MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENTS. [Continued from p. 261, col. 1.] To show at one view the parts of the globe to which the several societies have directed their chief attention, we insert the following summary. The MORAVIAN MISSIONS are principally in the West Indies, America, Greenland, Asiatic Russia, and Southern Africa. The labours of the BAP TIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY have been chiefly devoted to India, the Asiatic Archipelago, and Jamaica; but a new station has just been fixed upon in the Bay of Honduras. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. South Seas Ultra Ganges Asiatic Russia Greek Mission South and West Africa African Islands the vicinity of the Caspian and the Black Seas, with the Steppes in the south-west part of Asiatic Russia; but the stations yet established are comparatively few. To point the reader's attention to those particular places whence our information respecting Nature and Man must principally be derived, as well as to enable him to appreciate the mighty work of benevolence, as it proceeds in its noble career, the respective stations belonging to the different Societies must be specified. In doing this, we shall follow the division adopted in other parts of the work. In these, the following abbreviations are used: viz. 6. Smyrna 7. Titalya, Tibet, near Nepaul....C. M. S. ULTRA GANGES AND INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO West Coast ..... A. Bd. M. | 57. Bareilly.. .... ..... 50 N. of Calcutta SL. M. S. N. M.S. 62. Calcutta.. N. of Tellicherry above Benares ....... ........ B. M. S. 19. Sourabaya, N. E. of Samarang N. M. S. 20. Ternate... ? N. M. S. 21. Timor....S 65. Cochin......160 N. W. of C. Comorin 18 from Allepie 67. Kowabee.... 40 N, of Delhi W. of Agra 69. Madras...... East Coast. J 70. Meerut... 22 S. E. of Delhi 75 N. 150 N. E. 81. Madras. 967 N. W. 320 N. W. ... SC. K. S. A.Bd.M. W. M. S. C. K.S. S. P. G. A. Bp. M. Jews' Society C. K. S. Jews' S. 36. Midnapore. 37. Mongbyr.. 38. Moorshedabad, 39. Nagpore.. W. M. S. Miles. D. M. S. C. K.S 91. Baddagamme12 from Galle C. M. S. 92 Batticaloe.East Coast W. M. S. 93. Batticotta.. near Jaffna A. Bd M. 94. Caltura..... 27 S.of Columbo W.M.S. B. M. S. 95. Columbo.. 96. Galle.... {. M. S. 75S.of Colum M. M.S. 98. Kandy..... 80 N. E. of 99. Matura....100 S. S. E. of ditto W. M.S. 100. Negombo.. 20 N. of ditte 101. Nellore, near Jaffna C. M. S. 102. Oodooville, ditto 103. Panditeripo ditto A. Bd S. 104. Tillipally ditto 105, Trincomalee N. E. Coast WM. S. AFRICA. WESTERN AFRICA. AFRICAN ISLANDS. 45. Johanna, Comoro Isles 46. Madagascar.. L. M. S. 1. Bathurst, mouth of the Gambia, C. M. S. 47. Mauritius.. 2. Bathurst 1 3 Charlotte. 4. Freetown. 5. Gloucester 11. Regent's Town NEW BAPTIST INTEREST AT BRIGHTON. THE Public in general, and those of the Baptist denomination in particular, are respectfully informed that efforts are now making by several persons, some of whom are members of different Baptist churches unconnected with any church in Brighton, 12. Waterloo.... Sierra Leone, C. M. S. for the purpose of raising a new Baptist 13. Wellington . 14. Wilberforce .S. P. G. A. Coloniz. S. W. M. S. 18. Mandanaree, Gambia 10. Plantains, Sherbro River.... C. M. S. interest in this town. As the persons engaged in this new undertaking wish to proceed in the most cautious and economical manner possible, they at present meet in a large room at the back of the Old Ship, in Ship-street, where three sermons are delivered on Lord's day, by, ministers principally from London. The attendance is already very considerable. N.B. A minister of respectable talents, of Calvinistic and liberabsentiments, would find this a very eligible situation. BURTON STREET CHAPEL, Burton Crescent, London. THE above meeting-house, having been fitted up as a permanent place of worship, 23. Paarl......45N.. of C.T.-L.M.S. for the use of the church and congregation office, on Wednesday, July 17, 1822. Mr. Sample, of Newcastle; Mr. Pengilly, of the same place; Dr. Steadman, (Mr. D.'s tutor); Mr. Anderson, of Edinburgh, (Mr. D.'s late pastor); and Mr. Ivey, of Barnard Castle, were the ministers engaged. For the Evangelical Magazine. The following letter has lain by us some time for want of an opportunity of giving it publicity, which its great length renders rather inconvenient to us; but the subject on which it treats is important, and the letter is ably written. It may not be amiss to premise, that the principles of these Separatists (as they call themselves) prevail much in Ireland, and efforts are making to introduce them amongst ourselves. It cannot therefore be unreasonable to provide an antidote. We shall only add that the letter was written in the heart of Ireland. MY DEAR SIR, EDITOR. THE friendship with which you discoursed with me upon those points wherein we differ in conducting the worship of God, induces me to hope a few lines upon the subject may not be unacceptable. I have no doubt you act conscientiously, and you will give me credit for doing the same, therefore I trust neither of us will be disposed to treat the other except as becometh Christians, who are sincerely desirous to approve ourselves in his sight to whom we belong, and before whom we shall ere long appear in judgment. And I pray God it may be our mutual happiness in that day to be found in Christ, not expecting acceptance in our own righteousness, but His who is the penitent believer's confidence and joy. If I correctly understand your sentiments, you suppose it improper to invite a general or mixed congregation to join in praying to God and praising him; and you consider it to be, first, without scripture warrant; and, second, calculated to lead unbelievers amongst them to form an erroneous opinion concerning themselves, But if I can prove that God himself, in the Holy Scriptures, requires these duties of mankind universally, I think you will not charge me with impropriety in imitating God as his servant; and then the second objection must of course fall to the ground, because God can do no wrong; and if he does not consider it calculated to lead sinners to form a wrong estimation, of their characters before him; neither should we; for no Christian will presume to know what is right better than God! That God requires even the wicked amongst men to pray to him in faith, appears to me most certain, from Isa. lv. 6, 7. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him`return to the Lord,” &c. That it is such as did not then serve the Lord who are addressed, is unquestionable; and if the direction to seek the Lord, and to call upon him, does not intend to pray to him, I certainly do not understand the meaning of the words. Is it objected that this was said to wicked Jews? See what the Apostle says to Gentile sinners, and acknowledged heathens. God hath made of one blood all nations of men, &c. that they should seek the Lord! if haply they might feel after him and find him," &c. Acts 17, 26, 29. And the Psalmist refering to the general deluge, when there was no written revelation of the will of God, says, "God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God, &c. Ps. liii. 2. And it is plainly implied, that because they did not so understand as to seek God, he sent the flood and destroyed them! So that it appears to me, if there was no express command for it in the Bible, God esteems it to be the natural, and therefore the indispensable duty of mankind, universally to pray to him; and those who restrain prayer before or to him, are exposed to his wrath on this very account! And if this is the case (as I appeal to your own judgment if it does not appear to be from the scriptures I have quoted) how can 1 or my brethren be to blame for earnestly inviting all men to do that wherein their duty, and interest, and happiness, both here and hereafter, are so nearly involved? Rather, how can we, as the public servants of Christ, answer it to our master, if we neglect so important a point of his holy pleasure? If indeed we invited our fellow sinners to a gaming table, or a party at cards, or a dance, or a ball, or a horse race, or a play, &c. or if we gave our countenance to such things, there would be a propriety in separating from us, as acting inconsistently with our profession as the servants of God; but it grieves me exceedingly, that any whom we must esteem as Christians, should make it a point of conscience to exhibit to the world a marked separation from us in our imitation of God, upon the clear authority of the Bible! and Neither are these the only passages that show it to be the duty of all men to pray to their Creator. In Isa. viii. 19, it is asked, "Should not a people seek unto their God?" The question implies its own answer, what our reason must acknowledge, that this is a natural and therefore a universal duty. Again the Lord says to the house of Israel, "Seek ye me and ye shall live; but seek not Bethel," &c. Amos v. 4, 5. How did the people seek Bethel? By praying to the calves there; or as the worshippers of Baal, sought him, "O Baal hear us! Thus we are to seek the Lord, and say, prayer and praise are so similar in their nature, that they must stand or fall together, if one is wrong so also is the other. But if it is the duty of a creature to pray to God for his mercy, it must be also proper to praise him for his benefits; and there can be no impropriety in inviting all people to their privilege and duty; or any propriety that I can discover in its omission. “O Lord, hear us." Again it is said to the apply to the duty of praising God. This mixed congregation of Israel, "O come also is expressly required of all people in let us worship and bow down, let us kneel Ps. c. quoted above; and the Holy Ghost before the Lord our Maker," &c. Ps. cxv. calls upon 66 every thing that hath breath to 6. And the same exhortation is given to praise the Lord." Ps. cl. 6. And, "Make the world. "Give unto the Lord O ye kin- a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth; dreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing and strength, give unto the Lord the glory praise; sing unto the Lord with the harp, due unto his name; bring an offering and and the voice of a psalm. Ps. xviii. 4, 5. come into his courts; O worship the Lord And it is testified, "Whoso offereth praise in the beauty of holiness, fear before him glorifieth me," &c. Ps. 1. 23. This may all the earth. Ps. xcvi. 7-9. "Make a joy-suffice on this subject, for the exercises of ful noise unto the Lord all ye lands (all the earth, marginal reading;) serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing; enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name,' &c. Ps. c. 1-4. "Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth; seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion; the Lord is his name." Amos v. 7, 8. Eliphaz also charged it as a sin against Job, Thou restrainest prayer before God!" Job. xv. 4. And God complains against Israel, "They have not cried unto me with their heart." Hos. vii. 14. And he severely threatens those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him." Zeph. i. 6. And it is recorded by the Holy Ghost concerning King Rehoboam, He did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord." 2 Chron, xiii, 14. It is granted these things were said under the former dispensation, but they were not restricted to the Jews; and the Apostle says, "Whatever things were written aforetime were for our learning." Rom. xv. 4. And if such general and unlimited exhortations are not to be regarded by Christians, the Old Testament might as well be rejected altogether, as in no sense a rule of duty for us. But no Christian will agree to this, who recollects that Christ himself has directed, to "search the Scriptures" (i. e. the Old Testament, for the New was not written at the time.) And the Apostle says of the same part of divine revelation, "All Scripture IS profitable for doctrine, &c. that the man of God may be perfect," &c. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. Therefore it would be highly improper to say the New Testament is the only directory for Christians, and the Old Testament is altogether a dead letter! Rather the New confirms the Old, except in those things which it explains to be peculiar to the Jewish economy, which is abrogated by the coming of Christ. But the duty of the creature to pray to his Creator is in no place abrogated in the New Testament, therefore it must continue in force through all the world. The same observations appear to me to But it may be said, where did Christ or the Apostles encourage all people to their sacred exercises? 1 answer, that if there was nothing in the New Testament particularly to sanction it, they must still be the duties of all men while the Old Testament does not restrict them to the Jews, but requires them of all people without exception, and there is nothing in the New Testament to the contrary. The New Testament is a supplement to the Old; and it was not designed to teach the duties of natural religion, but to exhibit the fulfilment of the prophecies and types under the Mosaic economy, that the way of salvation, through the crucified Redeemer, might be opened up for obedience to the faith among all nations. But the testimony of the inspired Apostle already referred to at Areopagus, of the intention of God in the formation of mankind to seek the Lord, Acts xvii. 26, 27, and his assurance to them that God commandeth all men every where to repent, ver.30, perfectly satisfies me that the mind of the Spirit is the same upon this subject in the present, as in the former dispensation. If repentance is a universal duty, can it consist without an acknowledgment of our sins to God? And is not the penitent to seek the divine forgiveness? How then can it be improper to encourage sinners to return to the Lord, and seek his mercy, in imitation of the Apostle Peter, who exhorted Simon Magus to repent and pray God! that the wicked thoughts of his heart might be forgiven. Acts viii. 22. And Paul testifies, that the reason the nations were given over to idolatry was, because they did not glorify their Creator as God! Rom. i. 21, and how could this be done without addressing prayer and praise to him? [To be continued.] |