Eighth Number of our Monthly Accounts: we must nevertheless add, that the extraordinary talents with which God has endowed this beloved brother, and particularly his quick acquisition of the difficult Chinese Language, as also his zeal for the extension of the Kingdom of God, continue to promise, under His supreme blessing, much further good. We keep a regular correspondence with Foreign Societies. The Society at Barmen we have furnished with some Dutch Publications for the use of their Mission in the interior of South Africa. We had the pleasure of receiving a visit from the President of the Society at Paris, Count Verhuell, who not only informed us of the good progress of Missionary Affairs in France, but also gave us friendly information concerning the first Mission which that Society will undertake. It was agreeable to us to hear so interesting an account, from that promoter of Christianity and brotherly love; and to become more nearly united with that Society, from which we promise ourselves much benefit.

The different Committees of our Society have been active, in promoting the reformation of the Jews, and in collecting reports and procuring funds in the interior. The reports inform us, among other things, that, in some places, the interest in the affairs of the Society rather diminishes: but, on the other hand, we acknowledge, with thanksgiving, that in others it has increased. In particular, this is the case in Arnhiem, Deventer, Enschede, Leyden, Rheenen, and in the environs of Groningen and Utrecht; while Meetings for Prayer are established at Barneveld, Katuyk beyond the Rhine, Ostend, Ysselmonde, Zuylen, and elsewhere. Establishments are formed, as well for the Poor as for the Military. Sunday Schools and Religious Reading-Societies, at Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Capelle, Dordrecht, Enkhuy. zen, Groningen, Haarlem, Leyden, Numandsdorp, Nymegen, Oudenater, Purmerende, Utrecht, and Rotterdam, remain in good state, and are of much use in many places.

Through the care of the active Committee for the distribution of Small Tracts, one has appeared this year, entitled 66 People do not do what they can." This year, 14,000 Tracts have been sold or distributed gratis.

Though our expenditure has been very considerable-and how could it be

otherwise, from the extensiveness of our labours? we have reason to be thankful to the Lord for the assistance of our fellow-Christians, by gifts and by bequests.

Our Direction has sustained a considerable loss this year, by the death of our worthy Brothers, B. A. van Balen, Th. A. Clarisse, P. J. Lanott, C. J. van Noorden, S. Roorda van Eysinga, W. Fienken, and H. van Wrudenberg, all active Directors, and the supporters of the necessities of mankind, whose delight and choice it was to serve the Lord in that station.

We lament the loss of this number. How few are there still living, of those who thirty years ago attended our Meetings! How many vigorous men have we lost, whom we delighted to see among us! and of how much consequence is it not then, to inspire others, particularly Young Christians and Friends of our Lord, to assist us in the further extension of His Kingdom!

Do we consider the high value of our immortal souls? Do we feel the obligation which we are under to our Lord and Saviour? Do we observe the favourable prospects which everywhere appear? Well may these things encourage us to use our utmost power and means in such a Cause! Support us, then, worthy Brothers and Sisters! Let us continually pray. This alone can afford us the prospect of a wished-for and continued blessing.

GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE following statements are translated from the last Report of the Society.

Course of Study in the Bâsle Institution.

At the beginning of the Yearly Course of Studies for 1828, Forty-three Students were in the Seminary, who were instructed in four separate Classes, after the following plan :

mar,

I. LANGUAGES-i, German. Gramwith the Rules of General Grammar: first class, six hours weekly. ii. Latin. 1. Grammar and Exercises: first class, four hours. 2. Reading of Classics: second class, four hours. iii. Greek. 1. Grammar, and Cursory Reading of the New Testmament: second class, four hours. 2. Xenophant. Memorab. Socrat. and select pieces from Chrysostom: third class, three hours. iv. Hebrew. Grammar, Composition, and

Cursory Reading: third class, four hours. v. English. 1. Grammar and Reading fourth class, four hours. 2. Composition and Speaking: fifth class, four hours.

II. THEOLOGY-i. Analytical Explanation of the New Testament: first class, four hours, ii. Practical Exposition of the New Testament: all the classes, four hours. iii. 1. Explanation of the Gospel of St. John and of the Acts: third class, four hours. 2. Explanation of several Epistles of St. Paul: fourth class, five hours. 3. Explanation of the Psalms and Isaiah: fourth class, five hours. iv. Bible History: fourth class, four hours. v. Comparative View of Christianity and the other Religions: second, third, and fourth classes, five hours. vi. Composition of Sermons third and fourth classes, four hours.

:

III. ELEMENTARY-i. Calligraphy. ii. Singing: Theory: all the classes, one hour. iii. Arithmetic: first class, four hours. iv. Geometry: second class, four hours. v. Geography: second class, three hours. vi. Survey of Universal History: second class, four hours. vii. Practical Chemistry: second class, three hours.

State of the Society's Funds.

The Expenses of the Society, in the year 1828-29, amounted to 76,000 Swiss Francs [about 44707. 11s. 8d. sterling] including some large extraordinary expenses. The Income was only 52,012 Swiss Francs [equal to 80597. 10s. 6d. sterling] at about 17 17. sterling.

SWEDISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

We have prefixed a title to the present article, which must not be taken to imply that a Missionary Society already exists in Sweden, but rather the

Desirableness of such an Institution. We have received a Letter from the Rev. Charles Fr. Haeggman, Chaplain at the Hospital Church of Sabbatsberg, dated from Stockholm, and detailing the efforts which he has made to awaken his coun

trymen to a lively interest in the Missionary Cause. We subjoin the

substance of this Letter.

As an humble Labourer in the same field, though far more unfruitful and

discouraging than yours has been, I make bold to introduce myself to you, in the anticipation of a kind and brotherly reception. I am here alonedeficient in means and influence, and struggling against opposition and prejudice.

Sinking under the difficulties which I experienced in the course of about nine years' exertion and toil, I gave up the work, in the hope of seeing it taken up by abler hands, still endeavouring to awaken the attention and zeal of such as I deemed most competent to the task. But, in this, I have been disappointed. Reproaching myself at

length for my instability, I roused myself from my torpor-prayed for direction, for strength, and for the blessing of God—and now find myself encouraged to re-commence the task which I had abandoned.

For seven years I continued a Weekly Publication, begun by my Father and an associate, in which I communicated, chiefly by translations from such Foreign Journals as I could procure or borrow, such notices of the glorious triumphs of that Gospel, which is mighty to save and is still spreading with increasing success even in the darkest Heathen Lands, as I judged most conducive to the information and profit of my countrymen. Its sale, however, scarcely covering the expense of printing, I changed the form Journal, of the same character as its of my little Work to that of a Monthly predecessor, but with the addition of such Religious and Literary Notices and Articles as might render it more useful to the general reader. This I continued for two years; till the losses which I sustained seemed to call upon me, my income being limited and my family numerous, to lay down the Work.

But now, I am resolved, in God's Name, to begin afresh: for I cannot bear the thought of keeping back from my countrymen that knowledge which it may be in my power to communicate. He, who has given me this desire, will, of a surety, bless and prosper my undertaking. He, who has worked such signs and wonders in Heathen Lands, will peradventure rouse even us Swedes from our lethargy; and awaken that spirit of zeal and love, which shall have for its

result, what I have earnestly hoped and prayed for a SWEDISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY! Then shall we no longer neglect our own Heathen Countrymen, far up in the North, in our own woods and

mountains; where the Cross is, indeed, raised, but only as a guide-post!

In furtherance of this design, I am endeavouring to establish in Stockholm a Reading Society, consisting of such well-disposed persons as have both the ability and desire to extend their reading beyond a small Swedish Publication, and for this end to supply them with as many Foreign Missionary Publications as possible. By these means, even those, whose hearts are not yet with us because they do not as yet believe, may be constrained at length to confess that God still worketh wonders in the earth, and may even be brought to rejoice in the privilege of preparing the way of the Lord. Mr. Haeggman solicits the assistance of Societies and Individuals in furtherance of his design. Any Publications addressed to him, to the care of the Rev. J. P. Wahlin, No. 30, Princes Square, Ratcliff Highway, will be forwarded to him.

Mediterranean.

AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS.

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Pernicious Use of the word " Religion," prevalent in the Papal & Eastern Churches. WHEN the terms Religion" or "Religious" are used by enlightened Christians, they are meant of those persons only who manifest the power of the Truth by the renewal of their hearts and lives unto holiness but a grievous abuse of these terms prevails among Members of the Papal and Oriental Churches. With THEM, a man may be "religious," though he be personally wicked and destitute of all sufficient evidence of repentance and faith. On this painful topic Mr. Goodell makes a solemn appeal

:

Instances of this Abuse.

An instance of recent occurrence will set this in a striking point of view. Two Greeks, notorious for their piracies and other crimes, were about three weeks since tried and condemned, and three days after executed at this place. In the course of the trial, it appeared that the beef and anchovies, on board one of the English Vessels which they pirated, were left untouched; and the circumstances, under which they were left, appeared to the Court so peculiar, that the culprits were asked the cause of it: they promptly answered, that it was at the time of the Great Fast, when their Church eat neither meat nor fish! They appeared to be most hardened and abandoned wretches-enemies alike to their own and every other nation, and yet rigidly maintaining their "religious" plundering, and murdering, and stealing character: and, while they were robbing, the women and children of their countrymen and selling them to the Turks, and committing other atrocious deeds, they would have us understand that they were not so wicked as to taste of meat or fish, when prohibited by the Canons of their Church!

When they were apprehended, one of them had what he called “a small piece of the very cross of our Blessed Saviour,"

which he wore in his bosom: when this

was taken from him, he was greatly troubled; as he was now, he thought, in danger of being killed; whereas, before, not even a ball, he supposed, could touch him.

After their condemnation, the Greek

Priest in Malta confessed them; and this, that they were both the account which he gave of them was 66 very religious:" and yet one of them was employing the last precious hours, in which he enjoyed the light of this world and the privileges of probation, in writing a song; in which, among other things indicative of an impenitent and exceedingly-depraved heart, he bequeathed (and directed his friends to carry) to his Wife three portions of poison, to be taken one in the morning, one at noon, and the other at night—

Take to my wife, three cups of poison take, That wife will drink them for her husband's At dawn-at noon-at rest, [sake: Drink, wife, the hemlock test, Nor hope again to slumber on my breast!

He, also, jocosely tells her, that he is about to be married at Malta; and re

presents his tragical end as his nuptials: his bride is the gallows, his mother-inlaw the tomb, &c. Indeed, he appeared to feel that he had been a very "religious" man-that he had now confessed and obtained absolution for all that wherein he had failed of being religious -and that therefore he had nothing more to do, than to indulge in wit and

sarcasm.

Charity would fain believe that this was rather an extreme, than a common case; and yet I fear that it is by no means a solitary one. Men in this part of the world have universally imbibed such erroneous opinions respecting Sin, that correct notions of it can scarcely be said to have an existence. They put light for darkness, and darkness for light. When I have reproved persons at Beyrout for the most barefaced falsehood, dishonesty, or other immorality of which they were guilty, they have not unfrequently answered, "This has nothing to do with religion: it is a worldly concern." They know, indeed, that these things are not altogether right; but they are not the GREAT CRYING SINS, which their religion and their priests condemn, nor are they inconsistent with their religion. While we were in Syria, no man, to my knowledge, ever forfeited, by committing them, his "religious" character or his title to the name of Christian. The priests have little or nothing to do with the moral character of the people. Their business is understood to be with "religion" and not with "morality." I do not think that they would be allowed to interfere much with their morals: with all the reverence which the people entertain for their priests, I do not think that they would allow them to interfere with their immoral practices, except so far as to give them indulgences for a pecuniary consideration or for penance; and thus, virtually, to sell them a license to sin; or, at best, to increase their "religious," at the expense of their MORAL character. The Board remark on this degrading subject

The reason why appalling Wickedness exists in connection with a Nominal Christianity, is here exhibited. Christianity, as presenting to the mind precepts, penalties, and holy objects, all adapted to restrain from sin and purify the heart, is not known in these Countries; while, in its place, there is a System of Forms, not designed to have

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Intercourse with Roman Catholics and Copts at Caïro.

UNDER date of the 12th of August, Mr. Krusé writes

At our worship, almost every Sunday, two or three new hearers attend, mostly Roman Catholics, for no other purpose than to learn what we are doing. If they come early enough, I converse with them till the Service begins and if later, I receive them afterwards into my room, to know what they are in quest of. I then declare to them the love of Jesus-recommend the Word of God to them-and remind them of the sinfulness of their hearts, in order that they may care for their salvation. But, alas! there is no hearing ear for the truths of the Gospel; and often the conversation is interrupted by the question-"Do you believe, also, in the Virgin?" and then a number of questions are brought forward for debate, to my great sorrow. With those whose understanding is to a degree illuminated, and who without prejudice suffer themselves to be convinced by the Word of God, such discussions would prove beneficial; but the people are so ignorant here, that, as soon as I quote a passage unknown to them, it seems to them that our Bible is falsified, and thus the Word seems without fruit in their heart it falls upon the rock.

No Copt has yet attended our worship; not even of those who at other times visit us, except ONCE EACH in the beginning, on our urgent invitation; but then they slept during the prayers and the sermon. They excuse themselves, by stating, that they must go, on Sunday, to the market, to buy corn, rice, wood, charcoal, &c. for the whole week. Though many call for Books and Tracts, yet I do not find among the hundreds a single one who has asked the question, What must I do to be saved? On another occasion, Mr. Krusé writes

For a few days past, I have had many visits of Copts, and demands for the Word of God; especially by monks, who, in general, are very poor: they

entreated me, for the Lord's sake, to

give them some portion of the Holy Scriptures. To those who could read well, I gave a New Testament; and to others, who could not read so well, I presented the Gospels: but I dismissed none without the Tract "Traveller and Yourself," or some other useful Tract. There came a monk from the convent Mar Antonius, together with a priest from Upper Egypt. The monk requested a Bible for the Raïs (Principal) of the convent, who had sent this monk to Caïro expressly for that purpose:

as

he assured me that there was no complete Bible in the whole convent, and that the Patriarch had sent him, I presented him with a copy, together with several good Tracts for himself and his brethren in the convent. The priest also wanted to have a Bible gratis; which had I granted, numbers of priests and monks would have visited me on the following day to get Bibles on the same terms; and, having only 20 to dispose of, they would have been gone in a moment. I pointed out to the priest the way in which they might all be provided with Bibles, saying, "Give my kind regards to the Patriarch, and tell him, that each Bible costs in London more than three dollars; but that if the Patriarch wishes to furnish all the priests and monks with the Scriptures, and will pay only one dollar for each, I will procure for him as many as he desired, should they amount to 10 or 20 cases: but the priest answered, "This the Patriarch will not do: he does not even provide for our daily bread and raiment, which we are con

strained to obtain by begging-how much less will he give us books!"

These visits of the Copts are generally very long; which, however, I do not perceive if I am not overcharged with other pressing affairs: otherwise I receive them with great pleasure, and am glad and thankful for the opportunity to speak with them on the Word of God. This is, in fact, the only way of intercourse with the Christians of this country; for they seem to shun the Sermon, which is delivered regularly every Sunday in our house.

Entire Deference of a Roman Catholic to the Scriptures.

In the Letter of the 12th of Au

gust, Mr. Krusé, after the account, above extracted, of the little effect of the Word upon the Roman Catholics who occasionally attended, adds

This was the case with all those who visited us till about a fortnight ago, when two men called, one of whom shewed superior intelligence, and who, as I afterward had opportunity to perceive, searches for the truth. At first, this man used the same language as the others, refusing the arguments from the Bible, because it was printed in England. I made him compare it with the Italian Bible; but that being likewise printed in England, he refused it also. As he understood some Latin, I set before him the Vulgate, which he then compared with the Arabic and Italian; and, having found them to agree, he has since admitted every proof from the Scriptures.

I gave this man a New Testament, with an injunction to read it at home to his wife, every morning and evening: he promised to do so, and kept his promise. Three days after he came again, shewing me how far he had read; and stating, that his wife, having been four days since confined in child-birth, which prevented him from following his business, he had read almost all day to those women also who came to see his wife: when he arrived at the passage Matt. xiii. 55-57, they all cried out,

66

This is heresy! you are become an Englishman-this is not in the Gospel :" he answered," Here it is written: look here!" "No, this is not agreeable to the Gospel-cut the leaf out !" "What! cut a leaf out of the Word of God! L