for fulfilling, in such a glorious manner, in our days, what He has thus foretold! What a happiness to be instruments, however weak, in accomplishing such great events, connected with the happiness of the human race! The members of the Russian Bible Society, treading in the steps of the British and Foreign Bible Society, reckon it their greatest honour and happiness to labour for the spiritual good of their neighbours; and, far from being disheartened by all the difficulties arising from increased engagements, and accumulated expenses, feel more and more encouraged, in as much as the increase of labour and expenses prove the reality of their suc cess. "The communications from the British and Foreign Bible Society are peculiarly encouraging to us. Indeed, such mutual communications, concerning our undertakings and success, proving that the same spirit enlivens both Societies, that similar impulses are leading us to the same useful end, must animate us, on both sides, to farther labour; that so the name of our Saviour, who gave us his word, and appointed us to distribute it among our brethren of all different languages and dialects, may be glorified." BAPTIST MISSIONS IN INDIA. The Thirtieth Number of the Periodical Accounts of the Baptist Missions has been published, containing the proceedings of the Missionaries, from January to June 1815. The undertaking appears in general to have advanced with an equable step, and presents upon the whole an encouraging and cheerful prospect of future usefulness. We proceed to give a few miscellaneous ex tracts. BENGAL MISSIONS.. "Dinage-pore, Jan. 5.- Twenty-five persons partook of the Lord's Supper: there had been four members more, who are now excluded. There are nine adults under instruction, some of whom are expected soon to join the church. The school prospers. There are now fifty-six scholars, making pretty good progress in reading, writing, &c. Religious tracts are distributed among the eldest of them.".. Krishna gives the following ac count: "On February 7, I left English Bazar, on horseback, and after staying one night at Dinage-pore, I proceeded to a ghaut near Dhapa, a village in the district of Rung-poora, where, as I By Mr. Thomas's Journal, it appears that he itinerated through different villages in the country of Jessore, during Dec. 1814. Eighteen members partook of the Lord's Supper. He had begun to read the word of God, by permission of the havildar, to 200 convicts employed in making a canal.. 1 Mr. Smith writes from Serampore; "Brother Rutna and I met a number of viragees, three of whom had each a hand up towards heaven, withered. I asked them what they expected from this practice. "It will please God,' said they. How can you expect to please God with your withered hands? quires the hearts of men, not withered hands. I read and expounded a Hindee tract, to which they very attentively listened. a God re Neeloo remarks in his Journal; "At cloth-merchant's shop in Chanuk, to a great crowd, read the word: they acknowledged that the world was dead in sin; and said, If we are not compelled to eat with Europeans we can come into this way.' I reminded two Remats, who acknowledged that all the gods were sinners, that all had sinned; but that the true God, incarnate, had been crucified for our sins.-March 6th. (Lord's day). Read the word to the prisoners in the Serampore jail: several wept. At the house of a non-commissioned officer at Barrack-poora had a congregation of thirty-two persons. Ten of twelve persons wept; saying, When will Jesus 268 Relig. Intell.-Baptist Missions: Hindoost'han. [APRIL, have mercy on us, and permit us to become his slaves, and forgive us our sins?"" Sebuk-rama, a native convert, gives an interesting account of the circumstances attending his reception of the Gospel, concluding his letter as follows: “Thus obtaining the mercy of God, and being full of joy, I would be ever ready with my spirit in the work of God, in ascribing blessing to the Holy Spirit, and in proclaiming for the salvation of sinners, the glad tidings of our Lord Jesus Christ's death. Wherefore, I entreat, that having thus found the Saviour, you will kindly pray for this sinful, wicked, ungodly, unbelieving man, that Satan may never enter into him, nor into those brethren and sisters who live in the same place, nor into any who may embrace the Gospel. "This is now my desire; and day and night, full of fear, this is my prayer to God, that I may be constantly ready to proclaim his Gospel." A member at Benares, in detailing the conduct of the native converts who are employed as preachers, remarks:-" It gives us great pleasure to observe, that these itinerants appear, in their conversations, to enter more and more into the fundamental principles of the Gospel. In fact, the grand controversy here is similar to that at the Reformation; the inefficacy of works, and the absolute necessity of the merits of Christ. What was said at the Reformation, that at tacking images and pilgrimages did nothing to destroy Popery, and that the only weapons that were effectual were those used by Luther in preaching salvation by faith only, will be found, we think, equally true respecting Hindooism." Mr. Smith again remarks :-" Preached at Barrackpore, and afterwards spoke with a few Hindoos; among whom a man appeared much affected, and promised to call at Serampore. June 19th. He called to-day and heard very attentively. I gave him a copy of John's Gospel, with two Hindee tracts. -21st. This morning I went out with brother Chamberlain, who soon collected a large congregation under the shade of a tree, and preached for some time, and distributed many Bengalee tracts; from thence we went below the temple of Jugunnat'ha, where he preached to about three hundred people: many appeared affected, and received many tracts." barracks, on the bank of the river, has in great honour opposite the native been with us about two months: he has looks now like a human being. He has cast off all his old master's uniform, and requested baptism. This man, if sincere, will be the first fruits of Vrinda-vuna's labours." marks Mr. Thompson, "a man on duty "As I passed the jail at Patna," resolicited tracts, and after saying a little on the death of Christ, I gave him a 13th of January, I rejoiced to see this couple. Calling again this way on the man and two others sitting on a mat with the tracts by them, which they had just read through, and said that the them great delight. Another man came blessed truths they contain had afforded up and told me, that the first man read added, 'I love them; they are precious the books day and night: the former words, my soul's delight.”” far, I sat at the ghaut near Alum-gunj, "On the 27th, not being able to go Brahmun: this brought one, and anand read portions of Scripture to a other, and another, till a pleasing number heard the word, and some tracts were given away. Twenty Mussulmans and Hindoos have visited me this month, to know the way of life through Jesus Scriptures. Five single Gospels, six Christ our Lord, and to obtain the Scripture-selections, eighty-six tracts in Hindee, five in Bengalee, two Scripturespels, and one copy of the Acts in Oorselections in Persia, seven single Godoo, have been distributed." 66 his arm as an act of merit, for years, A poor viragee, who had held up wanted to hear me, but could not come ing this, I desired the people to make near on account of the crowd. ObservI asked whether it were the word of way for him; and when he came close, God he desired to hear, when he nodded assent. I spoke to him of our incarnate God and the benefits of his death, of unbelief, and of self-rightewanted a book." ousness. He could read, and therefore rative of a native of Bootan, who came Mr. Thompson gives a pleasing narto him desirous of Christian instruction. This person, whose name is Kiaba, was in a most discouraging state of ignorance; Mr. Thompson, however, succeeded in teaching him to read and write the Hindoo; and in the course of less than three months had the satisfac"An old phukeer, who was formerly tion to report as follows:-" Kiaba has HINDOOST'HAN. read through Matthew's Gospel three times; Mark's Gospel once; the Epistles of John three times; and is once more going through Mark: besides having read portions of John's Gospel, and of Luke's; and of the Epistle of James. His hope is now in the death of Christ alone, and he declares he will live and die in the faith of the Gospel.-February 14th. Kiaba told a viragee to-day, that while he loved the world, and its pleasures, he could not read God's word; for if he would be saved, he must with a single heart seek God's Holy Spirit to teach him all things. 21st. Kiaba says, if he had not known the love of Christ, he should still have delighted to commit those sins which the death of Christ makes him abhor." Kiaba resisted every attempt to seduce him from the faith; and, having been duly proved and baptized, has become a valuable assistant to Mr. Thompson, and a blessing to his native brethren. Mr. Thompson writes; "Brother Kiaba and myself spent the time at Hajee-poora, in making known the glad tidings of salvation. A Musulman, just returned from Nepaul, was very solicitous to have the Scriptures, which he call ed the Bible kitab,' in Hindee: he had read it through before, and was much delighted with it; but in one of the late skirmishes with the Nepaulese, his Bible was burnt. Among other things of a pleasing nature, it was delightful to behold about twenty or more Hindoos, interspersed among the multitudes, reading the Scriptures and tracts, and even singing portions of them in little circles." Mr. Kerr, who was stationed at Allahabad, had undertaken to teach the English language to his highness Jahan Geer, son of the Emperor of Delhi, and had some expectation of going to Delhi with him, which he trusted might give him an opportunity of carrying the Gospel to some of the principal persons of the royal family. Mr. Kerr mentions, with approbation, the labours of the native convert, Athma-ram, from whose Journal the following is a short extract: -"A viragee said, 'I approve of your words,' and threw away his images, adding, I will henceforth worship God, who is a Spirit.' On another occasion, his hearers said, 'We are all in the dark.' On the 8th of May a Brahmun said, 'In vain do I look for salvation, except to Christ.' Two others when they heard the words of Christ's death, said, Blessed incarnation! blessed CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 184. death! and blessed be the person who taught you these things.'-May 14th, a Jugunnat'ha Brahmun said, 'The world is in darkness: your words are true: I lead others wrong for a living: I know Jugunnat'ha is a piece of wood."" MAHRATTA COUNTRY.-The Goandee New Testament was completed as far as the 6th chapter of St. Luke. A nephew of Dr. Carey's stationed at Nagpore, speaks very highly of the steadiness of Ram-mohun, whom he states to be an ornament to the church of Christ. His prayers and discourses, he remarks, indicate great piety and love; his children are growing up in a promising manner, and his wife seems to be of a most happy and mild disposition. Rammohun had complained that the people, being greatly afraid of the Mahratta rajah, durst scarcely receive the Scriptures: he, however, writes shortly after in a more encouraging strain:-" Our adorable Saviour's good news is constantly made known in this country. I regularly go into the city, and talk about the word, and have given the Scriptures to numbers. Many are reading them with apparent affection, confessing that the worship of the gods is vain. The idol worshippers are angry with them, but without effect. If it be the Lord's will, in this barren country the word of the Lord will quickly bear fruit. To a magistrate under the king, named Ajmut-khan, with a number of Afghans in his company, I have given the sacred book, and they read it with eagerness and pleasure. I am going to-day to supply them with more books, at their request. With much affection, they invite us to their lodgings, and send their horses and servants back with us. They are very anxious for an Arabic Bible." Our limits oblige us to pass over the remaining details, from which we might have selected various facts and extracts of a/nature equally interesting with those already given. The following quotation from the Journal of C. C. Aratoon, on the SURAT station, is more or less appli cable to many of the missions under consideration. "I see that the difficulties at Surat are almost gone: I hope we shall rejoice hereafter, in seeing the good seed, sown in this dry and thirsty land, spring up. Many copies of the New Testa ment, and various tracts have been dis tributed; and though I do not see present fruit, yea, should I die without seeing the fruit, yet surely the brother who 2N succeeds me, will rejoice in the harvest which shall be gathered in here. Therefore I hope that my brethren, when they are on their knees, will address the throne of the great King of Israel, that he may pour down his Spirit on this people." In these devout anticipations we sincerely join; adding to them our earnest prayers, that these Missionaries, in common with all others, who teach the essentials of our holy faith, may obtain from the great Head of the church, that success which will be at once an excitement and a reward to their endeavours for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the eternal welfare of the human race. LOCK ASYLUM. It seems not to be generally known, that annexed to the Lock Hospital is a charity, called the Lock Asylum, instituted for the reception of as many of the female patients as, upon their discharge, stand in need of a refuge, and desire to forsake their evil courses. At first there was not an Asylum; but it being found that most of the women, upon leaving the hospital, had no alternative but to return to their former mode of life, a penitentiary was humanely provided for them by the governors, at the suggestion of their chaplain, the venerable Mr. Scott. The Asylum has received, sinceit s establishment in 1787, between 600 and 700 young women; of whom about half have been restored to society, many have been brought to sincere repentance, and some have,died in the faith. Owing, however, partly to its being a second institution, partly to its not being supported by the funds of the Hospital, and partly to its being unknown, the Asylum is by no means adequately supported. At present, indeed, its funds are so low, that the governors have been compelled to reduce the number of women admitted; and unless its pecuniary resources are increased, they shall be under the painful necessity of shutting up the house altogether. They cannot but hope, however, that their present appeal will be attended to by the readers of the Christian Observer. The situation of the charity has lately been advertised in the newspapers, and the governors have thankfully to acknowledge the following do nations. Subscriptions or donations will be received by Messrs. Drummonds, Charing-cross; the Treasurer, Thomas Babington, Esq. M. P. 17, Downing-street; Mr. Hatchard, Piccadilly; and the Rev. J. Gibson, 10, King's Road, Chelsea. SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH DOMINIONS. The annual meeting of this Society was held at Batson's Coffee-house, on Wednesday the 16th April. From the Report it appeared, that this Society had added 206 schools, within the last year, to their former list. The Society, since its commencement, has given 460,342 Spelling-books, 90,233 Testaments, and 8166 Bibles, for the use of 4917 schools, containing upwards of 410,000 scholars. Earnest applications have been made to the Society, from New South Wales, in behalf of the numerous poor children in that colony, for whose benefit schools have been established at different stations. The Society has sent thither 1100 Spelling-books, and 30 sets of col lective Lessons. Similar applications have been made from the isle of Ceylon, where much exertion is making for the moral improvement of the rising generation. The Society have forwarded 400 Spelling-books, and six sets of collective Lessons to that island. The design of this Society, it may be important to state, is not to give a learned, but a religious education; not to exalt the poor above their situation in life, but to make them happy, useful, and respectable members of the community; to give them that Christian knowledge which, through the blessing of God, may make them wise unto salvation, and to bring them up to a love of honest labour and industry, that they may learn to eat their bread with joy and thankfulness. And surely among the means that have been devised for counteracting the effects of human corruption, and for promoting the best interests of individuals, and of the community, the institution of Sunday Schools deservedly holds a very distin guished place. It is hoped, therefore, that the hearts and hands of many may be opened to aid in this labour of love; especially when it is considered how much the peculiar circumstances of the present times tend to strengthen the general motives which should incite us to promote such an institution. Subscriptions will be thankfully re ceived by the Secretary, Mr. Thomas Smith, 19, Little Moorfields; the Treasurer, John Thornton, Esq. King's Arms Yard; and by Sir Peter Pole, Bart. Thornton, and Co. Bankers, Bartholomew-lane. FOREST OF DEAN. In our last volume, p. 195, we inserted the Memorial of the Rev. Henry Berkin, M. A. on the subject of supplying the means of spiritual instruction to the Foresters on the north-east, or Herefordshire, side of the Forest, situated on extra-parochial ground, and amounting to from 1200 to 1500 souls, living in from 250 to 300 cottages. To that Memorial we beg again to call the attention of our readers. In consequence of the aid he then received, from Government and individuals, Mr. Berkin laid the first stone of a church on the 4th of June last. In eight months, a large church has been built, a church-yard inclosed, and a school-room erected capable of containing 400 children. The church was opened on the 5th of February, by episcopal licence, and is to be consecrated in June next. "I have thus," observes Mr. Berkin," the happiness to see both the present and rising generation, on this side of the Forest, furnished with the means of religious worship and education; but I have, by these means, taken a heavy responsibility on myself, as the funds are still far short of the needful amount. I feel, however, no anxiety for the event; being confident, that the continued benevolence of the public will not be solicited in vain, when the circumstances of the case are known. These poor people have rendered what assistance was in their power; and one man, owner of a quarry, has given the stone. I trust, that by means of this work true religion and pure morality may be the ornaments of the surrounding country; nor does any plan appear more likely to add strength to our excellent establishment, both in church and state, than by making good Christians and peaceable subjects." Mr. Berkin, therefore, solicits subscriptions (however small) in aid of this interesting object. And if any benevolent persons, into whose hands this may fall, would kindly collect a few shillings each among their Samuel Smith, Esq. M. P. Abel Smith, Esq. M. P. Rev. J. Grey .... ........ ...... J. C. Reeve, Esq. J. C. Powell, Esq. J. B. Wilson, Esq. Rev. M. S. Smith Mrs. M. E. S. Smith Hon. Miss Calthorpe.... R. J. Thomson, Esq. Sir J. Kennaway, Bart. Sir H. Martin, Bart. S. G. Smith, Esq. Major-General Cary W. Keene, Esq. M. P. J. B. Bosanquet, Esq. H. Charrington, Esq. N. Charrington, Esq. C. Grant, Esq. M. P. Rev. W. Cunningham Rev. J. Tomlins J. Bate, Esq. .... E. N. Thornton, Esq. .... 20 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 52 10 20 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 '0 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 Donations will be thankfully received at the following places, where a correct list of the present subscribers may be seen:-Messrs. Hoare's, bankers, Fleetstreet; Messrs. Martin's, bankers, Lombard-street; Messrs. Rivington's, booksellers, St. Paul's Church-yard, Mr. Hatchard's, bookseller, Piccadilly; and by the Rev. H. Berkin, Weston, near Gloucester. |