The hand of God in history...

Front matter

V y

,v

V

Preface

" The history of the world is gradually losing itself in the history of the church." " The full history of the world is a history of redemption." " In no period of the history of redemption, not even when preparing the fullness of time for the Messiah's advent, has the providence of God been more marked than of late years, in its bearing on the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom." a The providence of God, in respect to this work," says another, " would form one of the most interesting chapters in the history of his government." u To the casual observer of Providence, to the ordinary reader of this world's history, the whole appears like a chaos of incidents, no thread, no system, no line of connection running through it. One course of events is seen here, and another there. Kingdoms rise on the stage one after another, and become great and powerful, and then pass away and are forgotten. And the history of the church seems scarcely less a chaos than that of the world. Changes are continually going on within it and around it, and these apparently without much order."

Yet all is not a chaos. The Christian student, with his eye devoutly fixed on the Hand of God, looks out upon the world, and back on the wide field of its history, and takes

IV TREFACE.

altogether a different view. What before seemed so chaotic and disorderly, now puts on the appearance of system and form. All is animated by one soul, and that soul is Providence.

The writer of the following pages believes his subject timely. Perhaps as never before, the minds of the most sagacious writers of our age are watching with profound and pious interest the progress of human events. The aim of the author has been to make the work historical, at least so abounding in narrative, anecdote, biography, and in the delineations of men and things in real life, as to commend it to the general reader ; and at the same time to reveal at every step the Hand of God overruling the events of history, to subserve his one great end : an attempt to contribute a mite to rescue history from the melancholy abuse under which it has lain almost to the present time. History, when rightly written, is but a record of providence ; and he who would read history rightly, must read it with his eye constantly fixed on the hand of God. Every change, every revolution in human affairs, is, in the mind of God, a movement to the consummation of the great work of redemption. There is no doubt at the present time, a growing tendency so to write and so to understand history. And if the writer has contributed any thing to advance a consummation so devoutly to be wished, he will feel that he has not labored in vain.

In the preparation of the following pages, the writer has felt his mind constantly burdened with the magnitude of the subject. It has seemed too mighty to grapple with, and painfully conscious has he been of his inability to do it justice. Originating as it did, in the perplexity he felt, as a friend of Christian missions, in the inadequacy of any means now employed, or likely soon to be employed, to secure the evangelization of the world, and in the many fluctuations of the mis-

PREFACE. V

sionary enterprise, he has been led to trace out the Divine agency, which has, in every age of Christianity, been employed to carry forward the work. With his eye fixed on the hand of God, as engaged to consummate his plans of mercy through the cross, he has for the last seven years made his reading of history subservient to the work which he now ventures to offer to the public ; hoping he has struck out a course, and gathered a mass and variety of facts in illustration of his position, which, while it shall do something to magnify in the minds of his people the power and grace of God, to confirm their hopes, and give confidence in the sure and final triumph of the gospel, shall contribute something to aid abler pens to consummate what he has begun,

Hartford, May, 1849.

SOME OF THE AUTHORS CONSULTED.

Hallam's Middle Ages.

Robertson's Charles V., and his Ancient India.

Guizot's History of Civilization.

W. C. Taylor's Natural History of Society.

Gibbon's Rome.

Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella.

Bancroft's History of United States.

D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation.

Edwards' History of Redemption.

Titler's Universal History.

American Encyclopedia.

Mosheim's Church History

Gessler's Church History.

Hume's History of England.

Allison's Modern Europe.

Mills' Mohammedanism.

Foster's Mohammedanism Unveiled.

Milman's Church History.

Harris' Great Commission.

Smith's and Choules' History of Missions.

Moffatt's South Africa.

Williams' Missionary Enterprises.

Missionary Herald — Reports of Benevolent

Societies.

Dr. Duff's India, and India Missions. Dr. Grant's Nestorians, and the Lost Tribes., Prof. Tholock — Dr. Baird — Bishop Wilson. Lorimer's Protestant Church of France. Bingham's Sandwich Islands.

Chapter I

Introduction. General illustrations of Providential Agency : Joseph— Moses- Esther — Daniel. History an exponent of Providence. Ezekiel's wheel. John's sealed Book. Pentecost. Persecution about Stephen— about Paul. Dispersion of the Jews. The Roman Empire. Introduction of the Gospel into Abyssinia- Iberia— Britain— Bulgaria. Our plan. Christianity progressive.

CHAPTEE II.

Art op Printing — Paper-making — Mariner's Compass. The Discovery of America, at precisely the right time: a new field for Christianity. First settlement. Romanists. None but Puritan seed takes deep root here. Character of the first settlers. Geographical position. Capabilities and resources of America. Language, Intelligence, Political supremacy. Coal. Steam. A cloud. - - • - 31

Chapter III

The Reformation. — General remarks — state of Europe and the world. The crusades — their cause and effect. Revival of Greek literature in Europe. The Arabs. Daring spirit of inquiry. Bold spirit of adventure. Columbus. The Cabots. Charles V. Henry VIII. Francis I. Leo X. Rise of liberty. Feud- Distribution of political power. 53

Chapter IV

The Reformation. Europe clamors for reform. Causes. Abuses. Boniface VIII. The Great Schism. Infallibility. Bad moral character of Popes— Alexander VI. Leo X. Elector of Saxony. Early Reformers. Waldenses— Nestorians. The Reformation a necessary effect— a child of Providence. Martin Luther ; his origin, early education, history. Finds the Bible. His conversion. Luther the preacher— the Theological Professor— at Rome. "Pilate's staircase. " Compelled to be a Reformer. His coadjutors. Opposition. Results. •

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V. Page

Japheth in the tents of Shem : or, the Hand of God, as seen in the opening a way to India by the way of the Cape of Good Hope. The posterity of Japheth. The Portuguese empire in the East — its extent and extinction. Designs of Providence in opening India to Europe— not silks and satins, but to illustrate the evil of Idolatry, and the inefficacy of false religions and philosophy to reform men. The power of true religion. 85

Chapter VI

God in history. The Church safe. Expulsion of the Moors from Spain. Transfer of India to Protestant hands. Philip II. and Holland. Spanish invincible Armada. The bloody Mary of England. Dr. Cole and Elizabeth Edmonds. Cromwell and Hampden to sail for America. Return of the Waldenses and Henry Arnaud. Gunpowder plot. Cromwell's usurpation. Revolution of 1688. James II. and Louis XIV. Peter the Great. Rare constellation of great men. - 100

Chapter VII

God in Modern Missions.— Their early history. Benevolent societies. The Moravians. — English Baptist's society. Birmah Missions. David Bogue and the London Missionary Society. Captain James Wilson and the South Sea Mission. The tradition of the unseen God.— Success. Destruction of Idols.— Gospel brought to Rurutu— Aitutaki— Rarotonga— Mangaia— Navigators' Islands. - - 122

Chapter VIII

Modern Missions continued.— Henry Obookiah and the Sandwich Islands. Vancouver and the Council. Dr. Vanderkemp and South Africa. Africaner. Hand of God in the Origin of Benevolent Societies. Remarkable preservation of Missionaries. 136

Chapter IX

Hand op God in facilities and resources by which to spread Christianity. The supremacy of England and America : prevalence of the English language, and European manners, habits and dress. Modern improvements ; facilities for locomotion. Isthmus of Suez and Darien. Commercial relations. Post- Office. - 156

Chapter X

Hand op God in facilities and resources. General peace. Progress of knowledge, civilization and freedom. The three great obstacles essentially removed, Paganism, the Papacy, and Mohammedanism. 176

CONTENTS. Ut

CHAPTER XI. Page

The field prepared. General Remarks ; — First, Papal countries, or Europe ; their condition now, and fifty years ago. France — the Revolution — Napoleon. 1845, an epoch— present condition of Europe. Character of her monarchs. Catholic countries ;— Spain and Rome— Austria— France, an open field. France and Rome. Geneva. Benevolent and reforming societies. Religion in high places. Mind awake. Liberty. Condition of Romanism and Protestantism. • - • • 196

Chapter XII

Continued. Second, Pagan Countries. Paganism in its dotage. Fifty years ago scarcely a tribe of Pagans accessible. 1793, another epoch. Pagan nations, how accessible. Facilities. War. The effective force in the field. Resources of Providence in laborers, education, and the press. Toleration. Success. Kirshnuggar. South India. 221

Chapter XIII

The field prepared. Islands of the Pacific. Native agency. Liberality of native Churches. Outpouring of tl>e Spirit and answers to Prayer. The first Monday of January. Timing of things. England in India— her influence. Success, a cumulative force for progress. The world at the feet of the Church. 239

Chapter XIV

Mohammedan countries and Mohammedanism. The design, origin, character success, extent of Islamism. Mohammed a Reformer — not an Impostor. Whence the power and permanency of Mohammedanism 1 Promise to Ishmael —hope for him. The power of Islam on the wane. Turks the watch-dogs of Providence, to hold in check the Beast and the Dragon. Turkish reforms — Toleration— Innovations— A pleasing reflection. S

Chapter XV

Hand of God in the Turkish Empire. The Turkish Government and Christianity. Mr. D wight's communication. Change of the last fifty years. Destruction of the Janizaries. Greek Revolution. Reform. Death of Mahmoud. The Charter of Gul Khaneh. Religious Liberty. Persecution arrested. Steam Navigation in Turkey. Providential incidents. Protestant Governments and Turkey. Their present Embassadors. Foreign Protestant Residents. Late exemption from the plague. 274

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XYI.

Page.

Africa , the land of paradoxes— Hope for Africa. Elements of renovation— Anglo- Saxon iniluence — Colonizing— The Slave Trade and Slavery — Commerce. A moral machinery— education, the Press, a preached Gospel. Free Government. African Education and Civilization Society. The Arabic Press. African languages. 290

Chapter XVII

The Armenians— their history, number, location. Dispersion and preservation of the Armenians. The American Mission ; Asaad Shidiak ; exile of Hohannes. The great Revival. The Persecution, and what God has brought out of it. - -313

Chapter XVIII

The Jews. Providential features of their present condition, indicating their preparedness to receive the Gospel. 332

Chapter XIX

The Nestorians— their country, number, history. The Ten lost Tribes. Early conversion to Christianity. Their missionary character. The American Mission among them. Dr. Grant and the Koordish mountains. The massacre. The great Revival— extends into the mountains. The untamed mountaineer. A bright day dawning. 351

Chapter XX

Europe in 1848. The Mission of Puritanism— in Europe. The failure of the reformation. Divorce of Church and State. The moral element in Government. Progress of liberty in Europe ; religious Liberty. Causes of the late European movement. The downfall of Louis Philippe. What the end shall be. - - - -365

Chapter XXI

Remarkable providences— small beginnings and great results. Abraham. Joseph. Moses. David. Ruth. Ptolemy's map. Printing. The Mayflower. Bunyan. John Newton. The old marine. The poor Choctaw boy. The linen seller. Russian Bible Society. The little girl's tears, and Bible Societies. Conclusion. 283

A list of some of the Authors consulted. 403

HAND OF GOD IN HISTORY.

Chapter I

Introduction. General illustrations of Providential Agency : Joseph— Moses— Esther- Daniel. History an exponent of Providence. Ezekiel's wheel. John's sealed Book. Pentecost. Persecution about Stephen— about Paul. Dispersion of the Jews. The Roman Empire. Introduction of the Gospel into Abyssinia— Iberia— Britain— Bulgaria. Our plan. Christianity progressive.

" Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleih" — James, ii. 5.

A young shepherd boy, as he tends his father's flocks on the hills of Palestine, dreams a dream. No strange event this, and, accustomed as he was to gaze on the starry concave, not strange that he should dream of the sun, moon and stars — or that it should have been interpreted of his future greatness, or that his brethren should on this account hate him — or that Joseph should be sold a slave into Egypt. Here seemed an end of the whole matter. The exiled youth would soon wear out in bondage, unknown and unwept; a disconsolate father go down to the grave mourning, and the posterity of Jacob cultivate their fields, and watch their flocks, forgetful that this outrage to humanity ever disgraced the annals of their family history. But not so the mind of God. Joseph is enslaved — accused of crime — thrown into prison. Yet in that dark cell is nourished the germ of hope to the church of the living God. Israel should grow up on the banks of the Nile, and spread his boughs to the river, and his branches to the sea. The eye of God was here steadily fixed on the advancement of his church.

Again, something is seen floating amidst the flags of the river of Egypt. A. servant woman is ordered to bring it. It is an ark of rushes. Thousands of Hebrew children had perished uncared for ; but now, as by accident, one is found and introduced into the palace of the king and to the court. He is educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and schooled in the discipline needful to make him a legislator and a military leader. With what care did God watch that little rush bark, and with what consummate skill order every event, till he had reared up Moses, and fitted him to act a more prominent part in the advancement of his cause than any mortal had acted before.

Or, an obscure female is born in Persia. At an early age she is left an orphan. An uncle adopts her, and hopes she may yet solace his declining years. She is beautiful, lovely, modest — yet nothing points her out to any enviable station above the thousands of the daughters of Persia. To all human forethought she would live and die unknown as she was born. But the church of God is scattered throughout the hundred and twenty and seven provinces of Persia. Esther is a daughter of the captivity ; and God would raise up some guardian spirit to save his people from an impending danger, and honor them in the sight of the heathen. The palace of Shushan, and the gorgeous court of the Shah, shall stand in awe of Esther's God. By a singular train of circumstances the obscure orphan is brought to the notice of the king — finds favor, and is called to share with him the honors of his throne. And what deliverances she wrought for her people — how she brought them out from their long obscurity, and gave them notoriety and enlargement, and prepared the way for their restoration to their native land and to the Holy Hill of Zion, is known to all who have traced the hand of Providence in this portion of Sacred History.

Again, a youth of nineteen years is carried captive to Babylon. But there was nothing singular in this. Thousands of every age and rank had been forced away from their native hills and valleys of Palestine, the victims of unsuccessful war. But the time had come when God would proclaim his name and his rightful claims to sovereignty from the high battlements of the greatest of earthly potentates. Again he would magnify his church in the sight of all nations. Hence Daniel's captivity — hence

PROVIDENCE AND HISTORY. 13

that youthful saint prayed and exemplified an enlightened, unbending piety, till the king and his court, the nobles and the people, publicly acknowledged the God of Daniel, and " blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation."

" Providence is the light of history and the soul of the world." " God is in history, and all history has a unity because God is in it." " The work of Redemption is the sum of all God's providences."

In the following pages, an attempt is made to present, within prescribed limits, an historical illustration of the Hand of God as displayed in the extension and establishment of Christianity. And the author will compass his end in proportion as he may contribute any thing to a right apprehension of history — of the divine purposes in the vicissitudes and revolutions of human affairs, discerning in the records of all true history the one great end,

" For which all nature stands, And stars their courses move."

All veritable history is but an exponent of Providence ; and it cannot but interest the mind of intelligent piety, to trace the hand of God in all the changes and revolutions of our world's history. All are made beautifully to subserve the interests of the church ; atl tend to the furtherance of the one great purpose of the Divine mind ; the glory of God in the redemption of man. He that would rightly study history must keep his eye constantly fixed on the great scheme of human salvation. History, however, has been written with no such intent. " The first thing that it should have shown is the last thing that it has shown. The relation of all events to God's grand design is by most historians quite overlooked." All past history is but the unravelling of God's eternal plan respecting our race. The whole course of human events is made finally to subserve this one great purpose. The philosophy of history can be learned only in the laboratory of heaven — with the eye fixed on the Hand that moves the world, and the spirit in harmony with the great Spirit that animates the universe.

It is only when we see God — Christ — redemption, in history, that we read it in the light of truth. "This is the golden thread that passes through its entire web, and gives it its strength, its lustre and consistency. "

With beautiful propriety the Prophet Ezekiel prefaces his predictions with a striking delineation of Divine Providence. Or rather God prepares the prophet's mind to become the vehicle of the most extraordinary series of predictions concerning his people, by a vision emblematical of Providence. It came under the similitude of a " wheel," or a sphere made of a " wheel in the middle of a wheel."

A whirlwind and a cloud appear in the north, illumined with a brightness as of fire. Out of the midst of the cloud appears the likeness of four living creatures ; each has four faces ; four wings, and hands under their wings ; straight feet like the ox ; and the four faces are severally like the face of a man, of a lion, of an ox and an eagle, denoting wisdom, strength, swiftness and obedience. Their wings are raised and joined one to another, and when they move they move " straight forward," as directed by the Spirit, and they turn not as they go. These may be taken to represent the ministers of Providence — angels, with ready wing to obey the behests of Heaven — intent on their errands of mercy or of wrath — turning neither to the right hand or the left ^subject to no mistakes, hindered by no obstructions — and all their movements directed by one great Mind. " Whither the Spirit w r as to go, they went ; they run and return as the appearance of a flash of lightning."

By the side of these was a wheel or sphere, composed of a "wheel within a wheel." This may be regarded as an emblem of Divine Providence. The wheel had four faces — looked every way, moved every way ; was connected with the living creatures, and moved in perfect harmony with them; was full of eyes — never moved blindly or by chance ; its operations, though endlessly diversified in detail, were harmonious in action and one in their end, for all were guided by one great, controlling

PROVIDENCE INCOMPREHENSIBLE. 15

Agent. The wheels had a regular, uniformly onward movement — no turning aside or turning back ; and so enormous were they in circumference that their " height was dreadful."

And such is God's Providence — a scheme for carrying out purposes high as heaven, and lasting as eternity — vast, profound in the conception, sublime in result, and, like God himself, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. God is the soul of Providence.

The general appearance of this singular mechanism was like unto the color of a beryl — azure — ocean-like. Providence like the ocean I — an apt and beautiful allusion. The ocean, broken only here and there by a few large patches of land sitting, as it were, on its heaving bosom, stretches from pole to pole, and from equator to equator; is all-pervading, never at rest, irresistible. It ebbs and flows ; has its calms and tempests, its depressions and elevations. Whether lashed into fury by the storm, or sleeping tranquilly on its coral bed, it is accomplishing its destined end. It washes every land ; its vapors suffuse the entire atmosphere; its waters, filtered through the earth, are brought to our door, and distributed through every hill and valley.

Common and useful as the ocean is, we are but partially acquainted with its utility, and so boundless is it that human vision can take in but a mere speck of its whole surface. We stand on its shore, or sit on some little floating speck on its bosom, and, 'save a little lake or pond that heaves in restless throes about us, the ocean itself lies beyond the field of our vision, shut out by the azure curtain of the encircling sky.

And such is Providence — a deep, unfathomable deep — none but the omniscient eye can fathom it — none but infinite Wisdom can scan its secret recesses ; so boundless, everywhere active, all-influential, that none but the infinite Mind can survey and comprehend its wonder-working operations ; so mighty, all-controlling, irresistible, that nothing short of omnipotence can guide it. Like the sea, Providence has its flows and ebbs, its calms and tempests, its depressions and elevations. At one time we ride on the swelling bosom of prosperity. The tide of life runs high and strong. The sunbeams of health and joy glisten in our tranquil waters, and we scarcely fear a disturbing change. Again the tide sets back upon us. Disappointment, poverty, sickness, bodily or mental affliction, throw life aiul all its enjoyments in the ebb. We are tossed on the crested billow, or lie struggling beneath the overwhelming wave. Like the sea, Providence is not only the minister of the Divine mercy, but of the Divine displeasure, executing judgments on the froward and disobedient : a minister of discipline, too, casting into the furnace of affliction, that it may bring out the soul seven times purified. We can see but little of its boundless surface, or sound but little of its unfathomable depths.

" And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is able to. open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book. And I wept. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not : behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof/' This book was an ancient roll, composed of seven distinct parts — (the number seven denoting universality ;) so rolled as to leave an end of each on the outside, which was sealed with a separate seal. The book was written within — reserved in the keeping of Him that sitteth on the throne — held in the right hand of Omnipotence — the understanding and unfolding of its secrets was committed only to the Son, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. None could " look thereon/' or take it from the right hand of Him that sitteth on the throne, but the Lamb that stood in the " midst of the throne."

This is another apt and beautiful emblem of Divine Providence. As mediatorial King, the Lord Jesus Christ undertakes the unrolling of this mysterious scroll — the unfolding of the eternal purposes of Jehovah — the controlling of all events, and the ordering and overruling of all the vicissitudes and revolutions in human affairs, to the carrying out of the Divine purposes. It was a book of seven chapters, some of which are divided into sections

HISTORY AND THE CHURCH. 17

as marked by the seven trumpets, the seven thunders and the seven vials of the seven last plagues.

The Lamb takes the book — becomes the executor of the Divine will in his purposes of mercy to man : " Lo ! I come in the volume of the book as it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God." " And when he had taken the book/' and thereby engaged to execute the magnificent scheme of the Divine Mind, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof."

Then follows, in awful succession, scene after scene in the sublime drama, till John had witnessed, in shadowy outline, as in a moving panorama before him, the great events, political and ecclesiastical, which should transpire in coming time — reaching forward to the end of the present dispensation or the full establishment of Messiah's kingdom. Holding in his hand the book of God's purposes, the Lamb rides forth, King and Conqueror, in the chariot of God's providences. In a word, the solution of the dark sayings of this book — the evolving of the Divine purposes concerning the scheme of grace, is to be sought in the progress and final triumph of ImmanueVs kingdom.

Whoever will read the history of the world and of the church of God, with his eye fixed on the providential agency which everywhere overrules the events of the one to the furtherance and well-being of the other, will see all history illuminated by a light, and animated by a spirit, of which the mere chronicler of historical events knows nothing. He will feel that history has a sacred philosophy — that he is standing in the council chamber of eternity, reading the annals of infinite Wisdom and Mercy, as blended and developed in the great work of human redemption. He will see in all history such a shaping of every event as finally to further the cause of truth. Events apparently contradictory often stand in the relation of cause and effect. A Pharaoh and a Nebuchadnezzar, an Alexander and a Nero, a Domitian and a Borgia. Henry the VIII. and Napoleon, men world-renowned, yet oftentimes prodigies of wickedness, are in every age made the instruments and the agents to work out the scheme oi His operations who maketh the wrath of man to praise him. " Howbeit they mean not so."

The Lord's portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in a waste, howling wilder! •s; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept hiui as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings ; so the Lord alone did lead him. He has engraven him on the palms of his hands. By some anomaly of nature a mother may forget her sucking child, but God will not forget his inheritance in Jacob. The earth changes ; the sea changes ; change is the order of all terrestrial things. They appear and pass away, and we scarcely know they have been. But not so with the church of God. As He lives so she shall live.

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light ; a beautiful emblem of a superintending Providence over his church. And "he has never taken away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night." By his sleepless energy he has prepared the way before them, and led them by his own right hand. For their sakes he has made and unmade kings — formed and dissolved empires — cast down and discomfited enemies, and raised up friends.

It shall be our delightful task to trace the footsteps of Providence in the extension and establishment of the church. While much has been done for the spread of the true religion by missionary effort, much more has been done through the direct agency of Providence. Illustrations crowd upon us unsought : a few of which, as isolated cases, shall be allowed to fill up our first chapter.

1. Peter and the Pentecost. I do not here refer directly to the extraordinary outpouring of the spirit on that day, or to the great number of converts, but to the remarkable concurrence of circumstances, which made that a radiating point of the newly risen Sun of Righteousness