339, 377 85 344 81. 183, 201, 339, 377 Wilson, Rev. H. R. jr., journal, Surat Mis ion, retrospect. Survey of Protestant Missionary Stations, 246 letter, 1, 33, 65, 97 Zulus, Church of England Mis. Titler, Ephraim-his station, sion, 6 150 FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. VOL. VI....No. 1. JANUARY, 1838. WHOLE NO. 57. A General Survey of Protestant Missions. We wish to present our readers with | ble and desirable, is to mark the proa survey of the Protestant Mission Stations throughout the world. Our object is to give such statistics and notices, concerning each Mission station as we may be able to collect, or our limits will permit us to insert; so that, to some extent, a correct opinion may be formed of the present state of the Missionary enterprise. The plan of this survey we derive entirely from the Missionary Register, an excellent periodical, published by the Church Missionary Society, Lon. don. The limits of the Chronicle, though now enlarged, will not admit such copious statements as are contained in that work; our aim shall be to give information concerning the proceedings of Missionary Institutions chiefly, with occasional notices, how. ever, of the proceedings of Bible, Tract, and other benevolent societies. General statistics as to the geographical situation of each station; time of its commencement; names of Missionary laborers; number of communicants, scholars, &c.; with such more minute statements relating to the circumstances of the station as may appear useful or interesting, which will furnish, we hope, much satisfactory information to our readers. gress of Missionary effort at each station, during the year preceding the date of the notices which may be in. serted. If it should be deemed expe dient to give an annual survey of this character in future years, our readers will then be enabled to observe the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom among the nations. There will be shade as well as light in the prospect thus brought before the mind. Over the discouragements, dif ficulties, and untoward events, which, it will be seen, attend the Missionary enterprise in some parts of the world, the Christian will deeply grieve. They seem to perpetuate the dishonor of Christ and the power of Satan over the souls of men. But the Christian will not only grieve. He will sympathize with the disheartened Missiona. ries, and he will pray to the God of heaven, who can dethrone the Prince of the power of the air, and whose glory in the work of redemption, shall yet shine illustrious in all lands. But, blessed be God! all is not darkness among the heathen nations. Many a moral light has been erected along their dreary coasts, to guide their perishing vessels into the haven of eternal rest. To many a poor heathen's While it would be impracticable to soul the light of the Bible, "the star present even a slight sketch of the of eternity," has already pointed out past history of the various Mission sta- the pathway of life. That light is tions, without converting our slender rising higher in their horizon. Many Monthly into a voluminous work, it are coming to its brightness. It will may, sometimes, be expedient to make continue to spread abroad over the nareferences to events which have occur- tions. The Christian rejoices in its red during former years, and to insert shining upon his own soul, and he longs remarks explanatory of particular sub. to see it shine into the minds of all Jects. What seems at once practica- | men. Like the Prophet he exclaims VOL. VI. 1 "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. The Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory." Perhaps there is no better test of Christian character, no surer criterion by which to estimate the vigor of the principle of Divine life, implanted within us by the good spirit of all grace, than this ardent desire to see the glory of Christ manifested in the salvation of menand to see his kingdom established in the hearts of all people. Thy kingdom come! is the daily and earnest prayer of every Christian who feels any suitable interest in the glory of his Redeemer, or in the destinies of his fellow-men. In proportion to his love for the Saviour, and his desire to see the name of Christ honored and loved; in proportion to his sense of eternal obligations for the pardon of sin and the hope of heaven; in proportion, also, to the solemnity of his conviction that the souls of men are of greater value than entire worlds of other created objects, will be his anxiety to see all men brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. To the promotion of this grand object, his utmost efforts, his influence, his time, his property, his prayers, will all be fully consecrated. May we urge our readers to be faithful to themselves, and to inquire whether this is the spirit of their minds? We believe that this, and nothing less than this, is the spirit of Christ. His coming into our world, his whole life, his death-all evinced SUPREME DEVOTEDNESS TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND TO THE BEST GOOD OF MAN. Fellow Christian ask yourself, is the chief desire of your mind similar to that of Christ? For if any man has not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. There is a comfort, a joyfulness of heart, arising from the consciousness that all that we are, and all that we have, are Christ's-are wholly consecrated to his glory-are fully employed in his service; which is so unspeak. ably precious, that it is very desirable that all our readers should have the experience of it. There is nothing similar to it in all the joys of this world. Only those who have felt its animating influence can at all appreciate its value. It throws a lovely coloring over all the pursuits and enjoyments, and even over the trying events of our life in this lower world. It connects earth with heaven, and imparts to the weary pilgrim, here on the sands of the desert, a foretaste of that refreshing and holy delight which there is in the presence of God. It prepares him for that rest which remain. eth for the people of God. In that nobler state of being, to which every Christian looks forward, it will be felt with new impressiveness, with a higher and holier rapture, as the glorified. spirit obtains nearer and clearer views of the glory of Christ; and it will be experienced, by all who love and faithfully serve Christ, forever and forever. May God grant to us and to all our rea. ders, at the commencement of this new year, a richer and more precious experience, than we have ever yet known, of the joy which there is in the love and service of Christ! Then shall our efforts to promote his cause among the heathen be more faithful, more spiritual, and through the Divine blessing, vouchsafed in great mercy to our unworthiness; they will also be more successful. Then many among the dark-hearted heathen, enlightened and converted by our instrumentality, as they give glory to God and to the Redeemer in the most exalted ascriptions of priase, shall also rise up and call us, Blessed. They that be wise [teachers, in the margin,] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever. |