Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[blocks in formation]

On Thursday, the 18th of November, Mr. Button, of London, engaged in opening the business of the day at the ordination of Mr. Fisher, at Brentford: from thence he went to Harlington, a village about six miles further, to preach on the Lord's Day following, hav. ing previously engaged to exchange service with Mr. Torlin, the settled pastor of the Baptist church at that place. Mr. Button preached on the Lord's Day morning from Job xiv. 10. "But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" He made some remarks on the morta

lity of man, and particularly dwelt

on the question, "Where is he?" At the close of the discourse, he suggested that one or other in the congregation might be suddenly removed that day; and wished each one to suppose it might be himself; and to ask, "If it be my lot to be called home, where am I likely to be?"

The congregation was remarkably serious and attentive. In the afternoon, as Mr. Button was about to enter the pulpit, he was informed, a man had just been seized with death in the gallery. He was brought down, carried into the vestry, and a medical gentleman was immediately sent for; who pronounced that he had certainly expired by an apoplectic fit. In how solemn and striking a manner was the text verified! "Man dieth, — yea, man giveth up the ghost!" Reader, hearken to the voice both of Scripture and Providence; "Be ye also ready."

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Ir must afford our readers much pleasure to learn, as it does us to relate from oath to month, the spread of our Redeemer's Kingdom; which, on one side or the other, is continually extending its influence, to the glory of his name, and the happiness of mankind. The letter from Madras gives the most flattering encouragement for the success of a Mission in that neighbourhood, where there is a loud call for labourers in the work of the gospel. The extract of a letter from Switzerland is of a more melancholy cast; but exhibits, at the same time, a spirit of genuine piety and submission to the divine Will: but that from Mr. Carey (with which we have been favoured by the Rev. Mr. Newton) opens a very pleasing prospect to the Baptist Mission; and we are autho rized by the Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society, to add, that No. X. of their Periodical Accounts will appear in a few days, and enable us, in our next, to give farther particulars, of a nature very en couraging and pleasing.

We would only farther subjoin, that letters are continually coming to hand from America, which relate the farther spread and increase of that happy revival of religion, which we have already mentioned to have taken place in various parts of the United States.

EAST INDIES.

received your letter, dated the 30 of September, 1800, on the 9th of August, 1801; and should, if it had been possible, have answered it by the ships which departed for England in October last. The first account which I received concernVepery, Madras, Jan. 2, 1802. ing your Society, was in January Respected Sirs, 1800, when I was in Negapatnam, upon my journey to the southward, F

To Messrs. J. Fonteyn, J. Z. and Bs. Ledeboer, Directors of the Netherland Missionary Society.

WITH the utmost satisfaction I

by means of a Dutch friend, who communicated to me your first publication. Afterwards, we received a copy of your letter to Dr. Knapp, at Halle; and his answer to it: from which I learn, with much pleasure, the blessed progress of your labours, to the edification and increase of the kingdom of Christ: and, in January 1851, I had the satisfaction to be informed concerning a society at the Cape, and the excellent character of Dr. Vanderkemp.

Now, with respect to the Dutch prisoners of war, I had not the happiness to find any of the good men amongst them qualified to work in the harvest of the Lord, except one, whom I kept here as a bookbinder, and who has learned the Portugaeze language, so as to be able to read in the Portugueze congregation; and he is now clerk of the German church, formed of the Swiss regiment called the Meuron. He possesses, on account of the holiness of his life, in which he daily increases, a considerable influence among all ranks of men. The others were sent to Batavia in 1799, and are become a great blessing; but, since Tranquebar is in the hands of the English, there has been no communication between this country and Batavia.

Concerning the state of Christianity in the island of Ceylon, we are in hopes that it will become glo. rious through the zeal of his Excellency the Governor North. I send with the ships which bring this letter, different papers, written by a native of Malabar, whom I sent to Jaffna, and whom Governor North has appointed minister or candidate in the districts of Jaffna Hall; from which one may see somewhat of the progress of Christianity in Jaffna and Manaan. If the Christians in Ceylon are left in a disagreeable situation by the war, it has not been occasioned by the ministers being made prisoners of war, and having left their places. The minister of the garrison of Trincomale only, is brought here with the garrison of that place; and the Christians who, after the change of the government, had considered

themselves as deserted by the Dutch ministers and the govern ment, and had gone back to their idols, or to the Roman church, are gathered again and comfortably settled since the arrival of Governor North. It is now necessary that they should be well instructed, and have good examples set before them, that the teachers in every place should do their duty; and that the ministers should, in these points, earnestly admonish the teachers. There are many labour. ers wanted, bath of zealous European ministers and pious native teachers, for the youth in the schools, and also upon the coast. If by the peace, which we hope for from the Lord, the Dutch places go back again to the Dutch government, it would be a great blessing to them, if the Society could send some good Christian Missionaries, to learn the language and preach the gospel to the heathen.

There are, in all the Dutch settlements, Malabar congregations, which we now visit from time to time, as they were usually visited by the Danish and English Missionaries when this country was in the possession of the Dutch. We wish we could prevail with all the societies to send zealous, faithful, and intelligent ministers.

Q what do I feel, when I read in your letter of the zeal now kindled in the Netherlands for spreading the sound of the gospel! and of thousands of your countrymen uniting in prayer to the Almighty, with Christians through all the earth, to pour down a blessing on the labours of his servants for the conversion of the Heathen!

A little time since, I thought that we poor Missionaries were forsaken by all men in this evil time: that we could not expect any help or assistance; and that, after our decease, the labour of the Lord would cease in this place. Your letter has given me new life; for we were in such a state, that, to maintain our zeal, we had to believe in hope against hope. Your letter afforded me much strength. I thank God, who has moved you to write to me such refreshing intelligence; and to

inform me of the zeal for the Lord among Christians in Europe, for the conversion of the Heathen; and I wish, earnestly, the Directors would adopt measures for the conversion of the inhabitants of this land. The many congregations here and in Ceylon, shew that the Lord has a people in this place. The preaching of the gospel is not without witness; though but few, at present, shew any great sign of their faith. Many, who seem convinced of the truth, excuse themselves, by saying, "We have no power to believe, and to overcome difficulties."

Now, as so much zeal is excited in Europe, we may expect zealous and faithful Missionaries. That is now the only assistance, under God, we stand in need of; and we pray and hope, that God will send us this needful help. I have received no letter from Europe that has strengthened and, awakened so much confidence and hope as yours. The Lord bless your labours to the edification and increase of the kingdom of Christ! I should esteem it great goodness in you, frequently to communicate to me any circumstance, concerning the welfare of Zio.1; and should be happy, in return, to shew myself of one heart and one soul with you. I now recommend myself, and the work I am engaged in, to your affectionate prayers; and beg leave to subscribe myself

your devoted servant, G. W. GERICKE. [Translated from the Dutch. ]

Letter from Mr. Carey, Missionary, to the Rev. Mr. Newton, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, &c.

Serampore, April 22, 1802. My very dear Sir, SINCE my last, which I see was written more than twelve months ago, I have been occupied in a more than ordinary manner. I have, however, reason to bless the Lord on this account, because I find, by

daily experience, that it is well for me to be constantly employed. "Satan finds some evil still for idle hands to do," is a sentiment, the truth of which I find continually. There may be persons, I allow, of so industrious a turn naturally, as to lay out their time in such a manner that there may be no loss; but my nature and constitution are remarkably fitted for indolence; on which account I admire the wisdom of that Providence which will not permit me to waste much of my precious time in idleness.

Our Lord had begun to work among the Hindoos when I wrote last to you; but since that time, the work has exceeded our most sanguine expectations. It is not a year and a half since we thought the cast of the Hindoos to be so strong a chain, that we could scarcely expect it to be broken; now it appears to be so weak, that some have rejected cast who have only stayed with us a few days, and have given no proof of a divine work on the soul. We rejoice in this, and esteem it as a breach made in the walls of the enemy's capitol, and a prelude to the taking of the city itself. This, however, is not all we have to rejoice in: we have every reason to believe that several have been savingly converted, and now trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. We have baptized and received into church. fellowship, eight Hindoos: four women, whose names are, Jaymconi, Rasoo, Unno, and Komol; and four men, whose names are Krishno, Gokool, Peetumbur, and Sam. Two of them have given us seme pain; and we have been obliged to suspend them from the pri vilege of the Lord's Table; not however for returning to idolatry, but for allowing an unbridled ficence to their passions. We have some hope of their restoration, and wait for it with a considerable degree of impatience. We have some persons now on the enquiry, who give us much hope. A Bramin, named Komol, I trust, is in earnest for salvation. A man of the Kaesto, or Writer - Tribe, who has come a journey of three days,

Fa

four times over, to hear the gospel, came about a week ago, and brought with him his wife and sister. Such a circumstance, never, I suppose, occurred since the Hindoos have been a nation for the people of high cast never suffer their women to go into the company of strangers, much less of foreigners; but this man brought his wife, and voluntarily introduced her into the society of persons who are everywhere spoken against. His frankness, and her modesty and inquisitiveness, encourage us very much. A Brahman of the village from whence they came, and her brother, came to see what was become of them; and went away this morning apparently well satisfied with what they had seen and heard. This man's name is also Peetumbur; but he is of another rank, though of the same cast with the other Peetumbur. The Writer Cast is divided into about seventy subdivisions, all decreasing in importance, from the highest division called Ghose, to the lowest. The first Peetumbur is of the subdivision Singho; this, of that called Mittra. They hold the distinctions of cast now in contempt. The following little incident, which occurred to-day, may serve to shew you that there is nothing irrational or improper in the manner in which they treat their cast:- Peetumbur's wife, whose name is Dropodee, went to-day, with Rasoo and some others, to see some neighbours. Some person took occasion to express his or her surprize, that she should have rejected so high a cast to embrace the society of a carpenter's family, and who were also become Feringees (Portugueze). She replied, "We did not come because they are Feringees; which indeed they are not; nor because they are Carpenters; but because we saw that we belonged to the cast of sinners against God; and had heard that these persons fear God and love the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the true cast which we wish to be found in !"

The increase of gospel-knowledge, and, I think, also of tenderness of conscience, are not among

the less pleasing signs of the reality of the conversion of these people, It would do your heart good to sit down at table with a number of these persons of divers casts, and to hear their serious, though simple, conversations about our Lord Jesus, and the way of life by him. I forgot also to mention, that one Mussulman and two Portugueze, are among the number of our enquirers; so that our hopes are greatly enlarged.

The

No family, I suppose, live in greater harmony than ours. Lord has made breaches, but we bow to his sovereign will; he is too wise to err. I frequently wonder why I am preserved; for I am every hour so near to falling into some open sin, that my preservation, even in the manner in which I now am, appears to me a constant miracle of grace. I was never so convinced as I now am of the constant need which I have of the grace of God, I see plainly that a profession of love to Christ, and even a receiving constant supplies from him for the space of twenty-four years, has laid no foundation in me, on which I can rely for preservation in time to come; nor infused any such habit of grace as would make it improbable that I should fall by the slightest temptation: I see that the least temptation would infallibly prove my ruin; nay, that I should certain fall of myself, and desert my Lord entirely, did not the watchful Shepherd of Israel com stantly uphold me.

Rev. Mr. Brown and Buchanan are very friendly with us, and have done much to strengthen our hands in our work. I am happy to say that they are well: we are also well. We have an increase of real converts among Europeans. One whom the Lord has given to us, a Mr. Cunningham, has lately published Thirteen Letters on the Evidences of Christianity, in one of the Calcutta newspapers: he is now reprinting them. I hope they may be very useful in this land of Deisni and infidelity.

I hope you are well, that your bow abides in strength, and that your last days are your best days,

I have heard of your family-trials, and sincerely sympathize with you. May you find that the consolations of God are not small in times of peculiar need! My sincere love to all your friends, and the ministers of your acquaintance; to all of whom I am unknown, except Mr. Scott of the Lock, whom I highly esteem. I am very affectionately yours, WM. CAREY.

Extract of a Letter from a pious Lady in Switzerland.

some

Basil, Nov. 4, 1802. Respected Friend in Christ Jesus, You would have heard weeks sooner from your Basil friends, but we hoped, at the same time, to be able to give you some account of the fate of Switzerland, and of our own fate; but as yet, all is involved in darkness, and will probably continue so for some time. Mr. H. will probably give you a circumstantial account of all the late occurrences of our poor country; I will, therefore, confine myself to what regards ourselves, Thanks and praises be to God that we fare so well! We have hither. to been enabled to consider all occurrences as proceeding from the hand of our dear Saviour, and to receive them in that light; yea, we are fully persuaded that all the powers of man, combined with all the powers of darkness, are not

able, without his will, to destroy a hair of our head. His will is, that all should turn to him, and obtai salvation; and this is, no doubt, the aim of all the great and small revolutions which are now passing in the world, with which a child of God has nothing to do, but to stand still-to pray that our compassionate Redeemer may obtain his great aim, both with himself and with all poor sinners; patiently to submit to every yoke ;-to follow the command and example of our Lord and Master, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's;”— to endeavour, through God's grace, more and more to disengage his heart from all attachment to the things of this world, that when the cry is heard," Escape for thy life! Look not behind thee !" we may be ready to follow the command of our Lord and Saviour; and, in confident reliance upon him, to forsake houses, business, friends, and relations:-to trim our lamps with the oil of faith, that whenever the bridegroom calls, we may go to meet him. These, much esteemed Friend, are the sentiments and feelings of our hearts; yet I must add, not as though I had already attained, but I follow after it; and He who has given me the will (for that is undoubtedly his gift) will also enable me to perform,

Yours, &c.

ASSOCIATIONS,

SEPT. 22. The Members of the STAFFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE, and CHESHIRE Associations, assembled at the Meeting-house of the Rev. Mr. Sipions, Stafford. Mr. Moreley, of Hanley, preached in the evening. The service closed with the administration of the Lord's Supper. Messrs. Brook, of Tutbury; Wilson, of Drayton; Whitteridge, of Oswestry; Williams, of Stone; Smith, of Leek; Pritchard, of Cheadle; and Chesters, of Uttoxeter, engaged in different parts of the services.

On the 23d, the ministers of the

[blocks in formation]
« ПредишнаНапред »