96 Sermon Illustrations on Missions

When the first missionaries from America reached the Sandwich Islands, in the spring of 1820, an effort was made by some of the foreigners to have their landing and establishment at the Islands forbidden by the government. With this view, their motives were misrepresented by them to the king and chiefs. It was asserted, that while the ostensible object of the mission was good, the secret and ultimate design was the subjugation of the Islands, and the enslavement of the people: and by way of corroboration, the treatment of the Mexicans, and aborigines of South America and the West Indies, by the Spaniards, and the possession of Hindostan by the British, were gravely related. It was in consequence of this misrepresentation, that a delay of eight days occurred before the missionaries could secure permission to disembark. In answer to these allegations, the more intelligent of the chiefs remarked,—"The missionaries speak well; they say they have come from America only to do us good: if they intend to seize our islands, why are they so few in number? where are their guns? and why have they brought their wives?" To this it was replied, "It is true their number is small; a few only have come now, the more fully to deceive. But soon many more will arrive, and your islands will be lost." The chiefs again answered, "They say that they will do us good; they are few in number; we will try them for one year, and if we find they deceive us, it will then be time enough to send them away." Permission to land was accordingly granted. Mr. Young, it is said, was the only foreigner who advocated their reception.

The more intelligent Chinese object to many parts of the Catholic system, particularly to what they call preaching down Chinese idolatry, and preaching up European idolatry, for they say, they have more reason to worship their own saints, than those of Europe, of whom they know nothing; they are willing to lay aside the worship of images wholly, but will not exchange them for those of Europe.

They are also offended at the indulgences sold for money, for this, they say, is priestcraft.

"I knew a merchant (says a gentleman who resided among them) who threw off his (Catholic) religion in consequence of being denied to eat pork in Lent, without paying the church, which he was not then disposed to do; and without it he understood he was to be damned, which startled him; upon this, he inquired, why he might not as well eat the flesh as fish fried in pork fat, which all the Christians in Macao were allowed to do? He therefore told the Padre, that if his salvation depended on so nice a point as the difference between fat and lean, he should no longer be of that religion, and so returned to paganism. He often asked why the English did not send Padres, who worshiped no images, and teach their religion, for it would be better approved."

# 284. Prejudices and Persecutions of the Heathen.

By the native law of India, the renunciation of idolatry involves the loss of all hereditary property; hence many who sport with its absurdities and practically disregard its rites, keep hold of their possessions, and retain the badge of Hindooism to their dying day. But the conscience of a Christian will not sanction such a compromise, and if he has patrimonial riches to relinquish, he must renounce them, and become poor. This was exemplified in the case of a Hindoo convert, who for some years has labored as an evangelist, and who sacrificed an income of 3,900 dollars per annum, rather than conceal his principles. And where a convert has no sacrifice of wealth to make, the dearer treasures of the heart must be relinquished. His dishonored father will disown him, his frantic mother will curse the hour that gave her such a son; by the wife of his bosom he will be despised and forsaken, and even his children, around whom his lacerated heart still lingered as the last earthly objects of interest and hope, will often be torn from his embrace.

In Nov. 1757, the Carribbee Indians set out with the intention of executing their resolution, long since determined upon, of murdering me. One day, while I sat at my dinner table, I saw fifty men approaching in their canoes, who presently after surrounded my cabin. Some were armed with iron hoes and mattocks; others carried swords and such like instruments. Going out, I spoke to them in the Arawak language, and bade them welcome in a friendly manner. They answered roughly that I should speak the Carribbee tongue. In the meantime, I took care to observe which of them was their commander. Perceiving that I did not understand the Carribbee, after some consultation in this language, they ordered their interpreter to step forth and ask me in Arawak, "Who gave you permission to build and to live here?" Ans. "The governor." "Why have you come upon our land?" I now stepped up to the chief and thus frankly addressed him: "I have brethren living on the other side of the ocean, who, when they heard that Indians lived here who were ignorant of their Creator, have sent me to you in love, that I should first learn your language, and then tell you about the true God. At some future time, you may expect to see more of my brethren come here on the same errand." "I suppose you are a Spaniard?" "No." "Or a Frenchman?" "No." "Are you a Dutchman, then?" "Yes, I came from Holland, and a good way further off. In short, I am one of the Brethren that love you, and live on the other side of the ocean." "Well, didn't you hear that the Indians were going to kill you?" "Yes, but I did not believe it, and you have those among you, who have been to see me and know that I love them." "That is true; and they have also told me that you were a Christian very different from other white people." "Well, if you knew that I loved you, how could you think of killing me?" He replied, laughing, "Well, indeed, I never thought of that." Upon this, all changed their savage natures and walked off. In this manner the Savior helped me on from day to day, insomuch, that at the close of the year, I found much cause for praise and thankfulness to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. During this period, I suffered much outward distress, and often I rose in the morning without knowing what I should eat, or where I should procure food; yet whenever I was perfectly destitute, undoubtedly according to the direction of Him who fed Elijah by the brook Cherith, Waraus or other Indians came and shared their "Casavi" with me.

A missionary and his wife had been located by an English society in the colony at the Cape of Good Hope, or among the Bushmen on its borders. The opposition they met with from the colonists destroyed all hope of success. Means failed from the society; the wife of the missionary was sick, and he must either find means to return to England, or penetrate the vast wilderness for many hundred miles. While he was making it a matter of prayer, his wife, regardless of her own comfort, desired that they should of their own means, procure the common conveyance of the country, and depart in search of a settlement in the wilderness. The missionary consented willingly. They traveled over four hundred miles, but met with no encouragement of attaining their object. Almost despairing, they encamped one night, and, upon rising in the morning, they discovered a savage chief, with his train, not far distant. The blacks advanced and addressed them. They had been deputed by their tribe, and were then on a journey of five hundred miles to the colony, where they desired to procure a missionary! As may be supposed, the man of God hesitated not, but returned with the savage chief to preach the Gospel to his tribe.

When the Wesleyan Missionaries ventured among the cannibal Fejeeans, they found them sunk to the lowest depths of degradation. Soon after Mr. Hunt had settled on Somasoma, the heathen party brought several dead bodies and laid them opposite to Mr. Hunt's house; there they baked them, and there they ate them. The Missionary, shocked at these proceedings, closed his door and blinds. One of the heathen chiefs went to Mr. Hunt, and insisted upon his opening them again, and intimated that if he thought proper to reside in their country, he must put up with their customs; if he insulted them in any way, he might expect a place in the oven. An American ship of war was at anchor at a neighboring island. When the captain heard of this circumstance, he took up his anchor and sailed to Somasoma, with a view of removing Mr. Hunt and family to some other island where they would not be exposed to such imminent danger. Mr. Hunt thanked the captain for his kind and humane conduct in thus coming to remove him, but begged respectfully to decline accepting his kind offer, stating that he was willing still to hazard his life in the cause of Christ. He considered the circumstance of their being so exceedingly depraved as an additional reason for remaining to diffuse that gospel which, accompanied with the divine blessing, would soon improve their condition.

# 286. Zeal for Missions.

In one of the eastern counties of New-York there lived a colored female, who was born a slave, but she was made free by the act gradually abolishing slavery in that state. She had no resources except such as she obtained by her own labor. On one occasion she carried to her pastor forty dollars; she told him that she wished him, with two dollars of this sum to procure for her a seat in his church; eighteen dollars she desired to be given to the American Board; and the remaining twenty dollars she requested him to divide among other benevolent societies according to his discretion. With such a spirit pervading the church, how soon would the gospel be carried to every creature!

A little girl sent about ten shillings to a gentleman, for the purchase of some missionary tracts; and in her letter she says, "She who takes this freedom to ask so much of a stranger, began this letter with a trembling hand. She is indeed young in years and in knowledge too, and is not able to talk much with a gentleman on religion; but her mother has taught her, almost eleven years, to say, 'Thy kingdom come;' and she believes she cannot be saying it sincerely if she does nothing to help it on among the heathen. This thought emboldens her to write to a stranger, almost as though he were a friend."

The following pleasing circumstance is related in a letter from the Rev. E. Davies, of New Amsterdam. It is delightful to witness such proofs of Christian devotedness among the negroes of the West Indies, whose temporal condition was once so unfavorable to their spiritual interests:

There has been a considerable increase in the income of the station during the past year. That increase has been chiefly owing to a great effort which the people are now making towards a new chapel. In many instances I was obliged to restrain their liberality. One incident occurred which I shall never forget. In calling over the names, to ascertain how much they could give, I happened to call the name of "Fitzgerald Matthew." "I am here, sir," he instantly replied; and at the same time, I saw him hobbling with his wooden leg out of the crowd, to come up to the table-pew, where I was standing. I wondered what he meant, for the others answered to their names without moving from their places. I was, however, forcibly struck with his apparent earnestness. On coming up, he put his hand into one pocket and took out a handful of silver wrapped in paper, and said, with a lovely kind of abruptness, "That's for me, massa." "Oh," I said, "keep your money at present, I don't want it now; I only wanted to know how much you could afford to give; I will come for the money another time." "Ah, massa," he replied, "God's work must be done, and I may be dead;" and with that he plunged his hand into another pocket and took out another handful of silver, and said, "That's for my wife, massa." Then he put his hand into a third pocket, and took out a somewhat smaller parcel, and said, "That's for my child, massa;" at the same time giving me a slip of paper, which somebody had written for him, to say how much the whole was. It was altogether near £3 sterling—a large sum for a poor field negro with a wooden leg! But his expression was to me worth more than all the money in the world. I have heard eloquent preachers in England, and felt, and felt deeply, under their ministrations, but never have I been so impressed with any thing they have said, as with the simple expression of this poor negro. Let me never forget it; let it be engraved on my heart; let it be my motto in all that I take in hand for the cause of Christ—"God's work must be done, and I may be dead."

The Rev. Mr. James, of Birmingham, England, stated at an anniversary of the London Missionary Society, that an association was formed for missionary purposes among his people several years before, and that on this occasion, among the other contributors, a youth of sixteen years of age came forward to enroll his name. When he was requested to state how much he wished to subscribe, he replied with some diffidence, "myself." He was the eldest son of an unfortunate widow, to whom seven other children looked for support. The proffer of the young man could not be received without the mother's consent. It was scarcely to be expected that her oldest son would be yielded up for the missionary service, when his exertions might soon prove useful to his widowed parent, in her indigent circumstances. The inquiry was made, whether the son could be allowed to give himself to the missionary cause? "Let him go," was the prompt reply of the devoted mother. "God will provide for me and my babes, and who am I, that I should be thus honored to have a son a missionary to the heathen?"

The young man, after obtaining an education, repaired to India, where he labored successfully and died.

A short time before Mr. Cox, an American missionary, sailed to Africa, he visited the University at Middletown. In conversation with one of the students, he said, "If I die in Africa, you must come after me and write my epitaph." To which the other replied, "I will; but what shall I write?" "Let a thousand missionaries die before Africa be given up," was the reply. In this spirit he died.

Mary Perth, a black woman, kept an inn at Sierra Leone during the latter part of her life. In her early days she had been a slave in North America, and had to labor from sunrise to sunset; yet, during the interval of night, she used, twice or thrice a week, to walk seven or eight miles, with a child on her back, to teach a few slaves of her acquaintance to read, that they might be able to study the Scriptures for themselves.

Soon after the settlement of the Non-conformists in New-England, Mr. Elliot felt himself strongly disposed to attempt the conversion of the native Indians. He was affected with that sentiment which is expressed on the seal of the Massachusetts colony; a poor Indian, having a label from his mouth, with these words: "Come over and help us." He was further induced to enter upon this work, by the following sentence in the royal charter: "To win and incite the natives to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God, and Savior of mankind, and the Christian faith, is our royal intention, the adventurers' free professions and the principal end of the plantation."

In the prosecution of his efforts to evangelize the Indians, he endured many hardships. In a letter to a friend he says: "I have not been dry night nor day, from the third day of the week to the sixth, but so traveled; and at night pull off my boots, wring my stockings and on with them again, and so continue. But God steps in and helps."

After having formed, with the greatest difficulty, a grammar of the Indian language, he wrote, in a letter to a friend, "Prayers and pains through faith in Christ Jesus will do any thing."

Such was the perseverance of Elliot in his great work, that on the day of his death, in his 80th year, the "apostle of the Indians" was found teaching the alphabet to an Indian child at his bedside. "Why not rest from your labors, now?" said a friend. "Because," said the venerable man, "I have prayed to God to render me useful in my sphere; and now that I can no longer preach, he leaves me strength enough to teach this poor child his alphabet."

There are two little boys in Canada, the elder of whom is about ten years old, and the younger about eight. Two years ago their father gave them the use of a small garden spot, and told them they might have all they could get by the sale of vegetables, or whatever else they might choose to raise upon it. He said he would put the land in order and help them to plant it; and then they must take all the care of it themselves. The proposition was accepted; the land was planted, and the little fellows, with zeal and faithfulness, fulfilled their part of the bargain.

When the time came for selling green corn and vegetables, these boys opened a regular account with as many families as they could supply, and, like business men, entered all the items upon their little day-book, from which every thing was duly posted to their ledger. At the close of the season, the accounts were all drawn off and collected. From the money thus raised, they paid their contributions to the Bible, Tract, and Home Missionary Societies, and other benevolent institutions, and then each of them gave five dollars to the American Board.

The plan succeeded so well, that last year, the contract was renewed with their father. Now, however, they took into partnership their little brother, about six years' old, who thought he could help a little. The business was pursued in the same way as before. When the agent of the American Board visited their father, a few months ago, the three little boys brought him their books, and showed their accounts for the season, and then put into his hand three half eagles, (fifteen dollars,) as the portion of their income which they had consecrated to foreign missions!

When Messrs. Tyerman and Bennett, in their visit to the southern islands, held a large missionary meeting, previously to their departure for the Marquesas Islands, at which several persons offered to accompany them as missionaries, to introduce the gospel where it was at present unknown; after some offers of this kind had been accepted, Hautia, the regent of the island, who was virtually king, and held valuable hereditary possessions upon it, and received large contributions to support his royal state, both from chiefs and people, rose; his noble countenance betrayed much agitation of spirit, and he hesitated for awhile to unburden his mind in words. At length, with an air of meekness and humility, which gave inexpressible grace to the dignity of the high-born highland chief, he said, "I have a little speech, because a thought has grown up in my heart, and it has grown up also in the heart of Hautia Vahine (his wife). But, perhaps, it is not a good thought; yet I must speak it; and this is our thought: If the missionaries, and the deputation, and the church of Huahine, think that I and my wife would be fit companions for Auna and his wife, to teach the good word of God to those idolatrous people, who are as we were, and cause them to become as we are here; and in Tahiti, and Eimeo, and Raiatea, and Borabora, we should be rejoiced to go; but, perhaps, we are not worthy, and others may be better suited for the blessed work; yet we should love to go."

This declaration produced a most extraordinary sensation throughout the whole assembly; as the speaker had given good evidence of his true Christianity. When, however, it was represented to him that his usefulness where he was in the church, as the superintendent of the schools, and in the exertion of his influence among his subjects, was far more extensive than that of any other person could be; and that, though it was well that this thought was in his heart, yet he could not on these accounts be sent, he was deeply affected, and replied, "Since you say so, perhaps it is the Lord's will that we should not go to the Marquesas, but stay in Huahine; perhaps we may serve him better here. Be it so; and yet I wish that it had fallen to me and my wife to go." Oh, what a lesson is this to Christians.

Missionary associations were formed among the converted islanders of the South Seas, to aid the London Missionary Society. The contributions consisted of oil, cotton, arrow-root, and swine. Such articles were subscribed "to buy money with."

When an auxiliary association was formed at Huahine, the people were cautioned against making donations merely from a sense of constraint. Still, a native brought a pig to the treasurer, Hautia, and throwing the animal down at his feet, said, in an angry tone, "Here is a pig for your society." "Take it back again," replied Hautia, calmly, "God does not accept angry pigs." He then explained the objects of the society, and urged upon the consideration of the native the fact, that "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." The man was deeply chagrined at the unyielding refusal of the treasurer. In Tahiti, on a similar occasion, a person brought a quantity of cocoa-nut oil to Pomare, in a like bad spirit, exclaiming, "Here are are five bamboos of oil, take them for your society." "No," said the king, "I will not mix your angry bamboos with the missionary oil, take them away."

Are no dollars cast into the treasury of the Lord with a wrong spirit?

Dr. Carey completed the translation of the entire Scriptures, in seven of the principal languages of India, viz., the Sungskit, the Bengalee, the Hindu, the Ooria, the Mahratta, the Panjabee, and the Assamese. In addition, he completed the translation of the New Testament in twenty-two more, and portions of both Testaments in several others, besides superintending the printing of the translations in other languages still. These early translations made in the first stages of acquaintance with the languages of the East, were necessarily very imperfect; but they show what a single individual may accomplish in very difficult circumstances, under the influence of the love of souls, when it becomes the master passion.

Near the close of a Missionary meeting at Syracuse, N. Y. a minister made the following statement:—A member of his church, when first commencing business in the world, had purchased a dairy farm, for which, by industry and economy, he had been able to pay all the purchase money, and on which he continued to thrive. It was, however, remote from any village, and the enjoyment of the religious and social privileges could only be procured by considerable effort. In due time another farm was purchased, more favorably situated and furnished with much more convenient and pleasant buildings, to which they removed. This farm was also paid for, and a third purchased. During all this time his contributions for benevolent purposes were very small, and all solicitation was met by him with the plea that he was in debt. Nevertheless, he and his companion were under the influence of religious principle, and frequently conversed with each other respecting a return to the old dairy farm, in order that, by the sale of one of the others, they might be in better circumstances to aid the cause of Christ. These discussions, however, always terminated adversely to any change, by the recollection, that they were occupying a very comfortable home, surrounded with all the enjoyments of life, and the old farm house was dilapidated and remote from every enjoyment.

This good couple were at the missionary meeting until the morning of the last day, when it became necessary for them to return home. On parting with their pastor, the brother said to him, "I wish you to understand that I have now fully determined to sell one of my farms immediately. I have become convinced at this meeting, that it is my duty." After hearing what I have of the spiritual necessities of our country, I can no longer be voluntarily in debt, as to prevent my doing my duty in the cause of Christ." "And I," said his weeping wife, "have become equally convinced of my duty; we conversed on this subject late last night, and are agreed as to what we shall do. I am now willing to part with all the comforts of our present home, if necessary, and return to the dairy farm and make cheese as long as I live, that I may be able to do something in spreading the gospel of Christ."

The effect of this relation was powerful. Few who heard it could refrain from tears, or fail to resolve that they would attempt, by some means, more effectually to aid the good cause.

When John Wesley was about going to Georgia as a Missionary to the Indians, an unbeliever said to him, "What is this, sir? are you one of the knights-errant? How, pray, got Quixotism into your head? You want nothing: you have a good provision for life, and in a way of preferment: and must you leave all to fight windmills—to convert savages in America?" He answered willingly and calmly, "Sir, if the Bible be not true, I am as very a fool and madman as you can conceive; but, if it is of God, I am sober-minded. For he has declared, 'There is no man who hath left house, or friends, or brethren, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in the present time, and in the world to come everlasting life.'"

# PIOUS, INFLUENCE OF.

had shown him and his brothers a small volume, illuminated in different places with colored letters, and such other embellishments as were then in fashion. Seeing that it excited the admiration of her children, she promised that she would give it to the boy who should first learn to read it. Alfred, though the youngest, was the only one who had spirit enough to attempt obtaining it on such a condition. He immediately went and procured a teacher, and in a very short time was able to claim the promised reward. When he came to the throne, notwithstanding his manifold duties, and a tormenting disease, which seldom allowed him an hour's rest, he employed his leisure time either in reading or hearing the best books. His high regard for the best interests of the people he was called to govern, and the benevolence of his conduct, are well known.

It is said, that of the missionaries who have gone from Great Britain to the heathen, nineteen twentieth became pious at the Sabbath schools; and that, of the orthodox ministers in England, who are under forty years of age, more than two-thirds became pious at the Sabbath schools.

Henderson and Patterson, who have done such wonders on the continent, in regard to the Bible cause, it is said, received their first impressions at Sabbath schools. The celebrated Dr. Morrison, missionary in the vast empire of China, who has translated the whole Bible into Chinese, a language spoken by the largest associated population on the globe, became pious at a Sabbath school! O! who can tell, how many Brainerds, and Buchanans, and Morrisons, and Martyns, and Harriet Newels God is training in these schools, to become the blessed instruments of renovating the world!!

At a public meeting, the Rev. W. Hands, a missionary in the East Indies, observed that, "he owed every thing to Sunday schools; for it was there that the heavenly spark had first caught his soul; it was there that he had first lifted up his voice for the purpose of imparting Christian instruction to others. If it had not been for that opportunity, he should probably never have offered himself to the Missionary Society. Therefore, again he said, that he had every reason to bless God that he had begun by being a Sunday school teacher, especially as he believed that it was principally through the labors of Sunday schools, that the Gospel of the Redeemer was extended throughout the world.

The Rev. Richard Knill wrote from St. Petersburg, in 1819, as follows: "As an individual, I feel peculiarly indebted to such institutions, and to the glory of God I record it, that all the blessings which have been given to others, through my instrumentality, may be traced up to a Sunday school. It was my privilege to be a teacher in a Sunday school at Bideford: hearing a sermon preached in behalf of the institution led me first to think of being a missionary. Most of my fellow-students at Axminster had been Sunday school teachers; and out of twenty missionaries, who were my colleagues at Gosport, three-fourths of them had been engaged in the same way.

The Bath Sunday school Union Report, of 1824, gives the pleasing information, that several missionaries, and upwards of twenty other persons, had been called out of its schools, to preach "the glorious gospel of the blessed God."