CHRISTIAN PUBLIC, PREPARED AND PUBLISHED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.

IMMEDIATELY after their first organization in September of the last year, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions respectfully solicited the serious and liberal attention of the Christian public to the great object of their appointment. They are now happy in having it in their power to acknowledge, with gratitude to the Father of all good, that the solicitation was not in vain. Many have viewed the object with deep interest, and some have embraced the earliest opportunity of promoting it by their pious liberality. The name of the late Mrs. Norris in particular is endeared to thousands; and what she has done will be told for a memorial of her in distant lands, and in generations to come. Animated by the encouragement given them, and impelled by a regard to their high responsibility, the Commissioners have made an important advance in the prosecution of their design. At their late annual meeting they resolved to establish, as soon as practicable, a Christian mission in the East, and another in the West. In the East, their attention will first be directed to the Birman empire; and in the West, to the Caghnawaga tribe of Indians.

The Birman empire, which lies on the farther peninsula of India, between Hindoostan and China, comprises within its present limits the native country of the Birmahs, together with the ancient kingdoms of Arracan and Pegu, a considerable part of Siam, and several smaller territories, all which, though formerly subject to their own independent princes, are now reduced under the power of one Imperial chief. The population, according to the most probable estimate, amounts to not less than fifteen millions; and the people are considerably advanced in civilization. They are vigorous, intelligent, and tractable, and in many respects superior to the Hindoos; yet not less deeply immersed in the darkness and corruptions of Paganism. On the whole, it is believed, that scarcely any part of the world presents a more inviting or a more important field for Christian missionaries, than does the Birman empire.

This nation, it is true, is at a great distance from us; but is it not composed of our brethren, descended from the same common parVOL. IV. New Series.

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ents, involved in the consequences of the same fatal apostasy from God, and inhabiting the same world, to every creature in which the Savior has directed that his Gospel should be preached? And by whom is this direction to be obeyed, in regard to them, if not by us? The Christians of Great Britain are, indeed, ardently engaged in the glorious work of evangelizing the nations; but in imparting the word of life to the hundreds of millions ready to perish in Asia and Africa, they need and they desire our help.

Though the field is distant, it is not unknown; and as reasonable calculations can be made with respect to success in this region, as we can ordinarily hope to make with respect. to an untried object of this nature. Distance of place alters not the claims of the heathen, so long as the means of access to them are in our power. Christianity is equally a blessing to the inhabitants of the polar circle, and to those of the torrid zone. The salvation of the soul is all-important to the heathen natives of the Indian peninsulas, as well as to the Christian descendants of pious ancestors. Wherever the knowledge of Christ can be spread, there is the field for Christian exertions. A few years ago our countrymen sent a donation to the Baptist Missionaries in Bengal, to assist them in translating and printing the Bible. Though the place was distant, the remittance soon arrived, and was immediately appropriated to its destined object; and the natives of Hindoostan, to a greater extent than would have been otherwise practicable, are now reading the word of God in' their own language, in consequence of this very donation. It is not too much to hope, that those pious persons who shall enable the Commissioners to establish a permanent mission in the East, will, in a few years, hear a good report from the scene of their liberality; that they will read of Christian schools, and Christian churches, casting a mild and salutary light through dark regions, and affording a happy presage of the latter-day glory.

But while the Commissioners view with deep interest the populous regions of the East, they are not unmindful of the Pagan tribes on our own continent. Among these, no tribe perhaps bids fairer to give the Gospel a favorable reception, and eventually an extensive spread, than the Caghnawagas in Lower Canada. Their situation is of easy access; they are well disposed towards the white people, and have great influence with their red brethren of other tribes. And a fact not to be disregarded among the indications of Providence, is, that a native of that tribe, a pious young man, whose heart burns with a desire to carry the Gospel to his countrymen, is now in a course of education, and gives promise of eminent usefulness.

Here, then, are presented two great fields for missionary labors; fields rich in hopeful prospects, and offering ample scope for Christian benevolence and exertion. Laborers are also ready to enter the fields, and impatiently wait for the means of conveyance and support. Can these means be withheld? Can the Christians of this favored land be willing, that, for the want of these means, millions

of their fellow-men should remain in darkness, and perish for lack of knowledge?

To be impressed with the importance of the Gospel to the character and condition of inan, even in the present world, we need only glance at a comparative view of Pagan and Christian nations; we need only look, indeed, at the difference, as exhibited by the excellent Dr. Buchanan, between the Pagan natives at Benares and Juggernaut, and the Christian natives at Tranquebar and Cande-nad. The infinite importance of the Gospel to the character and condition of mankind with reference to the world to come, no sound believer in Divine revelation can doubt. The Gospel is the grand instrument, ordained by infinite wisdom "to turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God." It is, in effect, the power of God unto salvation "to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

How, then, is the Gospel to be imparted to men in the dark places of the earth, if not through the instrumentality of missions? Is not this the very way which the glorious Author of the Gospel has himself seen fit to appoint? Is it not the way, and the only way, in which any part of the world has ever been evangelized? What were the apostles and first preachers of the Gospel, by whom so many nations were converted, but Christian missionaries? Was it not by missions that the Gospel was made known, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for the obedience of faith, to the nations in the west and north of Europe, in the sixth, the seventh, and the following centuries; and that our own remote ancestors were turned from their idols to serve the living God, and to transmit the knowledge of salvation to their posterity? Had it not been for missions, the British islands, in which so many immortal spirits have been sanctified by the truth and prepared for heaven, and in which so much Christian beneficence is now displayed; these very islands, from which we derive our origin, our language, our laws, and our religion, might have been still inhabited by savages worshipping in the groves of the Druids, or offering human sacrifices to their false gods.

In later times, Ziegenbalg and Swartz in the East, and Eliot and Brainerd in the West, have given illustrious examples of what might be done by patient and persevering zeal in missionary labors; and not only shall their memory long be blessed on earth, but their witness is in heaven, and their record on high.

By means of the single missionary establishment at Tranquebar, first commenced by Ziegenbalg about a century ago, and afterwards conducted by his worthy successors, particularly by the venerabie Swartz, not less, it is estimated, than eighty thousand Pagans, "forsaking their idols and their vices, have been added to the Christian Church." If not so much can be said of the missions of Eliot and Brainerd, it is to be considered, that their labors were among a people scattered in the wilderness, and that men of a like spirit were not found to succeed them in their work, and prosecute their pious design. Still, however, there were precious fruits of their labors, which will remain for joy and praise, in the kingdom of the Re

deemer, when this world shall be no more. The general history of such missions as have at any time been conducted on Christian principles, and with a real regard to the salvation of the heathen, affords abundant encouragement to proceed with vigor, in the same glorious cause.

But if so much has been done by a few men, and in ordinary times, what may we not expect from united and extensive exertions in the present extraordinary period of the world? For some time before the Messiah came a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel, an expectation extensively prevailed, that a glorious luminary was about to arise, and an important change to commence. Prophecies to this effect were on record, and the providence of God strikingly indicated their approaching fulfilment. Something very similar to all this is manifest in the present age. If the Messiah was then the Desire of all nations, his millennial reign is no less so now. If the seventy prophetic weeks of Daniel were then drawing to a close, the 1260 mystical days of the same Jewish prophet, and of the Christian prophet John, are now hastening to their completion. If the providence of God strikingly indicated the approach of the glorious change then expected, not less strikingly do the unusual events, which now astonish the nations, indicate the approach of a change still more glorious, because more complete and universal. The Lord himself has arisen to shake terribly the earth, and to plead his own cause with the nations. But though the Dar of vengeance is in his heart, the rEAR of his redeemed is cone.

Prophecy, history, and the present state of the world, seem to unite in declaring, that the great pillars of the Papal and Mahom edan impostures are now tottering to their fall. The civilized world is in a state of awful convulsion and unparalleled distress. At the same time, Christians are awakened to a perception of their peculiar duties, and to correspondent labors and sacrifices. New facilities are afforded for the dispersion of the Scriptures in many languages, for the establishment of missions, and the general promulgation of the Gospel. The enormity of the heathen superstition, and the unutterable evils which march in its train, stand forth to view in all their hideous proportions. Now is the time for the followers of Christ to come forward boldly, and engage earnestly in the great work of enlightening and reforming mankind. Never was the glory of the Christian religion more clearly discernible; never was the futility of all other schemes more manifest; never were the encouragements to benevolent exertion greater, than at the present day. In the great conflict between truth and error, what Christian will refuse to take an active part? Satan has long deceived the nations, and held in ignorance and idolatry much the greater part of the human race. When his empire is assailed, and his throne begins to crumble under him, what friend of the Redeemer will refuse to come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Ultimate victory is secure, as it is promised by Him who cannot lie, and in whose hands are the hearts of all men. What Christian will not esteem it a privilege to be

come instrumental, though in a humble degree, in accomplishing the glorious and beneficent purposes of Jehovah, by extending the influence of the Gospel?

It appears from what has been stated in this address, and would more fully appear from a sketch of missionary exertions made during the last century, and especially during the last twenty years, that a great and effectual door for the promulgation of the Gospel among the heathen is now opened to all Christian nations: but to no nation is it more inviting, than to the people of New England. The truth of this declaration will be easily manifest from the following considerations:

First: No nation ever experienced the blessings of the Christian. religion more evidently, and uniformly, than the inhabitants of New England, from its first colonization till the present time, through nearly two centuries. Of all our social and civil enjoyments, scarcely one is worthy to be mentioned, which is not derived directly, or indirectly, from this holy religion; and all the enjoyments, which concern us as immortal beings, spring directly from this source. If we were deprived of all the civilization and liberty, all the present consolations and future hopes, which we receive from the Gospel, what should we have left? Where is the Christian who would not mourn day and night, were he told, that at some future time this favored land should sink into the superstition, corruption, and impiety of Paganism; that the Sabbath should become extinct, our churches moulder to ruin, no voice of supplication ascend to Jehovah, no children be dedicated in baptism to the triune God, and no memorial be observed of the Redeemer's sufferings, atonement, death, and resurrection; that, instead of the rational worship of Christian assemblies, future generations should behold some horrible idol receiving the adoration of deluded millions. Where is the person of common humanity, who would not lift up the voice of lamentation at the certain prospect of such an apostasy from the truth, and such a debasing fall into the cruelties and debaucheries, the sins and miseries of heathenism? If we should feel so intensely at the prospect of these evils befalling our own country, can we avoid being touched with compassion at the sight of many populous nations, which have been subjected for ages, and are still subjected, to the power of the most degrading idolatry? Are we not called upon in a peculiar manner to exert ourselves in dispelling this worse than Egyptian darkness?

Let us reflect for a moment, on the tendency of missionary exertions to promote religion among ourselves. The Rev. Mr. Grout, in his sermon before the Hampshire Missionary Society, observes, that "what seems to be peculiarly worthy of attention is the unusual effusion of God's Spirit in and near the places, where the missionary spirit has prevailed." "About nine years have elapsed," he adds, "since the establishment of this Society. In what other period of that length have we witnessed in this county so many instances of the refreshings of Divine grace?" The preacher then pertinently inquires, "Do not these things, like the pillar of the cloud and of the fire in the camp of Israel, betoken the Divine presence to have