CHAPTER 7 PUBLIC SPEECHES
Great Bible Society meeting at Beaumaris - Great Missionary meeting at
Llanerchymedd
John Elias threw himself heart and soul into all the great
movements of that time. Whatever was done with a view
to the public good commanded at once the sympathy and
talents of this man. He was a warm advocate of the Bible
Society, the Missionary, and the Temperance cause.
We shall look upon him in this chapter in a meeting of the Bible Society, and in another in behalf of the London Missionary Society.
When the Bible Society was first established, it had not a few difficulties to contend with. There were many that opposed its claims. Many Churchmen looked askance at it ; they even supposed that it was an effort of the Nonconformists to supplant the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, which had been working successfully for many years. But these strong prejudices were gradually giving way before the noble claims of the Bible Society; and some of the great men of the land were already beginning to favour the good cause.
In this state of things, public meetings were to be held at Carnarvon and Beaumaris to advocate the claims of the society. The Most Hon. the Marquis of Anglesey consented to preside in these meetings. An effort was made to prevent him from taking such a step; but it proved unsuccessful. This happened a little after the Battle of Waterloo, where the marquis had nobly distinguished himself; he came out of the battle with great glory, though with the loss of one of his limbs. This was fresh in the minds of the people of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire. New titles and marks of honour had been lavished upon him, and a splendid column raised to his name on the banks of the Menai; and the announcement that such a hero from the field of Waterloo was to preside at the meetings caused a great sensation in the land. A good number of the ladies and gentlemen of the country felt bound to attend, and there were multitudes of others that were anxious to see the face of the illustrious warrior.
At the meetings there were several speakers, one of whom was Dr. Steward, from Liverpool, who was to speak in English; another was John Elias, who was to address them in Welsh. There was not a little prejudice against John Elias, and many would have preferred not to hear him at all, and some effort was made to prevent him delivering his speech.
Let us now hear John Elias in one of these gatherings. It was held at Beaumaris. The place was full to overflowing, and some could not find room. There were many ladies and gentlemen from Anglesey, and a great number had come over the Menai Straits from Carnarvonshire. The time for the meeting to commence was eleven o'clock in the morning. Within five minutes of the time the marquis had not arrived, and there was a sense of anxiety in the hundreds that were present, and a feeling of disappointment was just beginning to set in. But as the clock was striking the hour, the sound of hoofs and the rolling of wheels was heard on the pavement. It was the carriage of the marquis. The soldier knew the value of time, and he was in the building at the hour appointed. He was welcomed with ringing cheers.
Without loss of time he rose, and in a short and appropriate address he explained the object of the meeting, and how he himself felt strongly in favour of the society, and how his heart beat in deep sympathy with the noble aim of sending the Bible to every man in the world. Then he called upon the speakers to address the assembly. And now the turn of John Elias came. At the bidding of the chairman the orator arose. The welcome he received by the audience was not propitious. Some turned their faces away, others almost frowned. He came forward, bowing humbly and respectfully to the chair on the one hand, and to the congregation on the other. His gentlemanly appearance and bearing made an impression in his favour on many. He commenced his speech. He looked upon the moral condition of Wales before the Bible came* The history of his country was at his fingers' ends. He enumerated the different translations of the Bible into the Welsh language. He spoke of Dr. Richard Davies, William. Salesbury, Thomas Huet, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Parry, and others, with perfect familiarity— men that were dear and well known to the Church of England friends. Then he spoke with great interest of the various editions of the Welsh Bible, and mentioned to the approving audience the honoured names of Sir Thomas Middleton, Rowland Heylin, Walter Caradoc, Vavasor Powell, Thomas Gouge, Stephen Hughes, and several others. This interesting enumeration attracted the attention of the whole congregation and the faces of all were now turned towards the speaker. And he followed on with graceful attitude, pleasing countenance, smooth and finished sentences, until the eyes of his hearers were riveted upon him in the most absorbed attention.
He now sketched the present condition of Wales, and showed that it stood, even then, in imminent need of more effort than ever before for the dissemination of the Word of God. He described the country in a condition of war — a war of elements, a war of principles, a war of champions, Christ and Satan. He described two armies as if approaching each other in mortal fray : "They tramp the ground with heavy tread ; they draw nearer and nearer. The crisis of battle is come ; and the weal or woe of nations depends upon the issue. We have a picture of the battle on the field of Waterloo, and a prophecy of victory in the success of our arms." He then portrayed in vivid colours the battle, the sound of which was almost still in their ears. He showed how the crisis of nations had come, how the destiny of millons, the peace of the world, the prosperity of trade, the hopes of science, and even the success of the Gospel depended upon the bravery of our generals. "But," said he, "our generals were endowed from on high with keen insight, with steady and unflinching power of will, with boldness of action and decision of blows, so that they were equal to the critical occasion." And after describing the firing of the cannon, the whistling of balls, the fire and fury of the fray, the manoeuvring of regiments, the forming of squares, the steady persistence of serried ranks, the charges of cavalry, and the shock of arms, he graphically painted the valour of the Most Hon. Marquis: "I think I see him in the melee of battle, riding upon his white charger, — that charger rushing to meet the armed men; his neck clothed with thunder, pawing in the valley, rejoicing in his strength, mock- ing fear, and turning not back from the sword; the quiver rattUng against his sides, the glittering spear and the shield ; swallowing the ground with fierceness and rage, smelling the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting (Job's description, xxxix 21-25). I see the noble Marquis riding him in perfect self-possession, with calm countenance amidst the sound of battle, leading his regiment to the fight. I see him conquering his brave enemy, and yet, after vanquishing him, with noble dignity sparing his life." When the orator arrived at this point there passed through the congregation a thrill of glowing admiration. Still the speaker went on with increasing eloquence, burning with the fire of his theme, and said: "I fancy now that I hear the fighting host shouting victory ! But — but — it is a victory at the expense of losing the noble general ! A whizzing bullet comes from the enemy and strikes down the mighty warrior ! Dead ? Ha ! no. The angel of Providence rushed to the spot, and lifting up his hand against the messenger of Death, said, ' Touch not his life ; take but his limb, his life is sacred. I have some better work for the noble warrior to per- form ; I want him as a leader of a better army, an army that is going to conquer the world with the Word of the living God ; I want him to preside over the meetings of the Bible Society. The enemy is bound, but the Word of God is not bound! "Another thrill passed like an electric shock through the congre- gation with these last words. There was silence for a moment, then a swaying motion, and then some silent whispers. Several Englishmen were present who did not understand what was said, but they were conscious of some strange influence over the congregation : "What was that?" "What did he say?" "How? How?" The white pocket-handkerchiefs were out in scores to wipe the tears away from many an eye. Evidently there was great excitement. Seeing this, the Marquis, who did not understand Welsh, beckoned to a friend that sat near him, and asked him what was the cause. He answered, "It was an allusion to yourself, my lord, and the accident at Waterloo, where the interposition of Providence spared you to preside over this meeting." Upon this the hand of the Marquis passed quickly into his pocket for his hand- kerchief, and he also wept with the rest. John Elias then closed his address with the words, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." (From the Rev. R. Parry's excellent little volume, entitled, "Reminiscences of John Elias" pp. 21-26).
He was once advocating the claims of the Bible Society, in an Association held at Ruthin. In speaking of the countries that had never received the Bible, he enumerated and described, for an hour without intermission, the state of those countries and the misery of the inhabitants. After it was over, one gentleman said to another, "I never, never heard such a speech in behalf of the Bible." The other replied, "Wonderful, indeed! That man knows the history and the geography of the whole world."
The Bible Society Committee made the following remarks about John Elias the year after his death:— "To the memory of the Rev. John Elias a more than common tribute of affection and regret is due from the friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society. After the decease of the indefatigable and lamented Charles, of Bala, he was, humanly speaking, the society's main support, and its untiring advocate in North Wales ; and it is believed that he delivered more addresses, and collected more money in its behalf, than any other individual not officially connected with the society. The influence of his example, and the force of his appeals, were deeply and generally felt in his own country, where, in the very first year, he collected after sermons the large sum of £500. In the decease of this revered and much-loved servant of Christ, the society has lost a praying member, a liberal contributor, an eloquent and most efficient advocate. May his mantle, with a double portion of his spirit, fall upon his survivors."
Before the Calvinistic Methodists formed a missionary society of their own, they sent their contributions to the London Missionary Society. John Elias was a warm advocate of its claims. By his speeches in Anglesey a large sum was collected in one year. When the collection was to be made, he availed himself of the opportunity to speak in behalf of it.
Let us now listen to him in such a meeting. The place was Llanerchymedd, five miles from Llanfechell. It was Sunday morning ; there was snow on the ground ; consequently he had to walk the whole distance, for he could not take his horse. Though the morning was cold the chapel was full.
Speaking of the world lying in degradation and sin, he said: there were now two societies facing the lost world with the only true remedy. Those were the Bible Society and the London Missionary Society. The first sent out the seed, the second sent out the sowers. He gave an outline of the missionary labours of the last 300 years, calling attention briefly to the different societies that had been labouring in disseminating the Word of God, till he came to the London Missionary Society. Then he proceeded: —
"But what have we to do with this society? This is the question for us to-day. Has the work been finished? Alas! It is only just begun. The pagan world has a personal claim upon each one of us; and to show this is the object of this meeting. Who shall send them the Gospel but those who have already received it? ... Let us look for a moment upon the condition of the pagan world. ... In our imagination let us take our position with the angel spoken of in the Book of Revelation, standing in the sun. Let us sup- pose that we are in a convenient spot on the sun's surface, and that we are looking down upon this world almost at an infinite distance below, and that our eyes are keen and far- sighted enough to observe carefully the different spots on the face of our globe. There the earth revolves upon its axis daily, describing its elliptical course round the sun. Behold, it turns in regular revolutions towards the east. Now the city of London is exactly below us ; but it soon passes from our ken, and England altogether. And now the borders of Ireland begin to appear. What do we see ? Seven millions of Roman Catholics worshipping images of the cross instead of believing in the power of Christ to save. They are in darkness and ignorance, innocently led by their priests, knowing nothing of the true way of salvation. Is there no effort made to deliver them ? Yes ; you have the Irish Evangelical Society working in one place, the schools of the Hibernian Society in another, and the Protestant ministers in another — all scattering the beams of light over the darkness of the night!
"Then the wide Atlantic rolls into sight, but soon passes away, and the continent of America comes into view. There we see numerous tribes passing to and fro, many of them, however, plunged into the depth of darkness and misery. Still, we behold a glorious army of missionaries leading the people to Christ!
"Look again! There is the wide Pacific main, bespotted with a thousand islands, and the inhabitants, alas! worshippers of idols. Still, even there, Tahiti and Eimeo twinkle brightly like the stars, and the light of the know- ledge of Jesus Christ casts its beautiful glimmer over the waves of the sea. And we can now delight our eyes in looking upon several Christian temples as if floating upon the face of the South Sea.
"Mark! The Empire of China, wide and vast, now rolls into sight. Alas! how it groans under the weight of three hundred millions of ignorant and superstitious idolaters. Listen! you hear of no one there but Confucius and Foe; no Jesus, no Lamb that is slain! However, there are a few that meet together to read the New Testaments that were distributed through the efforts of Morrison and Milne. The first-fruits of the great harvest have already been waved before the Lord.
"The earth still revolves, and now the light of the sun falls upon the great plains of Hindostan, and upon the valley that is ever washed with the waters of the Ganges. There is Juggernaut, with its crushing wheels! There is the funeral pile, and the widow consumed in the fire with her dead husband ! Still, you see the mission houses of Serampore and Calcutta; and Bradbury, Morton, and Lessel, have just arrived to take the place of Carey and Townley; and the dawn of a better day seems to come upon that land of darkness and the shadow of death. Be quick, and look again over the mountains of Northern India, and observe the wide plains that extend far in the direction of the poles. A land of gloom, indeed, and the abodes of misery in every direction. But Swan, and Hallybrass, and Youell, have planted the rose of Sharon in the Siberian snow, and the lily of the valleys in the far-off Tartar land.
"The countries of Persia and Arabia appear ; what millions you find here who follow the false prophet! But watch keenly, and, as you move your eye from Astrachan along the shores of the Caspian Sea, you will see the missionaries of the Edinburgh Society commencing the work which will not be finished until the earth is the Redeemer's.
"There is Palestine again rolling into view. Oh! what a blessed country. That is the valley where Abraham pitched his tent. On that mount, David composed many a psalm; there Isaiah took his harp, and prophesied of the birth of Christ! That is Calvary, where the Saviour died! That is the garden, and there the grave! Can you not almost hear some pilgrim or traveller uttering the words, 'Come, see the place where the Lord lay.' ...
"Now, Asia Minor appears with its barbarism and superstition. But the Russian Bible Society, with the golden candlestick in one hand, and the light of truth in the other, begins to light up again the lamps that once cast their beautiful lights for many years on the waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
"There is Africa again, with its bleeding millions, wailing under the hand of the oppressor. Still, even there we see the lights of Bethelsdorp and Sierra Leone — lights prophetic of the time when slavery shall be at an end, and when the sun of righteousness shall light the dark continent. " Europe now returns into our ken. In those northern parts we see the superstitions of the Greek Church, and in the south the errors of the Church of Rome. "Look, now our old home has come again; there is London and the dome of St. Paul's, and the offices of the London Missionary Society hard by.
"What do you say, then, my friends, to all this? Is there a heart that does not feel? Do you not count it a privilege to give something towards sending the Word of God to those that die without knowledge? Is there a man here who will not pray that God's Word may have free course and be glorified? ..."
He closes his speech with the words, "The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it"; "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"- uttered in a manner never to be forgotten by those who heard them. Great was the effect of this speech upon the collection that was made that morning. The hearers were amazed. The missionary cause was very new to the people at that time; and this speech was the means of creating a great interest in the heathen world. The graphic view of the earth they had obtained remained long in their imaginations ; they saw the revolving continents, the islands, and the oceans for months and years; and their conceptions of the world were clearer and wider ever after.'''
We shall look upon him in this chapter in a meeting of the Bible Society, and in another in behalf of the London Missionary Society.
When the Bible Society was first established, it had not a few difficulties to contend with. There were many that opposed its claims. Many Churchmen looked askance at it ; they even supposed that it was an effort of the Nonconformists to supplant the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, which had been working successfully for many years. But these strong prejudices were gradually giving way before the noble claims of the Bible Society; and some of the great men of the land were already beginning to favour the good cause.
In this state of things, public meetings were to be held at Carnarvon and Beaumaris to advocate the claims of the society. The Most Hon. the Marquis of Anglesey consented to preside in these meetings. An effort was made to prevent him from taking such a step; but it proved unsuccessful. This happened a little after the Battle of Waterloo, where the marquis had nobly distinguished himself; he came out of the battle with great glory, though with the loss of one of his limbs. This was fresh in the minds of the people of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire. New titles and marks of honour had been lavished upon him, and a splendid column raised to his name on the banks of the Menai; and the announcement that such a hero from the field of Waterloo was to preside at the meetings caused a great sensation in the land. A good number of the ladies and gentlemen of the country felt bound to attend, and there were multitudes of others that were anxious to see the face of the illustrious warrior.
At the meetings there were several speakers, one of whom was Dr. Steward, from Liverpool, who was to speak in English; another was John Elias, who was to address them in Welsh. There was not a little prejudice against John Elias, and many would have preferred not to hear him at all, and some effort was made to prevent him delivering his speech.
Let us now hear John Elias in one of these gatherings. It was held at Beaumaris. The place was full to overflowing, and some could not find room. There were many ladies and gentlemen from Anglesey, and a great number had come over the Menai Straits from Carnarvonshire. The time for the meeting to commence was eleven o'clock in the morning. Within five minutes of the time the marquis had not arrived, and there was a sense of anxiety in the hundreds that were present, and a feeling of disappointment was just beginning to set in. But as the clock was striking the hour, the sound of hoofs and the rolling of wheels was heard on the pavement. It was the carriage of the marquis. The soldier knew the value of time, and he was in the building at the hour appointed. He was welcomed with ringing cheers.
Without loss of time he rose, and in a short and appropriate address he explained the object of the meeting, and how he himself felt strongly in favour of the society, and how his heart beat in deep sympathy with the noble aim of sending the Bible to every man in the world. Then he called upon the speakers to address the assembly. And now the turn of John Elias came. At the bidding of the chairman the orator arose. The welcome he received by the audience was not propitious. Some turned their faces away, others almost frowned. He came forward, bowing humbly and respectfully to the chair on the one hand, and to the congregation on the other. His gentlemanly appearance and bearing made an impression in his favour on many. He commenced his speech. He looked upon the moral condition of Wales before the Bible came* The history of his country was at his fingers' ends. He enumerated the different translations of the Bible into the Welsh language. He spoke of Dr. Richard Davies, William. Salesbury, Thomas Huet, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Parry, and others, with perfect familiarity— men that were dear and well known to the Church of England friends. Then he spoke with great interest of the various editions of the Welsh Bible, and mentioned to the approving audience the honoured names of Sir Thomas Middleton, Rowland Heylin, Walter Caradoc, Vavasor Powell, Thomas Gouge, Stephen Hughes, and several others. This interesting enumeration attracted the attention of the whole congregation and the faces of all were now turned towards the speaker. And he followed on with graceful attitude, pleasing countenance, smooth and finished sentences, until the eyes of his hearers were riveted upon him in the most absorbed attention.
He now sketched the present condition of Wales, and showed that it stood, even then, in imminent need of more effort than ever before for the dissemination of the Word of God. He described the country in a condition of war — a war of elements, a war of principles, a war of champions, Christ and Satan. He described two armies as if approaching each other in mortal fray : "They tramp the ground with heavy tread ; they draw nearer and nearer. The crisis of battle is come ; and the weal or woe of nations depends upon the issue. We have a picture of the battle on the field of Waterloo, and a prophecy of victory in the success of our arms." He then portrayed in vivid colours the battle, the sound of which was almost still in their ears. He showed how the crisis of nations had come, how the destiny of millons, the peace of the world, the prosperity of trade, the hopes of science, and even the success of the Gospel depended upon the bravery of our generals. "But," said he, "our generals were endowed from on high with keen insight, with steady and unflinching power of will, with boldness of action and decision of blows, so that they were equal to the critical occasion." And after describing the firing of the cannon, the whistling of balls, the fire and fury of the fray, the manoeuvring of regiments, the forming of squares, the steady persistence of serried ranks, the charges of cavalry, and the shock of arms, he graphically painted the valour of the Most Hon. Marquis: "I think I see him in the melee of battle, riding upon his white charger, — that charger rushing to meet the armed men; his neck clothed with thunder, pawing in the valley, rejoicing in his strength, mock- ing fear, and turning not back from the sword; the quiver rattUng against his sides, the glittering spear and the shield ; swallowing the ground with fierceness and rage, smelling the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting (Job's description, xxxix 21-25). I see the noble Marquis riding him in perfect self-possession, with calm countenance amidst the sound of battle, leading his regiment to the fight. I see him conquering his brave enemy, and yet, after vanquishing him, with noble dignity sparing his life." When the orator arrived at this point there passed through the congregation a thrill of glowing admiration. Still the speaker went on with increasing eloquence, burning with the fire of his theme, and said: "I fancy now that I hear the fighting host shouting victory ! But — but — it is a victory at the expense of losing the noble general ! A whizzing bullet comes from the enemy and strikes down the mighty warrior ! Dead ? Ha ! no. The angel of Providence rushed to the spot, and lifting up his hand against the messenger of Death, said, ' Touch not his life ; take but his limb, his life is sacred. I have some better work for the noble warrior to per- form ; I want him as a leader of a better army, an army that is going to conquer the world with the Word of the living God ; I want him to preside over the meetings of the Bible Society. The enemy is bound, but the Word of God is not bound! "Another thrill passed like an electric shock through the congre- gation with these last words. There was silence for a moment, then a swaying motion, and then some silent whispers. Several Englishmen were present who did not understand what was said, but they were conscious of some strange influence over the congregation : "What was that?" "What did he say?" "How? How?" The white pocket-handkerchiefs were out in scores to wipe the tears away from many an eye. Evidently there was great excitement. Seeing this, the Marquis, who did not understand Welsh, beckoned to a friend that sat near him, and asked him what was the cause. He answered, "It was an allusion to yourself, my lord, and the accident at Waterloo, where the interposition of Providence spared you to preside over this meeting." Upon this the hand of the Marquis passed quickly into his pocket for his hand- kerchief, and he also wept with the rest. John Elias then closed his address with the words, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." (From the Rev. R. Parry's excellent little volume, entitled, "Reminiscences of John Elias" pp. 21-26).
He was once advocating the claims of the Bible Society, in an Association held at Ruthin. In speaking of the countries that had never received the Bible, he enumerated and described, for an hour without intermission, the state of those countries and the misery of the inhabitants. After it was over, one gentleman said to another, "I never, never heard such a speech in behalf of the Bible." The other replied, "Wonderful, indeed! That man knows the history and the geography of the whole world."
The Bible Society Committee made the following remarks about John Elias the year after his death:— "To the memory of the Rev. John Elias a more than common tribute of affection and regret is due from the friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society. After the decease of the indefatigable and lamented Charles, of Bala, he was, humanly speaking, the society's main support, and its untiring advocate in North Wales ; and it is believed that he delivered more addresses, and collected more money in its behalf, than any other individual not officially connected with the society. The influence of his example, and the force of his appeals, were deeply and generally felt in his own country, where, in the very first year, he collected after sermons the large sum of £500. In the decease of this revered and much-loved servant of Christ, the society has lost a praying member, a liberal contributor, an eloquent and most efficient advocate. May his mantle, with a double portion of his spirit, fall upon his survivors."
Before the Calvinistic Methodists formed a missionary society of their own, they sent their contributions to the London Missionary Society. John Elias was a warm advocate of its claims. By his speeches in Anglesey a large sum was collected in one year. When the collection was to be made, he availed himself of the opportunity to speak in behalf of it.
Let us now listen to him in such a meeting. The place was Llanerchymedd, five miles from Llanfechell. It was Sunday morning ; there was snow on the ground ; consequently he had to walk the whole distance, for he could not take his horse. Though the morning was cold the chapel was full.
Speaking of the world lying in degradation and sin, he said: there were now two societies facing the lost world with the only true remedy. Those were the Bible Society and the London Missionary Society. The first sent out the seed, the second sent out the sowers. He gave an outline of the missionary labours of the last 300 years, calling attention briefly to the different societies that had been labouring in disseminating the Word of God, till he came to the London Missionary Society. Then he proceeded: —
"But what have we to do with this society? This is the question for us to-day. Has the work been finished? Alas! It is only just begun. The pagan world has a personal claim upon each one of us; and to show this is the object of this meeting. Who shall send them the Gospel but those who have already received it? ... Let us look for a moment upon the condition of the pagan world. ... In our imagination let us take our position with the angel spoken of in the Book of Revelation, standing in the sun. Let us sup- pose that we are in a convenient spot on the sun's surface, and that we are looking down upon this world almost at an infinite distance below, and that our eyes are keen and far- sighted enough to observe carefully the different spots on the face of our globe. There the earth revolves upon its axis daily, describing its elliptical course round the sun. Behold, it turns in regular revolutions towards the east. Now the city of London is exactly below us ; but it soon passes from our ken, and England altogether. And now the borders of Ireland begin to appear. What do we see ? Seven millions of Roman Catholics worshipping images of the cross instead of believing in the power of Christ to save. They are in darkness and ignorance, innocently led by their priests, knowing nothing of the true way of salvation. Is there no effort made to deliver them ? Yes ; you have the Irish Evangelical Society working in one place, the schools of the Hibernian Society in another, and the Protestant ministers in another — all scattering the beams of light over the darkness of the night!
"Then the wide Atlantic rolls into sight, but soon passes away, and the continent of America comes into view. There we see numerous tribes passing to and fro, many of them, however, plunged into the depth of darkness and misery. Still, we behold a glorious army of missionaries leading the people to Christ!
"Look again! There is the wide Pacific main, bespotted with a thousand islands, and the inhabitants, alas! worshippers of idols. Still, even there, Tahiti and Eimeo twinkle brightly like the stars, and the light of the know- ledge of Jesus Christ casts its beautiful glimmer over the waves of the sea. And we can now delight our eyes in looking upon several Christian temples as if floating upon the face of the South Sea.
"Mark! The Empire of China, wide and vast, now rolls into sight. Alas! how it groans under the weight of three hundred millions of ignorant and superstitious idolaters. Listen! you hear of no one there but Confucius and Foe; no Jesus, no Lamb that is slain! However, there are a few that meet together to read the New Testaments that were distributed through the efforts of Morrison and Milne. The first-fruits of the great harvest have already been waved before the Lord.
"The earth still revolves, and now the light of the sun falls upon the great plains of Hindostan, and upon the valley that is ever washed with the waters of the Ganges. There is Juggernaut, with its crushing wheels! There is the funeral pile, and the widow consumed in the fire with her dead husband ! Still, you see the mission houses of Serampore and Calcutta; and Bradbury, Morton, and Lessel, have just arrived to take the place of Carey and Townley; and the dawn of a better day seems to come upon that land of darkness and the shadow of death. Be quick, and look again over the mountains of Northern India, and observe the wide plains that extend far in the direction of the poles. A land of gloom, indeed, and the abodes of misery in every direction. But Swan, and Hallybrass, and Youell, have planted the rose of Sharon in the Siberian snow, and the lily of the valleys in the far-off Tartar land.
"The countries of Persia and Arabia appear ; what millions you find here who follow the false prophet! But watch keenly, and, as you move your eye from Astrachan along the shores of the Caspian Sea, you will see the missionaries of the Edinburgh Society commencing the work which will not be finished until the earth is the Redeemer's.
"There is Palestine again rolling into view. Oh! what a blessed country. That is the valley where Abraham pitched his tent. On that mount, David composed many a psalm; there Isaiah took his harp, and prophesied of the birth of Christ! That is Calvary, where the Saviour died! That is the garden, and there the grave! Can you not almost hear some pilgrim or traveller uttering the words, 'Come, see the place where the Lord lay.' ...
"Now, Asia Minor appears with its barbarism and superstition. But the Russian Bible Society, with the golden candlestick in one hand, and the light of truth in the other, begins to light up again the lamps that once cast their beautiful lights for many years on the waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
"There is Africa again, with its bleeding millions, wailing under the hand of the oppressor. Still, even there we see the lights of Bethelsdorp and Sierra Leone — lights prophetic of the time when slavery shall be at an end, and when the sun of righteousness shall light the dark continent. " Europe now returns into our ken. In those northern parts we see the superstitions of the Greek Church, and in the south the errors of the Church of Rome. "Look, now our old home has come again; there is London and the dome of St. Paul's, and the offices of the London Missionary Society hard by.
"What do you say, then, my friends, to all this? Is there a heart that does not feel? Do you not count it a privilege to give something towards sending the Word of God to those that die without knowledge? Is there a man here who will not pray that God's Word may have free course and be glorified? ..."
He closes his speech with the words, "The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it"; "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"- uttered in a manner never to be forgotten by those who heard them. Great was the effect of this speech upon the collection that was made that morning. The hearers were amazed. The missionary cause was very new to the people at that time; and this speech was the means of creating a great interest in the heathen world. The graphic view of the earth they had obtained remained long in their imaginations ; they saw the revolving continents, the islands, and the oceans for months and years; and their conceptions of the world were clearer and wider ever after.'''
No comments:
Post a Comment