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 notonly to express our desires of that event by words, but to use everylawful method to spread the knowledge of his name. In order to this, it is necessary that we should become, in some measure acquainted withthe religious state of the world; and as this is an object we shouldbe prompted to pursue, not only by the gospel of our Redeemer, buteven by the feelings of humanity, so an inclination to conscientiousactivity therein would form one of the strongest proofs that we arethe subjects of grace, and partakers of that spirit of universalbenevolence and genuine philanthropy, which appear so eminent inthe 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 changingits appearances to suit the circumstances of the times, it has grownup in ten thousand forms, and constantly counteracted the will anddesigns of God. One would have supposed that the remembrance of thedeluge would have been transmitted from father to son, and haveperpetually deterred mankind from transgressing the will of theirMaker; but so blinded were they, that in the time of Abraham, grosswickedness prevailed wherever colonies were planted, and the iniquityof the Amorites was great, though not yet full. After this, idolatryspread more and more, till the seven devoted nations were cut off withthe most signal marks of divine displeasure. Still, however, theprogress of evil was not stopped, but the Israelites themselves toooften joined with the rest of mankind against the God of Israel. Inone period the grossest ignorance and barbarism prevailed in theworld; and afterwards, in a more enlightened age, the most daringinfidelity, and contempt of God; so that the world which was onceover-run with ignorance, now _by wisdom knew not God, but changed theglory of the incorruptible God_ as much as in the most barbarous ages, _into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, andfour-footed beasts, and creeping things_. Nay, as they increased inscience and politeness, they ran into more abundant and extravagantidolatries. 

Yet God repeatedly made known his intention to prevail finally overall the power of the Devil, and to destroy all his works, and set uphis own kingdom and interest among men, and extend it as universallyas Satan had extended his. It was for this purpose that the Messiahcame and died, that God might be just, and the justifier of all thatshould believe in him. When he had laid down his life, and taken it upagain, he sent forth his disciples to preach the good tidings to everycreature, and to endeavour by all possible methods to bring over alost world to God. They went forth according to their divinecommission, and wonderful success attended their labours; thecivilized greeks, and uncivilized barbarians, each yielded to thecross of Christ, and embraced it as the only way of salvation. Sincethe apostolic age many other attempts to spread the gospel have beenmade, which have been considerably successful, notwithstanding which avery considerable part of mankind are still involved in all thedarkness of heathenism. Some attempts are still making, but they areinconsiderable in comparison of what might be done if the whole bodyof Christians entered heartily into the spirit of the divine commandon this subject. Some think little about it, others are unacquaintedwith the state of the world, and others love their wealth better thanthe souls of their fellow-creatures. 

In order that the subject may be taken into more seriousconsideration, I shall enquire, whether the commission given by ourLord to his disciples be not still binding on us, --take a short viewof former undertakings, --give some account of the present state of theworld, consider the practicability of doing something more than isdone, --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 hisapostles to _Go_, and _teach all nations_; or, as another evangelistexpresses it, _Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to everycreature_. This commission was as extensive as possible, and laid themunder obligation to disperse themselves into every country of thehabitable globe, and preach to all the inhabitants, without exception, or limitation. They accordingly went forth in obedience to thecommand, and the power of God evidently wrought with them. Manyattempts of the same kind have been made since their day, and whichhave been attended with various success; but the work has not beentaken up, or prosecuted of late years (except by a few individuals)with that zeal and perseverance with which the primitive Christianswent about it. It seems as if many thought the commission wassufficiently put in execution by what the apostles and others havedone; that we have enough to do to attend to the salvation of our owncountrymen; and that, if God intends the salvation of the heathen, hewill some way or other bring them to the gospel, or the gospel tothem. It is thus that multitudes sit at ease, and give themselves noconcern about the far greater part of their fellow-sinners, who tothis day, are lost in ignorance and idolatry. There seems also to bean opinion existing in the minds of some, that because the apostleswere extraordinary officers and have no proper successors, and becausemany things which were right for them to do would be utterlyunwarrantable for us, therefore it may not be immediately binding onus to execute the commission, though it was so upon them. To theconsideration of such persons I would offer the followingobservations. 

FIRST, If the command of Christ to teach all nations be restricted tothe apostles, or those under the immediate inspiration of the HolyGhost, then that of baptizing should be so too; and every denominationof Christians, except the Quakers, do wrong in baptizing with water atall. 

SECONDLY, If the command of Christ to teach all nations be confined tothe apostles, then all such ordinary ministers who have endeavoured tocarry the gospel to the heathens, have acted without a warrant, andrun before they were sent. Yea, and though God has promised the mostglorious things to the heathen world by sending his gospel to them, yet whoever goes first, or indeed at all, with that message, unless hehave a new and special commission from heaven, must go without anyauthority for so doing. 

THIRDLY, If the command of Christ to teach all nations extend only tothe apostles, then, doubtless, the promise of the divine presence inthis work must be so limited; but this is worded in such a manner asexpressly precludes such an idea. _Lo, I am with you always, to theend of the world. _

That there are cases in which even a divine command may cease to bebinding is admitted--As for instance, if it be _repealed_, as theceremonial commandments of the jewish law; or if there be _nosubjects_ in the world for the commanded act to be exercised upon, asin the law of septennial release, which might be dispensed with whenthere 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, aswhen Paul and Silas were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach theword in Bythinia. Acts xvi. 6. 7. Or if, in any case, there be a_natural impossibility_ of putting it in execution. It was not theduty of Paul to preach Christ to the inhabitants of Otaheite, becauseno such place was then discovered, nor had he any means of coming atthem. But none of these things can be alledged by us in behalf of theneglect of the commission given by Christ. We cannot say that it isrepealed, like the commands of the ceremonial law; nor can we pleadthat 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 acounter-revelation, concerning any particular nation, like that toPaul and Silas, concerning Bythinia; and, if we could, it would notwarrant our sitting still and neglecting all the other parts of theworld; for Paul and Silas, when forbidden to preach to those heathens, went elsewhere, and preached to others. Neither can we alledge anatural impossibility in the case. It has been said that we ought notto force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings ofProvidence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence whichdaily present themselves to us. What openings of providence do we waitfor? We can neither expect to be transported into the heathen worldwithout 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 torender it binding but a removal of those obstacles which renderobedience impossible, and these are removed already. Naturalimpossibility can never be pleaded so long as facts exist to prove thecontrary. Have not the popish missionaries surmounted all thosedifficulties which we have generally thought to be insuperable? Havenot the missionaries of the _Unitas Fratrum_, or Moravian Brethren, encountered the scorching heat of Abyssinia, and the frozen climes ofGreenland, and Labrador, their difficult languages, and savagemanners? Or have not English traders, for the sake of gain, surmountedall those things which have generally been counted insurmountableobstacles in the way of preaching the gospel? Witness the trade toPersia, the East-Indies, China, and Greenland, yea even the accursedSlave-Trade on the coasts of Africa. Men can insinuate themselves intothe favour of the most barbarous clans, and uncultivated tribes, forthe sake of gain; and how different soever the circumstances oftrading and preaching are, yet this will prove the possibility ofministers being introduced there; and if this is but thought asufficient reason to make the experiment, my point is gained. 

It has been said that some learned divines have proved from Scripturethat the time is not yet come that the heathen should be converted;and that first the _witnesses must be slain_, and many otherprophecies fulfilled. But admitting this to be the case (which I muchdoubt[1]) yet if any objection is made from this against preaching tothem immediately, it must be founded on one of these things; eitherthat the secret purpose of God is the rule of our duty, and then itmust be as bad to pray for them, as to preach to them; or else thatnone shall be converted in the heathen world till the universaldown-pouring of the Spirit in the last days. But this objection comestoo late; for the success of the gospel has been very considerable inmany places already. 

[Footnote 1: See Edwards on Prayer, on this subject, lately re-printedby Mr. Sutcliffe. ]

It has been objected that there are multitudes in our own nation, andwithin our immediate spheres of action, who are as ignorant as theSouth-Sea savages, and that therefore we have work enough at home, without going into other countries. That there are thousands in ourown land as far from God as possible, I readily grant, and that thisought to excite us to ten-fold diligence in our work, and in attemptsto spread divine knowledge amongst them is a certain fact; but that itought to supercede all attempts to spread the gospel in foreign partsseems to want proof. Our own countrymen have the means of grace, andmay attend on the word preached if they chuse it. They have the meansof knowing the truth, and faithful ministers are placed in almostevery part of the land, whose spheres of action might be much extendedif their congregations were but more hearty and active in the cause:but with them the case is widely different, who have no Bible, nowritten language, (which many of them have not, ) no ministers, no goodcivil government, nor any of those advantages which we have. Pitytherefore, humanity, and much more Christianity, call loudly for everypossible 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 eitherheathens, or jews; and both, as to the body of them were enemies tothe gospel. After the resurrection the disciples continued inJerusalem till Pentecost. Being daily engaged in prayer andsupplication, and having chosen Matthias, to supply the place of Judasin the apostolic office, on that solemn day, when they were allassembled together, a most remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit tookplace, and a capacity of speaking in all foreign languages wasbestowed upon them. This opportunity was embraced by Peter forpreaching 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 threethousand were converted, who immediately after were baptized, andadded to the church. Before this great addition they consisted of butabout _an hundred and twenty persons_, but from that time theycontinually increased. It was but a little after this that Peter andJohn, going up to the temple, healed the lame man; this miracle drew agreat multitude together, and Peter took occasion while they stoodwondering at the event, to preach Jesus Christ to them. Theconsequence was that five thousand more believed. 

This was not done without opposition; the priests and sadducees triedall the methods they could invent to prevent them from preaching thegospel. The apostles, however, asserted their divine warrant, and assoon as they were set at liberty addressed God, and prayed that adivine power might attend their labours, which petition was heard, andtheir future ministry was very successful. On account of theirnecessities who were engaged in this good work, those amongst them whohad possessions, or goods, sold them, and devoted the money to pioususes. 

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 hiswife, were struck dead by the hand of God. This awful catastrophehowever was the occasion of many more men and women being added to thechurch. The miracles wrought by the apostles, and the successattending their ministry, stirred up greater envy in the priests andsadducees, who imprisoned them; from which confinement they were soonliberated by an angel; upon which they went immediately as they werecommanded and preached in the temple: here they were seized, andbrought before the council, where Gamaliel spake in their favour, andthey were dismissed. After this they continued to prosecute theirwork, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for thename of Christ. 

By this time the church at Jerusalem was so increased that themultiplicity of its temporal concerns was the occasion of someneglects, which produced a dissatisfaction. The apostles, therefore, recommended to the church to chuse seven pious men, whose office itshould be to attend upon its temporal affairs; that _they might givethemselves to prayer, and the ministry of the word_. Seven wereaccordingly chosen, over whom the apostles prayed, and ordained themto the office of Deacons by imposition of hands: and these thingsbeing settled the church increased more and more. One of theseDeacons, whose name was Stephen, being a person of eminent knowledgeand holiness, wrought many miracles, and disputed with great evidenceand energy for the truth of Christianity, which raised him up a numberof opponents. These soon procured his death, and carried theirresentment so far as to stir up such a persecution that the church, which till now had been confined to Jerusalem, was dispersed, and allthe preachers except the apostles were driven thence, and went everywhere preaching the word. 

A young man whose name was _Saul_, was very active in thispersecution; he had been educated under Gamaliel, a member of theSanhedrim, was a person of promising genius, by profession a Pharisee, and much attached to the jewish ceremonies. When Stephen was stoned heappeared much pleased with it, and had the custody of the clothes ofhis executioners; and from that time was fired with such a spirit ofpersecution himself, that he went about dragging some to prison, andcompelling others to blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus. Neither washe contented with exercising his rage at Jerusalem, but went to thechief priests and obtained testimonials of authority to carry on thesame work at Damascus. But on his way, as he was almost ready to enterinto the city, the Lord changed his heart in a very wonderful manner;so that instead of entering the town to persecute, he began to preachthe gospel as soon as he was able. This presently brought upon him thesame persecution which he had designed to exercise upon others, andeven endangered his life, so that the brethren found it necessary tolet him down the city wall in a basket by night, and so he escaped thehands of his enemies. From thence he went to Jerusalem where hepreached the word, but being persecuted there, he went to Cesarea, andfrom thence to Tarsus. 

In the time of this trouble in the church, Philip went and preached atSamaria with great success, nay so great was the work that animpostor, who had deceived the people with legerdemain tricks for along time was so amazed, and even convinced, as to profess himself aChristian, and was baptized; but was afterwards detected, and appearedto be an hypocrite. Besides him a great number believed in reality, and being baptized a church was formed there. Soon after this the Lordcommanded Philip to go the way which led from Jerusalem to Gaza, whichhe did, and there found an eunuch of great authority in the court ofEthiopia, 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 Eneasof a palsy, which was a mean of the conversion not only of theinhabitants of that town, but also of the neighbouring country, calledSaron, the capital of which was Lasharon; and while he was there, acircumstance turned up which tended much to the spread of the truth. Awoman of Joppa, a sea-port town in the neighbourhood, dying, they sentto Lydda for Peter, who went over, and when he had prayed she wasraised to life again; which was an occasion of the conversion of manyin that town. Peter continued there preaching for some time, andlodged at the house of a tanner. 

Now another circumstance also tended to the further propogation ofChristianity, for a Roman military officer who had some acquaintancewith the Old Testament Scriptures, but was not circumcised, was oneday engaged in prayer in his house at Cesarea, when an angel appearedto 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, andjewish proselytes, and even the apostles appeared to have had verycontracted ideas of the Christian dispensation; but now God by avision discovered to Peter that Christianity was to be spread into allnations. He accordingly went and preached at the house of Cornelius, at Cesarea, when several were converted, and baptized, and thefoundation of a church laid in that city. 

Some of the dispersed ministers having fled to Antioch in Syria, beganto preach to the greeks in that city about the same time, and had goodsuccess; upon which the apostles sent Paul and Barnabas, whoinstructed and strengthened them, and a church was formed in that cityalso, which in a little time sent out several eminent preachers. 

In the Acts of the apostles we have an account of _four_ of theprincipal journies which Paul, and his companions undertook. Thefirst, in which he was accompanied by Barnabas, is recorded in thexiii. And xiv. Chapters, and was the first _attack_ on the heathenworld. It was a journey into the lesser Asia. In their way they passedover the island of Cyprus. No sooner had they entered on theirundertaking, than they met with great difficulty; for Mark, whom theyhad taken as their minister, deserted them, and returned to Jerusalem, where, it seems, he thought he should enjoy the greatest quiet. Pauland Barnabas however went forward; in every city they preached theword of the Lord, entering into the jewish synagogues and firstpreaching Christ to them, and then to the gentiles. They were heardwith great candour and eagerness by some, and rejected by others withobstinacy and wrath, and cruel persecution. One while they had enoughto do to restrain the people from worshipping them as gods, and soonafter, Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. Having penetrated as far as Derbe, they thought proper to return bythe way that they came, calling at every city where they had sown thegood seed, and finding in most, if not all these places, some who hadembraced the gospel, they exhorted and strengthened them in the faith, formed them into a church state, and ordained them elders, fasted andprayed with them; and so having commended them to the Lord on whomthey had believed, returned to Antioch in Syria, from whence theyfirst set out, and rehearsed to the church all that God had done withthem, and how he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. 

About this time a dispute arising in the churches concerningcircumcision, Paul and Barnabas were deputed to go up to Jerusalem, toconsult the apostles and elders on the subject. This business beingadjusted, they, accompanied with Judas and Silas, returned to Antiochwith 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 mightvisit their brethren in the places where they had been already, andsee how they did. To this Barnabas readily acceded, but a differencearising between them about taking _John Mark_ with them, who haddeserted them before, these two eminent servants of God were partedasunder, and never appear to have travelled together any more. Theycontinued however each to serve in the cause of Christ, though theycould not walk together. Barnabas took John, and sailed to Cyprus, hisnative island, and Paul took Silas, and went through Syria and Ciliciato Derbe and Lystra, cities where he and Barnabas had preached intheir first excursion. 

Here they found Timothy, a promising young man, whom they encouragedto engage in the ministry. 

Paul being now at Lystra, which was the boundary of his firstexcursion, and having visited the churches already planted, anddelivered to them the decrees of the apostles and elders relating tocircumcision, seems to have felt his heart enlarged, and assayed tocarry on the glorious work of preaching the gospel to the heathen to agreater extent. With Silas and Timotheus he in his second journey[2]took a western direction, passing through Phrygia, and the region ofGalatia. Having preached the word in these parts with considerablesuccess, [3] he and his companions wished to have gone into theproconsular Asia, and afterwards assayed to go into Bythinia; butbegin forbidden of the Holy Ghost, who seems to have had a specialdesign of employing them elsewhere; passing by Mysia they came down toTroas on the sea-coast. Here a vision appeared to Paul, in which hewas invited to go over to Macedonia. Obedient to the heavenly vision, and greatly encouraged by it, they with all speed crossed the EgeanSea, and passing through the island of Samothracia, landed atNeapolis, and went from thence to Philippi, the chief city of thatpart of Macedonia. It was here that Paul preached on a Sabbath day toa few women by a river side, and Lydia, a woman of Thyatira, wasconverted and baptized, and her household with her. It was here that apoor girl, who brought her employers considerable profit byforetelling events, followed the apostles, had her spirit ofdivination ejected, on which account her masters were much irritated, and raised a tumult, the effect of which was, that Paul and Silas wereimprisoned. But even this was over-ruled for the success of thegospel, in that the keeper of the prison, and all his house, werethereby brought to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and werebaptized. 

[Footnote 2: The account of this second journey into the heathen worldbegins 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, preachingthe gospel wherever they went. From hence Paul took ship and sailed toSyria, only giving a short call at Ephesus, determining to be atJerusalem 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 tookup some years of his time. He and his companions met with theirdifficulties in it, but had likewise their encouragements. They werepersecuted at Philippi, as already noticed, and generally found theJews to be their most inveterate enemies. These would raise tumults, inflame the minds of the gentiles against them, and follow them fromplace to place, doing them all the mischief in their power. This wasthe case especially at Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. But amidstall their persecutions God was with them, and strengthened them invarious ways. At Berea they were candidly received, and their doctrinefairly tried by the Holy Scriptures; and _therefore_, it is said, _many of them believed_. At other places, though they affected todespise the apostle, yet some clave unto him. At _Corinth_ oppositionrose to a great height; but the Lord appeared to his servant in avision, saying, _Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, forI am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I havemuch people in this city_. And the promise was abundantly made good inthe spirit discovered by Gallio, the proconsul, who turned a deaf earto the accusations of the jews, and nobly declined interfering inmatters beside his province. Upon the whole a number of churches wereplanted during this journey, which for ages after shone as lights inthe world. 

When Paul had visited Antioch, and spent some time there, he preparedfor a third journey into heathen countries, the account of whichbegins Acts xviii. 23. And ends chap. Xxi. 17. At his first settingout he went over the whole country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples; and passing through the upper coastscame to Ephesus. There for the space of three months, he boldlypreached in the jewish synagogue, disputing, and persuading the thingsconcerning the kingdom of God. But when the hardened jews had openlyrejected the gospel, and spake evil of that way before the multitude, Paul openly separated the disciples from them, and assembled in theschool of one Tyrannus. This, it is said, continued for the space oftwo years, _so that all they who dwelt in_ the proconsular _Asia heardthe word of the Lord Jesus, both jews and greeks_. Certain magicians, about this time were exposed, and others converted, who burnt theirbooks, and confessed their deeds. So mightily grew the word of theLord, and prevailed. 

After this an uproar being raised by Demetrius, the silversmith, Paulwent into Macedonia, visited the churches planted in his formerjourney, and from thence passed into Greece. Having preached up anddown for three months, he thought of sailing from thence directly toSyria; but in order to avoid the jews, who laid wait for him near thesea coast, he took another course through Macedonia, and from thenceto Troas, by the way of Philippi. There is no mention made in hisformer journey of his having preached at Troas; yet it seems he did, and a church was gathered, with whom the apostle at this time unitedin _breaking of bread_. It was here that he preached all night, andraised Eutychus, who being overcome with sleep, had fallen down, andwas taken up dead. From hence they set sail for Syria, and in theirway called at Miletus, where Paul sent for the elders of the church ofEphesus, and delivered that most solemn and affectionate farewell, recorded in the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. From hencethey sailed for Tyre, where they tarried seven days, and from thenceproceeded to Jerusalem. 

Paul's fourth and last journey (or rather voyage) was to Rome, wherehe went in the character of a prisoner. For being at Jerusalem he wasquickly apprehended by the jews; but being rescued by Lysias, thechief captain, he was sent to Cesarea to take his trial. Here he madehis defence before Felix and Drusilla, in such sort that the judge, instead of the prisoner, was made to tremble. Here also he made hisdefence before Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice, with such force ofevidence that Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. But themalice of the jews being insatiable, and Paul finding himself indanger of being delivered into their hands, was constrained to appealunto Caesar. This was the occasion of his being sent to Rome, where hearrived after a long and dangerous voyage, and being shipwrecked onthe island of Melita, where he wrought miracles, and Publius, thegovernor, was converted. 

When he arrived at Rome he addressed his countrymen the jews, some ofwhom believed; but when others rejected the gospel, he turned fromthem to the gentiles, and for two whole years dwelt in his own hiredhouse preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things whichconcern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbiddinghim. 

Thus far the history of the Acts of the Apostles informs us of thesuccess of the word in the primitive times; and history informs us ofits being preached about this time, in many other places. Peter speaksof a church at Babylon; Paul proposed a journey to Spain, and it isgenerally believed he went there, and likewise came to France andBritain. 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 theIsle of Patmos, in the Archipelago. Philip is reported to havepreached in upper Asia, Scythia, and Phrygia; Bartholomew in India, onthis side the Ganges, Phrygia, and Armenia; Matthew in Arabia, orAsiatic Ethiopia, and Parthia; Thomas in India, as far as the coast ofCoromandel, and some say in the island of Ceylon; Simon, theCanaanite, in Egypt, Cyrene, Mauritania, Lybia, and other parts ofAfrica, and from thence to have come to Britain; and Jude is said tohave been principally engaged in the lesser Asia, and Greece. Theirlabours were evidently very extensive, and very successful; so thatPliny, the younger, who lived soon after the death of the apostles, ina letter to the emperor, Trajan, observed that Christianity hadspread, not only through towns and cities, but also through wholecountries. Indeed before this, in the time of Nero, it was soprevalent that it was thought necessary to oppose it by an ImperialEdict, and accordingly the proconsuls, and other governors, werecommissioned to destroy it. 

Justin Martyr, who lived about the middle of the second century, inhis dialogue with Trypho, observed that there was no part of mankind, whether greeks or barbarians, or any others, by what name soever theywere called, whether the Sarmatians, or the Nomades, who had nohouses, or the Scenites of Arabia Petrea, who lived in tents amongtheir cattle, where supplications and thanksgivings are not offered upto the Father, and maker of all things, through the name of JesusChrist. Irenaeus, who lived about the year 170, speaks of churchesthat were founded in Germany, Spain, France, the eastern countries, Egypt, Lybia, and the middle of the world. Tertullian, who lived andwrote at Carthage in Africa, about twenty years afterwards, enumerating the countries where Christianity had penetrated, makesmention 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 ofSpain, many nations of the Gauls, and the places in Britain which wereinaccessible 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, wereso remarkably blessed of God, that the last mentioned writer observed, in a letter to Scapula, that if he began a persecution the city ofCarthage itself must be decimated thereby. Yea, and so abundant werethey in the three first centuries, that ten years constant and almostuniversal persecution under Dioclesian, could neither root out theChristians, nor prejudice their cause. 

After this they had great encouragement under several emperors, particularly Constantine and Theodosius, and a very great work of Godwas carried on; but the ease and affluence which in these timesattended the church, served to introduce a flood of corruption, whichby degrees brought on the whole system of popery, by means of whichall appeared to be lost again; and Satan set up his kingdom ofdarkness, deceit, and human authority over conscience, through all theChristian world. 

In the time of Constantine, one Frumentius was sent to preach to theIndians, and met with great success. A young woman who was aChristian, being taken captive by the Iberians, or Georgians, near theCaspian Sea, informed them of the truths of Christianity, and was somuch regarded that they sent to Constantine for ministers to come andpreach the word to them. About the same time some barbarous nationshaving made irruptions into Thrace, carried away several Christianscaptive, who preached the gospel; by which means the inhabitants uponthe Rhine, and the Danube, the Celtae, and some other parts of Gaul, were brought to embrace Christianity. About this time also James ofNisbia, went into Persia to strengthen the Christians, and preach tothe heathens; and his success was so great that Adiabene was almostentirely Christian. About the year 372, one Moses, a Monk, went topreach to the Saracens, who then lived in Arabia, where he had greatsuccess; and at this time the Goths, and other northern nations, hadthe kingdom of Christ further extended amongst them, but which wasvery soon corrupted with Arianism. 

Soon after this the kingdom of Christ was further extended among theScythian Nomades, beyond the Danube, and about the year 430, a peoplecalled the Burgundians, received the gospel. Four years after, thatPalladius was sent to preach in Scotland, and the next year Patrickwas sent from Scotland to preach to the Irish who before his time weretotally uncivilized, and, some say, cannibals; he however, was useful, and laid the foundations of several churches in Ireland. Presentlyafter this, truth spread further among the Saracens, and in 522, Zathus, king of the Colchians encouraged it, and many of that nationwere converted to Christianity. About this time also the work wasextended in Ireland, by Finian, and in Scotland by Constantine andColumba; the latter of whom preached also to the Picts, and Brudaeus, their king, with several others, were converted. About 541, Adad, theking of Ethiopia, was converted by the preaching of Mansionarius; theHeruli beyond the Danube, were now made obedient to the faith, and theAbasgi, near the Caucasian Mountains. 

But now popery, especially the compulsive part of it, was risen tosuch an height, that the usual method of propagating the gospel, orrather what was so called, was to conquer pagan nations by force ofarms, and then oblige them to submit to Christianity, after whichbishopricks were erected, and persons then sent to instruct thepeople. I shall just mention some of those who are said to havelaboured 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 inNorthumberland; Birinnius preached to the West Saxons, and Felix tothe East Angles. In 589, Amandus Gallus laboured in Ghent, Chelenus inArtois, and Gallus and Columbanus in Suabia. In 648, Egidius Gallus inFlanders, and the two Evaldi, in Westphalia. In 684, Willifred, in theIsle 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 theyear 800, and obliged the inhabitants to profess Christianity, whenModestus likewise preached to the Venedi, at the source of the Saveand 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 Christianitywas extirpated; but about 870 they were re-converted. Poland began tobe brought over about the same time, and afterwards, about 960 or 990, the work was further extended amongst the Poles and Prussians. Thework was begun in Norway in 960, and in Muscovy in 989, the Swedespropagated Christianity in Finland, in 1168, Lithuania becameChristian in 1386, and Samogitia in 1439. The Spaniards forced poperyupon the inhabitants of South-America, and the Portuguese in Asia. The Jesuits were sent into China in 1552. Xavier, whom they call theapostle of the Indians, laboured in the East-Indies and Japan, from1541 to 1552, and several millions of Capauchins were sent to Africain the seventeenth century. But blind zeal, gross superstition, andinfamous cruelties, so marked the appearances of religion all thistime, that the professors of Christianity needed conversion, as muchas the heathen world. 

A few pious people had fled from the general corruption, and livedobscurely in the vallies of Piedmont and Savoy, who were like the seedof the church. Some of them were now and then necessitated to travelinto other parts, where they faithfully testified against thecorruptions of the times. About 1369 Wickliffe began to preach thefaith in England, and his preaching and writings were the means of theconversion 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 andJerom of Prague, preached boldly and successfully in Bohemia, and theadjacent parts. In the following century Luther, Calvin, Melancton, Bucer, Martyr, and many others, stood up against all the rest of theworld; they preached, and prayed, and wrote; and nations agreed oneafter another to cast off the yoke of popery, and to embrace thedoctrine of the gospel. 

In England, episcopal tyranny succeeded to popish cruelty, which, inthe year 1620, obliged many pious people to leave their native landand settle in America; these were followed by others in 1629, who laidthe foundations of several gospel churches, which have increasedamazingly since that time, and the Redeemer has fixed his throne inthat country, where but a little time ago, Satan had universaldominion. 

In 1632, Mr. Elliot, of New-England, a very pious and zealousminister, began to preach to the Indians, among whom he had greatsuccess; several churches of Indians were planted, and some preachersand school-masters raised up amongst them; since which time othershave laboured amongst them with some good encouragement. About theyear 1743, Mr. David Brainerd was sent a missionary to some moreIndians, where he preached, and prayed, and after some time anextraordinary work of conversion was wrought, and wonderful successattended his ministry. And at this present time, Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Sergeant are employed in the same good work, and God has considerablyblessed 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 wereuseful to the natives, so that many of the heathens were turned to theLord. The Dutch East-India Company likewise having extended theircommerce, built the city of Batavia, and a church was opened there;and the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time, on the 3dof January, 1621, by their minister James Hulzibos, from hence someministers were sent to Amboyna, who were very successful. A seminaryof learning was erected at Leyden, in which ministers and assistantswere educated, under the renowned _Walaeus_, and some years a greatnumber were sent to the East, at the Company's expence, so that in alittle 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 inCeylon, 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 thisgood work; they have sent missions to Greenland, Labrador, and severalof the West-Indian Islands, which have been blessed for good. Theyhave likewise sent to Abyssinia, in Africa, but what success they havehad I cannot tell. 

The late Mr. Wesley lately made an effort in the West-Indies, and someof 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 itsusual 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 religionI shall divide into Christian, Jewish, Mahometan, and Pagan; and shallnow and then hint at the particular sect of them that prevails in theplaces which I shall describe. The following Tables will exhibit amore comprehensive view of what I propose, than any thing I can offeron 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 100Denmark 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, & MahometansLesser 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 aboutin 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 GangesIndostan 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 byChristian 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 thechief 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 denominationsTerra 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-BayCalifornia, and from 2820 1380 9, 000, 000 Pagans. Thence along the degrees south latitude, and so far inland as to meet the above articleAll to the north of unknown. Pagans. 70 degreesCape 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 theprincipal--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 theworld; though in many countries, as Turkey, Arabia, Great Tartary, Africa, and America, except the United States, and most of the AsiaticIslands, we have no accounts of the number of inhabitants, that can berelied on. I have therefore only calculated the extent, and counted acertain number on an average upon a square mile; in some countriesmore, and in others less, according as circumstances determine. A fewgeneral 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 hundredand twenty millions of whom are still in pagan darkness; an hundredand thirty millions the followers of Mahomet; an hundred millionscatholics; forty-four millions protestants; thirty millions of thegreek and armenian churches, and perhaps seven millions of jews. Itmust undoubtedly strike every considerate mind, what a vast proportionof the sons of Adam there are, who yet remain in the most deplorablestate of heathen darkness, without any means of knowing the true God, except what are afforded them by the works of nature; and utterlydestitute of the knowledge of the gospel of Christ, or of any means ofobtaining it. In many of these countries they have no writtenlanguage, consequently no Bible, and are only led by the most childishcustoms and traditions. Such, for instance, are all the middle andback parts of North America, the inland parts of South America, theSouth-Sea Islands, New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea; and I may addGreat Tartary, Siberia, Samojedia, and the other parts of Asiacontiguous to the frozen sea; the greatest part of Africa, the islandof Madagascar, and many places beside. In many of these parts alsothey are cannibals, feeding upon the flesh of their slain enemies, with the greatest brutality and eagerness. The truth of this wasascertained, beyond a doubt, by the late eminent navigator, Cooke, ofthe New Zealanders, and some of the inhabitants of the western coastof America. Human sacrifices are also very frequently offered, so thatscarce a week elapses without instances of this kind. They are ingeneral 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 ascapable of knowledge as we are; and in many places, at least, havediscovered uncommon genius and tractableness; and I greatly questionwhether most of the barbarities practiced by them, have not originatedin some real or supposed affront, and are therefore, more properly, acts of self-defence, than proofs of inhuman and blood-thirstydispositions. 

THIRDLY, in other parts, where they have a written language, as in theEast-Indies, China, Japan, &c. They know nothing of the gospel. Thejesuits indeed once made many converts to popery among the Chinese;but their highest aim seemed to be to obtain their good opinion; forthough the converts professed themselves Christians, yet they wereallowed to honour the image of CONFUCIUS their great law-giver; and atlength their ambitious intrigues brought upon them the displeasure ofgovernment, which terminated in the suppression of the mission, andalmost, if not entirely, of the Christian name. It is also amelancholy fact, that the vices of Europeans have been communicatedwherever they themselves have been; so that the religious state ofeven heathens has been rendered worse by intercourse with them!

FOURTHLY, a very great proportion of Asia and Africa, with some partof Europe, are _Mahometans_; and those in Persia, who are of the sectof _Hali_, are the most inveterate enemies to the Turks; and they inreturn abhor the Persians. The Africans are some of the most ignorantof all the mahometans; especially the Arabs, who are scattered throughall the northern parts of Africa, and live upon the depredations whichthey are continually making upon their neighbours. 

FIFTHLY, in respect to those who bear the Christian name, a very greatdegree of ignorance and immorality abounds amongst them. There areChristians, so called, of the greek and armenian churches, in all themahometan countries; but they are, if possible, more ignorant andvicious than the mahometans themselves. The Georgian Christians, whoare near the Caspian Sea, maintain themselves by selling theirneighbours, relations, and children, for slaves to the Turks andPersians. And it is remarked, that if any of the greeks of Anatoliaturn mussulmen, the Turks never set any store by them, on account oftheir being so much noted for dissimulation and hypocrisy. It is wellknown that most of the members of the greek church are very ignorant. Papists also are in general ignorant of divine things, and veryvicious. Nor do the bulk of the church of England much exceed them, either in knowledge or holiness; and many errors, and much loosenessof conduct, are to be found amongst dissenters of all denominations. The lutherans in Denmark, are much on a par with the ecclesiastics inEngland; and the face of most Christian countries presents a dreadfulscene of ignorance, hypocrisy, and profligacy. Various baneful, andpernicious errors appear to gain ground, in almost every part ofChristendom; the truths of the gospel, and even the gospel itself, areattacked, and every method that the enemy can invent is employed toundermine the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

All these things are loud calls to Christians, and especially toministers, to exert themselves to the utmost in their several spheresof 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 heathenmust arise, I think, from one or other of the following things;--either their distance from us, their barbarous and savage manner ofliving, the danger of being killed by them, the difficulty ofprocuring the necessaries of life, or the unintelligibleness of theirlanguages. 

FIRST, as to their distance from us, whatever objections might havebeen made on that account before the invention of the mariner'scompass, nothing can be alledged for it, with any colour ofplausibility in the present age. Men can now sail with as muchcertainty through the Great South Sea, as they can through theMediterranean, or any lesser Sea. Yea, and providence seems in amanner to invite us to the trial, as there are to our knowledgetrading companies, whose commerce lies in many of the places where, these barbarians dwell. At one time or other ships are sent to visitplaces of more recent discovery, and to explore parts the mostunknown; and every fresh account of their ignorance, or cruelty, should call forth our pity, and excite us to concur with providence inseeking their eternal good. Scripture likewise seems to point out thismethod, _Surely the Isles shall wait for me; the ships of Tarshishfirst, to bring my sons from far, their silver, and their gold withthem, unto the name of the Lord, thy God. _ Isai. Lx. 9. This seems toimply that in the time of the glorious increase of the church, in thelatter days, (of which the whole chapter is undoubtedly a prophecy, )commerce shall subserve the spread of the gospel. The ships ofTarshish were trading vessels, which made voyages for traffic tovarious parts; thus much therefore must be meant by it, that_navigation_, especially that which is _commercial_, shall be onegreat mean of carrying on the work of God; and perhaps it may implythat there shall be a very considerable appropriation of wealth tothat purpose. 

SECONDLY, as to their uncivilized, and barbarous way of living, thiscan be no objection to any, except those whose love of ease rendersthem unwilling to expose themselves to inconveniencies for the good ofothers. 

It was no objection to the apostles and their successors, who wentamong the barbarous _Germans_ and _Gauls_, and still more barbarous_Britons_! They did not wait for the ancient inhabitants of thesecountries, to be civilized, before they could be christianized, butwent simply with the doctrine of the cross; and TERTULLIAN could boastthat "those parts of Britain which were proof against the Romanarmies, were conquered by the gospel of Christ"--It was no objectionto an ELLIOT, or a BRAINERD, in later times. They went forth, andencountered every difficulty of the kind, and found that a cordialreception of the gospel produced those happy effects which the longestintercourse with Europeans, without it could never accomplish. It _is_no objection to commercial men. It only requires that we should haveas 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 allthese difficulties would be easily surmounted. 

After all, the uncivilized state of the heathen, instead of affordingan objection _against_ preaching the gospel to them, ought to furnishan argument _for_ it. Can we as men, or as christians, hear that agreat part of our fellow creatures, whose souls are as immortal asours, and who are as capable as ourselves, of adorning the gospel, andcontributing by their preaching, writings, or practices to the gloryof our Redeemer's name, and the good of his church, are inveloped inignorance and barbarism? Can we hear that they are without the gospel, without government, without laws, and without arts, and sciences; andnot exert ourselves to introduce amongst them the sentiments of men, and of Christians? Would not the spread of the gospel be the mosteffectual mean of their civilization? Would not that make them usefulmembers of society? We know that such effects did in a measure followthe afore-mentioned efforts of _Elliot_, _Brainerd_, and othersamongst the American Indians; and if similar attempts were made inother parts of the world, and succeeded with a divine blessing (whichwe have every reason to think they would) might we not expect to seeable Divines, or read well-conducted treatises in defence of thetruth, even amongst those who at present seem to be scarcely human?

THIRDLY, _In respect to the danger of being killed by them_, it istrue that whoever does go must put his life in his hand, and notconsult 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 toventure all and use every warrantable exertion for their benefit? PAULand BARNABAS, who _hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord JesusChrist_, were not blamed as being rash, but commended for so doing, while JOHN MARK who through timidity of mind deserted them in theirperilous undertaking, was branded with censure. After all, as has beenalready observed, I greatly question whether most of the barbaritiespracticed by the savages upon those who have visited them, have notoriginated in some real or supposed affront, and were therefore, moreproperly, acts of self-defence, than proofs of ferocious dispositions. No wonder if the imprudence of sailors should prompt them to offendthe simple savage, and the offence be resented; but _Elliot_, _Brainerd_, and the _Moravian missionaries_, have been very seldommolested. Nay, in general the heathen have shewed a willingness tohear the word; and have principally expressed their hatred ofChristianity 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 wecould not procure European food, yet we might procure such as thenatives 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 aperson 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 enteringon that sacred office he solemnly undertakes to be always engaged, asmuch as possible, in the Lord's work, and not to chuse his ownpleasure, or employment, or pursue the ministry as a something that isto subserve his own ends, or interests, or as a kind of bye-work. Heengages to go where God pleases, and to do, or endure what he sees fitto command, or call him to, in the exercise of his function. Hevirtually bids farewell to friends, pleasures, and comforts, andstands in readiness to endure the greatest sufferings in the work ofhis Lord, and Master. It is inconsistent for ministers to pleasethemselves with thoughts of a numerous auditory, cordial friends, acivilized country, legal protection, affluence, splendor, or even acompetency. The flights, and hatred of men, and even pretendedfriends, gloomy prisons, and tortures, the society of barbarians ofuncouth 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 oftheir expectation. Thus the apostles acted, in the primitive times, and endured hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and though weliving in a civilized country where Christianity is protected by law, are not called to suffer these things while we continue here, yet Iquestion whether all are justified in staying here, while so many areperishing without means of grace in other lands. Sure I am that it isentirely contrary to the spirit of the gospel, for its ministers toenter upon it from interested motives, or with great worldlyexpectations. On the contrary the commission is a sufficient call tothem to venture all, and, like the primitive Christians, go everywhere preaching the gospel. 

It might be necessary, however, for two, at least, to go together, andin general I should think it best that they should be married men, andto prevent their time from being employed in procuring necessaries, two, or more, other persons, with their wives and families, might alsoaccompany them, who should be wholly employed in providing for them. In most countries it would be necessary for them to cultivate a littlespot of ground just for their support, which would be a resource tothem, whenever their supplies failed. Not to mention the advantagesthey would reap from each others company, it would take off theenormous expence which has always attended undertakings of this kind, the first expence being the whole; for though a large colony needssupport for a considerable time, yet so small a number would, uponreceiving the first crop, maintain themselves. They would have theadvantage of choosing their situation, their wants would be few; thewomen, and even the children, would be necessary for domesticpurposes; 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 ofhusbandry, and some corn to sow their land, would be sufficient. Thosewho attend the missionaries should understand husbandry, fishing, fowling, &c. And be provided with the necessary implements for thesepurposes. Indeed a variety of methods may be thought of, and when oncethe work is undertaken, many things will suggest themselves to us, ofwhich we at present can form no idea. 

FIFTHLY, As to _learning their languages_, the same means would befound necessary here as in trade between different nations. In somecases interpreters might be obtained, who might be employed for atime; and where these were not to be found, the missionaries must havepatience, and mingle with the people, till they have learned so muchof their language as to be able to communicate their ideas to them init. It is well known to require no very extraordinary talents tolearn, in the space of a year, or two at most, the language of anypeople upon earth, so much of it at least, as to be able to convey anysentiments we wish to their understandings. 

The Missionaries must be men of great piety, prudence, courage, andforbearance; of undoubted orthodoxy in their sentiments, and mustenter with all their hearts into the spirit of their mission; theymust be willing to leave all the comforts of life behind them, and toencounter all the hardships of a torrid, or a frigid climate, anuncomfortable manner of living, and every other inconvenience that canattend this undertaking. Clothing, a few knives, powder and shot, fishing-tackle, and the articles of husbandry above-mentioned, must beprovided for them; and when arrived at the place of their destination, their first business must be to gain some acquaintance with thelanguage of the natives, (for which purpose two would be better thanone, ) and by all lawful means to endeavour to cultivate a friendshipwith them, and as soon as possible let them know the errand for whichthey were sent. They must endeavour to convince them that it was theirgood alone, which induced them to forsake their friends, and all thecomforts of their native country. They must be very careful not toresent injuries which may be offered to them, nor to think highly ofthemselves, so as to despise the poor heathens, and by those means laya foundation for their resentment, or rejection of the gospel. Theymust take every opportunity of doing them good, and labouring, andtravelling, 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 thepeople of their charge. Let but missionaries of the above descriptionengage 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 oftheir charge; if such should be raised up many advantages would bederived from their knowledge of the language, and customs of theircountrymen; and their change of conduct would give great weight totheir 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 himto his disciples being obligatory on us, be just, it must be inferredthat all Christians ought heartily to concur with God in promoting hisglorious designs, for _he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit_. 

One of the first, and most important of those duties which areincumbent upon us, is _fervent and united prayer_. However theinfluence of the Holy Spirit may be set at nought, and run down bymany, 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 theheathen world, it will not be _by might, nor by power_, nor by theauthority of the magistrate, or the eloquence of the orator; _but bymy Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts_. We must therefore be in realearnest in supplicating his blessing upon our labours. 

It is represented in the prophets, that when there shall be _a greatmourning in the land, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley ofMegiddon, and every family shall mourn apart, and their wives apart_, it shall all follow upon _a spirit of grace, and supplication_. Andwhen these things shall take place, it is promised that _there shallbe a fountain opened for the house of David, and for the inhabitantsof Jerusalem, for sin, and for uncleanness_, --and that _the idolsshall be destroyed_, and _the false prophets ashamed_ of theirprofession. Zech. Xii 10. 14. --xiii. 1. 6. This prophesy seems toteach that when there shall be an universal conjunction in ferventprayer, and all shall esteem Zion's welfare as their own, then copiousinfluences of the Spirit shall be shed upon the churches, which like apurifying _fountain_ shall cleanse the servants of the Lord. Nor shallthis cleansing influence stop here; all old idolatrous prejudicesshall be rooted out, and truth prevail so gloriously that falseteachers shall be so ashamed as rather to wish to be classed withobscure herdsmen, or the meanest peasants, than bear the ignominyattendant on their detection. 

The most glorious works of grace that have ever took place, have beenin answer to prayer; and it is in this way, we have the greatestreason to suppose, that the glorious out-pouring of the Spirit, whichwe expect at last, will be bestowed. 

With respect to our own immediate connections, we have within thesefew years been favoured with some tokens for good, granted in answerto prayer, which should encourage us to persist, and increase in thatimportant duty. I trust our _monthly prayer-meetings_ for the successof the gospel have not been in vain. It is true a want of importunitytoo generally attends our prayers; yet unimportunate, and feeble asthey have been, it is to be believed that God has heard, and in ameasure answered them. The churches that have engaged in the practicehave in general since that time been evidently on the increase; somecontroversies which have long perplexed and divided the church, aremore clearly stated than ever; there are calls to preach the gospel inmany places where it has not been usually published; yea, a gloriousdoor is opened, and is likely to be opened wider and wider, by thespread of civil and religious liberty, accompanied also by adiminution of the spirit of popery; a noble effort has been made toabolish the inhuman Slave-Trade, and though at present it has not beenso successful as might be wished, yet it is to be hoped it will bepersevered in, till it is accomplished. In the mean time it is asatisfaction to consider that the late defeat of the abolition of theSlave-Trade has proved the occasion of a praise worthy effort tointroduce a free settlement, at _Sierra Leona_, on the coast ofAfrica; an effort which, if succeeded with a divine blessing, not onlypromises to open a way for honourable commerce with that extensivecountry, and for the civilization of its inhabitants, but may provethe happy mean of introducing amongst them the gospel of our LordJesus Christ. 

These are events that ought not to be over-looked; they are not to bereckoned small things; and yet perhaps they _are_ small compared withwhat might have been expected, if all had cordially entered into thespirit of the proposal, so as to have made the cause of Christ theirown, or in other words to have been so solicitous about it, as iftheir own advantage depended upon its success. If an holy solicitudehad prevailed in all the assemblies of Christians in behalf of theirRedeemer's kingdom, we might probably have seen before now, not onlyan _open door_ for the gospel, but _many running to and fro, andknowledge increased_; or a diligent use of those means whichprovidence has put in our power, accompanied with a greater blessingthan ordinary from heaven. 

Many can do nothing but pray, and prayer is perhaps the only thing inwhich Christians of all denominations can cordially, and unreservedlyunite; but in this we may all be one, and in this the strictestunanimity ought to prevail. Were the whole body thus animated by onesoul, with what pleasure would Christians attend on all the duties ofreligion, and with what delight would their ministers attend on allthe business of their calling. 

We must not be contented however with praying, without _exertingourselves in the use of means_ for the obtaining of those things wepray for. Were _the children of light_, but _as wise in theirgeneration as the children of this world_, they would stretch everynerve to gain so glorious a prize, nor ever imagine that it was to beobtained in any other way. 

When a trading company have obtained their charter they usually go toits utmost limits; and their stocks, their ships, their officers, andmen are so chosen, and regulated, as to be likely to answer theirpurpose; but they do not stop here, for encouraged by the prospect ofsuccess, they use every effort, cast their bread upon the waters, cultivate friendship with every one from whose information they expectthe least advantage. They cross the widest and most tempestuous seas, and encounter the most unfavourable climates; they introducethemselves into the most barbarous nations, and sometimes undergo themost affecting hardships; their minds continue in a state of anxiety, and suspence, and a longer delay than usual in the arrival of theirvessels agitates them with a thousand changeful thoughts, andforeboding apprehensions, which continue till the rich returns aresafe arrived in port. But why these fears? Whence all thesedisquietudes, and this labour? Is it not because their souls enterinto the spirit of the project, and their happiness in a mannerdepends on its success?--Christians are a body whose truest interestlies in the exaltation of the Messiah's kingdom. Their charter is veryextensive, their encouragements exceeding great, and the returnspromised infinitely superior to all the gains of the most lucrativefellowship. Let then every one in his station consider himself asbound to act with all his might, and in every possible way for God. 

Suppose a company of serious Christians, ministers and privatepersons, were to form themselves into a society, and make a number ofrules respecting the regulation of the plan, and the persons who areto be employed as missionaries, the means of defraying the expence, &c. &c. This society must consist of persons whose hearts are in thework, men of serious religion, and possessing a spirit ofperseverance; there must be a determination not to admit any personwho is not of this description, or to retain him longer than heanswers to it. 

From such a society a _committee_ might be appointed, whose businessit should be to procure all the information they could upon thesubject, to receive contributions, to enquire into the characters, tempers, abilities and religious views of the missionaries, and alsoto provide them with necessaries for their undertakings. 

They must also pay a great attention to the views of those whoundertake this work; for want of this the missions to the SpiceIslands, sent by the Dutch East-India Company, were soon corrupted, many going more for the sake of settling in a place where temporalgain invited them, than of preaching to the poor Indians. This soonintroduced a number of indolent, or profligate persons, whose liveswere a scandal to the doctrines which they preached: and by means ofwhom the gospel was ejected from Ternate, in 1694, and Christianityfell into great disrepute in other places. 

If there is any reason for me to hope that I shall have any influenceupon any of my brethren, and fellow Christians, probably it may bemore especially amongst them of my own denomination. I would thereforepropose 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 denominationof Christians. I wish with all my heart, that every one who loves ourLord Jesus Christ in sincerity, would in some way or other engage init. But in the present divided state of Christendom, it would be morelikely for good to be done by each denomination engaging separately inthe work, than if they were to embark in it conjointly. There is roomenough for us all, without interfering with each other; and if nounfriendly interference took place, each denomination would bear goodwill to the other, and wish, and pray for its success, considering itas upon the whole friendly to the great cause of true religion; but ifall were intermingled, it is likely their private discords might throwa damp upon their spirits, and much retard their public usefulness. 

In respect to _contributions_ for defraying the expences, money willdoubtless be wanting; and suppose the rich were to embark a portion ofthat wealth over which God has made them stewards, in this importantundertaking, perhaps there are few ways that would turn to a betteraccount at last. Nor ought it to be confined to the _rich_; if personsin more moderate circumstances were to devote a portion, suppose a_tenth_, of their annual increase to the Lord, it would not onlycorrespond with the practice of the Israelites, who lived under theMosaic Oeconomy, but of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, before that dispensation commenced. Many of our most eminentfore-fathers amongst the _Puritans_, followed that practice; and ifthat were but attended to now, there would not only be enough tosupport the ministry of the gospel at home, and to encourage _villagepreaching_ in our respective neighbourhoods, but to defray theexpences of carrying the gospel into the heathen world. 

If congregations were to open subscriptions of _one penny_, or moreper week, according to their circumstances, and deposit it as a fundfor the propogation of the gospel, much might be raised in this way. By such simple means they might soon have it in their power tointroduce the preaching of the gospel into most of the villages inEngland; where, though men are placed whose business it should be togive light to those who sit in darkness, it is well known that theyhave it not. Where there was no person to open his house for thereception of the gospel, some other building might be procured for asmall sum, and even then something considerable might be spared forthe baptist, or other committees, for propogating the gospel amongstthe heathen. 

Many persons have of late left off the use of _West-India sugar_ onaccount of the iniquitous manner in which it is obtained. Thosefamilies who have done so, and have not substituted any thing else inits place, have not only cleansed their hands of blood, but have madea saving to their families, some of six pence, and some of a shillinga week. If this, or a part of this were appropriated to the usesbefore-mentioned, it would abundantly suffice. We have only to keepthe end in view, and have our hearts thoroughly engaged in the pursuitof it, and means will not be very difficult. 

We are exhorted _to lay up treasure in heaven, where neither moth norrust doth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. _ It is alsodeclared 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 thatof the harvest, and the seed. It is true all the reward is of meregrace, but it is nevertheless encouraging; what a _treasure_, what an_harvest_ must await such characters as PAUL, and ELLIOT, andBRAINERD, and others, who have given themselves wholly to the work ofthe Lord. What a heaven will it be to see the many myriads of poorheathens, of Britons amongst the rest, who by their labours have beenbrought to the knowledge of God. Surely a _crown of rejoicing_ likethis is worth aspiring to. Surely it is worth while to lay ourselvesout with all our might, in promoting the cause, and kingdom of Christ. 

 FINIS.