6. Tracts, and practical works, have been produced in considerable variety.

In the Bengalee alone, there are seventyfive tracts, beside Doddridge's Rise and Progress, Baxter's Call, Pilgrim's Progress, Janeway's Token, Evidences of Christianity, Commentaries on Mark and Romans, Young Henry, and some others. The Calcutta Tract Society has printed more than 6525 pages of tracts; equal to twenty-two volumes of 300 pages each. At Madras have been printed, in the Tamul language, seventy-one tracts, beside broad-sheets; at Jaffna eighty tracts, and at Travancore fifty, making in all over 200 publications in Tamul. About fifty tracts have been printed in the Malay; in the Chinese about a hundred, comprising 5863 pages, or twice the amount of pages in Morrison's Bible. In Burman, there are twenty-eight tracts, making about 900 octavo pages; besides portions of Scripture in tract form. It would be tedious to make further specifications.

Among these publications are hymnbooks, in several languages. Every one may conceive the difficulty of writing poetry in a foreign tongue, even if the metre and mode of versification resemble our own; the reverse of which is true of Oriental languages. At most missions, the variety of hymns is now sufficient for public and private worship, and some advance has been made in teaching converts to sing. I could not explain, without too many words, the labour and difficulty of this work in both its departments.

All these works are to be enjoyed by future converts, to their more speedy and effectual growth in grace; and by future missionaries, in extending the knowledge and the arguments by which Christianity is to prevail.

The amount printed forms but a fraction of what has been made. Part of the rejected or postponed matter may yet be serviceable; but a large number of manuscripts, made by beginners, though useful in their place as studies, will never be printed. The amount of life and labour expended in producing the reading matter now extant, is not easily conceived. It is a labour from which fruit can only now begin to be realised. The same noiseless, and for the time, ineffective labours, must be performed in all new missions, and continued to a great extent in the old ones; but so far as idiomatic, intelligible, and adapted works have been prepared, it is work done for ever.

7. In nearly every mission there have a paper in the Quarterly Observer for Jan. 1836, on "The obligations of philology to modern missionary efforts."

been prepared a grammar, vocabulary, and dictionary.

.Rude and imperfect as some of these necessarily are, because, in their first stages of preparation, they furnish most desirable aid to beginners, saving not only months of labour, and much health and strength to new missionaries, but forming the rudiments which future students will improve to completeness; not a few of these helps have already advanced, under successive missionaries, to a good degree of perfection, and are among the noblest literary works of the day.

8. An amount literally incalculable of Bibles and tracts has been put into circulation.

Making the fullest deduction for such of these as may have been destroyed, millions doubtless remain, to prove, as we may trust, seed sown in good ground.

I am not among those who seem to think that if Christian publications are scattered abroad, good must follow. But the records of Bible and tract efforts most amply show that God smiles on this species of benevolence. Every annual report of these societies gives fresh facts, so that volumes might be filled with these alone. I give the following illustration, not because more striking than others which constantly occur, but because recent and unpublished. A young man came to the Baptist brethren in Cuttack, stating that in his own country, about six years before, he had received from some stranger, who wore a hat, a religious tract; which, almost without looking at, he placed in the bottom of his chest. Lately, a gentleman had come through the place, making a survey of the country. The hat this person wore, reminded the youth that once a person with a hat gave him a tract. He brought it forth from his chest, and for the first time read it over. It proved the means of his awakening; and he persisted in his inquiries. Having unreservedly become a disciple of Christ, he had now made a long journey to join himself to his people. He was baptized, and returned, and is now a useful labourer in the missionary service.

9. Great mechanical facilities have been created.

Besides the presses employed on foreign languages, by the Bible and Tract societies of Europe and America, there are now in full operation in heathen lands, more than forty printing-offices, belonging to missionary societies. Some of these have from five to ten presses, generally of the best construction. The fontes of types are numerous, and in many different characters. Each of these fontes has cost many hundred pounds, because, in addition

to the usual expenses, there have been incurred, in each case, the cutting of punches, sinking of matrices, and apparatus for casting. The alphabets, too, consist not of twenty-six letters, like ours, but often of a thousand or more, including symbols and compounds. In addition to all these facilities, we may enumerate school-houses, chapels, dwellings, libraries, apparatus, tools, globes, orreries, &c., at the different stations, and procured at an outlay of a great many thousand pounds. All of the printing-offices have binderies, supplied with tools sufficient to do the work of the respective establishments.

Many natives, at the cost of much labour and time, have been trained to all the branches of mechanics connected with these offices. In bringing matters to their present position, the missionaries have not only been obliged to devise, teach, and oversee, but in many cases, to perform every part of the manual labour. services and expenses are not again to be performed in the same places. The costly scaffolding is up for large portions of the growing edifice; and future labour and money, on those sections, may go directly to the increase of the building.

These

This

Besides the property invested in these facilities, and forming a large available capital, we are to consider the saving which will be made hereafter, by the improvements which have been effected. point may be made plain by a single speci. fication. In 1805, the cost of printing a manuscript Chinese version of the New Testament, then existing in the British Museum, it was ascertained, would be two guineas per copy.* In 1832, Mr. Hughes, of Malacca, wrote to the British and Fo reign Bible Society,t that the cost of a hundred copies of the whole Bible, from the blocks, would be twenty-two guineasa difference of about three thousand per cent. ! Whenever punches and matrices have been made, the casting of type may hereafter be done at a comparatively cheap

rate.

10. Schools of various grades are established, and a multitude of youth have received a Christian education.

To appreciate, in any proper degree, the magnitude of this result, it is necessary to consider the difficulties which have been overcome. In almost every case, the first offers of gratuitous instruction are spurned. When, at length, a few pupils are obtained, priestly influence has often driven them away. When even this is overcome, the children

⚫ Owen's First Ten Years of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1833.

VOL. XVII.

are frequently too wayward and idle to continue at school. Our victory, therefore, over the prejudices and jealousy of parents, the influence of priests, and the frivolity of the children, is a great achievement. Now, in many places, applicants are far more numerous than can be received, and nothing but want of funds precludes an almost unlimited extension of the system. Even Brahmins send their sons without hesitation.

I need not expatiate on all the probable effect of these schools, many of whose pupils are adults, and many more, who, though youth when at school, are adults now. They have diminished priestly influence by raising up an intelligent body of persons, who, though ever so humble, can and do argue triumphantly with the men who had before held the sway of great veneration. They have diffused a right knowledge of Christians and Christianity, overthrown erroneous systems of philosophy and nature, arrested floods of vice, prepared intelligent hearers of the gospel, proved the superiority of the missionary, and, in many cases, have been the means of genuine conversion.

Some of these are boarding-schools, where the pupils are wholly withdrawn from heathen influence. Some of them are for the children of native Christians, who receive at home impressions favourable to the permanency of those they receive at school. Some of them teach the higher branches, such as form a collegiate course with us. Some are taught in languages never before committed to writing; so that the pupils are the first of their tribes who have ever learned to read. Some of them are for females, in countries where the sex has ever been left in almost total igno

rance.

The whole number of pupils who have received education, or are now in the schools, cannot be ascertained. From the statistics furnished on this head by some societies, and the imperfect returns of others, I set down the pupils now in missionary schools, throughout the world, at nearly three hundred thousand.

11. The blessings of Christian morality have been widely diffused.

Some whole nations have adopted Christianity. In Greenland,* in Labrador, and in more than thirty islands of the Southern seas, paganism has ceased to be the national faith! These have become, in the customary sense, Christian countries. Instead of poverty, wars, and plunderings, are found plenty, peace, and security. Instead of murdered infants, neglected child

In Greenland there remained, in 1834, only one hundred and fifty heathen.

2

ren, degraded wives, and burning widows, are seen domestic peace and social endearments. Instead of idleness, are the comforts of intelligent industry. Intellectual cultivation has supplanted brutal insensibility. Rulers and kings, laying aside ferocity and selfishness, are seen governing their people by Bible laws, and anxious for the general good. Wherever even nominal Christianity takes root, through Protestant efforts, it produces more energy of character, milder manners, and purer morals, than has ever been shown under any form of Pagan or Mahometan influence. I confidently refer for proof to the Philippine Islands, to Aboyna, Bengal, and Ceylon.

There are, also, in the midst of heathen lands, Christian villages and districts, shining as lights in dark places; such, for instance, as at Serampore, Luckantiapore, Tanjore, Tenetelly, Ceylon, Mata, and scores beside.

"Dialects unheard

At Babel, or at Jewish Pentecost,
Now first articulate divinest sounds,
And swell the universal anthem."

There are also single stations, where hominal Christians are reckoned by thousands. It is true, the degree to which the fruits of Christianity are produced, is not the same as in Christendom, where its influences are corroborated in a thousand ways, and matured upon successive generations. The conduct of these nominal ones is often a discouragement, and sometimes a disgrace. But the benefits preponderate. Children grow up among beneficial influences, and enlightened to know good from evil. Instead of a false, filthy, and damning mythology, commingling with their first and most lasting impressions, they are instructed and restrained by pure and blessed truth. The Sabbath is observed, and the same people asseinbling from week to week, afford an opportunity of impressing line upon line, precept tipon precept; converts are not embarrassed for daily bread, nor scorned, abused, and abandoned by relations. Many formidable hindrances to conversion are thus removed. I heed not expand this proposition. The reader will see, that among such a people, the missionary labours with many advantages similar to those of a pastor in our own land.

12. In some places, the entire fabric of idolatry is shaken.

The knowledge of the one true God, and of salvation through his Son, has, in several regions become general. Hundreds of the best-informed personis openly ridicule and denounce the prevailing superstition; and thousands have their confidence in it weak

ened, if not destroyed. Conviction of the truth is established in the minds of multitudes who dare not openly confess it. Not a few of the converts have been from among the distinguished members of society, and even from the priesthood. Some of the se have been so celebrated for sanctity, and so extensively known, as to have excited by their conversion, a thrill of itquiry and alarm in all their vicinity. Education has emancipated thousands from the terrors of paganism, who yet do not accept Christianity, nor consort with the missionaries. Indeed, no man can be conversant with the heathen world, without perceiving that several large portions of the kingdom of darkness are on the eve of a religious and moral revolution.

This topic of encouragement is no doubt extravagantly enlarged upon by some. It has been assumed of countries where it is hot true; and where it is true, the degree has been overrated. Still, it is one of the achievements of missions which the most scrupulous must admit. That it is found any where, and to any extent, is great encouragement; it is not only a blessing on past efforts, and the promise of a still greater, but a most animating facility and preparation for future exer

tion.

13. The effect of missions on the European population abroad.

Before this enterprise, there was, among those who resided in foreign lands, whether in public or private life, ah almost universal enmity to religion. Carey said that when he arrived in Calcutta, he could hear of only three pious persons in India; excepting the four or five missionaries! Now, a considerable number, even among the highest ranks in many parts of the East, openly serve God. Hundreds of soldiers, and many officers, have been converted under missionary labours. Places of worship are built and the Sabbath observed, where Christians had long resided without giving any visible sign of their faith. Missions now have the countenance of a large number of gentlemen who make fio profession of religion. Apologies for paganism, and opposition to Christianity, are nearly silenced. In various places, handsome contributions towards the schools, &c., are obtained from the officers and gentry of the spot.

On to theme do pious "old Indians” dwell with more fervour than this change in the religious character of Europeans, since their arrival in the country. I might rehearse numerous facts given me by such, but space does not permit. It is sufficient to say that much obstruction is thus temoved at certain points, and an encou

Converted heathen are already numbered by tens of thousands. I might fill many pages with proof of the sincerity of their conversion, from the sacrifices they make, and the lives they live. I examined diligently into this matter every where, and have copious details in thy possession. But, adhering to the studied brevity of the other parts of this work, two or three specimens only will be given. Few Christians are aware of the extent to which such facts may be adduced. The various histories of missions are full of them.

In the last report of the London Missionary Society, it is stated that Narapot Singh, a native preacher, had by his attachment to Christianity sacrificed for a period of twenty-four years, an estate of eight thousand rupees per annum, making in the whole 20,0001. And this is "all his living." For the entire period he has endured continual poverty and toil. Many of the Burman and Karen disciples have literally "suffered the loss of all things ;" and it is believed that some have died in consequence of their sufferings. At the village of Mawbee, near Rangoon, a large number of Karens became Christians, through the preaching of a native assistant, and endured persecutions, which only fell short of taking life, for many months; having never seen a white missionary. I saw various individuals in Bengal and the Carnatic, who were then suffering banishment from all their relations, and many of the hardships of poverty, in consequence of serving God. In Madagascar Christianity was for a while countenanced by Radama, the king, and the missionaries had many seals to their ministry. At his death, the queen, who had always opposed her husband in this thing, no sooner found herself in possession of supreme authority than she began to exercise it for the destruction of Christians.

The missionaries were expelled. One after another the prominent disciples have been put to death. One of these, Rassalama, was sentenced to death, and, for several successive days, was cruelly flogged before the fatal day arrived. But her faith never staggered, and she met death with a martyr's intrepidity. Her companions were sold into perpetual slavery, and their property confiscated; but not one recanted. Rafaravavy, another distinguished woman, was for a long time kept in irons, and then sold as a slave.

After this, the remaining Christians began to assemble in the night, at the house of Rafaralahy, where they read the Scripture, conversed together on spiritual things, and united in prayer and praise. They were soon betrayed to the government, and Rafaralahy, after being kept in irons two or three days, was taken to the place of execution. On his way he spoke to the executioners of Jesus Christ, and how happy he felt at the thought of seeing, in a few minutes, him who loved him and died for him. At the place of execution a few moments being granted him at his request, he offered up a fervent prayer for his persecuted brethren, and commended his soul to Jesus. He then, with perfect composure, laid himself down, and was immediately put to death. He was twenty-five years of age, and of a respectable family. After this the persecution was pressed with rigour. The government determined, if possible, to secure all the companions of Rafaralahy. Several of them were seized, and afterwards made their escape. Many incidents, showing the distress to which the Christians were reduced, are related, A large number concealed themselves in the houses of friends, or in the forests, numbers are sold to slavery, and some are in irons. The queen proposed to put every Christian to death; but some of her officers advised her against this, saying, "It is the nature of the religion of the whites; the more you kill, the more the people will receive it."

Such are the facts, which might be multiplied to an indefinite extent. They leave no room to question the reality of the reported conversions. Defections, indeed, often occur, to pain the hearts of the missionaries; but though many have fallen through strong drink, love of gain, and other temptations, I never heard of one who was driven from Christianity by violence.

It is impossible to know the number of regenerated heathen, as the returns are not furnished from some missions. Two thousand have been baptized by missionaries connected with Serampore, of whom

600 are now alive, and in good standing. In the West Indies, connected with the Baptist and Methodist Missions, there are 69,000 communicants. The number connected with the London Missionary Society, is 5,439; with the Church Missionary Society, 1,514; with the English Wesleyan Missionary Society, 48,795, exclusive of members in British America; with the English Baptist Missionary Society, 18,720; with the American Board of C. F. M., 2,600 ;* with the American Baptist Board, 1,900; with the Moravian Missions, 47,000. Some missions, for instance the Moravian, do not require actual conversion to God as the term of churchmembership; so that we cannot calculate exactly from their returns in this argument.

From the best data we can obtain, we may safely estimate the present number of converts, after deducting such as may be supposed to have been received on an outward profession merely, at more than a hundred thousand.

In many cases, these are formed into churches, with pastors and deacons. The native preachers and catechists amount to more than a thousand. Many of these have received a good education in mission schools. Some (and the class is increasing) have become authors, and produced books, tracts, and hymns, of great value. Let the reader pause and consider the facts contained in these last four sentences; for though they are barely named, they are of great importance.

In some places, these churches have become so established that if missionaries should retire, the cause would probably go on. The Rev. Mr. Baker, of Madagascar, declared, in an address at Cape Town, several years ago, that there were "not less than five hundred natives who had maintained a constant profession of religion amidst persecution and danger." We have just seen how, with equal constancy, they could die for the truth.

Some of these churches have already begun to contribute, even in pecuniary ways, to the furtherance of the great work. It is thus at the Sandwich Islands, in Burmah, and many other stations. Even the poor Africans at Griqua town, contributed in 1836, to the funds of the Society, about

An extraordinary number of persons in the Sandwich Islands have recently become religious. The particular accounts have not yet reached this country; but it is supposed the number is not far from 5,000!

twenty-seven pounds; and at Bethelsdorp, in the same year, nearly ninety pounds sterling.

In addition to these thousands of converts, now shining as lights in dark places, we must not forget the thousands who have died in the faith. In the case of Serampore, out of two thousand baptized, only six hundred survive. We ought, therefore, probably to add another hundred thousand for converts deceased.

It would be easy and delightful to rehearse the distinct narratives of many who have crowned a life of evident piety by a becom. ing death. To speak of hundreds or thousands of converted heathen, sounds cold, when we think of the hundreds of millions yet left to perish. But in tracing the history and religious experience of an indi. vidual, our impressions become distinct; and to number even units seems an ample reward for all we have done or given. Such as would taste this feast will find it largely spread out before them in the Moravian and Baptist periodical accounts, the histories of missions, and the reports of societies. Separate volumes are also published, containing the memoirs of many of these. He who knows the worth of his own soul, could not rise from the life of Krishnu, Petumber, Abdool Meseeh, Asaad Shidiak, Africaneer, Peng, Catharine Brown, Karaimokee, &c., and retain enmity to the system of means which, under God, saved them from eternal death.

These glorious fruits are now safe in the garner of God. Schwartz, Brainerd, David, Schmidt, Carey, and a great company of missionaries, have their converts with them before the throne. No apostacy, no temptations, no weakness, can overtake them

now.

There they are, where we would go. Some are there, to whose salvation we ourselves have ministered. Soon we shall embrace them, not only in the blessedness of a joint salvation, but in the delicious consciousness of having been the instru ments of their deliverance.

If, after such thoughts, we could come down again to mathematical calculation, we might consider that the total number of conversions, divided by the number of missionaries who fully acquired the verna. cular tongues, would give from three hun. dred to four hundred converts to each! Can the ministry at home reckon thus? Truly the measure of missionary success needs only to be closely scanned to become a theme of wonder, rather than of discouragement.