72 23d Report of the London Missionary Society. cannot live. baptized. The converted natives, happy in the knowledge and love of Christ, thus express themselves: In Jesus we find all our life, comfort, joy, peace, and happiness. Without Jesus we Were we to be again without him, we should lose our immortal souls There is no refuge, nor help, nor rest, nor salvation, but in our gracious Redeemer." Such are the heavenly breathings of these poor Corannas, who were a few years ago miserable savages, without God, without hope, and without comfort in the world! Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Marquard are gone to labour in the Namaqua Country. Mr. B, coming to a krall of Namaquas, was forcibly detained the people would not suffer him to depart till he had instructed them in the way of Salvation: some of them, it is said, laid themselves down in the road before him, to prevent his departure. MALTA. Mr. Lowndes, with his wife and infant son, arrived at Malta on the 6th of November. He will continue there for a time, in order to learn Italian, which is much spoken in the Ionian Isles, to which he is going; and to perfect himself in Modern Greek, to which he paid attention before he left England. CANADA. From the Brethren sent out to Canada, and who were to receive assistance from the Society only until they could be supported by their congregations, we have received little information during the last year. Mr. Spratt continues at Quebec, Mr. Smart at Elizabeth Town, but Mr Cox has removed from John's Town. Mr Sabine, from England, having settled at St John's, Newfoundland, Mr. Hyde, who was there as a temporary supply, has returned home The Directors have afforded some assistance to the Rev. William M'Killican, from Scotland, who went over in the course of last summer to Upper Canada, and who has settled at Green Island, where he preaches, in Gaelic, to the Highlanders, who were destitute of the means of grace. Great numbers of these emigrants have settled in that country. The Society has sent out to them a large quantity of books and tracts, in their own tongue. WEST INDIES. TRINIDAD. Mr. Adam is pretty well attended, especially by people of colour and negroes. Several of the planters in the country have expressed a desire that their negroes may be instructed, and have promised to contribute to the support of a teacher. DEMERARY The Directors have at length been enabled to send to Le Resouvenir, Mr. Smith, who had for some time been under the care of the Rev. Mr. Newton, of Witham. They indulge the hope that he will be the instrument of re collecting and establishing the scattered congregation tormerly under the ministry of Mr. Wray. Mr. Davies and Mr. Elliott are both at George Town. Mr. Correspondence of the Massachusetts' Peace Society. 73. Davies continues to preach to a number of negroes, both of the town and country. Mr. Elliott gives an encouraging account of the attendance of the negroes on his ministry, especially in the country; and that many of them hold prayer-meetings among themselves, greatly to their edification. BERBICE. Mr. Wray writes, that he hopes good is doing among the people. The place of worship is filled on a Sunday evening, with people of all colours, who now behave well; but many of the negroes are forbidden to attend, and threatened to be flogged if they do; and the Testaments and Hymn books have been taken away from the children. The pretext for this severity is the disturbance that took place at Barbadoes, which was falsely ascribed to the Missionaries, as has been unquestionably ascertained. About half the Crown negroes have been restored to the Dutch: many belonged to those estates in which there was the greatest attention to instruction. This change has been very injurious to the cause of religion among them for although the gentlemen in Holland, to whom those estates belong, may wish that the same plan of instruction and melioration which had been commenced should be continued, some of the inferior managers do all in their power to prevent their improvement, and ascribe the mischiefs that have happened, to the zeal of the Missionaries, and to the religion of the slaves. Correspondence between the Massachusetts Peace Society and the Emperor of Russia, and Prince Galitzin. FROM THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY TO THE EMPEROR. BRIGHTON, (near Boston,) April 9, 1817. SIR,―The friendly disposition which you have manifested in favour of the Christian religion and the peace of the world, has encouraged this address. The very week in which the Holy League of the three sovereigns was officially announced in Russia, a society was formed in Boston, by the name of "the Massachusetts Peace Society," the object of which is to disseminate the very principles avowed in the wonderful alliance, and to do whatever may lawfully be done to prevent the recurrence of war, and to promote peace on earth, and good will among men. I take the liberty to present a copy of all the publications which have been circulated by the society. From these you may obtain information of the state of the society, the number of its members at the close of the first year, and its prospects. The first Annual Report, and the list of officers and members, are contained in the seventh number of the Friend of Peace. Many members have since been added-a new society has since been formed in the State of New-York. At least four Peace Societies have been organized in the United States,-others are about forming. Besides these, we have in our country nearly one thousand congregations of Friends or Quakers, which we regard as so many Peace Societies by profession and practice. The pamphlets your Majesty will be pleased to accept, as a .74 Correspondence between the Mass. Peace Society token of the veneration and esteem in which your character is held by the friends of peace in this country. In behalf of the Massachusetts Peace Society, NOAH WORCESTER, Cor. Sec. His Majesty, ALEXANDER, Emperor of all the Russias. THE EMPEROR'S ANSWER. SIR, Your letter in behalf of the Massachusetts Peace Society, with the books accompanying it, were received. The object which this philanthropic institution has in view, the dissemination of the principles of peace and amity among men, meets with my cordial approbation. My endeavours to promote peace and good will among the nations are already known; and the power and influence which Almighty God has committed to me, shall ever be employed, trust, in striving to secure to the nations the blessings of that peace which they now enjoy. Considering the object of your society, the promotion of peace among mankind, as one so eminently congenial to the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have judged it proper to express these my sentiments respecting your labours, in answer to your communication to me on this subject. ALEXANDER. To Rev. NOAH WORCESTER, Secr’y of M. P. S. St. Petersburgh, July 4, 1817. LETTER TO PRINCE GALITZIN. " BRIGHTON, (near Boston,) April 9, 1817. SIR,-Your name is known and revered in America as the President of the Russian Bible Society. The confidence which your excellent official letters have inspired, induces me to send for your perusal all the publications which have been circulated by the Massachusetts Peace Society. Similar copies will accompany these for your worthy Emperor. The noble ground which he has taken in the Holy League, has greatly encouraged the hearts of the friends of peace in this country. As the pamphlets will give you information of the prospects of the Peace Society, I shall only express the hope which is entertained, that your name will be enrolled among the avowed friends of peace, and there shine with as great lustre as it has done among the Presidents of National Bible Societies. NOAH WORCESTER, Cor. Sec. M. P. S. His Excel. Prince ALEXANDER GALITZIN. ANSWER OF PRINCE GALITZIN. SIR, I received your letter of the 9th April, with the numbers of the Friend of Peace accompanying it, by the bands of Mr. Parsons; for which I return you my hearty thanks. The object which your society has in view, is of great importance to the well-being and happiness of the human race. Indeed it seems to me to be almost the same as that of Bible Societies for it is only in proportion as the divine and peaceable principles of the Gospel of Jesus : and the Emperor of Russia and Prince Galitsin. 75 Christ prevail in the hearts of men, that lasting and universal peace I understand to be the same as that in which it is prophesied that all men shall know the Lord even from the least unto the greatest, and that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. These latter promises seem to be daily fulfilling in every quarter of the world, by the exertion of Bible and other hristian Socielies, to disseminate among men the saving and pacific principles of Jesus Christ. They are preparing the way for your society's gaining its object--peace-universal peace-when men shall learn the art of war no more Most earnestly praying for every blessing to accompany your labour, in promoting peace on earth and good will among men, I shall reckon it a peculiar honour to be among the members of such a humane society. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, PRINCE ALEX. GALITZIN, To Rev. NOAH WORCESTER, Sec. M. P. S. At a meeting of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Peace Society, Sept. 25, the foregoing correspondence was communicated, and by them ordered to be published. JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. Memoir of THOMAS JACOBS, who died at Thatcham, Berks. (Eng.) June 27th, 1816, aged 19 years. Of all the doctrines of the Gospel, there is none opposed with more violence and subtilty than that of regeneration by the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit, so there is scarcely any person more despised in the world, than he who professes his experience of it, or declares the time and manner in which it was wrought upon himself. Even the mention of this sublime doctrine is become a reproach among some who call themselves Christians; but they are those, and those only, who disregard the positive declaration of the blessed Saviour unto Nicodemus, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou heareth the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." In giving an account of the work of grace, the delightful effects of which were very visible in the conduct of the departed youth, it is not merely intended to do honour to a deceased friend, who is now alike indifferent to the praise or censure of mortals; but with a hope that some individual may be benefitted by his experience, and that the grace of God may thus be magnified in him. It appears that the mind of this youth was first particularly impressed with divine truths, some time in June, 1814; at which time, and previously, he attended upon the preaching of the Gos 76 Memoir of the pious life, and happy death of T. Jacobs, 66 pel, at Castle-street Chapel, Reading, while under the care and tuition of Mr. Dyer, who was a constant attendant at that place of worship; and, according to his own statement, a sermon preached from the first chapter of Proverbs and 10th verse, “ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not," proved a great blessing to him. It operated as a salutary check whenever any of his school-fellows were disposed to tempt him to sin, for these words would impress his mind with irresistible energy, My son, consent thou not." From this time he was often much distressed on account of sin; he perceived its evil tendency, and felt how deeply the festering malady was rooted in his heart: on these accounts he was much engaged in reading the Holy Scriptures, which, under the influence of the Holy Spirit's teaching, revealed to him the Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and also the illustrious Friend of sinners, whose hand alone administers that healing medicine which infallibly cures the plague of the heart; to that sacred fount he applied by faith, and soon found by sweet experience that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin, and that joy and peace in the Holy Ghost are connected with believing in Jesus. The xlv chapter of Isaiah, 22 verse, "Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else," afforded him much encouragement, and he took great comfort from John vi chapter and 37 verse, "And him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." They were portions of Sacred Writ, on which he used to meditate with peculiar delight; he was much in prayer with God, and his acquaintance with divine truths progressively improved. Christ and his cross constituted his chief theme. While the deceased was under Mr. Dyer's care, the latter often expressed the satisfaction he received from the steady and exemplary conduct of young Jacobs, who had become a very serious youth, and promised to produce a source of consolation to his friends. A near relative, on receiving 30 favourable an account, was very anxious when he left school to get him placed in a religious family, lest the tender plant which had put forth so beautiful a flower should perish by the rude storms of temptation, without producing the divine fruit, a fatal circumstance which the friends of religious youth have too often had occasion to deplore. The Lord soon granted her request, as the Rev. Mr. Harper, a dissenting minister near London, procured for him a situation as usher in a boarding school, at Stockwell, Surry, kept by Mr. Ford, a truly pious man, which he entered upon in January, 1815. During the preceding Christmas recess, the deceased resided with his relation and another kind friend, who had repeated opportunities of conversing with him, and they were greatly delighted by what they saw and heard in his walk and conversation; his habitual seriousness appeared so striking, that they could almost persuade themselves that he had known the good ways of God for many years. It was evident that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ had worked an effectual and permanent change in the heart of this young man ; |