mountain of his guilt. Thus died poor old Me, the blind warrior of Raiatea. I retired from the overwhelming and interesting scene, praying as I went that my end might be like his."*

Here my illustrations terminate: and the question which I now ask the man who pours contempt upon missions, is, What think you of the facts which this and the foregoing letter lay before you? What think you, for example, of the character and death of Vara and of Me? I invite you to examine the subject. You shall not be limited in the field of your inquiry. Go forth; ascend the historic pathway, and walk at large through all countries and all times,-assemble the sages of every clime, and of every tongue,-marshal the hosts of philosophers, philanthropists, legislators, and rulers,-unite their deeds of benevolence, and tell us whether you deem it safe to challenge for them all a comparison with the preceding solitary specimen of the deeds of the Martyr of Erromanga? Is such a comparison for a moment admissible? Are not all their moral achievements as nothing, if placed side by side with those of the - Christian missionary? Approach the death-beds of Vara and Me, and behold them die! Give me your estimate of what Christianity has done for these once blood-stained savages! Could any thing less than Christianity have met their case, and made them happy? Has Christianity left them with a single want? Has it not brought immortality to light, and prepared them for its enjoyment? Do not all discoveries, and all bounties, which stop short of this, leave man ignorant, poor, and wretched? Seeing that he is immortal, are not all systems of instruction

* Williams, p. 97.

reformation, and rule, which do not assume this fact as their basis, insufficient and delusive? All efforts of philanthropy which exclude God and his grace, Christ and his gospel, are but false lights which lure to destruction. Men and brethren, awake from your dream ! Search and look, and tell us what your philosophy has ever done for barbarous tribes, and perishing nations? Nay, more; what has it done for its own most renowned and illustrious professors? Reader! what has it done for thee? Be assured that its boasted provisions and proud pretensions will disappear amid the darkness of a dying chamber! The cross alone can there maintain its ground!

LETTER IV.

TO THE COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF THE LONDON AND AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETIES.

ON THE TENDENCY OF MISSIONARY LABOUR TO EXTINGUISH WAR AND TO ESTABLISH PEACE.

men.

FRIENDS of your countries and of the whole human race! the formation of your benevolent confederacies will constitute an era in the future history of our world. Excepting societies for preaching the gospel, mankind never associated for any object of equal importance with that which has brought you together. Your object is to stay the effusion of human blood, to promote permanent and universal peace upon the earth, and good-will among A more magnificent idea never entered the human breast. Its benevolence is equalled only by its greatness. The true character and design of your societies are still but imperfectly known, especially in England; for it is pleasing to reflect, that, in America, the cause of peace has taken a deeper and a more general hold upon the public mind. A mighty gain has been realized by the publication of the "Prize Essays on a Congress of Nations," for the adjustment of international disputes, and for the promotion of universal peace, with

Ob

out resort to arms." In common with those in England who sympathize with the aim of both the societies, I hailed the appearance of that important volume with great satisfaction, and I have read it with no ordinary interest. I consider that the gentlemen whose zeal and liberality called this book into existence, have established a claim to the thanks of the whole civilized world. servant men will allow that a great step towards commanding the attention of mankind was gained when such characters as the Hon. Joseph Story, W. Wirt, John M'Lean, the Hon. John Q. Adams, Chancellor Kent, T. S. Grimké, and the Hon. Daniel Webster, consented to become the adjudicators. Names so distinguished amongst legislators and literary men, both in Europe. and America, serve to dignify the subject, and to rebuke the ignorant flippancy of those who deride the idea that the nations of the earth can dispense with human slaughter. Great good must result from the publication both in America and in England. It was a wise resolve in the American Peace Society, to present copies of it to the President of the United States, to the heads of departments, to the governors of every State in the Union, to every foreign minister at Washington, to the executive of every republic in America, and to every crowned head in Europe. The London Peace Society judiciously followed the example, in taking a very large portion of the edition, and in transmitting a copy to each of the foreign ambassadors in European courts. The possible results of this exalted movement no man can foresee. As a means, it seems admirably adapted to bring the momentous subject before the ruling minds and monarchs of the civilized world. The Six Essays are certain to obtain a careful perusal, and that they can

be perused without effect is utterly impossible. May the Prince of Peace, in whose hand are the hearts of men, give the volume favour in the sight of all the high and mighty whose eyes may light upon its invaluable pages!

I have been not a little gratified by the evangelical turn which the subject has taken in the hands of all the writers of these essays. While the subject is discussed in a manner suited to the taste and habits of educated men, it is in every case pervaded by a vein of pure and scriptural religion which will serve greatly to commend the work to the whole churches of Christ. There is not in the entire volume one expression which can give just offence, either to the scholar, or to the Christian.

Our cause for I have the honour to be a member of the London Society—has received very important assistance from the labours of the South Sea mission, which presents a rich variety of most affecting, most convincing illustration. I now proceed to analyse the "Missionary Enterprises" of Mr. Williams, with a view to exhibit the facts which they disclose, in such a manner as to carry to the heart of every reader the conviction that war is utterly incompatible with true Christianity, and that the uniform tendency of successful missions, is to extinguish the flames of martial conflict, and restore "the waste places of many generations.”

The labours of the missionary are not simply an affair of eternity. The changes which he effects on earth are a meet prelude to the felicities of heaven. One of the first and greatest of these changes relates to war and peace. The invariable tendency of his labours is, to extinguish the former, and to establish the latter. In speaking of the happy results of his toil, I give precedence to war, as at once the greatest curse and the greatest