be dissatisfied with what they knew about religion, and was anxiously inquiring after it. I read five chapters for them, and talked on the general and plainest truths of the gospel; and when we were parting, they expressed an ardent wish that I should visit them again. From thence I travelled to M- O'B-'s house, at Cashel, where I read and lectured a goodly number of Roman Catholics; some of them were contending for the true faith being only in the Church of Rome, whilst others declared that if they had the true faith they would have the scriptures for their guide; and if they had the best religion, they would love the best book, which was written by the prophets and apostles. Those who spoke in favour of the scriptures, were such as had the opportunity of hearing them read, and had their children at Dromconnor school. I visited P- O'B——, also of Fluchan, who confessed the Saviour in the presence of twelve dark papists, and said, "When I look back and reflect upon my state, when you commenced teaching me the Irish scriptures, and brought the gospel to my view, I cannot but, with gratitude and joy, return sincere thanks to the Baptist Society, for sending you into my cabin." He also told me, that he lost his holding, by means of large divisions being made of the village; in consequence thereof I accompanied him to Mr. Sto whom I was introduced by J. D. and told him, that poor O'B-came out from popery by means of the Baptist Society, and I hoped he would give him a division of land elsewhere. He replied, with a smile of approbation, (after bestow ing many encomiums on the Baptist Society and its useful exertions,) that through my recommendation he would endeavour to accommodate him; he also gave a handsome plot to Mr. K-, in Dromconnor, to build a school-house for our Society, which he prefers to any other. I also read and endeavoured to explain the holy scriptures in a dark vil. lage in the county Roscommon, called Stonepark, where I had not been before. The disposition excited among those poor people, for hearing the word in their vernacular tongue, was truly interesting and encouraging. I have read and explained also in Lugnamackew, where I was sent for; the word declared seemed to produce some good effect, as many who were present, expressed their thankfulness with appearance of great seriousness, and spoke of what they heard. What you told us all here about salvation is true, and we should all believe what is written for our instruction, that the Saviour Is the way, the truth, and the life, and that none cometh to the Father but by him. Could the Society witness the change produced in the life and conduct of many individuals in this country, by their instrumentality, I am inclined to think they would rejoice with exceeding great joy. From an Irish Reader. Kilglass, Oct. 12, 1825. I HAVE omitted no opportunity in the dissemination of truth; and I can truly say, those who are in the habit of reading or hearing that which is able to make wise unto salvation, we see that they are preserved from the evils that are in the world-their life and conduct is regulated by the word of truth. Many who were in the habit of reading the scriptures, have acknowledged to me that they knew nothing of them, but were deceiving themselves, knowing nothing of the spirit of them; but after I read and explained two chapters to some of them, who declared that they would not attend to the explanation of the word, until they were able to know something ofit: all is vain if God give not the increase. When on my tour, I conversed with some tradesmen, who were at their work; after shewing them the danger of priestcraft, with its awful consequences, then explained to them the covenant of grace, which extorted the following expression from one of them :—“ Purgatory is of no use, I am sure," said he, "it is all craft to pick our pockets," and sealed it with an oath, "that all priests are robbers." On the way to Ballina met with one of the constables, who conversed with me on the things of eternity. I have every hope of him, he, like the man in the gospel, sees men like trees walking; he expressed a desire of meeting with me again, as he was not half satisfied. From an Irish Reader. Ardnaree, October 12, 1825. THROUGH a kind and gracious Providence I am again restored to my usual health and strength, although it was considered by myself, and all that were about me, that I had not many hours to live, yet I was fully resigned to the will of my blessed Lord and Redeemer. Since it pleased God to raise me out of the bed of affliction, I have been in various parts of this country, inspecting 3 € 2 the schools, and endeavouring to make known, by reading the scriptures, and conversation, the easy and comfortable gospel plan of salvation; and I have reason to believe, that the knowledge of the truth is spreading far and wide. I met with several persons who were, to my own knowledge, careless about their own salvation, who are, as it were, awakening from their slumber, and searching the scriptures for themselves, and asking many serious questions respecting the precious promises which they contain. In one of my tours in Liney, in the county of Sligo, a few days ago, I met a relation of mine going to mass, it was one of those days which they call holy, he asked me to come with him, by way of derision. I told him I did not understand Latin; he said, neither did he himself: therefore, said I, you cannot be edified by hearing mass read; but if you will be so kind as to permit me to read the 14th chapter of 1 Cor. you will then hear what Paul said respecting preaching in an unknown tongue. This man has read the scriptures attentively since that time, and sincerely prays that he may benefit by it. I sent him one of the Easkey Discussions, which will tend to open his eyes. £ s. d. Received by Mr. Ivimey. Penny Week Society, Baptist 0 Received by Rev. Mr. Kilpin, 0 Harlow, Ladies' Auxiliary So- 0 Mr. Hoe.. 0 J. Tingle... 0 10 Mrs. Gouldthorp 0 0 R. Hodgson.. 0 J. Briggs. 0 5 0 Edward Smith Received by Mr. Paxon A Friend at Oxford, by Mrs. Mr. J. Paxon, Oxford Mrs. Paxon, Ditto..... 0 10 6 Received by Mr. Keene, Walt 10 0 0 10 0.10 0 0 5 6 05 0 ham Abbey ...... From Rev. Mr. Goymer, North Yarmouth By Mr. W. Cozens, C. K............. Saunders, of Whitechurch.. 10 0 0 Missionary Herald. BAPTIST MISSION. Home Proceedings. HULL. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Thomas Sykes, Secretary of the District, to Mr. Dyer. Hull, Oct. 11. 1825. THE labours of our highly esteemed brethren, the Rev. S. Saunders, of Frome, and the Rev. George Gibbs, of Norwich, have been very acceptable through the whole of the district, and the result of their exertions, when the account is closed, will shew an increase on the last year's amount. The public meeting was held in George-street chapel, Hull, on Monday evening, September 19, which was very well attended considering the wet weather. The Chair was taken by Mr. Rust, and Resolutions expressive of gratitude for the success the God of all grace has already given to the labours of the society, urging it as a motive to perseverance; also the appeal which the deluded and miserable state of the heathen world, as contrasted with the light and blessings which surround us, presents to our sympathies; together with the necessity of divine influence to render our endeavours successful; were moved and seconded by the Rev. John Cockin (Independent) of Holmfirth; Harness, of Burlington; Saunders, of Frome; Boden, (Independent) of Retford; Berry, of Bishops Burton; Thonger, and M'Pherson, of Hull; and Messrs. Henwood, (Methodist) and Greenwood. Sermons were preached at George-street, Salthouse-lane, and Fish street chapels, Hull; at Scarborough, Burlington, Hunmanby, Driffield, Beverley, Bishops Burton, and Cottingham. The Rev. John Cockin, of Holmfirth, assisted at Hull, Beverley, and Bishops Burton. Foreign Intelligence. DELHI. THE following extracts from Mr. Thompson's letters to the brethren at Serampore, will give a general idea of the manner in which the gospel is received in that city, and other places occasionally visited by Mr. Thompson. Delhi, December 31, 1823. You will be glad to hear that another has been added to the church from among the heathen. The good man mentioned in my last as having returned from Bhurtpore, came before the church last night, and having given an account of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, expressed his desire to unite with us in the observance of his Saviour's commands. Believing that he has openly renounced Hindooism, with every thing immoral in conduct and conversation, and committing him to the compassionate Saviour of souls, we cheerfully received him: and repairing this morning to Rauj-ghat with a few christian friends, we had worship in Hindoost'hanee and English, at the end of which, Mohun-sing the Khettree and myself went down into the water, and I baptized him. In the baptism of this man we see that those labours from which we hope most, are not the first to produce fruit; but that sometimes souls are wrought upon by me thods little thought of. The preaching at home, the endeavours used with inquirers, the discussions and preaching abroad, all fail to yield immediate fruit; but an aecount of what is discussed at the ghat, carried into different parts of the city, induces one to listen to the gospel, works in him a desire to embrace it, and as I happen to pass through bis part of the city one day, determines him to follow me for further enquiry. This illustrates what the wise man says, "In the morn. ing sow thy seed, and in the evening with. hold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Mohun-sing, the Khettree, is a brazier by profession, and about twentyfive years old. January 1, 1824. I would mention with gratitude to the Redeemer his having opened a new door of usefulness to me among several christian families, at whose houses I have had worship. Eleven families have been thus vi. sited. In one family the aged head has outlived his three-score years and ten, and has recently suffered from severe sick. ness: he reads the New Testament, and patiently waits his Lord's coming. In another, God was not thought of, business swallowing up the whole of the heart; but first the affliction and next the death of their only child, made them seek the ways of religion; and they, with others, regularly attend upon the word. Another family, constrained by a sense of the divine goodness to them, seem to be drawn by bands of love. In one individual in the family at least, I hope there is a work of grace begun. 66 In the beginning of last month I called to see a Mr. S. who, as he owned, after leading a very dissolute life, was, I would hope, called by grace a year and a half ago. He appeared to live near to God, valued the means of grace very much, and had public worship at his house. He seemed greatly to enjoy my last visits, and on the last day of his life, said, that he felt great happiness of mind, very great, so great," said he, and could express no more. He said that his faith and hope rested on the whole word of God, and that he did not depend upon any thing in himself for acceptance before God, but upon the sufferings and death of Jesus our Lord. During the time of prayer, he often raised his eyes and his clasped hands to heaven. In a few hours afterwards he quietly departed. About a fortnight ago I was favoured with a visit from Captain from Loodiana. He mentioned that among the property of Rajah Golab Sing of Tha neshwur, lately deceased, he saw the Sikh Testament with which I had presented him, and that from the appear. ance of its leaves it seemed to have been much used. The Rajah died rather sud. denly last year. It was in my journey to Loodiana in 1818, that I presented to him the life-giving volume. I lately also discovered a manuscript tract of dear brother Chamberlain's, in excellent order, though ten years old. These are evidences that our books are not universally, if in any instance, déstroyed. The last baptism seems to have led the thinking part of the Hindoos to the con clusion, that the kingdom of Christ will increase.-A native of the Sikh dominions has been frequently with me, hearing and conversing about the salvation of his soul. The man is a wandering viragee, and therefore of all other men the hardest to be made to quit an unsettledness of life, for serious research and fixed habits. However, he attends worship occasionally, which, with the love he manifests for the word, gives me some hope that he may yet become a changed man.-At my suggestion he is learning to read, and says he will not read the Hindoos shastras, but our books. Another brahmun, who has heard the word for some months and examined various parts of the New Testament with great attention, said to me the other day, with some degree of feeling, "I am grieved, Sir, that you tell me I cannot be saved." This man a few years ago repounced the worship of idols, and got his arm burnt at the instigation of a sunyasee, with a piece of heated silver as big as a rupee, having on it the impression of a shunk and a chukra or circle. This he considers as his righteousness before God; and the thought that this would avail him nothing, and that after all the disgrace he endured for having burnt his arm, he may be lost, appeared to affect his heart. I was earnest with him, and told him his danger in trusting to any thing short of the atonement made by Christ's death, the only appointed way for sinners.-There are two or three such persons, who appear to be not without convictions of their liability to perish without believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these said to me a few days ago, that my words and prayers filled him with fear. I told him, that the words were God's, and He would fulfil both the threatenings and the promises. Some persons have called and stated, that the distribution of the scriptures, and the Divinity of our Lord, having become the subjects of conversation at a Persian school, this had induced them to come to me to obtain the one and receive satisfaction respecting the other. These discussions, I have reason to believe, are not rare. A Moulovee, who visits me, having been interrogated by one of his Majesty's physicians as to my sentiments on the Divinity of Christ, and being requested to deliver a message to me as a reply containing a quotation from the Koran, he refused to do it verbally; on which the physician wrote it on a piece of paper, and referred me to it as the Koran decision on the subject. Not satisfied with this, the physician sent to me privately, desiring a sight of the books which advance the above doctrine. The not a few circles of the natives. At the several melas or religious Hindoo and Mussulman assemblies, at Hurdwar, Gurh-mook-teshwur, Nizam-ood. deen, and within Delhi, I have had op. portunities of making known the word extensively. The city itself furnishes constant inquirers after divine truth, and at the melas fixed attention and deep interest are seen. From a Hindoo, who heard the word at Hurdwar, I have since had letters by post and by messengers. Four persons have manifested an anxiFebruary 2, 1824. ous spirit of inquiry; but you will be surprised, perhaps, that one makes it a condition of his baptism, that he shall not partake of the Lord's supper, because the bread is made by a Musselman, and the cup drank out of by all. But this cannot be granted. This is the brahmun that seemed so much concerned about my saying to him, that he could not be saved without believing in the gospel. He says, that he believes and prays, and what else do I require of him? another, the Punjabee viragee, wishes me to baptize him pricately, and says, that he will also eat of our food, prirately, and openly unite with the people. Two others have long been inquiring; but call only now and then. -But the most interesting of all is an old grey-headed viragee of the Kubeerpunthees, who came to me a few days ago from a distance of thirty-six miles. His inquiries and spirit are very pleasing, and I hope he may continue; but of this I am not sure, as he talks of going for a time to his village in Anopshur, and returning then to stay entirely. The Christian drummers bere are so anxious for the preaching of the word, that when I, on seeing the room crowd ed with them and Hindoos and Mussulmans, proposed their raising a subscription among themselves for a small place of worship, they offered each from one to five rupees towards it; and even the Hindoo and Mussulman drummers contributed from four annas to a rupee each. This, with other subscriptions, has raised a fund of fifty rupees for the chapel, and ten more may be wanted. The walls are raised; the roof, the door, window and bench materials are bought; and we hope to have worship in it in a week or ten days. CEYLON. 539 from Mr. Chater, dated, the 28th THE following extract of a Letter of February last, forcibly depicts some of the numerous obstacles which oppose the progress of the Gospel in that island. How much practical absurdity is involved in the regulations of the Caste! sion of our new translation, but know WE are leisurely going on with a revinot when another edition will go to press. Mr. Gogerly is become a very efficient auxiliary in this labour. And though his station is now at Negombo, he has enis needful for the translators to meet all gaged to come to Colombo as often as it together. We have scarcely completed the revision of Genesis yet; but whenpledge ourselves, (if life and health are ever it may be required for the press, we continued,) to furnish it as fast as it may be required. My Portuguese translation of the substance of Alleine's Alarm, is that a divine blessing may accompany now going forth in different directions. it! My times and places of preaching have altered but little since last year. I preach statedly the same number of times, only in Singhalese, on Lord's-day alternately, at the Grand Pass, and Modera, or New Road. Small as the congregation is at the Grand Pass, I am sorry to have the place shut up a whole Sabbath day. But as there is a better congregation at Modera, and the people earnestly request a service on the Lord's-day, it appeared to me a duty, so far, to comply with their requests, as to give them their turn with the other. Last month three were added waiting to follow them, who appear to be to us by baptism. Several others are earnest in making the important inquiry, a little society, though mostly of the "What must we do to be saved?" Thus poorer class, is gradually forming; some of whom, at least, we may hope, their kind benefactors in England may meet with on the heavenly plains, to the everlasting joy of their hearts, and as proofs that the mission in Ceylon has not been carried on altogether in vain. vourable reports to make of their proAs to our schools, I have no very fagress. In addition to the difficulty there always is to get the children to attend with regularity; all of them suffered much last year from the wasting sickness, which was more general and destructive than fevers are known to have been in Ceylon in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. On my dismissing the |
