"Society, and that the Society will enable them "to fix a Missionary in a situation so desirable " and promising. It is the only place, they observe, that the native Portuguese have to look "to for deliverance from the slavery of the Por pish Communion, and promises to be a convenient place of instruction to the lower class of "Europeans who reside there; and although the "church is situated in a large town, they judge that a Missionary on that spot, besides instructing the English and Portuguese, may have opportunities of addressing himself to the con"version of the natives, and of aiding any views "that may be entertained of that sort. They "recommend the Rev. T. Lloyd, of King's Col

lege, Cambridge, as a person whom they verily "believe to be worthy, and well qualified to un"dertake the charge of the Mission. They con"clude with expressions of the happiness they "shall receive in assisting the views of the So

cr

ciety in the diffusion of religious knowledge in "the East Indies; and, with that view, they had "drawn up their thoughts in the form of a pro"posal, which had been transmitted to the Society.

"The circumstances of the Calcutta Mission, ❝as represented in the foregoing letters, claim

ing the most serious deliberations of the So"ciety, were attended to, both by the Mission "Committee, and by the General Board, and it

"was soon judged expedient, that a new Missionary should be sent to Calcutta, with all pos "sible expedition; and in consideration of the "kind, and very Christian part, towards the

Mission, taken by the three gentlemen before "mentioned, the very respectable clergyman, "recommended by them, was applied to, by order "of the Board, to know whether he was inclina❝ble to engage in the arduous office of a Mis"sionary. His reply, in the most respectful "terms, declined the engagement, in consequence "of his physicians having pronounced, that, the "climate of the East Indies, would be fatal to

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him, and for other reasons of a private nature. The Society, however, were not distressed by this disappointment, as a clergyman of unble"mished reputation, and serious piety, was, at "the very juncture, recommended to them, by a "right reverend prelate, viz. the Rev. Abraham "Thomas Clarke, B. A. formerly of Trinity Col"lege, in the University of Cambridge. Testi"monials in his favor, declarative of his qualifica"tions as a clergyman, and of the opinion enterstained of his being fit for a Missionary, were "signed by several worthy clergymen in the “neighbourhood of his residence in Lincolnshire,

and ratified by their diocesan. Mr. Clarke "himself having attended at a meeting of the "Mission Committee, and several of its members

having conversed with him, much to their sa

•

"

tisfaction; and the evidences of his fitness be ing entirely satisfactory to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Clarke was "nominated the Society's Missionary for Calcutta, "in the room of Mr. Kiernander; and the Board experienced a peculiar satisfaction in having at length found an opportunity, through the good Providence of Almighty God, of seeing an English Clergyman engaged in their Missions "to the East Indies. The Society then made "their application to the Honourable East India. «Company, for leave that the Missionary might "embark in one of their ships, free of all charge to them; and the Directors, with their usual indulgence, complied with this request. Afterwards, Mr. Clarke being equipped with all "necessaries and conveniences for the voyage, "terms for his passage were made with the cap"tain of the Houghton East-Indiaman; and the * Rev. Dr. Finch, Prebendary of Westminster, "and one of the Society's treasurers, by the re" quest of the Board, delivered a Charge to Mr. " Clarke, at a very numerous meeting of the Society, on Tuesday, March 3, 1789, with a copy "of which the doctor has been so obliging as to' "furnish them, and which they account them"selves happy in being able to communicate to "the public.

"

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A Charge delivered by the Rev. Dr. Finch, at a General Meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in Consequence of the Appointment of the Rev. Mr, "Clarke as Missionary to the East-Indies.

Reverend Brother, beloved in the Lord,

That sacred and most interesting undertak→ ing, in which you have embarked, cannot but impress my mind with a fullness of sympathetic feeling.

"It is indeed impossible, if we think, under "the influence of humanity, in one view, or are "actuated in another by the power of evangeli"cal faith, to avoid participating in that diversity

of effect which arises from the perils you have “to encounter, and the abundant satisfaction, which is the natural result of your devoting yourself to the cause of Christ.

"The enlargement of his kingdom, and the "everlasting happiness of its subjects, are the great points, to the accomplishment of which "the aims of this Society have long been di rected; and it is a reflection full of comfort and ❝ encouragement, that the divine blessing hath "most visibly attended their diffusive exertions.

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Contracted in its compass, as Christianity at f present seems to be, in comparison of the ex

tent of the known world, it is, undoubtedly, designed that it shall, under the direction of infinite wisdom, be progressively spreading

until it becomes universal; until the earth shall "be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the "waters cover the sea, and all the ends of it "shall experience the salvation of God.

"To take a part in this glorious work, and to "assist in opening a door of faith to the Gentiles, to communicate gospel light to the igno"rant heathens, to rescue them from that dark

ness and distress, in which they are involved, " and to instate them in the glorious liberty of "the children of God, is therefore an attempt, "not only gratifying to the best affections of the “hnman heart; but it is enforced by abandant

sanction from Scripture authority, especially " from prophecies already fulfilled, now fulfil"ing, and to be fulfilled hereafter, when that "predictive declaration of our divine Redeemer "shall be comprehensively verified in its asto~ "nishing and delightful effects. Other sheep I "have, which are not of this fold; them also I "must bring, and they shall bear my voice; and "there shall be one fold and one shepherd. "Hence it was, inspired with an awful prospect " of this grand event, that the Society, encou"raged and instigated by royal example in ano"ther protestant country*, turned their thoughts

"Denmark'