring over a +lost world to God. They went forth according to their divine +commission, and wonderful success attended their labours; the +civilized greeks, and uncivilized barbarians, each yielded to the +cross of Christ, and embraced it as the only way of salvation. Since +the apostolic age many other attempts to spread the gospel have been +made, which have been considerably successful, notwithstanding which a +very considerable part of mankind are still involved in all the +darkness of heathenism. Some attempts are still making, but they are +inconsiderable in comparison of what might be done if the whole body +of Christians entered heartily into the spirit of the divine command +on this subject. Some think little about it, others are unacquainted +with the state of the world, and others love their wealth better than +the souls of their fellow-creatures. + +In order that the subject may be taken into more serious +consideration, I shall enquire, whether the commission given by our +Lord to his disciples be not still binding on us,--take a short view +of former undertakings,--give some account of the present state of the +world, consider the practicability of doing something more than is +done,--and the duty of Christians in general in this matter. + + + + + + AN ENQUIRY, &c. + + + + + SECT. I. + + + _An Enquiry whether the Commission given by our Lord + to his Disciples be not still binding on us._ + + +Our Lord Jesus Christ, a little before his departure, commissioned his +apostles to _Go_, and _teach all nations_; or, as another evangelist +expresses it, _Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every +creature_. This commission was as extensive as possible, and laid them +under obligation to disperse themselves into every country of the +habitable globe, and preach to all the inhabitants, without exception, +or limitation. They accordingly went forth in obedience to the +command, and the power of God evidently wrought with them. Many +attempts of the same kind have been made since their day, and which +have been attended with various success; but the work has not been +taken up, or prosecuted of late years (except by a few individuals) +with that zeal and perseverance with which the primitive Christians +went about it. It seems as if many thought the commission was +sufficiently put in execution by what the apostles and others have +done; that we have enough to do to attend to the salvation of our own +countrymen; and that, if God intends the salvation of the heathen, he +will some way or other bring them to the gospel, or the gospel to +them. It is thus that multitudes sit at ease, and give themselves no +concern about the far greater part of their fellow-sinners, who to +this day, are lost in ignorance and idolatry. There seems also to be +an opinion existing in the minds of some, that because the apostles +were extraordinary officers and have no proper successors, and because +many things which were right for them to do would be utterly +unwarrantable for us, therefore it may not be immediately binding on +us to execute the commission, though it was so upon them. To the +consideration of such persons I would offer the following +observations. + +FIRST, If the command of Christ to teach all nations be restricted to +the apostles, or those under the immediate inspiration of the Holy +Ghost, then that of baptizing should be so too; and every denomination +of Christians, except the Quakers, do wrong in baptizing with water at +all. + +SECONDLY, If the command of Christ to teach all nations be confined to +the apostles, then all such ordinary ministers who have endeavoured to +carry the gospel to the heathens, have acted without a warrant, and +run before they were sent. Yea, and though God has promised the most +glorious things to the heathen world by sending his gospel to them, +yet whoever goes first, or indeed at all, with that message, unless he +have a new and special commission from heaven, must go without any +authority for so doing. + +THIRDLY, If the command of Christ to teach all nations extend only to +the apostles, then, doubtless, the promise of the divine presence in +this work must be so limited; but this is worded in such a manner as +expressly precludes such an idea. _Lo, I am with you always, to the +end of the world._ + +That there are cases in which even a divine command may cease to be +binding is admitted--As for instance, if it be _repealed_, as the +ceremonial commandments of the jewish law; or if there be _no +subjects_ in the world for the commanded act to be exercised upon, as +in the law of septennial release, which might be dispensed with when +there should be no poor in the land to have their debts forgiven. +Deut. xv. 4. or if, in any particular instance, we can produce a +_counter-revelation_, of equal authority with the original command, as +when Paul and Silas were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the +word in Bythinia. Acts xvi. 6. 7. or if, in any case, there be a +_natural impossibility_ of putting it in execution. It was not the +duty of Paul to preach Christ to the inhabitants of Otaheite, because +no such place was then discovered, nor had he any means of coming at +them. But none of these things can be alledged by us in behalf of the +neglect of the commission given by Christ. We cannot say that it is +repealed, like the commands of the ceremonial law; nor can we plead +that there are no objects for the command to be exercised upon. Alas! +the far greater part of the world, as we shall see presently, +are still covered with heathen darkness! Nor can we produce a +counter-revelation, concerning any particular nation, like that to +Paul and Silas, concerning Bythinia; and, if we could, it would not +warrant our sitting still and neglecting all the other parts of the +world; for Paul and Silas, when forbidden to preach to those heathens, +went elsewhere, and preached to others. Neither can we alledge a +natural impossibility in the case. It has been said that we ought not +to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of +Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, +neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which +daily present themselves to us. What openings of providence do we wait +for? We can neither expect to be transported into the heathen world +without ordinary means, nor to be endowed with the gift of tongues, +&c. when we arrive there. These would not be providential interpositions, +but miraculous ones. Where a command exists nothing can be necessary to +render it binding but a removal of those obstacles which render +obedience impossible, and these are removed already. Natural +impossibility can never be pleaded so long as facts exist to prove the +contrary. Have not the popish missionaries surmounted all those +difficulties which we have generally thought to be insuperable? Have +not the missionaries of the _Unitas Fratrum_, or Moravian Brethren, +encountered the scorching heat of Abyssinia, and the frozen climes of +Greenland, and Labrador, their difficult languages, and savage +manners? Or have not English traders, for the sake of gain, surmounted +all those things which have generally been counted insurmountable +obstacles in the way of preaching the gospel? Witness the trade to +Persia, the East-Indies, China, and Greenland, yea even the accursed +Slave-Trade on the coasts of Africa. Men can insinuate themselves into +the favour of the most barbarous clans, and uncultivated tribes, for +the sake of gain; and how different soever the circumstances of +trading and preaching are, yet this will prove the possibility of +ministers being introduced there; and if this is but thought a +sufficient reason to make the experiment, my point is gained. + +It has been said that some learned divines have proved from Scripture +that the time is not yet come that the heathen should be converted; +and that first the _witnesses must be slain_, and many other +prophecies fulfilled. But admitting this to be the case (which I much +doubt[1]) yet if any objection is made from this against preaching to +them immediately, it must be founded on one of these things; either +that the secret purpose of God is the rule of our duty, and then it +must be as bad to pray for them, as to preach to them; or else that +none shall be converted in the heathen world till the universal +down-pouring of the Spirit in the last days. But this objection comes +too late; for the success of the gospel has been very considerable in +many places already. + +[Footnote 1: See Edwards on Prayer, on this subject, lately re-printed +by Mr. Sutcliffe.] + +It has been objected that there are multitudes in our own nation, and +within our immediate spheres of action, who are as ignorant as the +South-Sea savages, and that therefore we have work enough at home, +without going into other countries. That there are thousands in our +own land as far from God as possible, I readily grant, and that this +ought to excite us to ten-fold diligence in our work, and in attempts +to spread divine knowledge amongst them is a certain fact; but that it +ought to supercede all attempts to spread the gospel in foreign parts +seems to want proof. Our own countrymen have the means of grace, and +may attend on the word preached if they chuse it. They have the means +of knowing the truth, and faithful ministers are placed in almost +every part of the land, whose spheres of action might be much extended +if their congregations were but more hearty and active in the cause: +but with them the case is widely different, who have no Bible, no +written language, (which many of them have not,) no ministers, no good +civil government, nor any of those advantages which we have. Pity +therefore, humanity, and much more Christianity, call loudly for every +possible exertion to introduce the gospel amongst them. + + + + + SECT. II. + + + _Containing a short Review of former Undertakings for + the Conversion of the Heathen._ + + +Before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ the whole world were either +heathens, or jews; and both, as to the body of them were enemies to +the gospel. After the resurrection the disciples continued in +Jerusalem till Pentecost. Being daily engaged in prayer and +supplication, and having chosen Matthias, to supply the place of Judas +in the apostolic office, on that solemn day, when they were all +assembled together, a most remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit took +place, and a capacity of speaking in all foreign languages was +bestowed upon them. This opportunity was embraced by Peter for +preaching the gospel to a great congregation of jews and proselytes, +who were from Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, +the proconsular Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Lybia, Crete, Arabia, +Rome, &c. and at the first effort God wrought so powerfully that three +thousand were converted, who immediately after were baptized, and +added to the church. Before this great addition they consisted of but +about _an hundred and twenty persons_, but from that time they +continually increased. It was but a little after this that Peter and +John, going up to the temple, healed the lame man; this miracle drew a +great multitude together, and Peter took occasion while they stood +wondering at the event, to preach Jesus Christ to them. The +consequence was that five thousand more believed. + +This was not done without opposition; the priests and sadducees tried +all the methods they could invent to prevent them from preaching the +gospel. The apostles, however, asserted their divine warrant, and as +soon as they were set at liberty addressed God, and prayed that a +divine power might attend their labours, which petition was heard, and +their future ministry was very successful. On account of their +necessities who were engaged in this good work, those amongst them who +had possessions, or goods, sold them, and devoted the money to pious +uses. + +About this time a man and his wife out of great pretensions to piety, +sold an estate, and brought part of the money to the apostles, +pretending it to be the whole; for which dissimulation both he and his +wife, were struck dead by the hand of God. This awful catastrophe +however was the occasion of many more men and women being added to the +church. The miracles wrought by the apostles, and the success +attending their ministry, stirred up greater envy in the priests and +sadducees, who imprisoned them; from which confinement they were soon +liberated by an angel; upon which they went immediately as they were +commanded and preached in the temple: here they were seized, and +brought before the council, where Gamaliel spake in their favour, and +they were dismissed. After this they continued to prosecute their +work, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the +name of Christ. + +By this time the church at Jerusalem was so increased that the +multiplicity of its temporal concerns was the occasion of some +neglects, which produced a dissatisfaction. The apostles, therefore, +recommended to the church to chuse seven pious men, whose office it +should be to attend upon its temporal affairs; that _they might give +themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the word_. Seven were +accordingly chosen, over whom the apostles prayed, and ordained them +to the office of Deacons by imposition of hands: and these things +being settled the church increased more and more. One of these +Deacons, whose name was Stephen, being a person of eminent knowledge +and holiness, wrought many miracles, and disputed with great evidence +and energy for the truth of Christianity, which raised him up a number +of opponents. These soon procured his death, and carried their +resentment so far as to stir up such a persecution that the church, +which till now had been confined to Jerusalem, was dispersed, and all +the preachers except the apostles were driven thence, and went every +where preaching the word. + +A young man whose name was _Saul_, was very active in this +persecution; he had been educated under Gamaliel, a member of the +Sanhedrim, was a person of promising genius, by profession a Pharisee, +and much attached to the jewish ceremonies. When Stephen was stoned he +appeared much pleased with it, and had the custody of the clothes of +his executioners; and from that time was fired with such a spirit of +persecution himself, that he went about dragging some to prison, and +compelling others to blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus. Neither was +he contented with exercising his rage at Jerusalem, but went to the +chief priests and obtained testimonials of authority to carry on the +same work at Damascus. But on his way, as he was almost ready to enter +into the city, the Lord changed his heart in a very wonderful manner; +so that instead of entering the town to persecute, he began to preach +the gospel as soon as he was able. This presently brought upon him the +same persecution which he had designed to exercise upon others, and +even endangered his life, so that the brethren found it necessary to +let him down the city wall in a basket by night, and so he escaped the +hands of his enemies. From thence he went to Jerusalem where he +preached the word, but being persecuted there, he went to Cesarea, and +from thence to Tarsus. + +In the time of this trouble in the church, Philip went and preached at +Samaria with great success, nay so great was the work that an +impostor, who had deceived the people with legerdemain tricks for a +long time was so amazed, and even convinced, as to profess himself a +Christian, and was baptized; but was afterwards detected, and appeared +to be an hypocrite. Besides him a great number believed in reality, +and being baptized a church was formed there. Soon after this the Lord +commanded Philip to go the way which led from Jerusalem to Gaza, which +he did, and there found an eunuch of great authority in the court of +Ethiopia, to whom he preached Christ, who believed, and was baptized; +after which Philip preached at Ashdod, or Azotus. + +About the same time Peter went to Lydda, or Diospolis, and cured Eneas +of a palsy, which was a mean of the conversion not only of the +inhabitants of that town, but also of the neighbouring country, called +Saron, the capital of which was Lasharon; and while he was there, a +circumstance turned up which tended much to the spread of the truth. A +woman of Joppa, a sea-port town in the neighbourhood, dying, they sent +to Lydda for Peter, who went over, and when he had prayed she was +raised to life again; which was an occasion of the conversion of many +in that town. Peter continued there preaching for some time, and +lodged at the house of a tanner. + +Now another circumstance also tended to the further propogation of +Christianity, for a Roman military officer who had some acquaintance +with the Old Testament Scriptures, but was not circumcised, was one +day engaged in prayer in his house at Cesarea, when an angel appeared +to him, and bid him send for Peter from Joppa to preach in his house. +Before this the work of God had been wholly confined to the jews, and +jewish proselytes, and even the apostles appeared to have had very +contracted ideas of the Christian dispensation; but now God by a +vision discovered to Peter that Christianity was to be spread into all +nations. He accordingly went and preached at the house of Cornelius, +at Cesarea, when several were converted, and baptized, and the +foundation of a church laid in that city. + +Some of the dispersed ministers having fled to Antioch in Syria, began +to preach to the greeks in that city about the same time, and had good +success; upon which the apostles sent Paul and Barnabas, who +instructed and strengthened them, and a church was formed in that city +also, which in a little time sent out several eminent preachers. + +In the Acts of the apostles we have an account of _four_ of the +principal journies which Paul, and his companions undertook. The +first, in which he was accompanied by Barnabas, is recorded in the +xiii. and xiv. chapters, and was the first _attack_ on the heathen +world. It was a journey into the lesser Asia. In their way they passed +over the island of Cyprus. No sooner had they entered on their +undertaking, than they met with great difficulty; for Mark, whom they +had taken as their minister, deserted them, and returned to Jerusalem, +where, it seems, he thought he should enjoy the greatest quiet. Paul +and Barnabas however went forward; in every city they preached the +word of the Lord, entering into the jewish synagogues and first +preaching Christ to them, and then to the gentiles. They were heard +with great candour and eagerness by some, and rejected by others with +obstinacy and wrath, and cruel persecution. One while they had enough +to do to restrain the people from worshipping them as gods, and soon +after, Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. +Having penetrated as far as Derbe, they thought proper to return by +the way that they came, calling at every city where they had sown the +good seed, and finding in most, if not all these places, some who had +embraced the gospel, they exhorted and strengthened them in the faith, +formed them into a church state, and ordained them elders, fasted and +prayed with them; and so having commended them to the Lord on whom +they had believed, returned to Antioch in Syria, from whence they +first set out, and rehearsed to the church all that God had done with +them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. + +About this time a dispute arising in the churches concerning +circumcision, Paul and Barnabas were deputed to go up to Jerusalem, to +consult the apostles and elders on the subject. This business being +adjusted, they, accompanied with Judas and Silas, returned to Antioch +with the general resolution, and continued there for a season, +teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. + +Paul now proposed to Barnabas, his fellow-labourer, that they might +visit their brethren in the places where they had been already, and +see how they did. To this Barnabas readily acceded, but a difference +arising between them about taking _John Mark_ with them, who had +deserted them before, these two eminent servants of God were parted +asunder, and never appear to have travelled together any more. They +continued however each to serve in the cause of Christ, though they +could not walk together. Barnabas took John, and sailed to Cyprus, his +native island, and Paul took Silas, and went through Syria and Cilicia +to Derbe and Lystra, cities where he and Barnabas had preached in +their first excursion. + +Here they found Timothy, a promising young man, whom they encouraged +to engage in the ministry. + +Paul being now at Lystra, which was the boundary of his first +excursion, and having visited the churches already planted, and +delivered to them the decrees of the apostles and elders relating to +circumcision, seems to have felt his heart enlarged, and assayed to +carry on the glorious work of preaching the gospel to the heathen to a +greater extent. With Silas and Timotheus he in his second journey[2] +took a western direction, passing through Phrygia, and the region of +Galatia. Having preached the word in these parts with considerable +success,[3] he and his companions wished to have gone into the +proconsular Asia, and afterwards assayed to go into Bythinia; but +begin forbidden of the Holy Ghost, who seems to have had a special +design of employing them elsewhere; passing by Mysia they came down to +Troas on the sea-coast. Here a vision appeared to Paul, in which he +was invited to go over to Macedonia. Obedient to the heavenly vision, +and greatly encouraged by it, they with all speed crossed the Egean +Sea, and passing through the island of Samothracia, landed at +Neapolis, and went from thence to Philippi, the chief city of that +part of Macedonia. It was here that Paul preached on a Sabbath day to +a few women by a river side, and Lydia, a woman of Thyatira, was +converted and baptized, and her household with her. It was here that a +poor girl, who brought her employers considerable profit by +foretelling events, followed the apostles, had her spirit of +divination ejected, on which account her masters were much irritated, +and raised a tumult, the effect of which was, that Paul and Silas were +imprisoned. But even this was over-ruled for the success of the +gospel, in that the keeper of the prison, and all his house, were +thereby brought to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and were +baptized. + +[Footnote 2: The account of this second journey into the heathen world +begins at Acts xv. 40. and ends chap. xviii. 22.] + +[Footnote 3: See ch. xviii. 23. and Gal i. 2.] + +From Philippi they passed thorough Amphipolis, Apollonia, +Thessalonica, (now Salonichi,) Berea, Athens, and Corinth, preaching +the gospel wherever they went. From hence Paul took ship and sailed to +Syria, only giving a short call at Ephesus, determining to be at +Jerusalem at the feast of the passover; and having saluted the church, +he came to Cesarea, and from thence to Antioch. + +Here ended Paul's second journey, which was very extensive, and took +up some years of his time. He and his companions met with their +difficulties in it, but had likewise their encouragements. They were +persecuted at Philippi, as already noticed, and generally found the +Jews to be their most inveterate enemies. These would raise tumults, +inflame the minds of the gentiles against them, and follow them from +place to place, doing them all the mischief in their power. This was +the case especially at Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. But amidst +all their persecutions God was with them, and strengthened them in +various ways. At Berea they were candidly received, and their doctrine +fairly tried by the Holy Scriptures; and _therefore_, it is said, +_many of them believed_. At other places, though they affected to +despise the apostle, yet some clave unto him. At _Corinth_ opposition +rose to a great height; but the Lord appeared to his servant in a +vision, saying, _Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for +I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have +much people in this city_. And the promise was abundantly made good in +the spirit discovered by Gallio, the proconsul, who turned a deaf ear +to the accusations of the jews, and nobly declined interfering in +matters beside his province. Upon the whole a number of churches were +planted during this journey, which for ages after shone as lights in +the world. + +When Paul had visited Antioch, and spent some time there, he prepared +for a third journey into heathen countries, the account of which +begins Acts xviii. 23. and ends chap. xxi. 17. At his first setting +out he went over the whole country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, +strengthening all the disciples; and passing through the upper coasts +came to Ephesus. There for the space of three months, he boldly +preached in the jewish synagogue, disputing, and persuading the things +concerning the kingdom of God. But when the hardened jews had openly +rejected the gospel, and spake evil of that way before the multitude, +Paul openly separated the disciples from them, and assembled in the +school of one Tyrannus. This, it is said, continued for the space of +two years, _so that all they who dwelt in_ the proconsular _Asia heard +the word of the Lord Jesus, both jews and greeks_. Certain magicians, +about this time were exposed, and others converted, who burnt their +books, and confessed their deeds. So mightily grew the word of the +Lord, and prevailed. + +After this an uproar being raised by Demetrius, the silversmith, Paul +went into Macedonia, visited the churches planted in his former +journey, and from thence passed into Greece. Having preached up and +down for three months, he thought of sailing from thence directly to +Syria; but in order to avoid the jews, who laid wait for him near the +sea coast, he took another course through Macedonia, and from thence +to Troas, by the way of Philippi. There is no mention made in his +former journey of his having preached at Troas; yet it seems he did, +and a church was gathered, with whom the apostle at this time united +in _breaking of bread_. It was here that he preached all night, and +raised Eutychus, who being overcome with sleep, had fallen down, and +was taken up dead. From hence they set sail for Syria, and in their +way called at Miletus, where Paul sent for the elders of the church of +Ephesus, and delivered that most solemn and affectionate farewell, +recorded in the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. From hence +they sailed for Tyre, where they tarried seven days, and from thence +proceeded to Jerusalem. + +Paul's fourth and last journey (or rather voyage) was to Rome, where +he went in the character of a prisoner. For being at Jerusalem he was +quickly apprehended by the jews; but being rescued by Lysias, the +chief captain, he was sent to Cesarea to take his trial. Here he made +his defence before Felix and Drusilla, in such sort that the judge, +instead of the prisoner, was made to tremble. Here also he made his +defence before Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice, with such force of +evidence that Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. But the +malice of the jews being insatiable, and Paul finding himself in +danger of being delivered into their hands, was constrained to appeal +unto Caesar. This was the occasion of his being sent to Rome, where he +arrived after a long and dangerous voyage, and being shipwrecked on +the island of Melita, where he wrought miracles, and Publius, the +governor, was converted. + +When he arrived at Rome he addressed his countrymen the jews, some of +whom believed; but when others rejected the gospel, he turned from +them to the gentiles, and for two whole years dwelt in his own hired +house preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which +concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding +him. + +Thus far the history of the Acts of the Apostles informs us of the +success of the word in the primitive times; and history informs us of +its being preached about this time, in many other places. Peter speaks +of a church at Babylon; Paul proposed a journey to Spain, and it is +generally believed he went there, and likewise came to France and +Britain. Andrew preached to the Scythians, north of the Black Sea. +John is said to have preached in India, and we know that he was at the +Isle of Patmos, in the Archipelago. Philip is reported to have +preached in upper Asia, Scythia, and Phrygia; Bartholomew in India, on +this side the Ganges, Phrygia, and Armenia; Matthew in Arabia, or +Asiatic Ethiopia, and Parthia; Thomas in India, as far as the coast of +Coromandel, and some say in the island of Ceylon; Simon, the +Canaanite, in Egypt, Cyrene, Mauritania, Lybia, and other parts of +Africa, and from thence to have come to Britain; and Jude is said to +have been principally engaged in the lesser Asia, and Greece. Their +labours were evidently very extensive, and very successful; so that +Pliny, the younger, who lived soon after the death of the apostles, in +a letter to the emperor, Trajan, observed that Christianity had +spread, not only through towns and cities, but also through whole +countries. Indeed before this, in the time of Nero, it was so +prevalent that it was thought necessary to oppose it by an Imperial +Edict, and accordingly the proconsuls, and other governors, were +commissioned to destroy it. + +Justin Martyr, who lived about the middle of the second century, in +his dialogue with Trypho, observed that there was no part of mankind, +whether greeks or barbarians, or any others, by what name soever they +were called, whether the Sarmatians, or the Nomades, who had no +houses, or the Scenites of Arabia Petrea, who lived in tents among +their cattle, where supplications and thanksgivings are not offered up +to the Father, and maker of all things, through the name of Jesus +Christ. Irenaeus, who lived about the year 170, speaks of churches +that were founded in Germany, Spain, France, the eastern countries, +Egypt, Lybia, and the middle of the world. Tertullian, who lived and +wrote at Carthage in Africa, about twenty years afterwards, +enumerating the countries where Christianity had penetrated, makes +mention of the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Armenians, +Phrygians, Cappadocians, the inhabitants of Pontus, Asia, Pamphylia, +Egypt, and the regions of Africa beyond Cyrene, the Romans, and Jews, +formerly of Jerusalem, many of the Getuli, many borders of the Mauri, +or Moors, in Mauritania; now Barbary, Morocco, &c. all the borders of +Spain, many nations of the Gauls, and the places in Britain which were +inaccessible to the Romans; the Dacians, Sarmatians, Germans, +Scythians, and the inhabitants of many hidden nations and provinces, +and of many islands unknown to him, and which he could not enumerate. +The labours of the ministers of the gospel, in this early period, were +so remarkably blessed of God, that the last mentioned writer observed, +in a letter to Scapula, that if he began a persecution the city of +Carthage itself must be decimated thereby. Yea, and so abundant were +they in the three first centuries, that ten years constant and almost +universal persecution under Dioclesian, could neither root out the +Christians, nor prejudice their cause. + +After this they had great encouragement under several emperors, +particularly Constantine and Theodosius, and a very great work of God +was carried on; but the ease and affluence which in these times +attended the church, served to introduce a flood of corruption, which +by degrees brought on the whole system of popery, by means of which +all appeared to be lost again; and Satan set up his kingdom of +darkness, deceit, and human authority over conscience, through all the +Christian world. + +In the time of Constantine, one Frumentius was sent to preach to the +Indians, and met with great success. A young woman who was a +Christian, being taken captive by the Iberians, or Georgians, near the +Caspian Sea, informed them of the truths of Christianity, and was so +much regarded that they sent to Constantine for ministers to come and +preach the word to them. About the same time some barbarous nations +having made irruptions into Thrace, carried away several Christians +captive, who preached the gospel; by which means the inhabitants upon +the Rhine, and the Danube, the Celtae, and some other parts of Gaul, +were brought to embrace Christianity. About this time also James of +Nisbia, went into Persia to strengthen the Christians, and preach to +the heathens; and his success was so great that Adiabene was almost +entirely Christian. About the year 372, one Moses, a Monk, went to +preach to the Saracens, who then lived in Arabia, where he had great +success; and at this time the Goths, and other northern nations, had +the kingdom of Christ further extended amongst them, but which was +very soon corrupted with Arianism. + +Soon after this the kingdom of Christ was further extended among the +Scythian Nomades, beyond the Danube, and about the year 430, a people +called the Burgundians, received the gospel. Four years after, that +Palladius was sent to preach in Scotland, and the next year Patrick +was sent from Scotland to preach to the Irish who before his time were +totally uncivilized, and, some say, cannibals; he however, was useful, +and laid the foundations of several churches in Ireland. Presently +after this, truth spread further among the Saracens, and in 522, +Zathus, king of the Colchians encouraged it, and many of that nation +were converted to Christianity. About this time also the work was +extended in Ireland, by Finian, and in Scotland by Constantine and +Columba; the latter of whom preached also to the Picts, and Brudaeus, +their king, with several others, were converted. About 541, Adad, the +king of Ethiopia, was converted by the preaching of Mansionarius; the +Heruli beyond the Danube, were now made obedient to the faith, and the +Abasgi, near the Caucasian Mountains. + +But now popery, especially the compulsive part of it, was risen to +such an height, that the usual method of propagating the gospel, or +rather what was so called, was to conquer pagan nations by force of +arms, and then oblige them to submit to Christianity, after which +bishopricks were erected, and persons then sent to instruct the +people. I shall just mention some of those who are said to have +laboured thus. + +In 596, Austin, the monk, Melitus, Justus, Paulinus, and Russinian, +laboured in England, and in their way were very successful. Paulinus, +who appears to have been one of the best of them, had great success in +Northumberland; Birinnius preached to the West Saxons, and Felix to +the East Angles. In 589, Amandus Gallus laboured in Ghent, Chelenus in +Artois, and Gallus and Columbanus in Suabia. In 648, Egidius Gallus in +Flanders, and the two Evaldi, in Westphalia. In 684, Willifred, in the +Isle of Wight. In 688, Chilianus, in upper Franconia. In 698, +Boniface, or Winifred, among the Thuringians, near Erford, in Saxony, +and Willibroad in West-Friesland. Charlemagne conquered Hungary in the +year 800, and obliged the inhabitants to profess Christianity, when +Modestus likewise preached to the Venedi, at the source of the Save +and Drave. In 833, Ansgarius preached in Denmark, Gaudibert in Sweden, +and about 861, Methodius and Cyril, in Bohemia. + +About the year 500, the Scythians over-run Bulgaria, and Christianity +was extirpated; but about 870 they were re-converted. Poland began to +be brought over about the same time, and afterwards, about 960 or 990, +the work was further extended amongst the Poles and Prussians. The +work was begun in Norway in 960, and in Muscovy in 989, the Swedes +propagated Christianity in Finland, in 1168, Lithuania became +Christian in 1386, and Samogitia in 1439. The Spaniards forced popery +upon the inhabitants of South-America, and the Portuguese in Asia. +The Jesuits were sent into China in 1552. Xavier, whom they call the +apostle of the Indians, laboured in the East-Indies and Japan, from +1541 to 1552, and several millions of Capauchins were sent to Africa +in the seventeenth century. But blind zeal, gross superstition, and +infamous cruelties, so marked the appearances of religion all this +time, that the professors of Christianity needed conversion, as much +as the heathen world. + +A few pious people had fled from the general corruption, and lived +obscurely in the vallies of Piedmont and Savoy, who were like the seed +of the church. Some of them were now and then necessitated to travel +into other parts, where they faithfully testified against the +corruptions of the times. About 1369 Wickliffe began to preach the +faith in England, and his preaching and writings were the means of the +conversion of great numbers, many of whom became excellent preachers; +and a work was begun which afterwards spread in England, Hungary, +Bohemia, Germany, Switzerland, and many other places. John Huss and +Jerom of Prague, preached boldly and successfully in Bohemia, and the +adjacent parts. In the following century Luther, Calvin, Melancton, +Bucer, Martyr, and many others, stood up against all the rest of the +world; they preached, and prayed, and wrote; and nations agreed one +after another to cast off the yoke of popery, and to embrace the +doctrine of the gospel. + +In England, episcopal tyranny succeeded to popish cruelty, which, in +the year 1620, obliged many pious people to leave their native land +and settle in America; these were followed by others in 1629, who laid +the foundations of several gospel churches, which have increased +amazingly since that time, and the Redeemer has fixed his throne in +that country, where but a little time ago, Satan had universal +dominion. + +In 1632, Mr. Elliot, of New-England, a very pious and zealous +minister, began to preach to the Indians, among whom he had great +success; several churches of Indians were planted, and some preachers +and school-masters raised up amongst them; since which time others +have laboured amongst them with some good encouragement. About the +year 1743, Mr. David Brainerd was sent a missionary to some more +Indians, where he preached, and prayed, and after some time an +extraordinary work of conversion was wrought, and wonderful success +attended his ministry. And at this present time, Mr. Kirkland and Mr. +Sergeant are employed in the same good work, and God has considerably +blessed their labours. + +In 1706, the king of Denmark sent a Mr. Ziegenbalg, and some others, +to Tranquebar, on the Coromandel coast in the East-Indies, who were +useful to the natives, so that many of the heathens were turned to the +Lord. The Dutch East-India Company likewise having extended their +commerce, built the city of Batavia, and a church was opened there; +and the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time, on the 3d +of January, 1621, by their minister James Hulzibos, from hence some +ministers were sent to Amboyna, who were very successful. A seminary +of learning was erected at Leyden, in which ministers and assistants +were educated, under the renowned _Walaeus_, and some years a great +number were sent to the East, at the Company's expence, so that in a +little time many thousands at Formosa, Malabar, Ternate, +Jaffanapatnam, in the town of Columba, at Amboyna, Java, Banda, +Macassar, and Malabar, embraced the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ. +The work has decayed in some places, but they now have churches in +Ceylon, Sumatra, Java, Amboyna, and some other of the spice islands, +and at the Cape of Good Hope, in Africa. + +But none of the moderns have equalled the Moravian Brethren in this +good work; they have sent missions to Greenland, Labrador, and several +of the West-Indian Islands, which have been blessed for good. They +have likewise sent to Abyssinia, in Africa, but what success they have +had I cannot tell. + +The late Mr. Wesley lately made an effort in the West-Indies, and some +of their ministers are now labouring amongst the Caribbs and Negroes, +and I have seen pleasing accounts of their success. + + + + + SECT. III. + + + _Containing a Survey of the present State of the World._ + + +In this survey I shall consider the world as divided, according to its +usual division, into four parts, _EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA_, and +_AMERICA_, and take notice of the extent of the several countries, +their population, civilization, and religion. The article of religion +I shall divide into Christian, Jewish, Mahometan, and Pagan; and shall +now and then hint at the particular sect of them that prevails in the +places which I shall describe. The following Tables will exhibit a +more comprehensive view of what I propose, than any thing I can offer +on the subject. + + + _EUROPE._ + + EXTENT. +Countries. Length Breadth Number of Religion. + Miles. Miles. Inhabitants. + +Great-Britain 680 300 12,000,000 Protestants, of many + denominations. +Ireland 285 160 2,000,000 Protestants and + Papists. +France 600 500 24,000,000 Catholics, Deists, + and Protestants. +Spain 700 500 9,500,000 Papists. +SWEDEN including 800 500 3,500,000 The Swedes are serious + Sweden proper, Lutherans, but most + Gothland, Shonen, of the Laplanders + Lapland, Bothnia, are Pagans, and very + and Finland superstitious. +Isle of Gothland 80 23 5,000 +---- Oesel 45 24 2,500 +---- Oeland 84 9 1,000 +---- Dago 26 23 1,000 +---- Aland 24 20 800 +---- Hogland 9 5 100 +Denmark 240 114 360,000 Lutherans of the + Helvetic Confession. +Isle of Zeeland 60 60 284,000 Ditto. +---- Funen 38 32 144,000 Ditto. +---- Arroe 8 2 200 Ditto. +---- Iceland 435 185 60,000 Ditto. +---- Langeland 27 12 3,000 Ditto. +---- Laland 38 30 148,000 Ditto. +---- Falster 27 12 3,000 Ditto. +---- Mona 14 5 600 Ditto. +---- Alsen 15 6 600 Ditto. +---- Femeren 13 8 1,000 Ditto. +Isle of Bornholm 20 12 2,000 Lutherans. +Greenland Undiscovered 7,000 Pagans, and Moravian + Christians. +Norway 750 170 724,000 Lutherans. +24 Faro Isles 4,500 Ditto. +Danish Lapland 285 172 100,000 Ditto, and Pagans. +Poland 700 680 9,000,000 Papists, Lutherans, + Calvinists, & Jews. +Prussia[4] 400 160 2,500,000 Calvinists, Catholics, + & Lutherans. +Sardinia 135 57 600,000 Papists. +Sicily 180 92 1,000,000 Ditto. +Italy 660 120 20,000,000 Ditto. +United Netherlands 150 150 2,000,000 Protestants of several + denominations. +Austrian Netherlands 200 200 2,500,000 Papists and Protestants. +Switzerland 200 100 2,880,000 Papists and Protestants. +The Grisons 100 62 800,000 Lutherans and Papists. +The Abbacy of St. Gall 24 10 50,000 Ditto. +Neufchatel 32 20 100,000 Calvinists. +Valais 80 30 440,000 Papists. +Piedmont 140 98 900,000 Ditto, and Protestants. +Savoy 87 60 720,000 Ditto. +Geneva, City 24,000 Calvinists. +Bohemia 478 322 2,100,000 Papists and Moravians. +Hungary 300 200 2,500,000 Papists. +Germany 600 500 20,000,000 Ditto, and Protestants. +Russia in Europe 1500 1100 22,000,000 Greek Church. +Turkey in Europe 1000 900 18,000,000 Greek Christians, Jews, + & Mahometans. +Budziac Tartary 300 60 1,200,000 Greek Christians, Jews, + & Mahometans +Lesser Tartary 390 65 1,000,000 Ditto. +Crim Tartary 145 80 500,000 Ditto. +Isle of Tenedos 5 3 200 Mahometans. +---- Negropont 90 25 25,000 Ditto. +---- Lemnos 25 25 4,000 Ditto. +---- Paros 36 in compass. 4,500 Greek Christians. +---- Lesbos, + or Miylene 160 in compass. 30,000 Mahometans and Greeks. +---- Naxia 100 in compass. 8,000 Greeks and Papists. +---- Scio, or Chios 112 in compass. Greek Christians, + Papists, & Mahomet. +---- Nio 40 in compass. 1,000 Ditto. +---- Scyros 60 in compass. 1,000 Ditto. +---- Mycone 36 in compass. 3,000 Ditto. +---- Samos 30 15 12,000 Mahometans. +---- Nicaria 70 in compass. 3,000 Greek Christians +---- Andros 120 in compass. 4,000 Ditto. +---- Cyclades, 700 Ditto. + Delos the Chief. +---- Zia 40 in compass. 8,000 Ditto. +---- Cerigo or 50 in compass. 1,000 Ditto. + Cytheraea +---- Santorin 36 in compass. 10,000 Ditto, and Papists. +---- Policandra 8 in compass. 400 Ditto. +---- Patmos 18 in compass. 600 Ditto. +---- Sephanto 36 in compass. 5,000 Greeks. +---- Claros 40 in compass. 1,700 Mahometans. +---- Amorgo 36 in compass. 4,000 Greek Christians. +---- Leros 18 in compass. 800 Christians and + Mahometans. +---- Therima 40 in compass. 6,000 Greek Christians. +---- Stampalia 50 in compass. 3,000 Ditto. +---- Salamis 50 in compass. 1,000 Ditto. +---- Scarpanta 20 in compass. 2,000 Ditto. +---- Cephalonia 130 in compass. 50,000 Ditto. +---- Zant 50 in compass. 30,000 Greek Christians. +---- Milo 60 in compass. 40,000 Ditto. +---- Corfu 120 in compass. 60,000 Ditto. +---- Candia, or Crete 200 60 400,000 Ditto, and Mahometans. +---- Coos, 70 in compass. 12,800 Mahometans and + or Stanchia Christians. +---- Rhodes 60 25 120,000 Ditto. +---- Cyprus 150 70 300,000 Mahometans. + +[Footnote 4: The rest of Prussian dominions being scattered about +in several countries, are counted to those countries where they lie.] + + + _ASIA._ + + EXTENT. +Countries. Length Breadth Number of Religion. + Miles. Miles. Inhabitants. + +TURKEY IN ASIA 1000 800 20,000,000 Mahometanism is most + contains Anatolia, prevalent, but there + Syria, Palestine, are many Greek, Latin, + Diabekr, Tutcomania Eutychian, and + and Georgia Armenian Christians. +Arabia 1300 1200 16,000,000 Mahometans. +Persia 1280 1140 20,000,000 Ditto, of the Sect + of Ali. +Great Tartary 4000 1200 40,000,000 Mahometans and Pagans. +Siberia 2800 960 7,500,000 Greek Christians + and Pagans. +Samojedia 2000 370 1,900,000 Pagans. +Kamtschatcha 540 236 900,000 Ditto. +Nova Zembla Undiscovered.thinly inhabit.Ditto. +China 1400 1260 60,000,000 Ditto. +JAPAN contains 900 360 10,000,000 Ditto. + Niphon Isl. +Isle of Ximo 210 200 3,000,000 Pagans. +---- Xicoco 117 104 1,800,000 Ditto. +---- Tsussima 39 34 40,000 Ditto. +---- Iki 20 17 6,000 Ditto. +---- Kubitessima 30 26 8,000 Ditto. +---- Matounsa 54 26 50,000 Ditto. +---- Fastistia 36 34 30,000 Ditto. +---- Firando 30 28 10,000 Ditto. +---- Amacusa 27 24 6,000 Ditto. +---- Awasi 30 18 5,000 Ditto. +India 2000 1000 50,000,000 Mahometans and Pagans. + beyond the Ganges +Indostan 2000 1500 110,000,000 Ditto. +Tibet 1200 480 10,000,000 Pagans. +Isle of Ceylon 250 200 2,000,000 Pagans, except the + Dutch Christians. +---- Maldives 1000 in number. 100,000 Mahometans. +---- Sumatra 1000 100 2,100,000 Ditto, and Pagans. +---- Java 580 100 2,700,000 Ditto. +---- Timor 2400 54 300,000 Ditto, and a + few Christians. +---- Borneo 800 700 8,000,000 Ditto. +---- Celebes 510 240 2,000,000 Ditto. +---- Boutam 75 30 80,000 Mahometans. +---- Carpentyn 30 3 2,000 Christian Protestants. +---- Ourature 18 6 3,000 Pagans. +---- Pullo Lout 60 36 10,000 Ditto. + +Besides the little Islands of Manaar, Aripen, Caradivia, Pengandiva, +Analativa, Nainandiva, and Nindundiva, which are inhabited by +Christian Protestants. + +And Banca, Madura, Bally, Lambeck, Flores, Solor, Leolana, Panterra, +Miscomby, and several others, inhabited by Pagans and Mahometans. + +The MOLUCCAS are, +---- Banda 20 10 6,000 Pagans and Mahometans. +---- Buro 25 10 7,000 Ditto. +---- Amboyna 25 10 7,500 Christians;--the Dutch + have 25 Ch. +---- Ceram 210 45 250,000 Pagans and Mahometans. +---- Gillola 190 110 650,000 Ditto. + +And Pully-way, Pullo-rin, Nera, Guamanapi, Guilliaien, Ternate, Motir, +Machian, and Bachian, which are inhabited by Pagans and Mahometans. + +The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS are supposed to be about 11,000;--some of the +chief are, + +Isle of Mindanao 60 40 18,000 Pagans and Mahometans. +---- Bahol 24 12 6,000 Ditto. +---- Layta 48 27 10,000 Ditto. +---- Parragon 240 60 100,000 Ditto. +The CALAMINES are Sebu 60 24 10,000 Papists. +---- Mindora 60 36 12,000 Pagans and Mahometans. +---- Philippina 185 120 104,000 Ditto. +---- Negroes Isle 150 60 80,000 Papists. +---- Manilla 31,000 Ditto, and Pagans. + +The Ladrone Islands are inhabited by most uncivilized Pagans. + +New Holland 2500 2000 12,000,000 Pagans;--1 or 2 + Ministers are there. +New Zealand[5] 960 180 1,120,000 Ditto. +New Guinea 1000 360 1,900,000 Ditto. +New Britain 180 120 900,000 Ditto. +New Ireland 180 60 700,000 Ditto. +Onrong Java A Cluster of Isles. Ditto. +New Caledonia 260 30 170,000 Ditto. +New Hebrides Ditto. +Friendly Isles 20 in number. Ditto. +Sandwich Isles 7 in number. 400,000 Ditto. +Society Isles 6 in number. 800,000 Ditto. +Kurile Isles 45 in number. 50,000 Ditto. +Pelew Isles Pagans. +Oonalashka Isle 40 20 3,000 Ditto. +The other South-Sea Islands. Ditto. + +[Footnote 5: Two Islands.] + + + _AFRICA._ + + EXTENT. +Countries. Length Breadth Number of Religion. + Miles. Miles. Inhabitants. + +Egypt 600 250 2,200,000 Mahometans and Jews. +Nubia 940 600 3,000,000 Ditto. +Barbary 1800 500 3,500,000 Mahometans, Jews, + and Christians. +Biledulgerid 2500 350 3,500,000 Mahometans, Christians, + and Jews. +Zaara, or the Desart 3400 660 800,000 Ditto. +Abyssinia 900 800 5,800,000 Armenian Christians. +Abex 540 130 1,600,000 Christians and Pagans. +Negroland 2200 840 18,000,000 Pagans. +Loango 410 300 1,500,000 Ditto. +Congo 540 220 2,000,000 Ditto. +Angola 360 250 1,400,000 Ditto. +Benguela 430 180 1,600,000 Ditto. +Mataman 450 240 1,500,000 Ditto. +Ajan 900 300 2,500,000 Ditto. +Zanguebar 1400 350 3,000,000 Ditto. +Monoemugi 900 660 2,000,000 Ditto. +Sofala 480 300 1,000,000 Pagans. +Terra de Natal 600 350 2,000,000 Ditto. +Caffraria, or the 708 660 2,000,000 Ditto, and a few + Hottentots Country Christians at the Cape. +Isle of Madagascar 1000 220 2,000,000 Pagans and Mahometans. +---- St. Mary 54 9 5,000 French Papists. +---- Mascarin 39 30 17,000 Ditto. +---- St. Helena 21 in compass. 1,000 English and French + Christians. +---- Annabon 16 14 4,000 Portuguese Papists. +---- St. Thomas 25 23 9,000 Pagans. +---- Zocotora 80 54 10,000 Mahometans. +---- Comora Isles 5 in number. 5,000 Ditto. +---- Mauritius 150 in compass. 10,000 French Papists. +---- Bourbon 90 in compass. 15,000 French Papists. +---- Madeiras 3 in number. 10,000 Papists. +---- Cape Verd Isles 10 in number. 20,000 Ditto. +---- Canaries 12 in number. 30,000 Ditto. +---- Azores 9 in number. 100,000 Ditto. +---- Maltha 15 8 1,200 Ditto. + + + _AMERICA._ + + EXTENT. +Countries. Length Breadth Number of Religion. + Miles. Miles. Inhabitants. + +Brazil 2900 900 14,000,000 Pagans and Papists. +Paraguay 1140 460 10,000,000 Pagans. +Chili 1200 500 2,000,000 Pagans and Papists. +Peru 1800 600 10,000,000 Pagans and Papists. +Country of the 1200 900 8,000,000 Pagans. + Amazons. +Terra Firma 1400 700 10,000,000 Pagans and Papists. +Guiana 780 480 2,000,000 Ditto. +Terra Magellanica 1400 460 9,000,000 Pagans. +Old Mexico 2220 600 13,500,000 Ditto, and Papists. +New Mexico 2000 1000 14,000,000 Ditto. +The States of America 1000 600 3,700,000 Christians, of various + denominations +Terra de Labrador, 1680 600 8,000,000 Christians, of various + Nova-Scotia, denominations, but + Louisiana, Canada, most of the North + and all the country American Indians are + inland from Mexico Pagans. + to Hudson's-Bay +California, and from 2820 1380 9,000,000 Pagans. + thence along the + degrees south + latitude, and so + far inland as to + meet the above + article +All to the north of unknown. Pagans. + 70 degrees +Cape Breton 400 110 20,000 Christians. +---- Newfoundland 350 200 1,400 Protestants. +---- Cumberland's Isle 780 300 10,000 Pagans. +---- Madre de Dios 105 30 8,000 Ditto. +---- Terra del Fuego 120 36 5,000 Ditto. + +All the Islands in the Vicinity of Cape Horn Pagans. + +The Bermudas extend 16 5 20,000 Half English, and + Half Slaves. +The LITTLE ANTILLES + are Aruba 5 3 200 Dutch, and Pagan Negroes. +---- Curassoa 30 10 11,000 Ditto. +---- Bonaire 10 3 300 Ditto. +---- Margaritta 40 24 18,000 Spaniards, and Pagan + Negoes. +---- St Trinidad 90 60 100,000 Ditto. +The BAHAMAS are +---- Bahama 50 16 16,000 Pagans. +---- Providence 28 11 6,000 Ditto. + +Besides Eluthera, Harbour, Lucayonegua, Andross, Cigateo, Guanaliana, +Yumeta, Samana, Yuma, Mayaguana, Ynagua, Caieos, and Triangula-- +Pagans. + +The ANTILLES are +---- Cuba 700 60 1,000,000 Papists. +---- Jamaica 140 60 400,000 English, and Pagan + Negroes. +---- St. Domingo 450 150 1,000,000 French, Spaniards, and + Negroes. +---- Porto Rico 100 49 300,000 Spaniards and Negroes. +---- Vache, or Cows I. 18 2 1,000 Ditto. + +The VIRGIN ISLES are 12 in number, of which Danes Island is the +principal--Protestants. + +The CARRIRBEES are +---- St. Cruz 30 10 13,500 Danish Protestants. +---- Anguilla 30 9 6,000 Protestants, and Negroes. +---- St. Martin 21 12 7,500 Ditto. +---- St. Bartholomew 6 4 720 Ditto. +---- Barbuda 20 12 7,500 Ditto. +---- Saba 5 4 1,500 Ditto. +---- Guardulope 45 38 50,000 Catholics, and Pagan + Negroes. +---- Marigalante 15 12 5,400 Ditto. +---- Tobago 32 9 3,400 Ditto. +---- Defiada 12 6 1,500 Ditto. +---- Granada 30 15 13,500 English, and Pagan + Negroes. +---- St. Lucia 23 12 5,000 Ditto, and Native Pagan + Caribbs. + Whites. Negroes. +---- St. Eustatia 6 4 5,000 15,000 Dutch, English, &c. +---- St.Christopher 20 7 6,000 36,000 English. +---- Nevis 6 4 5,000 10,000 Ditto. +---- Antigua 20 4 7,000 30,000 Ditto. +---- Montserrat 6 4 5,000 10,000 Ditto. +---- Martinico 6 4 20,000 50,000 French. +---- St. Vincent's 60 4 8,000 5,000 The 8,000 are + Native Caribbs. +---- Barbadoes 24 4 30,000 100,000 English. +---- Dominica 28 4 40,000 Ditto, 2,000 of them + Native Caribbs. +---- St. Thomas 15 in compass. 8,000 Danish Protestants. + + +This, as nearly as I can obtain information, is the state of the +world; though in many countries, as Turkey, Arabia, Great Tartary, +Africa, and America, except the United States, and most of the Asiatic +Islands, we have no accounts of the number of inhabitants, that can be +relied on. I have therefore only calculated the extent, and counted a +certain number on an average upon a square mile; in some countries +more, and in others less, according as circumstances determine. A few +general remarks upon it will conclude this section. + +FIRST, the inhabitants of the world according to this calculation, +amount to about seven hundred and thirty-one millions; four hundred +and twenty millions of whom are still in pagan darkness; an hundred +and thirty millions the followers of Mahomet; an hundred millions +catholics; forty-four millions protestants; thirty millions of the +greek and armenian churches, and perhaps seven millions of jews. It +must undoubtedly strike every considerate mind, what a vast proportion +of the sons of Adam there are, who yet remain in the most deplorable +state of heathen darkness, without any means of knowing the true God, +except what are afforded them by the works of nature; and utterly +destitute of the knowledge of the gospel of Christ, or of any means of +obtaining it. In many of these countries they have no written +language, consequently no Bible, and are only led by the most childish +customs and traditions. Such, for instance, are all the middle and +back parts of North America, the inland parts of South America, the +South-Sea Islands, New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea; and I may add +Great Tartary, Siberia, Samojedia, and the other parts of Asia +contiguous to the frozen sea; the greatest part of Africa, the island +of Madagascar, and many places beside. In many of these parts also +they are cannibals, feeding upon the flesh of their slain enemies, +with the greatest brutality and eagerness. The truth of this was +ascertained, beyond a doubt, by the late eminent navigator, Cooke, of +the New Zealanders, and some of the inhabitants of the western coast +of America. Human sacrifices are also very frequently offered, so that +scarce a week elapses without instances of this kind. They are in +general poor, barbarous, naked pagans, as destitute of civilization, +as they are of true religion. + +SECONDLY, barbarous as these poor heathens are, they appear to be as +capable of knowledge as we are; and in many places, at least, have +discovered uncommon genius and tractableness; and I greatly question +whether most of the barbarities practiced by them, have not originated +in some real or supposed affront, and are therefore, more properly, +acts of self-defence, than proofs of inhuman and blood-thirsty +dispositions. + +THIRDLY, in other parts, where they have a written language, as in the +East-Indies, China, Japan, &c. they know nothing of the gospel. The +jesuits indeed once made many converts to popery among the Chinese; +but their highest aim seemed to be to obtain their good opinion; for +though the converts professed themselves Christians, yet they were +allowed to honour the image of CONFUCIUS their great law-giver; and at +length their ambitious intrigues brought upon them the displeasure of +government, which terminated in the suppression of the mission, and +almost, if not entirely, of the Christian name. It is also a +melancholy fact, that the vices of Europeans have been communicated +wherever they themselves have been; so that the religious state of +even heathens has been rendered worse by intercourse with them! + +FOURTHLY, a very great proportion of Asia and Africa, with some part +of Europe, are _Mahometans_; and those in Persia, who are of the sect +of _Hali_, are the most inveterate enemies to the Turks; and they in +return abhor the Persians. The Africans are some of the most ignorant +of all the mahometans; especially the Arabs, who are scattered through +all the northern parts of Africa, and live upon the depredations which +they are continually making upon their neighbours. + +FIFTHLY, in respect to those who bear the Christian name, a very great +degree of ignorance and immorality abounds amongst them. There are +Christians, so called, of the greek and armenian churches, in all the +mahometan countries; but they are, if possible, more ignorant and +vicious than the mahometans themselves. The Georgian Christians, who +are near the Caspian Sea, maintain themselves by selling their +neighbours, relations, and children, for slaves to the Turks and +Persians. And it is remarked, that if any of the greeks of Anatolia +turn mussulmen, the Turks never set any store by them, on account of +their being so much noted for dissimulation and hypocrisy. It is well +known that most of the members of the greek church are very ignorant. +Papists also are in general ignorant of divine things, and very +vicious. Nor do the bulk of the church of England much exceed them, +either in knowledge or holiness; and many errors, and much looseness +of conduct, are to be found amongst dissenters of all denominations. +The lutherans in Denmark, are much on a par with the ecclesiastics in +England; and the face of most Christian countries presents a dreadful +scene of ignorance, hypocrisy, and profligacy. Various baneful, and +pernicious errors appear to gain ground, in almost every part of +Christendom; the truths of the gospel, and even the gospel itself, are +attacked, and every method that the enemy can invent is employed to +undermine the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. + +All these things are loud calls to Christians, and especially to +ministers, to exert themselves to the utmost in their several spheres +of action, and to try to enlarge them as much as possible. + + + + + SECT. IV. + + + _The Practicability of something being done, more than + what is done, for the Conversion of the Heathen._ + + +The impediments in the way of carrying the gospel among the heathen +must arise, I think, from one or other of the following things; +--either their distance from us, their barbarous and savage manner of +living, the danger of being killed by them, the difficulty of +procuring the necessaries of life, or the unintelligibleness of their +languages. + +FIRST, as to their distance from us, whatever objections might have +been made on that account before the invention of the mariner's +compass, nothing can be alledged for it, with any colour of +plausibility in the present age. Men can now sail with as much +certainty through the Great South Sea, as they can through the +Mediterranean, or any lesser Sea. Yea, and providence seems in a +manner to invite us to the trial, as there are to our knowledge +trading companies, whose commerce lies in many of the places where, +these barbarians dwell. At one time or other ships are sent to visit +places of more recent discovery, and to explore parts the most +unknown; and every fresh account of their ignorance, or cruelty, +should call forth our pity, and excite us to concur with providence in +seeking their eternal good. Scripture likewise seems to point out this +method, _Surely the Isles shall wait for me; the ships of Tarshish +first, to bring my sons from far, their silver, and their gold with +them, unto the name of the Lord, thy God._ Isai. lx. 9. This seems to +imply that in the time of the glorious increase of the church, in the +latter days, (of which the whole chapter is undoubtedly a prophecy,) +commerce shall subserve the spread of the gospel. The ships of +Tarshish were trading vessels, which made voyages for traffic to +various parts; thus much therefore must be meant by it, that +_navigation_, especially that which is _commercial_, shall be one +great mean of carrying on the work of God; and perhaps it may imply +that there shall be a very considerable appropriation of wealth to +that purpose. + +SECONDLY, as to their uncivilized, and barbarous way of living, this +can be no objection to any, except those whose love of ease renders +them unwilling to expose themselves to inconveniencies for the good of +others. + +It was no objection to the apostles and their successors, who went +among the barbarous _Germans_ and _Gauls_, and still more barbarous +_Britons_! They did not wait for the ancient inhabitants of these +countries, to be civilized, before they could be christianized, but +went simply with the doctrine of the cross; and TERTULLIAN could boast +that "those parts of Britain which were proof against the Roman +armies, were conquered by the gospel of Christ"--It was no objection +to an ELLIOT, or a BRAINERD, in later times. They went forth, and +encountered every difficulty of the kind, and found that a cordial +reception of the gospel produced those happy effects which the longest +intercourse with Europeans, without it could never accomplish. It _is_ +no objection to commercial men. It only requires that we should have +as much love to the souls of our fellow-creatures, and fellow sinners, +as they have for the profits arising from a few otter-skins, and all +these difficulties would be easily surmounted. + +After all, the uncivilized state of the heathen, instead of affording +an objection _against_ preaching the gospel to them, ought to furnish +an argument _for_ it. Can we as men, or as christians, hear that a +great part of our fellow creatures, whose souls are as immortal as +ours, and who are as capable as ourselves, of adorning the gospel, and +contributing by their preaching, writings, or practices to the glory +of our Redeemer's name, and the good of his church, are inveloped in +ignorance and barbarism? Can we hear that they are without the gospel, +without government, without laws, and without arts, and sciences; and +not exert ourselves to introduce amongst them the sentiments of men, +and of Christians? Would not the spread of the gospel be the most +effectual mean of their civilization? Would not that make them useful +members of society? We know that such effects did in a measure follow +the afore-mentioned efforts of _Elliot_, _Brainerd_, and others +amongst the American Indians; and if similar attempts were made in +other parts of the world, and succeeded with a divine blessing (which +we have every reason to think they would) might we not expect to see +able Divines, or read well-conducted treatises in defence of the +truth, even amongst those who at present seem to be scarcely human? + +THIRDLY, _In respect to the danger of being killed by them_, it is +true that whoever does go must put his life in his hand, and not +consult with flesh and blood; but do not the goodness of the cause, +the duties incumbent on us as the creatures of God, and Christians, +and the perishing state of our fellow men, loudly call upon us to +venture all and use every warrantable exertion for their benefit? PAUL +and BARNABAS, who _hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus +Christ_, were not blamed as being rash, but commended for so doing, +while JOHN MARK who through timidity of mind deserted them in their +perilous undertaking, was branded with censure. After all, as has been +already observed, I greatly question whether most of the barbarities +practiced by the savages upon those who have visited them, have not +originated in some real or supposed affront, and were therefore, more +properly, acts of self-defence, than proofs of ferocious dispositions. +No wonder if the imprudence of sailors should prompt them to offend +the simple savage, and the offence be resented; but _Elliot_, +_Brainerd_, and the _Moravian missionaries_, have been very seldom +molested. Nay, in general the heathen have shewed a willingness to +hear the word; and have principally expressed their hatred of +Christianity on account of the vices of nominal Christians. + +FOURTHLY, _As to the difficulty of procuring the necessaries of life_, +this would not be so great as may appear at first sight; for though we +could not procure European food, yet we might procure such as the +natives of those countries which we visit, subsist upon themselves. +And this would only be passing through what we have virtually engaged, +in by entering on the ministerial office. A Christian minister is a +person who in a peculiar sense is _not his own_; he is the _servant_ +of God, and therefore ought to be wholly devoted to him. By entering +on that sacred office he solemnly undertakes to be always engaged, as +much as possible, in the Lord's work, and not to chuse his own +pleasure, or employment, or pursue the ministry as a something that is +to subserve his own ends, or interests, or as a kind of bye-work. He +engages to go where God pleases, and to do, or endure what he sees fit +to command, or call him to, in the exercise of his function. He +virtually bids farewell to friends, pleasures, and comforts, and +stands in readiness to endure the greatest sufferings in the work of +his Lord, and Master. It is inconsistent for ministers to please +themselves with thoughts of a numerous auditory, cordial friends, a +civilized country, legal protection, affluence, splendor, or even a +competency. The flights, and hatred of men, and even pretended +friends, gloomy prisons, and tortures, the society of barbarians of +uncouth speech, miserable accommodations in wretched wildernesses, +hunger, and thirst, nakedness, weariness, and painfulness, hard work, +and but little worldly encouragement, should rather be the objects of +their expectation. Thus the apostles acted, in the primitive times, +and endured hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and though we +living in a civilized country where Christianity is protected by law, +are not called to suffer these things while we continue here, yet I +question whether all are justified in staying here, while so many are +perishing without means of grace in other lands. Sure I am that it is +entirely contrary to the spirit of the gospel, for its ministers to +enter upon it from interested motives, or with great worldly +expectations. On the contrary the commission is a sufficient call to +them to venture all, and, like the primitive Christians, go every +where preaching the gospel. + +It might be necessary, however, for two, at least, to go together, and +in general I should think it best that they should be married men, and +to prevent their time from being employed in procuring necessaries, +two, or more, other persons, with their wives and families, might also +accompany them, who should be wholly employed in providing for them. +In most countries it would be necessary for them to cultivate a little +spot of ground just for their support, which would be a resource to +them, whenever their supplies failed. Not to mention the advantages +they would reap from each others company, it would take off the +enormous expence which has always attended undertakings of this kind, +the first expence being the whole; for though a large colony needs +support for a considerable time, yet so small a number would, upon +receiving the first crop, maintain themselves. They would have the +advantage of choosing their situation, their wants would be few; the +women, and even the children, would be necessary for domestic +purposes; and a few articles of stock, as a cow or two, and a bull, +and a few other cattle of both sexes, a very few utensils of +husbandry, and some corn to sow their land, would be sufficient. Those +who attend the missionaries should understand husbandry, fishing, +fowling, &c. and be provided with the necessary implements for these +purposes. Indeed a variety of methods may be thought of, and when once +the work is undertaken, many things will suggest themselves to us, of +which we at present can form no idea. + +FIFTHLY, As to _learning their languages_, the same means would be +found necessary here as in trade between different nations. In some +cases interpreters might be obtained, who might be employed for a +time; and where these were not to be found, the missionaries must have +patience, and mingle with the people, till they have learned so much +of their language as to be able to communicate their ideas to them in +it. It is well known to require no very extraordinary talents to +learn, in the space of a year, or two at most, the language of any +people upon earth, so much of it at least, as to be able to convey any +sentiments we wish to their understandings. + +The Missionaries must be men of great piety, prudence, courage, and +forbearance; of undoubted orthodoxy in their sentiments, and must +enter with all their hearts into the spirit of their mission; they +must be willing to leave all the comforts of life behind them, and to +encounter all the hardships of a torrid, or a frigid climate, an +uncomfortable manner of living, and every other inconvenience that can +attend this undertaking. Clothing, a few knives, powder and shot, +fishing-tackle, and the articles of husbandry above-mentioned, must be +provided for them; and when arrived at the place of their destination, +their first business must be to gain some acquaintance with the +language of the natives, (for which purpose two would be better than +one,) and by all lawful means to endeavour to cultivate a friendship +with them, and as soon as possible let them know the errand for which +they were sent. They must endeavour to convince them that it was their +good alone, which induced them to forsake their friends, and all the +comforts of their native country. They must be very careful not to +resent injuries which may be offered to them, nor to think highly of +themselves, so as to despise the poor heathens, and by those means lay +a foundation for their resentment, or rejection of the gospel. They +must take every opportunity of doing them good, and labouring, and +travelling, night and day, they must instruct, exhort, and rebuke, +with all long suffering, and anxious desire for them, and, above all, +must be instant in prayer for the effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the +people of their charge. Let but missionaries of the above description +engage in the work, and we shall see that it is not impracticable. + +It might likewise be of importance, if God should bless their labours, +for them to encourage any appearances of gifts amongst the people of +their charge; if such should be raised up many advantages would be +derived from their knowledge of the language, and customs of their +countrymen; and their change of conduct would give great weight to +their ministrations. + + + + + SECT. V. + + + _An Enquiry into the Duty of Christians in general, and + what Means ought to be used, in order to promote this Work._ + + +If the prophecies concerning the increase of Christ's kingdom be true, +and if what has been advanced, concerning the commission given by him +to his disciples being obligatory on us, be just, it must be inferred +that all Christians ought heartily to concur with God in promoting his +glorious designs, for _he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit_. + +One of the first, and most important of those duties which are +incumbent upon us, is _fervent and united prayer_. However the +influence of the Holy Spirit may be set at nought, and run down by +many, it will be found upon trial, that all means which we can use, +without it, will be ineffectual. If a temple is raised for God in the +heathen world, it will not be _by might, nor by power_, nor by the +authority of the magistrate, or the eloquence of the orator; _but by +my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts_. We must therefore be in real +earnest in supplicating his blessing upon our labours. + +It is represented in the prophets, that when there shall be _a great +mourning in the land, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of +Megiddon, and every family shall mourn apart, and their wives apart_, +it shall all follow upon _a spirit of grace, and supplication_. And +when these things shall take place, it is promised that _there shall +be a fountain opened for the house of David, and for the inhabitants +of Jerusalem, for sin, and for uncleanness_,--and that _the idols +shall be destroyed_, and _the false prophets ashamed_ of their +profession. Zech. xii 10. 14.--xiii. 1. 6. This prophesy seems to +teach that when there shall be an universal conjunction in fervent +prayer, and all shall esteem Zion's welfare as their own, then copious +influences of the Spirit shall be shed upon the churches, which like a +purifying _fountain_ shall cleanse the servants of the Lord. Nor shall +this cleansing influence stop here; all old idolatrous prejudices +shall be rooted out, and truth prevail so gloriously that false +teachers shall be so ashamed as rather to wish to be classed with +obscure herdsmen, or the meanest peasants, than bear the ignominy +attendant on their detection. + +The most glorious works of grace that have ever took place, have been +in answer to prayer; and it is in this way, we have the greatest +reason to suppose, that the glorious out-pouring of the Spirit, which +we expect at last, will be bestowed. + +With respect to our own immediate connections, we have within these +few years been favoured with some tokens for good, granted in answer +to prayer, which should encourage us to persist, and increase in that +important duty. I trust our _monthly prayer-meetings_ for the success +of the gospel have not been in vain. It is true a want of importunity +too generally attends our prayers; yet unimportunate, and feeble as +they have been, it is to be believed that God has heard, and in a +measure answered them. The churches that have engaged in the practice +have in general since that time been evidently on the increase; some +controversies which have long perplexed and divided the church, are +more clearly stated than ever; there are calls to preach the gospel in +many places where it has not been usually published; yea, a glorious +door is opened, and is likely to be opened wider and wider, by the +spread of civil and religious liberty, accompanied also by a +diminution of the spirit of popery; a noble effort has been made to +abolish the inhuman Slave-Trade, and though at present it has not been +so successful as might be wished, yet it is to be hoped it will be +persevered in, till it is accomplished. In the mean time it is a +satisfaction to consider that the late defeat of the abolition of the +Slave-Trade has proved the occasion of a praise worthy effort to +introduce a free settlement, at _Sierra Leona_, on the coast of +Africa; an effort which, if succeeded with a divine blessing, not only +promises to open a way for honourable commerce with that extensive +country, and for the civilization of its inhabitants, but may prove +the happy mean of introducing amongst them the gospel of our Lord +Jesus Christ. + +These are events that ought not to be over-looked; they are not to be +reckoned small things; and yet perhaps they _are_ small compared with +what might have been expected, if all had cordially entered into the +spirit of the proposal, so as to have made the cause of Christ their +own, or in other words to have been so solicitous about it, as if +their own advantage depended upon its success. If an holy solicitude +had prevailed in all the assemblies of Christians in behalf of their +Redeemer's kingdom, we might probably have seen before now, not only +an _open door_ for the gospel, but _many running to and fro, and +knowledge increased_; or a diligent use of those means which +providence has put in our power, accompanied with a greater blessing +than ordinary from heaven. + +Many can do nothing but pray, and prayer is perhaps the only thing in +which Christians of all denominations can cordially, and unreservedly +unite; but in this we may all be one, and in this the strictest +unanimity ought to prevail. Were the whole body thus animated by one +soul, with what pleasure would Christians attend on all the duties of +religion, and with what delight would their ministers attend on all +the business of their calling. + +We must not be contented however with praying, without _exerting +ourselves in the use of means_ for the obtaining of those things we +pray for. Were _the children of light_, but _as wise in their +generation as the children of this world_, they would stretch every +nerve to gain so glorious a prize, nor ever imagine that it was to be +obtained in any other way. + +When a trading company have obtained their charter they usually go to +its utmost limits; and their stocks, their ships, their officers, and +men are so chosen, and regulated, as to be likely to answer their +purpose; but they do not stop here, for encouraged by the prospect of +success, they use every effort, cast their bread upon the waters, +cultivate friendship with every one from whose information they expect +the least advantage. They cross the widest and most tempestuous seas, +and encounter the most unfavourable climates; they introduce +themselves into the most barbarous nations, and sometimes undergo the +most affecting hardships; their minds continue in a state of anxiety, +and suspence, and a longer delay than usual in the arrival of their +vessels agitates them with a thousand changeful thoughts, and +foreboding apprehensions, which continue till the rich returns are +safe arrived in port. But why these fears? Whence all these +disquietudes, and this labour? Is it not because their souls enter +into the spirit of the project, and their happiness in a manner +depends on its success?--Christians are a body whose truest interest +lies in the exaltation of the Messiah's kingdom. Their charter is very +extensive, their encouragements exceeding great, and the returns +promised infinitely superior to all the gains of the most lucrative +fellowship. Let then every one in his station consider himself as +bound to act with all his might, and in every possible way for God. + +Suppose a company of serious Christians, ministers and private +persons, were to form themselves into a society, and make a number of +rules respecting the regulation of the plan, and the persons who are +to be employed as missionaries, the means of defraying the expence, +&c. &c. This society must consist of persons whose hearts are in the +work, men of serious religion, and possessing a spirit of +perseverance; there must be a determination not to admit any person +who is not of this description, or to retain him longer than he +answers to it. + +From such a society a _committee_ might be appointed, whose business +it should be to procure all the information they could upon the +subject, to receive contributions, to enquire into the characters, +tempers, abilities and religious views of the missionaries, and also +to provide them with necessaries for their undertakings. + +They must also pay a great attention to the views of those who +undertake this work; for want of this the missions to the Spice +Islands, sent by the Dutch East-India Company, were soon corrupted, +many going more for the sake of settling in a place where temporal +gain invited them, than of preaching to the poor Indians. This soon +introduced a number of indolent, or profligate persons, whose lives +were a scandal to the doctrines which they preached: and by means of +whom the gospel was ejected from Ternate, in 1694, and Christianity +fell into great disrepute in other places. + +If there is any reason for me to hope that I shall have any influence +upon any of my brethren, and fellow Christians, probably it may be +more especially amongst them of my own denomination. I would therefore +propose that such a society and committee should be formed amongst the +_particular baptist denomination_. + +I do not mean by this, in any wife to confine it to one denomination +of Christians. I wish with all my heart, that every one who loves our +Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, would in some way or other engage in +it. But in the present divided state of Christendom, it would be more +likely for good to be done by each denomination engaging separately in +the work, than if they were to embark in it conjointly. There is room +enough for us all, without interfering with each other; and if no +unfriendly interference took place, each denomination would bear good +will to the other, and wish, and pray for its success, considering it +as upon the whole friendly to the great cause of true religion; but if +all were intermingled, it is likely their private discords might throw +a damp upon their spirits, and much retard their public usefulness. + +In respect to _contributions_ for defraying the expences, money will +doubtless be wanting; and suppose the rich were to embark a portion of +that wealth over which God has made them stewards, in this important +undertaking, perhaps there are few ways that would turn to a better +account at last. Nor ought it to be confined to the _rich_; if persons +in more moderate circumstances were to devote a portion, suppose a +_tenth_, of their annual increase to the Lord, it would not only +correspond with the practice of the Israelites, who lived under the +Mosaic Oeconomy, but of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, +before that dispensation commenced. Many of our most eminent +fore-fathers amongst the _Puritans_, followed that practice; and if +that were but attended to now, there would not only be enough to +support the ministry of the gospel at home, and to encourage _village +preaching_ in our respective neighbourhoods, but to defray the +expences of carrying the gospel into the heathen world. + +If congregations were to open subscriptions of _one penny_, or more +per week, according to their circumstances, and deposit it as a fund +for the propogation of the gospel, much might be raised in this way. +By such simple means they might soon have it in their power to +introduce the preaching of the gospel into most of the villages in +England; where, though men are placed whose business it should be to +give light to those who sit in darkness, it is well known that they +have it not. Where there was no person to open his house for the +reception of the gospel, some other building might be procured for a +small sum, and even then something considerable might be spared for +the baptist, or other committees, for propogating the gospel amongst +the heathen. + +Many persons have of late left off the use of _West-India sugar_ on +account of the iniquitous manner in which it is obtained. Those +families who have done so, and have not substituted any thing else in +its place, have not only cleansed their hands of blood, but have made +a saving to their families, some of six pence, and some of a shilling +a week. If this, or a part of this were appropriated to the uses +before-mentioned, it would abundantly suffice. We have only to keep +the end in view, and have our hearts thoroughly engaged in the pursuit +of it, and means will not be very difficult. + +We are exhorted _to lay up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor +rust doth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal._ It is also +declared that _whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap._ +These Scriptures teach us that the enjoyments of the life to come, +bear a near relation to that which now is; a relation similar to that +of the harvest, and the seed. It is true all the reward is of mere +grace, but it is nevertheless encouraging; what a _treasure_, what an +_harvest_ must await such characters as PAUL, and ELLIOT, and +BRAINERD, and others, who have given themselves wholly to the work of +the Lord. What a heaven will it be to see the many myriads of poor +heathens, of Britons amongst the rest, who by their labours have been +brought to the knowledge of God. Surely a _crown of rejoicing_ like +this is worth aspiring to. Surely it is worth while to lay ourselves +out with all our might, in promoting the cause, and kingdom of Christ. + + + FINIS. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Enquiry into the Obligations of +Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens, by William Carey + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11449 *** |