ment thereof. And I assure you it affords of love to the children by two respectable planters in this harbour, namely, Mr. J. Creker and Mr. W. Boyden, and by several young women, daughters of some of the most respectable inhabitants; and to George Skelton, Esq. Surgeon and Surrogate, I am under peculiar obligations, not only for his helping me in the school, but also for his kindness in giving me the use of the Court House, a commodious place, to keep the school, and to preach in whenever I think it convenient, and in assisting me in the erection of our chapel, as well as in forwarding, in every other respect, the great work in which I am engaged. I find the inhabitants friendly, in general; and most of them who could afford it, willingly contributed their mite to assist us in building our house. The frame of the house is up and paid for; but as I am determined not to get in debt for building, I have thought it best to stand still till the fall, as this is the usual time for making collections in this island, aud then attempt to get a little to assist us in going on with it. BAPTIST MISSION IN INDIA. From the last Number of the Baptist Periodical Accounts, just published, we have great pleasure in making the following extracts, which, both as they contain very just general views of Missionary enterprizes and hopes, and state encouraging factsas to the important and increasingly successful operations of the Baptist Mission in India, will give great pleasure to all who wait "for the kingdom of God." The extracts are taken from a Review of the Mission, dated December, 1817, by Doctors Carey and Marshman, and Mr. Ward. "Relative to the work of conversion in India, perhaps all our expectations have been far wide of the mark. We have been so accustomed to fix our eyes on a Pentecost, as to account every thing short of it nothing. But have we reasoned wisely concerning this? Have we at all taken Scripture for our guide herein? We do not deny that God is able to take a man, completely ignorant of every principle of religion, both natural and revealed, and at once create him anew in Christ Jesus. But is this his general methed in converting any people or nation? Does hus infinite wisdom deem no preparation necessary? Did none precede even the day of Pentecost itself? A little reflection on this, the brightest display of the power of converting grace ever known, may be highly profitable to us, as it may teach us to exercise faith according to knowledge-a matter of high importance in the work of Missions; for, although the desire, when it cometh, is a tree of life, it is no less a fact, that hope deferred waketh the heart sick. And, if we have suffered our expectation to rise beyond the highest ratio warranted even by a due consideration of apostolic times, we cannot complain that God or his holy word have deceived us: we have rather deceived ourselves, by not duly weighing that which his word has revealed. "This view of the subject, if it be just, will prepare the mind for this brief review of the Mission. It is not intended for a review of conversions, of churches established, of days of Pentecost witnessed: it is, rather, a review of feeble and imperfect efforts to spread light amidst the thickest darkness; to erect the standard of the cross where Christ has been scarcely named; to contend with the spiritual rulers of the darkness of this world, and with the desperate wickedness of the human heart, strengthened as it is by prejudices which have stood the shock of ages, and survived the revolutions of empire. It will show the manner in which the Lord is gradually opening the way for the diffusion of light throughout India, by the three grand methods he is pleased to employ: Mission Stations, as furnishing the means for putting things in motion the Scriptures, by the circulation of which light is dif fused; and Schools, as enabling men to receive the light conveyed by the Sacred Scriptures. "At Serampore, the seat of so many years' labour, we are furnished with strong proofs of the truth of what has been already advanced on the necessity of that previous illumination, that general diffusion of knowledge, which, pervading the whole country, shall dispel its gross delusions, and free the mind from those fetters which even yet hold back the natives around from approaching sufficiently near the Gospel to discern what it really contains. Till that period, the work of a Missionary will differ exceed ingly from that of a Minister of the Gospel in a Christian country. There, the authenticity, the divinity, the supreme importance of the Gospel being universally allowed, the business of the preacher is with the heart of each individual; and the inquiries stirred up by conscience are, Am I truly converted to God? Do I really believe on the Lord Jesus, or am I deceiving myself with the form of true religion, while my heart is a stranger to its power? Here, the inquiry is, if a death-like torpidity suffer any to arise, Is Christianity worthy of attention? Is there any truth in it? Is it not a sin even to inquire into its nature and design? Will not my merely listening to it endanger the loss of cast, and all that is dear in life?' Till a favourable answer to these questions shall be generally impressed on the public mind throughout the country, a knowledge of human nature, and of the manner in which God has hitherto prepared men for the reception of the gospel, forbids our expecting that general attention thereto which is found in Christian countries. But are we hence to conclude, that, till this period arrive, there is nothing to be done? How then is that light to be diffused throughout the whole country, which may hasten this happy period? Our business is to form a right judgment of the work to be done, that we may not suffer our minds to sink because we do not see the full corn in the ear before the seed be sown, or even the ground completely prepared for its reception. To these reflections our labour at Serampore naturally leads us-a result which we have no reason to think would have been materially different, had we confined our whole attention to this spot, instead of attempting, as far as we have been able, to send the light of the Gospel throughout India. Those glorious effects of the Divine word, which we have already witnessed, however, have been such as to convince us fully, that a time will come when the natives of India will receive the Gospel as really and as effectually as it is now received by the inhabitants of Britain; and we feel no less certain, that the Lord will hasten this in his time, and that our business is diligently to do the work now required, and daily to wait before him in cheerful hope. In sixteen of the languages of India are the holy Scriptures brought into circulation, in a greater or less degree in some of them, merely the Gospels are proclaiming the Redeemer's name; while in others, the whole book of revelation is laid open to view. These versions, if the reader examine the situation of Hindoost'han, will be found to include nearly all those countries which are most populous. Of the two hundred millions which, we are ready to think, Eastern Asia, exclu. sive of China, contains, (as we are convinced it has been hitherto greatly underrated,) these versions will be found to include the languages of the greater part. "The number of persons baptized, on a profession of faith, in these three years, including the brethren in the various regiments, somewhat exceeds 400. Of the exact number we cannot be perfectly certain; but it appears to be somewhere between 410 and 440. These, added to the number baptized previously, 756, will bring the whole number baptized, of all nations, in these 17 years, to nearly 1200; a number for which we cannot be sufficiently thankful, when we consider their value in India, and their situation as scattered over so great an extent of country. They comprise fourteen or fifteen different nations, including those from the various nations of Europe brought to the knowledge of the truth in India. Nor do they appear to be thus selected without the excercise of the Divine wisdom. Their being of different nations seems far more likely to advance the cause in this country, than as though they had been all Europeans, or all natives of India. The Lord is wise in all his ways. "Relative to the number of churches these form, it is scarcely proper to inquire: small as many of them are, even to term them churches would almost mislead the reader; they are rather little groups, which may either sink to nothing, or become flourishing societies, as the Divine blessing shall be withheld, or poured forth. Yet of these, the promise of future good, in which the Gospel is really made known, though with much imperfection, and its ordinances adminis tered, if we include our brethren in the field, there are now, in India and the isles, scarcely less than thirty." FORMATION OF SOCIETIES. Having witnessed in London, and other places, the excellent effects of the association of young persons to obtain contributions for carrying on the work of God abroad, we have great pleasure in announcing the formation of the PENZANCE Juvemile Society in August last. By the activity, the leisure, and we may add, the influence of young persons of both sexes, who will always find many persous to en-courage them in such a work, considerable sums may be raised, without at all interfering with the subscribers, obtained by the collectors of the Auxiliary and Branch Societies, which, we are very glad to find, is very properly guarded against by one of the resolutions adopted at the formation of the Society of our Juvenile Penzance Missionary friends. The example of this Society will, we hope, be followed in many other parts of the county of Cornwall, where there are so many thousands who love Jesus Christ, and the cause he died to establish among all nations;-and many hundreds, both of young persons who feel that they owe much to their Lord, and of parents and friends, who will be willing, nay, even anxious, to engage the hearts of their sons and daughters in a benevolent regard for their fellow-creatures, and early exertions and interests in the work of the Redeemer. We advise the committees of the Penzance Juvenile Society to transmit the rules of their institution to all their juvenile friends in the country. The following is the preamble to the resolutions of the first meeting. "This institution originated with some pious young men, who, having seen an account of a Juvenile Missionary Society in Guernsey, conceived the idea of forming a similar Society in this town. They accordingly communicated their design to several respectable friends, who encouraged them to proceed, and to give a general invitation to all well disposed young persons to join them in this benevolent undertaking. A public meeting was therefore convened at the Methodist chapel on Monday evening, August 10th, when the under-mentioned resolutions were unanimously adopted." An Auxiliary Society for the CARLISLE DISTRICT has been formed. The public meeting for this purpose was held in the New Chapel, Fisher-Street, Carlisle; and was numerously attended. The first fruits of this Society have been remitted to the Treasurer, and we trust they are indicative of large, future, and permanent exertions. We have great pleasure in announcing the formation of another Missionary Society in the WEST INDIES. Mr.White brought the claims of Missions upon the benevolence of Christians, before the public of the island of St. Bartholomew, on the 7th of September, obtaining the willing aid of about 24 Collectors, who immediately commenced their exertions, and in a short time brought in donations to the amount of 421. 15s. sterling. The Committee thankfully acknowledge the receipt of a fine folio Dutch Bible, from Mr. W. Baynes; a gold seal; seven copies of "The Youth's Theological Dictionary," from Mr. Dowson; a parcel containing presents for the scholars of the Mission Schools; two casks of Sheffield goods, for the Mission at New South Wales; and two packages for Mr. Shaw, South Africa, from Mr. Elsworth. Contributions to the Missionary Fund, received by the General Treasurers since the Account published last Month. £. s. d, In a Letter bearing the Leeds post- district Dr. Adam Clarke 20 0 0 Benj. Sadler, Esq. for Leeds dist. 254 5.11 Mr. Lee, for Carlisle circuit 800 10 0 0 The Female Missionary Association Received from Broseley Mr. Allen, for Macclesfield District Mr. William Young, Woolwich POETRY. Or, Lines inscribed to the Memory of those faithful and useful Preachers in the Methodist Connexion, who departed this life during the last twelve months. BY JOSHUA MARSDEN, Darlington, Sept, 1818. • 8. d. 127 3 9 WARRIORS of the cross adieu, Many brilliant stars are set, But the sun's immortal light Shines with living lustre yet, Brighter, and for ever bright. Tho' upon your quiet sleep Death hath set his awful seal; Many eyes for you shall weep, 4 Story, too, his course hath run, Crowns with heaven's eternal year. Seraphs chaunt the solemn lay, Help, O Lord!" arise, arise! Not where tempests scour the main, Tho' now in death they silent sleep, To heaven's pearly gate, "They turn the battle's rage;" And they have victory gain'd at last, I see them burst the clod, In fiery conflict sharp, I see them reach the throne of God, I see the city walls; But ah, my muse already tires! Printed by T. CORDEUX, 14, City-Road, London. |