ble. No public acts of government are necessary. It is not necessary that government should appear in the business; and much less that it should be at any expense whatever. If it be only understood that no one shall be forbidden to teach Christianity, and no one but the evil doer receive interruption from the magistrate, the work will go on in the most gradual and yet effectual manner. God is raising up native converts of character and talents suited to it. It is possible for ten of these brethren to enter a district, to go unobserved through the principal towns, sit down in a private circle, gently reason, convey ideas of divine truth, aad turn persons from darkness to light, nearly unobserved. Thus a town, a district, a country could be leavened with the blessed gospel, almost without the knowledge of the wealthy and the great, even of their own countrymen.

"The only thing necessary for European Missionaries is, that as long as they deserve the confidence of government, they be permitted to fix their residence in those places which will enable them to exercise a necessary superintendence, and administer support to these native brethren; to visit the societies which are formed; and, as occasion offers, dispense with prudence the word of life. It were the easiest thing imaginable for government to obtain from European Missionaries the most ample pledges of good behaviour, and to withdraw its protection the moment they ceased to deserve it. A good man would feel a pleasure in giving such security; and what is more, his being a good man would itself be a security. What security could have been exacted from a Schwartz, equal to that which his own wise and benevolent heart afforded? Nor is this peculiar to Schwartz; it is the feeling of every real Missionary.

"A permission to itinerate and form missionary stations in the country, so far from being injurious to the British government, would advance its essential interests. In every Missionary it would have a friend; a friend whose influence and capacity of rendering service would be constantly increasing. What were the advantatages which the English derived from one Schwartz, in the Mysore country? And what would be the effect of their having at this moment a hundred Schwartz's in India, each with his train of pious,

peaceable, loyal, and faithful disciples? These messengers of peace and love (and all others we give up) would endear to the inhabitants the very nation to which they belonged. 'Who are these,' they would ask, that so manifestly seek our good, and not their own?' The answer, that they are English, must exhibit an idea of the government and nation which the natives can never have displayed before their eyes too often.

"But, if a Missionary could so far forget himself and his object, as to cherish a spirit inimical to government, still, one would suppose, his own interest would correct him. To whom are he and his friends indebted for security? Without the protection of government, they would be continually in danger of being plundered and massacred. If, however, the folly of any one should render him insensible to these considerations, he must abide the consequences. Let him bear his own burden."

Sir, I cannot persuade myself that the East India Company will adopt the principles of Mr. Twining. They have too much good sense to be alarmed at every outcry; too much justice to ascribe danger to causes from which it never arose; and too much wisdom to banish men, who have always approved themselves the faithful friends of their government. Whatever be the mind of individuals, I trust that neither they, nor the British government, as a body, are prepared to prohibit the free circulation of the scriptures, or the temperate propagation of Christianity.

I am aware, indeed, that persecution has of late made its appearance in our West India Colonies; and if Mr. Twining and his party could succeed, there is too much reason to fear that we should see the same thing in the East; but I am also aware that, in the first instance, it was disallowed by HIS MAJESTY IN COUNCIL; and though it has since been revived on a narrower scale, yet I trust it will not be permitted, either in the West, or in the East, to accomplish its end.

It is not difficult, Sir, to account for that aversion from religion which is so frequently found in men who have left their country at an early period, in pursuit of a fortune. They neither understood nor believed the gospel when at home; and on going abroad took leave of Christian ordinances, and of all respect for them.

They may wish, indeed, for certain reasons, to retain the name of Christians; but that is all: they cannot bear the thing, nor that any about them should be in earnest in the profession of it. But, whatever measures may be taken by men, who have become aliens from that which is the glory of their country, I trust there will be found a sufficient number of the rulers and inhabitants of this land to counteract them. If not, let us talk as we may against French atheism, we are fast sinking into it.

If, Sir, there be a God that judgeth in the earth, the danger lies in making HIM our enemy. It is a principle which cannot be disputed, however it may be disregarded, THAT WHATEVER IS RIGHT,

IS WISE; AND WHATEVER IS WRONG, IS FOOLISH AND DANGEROUS. Sir, the tombs of nations, successively buried in oblivion, have this truth inscribed on every one of them. It was by "forbidding Christian ministers to speak unto the Gentiles, that they might be saved, that the most favoured nation upon earth filled up the measure of its sins, and drew upon it the wrath of heaven to the uttermost!"

At a time, Sir, when many and great nations are overthrown; nations which have not possessed our privileges, and therefore have not incurred our guilt; when we are engaged in the most tremendous struggle that this country ever knew, a struggle for our very existence; and when, on certain occasions, we profess to fast, and to humble ourselves before Almighty God; shall we raise from its slumbers the wicked system of PERSECUTION? Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Mr. Twining may be disgusted at the idea of the Eastern empire being given us by providence, for the very purpose of introducing the gospel ; (p. 25.) but if it be so, it is no more than God's having formerly given it to Cyrus, for Jacob his servant's sake.* Men may scorn to be subservient to their Maker; but whether they consent or not, it will be so. The conquests of Rome made way for the introduction of Christianity into Britain; and those of Britain may make way for its general introduction in the East. Should Britain be friendly to this object, it may be the lengthening

of her tranquillity; but, as an eloquent writer observes, "If we decline the illustrious appointment, God may devolve on some less refractory people, those high destinies which might have been ours. Who knoweth whether we are come to the kingdom for such a time as this? If we altogether hold our peace at this time, then may there enlargement and deliverance arise to them from another place, and we and our father's house may be destroyed."

I am,

SIR,

Very respectfully yours,

ANDREW FULLER.

* Mr. Wrangham's Sermon, On the Translation of the Scriptures into the Oriental Languages, preached before the University of Cambridge, on May 10, 1807. (p 11.)

STRICTURES

ON A

PREFACE TO A PAMPHLET,

ENTITLED

66 OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY."

THIS performance, though anonymous, has been generally ascribed to MAJOR SCOTT WARING: and as I understand that that gentleman has since publicly avowed himself to be the author, I shall consider him as such in the following remarks.

Mr. Twining's performance had scarcely any thing tangible about it. It was chiefly made up of quotations, with here and there a sentence distinguished by italics, or capitals of different sizes, according, it should seem, to the different degrees of suspicion and alarm which possessed the mind of the author. But Major Scott Waring attempts to reason; and as he certainly has entered into the subject with all his heart, we may hope, from hence, to ascertain the real strength of our adversaries.

Having given his preface a cursory review, I determined, before I sat down to answer it, to read through his pamphlet; and on looking it over, I found that though the "Observations" related chiefly to things beside my province, yet they contained passages worthy of attention; especially when compared with others, and with the general design of his performance. A few of these I shall take the liberty to transcribe.

"For many centuries, we believe, Christian Missionaries have resided in India, with the free consent of the native princes. These men were generally, if not universally, pure in their morals, and inoffensive in their conduct; and many of them highly respect