as a steady, zealous, and persevering advocate in behalf of that Mission to the East, at the head of which Professor Carey stands. From the short Memoir which Mr. Fuller has given of his late friend, we learn that he was born near Halifax in Yorkshire, on the 9th of August, 1752, O. S. and that when about seventeen, he was brought to the knowledge of the truth under the ministry of Mr. (now Dr.) John Fawcett, author of the Devotional Family Bible, and various other excellent publications. Of the church under the pastoral care of Mr. F. he became a member, on the 28th May, 1769, and by that church he was encouraged to direct his views to the work of the ministry. In 1772, he went to the Bristol Academy, at that time under the direction of Messrs H. and C. Evans, where he prosecuted his studies for two or three years, and in 1775 took up his residence at Olney, which became the scene of his ministerial labours to the day of his death, namely, the 22nd of June last. "Mr. Sutcliff had been in a declining state of health for several year's past. On the 3d of March, being on a visit at London, he was seized, about the middle of the night, with a violent pain across his breast and arms, attended with great difficulty of breathing. This was succeeded by a dropsy, which in about three months issued in his death. who knew him. He was economical, for the sake of enabling himself to give to them that needed. The cause of God lay near his heart. He denied himself of many things, that he might contribute tolingness to instruct his younger brethren wards promoting it. It was from a wil whose minds were towards the mission, that at the request of the Society he took several of them under his care: and in all that he has done for them and others, I am persuaded he saved nothing; but gave his time and talents for the public good. "His talents were less splendid than imagination, but considerable strength of useful. He had not much brilliancy of mind, with a judgment greatly improved by application. It was once remarked of him in my hearing, by a person who had known him from his youth, to this effectThat man is an example of what may be accomplished by diligence and perseverthe rest of us; but by reading and thinking ance. When young he was no more than riches which few of us possess.' He would not very frequently surprise us with new or original thoughts; but neither would he shock us with any thing devious from truth or good sense. he has accumulated a stock of mental If he saw "He particularly excelled in practical judgment. When a question of this nature came before him, he would take a comprehensive view of its bearings, and form his opinion with so much precision as seldom to have occasion to change it. His thoughts on these occasions were prompt, but he was slow in uttering them. He generally took time to turn the subject over, and to digest his answer. others too hasty in coming to a decision, "His mind was generally calm and the town-clerk of Ephesus, and do nothing he would pleasantly say, 66 Let us consult. happy; though as to strong consolation he rashly. I have thought for many years, said he had it not. mentioned of what he had done in pro-was the first counsellor, and John Sutcliff When something was that amongst our ministers Abraham Booth moting the cause of Christ, he replied the second. His advice in conducting the with emotion, I look upon it all as no-mission was of great importance, and the thing: I must enter heaven on the same footing as the converted thief, and shall be glad to take a seat by his side.'" Of his character few persons living could be supposed so competent to speak with accuracy as Mr. Fuller, whose "long and intimate friendship with him, cemented by a similarity of views, and a co-operation in ministerial and missionary labours," must have qualified him for a thorough knowledge of the subject. The following extract will no doubt be acceptable to several of our readers. "In saying a few things relative to his character, talents, temper, &c., I would not knowingly deviate in the smallest degree from truth. He possessed the three cardinal virtues, integrity, benevolence, and prudence, in no ordinary degree. To state this is proof sufficient to every one loss of it must be seriously felt. "It has been said that his temper was culty bore opposition: yet that such was naturally irritable, and that he with diffithe overbearing influence of religion in his heart that few were aware of it. If it were so, he must have furnished a rare example of the truth of the wise man's remark, Better is he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." Whatit is certain that mildness and patience ever might have been his natural temper, and gentleness were prominent features in his character. One of the students who was with him, said he never saw him lose his temper but once, and then he immediately retired into his study. It was observed by one of his brethren in the ministry, at an Association, that the promise of Christ, that they who learned of him who was meek and lowly in heart should find rest unto their souls, was more extensively fulfilled in Mr. Sutcliff, his having chastised his feelings too than in most Christians. He was swift severely, in the composition of his to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.' Thus it was that he exemplified the exhortation of the apostle, Giving no offence, that the ministry be not blamed.' Sermon, and that the effect has been a coldness and want of animation for which they were not prepared. To avoid splitting on Scylla, it was not absolutely necessary to run foul of Charybdis! It is highly gratifying to us to see it announced, at the end of his present pamphlet, that Mr. Fuller has in the press "A Volume of Expository Discourses on the Apocawhich the cool and discriminating lypse." This is an undertaking for "There was a gentleness in his reproofs that distinguished them. He would rather put the question for consideration, than make a direct attack upon a principle or practice. I have heard him repeat Mr. Henry's note on Prov. xxv. 15. with approbation- We say, Hard words break no bones; but it seems that soft ones do.' A flint may be broken on a cushion, when no impression could be made on it upon an unyielding substance. A young man, who came to be under his care, discover-judgment, formerly displayed in his ing a considerable portion of self-sufficiency, he gave him a book to read on Self-knowledge. Expository Discourses on Genesis, and which in our opinion has stamped a lasting value on those Discourses, He is said never to have hastily formed shews him to be eminently qualified. his friendships and acquaintances, and We, therefore, look forwards to the therefore rarely had reason to repent of his connexions; while every year's considerable interest, and promise ourappearance of his work with continued intimacy drew them nearer to him; so that he seldom lost his friends,—but his friends have lost him! "He had a great thirst for reading, which not only led him to accumulate one of the best libraries in this part of the country, but to endeavour to draw his people into a habit of reading. "Allowing for a partiality common to men, his judgment of characters was generally correct. Nor was it less candid than correct: he appreciated the good, and if required to speak of the evil, it was with reluctance. His eye was a faithful index to his mind; penetrating, but benignant. His character had much of the decisive, without any thing conceited or overbearing. selves much instruction from it. A Sermon preached at the Parish Church of St. Bride, Fleet Street, on Thursday, November 10, 1814. before the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East, on occasion of the departure of the Rev. J. C. Sperrhacken, and the Rev. J. H. Schulze, as Missionaries to the Western Coast of Africa. By Daniel Wilson, A. M.pp. 48 1s. 6d. This, with a few exceptions, may In his person he was above the ordi- be justly pronounced an excellent nary stature, being nearly six feet high. Sermon. In the earlier stages of life he was thin; has appeared any thing superior to In fact, we doubt if there but during the last twenty years he gait, on the subject of Missions, since thered flesh, though never so much as to feel it any inconvenience to him. His that important concern has engaged countenance was grave but cheerful; and the attention of the religious public. his company always interesting." The soul of the preacher is evidently on fire, and the latter has busrt out in a blaze of eloquence such as we have rarely met with. The text is Isaiah, lxii. 6, 7. "I have set watchmen on thy walls, O Jerusalem, &c." and a few extracts from the discourse will, we trust, be sufficient to justify the commendation which we have given of it. Having endeavoured to ascertain the meaning of the text, and shewn its application to the kingdom of the Messiah, with the blessings that Jehovah had in store for his people when he should make his church "a praise in the earth," Mr. Wilson thus addresses the Missionaries. Mr. Fuller has taken as the basis of his discourse, Jude, 20, 21. "But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, &c." and has happily interspersed a considerable portion of Memoir throughout his pages, by shewing how the doctrine contained in the text was exemplified in the character and conduct of the deceased. From the pen of Mr. Fuller we are always warranted to expect something worth reading; nor have we any intention to insinuate that in the present instance he has disappointed our expectations; yet we do suspect that some of his readers will complain of "You then, my Rev. Brethren, are going forth in the character of watchmen. You are to guard the church of God. You are to make mention of Jehovah in heathen lands. You are, by your exertions and prayers, to exercise a ceaseless vigilance in your office. You will have to lay before a people that sit in darkness all the grand truths of religion. You are to explain to them the being and perfections of God; the nature of moral good and evil; the accountableness of man; the extent and sanction of his holy law; the guilt of every transgression; and their consequent state of misery and ruin. You are to unfold the glories of the divine Saviour; the infinite grace and condescension of his work and sufferings; and the stupendous scheme of reconciliation which is founded on his incarnation, agony, and death. You are to be ministers of the cross. You are to proclaim the riches of divine mercy in Christ Jesus to a lost world. You are to dwell on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and to direct to him as the source of all spiritual affections and right conduct. You are to enforce all those duties of the moral law, which are to flow from these high prineiples. You are, in a word, to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.' p. 17. 66 Permit me to recommend to you, a high conception of the importance of the object to which you are devoted. No man ever acted greatly in difficult circumstances, whose soul was not filled with elevated impressions of the cause which he served. This nerves the arm of the warrior; this, sanctified by the spirit of Christianity, inspires the resolution of the martyr. It was the joy which was set before him,' which animated even our suffering Lord. Rise, then, brethren, to the dignity of your calling. If there be any true magnanimity in man, it is that which leads him to think and act and suffer greatly in so good a cause. Conceive only aright of this, and you will learn to look down with indifference on all the pursuits you have relinquished. The Missionary treads the highest walk of human effort. He unites the most heroic with the most tender qualities of our nature. Contemplate, then, the unutterable value of immortal souls, view the lost and perishing state of the heathen world, consider the brief and uncertain and degrading nature of all earthly things, be penetrated with a lively conception of the glories of an eternal state, remember the majesty and grace of the God whom you serve, call to mind the infinite condescension of the Redeemer, whose cross you go forth to proclaim, think frequently of the mighty operation of that Holy Spirit on whose aid you rely, bear in mind the promises of the future glory of the church by which you are animated, look forward to the consequences of that eternal bliss which you may be the means of commugi, cating; and you will learn, with the apostle, to esteem it the highest distinc tion that God could confer on you, that this grace should be given unto you to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' "But to these elevated views, you will, I am assured, perceive the necessity of uniting unfeigned humility and love. Your sacred undertaking will only be retarded by forwardness and impetuosity, The spirit of a teacher often does as much as his matter. Benevolence is an universal language understood every where. Humility and love are the characteristics of Christianity. They are the parents of every other grace. 'Be ye then clothed with humility;" and "Put on, above all things, charity which is the bond of perfectness."" 66 We intimated, at the outset, some deductions which we had to make from the value of this Sermon; but they are chiefly such as arise from the author's connexion with the established church. That mischievous principle, a fondness for national christianity, like the leaven in the mass of meal, diffuses its baneful influence, and has evidently perplexed the views of the preacher on some points connected with the meaning of his text. Thus, for instance, he is led to confound the office of a 'watchman," with the employment of a "missionary." "You," the missionaries, says he, " are to guard the church of God," p. 17. Yet his whole Sermon implies that there exists no church to guard! and that the object which the missionaries have in view, is to gather one by means of the preaching of the gospel. Into this inconsistency Mr. Wilson is betrayed by his attachment to human establishments. And hence also he is led to speak of "the public reception and establishment of Christianity by the Roman emperors as a great blessing in itself,-though it unhappily gave occasion to the progress of error and superstition." p. 6. whereas there are few things more capable of proof than that the establishment of Christianity by Constantine the great, was in itself a dreadful scourge, and that the progress of error and superstition as naturally flowed from it as With effect follows its cause. these abatements, however, we cheerfully and heartily recommend Mr. Wilson's Sermon to the notice of our readers. any Religious and Literary Entelligence. Abstract of Instructions from the of the French slave-trade will oppose to Committee of the Church Mis- our exertions, you may be tempted to insionary Society to the Rev. J. C. quire, why you are sent forth at a period Sperrhacken and the Rev. J. H. so critical, and whether it would not be Schulze, with other Persons at- Prudent to suspend the efforts of the Sotached to the Society's Missionsciety in Africa, till the dark clouds which lour over the prospect are scattered. in West Africa: delivered by the Major-general Charles Neville, Vice-President, in the chair. Dearly Beloved in the Lord It is now little more than two years since the Society dismissed to their labours in Africa the Rev. Leopold Butscher, with eight other persons attached to its missions in that quarter. In steady pursuit of that first and great design of the Society-the remunerating of Western Africa by the gift of Christianity, with all its attendant blessings, for the enormous wrongs so long inflicted on her by British inhumanity and avarice-with this object ever in its eye, the Society sent forth Mr. Butscher and his companions to strengthen the hands of his brethren in Africa. But the hopes which were- cherished on that occasion have been, in a great measure, disappointed. The Society had prepared three laymen to exercise useful trades for the benefit of the natives: of these men two, with their wives, have departed this life: not so much through the unavoidable insalubrity of the climate, as from a state of health and constitution which would have proved equally fatal, perhaps, elsewhere, without special care and watchfulness. Severe trials befel, indeed, this body of missionaries before they reached their destination. The shipwreck of the vessel in which they sailed exposed their lives to danger, and greatly retarded the execution of the Society's plans. The conflict, too, which has been maintained in Africa, between the officers of His Majesty, in the strenuous exercise of their duty, and the secret encouragers of the slave-trade, has exposed the missionaries and settlements of this Society to gross calumnies and to midnight revenge. Fire has been kindled over the heads of the little children in one of the settlements, but was providentially discovered in time to effect the escape of all who dwelt there. When to these circumstances are added the difficulties which the expected revival VOL. I. tian mercy must not wait on the counsels We answer, No!-the efforts of Chrisof man! We are engaged in the noblest project which can enter into the heart! We admire the men who, under the Divine blessing, have conquered and are giving a peace to the nations-however feverish and insecure that peace may be rendered by the vices of man-but we are engaged in a far nobler war! we "wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world," in the very seat of their cruel tyranny! we are fighting for the liberation of their wretched slaves from the most debasing thraldom-for a understanding"-for a title to "peace which passeth ritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that an inhefadeth not away!" 66 And in this struggle we are confident of victory. Such efforts as those in which we are engaged-the efforts of Christians to meliorate the conditions of their fellowmen on this side the grave, and to open to them the prospect of life everlasting, have the Divine blessing secured to them by unfailing promises. Were it, indeed, now the question before the Society, whether it would choose this particular moment to make its first attempts in Africa, this might deserve to become a subject of grave deliberation. But this design in times of peril. They were this is not the question.-We entered on fearful days for that wretched coast, when the trade in our fellow-men was a trade authorized by British laws. We have survived those days; nor can we doubt that we shall survive and triumph over every other evil which may threaten us. It is true that this nation is suspected and calumniated in perhaps the noblest national act which she ever performed: and these suspicions and calnmnies are propagated by men who have either had sufficient opportunity of ascertaining in that act her real magnanimity, or should have been taught by their own sufferings the lesson of gratitude to their deliverer, and of mercy to the oppressed. But the nation must act herein as a christian nation, and, "by well-doing, put to silence the ignorance of foolish men!" You, Mr. Sperrhacken and Mr. Schulze, are sent forth by us to strengthen the hands of your brethren in Africa, in their E endeavours to enlighten the natives with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has appeared to us, that a lay schoolmaster and catechist, connected with each settlement, will answer the double end of relieving the missionary of the burden of secular cares; and at the same time, by devoting himself to the instruction of the children, will leave the missionary at liberty to dedicate himself to the ministry of the word. While he might thus render the establishment of two missionaries in cach settlement, as a general principle, unnecessary, harmony and peace would be more likely to be secured, by his observance of that subordination which he would naturally feel due to the missionary, under whom he may be situated. We address you, Mrs. Hartwig, with sincere sympathy in your past trials, and in those feelings which cannot but be awakened by your present ndertaking, Be assured of our unfailing regard; and of our earnest prayers that your faith and hope may receive their full reward! Your husband invites you to return: he professes contrition for the past; and he declares his anxiety to labour, during his remaining days, under that Society whose service he had forsaken: he invites you to render him your aid. We could not venture to advise what step you should take on this important occasion. All we could do was to assure you of our utmost readiness to further your wishes, if you should determine to sacrifice your present comforts, in order to make yourself an offering on the altar of faith. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, you are sent to the colony of Sierra Leone, to make an entrance on those exertions which we have it in contemplation to pursue, on a large scale, for the education of the children and the instruction of the heathen under the British government, within the colony. The claims of these children and natives begin to urge themselves loudly upon us. We have consented to Mr. Butscher's acceptance of the colonial chaplainship, with a view to their benefit. We send you in pursuance of the same design; and we place you for the present under his superintendence. Jellorum Harrison, we wish you to proceed to the Rio Pongas; and, after visiting there those relatives, if still living, from whom you have for these many years been separated, to settle at Bashia, as schoolmaster and catechist, under Mr. Renner and Mr. Wilhelm; that Mr. Wilhelm may be left wholly at liberty to preach to the natives, either there or wheresoever else an opening may be made for his labours. God. Watch against those things which occasioned others to stumble, and some to fall: know where your strength lies! May God grant you by his Holy Spirit such an honest and ardent zeal for the glory of your Lord, that all the little and mean feelings, which self puts forth, may be ashamed and banished from your souls! Watch, then, unto prayer! Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might! Grieve not the Sacred Spirit by selfish and unholy tempers! May his blessed influence ever abide on you, and may God open before you opportunities of usefulness, which shall reward you a thousandfold for all your labour! By order of the Committee, (Signed) JOSIAH PRATT, Secretary. BAPTIST MISSION IN INDIA. We have been favoured with a sight of the twenty-seventh number of the Periodical Accounts relating to this Mission, which, though not yet published, will, we understand, be ready for delivery in a few days. A more interesting number we have never yet perused. The "Accounts" commence date with the month of August, 1813, and come down to the end of January, 1814. The church at Calcutta had lost five members by death, in the course of six days; three of them appear to have been natives of the country,, viz. Mr. Ferrao, Krishnadasa, and Dweep-chund; the other two, viz. Mr. Rolt, and Mrs. Pigott, were of English extraction. To these is also added an account of the death of Mrs. M'DONALD, at a very advanced age, communicated in a letter from Mr. Leonard to Mr. Ward. She appears to have been called at the eleventh hour, and to have fallen asleep in Jesus, rejoicing in the truth" that he came into the world to save the chief of sinners." An interesting Memoir is given of DWEEP-CHUND, who died on the 18th of September, 1813, at the age of 28. He had been employed as a preacher, and distinguished himself by his zeal for the cause of Christ. Some very pleasing traits are given of his christian character; and the truth which he preached to others seems to have been the joy and confidence of his own heart in the hour of death. He left a widow, and a son about a year old to deplore his loss. Leonard, "the charming Leonard," (we advert to Mr. Fuller's emphatical expression, when he preached his Sermon at the Dutch Church, Austin Friars, more Finally, beloved, all of you "be subject than two years ago;—we remember it well! one to another, and be clothed with hu- "Leonard," said he, " is a charming man" mility." Be willing to keep your ap--and he said truly, for such he is) has pointed place, and do the work of your day till the evening shall arrive, when you retire to your eternal repose, and enter on the rest that remaineth for the children of also communicated to Mr. Ward, an interesting account of the death of FERRAO. He was baptized on the 29th of November, 1811, and entered into the joy of his |