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in obedience by thy justice, to comfort me by thy mercy, and to protect me by thy almighty power. I submit unto thee all my thoughts, words, and deeds, as well as my afflictions, pains, and sufferings; and I desire to have them always in my mind, to do all my works in thy name, and for thy sake to bear all adversity with patience. I will nothing but what thou willest, O God; because it is agreeable unto thee. O give me grace that I may. be attentive in my prayer, temperate in my diet, vigilant in my conduct, and unmoveable in all good purposes. Grant, O most merciful Lord, that I may be true and faithful to those who have entrusted me with their secrets; that I may be courteous to all men; and that both in my words and actions, I may shew unto them a good example. Dispose my heart to admire and praise. thy goodness, to hate all errors and evil works, to love my neighbour, and despise the world. Assist me, good God, in subduing lust by mortification, covetousness by liberality, anger by mildness, and lukewarmness by zeal and fervency. Enable me to conduct myself with prudence in all transactions, and to shew courage in danger, patience in adversity, and in prosperity an humble mind. Let thy grace illuminate my understanding, direct my will, sanctify my body, and bless my soul. Make me diligent in curbing all irregular affections, zealous in imploring thy grace, careful in keeping thy commandments, and constant in working out my own salvation. Finally, O God, make me sensible how little is the world, how great thy heavens, how short time, and how long will be the blessed eternity. O that I may well prepare myself for death! that I may dread thy judgments, that I may avoid the torments of hell, and obtain of thee, O God, eternal life, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RELIGIOUS AND MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

LETTER FROM THE REV. EBENEZER Henderson, TO THE COMMIT: TEE OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Bible Society's House, St. Petersburg, June 8, 1817, "YESTERDAY was celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of the Russian Bible Society. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, and the inconvenient situation of the Taurin Pal

ace, (in one of the magnificent halls of which the Meeting was held,) it was computed to have been nearly three times more numerously attended than it was last year. The hall and adjoining room were quite crowded, and presented to the view of the Christian philanthropist a scene of the most interesting and animating nature. Many of the most distinguished personages, both in church and state, honoured the meeting with their presence.I was peculiarly struck with the sight of a group of graduated monks and professors from the Newsky monastery, and of a number of military officers, high in rank, who appeared in another direction. Representatives of most of the nations for whom we are preparing editions of the Sacred Scriptures; such as, Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Greeks, Moldavians, Finns, Poles, Esthonians, Livonians, Germans, and French, were assembled to take part in the ceremony, and listen to the interesting details of the publication of the word of God in their respective languages. Among others, I observed two learned Russians, who have spent fifteen years at the Academy in Pekin, and are masters of the Chinese and Mandshur languages. The scene naturally led my mind to that beautiful passage in the Prophet Isaiah: Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. Behold, these come from far; and lo, these from the North, and the West and these from the land of Sinim!" May we not confidently cherish the hope, that, by the blessing of God on the progressive efforts of Bible and Missionary Societies, Zion will, ere long, see this prophecy fully accomplished? Already have we beheld a little one become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: yea, and we may add: The Lord hath hastened it in his time."

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At half past eleven o'clock, our Noble President took the Chair, supported, on the right, by the Archbishops, Michael and Seraphim, and the Minister of the Interior, and, on the left, by the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Sestrensevich Bogush. The Prince opened the business of the day in a truly excellent and appropriate speech of considerable length; after which, His Excellency, Mr. Papoff, came forward, and read the report, which was listened to with the most profound silence by the numerous assembly. I know that you have perused the former Reports of the Russian Bible Society with the deepest interest; and, I have had an opportunity of remarking with what eagerness they

have been read in different countries of Europe; but I will venture to predict, that when this document is published all will allow that it far surpasses any of the preceding, in the richness of its matter, the magnitude and importance of the subjects it developes, and the genuine spirit of Christianity which it breathes throughout. It concludes with a solemn prayer, which made a powerful impression on the auditory, and called forth overflowing ejaculations to the author of every good and perfect gift, for the continuance of his blessing on the institution. It is absolutely impossible for me to describe to you the sensation which pervaded the whole assembly, on the conclusion of this most interresting record. Their attention, which had been irresistibly arrested for upwards of an hour, was now relieved, and gave way to expressions of the most laudable enthusiasm in the best of causes. Each turned to his neighbour with smiles of joy and marks of admiration; and, from one end of the hall to the other, but one sentiment seemed to be uttered: "What hath God wrought!"

You will recollect the very important Resolution passed at the Second Meeting of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society, purporting, that they should not consider themselves to have attained the object of their institution, till they had provided with a Bible, every family, and, if possible, every individual in the Russian empire. With what ardour they are pushing forward to the attainment of this object and accelerating the complete redemption of their pledge, will be seen, when it is stated, that, from the establishment of the Socięty to the present time, its Committee have either published, or are engaged in publishing, no fewer than forty-three editions of the sacred Scriptures, in seventeen different languages, forming a grand total of 196,000 copies. In the course of 1816, the Committee have completed, Slavonian Bibles 10,000 Finnish Bibles 5,000

do. N. Testament 10,000

French Bibles 5,000

and Samogitian New Testament 5,000

And, at present, the printing of the following editions, is either

continued, or has been begun in 1817:

Moldavian

Slavonian Bibles 20,000 Georgian
do. N. Test. 5,000
Armenian Bibles 5,000
do. N. Test. 3,000
Bibles 3,000

Greek

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do.
German Catholic
Lettonian

N. Test. 2,000
Bibles 5,000
N. Test. 5,000

do. 5,000

N. Test. 5,000

Dorpatian Esthonian do. 5,000

Tartar New-Testament 2,000; Gospel of St. Luke (extra copies) 2,000; Psalms, 2,000; and Calmuc Gospel, 2,000.

The number of Bibles and Testaments issued in the course of the year, amounts to 19,431 copies, which is only about 500 copies fewer than were issued the three former years put together. The expenditures are nearly in the same proportion. During the three years, 1813, 1814, and 1815, the expenditure amounted to 297,642 rubles, 47 copecs; in 1816, alone, 227,770 rubles, 73 copecs.

Besides the above, preparations are making for stereotype editions of the Scriptures, in five different languages: they are in a course of translation into the Common Russian, Tartar and Carelian languages; and measures are adopting for procuring translations into Turkish Armenian and Burat Mongolian.*

When the Report was finished, His Excellency, Mr. Turgeneff, gave an account of the progress and success of the Bible Societies in other parts of the world, and expatiated particularly on the gigantic operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society. When the assembly was informed that you had expended, during the 12 years of the existence of your Society, nearly eleven millions of rubles, they were perfectly struck with astonishment. Let us unite our notes of praise, and bless the Lord together; for it is his doing, and is wonderful in our eyes."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. CARVER TO THE METHODIST MISSIONARY COMMITTEE IN LONDON, DATED

Jaffnapatam, March 17, 1817.

REV. AND VERY DEAR FATHERS,

Thankful to God for his unnumbered mercies, I embrace the pleasing duty of addressing you. In compliance with your request, I cheerfully endeavour to make you acquainted with our

* Mr. Henderson adds, in a Poscript, that application has lately been made by the Missionaries at Astrachan for copies of the Sanscript Scriptures (printed at Serampore) for the use of Brahmins, and other Indians, resident in that city, who, on examining certain specimens, desired to be furnished with copies. A letter, written in Hebrew, and signed by six Rabbies, has also been received, requesting Hebrew Bibles for about nine hundred Jewish families resident in the Kumak Country, on the western shore of the Caspian. "Here," observes Mr. Henderson, "is a fresh opening for the Hebrew New-Testament now printing in London "

work on this station. We entered upon our labours with the advantage of brother Lynch's experience, which to me, especially, was highly beneficial. The school had suffered some diminution by our worthy brother's absence at Colombo, and had in it, on my arrival, twenty-seven or thirty scholars; one third of which were native Malabars; the rest descendants of Dutch and Portuguese parents. Some of the Malabars speak, read, and write English, and evince good desires to learn more of the Scrip tures, which by the blessing of God, are able to make them wise unto salvation.

We began to put the school on a better footing, and were determined by the grace of God, to bend much of our attention towards the rising generation, conscious that on them hang the events of advancing years. We also commenced the study of the Malabar language, and went on with some success; brother Squance preaching in Portuguese, and I took my turn in English.

Shortly after our arrival here, I had an attack of fever, which confined me to my room upwards of a month. Brother Squance also had a very severe attack of his old complaint. Very providentially brother Lynch was at Point Pedro, and came to our assistance. By remaining at Point Pedro about a week, through mercy, I was perfectly restored; but brother Squance's indisposition continued with increasing rapidity, and began to threaten us with the loss of our dear and valuable brother.

The doctor ordered his removal from Jaffna, and recommended the air of Colombo. But as our dear brother wished, if possible, not to be forced to quit his post, he was recommended to Point Pedro, where he now remains.

Previous to his going to Point Pedro, we had resolved to establish a school there for native children; and succeeded in procuring a piece of land on the sea-beach, (the only place where we could have any,) on a lease for twenty one years, for the trifling consideration of six fanams (about nine-pence) rent, per year. Indeed, the people wished to give it to us free, and we proposed the rent to make the contract legal. A slight building for a temporary residence, and to enjoy the benefit of the sea air, was resolved upon; which, when nearly finished, brother Squance took possession of. A school for Tamul and English was commenced on the 12th of February, and about twelve boys have been admitted to learn English. Since brother Squance removed to Point Pedro, he is much recovered.

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