This axiom is enough to silence the common inquiry on this subject; What need of Societies? Why may not each man dispense his charity for himself? The very proposal of these questions shows, that charitable enterprises are yet comparatively in their infancy. The time will come,when no man will think of asking, What need of charitable societies, any more than he would think of inquiring, What need is there of eivil government?

Mr. Martyn, in the latter part of his sermon, enumerates the different classes of natives in India, who make more or less of a profession of Christianity. Vastly the greater part have nothing of Christianity but the name; others have more knowledge; and others still are, as there is good reason to hope, true believers. The different classes are estimated by Mr. M. as follows. 1. The Portuguese, 50,000 2. Christians of Tanjore, 12,000 3. Christians on the Mal

abar coast, of whom three fourths are Roman Catholies, and the rest Syrian Christians,200,000 4. The Cingalese Chris

tians, (of whom about
half are Roman Cath-
olics,) amounting in
the whole to above

600,000

Mr. Martyn, while urging the distribution of the Bible as the grand mean of raising up native preachers, observes, "It has always been so in every country; they were first called and directed by the missionary, and after a little time went on by themselves." Let this decision of a man every way competent to decide, be regarded with the consideration, which it merits.

1

The closing paragraph of this excellent sermon is as follows:

"Imagine the sad situation of a sick or dying Christian, who has just heard enough of eternity to be afraid of death and not enough of a Savior to look beyond it with hope. He cannot call for a Bible to look for something to support him, or ask his wife or child to read him a consolatory chapter. The Bible, alas! is a treasure, which they never had the happiness to have hearts to feel for the miseries of possess. Ŏ pity their distress, you that your fellow-creatures; you that have discernment to see, that a wounded spirit is far more agon, ing than any earth-begotten woes; you that know that you too must one day die, O give unto him what may comfort him in a dying hour. The Lord who loves our brethren, who gave his life for them and for you, who gave you the Bible before them, and now wills that they should receive it from you; He will reward you. They cannot recompense you: but you shall be recompensed at the reswill say unto you, inasmuch as ye have urrection of the just. The King himself done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

In the year 1810, a subscription was opened at Calcutta for the promotion of the objects of the British and Foreign Bible Society, but principally for the distribution of the Scriptures in the Tamul language. To satisfy the natural curiosity of our readers we copy a list of those donations, which were not less than 200 rupees each, expressing the value of the donations in dollars. The names of several of the donors are well known in this country.

288

96

384

240 120

480

96

From eighty five other donors, in sums less than 200 rupees each, $1,835

$6,477

We remark with pleasure, that the name of every Episcopal clergyman in that part of India, so far as our knowledge extends, is to be found in the preceding

list of donations.

LXVIII. An Address to the Rev. Eustace Carey, Jan. 19, 1814, on his designation as a Chris tian Missionary to India. By ROBERT HALL, M. A. Leicester; [Eng] Thomas Combe. pp. 49.

THE character of Mr. Hall has been several years established, and is now universally pronounced to be that of an able and eloquent writer, a truly great man, and a consistent and catholic Christian. All his productions bear the stamp of greatness and dignity; and the sublimity of his eloquence has certainly not been surpassed in modern times. The Eclectic Reviewers have declar ed, that they know not where to find a parallel, in any oration anCient or modern, to the close of

The first qualification for a missionary is, in Mr. Hall's opinion, "a decided predilection for the office;" the second, "singular self-devotement;" the third, "the spirit of faith," by which he intends, "not merely that cordial belief of the truth, which is essential to a Christian; but that unshaken persuasion of the promises of God respecting the triumph and enlargement of his kingdom, which is sufficient to

denominate its possessor strong in faith."

After enlarging on these top. ics, Mr. H. seems naturally to fall into a series of great and affecting considerations, on the motives which should influence a missionary, the wretched state of the heathen world, and the benign influence of Christianity. The flame of eloquence is steady and pure, but kindles into uncommon brightness when the character of Paul is brought into view.

We proceed to give several quotations for the gratification and instruction of our readers.

"It is impossible that the mind of a missionary should be too much impressed with the beauty, glory, and grandeur of the kingdom of Christ, as it is unfolded in the oracles of the Old and New Testament; nor with the certainty of the final accomplishment of those oracles, founded on the faithfulness and omnipotence of their Author. To those parts of Scrip

ture his attention should be especially directed, in which the Holy Ghost employs and exhausts, so to speak, the whole force and splendor of inspiration in depicting the future reign of the Messiah, together with that astonishing spectacle of dignity, purity, and peace, which his church will exhibit, when having the glory of God, her bounds shall be commensurate with those of the habitable globe, when every object on which the eye shall rest, will remind the spectator of the commencement of a new age, in which the tabernacle of God is with men, and he dwells amongst them. His spirit should be imbued with that sweet and tender awe, which such anticipations will infallibly produce, whence will spring a generous contempt of the world, and an ardor bordering on impatience to be employed, though in the humblest sphere, as the instrument of areelerating such a period. For compared to this destiny in reserve for the children of men, compared to this glory, invisible at present, and hid behind the clouds which envelope this dark and troubled scene, the brightest day that has hitherto shone upon the world, is midnight, and the highest splendors that have invested it, the shadow of death." pp. 9, 10.

We have repeatedly expressed the opinion, that nothing was easier, or more natural, cor sidering the state of the human heart, than for Christian nations to relapse into idolatry. Without the continued influence of the Holy Spirit, the descent from true religion to idolatry would be rapid and inevitable, either by the road of superstition on the one hand, or latitudinarian ism and infidelity, on the other. Both these roads terminate in the same place, and are of about equal length. Reason alone will never preserve men, much less reclaim them, from idolatry.

"For a nation to change their gods, is represented by the highest authority as an event almost unparalleled: and if it be so difficult to induce them to change the mode of their idolatry, how much more to persuade them to abandon it altogether. Idolatry is not to be looked upon as a mere speculative error respecting the object of worship, of little or no practical efficacy. Its hold upon the mind of a fallen creature is most tenacious, its ope

ration most extensive. It is a corrupt practical institution, involving a whole system of sentiments and manners which perfectly moulds and transforms its votaries. It modifies human nature, in every aspect under which it can be contemplated, being intimately blended and incorporated with all its perceptions of good and evil, with all its infirmities, passions, and fears. In a country like India, where it has been established for ages, its ramifications are so extended as to come into contact with every mode, and every incident of life. Scarce a day, or an hour passes with an Hindoo, in which by the abstinencies it enjoins, and the ceremo nies it prescribes, he is not reminded of his religion. It meets him at every turn, presses like the atmosphere on all sides, and holds him by a thousand invisible. chains. By incessantly admonishing hire of something which he must do, or something which he must for bear, it becomes the strongest of his active habits; while the multiplicity of objects of worship, distinguished by an infinite variety in their character and exploits, is sufficient to fill the whole sphere of his imagination. In the indolent repose which his constitution and climate incline him to indulge, he suf fers his fancy to wander without limit, objects of terror and dismay; while reamicist scenes of voluptuons enjoyment, or volving the history of his gods, he eonceives himself absorbed in holy contemplations. There is not a vicious passion he can be disposed to cherish, not a crime he can be tempted to commit, for which he may not find a sanction and an example in the legends of his gods. Though the system of polytheism established in India, considered in an argumentative light is beneath contempt, being destitute of the let shadow of proof, as well as of all coherence in its principles; yet viewed as an instrument of establishing a despotic empire over the mind, nothing, it mu acknowledged, was ever more artfully contrived; not to mention the distinction of casts which is obviously adapted to fix and perpetuate every other inition. That the true religion should degenerate into idolatry is easily to be accounted for from the known principles of human nature, because such deterioration is aided by its Corruption, flatters its strongest propensi ties, and artfully adapts itself to whatever is feeble, sensitive, and voluptuous in the character of the species.

Facilis descensus averni.

be

"As it is easy to descend from an eleva tion which it is difficult to climb, to fall from the adoration of the Supreme Being to the worship of idols, demands no effort. Idolatry is strongly intrenched in the cor

ruptions, and fortified by the weakness of human nature. Hence we find all nations have sunk, into it in successión, frequently in opposition to the strongest remonstrances of inspired prophets; while we have no example in the history of the world, of a single city, family, or individual who has renounced it, through the mere operation of unassisted reason: such is the fatal propensity of mankind to that enormity. It is the vail of the covering, cast over all flesh, which nothing but the effulgence of Revelation has pierced. The true religion satisfies and enlarges the reason, but militates against the inclinations of men. Resting on a few sublime truths adessed to the understanding and conscience, affording a few distinct images to the fancy, and no indulgence to the passions, it can only be planted and preserved by a continual efflux from its Divine Author, of whose spirituality and elevation it so largely partakes." pp. 11—14.

"In India, Satan maintains an almost undisputed empire, and the powers of darkness, secure of their dominion, riot and revel at their pleasure, sporting themselves with the misery of their vassals, whom they incessantly agitate with delu sive hopes and fantastic terrors, leading them captive at their will, while few efforts have been made to despoil them of their nsurped authority. Partial invasions have been attempted, and a few captives disenthralled, but the strength and sinews of empire remain entire, and that dense and palpable darkness which invests it, has scarcely felt the impression of a few feeble and scattered rays. In India you will witness the predominance of a system which provides for the worship of gods many, and of lords many, while it excludes the adoration of the Supreme Being, legiti mates cruelty, polygamy, and lust, debases the standard of morals, oppresses wi⚫ ceremonies, those whom it deprives of instruction, and suggests no solid hope of happiness beyond the grave.

"You will witness with indignation that monstrous alliance betwixt impurity and devotion, obscenity and religion, which characterises the popular idolatry of all ages, and which, in opposition to the pallating sophistry of infidels, sufficiently evinces it to be what the Scriptures assert -the worship of devils, not of God." pp. 27, 28.

The manner of preaching to the heathen, which Mr. H. prescribes, is as follows:

"In recommending the principles of Christianity to a Pagan nation, I would by

no means advise the adoption of a refined and circuitous course of instruction, commencing with an argumentative exposition of the principles of natural religion, and from thence advancing to the peculiar doctrines of revelation; nor would I advise you to devote much time to an elaborate confutation of the Hindoo or Ma hometan systems. The former of these methods would be far too subtle and intricate for popular use; the latter calcu lated to irritate. Great practical effects on the populace are never produced by profound argumentation; and every thing which tends to irritation and disgust should be carefully avoided. Let your instruction be in the form of a testimony: let it, with respect to the mode of exhibiting it, though not to the spirit of the teacher, be dogmatic. Testify repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." pp. 32, 33.

men.

"After reminding them of their state as guilty and polluted creatures, which the ceremonies of their religion teach them to confess, exhibit to the inhabitants of Hin dostan, the cross of Christ as their only refuge. Acquaint them with his incarnation, his character as the Son of God and the Son of man, his offices, and the design of his appearance; not with the air of a disputer of this world, but of him who is conscious to himself of his possessing the medicine of life, the treasure of immortality, which he is anxious to impart to guilty Insist fearlessly on the futility and vanity of all human methods of expiation, on the impotence of idols, and the com mand of God to all men every where to repent, inasmuch as he has appointed & day in which he will judge the world in righteousness. Display the sufferings of Christ like one who was an eye witness of those sufferings, and hold up the blood, the precious blood of atonement, as issu ing warm from the cross. It is a peculiar excellence of the Gospel, that in its wonderful adaptation to the state and condition mankind as fallen creatures, it bears intrinsic marks of its divinity, and is supported not less by internal than by external evidence. By a powerful appeal to the conscience, by a faithful delineation of man in his grandeur, and in his weakness, in his original capacity for happiness, and his present misery and guilt, present this branch of its evidence in all its force. Seize on every occasion those features of Christianity which render it interesting, and by awakening the fears, and exciting the hopes of your hearers, endeavor to annihilate every other object, and make it appear what it really is, the pearl of great price, the sovereign balm, the cure of eve ery ill, the antidote of death, the precur

sor of immortality. In such a ministry, fear not to give loose to all the ardor of your soul, to call into action every emotion and every faculty winch can exalt or adorn it. You will find ample scope for all its force and tenderness, and should you be called to pour your life as a libation on the offering of the Gentiles, you will only have the more occasion to exult and rejoice." pp. 33-35.

Few men will deny, after read ing the following paragraph, that great dignity belongs to the character of a missionary.

"If to survey mankind in different situations, and under the influence of opposite institutions, civil and religious, tends to elevate the mind above vulgar preju dice, by none is this advantage more eminently possessed than by Christian Missionaries. In addition to the advantages usually anticipated from foreign travel, their attention is directly turned to man in the most interesting light in which he can be viewed. An intelligent Missionary, in consequence of daily conversing with the natives ou the most momentous subjects, and at the most affecting moments, has opportunities of becoming acquainted, not merely with the surface of manners, but with the interior of the character, which can rarely fall to the lot of any other person; besides that Christianity, it may be justly affirmed, is the best decypherer of the human heart, and is that alone which can solve its contradic tions and explain its anomalies. Hence it may be fairly expected, nor will the expectation disappoint us, that an experienced Missionary, possessed of the talent and habit of observation will, in every country, deserve to be classed amongst the most enlightened of its inhabitants. "Few things more powerfully tend to enlarge the mind than conversing with great objects, and engaging in great pursuits. That the object you are pursuing is entitled to that appellation, will not be questioned by him who reflects on the infinite advantages derived from Christianity to every nation and clime where it has prevailed in its purity, and that the prodigious superiority which Europe possesses over Asia and Africa, is chiefly to be assribed to this cause. It is the possession of a religion which comprehends the seeds of endless improvement, which maintains an incessant struggle with whatever is barbarous, selfish, or inhuman, which by unveiling futurity, clothes morality with the sanction of a Divine law, and harmonizes utility and virtue in every colabinaVOL. X.

tion of events, and in every stage of existence; a religion which by affording the most just and sublime conceptions of the Deity, and of the moral relations of man, has given birth at once to the loftiest speculation, and the most child-like humility, uniting the inhabitants of the globe into one family, and in the bonds of a common salvation; it is this religion which rising upon us like a finer sun, has quickened moral vegetation, and replenished Europe with talents, virtues and exploits, which in spite of its physical disadvantages, have rendered it a paradise, the delight and wonder of the world. An attempt to propagate this religion among the natives of Hindostan, may perhaps be stigmatized as visionary and romantic; but to enter the lists of controversy with those who would deny it to be great and noble, would be a degradation to reason." pp. 40-42.

At this place Mr. H. inserts a note, in which he inflicts merited chastisement upon a writer in the Edinburgh Review, who is understood to be the Rev. Sydney Smith, a Socinian of the lowest class, and yet a minister of the English Church. Every intelligent reader of the Edinburgh Review must be surprised, at the extreme ignorance of religion, which is characteristic of many articles in that publication. The note here inserted is as follows:

pro

"It is impossible to read the strictures' of the Edinburgh Review on Missions, in an article which appeared under that title, without surprise and indignation, that such sentiments could find admission in a work which possesses such just claims to literary merit. The anonymous writer of the article alluded to, with the levity of a bufoon, joined to a heart of iron, and a face of brass, has more than insinuated that the Christianity attempted to be moted in India by the Missionaries at Serampore, would, were it adopted, prove a serious injury to the natives, and that they are much happier and more virtuous under their present institutions. system of religion, be it remembered, which these men have attempted to introduce, and which this Chistian Reviewer loads with abuse, is precisely the same in its doctrinal articles with that of the Church of England, to which he has subscribed, ex animo no doubt, his und 69

The