HISTORY

OF THE

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

FROM 1792 TO 1842.

BY THE

REV. F. A. COX, D. D., LL. D.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A SKETCH OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSION.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

FIRST THOUSAND.

LONDON:

T. WARD & CO., AND G. & J. DYER,

PATERNOSTER ROW.

MDCCCXLII.

3231

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE proceedings of the Baptist Missionary Society have hitherto appeared in the form of periodical accounts, brief narratives, reports, letters, and other minor productions; but it has long been regarded as a desideratum that a different kind of history should be written. In this attempt, the author has aimed to disentangle the most important facts from the confusion into which they have been thrown-to introduce men and things, as they have been familiarised by personal knowledge-to select the most important biographies, European and oriental-to point out the origin, and trace the results of various missionary operations in connexion with the Society--to show the literary as well as religious bearing of the mission— to contemplate its moral effects and public influence -and to mark, at every step, the superintending providence of God.

iv

The author has been induced to add to his work a brief account of the General Baptist Mission, at the suggestion of some of the friends of that kindred institution. This sketch must, in fact, be regarded as the production of his friend the Rev. J. Peggs, of Ilkeston; being the abridgment of a manuscript which he has furnished.

The thanks of the author are hereby presented to Mr. Bernard Barton for having kindly contributed an introductory poem to adorn his volumes.

Finally, he has to discharge a duty to every reader, by pouring forth a fervent prayer on his behalf, that he may not only peruse with some interest the narrative of events so important, and the sketches of the characters of men so distinguished, but largely participate the grace of that Holy Spirit whose mighty power has been conspicuously displayed in all the successes of the missionary enterprise.

Hackney, September 12, 1842.

INTRODUCTORY VERSES

BY BERNARD BARTON.

COMMUNICATED EXPRESSLY FOR THIS WORK.

THESE went not forth, as man too oft hath done,
Braving the ocean billows' wild uproar,

In hopes to gather, ere life's sands were run,
Yet added heaps of mammon's sordid ore;—
They went not forth earth's treasures to explore,
Where sleeps in sunless depths the diamond's ray;
Nor were they urged by love of classic lore,

Their homage of idolatry to pay

Where heroes fought and fell, or poets poured their lay.