emarkable that religion, which once gained such a
footing in Africa, so soon and entirely died out there, but that the
Africans, transported to our land, are of all races the most susceptible
to religious influences. If we should visit a foreign missionary field,
and learn that the mission had been blessed to the extent which has
characterized the labors of Christians at the South for their slaves, of
whom, according to the "Educational Journal," Forsyth, Ga., there are
now four hundred and sixty-five thousand connected with the churches of
all denominations, we should regard it as the chief of all the works of
God in connection with modern missions. It is this providential and
Christian view of slavery which quiets my mind. Now, suppose that,
contemplating a foreign missionary field where such results should be
found, one should object: "But there are evils there; people do not all
treat their dependants as they ought; hardships, cruelties, and some
barbarisms remain;"--we should not, I apprehend, proceed to scuttle such
a ship to drown the vermin. But I can see that Satan must be in great
wrath to find himself spoiled of so many subjects. One stronger than he
has brought here hundreds of thousands, who, in Africa, would have
perished forever, but who are now civilized and Christianized. Satan
would be glad, I think, to see American slavery come to an end. We have
no right to go and steal people in order to convert them; the salvation
of these slaves will not, in one iota, extenuate the guilt and
punishment of those who were engaged in the slave-trade. But "the wrath
of men shall praise Thee." In the writings of anti-slavery men I do not
remember to have met with cordial acknowledgments of what religion has
done for the slaves at the South. They coldly admit the fact, but often
they speak disparagingly of the negro's religion, which is full as good
as that of converts in our foreign missionary fields, as good, judging
from some things in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, as that of some
converts to whom he wrote. Our Northern anti-slavery people cannot bear
to have anything good discovered or praised in connection with slavery.

My own hopeful persuasion is, that great and marvellous works of Divine
Providence and grace are in reserve for the African people in their own
land, and that we are to prove to have been their educators. Most
sincerely do I hope, however, that the number of scholars and future
propagators of rel