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book, which, while it proclaims glory to God, publishes peace on earth and good will to men. Admit that the infidel does live without care and without concern, he may yet safely be defied to make it appear reasonable. Admit that he dies without anxiety or apprehension. Thus the great metaphysical sceptic of Britain died. But in vain has his admirer and eulogist, the political economist, endeavoured to assign any good reason for it. After all, he has only shown the world that his friend died as the fool dieth.

Some think and even speak contemptuously of the religion of the heart-of Christianity as demanding special control over the affections-as a thing felt. It is truly strange. Other subjects touch and take hold of the heart: why should not religion? Patriotism has its seat there; friendship lives among the affections; there the child cherishes his parent and the parent his child. And may not our God and Saviour have a place and a name there? We feel towards all other beings, and may we not, must we not, towards Him who both

created and redeemed us?

The doctrine of the insufficiency of the Word alone, and without the Spirit, to make the sinner wise unto salvation, is no disparagement of the Bible, and no reflection on its Author; because the defect is not in the book, but the fault is in the mind of the reader. It is not that the object is not sufficiently illuminated - it is that our spiritual vision is clouded by sin. If the human soul were in the right state, the mere teaching of the Word would be sufficient. A treatise on mathematics may be good and plain, though it should not make every man who reads it a good mathematician.Nevins.

PALESTINE.

ENGLISH WORKS WANTED IN JERUSALEM.

THE Committee of the Religious Tract Society have received a communication from the Bishop of Jerusalem, requesting a supply of English works. In this letter he states:-"I wish our school children to get into the habit of reading good religious books; may I apply to the Committee for a few copies of such books and tracts as they think most suitable for young children who are being educated in the truth of the word of God. I think that, amongst others, biographies would very likely prove most useful, especially as some of the children might read them to their parents who understand English, while others might relate the contents to those who do not understand the language. I should also be

most thankful, if the Committee would kindly grant some solid books, for the use of the Bible readers employed in Palestine. There are two, and perhaps in a short time there will be three, who read and speak English fluently, but they are too poor to pay for books. If the Committee should be willing to grant books for these two objects, I am sure they would do a good work, and would not fail to receive a blessing from the God of Israel.- Christian Spectator.

NATIONAL PROSPERITY.—WHENCE IT

COMES.

ON God's blessing all depends: I hold to that truth firmly; I know it, and have experienced it. In the years 1806, 1807, and 1808, a heavy curse was on us, and everything miscarried. In the years 1813 1814, God's blessing returned, and everything succeeded. Even the errors then committed, the repulses we experienced, the mistakes that occurred, fell out, through a marvellous combination of fortuitous eircumstances, to our advantage, and led to the most unexpected and favourable results, so much so, that we were surprised and astounded.

The important victory at Culm, so beneficial in its consequences, common reportindeed, historical works-have attributed to my insight and orders; but the truth is quite otherwise. My ally, the Emperor Alexander, and myself, had taken our stand, on the day of battle, on the castle hill near Toplitz, whence we could survey the whole field of conflict. The balance fluctuated, indeed was inclining towards the French; when at mid-day, at the very decisive moment, General Von Kliest appeared on the heights of Nollendorf, with his corps, which insured us the victory. His arrival was by no means part of an arranged plan, but a providential circumstance; for in reality, he was in full flight from the unfortunate affair near Dresden, followed by the French, and had chosen the route through Bohemia for his retreat towards Silesia: that it was which brought him to the right spot at the right moment. We knew nothing of him, nor he of us; nothing was agreed upon. That he did not make his appearance earlier, nor later, nor more to the left, nor more to the right, but at the eventful hour, in the right place for deciding the battle, was help and salvation from God. - Frederick William III. of Prussia.

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COIMBATOOR.-A NEW DISCIPLE.

AMONG the Native Evangelists who, within a recent period, have entered into their rest, was one that laboured for a number of years with much honour and profit, in connection with our Mission at Coimbatoor, under the venerated name of WILLIAM JAY. He was supported by generous Christian Friends at Bath, and his successor is now enjoying the same liberality which was exercised on his behalf. It was his privilege to bring many souls to Christ; and, by the following communication from Mr. Addis, it will be seen that he "being dead yet speaketh:"

"I have just returned from Errode, where a circumstance occurred, which I feel assured it will be gratifying to hear. For many years that out-station was favoured with the labours of the late devoted Native Teacher, WILLIAM JAY, who now lies buried in a village a few miles distant, where he had gone to proclaim a Saviour to the perishing idolaters. He was suddenly cut off by cholera, and the heathens buried him; but the fruits of his labour yet remain. In proof of this, a fact may be mentioned:

"At the town of Errode, where William Jay resided, he had a good number of regular attendants on his preaching; but it was a sorrow to him that none of them had the courage openly to embrace Christianity. They were greatly affected at his death, and also by a visitation of cholera, which carried off several of them while in this undecided state. The Evangelist having taken up his abode among them, he had a hope that some of the survivors were not far from the kingdom of God. This appeared to be especially the case with a respectable farmer, who seemed determined not only to forsake idolatry, but also to profess boldly his faith in Christ. Finding this to be impossible, while in partnership with his relations in their lands, &c., he resolved on a separation of interests, which, as soon as it was effected by mutual consent, he declared himself a Christian, and repeatedly applied for baptism. On my present visit, I found him to be quite a different man from the vacillating person I had long known him; and, after a lengthened examination, I informed him and the Evangelist that I would baptize him. This filled them both with unfeigned joy. At morning service on the Sabbath he received the solemn rite, in the presence of his heathen relatives and family, together with a large number of other spectators.

"I shall not soon forget the manly and firm manner in which he answered the questions I put to him in the presence of them all; while I solemnly warned him not to be the first apostate among the numbers from time to time baptized in this Mission. I wish the friends of Missions in England could have witnessed the scene (page 657), and heard his answer, " By divine mercy I will be faithful to Christ till death." The declaration made an evident impression on all present, the whole of whom were natives.

"This new disciple is a person of considerable wordly substance and influencea circumstance which, it is hoped, will be the means of much good to those connected with him: it was pleasing to see him at evening service accompanied by one of his farm servants, His knowledge is not great, and his exterior somewhat rustic, I cannot doubt his sincerity, but I am aware he will have fiery trials to endure, like most of his countrymen who in so decided a manner have given themselves to Christ. May grace, patience, and perseverance be afforded him; and to this end, I crave, on his behalf, and at his request, the prayers of the Church!"

DEPUTATION TO SOUTH AFRICA.

VALEDICTORY SERVICE ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE REV. J. J. FREEMAN.

ACCORDING to previous announcement, a public VALEDICTORY SERVICE was held on Monday Evening, November 20, at the POULTRY CHAPEL, on occasion of the departure of the Rev. JOSEPH JOHN FREEMAN, as a Deputation from the Society to South Africa. There was a crowded attendance of the members and friends of the Institution to take leave of our esteemed Brother, and the character of the Service was deeply interesting.

The objects contemplated in the Mission of Mr. FREEMAN are explained in the following report of the Meeting, which we are assured will be read with interest and satisfaction:

A hymn having been sung, the Rev. E. MANNERING read the Scriptures and offered prayer.

The Rev. A. TIDMAN delivered the introductory address. "We are assembled," he said, "to commend to the protection and guidance of the great Head of the Church our beloved friend and brother Mr. Freeman, in the mission to South Africa, which, at the request of the Directors of the London Missionary Society, he is about to undertake. The design of the very brief statement which I have been requested to make is, to awaken your deep and intelligent sympathy with our brother in this undertaking, and your interest in the important objects which, it is hoped, through God's blessing, he will be enabled to accomplish. The labours of the London Missionary Society in South Africa were commenced at a very early period of its history-three years only after its first efforts to introduce the Gospel to the then savage islanders of the Southern Pacific. In the year 1799, Dr. Vanderkemp and his associates sailed from this port upon this errand of mercy. If it should be asked, why the Fathers and Founders of our Society selected a field comparatively limited in its extent and in its population, and not marked, as other countries were, with those forms of Paganism which are at once so sanguinary and so loathsome, the answer is, They were shut up by the necessities of the case. With respect to ourselves, as the Directors of a Missionary Institution, the world is all before us where to choose; but the field of selection at that time was very restricted. India was then shut against the messengers of our churches, for such was the mistaken policy of the British Government in that vast empire, that any man was more welcome to those shores than he who came to subvert the altars of Paganism, and to lead the minds of the bewildered myriads into the way of truth and life. China at that time, and for many years afterwards, was closed against the Gospel, and not only shut but impenetrable, and as likely to continue shut for many centuries

to come as it had been for many centuries preceding. At that day, too, the Colonies of the West were inaccessible, for the unmitigated curse of slavery was there, and it was one of the greatest terrors to the slaveholder, and one of the greatest offences that could be committed against his supposed rights and interests, that the poor bondsman of that day should be instructed in the great principles of light and love.

But how different is the scene that is now presented to our view! God has graciously given us wide fields in answer to our prayers and as the result even of our feeble efforts; so that now, in consistency and godly sincerity, it behoves us to supply the men and to supply the means-to send more labourers to those widely-extended regions which are white unto the harvest. But, supposing the projectors of the South African Mission had not been restricted, as they actually were, in the selection of that field, yet there was no spot upon the face of the earth, at that time, where human beings presented a stronger claim upon the compassion and the zeal of Missionary Churches, than the Aboriginal Tribes of South Africa. Up to the year 1795, that Colony was under the government of the Dutch, and it was the policy of those who were their masters their Christian masters-to rob, and spoil, and destroy the original inheritors of the soil, whose greatest offence was, that they called the land their own, thought that they had an unquestionable right to the inheritance bequeathed to them by their fathers, who contended singly for the freedom of their wives, their children, and themselves. Just to shew you that this is not a libel, I will read an extract from the journal of one of those who were empowered by the Government of the day to carry on the work of wholesale extermination among the native tribes. This is dated September 27, 1792. He says:—

Attacked the first Kraal Kourassie; killed seventyfive Bushmen; took twenty-one prisoners. 15th October.-Discovered another Kraal; killed eighty-five Bushmen; took twenty-three prisoners. 20th Octo A A A 2

ber-Discovered a third Kraal; killed eleven: three prisoners. 24th October,-Discovered a fourth Kraal; killed seven: four prisoners.

You are not to imagine that this was a solitary case-that this was the act of one man more brave or more cruel than his fel-lows, but, on the contrary-and observe this was a return to his Government-an authentic record of his doings-this was, in truth, the very spirit, the habit of mind, and the constant object of all the colonial residents. Hence it is that Barrow, the traveller, who published his work soon after this period, writes thus:

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A farmer thinks he cannot proclaim a 'more meritorious action than the murder of one of these people. A boor from Graaff Reinet, being asked, in the Secretary's Office a few days before we left town, if the savages were numerous or troublesome on the road, replied "he had only shot four;" and he uttered this with as much composure and indifference as if he had been speaking of four partridges. I myself have heard one of the humane colonists boast of having destroyed with his own hands nearly 300 of these unfortunate wretches,

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The general and accumulated sufferings of these oppressed natives of the soil is described by the same traveller in these affecting terms: "One of them represented to us the condition of his countrymen as truly deplorable. They knew themselves to be hated by all mankind, and that every nation around them was an enemy planning their destruction. Not a breath of wind rustled through the leaves-not a bird screamed, that was not supposed to announce danger. Hunted thus like beasts of prey, and ill-treated in the service of the farmers, he said that they considered themselves driven to desperation. The burden of their song was vengeance against the Dutch." It is difficult to determine which of these classes most require the grace and subduing influence of the glorious Gospel-the oppressed or their oppressors; for, if we must admit that the sufferings of the former were great, certainly the guilt of the latter was far greater. Such was the state then of that Colony, when the Fathers and Founders of our Society sent forth that angel of mercy, Dr. Vanderkemp, with the Gospel of peace to preach to these poor, degraded, and perishing children of men. Philip says, speaking of the period when Dr. Vanderkemp arrived :

Dr.

At the time, writes Dr. Philip, one station only had been commenced by the Moravian brethren; and, although it is probable that a few Christians felt the necessity of instructing their domestics, yet this was the whole amount of labour rendered by the Christian Church for the inhabitants of this vast Continent: they were without knowledge, without civilisation, without God, and without hope in the world.

We can easily suppose, that to enter on missionary toil in such a field as this, required equal skill, fortitude, and courage. You will not look for the chief obstructives

to the influence of Dr. Vanderkemp and his associates among the uninstructed and degraded natives, but among the interested and unprincipled Colonists. In a word, they had to fight their way inch by inch, and frequently were they, for a time, the victims of interested misrepresentation and practical injustice. But there are some of you, perhaps, who remember their first triumphs won by patience, by prayer, and by self-denial; and we who have lived in later days have had the honour, from year to year, of extending Missionary influence in that dark land, so that, contrasting the state of that Colony as it is, with the condition of Africa as it was when Dr. Vanderkemp and his fellow-labourers landed there, there is not a spot in the whole field of our effort that presents trophies more bright, more glorious, or enduring. There have been scenes in the deserts of South Africa over which angels have often rejoiced; and there are converts now living there, and many that have found their way, through the Saviour's blood, to heaven, of whom Apostles would have said, "Ye are our joy and our crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus."

The present number of our stations and out-stations in South Africa-and that is a very limited sphere-is 63; of Missionaries and European Agents, 40; of Native Assistants, 20; of Christian Churches, 29; and Church Members, 4157, or an average of upwards of 140 in each of those Churches. The annual amount of their contributions to the cause of missions-and remember they have nothing that we should call property,-on an average, for the last five years, has been 1540. This, you perceive, then, is the result of missionary effort during the last half century in that dark, degraded, and suffering Colony. During this time our Missionary brethren have been joined by the agents of almost every other Missionary Institution in the world, to whom they have given a welcome, as fellow-labourers in this great and good cause. There are found there a goodly company of our Wesleyan brethren, of the representatives of our Scottish Missionary Institutions, and, thanks be to God! representatives of the Protestant Evangelical Church of France; and, amongst all the men that have laboured in South Africa, the French Protestant Ministers have toiled with singular consistency, and have been honoured by God with most abundant success.

In the progress of this great work, various agents have been sent forth by our Soeiety, most of whom have run an honourable course, few of whom have ever beaten a re-. treat, and fewer still have died with stains of dishonour. Amongst these men are some (not to think invidiously of those we do not name) that we can never forget. Oh, who can ever think of Dr. Vanderkemp without

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