never reach. Evangelical religion is the only sure basis for widely extended, unselfish philanthropy.

It is much to be regretted that a mistaken zeal for minor differences, has so much retarded the universal diffusion of Christianity. How many alas! are the breaches in the city of David, and how mournfully have they been lately increased! Had the various denominations of Christians, with one consent, laid aside their slighter differences, and manfully and heartily united against their common enemies, how different might the result have been! Much undoubtedly has, during the last century, been done for the propagation of the gospel; but how little in proportion to our means. Britain has, as it befitted her, taken the lead in this glorious enterprise; but what a fraction of her resources has she dedicated to evangelizing the heathen! Has not the selfish spirit of commerce been suffered too much to impede her efforts? Do her wealthier classes contribute, as they ought, according to their ability? Are not those who are less able, but more willing, suffered in a great measure, to fill up the subscription lists of our various Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies? Are not the efforts now made to send the gospel to the Heathen, and to circulate the scriptures, almost entirely sustained by the middle classes of the community? Of them, to whom much has been given, much will be required; and as God has blessed this nation, above every other, with respect to civil and religious privileges and opportunities for doing good to our perishing Heathen brethren; if we neglect to make due use of these, our candlestick may be removed from its place—we may be given up to revolutionary convulsion-Popery and Infidelity may overspread our beloved land, and we may be debarred from those privileges which we have abused. May God grant that this direful consummation be averted, and that we become more and more peculiar people zealous of good works!"

JACOBUS.

a

GRACE.

GRACE pleaseth a believer so well, that he cannot but study

to please God in all things ever after; the law of grace constrains

him.

COLE.

INTELLIGENCE.

(From the 18th Report of the Moravian Missionary Association.)

A PRIMITIVE PULPIT.

Ar Fairfield, Jamaica, the Moravian missionaries have been compelled ever since the 1st of August, to minister to double congregations. The accommodation provided for one of these, is thus described:

and

"Our new pulpit and chapel are of nature's own construction, will not trench upon the funds of the Society. In the adjoining pasture is a semi-circle of rocks, from whose insterstices rise several fig-trees. On the ground and beneath the shade of their luxuriant foliage, sit men, women, and children, while the minister occupies a projection of one of the rocks, about three or four feet above their heads. This pulpit, this chapel, this congregation, the overflowing of an already crowded assembly, we feel more happy in occupying and addressing, than if installed in the highest places of the most noble edifices of our own native country."

HURRICANE IN THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

Described in a Letter from Mrs. Morrish to her Brother, dated St. John's, Antigua, 18th August, 1835.

"Ir is with a truly thankful heart that I now inform you of the guardian care of our covenant God during the late hurricane, for not to any wisdom or management of ours, nor to any strength of the building in which we took shelter, but to the 'Man who is a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest,' do we attribute all our safety, and ascribe all the praise.

"As I know it will be interesting to you, I will relate the whole of the particulars. Up to 3 o'clock P.M. on Wednesday, the 12th inst. we felt no greater degree of uneasiness than is usual during the hurri cane season. At dinner we conversed much with Brother and Sister Harvey, about the Hurricane in Barbadoes, and our experience in it, little thinking one was so near Antigua. About 4 o'clock, the heavens assumed a dark and threatening appearance, the clouds showed those ragged edges so portentous at this season, and chased each other with amazing rapidity. The sea rose much above its usual level, accompanied with a great swell from the north-west; and one of those sudden gusts, so characteristic of a hurricane, threw down our garden-fence of considerable length, with the brick pillars which supported it.

"There was now no time to be lost. Brother Harvey and my husband, with some negroes, set about securing the church, schoolroom, and dwelling-houses, with all possible speed; besides the inner fastenings, strong bars (kept in readiness for the purpose), were nailed, one across the outside of each window, and two across the doors. While thus engaged, Brother Morrish had a narrow escape. He stood. near the top of a ladder twelve feet high, when the force of the wind almost threw him down. He quickly caught hold of the iron hook, used for fastening back the shutter, which was as quickly wrenched from the window-sill; he seized the other, which remained fast, the force of that gust being spent. Throughout the hurricane, I could not forget this merciful deliverance. I pictured to my mind, what would have been the probable consequence, had he been dashed down by the violence of the wind from that height, and I breathed the fervent prayer of thankfulness to our gracious Lord; but, to continue my narrative.

"While all this was going on out of doors, I was not idle within. After we had committed ourselves, our children, our mission-family, and our little all, to the tender care of our gracious and Almighty Saviour, and implored his help and support during the coming trial, I set about getting a suit of clothes put up for ourselves and the children, to carry with us, when we left the house, for we had no idea it would stand a hurricane. While thus engaged, the building shook, and the roof cracked fearfully. Having finished all our preparations, my husband said, in a tone I shall not soon forget, Now we must leave this house.' He carried John Francis, our servant, William, and I, the baby six months old, all wrapped in blankets. We were only about thirty-six yards from Brother Harvey's house, whither we would go, the darkness was dismal, and the yard strewed over with broken branches, but we all escaped uninjured, through our Saviour's care

"Brother and Sister Harvey had just finished their preparations, and were anxiously awaiting our arrival. It was now, I think, about 7 o'clock, the wind blowing from the north-west, with increasing violence. Soon after a helper sister, who lived close by, came with her family (twelve in number), begging admittance. Their house had given way, and they considered it no longer safe to remain in it. Two strange negroes also came, imploring shelter, with loud cries and lamentations. The house where their son lived had fallen; he had gone to his mother's; her's was thrown down, and they had now nowhere to lay their head. Although it was dangerous to open the door, Brother Harvey let them in; their mournful cry gradually died away; they seated themselves upon the floor, and, with the sang-froid peculiar to the negro character, soon fell asleep. We were not quite so much at

ease. The rage of the storm still increased, the house shook; the cap (the board fastened along the ridge of the roof) was torn off; and the fragments of stone and timber dashed with such violence against the walls of our dwelling, that we feared repeatedly they had given way. What's that? was anxiously asked again and again, by one and another. At twenty minutes to 8 o'clock, the dreadful din, which but an instant before surrounded us, was hushed into the stillness of death. During this respite (for we knew the hurricane was, as it were, only gathering breath) a white family, who lived on the opposite side of the street, joined us. Brother Harvey's house was now pretty well filled; in all we numbered thirty-five. As we had anticipated, the hurricane recommenced, at eight o'clock, from quite the opposite point, and with redoubled fury, so that fears were entertained about the strength of the building to resist it. After raging till 12 o'clock, the storm gradually decreased in violence, to which we listened with feelings not easily described, while we raised the fervent prayer of gratitude to him who hath gathered the winds in his fists,' and whom the wind and the sea obey.' About 3 o'clock, A.M. we stretched ourselves upon the floor, but after a night of such excitement, we tried in vain to sleep.

"No description can convey to your mind any just idea of the scene of ruin which presented itself to our view the following morning. On whichever side we looked, the sight was heart-sickening; and, 'Come, behold what desolations the Lord hath made in the earth,' occurred to my mind, wherever I went. Brother Harvey's house, we find, is a good deal sunk on one side, and another of the mission-houses is considerably injured.

"On the 16th, the Sunday following, we had a larger congregation than the church could contain. Brother Harvey preached in the morning, from Psalm cxlv. 10; "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy acts shall bless thee." Brother Morrish kept a meeting to the children from Psalm xxxiv. 8; 'O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.' Their attention was unusually fixed, and many of them wept. This was followed by the confirmation of eleven negroes. Brother Harvey addressed them from Rom, xii. 1; I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies,' &c. I think I have told you before that he is an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures; and indeed his word seemed that day to be ⚫ in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.' The negroes were so deeply affected, that when we knelt down in prayer, his voice could scarcely be heard for their convulsive sobs and weeping. I have no doubt that it was a day of blessing to many souls. We have visited a good many of our people on the estates, since the hurricane, and find them,

generally speaking, in a chastened and resigned state of mind. One old sister said, 'Ah massa, the Lord savey we, not for our goodness, but he heary the prayer of one 'mong ten thousand, and for dat prayer he savey we. And see, massa, all he know, bout we. See da (pointing to an old feeble helper sister) not have one 't all for help she, so he take only leetle bit of de trash off she house, but he knows pickney (children) pring me trash, so he takes all off from me house.' The words I tell you as she said them, but the energy and gesture which accompanied them, I cannot convey to your mind."

FIRST FRUITS OF EMANCIPATION.

Ar Sharon and Mount Tabor, Barbadoes, as in the other islands, the chapels are becoming too small for their overflowing congregations. From the latter place Brother Zippel writes :—

"Ever since the memorable 1st of August, our chapel has been well attended, and now, though it holds 500 people, it begins to be too small. The negroes behave well, and are thankful for what the Lord has done for them; nay, many owners, once inimical to emancipation, now own that it is a work of the Almighty. Sunday-work seems to be decreasing; the number of places of worship are quite inadequate to the number of souls desiring instruction; and, to meet the wants of the population, we should have fifty more.

"My heart still overflows with gratitude to our Saviour, for the great blessings which continue to follow the stupendous change which the Almighty Ruler of nations has wrought in these our days. We remember well the time, when on Sunday morning we used to look out in all directions, to espy a few coming to chapel, and the depression of our spirits when we saw the roads empty, and all around like the valley of dry bones. And when we in fervent prayer appeared before the Lord, intreating him to accept our poor services, and to cause breath to enter into them, and make them live, little did we think it would receive an answer so speedily and so surpassing our expectations. Now the scene is changed: Sunday mornings are no longer dull, they are lively sabbatical seasons; the roads in all directions, even early, are crowded with children and young people hastening to school, and these are soon followed by crowds of adults, anxious to hear the words of life eternal."

FAITH.

TRUE faith is humble, and seeth no way to escape but only in Christ. RUTHERFOORD.