glorious event be accomplished, our hearts may rest in his bosom who gave it us in promise. It is enough for us now, that we have done what we could;-done it, on the spur of a favourable occa, sion,--and done it in the only period in eternity in which such a work can be done by us. t There is, indeed, a class of men in the Christian Church, who are ready to damp every proposal, that does not originate with themselves, or stand recommended by high patronage. If we pipe to them, they will not dance: if we mourn, they will not weep. "This scheme," say they, "is but Enthusiasm pursuing its phantom. It is the project of a Party. It will come to nothing.". A steady and consistent Christian will, however, pity this mixture of mistake and malignity: he will neither be surprised nor moved by such misrepresentations. He will consider the proposal itself, rather than the proposer. He will advert to its real worth and weight, the probable means of its success, and the motives which should actuate his heart. in prosecuting it. Thus taking his well-considered stand, he will persevere by the help of his God; having this testimony in his conscience, that he does what he can, and would do better if he could. I have reason to hope, Brethren, that most of you are thus proceeding: and thus may you proceed, till the awful hour arrives, when that only which is really substantial will comfort you! In NOTES. A. P. 67. ...... urge the Heathen, &c. "The Gentile Religion, in early ages, evidently appears to have been a religion of fear-and the same it has been found in later times, and continues to this day-Of the length of time, during which the practice of human sacrifice continued among the Northern nations, Mr. Thorkelin, who was perfectly conversant with Northern literature, furnishes several instances in his Essay on the Slave Trade Ditmarus charges the Danes with having put to death in their great sacrifices, no fewer than ninety-nine slaves at once-(Loccen Antiq. Sueo Goth. lib. I. cap. 3.)-In Sweden, on urgent occasions, and particularly in times of scarcity and famine, they sacrificed kings and princes.---Loccenius (Histor. Rer. Suecic lib. i. p. 5.) gives the following account: "Tanta fame Suecia afflicta est, ut ei vix gravior unquam incubuerit; cives inter se dissidentes, cum pœnam delictorum divinam agnoscerent, primo anno boves, altero homines, tertio regem ipsum, velut iræ cælestis piaculum, ut sibi persuasum habebant, Odino immolabant"--and we are told that the Swedes, at one time, boasted of having sacrificed five kings in a single day---Adam of Bremen, (Hist. Eccles. cap. 234.) speaking of the awful grove of Upsal, a place distinguished for the celebration of those horrid rites, says, there was not a single tree in it, that was not reverenced, as gifted with a portion of the divinity, because stained with gore, and foul with human putrefaction.'In all the other Northern nations, without exception, the practice is found to have prevailed.---" "The same dreadful usage is found to exist, to this day, in Africa; where, in the inland parts, they sacrificed the captives taken in war to their fetiches---as appears from Snelgrave, who, witness to his sacrificing Among the islanders of in the king of Dahoome's camp, was multitudes to the deity of his nation. the South Seas, we likewise learn from Capt. Cook, that human sacrifices were very frequent: he speaks of them as customary in Otaheite and the Sandwich Islands; and in the island of Tongataboo, he mentions ten men offered at one festival. All these, however, are far exceeded by the pious massacre of hu→ man beings in the nations of America. The accounts given by Acosta, Gomara, and other Spanish writers, of the monstrous carnage of this kind in these parts of the world are almost incredible. The annual sacrifices of the Mexicans require many thousands of victims; and in Peru two hundred children were devoted for the health of Ynca.---(Acost. Hist. of Ind. p. 379 -388. ed. 1604---Anton. de Solis, and Clavig. Hist. of Mex. bib. vi. sect. 18, 19, 20.) Mr. Maurice also informs us, that at this day, among certain tribes of the Mahrattas, human victims, distinguished by their beauty and youthful bloom, are fattened like oxen for the altar. (Ind. Antiq. p. 843.---" "The subject of this note may derive additional light from the nature of the representations of the divinity among the Heathen nations. Thus, in the images of the Deity among the Indians, we find an awful and terrific power the ruling feature: thousands of outstretched arms and hands, generally filled with swords and daggers, bows and arrows, and every instrument of destruction, express to the terrified worshipper the cruel nature of the God. The collars of human sculls, the forked tongues, shooting from serpent's jaws, the appendages of mutilated corses, and all the other circumstances of terrific cruelty which distinguish the Black Goddess, Seeva, Haree, and other of the idols of Hindostan, (Maurice's Ind. Antiq. pp. 182. 253. 327. 381. 382. 856. 857.882.) sufficiently manifest the genius of that religion which presented these as objects of adoration. To the hideous idols of Mexico, one of which was of most gigantic size, seated upon huge snakes, and expressly denominated Terror, (Clavig. lib. 6. sect. 6.) it was usual to present the heart, torn from the breast of the human victim, and to insert it, whilst yet warm and reeking, in the jaws of the blood-thirsty divinity. (Ibid. lib. 6. sect. 18.") "Nor have these cruel modes of worship been confined to and worshipped as gods when dead; that prisoners of war are enslaved, or impaled, or crucified, for having fought in defence of their country, and in obedience to their lawful rulers; that captive kings and nations are publicly insulted by their conquerors, in those barbarous solemnities which of old were called triumphs; that men are trained up for the purpose of cutting one another to pieces, by thousands and ten thousands in a month, for the diversion of the public; that, as the father of gods and men, a king of Crete is worshipped, whom even his worshippers believe to have been guilty of innumerable crimes of the most infamous nature; while among the other objects of divine worship are to be reckoned thieves, drunkards, harlots, ruffians; to say nothing of those underling idols, whose functions and attributes it is not decent even to name." Dr. Beattie's Evidences, p. 128. C. P. 74. "Unscriptural modification of the true remedy," &c. "When the Apostles found that the doctrine of Christ crucified gave the utmost offence to their hearers; was to the • Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness;' had they acted on the principles of mere worldly policy, they would quickly have changed their tone, would have dissembled, or softened, or concealed this obnoxious article. They would have made use of art and management, similar perhaps to that which the Jesuits in China are said to have adopted. It is a charge brought against those missionaries by some writers, and believed by others of considerable authority, that, finding the people of that country exceedingly scandalized at the doctrine of a crucified Redeemer, they thought it prudent to deny that Christ was ever crucified. They affirmed, that it was nothing more than a calumny invented by the Jews, to throw a disgrace on Christianity. And what did they gain by this ingenious piece of craft? Did they secure a better reception for the Gospel, and establish themselves more firmly in the good opinion of mankind? Alas! Christianity no longer exists in China, and they themselves no longer exist as a Society. Such are the effects of worldly policy and worldly wisdom." See 10th Sermon of the Bishop of London, p. 243. D. The Letter from the Rajah of Tanjore, mentioned p. 78. "To the Honourable Society for Promoting Christian "Honourable Sirs: Knowledge. "I have requested of your Missionaries to write to you, their Superiors and Friends, and to apply to you, in my name, for a Monument of Marble, to be erected in their Church, that is in my Capital and Residency, to perpetuate the memory of the late Rev. Father Swartz, and to manifest the great esteem I have for the character of that great and good man, and the gratitude I owe him, my Father, my Friend, the Protector and Guardian of my Youth; and now I beg leave to apply to you myself, and to beg that, upon my account, you will order such a Monument for the late Reverend Missionary Father Swartz, to be made, and to be sent out to me, that it may be fixed to the pillar that is next to the pulpit from which he preached. The pillars of the church are about two cubits broad. May you, Honourable Sirs, ever be enabled to send to this country such Missionaries as are like the late Rev. Mr. Swartz. 66 I am, Honourable Sirs, TANJORE, May 28, 1801. "Your's, faithfully and truly, "SERFOGEE RAJAH." "The Society concurred in opinion with the East India Mission Committee, that the Contents of this Letter from the Rajah of Tanjore, do bear strong testimony to the high character of the late worthy and invaluable Missionary Mr. Swartz; that it will be proper to comply with the request of his Highness; and that steps be taken by the Committee to have a suitable Monument constructed, as soon as may be, and that the same be sent out to Tanjore, to be placed in the Mission Church there." From the Account of the Society for promoting Christian |
