cheering and delightful changes he had witnessed in other Islands. Think of those poor ignorant bondmen, think of them meeting in calin and attentive silence to worship before that GOD whom your agents have been permitted to teach them to know:think of these poor black and once barbarous idolaters, singing sweet music in the ears of Him, who has none of that fastidious taste by which we so often debase our intellect.-O, Sir, when you hear of such beings uniting in prayer to that same GOD and that same SAVIOUR whom you serve, it must give fervour to your prayers, and warmth to your devotions, and energy to all the efforts you are making, to be told, that in distant Islands, on the other side of the Atlantic, they are offering similar prayers, and worshipping the GOD whom you have taught them to revere.Looking, Sir, to the vast operations of Missionary Societies, to that sacred circumnavigation of benevolence which their Reports describe, I think there are no terms which human thought can suggest, in which such triumphs can be properly celebrated. Were it my duty to engage you in the celebration of them, I should feel my own incompetency to the task. But I will select the language of the sweet Singer of Israel. I will select that beautiful anthem chosen by our Church for the celebration of its daily worship; and I will say, "GOD, be merciful unto us, and bless us, and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O GOD; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice, and be glad : for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O GOD; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and GOD, even our own GoD, shall give us his blessing. GOD shall bless us; and all the ends of the world shall fear him."

The Second Resolution,-" That this Meeting, deeply affected with the moral wretchedness of a great part of mankind, and encouraged by the effects produced wherever Christianity has been faithfully preached, and its institutions of piety and mercy established; and especially considering the extensive access to the heathen world which is afforded in the present day, and that in many places even Pagans themselves are anxiously desirous of instruction by Christian Missionaries; solemnly pledges itself to renew its exertions in providing the means of a more extensive ministration of the Gospel of CHRIST to the religious wants of their fellow men," was moved by EDWARD PHILLIPS, ESQ., High Sheriff of Wiltshire. MR. P. observed, that when he saw himself surrounded by so many persons eminent for religion and piety; among whom was a Nobleman, highly honoured by his Sovereign, eminent for his services to his country, and pre-eminent for his love to religion and the Gospel; he hailed the day, and blessed the hour which brought them to unite in this holy cause. When we looked at the state of the world, when we considered the immense number of its inhabitants, lost in guilt, and sin, and misery, and when we contemplated the obstacles to the diffusion of Christianity, our hearts, if relying on human wisdom, would fail us, and we must give up the cause in despair; but on the other hand, when we looked to the power and mercy of GoD, and to the blessed influences of his SPIRIT, we must be resolved, in the strength of the LORD, to persevere, undiscouraged by any difficulties which might arise, in this good, this pious cause. Great difficulties, no doubt, awaited those who devoted themselves to Missionary labours. The difference of climate,-the state of the heathen,-disagreements among the natives,-the obstacle of caste,-ignorance of their language, these were enough to appal a man who looked to his own strength alone; but if there were a Missionary going out, now present, and if he needed to be reminded of an example to encourage him in his exertions, he would say to him, "Recollect the man who now nearly a century ago, with half a dozen pious friends in the University of Oxford, set out in his religious career, and incessantly persevered in it to the end of his life-see him travelling in every direction, and, while on his journeys, unceasingly writing for the good of his fellow-creatures, and preaching the Gospel of his REDEEMER in every place to which he came; sea him persevering amidst the ignorance and irreligion of the vulgar, and amidst every species of opposition :-see this, and let the sight animate the hearts and quicken the zeal of all those who have the work of a Missionary before them. I need scarcely name the apostolic, the venerable JOHN WESLEY."-It was impossible to look at what was passing in the world around us, and in which this kingdom had been the happy instrument of doing so much, without the most lively gratitude to GOD, and without being excited to form the highest hopes of future and greater success. He would exhort all to determine from that day to set out with new vigour and alacrity; for means would not fail us, nor should we want good · and laborious men willing to go forth to diffuse the Gospel to the utmost parts of

the earth, and to execute the Mission of their great REDEEMER, who said, “Go and teach all nations, and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." He trusted that all would inquire what they could do more efficiently to promote the great cause, and determine from that happy day, to unite their various means,— their various Societies,―their various energies, in the cause of GoD and of universal man; and never relax, till the knowledge of the LORD should cover the earth as the waters cover the deep, and till the great and eternal hallelujah shall be raised, "Blessing, and honour, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the LAMB, for ever and ever.”

The REV. GEORGE COLLISON, of Hackney, followed. Though he was of a different religious denomination, he felt the greatest pleasure in cordially seconding the motion. He viewed every Christian Missionary Society as forming one of the strongest bonds of union which the present day presented, and it was delightful to learn that the various Missionary Societies were one in their communion and counsels of fellowship. It was equally delightful to learn, that when their Missionaries met in distant lands, they hailed and embraced as brethren. This is a union without compromise, for the Noble Lord had compromised nothing by appearing here to-day,-an esteemed gentleman who seconded the motion had compromised nothing by so doing. No compromise either of principle or discipline was asked; but without that compromise we can feel that we are one in CHRIST JESUS, and can together promote the common salvation. One would almost think that the Psalmist, the sweet Singer of Israel, wrapt into future times, and anticipating by three thousand years the formation of Missionary and Bible Societies, had composed for such occasions that beautiful anthem, "Behold, how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." The success of all Societies was a matter of deep congratulation. He, as a member of the London Missionary Society, accepted most gratefully the congratulations of the Meeting, for the measure of success which Gop has been pleased to confer upou that Institution. And when they turned to the West Indies, and saw the labours of the Methodist Missionaries, all descriptions of Christians looked with the highest gratitude to that high measure of success with which God had crowned the Weslevan Society. Who could hear of twenty-eight thousand negroes now living in Christian Society, but must thank God for such labours, and hope that they would be crowned with still larger success? He had called that morning on a friend, who informed him that he had recently received property as a residuary legatee, and on looking over the account he found to his great regret that a part of it arose from the sale of slaves in the Bay of Honduras. "He is too deeply imbued, Sir," said MR. COLLISON," with the principles of the Gospel, to receive the price of blood, and he said to me, I am shocked at the sight of it, what shall I do with it?' I said, ' I will tell you what you may do with part of it. I am going to the Wesleyan Missionary Society; their labourers are greatly occupied among the slaves.'-Since I have been here, I have heard with much pleasure from the Secretary, that you have determined on a Mission to the very spot, the Bay of Honduras, and I have now the pleasure of presenting the sum, so received by my friend, to forward that desirable purpose. It is upwards of Seventeen Pounds: I wish it were Seventeen Hundred!” The Third Resolution,-“ That the most respectful thanks of the Society are especially due to his Excellency, MAJOR-GENERAL SIR EDWARD BARNES, K. C. B., late LieutenantGovernor of Ceylon, for the kind encouragement given by him to our Mission in that island, and for the facilities afforded by him to the introduction of Christianity into the Kandian Territory, by the establishment of a Mission at Kornegalle;-to MAJOR-GENERAL LACHLAN MACQUARRIE, late Governor of New South Wales, for his constant countenance of our Mission there since its commencement, and for several acts of liberality in the grant of land for the erection of Chapels ;-to MAJOR-GENERAL SIR SAMFORD WHITTINGHAM, K. C.B., late Governor of Dominica, for the special interest taken by him in the extension of religious instruction to the negroes of that colony ;-to MAJOR-GENERAL SIR RUFAN DONKIN, K.C.B., late Lieutenant-Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, for the liberty granted by him for the instruction, by our Missionaries, of the slaves in Cape-Town, and for other facilities given to the spread of Christianity in South Africa ;-to his Excellency BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIR CHARLES M'CARTHY, Governor of Sierra Leone, the steady friend of the moral and religious improvement of Western Africa;-and to all our Countrymen, who, in various official and influential situations abroad, have afforded encou ragement to our Missionaries, and forwarded their benevolent designs by their advice and patronage," was moved by the REV. DR. CLARKE, who observed, after descanting on the great obligations of the Society to the distinguished persons mentioned in the Motion, that Bibles and Missionaries could not be separated. There had been two extreme opinions on which he would make some remarks.

The one was old, and the other new. The former was, that the Scriptures should be kept from the people. The Priest, said the advocates of this opinion, is the representative of the LORD; let him catechise and instruct the people, let him dispense divine ordinances, let him excite the people to religious rites and ceremonies, and then the community needs not the Bible, all the good is extracted from it by the Priest, and he conveys is to the people. This language has been held in the present century. A pamphlet against the Bible Society had been written by a Catholic Priest, in which the writer says, "Take your Bibles, give them as you please to the people, but I will pledge myself that in two hours Í will impart to them more important truths than you, with your Bibles, shall impart in two years." This broad blasphemy had been published in the British dominions. But there was an extreme on the other side, though it was comparatively modern. It was thought by some that the Bible alone is sufficient for the conversion of the world, and that there is no need of sending men, at the hazard of their lives, to preach the Gospel. But "is not my Word a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces, saith the LORD." Now we have the hammer, it is true; but we need the vigorous and divinely nerved arm to lift it, in order to dash the sinful obdurate rock in pieces. The Bible and Missionaries must ever go hand in hand, and, if we send both, we have the world at our command. God has opened all its great roads and passages before us. On ordinary occasions we might see the finger of the LORD;-on occasions a little more extraordinary, his hand;-but on occasions like these, we might see, if he might so express himself, the arm of the LORD, in the sending forth of his word. What an engine was the British and Foreign Bible Society! His soul was filled with gratitude to GOD, when he thought of its formation, its organization, and its progress. This was the foundation of all Missionary Societies. It might be objected, that the Bible might be sent to different nations of the world, where it could not be read. But this was now provided for. What had not the Baptist Missionary Society done to put Bibles into the hands of the heathen in all the languages of India? Many, it is true, were not able to read at all; and hence arose another great branch of this work, the institution of Christian Schools, where persons converted to Gop themselves, were made the teachers of others, and gave lessons of instruction to the children of the heathen and idolaters. See the Christian Missionary going with his life in his hand,-he corrected that, with his life and soul in the hands of his GOD,-to proclaim his salvation to the heathen; see the Holy Scriptures diligently circulated; and see the Christian Schoolmaster teaching the children and their parents, out of them, the lessons of grace; all thus combining to lay a foundation for the perpetuity of the Church of God, the establishment of christianity, and an interminable succession of christian teachers. To be engaged in such a work was an honour to any man,-to help forward such a work was an honour to any man. "I once thought," observed DR. C. “how shail the world be converted. When I first felt a concern for immortal spirits, I felt a concern for all human spirits; no nation confined my wishes, my feelings, my desires, my prayers; but it seemed to be beyond the power of calculation, how the word of GOD could be sent to the different nations of the earth. I saw that the languages of the earth were so different, so numerous, so intricate, that I thought it scarcely possible. I read over Bishop WILKINS with great attention, and felt great interest in his attempts to form an universal language; but I saw that his plan was calculated only to form a philosophical language. I afterwards met with an attempt by another person. I took that up with interest, and read to my disappointment as before. But when I saw that GOD had inspired many modern Missionaries with a peculiar aptitude for learning languages, and sent them to the East, I felt that Pentecostal times were about to be realized. I prayed for the life of CAREY, and MARSHMAN, and WARD, as for the life of a father, and was afraid lest every arrival should inform us that these great men had died in their work; but they are alive still. I saw a most promising Mission at Ceylon rise exactly in the same way: the gift of tongues, in this sense, is given also there, and now the word of God is widely circulated, and the kingdom of God is coming with rapidity and power. Whilst we are working in this cause, we are working for the SAVIOUR; he could do it without us, but he will save men by the means of men. This is God's way; therefore send forth your Bibles, your Missionaries, your Schoolmasters, and appoint Christian Teachers to instruct and discipline the people, and the work of the LORD will go forward, and we shall live to see and to hear even greater things than these."-DR. CLARKE concluded by presenting to the Treasurers the sum of Fifty Pounds, put into his hands for that purpose by a Friend, on the preceding Friday, after he had been preaching before the Society in Great-Queen- Street Chapel.

J. HERBERT HARRINGTON, Esq., Member of the Supreme Council at Calcutta, seconded the Resolution moved by DR. CLARKE. He said, that his object, in coming to this Meeting, was to catch the flame of christian love, and to be animated by the recollection of the speeches he might hear, on his approaching return to India, where he had already spent many years. He considered it to be a great privilege to meet here several Members of the Church Missionary Society and of the Bible Society, to which he had the honour to belong, and was glad to see they could all unite to promote the cause of GOD and man, and the best interests of society. He read a passage from a letter, written by one of the Missionaries of this Society, MR. SQUANCE, in which it is observed, that there is nothing in Heathenism calculated to restrain its votaries from vice." This he could confirm, by what he had seen in Bengal, a part of India distant from that of which MR. SQUANCE particularly wrote. It had been remarked to him by one not fully convinced that the Bible is a revelation from GOD, and, he was sorry to say, by some professed Christians too, that GOD may be pleased with a variety of worship; and they had asked, "What is the use of sending Christianity to India, since we see that Christians do not lead more moral lives than the natives?" His answer was, that if individuals, professing Christianity, are not moral, it is because they are not what they profess to be; they do not act according to their profession; but, on the contrary, Hindoos may be orthodox and consistent as Hindoos, and yet be highly immoral. This appeared to him to be a very important difference. It appeared from official documents, laid before the House of Commons, that the number of Widows ascertained to have been burned, or buried alive, in the Districts of India subject to the Presidency of Bengal alone, were, in 1815, 1816, 1817, and 1818, not less than 2366, and if 1819 be included, the number in five years, in that single Presidency, must have exceeded 3000! That alone was a sufficient proof, that the Hindoo religion, though it does not demand, does, however, sanction these dreadful immolations; so that the relations of these widows, in fact, pride themselves on such an occurrence, and consider it a high honour to their families, and the practice prevails in every part of India to which Christianity has not extended. There are other instances of men throwing themselves under the wheels of Juggernaut, and of women throwing their children into the Ganges, and a military force is sometimes employed to prevent persons from throwing their children into it. It may be said, that these are not expressly commanded by the Hindoo religion, but yet they were sanctioned by it; and in that country might be scen every day, on the banks of the river, persons bringing down their parents and aged relatives, and, instead of taking care of them at home, having nothing in view but to accelerate their death; for which horrid purpose, mud is often stuffed into the mouths of the dying persons. These are a few only of the cases in which the Hindoo religion does permit crime; and, therefore, how it can be urged by any gentleman from India, that it does not sanction vice, and that we have no occasion to send the Gospel to them, was to him paradoxical. Where the Hindoo religion prevails, they are monstrous shedders of blood. Their crimes are such, that we cannot, indeed, speak of them. Hundreds are engaged in murders of the most dreadful nature. Young children are often decoyed by boys, under the pretence of flying a kite, or getting an apple, or for some such trifling reason, and murdered in cold blood, in order to obtain a trifling ornament. MR. HARRINGTON concluded by expressing his hope, that the School-Book Society, and some other societies lately established, though they have not a directly religious object, will yet be useful in enlightening the natives of India, as to the folly and criminality of their practices, and will thus eventually contribute to the promotion of Christianity. To that great end, he pledged himself that he would always be ready to afford every assistance which it might be in his power, in his individual capacity, prudently and consistently to render.

The REV. DR. STEINKOPFF moved the Fourth Resolution, viz.-" That this Meeting, solemnly recognizing that great principle of our Holy Religion, that the success of all human endeavours, in extending the kingdom of CHRIST in the world, depends wholly on the divine blessing, and considering, particularly, the great moral difficulties which are opposed in all pagan countries to the progress of the truth, earnestly recommends to all the members and friends of this Society, and of its Auxiliary and Branck Societies, in every part of the world, to be more than ever abundant in supplications for the special blessing of Heaven, and the promised out-pouring of the HOLY SPIRIT, on Missionaries themselves, and on the heathen world in which they labour."-DR. S. spoke as follows: "Sir, I feel it a very solemn thing to be present at a meeting so numerous, and convened, from different parts, for the express purpose of promoting the extension of the kingdom of our adorable REDEEMER. This motion alludes to human endea

vours and exertions: and surely human endeavours must be made, and human exertions must be used, and all the energies of the human mind ought to be called forth, for so great and important a purpose as the evangelization of the heathen world. Sir, it is delightful to see, that so many are already combined in this work, and so many instruments raised up to perform it. I have been particularly pleased to hear of the kind aid lent to your Missionaries by different Governors in foreign parts. Missionaries can do little without the assistance of others. At the same time, I would ask, what are all human exertions, what are the best endeavours of inen, what can the ablest and best-supported Missionaries do in converting the heathen world, unless there is a higher power at work with them, unless they are enlightened and strengthened by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD? We should be constantly mindful of what our adorable REDEEMER has said, "Without me ye can do nothing." Thousands and tens of thousands may labour, they may do their very utmost, they may like PAUL plant, and like APOLLOS water;-but after all it is GOD that must give the increase. Sir, I came to your Meeting this day with the utmost solemnity; because I felt the importance of the Motion with which you have entrusted ine. O let us pay more earnestly, and more continually, by night and by day, for the influence of the HOLY SPIRIT, without which all the ministrations of the Gospel are insufficient. He must enlighten our own minds; He must light up, as it were, our understandings; He must give us strength to speak the truth as it is in JESUS; and HE alone can bring conviction to the minds of those who hear. I therefore, Sir, most earnestly pray myself, and I most earnestly entreat the whole of the present assembly to join me in that prayer, that the HOLY SPIRIT of our GOD may descend upon this Meeting, and upon all Meetings convened for similar purposes. I pray that the HOLY SPIRIT may be given to the directors of all the different Missionary Societies, that they may conduct their several Missions in such a manner as may be most useful. I pray too that the HOLY SPIRIT may, in a most abundant measure, be poured out upon all Missionaries. O, Sir, I feel for these good men: they are exposed to many difficulties. In a far country, remote from their relations and friends, harassed by the most anxious fears and apprehensions, and often exposed to cruel persecution, how can they stand, unless supported by the arm of GOD? May the blessed SPIRIT enlighten their minds, and fortify and cheer and encourage their souls! I also pray that the same HOLY SPIRIT may be given to the poor heathen, to whom the Gospel of our blessed LORD is preached, and that their hearts may be opened, like the heart of Lydia, to receive the truth in the love of it." DR. S. then gave some interesting details respecting the progress of the Missionary cause in Germany, Switzerland, and other parts of the Continent. He referred to the Missionaries formerly sent out by the Directors of the Danish East-India Mission at Copenhagen, and observed, that if they had sent none but the immortal SCHWARTZ, their memory would, on his account, be handed down to a grateful posterity. spoke also of the patient and persevering labours of the Moravian Brethren, and enlarged particularly on the importance of the Missionary Institution at Basle, in Switzerland, and on the light which has been kindled, and the Missionary spirit which is now called forth on the Continent, by the publications of the Society there. These happy effects, he stated, are owing, in a considerable degree, under the blessing of GOD, to the exertions of MR. BLUMHARDT, who was present in the Meeting of that day. They began a small Missionary Seminary at Basle, and, in the first year, they collected only about fifty pounds; but, in six years they have collected five thousand pounds. They began with only two Missionaries, and they scarcely knew where to put them; but now they have a Mission-house, in which there are twenty-six hopeful Missionaries, preparing for the service of the Heathen; and he, DR. S., should never forget the delight he experienced at the consecration of that Mission-house. When he saw, at that time, nearly twenty young Missionaries, men of the right stamp and spirit,men endued, he believed, with power from on high,-men thrust out by the love of their adorable Saviour,-and when he saw the Clergy of the city, and some of the Magistrates, heartily united in the great cause, he was filled with unfeigned gratitude to God. They have now extended their influence into various parts of Germany and Switzerland; and even in Protestant France, some persons have come forward, who have caught the Missionary flame, and considerable sums have been collected and received from them. A number of respectable young Merchants, in the city of Basle, said to themselves, What can we do for the promotion of the Missionary cause?' They agreed that each of them would contribute a certain sum of money, and put it together, to form a small capital for trade; and that whatever they might lose, the loss should be their own, but what

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