will fhow the further progrefs of this "At our last annual meeting you refolved, that, if poffible, thirty perfons besides women and children, fhould be fent to the islands of the South Sea, in a flip of our own, navigated by Captain Wilson. In order to the accomplishment of your views, our first object was to obtain a fufficient number of wife and godly perfons, for the work of the million; and our next object was to procure a proper veffel to conduct them to the fcene of operation. Both these ob harmony, worthy of fo great an occafion." Many prayers were united-important business. ly made for a divine bleffing on the undertaking, and feveral appropriate difcourfes delivered. “In the intervals between the more folemn fervices, meetings were held for tranfacting the bufinefs and bringing into form the affairs of the infant Society. In these meetings, amidst the difficulties of an indigested state of things, and the neceffary ardor of vigorous difcuffion, the fpirit of ferioufnefs and harmonious benevolence predominated, fubduing all into order and coalition." At this first meeting it was unani-jects were foon happily accomplished. mously refolved, that the first attempt of the Society fhould be to send Miffionaries to Otaheite, or fome other of the Islands in the South Sea; and the board of Directors, chofen to manage the concerns of the Society during their recefs, were inftructed to take measures for carrying this refolution into effect, as fpeedily as pofible. From the liberal contributions which were made to the Society fo large a fund was foon raised as to induce the Directors to think it adviseable to purchase a fhip, to transport Miffionaries to various parts of the Heathen world. The Directors frequently met and adopted various meafures towards carrying into effect the defigns of the inftitution. Peculiar interpofitions of divine Providence feemed to promife fuccefs to their labors. One circumftance they mention as worthy of peculiar notice. Captain Wilson a gentleman who had retired to affluence and eafe from the Eaft-India fervice, hearing of the benevolent defign, voluntarily offered his fervice to command any veffel which might be employed in fending Miffionaries, to the place of their deftination. At the next general meeting of the Society, May 1796, a report was made by the Directors, ftating that the contributions had been liberal beyond their most fanguine expectations; that they had already engaged a number of Miffionaries, and that they were about to purchase a fhip to tranfport them to Otaheite and other inlands in the South Sea. The following extracts from the report of the Directors to the Society, at their annual meeting, May 1797, We were able to complete the mission before the proper season for failing expired; and the fhip Duff was purchafed by us, for your fervice, for 5000 pounds. How munificently the liberality of many individuals contributed towards our stores and equipments we would detail to you with pleasure, if we were not afraid of offending their modefty, and unwilling, where the number of gifts were fo many, to omit the least more than the greateft. Our fhip being stored and equipped, her clearances obtained, and the Miffionaries folemnly confecrated to their important work, directions were given them to embark early on the 10th of Auguft 1796." From various unexpected hindrances the Duff did not fail till late in September. She arrived at Otaheite March 4, 1797, after a very short and very pleasant paffage. He who ruleth the fea and rideth upon the wind was fingularly present with these his fervants, to protect them in danger and to comfort and cheer their hearts. Eighteen Miffionaries were left at Otaheite, and when the ship failed from that Iland every thing wore a favorable afpect. The Miffionaries were received with kindness and there was a pleafing profpect of their being made ufeful to the natives in teaching them the arts of life, and the far more important knowledge of the way of falvatios. Having failed from Otaheite, Capt. Wilfon proceed. ed to Tongataboo, one of the Friendly Iflands, where nine Millionaries were left. Thefe alfo were received by the natives in a friendly manner. One Miffionary was left upon one of the Marquefas Islands, and the Duff then proceeded on her voyage to Canton, freight for Eng-"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, the Downs July But truft him for his grace; Behind a frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face." where fhe took in a land, and arrived in -7, 1798. "Never," as the Directors remark, in their report, 66 was an undertaking more completely accomplished. After a voyage of more than 51,000 miles, the hip returned without the least material loss or damage. Every where the natives received the Miffionaries with delight. Thofe of them who made choice of Tongataboo, feparated in small parties, and went to refide among different chiefs, who being acquainted with their intentions, promised them protection, encouragement and support. Those who fixed on Otaheite were incorporated into one body; the most fertile and beautiful diftrict in the Ifland was given them to fupply their wants, and all its inhabitants for their fubjects. On this fpot they immediately erected workshops and inftituted fchools.— Some of the natives fent their children for inftruction. The Miffionaries have frequent opportunities to converfe with them on the most im portant fubjects, and it is hoped their difcourfes and example will not be in vain." Immediately after the return of the Duff, it was determined by the Di rectors that the fhould be fitted out again as foon as poffible, to visit the Miffionaries in the South Sea Islands, and to carry a further number to be fettled at the fame places, or on other Islands, as circumftances fhould point ont to be most proper. In December 1798, the fhip failed with about 40 Miffionaries on board, and a valuable cargo of prefents for the natives, and of materials for establishing colonies and introducing the arts of civilized life. Thus far divine Providence appeared to fmile upon the efforts of the Society, and to manifeft, by peculiar interpofitions, his propitious regards to them. But he is a fovereign God, and takes his own ways to accomplish his purposes. He maketh darkness his pavilion and often by apparent frowns upon his people defigns the greatest bieflings for them. "God moves in a myfterious way, Having arrived within twelve leagues of the harbour of Rio Janeiro in South America, the fhip Duff was captured by a French privateer named the Buonaparte from Bourdeaux. The Miffionaries were treated with great kindnefs by the French commander, and their situation was rendered as agreeable as that of prifoners poffibly could be. They were carried into a Span ith port in South America, where the hip was condemned, and the men liberated. Captain Robson the commander of the Duff purchased a small veffel, with a view of proceeding on the voyage according to the original intention of the Directors, but foon after he failed he was taken by the convoy of the Brazil Fleet to Lisbon, where he arrived after a fhort paffage, and foon after reached England with all the Millionaries. The following remarks published by order of the Directors when intelligence of the capture of the Duff first reached England, will fhow their feelings on the fubject, and in what light all good people should view this difpenfation. "This providential event is, at prefent, involved in myfterious obfcurity, it claims the exercise of faith and submiffion, it calls alfo for the fpirit of deep humiliation : we are, however, perfectly satisfied that it is the effect of a wife and gracious fovereignty, and are principally folicitous that it may have a falutary influence upon our minds. The best improvement that we are capable of deriving from it is to quicken our languid zeal, to renew and invigorate our feeble exertions, and to perfevere with unwearied and increasing ardor in the facred caufe. Our faith and fubmiffion may be exercised, but it is no doubtful question with us, whether this work is divine or not: we fee abundant ground for renewed vigilance, but and we feel ourfelves called upon by none for relaxation and despondence ; imperious circumstances to manifeft the fincerity of our profeffions, and the ftrength of our attachment to this immortal caufe." B No direct information was received in England refpecting the Miffiona-ced we held a meeting to confider what ries who were established at Otaheite till August 1799, when intelligence arrived that they had been obliged to leave the Island to escape being murdered, and that they were carried by the fhip Nautilus to Port Jackfon in Botany Bay. The caufe and circumftances of their removal are detailed in the following extracts from letters written by them after their arrival at Port Jackson. "Captain Wilfon left us at Otaheite on the 4th of August 1797, to proceed on his voyage. Immediately on his leaving the Inland we difcovered that the natives had concerted a 'plan to feize on our women and property. We informed them that we were acquainted with their intentions, and took the neceffary precautions to prevent a surprise. We remained in this anxious fituation under continual alarms. On the 6th of March 1798, the fhip Nautilus vifited the Inland and after taking in refreshments proceeded on her voyage. After her departure our fituation became more perilous, and we were every moment under expectation of an affault, when we were again vifited by the Nautilus which was driven back in a violent gale of wind. Soon after the came to anchor two of her feamen deferted and fecreted themselves on fhore. The captain requested us to intreat the King to fend them on board; accordingly a deputation of four brethren waited on him for that purpose. On their arrival at Oparre, the district in which the King refided, they were ftripped naked, one of them dragged through a river and his head beat against the stones till the blood came out of his ears. They were then feparated and detained; and under the greatest apprehenfion not only of their own lives but for our fafety, as a large party of the natives immediately on their being feized, made off with an intent to attack our fettlement. In the evening feveral hundred natives were feen near our dwelling, and we received information of the detention of our brethren; but they were providentially released by means of the King's father, and returned home about eight o'clock at night. The news of their arrival was no doubt a mean of preventing the meditated attack. Thus circumftan means would be moft prudent to adopt; when it was the unanimous o pinion of the whole body that it was a call in Providence for the married people to leave the Island, as they could not continue there in fafety, and take paffage on board the Nautil us for Port Jackfon. We accordingly made known our fituation to the captain and requested a paffage in his veffel, which he readily granted. We failed from Otaheite the 31st of March 1798, leaving seven unmarried Mis fionaries upon the Island, and arrived at Port Jackfon May 14th. On our arrival we were favorably received by the Governor who immediately put us on the public ftore, and gave us every affiftance in his power." The Miffionaries who remained at Otaheite were fafe and well in September 1798, fix months after their brethren had left them. By late intelligence from Port Jackfon it appears that the removal of a part of the Miffionaries from Otaheite to that place has been overruled for more abundant good. Their labours and preaching are attended with very encouraging appearances of usefulness. Their congregations are numerous and a fubfcription has been raised for the erection of one or more places of worship. Should it please God to blefs their efforts among the British inhabitants a great door of entrance might from thence be opened to Norfolk Ifland or other places in its vicinity, as well as to the native Heathen who now frequent the colony. "Thofe who have attentively viewed providential difpenfations in the light of the feriptures, will augur favorably from what has happened; efpecially when they confider that the object is unquestionably agreeable to the divine will, and that the plans of the focicty have had every proof that could be expected of his approbation. It is at all times incumbent upon us to trust in the Lord, and to believe that every providential event is the effect of a fovereignty which is equally holy, wife and good." After the first Million was dispatched to the South Seas, the Directors, in pursuance of the further intentions of the Society, endeavored to obtain information refpecting Africa, and to procure perfons to carry the glad ti much time with the convicts, praying with them, inftructing them in religion, and endeavouring to imprefs on their minds a fenfe of the imporance of attending to the falvation of the foul. Their labors were attended with a bleffing; and many of the con hopefully converted. The hip, leaving the Millionaries at the Cape, proceeded to port Jackson were the arrived, it is probable, a little more than a year after the arrival of the Miffionaries who went from Otaheite. Thefe Miffionaries, it is hoped, may be the means, under the blefling of God, of continuing the impreffions made on the minds of the convicts, during their paffage to the Cape. Should this be the cafe a light will be thrown upon that dark dispensation of Divine Providence, their removal from Otaheite. dings of falvation to that much injured and long neglected quarter of the globe. The country of the Foulahs was deemed the moft proper fpot for a firft effay in that part of the globe. Its vicinity to the colony of Sierra Leone; the offer of the King of that country to encourage European fet-victs seriously impressed and some tlers, with a view to cultivation; the gentle difpofition of the natives, their knowledge of feveral arts, and their general attention to reading; the fuperior temperature and healthinefs of the climate, compared with that on the fea coaft; the populoufnefs of their towns, and other circumstances afforded a favorable profpect for entering on Miffionary operations. These circumstances induced the Directors to fend two Miffionaries to Africa, in conjunction with others who went from the Millionary Societies of Edingburgh and Glasgow. Upon their arrival at Sierra Leone,in March 1798, finding that a war had broken out among the Foulahs, it was thought most adviseable to employ thefe Miffionaries in the countries adjacent to Sierra Leone. "The fituation in which they were placed will afford the Miffionaries the opportunity of acquiring the knowledge of feveral different languages, each of which prevails over an extenfive territory, and The Society and the Board of Dia numerous population, and thus opens rectors are not difcouraged by the a larger scope for future exertions. The dark dealings of the Lord refpecting inhabitants of these countries are Hea- them. They believe him to be ftill thens, whereas the Foulab people are propitious to them and to the general principally Mahometans, whofe pre-object in which they are engaged. They judices against the admiflion of Chrittian teachers would probably have been more difficult to furmount. It may therefore be hoped that he who leads the blind by a way which they know not, has overruled the destination of these Miffionaries for one of a more extenfive usefulness." Very favorable accounts have been received from the South African Miffionaries. They were faft proceeding to the countries of the Caffres and the Bofhemen, and there was a great probability of their being favorably received among thofe nations, and of their being made bleffings to them by communicating to them the knowledge of falvation. are making every poffible exertion to diffuse the gofpel, and if driven from one place are hoping that God will open a door for their admiffion inte others. In confequence of the inftitution of this Society and their zealous and extenfive efforts to propagate the gospel among Heathen nations, an increafing spirit of piety has pervaded the minds of the friends of Zion not only in Great-Britain but in many other nations in Europe, and Christians in A The next place to which the directors turned their attention was the country of the Caffres or Hottentots in Africa. Doctor Vanderkemp, a Dutch divine, offering his fervices to the Directors to go out as a miffionary,merica have alfo felt their zeal awahe with three others left England at kened and are animated with a defire the close of the year 1798, and arrived of carrying the glad tiding of falvaat the cape of Good Hope in March tion to the poor Pagans on their bor1799. On board the fhip which car- ders. Many fmaller Miffionary Socieried them to Africa were three hund- ties have been formed in various plared convicts to be tranfported to Bot-ces in England and Scotland, some of any Bay. During the voyage Doctor which may be confidered as branches Vanderkemp and his affociates spent of the London Society, and others alone. In this he has dealt with his people in his ufual method. The method is wife, and well adapted to prepare his people to receive his bleffings, and to give all the glory to the Lord. Thus he dealt with Abraham, to whom he had made great promifes. While circumftances were favorable, and the patriarch's hopes were great, and his expectations from them high, he received an order from heaven, to take the heir of the promises, even Ifaac, his beloved fon, and offer him up a burnt offering to God. This was altogether uncxpected. The command was pof 'Misfortunes of the Otaheitcan Mif- AZINE. TH HE events, which have at tended the Chriftian Mif fions to Otaheite, have probably caft a gloom over the minds of fome well-wishers to the cause. Superficial obfervers of the dealings of God with his people, and men of little faith, will be difcouraged: and the faith and obedience of all are put to proof. It appears to be the defign of providence, to place his people in a fituation, in which they may give a ftriking evidence of their confidence in God, and faithfulness in his fervice; and by which he may lead them, to a more perfect fenfe of their dependence on him, and a more attentive view of his agency in fuch miffions. When the ship, which conveyed the Miffionaries, returned with the account of their friend. ly reception, our hopes of fuccefs were perhaps founded too much on favorable circumftances, and we thought too little of the fpecial agency of God, to difpofe the Heathen, to give them an attentive hearing. God has now feen fit to recal our hopes from thofe things, and fix them on himfelf He ery parental feeling, and feemed inconfiftent with the promises, he did not hesitate to obey. The promises were abfolute, and he did not doubt their accomplishment. That the command and promifes might not interfere, he faw no way, but by the refurrection of his fon from the dead, though no fuch event had ever taken place in the world. believed in the power of God, and refted with confidence upon him. He proceeded to the appointed place, laid Ifaac upon the altar, and stretched forth his hand, and took the knife, to execute the command. He was now prepared for rich bleffings; was ordered to forbear, and came forth like gold tried in the fire; and he received an abundant reward. The apostles of Chrift were dealt with, in a fimilar way. Christ had made them precious promifes, while he was with them in the flesh. They expected to fee his kingdom flourish. While their Lord was with them, and admiring crowds flocked round them, and liftened to his inftructions, and cried Hofannah to the son of David, they expected fuccefs from |
