I learned, that a controversy had engaged the attention of the public for some time, on the subject of sending Missions to the East. In the future history of our country it will scarce. ly be believed, that in the present age, an attempt should have been made to prevent the diffusion of the blessed principles of the Christian religion. It will not be believed, that books should have been written to prove, that it was wrong to make known the Revelation of the true God to our fellow-men; or that if, in some instances, it might be permitted, (as in the case of remote nations) yet that we ought not to instruct that people who were affirmed to be the most superstitious and most prejudised; and who were also our own subjects. We scarcely believe ourselves that, twenty years ago, an attempt was made to defend the traffic in slaves, and that books were written to shew, that this traffic was humane in its character, just in its principle, and honourable to our nation.

We trust, however, that the discussion which has taken place has been of important use. Men in general were not informed. The scene of action was remote, and the subject was new in almost all of its relations. Even to some of those persons, who had been in India, the subject was new. If you were to ask certain persons in this country, whether they had any acquaint

ance with religious families, they would answer, that "they did not know there were such families;"* so some from India hazarded an opinion concerning what they called "the inveterate prejudices" of certain tribes in the East, who scarcely knew the geography of the country where they lived; what their religion was, or whether they had any religion at all. They had seen no Star in the East; they had heard of no Jubilee for the Bible. Like the spies of Israel, who brought back "an evil re

port" from Canaan, they reported that India was no "land of promise" for the Gospel; that the land was barren, and that the men were Anakims. But the faithful Swartz gave another testimony. He affirmed, that it is "an exceeding good land ;" and "his record "is true." He who was best qualified to give an opinion on the subject, who preached among the Hindoos for nearly fifty years, founded churches among them in different provinces, established schools for their children, disseminated religious tracts in their own tongue, and intimately knew their language,

*Those families, who observe the daily worship of God in their houses, and by whom the name of God is never mentioned but with reverence, are generally called religious families; to distinguish them from those who do not worship God, nor reverence his holy name.

manners, prejudices, and superstitions; he who restored the Christian character to respect, after it had fallen into contempt; he who was selected by the natives as the arbiter of their differences with the English, and whom both Hindoos and English loved and feared in his life, and honoured in his death;* this good

* At the funeral of Mr. Swartz, the Hindoo Rajah of Tanjore came to do Honour to his memory in the pre sence of his Brahmniical court. He covered the body with a gold cloth, and shed a flood of tears. He afterwards composed an epitaph for him whom he called "his father and his friend," and caused it to be inscribed on the stone which covers Swartz's grave, in one of the Christian churches of Tanjore.

The English also pronounced a noble and affecting encomium on the character of this estimable missionary.

The honourable the East-India Company have sent out to Madras a monument of marble, to be erected in the church of St. Mary at that place, to the memory of the Rev. Mr. Swartz, inscribed with a suitable epitaph; and they announced it in their general letter, dated the 29th of October, 1806, 66 as a testimony of the deep sense they entertained of his "transcendent merit, of his unwearied labours in the cause of "religion and piety; and of his public services at Tanjore, "where the influence of his name and character was, for a long course of years, productive of important benefits to the "Company." The Honourable Court further adds: “On

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no subject has the Court of Directors been more unanimous ❝than in their anxious desire to perpetuate the memory of "this eminent person, and to excite in others an emulation of

his great example." They direct finally, "that transla"tions shall be made of the epitaph into the country languages, and published at Madras; and that the native in"habitants shall be encouraged to view the monument."

H

man, I say, differed widely in opinion from some, who have lately ventured to give a judgment in this matter: he affirmed, that it was England's DUTY to make known the Revelation of the true God to her Indian subjects.

In the mean time, while men hold different opinions on the subject here, the great work goes on in the East. The Christians there will probably never hear of our dissensions, nor, if they should hear of them, would they be much inferested about them. And on this point I judge it right to notice a remarkable mistake, which appears to have existed on both sides of the question. It seems to have been assumed on the one side, and conceded on the other, that we have it in our power to prevent the progress of Christianity in India, if we should wish so to do; if such a measure were to be recommended by what is called "a wise policy." But we have no power to prevent the extension of the Christian religion in India. We have it in our power, indeed, greatly to promote it, but we have no power to destroy it. It would be as easy to extinguish Christianity in Great Britain as in India. There are thousands of Christians in Indiahundreds of thousands of Christians. And while we are contending here, whether it be a proper thing to convert the Hindoos, they will go on extending the bounds of their churches,

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keeping their Jubilees, and enjoying the blessings of the Gospel. While we are disputing here, whether the faith of Christ can save the heathens, the Gospel hath gone forth" for "the healing of the nations." A congregation of Hindoos will assemble on the morning of the Sabbath, under the shade of a Banian tree, not one of whom, perhaps, ever heard of Great Britain, even by name. There the Holy Bible is opened; the word of Christ is preached with eloquence and zeal; the affections are excited; the voice of prayer and praise is lifted up; and He who hath promised his presence," when two or three are gathered to

gether in his name, is there in the midst of " them to bless them," according to his word. These scenes I myself have witnessed; and it is in reference to them in particular I can say, "We have seen his Star in the East, and are "come to worship him.'

Thus far have we spoken of the success of the Gospel in Asia, by means of European preachers. But we shall now exhibit to you evidence from another source, from a new and unexpected quarter. We are now to declare what has been done, independently of our exertions, and in regions where we have no labourers, and no access. And this I do to show you, that whether we assist in the work or not, it is God's will that it should begin. You have