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way to this, by raiſing up theſe perſons, and ordering the remarkable, concurring circumſtances and events which have been mentioned ; and there is, moſt probably, no other inſtance in America, where ſo many things conſpire to point out a miſſion of this kind, with ſuch encouragement to purſue it; may it not be hoped it will have the patronage and aſſiſtance of all the pious and benevolent ?
ʻ And it is humbly propoſed to thoſe who are convinced of the iniquity of the ſlave trade ; and are ſenſible of the great inhumanity and cruelty of enſlaving so many thouſands of our fellow men every year, with all the dreadful and horrid attendants ; and are ready to bear teſtimony againſt it in all proper ways, and do their utmoſt to put a ſtop to it : Whether they have not a good opportunity of doing this, by chearfully contributing, according to their ability, to promote the miſſion proposed : And whether this is not the beſt compenſation we are able to make the poor Africans, for the injuries they are receiving conſtantly by this unrighteous practice, and all its attendants.
ʻ But, aſide from this conſideration, may it not be hoped that all who are heartily praying, ʻThy kingdom come,’ will liberally contribute to forward this attempt to ſend the glorious goſpel of the bleſſed God, to the nations who now worſhip falſe gods, and dwell in the habitations of cruelty, and the land of the ſhadow of death : Eſpecially, ſince the King of Zion has promiſed that whosoever parts with any thing in this world, for the kingdom of God’s ſake, ſhall receive manifold more in this preſent time ; and in the world to come, life everlaſting.
Newport, Rhode-Iſland,
Auguſt 31, 1773.
Ezra Stiles,
Samuel Hopkins.’
