To the Secretaries. Boyle, Sept. 17, 1825. I forgot to mention in my letter of the 13th, that the Bible Society held its annual meetings in this province in the latter part of last month. I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at four of them, viz. Ballina, Sligo, Boyle, and Carrick; they were all well attended, and excited considerable interest, and passed off without the least disturbance. And from many facts that were adduced, it is very evident that the enemies of the Bible and Bible Societies, have defeated their own purposes by the opposition formerly given at these meetings. J. WILSON. From a Sabbath Reader to Mr. Wilson. This is the Journal referred to by Mr. Wilson in his Letter, September 13. REV. SIR, I have omitted no opportunity in being as serviceable as possible to my fellowsinners in this neighbourhood. I proceeded according to the directions I had received; I go from village to village, and occasionally read in both the Irish and English Testaments to all who are willing to hear; and notwithstanding that in my commencement in this good work, my hearers were few, the numbers are daily and gradually increasing, so that at present I can afirm, that wherever I go I cannot miss of having many to hear; and I hope that numbers of them are genuine characters, even a peculiar people, made willing in the day of God's power. alone who has been so highly favoured In a village called Curragh, in this neighbourhood, I find great pleasure in meeting with the people. I find that their prejudices are removed, and so far enlightened in general, that an eager desire appears visible in their countenance, when hearing that word read which makes wise the simple. An old woman in this village, who, for many years back, has been so disabled, that she much lamented the loss of not being able to attend at her place of worship on Sabbath days; but when she got the privilege of hearing the scriptures read to her every Sabbath in her cabin, she rejoiced for the consolation; and I have no doubt, according to appearance, but that she has received lasting and essential benefit by hearing repeatedly the holy scriptures read; and glad am I to an nounce, that it is not this individual Since my last, I have been labouring as usual, among the poor and illiterate of this extensive country, reading and explaining the Irish scriptures from village to village, and from house to house; and in every place I addressed the people, and announced to them salvation through the Saviour: they withdrew from their work, sat down in the fields, and houses, where they attended to what they heard with seriousness and delight; and many of them praised God for the truths contained in his word, whilst others implored blessings on those who have undertaken to illuminate their dark land with the glorious light of the gospel. I visited P- M-, of Carownedin, who had a Testament in his house these thirty years past; I directed his attention to the Saviour's atonement; and after I had read and expounded about four hours for himself and his household, he seemed peculiarly interested, and said, These are surely the words of eternal life, and I am convinced there is none other way of salvation but through the merits of the Saviour. Thomas B told me, that priest D roared out in the chapel, that heretics of every denomination were endeavouring, by their schools and various other means, to undermine the most holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. But what can they effect, or what can they do, said he, with all their scriptural knowledge; the power was not committed to them, but to us; we have received power to forgive sins of the deepest die; come unto the priests, lawfully ordained and authorized, and they can forgive you, by annexing suitable penance. This is what they dare not attempt to do, as they never received even permission from any lawful authority. This man and priest -are the two who are at present offering opposition to the schools; and as for the scripture readers, they are seldom opposed in any direction, the bulk of the people are so much attached to their native language. I have read five chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, and in the old Irish letter, for priest ——, (a young man who is helper to priest - -,) who seemed to be much delighted; I endeavoured to enforce on his mind the importance of employing the Irish language, as the medium of instructing those who are altogether ignorant, or very imperfectly acquainted with any other. "I admit," said he, "that it is truly surprising that the language of our country should not be better encouraged by every denomination of people." He expressed a wish that I would give him some instruction in the language. I have lent him an Irish grammar, and I entertain a pleasing hope that through the grace of God, I may be as useful to him, as I have been heretefore to priest H-, (as William Moor can certify,) that I was a feeble instrument in curing him of popery before his departure from this town. I consider it unnecessary to report concerning the schools, as you visit them so often, yet I am constrained to mention, that I ventured to propose many questions to the children of the schools, who shew a surprising knowledge of the holy scriptures, which, in many instances, has been realized in their regular and proper deportment, which bids fair to render the institution an earnest of more extensive good, and a permanent blessing to all the villages, where these schools are established. JOHN O'BRIEN. Miss Middleton, Church Hill, near Bristol, by the Rev. S. Saunders, £1. Subscriptions or Donations received by William Burls, Esq. Treasurer, 56, Lothbury; Mr. Ivimey, 20, Hurpur-street, and Mr. Pritchard, 16, Thornhaugh-street, London, Secretaries. Missionary Herald. BAPTIST MISSION. Home Proceedings. BRISTOL AND BATH AUXILIARY SOCIETY. THE Seventh Anniversary of this important Auxiliary was held, as usual, in Bristol, in the first week in August; though from local circumstances, the services at Bath were postponed to the month of November. On Tuesday evening, August 2, the cause of the Society was warmly advocated, by the Rev. S. Kilpin of Exeter, at Counterslip Meeting-house, in a sermon from Haggai ii. 6--9. The public meeting was held on Thursday morning at King-street chapel, when the chair was filled by John Sheppard, Esq. of Frome; and the following ministers and gentlemen took part in the business of the day: Rev. Messrs. Leif child, Macfarlane, Sutton, Lucy, Winter, Crisp, Dear, and Horsey; and Edward Phillips, and Joseph Whittuck, Esqrs. Mr. Winterbotham of Nailsworth had been engaged to preach at Broadmead in the evening, but being prevented by indisposition, that service was most kindly undertaken by the Rev. Richard Watson, one of the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, who delivered an excellent discourse from 1 Chron. xxix. 10 -16.; as did the Rev. Richard Elliot of Devizes, the next evening, at King-street, from Exodus xiv. 15. Of the amount collected at the various meetings we have not been informed. West Middlesex Missionary Union. THE Third Anniversary of the West Middlesex Missionary Society, was held at Paradise Chapel, Chelsea, on Tuesday, May 24, 1825. An appropriate sermon was delivered in the morning, by the Rev. William Copley of Watford; and the VOL. XVII. meeting for business was held in the evening, when the chair was filled by Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer to the Parent Society; and addresses were delivered in moving and seconding the various resolutions, by the Rev. Messrs. Hutchings, Lewis, Uppadine, Dyer, Brown, Copley, Hawkins, and Woollacott. WEST YORKSHIRE. ON Tuesday and Wednesday, the 20th and 21st of September, the Yorkshire West Assistant Baptist Missionary Society, held its Anniversary Meetings in Bradford. The Rev. P. Charrier of Liverpool advocated the claims of the Society in a very appropriate discoure on Tuesday evening, and the Rev. S. Saunders of Frome in two powerfully energetic discourses in the morning and afternoon of the following day. The resolutions passed at the public meeting, which was held in the evening, the Rev. W. Steadman, D.D. in the chair, were moved and seconded by the Rev. J. M'Pherson of Hull, and J. Jackson of Hebden-bridge; S. Saunders of Frome, and J. Mann, M.A. of Shipley; P. Charrier of Liverpool, and B. Godwin of Bradford; J. Acworth, A.M. of Leeds, and W. Scarlett of Gildersome; M. Saunders of Haworth, and - Scott of Colne. The feeling excited by the various addresses which were delivered, will not, it is hoped, speedily subside, but manifest its warmth and activity in more enlarged and better sustained exertions for the dissemination of divine truth among the benighted and perishing heathen. J. A. Foreign Intelligence. CALCUTTA. THE following Extracts are taken from the journal of a friend, connected with our junior brethren, whose residence appears to be at 2 Y Chinsurah, whence he makes excursions to carry the gospel to surrounding villages. October 28, 1824.-Preached at Peepulputtee. At the commencement, I had scarcely three persons to speak to, and might have been obliged to return home without any satisfaction, had not the Moodee on the opposite side of the street asked me to give him a book. I availed myself of this opportunity, and crossing over, entered into an interesting conversation with a brahman who sat in the same shop. This poor brahman was perfectly ignorant of the common attributes of the Creator, and could not give a reasonable answer to the several questions I put to him. My congregation soon assumed a very interesting aspect, and I was enabled to testify "the truth as it is in Christ," to at least fifty hearers. The Moodee started several objections to what I held forth; but as he was a very ignorant man, it was not a difficult matter to answer them. After being foiled in all his attempts to interrupt my discourse, he held his tongue, and enabled me thereby to speak of the love of Jesus to a lost world. It was a season of help. being very urgent to obtain the gospel I had with me, I put it into his hand, and left him. He Nov. 2.-I made Mulikquasum's haut my stand this evening, and read part of the 11th of Luke. I was soon surrounded by a large assembly of Hindoos and Mussulmans. The subject was, "Our Father which art in heaven, &c." I was much gratified to perceive the people pay great attention to my feeble discourse. At the close of it, I had a very interesting conversation with some of my auditory. The following is the purport of what passed between us. Quest. "Can you shew me a sign in support of the truth of what you declare?" Ans. "Can you shew me a sign of the truth of your Shasters? You cannot: neither can I. But I would have you take notice, that that religion must be the best which brings no dishonour to God. Now judge you whether what I have all this time said reflects any dishonour upon a holy God. Have any of your hearts, while I was speaking, been encouraged in their sinful inclinations? Have you been stimulated by what you have heard to entertain any sinful thoughts? By these words have you been affected with lasciviousness, or any other vile affections?" Ans. No." Speaker. "Then it will be no very difficult matter for you to compare the respective merits of your Shasters, and the one out of which I have just now spoken to you." Quest. "But were we all to become good, and were there to remain no distinction of good and evil, Kalee would be destroyed." Ans. True, it would; and would it not be a happy circumstance? The religion of Jesus Christ is expressly calculated to bring this change about-that is, that all should become good, and none remain bad." Quest. "How would the world go in that case? The sun and moon would cease to move." Ans. "The sun and moon do not, you see, cease to give their light, although you and the whole world are drowned in sin; neither would your becoming good affect them at all.”— Alas! poor Hindoos, you have no idea of your state. Your infatuated minds lead you to think, that the moment men become good, God would cease to be gracious, and withdraw the light of the sun by day, and the moon by night. But the grace of God is able to open your eyes. His holy words shall not pass away-though you have forgot him, yet he cannot forget what he has promised, else I would cease preaching to you henceforward. 66 17th-At Khakrajal this evening, I soon collected a congregation, and commenced directing their attention to the depravity of the human heart. A respectable looking Musselman listened to my discourse with peculiar interest, and at length left the place with seeming reluctance. I addressed him in the Hindoostanee language, and continued my speech to the people in it so long as I found the generality of my auditors could comprehend what I said. I was, however, at length requested to speak in the Bengalee language, when I was soon obliged to enter into conversation with several enquirers or objectors successively. The first person who was attended to, having heard me speak of the depravity of human nature, asked me, Where heaven was?" Ans. "Where God dwells." Quest. "What sort of a place is it?" Ans. "It is a place entirely free from misery and distress, and full of happiness and peace; and these in consequence of the presence of God." Quest. " But God is in me, and I do whatsoever he stimulates me to do." Ans. "I deny that; and to prove to you that what you say is incorrect, I must remind you, that as I said in the beginning, God dwells there where no misery or distress is, and where there is perfect happiness and peace. Now if the divinity dwells within you, it must naturally follow that you are free from distress of all kinds, and are perfectly happy. But this you will acknowledge is not the case, consequent Iy you are labouring under a sad delusion, and which will ultimately involve you in ruin." This man, however, left me with much dissatisfaction. 66 The next objectors, or rather interrogators, were several lads, who tried all they could to ridicule the gospel, and repeatedly reiterated, "Who is Jesus?" To all which I thought it fruitless to say more than these words, "He is the Saviour-he is the Saviour." My new antagonist was a Musselman youth, who said, Why should I become a disciple of Jesus Christ, since by adoring the Creator, and performing good works, and doing what he bids me, I shall go to heaven?" Ans. "True, this would certainly answer the purpose; but if you recollect, that God has said that sinners shall be turned into hell-fire.' He must be faithful to his word; so that when you come to die, and stand before his judgment-seat, and are called upon to answer for your sins, you will not be able to furnish an excuse for yourself, and must inevitably be consigned to everlasting misery. Now by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will escape the judgment of God, which your numerous sins have deserved." He quitted the field, and was succeeded by another Mussel man, who pretended to know better and more than his predecessor; but when I asked him who Mahommed had descended from, and who Ishmael was, and whether it was not Isaac that was about to be offered up as a sacrifice by Abraham, he had scarcely any thing to say to the purpose, so that the people laughed at his presumption, and after a few words more, he left the stand with much mortification. He pretended, in the course of our controversy, that his Koran was better than the Shasters of the Hindoos, who, he said, were Bêkêtabe (bookless). I, how ever, made a comparison between the two, and proceeded to point out to him the inefficacy of either; and told him, that upon this consideration, his Koran could by no means claim any superiority over the Shasters of the Hindoos. I had next to do with a rather reasonable sort of a Hindoo, and entered into a very edifying conversation. He was backed by another, who though he was rather ignorant, and seemed to think, that whatever works he performed were through the influence of the Deity that dwelt within him, yet was anxious, and I might add, almost impatient, to hear me prove that he was mistaken. I used various arguments to drive out this shocking idea from his mind, adding, that the articles which a blacksmith was in the habit of manufacturing could not say that they were blacksmiths. He was, or rather seemed to be, convinced of the truth of my observations; but said withal, "How then shall I come to a knowledge of the truth?" Ans. "Well, now you are reasonable, and I must candidly tell you, that you cannot of yourself attain to that knowledge: it must be God himself that must do it by the influence of his Holy Spirit." Quest. "But how can that be?, for did not you just now tell me, that God did not influence us to any thing?" Ans. "I said that God did not instigate. us to perform evil actions, because he not only threatens to punish evil doers, but it is impossible for him to do evil: he is a holy God, and hates even the appearance of evil." Quest. "How comes it then that I perform bad actions?" Ans.. "It is your depravity that causes you to do them. You cannot avoid doing evil, so long as you labour under its influence. Now the word I am sent to preach to you, has the blessed quality of renewing the heart: God gives his Holy Spirit to those that ask him for it, through Jesus the Saviour of mankind. I am persuaded, that were you inclined to follow the precepts of this book, you could not do it of yourself. I would, therefore, recommend it to you to pray to the great God to direct you in your choice, and point out to you whether this book is the true one or your Shastras." It was now quite dark; but as I had a large concourse of people about me, who were eager to listen, I continued to address them. One of my first antagonists now returned, and commenced a fresh controversy by saying, "If I must worship Christ, who has a body, and be saved, why may not I be saved by worshipping my own body?" he meant to say "myself." Ans. "Tie a stone to your neck, and cast yourself into the river; and if you can then savé yourself from a watery grave, there would be some likelihood of your being able to save your soul. You see how vain it is to argue thus. The Saviour is fully able to save you, which you will perceive to be a faithful assertion, if you will read this book with attention, and compare its merits with those of your Shastras. You have many Shastras, but no Saviour. Will you then lose your soul by persevering in the infatuated persuasion that your Shastras will save you? You are perfectly aware, that none of your Shastras have by a suitable atonement made satisfaction for sin. Now Jesus has. Your objections will avail nothing: I must preach the gospel to you, and if you refuse to come and listen to it on the public roads, I shall go to your houses, and beg of you to believe in Jesus; for so long as I am |