many decent families in this town who are anxious to have the gospel among them. The Bibles which were given to the French at St. Genevieve, a little distance from this place, were taken from them by the priest and burned; could the devil have done a worse thing than this? From Shawanee to Kaskaskia is 120 miles; after having visited the settlements in the lower part of the state, I rode up the Mississippi to this place, which is 80 miles north of Kaskaskia, 20 miles from St. Louis, 12 miles from the mouth of Missouri, and 30 miles from the Illinois River, in Madison county. Surrounding this as a centre are the following settlements. Shoal Creek, 30 miles East-Sugar Creek, 20 miles South East-Bellville, 20 miles South-Silver Creek, 20 miles South-Kahokia, South West 30 miles -Alton, 12 miles West-Mouth of Illinois, 30 miles North West. At all these places an audience can at any time be collected of from 30 to 50 persons. This is the ground we have pitched upon as the field of our labours this winter. Edwardsville is a very flourishing town, containing about 300 inhabitants. We have formed a Missionary Society here, which has above 50 members, and about $150; also one at Shoal Creek, and one at Sugar Creek.

I lately received a letter from a place in Connecticut called Cornwall, from an Indian young man, whom I had taken some notice of, which has given me great pleasure. He has been at the School in that place not a year, and his Letter, both as to hand writing and good sense, exceeds any thing I could have expected.

RESPECTED SIR,

Cornwall, Connecticut, Feb. 20, 1819.

I am very happy to spend a few moments to inform you of my pleasing situation in this school. Here I have the advantages of hearing the word of God, and reading the Holy Bible, which is able to make me wise unto salvation. God has distinguished me from thousands of my fellow-creatures: I am enjoying great privileges, while my countrymen are perishing. They know not God who made the world, nor the Saviour who came and died for them. They are ignorant of these things; they are under gross darkness and delusion. May the Lord make me useful to them.

Dear Sir, I often think about you and your family. I shall never forget you. I sincerely thank you for your kindness. If we never meet again in this world, as it is not likely we shall, may we meet in another and better world, to part no more.

There are twenty-seven scholars now in this School, and ten different languages. Most of the scholars can read the Bible; the book which they never saw in their native country. May they be all fitted to return to their benighted countrymen and proclaim the Saviour's name to them. May they be the instruments of doing great good in the world, and of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I was some unwell after I arrived here, for two or three weeks; but I and all my countrymen are well at present. Four Chero

kees have arrived here lately; their names are David S. Dar-chechy, John Ridge, John Varm, James Fields; all of them can speak English, read, and write very well.

I wish to hear from you very much. I hope you will write to me if your health will admit. My love to all your family. Your affectionate young friend,

Honourable Elias Boudinot, L. L. D.

ELIAS BOUDINOT. (Kul-luh-ge-nuh.)

COMMUNICATED FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

A JERUSALEM SINNER SAVED.

-beginning at Jerusalem.-Luke xxiv. 47.

The following narrative, Mr. Editor, I met with in an ancient author, and now give it to your pious readers with a few alterations to make it suit a modern ear. I have also added thereto some reflections of my own, by way of improvement to those who take an interest in such matters. How nearly the facts stated approach the truth, some of your readers, who may be better informed than myself or my author, will be able to judge. The thing was thus: Martha, saith my author, was a very holy woman, much like Lazarus, her brother; but Mary, their younger sister, was a wicked, wanton creature-one of the greatest sinners in the town of Jerusalem, a companion of Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus afterwards cast seven devils. Martha did seldom miss good sermons and lectures, when she could come at them in Jerusalem; but Mary would frequent the different places of amusement-the public gardens, the house of sports, the ball room, and the theatre too, if there had been one: but my author does not inform me whether that grand invention of Satan was known at Jerusalem, as at the gentile cities of Greece and Italy. Mary was sometimes seen in none of the best company at these places of sin. All these things were a grief to Martha and Lazarus, who left no means untried to win their sister. Mild rebukes and tender admonitions were but as chaff in the wind. Martha had often desired that her sister would go with her to hear preachers, such as good old Simeon, and eloquent Zacharias; yea, had often entreated her with tears to do it, yet she could not prevail; for still Mary would make her excuse, or reject her with disdain for her zeal and preciseness in religion.

After Martha had waited long, and tried many ways to bring her sister to good, all of which proved ineffectual, at last she comes upon her thus,

Martha.-Sister, I pray thee go with me to the temple to day, to hear one preach a sermon.

Mary. Preachers again, what have I to do with them pray? Martha.-Ah Sister, though you will hear no other, consent to

bear this one. His fame is over the whole country of Galilee and land of Judea.

Mary. What kind of preacher is he?

Martha.-It is one Jesus of Nazareth-he is the handsomest man that ever you saw with your eyes. Oh! he shines in beauty, and is a most excellent preacher. Never man spake like this man. His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely.

Now, what does Mary? after a little pause she goes up into her chamber and decks herself as fine as her fingers could make her. Had you but seen her, and her goings! Her tinkling ornaments, and head band a round tire like the moon, her chains, and bracelets, and mufflers. Her rings, and ear-rings, and jewels. Her changeable apparel, and mantle, and hood, and vail! Isaiah, iii. 16-24. These things on, away she goes in all the pride of a degenerate daughter of Zion, not with her sister Martha, she was not dressed fine enough; nor in her usual company, whom she then shunned; but as much unobserved as she could, to hear the sermon; or rather to see the preacher.

The hour and preacher being come, and she having observed whereabout the preacher would stand, goes and sets herself so in the temple, that she might be sure to have the full view of this comely and excellent person. So he comes in, and she looks, and the first glimpse of his person pleased her. Well, Jesus addresseth himself to his sermon, and she looks earnestly on him.

Now at that time, saith my author, Jesus preached about the lost sheep, the lost piece of money, and the prodigal son. Luke, XV. When he came to show what care the shepherd took for one lost sheep, and how the woman swept to find her piece which was lost, and what joy there was at their finding it, she began to be taken by the ears, and forgot what she came about, musing what the preacher would make of it. But when he came to the application, and showed, that by the lost sheep was meant a great sinner; by the shepherd's care was meant God's love for great sinners; and that by the joy of the neighbours, was showed what joy there was among the angels in heaven over one great sinner that repenteth, she began to be taken by the heart. And as he described a sinner's lost condition, the wicked and wretched life of the prodigal, the beggary and misery to which he was reduced, his heart-rending reflections on his sad case, his repentance, return, and gracious reception by his heavenly Father-I say, as Jesus spake these words, she thought he pitched his innocent and piercing eyes just upon her, and looked as if he spake, what was now said, to her; wherefore her heart began to tremble, being shaken with affection and fear; then her eyes ran down with tears apace; wherefore she was forced to hide her face with her handkerchief, and so sat sobbing and crying all the rest of the sermon.

Sermon being done, up she gets to depart, but first inquired where this Jesus the preacher dined that day? And one told her at the house of Simon the pharisce. So away she goes, first home to her

chamber and there strips herself of her wanton attire; then falls upon her knees to ask of the God of Israel forgiveness for all her wicked life. This done, in a modest dress she goes to Simon's house, where she finds Jesus at dinner, reclining on an open couch, as was customary in those days. So she gets behind him, and weeps, and drops her tears upon his feet like rain, and washes them and wipes them with the hair of her head. She also kissed his feet with her lips, and anointed them with precious ointment of spikenard. When Simon the pharisee perceived what the woman did, and being ignorant of what it was to be forgiven much, (for, in his own judgment, he never was forgiven more than fifty pence,) or to love much, he began to think within himself, that he had been mistaken about Jesus Christ, because he suffered such a sinner, as this woman was, to touch him. Surely, quoth he, this man, if he were a prophet, would not let this woman come near him, for she is a town sinner. How ignorant are all self-righteous men of the way of Christ with sinners! But lest Mary should be discouraged by some clownish carriage of this pharisee, and so desert her good beginnings, and her new steps which she now had begun to take towards eternal life, Jesus began thus with Simon: Luke, vii. 36-50.

Jesus.-Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.
Simon.-Master, say on.

Jesus.-There was a certain creditor which one owed five hundred pence, the other fifty. nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both. which of them will love him most?

had two debtors; the And when they had Tell me therefore,

Simon.-I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. Jesus.-Thou hast rightly judged. (turning to the woman.) Simon, seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much : but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Having said these things to Simon the pharisee, he addressed Mary with these words of comfort, Woman, thy sins are forgiven. This gave rise to great questioning and reasoning among the scribes and pharisees at the table. Who is this, said they, that forgiveth sins also? In the mean time Jesus graciously confirmed his love to Mary, and settled her mind in the peace of the Gospel, with these words, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. So, while the Doctors disputed, Mary departed with fear and great joy.

Christian readers, imagine to yourselves the indescribable pleasure of Martha and Lazarus at the conversion of their beloved sister, now doubly endeared to them. The singular piety of this family became known to all the Jews. This family Jesus loved.

John, xi. 5. Here he often found a welcome home. And when he came, Mary soon was seen sitting humbly at his feet, and listening with wonder and delight to the heavenly sentences that dropped from his gracious lips, like honey from the comb. Luke, x. 3842. She followed him to Calvary, the scene of his sufferings; she has followed him to glory, the place of rest and joy.

Thus, Mr. Editor, you have the story: permit me to add a few reflections. Christ Jesus, you perceive, has but little thanks from the fifty penny sinners. To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. He gets not, as he says, water for his feet, by his saving of such sinners. These are the dry-eyed christians; their duties are not wetted with the tears of contrition and repentance, nor ever sweetened with the great sinner's box of ointment. Who and what are we with all our professions? What do we? Where are our penitential tears, and where is our costly spikenard.

May we, like Mary, find that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. May the word of Jesus come to our hearts in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, that we may return with weeping and supplications to the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. May we, like Mary, humbly sit at the feet of Jesus, and hear his word. May we obediently follow him through the wilderness of this world, and, finally, come up out of it, leaning upon our beloved, to the promised inheritance-the happy land.

Hail! Land of Glory. There shall we behold the King in his beauty. There shall we associate with elect angels and glorified saints, understand their speech, and join in their unceasing praises to our common Lord. There shall we meditate without alarm on all the terrors we have passed through. There shall we have a quiet habitation; a tabernacle that shall not be taken down, and there shall be no more going out. There shall no enemy come to trouble us, nor any root of sorrow grow. There the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. And there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers of joy and streams of everlasting pleasures. Is. xxxiii. PALUDANUS.

17-24.

CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE.

The Hampshire Education Society has much occasion for gratitude to the author of all goodness for the kind feelings it has excited, and the numerous charities it has received. Recent in its origin, it has continued to increase in its means of accomplishing its noble object, as it bas been more generally known. Its permanent fund has received from one individual $500; from another $200; and from another $1000. To the list of benevolent donors is now to be added the name of Mr. John Ashley, of West Springfield, whose christian liberalities have for many years been afforded for pious objects. He has made the generous donation of $1206 to