living under the dominion of ignorance and guilt, are now taught to read those holy writings, which are able to make them wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. The Jew, as well as the Gentile, has excited the benevolent attention of the Christian world. Our sailors, who traverse the mighty deep, have been addressed in the accents of mercy; and the Bethel Flag waving on many a vessel, has invited them to listen to words by which they might obtain salvation.

While such efforts, and the success with which they have been crowned, call forth our gratitude and congratulations; it is sufficiently evident that much still remains to be done. Yea, the very means which have been taken to explore, and to relieve the miseries of mankind, have brought to light deeper and more extensive woes; and have evinced the necessity of more vigorous exertions, in order to glorify God, and benefit mankind. So that we are required to occupy, and improve the whole extent of our talent, till our Lord and Master comes.

Now there is one field of exertion to which, till of late years, but little comparative attention has been paid. A field of labour which has been conceived to be fully occupied, but which has more waste and barren spots which call for the exertions of the great husbandman, than any other portion of the kingdom: I mean LONDON. It is true, that in London and its vicinity, there are many churches, chapels, and meet ing-houses, occupied by ministers of different denominations. But who can look around on this vast metropolis without being struck with the miseries, and sins, and iniquities which every where abound in it; with the neglect of God and religion which every where prevails? It is not my design to depict its moral or spiritual condition. But let any one who desires to be ac

quainted with it, walk through its crowded streets and lanes, its courts and its alleys, and he will become a personal witness to the transgressions which abound in it. Let any one who does not make this inspection himself, read an account which is inserted in the Sailor's Magazine for October. Its very insertion in the miscellany in which this address is recorded, would do much towards exciting the attention of the religious public to the object of this appeal.

Now, it has struck me, that if Christians were fully alive to this subject, that much might be done towards mitigating these woes, and, under God, of turning many from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. One method, I am well convinced, might be adopted which would do much to effect so desirable a good. Suppose the neglected, the destitute, and uncultivated parts of London, were regarded by the different churches and ministers of it, as dark and unenlightened villages; and the same steps were taken to evangelize them, as are used by churches in the country, in reference to the villages which are near them. Suppose houses were to be opened, in which the word of God shall be read, the gospel preached, district Sabbath schools opened, and the inhabitants around invited to attend them, and to send their children for religious instruction. Only think on this plan how much might be done, with little expense, with the same agents which are now in operation; with little of that bustle that attracts observation; and yet at the same time, an efficient agency might be going on, to promote the present and future good, of some of the most neglected and miserable of the human kind.

I am not able to say how many Dissenting churches of evangelical principles are now in existence in, and around London. I suppose I

considerably under-rate them, when I estimate them at one hundred: but let us suppose them to be only a hundred.-Now, if each of these societies was, in its own neighbour hood, or in those parts which are most accessible, or most needy, to open only four rooms in different houses; if the ministers of those societies would each of them devote about four hours in each week, in conducting divine service, and preaching in two of those houses every week, so that each should have the word of God proclaimed by a minister once in a fortnight. Let us suppose some members of each church of piety and spiritual gifts, should occupy each house every Sabbath evening, so that the gospel should be read or preached, and the devotional parts of divine worship carried on. Let us still further suppose, that the young persons of these societies and congregations would devote about two hours in the morning or afternoon, in conducting the business of a district Sabbath school in these houses. Now let us put each of these suppositions together, and let us see what would at once be effected. Why, if only fifty adults would attend each service in the evening, and only fifty children would attend on the Sabbath morn ings, we should at once have twenty thousand persons attend the gospel, most of whom would probably never have heard it, except by such efforts; and twenty thousand children would be brought under religious instruction, most of whom would otherwise have remained ignorant of the way of life and righ teousness; a scene which it is certainly not romantic to expect, and yet it is delightful even in contemplation to dwell upon it.

Now what in reality should hinder exertions of this kind being attempted? The churches in London, I am well aware, are ready to every

good word and work. We, in the country, have witnessed their liberality to their poor sister societies, in aiding them in carrying on the cause of Christ. They surely will

not be inattentive to the miseries of man, because they are under their own immediate eye. The exertions which are now proposed to ministers and their congregations, are not greater, or so great, as those which are made in many parts of the country by pastors and churches to evangelize the villages around them. They have to travel into distant towns and hamlets, in the roughest weather, and through the worst of roads, on an embassy similar to what is here proposed; and have to endure the scorn of many, the neglect of others, and the open persecutions of those who oppose the gospel of God; but amidst all they are upborne by the voice of an approving conscience, and the testimony of a gracious God, who, in many instances, succeeds their labours in the conversion of sinners to God. We never can suppose that the ministers of our Lord Jesus in London, who are so diligent and active in other labours, will be backward in this. Let them, while they continue to edify and delight their stated congregations by their important services, imitate their condescending and self-denying master, in stooping to the lowest, the most degraded, and sinful of their fellow-men, and endeavour to "become all things to all men that they may gain some." Let our Dissenting societies in London, distinguished either by their wealth, their numbers, their piety, or their liberality, thus exert themselves, and, under the divine blessing, they will find their dark places becoming like Eden, and the garden of the Lord.

It may readily be supposed, that a number of objections will be raised against such a proposal as the above

by persons of different characters, feelings, and habits. But the best reply to all of them will be given in one short word-Try. Let the effort be made and persevered in, and see if difficulties do not disappear before the experiment. Let it be entered upon with humility and prayer, and faith, and self-denying constancy; and let the event decide the credit which is due either to the plan, or the objections which are made to it. Should it be said that is not at all reasonable to suppose hat the body of the Dissenting congregations in the metropolis, will be likely to combine in such exertions; it may be enquired, what should hinder any one church, or any one minister from making the experiment for themselves? Such an example would be influential. The good done would at length attract the attention of others, who would be disposed to tread in their footsteps; and thus, by slow degrees, effects might be produced, which would issue in the glory of God, and the welfare of mankind.

Christian brethren and friends, your principles and advantages, as Dissenters, afford peculiar facilities to exertions of this kind. You can easily obtain licenses for any place of worship you may open, by which

you are placed under the full protection of the law. You are not in danger of being thought irregular, by any ecclesiastical tribunal which can exert a dominion over you. You require no episcopal sanction to enable you to undertake such a labour of love. All you want is a full determination in the strength of Christ to effect it. Persevering in this strength, the weak can oft do wonders; and feeble efforts are of ten crowned with distinguished success. To all your other benevolent endeavours to do good in heathen countries, and in the dark and deserted places of your own land, add your pervading exertions to benefit the neighbourhood around you; and whatever may be the event, your work, like that of your Saviour, will be with the Lord, and your judgment with your God.

I remain,

Your fellow-labourer in the Gospel of Christ.

A

*We are happy to inform our worthy Correspondent, that measures similar to those he recommends are adopted in one extensive district; and it is hoped will be

extended to all others of our vast metropolis. He is not, however, fully aware of the diffiuclties which attend the execu tion of such a plan.—EDITORS.

MENNONITES.

LETTER, No. III.

Amsterdam, Sept. 18, 1820. BEING furnished with letters of introduction from Rotterdam to Messrs. Müller and Koopman, both pastors of the Mennonite Baptist church in this city, we made it our first business to call upon those friends; but, to our

great disappointment, we found neither of them at home, nor were they expected to be for several weeks. We then set about finding Rev. Mr. Chevalier, secretary to the Netherland Bible Society. Our interview with this gentleman lasted about an hour, and a very agreeable one it was. Mr. C. seemed to enter with considerable interest upon every topic connected with our mission, and made many enquiries respecting the translations carrying on at Seram

pore, and, in particular, the Chinese by Dr. Marshman. From Mr. C.'s we went to my friend Dr. M'Intosh's, and found him absent, and to be so for some time. This was also a very severe disappointment. We'seemed now'quite ata stand, and set fast from the absence of the only friends we had in the city, and so much more of brother Ward's time having elapsed than he had calculated, be decided at once upon returning to England, so as to be in time for the packet for America, where it was his intention to visit for the interests of the mission. The day after he left me, he wrote saying, that his driver wanted to detain him all night on the road at a village, contrary to agreement. This was the occasion of a good deal of trouble to find an interpreter in the place. In this, however, brother W. happily succeeded; and after a firm and spirited remonstrance, the man gave way, and all was right again.

Though I felt brother W.'s loss not a little, it was in a good degree repaired by the acquisition of a new acquaintance in the youngest son of Professor Koopman, mentioned before. He, it seems, had hastened home on being apprised of our being at Amsterdam. From him, also, I derived not only much local information, which was indispensable to the sending forth of my circulars to the different churches in Holland, and individuals in the city, but I had, also, the assistance of his pen. While thus engaged, the set of translations which had been forwarded by water conveyance from Rotterdam, arrived. They were received by the friends with marks of lively satisfaction, and, in the mean time, I received a friendly visit from the Rev. Mr. Thelwall, a worthy Missionary of the Church of England. He called again in the evening, and took me with him to the Committee Meeting of a Tract Society, which he had been the means of forming upon the English plan. But the gratification I had in attending this meeting, and in bearing a part in its deliberations, as well as that of becoming acquainted with several of the excellent of the earth, was not the greatest advantage resulting to me from an evening thus spent.

Fortunately, without at first being conscious of it, I sat at the Committee table next to a Mr. De Haan, a Dutch

VOL. XVII.

merchant, and whom, ere long, I found to be one of the deacons of the Mennonite Baptist church in the city. I watched an opportunity, therefore, (and gladly) before the meeting closed, to make known to him the mission I had come to Holland upon. From the manner in which my communications were received, I thought I might go a step farther, which was, to request the favour of another interview with him for the purpose of going into further particulars; to which, what I had already stated, was only an introduction. My request was acceded to witho hesitation, and the following day, at own house, was named for our seco interview, which, to me, was agreeable in the highest degree. All I said was listened to with the most marked attention. He was pleased, much pleased, with the outline I gave him of the Mission, and with the idea and plan of my journey into Holland for its promotion. Out of all this I now raised a second request, which was, that he would pave the way, if possible, so as to afford me a meeting with the minister and deacons of the church to which he belonged.

In this he also readily acquiesced, and after communicating with his brethren and ministers, I received a notice from him to say, that the friends would be glad to meet me at the vestry of the church the Wednesday following.

When the time came, Mr. Müller, one of the pastors of the church, called and took me with him to the meeting. I was first shewn into an anti-room, where, after remaining about half an hour, I was sent for into the vestry. As the English Baptists had been previously almost entirely unknown in Holland, and still more so their mission, I was prepared to expect a goodly number of friends together on the occasion. All the deacons of the church were present, I think in number twenty-four. On my entering the room these all rose, and Mr. V. Geuns, the senior minister, who was presiding, then bid me, in the name of the whole vestry, a friendly welcome. As directed, I took my seat opposite the chair, and proceeded to state the business I had come upon. This naturally brought along with it an account of the Mission which I traced, in a pretty large outline, from its rise up to its present state; and then passed