MAP OF THE WORLD, ON MERCATOR'S PROJECTION, Facing the Title. T JANUARY, 1819. SURVEY OF THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARY STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL ORDer. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. IT was was our intention to introduce the Survey of the present Year with some of those observations which crowd on us respecting the state of the world, and the grand prospects opening before Christians; together with the peculiar character of the opposition which their exertions have to encounter, and the manifest over-ruling of this opposition by Divine Providence to further its own designs. But the labour which has been required, to bring together, from every quarter, the mass of Facts and Statements contained in the following Survey has occupied so much time, that we cannot now enter at large into the subject. A few observations, however, may be seasonable. In the Remarks prefixed to the List of 1817, we entered into some points of main importance to the success, and deed to the very existence, of Missions: As Registrars of the exertions of the GREAT FAMILY OF TRUE CHRISTIANS to benefit the world, we had observed many things likely to encourage them, and some which might afford salutary caution. We were ready to flatter ourselves that Christians were winning their way without observation; and that Truth and Love would almost insensibly steal their blessed empire on the world. Our main concern was with Christians themselves-to stimulate to labour; to encourage hope and strengthen faith; and to guard against the evils incident, in such great undertakings; to our fallen nature. But we have been awakened from this dream. Christians are not, it seems, to be left to pursue their quiet way. The Thunders of the Vatican have roared; and even Protestant Divines have vainly essayed to clothe themselves with these thunders. Bulls and Protests have followed one another; but these Bulls and Protests have only served, under the merciful difeetion of the Unseen Hand, to rouse Christians to new activity and to greater zeal. For the Facts and Statements of this Survey, the whole of our last Volume has been examined; with all the principal Publications of the Year, issued by the different Societies; and various Communications of very recent intelligence, obligingly made to us by the Secretaries of the chief Institutions. From these sources we have endeavoured to render this Survey a connecting link between the history of the past and the present years-a brief abstract of the intelligence already given, and a key to that which we shall have to lay before our Readers. The notices given under each of the old Stations are chiefly confined to the intelligence received during the year, and references are made to |
