presented the Arabic Testament to the Molwee, and retained the Hindoostanee one for his own use. The Molwee, not so much acquainted with the Testament as the Korân, searched in vain for the passage which he wanted; when his opponent requested him to state its meaning, and he could probably immediately refer to it. He expressed the meaning of the passage which he intended, when the Christian immediately perceived that he referred to our Lord's promise of the Holy Spirit, which the Mussulmans frequently urge is predicated of Mahomed, and directed him to the latter part of chap. xv. and the commencement of chap. xvi. of St. John. These parts being accordingly read and commented on by the Molwee, the Mussulmans present began to rejoice at this evident prediction of the Prophet: when our Brother begged them to allow him to read the WHOLE of both chapters, with one or two other passages, in which the Person here called the Holy Spirit is mentioned; and they would then better see if the words could, as they supposed, refer to the Prophet. This being granted, they listened most attentively, while he read and explained both chapters; and he shewed them that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter here spoken of, is the same as the Holy Ghost spoken of in Acts i. 8: Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. This, his learned antagonist immediately allowed; and the hearers, of course, assented to the acknowledgment: when the Native Preacher said-" Now you see that the Apostles were to wait at JERUSALEM till the Holy Ghost came on them. But were not the Apostles dead, and Jerusalem itself destroyed by the Romans, long before Mahomed made his appearance? Must not every one of those, to whom Christ addressed the words, have been dead within 100 years after he had spoken them; and did Mahomed appear till 600 years after that event? How can they, then, be spoken of HIM?' His candid opponent was at once convinced; and assured him, before all the people, that he had given a fair explanation of the passage; and begged to know how he could express his respect for him. He replied, "By declaring, before all this assembly, your opinion of this Volume- the New Testament: Is it a false Translation; or may it be relied on?" "I protest, before you all," said he, “that this is, I fully believe, true Version of the New Testament, and may be read without fear of fraud or interpolation." "'* "Now," said our Brother, addressing them in his turn, you hear what this learned Molwee says. You acknowledge his skill, and learning, and piety. From henceforth, then, no longer repeat to us, when we reason with you from this Volume, the common, but unfounded objection, that the Text is vitiated." All agreed in the reasonableness of the request; and, after parting in a friendly manner from the Molwee, he returned with the approbation, instead of the contempt and hatred, of the hearers. Thus," said he to me, in relating some of the occurrences, "has God graciously magnified His word in the presence of my Countrymen; and thus has He encouraged my hope of the coming of His kingdom.' * The Translation was the Rev. H. Martyn's. Recent Miscellaneous Entelligence. UNITED KINGDOM. Exeter Hall-This Noble Room was opened on Tuesday, the 29th of March instant; when the Blessing of Almighty God was invoked on the design, and a large assemblage of the Members of various Religious and Charitable Societies were addressed by different Gentlemen. Church Miss. Soc.-On the 18th of March, Mr. Joseph Matthews embarked at Plymouth for Van Diemen's Land, on board the "Argyle," Convict Ship, Captain Stavers; a Passage having been granted to Mr. Matthews in that ship, by His Majesty's Government. Mr. Matthews will ultimately proceed to New Zealand-At a Meeting of the Committee, on the 22d of March, the Rev. James Hough in the Chair, Instructions were delivered to the Rev. Peter Fjellstedt; who is about to sail for Madras, accompanied by Mrs. Fjellstedt and Miss Racster, in order to be employed in the Society's Mission in that Presidency-An increase of not less than 4871. has taken place, during the last year, in the receipts of the Manchester and East-Lancashire Association, above those of the year 1829. Jews' Society -The following Notice has appeared relative to Mr. Wolff:— The Committee of the London Society informed their friends in their publication for July 1830, that Mr. Wolf had been requested to return to England. They have now with regret to mention, that Mr. Wolff has, in consequence of some conscientious scruples in his mind, declined complying with the wishes of the Committee; and, having de. termined to proceed through the interior of Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, has relinquished all further connexion with the Society, expressing this his determination in terms of the best Christian feeling-grateful for the kind. ness and benefits which he has received-and anxious, in his individual capacity, to render any service to the cause which they have mutually at heart, that may be in his power. The Committee lament that any circumstance should have occurred to make this dissolution necessary; and desire to express their sense of the great services rendered by Mr. Wolff in the propagation of the knowledge of Christ among various nations, and especially among his brethren after the flesh and, while they are unable any longer to · guide or assist him in his journeyings, they would wish him God speed, and trust that he may be mercifully preserved from all perils and dangers in the course of his projected long journey, and be enabled successfully to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations which he is about to visit. Wesleyan Miss. Soc.-On the 26th of January, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson and Mr. Manton embarked for New South Wales; on the 1st of February, Mr. and Mrs. Barr and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, for the Island of Jamaica; and on the 12th, Mr. and Mrs. Moister, for St. Mary's, on the Gambia, in Western Africa-The Committee, in reference to the loss of the late Mrs. Croggon's services in the Girls' School at Zante, have circulated the following notice : To supply this deficiency, and at the same time to af. ford Mr. Croggon the opportunity of itinerating in the eastern side of the Morea, for which duty he is prepared by an acquaintance with the languages and an intimacy with many of the inhabitants, the Committee are desirous of sending to Zante a Preacher who has travelled some years at home-whose classical attainments would facilitate an early acquisition of Modern Greek and Italianwhose habits and zeal would fit him to pursue the plans so jndicionsly commenced by Mr. Croggon-and whose Wife would sedulously devote herself to the important task of training the Greek Females in useful and spiritual knowledge. Temperance Societies-The rapid growth of Intemperance in this country is truly alarming recent measures of Government will counteract, in some degree, it may be hoped, that criminal and destructive abuse of ardent spirits to which former legislation gave but too much occasion; yet the evil has grown to such a height, that all the efforts of wise and good men are loudly called for to aid in its removal. We rejoice, therefore, to witness the establishment of Temperance Societies in different parts of the United Kingdom; and, though Institutions of this nature do not come within the immediate object of our Work, yet, as they are directed to the promotion of moral good on a large scale, we shall occasionally give brief notices of them in this department of our Numbers. A Society of this nature has been formed in the Metropolis, under the title of the "London Temperance Society," on the following engagement to be entered into by every member : We, whose names are subscribed, believing that Intemperance and its attendant evils are promoted by existing habits and opinions in regard to the use of Intoxicating Liquors, and that decisive measures for affording a reformation are indispensable, do voluntarily agree to abstain entirely from the use of Ardent Spirits, except for medicinal purposes: and although the moderate use of other Liquors is not excluded, yet, as the promotion of Temperance in every form is the specific design of the Society, it is understood that excess in these necessarily excludes from membership. In order to enable every Member of the Society effectually to promote its objects, Books may be had at the Depôt of the Society, 14, Bartholomew Close, London, containing the above engagement, with ruled pages for the enrolment of the names of New Members: a supply of suitable Tracts may also be had at 2s. 6d. per 100 for Tracts of eight pages, and at the same rate when they exceed that number of pages. Lord's-Day-Observance Society - On the ground stated under the preceding head, we notice, with thankfulness to Almighty God, the efficient measures now in progress for stemming the torrent of Sabbath Profanation which threatens to overwhelm this guilty land. We subjoin the objects of this Institution; and have reason to hope, from the character of those with whom it originates and the manner in which it is supported, that it will prove, under the Divine Blessing, an instrument of incalculable good: 1. To diffuse information as widely as possible on the subject, by the publication and circulation of Books and Tracts on the Divine Authority of the Institution-on the objections raised against it-on its practical duties-its unnumbered benefits-the prevailing violations of it-the new inroads made on its sanctity-the best means of abating or preventing those evils, and promoting the sancti. fication of the day-and on similar topics. 2. To open a correspondence throughout the British Empire, and if possible on the Continent of Europe, and wherever else suitable opportunities may occur, for the purpose of forming Local Associations, and for maintain. ing a friendly intercourse with Societies already existing, or which may be established with the same object in view. 3. To aid, as far as the funds of the Society may allow, the Local Associations which may most stand in need of support. 4. To promote, by all proper measures, Petitions to the Legislature, throughout the country, for the enactment of such laws as may be necessary for repressing the open violation of the Lord's Day, and for protecting the Christian Worshipper in the peaceful exercise of his duties. 5. And, generally, to form a Point of Union, if God should be pleased to bless the design, for the efforts which may be made in every part of the world toward this great object. Sabbath-Protection Society- An Institution under this name has also been lately formed. It consists chiefly of persons engaged in trade; and, by its constitution, three-fourths of the Committee are to consist of such persons. Its single object is, to procure by Law exemption from labour on the Sunday, chiefly on the just claims of personal liberty: and we cannot but hope that these to the simultaneous efforts, to vindicate Lord's Day that sanctity with which it is clothed by the Divine Command, and to assert for individuals protection against all compulsory violation of it, will issue in a growing observance of this sacred and beneficent appointment. The following extract from the Circular of this Society will explain the principle on which it proceeds : There are Tradesmen, who, determined to take advantage of the abstinence of their neighbours, carry on business on the Day of Rest, in order to benefit themselves at the expense of others; and their conduct obliges many to continue, solely in self-defence, to remain at their post. The children and servants, also, of parties thus engaged, whether in aggression or self-defence, are deprived of the blessing of liberty. Every circumstance affecting the liberty of the subject, whether it refer to enjoyment or the performance of duty, being a legitimate object of the control of the Civil Magistrate, we propose to appeal to the Legislature to extend its protection to all, by the entire suspension of Commerce on the Sunday; leaving it to the wisdom of Parliament to discover what exceptions may be necessary, and by what means to provide for such exceptions, without continuing to subject individuals to serve against their will, against the interests of their neighbours, and against the rights of their dependants. WESTERN AFRICA. American Board of Miss.-The Rev. G. M. Erskine has soon departed from his labours: he was an intelligent Minister, of Afro-American extraction; and arrived in the Colony (see p. 8) only in February. He resided formerly in East Tennessee, where he was much respected, and highly useful as a Preacher. INDIA WITHIN THE GANGES. Church Miss. Soc. The Rev. Joseph Marsh (see p. 45) landed at Madras on the 24th of August. He writes on the 28th of October I am supplying Mr. Ridsdale's place at the Mission Chapel. We have a large Congregation on Sunday Evenings; and perhaps, about 60 or 70 persons on Sunday Morning and Tuesday Evening. Mr. Ridsdale's health, I am sorry to say, is not much improved. CEYLON. The Rt. Hon. Robert Wilmot Horton has been apointed Governor of Ceylon. WEST INDIES. Wesleyan Miss. Soc.-The Society has been deprived by death of the services of two valuable Missionaries in Jamaica: Mr. Penman died at Morant Bay, on the 8th of November; and Mr. Saxton at Bellemont, on the 27th of the same month: the Committee state In both these Brethren, the Society has sustained a great loss; their faithful labours having been highly esteemed by their Missionary Brethren and the people of their charge. They died as they had lived, not counting their lives dear to themselves, that they might finish their course with joy. Miscellanies. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE IDOL KANNAPPEN. THE Idol Kannappen, of which an Engraving is given on the opposite page, is one of those renounced by the people of Tinnevelly, on their conversion to Christianity through the instrumentality of the Labourers of the Church Missionary Society. It was worshipped many years by the people of Amattavanakoody, near Satangkoolam. In his right hand he holds a club; in his left a stick: at his girdle is a weapon; and round his body a cloth. Arullananden, the owner, who inherited it from his father, became a Christian a few years ago, and is now a Catechist in the Mission. This Image is of stone, and 5 feet 5 inches in height. It cost at least ninety rupees. The Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius thus relates the History of this Idol: Kannappen was, in ancient times, a Hunter at Kallastri, north of Madras. He used daily to hunt in a forest where there was an Idol of Siva, served by a Priest. When this Priest had finished the Service of the Temple, locked the door, and returned home, Kannappen used to come to the door, which always opened to him of itself, with such birds as he had shot during the day, in order to feed the Swamy (Idol), for whom he always selected the best part of a bird. On these occasions he would with his foot wipe the dust from the Swamy; with his mouth let water upon its head; and with his hand put meat into his mouth, having first himself tasted whether it was savoury. Still he would be sorry, and cry out, Oh the Swamy is not yet satisfied!" When he left the Temple, the door also closed of itself. One day, when he was thus shewing his great attachment to the Swamy, he observed water running out of one of its eyes; at which he was greatly astonished. Lamenting that the Swamy's eye was distempered, he instantly plucked out one of his own eyes, and put it into the Swamy's head. Observing that its other eye was blind, he resolved upon giving it his second eye also; but recollecting that in that case he he could not well find the place of the Swamy's other eye, he first put his toe upon that place, and then plucked out his remaining eye. Instantly the Swamy got alive, and exclaimed, "Is this Kannappen, who has given me his eyes!" embracing Kannappen, he took him to Keilasum, i. e. Siva's Heaven. On this account Kannappen became an object of Divine Worship; and his worshippers expect from him every earthly blessing, as well as heavenly bliss. The etymology of Kannappen is, "Kann, the eye," and Appen, " father." " Then |