Canton, (China,) Dec. 21, 1831. To Parents and Teachers: MY DEAR FRIENDS,--Weary and oppressed when I had finished my last letter, I determined to desist from writing more, but after reflection and prayer before God, I felt constrained to add yet another. The letters have cost me considerable time and labor, and though short, they contain many interesting facts. I have been obliged to sit up late at night to write, and early in the morning; and more than once, while writing and contemplating the condition of perishing millions around me, tears have started from the eyes, and the breast has been agitated with thoughts too painful to describe. I once thought, as some of you may now think, that the accounts of the heathen are overdrawn, and their condition represented to be worse than it actually is. This is not the case; far from it. There are sometimes inaccurate statements--I have met with such--but I have never seen a description, given by uninspired men, which adequately portrays the misery, and moral degradation, of this elegant, learned, polished, and refined pagan nation. The inimitable descriptions of the heathen world, given in the Old and New Testament, are all exemplified here, in living characters. In the letters to the dear youth, who stand to you in the relations of sons, and daughters, and pupils, it has been my object to assist you, in making known to them the present condition and character of the Chinese. I have narrated chiefly, such things as I had either seen or heard here on the spot. Many of the accounts are imperfect, and the descriptions faint; and I am on that very account, more anxious that you should follow up the subject, explaining and illustrating whatever the children do not easily understand. I wish you would often read to them the 44th chapter of Isaiah, and the 1st chapter of Romans. I wish also that you would collect and point out to them interesting accounts, published in the Missionary Herald, and in religious newspapers, and books which have been published on missions. It is of great importance that children be well instructed, correctly and extensively informed, in regard to the condition of those to whom the gospel is yet to be published. Every one, whether old or young, rich or poor, has an interest--a personal interest in this great and glorious work; but children have a peculiar personal interest. From the present generation of children, many hundreds, nay, thousands of missionaries, are to be trained up and sent abroad to the fields already white for the harvest. Our Lord, the Saviour, has made it the privilege, and the duty, of every one who will be his disciple, to seek first the kingdom of heaven; and he has assured us that no one can be his disciple who will not forsake all and follow him. It will profit a man nothing, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul: and so in comparison with seeking to extend the religion of Jesus Christ. In comparison with bringing souls from the damnation and power of sin and Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son, all things also are nothing. There is to be a great change in the opinions, and feelings, and actions, of Christians, in regard to this subject, else the gospel will not be preached to every creature. Now hundreds and thousands of Christians, or rather who call themselves Christians, are saying, "We have nothing to do in this business, and we can't do any thing if we try." But the time is coming, when all good people will say, "We have a great work to do, for it is our business to publish the gospel to every creature; and we can do all things through Christ strengthening us." It will help to hasten this change, if we make this subject--the subject of missions--the preaching of the gospel to every creature--the conversion of the whole world--very familiar to our own minds and to the minds of others,--especially to children. If the Lord Jesus Christ should come down from heaven, and go round to each of your houses, and entering, should address you individually, and say, Go ye and preach the gospel to every creature; you would think this a most solemn command; one which you could not misunderstand. So it would be, and just so it is now. It is no more your duty and your privilege, than it is my duty and privilege. It is a common cause; one in which it is alike the privilege and the bounden duty of every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ to engage, and with his whole soul, and mind and strength. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. The case which I have presented, is an extreme one--a case of life and death--not the life of a single individual, a brother, a sister, or a child; nor is it the temporal life of 10,000 individuals. Oh! no. It is the eternal life of hundreds of thousands of immortal souls. And now, dear friends, allow me to make in behalf of those among whom I live, this one request;--that you will think often of their condition, and make it a frequent subject of conversation with your children. I desire that you may do this, that you may be led, and may lead your children to desire and earnestly to pray for the conversion of the Chinese. There is no danger of thinking, or saying, or feeling, or doing too much in a work of such amazing magnitude. The danger, and it is very great, is all on the other side. One solitary instance of doing too much, has never yet been known; but on the contrary all have come short. You can easily imagine what would be your feelings, if you should see your fellow creatures, friends and strangers, sinking and drowning in the waves, and if it was in your power, you would, even at the hazard of your own lives, seek to save them. O then, what ought to be the emotions, and what the effort to save, when contemplating a whole nation sinking in the bottomless pit? Sinking! yet they are like us, prisoners of hope. And if they hear the joyful sound, and believe in Jesus, then shall they be saved. Wishing you and your children, everlasting happiness, I remain ever, your affectionate friend and servant, E.C.B. < |