lost in that ocean of immensity-the unsearchable ways and incomprehensible providence of God. But we are also fully assured, that he will treat the heathen world with the most perfect equity-that he will estimate the conduct of mankind only according to the talents respectively afforded them, and will not expect to reap where he has not sown. In the midst, therefore, of discouragements, we may learn, that it is our duty to trust God where we cannot trace him,-to follow our blessed Lord through evil and through good report,-to live in the discharge of our duty, and to leave events to him. Though the labours of these pious missionaries afford us a gloomy prospect in Jamaica, the scenes are more enlivening in other islands. also will appear before us, when we take our leave of this island, after having surveyed that extensive work which God has been pleased to carry on by the instrumentality of other means. At present we must bid adieu to the Moravian Brethren, and turn our thoughts to the success of those missions which have been established and carried on by the late Reverend John Wesley, and by the Society late in connexion with him.*

These

The Baptists have had societies among the negroes in Jamaica for near twenty years, and much good has arisen therefrom. Their success in that island, in the conversion of souls, has far exceeded that of the Moravian Brethren. But for want of documents the author is not able to enlarge upon this subject. He will only add, that in the course of his three visits to Jamaica, he was so far acquainted with their proceedings, that he is confident they have been truly useful to hundreds of the negroes.

CHAP. XIII.

HISTORY OF JAMAICA.

Remarks on the zeal, piety, and usefulness of the Reverend John Wesley-the author's union with him, and first arrival in the island of Jamaica-his report on the state of religion, and advice to Mr. Wesley to send over missionaries to preach the gospel to the negroes-establishment of the Methodists in the island-rapid success of the mission-account of the founding of a Methodist Chapel in Kingston-description and engraved view of that chapel.

THE venerable name of John Wesley is well known throughout the united kingdom, and the doctrines which he taught have been frequently investigated both by his friends and foes. The zeal and activity of Mr. Wesley exposed him to the scoffs of infidelity, and brought upon him the charge of enthusiasm from those characters who profess Christianity, but who know not God. Even by his enemies his name is more or less reverenced, but to his friends it is endeared; and it will descend unsullied to posterity, and be held in grateful remembrance so long as it shall be deemed a virtue to have been beneficial to mankind.

The holy ardour which prompted him to energy among his countrymen, urged him to cross the Atlantic to diffuse the light of the gospel in the Western World. In England and America his name and character are alike known; his zeal found no rival, except in his usefulness; and, divesting our minds both of partiality and prejudice, we dare to rank him among the very first of the public benefactors of mankind.

In the West India Islands he knew there were myriads of his fellow-creatures sitting in the valley and shadow of death; and embraced the first opportunity to enlarge his sphere of action by the means of his missionaries, and to spread those truths through these benighted regions, which had been so happily diffused at home.

It was from the fullest conviction of duty that the author of these pages joined himself to that venerable man; and from entering into his views, and feeling with him a congeniality of soul, that he presumed to co-operate with him in his pious and

vast designs. A work so extensive as to embrace at once Great Britain, Ireland, and America, required much assistance, and sometimes demanded the presence of Mr. Wesley when it could not be obtained. To remedy this inconveniency, his - friends were dispatched to different parts, to preach the gospel, to cherish the infant churches, to superintend the different departments of the work which had been so happily begun, and which, from immediate successes, promised a plentiful and lasting harvest.

In the early stages of this important undertaking, which God has so signally owned and blessed, the preachers who acted under the direction of Mr. Wesley were comparatively but few in number. Their successes exceeded their most sanguine expectations; the harvest was great, but the labourers were few. The Lord of the harvest, however, soon raised up a number of pious men, and inclined them to go and preach among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The character of these men, the integrity of their views, the whole deportment of their moral conduct, and the discipline which has been established in the Methodist societies, are open to public inspection. Those who are acquainted with all these particulars, will not refuse the tribute of respect which Mr. Melville Horne has paid to the Moravians; and those who have no such acquaintance with them, are incompetent to pass an opinion.

It was on one of these important errands, that the writer of these sheets embarked for the continent of America, with an earnest hope of being serviceable in that quarter of the globe. But it would be foreign to the design of these volumes to enter into a minute disquisition of the transactions of the continent, though his second voyage to that portion of the globe ultimately led to the general establishment of the gospel in most of those islands which we are about to survey. On these grounds, however, some remarks, made by the author in the course of his voyage, may not only be pleasing but profitable to the reader; especially as they may be considered as remotely connected with the providential origin of that work which God has wrought among the negroes in these isles of the sea.

The author's second voyage to America commenced on Sunday the 24th of September 1786, and his destination was to visit the continent. But it pleased the almighty disposer of all human events to change his course; for after contending at sea against violent storms, the ship sprung a leak, which exposed him and the whole ship's company to imminent danger of foundering. Three missionaries accompanied him, who were in the first instance, with himself, bound for Nova Scotia,

By the 5th of December the danger became so extremely imminent, that a little council was held; when the captain, being convinced of the impossibility of reaching the port of Halifax that winter, resolved to sail with all possible expedition for the West Indies. This resolve he immediately put into execution, and on the 25th of December we landed at St. John's in Antigua. The journal of our proceedings in that island will be found in its proper place, combined with its civil history. The present chapter being restricted to the state of religion in Jamaica, it is to this object that we must confine our views.

The providence of God, which watches every numbered hair, and attends upon all our steps, appears too conspicuous to be overlooked, in the instance which has just been related. Violent and continued tempests, which endangered the lives of all the ship's company, were made subservient to his wise designs. And by these unpromising means we perceive in the event, that God has opened a wide door for the preaching of the gospel, through which multitudes have been already converted, and brought to an acquaintance with that adorable Saviour, whom to know is life eternal,

When we took our departure from England, the author had no design of visiting these insulated regions; but necessity urged us thither, and the call was too imperious to be disobeyed. Thus the most awful dispensations of Providence are but so many parts in the general harmony. They are but the issues of an infinitely wise direction, moving in an enlarged circle, which our understandings, darkened through sin, are not al ways able to perceive, and but rarely competent fully to comprehend. O that we may always be obedient to the calls of God, whensoever we perceive them clearly! and when they are wrapped in shade, may we seek instruction by applying to the Father of lights!

It was not till the third visit made to America by the author, that he sailed from Tortola for Jamaica, and landed at Port Royal on the 19th of January 1789. Here it must be observed, once for all, that some years before this period, societies of Methodists had been formed in the other islands of the West Indies. But those who ministered in holy things were few in number, and totally unequal to that extensive work which has since been carried on. A more enlarged plan was

It is not improbable, that these accounts at first view may appear some what confused. To remove any such unfavourable impression, the reader is requested to examine the religious history of Antigua, in which the progress of the missions is traced from its earliest period. The history of that island will solve every problematical expression, and inform him in what manner the gas

now to be pursued. The openings of Providence had rendered an increase of pious missionaries necessary in all the British islands, that the light of the gospel might be held forth to all the Africans who had been left to perish in the idolatry which they had imported from their native shores. The event has justified the measure; God has blessed the labours of his servants in an especial manner in the conversion of multitudes of the negro slaves;-"a work most assuredly genuine, if there be a genuine work of God upon earth."

In this glorious undertaking the late Mr. Wesley eminently distinguished himself by his zeal and important aid, and by engaging the whole body of his preachers, in Conference, to unite in promoting this great undertaking. By these means the author was supported in carrying on this work of Christian love and compassion, in behalf of a multitude of souls dwelling in darkness and ignorance. Sanctioned by the patronage and direction of that truly evangelical minister of the gospel, in whom he had found a father and a friend; whose memory he will hold in constant veneration to the last hour of his sojourn on earth; and with whom, through the merits of their great Redeemer, he hopes again to be united in glory; he has been enabled, through divine grace, to add perseverance to resolution, and to feel on this side of the grave a full assurance that his labour has not been in vain in the Lord.

At this period the form of godliness was hardly visible in Jamaica; and its power, except in some few solitary instances, was totally unknown. The exertions of the Moravian Brethren were quite inadequate to the field which lay open before them. Iniquity prevailed in all its forms; and both whites and blacks were evidently living without hope and without God in the world.

Under such circumstances, that those who knew not God should despise his ordinances, and treat his servants with contempt, it was reasonable to expect. Derision and opposition are the legitimate offspring of that carnal mind which is enmity to the things of God. In every age and every climate human nature is the same. Vice predominates in the unregenerate heart; and he who attempts to stem the prevailing torrent, unavoidably exposes himself to those censures and reproaches which our blessed Lord and Master so explicitly foretold.

pel has been introduced into almost all the other British colonies in that Archipelago. But the island of Antigua being so much inferior to Jamaica, it would have been a violation of order, in a natural and civil view, to have introduced it first.