parts of America," during this remarkable "Era of Light," the adventurous missionary has displayed "the everlasting Gospel" in such manner, that "the image of God" is seen in the once base, bold, and cruel Savage? Oh that it were!

How far westward the Moravian Brethren have extended their exemplary and evangelical diligence I am unable to ascertain. The fate of their Indian settlements of Gradenhutten, Shoenbrun and Salem is detailed in the appendix to the Rev. Mr. Harris's "Tour to the State of Ohio." Possibly they may have advanced to the Illinois-I know not but beyond.

The spiritual industry and Christian benevolence of our own countrymen have effected a Mission at Sandusky, among the Wyandots, and this, under the patronage of the "Western Missionary Society," aided by the exertions of other Societies and individuals, maintains its ground; and, under the smiles of Him, who reigns in His Church forever, will doubtless be a mean of great benefit.

It is asserted by persons, who have some acquaintance with the subject, that as far, as is known to them, no Protestant Missionary has, as yet, crossed the Mississippi for evangelical labor.

The benevolence of British Christians had left to us this field. From the extracts above it would seem they have supposed it occupied and tilled. But it is yet a vast moral waste.

Another extensive field of labor is also opened to the Christian benevolence of the people of the United States. With a population of a million of blacks, who either were themselves torn from Africa, or descend from ancestors, who were, it cannot but seem an incumbent duty to reflect on, and endeavor to promote, the good of that benighted country, the sweat of whose natives has so long been enriching our own. Several have felt this to be a duty. The late Dr. Hopkins entertained a high hope on this subject, and made exertions to evangelize some part of Africa by means of Africans themselves. And many good men beside have favorable thoughts of the utility, and a strong sense of the consequent obligation, of supporting an African mission con. ducted by blacks. It is confidently said to be the opinion of Sir Joseph Banks, so many years versed in the concerns of the African Institution, that, whenever it is practicable, it will be best to employ the natives of Africa, in the intercourse with that country. If this opinion should prevail, what a triumph of Christian principle would be exhibited to the heathen! And perhaps it may prevail, considering the immense advantage, with which an African, liberated himself from slavery, and having renounced idolatry and embraced the religion of Christ, might address his heathenish countrymen, and exhibit to them the blessings of Christianity, among which his own mission would not be the leaat. He might show them the sincerity of the change of disposition, which the Christian na tions profess in relinquishing the.

practice of enslaving their fellow men. We should then virtually address them thus; "Your happiness is dear to us, as friends of the Redeemer; behold the proof! We send you the religion of Jesus by means of these your countrymen, whom, under other views, and for far different purposes, we drew into slavery. Forgive us the wrong; and thankfully adore the Providence of God, who in the land of their captivity has given them the light of the Gospel, and by his grace induced and enabled us to turn your former injury into your eternal beneft. Rejoice, then, with us in a like precious faith!"

Doubtless among the many professors of religion among the blacks in our country several might be found willing to undertake the duty, if judged fit, and adequately patronized. Should there not be a sufficiency already, we may educate some hopeful youths of them-may give them a knowledge of medicine, surgery, natural history, agriculture, and the arts, in addition to sacred instruction.

This great subject is, perhaps, contemplated by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and, in conjunction with the design of evangelizing the West, forms a part of the extensive plan of their ultimate operations. But a mission to the Northern Indians, and the important service in prospect

Accounts have not long since reached us of the active and intelligent exertions of a negro captain of a vessel, owned by himself, and manned with blacks, and now employed, as is believed, in the service of the "AfricanInstitution" in England. This is evidence of a capacity for improvement. VOL. IV. New Series.

among the inhabitants of the Birman Empire must require not only the present funds of the Board, but also the results of an ordinary public benevolence.

I was gratified with the proposal of "a Subscriber" in the Panoplist for November, p. 269, and pleased with the prompt sincerity, with which the first fruits of his resolution were devoted to the Missionary service. A general disuse of ardent spirits, and the diversion of the sums which they cost into a channel of Christian beneficence, might form a fund amply sufficient for every charitable purpose.

But, when objects of so great importance open on us, the exertions of the friends of Zion must be increased. Let us then venture to hope that, in view of the wide field of Missionary labor presented to the contemplation of the highly respectable Board, whose interesting Address your readers have lately perused, it may appear the duty of the several Societies (in New England at least) already embodied for the purpose of Missions, and whose efforts are circumscribed, although of incalculable benefit "to the new settlements and destitute places of the United States," to DEVOTE to the use of that Board, for propagating the Gospel in the Western regions of America, in India, and in Africa, the TENTH PART OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME.

I am sensible, Mr. Editor, it will be said that objects sufficiently numerous and interesting have been already presented; that we had better attempt to instruct and evangelize the negroes of our own country, before we send to Africa; and occupy

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It seems, indeed, that the erection of such a Board, as we have seen formed in New England, is to be proposed to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Perhaps it may be thought, that it belongs to them to realize the expectations of European Christians in respect to the Western Indians; to which I have alluded, and to make use of the striking facilities, with which we are furnished, to send back to Africa the payment of the debt, which we owe to humanity. But New England has a large and interesting population of her sons advancing to the West, for whom she should be provident.

I will only observe, further, that it will be a circumstance peculiarly deserving notice, should a public Body, formed in the State, which first emancipated its negro slaves, be foremost in striking off the fetters of sin and ignorance from the minds of heathenish Africans, debased and polluted by idolatry and crimes.

The time may come, when the messengers of peace, who enter Africa from the West, shall be met in their zealous course of Christian benevolence by enlightened and converted natives from the eastern and southern shores of that vast continent, engaged in the same evangelical labor. The re-introduction of

For the Panoplist.

ELIHU.

ON WRITTEN ACCOUNTS OF REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

IN many accounts which I have read of revivals of religion, after a general description of the origin, progress, and issue of the work, a few instances of remarkable conversions are subjoined. These consist usually of aged persons, or of persons who have been unusually irreligious and dissolute, or of persons awakened and converted without the intervention of the ordinary means of grace. The object in producing these select and signal cases is to evince, that the work is the work of God, and to illustrate his adorable sovereignty. And they furnish, no doubt, unquestionable evidence on these subjects. But while they are produced, (and properly enough) for these purposes, the question has occurred to me, Whether sufficient care has been taken to guard against misconception, and the perversion of these examples? Indeed, I have thought, that such accounts have frequently occupied an undue proportion of the narrative; for though the power of God, and his sovereignty, are gloriously manifested in such special cases, there are other truths, of no less

consequence, illustrated during the progress of almost every revival. The greatest number of converts, in every day of God's power, are probably the immediate or remote descendants of a pious ancestry, religiously educated, and personally attentive to the means of grace. And this is the subject, which I think should stand in the fore ground, and Occupy the largest space; lest, seeing so many instances of the conversion of aged persons, and of irreligious and profligate persons, with the scanty accounts of the conversion of sober youths, who had been religiously educated, the freader should form too low an apprehension of the danger of impiety, vice, and procrastination, depreciate the importance of using means, and be inspired with presumption to continue in sin, from the expect ation that grace may be as likely to abound to persons in such courses, as to any others. God is certainly a sovereign, but the exercise of his sovereignty is never at war with the declarations and institutions of his word. It is never so exercised as to diminish the danger of sin, or the importance of Divine ordinances; and if any such impression is made by a narrative of a revival of religion, it must arise from a defective history of the work. Hence there is great need of fidelity and judgment to give to the parts of the account their due proportion, according to the state of facts. The writer of such an account should note especially the ordinary course of Providence, and not confine himself principally to deviations from that course. The defect, concerning which I am speaking, con

sists not in stating facts which ought to be omitted, but in omitting facts which ought to be stated. Every revival illustrates, if I mistake not, the covenant faithfulness of God to his people, in the conversion of their children. It shews, also, the importance of the means of grace, and the danger of irreligion and immoral habits, and of deferring religion to old age. If children of worldly and irreligious families are sometimes compelled to come in, how much more manifestly is the blessing of the Lord in the house of the righteous, than in that of the wicked. If one infidel, or one drunkard, or one aged sinner is plucked as a brand from the buri.ing, how important is it that such a fact should be so stated as not to admit the inference, that infidels, and drunkards, and aged sinners, are as likely to be saved as those whose doctrinal views are correct, their conduct regular, and who have been solicitous about their souls from early childhood. It should be stated, on the other hand, that no religious advantages, however great, no external propriety of conduct, no correctness of speculative faith, no anxiety about the soul, can insure salvation, or render a person worthy of the Divine favor.

As to those cases, in which persons are awakened without the visible operation of means, the inference is too hastily and too strongly drawn, that they are not awakened by the ordinary means of grace. The Bible, and the Sabbath, and the Gospel Ministry have had an effect upon them in a thousand ways. They have heard something in the family, something in the school, and occasionally something on the