lar effect. On all this it may be remarked, that, however desirable it be, by all just and consistent methods, to attract and gratify, and win the careless, the edification of the Church must never be yielded to objects of inferior and, after all, of very uncertain benefit. The noblest eloquence is of that substantial, heart-thrilling kind which, while it disdains not the aid of secondary qualities, delights eminently to unfold the mysteries of the Cross. Nor does it by any means follow, that sameness must ensue from the constant exhibition of this grand subject. The greatest variety of illustration, the fullest adaptation to the diversity of character and feeling," the words that breathe, and thoughts that burn," may still find their place in the service of "the truth as it is in Jesus."

The writer begs leave, in conclusion, to offer in confirmation of his own views, the following extract from a discourse recently published by one of the most deservedly popular teachers of the present age:

"A young divine," says Manton, "one day asked an old Christian, What shall I preach?' He received for answer, • Preach Christ.' 'O, I have preached him,' says he,' already.' "Why then.' added the sage, Preach him again: preach him always: and preach him only.' This is advice, which, however lightly some may treat it now, all those worthies would have sanctioned, "whose works praise them in the gate." The time would fail me to tell of Leighton, and Hall, and Owen, and Baxter, and Reynolds, and Horne, and Charnock, and Polhill, and Bates, and Watts, and Doddridge, and numbers more, who were for nothing more remarkable than a rich, full, and consistent display of the Lord Jesus. They proclaimed him in the dignity of his person; in the glory of his character; in the condescension of his grace; in the wonders of his love; in the efficacy of his sufferings; in the prevalency of his intercession; in his ability to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him. They preached him, as the only foundation of a sinner's hope; as the Lord our righteousness and strength; as the consolation of Israel, in whom they were to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; and, to use the expressions of one of them, "Christ was the diamond in the bosom of all their sermons." And what was the practice of the apostles? "We preach Christ crucified," says Paul; "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the wisdom of God and the power of God; because the foolishness

"God

of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” "I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Accordingly, he viewed and explained, and improved every thing in relation to him. If he spake of the glory of God, he represented it as "shining forth in the face of Jesus Christ." If he mentioned the promises of God, they were "all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus." If he adverted to the duties and difficulties of the Christian life, he said, "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus:" "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." He could not enforce even conjugal tenderness without a reference the most affecting: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it." May we all follow an example so worthy of imitation; and whenever in our work we pause for reflection, may our consciences, bearing witness in the Holy Ghost, enable us also to say, "Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus!*"" A. B. (Evang. Mag.)

Ringwood.

149

ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE LATE REV. JOHN NEWTON.

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.
SIR,

THE memory of the late Rev. John Newton is cherished with such feelings of respect and affection by all the true friends of religion, that the following letter of his, though written many years since, cannot fail, I conceive, to excite considerable interest. To me it has always been a source of great pleasure and consolation-recalling to my mind the amiable character and fervent piety of a once beloved friend, and directing my footsteps to the Fountain, whence flow the purest streams of comfort in the darkest times and greatest difficulties. It was written upon the following occasion :--A servant, who was afterwards, I understand, executed at Gibraltar, having been discharged from my service, went to Mr. Newton and others, borrowing Bibles and other articles in my name. Our amiable and unsuspecting friend, without any hesitation, lent him that which he requested. After some time, not finding his Bible returned, he, with peculiar delicacy, mentioned the circumstance to me. Having thus

* See Jay's Sermon on the importance of an Evangelical ministry.

discovered the fraud, I sent him another Bible similar to the one he had lost, which drew from him the following letter. The condolence at the close of it, was occasioned by the loss which each of us had sustained in the death of a valuable consort.

Grafton St.

MY DEAR SIR,

Yours, T. W.

I AM very sorry that I mentioned my Bible to you, as it has occasioned you so much trouble. It was kind in you to interest yourself for its recovery, and I thank you. The person who imposed upon me was not your servant, nor was you responsible for him; but I am much obliged to you for the great pains you took on my account.

Through mercy, there is no scarcity of Bibles in my house. That which I lost was valuable to me as a family-book. The Bible you have sent me is a better than mine was. I will accept it with thanks, write your name in it, and keep it for your sake, if you likewise will favourably accept my Messiah, which I send herewith.

Ah, Sir, the loss of the Bible would be great indeed if it could not be replaced! It would be like losing the sun out of the system. It is the foundation of our hope, the rule of our life, and the food of our souls. It directs us to a hidingplace, a resting-place, and a dwelling-place. Would worldling be pleased with a large volume of bank-notes? A single promise of God's own word is worth more than them all. By the truths revealed in the Bible, we have been brought to the knowledge of life and immortality; and have derived help and comfort under trials, when the help of men and creatures would have been utterly in vain.

By this light, I trust, you and I shall be guided through a wilderness world, till we arrive in the kingdom of glory; then our tears shall be wiped away, and we shall weep no more. Then we shall see those whom we best loved while here; who are gone a little before us, and are waiting for us, and perhaps, by the Lord's appointment, are still watching over us; but, what is still more, we shall see Him whom we have received grace to love unseen. May his blessing be with you and yours! Amen.

October 24, 1792.

I am, &c.

JOHN NEWTON.

A letter from Mr. Milne, dated Malacca, Sept. 25, 1815, has been received, announcing the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Thomson. Mr. Msays, "We rejoice in their arrival, and view it as the commencement of a new era to the dark extra-Ganges countries." Mr. Milne is engaged in publishing a Chinese Magazine; the third number of which was in the press when he wrote.

FROM THE RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCER.

New-Haven, June 1, 1816.

THE Christian public are extensively acquainted with the fact, that several young men, natives of the Owhyhee, are now in Connecticut. Two of them were brought over in a ship belonging to this port, and arrived about 10 years since. They were then lads of 16 and 14 years of age. Their Owhyhee names are Obookiah and Hoopoo. The former has prefixed to his original name, the name of Henry; the latter, that of Thomas. A third landed in Boston about six years ago; and hearing of Henry Obookiah, who was then at Andover, went and joined him. His name is William Tenooi. Lately they have been joined by a fourth, who is called John Hononee. Soon after the arrival of the two first, several young men of piety, then connected with Yale College, interested themselves in their behalf, and taught them to read. After this, Henry Obookiah resided some time in Torringford, in the family of the Rev. Mr. Mills, and afterwards at Andover, where he was instructed by the students of the Theological Seminary. He has not only learned reading, writing, and arithmetic, but grammar and geography; and what is of more importance, the principles and doctrines of the Christian Religion. He also gives very satisfactory evidence of personal piety, and has made a public profession of religion. The other three, in proportion to the time they have severally been employed in study, have made respectable proficiency. The two first of them are hopeful Christians; and the mind of the third is deeply interested on religious subjects. It ought also to be mentioned, that these youths have discovered a very lively interest in the religious concerns of one another. When Obookiah became anxious about himself, he felt similar anxiety for Hoopoo and Tenooi. Those two have discovered a like solicitude for each other. And on a late visit, which one of them made to Hanonee, it was found out, by accident, that he spent most of the day he was there in praying with him.

It is the intention of these young men, when qualified, to return to their own country as Missionaries. For this purpose, Providence unquestionably cast them on our shores; and, by this very fact, has announced to the Christians of this country, their duty with regard to them. The eldest, Henry Obookiah, has already begun a translation of a part of the New-Testament, into the language of Owhyhee. By his aid, also, an Owhyhee grammar has been partly or wholly completed.

The situation of these young men has occasionally recommended them to the liberality of the benevolent. As they have become more extensively known, this liberality has been more extensively exerted. We mention, however, with peculiar pleasure, the following instance of honourable munificence on the part of some of the citizens of Savannah, in Georgia.

Last fall a young lady of that city was on a visit to her friends in NewHaven. She heard the story of three of the Owhyhee lads, and felt a lively interest in their welfare; particularly as the future Missionaries of Owhyhee. On her return to Savannah, she took pains, in company with two of her female friends, to make their situation and circumstances known, and to solicit the contributions of some of the citizens in their behalf. Their exertions were not fruitless. A few days since, she forwarded to a lady in this city, the sum of three hundred and thirty-five dollars, given for the very purpose of educating Henry, Thomas, and William, as Missionaries to Owhyhee. "He who giveth a cup of cold water to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward." This example of Christian liberality is highly honourable to the citizens of Savannah, and ought to be known, that others may go and do likewise.

The four youths are now under the care of the Foreign Mission Society. They will be prepared as speedily as possible for a mission among their

countrymen. For the present, they are to be stationed at Morris Academy, in Litchfield, under the care of the Rev. W. Weeks.

Owhyhee belongs to a groupe of islands in the Pacific Ocean, called the Sandwich islands, between 18. 50. and 20. 16. N. and 203. 47. and 205, E. long. from Greenwich. They are all under the government of one prince, whose name is Tamaamah.. He is a man of strong sense, and has laboured long and successfully to introduce the arts of civilization among his countrymen. All the islands are fertile and populous. Owhyhee, the largest of them, is 280 miles in extent, and contains 150,000 inhabitants, who are naturally mild, friendly, and hospitable to strangers; although the unfortunate Capt. Cook lost his life here by a sudden impulse of undeserved resentment. The king has a considerable fleet. His troops, to some extent, are furnished with mus kets. The natives worship a god, called Acooa.

1041

FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

WITH no ordinary interest I noticed the sentiments of a writer, in your useful publication, under the signature of ISAIAH, proposing to form in this country, a society similar to that in England, for the conversion of the Jews. Certainly it is our duty, as Christians, to use our utmost exertions, in behalf of the seed of Israel, from whom we have received the lively oracles committed to them: "whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is God over all blessed for ever more." What though they cannot agree to the spiritual interpretation of prophecy? what if they will not receive our testimony, that Jesus is the Christ, anointed with the Spirit without measure, and seated, not on a temporal, but an eternal throne? Does this excuse our neglest? By no means. We indeed remember them in our prayers; but what proof do we give of the sincerity of our prayers? What have we done? If the question cannot be answered satisfactorily, is it not high time to arouse from our supineness? Obstacles to every good work will be raised, and opposition is to be expected. The walls of Jerusalem will still find a Sanballat to oppose their progress. To those who are personally acquainted with the Israelites dwelling amongst us, the difficulties will not appear so insuperably great as they have been represented, and as they really are in other countries. In this happy land, Jews enjoy every privilege of citizenship: the government makes no invidious distinctions, but protects them against aggression, and secures the undisturbed exercise of their religion; and, though not so numerous nor so wealthy as in Poland and Germany; though not allowed to purchase the right of capital punishment for offences against their laws; yet they are more free, in fact, and eligible to the highest offices of the state. "The slow and moving finger of scorn" does not mark them out as objects of derision; and if separated