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In view of much friendly advice that has been given me by those better acquainted with the climate than myself, I have as yet done but little. Thought, however, has not been idle. I have been planning and watching the openings of Providence, and praying for the direction of Almighty God, without whose aid the best-concerted plans and utmost vigor of strength I know are but as ropes of sand. His light, and His only, I intend to follow. And as Methodism has hitherto been the child of Providence, wherever established, so here I trust it will be planted with His own hand. With these convictions, and by a train of circumstances which I think singularly and clearly providential, I have been led to purchase a mission house at Monrovia, for which I am to pay five hundred dollars. Though I have done it on my own responsibility, I have great confidence to believe that you will not only approve but commend the courage which sustained me in doing it.'

After making some remarks respecting purchasing a house, he adds:

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Presuming that our missionary society has never been legally incorporated, I shall take good care that the house and premises are properly secured to individual members of the board for the benefit of the mission. For its payment I shall draught, payable at thirty days after sight, on the Young Men's Missionary Society, with the hope that it may be made the occasion of a special meeting; at which, perhaps, a collection may be lifted that will more than cover its amount. Sure I am, could they see our colony as it is-could they have but one bird's-eye view of the magnitude of our mission, as seen from Cape Montserado, in Africa, and the millions that are perishing for the lack of knowledge in its vast wildernesses, they might take up as many thousands as it is hundreds, in New-York alone. There is not in the wide world such a field for missionary enterprise. There is not in the wide world a field that promises to the sincere efforts of a Christian community a richer harvest. There is not in the wide world a spot to which Americans owe so much to human beings, as to this same degraded Africa. She has toiled for our comfort; she has borne a galling yoke for our ease and indulgence; she has driven our plough, has tilled our soil, and gathered our harvests, while our children have lived in ease, and been educated with the fruits thereof. Shall we make her no returns? If she has given to us "carnal things," can we do less than return her intellectual and spiritual things? God help us to do it, nor to think we have done enough till Africa is redeemed.

WHAT I WANT TO DO.-I want to establish a mission at Grand Bassa, a very promising settlement, about seventy miles to the eastward of Monrovia. Our Church has children already there who have emigrated from America. They need our care-our instruction. Religion in our colored friends from home has not been sufficiently fortified with principle to withstand the temptations, and to meet the difficulties, which will necessarily occur in a land of pagan idolatry and heathen superstition. I have thought, too, that through them perhaps the Gospel might be the more readily communicated to the natives around them. Added to this, the place is very easy of access, is better suited to the interests of agriculture than perhaps any settlement yet made in the colony; and the natives are said to have a strong

desire to learn, and to be possessed of much more than ordinary innocency and docility of character.

I have already engaged a person to build a small house and a cane or log church, near the centre of the settlement; the whole of which will cost, perhaps, one hundred and fifty or two hundred dollars, over thirty of which I have already advanced. The governor has kindly offered an acre of land to build them on, which of itself, in the course of a few years, will cover the expense.

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A mission of still greater importance I propose to establish at or near Grand Cape Mount, about fifty miles to the windward. As you will perceive, we intend to line the coast. And I do pray that it may be with such a moral power as shall effectually put a stop to the cursed practice of slave stealing, which I regret to say is still carried on between this and Sierra Leone, and between that and the Gambia. yet no colonists have settled there, but the king is exceedingly anxious for a missionary who will teach his children "Book," and the natives are represented as being far more intelligent than at any place under the protection of the colony. The spot, from appearances as I passed it, and from representation, I should think healthier than this; and, as a mission for the instruction of natives offers, in my view, greater advantages than any place south of Sierra Leone.

I shall employ my own time for the present in visiting the different stations, learning and arranging some one of the native languages, establishing and visiting the schools, and preaching as my health will permit.'

He concludes this very interesting communication in the following words:

'I will only add that I believe our mission to be admirably timed. Earlier might have been fatal—later the ascendency lost. The field is wide, and I believe ripe for the sickle. Should our lives and health be preserved, you may calculate on a success that will justify any effort in sustaining the mission, which religion or humanity can make. Commending it all to God, I am, dear brother, your obedient servant in the Gospel, MELVILLE B. Cox.'

Monrovia, April 8, 1833.

Such were the feelings of his heart, and such the philanthropic and lofty views with which he was inspired on landing on the shores of Africa.

In a subsequent communication he announced the sorrowful, but not unexpected tidings, of his having been seized with the African fever, but that he entertained strong hopes of recovery. In this letter, also, though so weak in body as to be hardly able to write, his mind was actively engaged in devising plans for the prosecution of his missionary enterprises. The welfare of the African race seemed to press upon his heart, and to occupy all his thoughts. The contents of this letter, however, gave fearful presages of his dissolution; and the next arrival brought us the sorrowful tidings of his death, the particulars of which were communicated in a letter, dated July 22, 1833, from Mr. A. H.

Savage, to the brother of Mr. Cox, of which the following are ex

tracts:

'When I first came on shore, having a package to deliver to brother Cox, I took an early opportunity to call upon him, having previously understood that he was sick. He seemed much gratified to see me, and spoke with freedom and apparent ease on all subjects connected with the mission, expressing regret that the assistant missionaries had not arrived, and mourned over the low state of religion in that place. On inquiring whether he intended to return to America, he hesitated in his answer, but finally said he did not know. At this time he seemed quite cheerful, and his nurse informed me that he appeared much better than he usually was, probably owing to his having heard from America.

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On my calling again, he seemed to regret my intention of returning to America, and urged the necessity of more labourers in this part of the vineyard. Though at this time I thought of returning home soon after my visit to Millsburg, I came to a different conclusion. fore I left him his spirits seemed depressed, and on asking the cause, he remarked that he never had any doubts of his acceptance with God, as he had long since entered into a covenant with Him, nor did he now distrust His mercy, but that he sometimes doubted whether he was in his proper sphere of labor; for, said he, though I know that my motive for coming to Africa was good, I may have erred in judgment, as the best of men may sometimes do. I have strong attachments in America. He then spoke with emphasis on all subjects connected with his mission, and more especially the schools, one of which was about commencing at Grand Bassa, and seemed to lament that a teacher had not arrived.

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On my return from Millsburg, where I had been absent about three days, I found him much worse, having had a relapse of the fever. Although I had calculated to return to Millsburg immediately, having made up my mind to remain in Africa at his request, I concluded to continue with him until Monday, this being Saturday. He was now so feeble as to be able to say but few words. Though he manifested a desire, if possible, to return home, he appeared resigned to the will of God, and seemed conscious of the probable nearness of death. On my asking if there was any person he wished to see, he replied, Every thing is arranged,' and added, my whole trust is in God.' Mentioning the infinite love and condescension of the Lord Jesus in giving Himself for His rebellious creatures, he said, 'All my hope is in and through Him.' When near his end, and unable to speak so as to be understood, except in monosyllables, he said, I am not afraid to die.' Though, from the nature of the disease, respiration was difficult, and he apparently suffered much, he uniformly said that he felt no pain. Soon after the above remark he appeared engaged in prayer, and then articulated several times in succession, 'Come,' as if wanting to say, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.'

Reviving a little, he pronounced distinctly, 'pen,' which I immediately stepped to get; but supposing I did not understand him, he said ink, both of which I brought to his bed side; but he was so overcome by this exertion, that he could say nothing more, except at VOL. V.-January, 1834.

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intervalsCome.' This was about one o'clock. About three o'clock he turned on his side and seemed easy. Thinking it not best to disturb him, as he had frequently given directions to his nurse when he was easy not to do it, we silently watched by his side; but this tranquillity was the moment of his departure. The mental conflict was closed, and he breathed his soul into the hands of his Redeemer, leaving Africa and his friends to mourn their loss. He died on Sabbath the 21st of July.'

Thus our beloved brother Cox also died, not having yet received the promise respecting the regeneration of Africa.

Having had but a slight personal acquaintance with Mr. Cox, I am of course not able to unfold those particular traits of character which formed his peculiar and distinguishing excellence. It is manifest, however, from the sketch already given of him, that he possessed great ardor of mind in whatever he undertook; and this mental ardor was, doubtless, one cause which contributed so prematurely to impair his bodily vigor, and to disable him for active service in the 'ministry of reconciliation.' His public exhibitions, as well as his written communications, evince a maturity of judgment, a power of description, and a fervency of spirit, which, had he lived to the common age of man, in the faithful improvement of his faculties, must have rendered him eminently useful to his fellow men. This heavenly ardor, enkindled, as it undoubtedly was, by the fire of Divine love, made him peculiarly bold in his Master's cause, and enabled him, amidst the infirmities of a sickly constitution, to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.' Being compelled, by bodily weakness, to desist for a time from the more active and laborious work of an itinerant preacher, his mind was still active in 'devising liberal things,' and in attending to those duties which were within his power, and which tended to advance the Redeemer's kingdom. His labors in editing the Itinerant,' the discussions in which involved many points of extreme delicacy, relating to the government and usages of our Church, were so directed as to secure the confidence of his brethren, while the equanimity of his temper and the mildness of his disposition, could not but command the approbation of even his opponents in the perplexing controversy which called into existence the above-mentioned periodical.

This leads me to notice that amiability of mind by which, if I mistake not, Mr. Cox was eminently distinguished. In his intercourse with his friends, and his general movements before the community, there uniformly appeared a suavity of manners, a placability of temper, and a sweetness of disposition, which, while they won the affection, could not but command the esteem of all. Nor was this a mere studied desire to please, but the spontaneous effect of that mildness, meek

ness, and gentleness of disposition, which can only be inspired in a naturally amiable and refined mind by the sanctifying influences of Christianity upon the heart. It was doubtless this commendable quality of the heart, this meekness and gentleness of conduct, which so completely removed him from that haughty demeanor so characteristic of an unsubdued mind swelled with a false notion of superiority over its fellows, and which betrays its possessor into so many inconsistencies of conduct. While we instinctively turn with disgust from the man who assumes to himself the claim of a dictator, and betrays on all occasions the vanity of his own mind by a supercilious contempt of others, we as naturally bow before the virtues of him who in his intercourse with his associates evinces a suitable deference to their opinions, and manifests that meekness and diffidence which arise from a thorough knowledge of his own heart. These virtues seemed to shine forth in the conduct of Mr. Cox, and eminently distinguished him as a true follower of Him who said, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart.'

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I do not wish, however, to be misunderstood on this point. He who thus exhibited Himself, in the above words, as our exemplar, was courageous, as well as meek and lowly. And that true courage may be united with Christian meekness-that the most heroic intrepidity may meet in the same mind with the most genuine humility and meekness-has been evinced in a thousand instances by the bold, yet forbearing conduct of the defenders of the faith, and in none more conspicuously than in our beloved brother Cox. If we had no other testimony in proof of this, his embarkation in the African mission is, of itself, sufficient to put it beyond all doubt.

It is here, therefore, in this hazardous enterprise, that we behold that ardor of devotion to the cause of Christ—to the cause of Christian philanthropy-to which we alluded at the commencement of this sketch. What else but a pure desire to advance the temporal, spiritual, and eternal interests of the African people, could have induced Mr. Cox to forsake home and friends, to brave the dangers of the ocean, and to expose himself to the hazards of an insalubrious climate, in a land inhabited by barbarian strangers? Such an enterprise might indeed be undertaken by a novice whose rashness might tempt him to gaze at the stars and leap into the mud'-to venture 'where angels dare not look!' But Mr. Cox was no such novice. He had counted the cost' of the undertaking. Not only was his heart imbued with the Spirit and grace of God, but his judgment was matured by habits of reflection, by close study and observation, and by deep experience in the intricacies of human nature: and therefore he was well able to calculate the hazards of the enterprise from a knowledge of the difficulties with which he must inevitably contend.

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