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To the Editor.

DEAR SIR,

The music of Handel, as in most of his compositions, was adapted not merely to the metre but to the sense of the old ver sion of Psalm civ.. I have heard, that on occasion of a new version of the Psalms, a premium was once advertised for a new translation ofthat Psalm in the old metre, but that the object was not accomplished. In the following lines I have attempted a more literal, as well as a more modern transfusion of the original into the English language, adhering to the metre to which Handel's admirable tune was adapted. The whole palm being too copious for your Miscellany, I have been limited to the first thirteen verses; adding, at the close, what appeared requisite to accommodate the Ode of the Jewish prophet to the use of evangelical worshippers.

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waste:

The loftiest mountains in waves were immers'd;

He spoke by his thunders, the waters dispers'd.

They mounted the hills, thy call to attend; Rebuk'd by thy voice, the vales they descend;

Retire to their channels, and haste to the deep,

Its limits appointed for ever to keep. The earth thus renew'd, he waters from high;

Of beasts tame and wild, the thirst to supply:

The springs, at his mandate gush forth from the hills, And wind through the valleys, uniting

their rills.

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For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our Guide even unto Death.-Psalm xlviii. 14.

CoULD I say, "This God is mine,"
With a confidence divine,
Surely, I no more should rove,
Seeking any meaner love.
He all mercy is, and grace,
Heav'n shines beaming in his face;
Were I settled in his love,
Sure, I never more should rove.
O would he this truth reveal,
And stamp it with his heavenly seal,
Surely, till I soar'd above,
Nothing could my spirit move.
Cursed sin wert thou forgiv'n,
I should have a present Heav'n!
Would my God this veil remove,

I should see his name is Love!

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN,
Sung at Paradise Street Chapel,
Birmingham.

The cheerful notes of solemn praise a
Father of Heav'n, to thee we raise
By all on earth, by all above.
Bless'd be thy name, thou God of love,

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Thy tender mercy saw us lie
Oppress'd with sin and misery;
Pity'd our helpless, hopeless grief,
And sent thy Son to our relief.
O bless'd Redeemer, who can tell
hy love in saving us from Hell?
Christ dy'd for us, - for us he rose ;
And rising conquer'd all our foes.
Now kindly Jesus doth receive
Poor children who his word believe:
"Forbid them not, my grace is free;
"Let little children come to me."
While here we live, we'll spend our breath
In praising Jesus; and when Death
Shall close our lips, our song shall rise,
In nobler strains, above the skies.
O richly bless our friends, we pray,
Who give to our support to-day;
For gold and silver giv'n below,
Eternal life do thou bestow.

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Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London,

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W.W.

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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1803.

AN ACCOUNT OF

MOSES BAKER,

A MULATTO BAPTIST PREACHER,
NEAR MARTHA BREA, IN JAMAICA.

[Drawn up by himself, and communicated to a Friend in Leicestershire.]

Honoured Sir,

I HAVE been induced, by repeated solicitations, to make the following attempt to relate the particulars of my convictions, conversion, and experience, with the principles I hold and teach the people, and the manner of discipline and government in our church; as well as the success I have met with, in turning poor lost sinners from sin, to the knowledge and love, of a precious Redeemer.

I consider it proper, before I proceed farther, to give an account of myself. I am from New York, in North America, where my occupation was a barber. I was married September 4, 1778, to Susannah Ashton, a mantua-maker, a native of New York, by the Rev. W. Walters, agreeably to the rites of the church of England; in which denomination we had been brought up, and had learnt to read the Scriptures, and to write a little. At the evacution of New York, in 1783, I was, with my wife and child, obliged to come to the island of Jamaica. I am now a man well-stricken in years, and very infirm.

As to religion, when I first came to Jamaica, mine was that of the world: I was much given to strong drink, and to many other bad habits.

After my arrival, I hired a small shop in Kingston, where I followed my trade for three years; during which time I saw it would not answer, as I became very poor, and could scarcely subsist. I removed thence to a place in the mountains, called Leguine, about fifteen miles from Kingston, there to till the ground. The providence of God so laid it out, that this land came into Mr. Winn's possession.

There I found a black man of the Chamba country, named

Cupid Wilkin, with his wife, and two or three others. One morning, as Mrs. Baker, myself, and child were sitting down to breakfast, this old man came and stood at the door. We sat down carelessly, without giving thanks to God for what we were going to receive; which the old man perceiving, he turned round to another that was near him, and said, "Whence have these people came? I could wish to learn, if they know that God made thein?" I overheard him saying this, and instantly got up, and spoke to him in the following manner: Old man, can you read?' "No," he replied; " but I know that both of you can." As you cannot read, how dare you thus to reprimand me?' The old man immediately humbled himself, and said, "Master, if you will not be angry, I will tell you where to search the Scriptures, and you will find there, that you are not only to thank God; but to return God love, prayer, and thanksgiving, for what you are going to receive, in the name of Jesus Christ."-The next day I was obliged to go abroad in quest of some money. In my absence, the old man requested Mrs. Baker to take the Scriptures. She did so; and he convinced her of the truth of what he had said. From this time she was much taken with religion; and begged of the old man to try what he could do with me, in regard of serving God; but she then observed, that nothing could be done so long as I followed" drink; and it was that which kept us poor. The old man heard this attentively, and replied," If he will turn round and serve God, liquor is the first thing he will leave off." On my return, Mrs. Baker was continually importuning me to incline me to religion. I baffled her good intentions for several days, telling her it was not good to hearken to such ignorant people. A few nights after, my mind was impressed with the thought, that I would go and hear whether these people could pray, or speak any sense at all. Accordingly I got up one night, and heard them singing and praising God. I drew near, and found them in a small hut, on their knees at prayer. I immediately approached to the man who was praying, and fell on my knecs also, with an intention of hearing his prayer. I heard that he asked for so many things agreeable to the Scriptures, as as tonished me, and made me almost believe that he had more knowledge than myself.

That moment I formed a resolution that I would turn and serve God. From this time I frequently conversed with the old man. I now began to apply my heart to God. I prayed day and night for the space of three or four weeks; but at the end of this time I became very much troubled, and tempted to imagine I had done a very wrong thing in listening to this old man. At last I became so miserable, that no tongue can describe my state of mind: I was afraid to stir out, or to move myself in any manner: I left off praying, wickedly abused the

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