propagating Christianity abroad: the "SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE," and that for "THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS: but the efforts of these So cieties have been limited to particular objects; the one having been formed with another view, and having only incidentally directed its attention to a few places in the Indian Peninsula, and the other having limited its exertions altogether to the British Colonies.

It were much to be wished that the liberality of Christians in general, and more especially of the Members of the Church, would enable these two Societies to extend their exertions among the Hea** then. Abundant opportunities of employing the most ample funds are offered, in the West Indies in particular, to the Society for propagating the Gow spel; and in the Peninsula of India, to that for pros moting Christian Knowledge.

Many Members of the Established Church, parti eipating in the increased concern for the salvation of the Heathen, and aware that the restricted objects of these two venerable Societies left open to the exertions of the Church immense portions of the heathen world, and judging it probable that a Society with the exclusive object of evangelizing the Heathen would meet with the hearty support of the pious Members of their own body, formed themselves, in the

year 1801, into such a Society: and the continent of Africa, and almost the whole of the East, being still open to the missionary labours of the Establish ed Church, the Society assumes its name of CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR AFRICA AND THE FAST, from this extensive field; not however cons! sidering their name as binding them to exclude their

attempts from any other unoccupied place which may present a prospect of success to their labours.

The continent of Africa is supposed to contain 100 millions, perhaps 200 millions, of inhabitants. Asia is computed at 500 or 600 millions. All these, with a few exceptions, are either Heathens, who know not God, or blind followers of the false prophet Mahomet. It is also matter of extreme regret, that the intercourse between them and nations called Christian has tended to confirm their prejudices against Christianity; the professors of which they have too often found to be distinguished by their rapacity, violence, and cruelty.

In the support of this great cause you are now invited, Christians, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to unite with those who are endeavouring to remove the reproach of negligence from your country. The honour of your Divine Master demands it at your hands. To you the bread of life has been liberally dealt: learn to impart a portion of that bread to your perishing neighbour.

On all the Members of the Established Church, the Committee would press the consideration that THIS IS THE ONLY SOCIETY IN THAT CHURCH, WHICH HAS FOR ITS EXCLUSIVE OBJECT THE EVANGELIZING OF THE HEATHEN WORLD.

There existed, before the formation of THIS SOciety, no Association of Members of the Established Church, with this exclusive object. As a Churchthe pillar and ground of the Protestant Faith-we have been too justly reproached with want of zeal for the diffusion of Christianity. The Church of Rome, with whatever mixture of secular motives, has done more to make known the name of Christ

among the Heathen than all the professors of the Reformed Faith: and, of all the nations professing that faith, Great Britain has laboured far less in this great cause, in proportion to her means and opportunities, than any other state. While, therefore, other bodies of Christians among us are strenuously exerting themselves to remove this reproach from our land, let the UNITed church of ENGLAND AND IRELAND assume that share in these exertions which becomes her! It was with the view of associating her members in this holy work, that the present institution was formed.

There is no need here for unholy rivalry. The wide world is before us. There is more than room for all the efforts which the various bodies of Chris tians in Europe, in America, and in the East, may be able to make for ages to come: five or six hundred millions of Pagans and Mahometans in Asia, and one hundred millions (if not double that number) in Africa, are perishing for lack of knowledge!

'T'he providence of God has weakened the Church of Rome, made her tremble for her own existence, shut her up from making any efforts even to maintaiu the missions which she had established, and suffered her professed children to alienate to their own ambitious schemes the revenues by which those efforts were supported; yet, in the mean while, in the Protestant Church, of the United Empire in particular, a holy zeal has been kindled for the salvation of the Heathen. An earnest desire to diffuse the know ledge of the Scriptures has pervaded every part of the Empire; is discovered throughout the Continent itself, wherever the Christian Mind is left at liberty to express its feelings; and animates both the Western

and the Eastern World! The field of labour is most ample: the prospects of usefulness are great: and the call on Christians in general, and particularly on the Members of the Church, is now made with a confident expectation that it will be felt and an swered.

Let every man give as he is able, to all such insti tations as aim with simplicity at the same great ob jeet. It cannot be expected, that the conversion of the world will be effected but by the simultaneous efforts of various bodies of Christians; yet Chris tians may be allowed to support, and in truth ought to support most strenuously, the efforts of that body to which they have, of deliberate choice and settled conviction, attached themselves.

هر

CHRISTIANS! the obligation, which lies upon you to join in this sacred cause, is infinite. Your own ancestors, in this very island, once worshipped dumb idols: they offered human sacrifices; yea, their sons and their daughters unto devils: they knew not the truth: they had not heard of the name of Jesus : they lived, they died, without hope, and without God. Before the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, no Church here existed, but the temple of an idol; no priesthood but that of Paganism; no God but the sun, the moon, or some hideous image. To the cruel rites of the Druidical Worship, succeeded the abominations of the Roman Idolatry. In Scotland stood the temple of Mars; in Cornwall, the temple of Mercury; in Bangor, the temple of Minerva; at Malden, the temple of Victoria; in Bath, the temple of Apollo; at Leicester, the temple of Janus; at York, where St. Peter's now stands, the temple of Bellona; in London, on the site of St. Paul's

Cathedral, the temple of Diana; at Westminster, where the Abbey rears its venerablé pile, a temple of Apollo*. But, mark the contrast: you now are a favoured nation: your light is come: the glory of the Lord is risen upon you: all those heathen rites have ceased: the blood of the victim no longer flows: an established Christian Church lifts its venerable head; the pure Gospel is preached : ministers of the sanctuary, as heralds of salvation, proclaim mercy throughout the land-while civil and religious liberty have grown up under the benign influence of the Gospel, that sacred tree, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nations.

CHRISTIANS! to whom, under God, do you owe all these blessings? You owe them to that man who was the first Missionary to Great Britain. He came with his Bible and his life in his hand, ready to be offered. He came with the love of God shed abroad in his heart, willing to die for His sake who had died for him; seeking not yours, but you; inspired with holy ambition to be the means of translating you from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son. He came supported by the ALMS of the Church, and the PRAYERS of all the faithful in Christ Jesus, who greatly longed for you in the bonds of the Gospel.

The obligation, which once was thus conferred on you, you are called on now to confer on others. Every blessing which you now enjoy whispers, Freely you have received, freely give. All the Church of Christ expects it. Nations yet in darkness, taught to regard your island as the seat of religion, liberty, and

*This survey of ancient British Idolatry is taken from a Ser mon of Dr. Plaifere, preached, in 1573, before the University of Cambridge.