country. A foundation is hereby laid for an enlightened and continued support of this great cause. The subject needs, in truth, but to be known by sincere Christians. The Societies which are engaged in diffusing Christian Knowledge among the perishing Heathen invite inquiry. They urge it on all Christians as a Duty. It is not by inventing statements, or by exaggerating realities, that they would move the feelings. They appeal to plain and unquestionable Facts. Five-sixths of the Human Race are perishing, without God and without hope in the world: and, of these, perhaps now, by recent accessions, considerably more than a tenth are British subjects. The cry of their misery is piercing-the openings of Providence are plain-the call of Duty is loud. It matters not to the thinking observer, that men come from these scenes of guilt and misery, and tell us that the Heathen are all very good and very happy. Such men know not what goodness and happiness mean. They carried into those scenes of woe a low standard of judgment and feeling; and no wonder, therefore, that their estimate is formed still only on the fleeting considerations of this perishing world, when even a Christian, of high and elevated mind, feels the deadening effect on his spirit of scenes of stupid and cruel idolatry ever passing before his and complains that they grow "HORRIBLY FAMILIAR!" The Committee wish to make no other reference to the Opposition which the Society has had to encounter, than to express their thankfulness that it has been followed, not only by a great increase of interest and feeling in its behalf, but by a wide extension of the plans of other Members of the Church. It would ill become sincere Churchmen to think hardly of their fellow-members, because they do not act with them, provided they do take, according to their conscientious views, their utmost share in the great work of enlightening the world. eyes, Envious rivalry, in such a cause, is as absurd as it is unchristian. An active friend of the Society forcibly urges this point. It is an encouraging fact, (he writes,) that our County Church Missionary Association will remit more to its Parent than the County Bible Society will, even including payments for Bibles, though we shall probably send up more to the Parent Bible Society than we have done in any preceding year. How unfounded are the fears of those who suppose that one Society must necessarily injure the other! Alas! what a low idea have such persons of Christian Charity! Nay, real Charity, so far from having reached its height, has only just begun to be exercised among us-that Real Charity which begins at home in self-denial and in sacrifices for the sake of Christ! Archbishop Secker, in a Sermon before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, places this matter in a most striking light, while he exposes the vain excuses of those who refuse all aid to this sacred cause. Some will object (his Grace says) that all the assistance which we can give Christianity is too much wanted in our own country, to admit of any schemes for propagating it in foreign ones. And would to God these persons would ask themselves, whether they are indeed desirous of removing the objection which they make; or only argue against this and that way of doing good, to save the expense of doing it in any way! A true and judicious zeal will carefully avoid raising an opposition between two Charities, which is a much surer method of hurting the one, than serving the other: whereas, with this precaution, a first scarce ever suffers considerably, if at all, by setting up a second; but men's hearts are engaged to contribute to both. Every single Member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge at home, was originally incorporated into ours for spreading it abroad. That Society is at this day promoting the same knowledge in the East, as well as here; whilst we are doing it in the West. Many of us belong to both and promise ourselves a larger share of the blessing of God in each, for neglecting neither. : In these nations, great provision is made already, and greater will daily be made, for offering Salvation to Mankind. They who will reject it after all, must do so, and take the `consequences. But let us, in nothing terrified by our adversaries, strive together for the faith of the Gospel; and not only sustain a defensive war, but shew, that attacking the dominions of our Lord and Master shall increase our zeal to extend them. The Committee cannot but repeat, on this occasion, their expression of the high value which they put on the aid rendered by enlightened and devout Christians, of whatever rank and station. It is the support of those of their Fellow-Churchmen, who are awakened to a sense of their obligations, which they most highly esteem. Of all the labours of love in which Man can be engaged toward his Fellow-Men, in the work of Missions he most peculiarly needs the Divine guidance and the Divine blessing. And that guidance and blessing may be expected, in proportion to the singleness of heart with which the work is undertaken, and to the spirit of humble dependence on the Providence and Grace of the Saviour in which it is pursued. The Committee do not undervalue the Silver and the Gold: the Silver and the Gold must equip the Christian Warrior for the field: they must provide him with shelter and with food-but it is the Prayer of Faith that must give the heart and the sinews by which Victory is to be achieved. If there be any Member of the Church who denies that he lies under an obligation to employ his utmost means of promoting the knowledge of Christ in the world, could a contribution be wrested, by any adventitious means, from such a man, it would be of little comparative value. Efficient support can be expected, only in proportion as the duty of establishing Missions comes to be understood and obeyed, and the right spirit of undertaking them to be felt and culti vated. The Committee would not imply, even in the most remote measure, that every Member of the Church, when he comes to feel a real love to the Missionary Cause, and to have some sense of his obligation to further it, must necessarily unite himself with this Society. Unhappy misapprehensions may present this Institution to such a man in a light which awakens his fears. He may feel more ready confidence in those public bodies, which enjoy a greater weight of the authority of rank and station-which have stood the test of many years-which number among their supporters, his own early associates and friends. It will be matter of sincere rejoicing to your Committee, if serious and reflecting Churchmen of this description, though they may stand aloof from this Society, shall yet be daily strengthening other bodies in the Church by their influence and their zeal. It must ever be recollected, that the Church has made no provision for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen. She has no Institutions for this purpose; but has left it wholly to the Charity of her Members, while her Daily Services sufficiently indicate her anxiety that they should imbibe and cherish a true Missionary Zeal. Nor could the Church act otherwise. Her jurisdiction is only over the consciences of her Members. Her authority is wholly spiritual. Her provisions for Instruction and Discipline are all that are committed to her. Christian Rulers may, by Legislative Enactments, grant her maintenance, and jurisdiction, and dignity; and they may sanction and protect Institutions voluntarily formed and supported by her Members. The State might, indeed, grant most important aid to the Charity of the Church, by rendering Ordination for Missionary Service valid, without allowing the power to exercise the Ministry at home unless on special licence, and without subjecting the Prelate who may thus ordain to the responsibilities from which the customary Titles relieve him.* The Committee rejoice to say, that an Act of Parliament received the Royal Assent on the 2d of July, which provides for the very case mentioned in the Report; and which had been forcibly urged in the year 1814, by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, in a work intituled "Church of England Missions," and addressed to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. The Act may be seen, at length, in Appendix I. MISSIONS. In surveying the state of the unchristianized part of the world, it will, perhaps, be the most convenient course, first to circumnavigate Africa, as being the portion of it nearest to this country. After passing, by the Western, Southern, and Eastern coasts of that continent, into the Mediterranean, and surveying its Northern shores, the circumnavigation of this vast and injured portion of the globe will be completed. The European and Asiatic coasts of the Mediterranean, and the whole of the Turkish Empire connected with those coasts, will next claim attention; and will shew, in connexion with the Northern shores of Africa, how important and wide a field of labour opens before Missionaries established in the Mediterranean. The countries surrounding the Black Sea, the Kingdom of Persia, the Northern Parts of Asia, and the vast countries of Thibet and China, will follow in succession; and will lead to the two great divisions of Continental India, beyond and within the Ganges. Passing through the whole range of Insular India, the course will proceed, through Australasia and Polynesia, to South America, the West Indies, the North American Indians, and the shores of Labrador and Greenland. What positions on this mighty chain the Society occupies will be seen by the enumeration of its Missions-which are those of West Africa, the Mediterranean, North India, South India, Ceylon, Australasia, and the West Indies. To West Africa, New Zealand, and North India, Missionaries and others have proceeded from the Society, in the course of the year, amounting, in number, to nineteen. At a Meeting held at the House of the Society on the 9th of November, Major-General Charles Neville, one of the Vice-Presidents, in the chair; Mr. Thomas Morgan, Mr. Christopher Taylor, Mr. George e |