ing the hours of divine service, and against all wanton and profane swearing.'

We observe, however, with regret, that while the first settlers and planters in this colony were impressed with the importance of a religious estab lishment, the benefits of which might extend to themselves and to their white or indented servants, they appear to have been altogether regardless of the duty which devolved more immediately on their ministers, but which was imperative also on themselves, of preaching or publishing the gospel to the imported African slaves. The law was silent on this duty; and as far as the records of the island inform us, we have no authority for supposing that it was considered necessary, or even desirable, to admit this part of their population to a participation in the blessings of the religion of that Redeemer, whose offering of himself upon the cross they acknowledged, with the

1 Hall's Laws, No. 3.

church to which they belonged, to be a propitiation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. On the contrary, we find that, with lamentable inconsistency in the few instances where the endeavour was made by proprietors to christianize their slaves, according to their own belief and form of worship, the opposition to the measure was so strong, that it led to repeated prohibitory laws, some of which possess the harshest features of persecution. I allude to the pious, though unsuccessful exertions of the early colonists of the Society of Friends. Theirs is the praise of having first attempted, amidst obloquy and suffering, to preach the gospel in this island to the heathen African slave.

2

Nearly about this time, a clergyman3 of the Church of England, distinguished by his connexion with the most important college in the university of Oxford, ar

3

2 Hall's, Laws, No. 64.

3 Rev. Morgan Godwyn, student of Christ Church.

rived in this colony, and earnestly endea voured to obtain the acknowledgment that the African was one of the human species, and therefore, as descended from Adam, entitled to be admitted into the blessings of the gospel covenant which was ratified by the blood of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. His efforts were openly opposed by the lay proprietors in Barbados; nor have we reason to believe that he received much active cooperation from his brethren in the ministry. His individual and unaided exertions were consequently almost entirely fruitless; and he has recorded his failure in a work which may still be read with a melancholy interest.

The Moravians, at a later period, entered on the instruction of the slaves in our West Indian settlements; and though forced to endure many difficulties and se

In 1732. In the Danish West India Islands. In 1754 in Jamaica. In 1756 in Antigua.

vere privations in the prosecution of their pious undertaking, yet by quiet perseverance, and a conciliatory and yielding deportment, they succeeded where a more uncompromising zeal would probably have failed. Their rule of conduct in the West Indies has been to "labour in stillness," and though this stillness may in some instances be identified with the absence of practical and effective instruction, yet even their opponents must allow that they were among the earliest in the field, and that they have borne much of the burden and heat of the day. The results of their labours have established the fact, that a Christian slave is far more valuable than one who remains in a state of heathen ignorance, and that the contentment inculcated by the gospel is the best safeguard against insurrection and bloodshed.

Of the Dissenting teachers who have more recently toiled, with a partial and qualified success, in the same spiritual wilderness, it is difficult to speak without

incurring the suspicion of either too much liberality, where there may be cause for censure, or of too little, where forbearance may be required, or even commendation be due. The zealous minister of our church in these lands will seldom complain of having his sphere of usefulness narrowed by the exertions of these seceders from our communion. In some of the colonies the field is too wide to admit of much collision; and if in others, with a culpable intrusion they attempt to build on another man's foundation," the orthodox doctrines, and primitive discipline of our church, maintained earnestly and discreetly, will scarcely fail to secure the ascendancy. I deprecate the virulence of party spirit. The clamours of intolerance too often arise from the consciousness of inferior zeal, and where reproaches are vehement, it may be fair to inquire whether there is not as much fault in the remissness of one party, as in the obtrusiveness of the other.

6 Rom. xv. 20.