add, are standing at the threshold. One of our number has recently been removed by death-an aged brother who was formerly connected with Mr. Williams' church at Agra. His end was peace. Though one has fallen, yet our ranks again appear unbroken and entire, for the place of the veteran has been more than filled up by the stepping forth of others with the dew of their youth fresh upon them. The church triumphant in heaven has received an accession to its glorified legions, but the church militant upon earth has in point of numbers, been doubly compensated for her loss.

The Sabbath School.

church an unbroken harmony prevails. In our congregation, aye, and at our communion table, you will see not only baptists, but also friends belonging to the Wesleyan, Independent, and Episcopalian bodies, and yet there has been no clashing of parties. These various shades of religious belief appear to have harmoniously blended like the diverse colours in the rainbow. Remember us now and again in your prayers, that the operations thus auspiciously commenced may be vigorously prosecuted and sustained that our infant community may be augmented rapidly in numbers, and be beautified with every heavenly grace and that our peace may flow like a river, and our righteousness as the waves of the sea."

Native service and chapel.

The attendance at the sabbath school has lately been more numerous than usual, and the teachers have been meeting together to deliberate on measures whereby to secure more effective and systematic operation. Into details I need not enter. Suffice it to say that among the objects proposed, and in the carrying out of which a commencement has been made, is the establishment of a library for the benefit of the elder scholars and of those parents who may be disposed to avail themselves of the advantages it will undoubt-modation we have nothing more than the edly afford.

The English residents.

It remains for me to write a few lines regarding our native service on Lord's day, and in reference to which I desire to make an appeal for aid to the friends of missions in India. The average attendance at the service has, in favourable weather, been encouraging. About eighty natives have assembled, but I wish to make it known that for their accom

open verandah of a private dwelling. Efforts have been made to procure assistance towards the erection of a chapel, and in a few cases You will naturally suppose that our opera- the call has been handsomely responded to. tions here must be telling upon the character About 1200 rupees will be required, of which of the residents. I mention it with gratitude amount about 300 rupees only have been to God, that I have been told on unquestion-realized. Our venerable brother from Tehri able authority, that since my arrival a great told a friend the other day in private converchange has come over a certain portion of the sation, that if he could recover the sum due community. There is less of unbecoming to him from Tehri he would give 500 rupees comment upon the character of others, and a in aid of the building. It was of course a manifest improvement in respect of religious noble resolve, and eminently worthy of that conduct and feeling. The doctrine and pre- Christianity for which he has, to a great cepts of the gospel have been freely discussed, extent, "suffered the loss of all things." He the claims of religion have been enforced and is debarred the privilege of helping in a manfelt, the theatre has been denounced as a ner commensurate with his wishes; but if place of evil, and the bible has been made the each reader of the Herald would kindly forcompanion of the pillow. Prejudices like- ward the small sum of two rupees in furtherwise have been rapidly on the wane; ex-ance of the object, the work would be done pressions of goodwill towards us have been and the claim abundantly satisfied. And uttered in the higher circles of society; who can draw back, and say the set time to whilst amongst the various members of the favour Ságor has not yet come?

JESSORE.

In the last Herald our brother PARRY intimated that he was hoping to baptize other converts to the faith of Christ. In the following extract he gives the fulfilment of his hopes.

August 10th, 1849. You will be delighted to hear that I have again been baptizing a few believers. On the first Lord's day of this month four disciples made a public profession of Christianity by undergoing the sacred rite of baptism in Kusha Sahib-ganj.

Three of these renounced Mohammedanism many years ago, but were content in being merely nominal Christians. They attended my ministry for about a year, and by the grace of God they were awaked to feel a concern for the salvation of their souls some

months ago, and were observed to be diligent | following the Lord Jesus Christ. Her husin attending on the public means of grace, band has been a member for several years. and to manifest an earnest endeavour to walk in conformity to the commandments of God. One of them, I am happy to add, can read the scriptures in Bengali. Another of the said number, the daughter of Christian parents, can also read. She is a young disciple, being about thirteen years of age. It is truly delightful to see young people

DACCA.

Our brother ROBINSON, under date of July 31, 1849, gives the following account of the labours of the native preachers, and the opening prospects of the gospel in India. In his desire we most fully sympathize, and would cordially urge it upon the disciples of Christ, "Oh! that our frinds at home could be persuaded to push on the work." Let this cry for help be heard by all who love the cause of their Redeemer.

feel assured; but let me, while I do live, | home, that in due time they will reap if they bear my testimony to the present encouraging faint not. My fear is, that they will live to state of things; let me tell our friends at mourn that they have sown so sparingly.

SERAMPORE.

In the November Herald we gave an interesting narrative of the awakening and death of a youth who had for some time been receiving the instructions of Mr. DenHAM, and promised to give an example of the class exercises he was accustomed to prepare for his tutor. The paper we now present to our readers, displays no common power of thought and expression, and at the same time exhibits his knowledge of the great features of God's plan of redemption. His heathen extraction, and consequent early initiation into Hindoo idolatry, must not be forgotten in its perusal, nor the fact that it was written, not in his native tongue, but in the language of Britain, which he had acquired.

ON THE MERCY OF GOD.

sages of the earliest times. They failed to solve the question satisfactorily. But is there no way of solving it,-no way of reconciling these apparently conflicting attributes? None but the plan laid down in the scriptures of truth-He who is sent of God, and is able to stand in the place of sinners, and endure the penalty due to them. This he did when he died for them. The justice of God is seen in Messiah's obedience and sufferings, Jehovah's mercy in his being sent.

Mercy is an attribute of God, distinct from goodness, and opposed to justice. The distinction between mercy and goodness is, that the former consists in pardoning, the latter does not; the goodness of God alone is not enough for the salvation of man, for he is a sinner. Many, even among good and learned men, mistake in treating of this subject; they confound goodness with mercy, consequently they have an imperfect idea of the grounds of The mercy of God, though pure mercy, is salvation; but there are some who err still yet consistent with justice. God is righteous further, in professing that they can be saved in showing mercy to the most guilty, and by the performance of various duties, and appears as unimpeachably just in receiving affirm that mercy is not necessary to salva- sinners of the human race who were polluted tion. True, God is a just God; if there be with sin, as in conferring happiness on the nothing blameworthy in them, certainly they highest archangel, or confirming the blessed will neither incur, nor will He inflict, punish-spirits in their standing, because the debt of ment on them; but the question is, are their deeds blameless, perfect, such as God can acknowledge? Take the best of them,instance their love to that God in whom we live, move, and have our being. Should not the love wherewith we love Him be perfect? Ought we not to love him with the whole heart, and soul, and strength? But those men fail to love God even as they love the world; how much more to love Him with a love corresponding to his goodness?

Man, moreover, is a sinful creature; no works of his own can be the meritorious cause of his salvation; surely, sinners need mercy. But in what way can God show his mercy, without violating the harmony of his other attributes? If a man be brought before a judge, and his crime be fully established by the testimony of competent witnesses, should the judge forgive, instead of decreeing sentence to the criminal,-nay more, set him free,would not justice be outraged and violated? If man, sinful man, feel it to be a sin, how must God, who is a holy Being, regard it? The great difficulty, how can God be just and yet merciful, exercised the minds of the

justice, if not paid by the saved sinner, has been fully paid by Jesus the Saviour.

When the necessity of Divine mercy is distinctly declared, some persons, though fully convinced of its truth, will rise in hostility against it, and will declare it cannot be mercy unless extended equally to all. This is one of the misconceptions arising from an improper view of the nature of Divine mercy, to which we before adverted; they want to bring those who reject the word of God to stand on the same level with those who are accepted by Him. Men naturally wish that kind of mercy in God, which they imagine will allow a portion of human merit to be blended with Messiah's obedience, or their sincerity. This cannot be. Others would have God all mercy. These should look around them; how often do they see their fellow-creatures suffering, and the sufferings they undergo beyond the reach of human control. There are many ills of life which arise not from the imprudence of those who are the sufferers; nor are they ascribable to the individual, but to causes above and beyond him-the cholera, the pestilence, hereditary sufferings, and the

like. If God be all-merciful, why are such | above the earth. But how wonderful is it things permitted to exist? Neither do these that the mercy of God may be obtained, even agree with Divine justice abstractedly. Tell at the last moments of the life of the most the man who has violated God's laws by folly or constant dissipation-tell such people that God is all-merciful, and mark the reply. It is not because their sins are too great to be forgiven by God, but because of their unbelief and impenitence. Faith is the medium through which sinners approach God; by faith in the Redeemer they obtain mercy; all deserve to die, but mercy declares he who believes shall be saved.

Fellow-traveller to eternity, a Hindoo asks you what are your views of God's mercy? It is as far above the mercy that could be anticipated by the human mind, as heaven is

guilty; still none can guarantee a single day
or hour; none therefore should delay. "Be-
hold, now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation; to-day, if ye hear His
voice, harden not your hearts." My earnest
desire for myself, and all my fellow-creatures,
is, that they trust not to themselves, but
entertaining a lowly opinion of themselves
before God, and being deeply humbled with a
sense of their need of his grace, seek after that
satisfying blessing which can be had without
money and without price.
C. P. C.
Died April 20th, 1849, aged 19, or 20.
Serampore College.

It is with great pleasure we announce that the Government of India has issued the draft of an Act, designed to extend the just and humane principle that no man shall be deprived of his rights and property on account of any change in his religion. Native converts to Christianity, whether Hindoos or Mohammedans, will not therefore, as hitherto, be called upon to sacrifice their earthly possessions in making a profession of attachment to the gospel of Christ. This anomaly under a professedly Christian government has too long been suffered to prevail. The abrogation of the laws of Menu and Mahomet will be hailed by all the friends of the missionary cause with gratitude and joy, as another obstruction removed to the prevalence of the gospel in Hindostan.

CEYLON.

COLOMBO.

The following letter, dated November 8th, addressed to Mr. Angus, from our esteemed missionary, Mr. Dawson, conveys the very afflicting intelligence of the departure into the rest of God, of our worthy, tried, and excellent brother, Mr. DAVIES. He has long delivered his Master's message of peace with fidelity and zeal, and not without many tokens of that Master's approbation. Now, his labours ended, he is for ever with his Lord. But, who shall take his place?

You will, I am sure, be exceedingly grieved to hear the intelligence which it is my painful duty to communicate. Our greatly esteemed brother Davies is no more. His long affliction, after baffling all available medical skill, had led him to determine on going home, but infinite wisdom ordered otherwise, and removed him to his home above. In connexion with the late reduction in the grant to Ceylon, arrangements had been made for brother Allen to come to Colombo. He arrived about a month ago, and in consideration of brother Davies's weak state of health undertook at once the principal part of the duties of the station. Brother Davies hoped to be able to do a little, but finding himself get worse, he was reluctantly compelled to give up the idea of remaining

any longer in the island. Dr. and Mrs. Elliott, with their usual kindness, invited him, with Mrs. Davies and the children, to spend the last month at their house. They went on the 27th ult., but on the same day our lamented brother was attacked with dysentery, or rather the symptoms of that disease, under which he had for some time been labouring, then became very decided, and soon assumed so severe a form that it became evident his end was near. Brother Allen informed me of his danger, and I went down to Colombo just in time to have the mournful satisfaction of attending him in his dying hours. You will not be surprised to hear, that through the whole of his affliction his confidence in the Redeemer never for a moment forsook him. He was strong in

faith, giving glory to God," looking for complete redemption as the result of his free grace through Christ Jesus. His sufferings, under the disease of which he died, though short, were more than ordinarily severe; yet he manifested great patience, and perfect resignation to the will of God. On the 2nd of November, about two o'clock, P.M., his sufferings terminated, and his spirit joined 66 the spirits of the just made perfect."

Mrs. Davies has keenly felt the trying dispensation, but is, I am happy to say, enabled to bear her heavy loss with much Christian fortitude. At her desire, I write to you. Mrs. Davies is thinking of leaving,

with her two little ones, in the "Garland Grove," which will sail for England in a few days. Her failing health has long made it necessary, in the opinion of medical men, for her to leave the island.

You will hear from other sources of the high estimation in which our deceased brother was held by a very large portion of the community, who are now anxious to testify their regard by making some provision for his surviving family. Need I say, that we all feel the deepest interest in their welfare, and that the case of Mrs. Davies especially calls for our keenest sympathy:

WEST INDIES.

BAHAMAS.

RUM CAY.

Our laborious missionary, Mr. LITTLEWOOD, gives the following interesting general view of the extent of his labours, and the difficulties and discouragements of the work, especially with regard to schools, in a letter dated Sept. 22, 1849.

San Salvador.

Other islands.

Connected with the Rum Cay station occasional visit from the clergy, who are exunder my supervision, are more than twelve erting their every power to establish themislands, and a great number of sub-stations. selves. These islands are far removed from each other, the means of reaching them irregular and expensive. In the absence of the mis- San Salvador, above eighty miles sionary the public services are conducted by long, has several large settlements, and is the deacons, men of good character, but entirely under Baptist control, with the extotally destitute of any advantages except ception of the late interference of the estapiety, and the ability to read very imperfectly. blishment. We had four day schools there; Sabbath schools are established wherever we they have been closed, and the teacher can obtain the services of a few able to teach; thrown upon his own resources. This is a but in some places little more than the very important station, comprising eight alphabet is known by the instructors. Hun-churches. A man of active habits might be dreds of children on these sea-girt islands are kept itinerating here with very great advangrowing up without the means of education. tage. We had connected with this station till lately six native agents supported by the Missionary Society; those funds failing, they were thrown Crooked Island has several good settleupon the people with whom they were located, ments and three churches, but is without a who from their poverty and a want of a school. Could we establish a good native proper appreciation of mental and spiritual advantages, took but little interest in them after the first few months. At Rum Cay, my principal station, we have one day school; we had two, both well attended for a time. One failed a year ago, the other is fast declining, and the teacher fears he will be obliged to close in a few weeks this, the only school on the island. The public services here are better supplied than at any of the other islands, the missionary making this his head quarters for three or four months of the year. The island is left to Baptist influence, with the exception of an

preacher at Long Cay, twenty miles distant, he could supply the church there, and command an influence over Crooked and Acklin's Islands. Grand Bahama is an extensive island, surrounded by others, where we have several stations. Our schools have been closed, and the teacher recalled. At Andros Island we have been uninterrupted in our engagements till the rage of proselytism. Here we have several stations under the charge of an African youth trained by Mr. Capern; he is, however, badly provided for.

Eleuthera is committed to the charge of a worthy native preacher, who is labouring