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many years' service, together with numberless trials and hardships, arising from climate, want of proper food, &c., had to some extent disabled and rendered unequal to cope with the increasing difficulties. I rejoice that something has been done in this way of late years, but much more must yet be done, if we would adequately meet the existing circumstances.

The difficulties to be overcome

are neither few nor small; and, if we would overcome them, we must, of course, employ an adequate instrumentality. I do not forget on what the efficacy of all our efforts depends, but still, if we would secure the needful blessing, we must employ means bearing some adequate proportion to the end. We must not expect God to do great things for us, unless we attempt great things for Him. Let, then, a vigorous and decided effort be made on behalf of these islands-let the effort be adequate to the exigencies, and made in the right spirit, and doubtless the blessing will not be withheld. But if the

state of the old missions in the South Seas be somewhat discouraging, that of those more recently formed is in the highest degree encouraging; and when considered in connexion with the other, calls upon us in the most urgent manner to go vigorously forward, that the unhappy consequences above alluded to may be avoided, and that we may be blessed with continually increasing prosperity-that that blessed light which has begun so auspiciously to shine on these islands, may shine more and more until the perfect day, till the blessed Sun of Righteousness shall burst forth in noonday splendour on all these lovely islands, and convert them into so many gems to deck his mediatorial crown. And why may not this be? The only obstacle doubtless is with ourselves. O churches of Britain, be entreated to consider your high destination as the chosen instruments of evangelizing these islands; and to avail yourselves to the utmost of the high privilege that is thus conferred upon you. How did the apostle of the gen. tiles, the first missionary to the heathen, exult in that to him this grace was giventhat he should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would that we had more of his spirit!

But I return to the point now before us, which is the encouraging state of the more recently commenced missions in the south seas. The missions now particularly alluded to are those on the Hervey and Samoan groups; the one of which has been in operation for seventeen or eighteen years; the other has been under the management of foreign missionaries since the summer of 1836. Native teachers had been at work on some parts of the islands for five years before. It is not necessary to my present purpose to give a particular account of the

state of things on these islands. To most, if not all, who are likely to read these remarks, this would be unnecessary, as they have the periodical publications of the society, whence they may obtain the needful information. So, taking for granted that such information is possessed, I would ask, Does not the degree of success, with which it has pleased our gracious God to crown our efforts in these islands, furnish a strong reason why we should urge our way onward towards still greater and more decided triumphs? It is readily admitted that the obligation to spread the gospel does not in any degree rest on the success that may attend our efforts. That obligation would lie upon us in full force, even had all our past efforts been utterly unsuccessful; still it is surely an encouragement, yea, more than an encouragement, a plain call to increased effort, when God manifestly works with us, and affixes the seal of his approbation to our exertions. And this he has done, and is doing among these islands, to an extent that calls for the devoutest gratitude, and fills the heart with the liveliest satisfaction. O then let us see to it, that we avail ourselves to the utmost of his blessed co-operation; and let us not fail to derive from it the encouragement which it is so eminently fitted to afford. Let us profit by the experience of other missions, and do everything in our power to place these on a secure and permanent basis, that they may soon be independent of our aid, and may promote and extend themselves when we shall rest from our labour, even while sun and moon endure.

Another consideration, which appears to me to strengthen the claims of the south sea islands is, the disposition, in many cases the strong desire, that so generally prevails among the unenlightened islands, to receive Christian teachers, and to embrace Christianity.

That such a disposition does, to a great extent, exist, the writer is well assured, not from the testimony of others alone, but from what he has seen and heard among the heathen themselves. True there are exceptions, many exceptions, but it has been most fully ascertained that the number of those islands and groups that would gladly receive teachers, and place themselves at once under their instruction, is very considerable, much greater than we shall be able to occupy for many years to come, unless we very greatly augment our present resources; or, rather, unless we make a much more liberal appropriation of the resources that are at our dis posal to the cause of God in these islands. The church is not without the needful re-. sources for a vast augmentation of her exertions in this cause. No, it is the heart that is wanting-it is the heart that esteems all things but loss for Christ, and rejoices and

esteems itself highly privileged to be permitted to lay it all at his feet. This, this is what we want.

During a voyage made in the "Camden," in the spring of 1841, the existence of the desire in question was most satisfactorily ascertained. This voyage was among the New Hebrides, Loyalty, and New Caledonia groups; in the latter of which alone, the chiefs of five different islands had communicated their earnest wish to the teachers on the isle of Pines, to be furnished with native teachers or missionaries. On New Caledonia, one of the five, we placed two teachers, and found it exactly as it had been represented by the teachers on the isle of Pines. The chief and people of the district were waiting to receive us, and received the teachers with every expression of grateful satisfaction. At Loyalty group also, on one of the islands of which teachers were placed, we had information of seven or eight belonging to the same group, all of which were reported as being in a peaceable state, and on all of which teachers would, in all probability, be as gladly received as they were on the island where they were placed. Nor, if we except Erromanga, does there appear any very great difficulty among the New Hebrides. I might mention many more islands and groups, about which I have had information more or less satisfactory, but I forbear. It is perfectly manifest that, in many cases, the heathen are prepared to receive us. A very general feeling of dissatisfaction seems to obtain, together with a desire for something which they do not now possess; and what is this but a feeling after Him in whom they live, and move, and have their being? What is it but an intimation that they are waiting for His law? What is it but an appeal to us to hasten to their aid, and furnish them with that something after which they are groping? And O what an appeal! Hear by what language it is made! See by what scenes it is enforced! And O can we turn away from it? O my fellowChristians, permit me to urge on you the consideration of the claims of those on whose behalf I plead. I have seen their deep degradation, their revolting moral pollution, and their consequent misery and wretchedness; I have seen the eagerness with which they receive the heralds of salvation; and I have seen the efficacy of the ever-blessed gospel to raise them from their degradation, to cleanse them from their pollution, and fit them for the world of purity and bliss. And, I entreat you, O withhold not from them the gospel! O deny them not that precious boon, which it is in your power to impart; and without which they must continue in their present deplorable condition, and must, ere long, sink into a hopeless eternity. O how momentous are the conse

VOL. XXI.

quences that depend on your movements! and how vast the responsibilities that attach to those high privileges that have been conferred on you!

The next consideration relative to these islands to which I would invite attention, is, the facility with which agents can be obtained to begin and carry on, to some extent, the work of evangelization.

At home there is often no small difficulty in obtaining men, and when these are obtained, they must be conveyed to distant countries, and there supported at a considerable expense. All know also what ravages disease and death are continually making in the missionary field; how few comparatively are permitted to labour for any considerable time; how many are cut off ere they have well begun their labours; and how very few see anything like old age. I would not be understood as meaning that foreign labours can be dispensed with. Many years must elapse ere this could be. But what I wish to urge is, the importance of availing ourselves to the utmost of native agency, both as assistants in old fields, and pioneers in new; since that can be obtained so much more easily than foreign. The expense of supporting native teachers in the South Seas is almost nothing, and of course there is no waste of life occasioned by change of climate, except in cases where they may be placed in a climate sufficiently different from that of their native islands to affect their health, which is not often the case. I cannot but express my conviction that the importance of native agency, especially as assistants, has been too much overlooked in the past history of the South Sea missions, and that that is a main reason why the old missions stand so much in need of foreign reinforcements at the present time. In the more recently-formed missions this subject is receiving considerable attention; and what is mainly needed now is, the means of conveying our teachers to the destitute islands around us, and of paying them periodical visits. We have at the present time very many on Rarotonga, and on Samoa, and, I should think, also on Huahine, who are not only willing, but earnestly desirous, of being employed as evangelists. A number are under special training with a view to their being so employed, and, had we the means of conveying them to the destitute parts to which our attention is anxiously directed, the respective churches to which they belong would gladly support them; so that there is only one obstacle in the way of native agency being employed on all the accessible fields around us. We want additional aid in the way of shipping. We want another vessel to be employed, either in whole or in part, among these islands; and this we must have, or the work of evangeli2 U

many years' service, together with numberless trials and hardships, arising from climate, want of proper food, &c., had to some extent disabled and rendered unequal to cope with the increasing difficulties. I rejoice that something has been done in this way of late years, but much more must yet be done, if we would adequately meet the existing circumstances.

The difficulties to be overcome

are neither few nor small; and, if we would overcome them, we must, of course, employ an adequate instrumentality. I do not forget on what the efficacy of all our efforts depends, but still, if we would secure the needful blessing, we must employ means bearing some adequate proportion to the end. We must not expect God to do great things for us, unless we attempt great things for Him. Let, then, a vigorous and decided effort be made on behalf of these islands-let the effort be adequate to the exigencies, and made in the right spirit, and doubtless the blessing will not be withheld. But if the state of the old missions in the South Seas be somewhat discouraging, that of those more recently formed is in the highest degree encouraging; and when considered in connexion with the other, calls upon us in the most urgent manner to go vigorously forward, that the unhappy consequences above alluded to may be avoided, and that we may be blessed with continually increasing prosperity-that that blessed light which has begun so auspiciously to shine on these islands, may shine more and more until the perfect day, till the blessed Sun of Righteousness shall burst forth in noonday splendour on all these lovely islands, and convert them into so many gems to deck his mediatorial crown. And why may not this be? The only obstacle doubtless is with ourselves. O churches of Britain, be entreated to consider your high destination as the chosen instruments of evangelizing these islands; and to avail yourselves to the utmost of the high privilege that is thus conferred upon you. How did the apostle of the gentiles, the first missionary to the heathen, exult in that to him this grace was giventhat he should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would that we had more of his spirit!

But I return to the point now before us, which is the encouraging state of the more recently commenced missions in the south seas. The missions now particularly alluded to are those on the Hervey and Samoan groups; the one of which has been in operation for seventeen or eighteen years; the other has been under the management of foreign missionaries since the summer of 1836. Native teachers had been at work on some parts of the islands for five years before. It is not necessary to my present purpose to give a particular account of the

state of things on these islands. To most, if not all, who are likely to read these remarks, this would be unnecessary, as they have the periodical publications of the society, whence they may obtain the needful information. So, taking for granted that such information is possessed, I would ask, Does not the degree of success, with which it has pleased our gracious God to crown our efforts in these islands, furnish a strong rea. son why we should urge our way onward towards still greater and more decided triumphs? It is readily admitted that the obligation to spread the gospel does not in any degree rest on the success that may attend our efforts. That obligation would lie upon us in full force, even had all our past efforts been utterly unsuccessful; still it is surely an encouragement, yea, more than an encouragement, a plain call to increased effort, when God manifestly works with us, and affixes the seal of his approbation to our exertions. And this he has done, and is doing among these islands, to an extent that calls for the devoutest gratitude, and fills the heart with the liveliest satisfaction. O then let us see to it, that we avail ourselves to the utmost of his blessed co-operation; and let us not fail to derive from it the encourage. ment which it is so eminently fitted to afford. Let us profit by the experience of other missions, and do everything in our power to place these on a secure and permanent basis, that they may soon be independent of our aid, and may promote and extend themselves when we shall rest from our labour, even while sun and moon endure.

Another consideration, which appears to me to strengthen the claims of the south sea islands is, the disposition, in many cases the strong desire, that so generally prevails among the unenlightened islands, to receive Christian teachers, and to embrace Christianity.

That such a disposition does, to a great extent, exist, the writer is well assured, not from the testimony of others alone, but from what he has seen and heard among the heathen themselves. True there are exceptions, many exceptions, but it has been most fully ascertained that the number of those islands and groups that would gladly receive teach. ers, and place themselves at once under their instruction, is very considerable, much greater than we shall be able to occupy for many years to come, unless we very greatly augment our present resources; or, rather, unless we make a much more liberal appropriation of the resources that are at our disposal to the cause of God in these islands. The church is not without the needful resources for a vast augmentation of her exertions in this cause. No, it is the heart that is wanting-it is the heart that esteems all things but loss for Christ, and rejoices and

esteems itself highly privileged to be permitted to lay it all at his feet. This, this is what we want.

During a voyage made in the "Camden," in the spring of 1811, the existence of the desire in question was most satisfactorily ascertained. This voyage was among the New Hebrides, Loyalty, and New Caledonia groups; in the latter of which alone, the chiefs of five different islands had communicated their earnest wish to the teachers on the isle of Pines, to be furnished with native teachers or missionaries. On New Caledonia, one of the five, we placed two teachers, and found it exactly as it had been represented by the teachers on the isle of Pines. The chief and people of the district were waiting to receive us, and received the teachers with every expression of grateful satisfaction. At Loyalty group also, on one of the islands of which teachers were placed, we had information of seven or eight belonging to the same group, all of which were reported as being in a peaceable state, and on all of which teachers would, in all probability, be as gladly received as they were on the island where they were placed. Nor, if we except Erromanga, does there appear any very great difficulty among the New Hebrides. I might mention many more islands and groups, about which I have had information more or less satisfactory, but I forbear. It is perfectly manifest that, in many cases, the heathen are prepared to receive us. A very general feeling of dissatisfaction seems to obtain, together with a desire for something which they do not now possess; and what is this but a feeling after Him in whom they live, and move, and have their being? What is it but an intimation that they are waiting for His law? What is it but an appeal to us to hasten to their aid, and furnish them with that something after which they are groping? And O what an appeal! Hear by what language it is made! See by what scenes it is enforced! And O can we turn away from it? O my fellowChristians, permit me to urge on you the consideration of the claims of those on whose behalf I plead. I have seen their deep degradation, their revolting moral pollution, and their consequent misery and wretchedness; I have seen the eagerness with which they receive the heralds of salvation; and I have seen the efficacy of the ever-blessed gospel to raise them from their degradation, to cleanse them from their pollution, and fit them for the world of purity and bliss. And, I entreat you, O withhold not from them the gospel! O deny them not that precious boon, which it is in your power to impart; and without which they must continue in their present deplorable condition, and must, ere long, sink into a hopeless eternity. O how momentous are the conse

VOL. XXI.

quences that depend on your movements! and how vast the responsibilities that attach to those high privileges that have been conferred on you!

The next consideration relative to these islands to which I would invite attention, is, the facility with which agents can be obtained to begin and carry on, to some extent, the work of evangelization.

At home there is often no small difficulty in obtaining men, and when these are obtained, they must be conveyed to distant countries, and there supported at a considerable expense. All know also what ravages disease and death are continually making in the missionary field; how few comparatively are permitted to labour for any considerable time; how many are cut off ere they have well begun their labours; and how very few see anything like old age. I would not be understood as meaning that foreign labours can be dispensed with. Many years must elapse ere this could be. But what I wish to urge is, the importance of availing ourselves to the utmost of native agency, both as assistants in old fields, and pioneers in new; since that can be obtained so much more easily than foreign. The expense of supporting native teachers in the South Seas is almost nothing, and of course there is no waste of life occasioned by change of climate, except in cases where they may be placed in a climate sufficiently different from that of their native islands to affect their health, which is not often the case. I cannot but express my conviction that the importance of native agency, especially as assistants, has been too much overlooked in the past history of the South Sea missions, and that that is a main reason why the old missions stand so much in need of foreign reinforcements at the present time. In the more recently-formed missions this subject is receiving considerable attention; and what is mainly needed now is, the means of conveying our teachers to the destitute islands around us, and of paying them periodical visits. We have at the present time very many on Rarotonga, and on Samoa, and, I should think, also on Huahine, who are not only willing, but earnestly desirous, of being employed as evangelists. A number are under special training with a view to their being so employed, and, had we the means of conveying them to the destitute parts to which our attention is anxiously directed, the respective churches to which they belong would gladly support them; so that there is only one obstacle in the way of native agency being employed on all the accessible fields around us. We want additional aid in the way of shipping. We want another vessel to be employed, either in whole or in part, among these islands; and this we must have, or the work of evangeli2 U

many years' service, together with numberless trials and hardships, arising from climate, want of proper food, &c., had to some extent disabled and rendered unequal to cope with the increasing difficulties. I rejoice that something has been done in this way of late years, but much more must yet be done, if we would adequately meet the existing circumstances. The difficulties to be overcome are neither few nor small; and, if we would overcome them, we must, of course, employ an adequate instrumentality. I do not forget on what the efficacy of all our efforts depends, but still, if we would secure the needful blessing, we must employ means bearing some adequate proportion to the end. We must not expect God to do great things for us, unless we attempt great things for Him. Let, then, a vigorous and decided effort be made on behalf of these islands-let the effort be adequate to the exigencies, and made in the right spirit, and doubtless the blessing will not be withheld. But if the state of the old missions in the South Seas be somewhat discouraging, that of those more recently formed is in the highest degree encouraging; and when considered in connexion with the other, calls upon us in the most urgent manner to go vigorously forward, that the unhappy consequences above alluded to may be avoided, and that we may be blessed with continually increasing prosperity-that that blessed light which has begun so auspiciously to shine on these islands, may shine more and more until the perfect day, till the blessed Sun of Righteousness shall burst forth in noonday splendour on all these lovely islands, and convert them into so many gems to deck his mediatorial crown. And why may not this be? The only obstacle doubtless is with ourselves. O churches of Britain, be entreated to consider your high destination as the chosen instruments of evangelizing these islands; and to avail yourselves to the utmost of the high privilege that is thus conferred upon you. How did the apostle of the gentiles, the first missionary to the heathen, exult in that to him this grace was giventhat he should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would that we had more of his spirit!

But I return to the point now before us, which is the encouraging state of the more recently commenced missions in the south seas. The missions now particularly alluded to are those on the Hervey and Samoan groups; the one of which has been in operation for seventeen or eighteen years; the other has been under the management of foreign missionaries since the summer of 1836. Native teachers had been at work on some parts of the islands for five years before. It is not necessary to my present purpose to give a particular account of the

state of things on these islands. To most, if not all, who are likely to read these remarks, this would be unnecessary, as they have the periodical publications of the society, whence they may obtain the needful information. So, taking for granted that such information is possessed, I would ask, Does not the degree of success, with which it has pleased our gracious God to crown our efforts in these islands, furnish a strong rea. son why we should urge our way onward towards still greater and more decided triumphs? It is readily admitted that the obligation to spread the gospel does not in any degree rest on the success that may attend our efforts. That obligation would lie upon us in full force, even had all our past efforts been utterly unsuccessful; still it is surely an encouragement, yea, more than an encouragement, a plain call to increased effort, when God manifestly works with us, and affixes the seal of his approbation to our exertions. And this he has done, and is doing among these islands, to an extent that calls for the devoutest gratitude, and fills the heart with the liveliest satisfaction. O then let us see to it, that we avail ourselves to the utmost of his blessed co-operation; and let us not fail to derive from it the encourage. ment which it is so eminently fitted to afford. Let us profit by the experience of other missions, and do everything in our power to place these on a secure and permanent basis, that they may soon be independent of our aid, and may promote and extend themselves when we shall rest from our labour, even while sun and moon endure.

Another consideration, which appears to me to strengthen the claims of the south sea islands is, the disposition, in many cases the strong desire, that so generally prevails among the unenlightened islands, to receive Christian teachers, and to embrace Christianity.

That such a disposition does, to a great extent, exist, the writer is well assured, not from the testimony of others alone, but from what he has seen and heard among the heathen themselves. True there are exceptions, many exceptions, but it has been most fully ascertained that the number of those islands and groups that would gladly receive teach. ers, and place themselves at once under their instruction, is very considerable, much greater than we shall be able to occupy for many years to come, unless we very greatly augment our present resources; or, rather, unless we make a much more liberal appropriation of the resources that are at our disposal to the cause of God in these islands. The church is not without the needful resources for a vast augmentation of her exertions in this cause. No, it is the heart that is wanting-it is the heart that esteems all things but loss for Christ, and rejoices and

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