which, in the reign of Queen Ann, | associations should be formed. Resought to deprive the Protestantligious liberty should be one object Dissenters of their parental and of their union. By local connexions dearest rights, in giving instruction they would become better prepared to their own children? This Bill for simultaneous effort, and somewill enable the officers of parishes thing greater and better might be to take all children, whose parents done, than merely to sit and sigh, are unable to support them, from or pass onward unconcerned. A the parental care, to seclude them in measure to. secure exemption from workhouses, or to remove them to a turnpike tolls was one object to be distance, among strange nurses, and desired. Another object ardently to of course, either to neglect their be sought, was some act relieving religious instruction, or to educate our places of worship from the rates them in the tenets of the Established for the poor, and our ministers and Church. congregations from the contumely and degradation which he had exposed. Another grand measure was, that emancipation from test and corporation laws, which, whilst they continued, remained as a brand of vassalage, an acknowledgment of sacraments of religion, to which no man who understood liberty, who respected the memory of the nonconformists, who cherished selfesteem, who loved his children, or who honoured his God, could tran quilly submit.-(Loud cheers.) On the principles of political economy the measure was indefensible. It would rather encourage than repress a redundant and wretched population. The parents who loved their children ought not to be deprived of the objects of their love;|inferiority, a prostitution of the and those who loved them not, would hail the measure as a bounty and reward. He therefore hoped, that when it should be read a second time, or be committed, some friend to humanity, some real patriot, some advocate for the rights of Dissenters and of conscience, would unmask the visage, expose the deformity, develope the baneful effects, and prevent the poor laws from becoming an additional source of civil and religious oppression to those whom they were intended to relieve.-liberty," was the exclamation of (Applause.) He knew that some good persons who thought of liberty too much might be said. But such was not the opinion which the wisest or best men cherished, or which history confirmed. "Above all things, Selden;" and who was Selden? an ardent youth, a warm enthusiast? Grotius said, "Selden is the honour of England.' Lord Clarendon, the Tory historian, pronounced him to be a man whom it was not possible excessively to praise. And if civil liberty gives to life its value, to man his nobleness, to nations their pre Since their last meeting also an attempt had been made in the name of the Universities, and of the King's Printer, to prevent the circulation of all Commentaries on the Scriptures unsanctioned by them. Little wrongs men too patiently endure but at length even the timid become desperate. Self-de-eminence, how much more dear fence induced the booksellers to associate, and to resist. From their Committee a Report might be speedily expected; and every friend to scriptural knowledge, and to free inquiry, must wish them success.— (Cheers.) must be religious freedom? That was the liberty which every man who deserves the name of man or Christian, should bind around his brow, and place closest to his heart.→ (Cheers.) Nor should trifles be disregarded. But nothing connected with principles was trifling. So Under the circumstances which he had developed, he wished to en-reasoned the most immortal men: quire what measures the Dissenters should adopt. He did not hesitate to state they were too congregational and independent. They did not sufficiently sympathize. County the benefactors of the globe. Twenty shillings was the whole amount of the ship-money that Hampden refused to pay; he refused, and the Stuarts were expelled.-(Cheers.) How trifling the demand for indulgences, which Luther by principle was induced to resist, and so produced the Reformation, and so relieved the world!—(Cheers.) On the subject to which he had adverted, let Dissenters then apply to Parliament; and, although they may be at first rejected, yet let them renew, renew, renew, their applications; and reason, and truth, and religious liberty must at length prevail. (Loud cheers.) nation was unselfish, was passion But they had also present another advocate for all that was benevolent and wise. He could remember when but a boy, he read his masterly reply to Burke, with eloquence equal to that of Burke. He could but overcome, as he had the quarrel just. With delight, too, he had listened to his defence of the freedom of the press. When before Buonaparte Europe trembled, and our Government yielded to prosecute a defenceless emigrant for the affirmance of the truth, he stepped forward on his behalf, and delivered an oration which Cicero, when most elated with his own immortal efforts, would have been proud to claim.— (Applause.) India, too, blessed the hour of his arrival on her shores. He went thither to administer justice, and by his administration, lenient, though upright, and by the mild exercise of his authority, he was there reverenced, till they regarded him as a tutelary messenger from heaven.- (Applause.) Every circumstance seems to demand speedy exertion. The nation is at peace. The persecution of the Dissenters does not decrease. Every possible means is adopted by the members of the Established Church, to increase and consolidate their power. In a recent publication, intitled, "Gravamina Ecclesiæ," the Rev. Mr. Dennis, Prebendary of Exeter, protests against every concession Dissenters have obtained. If they advance, and Dissenters still retrograde, the distance will be greater, and relief more difficult.(Cheers.) He trusted, that was a determination not hastily or imprudently adopted, and that Dissenters would meet with those, competent and willing to undertake in Parliament their cause. All must remember with affection, the ardour and the favourable zeal with which Mr. Fox devoted his great talents to the furtherance of those views. But he was lost. All too would recollect that great and good man so recently departed; and the mode of whose departure so much increased our He has stepped into the situation anguish at the loss. Those who re- of Sir Samuel Romilly; he has dimembered how he advocated the rected his great and comprehensive cause of the French Protestants, mind to the amelioration of those would not have feared the refusal of laws, which have been justly said his support. His was no party at- to be "written in blood." He has tachment to freedom-no lip pro- wrapped around him. the mantle of fession-he loved freedom in his the departed Romilly, more hobeart. With his earliest recollec-nourable than the judicial ermine, tions, the evils of persecution were connected. The first sounds he heard were the sighs of his parents ➡expatriated for their religion from their native land. With his growth the remembrance had grown; and the sentiments would have expired only with his life. Had he been present this day, what indignation would he have felt! Yet his indig the senatorial robe, or the imperial purple.-(Loud cheers.) He is not lost! Such a living advocate Dissenters still possess! While such evils exist, and such duties remain, he could not consent to indulge his wish, to sing the requiem of the Society, or to chant its dirge. But he did anticipate, that the day would come, when they might chant this requiem, interrupted, perhaps, by shouts of exultation!-No: not with shouts of exultation, but with a calm, and rational, and sublime, and silent joy, which will be felt by men of noble minds, who have attained their rights-by men, who can think on their forefathers without shame →who can view their children without sorrow-who have achieved their freedom-who have deserved their freedom-who feel that they are free. CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. It is strange that this should be necessary: but from the beginning of time, the most benevolent designs have been op posed, and the most benevolent men persecuted. 1. The objections of professed unbelievers are unfounded, and their opposition improper. Why should they censure Missionaries for doing what they suppose will benefit their fellow-creatures? With what propriety can they blame a conduct Long and continued cheers mark-which proceeds from fidelity, coned the interest excited in the meeting by a speech, which we have already characterized, and which occupied two hours, and of which even this long report is unavoidably but an abbreviated sketch. SERMON BY THE REV. THOMAS EDMONDS, A.M. scientiousness, benevolence, and zeal? They should also remember that Missionaries endeavour to convert the heathen from a religion which unbelievers themselves acknowledge to be false; a religion which cannot be denied to be malignant, cruel, debasing, and vicious: and that a conversion to the Christian faith must be for the better. Let Christianity be compared with heathenism; or, if they will, let it be viewed alone. Is not its tendency good? Does it not promote virtue, Rom. x. 14, 15. — How shall they order, and the happiness of the believe, &c. EVERY thing connected with religion is sublime and glorious, particularly the renewal of the soul, and the hope of the Christian-a hope full of immortality. The sacred and happy influences of religion caunot but interest the imagination and the heart. If this be the case with personal and individual religion, much more is it the case with the kingdom of God considered collectively. Inspired with these glorious views, Missionaries bave carried the gospel to foreign lands. world? Do not infidels themselves bear testimony to its morality? Why then do they oppose Christian Missions? The Christian Missionar y considers the diffusion of religion as essential to the happiness of the world. The unbeliever admires the magnanimity of the heathen. Does not the Missionary relinquish his dearest connexions? Is this nothing? Is it nothing to pass the ocean, and to encounter a variety of evils, in order to diffuse the unsearchable riche sof Christ? Their bitterness against Christianity would only be to be justified if the Missionary demoralized, instead of moralizing the world. How inconsistent, how unreasonable, is this boasted wisdom, which indeed better deserves the, name of folly, The designs of Heaven are effected by secondary and subordinate agents; men feel more interested when they are workers together with God. An immediate Divine Agency would confound us; but 2. This conduct of professed infidels this is not the case, when his cha- is less wonderful than that of Chrisracter and proceedings are developed tian professors, who do not adduce through the medium of our fellow-formal objections, but who view the men. This subordinate agency respects not only the kingdom of God in the heart, but also the kingdom of God in the world. I shall, VOL. XI. Christian Missionary with an unfriendly apathy. Some regard him as a fanatic. But can he be justly deemed a fanatic by men who admit the truth of the Christian religion? I. ENDEAVOUR TO VINDICATE Does the labour of the Missionary 3 с transcend the excellence of the object which he endeavours to attain? What can be more important than to communicate a message from Heaven? And yet these unfeeling professors admit that the Christian religion comes from God. Ought the Missionary to be deemed an enthusiast, if his object were merely to deliver from temporal evils, from captivity, from disease, or from death? And is it a less important employment to visit the earth with the waters of salvation? The remedy which we have received ourselves it is our duty to communicate to others. The gospel is a divine remedy; it heals the disease of sin. Do they deserve to be blamed, who, having been healed themselves, impart the remedy to their fellow-sufferers? poses a person's labouring for his own salvation. Shall men be forbidden to wage war against sin? This would be contrary to every Christian feeling, as well as inconsistent with the Divine character. It would be destructive to the harmony of Divine truth. Divine revelation says, Evangelize the world; these objectors say, Leave the work to God. Another objection is, that in the Apostolic times, there was a special commission; and that it is our duty to wait for a similar one. I answer, It is a duty of perpetual obligation to imitate Christ in the exercise of benevolence. Besides, are not the universal missionary zeal which prevails, the desire to evangelize the world, and the favourable opportunities which are given us, abundant proofs that the time is come when the world shall be evangelized? The object cannot be denied to be good. Are the means deserving of blame? Do they transcend the object? What object can exceed Others object, that the evidences that of evangelizing the world, and of Divine revelation are above the bringing every part of it, and every comprehension of heathens. To this individual in it, under the dominion I answer,-The gospel is applicable of God? To attain such an object to man as man. Who are they that should not every thing be sacrificed, are incapable of being moved by au and should not the utmost self-exhibition of the nature and consedenial be exercised? Shall it be said, that the means are inadequate to the attainment of the end? It is granted that in themselves they are inadequate. This inadequacy is that by which God humbles the pride of man. They are inadequate in themselves; but when God works by and with them, all obstacles give way. The gospel is mighty through God. quences of sin, and by the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Saviour? Who are they that are incapable of being sanctified by the Holy Spirit; or of being influenced by the hope of heaven, and by the fear of hell? Do not all possess one common nature? Are not all necessitous creatures? Is not the gospel designed for all? Do we not then, in promulgating it, act in perfect conThere are others who say, that sistence with the will and purposes Missions are a species of impiety. of God? Besides, it is a certain That it is presumptuous to anti-fact, that it does destroy the kingdom pate the designs of God; and that of Satan; to which add the strongest when the time is come, He will ride answer of all, namely, the Divine forth in his majesty. Answer,-It commission, "Go ye into all the is true that the work is God's; but world, and preach the gospel to are not the zeal, the benevolence, every creature." Arrest the attenand the labours of Missionaries the tion of mankind, excite their hopework of God? Do they not proceed"he that believeth shall be saved." from him? and are they not in per- Excite their terror-" he that befect accordance with his word and lieveth not shall perish." This incommands? Does the word of God junction was obeyed, and the word contain any warnings and cautions of God grew and multiplied. against Christian Missions? It contains cautions against sin, but none against the illumination of the world. Besides, this objection equally op Another objection is, that this was a singular case, and confined to the age of miracles. I answer,--Those miracles only exhibited and con firmed the truth of Divine revelation: they did not convert mankind. Conversion followed the application of the truth by the power and agency of the Holy Spirit. Have miracles ceased? Testimony comes in their place. The agency of the Holy Spirit is permanent; and a more copious diffusion may be expected if we pray for it. But does not conversion go on without miracles? and our obstacles are the same with those of the primitive Christians. But God then gave testimony to the word of his grace; why may we not hope for similar success? 2. The success of Christian Missions accords with the Divine glory. That which influences men to love God, must meet with his blessing. Must not God approve of the heathen being taught to speak of the glory of his kingdom, and to talk of his power? Is not unto the principalities and powers in heaven manifold wisdom of God? What divine attribute does not the gospel exhibit? Must it not, therefore, lead those who believe it to glorify God? As far as spirit surpasses matter, so far does the exhibition of the Divine glory in the oracles of truth, surpass the exhibition of his glory in the material universe. In what way can God be more glorified than in exercising a dominion over the heart, a holy dominion? and in bringing human nature to a state of perfection? Consider this, likewise, not merely individually; but collectively. An individual believer, compared with the church, resembles a single world compared with the countless globes of the universe. View the present state of Christianity in Britain. View this as sembly. Besides, did the Mission-ly places made known by them the aries to Britain wait for a special commission? Again, view the Pagan world, degraded by an infernal religion, by human sacrifices, and by every species of wickedness and cruelty. There is no remedy but that which is entrusted with you, for the benefit of your fellow-creatures. God has blessed you; be a blessing. The gospel remedy is adapted to the end. It reveals one God, holy and good; and requires purity of heart and life. Thus it counteracts the impiety and immorality of Paganism. The gospel declares the Divine purposes, displays the Divine purity, and announces the Divine requirements. In the person of Christ, virtue is embodied. The gospel shows the way of salvation, displays the Divine compassion, reconciles the clemency of God with his justice, removes servile fear, by the annunciation of mercy, and inspires both filial fear and hope, by the exhibition of the Divine goodness and severity. Whether mankind be considered as guilty and miserable, or as sinful and defiled, the gospel is adapted to their case. In the latter age of the world, this will more abundantly appear. Tranquillity, peace, and righteousness will universally prevail. 3. It is the subject of express prediction. The Divine veracity is pledged; the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth; all flesh shall see the salvation of God; all the ends of the earth shall see his salvation; he shall be the governor among the nations; his people shall resemble the dew of the morning; he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; and the recovery shall be equal to the alienation; for as many were astonished at him, so shall he sprinkle many nations. These things his power is able to effect; that power by which he bends every thing to his will; that power which brings good out of evil; and which is so great, that the heavens and the earth are but" the hiding of it." Remarks.-1. Let us engage in this great work with a single eye to the Divine glory, and the salvation of men; and let us fear, lest whilst we are concerned in communicating |