whom it is composed through the whole course of our Missionary Educationanother, of 11 Young Men, who have, during the course of preparatory study, shewn themselves worthy of being received among the number of those whom we destine for the arduous but blessed service of Missions-and the third, consisting of 13 Students, in the third year of their Studies under our guidance, who are nearest admission to a share in the heavenly work to which they have devoted themselves.

We have made a division in the two higher classes. The first division consists of those Students, upon whom we have fixed our eyes for the important office of Missionary Preachers. The second division comprises such Young Men as seem better qualified for Missionary Teachers and Catechists, and in whose studies we omit some of the higher exercises. But we make no difference in the three Classes, with respect to our endeavours to lead all to a right understanding of Christian Truth and its just application. It is our first and most important business,

under the assistance of Divine Grace, to impress, more and more, on the minds of our pupils, a firm conviction that Christ is indeed the light of the World; and that He is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; and to teach them, by their whole walk and conversation, to shew forth both the reasonableness and the firmness of such conviction.

The following remarks of the Committee, in reference to the spirit and character of Students, deserve the attention of all Candidates for the office of a Missionary.

It is certainly one of the most pleasing signs of the present times, and a cheering evidence of the gracious and superintending care of the great Head of the Church for the advancement of His work on earth, that, hitherto, pious Young Men bave not been wanting, who freely offer themselves for the purpose of preaching the name of Christ among the Heathen.

It cannot, however, be denied, that, in some instances, the motive of action may be traced to a want of correct general knowledge to an immature eagerness, arising from a spirit of selfconfidence so natural to youth-or to

the influence of mere worldly inducements: but, among those who have applied for admission into our Institution, we are fully convinced, that by far the greater number have been actuated by a deep-felt love to Christ; and we have had frequent occasion to notice the noblest traits of real piety in minds earnestly concerned to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

We have found, by experience, that the minds of pious youths, who devote themselves to the study of the sciences, frequently lose the fervour of devotion, in proportion as the understanding becomes more enlightened. This deplorable effect does not flow so much from the nature of those studies themselves, as from the manner in which they are conducted. It has, therefore, been resolved to adopt a method of theological instruction, by which the mind is not only informed, but the heart and the affections are also engaged.

Beneficial Use of Lithography. We entirely concur in the following remarks of Mr. Blumhardt on this subject.

In the hand of Providence, the discovery of Lithography appears to be one of the most powerful engines for promoting the Gospel in the world. Our Missionary Institution is now making very successful attempts to render this important discovery subservient to the work of Missions: a considerable establishment of Lithography is formed, with that view, in our house, for the instruction of our Missionary Students. The work of Lithographing itself, and the Press which is required for it, are extremely simple. Several of our Scholars have learned this art of themselves, and the writing on stones goes on pretty quickly. Lithography appears to be of especial use in Oriental Writings. I beg leave to enclose two lithographed sheets of the Korân, which one of our brethren, without having received any instruction in it, wrote down on a stone at his leisure, from which now more than 3000 copies may be taken by the press. The only difficulty consists in finding out such stones as have the requisite qualities: there is but one stone-pit, near Augsburg, which furnishes us with them. I intend to prepare one of our best scholars for your Missionary Lithographic Works in the Mediterranean.

Co-operation with the Church Missionary Hymn which we sung last, tears always

2. I hope you will keep all of us in remembrance. We are very sorry that you are departed from us for a season. I am glad to see the people in great quietness; and Mr. Norman attends to us very well; and we will be much glad to see you among us once more. I am very glad for what great things our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, through the Missionary Society, in delivering us from the hands of the Slave Traders, and in sending the Missionaries to teach us the way to heaven, because we cannot expect to hear the Word without a Teacher. And I hope all the good people in England will remember us on their knees; and I hope God will grant us His Holy Spirit, to pray for them always when we go on our knees: and I am very sorry to see how many of them are losing their lives on account of us; but I hope they will never forget us. I always consider our benighted countrymen, who are now in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and have never received the Gospel. I will say, as the Psalmist of old, The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

May the Lord, of His infinite mercy, bring you home back to us! And give my love to Mrs. Johnson: I hope she is in good health, and we will be glad to see her again.

3. I take the liberty of writing these few lines to you, for the purpose of informing you about my feelings; how I have felt since your leaving us.

I find nothing at all good in my mind; and I am much distressed in my heart on account of my sins, which I have committed against the Lord. Sometimes I think that it is of no use for me to go on any farther, for I am worse than all the people of God: but when I consider the promises of the Lord-Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, and Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out-I am constrained to go on with Christian patience and resignation. May the Lord assist me! for He has promised, that, in the world we shall have tribulation. but in Him we shall have peace. May I look to Him only for peace and comfort, for He is the peace of His people! I pray that the Lord may set my affections on things above, and not on things on the earth: nay He keep me close at His footstool,

for His name's sake!

As for the people, they are going on We do not have much very well. palaver, as we expected: thank God for it! As for the masons' work, we get on pretty well with the Church, and also the other building.

4. I have taken the liberty of writing these few lines to you, in order to inform you about my present state. You left me on the bed of affliction; but, by the will of God, I can say that the Lord has done great things for me, in raising me up again from the grave, He has spared me yet in the land of the living; though I am not quite well, on account of my knees, which are continually paining me, so that I am not able to walk: but the Lord, who has been pleased to raise me from the bed of sickness, will likewise be pleased to enable me to walk, according to the multitude of His mercies.

I need not tell you of the feelings of our hearts. There are mountains of sin and darkness, within and without which make me sometimes think that I am falling back into the world. But the Lord does yet enable me to hope in my heart, as it is in the Bible: Psalm xxiii. 1. The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want.-Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. -Rev. xxii. 17. And the Spirit and the Bride suy, Come; and let him that heareth sun, Come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.— Psalm cxvi. Isa. lv. 1, 2, 3. There are many more promises in the Bible, which are very sweet to the people of God.

But I think sometimes within my mind, that I am of those, of whom God speaks in Matt. xxv. 41-Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels; and in Rev. ii. 4, 5—Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee; because thou hast left thy first love. This is my trouble and fear : but I know that He only can do helpless sinners good, and that He came to seek and to save sinners; therefore, without doubt, I know that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him.

As for the people, they have much trouble and sickness, both white and black. Remember me to Mrs. Johnson, and all the Brethren and Sisters.

indeed, long to see her again in Africa, if it should please the Lord to enable her to accompany you again to this country. Please to give our compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Pratt, Mr. and Mrs. Bickersteth, and also Sarah Bickersteth our African Sister. Pray for us.

Caspian Sea.

ASTRACHAN.

SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

Conversion of Mahomed Ali, a Persian. THE prospects of this Mission, with respect to the conversion of the Natives, begin to brighten. The first-fruits of Persia appear to be gathered by the labourers, in the case of a young Persian who seems to have cordially embraced Christianity. A full account of the circumstances of his conversion has been published by the Society: from this we shall extract the most important parts.

Mirza Mahomed Ali, aged 21 years, is the only surviving son of a venerable old man, descended from one of the chief families of Derbent, and who, until a few years ago, held the office of Chief Judge in that city. From adverse circumstances the father was obliged to remove to Astrachan. Mahomed Ali was introduced as Teacher to the Missionaries; and, being an accomplished man, he was found qualified to give them instruction in Turkish, Persian, and Arabic. Discussions became frequent; and this peculiarity was observed in him, that, while those discussions frequently produced in him the most violent rage, he continually courted their renewal. At last it was discovered, as will be perceived from the following extracts from Mr. M'Pherson's Journal, that his belief in the Mahomedan Superstition was completely shaken; and the Missionaries traced his progress with delight, till they could embrace him as a brother in Christ.

fession of Faith. Hearing this unexpected concession, I was the more encouraged to enter into serious conversation with him. He now told me, that his soul was in deep waters; and that he could not sleep at night, from reflecting upon his perilous situation, in professing a religion which he was afraid was not the true one.

April 17-Mahomed Ali returned this morning, apparently in great anguish of spirit. He had slept none during the night, so keenly did he feel the convictions of a wounded spirit. I exhorted him to earnest prayer, that the Lord would enlighten his mind in the knowledge of the truth.

April 18-Mahomed Ali having himself mentioned the agitation into which his soul was thrown by the changes that were workhis mind, I remarked, it was not neing cessary that he should always continue in that bondage of which he complained; for God, in His mercy, had opened a way of escape, through means of which we might

be reconciled to Him, and obtain peace to our souls. I then read and quoted some of the promises, and directed his particular attention to Rom. v. 1.

Before his mind was so far delivered from the shackles of Islamism, he one day asked John Abercrombie (a converted Cabardian) the following question:-" John, you were once a Cabardian: how have you become a Christian ?" "Jesus Christ," answered John, "says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: now when I was a Cabardian, I laboured and was heavy laden; and I came to Christ for rest." This reply of John's wounded Mahomed to the heart, and he never forgot it.

April 19-Mahomed Ali called this evening, for the purpose of conversing with me respecting the things pertaining to the king dom of God. I began the conversation by inquiring how it was with his soul." [ an walking about, and committing myself to the protection of Almighty God; for 1 cannot pray the Mahomedan Prayers: I pray that God would forgive my sins, for the sake of the atonement of Jesus Christ His Son; but," continued he, "when I say the word SON, 1 feel my heart as it were dragging it back again. I feel no difficulty in saying Lord, do thou lead me in Thy truth, and teach me the way in which I ought to go."" I reminded him, that the carnal mind is enmity against God; and that he must ac count this a temptation from the enemy of souls. "Do you believe," said I, "the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as received by us, to be a revelation from heaven?" Yes; and I believe that the Koran is a false book," was his reply. I asked him, "Do you now believe that Jesus

April 16, 1923—Mahomed Ali, my Arabic Teacher, came at his usual hour. On "O yes," was his answer-"What views offering a few remarks upon the absurdity of have you of your own character?" "I see the system of divinity which formed the myself to be poor, wretched, miserable, and undone; that all my prayers, my worship, and obedience, in times past, were vain and more believe what is contained in that unprofitable"-" Do you see your need of the

ground-work of our studies, I was more than surprised to hear him reply, "I no

and