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in the general censure. He determined, however, to go; and if Mrs. C. could not be persuaded to accompany him, he would take his eldest son with him, and leave the rest of his family under the care of the society. She might afterwards be persuaded to follow him; or, if not, he could but return after having made the trial, and ascertained in some measure the practicability of the undertaking. Under these circumstances he went aboard a ship for Bengal. But when they were just ready to sail, it was understood that his going out in one of the company's ships, without expressly stating his object, and obtaining their consent, was illegal and dangerous. He and his colleague were therefore both obliged to quit their places. On this, they both made another visit to Mrs. Carey (who was then at Piddington) renewing their persuasions for her to accompany them. At length, her sister (now Mrs. Short) agreeing to go with her, she consented; and a Danish ship passing by soon after, they all took a passage in her. Thus the Lord prevented their departure in the first instance, that Mr. Carey's family might accompany him, and that all reproaches on that score might be prevented.

'It was afterwards objected, that their going to settle in the British territories without the permission. of the directors, though in a foreign ship, was after all illegal and dangerous; but to this it is replied, the apostles and primitive ministers were commanded to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; nor were they to stop for the permission of any power upon earth; but to go, and take the conse

quences. If a man of God, conscious of having nothing in his heart unfriendly to any civil government whatever, but determined in all civil matters to obey and teach obedience to the powers that are, put his life in his hand, saying, ‘I will go, and if I am persecuted in one city, I will flee to another,' whatever the wisdom of this world may decide upon his conduct, he will assuredly be acquitted, and more than acquitted, at a higher tribunal.'

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CHAPTER II.

SECTION I.

REVIEW OF DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE BAPTIST MISSION-REJECTION OF THE MISSIONARIES FROM THE EARL OF OXFORD, AND THE CONSTERNATION IT OCCASIONED THE REVIVAL OF THEIR HOPES, AND THEIR RE-EMBARKATION UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES MORE PROPITIOUS.

THE projectors of the Baptist Mission commenced their design amidst unusual discouragements. The reader has already seen how very slender were their resources. But this was the least of the many adverse circumstances with which they had to contend. No principal denomination had at that time entered the field. And, not having originated any plan of foreign labour themselves, it was, perhaps, more than could reasonably be expected, that they should look with unmingled complacency upon one launched by an inferior body; or that they should contribute materially to augment its funds. A long, querulous, and crabbed letter is yet extant, from a gentleman in one of the midland counties, expostulating with Mr. Fuller upon the impropriety of making such a work a denominational undertaking, and the sort of sentimental absurdity, which he discerned and felt very tenderly, of commencing labours and exhausting resources in

distant countries, while so much remained to be effected at home. Such objections, it may be, are not utterly extinct to the present day. But those who entertain them, upon the first head, would do well to ask themselves, whether they are prepared to maintain perpetual and perfect silence as to those views of truth and forms of duty which distinguish that portion of the church to which they pertain from every other? If they hesitate at this, they should cease to expect the sacrifice in others. But, suppose they willingly consent to bate whatever is peculiar to their own body, and should succeed in prevailing upon all their fellow-christians to adopt the same determination, what advantage would accrue to the world from such an achievement? Must not some portion of truth be sacrificed, and some matter of positive obedience be neglected? Or will it be contended, that no part of the christian church either believes or practises correctly; or, that it is a less evil, in things holden to be non-essential, absolutely and totally to neglect, than involuntarily and partially to err. It is far better for christians to promulge the truth of Christ, according to their own conceptions, and to inculcate obedience to his authority agreeably to their own views, than to speculate upon a catholicism incompatible with their present circumstances to realize. Nor is it likely that the heathen, or those converted from amongst them, would be half so stumbled at witnessing any diversity in the external modes of christian practice, as they would at the detection of any designed neglect or concerted scheme of compro

mise. As the efforts of all devout persons will be regulated much more by those truths and principles which are deemed of essential and universal interest, than by any distinguishing peculiarities; so will there be unspeakably more in the general results of their labour in which to rejoice, than of denominational peculiarity against which to except. It is better to become at once auxiliary to an attempt at effecting some immediate and substantial good, made, as we suppose, with some attendant imperfection and error, than to speculate ever so sincerely upon schemes of union, or entertain ourselves and the world with mere hypotheses of agreement and coalition, until life is wasted, and our opportunities for usefulness retire. Our christian love cannot desire more appropriate or ample expression than is suggested to us in the prayer of the apostle: 'Grace be with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' Nor ought we to expect fellowship with other christians upon terms different from those intimated in another passage, where our zeal and our love are solicited at once into fervent action, and chastised into forbearing tenderness. 'Whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing: and, if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.'

It is also equally incorrect, and, it is to be feared, far more disingenuous, to entertain with repugnance, or treat with indifference, a project for conveying the gospel to distant nations, because much corresponding labour is in requisition at home. It is of far greater

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