Buenos Ayres, 1st Sept. 1820. [1]
Reviewing the Lord's dealings with me during the last 12 months, I find much for which to bless his ever gracious name. On this very day last year, the magistrates of this place appointed me to the situation I hold in their Schools. In many points of view this was an important matter. In the first place, it gave me a standing in the country. It also supplied my wants, and kept me from being burdensome to others. At the same time it has given me the means of intercourse with some of the principal people of this place, which, in a more private situation I could not have enjoyed. I have profited much by this intercourse, in ascertaining the public opinion regarding toleration, of which I soon think to take the advantage. In the second place, there arises from this connection the introduction of the Lancasterian system of education into this country. This I trust will be a lasting benefit; and independently of my other objects here in the kingdom of Christ, I should not have hesitated to come for this object alone. In the third place, the introduction of the Scriptures into these Schools, instead of the Ave Maria, &c. will directly tend to the promoting the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of her good effects may arise from the transaction alluded to. It will be the means of introducing much knowledge into the country, and it will promote the study of the English language, from whose stores science, and morality, and pure and undefiled religion will flow into this country.
During the past year I have received a liberal supply of the Holy Scriptures from the British and Foreign Bible Society. Some of these are now in circulation, and I am happy to say there are several instances of their having been gratefully received, and what is of more importance, of their having been attentively read. May the Lord give testimony to the word of his grace! The supply of New Testaments of which I have just spoken, arrived here safely in the brig Ebenezer, in January last. I was glad at their arrival, and made all haste to get them landed. Just three days after their landing, the Ebenezer was accidentally set on fire, and every thing that remained in her was destroyed. The chief loss from this accident fell on the captain, as the ship was all his own. This man I think is a fearer of God. He bought the ship new, and had her called the Ebenezer from feelings similar to those of the prophet Samuel, when he set up the stone of that name. He bore his loss with great fortitude and composure.
Thus during the past year, the Scriptures have been introduced and put in circulation, Schools have been begun, and the children are employed in reading the word of God. But I have another thing to mention to you, which fills me with much comfort and thanksgiving. It is the hope I have of soon seeing in Buenos Ayres, a church of the living God. I mentioned to you in the letter I wrote after my arrival from Monte Video, that in that place I found a disciple of Jesus Christ. He is now come to reside in this place. This is one of our intended church. During the time I lived with the Spanish family, there came here from England a young man, who had been some time in St. Helena as a surgeon. He came to reside in the same house in which I was, and we had thus an opportunity of speaking with each other frequently. During our intercourse, I stated to him the only hope of sinful man, commending the truth to his conscience in the sight of God. As we were often together, particularly on the Lord's day, these things were repeated and urged upon his attention. He heard them attentively, for his mind seemed prepared to hear about the concerns of eternity, from his narrowly escaping shipwreck in his voyage to this place. I trust that in this instance the seed of the word is not sown in vain. I trust the Lord has opened his heart and I esteem him as a brother in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is another, of our Church. About half a year after my coming to this place, a person came from London to work for a coach-maker here as a blacksmith. This man has attended our little meetings regularly. He was connected with the Wesleyan Methodists. He has always appeared to me to be in good earnest about religion, although I could not be satisfied till of late, of his clearly seeing and understanding the necessity of the atonement of Christ, and of his resting all his hopes on this sure and only foundation. This then is the third member of our Church. We shall thus make in all four, and I trust we shall draw down the blessing of him who hath promised, where two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be in the midst of them. Last Lord's day we were all together for the first time in my room, preparatory to our intended union, when I took occasion to state fully the gospel of Christ, as a confession of my faith and hope in the sight of God. I also stated the necessity there was for our understanding each other fully upon this fundamental point, as the ground of that mutual and fervent love which the disciples of Jesus Christ are to have to one another, especially
when, united together as a church of the Living God to stir up, to watch over and to build up each other on their most holy faith. It is our intention to take a room, where we can meet together on the Lord's day.
I have just one thing more to mention at present, respecting the Lord's kingdom in this place, which is, that I intend to appropriate a part of the Lord's day to the keeping of a Sabbath-school, for the English Children here. For the use of these have the goodness to send me twenty or thirty of the hymn books used in the Sabbath Evening Schools in Edinburgh. Please also to send me an assortment of the prize books given to children of these Schools. The Sabbath School Society will perhaps aid us in this. Let there be as great a variety as possible, that I may select some to be translated into Spanish.
From what I have stated, my dear brother, regarding our Church, the preaching the Gospel to our countrymen, and regarding our Schools, it is not necessary, I believe, to add, ‘pray for us.’ But I add it to urge you the more. I trust my beloved brethren will take a lively interest in our infant cause in this place, and will not cease most earnestly to pray to the Lord on our behalf. Recollect where we are. We are not in Britain. Recollect how much wisdom, prudence and zeal we stand in need of, to enable us to glorify God in this land of darkness. May the Lord stir you up to pray for us—may the Lord hear your supplications—and may every blessing be on you all through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[1] "Circulation of the Scriptures at Buenos Ayres", New Evangelical Magazine, Vol. VII (1820): 122-123. Editor's note: The writer of the following letter is well known to many of the readers of our Magazine, who will therefore peruse it with peculiar interest. We have occasionally laid before them other letters received from him. See Vol VI, p.388.