was able to unite with this a fact, no less interesting and valuable: for he told me that one of the persons, who first brought Paine's "Age of Reason" and similar publications into that part of the country, was so conscience-stricken, that he could not rest in his bed; but, while his family was asleep, he got up, lighted a fire on his little hearth, and did not retire to bed till the last mouldering fragment of that book was consumed to ashes.

[Rev. Dr. Singer-at the Bible Soc. Ann. Heroic Conduct of a Scripture Reader. The Readers of the Society have not permitted their zeal to be cooled by disappointment, or turned aside by persecution. The history of one of these Agents is highly interesting. He originally belonged to the Naval Service, and was bitterly hostile to religion. He was laid up in the hospital at Gibraltar; but disease did not touch his heart or subdue his spirit: he even blasphemed and cursed, when a fellow in affliction, who had a copy of the Bible, read it aloud. The Christian Man died, and his neighbour took possession of the Bible. During his homeward voyage, he was induced to examine the Book, and began to think seriously. From a reviler and a scoffer, he became, at length, a sincere Christian; and, knowing that his countrymen were perishing for the lack of spiritual knowledge, he began to supply that want, before he was known to the Society. This man has been exposed to persecution because he has dared to declare the Gospel of Christ. On one occasion he was brought into a room where a number of Roman-Catholic Gentlemen were assembled,

who desired him to swear by a Mass Book,

which lay on the table, that he would never again read the Scriptures in public: one individual produced a case of pistols, and threatened to shoot him dead if he did not take the oath. Unbuttoning his coat, he opened his breast, and said, "I am a poor sinner, who fear to offend my God; but here is a heart that never dreaded man!" That man is now one of the Society's Readers; and I am in possession of a Journal of his, which contains ample evidence of the success which has attended his labours. It is there stated, that he has been sometimes treated almost with reverence by Roman Catholics, who have fallen on their knees before him, as if that was the posture in which they ought to receive from him the knowledge of the Word of God. [Rev. G. Hazlewood- at the Irish Soc. Ann.

CONTINENT.

Increase of Piety among French Protestants.

Twenty-seven years ago, as soon as peace between France and England enabled the one country to communicate with the other,

you sent a Deputation to France, to ascertain the state of the Protestant Churches there, and to inquire as to the best means of affording them assistance and relief. But how sad was the report made by that Deputation! I remember, that, at that time, you received a Letter from one of the most respected Ministers of France, still living, and Pastor of Bourdeaux. That venerable Minister wrote to you" The design of your Society will do eternal honour to those who formed it, and entitle them to the love and gratitude of every true Christian. We need your helpbooks, no Bibles, no Catechisms, no Periodiwe are destitute of every thing. We have no cal Works, to defend Christianity or Protestantism from the attacks which are daily made upon it. We have few temples and our Ministers are too poor to live without giving their time to secular employments, often unworthy and degrading; and, although the Government has provided by law for their maintenance, a year has gone by since the passing of the law, and they have received nothing. If, then, you can help us in these respects, you will confer invaluable benefits on the descendants of the Huguenots of France." Bible and Tract Societies did not then exist in this country; but you answered the appeal. You began to print and to send them Bibles and Testaments, and other works of which they stood so much in need.

This Christian Intercourse, however, was not long permitted to continue. War again rolled its separating and desolating flood between the two countries; and, for many suspended. That war terminated, with two years, your communications were entirely

invasions of France in as many years. During those invasions, the Protestants suffered from political re-actions, more than any other class of the community: their temples were destroyed, their pastors insulted, and their flocks dispersed; and, even where actual violence did not intrude, menace and terror kept the people in continual apprehension

apprehension increased by an Inquisitorial and Jesuitical censure of the press. When, after all these calamities, and notwithstanding the distress and depression which they have suffered, we see that those very Churches have so revived as to be able to take a part in your proceedings this day, and to send Three of their Missionaries to aid you in the good work, may we not exclaim, What hath God wrought! The scenes that took place in Paris, when these three Young Men were devoted to the work of Christian Labour among the Heathen, are such as I cannot pretend to describe. Immense crowds were assembled, and the solemnity of their consecration was such as France never wit

nessed, even in the days of her greatest prosperity; for France, be it remembered, had never till then furnished Protestant Missionaries for the Conversion of the Heathen World. This animating scene took place within a short distance of the spot on which Admiral Coligny was murdered-where the bell tolled to announce the massacre of St. Bartholomew; and within but a short distance of the palace from which Charles the Ninth amused himself with firing upon the hopeless and helpless crowd of flying and mutilated Protestants. Where, not many years ago, the Goddess of Reason had received public homage, and cruelties had been committed even by Females, you would have beheld Ladies assembled, not for the purpose of destruction, but to aid in the work of mercy and of love: there you would have seen them offering for public sale the works which their own hands had made, in order that with the proceeds they might equip the Young Men, whom you see before you, as Missionaries to Heathen Lands.

[Rev. Mark Wilks-at the London Miss. Ann.

Instances of Piety and Zeal in France. Two Ladies of Rank, stopping in a village, left a Bible or a Tract in every house; and, from their high station, they commanded the most respectful attention. The Priest, having discovered what had taken place, entered his pulpit the next Sabbath Morning, when the Ladies were present; and, for an hourand-a-half, denounced it as a most indecorous act for them to come into his parish, and declared them to be the enemies of God and the

Church; and threatened, that, unless his parishioners brought him the Bibles and Tracts, they should be excommunicated, and he would not visit one of them in their last hour to administer to them the consolations of the Church. The Ladies knew not what to do: eventually, they wrote a Letter to the Priest, begging an interview: knowing their rank, he felt himself compelled to comply: they spent two hours with him, endeavouring to soothe him; but left him without making any favourable impression on his mind. They then resolved to call on the people, and endeavour to get the Tracts and Bibles returned, to prevent them from being burned: they had not the most distant conception that the people would refuse to return them they employed three days in going from house to house; and, to their surprise, there was not a single parishioner who would give them up!

Another encouraging circumstance was related to me by a Minister. A Parish Priest told a Gentleman that he was anxious to see a Protestant Minister. The Priest desired him not to mention the circumstance; but if he knew of a Protestant Minister, to inform June, 1829.

him of it, and he would go five miles by night to call upon him. A Protestant Minister was apprised of the Priest's wish, and he called upon him. The Priest looked at him, and said, "Sir, are you a Protestant Minister?" "Yes."-"You are the first I ever spoke to." Taking up the Bible, he said, "You believe that Book to be the standard of your religion. Well, let us come to the point. Do you believe, that man is utterly depraved and utterly ruined? that he is all covered with moral diseases? that he cannot help himself?" "I do," said the Protestant Minister.-"Do you believe that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, equal with the Father?" "I do."-"Do you believe that He came into the world to save sinners?" "I do."-" Do you believe that there is justification in no other Name? that there is no other Name given under heaven among men whereby we can be saved? Do you believe in the absolute necessity of the influence of the Spirit of God to convert the heart?" "I do."-"That is enough. Your Catholicism, and your Protestantism, and all your isms, I care not a straw about. Our hearts are one. It is enough: you believe these doctrines: you are my brother!"

I recollect being introduced by Mr. Wilks to two Young Men who had lately been brought to a knowledge of the Truth. They are possessed of large fortunes; and it is very remarkable, that, when the minds of persons become enlightened in France, and South Africa, and India, they come forward, sometimes, all at once, like Apostles. I have been quite astonished at the decision of character which has been manifested, when Conversions have taken place in those countries. I received an invitation to dine with those two Young Men. The first question which Mr. Wilks put to one of them was, "Well, what good have you done to-day?" "This has been an idle day," replied the Youth: "we must do more to-morrow. We have only distributed 200 Tracts to-day." These two Young Men are every day attended by their servants, with a bundle of Tracts; and make it their usual practice to give away 500 daily.

[Rev. Dr. Philip-at Rel. Tract Soc. Ann.

Scene with some Jewish Mothers in Poland.

One day, in Poland, when I had been called on by some Jews who were eagerly desirous of Tracts and of hearing the preaching of the Gospel, I selected the children among them, while my Brother-Missionary was addressing the grown-up people, in order that I might communicate to them some knowledge of the Scriptures. I chose the Ten Commandments, on which to catechize them. While thus engaged, some Jewesses entered the room, and appeared displeased at seeing their children instructed by a 2 K

Christian Missionary. That will not excite surprise, when it is recollected how odious, in those parts, the very name of Christian is to a Jew. The Mothers insisted on the children leaving the room: the children asked, "Why should we leave? We are only repeating the Ten Commandments, and receiving instruction upon them." The Mothers listened, and in a short time left the room; but soon returned, with a number of other Jewesses, with cheerful countenances, leading their Boys and Girls in by the hand, and requesting for them similar instruction.

I began with the First Commandment; and, during the catechizing, put some questions to the Jewesses on the prayer of the heart; for it is to be remarked, that what is known to the Jews generally by the name of Prayer, is merely the reciting of a short Form in Hebrew, but which very few of them understand. When they understood the meaning of the question, they said, "How should we dare to suppose that God would hear a poor Jewess! Prayer we must leave to our Husbands; and be satisfied if we are allowed to share in their salvation." I referred immediately to the First and Second Chapters of Samuel; which I read, in order to shew them that a Mother in Israel was not afraid that God would not hear her, but went up to the House of the Lord, and there prayed from her heart in fervent supplication, and was heard and answered of the Lord. Tears streamed from their eyes while they exclaimed, on hearing this history, "Oh! how beautiful! The Lord will answer our prayers! Let us take courage !"— One of them, greatly moved, cried out, "Oh, I never knew that I was so ignorant; but now I will pray to God to give me His Holy Spirit, and to guide me to Himself!"

Having spent several very happy days among the Jews in that town, when I was about to leave many of them surrounded me, and appeared deeply affected at my departure. On leaving, they cried, "The God of Israel preserve you on your journeys, and bring you back!" And when I said, "The peace of Messiah, whom I have preached to you, be with you, and abide with you!" they all cried out with one voice, Amen and amen!" [Rev. J. C. Reichardt-at the Jews' Soc. Ann. Irreligion of Nominal Christians a Stumbling-block to the Jews.

It is a remarkable fact, that the only view which the Jews of these countries entertain of Christianity, is, that it is Idolatry, and that Christians are gross Idolaters. This fact will not, however, excite much wonder, when it is remembered, that in Roman-Catholic Countries the Jews see very little of the spirit of Christianity. They are prohibited from entering the Churches; and, in

us.

On one occasion I was surrounded by a great number of Jews, who introduced to me a very learned man, who had employed the whole of his life in the study of languages: this individual came, with great cheerfulness, to discuss various topics contained in the Talmud. Knowing that much reasoning would not be very profitable to either of us, with a view to turn his attention from that kind of disputation, I inquired whether he had ever read the Bible. Not having anticipated such a question, he replied, in a confused manner, "No, Sir." I then inquired whether he could tell how a sinner was to be justified before God, and be assured that he would be accepted of Him: the reply was, "No: I think no man can tell that." I then shewed to him, from the Bible, in what state a sinner is before God, and explained to him the way of redemption by the promised Messiah, who had come in the person of Jesus Christ: having finished my address, I perceived his countenance change. He retired for a few moments; but, returning again, said, "Sir, I am greatly disappointed: I expected, on entering this room, to find a Christian here; but you are not a Christian, because I see you have your Bible, from which you read to You speak to us Jews in a kind and friendly manner, and you seem to regard the Sabbath Day. You seem to speak with reliance upon a future state of happiness, while here, alas! we see no Christians reading the Bible. We meet with no Christian who speaks kindly to a Jew, but persecutes and ill-treats him in every possible way. Here, we do not find the Sabbath Day regarded. Here, those who are called Christians do not live as if they paid any regard to a future state; but indulge in pleasure, and live as though there were no God in the world." At length he said, "I cannot conceive that you are a Christian; and you are not a Jew. Are you one of the Ten Tribes, which were lost?" That question has frequently been put to me when conversing with Jews in Poland; and it shews the necessity of Missionaries, under the blessing of God, going among the Jews, and speaking personally with them, in order that they may shew, in the example of Christians, what Christianity really means. I have seldom met with a Jew who thought that a Christian believed in the God of Israel. In conversing with a Jew, he generally says, "I will not change my religion-I will not give up one God for another-I will not give up one belief for another-I will not forsake the religion of my fathers." The fact is, the Jew generally supposes that Christianity is quite a different religion from what the Bible teaches.

[The Same-at the same.

Heroic Zeal of a Norwegian Farmer.

A Norwegian Farmer was, at the age of twenty-five, thirty years ago, in the habit of making excursions from his father's dwelling, for the purpose of distributing Religious Tracts, which he had caused to be printed at his own expense, and which he sold or gave away. The effects of his labours were perfectly astonishing; not less than 50,000 peasants dating the period of their conversion to sound and vital Christianity, at the time when they

first became known to that remarkable individual. To the sufferings which he had undergone, it is most distressing to advert: he endured eleven several imprisonments, one of which lasted for a period of ten years. There is a passage toward the close of his Journal, dated in the year 1814, from which it appears that a fine of a thousand rix-dollars was imposed upon him, and that all which he possessed on earth was sold for the liquidation of that debt: he might have escaped it, could he have prevailed on himself to petition the King, saying that he was unable to pay the amount; but such was his love of truth,

that no consideration under heaven could induce him to declare a falsehood; and, in consequence, he allowed himself to be reduced to the lowest degree of impoverish. ment: he allowed every thing which he possessed, down to the meanest utensil, to be sold, rather than declare that which he knew to be false.

[Rev. Dr. J. Pye Smith-at the Continent. Soc. Ann.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Advantages to Christianity, from the Instatement of the Natives in British Rights.

In reference to South Africa, my whole course has been one of unmingled satisfaction and enjoyment. I perused attentively the able and interesting work of my Reverend Friend, Dr. Philip-" Researches in South Africa;" and subsequently conversed with him on the subject. I narrowly scrutinized his statements, and examined his facts; and the result was, my firm conviction of the gross injustice with which the Natives of South Africa have been treated; and I was ready to state this conviction to the House of Commons.

No longer than a year ago, the Natives of British Africa were creatures without rights, without freedom, without hope-creatures, who crouched before their lords, who presided over their liberties and their lives.

Now, how different is the picture! Now, if any one of ourselves should go to Africa, there is not a single right, a single privilege, which we can claim, which does not equally belong

to the poorest Hottentot. By a glorious act of justice has he been admitted into-has he been, I should rather say, re-instated in the great Family of Man.

What opportunity, I will ask, was there for diffusing Christianity among the Africans, while in that state in which they so recently and so long existed? On this topic, I shall advert to one fact.

During the last rebellion in South Africa, what was the grievance complained of by the parties concerned. They stated, and it is to be found in their Manifesto, that the British Government had been guilty even of INSTRUCTING THE HOTTENTOTS! and as the climax of its forgetfulness of its duty, had actually admitted the Hottentots WITHIN THEIR CHURCHES! Accordingly, the Boors fled to arms. A Treaty was entered into-and that Treaty remains to be consulted even to this very day-by which it was determined that the Hottentots should no longer be admitted to occupy places within the Churches of South Africa. So scrupulous were the Boors that this Treaty should be carried into effect, that they actually destroyed even the benches on which the Hottentots had sat; and expelled from the Churches, not only the people, but the very stones on which they had trodden. It is almost ludicrous to think that men should have so far forgotten their duty to their fellow-creatures: but so it was, that when this work was accomplished, this sentence was actually inscribed over one of the churches-"Hottentots and Dogs are not admitted within these walls."

What hope, then, had Christianity of producing any effect among such a race?

As to the wild Hottentots, they scorned to submit to Slavery: they retired to their wastes, and became a nation of robbers. Who made them so? I will ask. Who, I will ask, has to answer before God, for the robberies and murders which they committed ?— who, but those men, who drove them, in despair, to the mountains and the wilds; and who hunted them to death, if they attempted to descend into the plains? Yet these men had the courage to prefer all evils to Slavery -to be massacred by thousands, rather than suffer themselves and their children to become Slaves. There exists a remarkable instance, which illustrates this point.

A Native, not a Bushman, whose name was Africaner, had become the terror of the Colony; and a large reward was offered for his head or his capture, without effect. One of your Missionaries had the courage to go to this terror of the colonists, and to visit him in his den. He lived there some time with him; and, at length, brought him a willing captive to the Cape. When

there, he was addressed by Dr. Philip, who asked him to settle, with some of his followers, among them: his answer well deserves to be recorded-"I am ready," said he, "to serve the British Nation, and so are my people; but neither I nor my people are willing to become slaves. It is hard living upon the mountains, and among the bushes; but we would rather suffer under the hand of God in the wilderness, than become the slaves of men." Sir! that sentiment, that feeling, did him honour: to him, as to us, any evil was preferable to that of Slavery. The Bible details to us expressly the condition in which this oppressed people have been placed "This is a people that hath been robbed, that hath been spoiled, that hath been snared from their strong-holds; yet of the spoil no man saith, Restore."

I have entered into the feelings of your Report, with the firm conviction that there is ONE, who doth not despise the afflicted; but who hath said, I will work; and who shall hinder? I have always felt the warmest, the most sincere, gratitude to Missionary Institutions; because, independently of their usefulness, I can conceive no sight more gratifying than that of a man, such as the late Mr. Tyerman, leaving his home, his country, his connections, perhaps for ever, to dwell among the most wretched of the earth: but I will say, that my regard for Missionary Institutions has been increased a thousandfold by what you have done in South Africa. Your Missionaries feel and declare the wrongs of the people; and, through you, justice and mercy are dealt out to them. I know not what will be the result of this measure; but I will say, that if you have done something-more, much more, remains to be done. On you depends the solution of a problem of vast, of incalculable, importance to humanity. It is this-"What will be the effect of liberty suddenly granted to an enslaved people?" There will, be assured, there will be many to rejoice, if you fail-many to exult, if they are enabled to say, "You see what you have done! You see now, that the Hottentots refuse to labour !" And how pleased will such men be, if they can exclaim, "Your boon of liberty was bad!" Persevere, then, I beseech you; not only for the sake of the Natives of South Africa, but for the sake of the millions who have been and are trodden down under the iron heel of Oppression. Shew your adversaries, prove to this country, what the Bible has done, and can do. Shew them the power and the influence of Religion. Shew them what you can make of a people by means of the Bible alone. Shew them, that they have miscalculated the effects of Missionaries. Shew them, that the best

reformer of the Heathen, the best refiner of a Country, is the influence of Christianitythe doctrines of the Book of God! I have said, that we cannot now even conjecture what will be the effects of the regeneration of South Africa. It may seem visionary, it may appear idle, to indulge in such views as those in which I am not ashamed to indulge; but I confess I do hope, and it is probableat least, it is in no way impossible- that a day will come, when the now-ignorant Natives of South Africa shall be our rivals-the rivals even of Great Britain-in science and in knowledge. Pride may not be pleased at the picture, it may shrink from contemplating the Hottentots as our competitors in the arts of civilized life; yet we cannot but remember, that the world has seen changes equally as great- quite as unexpected. The Classic Historian tells us, that, some centuries ago, a Roman Army, headed by their most illustrious Chief, visited a small and obscure Island of the Atlantic, where the people were brutal and degraded, and as wild as the wildest beasts; and the then Chief Orator of Rome, in writing to a friend, said, "There is a Slave-ship arrived in the Tiber, laden with Slaves from this Island:" but, he adds, "don't take one of them: they are not fit for use." This very Island was Britain; and the Slaves of Britain were then considered, by the Roman Orator, as unworthy to be even the Slaves of a Roman Noble! Yet Rome has found her rival in Britain; and the descendants of those British Slaves have far surpassed the sons of those haughty Romans! May not, then, a day arrive, when the sons of these wretched and degraded Africans will run with you the race of religion and morality, and even outstrip you in the glorious career But it is of little matter to inquire, whether or not such an event will ever happen: one thing is certain this country has now opened, to Africa, a way by which thousands may be, and will be, admitted to the enjoyment of greater privileges than this world could ever furnish-a channel of admission to the joys of eternal life!

[Mr. Buxton-at the London Miss. Ann.

Calling one morning on a Gentleman, I was shewn into his Library; and, while waiting for him there, took up Cicero's Letters to Atticus. One of the first Letters which caught my eye was that in which the Roman Orator complains of the stupidity of Slaves from Britain. Just as I had finished the perusal of that Letter, my eye lighting on two busts placed in opposite sides of the room-Cicero and Newton-I could not help exclaiming, "See what that Man says of that Man's country!"

[Rev. Dr. Philip-at the Br. & For. Sch. Soc. Ann.