fellow-creatures. And he has often heard the question asked by others, What can be the cause of this discrepancy of opinion? For that such a difference does exist is most evident; and is exemplified at this moment in some of the most illustrious characters for rank and learning, in the nation. This is a problem of a very interesting character at this day, and worthy of a distinct and ample discussion, particularly at the seats of learning. The problem may be thus expressed: "What power is that, which produces in the minds of some persons a real interest and concern in the welfare of their fellow-creatures; extending not only to the comfort of their existence in this world, but to their felicity hereafter; while other men who are apparently in similar circumstances as to learning and information, do not feel inclined to move one step for the promotion of such objects?" The latter, it may be, can speculate on the philosophy of the human mind, on its great powers and high dignity, on the sublime virtue of universal benevolence, on the tyranny of superstition, and the slavery of ignorance; and will sometimes quote the verse of the poet, verse. "Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto:" but they leave it to others, and generally to the Christian in humble life, to exercise the spirit of that noble This is a very difficult problem; and it has been alleged by some that it cannot be solved on any known principles of philosophy. The following relation will probably lead to principles by which we may arrive at a solution. There was once a King in the East, whose empire extended over the known world, and his dominion "was to the end of the earth." During the former part of his reign, his heart was filled with pride: he knew not the God of heaven: and he viewed with the utmost indifference the nations over whom he ruled, worshipping idols of wood and stone. But it pleased the King of kings to dethrone this haughty monarch, to cast him down from his high estate, and to abase him in the dust. And after he had been for a time in the furnace of affliction, and his proud heart was humbled, God graciously revealed himself to him in his true name and character, and then restored him to his former prosperity and power. The penitent king, thus once more exalted, and filled with admiration at the discovery of the ONLY TRUE GOD, immediately issued an edict to the whole world, setting forth the greatness of the Most High, asserting his glory, and inviting all nations to "praise and magnify HIM that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation." This memorable edict began in these sublime terms: "NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING, UNTO ALL PEOPLE, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGES, THAT DWELL IN ALL THE EARTH, Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders which the Most High God hath wrought toward me. How great are his SIGNS! How mighty are his WONDERS!" Having recounted the judgment and mercy of God to himself, he thus concludes; "Now I Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth and his ways judgment; and them that walk in pride he is able to abase.”* Such a proclamation to the nations of the earth was a noble act of a king, and ought to be had in perpetual remembrance. It reminds us of the last charge of HIM "who ascended up on high:" Go, TEACH all NATIONS. It discovers to us the new and extended • Daniel, 4th chapter. benevolence, greatness of mind, and pure and heavenly charity; which distinguish that man, whose heart has been impressed by THE GRACE OF GOD. How solemn his sense of duty! How ardent to declare the glory of his Savior! His views for the good of men, how disinterested and enlarged! It is but too evident, that all our speculations concerning a Divine Revelation, and the obligation imposed on us to study it ourselves, or to communicate it to others, are cold and uninteresting, and excite not to action, "until, through the tender compassion of God, the Day-spring from on high visit us, to give light to them that sit in darkness;"* to humble our hearts, at the remembrance of our sins against God, and to affect them with a just admiration of his pardoning mercy. Let Great Britain imitate the example of the Chaldean King; and send forth to all the world, her TESTIMONY concerning the True God. She also reigns over many nations which "worship idols of wood and stone;" and she ought, in like manner, to declare to them "the SIGNS and WONDERS of the Almighty." And, in this design every individual will concur, of every church, family, and name, whose heart has been penetrated with just apprehensions of the Most High God; having known his judgments and experienced his mercy. Kirby Hall, Boroughbridge, Feb. 15, 1811. Luke ii. 79. THE END. Samuel T. Armstrong, Printer. APPENDIX. INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM INDIA. From the London Evangelical Magazine, for October, 1807. A LETTER has been received from the Rev. Mr. Ringeltaube, to the Secretary, dated Palamcotta, Feb. 7, 1807. He has acquired the language so as to write it correctly, and speak it with but little hesitation. Mr. Ringeltaube has also sent his journal, from Sept. 12, 1806, to Feb. 6, 1807. He mentions that Dr. Buchanan had requested the loan of his Bible in the Tamul language, as he was about to commence the Malayalam translation of the Scriptures immediately, there being 200,000 Christians in Malayalam, who are ready to receive it. Even the Romish bishop, it is said, signified his consent to the circulation of the Scriptures among his people. The Doctor observes in his letter to Mr. Ringeltaube, that he has had singular success in obtaining ancient manuscripts, in Hebrew, Syriac, &c Mr. R. greatly rejoiced at this good news; and sent him his only copy of that Bible without delay. Ecclesiastical antiquities in India. We have been favoured by a respectable correspondent in India, with a copy of a REPORT, presented by a pious clergyman, at the request of the Governor of Madras, concerning the state of the ancient Christians in Cochin and Travancore. This Report is so curious and so interesting, that we shall give the whole of it to our readers, assured that they will esteem it, as we do, a most valuable and important document. It is followed by an account of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan's discoveries.] REPORT of the Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George, to the Right Hon. ourable Lord William Bentinck, Governor of Madras, on the state of the Christians inhabiting the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore; with an article of interesting literary intelligence, containing an account of the discoveries made by the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, in the course of his investigations undertaken by order of the supreme government in Bengal. "Public Department. "To the Rev. Dr. Kerr, Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George. "Rev. Sir, "The Right Honourable the Governor in Council, being desirous "of availing himself of your vicinity to the Malabar coast, to obtain every possible information in regard to the establishment, &c. of the Chris"tian Religion in that part of the peninsula, I am directed by his lordship in council, to desire that so soon as the state of your health and F "the season will permit, you will proceed to the provinces on that coast; "and you will forward to me, for the information of government, such accounts as you may be able to collect, of the first introduction of Chris"tianity into India-of the arrival of the different sects who have been, or may be, in existence of their general history, and of the persecutions to which they may have been exposed-of their success in making pro"selytes of their church-establishment, and of the source from which "they are maintained, and with all other circumstances connected with "this important subject. Fort St. George, June 28, 1806." "I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, "Your most obedient humble Servant, Sec. to Government. "To the Right Honourable Lord William C. Bentinck, Governor in Council, &c. &c. "MY LORD, "When at Mysore, I was honoured by the receipt of Mr. secretary Keble's letter, dated the 28th June last; and finding my general health much improved, I resolved to proceed to the Malabar coast, in search of the information required by your lordship in council, regarding the Christians inhabiting that part of the peninsula :—an investigation which I have found as interesting as it is important, whether it regards humanity at large, or as it is connected, in a political view, with the British interests in this country. "To view the extensive field pointed out for my inquiries minutely, would require much more of my time than could be well spared from my other public avocations; and as I learned that the Rev. Dr. Buchanan was nominated by the government of Bengal, to travel over the same ground, for purposes somewhat similar, I did not think it incumbent on me to take up more than a general view of the subject, and I directed my attention accordingly, not so much to details as to matters of comprehensive import. "The first object to which the orders of government refer, is, to an account of the introduction of Christianity into this country. "There can be no doubt whatever, that the St. Thomê Christians settled on the Malabar coast at a very early period of the Christian church ; from whence they, at one time, spread in various directions as far even as Mileapoor, and St. Thomas's Mount;-but to derive authentic information as to the time of their arrival, is at present no easy task. "From the confusion arising from the imperfection of Hindoo chronology, from the desire which these Christians have to derive their origin from the earliest possible times, (which may perhaps have introduced false traditions amongst them,) and as all their authentic records are reported to have been destroyed during the persecutions of the church of Rome; from all these circumstances, whether we refer to the Hindoo accounts, to the St. Thomê Christians themselves, or to their persecutors, the Roman Catholics, we are not likely to arrive at any certain conclusion as to the exact time of their establishment in Malabar. Some circumstances, how |