"Those who follow others blindfolded, increase their disease:" adding, "It is written in the words of the Lord Jesus, Be ye holy, as your Father is holy; for He causeth His rain to fall on the good and evil; then shall you be worthy of Him." Then another asked Matthew," Pray do you tell me which is the way to salvation." Matthew replied: "When you repent of your sins, you will perceive the way, and that we are unworthy to approach God: then, being concerned, you will seek the way which God has appointed, and you will be satisfied that it is the way, and forsake your own inventions; you will then hear the Word of God, and examine it; you will then find that Christ is the only Way of Salvation, and gladly embrace it, and forsake the ways of the Devil." He replied: "Then all will abandon me; none will associate with me." Matthew: A person who has been burnt, cares not whether he sits or stands, or whom he associates with: when the end comes, no friends will avail us; but you will obtain the society of the righteous, if you be forsaken by the world; yea, your Creator will be with you." He then read a Tract, and gave it to the man. At another village, at mid-day, the people, having returned from their work in the fields, all collected to hear a Tract: they were also addressed respecting the Way of Salvation. Our friends remained here full four hours: none had any thing to say against the doctrine. Thence, they went to a third village, where about seven assembled, and heard the Word without gainsaying. At a fourth village, they sat with four persons under a tree; who heard the Word with gladness. One asked, having given over ceremonies, how they were to worship God; when Swargdham read a portion of a prayer to direct them after this, they returned to Chunar.

The above-mentioned Readers went to a large halting-place on the banks of the Ganges, and sat at a Mahajan's shop, where others collected, among whom was a Devotee. Here they read a Tract; and addressed the people on their sins, and the Way of Salvation. One of the men took offence and walked off; while the Devotee seemed much pleased, and promised to call.

I must add, that having to act as Chaplain to all the Station, as Missionary, and a Schoolmaster, besides having two

Asylums for Boys and Girls to attend to, it is impossible to do justice to any department. One individual is not sufficient for these things; yet, situated as I am, I cannot do otherwise than attend to all the above duties.

A further conversation is given by Mr. Bowley, in which are forcibly exhibited the confusion of false religions, and the blasphemous arrogance of the Philosophic Hindoos, contrasted with the

Simplicity of Gospel Truth.

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At 8 P. M. went out on the beach by moonlight; and first questioned a Devotee thus: "Pray, upon what do you trust for salvation?' By repeating the name of Ram, I hope to be saved.""Would the repeating the name of the judge suffice for the pardon of a criminal?" "No."-"How then can you expect forgiveness by the mere repetition of Ram?" The man was evidently embarrassed, especially when he saw several others against his assertion; and therefore was glad to walk off, and leave others, who had, in the mean time, collected, to carry on the discussion. As we proceeded, several Pundits, and, gradually, a very great multitude, gathered around us; and many among them attempted to defend the Hindoo absurdities; till a certain great Devotee and Philosopher made his appearance, with his learned followers, and, seating himself on the bare sands, with his blanket wrapped about him, commenced with a loud voice-while all, with profound silence, attended- saying, Let the learned of this multitude come forward, and declare what he has read of the Vedas, Shasters, &c., and what are the portions he has read, and what acquaintance he has with our books. Let him come, and prove that the doctrines contained in these books are sound, and worthy of the Deity." Here several said, that their knowledge was scanty; and not one pretended to know much before this giant of Sanscrit learning; in fact, there was no uttering a sentence, but a flood of oratory poured forth, which invariably bore down the speaker. Once, as a person attempted to reply to something that had dropped from him, he instantly beckoned to the man to come forth and appear before him; but the poor creature instantly replied, "Alas! who can dare approach the lion-man

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incarnation!" in allusion to the roaring and thundering of this Pundit. This appropriate answer caused great laughter: however, as no one had the hardihood to come forward in his presence, to make known his pretensions to be a champion and defender of Hindooism, he continued, and related the following anecdote respecting the Hindoo doctrine of the Supreme Being. He said: There were six blind men, who, in search of the Deity, found an elephant: the first man happened to lay his hands upon the leg of the animal, and, having felt it from top to bottom, concluded that that was the shape of the Supreme Being, and that he resembled a pillar. The second happened to lay his hands on the ear of the elephant, and felt satisfied that the Deity was of the form of a winnow. The third laid his hands on the tail of the elephant, and, having handled it from top to bottom, made sure that the self-existent Being was precisely like that. The fourth blind man, happening to lay his hands on the proboscis, made sure that God was like it. The fifth man, feeling the head of the elephant, said He was like a globe: and the sixth, who happened to lay his hands on the back, said that the Deity was like a pavement. These blind men," continued he, "being considered the most learned, an assembly was convened to hear them describe the Supreme Being, for the edification of all; when each one differed from his neighbour, according to the idea he had formed in his own mind of the Deity. The consequence was, that a quarrel soon ensued, to the confusion of all." The man now applied what he had related; and compared the six blind men to the six Hindoo Shasters which had caused all the confusion and disagreement, respecting God, among the Hindoos; and hence he accounted for the discordant opinions prevalent among them:-and now, turning to us, he said, If you have any knowledge of God superior to this, and worthy of being received, pray make it known to the assembled multitude: if not, here I am, according to the Vedas, &c., the Self-existent Being, and besides me there is no God, and none can refute me."

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Having thus removed the rubbish and paved the way, it became an indispensable duty to accept the challenge; which I did with much diffidence; being conscious of the utter insufficiency of my abilities to do justice to the cause, and to

grapple with this giant of literature: notwithstanding, I proceeded, as I shall briefly state, by relating the nature and attributes of God, and the creation of the first human pair in righteousness and true holiness, in the image of God. Man was constituted the lord of this lower worldwas placed in a garden, with full permission to eat freely of every tree of it save one; the temptation of the Evil Spirit, through the instrumentality of the Serpent-the original state, and subsequent fall, of the angels, &c.—his victory over the woman, and, through her, over the man; their degradation, their fig-leaf covering, their attempting to avoid the Divine presence, their arraignment and condemnation ;—the curse upon the Serpent and Satan-the promise, that the Seed of the woman should bruise the Serpent's head, &c.-the incarnation of the Son of God for the redemption of the world; His life, miracles, preaching, sufferings, death, resurrection; His commission to His Disciples to publish the Gospel to every creature under heaven; -the helplessness of mortals to satisfy Divine Justice, or to please God;-the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of the Saviour with His people to the end of the world;-the regenerating influence of the Holy Ghost; the power to serve God by faith, through the aid of the Spirit;-the life of the Believer; his humble reliance upon Divine Grace, &c.

While I was proceeding, one or two attempts were made to stir up this Hindoo Goliath against me; but he checked them, by saying, that he should not fail to encounter me the moment he saw just cause, or any proper ground for so doing. With the exception of this momentary interruption, the whole multitude, as well as their champion, continued as quiet as so many statues; and when I had concluded, no opposition was made, but, contrariwise, admiration burst forth from every direction. It being now eleven at night, we arose to return to our boat; but before we could do so, a Brahmin invited us to some learned Devotees, who he said would be glad to see us; but this we doubted. The man, however, having failed in this attempt to hear something more from us, in less than ten minutes afterward solicited an interview, and came into our boat, saying that he had heard with profound awe and admiration all that had been said, and found himself deeply impressed. He continued :---he

had been a student for the last four years, studying the Sadant System, the Sanscrit Grammar, &c.; but having heard of such absurdities in the Shasters, &c., he begged to know whether there was any use in his continuing to study such works, which would only make him worse than he was. He also put many pertinent questions, and seemed not far from the kingdom of heaven. I recommended him to continue his study of the Sanscrit Grammar and Dictionary; and was glad to have it in my power to give him Principal Mill's History of the Life of Christ, and the Sermon on the Mount, in that language. Though he continued to talk with us till more than an hour past midnight, and was evidently drowsy, he could hardly be prevailed upon to take leave of us. I also gave a copy of the above works to the great champion.

Burar.

The Rev. J. J. Moore, recently removed from Gorruckpore to this Station, reports to the Corresponding Committee

I should have written earlier, to apprise you of my arrival here; but having just recovered from an attack of fever that seized me on the way, I had neither strength nor inclination sufficient to sit down and write with any degree of pleasure to myself on matters relative to this Mission. The routine of duties here is, daily preaching in the bazaars in adjacent villages; Morning Worship with the Native Christian Women who form the Native Church; a Hindoostanee, and also an English Service, on Sundays. There is one Native School, having a daily average attendance of 20 boys. An English School has also been in existence for some time, not supported by Missionary funds, for the Children of the Pensioners and invalid Soldiers.

This

is also visited and superintended by the Missionary. About 25 Native Women

attend the Hindoostanee Service on Sundays; and from 30 to 35 Europeans, the English.

David Batavia accompanies me in my bazaar preaching, and daily instructs the lads of the Native School in English.

Such is the nature of the Missionary work here. From this you will form a correct idea of what is actually doing at present, and what, as far as I can learn, has been doing. I do not, in the above,

include my labours among the Europeans, as I do not consider this to be direct Missionary work.

Gorruckpore.

The Corresponding Committee report very briefly on this Station

The accounts from time to time throughout the year have been encouraging. Since our last Report, the Rev. M. Wilkinson, we are happy to say, through the blessing of God, has returned with renewed health, and has been re-appointed to the charge of this Mission. Funds have been raised for the building of a Church, which is now in a forward state. Of the condition of the Mission, Mr. Wilkinson writes as follows:

"You kindly inquired how our Mission was going on. I am happy to be able to reply, very well: we baptized five persons a few weeks ago, and are about to baptize as many more. May the Spirit witness to their sincerity!"

Bareilly, Agra, and Meerut.

No accounts have been received from Bareilly; but Peter Dilsook continues the work of teaching and catechizing, under the Rev. R. Arnold. The School at Agra has been for some time without a Master: the Committee have lately appointed Mr. Lovett to take charge of it.

Mr. R. Richards, the Catechist at Meerut, supports a small School of Christians at his own expense. The Morning and Evening Services are conducted by him. When there are Baptisms or Marriages, or the Lord's Supper to be administered, the Rev. J. Whiting, or the Rev. J. C. Proby, attend.

The Corresponding Committee add, that they " have had the high gratification of conferring a title for Ordination upon Anund Messeeh; after having carefully inquired into his qualifications for the Ministry, and satisfied themselves, that, with the favour of God, his ministration has the promise of a blessing on it." Another Catechist had been recommended for Ordination; but the full inquiries, which the Committee think it their duty to make upon all occasions, before they grant a title, were not completed.

Improvements in Agriculture, and the

Arts of Civilized Life.

It must long since have been evident to our Readers, that the Missionaries in many parts of the world do, from absolute necessity, engage their time partly in those employ

ments which minister to their temporal wants: and in doing this, they both set an example of Christian diligence to the Natives, and also find or create many opportunities of preaching the Gospel to them. In the North-West-America Mission, this necessity exists; and it is interesting to observe the advantageous use made of it by the Missionaries. The following passages show their indefatigable exertions in this department, as in the preceding notices was seen their zeal in spiritual labours. The plough, the spade, the sickle, and the mill, are very essential articles in their history. Mr. Cockran, in the course of his Journal, writes

Aug. 20,1835-We commenced our barley harvest; and had for reapers some of the children of the Indian Settlement. Some of the boys and girls are now so far civilized, as to hire themselves to reap by the day or by the week. This I consider as a proof of their improvement; as the Indian children, in their rude state, cannot be induced to labour.

Aug. 21-As a Grist- Mill is very much wanted at the Indian Settlement, to enable the new-created husbandmen to enjoy the fruits of their industry, and to stimulate them to exert themselves vigorously in this line, I determined to set about the erection of one. I rode up the Settlement, in hope of engaging a carpenter to assist us in making the most difficult part of the work; the carpenter, whom I had previously, having emigrated to the United States. I applied to several, who I thought would feel an interest in ameliorating the condition of the Indian; and therefore expected that they would cheerfully en

Aug. 25 I was all day with the reapers. Some of them now reap as well as Europeans; but they do nothing, unless I go with them. I have had both Orkneymen and Scotchmen to superintend them; but they have never been able to make them attend to their duty. their sickles, and begin to play. As soon as I leave their field, they drop

Aug. 26 I was not able to visit the Indian Settlement, for want of a horse. Our horses often stray so far into the plains, as to be lost for weeks together. This is an unavoidable evil, that frequently gives me uneasiness; and yet I am generally not obliged to neglect duty by it. This is the first disappointment of the kind in nine years; and had I known in time that my horse would not have arrived, I would have set out on foot. The path of duty is the path of safety, and I make a resolution to keep in it.

Aug. 27-Rode to the Indian Settlement. I called at a house on the way, to baptize a child; but the father being absent, it was deferred to another opportunity. As I was not expected at the Settlement below, the people were from home; consequently there was no Service. I fixed upon the site for the mill; and engaged an Indian to dig a circular hole, four and a half feet deep, and twenty-two feet in diameter, in which we plant the posts which form the pillar. The Indian was very unwilling to

undertake the job. Their mode of life has accustomed them to the use of the hatchet; so that they have no great aversion to perform work which requires that instrument; but the use of the spade is foreign to them. However, by a little coaxing, I got him to commence; assuring him that this kind of labour would be found as easy and profitable as any other. I returned home about four o'clock, and found that the reapers had trifled away most of the day. I joined them, and kept them reaping till dark. In harvest, we are exposed to sweeping winds and a scorching sun, which shed the wheat amazingly, if it be not cut the instant it is ripe. One day of south wind, and bright sun, will so open the wheat, as to make every grain ready to fall off. This lays us under the necessity of making the most of our time on a harvest-day.

Aug. 29,1835-The blackbirds and pigeons were hovering over us, in countless numbers. I had all the boys watching; but these voracious creatures were indefatigable; neither the shouting of the boys, nor the discharging of the fowling-piece among them, would intimidate. This contest lasted till ten o'clock, when the sun began to break through the clouds: they then flew to the woods, to renew their strength by rest, in order to make another attack in the evening.

Sept. 5-The blackbirds and pigeons were constantly upon us. In wet cloudy weather, these creatures are more voracious than when it is fine. I was obliged to take my turn with a good old Orkneyman, to keep them off. The boys, as soon as we leave them, make a lodge under the sheaves, and lie at ease, regardless of the depredations that the birds are committing. I am often astonished, that example, precept and interest seem so slowly to improve the Indian character. You may be indefatigable in the discharge of your duty before them, but they will not imitate: you may harangue them, morning, noon and night, but as soon as they are beyond the sound of your voice, they slide imperceptibly into their old way: you may say, when you leave them in the field, serve the grain from the birds: this is your own; it will be divided among you in the winter; some of it will be ground into flour to make you bread, and a part of it will be used to thicken your soup: if you allow it to be destroyed, you

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Do pre

must starve." The love of abundance, or the fear of want, you might suppose would be sufficient to stimulate the Indian to exercise a spirit of watchfulness. But no; as soon as you are beyond the reach of his eye, he forgets every admonition, and sinks into a sottish negligent state; in which he remains till roused again by your presence or the sound of your voice: then your parting charge flashes on his memory, and he begins to run and work as if the last moment of his existence were on the wing.

Sept. 16-I went to the Indian Settlement. The Indians, generally speaking, are of very indolent habits. They cannot rouse themselves to the indefatigable attention of the husbandman. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to witness certain signs of improvement. We are building the mill upon a piece of ground which an Indian has cultivated, it being the only eligible site in this neighbourhood. Our materials are lying before the Indian's door. When the carpenter came to his work this morning, the Indian was in bed. The carpenter said to him,

It is time to rise, my brother; the sun is above the trees." He replied, "I have been thinking so, my brother." He turned himself over, and lay still. In a short time, the blackbirds came to feast upon his corn. The carpenter cried, The birds are upon your wheat." "You can drive them off, my brother," replied the Indian, and lay at ease. The car

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penter drove off the birds, and settled to his work. In a short time the birds returned. He, unwilling to lose any more time, hesitated for a moment; and casting his eye across the river, saw me unsaddling my horse. The carpenter told the Indian that I was coming across. He leaped out of bed, rubbing his eyes, to take a peep; and in an instant was after the birds. He liked to indulge the old habit, but was unwilling that I should know it.

Sept. 28-At the Indian Settlement, our mill work proceeds steadily; the Indians continue to labour cheerfully. One is allowing his money to accumulate, to pay for a cow which he has bargained for. This is a sure sign that he intends, in future, to adopt some of the habits of civilized man. In a country where there are so many natural impediments in the way of the propagation of the Gospel, we are obliged to lay hold of every symptom, which indicates improvement, to