was placed, and was anxiously solicitous to impress the minds of those who heard him with the importance of eternal concerns. He lingered with interest on the subject, and one who heard him thought at the time, from his impressive manner, that he might be then preaching his last sermon. He felt, however, at the close of that Sabbath as well as usual; conversed for some time with his friends in the vestry; and closed the day in surrounding the family altar, and in communing with God in his closet. On the following day he wrote an affectionate letter to his son, called on some friends in the afternoon, but felt rather indisposed towards the evening. No alarming symptoms appeared till early on Tuesday morning, when medical assistance was promptly obtained. All the aid that skill and kindness could give was administered; but the mysterious disease made rapid progress, though attended with little bodily pain, till the mortal tabernacle yielded to its fatal influence, about a quarter to ten on Wednesday night, and his happy and redeemed spirit soared to the incorruptible inheritance which he had been so recently contemplating and describing.

The composure and happiness which he experienced in his short illness, and in the immediate prospect of death, afforded an additional testimony to the value and reality of those truths which he had so long and faithfully preached; and tended much to mitigate the sorrow which the painful event occasioned to his numerous relatives and friends. "His faith sustained him in his dying hour; His dying hour brought glory to his God."

The weakening nature of his affliction incapacitated him for conversing much; but all he said was satisfactory, and characteristic of that humility, tenderness of feeling, and spirituality of mind, for which he had been distinguished. His confidence in the promises and faithfulness of God was unshaken; his faith embraced the Saviour in all the glory of his character and mediatorial offices; and the Holy Spirit was his guide and comforter as he passed through the dark valley of the shadow of death. A few hours before his departure, he spoke of "the exceeding great and precious promises;" of "Christ the only foundation," which expression he repeated twice with much emphasis. The last words he was heard to utter were, "" grace, grace;" thus closing his testimony to the truth on earth with the sentiment which he had so delighted to dwell upon in his public preaching, and in his converse with Christian friends, and which would be the burden of his song of praise, and the theme of his delightful contemplation, in the heavenly temple. The grace of God was, indeed, displayed in his happy experience; and to the riches of that grace he ascribed when on earth, and will continue through eternity to ascribe in hea

ven, all the praise of his own salvation and that of others, whom he was instrumental in conducting to glory.

The Rev. H. Davis improved the solemn event on Lord's-day evening, July 8th, by a sermon from 2 Samuel iii. 38.-" Know ye not that there is a great man fallen this day in Israel?" The serious and deep solemnity with which it was listened to, by a crowded congregation, affords reason to hope that this painful dispensation of divine Providence may be overruled, by the grace of God, for the spiritual benefit of many. Should this be the happy result, our departed and beloved friend will not have died in vain ; and his numerous relatives, and the members of his church and congregation, who now mourn the loss which they have sustained, will have renewed cause to sing of mercy as well as judgment, and to acquiesce in the will of Him" who does all things well."

MRS. MARGARET MORGAN.

Died, on Sunday morning, August 26th, Margaret Morgan, the amiable and invaluable wife of John Lloyd Morgan, Esq. M. D., of Haverfordwest. She was the eldest daughter of the late Robert Spear, Esq., of Mill Bank, near Manchester, and steadily adhered to the principles, while she followed the pious example, of her father. Her exertions, in preparing to visit Tenby with some relatives from England, are supposed to have occasioned the inflammatory disorder which terminated in her removal to a better world. When questioned respecting the state of her mind, in the prospect of eternity, she answered, "Quite calm-I hope I can commit my soul into the hands of my Redeemer." Mrs. Morgan, with her husband and family, attended the ministry of Mr. Bulmer, at the Green Meeting; where a sermon was delivered, on the evening of the following sabbath, in consequence of her lamented decease, from Job ix. 12. The church and congregation with which she was especially connected, the London Missionary Society, and other insti tutions, have lost a sincere and influential friend. Her removal, however, is, and will be, peculiarly felt by her mourning husband, her three surviving children, and other relatives, although not left to "sorrow even as others who have no hope." Her memory is blessed; and, by her faith and obedience, though dead, she yet speaketh, to the praise of Him, whose humble follower she was, by whose grace she was made to differ, whom she delighted to serve, and in whose name she trusted for acceptance with God to eternal life.

"The great Redeemer for thy pattern take,
And him, in all things, thy example make;
For all that's perfect may in him be found,
While his disciples tread the surest ground:
True pleasures they, and they alone, obtain:-
For them" to live is Christ-to die is gain."

SOUTH SEAS.

HUAHINE.

Translation of a Letter from the Officers of the Auxiliary Missionary Society, in Huahine, South Seas, to the late Treasurer.

DEAR FRIEND AND OUR FRIEND,

May you be saved by Jehovah, the true God!

The inclosed is a little money, the produce of oil, subscribed by us for the diffusion of the word of God. It is the produce of two little islands, Huahine and Maiaoiti, twentytwo pounds, which we forward to you, the Treasurer, for the good work. May Jehovah save you ! (Signed)

MAIHARA.

MAHINE.

VAITAAHUE. PAI.

Acknowledgments of Presents for the South Sea Islanders, addressed to the late Treasurer. Huahine, Dec. 22, 1831.

RESPECTED SIR,

We embrace this favourable opportunity of acquainting the Directors with the safe arrival, under the care of Mr. Smith, of a number of valuable presents from our kind and esteemed friends in England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The packages contained a variety of articles, comprehending an Encyclopædia, 45 vols., and a number of other books for the Leeward library; dresses for native children; ribbons, &c., to trim the bonnets of native females; and valuable articles for our native teachers; with some very useful articles for our own families; also some canvas and blocks for our little boats; publications, &c., belonging to the Society.

It is, to us, very encouraging, that our dear friends of Britain are thus mindful of us and our people.

VOL. X.

We have been careful to distribute the bounty of our friends agreeably to the directions given in their different letters.

It will afford our kind friends much pleasure to know that their free-will offering was received with both gratitude and joy by the natives, and we doubt not but such acts of liberality have a happy tendency to increase the love of our people to that gospel which inspires in our friends such benevolent feelings.

The people unite with us in presenting our warmest thanks to those generous friends who have favoured us with their bounty, and to the Rev. William Ellis, through whose medium many of them were sent. Praying that the Lord may reward them all a thousand fold,

We remain

P.S. Messrs. Platt and Williams are not near, and Messrs. Buzacott and Pitman are at Rarotoa, or all would have signed, as all are equally interested. We beg also to acknowledge the reception of a kind letter from Mrs. Hartsinck, of Bath, accompanying a present for the Queen and her female subjects; the letter is dated March 22, 1830. Mrs. Hartsinck directed us to acknowledge the receipt of them to you, Sir, as her particular friend.

We have the pleasure to inform the ladies of Bath, through you, Sir, that their favour was received with much thankfulness.

ULTRA GANGES.

BATAVIA.

Extracts of a Letter from Rev. W. H. Medhurst, dated Batavia, 30th Jan. 1832. HONOURED FATHERS AND BRETHREN,

Amid the multiplied changes continually occurring in human affairs, and the inroads death is perpetually making in the ranks of 2 U

mortals, your agents at this station are still enabled to hold on their accustomed course without any material interruption. Our divine Saviour has graciously prolonged our unworthy lives, and preserved us in health and activity up to the present period. The usual routine of missionary duties has been gone through, and no available opportunity wilfully neglected, of endeavouring to communicate the saving knowledge of the gospel to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; -but still we cannot but feel our need of a revival, and of a double portion of the Spirit of all grace, to prevent our desponding under the long trial of our patience, and to invigorate us while waiting for the early and the latter rain; particularly as we see so little good resulting from the long-continued operations at this station, and the heathen mind still remaining proof against repeated efforts to bring them acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus. Those only who know the worth of immortal souls, and who feel the stirrings of a Saviour's love, can have any adequate conception of the sorrow and anguish that fill the missionary's mind, when, going from house to house, day after day, he meets the same cold reception, observes the same chilling indifference, and is dunned by the same stale objections, which have been answered a thousand times, and still a thousand times recur, as if they had never been refuted. To keep up the spirit of vigorous effort in spite of opposition, is easy, compared with the maintaining of it amidst inattention and neglect. Grace and prayer alone can keep alive the flame of missionary zeal amid such discouragements-oh, that the Lord would visit us in mercy, and make all grace to abound towards us! And, oh, that every well-wisher to missionary objects would be fervent in prayer on our behalf, and give the Lord no rest till he come and rain righteousness upon us!

Missionary Labours at the Station. Notwithstanding, however, the desponding and self-condemning tone, in which I have been compelled to commence this communication, yet have we had, during the last half-year, some reason to thank God and take courage. The English congregation, on Sabbath mornings, has maintained, yea, increased, its usual numbers, and a proportionate degree of seriousness and attention has been visible. Two of our English friends have, within the last few months, given decided evidence of a work of grace on their souls, and have joined us in celebrating a Redeemer's love. One of these has been brought by affliction to seek an interest in the best things, and the other has been constrained to devote his youth to God as the most reasonable service. The Malay service, every Lord's-day at noon, has been con

ducted as usual by Mr. Young, who has kept charge likewise of the Chinese schools, and, by his devoted piety and discreet demeanour, has increasingly endeared himself to all around. The three members of our native church continue steady, while their number is likely to be increased by a few additions from among the native Christians here. The service, formerly mentioned as conducted in the Dutch church, every alternate afternoon, has been continued, as also the lecture in the open air to the convicts, whose numbers have lamentably increased to upwards of five hundred. Their wild untu tored minds seem sometimes impressed, and their attention considerably arrested by the truth.

On Friday evenings, a sermon is preached in the Malay language, and on Tuesdays a prayer-meeting is held in the same tongue. Depok is visited occasionally, and evidence of good appears. In addition to these stated services, daily visits are made to the natives in the streets, campongs, and bazaars, for the purpose of conversation and tract distribution; on these occasions, when a few are found collected together, or even one seen seated alone and unemployed, the opportunity is embraced for the introduction of sacred things, and for the exposition of the main doctrines of the gospel. The certainty of future retribution, the demerit of sinful men, the need of a Saviour, and the suitableness of the gospel to our state and wants, are the main topics.

Defective and erroneous Notions of Moral Obli gation entertained by the Chinese at Batavia.

The chief difficulty with the Chinese seems to be, to make them at all sensible of their guilt and danger, princi pally because sin, in their estimation, is a very different thing from what it is in ours; the word sin, in their language, being sy nonymous with crime, and those things only being accounted sinful which are cognizable and punishable by human laws;-thus murder, arson, theft, and adultery, are considered sins; but lying, deceit, fornication, gaming, drunkenness, pride, anger, lust, and covetousness, together with all bad passions of the human heart, which do not proceed to any glaring act injurious to our fellow-crea tures, are none of them considered in the light of sins. Whatever Chinese moralists and philosophers may assert and teach, Chinese men and women in common life do not regard these things as criminal, do not strive against them, nor feel any misgivings on account of their prevalence in their hearts and lives. I have heard them openly and unblushingly plead for the policy and even necessity of deceit in business, without which, they pretend, that they could not live; fornication I never heard condemned as unlawful, so long as both parties were willing to live in that state, and no connubial en

gagement was infringed thereby; gaming is the more strongly pleaded for on account of its being licensed by law; and drunkenness, with its cognate vice, opium-smoking, can be looked upon as no offence, in their estimation, so long as the intoxicating drug or liquor is purchased with their own money. Indeed, no evil disposition, which can be concealed from human observation, is considered by them as criminal; and, in their reasonings among themselves, their blinded consciences fail not to excuse without accusing them for their transgressions. The law of God has been frequently laid before them, in all its strictness and impartiality-but it is not so easy for a Chinese to apprehend the ground of its authority, or to receive it as a divine communication on the mere words of a stranger; particularly when, instead of recommending itself to their judg ments, all the precepts of the first table, and not a few of the second, when explained in their utmost latitude, run directly contrary to their pre-conceived notions of religion and morality. The only faults which they ever tax themselves with, are, in reality, no faults; such as the quitting their native country while their parents are alive, dying without posterity or laying up for their wives and children; also treading unwittingly on an ant, eating beef, or allowing hungry ghosts to starve ;-convictions of conscience for such like offences sometimes seize them, but these, instead of furthering, only hinder their sincere humiliation for sin, and heartfelt repentance on account of it.

Their Modes of purifying Conscience, and Ideas of future Punishment.

Again, when convinced in the slightest degree of sin, they have so many methods of pacifying their consciences, and putting far off the evil day, that it does not follow that concern should be manifested for their eternal safety. Those who do believe in a hell think that only the worst of criminals and vilest of mankind will be consigned to that awful place, the punishment of which they are still far from considering eternal. But the greater part of them do not believe in a hell, because they do not see it; and though they are in the constant habit of sacrificing to the dead, providing for hungry ghosts, and conveying money, food, and apparel, through the smoke for the use of their deceased relatives in Hodes, yet they have not the slightest apprehension of being themselves consigned to that dismal place, and make no attempts to escape from it. They believe, indeed, that they may be punished by coming out into the world again in another and a worse shape than that which they now inhabit-that they may even be beggars, slaves, dogs, horses, or the meanest reptiles, yet, as consciousness will then cease, and, whatever they were or may be, no

recollection of the same does or will accompany them, they are, therefore, the less concerned about their fate in this respect, and the apprehension of it has no salutary effect on their conduct and lives. The retribution which the Chinese most dread, is the reprisal that may be made on their posterity in the present life: they are sometimes greatly alarmed lest, in consequence of their fraud and oppression, their children and grandchildren should suffer, and the widow's mite and orphan's portion, which have been by them kept back by fraud, should be wrung out of the purses of their posterity after their decease. Such a motive as this, however, is too weak to bring them to entertain any serious alarm; and, without being aware of their danger, we can hardly expect them to be earnest in fleeing from the wrath to come. Thus we never hear any bewailing their lost condition-their whole concern is, What shall we eat? &c., and none saith, Where is God, my Maker?--or what shall I do to be saved? No opportunity has been omitted of making known the Saviour of representing his sharp sufferings, bitter death, amazing love, and unlimited power to save; but, though these things be insisted on over and over again, these people seem to have no heart to them.

Their Indifference to the Offers of the Gospel.Instance of their Superstition.

All the day long have we stretched forth our hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people-oh, that the Lord would appear in the thunder, in the whirlwind, or rather in the still small voice, speaking to the hearts of this people, and melting them into obedience by the all-constraining influence of a Saviour's love. The following instance of attachment to idolatry may serve to shew the blindness and ignorance of these people: a man's house, in a neighbouring village, being on fire, and there being just time to save a few of his most valuable commodities, he rushed in and rescued-not his goods-but his parental tablet, which stood on the altarpiece, leaving his valuable clothes and merchandize a prey to the flames. He was thus reduced to beggary, and was obliged afterwards to take refuge in a wretched hovel, exhausted with disease and hunger, still clinging to his parental tablet, which he had saved at so much peril and at so great a cost. This tablet is nothing more than the name of a parent, with the date of his birth and death, engraved on a piece of wood, which they look upon as a kind of representative of the deceased, offer to it the daily meed of incense, and rely on the same for health and prosperity. The Catholics, in China, on the accession of a convert, insist on the destruction of this tablet, as a proof of an entire rejection of their former faith.

Distribution of Tracts among the Mohammedans. -Interesting Discussion with their Priests.

In the Malay bazaars, the distribution of tracts continues as great and encouraging as when I last wrote-latterly, on going to the markets, I have had no occasion to offer our tracts to a single individual, they being all begged from me, before half the market is gone through--thus, sometimes, fifty or sixty, and sometimes a hundred or two are freely circulated in one day. Some tracts beginning with the parable of the sower, were eagerly accepted by the natives, because it happened to be about the time when they were sowing their paddy fields; and some on the miracles of Jesus were the more readily received, as they themselves ascribe miracles to our Saviour. The objections to the circulation of our tracts are every day diminishing, and those who do object in the outset, yet scruple not to take a tract when they see others receiving them. The plan for establishing native schools throughout the island under the patronage of government has not yet succeeded, but the deliberations on the measure have brought me into contact with the high-priest and some of the most influential men among the Mahometans. The former invited me to meet him and his friends to debate on the points controverted between us ;-though I do not promise myself much from such discussious, on account of the bigotted prejudice of our adversaries, and the hatred and contempt which they conceive for the doctrines of the gospel, previous to examination and in spite of arguments, yet I attended as requested. About a score of their holiest men were assembled, some of whom were prepared, by sophistry and cunning, and some by banter and ridicule, to oppose the truth. Their shafts were principally directed against the divinity of Christ, and the doctrine of the Trinity, while it was evident that the notions which they had formed of these great mysteries were gross and erroneous, in attacking which they were only fighting with a creature of their own imagination, apparently countenanced by some unguarded expressions taken from the Athanasian creed, and the hymns and prayers of various professing Christians. I said I was by no means accountable for those, and was not prepared to defend anything that was not decidedly scriptural, at the same time laying before them a plain statement of these doctrines taken from the New Testament, which lay open before them. They could thus see for themselves that the doctrines in question were contained in our Scriptures, and were obliged to come to the conclusion, either that our Scriptures were adulterated, or that the doctrines were true. They, of course, chose the former alternative, notwithstanding they could not point out who altered them, when they were altered, or in how many instances, neither

up

could they reconcile the apparent inconsis tency of supposing Christians themselves the authors of the alleged interpolations, while Christians looked to these writings as the standard of their faith, and the foundation of their hopes, and who might as soon be expected to set fire to their own dwellings, or sink their own ships, as falsify their Scriptures. The declarations in the first chapter of John, respecting the divine Word, not a little stumbled them, particularly when compared with a passage in the Koran, which I pointed out to them, asserting Jesus Christ the son of Mary to be the Word of God. They could answer this only by quibbles, as to what was meant by the divine word, and finally by denying the passage in John to be genuine. The usual reference was then made to the supposed prophecies concerning Mahomet, contained in our Scriptures, and particularly to the Paraclete, which word they asserted, meant not only a comforter, advocate, and teacher, but also apostle, and, therefore, must refer to the prophet of Mecca, the apostle of God. This was met by pointing out the parallel passages and the context, in which the Paraclete was expressly called the Holy Ghost, was promised in the course of a few days, was intended to dwell in the disciples of Christ, and to abide with them for ever. They then referred to the prophecy of Moses, recorded in Acts iii. 22, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise unto you of your brethren, like unto me," &c., which they said must refer to Mahomet and not to Christ, as the prophet in question was not to be raised up from among the Jews, but from among their brethren, the Ishmaelites, or Arabians, who were the brethren of the Jews, being alike descended from the same patriarch Abraham. They also affirmed that there were more points of resemblance between Moses and Mahomet, than between the former and Christ, the prophet of Mecca being, like Moses, a leader of the people, a lawgiver, a warrior, and one who punished unbelievers and rebels by fire and sword, which Christ did not do. I said, when the Jews spoke of their brethren, they never meant the Ishmaelites, but always the descendants of Jacob, who were united not only as the descendants of one patriarch, but as the subjects of one government and the professors of one religion. That Christ most resembled Moses in the meekness of his character, as well as in the greatness of his miracles, and that though he came not to destroy men's lives but to save, and thus refrained from calling down fire from heaven to destroy his opponents, when he might have done it, -yet the time was coming when all who obstinately rejected his easy reign would be brought forth and slain before him.-I now began, in my turn, to attack the more vulnerable parts of their system, and adduced a number of passages from the Koran, in