4
of the providence of God, and (leaf to the continual admonitions
of his eternal word, will madly elect to brave the fury of his
just and full retribution! "Because I have called, and ye refus-
ed; I have stretched out my hand, and 11o man regarded; but
ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my re-
proof: I also will laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when
your fear conteth; when your fear coulleth as desolation, and
your destruction comneth as a whirlwind; when distress and an-
giiish cometh upon you: Then shall they seek me, but shall not
find me. "
   Stuth thoughts habitually crowd ulton me when I contem-
plate those great pei sonal and national evils, from which the
system of operations which I stand here to advocate, seems to
offer us -some p)rospec't of deliverance. The scheme of African
Colonization, as exhibited by our National Society and its va-
rious auxilaries, is a most noble conception. It is a stupendous
plan-spanning the Atlantic and encircling in its wide embrace
a nation of slaves, and a continent of heathens.
  Africa is classed as one of the great divisions of the earth, and
is a vast peninsular continent, extending from the 37th degree of
north, to about the 34th degree of south latitude; and from the
17th degree of west, to the 51st degree of east longitude. Its
greatest length is about five thousand miles, and its greatest
breadth more than four thousand. Considering its peculiarly
advantageous situation, it is surprising that, in all ages, it has
been comparatively so little known )by the rest of the world;
for standing, as it were, in a central position, between the other
three quarters, it affords a much more ready communication
with Europe, AMia and America, than they do with each other.
It is opposite to Europe along the Mediterranean, whose shores
were the nursery of our race, in a line froui east to west, for al-
mnost a thousand miles, the distance being seldom one hundred
miles, amid never that many leagues. It is over against Asia for
a distance of owe thousand three hundred miles, tile whole
length of the Red Sea, whose breadth sometimes does n ot ex-
ceed fifteen miles, and seldom one bundred and fifty. Its coast,
for two thousand miles, lies opl)osite to America, at a distance
of from five hundred to seven hundred leagues, if we include
the islands; whereas America is scarce any where nearer to Eu-
rope than ofie thousand leagues, nor to Asia, except inl the in-
hospitableclimtiate of Kainschatka, than two thousand five hun-
dred leagues.
  At a period to which profane history does not reach, but on
which the word of God shedls its holy light, Africa was planted
by the descendants of Ham, the son of Noah. Cush settled in
Lower Egypt, and from him were descended the ancient Xthio-
pians, known to us as the Nubians and Abyssinians, and emnbrac-