Page:To the Public. There Has Been a Design Formed … to Send the Gospel to Guinea.djvu/8

  greatly deirous and engaged, in ome way to promote the pread of the gopel among the Africans. We think there is good encouragement to be at the expence of fitting him for a miionary, or a choolmaer among them.    What has been given to promote this deign is nearly expended already, a particular account of the expences, any one who pleaes may ee at any time. Money is now wanted ill to carry it on—to upport thee men, till they have an opportunity to go to Guinea—to furnih them with necearies for their voyage and miion—to et up chools to teach the youth and children, if a way hall open for this ; and for any other ervices to promote this important deign, as God in his providence hall point out the way.    Since it has pleaed God o far to ucceed this deign in his providence, and in uch a remarkable manner to open the way, from ep to ep, and give uch hopeful propects, and good encouragement to purue it, we think it our duty ill to proecute it, and ak the benefactions of all who hall be willing to promote an undertaking, in itelf o benevolent ; and which, though mall in its beginning, may hopefully iue in omething very great, and open the way to the happines and alvation of multitudes ; yea, of many nations, who are now in the mo mierable ate, ready to perih in the darknes of heathenim.    We beg leave alo to observe, that the preent ate of our publick affairs, is o far from being a reaon for neglecting this propoal, that it eems rather to afford rong motives to encourage it : For while we are ruggling for our civil and religious liberties, it will be peculiarly becoming and laudable to exert ourelves to procure the ame bleings for others, o far as it is in our power. And when God is o remarkably interpoing, and ordering uch a eries of events in our favor, in this time of general dires, is there not a pecial call to pay this tribute to him, according as he has propered us, as one likely method to obtain the continuance of his favor and protection ?  Newport, April 10, 1776 Ezra Stiles, Samuel Hopkins.