visited by the missionaries. Mr. Abbot was at Rangoon in 1837, when there was a rebellion against the government, and the greatest possible alarm among the people. At this time he met with a young Karen who told him that if he would go with him to his friends, some three days' journey distant, he thought they would hear and embrace the gospel. He accompanied him, none inquiring his object, because they were wholly occupied with their own concerns. He found a man, since known as the young chief; he was then wild as a mountain deer. He became a convert, learned to read, began to preach, and multitudes from the whole country thronged to hear him. Additional native teachers and preachers were sent out, and through these men the truths of the gospel were diffused widely in all that region. In 1839, the missionaries left Burmah, not because it was unsafe in time of peace, though | in time of war every man who wears a hat is liable to be imprisoned. All religions are tolerated, but no proselyting is allowed. The first man who abandons the religion of Boodh for Christianity is exposed to the most cruel oppression. Worse than savage tortures are often inflicted upon those who offend the government. Rangoon is a beautiful place. The missionaries might have safely stayed; but they could do nothing. The Jesus Christ men (as the missionaries are called) were told they could not have a Karen even as a servant. We crossed the mountains into Arracan, and at one place I baptized at one time 100 converts. Our religion had crossed before us. A young pedlar who had gone into Burmah, had found some Christians, and received from them a tract in Burmese, which he could read -an epitome of the gospel; and on his return to his village, in Arracan, comprising some ten or twelve families, he read the tract, and all at once received the truth and began to worship the Christian's God. The old men had a tradition that white strangers would come in a golden ship and bring them a religion in a white book; and they believe this tract of white paper to contain the account of this religion. In Arracan and over the mountains are twenty-six churches, and the number of communicants about 3100. There are two ordained native pastors, and some twenty-three native preachers. It is about three days' journey over the mountains from Arracan into Burmah. About 100 Karens have fled from persecution in Burmah and settled in Arracan. The cholera soon after swept off more than a hundred of them. One church at Great Plains has 170 members. Some of the churches are ten days' journey apart. The Karens are anxious for instruction, and hundreds of youth would be placed under the tuition of competent teachers. Arracan is under the protection of the British government, and Mr. Abbot had been treated with noble generosity by officers of the British army. One had sent him a hundred dollars at one time, for his school. AFRICA. MADAGASCAR. A circular has been issued by the secretaries of the London Missionary Society, with a copy of which we have been favoured, in which they say, "There is still hope for Madagascar. God is hearing the prayers of his people, and the things we now communicate are answers to prayer. We have often called you to weep for that land; we now invite you to rejoice, and yet not without trembling; for the spirit of persecution still survives, and the dangers to which the little flock is exposed are still many and serious. Our consolation is, that 'greater is He who is with them than all that can be against them.'" Mr. Baker, a missionary at Port Louis, Mauritius, says, "I have just received from Madagascar, seven letters of the deepest interest, from the native Christians. Their chief topic is the conversion to the Christian faith of Rakotondradama, the queen's only son and heir apparent to the throne. This great event appears to have occurred towards the middle of last year. Abandoned to the power of their persecutors, and all human help apparently afar off, the Christians, after see ing at least twenty of their number suffer martyrdom, were becoming discouraged, when they found in the young prince, now seventeen years of age, if not an all-powerful support for the present, at least a brighter hope for the future, should an overruling Providence place him on the throne of his ancestors."... The following are extracts :- "The increase of people believing the word of God is very great, and Rakotondradama (the prince) has received the word of God; so that the twenty-one captive Christians were not put to death by the queen; for Rakoto prevented it, by the blessing of God, and the queen has not slain them. The land is full of robbers, and the queen is continually putting them to death; yet they will not be stopped, but continue to increase." "This is our state here: the Christian assemblies became lukewarm and discouraged after the martyrdom of the nine Christians in 1840; but a certain youth received the word of God, and became exceedingly bold and powerful in proclaiming it; and we had assemblies every Wednesday, and Saturday, and Sunday, in a large house, and we became very numerous (more than one hundred new converts were made). The name of this young man is Ramaka; called by us, for secrecy, Rasalasala (the bold one). It was he, through his courage, that obtained the prince to receive the word of God. If it had not been for the help of God, through the intercession of Rakoto, the twenty-one Christians would have been destroyed. Tell all our friends that Rakotondradama does indeed receive the word of God in much love: but his mother remains (i. e., a heathen)." inquires, the more his convictions will be deepened of the divine origin and authority of the Christian religion. Yet the Christians, in their letters, beg that prayers may be offered up for him by Christians. They probably fear for the purity of his life, amidst general "And we, five months after we had gained corruption and the temptations to which he over the prince, were the subjects of a perse-will be peculiarly exposed; and all their hope cution, twenty-one being made prisoners, and is placed in the help of God." nearly put to death by the queen; but by the help of God afforded to Rakotondradama, it was prevented: the queen's heart relented. These twenty-one were out of one hundred who had recently received the word of God, and had been accused to the government, but, by the blessing of God, the accusation was not pursued; for Raininiharo (the queen's prime minister) burned the list of names, having found amongst them is own aide-de-camp. The believers augment very much." The last letter, addressed to the missionaries at Mauritius, is signed with the prince's name, as under his sanction, dated "Foulepointe, February 7th, 1846." "We went up to Antananarivo, and there met (in a religious assembly) with the queen's son and the persecuted Christians, nothing disheartened by the temptations of Satan, though they may suffer in bonds: and those Christians not persecuted we found increasing exceedingly; yea, becoming indeed many. And Rakotondradama, the queen's son, makes very great progress in the love of the Lord, by God's blessing, and is able to assemble some Christians with himself every night, to thank and praise God. Oh, blessed be God, who has caused his mercy to descend upon Rakotondradama and all the people! Nevertheless, the laws of the queen (against Christianity) are very severe; but the kingdom of our Lord and yours, makes progress; and the Christians augment greatly in numbers, say "RAKOTONDRADAMA, "And the Christians at Antananarivo. "And we at Foulepointe want books, say "JESOA, HAREM, &c." "From the above signature of the prince," adds Mr. Baker, "I infer he is looked upon as the head of the Christians at Antananarivo. A perilous office! There is, indeed, something heroic in his position. It reminds one of the olden times. It is a striking instance of that decision of character nobly characteristic of the Haras; and I may add, it is a signal instance of the grace of God. Once convinced, he took no counsel with political expediency and unmanly fears, but joined himself to the poor persecuted Christians, and I have little doubt he will prove, like the earlier martyrs of his nation, 'faithful unto death,' if called upon so to attest the sincerity of his convictions. But I cannot think the aged queen would give up her only son to death; and the more he is persecuted, the more he will inquire; and the more he EUROPE. ITALY. The new pope is said to be a liberal; and it has been represented as a heinous offence, by some professed protestants, to do anything to subvert his influence, he being himself a reformer. Some flagrant abuses he has doubtless shown a disposition to rectify, and he has a sufficiently acute perception of what is politic, to know that it is desirable to combine gentleness of manner with firmness in enforcing the essentials of his system. That there is no such improvement, however, as to promise anything of real value is shown in the Encyclical Letter which he has just addressed" to all patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops." The right of men to judge for themselves of the meaning of God's testimony is denied in the following terms: Hence, too, plainly appears in what error they continue, who, abusing their reasoning powers, and esteeming the word of God as a human production, dare rashly to interpret it, when God himself has appointed a living authority to teach the true and legitimate sense of his heavenly revelation, to establish it, to settle away all controversies on matters of faith and morals with an infallible decision, so that the faithful may not be carried about by every wind of the wickedness of men to the circumventing of error. Which living and infallible authority exists only in that church which, built by Christ our Lord on Peter, the head, the chief and pastor of the whole church, whose faith he promised should never fail has ever her legitimate pontiffs deducing their origin without intermission from Peter himself, placed in his chair- heirs and possessors of the same doctrine, dignity, honour, and power. And since where Peter is there is the church,' and Peter speaks by the Roman pontiff, and ever lives and exercises judgment in his successors, and gives forth the truth of faith to those seeking it, therefore the divine words are clearly to be received in that sense which this Roman chair of blessed Peter, the mother and mistress of all churches, hath always preserved whole and inviolate, and has ever taught to the faithful, showing to all the path of safety and the doctrine of uncorrupted truth. For this is the chief of churches, from which the unity of the priesthood hath arisen. This is the centre and metropolis of piety, wherein is the entire and perfect solidity of the Christian religion; in which the primacy of the apostolic chair hath ever flourished; to which, on account of its pre-eminent dignity, it is necessary that all churches-that is to say, the faithful-wheresoever found, should repair; with which whosoever gathereth not, scattereth. We, therefore, who, by the inscrutable judgment of God, have been seated in this chair of truth, appeal with earnestness in the Lord to your eminent piety, venerable brethren, that with all solicitude and zeal you may assiduously exert yourselves to admonish and exhort the faithful committed to your care, to the end that firmly adhering to these principles they may never suffer themselves to be deceived or led away into error by those men who, having become abominable by their pursuits, under the pretence of human progress' labour to undermine faith, impiously to subject faith to reason, and to overthrow the revealed word of God; who hesitate not to offer the highest insult and outrage to God himself, who hath deigned by his holy religion most graciously to provide for the good of men here and their salvation hereafter." The celibacy of the clergy-that fruitful source of abominations, which many Romanists have desired to see abolished-is regarded by the pontiff with continued delight : "You are already well acquainted, venerable brethren, with other monsters of error, and the frauds with which the children of the present age strive bitterly to beset the catholic religion and the divine authority of the church; to oppose its laws, and to trample on the rights of the sacred as well as of the civil power. To this point tend those guilty conspiracies against this Roman chair of the blessed Peter, on which Christ laid the irremoveable foundations of his church. To this point tend the operations of those secret societies, emerging from their native darkness for the ruin and devastation of the common weal, as well sacred as social, who have been again and again condemned with anathema by the Roman pontiffs, our predecessors, in their apostolic letters, which we, in the plenitude of our apostolic power, confirm, and command to be most strictly observed. This, also, is the tendency and design of those insidious bible societies, which, renewing the crafts of the ancient heretics, cease not to obtrude upon all kinds of men, even the least instructed, gratuitously and at immense expense, copies in vast numbers of the books of the sacred scriptures translated against the holiest rules of the church into various vulgar tongues, and very often with the most perverse and erroneous interpretations, to the end that divine tradition, the doctrine of the fathers, and the authority of the catholic church being rejected, every man may inter pret the revelations of the Almighty according to his own private judgment, and perverting their sense, fall into the most dangerous errors. Which societies, emulous of his predecessor, Gregory XVI., of blessed memory, to whose place we have been permitted to succeed without his merits, reproved by his apostolic letter, and we desire equally to condemn. Still, to the same point tends that horrible system, extremely repugnant even to the light of natural reason, of indifference to any kind of religion, by which these impostors, abolishing all distinction between truth and falsehood, between honesty and baseness, pretend to secure eternal salvation to men of any form of worship whatsoever, as if it were possible that there should be any participation of justice with iniquity, any association of light with darkness, any agreement between Christ and Belial. To this point tends that infamous conspiracy against the sacred celibacy of the clergy, whichoh, shame!-has been encouraged even by some ecclesiastics, who, miserably forgetful of their proper dignity, have suffered themselves to be overcome and drawn aside by the seductions and the blandishments of illicit pleasure." The powers of this world are still invoked to uphold the papal system : "We confidently hope that our dear sons in Jesus Christ, the princes, recollecting in their wisdom and piety that the regal power was given them, not only for the government of the world, but especially for the defence of the church, and that we maintain at one and the same time the cause of the church, that of their kingdoms and of their salvation, by which they enjoy in peace their authority over their provinces, that they will favour by their support and authority the vows and desires that we form in common, and that they will defend the liberty and prosperity of the church, in order that the right hand of Christ may defend their empires." The spiritual advocacy on which the papacy relies is described thus: And that the most merciful God may more readily hear our prayers and grant our desires, let us have recourse to the intercession of the most holy mother of God, the immaculate Virgin Mary, our most sweet mother, our mediatrix, our advocate, our firmest hope, the source of our confidence, and whose protection is most powerful and most efficacious with God. Let us invoke also the prince of the apostles, to whom Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whom he chose for the foundationstone of his church, against which the gate of hell shall never prevail, and his co-apostle Paul, and all the saints of heaven, who already crowned possess the palm, that they may shed down upon all Christian people the treasures of divine mercy." GERMANY. A letter from Czerski, the German reformer, is contained in the new publication entitled, Evangelical Christendom, from which we take the following extracts: You have already heard of the great movement which took place in the catholic church in these regions, to which I indeed gave the external occasion; but internally the minds of very many had long been prepared for it by the powerful voices of those clergy who, for years past, had not only seen, but denounced the abuses in the Romish church; so that they felt the load and burden which the Romish idol and his servants had laid upon them, and longed after true liberty in Christ Jesus. You will find my assertion, that the congregations are generally turning to positive Christianity, confirmed by a just published work of Dr. Theiner, entitled, "Efforts at Reform," in which he shows that Rongé, &c., are no longer to be regarded as leaders of the reform, which is quietly proceeding. In my immediate neighbourhood, and the country around, the reform has made a good impres sion. The Roman catholics perceive more and more the condemnable doctrines of their church; yea, even many of the priests long for the true liberty which is in Christ, and would gladly forsake the Roman communion at once were they not hindered by anxiety respecting their future means of subsistence. The church of Rome in this country is rich. Many of her priests draw from 2000 to 3000 dollars of annual income. The Christian catholic clergy, on the contrary, must live upon alms, and very often experience absolute want; and this it is which still binds so many to the prince of Rome, for surely the pope is nothing else than a temporal prince in regard to the Christian church! I severed myself from the Romish idols, and my example was followed by many congregations of Christians who made themselves independent of Rome, and constituted themselves as Christian catholic, or German catholic churches. But then appeared the enemy of all that is good and true- the enemy of the Crucified One-and sought to annihilate this fair young seed, and to prevent its blossoming. This new movement was joined by many, devoid alike of Christian sentiments and Christian feelings, who, having hitherto wandered about in total indifference, or even atheism, now thought to find in this new church a suitable place of refuge. The following extract is from a letter They exerted all their powers to make them- addressed by Mr. Oncken to Dr. Hoby, who selves masters of the movement, in order to takes a lively interest in the subject to which give it an unchristian tendency; yet, despite it refers, and is willing to receive any contritheir efforts, they did not succeed in uproot-butions towards it that may be forwarded ing the deep religious feelings implanted in to him. Mr. Oncken says,the people; so that many who were at first deceived, begin now to turn back (as perhaps you may have already learned from the public papers), and have again recognized that no one can lay another foundation than that which is laid-Christ Jesus. Rongé himself, who at first was carried away by unbelief and the most shallow rationalism, is said to have now acknowledged that Christ is all in all for mankind! It is not, therefore, necessary that I should particularize to you those congregations which hold fast by positive Christianity, because many that were formerly seduced are now returning to Christ, and acknowledge him as the Son of the living God; and we may therefore hope, that the few who have not yet openly declared themselves in favour of positive Christianity, will yet, by the help of God, return and seek salvation in Christ alone. It is true, voices still continue to be raised in favour of unbelief; they are, however, listened to and heeded by few. The begun reform proceeds quietly on its course of Christian development. Congregations are sending away their unbelieving clergy, and seeking to supply their place by serious worthy men devoted to Christ and his sacred cause. Thus, for ex HAMBURG. "I rejoice now to inform you that we have purchased the following lot:-four old houses, a new warehouse, 73 by 21 feet, lying in a pretty large garden at the back of the four old houses. The warehouse will, with very slight improvements, just suit us; it is composed of one ground-story, is upwards of twenty feet high, and admits sufficient light from the roof. We are to take possession of it on the 1st of May, 1847, when we shall require about £750. We have in all about £550. The rent of the four houses is, after deducting town dues, about 1000 marks, or £60, which will cover the interest nearly for the amount inscribed on these buildings. The whole lot was sold at 34,525 marks banco, about £2570. We have the houses, owing to the scarcity of money at present, about 6000 marks banco lower than was anticipated, and the whole church is full of joy and gratitude to God that now at last we have the prospect of having a temple of our own, in which, we trust, spiritual children will be born to God like the morning dew. When more than twenty-three years ago, I began my labours in this city, I had no prospect or hope to see this day. But what cannot our gracious Lord accomplish when his time to favour Zion is come? I trust this new proof of his goodness will lead us to renewed devotedness and exertions in the advancement of his cause. You will oblige me and the whole church to acquaint our brethren in England with our present position, and I Lope this will call forth their renewed aid, especially as £200 is all we ask for at present. God continues to bless us greatly. Seventythree precious souls were added to us last year, and several hopeful converts have already applied since the commencement of the present year." Benjamin Risdon, Esq., aged eighty-six years. After a severe and protracted illness, borne with Christian patience and fortitude, he fell asleep in Jesus. His end was peace. MRS. ANN BOOTH. Died, on the 7th of January, in the eightieth year of her age, Ann Both, the last surviving child of the late Rev. Abraham Booth, formerly of Little Prescot Street, London. ORDINATIONS. MOUNT ZION CHAPEL, BIRMINGHAM. A letter relating to the settlement of the Rev. J. M. Daniell in this large place of worship, written by the Rev. T. Morgan, whose pastoral labours in this town were for many years eminently acceptable and useful, but whose bodily infirmities have led him to relinquish his charge, will be found in a subsequent part of our present number. CAVENDISH CHAPEL, RAMSGATE. The Rev. Francis Wills, having resigned the pastoral charge of the baptist church assembling in Silver Street Chapel, Kensington, on account of the declining state of Mrs. Wills's health, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the baptist church at Ramsgate, late under the pastoral care of the Rev. J. M. Daniell. SHEERNESS, The Rev. Cornelius Flim, late of Bexley Heath, has accepted the unanimous call of the particular baptist church at Zion Chapel, Sheerness, to be their future pastor, and commenced his stated labours among them, Lord's day, February 7th, 1817. GREAT ELLINGHAM, NORFolk. The Rev. J. Cragg, late of Blakeney, has accepted a unanimous invitation to the old baptist church at Great Ellingham, having been compelled to resign his charge at Blakeney in consequence of indisposition occasioned, it is believed, by the sea air. He is to enter upon his new undertaking at the end of March. RECENT DEATHS. B. RISDON, ESQ. Died, Sept. 20, 1846, at his residence, Burlingham, near Pershore, Worcestershire, MRS. SUMMERSCALES. Mrs. Ann Summerscales departed this life January 14, 1847, in her seventieth year. She had been a member of the baptist church worshipping in Mint Lane Chapel, Lincoln, for twenty-seven years. She was steady in her profession of the gospel, and constant in her attachment to the people of God. She was a cheerful giver to the Redeemer's cause, and was surpassed by few in unostentatious liberality to the poor, many of whom feel that in her death they have lost a friend who was ever ready to minister to their necessities. Her last affliction was long and painful, but her mind was stayed on God and kept in peace. She had a deep sense of her own unworthiness, and no hope of salvation but through the riches of divine grace. She gloried only in the cross of Christ, and earnestly desired to depart and be with him in the house not made with hands. She died in peace. Her funeral sermon was preached by her pastor on Lord's day evening, Jan. 23, from Eccl. xii. 7, when a large congregation testified their respect for her memory. MR. GEORGE JEREMIAH STEVENS. This respected deacon of the baptist church eighth year, on the 15th of January, triumphat Sawbridgeworth, Herts, died, in his seventying in the faith of the gospel. MRS. GREY, A member of the baptist church at Bishops' Stortford, died in the Lord on sabbath morning, Jan. 31, at an advanced age. COLLECTANEA. DR. YATES'S SUNGSKRIT DICTIONARY. We are happy to see the publication of a dictionary of the Sungskrit language by the late Dr. Yates announced. It has, we believe, been edited since his lamented death by the Rev. J. Wenger. It is portable in size, an octavo of 900 pages, instead of being an unwieldy quarto; and the price is mode |