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168

Selections from the Appendix to the

this world, and entered into eternity, instructed, enlightened, and sanctified, by the word of truth, contained in the Holy Scriptures, which were left for their perusal in the hospital.

The Crown Prince, to whom I requested permission to dedicate my second edition, granted it very readily, and signified, that in my endeavours to disseminate the word of God, he recognized with pleasure the true spirit of Christianity. When I sent him, a copy of my second edition, with the Dedication, he sent me a letter, by return of post, written by himself, of which the following is a transcript:

"I have had the pleasure to receive your obliging letter, together with a copy of the last edition of your New Testament. If every steady friend of the Christian religion feels it his duty to promote, by all the means in his power, the general dissemination of the word of God, and, consequently, the knowledge of true Christianity, how sacred ought such an undertaking to appear in the eyes of Princes! How welcome to them every measure that may tend to promote, in the speediest and most effectual manner, the attainment of so exalted an object! Considered in this point of view, your endeavours to promote the knowledge of the Christian religion, by means of your New Testament, meets my unqualified approbation; and as an acknowledgment of my gratitude for the transmission of a copy of it to me, I beg your acceptance of a gold medal, as a pledge of the sincerity of the sentiments with which

October 5, 1816.

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From the same. Munich, January 15, 1817.

My third edition meets with such a demand, that since the beginning of December, more than 4000 copies have been disposed of. Thus, I have not 1000 copies left of the whole edition. On this account, a fourth is printing with all possible speed, and will soon be finished, as the types are standing, and four presses in activity.

From Letters addressed to a Roman Catholic Clergyman, by a Clergyman of the same Church. February 20, 1817.

To the glory of God. we are constrained to say, that many read the word of God with joy, and derive from it, according to the measure of their understanding, comfort and encouragement, so as to excite others, both in and out of our parish, to emulation. Several heads of families have declared, that they could not now live without the Gospel. People come from neighbouring towns and villages, to fetch New Testaments; and we confidently hope, that the word of God will, at last, leaven the whole lump.

The following anecdote may serve to illustrate its effect: About three months ago, a man, whose name is Antony S., came from a neighbouring parish, on a visit to a family here, where a pious young woman of twenty, named Francisca, used lo

13th Report of the Br. and For. B. S.

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read the New Testament to the rest. Antony listened also, but laughed, and derided it. After some time, he paid another visit; heard again, but scoffed and blasphemed, particularly at the passage, John iii. 16. Perceiving that the young reader rose much grieved, and shut up the book, he said, "I beg your pardon, I did not mean to offend you; but I do not believe either in this Book, or in the Priest's; the whole is a lie," &c. (Isa. lix. 20.) Francisca answered, in a solemn tone, You do not offend me, but God; whoever offends this Book, offends God himself; for, it is the word of God. But that you may not sin still more grievously, I will go away," (Matt. vii. 6.) She took the New Testament, went into her closet, full of sorrow, wept, and prayed, "Lord, lay it not to his charge, but graciously open his eyes." Antony went away, but could not get the New Testament out of his mind, either by day or by night. Once, awaking out of a dream, it suddenly struck like lightning into his soul: "What have I done? I have uttered blasphemies against the word of God!" His conscience was roused; he had no rest, and determined to return, beg pardon, and recant. This he did, the very next Saturday. The first person whom he met, was Francisca, whom he asked, whether she still had the New Testament; "Yes," answered she, "but not for you." Antony, the man who had formerly been so hardened, now began, in the most affecting manner, with tears, lo ask pardon for his profaneness, and told her how the Lord had convinced him of his sin. Francisca gave him her New Testament, in which he read for days together. Soon after he came as a heavy laden sinner to us; and that very passage which he bad ridiculed, became the balm to his wounds, and the solace of his troubled heart.

Yesterday, Shrove Tuesday, (February 18, 1817,) the Dean preached a sermon, exhorting to repentance, in which he recommended the Scriptures very zealously. A great number of people were assembled. We had taken 82 New Testaments with us, which were disposed of in a quarter of an hour, after the sermon was over. We might have distributed double the number. the same place, 200 copies had been previously distributed.

From the Rev. Professor Leander Van Ess.

In

Marburg, August 25, 1816. I SEND you a few copies of my revised edition of the New Testament, in duodecimo. The second, upon larger types, will soon leave the press; and the third edition will follow afterwards. The Four Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sanctions of my New Testament, greatly promote the desire after it, and smooth the way for their dissemination.

I have received several letters from Lower Hesse, with requests for Bibles, even from formerly opulent familes of the military, who did not much regard the Bible before, but are now desirous, in their poverty and distress, of seeking instruction, consolation, and support, in the word of God.

170 Extracts from the Journal by Rev. H. Townley,

In the kingdom of God, no time is to be lost in the spreading of his holy word. We must fly like messengers from heaven, to proclaim among all nations the glorious and eternal Gospel. I am hurried on to it night and day. The gloomy clouds begin already to gather, to overwhelm us with their darkness; we must endeavour to prevent the night from coming upon us; but our work will then require more labour, and the faithful will have great combats to encounter. In the back ground of time, famine, misery, and war, are already preparing fresh judgments of God upon the world and nations. May the Lord of grace and mercy inspire the hearts of the distinguished Members of your Committee with generosity and Christian benevolence, to do that which is his will, and tends to glorify him. I will, although unworthy, be the conscientious instrument of faithfully administering, as far as lies in my power, with the assistance of God, whatever, under his guidance, your Society may think proper to intrust me with. The Father of mercy, and the God of consolation, is able to do more than " we can ask or think :"-his will be done!

I have laid, with frankness, before the King of Prussia, the following view, by no means exaggerated, of the great want of Bibles among the Catholics in his States:

1. There are many-very many Catholic Priests, who, very probably, have not a whole Bible in their possession, either in Latin or German, and do not even possess a German New Testa

ment.

2. Among Schoolmasters, hardly one in 500 has a German Bible, and hardly one in 200 possesses a New Testament.

3. Among Laymen, scarcely one in 1000 is in possession of the New Testament, much less, of a whole Bible.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. Extracts from the Journal of Rev. H. Townley, dated Calcutta, Sept. 7. 1817.-We arrived at Calcutta, after one of the most pleasant and prosperous voyages from England perhaps ever experienced; and here we found a number of pious and truly kind Christian friends of all denominations, whose hearts were inclined towards us, and who gave us a most hospitable reception; and for the encouragement of future Missionaries, and the excitement of our gratitude, we feel constrained to note down, that not one good thing hath failed, of all which the Lord our God hath spoken; and especially has the promise, that he who leaveth fa ther or mother, &c. for the sake of Christ, shall find a hundredfold fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, &c. been versified in our experience.

Soon after our arrival, Brother May came down from Chinsurah to see us, and we rejoiced to see him in health, and to learn that his schools were flourishing.

12.-Brother May, Keith, and myself, met together, and, after looking up to Him who alone can impart that wisdom which is profitable to direct, and carefully re-perusing the instructions re

on a Mission to India.

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ceived previous to our departure, deliberated upon various points connected with our mission.

17. Heard Sebuk Ram, one of the native converts, expound the sacred Scriptures to a small number of natives, at the house of an European connected with the Baptist congregation. It was truly gratifying to witness the animation with which he sang and proclaimed the praises of our blessed Redeemer. His singing was calculated to chide the lifelessness of many who have enjoyed tenfold his advantages. I could not but long for the day when I also should be able to address the poor infatuated Bengallese upon those points which belong to their eternal peace.

Oct. 5.-I visited Serampore in company with Brother May, (Brother Keith bad visited it on a previous occasion,) found the brethren well, and busily employed in carrying on the great and glorious work in which they are embarked. A Mr. Harle (an European, who had acted for some years as clerk in a mercantile house of this city) accompanied us to Serampore, and then went forward to his residence at Chinsurah. He is a young man who has just come forward with expressions of ardent desires to be employed as a labourer in our divine Lord's extensive veneyard. Brother May is well acquainted with him, and purposes writing to you fully concerning him, and recommending him to be taken under your patronage; in which recommendation I fully concur.

Oct. 6.-Preached twice at Chinsurah to a respectable and attentive congregation.

7.-Visited with much gratification Brother May's central school; and afterwards witnessed the pleasing scene of rewarding the head boys of the respective schools, and paying the teachers, all of whom assemble together at Chinsurah quarterly for the pur

pose.

20. A cordial union subsists between us and the Baptist brethren here. We have preached repea.edly for them in the chapel, and they have conveyed us to the fort several times to preach for them there. We have obtained advice from Dr. Carey, and Bengalee Scriptures and Tracts from Serampore; and any thing which might by possibility have had a tendency to interrupt our harmony is taken out of the way. May we have grace given us never to give any just cause of offence to these men of God, whose example of deadness to the world and zeal for their Redeemer's cause, we wish to copy, and whose good opinion we highly prize. 22.--A native of the name of Ram Mohon Roy paid me a visit at breakfast-time, being introduced by our Baptist brother, Lawson. He is a very interesting character, a man of high caste, deep learning, large property, noble appearance, great influence, and very amiable manners. He has been so far enlightened as to see the folly and wickedness of idolatry, and has published several pamphlets on the subject, an assortment of which I am collecting: we cherish much hope concerning him; and perceiving in what a remarkable degree he has been enlightened to see the absurdity of idolatry, we hope and pray that this twilight of knowledge may prove the harbinger of eternal day to his soul.

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The Interesting Inquiry,

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

THE INTERESTING INQUIRY,

Whose art thou? and whither goest thou?

Genesis xxxii. 17.

Every object around us is designed to teach us wisdom. The starry firmament, the terrestrial globe, the extensive ocean, the revolutions of the planets, the succession of the seasons, are all so many pages of important instruction. But the Holy Scriptures contain a rich collection of truths of present and eternal moment. How interesting are its narrations! How consoling its promises! How alluring its invitations! How terrible its warnings! How striking its questions! Of the latter description is the motto at the head of this paper; which, if seriously examined, will be found to induce a train of weighty reflections.

"Whose art thou ?" The character of every individual is decided before God. We belong either to Christ or to the world. "No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and Mammon," These two divide the world. No one can be neutral, for he that "is the friend of the world is the enemy of God."

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We may know what master we serve by the conduct we manifest."His servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." It is the fruit that evidences the nature of the tree, and it is the conduct that discovers the kind of service in which we are engaged. My reader, you have only to ask yourself these questions: "Do I love God supremely, and have I given up myself to him? Are the blessed Scriptures my study and delight? Is sin my grief and burden, and holiness my earnest desire? Is the bias of my soul towards beavenly things? Then you may rejoice that you are the Lord's, that He is your Father, and you are His child; but if the world has the chief place in your affections; if you live without prayer, and feel no abiding concern for your eternal salvation; if you love worldly pleasures and trifling company, then you are of the world, the servant of sin; and as such can expect no other wages than that what sin bestows, the wages of eternal death.

"Whither goest thou?" Having ascertained your true charac ter, and to whom you belong, you may know whither you are going. The thought is serious, that you are actually journeying to endless happiness or misery. The way of life and the way death are set before us.

"Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrower path,
With here and there a traveller."

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Those who are found in the heavenly road have their hearts, their pursuits, and their aims, on sacred things They have renounced the world for Jesus; and their answer to all inquirers is, We are journeying to the place of which the Lord hath said, I

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