In the Isles of the Pacific to the man, once both the destroyer and consumer of his fellow man; but now the cannibal delights in peace, and breathes the amenities of love.
In the West Indies to redeemed multitudes, once in harder and viler bondage than their crudest oppressors could impose on their emaciated frame; but the Son of God has made them free, and “they are free indeed.”
But on the other hand this society has had to mingle her tears with her praises, and exhibits the trials as well as the triumphs of faith.
From Madagascar the shepherds have indeed been driven, and their flocks scattered; they wander amid the wilderness as lambs among wolves, and many have been offered as a sacrifice upon the altar of their faith.
From the deserts of Siberia also, where for more than twenty years our faithful brethren laboured with untiring zeal, to plant amid those snowy solitudes the garden of the Lord—they have been driven from their much loved toil.
In Tahiti also, where our fathers gathered their plenteous, yet long delayed first-fruits, we have been called to reap the bitterest sorrow. The envious eye and malignant spirit of popery could not tolerate that fair field of protestant faith and apostolic piety; and in the Government of France she found a mind sufficiently ungenerous, and a hand sufficiently oppressive, to effect the desolation of that lonely island. Alas! freedom bleeds, and injustice triumphs in Tahiti. The people have fled from their homes to breathe the air of freedom in the fastnesses of the mountains, and the christian queen is now a fugitive from her native isle.
Nor these things only. Our success has provoked the zeal of our adversaries. Idolatry, which once regarded our efforts with silent scorn, now feels our power, and arms itself for resistance. Popery tracks the footsteps of the christian mission; not in Tahiti only, but in China, India, Africa, the West Indies—on every soil they tread.
Yes! beloved brethren, we must not dream of repose, or allow our past success to lull us into security or indifference.
The hosts of earth and hell are opposed to us; they unite in strong phalanx against the Lord, and against His Anointed. Unity is their watch-word, for unity is their strength—combination and co-operation are their principles. Let us be taught by the enemy; let us put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day; and over all, “put on charity which is the very bond of perfection.”
Remember, beloved brethren, that in an united advance against the enemy, the victory is sure. The Captain of our Salvation is now gone forth conquering and to conquer. To Him are given “the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.” And “He must reign until he shall have put all enemies under his feet.” The cause, the glorious cause is advancing! Christians will you not help it? The conflict has begun! Christians will you not join it? The final triumph of Messiah is at hand; even now the angelic hosts are preparing their golden harps to celebrate with the rejoicing heaven and redeemed earth, the consummation so ardently anticipated by the Redeemer—so long desired by the church—so cordially hailed in promise—so fervently supplicated in prayer; even the complete unity of the church, and by consequence