THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. VII.]

Saturday, September 2, 1820.

[No. IX.

SIR,

Miscellany.

From the Evangelical Magazine.

REFLECTIONS ON THE LATE MEETINGS IN MAY, &c.

To the Editor.

THE spirit with which the recent anniversaries of various religious and benevolent societies have been kept up year after year, is highly honourable to the state of religion in this country, and promises the most beneficial effects, both to the church and to the world. Having witnessed some of these, and having read the accounts of others, I beg leave to offer to your readers a few reflections, with a view of improving the privileges which we so lately have enjoyed.

The first circumstance which attracts my attention is the unity of design which pervades these societies-namely, the spread of religious knowledge. Whether there be Bible Societies, Missionary Societies, Tract Societies, or School Societies-all have this great and important object-to enlighten mankind in the knowledge of salvation, and to spread the great fundamental truths of the gospel. Every work of God commences with shedding down light, and is continued by its diffusion. "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." And it is by the preaching of the word of God, attended with a Divine power, that he hath "shed forth this which we now see and hear." Our duty is in every way to diffuse knowledge: it is God's work to reflect that knowledge internally on the heart, and that from the face of Christ, who is the "Sun of righteousness."

says,

2. I would remark the extent and "diversity of operations" carried on by these societies. It is not by one means, but "by all means," that they seek "to save some"-to save all-if it were possible. Thus one society gives the scriptures—another "How readest thou?" And if the answer be, "I am not learned, I cannot read,"-the teacher presents a spelling-booksits down by his pupil, and patiently deals out to him the first elements of knowledge. He now begins to read, and another messenger of mercy puts the question, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And if the answer be, "How can I, except VOL. VII. 2 K

some one teach me?" then he "begins at the same text, and preaches to him Jesus."

Or, perhaps, this benevolent man has not "the tongue of the learned," then he puts into his hand a religious tract, and this dumb interpreter points out to him the way of eternal life.

Or, it may be, the order is inverted: a missionary goes forth with the Bible in his hand, and shows it to the heathen-translates it into their language-impresses its truth upon their conscience and exhibits Him, who is promised to be, not only "the glory of Israel," but "salvation to the ends of the earth."

3. I observe the harmony of principle among them. Their object is not to make proselytes to a sect; not to serve a party, nor to spread a favourite sentiment; but to support and propagate primitive Christianity; the simple, but important truths of scripture. With this view the Bible Society rejects every note and comment; the School Societies confine their instructions to the Bible; the Tract and Missionary Societies avoid every controversy on which evangelical Christians are divided.

4. I would notice the variety of objects to which the public benevolence is directed. Some confine their benevolence to their own country; others push their exertions to the antipodes. Among the former, some direct their attention to children, others to adults; some seek the conversion of sailors; others carry instruction to the army; and yet others penetrate the asylums of human misery, and the abodes of crime" to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to bind up the broken-hearted." In foreign countries the objects of mercy and benevolence are no less va ried the sophisticated Hindoo, the degraded Hottentot, the oppressed Negro, the long-neglected Jew-all, all become in turns, and to different societies or individuals, the object of the kindest sympathies the most benevolent and disinterested exertions.

Among other countries I cannot but rejoice that considerable exertions are directed to the instruction of neglected Ireland, and to the Highlands and islands of Scotland, where, till lately (though our immediate neighbours) the inhabitants had so much reason to complain-" No man careth for my soul!"

5. I remark the connexion of most of these societies, and the re-action which takes place between them. It is very true that their pecuniary interests may sometimes interfere; but the manner in which they stimulate and assist each other is far more remarkable. It was the Bible Society which first taught Christians to be generous on a large scale to do good by wholesale: but for this it is not likely so much would have been done for missions. Missionary Societies have stimulated each other. Churchmen, Methodists, Dissenters, have "provoked each other to love and to good works." But there were some Christians whose scruples happily prevented their engaging in missions-I say their scruples (however unreasonable they may appear) hap

pily prevented them from uniting with their fellow-christians, because by this means new paths of Christian charity were traced out. The horrors of slavery harrowed up their feelings, and they rested not till the slave trade--till domestic slavery-received its death-wound, and the shout of liberty reached the shores of Africa. This was not enough. They looked into the dungeon of the criminal; they saw that "the iron entered into his soul;" they heard the sighing of the prisoner;" they visited the fatherless and the widow in their affliction. "They were eyes to the blind and feet to the lame ;" and "the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon them." They blended the objects of their benevolence; they carried the Bible and the spelling-book with them wherever they went; and with the latter they furnish ed the ability to read the former. Schools also were promoted and conducted on a large scale by means of the Lancasterian system. Benevolent Churchmen were again "provoked to jealousy" they were alarmed lest the majority of the nation should become Dissenters. The National Schools were established, and more than a double number of children are now taught. Religious instruction, which was growing out of fashion in our schools, is now incorporated in all, especially for the lower classes.

6. These societies have called forth energies altogether new and unprecedented. The system of Sunday Schools has formed thousands of gratuitous teachers; the plan of "mutual instruction" by means of monitors, has done the same; and there are now probably more teachers than there were scholars fifty years ago. The Auxiliaries to the different Bible and Missionary Societies have trained thousands to the work of benevolence and charity; and the employment of females, in particular, in these blessed services, has created a power in morals analagous to the steam engine in mechanics-there is no limiting its effects. Charity is become the daily occupation of ladies, many of whom formerly supposed they were born only to dress and dance for the amusement of the other sex. The system is spreading into India, and through the East, and must produce a revolution in society, the effects of which cannot now be calculated.

I conclude with remarking the more immediate influence of these societies upon the religious world. It must always be remembered that the best effects of the best institutions must depend on the Divine blessing. "Paul may plant and Apollos water;" and it is unquestionably our duty to plant "the rose of Sharon" in every country in the world. The waterer must follow the planter; for it is a sad mistake to think that we must sit at home, and water only with our prayers. We should imitate the ancients who "watered with the foot," and, by a tedious and laborious process, direct the streams of the river of life in rills of mercy through every land and clime. The first natural effect of

these institutions, therefore, is to promote activity and industry in doing good-and God is wont to bless the diligent.

Another effect, no less certain and unequivocal, is the promotion of Christian love and unity of heart. Persons embarked in the same cause-drawing in the same yoke-naturally cleave together. How many Christians have been delighted and astonished to find those in zealous co-operation with themselves, whom they had weakly supposed to have no zeal for God, or benevolence to man-merely because they did not know them.

The influence of these unions extends still farther. Bigots have been employed for ages in endeavouring to reduce all Christians to one standard of faith, and they foolishly supposed that prisons, racks, and flames must do this. But these institutions all lead to uniformity of faith-the Bible Society more especially. The grand difficulty has been hitherto to produce a standard, to which all might conscientiously subscribe. All the creeds and catechisms in Christendom have been tried in vain—the Bible Society has found that standard in the word of God.

Lastly. The wisest heads have been long employed in calculating prophetic dates, and in marking the commencement of the millennium. The members of these institutions have done more and better; they are anticipating-they are introducing it: for when "the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”—then is the millennium.

Extracts from the Speeches delivered at the Annual Meeting of the London Missionary Society, held on Thursday, May 11th, at Queen-street Chapel.

Rev. Dr. Bogue moved the first resolution-" That the Report now read be accepted and approved, and printed at the discretion of the Directors; and whilst this meeting acknowledges with devout gratitude to God the measure of success vouchsafed, in the past and former years, to the efforts of this society, it congratulates, with the utmost cordiality, all kindred institutions, on the success which has also attended their respective endeavours."

"The union of Christians of various denominations," said br. B. "gave an impulse to the operations of this society, which it could not otherwise have received. At first many ridiculed or opposed our design, but in these 25 years there has been that gradual progress in the human mind towards the missionary cause, which could not then have been conceived. There is not a denomination of evangelical Christians that has not a Missionary Society. They have chosen indeed to go out by tribes, rather than with the general body, to conquer the land; but in whatever way they go forth, if the land be but conquered, we rejoice. It gave us great pleasure to hear that there are missionaries now in the

four quarters of the world, and the report has informed us how they are engaged. Some are learning the languages of those countries; some are preaching the gospel, or conversing with the natives from day to day; others are teaching children; others are engaged in translating the scriptures. This is another thing in which great progress has recently been made. During the 17th century, I know not that we shall find any engaged in this work; the 18th commenced with the translation of the scriptures into the Tamul language, by the Danish missionaries; but in the last few years, more translations of the holy scriptures have been completed, than perhaps in as many centuries before."

After alluding to the translations of the scripture into several other languages, he said-" But that which excites the greatest attention, and may be called the glory of our society, is the translation of the whole of the scriptures into the Chinese language. It must afford you great pleasure to hear that they were completed in November last; and thus is presented to one third of mankind, in a language they can understand, the pure word of God! It may astonish us that for 1800 years this work was never attempted, in a language spoken by so many millions of people; but now they have the scriptures and missionaries; and we may expect that Divine Providence will open that vast empire to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this ought to be the subject of fervent prayer among all the disciples of Christ.

"In the South Sea Islands the appearances astonish us. There is much in Providence to astonish us, and much of Divine power and grace to be observed; praying in secret; praying in families; reading the scriptures; seeking advancement in knowledge; more than 6000 people able to read; these things are truly wonderful! A system of morals has succeeded. An abandonment of every thing indecent, and with all this, there is a portion of the people who are made the partakers of the true grace of God, and this is the great object we have in view in every mission.

"There is one thing I ardently wish for, and that is a more abundant effusion of the Spirit of God, to accompany every missionary labour among the heathen. We still want, how much shall I say? of that sacred unction which accompanied the labours of the apostles. Far would I be from despising the day of small things;' I rejoice at what has been done in Otaheite, South Africa, and other places; but I wish to see more. Let Christians be more in prayer, relying on the promises and faithfulness of God, and we may expect far greater things than we have yet seen. What a great thing it will be, when God pours out upon the millions of Hindoostan, the healthful spirit of his grace! I may not live to see it, but I have no doubt that in some future meeting, some one will have to move the reception of a Report which shall inform the society that hundreds and thousands are turned to God, and