dels. No man possessed of the | Japan, and laid the foundation

least degree of feeling or com- of a church there, which at one passion for the human race can time was said to have consisted of deny the necessity and utility of about 600,000 Christians. After Christian missions. Whoever con- him, others penetrated into China, siders that the major part of the and founded a church, which conworld is enveloped in the grossest tinued about 170 years. About darkness, bound with the chains 1580, others penetrated into Chili of savage barbarity, and immersed and Peru, in South America, and in the awful chaos of brutal igno- converted the natives. Others berance, must, if he be not desti- stirred themselves to convert the tute of every principle of religion Greeks, Nestorians, Monophysites, and humanity, concur with the Abyssinians, the Egyptian copts. design and applaud the principles "It is, however," as one observes, of those who engage in so benevo-" a matter of doubt whether the lent a work. We shall not, how-disciples of a Xavier, or the conever, in this place, enter into a verts of a Loyola and Dominic, defence of missions, but shall present the reader with a short view of those that have been established.

In the sixteenth century, the Romish church particularly exerted herself for the propagation of their religion. The Portuguese and Spaniards pretend to have done mighty exploits in the spread of the Christian faith in Asia, Africa, and America; but, when we consider the superstitions they imposed on some, and the dreadful cruelties they inflicted on others, it more than counterbalances any good that was done. For a time, the Dominicans, Franciscans, and other religious orders, were very zealous in the conversion of the heathen; but the Jesuits outdid them all in their attempts in the conversion of African, Asian, and American infidels. Xavier spread some hints of the Romish religion through the Portuguese settlements in the East Indies, through most of the Indian continent, and of Ceylon. In 1549 he sailed to

with their partisans of the Romish church, should be admitted among the number of Christians, or their labours be thought to have contributed to the promotion or to the hindrance of the religion of Christ. Certain it is, that the methods these men pursued tended much more to make disciples to themselves and the pontiffs of Rome than to form the mind to the reception of evangelical truth." With ardent zeal, however, and unwearied industry, these apostles laboured in this work. In 1622 we find the pope established a congregation of cardinals, de propaganda fide, and endowed it with ample revenues, and every thing which could forward the missions was liberally supplied. In 1627, also, Urban added the college for the propagation of the faith; in which missionaries were taught the languages of the countries to which they were to be sent. France copied the example of Rome, and formed an establishment for the

same purposes. The Jesuits claim-religion at Formosa, Columba, ed the first rank, as due to their Java, Malabar, &c.; and though zeal, learning, and devotedness the work declined in some places, to the holy see. The Dominicans, yet there are still churches in Franciscans, and others, disputed Ceylon, Sumatra, Amboyna, &c. the palm with them. The new About 1705, Frederick IV, of world and the Asiatic regions Denmark, applied to the univerwere the chief field of their la-sity of Halle, in Germany, for bours. They penetrated into the missionaries to preach the Gosuncultivated recesses of America.pel on the coast of Malabar, in the They visited the untried regions of East Indies; and Messrs. ZieSiam, Tonkin, and Cochin China.genbalg and Plutsche were the first They entered the vast empire of employed on this important misChina itself, and numbered mil-sion; to them others were soon lions among their converts. They added, who laboured with considared affront the dangers of the derable success. It is said that tyrannical government of Japan. upwards of 18,000 Gentoos have In India they assumed the garb been brought to the profession and austerities of the Brahmins, of Christianity. and boasted on the coasts of Ma- A great work has been carried labar of a thousand converts bap-on among the Indian nations in tized in one year by a single || North America. One of the first missionary. Their sufferings, how- and most eminent instruments in ever, were very great, and in this work was the excellent Mr. China and Japan they were ex- Elliot, commonly called the Inposed to the most dreadful perse-dian apostle, who, from the time cutions, and many thousands were of his going to New-England, in cut off, with, at last, a final ex- 1631, to his death, in 1690, depulsion from the empires. In voted himself to this great work Africa the Capuchins were chiefly by his lips and pen, translating employed, though it does not ap- the Bible and other books into the pear that they had any consi-natic dialect. Some years after derable success. And in America | their laborious exertions have had but little influence, we fear, to promote the real conversion of the natives to the truth.

this, Thomas Mayhew, esq., governor and patentee of the islands of Martha's Vineyard, and some neighbouring islands, greatly exerted himself in the attempt to In the year 1621 the Dutch convert the Indians in that part opened a church in the city of of America. His son John gaBatavia, and from hence ministers thered and founded an Indian were sent to Amboyna. At Ley-church, which, after his death, den, ministers and assistants were educated for the purpose of missions under the famous Walæus, and sent into the East, where thousands embraced the Christian

not being able to pay a minister, the old gentleman himself, at seventy years of age, became their instructor for more than twenty years, and his grandson and great

grandson both succeeded him in mine the distant East, the coast of the same work. Mr. D. Brainerd Coromandel, and the Nicobar was also a truly pious and suc-islands; their attempts to penecessful missionary among the Sus-trate into Abyssinia, to carry the quehannah and Delaware Indi- Gospel to Persia and Egypt, His journal contains in-and to ascend the mountains of very extraordinary con- Caucasus. In fact, where shall we find the men who have labour

ans.

Good has been also done by the

stances of versions. But the Moravians have exceed-ed as these have? Their invincied all in their missionary exer- ble patience, their well-regulated tions. They have no less than zeal, their self-denial, their contwenty-nine different missions; stant prudence, deserve the meed and, by their persevering zeal, it of highest approbation. Nor are is said, upwards of 23,000 of the they wearied in so honourable a most destitute of mankind, in dif-service; for no less than one hunferent regions of the earth, are dred and forty missionaries are brought to the knowledge of the now employed in different parts of truth. Vast numbers in the Da- the world. See MORAVIANS. nish islands of St. Thomas, St. Jan, and St. Croix, and the Eng-Wesleyan Methodists, who are cerlish islands of Jamaica, Antigua, tainly not the least in missionary Nevis, Barbadoes, St. Kitts, and work. They have several missionTobago, have by their ministry aries in the British dominions in been called to worship God in spi- America and in the West Indies. rit and truth. In the inhospitable They have some thousands of climes of Greenland and Labra-members in their societies in those dore they have met with wonder- parts. See METHODISTS. ful success, after undergoing the In 1792, a society was institutmost astonishing dangers and dif- ed among the Baptists, called, ficulties. The Arrowack Indians," The particular Baptist Society and the negroes of Surinam and for propagating the Gospel among Berbice, have been collected into the Heathen;" under the auspices bodies of faithful people by them. of which missionaries were sent to Canada, and the United States of India, and favourable accounts North America, have, by their in- of their success have been receivstrumentality, afforded happy evi-ed. We learn, with pleasure, that dences of the power of the Gospel. Even those esteemed the last of human beings, for brutishness and ignorance, the Hottentots, have been formed into their so- In the year 1795, The London cieties; and upwards of seven hun- Missionary Society was formed.dred are said to be worshipping This is not confined to one body of God at Bavians Cloof, near the people,but consists of episcopalians Cape of Good Hope. We might Presbyterians, Seceders, Methodalso mention their efforts to illu-ists, and Independents, who hold

through their indefatigable industry, the New Testament, and part of the Bible, have been translated into the Bengalee tongue.

an annual meeting in London in of men, but their everlasting welMay. As the state of this soci- fare as their object? My heart ety is before the public, it would overflows with joy, and mine eyes be unnecessary here to enlarge; with tears, when I consider the suffice it to say, that it is now on happy and extensive effects which the most permanent and respecta- are likely to take place. The unble footing. "It has assumed tutored mind will receive the consistency and order; it com- peaceful principles of religion bines integrity of character, for- and virtue; the savage barbarian titude of mind, and fixedness of will rejoice in the copious blessresolution, with a continued pro-ings, and feel the benign effects gression of effort for the exalted of civilization; the ignorant idolpurpose of presenting the doc- ater will be directed to offer up trines of the blessed Gospel to the his prayers and praises to the true. acceptance of the perishing hea- God, and learn the way of salthen, and of exhibiting an uncor-vation through Jesus Christ. The rupt example of their tendencies habitations of cruelty will become and effects in their own characters the abodes of peace and security, and conduct."

while ignorance and superstition Besides the above-mentioned shall give way to the celestial societies, others have been formed blessings of intelligence, purity, of less note. In 1699, a society and joy.-Happy men, who are was instituted in England for pro- employed as instruments in this moting Christian Knowledge.-In cause; who forego your personal 1701, another was formed for comforts, relinquish your native. the propagation of the Gospel in country, and voluntarily devote foreign parts. In Scotland, about yourselves to the most noble and the year 1700, a society was in- honourable of services! Peace stituted for the Propagation of and prosperity be with you! MilChristian Knowledge. Recently, ler's History of the Propagation of some clergymen of the established Christ; Kennett's ditto; Gillies's church have formed one among Historical Collection; Carey's Enthemselves. Societies for spread-quiry respecting Missions; Loskiell's ing the Gospel also have been instituted in Holland, America, Ireland, and other places. From the whole it seems evident that the light and knowledge of the glorious Gospel will be more dif- MODERATION, the state of fused than ever throughout the keeping a due mean between exearth. And who is there that has tremes: calmness, temperance, or any concern for the souls of men, equanimity. It is sometimes used any love for truth and religion, with reference to our opinions, but what must rejoice at the for- Rom. xii, 3. but in general it remation, number, and success of spects our conduct in that state those institutions, which have which comes under the description not the mere temporal concerns" of ease or prosperity. "Modera

History of the Moravian Missions; Crantz's History of Greenland; Horne's Letters on Missions; Sermons and Reports of London Missionary Society.

He

tion," says Dr. Blair, "ought to safely be pronounced,, that the take place in our wishes, pursuits, bulk of men are ready to overrate expectations, pleasures, and pas- their own abilities, and to imagine sions. First, in our wishes: the ac- themselves equal to higher things tive mind of man seldom or ever than they were ever designed for. rests satified with its present condi- We should beware, therefore, of tion, how prosperous soever. It is being led aside from the plain path ever sending forth the fond desire, of sound and moderate conduct the aspiring wish after something by those false lights which selfbeyond what is enjoyed at present. flattery is always ready to hang There is nothing, indeed, unlaw-out. By aiming at a mark too ful in our wishing to be freed from high, we may fall short of what whatever is disagreeable, and to was in our power to have reached. obtain a fuller enjoyment of the-3. There should be moderation comforts of life; but when these in our expectations. By want of wishes are not tempered by rea- moderation in our hopes, we not son, they are in danger of preci-only increase dejection when dispitating us into extravagance and appointment comes, but we accefolly. If we suffer our fancy tolerate disappointment; we bring create to itself worlds of ideal forward disagreeable changes in happiness; if we feed our imagi- our state; for the natural consenation with plans of opulence and quence of presumptuous expectasplendour far beyond our rank; if tion is rashness in conduct. we fix to our wishes certain stages who indulges confident security, of high advancement, or certain of course neglects due precautions degrees of uncommon reputation against the dangers that threaten or distinction, the consequences him. By presumption and vanity will be, that we shall become un-he either provokes enmity or inhappy in our present state; unfit curs contempt. A temperate spi-, for acting the part, and discharg-rit, therefore, and moderate expecing the duties that belong to it; rations, are the best safeguard of we shall discompose the peace and the mind in this uncertain and order of our minds, and foment changing state.-4. There should many hurtful passions!-2. There be moderation in our pleasures. should be moderation in our pur-It is an invariable law of our presuits; not that all high pursuits dught on every occasion to be checked. Some men are formed by nature for rising into conspicuous stations of life. In following the impulse of their minds, and properly exerting the talents with which God has blessed them, there is room for them to act in a laudable sphere, and to become the instruments of much public good. But this may

sent condition, that every pleasure which is pursued to excess converts itself into poison: what was intended for the cordial and refreshment of human life, through want of moderation we turn to its banc.

Could the monuments of death be laid open to our view, they would read a lecture in favour of moderation much more powerful than any that the most