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for me the sacrament of the Supper to fifteen converts, whose walk and conversation become the Gospel, on the evening of the day to which I have now referred. Their children, and the catechumens, took their seats behind them when they surrounded the table of the Lord. You will fervently pray that their love of the Redeemer may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; and that they may shine with the effulgence of personal holiness amongst their benighted kindred and countrymen; prove " written epistles of Christ known and read of all men;" and cause the Word of God to sound forth not only in their neighbourhood, but throughout the province. And you will no less fervently pray, that he who now addresses you, may, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, proclaim to all classes of the community, the glorious Gospel of the blessed Saviour; and may ever recognise that solemn trial which awaits him, when "the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing and his kingdom."

which 1500 copies were printed, was published about | the beginning of the year. Many copies of it have been purchased by the natives, or presented to them by European friends anxious to arouse them to inquiry as to the nature of those unhallowed speculations, and polluting superstitions, of which they have so long been the dupes, and of which, if they forsake them not from the convictions of their heart, enlightened by truth and the Divine Spirit, they will infallibly be the victims. The work, as well as that which preceded it on the subject of which it treats, is in the course of being translated into the Hindaví by one of the London Society's missionaries at Banáras; and applications have been made for copies of it for translation into two other Indian dialects a circumstance which marks the kind feelings of my fellow-labourers of different denominations of Christians zealously seeking the conversion of this great country. My reply to Hájí Muhammad Háshamn in Persian, embracing a pretty full discussion of the points at issue between Christians and Musalmáns, has within these few weeks been published by the Bombay Tract and Book Society. It forms a pamphlet of 112 pages; and the edition consists of 2000 copies, which are getting rapidly into circulation, both in India and Persia. I have completed the publication of most of the Marathi MSS. left by my dear wife. The expense of printing them has been generously defrayed by the Hon. J. Farish. They consist principally of abridgments of Rollin's Ancient History of the Egyp- THE period of history at present under consideration tians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, Medes and Persians, stretches from 1596 to 1685. This was the period of and Grecians, and notices of the fulfilment of prophecy ninety years, during which the Protestant Church enrespecting some of the people now mentioned, princi-joyed the protection of the edict of Nantes, poor and impally from the excellent work of Dr Keith, and Devotional Exercises prepared for the benefit of the converts. Besides the works now mentioned, various Maráthí Tracts have been printed at the lithographic press of the mission, which is now in excellent order, and admirably adapted to the Oriental languages.

All the publications in Maráthí and Portuguese, &c., of the Tract and Book Society, I have edited during the past year. I have also edited several portions of Scripture for the Bible Society, of whose Maráthí and Sujaráthí Translation committees I am the secretary, and in connection with which I have spent not a little time in the revision and criticism of several pieces of composition. A few tracts I have edited for Christian friends. Nothing but the absolute necessity of my engagements with the press, and my ardent hope of their great productiveness, could reconcile me to them. It is not necessary for me to say any thing more respecting certain literary papers which I have been lately called to print or prepare, than that I have had the moral improvement of the country in view when engaged in the inquiries in which they have originated.

The

V. I formerly directed your attention to the admission of two young Hindú females into the visible Church. I have now the pleasure of informing you, that on Sabbath the 20th of this month, I was privileged to baptize other two Hindus, a man aged 26 years, and his wife aged 17 years. They are of humble caste, but of respectable character, and quite able and willing to support themselves by their honest industry. husband was brought under serious impressions during my tour in Gujarát and Rach, having been engaged by me to aid in carrying books, and considerably alienated from Hinduism by the haughty treatment which he received from the Brahmans at the holy island of Bet. Both he and his partner have been taught to read in the mission schools since they commenced their religious inquiries. When they were baptized, two of the other scholars stood up before a large audience, both of natives and Europeans, and solicited me to receive them into our communion. They, and others, will probably ere long join it. Mr Mitchell dispensed

THE EARLY PROTESTANT CHURCH
OF FRANCE.
No. V.

BY THE REV. JOHN G. LORIMER,
Minister of St. David's Parish, Glasgow.

perfect as that protection often was. I am noticing the most interesting points in the character and proceedings of the Church throughout this protracted era, and in the last paper, referred to her strong love of theological knowledge, and anxiety to diffuse it, as evinced in her encouragement of the publication of good books, and collecting them into libraries.

We must now turn, for a little, to the love which she shewed for the Word of God. Already have we seen, that the Reformers in France early discovered a strong partiality for the Scriptures. One of their first steps, four-and-twenty years before they were publicly organized into a Church, was to translate the Word of God into their native tongue; and, after the dreadful massacre of St. Bartholomew, the Church encouraged the issuing of improved versions, both at Geneva and Rochelle, and, under God, she was very much indebted to the light thus diffused, for the measure of success with which she stood out the dreadful persecution to which she was subjected. When we look into the period of which I at present write, we find the same love for the Scriptures, and anxiety to spread abroad their blessed knowledge. It has been common, of late, for the advocates of the Church of Rome, feeling how odious is the position which their Church has long occupied as the enemy of the Scriptures, now to turn round and appeal to the various translations which Roman Catholics made of the Word of God, in whole or in part, into many European languages, even before the era of the Reformation. It is certain that such translations were occasionally made, but how often did they consist of mere parts of the Scriptures, and in most expensive forms? How often were they a mere literary curiosity, or a Popish paraphrase? How frequently did the translator and the readers suffer for their pains? And how certainly were the body of the people always prevented, alike by their own inability to read, and the prohibition of the priest, from generally availing themselves of the Word of life? Not a few were the copies which were ignominiously burned and destroyed. Far different was the spirit and conduct of the Protestant Churches. They were built upon the Bible, rejoiced in it, largely diffused it, and called upon all to

read it, and regulate their faith and practice accordingly. | facts in the history of the Church of Scotland, parallel Never did they shrink from the Scriptures, and far less destroy them as a noxious book. The Church of France, in 1603, complains of the scarcity and dearness of the Bibles printed at Geneva; and the General Assembly write to their brethren there not to take amiss that they preferred the Bibles of Rochelle. So zealous were the French Protestants in the cause of Bible dissemination, that they appointed a standing printer and publisher, and, in the year referred to, "exhort him to hasten a new impression, and to vend it at as low a price as possible." And why? That the Word of God might be accessible to all, to the poor as well as the rich. What a contrast to an Italian Popish version of thirteen volumes, and a Spanish one of eighteen volumes! To make the new French version admit of easier reference, one of the ministers is requested to make "a good index" to it. There are few better signs of the religious improvement of Ireland, at the present day, than the strong demand for Bibles with references, even where a common copy is already possessed. In 1600, we read of the printer at Rochelle bringing out a new edition of the Bible in a lesser form, "and that might easily be carried anywhere in the pocket," and of lists being added of those texts which are most proper and pertinent for confirining the truth and confuting error. And eight years later, we read of a printer at Montauban publishing an octavo New Testament. In this last case the errata were so numerous, that the Assembly, justly jealous for the honour of the Word of God, and the good of the Church, ordered the pastors to recall and cancel it. All these things indicate zeal for Bible circulation in a right way. And the general result of the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in France, and other nations generally, is well stated by Diodati, professor at Geneva, in a letter to the French Church, asking their permission for his Latin and French translation in the year 1637:

to similar facts in the history of the Church of France, and the resemblance does not fail in the matter of the Scriptures. So early as 1526, many copies of Tyndale's version, which was printed on the continent, found their way into Scotland, and were very generally read. This, with the use of other means, so bastened on the Reformation, that, in the course of seventeen years, the Parliament decreed it to be lawful to all to read the Word of God. Hitherto it had been death to attempt it; and though this act did not secure a universal protection; though, in spite of it, men continued to be burnt by the Popish priests, for no other crime than possessing or reading the Scriptures, still the decision of Parliament was followed with the best effect. (6 Then," says Knox, "might have been seen the Bible lying almost upon every gentleman's table. The New Testament was borne about in many men's hands." As might have been expected, under such influences, the Reformation grew in strength, and in 1560 had risen to such a magnitude, that the Protestant Church became the recog nised Church of the country. In the same year the English exiles at Geneva, made a new translation of the Scriptures, to which many valuable notes were appended. This version was used by Knox, and was circulated to a great extent, both in England and in Scotland. As printing had originated on the continent, so it could be executed more cheaply and perfectly there than in this country. Hence, for a long time, editions of the Scriptures, which were chiefly intended for Great Britain, were printed in some of the large Protestant continental towns, and then imported. So early, however, as 1565, the Psalms of David, in Scotch metre, issued from the humble printing press of Scotland, and about the same time an impression of the Geneva Scriptures, to the extent of seven thousand copies, was carried to poor popish Ireland, and sold in the course of two years. This shews how strong was the thirst for Bible knowledge at that early period. It had been well if it had been nourished into growing power through succeeding years. It is a remarkable fact, that our fathers not only fully provided themselves with the Scriptures, but in 1567 had the book of common order, with Knox's prayers, translated into Gaelic; and Dr M'Crie doubts not that, in the same century, they had the Psalms in Gaelic. One might be ready to think that books could be of little use to a population in the circumstances of the Highlanders. It appears, however, from the researches of the Rev. Dr Lee, that reading and writing were not, even at that period, very rare accomplishments in Argyleshire, and other parts of the Highlands, and that the complaints were more frequent there were no good books, than that there were not persons able to read them. If even the Gaelic population formed thus early an object of Christian care and attention to the Church, we cannot doubt that the Lowland population were watched over with, if possible, still more parental affection. Well as Scotland was supplied with the Word of God, both from England and the Continent, she would bring out an edition for herself; according ly, in 1575, proposals were made, by a printer, to the General Assembly, to publish an edition of the English Scriptures from the Geneva version. The Church cordially entered into the plan, and by way of encouraging the work, it was agreed that burghs and parishes should advance money to defray the expense, on the understanding that, to those who thus contributed, the Bible, when printed, should be cheaper. Regent Morton subscribed a large sum, not from the public purse, for no edition of the Scriptures was published in Scotland at that period at the government expense, but from the collections of parishes ordered by the Church. Thus the first edition of the whole Bible ever printed in Scotland, was pubWe have had occasion to notice many interesting | lished, with a dedication to the king, in 1579; and it

Antiquity reaped much fruit this way, as St. Augustine and divers others have witnessed; but the Christian Church in our days hath enjoyed it most abundantly. For the sweet odours disperst abroad by the new translations of the Bible in divers languages, within these five-and-twenty or thirty years, is wonderful, and they have largely contributed to the edifying, instruction, and confirmation of saints. The

English translation, for its great fidelity and clearness, weareth a shining crown of glory upon its head; those two German ones of Piscator and Cramerns, for their noble qualities and conditions, are exceeding useful, and have done a great deal of good; the new Polonian, made and printed at the instance of the Prince of Badzeville, is of that esteem to allure the present king of Poland to read it, and to enamour him of it, though he be a prince of a contrary religion; the new Dutch translation, which is just now coming into the world, sets persons a-longing for it, because of the excellency of its work, the number and abilities of its workmen, the time they have spent in the doing of it, and for the great helps the Lords' States General have afforded them to effect it; and the Old Testament, which is now working off at Zurich, in the purest Switzer language, must needs be of a raised worth, by that taste we had of the New, which is already printed; the new Spanish translation of Cyprian de Vallera hath produced incredible effects in Spain, no less than three thousand copies having penetrated, by secret ways and conveyances, into the very bowels of that kingdom. Let others publish the fruit of my Italian version both in Italy and elsewhere. If it were expedient and becoming me, I could bring forth numerous examples of it, and those also attested by persons of unstained credit and reputation."

was required by Act of Parliament, and under a penalty of ten pounds, that every family should have a Bible and a Psalm-book, and searchers were appointed to see that this act was carried into effect. Whatever some may think of the apparent severity of this law, none can question the zeal for the dissemination of the Word of God which it discovers. During the next forty-five years no fresh edition of the whole Scriptures issued from the press of Scotland; but in 1610, the same printer republished the same version, with the exception of some change on the New Testament, taken from another version; and the Synods required every parish church to purchase a copy, under the penalty of a fine. We must not imagine, however, that these two native editions supplied all the wants of Scotland for nearly half a century. No, we read of the Scotch printer bringing out an English edition with the Scotch Psalms, It is an interesting fact, that one thousand pounds at Dort, in 1601, evidently for the use of our country, Scots, or eighty-three pounds six shillings and eightwhere such Psalms could alone be in demand; and, in pence, Sterling, were given out of the vacant stipends, addition to this, we have to bear in mind that both in for binding the Gaelic Bibles, and the balance, if there London and on the continent there were a multitude of were any, was to be devoted to the publication of a new editions of the Psalms and Catechisins, and the whole edition. In 1699 a fund was begun by the Church for Bibles published for the Scotch market. It is known printing another impression; and sixteen years later that there were not less than thirty editions of Buchanan's there is an earnest demand, from several places, for Psalms imported into this country, during the forty-five more Bibles, so much so, that the commission are enyears of which I speak. In the same space of time, it treated to do their best endeavour to procure them. is estimated, there could not be less than a hundred In the meantime, the Confession of Faith and the editions of the various translations of the Bible printed Catechisms, which contain a large body of Scripture, in England, and that not less than twenty of these were were translated and published. So early as 1708 a absorbed by Scotland; and the number of copies in letter is written to the Synod of Argyle, requesting these editions was not small or inconsiderable. It ap- them to undertake the work. Shortly after, a collecpears that one impression, at a later day, amounted to tion is made to defray the expense; and in 1714 the nearly eight thousand copies, and that the demand for the Confession appeared, and ten years later the two CatePsalms in metre was at the rate of twenty thousand yearly. chisins. This was a most important publication, and The annual copies of the whole Scriptures cannot be quite in keeping with the other exertions of the Church estimated at a much lower number, and considering at the same period, to provide the destitute parts of the comparative poverty and small population of Scot- the Highlands and Islands with the blessings of religious land, what an idea do these facts suggest of the religious instruction. At the beginning of the century, a work spirit of our fathers, their devoted love, and unwearied was revived and enlarged in which the Church had been use of the Word of God. It is a curious but interest- engaged many years before. Bursaries of ten pounds a ing circumstance, illustrative of the views which I have year were raised by the Synods for the encouragement been presenting, that in 1637, when there was an open and support of young men at college, having the Gaelic resistance to the imposition of the English service book, or, as it is called, Irish language. These were conit is said a shower of small clasp Bibles followed the tinued for four years to each student, and strict care was stool of Jenny Geddes, amounting, in number, to "whole taken, not only as to the punctual payment, but as to pock fulls," proving at once the indignation of the peo- the real Gaelic knowledge and acquirements of the ple, and the abundance of the Scriptures. Twenty young men at college. In 1704, when the Lowlands years afterwards, we are assured by Kirkton, that had come to be well supplied with ministers, one-half of every family had a Bible, and was able to read it; "the bursaries, which had served as an encouragement to and twenty years again after that, in days of hot and intolerable persecution, we find the king's printer in Scotland bitterly complaining of "great sums of money" being daily expended upon foreign Bibles, that is English Bibles printed out of Scotland.

during the whole week, and was restored upon the Saturday evening or the Sabbath morning, that it might be read publicly to the assembled multitude, as a part of divine worship; and as a proof of the salutary effect of even this imperfect diffusion of the knowledge of the Word, it may be mentioned, that in the troubles which followed the revolution of 1688, in the Highlands, scarcely any of the natives who had received Bibles, or been instructed from them, were implicated in hostility to the revolution settlement.

Immediately after the revolution an impression of the Irish or Gaelic Bible was printed in London, and three thousand copies of the Bible, one thousand of the New Testament, and three thousand Catechisms trans|mitted to the care of the agent of the Church of Scotland, for distribution in the Highlands and Islands.

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It is unnecessary to pursue the investigation farther, with reference to English Bibles, but it may not be uninteresting to mention a few facts, in reference to the Scriptures in the Gaelic language. The Protestant Church of France had only to provide for one language, the Protestant Church of Scotland had to provide for two. We have seen that even in the sixteenth century there is reason to believe the Psalms of David were circulated in the Gaelic tongue; and in the middle of the seventeenth, about 1650, we find the Synod of Argyle publishing the first fifty Psalms in the same language. Twenty-seven years later, or about 1687, the Hon. Robert Boyle, of London, a name dear to every Christian heart, had the Irish Bible of Bishop Bedell published at his own expense, and two hundred copies sent down to the Highlands, on the conditions that the ministers should "read some chapters every Lord's day to the people," and that the Bible should be taken care of "as for the use of the parish." This reading of the Word of God excited great interest, so much so that the Bible travelled through different parts of the parish

young men having English, were transferred for the use of those having Gaelic. About the same period, the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, began its inestimably important labours, and by the establishment of schools, the translation of works of practical divinity, the employment of catechists and the establishment of libraries, was honoured to effect a vast amount of good, which eternity alone will be able fully to reveal. Were it not that I wish, at present, to restrict the reader's attention to the Gaelic Scriptures, I might mention many pleasing proofs of the zeal, both of the Church and of the Society, in attending to the spiritual wants of the Highlands. To recur to the Scriptures; though I have not been able to lay my hands upon any document which shews that the Scriptures, in the Gaelic language, were translated, in Scotland, previous to 1767; yet, from the anxiety displayed in other ways, to promote the spiritual welfare of the Highland population, and the actual fact, that there were copies in England, I cannot doubt that many were obtained from London. The delay of the new transla tion, in this country, seems to have been owing to an unhappy idea, in which even intelligent and good men concurred, after the sad Popish rebellions in 1715 and 1745, that it was essential to the civilization of the Highlands, in the first instance, to abolish their language,

This impression, by no means an unnatural one, of course, for a time, postponed the translation into Gaelic, but gave new animation to the efforts of Christians, through English channels. After trial for a season it was found, that this was not the way of getting rid of the language, and that the Christian instruction, conveyed through the medium of English, was partial and imperfect. Hence good men recurred to the former idea of reaching the people through the Word of God, translated into their native language; and so, in 1767, the New Testament, translated by the Rev. James Stewart, of Killin, under the care of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, was published in an edition of not less than ten thousand copies. It may be mentioned that the great Dr Samuel Johnson heartily approved of the object, and encouraged the translator in his important undertaking. Thirty years after, a second edition was published by the same society, of course before the days of the Bible Society, amounting to the immense impression of nearly twenty-two thousand copies. The Old Testament was published in parts as it was translated. Collected together, it was printed in 1802, to the extent of five thousand copies; and five years afterwards an edition of twenty thousand. In 1810 the Old Society printed the New Testament anew, in an edition of ten thousand copies, so that in about forty years it had been instrumental, under God, in putting sixty-six thousand copies of the Gaelic Scriptures into circulation, without counting the parts of the Old Testament, or the editions of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the latter of which now came into considerable circulation. It is an interesting fact, that so early as 1782, collections were made throughout the church, and in subsequent years repeatedly renewed, to defray the expense of the Gaelic translation. In 1816 it was considered desirable to revise part of the translation of the Old Testament. This was done, and in the course of a few years a quarto edition was brought out under the care of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge and a committee of the General Assembly, which for excellence is not surpassed, it is understood, by any modern version of the Scriptures. So impressed were the Lords of the Treasury with the great services which had been rendered to the cause of God, and the moral and religious interests of the Highlands, by the labours of the late eminent Reverend Dr Stewart of Luss, son of Mr Stewart of Killin, as a translator of the Gaelic Scriptures, that in 1820 they awarded him the sum of one thousand pounds. Previous to that period, and since, various large impressions of the Scriptures have been published by the British and Foreign, and latterly by the Edinburgh Bible Society, and instead of perpetuating the language, it is believed, never was the anxiety to acquire English stronger or more general in the Highlands than at this present time.

Thus, it appears that both the Protestant Church of France, and the Protestant Church of Scotland, were remarkable for their love of the Word of God, and their anxiety to disseminate it; and what higher testimony could be given in behalf either of an individual or a Church? Next to the love of God himself, what is more beautiful or befitting than the love of his Word? Indeed they are identical. Few tests of religious character are better or more conclusive than the way in which men feel towards the Scriptures, and in which they treat the Scriptures. How often does the Psalmist tell us of his love for the Word of God; and whatever scoffers, and the supporters of an apostate church may allege to the contrary, the benefits which attend the wide and indiscriminate circulation of the Scriptures are incalculable. The twelve millions of copies which have been scattered during the last thirty years by the Bible Society, may seem a vast number, and some may think there has been no corresponding fruit, but could

we estimate how much evil has been prevented, which, but for them, would have burst forth, how much substantial good has actually been wrought out, and what trains have been laid for infinitely more in the future, no philanthropist, and much more no Christian, could hesitate for a moment to approve of, yea, to rejoice in the sacrifice.

CHRISTIAN TREASURY.

The Misery of Hell. The great aggravation of this misery will be its eternity,-That when a thousand millions of ages are past, their torments are as fresh to begin as at the first day. If there were any hope of an end, it would ease them to foresee it; but when it must be for ever so, that thought is intolerable: much more will the misery itself be. They were never weary of sinning, nor ever would have been, if they had lived eternally upon earth, and now God will not be weary of plaguing them. They never heartily repented of their sin, and God will never repent him of their suffering. They broke the laws of the eternal God, and therefore shall suffer eternal punishment. They knew it was an everlasting kingdom which they refused when it was offered them, and therefore what wonder if they be everlastingly shut out of it; it was their immortal souls that were guilty of the trespass, and therefore must immortally suffer the pains. Oh, now, what happy men would they think themselves, if they might have lain still in their graves, or continued dust, or suffered no worse than the gnawing of those worms! Oh! that they might but there lie down again; what a mercy now would it be to die; and how will they call and cry out for it," O death, whither art thou now gone? Now come and cut off this doleful life! Oh! that these pains would break my heart, and end my being!" Oh! that I might once die at last! Oh! that I never had a being! These groans will the thoughts of eternity wring from their hearts. They were wont to think the sermon long, and prayer long; how long then will they think these endless torments? What difference is there betwixt the length of their pleasures and of their pains? The one continued but a moment, but the other endureth through all eternity. Oh! that sinners would lay this thought to heart! Remember how time is almost gone. Thou art standing all this while at the door of eternity; and death is waiting to open the door, and put thee in. Go sleep out but a few more nights, and stir up and down on earth a few more days, and then thy nights and days shall end; thy thoughts and cares, and displeasures, and all shall be devoured by eternity; thou must enter upon the state which shall never be changed. As the joys of heaven are beyond our conceiving, so also are the pains of hell. Everlasting torment is inconceivable torment.-BAXTER.

Discontent.-Murmuring persons think every thing too much that is done by them, and every thing too little that is done for them: God is as far from pleasing them with his mercy, as they are from pleasing him with their duty.-DYER.

Growth in Grace. He that sits down content with the grace he hath, and is not pressing forward towards perfection, and striving to grow in grace, to get the habits of it more strengthened and confirmed, and the actings of it more quickened and invigorated, it is to be feared hath no grace at all; but though he sits ever so high, and ever so easy in his own opinion, vet sits down short of heaven. Where there is life, one way or other there will be growth, till we come to the perfect man. Job xvii. 9,-" He that hath clean hands, shall be stronger and stronger." Paul was a man of great attainments in grace, and yet we find him forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those that are before. MATTHEW HENRY,

SACRED POETRY.

ROM. I. 14. "I AM DEBTOR."

WHEN this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o'er life's finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall,
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
When I stand before the throne
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see thee as thou art,
Love thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then-how much I owe.
When the praise of heaven I hear,
Loud as thunders to the ear,
Loud as many waters' noise,
Sweet as harp's melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then-how much I owe.
Even on earth, as through a glass
Darkly, let thy glory pass,
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make thy Spirit's help so meet,
Even on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of how much I owe.
Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Saviour's side,
By the Spirit sanctified,

Teach me, Lord, on earth to shew,
By my love, how much I owe.
Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark as midnight's gloomy shroud;
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessed Jesus! bid me shew
Doubting saints, how much I owe.
When in flow'ry paths I tread,
Oft by sin I'm captive led;
Oft I fall but still arise-
The Spirit comes the tempter flies;
Blessed Spirit! bid me shew
Weary sinners, all I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign,—
Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain;
But a night thine anger burns,—
Morning comes and joy returns ;
God of comforts! bid me shew
To thy poor, how much I owe.

Dundee.

MISCELLANEOUS.

R. M. M'CH.

A Greenland Family.-A Greenlander, who dwelt for many years at no great distance from the missionhouse, in the early period of the Moravian mission, had much intercourse with the brethren, but could never resolve to forsake his land, where he was held in great repute; his daughter, however, was baptized, and went to reside with the missionaries. Her father was much enraged; but, in reply to his angry expostulations, she modestly told him the reasons of her decision, and the

happiness of the believers, concluding with saying, "So happy may you also be; but if you will not, I cannot stay and perish with you." This softened his heart, and he began to weep; went with her to the missionary, and declared that his intention now was, not to take away his daughter from the baptized, but rather to go with her. He desired him only to engage her, with another or two, to help him to put his matters in order. This was done, and at length he himself came, say the missionaries, with his two sons, and the rest of his household, and said, "Now I also come to you, and will not leave you again. I only wish that the rest of my children may soon be baptized, for they are young, and have a desire after our Saviour. As to myself, I am in a very indifferent state, and am not likely to come to much; but yet, at lying down and rising up I call to mind what I have heard of our Saviour, and I am come hither on purpose to hear more." He came also, frequently, to inquire whether his grown son was not soon to be baptized. I, myself," said he, "dare not think of baptism, as I am very bad, and old too, and incapable of learning much more; but yet I will live and die with you, for it is very reviving to me to hear of our Saviour." "What simplicity and integrity of mind!" says Mr Crantz; "might not this heathen put us in mind of our Saviour's words concerning the Centurion at Capernaum:- I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.' Mat. viii. 10. And will not many from the east and west, and from the north and south, sit down in the kingdom of heaven; while to others, who could boast, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets,' it will be said, I know you not, whence you are?' This man afterwards believed, with his whole house."

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The Rev. Mr Polk, of America. The Rev. Mr Polk, at a western general meeting of the Religious Tract Society, stated that he had a right to speak of the value of tracts, because, under God, he was indebted for all he knew of Christianity to a tract. In an institution for the education of young men, in his own country, out of two hundred and fifty individuals, there was not one who was a Christian; and though the minister laboured among them with great zeal, he seemed to labour in vain. At last he got a young man to go through the building, and distribute some religious tracts. He left a tract on infidelity in one of the rooms, where two young men lodged together, one of whom was apparently of doubtful principles. The other, however, got hold of it, and read it. It arrested his attention, and set his mind on inquiring; and he afterwards fell in with Dr Olinthus Gregory's "Letters," which led him to procure a Bible. The truths of that blessed book were brought home to his mind with great power, and he became a converted man. And his conversion was the beginning of a revival of religion in that place, during which twenty others of the young men, and some of the professors, became converted to Christ.

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