by any of the short-lived pleasures which they enjoyed in this world. It is not strange, then, that this young man should hate the grave-yard and every thing that reminds him of death, unless he had made up his mind to begin the work of preparation for it in earnest. But will his hating it and avoiding it put off the hour when he will be conveyed to it as his final resting-place, or lessen that terrible account which he must render at the bar of an offended God? Ah! that is the question for every sinner to propound to his own conscience. His joys will soon be overand what then? A DYING MEDITATION. EVERY place I have lived in has its monuments of divine love. Every year and hour of my life has been a time of love. Every friend, neighbour, and even enemy, have been the messengers and instruments of love. Every state and change of my life, notwithstanding my sin, have opened to me the treasures and mysteries of love. And shall I doubt whether the same God loves me? Is he the God of the hills, and not of the valleys? Did he love me in my youth and health, and will he not also in my age, and pain, and sickness? Did he love all the saints better in their life than at their death? My groans grieve my friends, but abate not their love. God loved me when I was his enemy, to make me a friend. God will finish his own work. Oh, the multitude of mercies to my soul and body, in peace and war, in youth and age, to myself and friends! Have I lived in the experience of the love of God to me, and shall I die doubting of it? I am not much in doubt of the truth of my love to him. I love his word, works, and ways, and would fain be nearer to him, and love him more, and loathe myself for loving him no better. Peter may more confidently say, "Thou knowest that I love thee," than I know that thou lovest me; because our knowledge of God's great love is less than his knowledge of our little love; and without the knowledge of our love to God, we can never be sure of his special love to us. I am not entirely a stranger to myself. I know for what I have lived and laboured, and whom I have desired to please. The "God whose I am, and whom I serve," hath loved me in my youth, and will love me in my aged weakness. My pains seem grievous; but love chooses them, uses them for my good, moderates them, and will shortly end them. Why, then, should I doubt of my Father's love? Shall pain or dying make me doubt? Did God never love any but Enoch and Elijah? And what am I better than my fathers? Oh, for a clearer, stronger faith, to show me the world that excels this, more than this excels the womb that conceived me! Then I should not fear my third birth-day, for any pangs that precede it. Methinks Daniel's title, "A man greatly beloved," should be enough to make one joyfully love and trust God, both in life and death. And have not all the saints that title in their degrees? What else signifies their mark," Holiness to the Lord ?" It is but our separation to God as his peculiar, beloved people. And how are we separated but by mutual love ?Baxter. THE LORD'S DELAY. THE Lord, in this life, will certainly recompense, and make his children amends for all the delays and put-offs that he exerciseth them with in this world; as he did Abraham, in giving him such a son as Isaac was, and Hannah, in giving her a Samuel. He delayed Joseph long, but at length he changed his iron fetters into chains of gold, his rags into royal robes, his stocks into a chariot, his prison into a palace, his bed of thorns into a bed of down, his reproach into honour, and his thirty years of suffering into eighty years' reigning in much grandeur and glory. So God delayed David long, but, when his suffering hours were out, he was anointed, the crown of Israel was set upon his head, and he was made very victorious, very famous and glorious, for forty years together. Well, Christians, God will certainly pay you interest upon interest, for all the delays that you meet with, and therefore hold your peace.-Brooks. THE SPIRITUAL LOSSES AND RISKS OF TRADE. SUCH are the triumphs of our trade. But are there no drawbacks to be noted on the balance-sheet? no moral losses? no spiritual risks? Commerce, like "the law, is good, if we use it lawfully." It is a gift of God, and a proper employment for man. It is fitted to improve men's capacities with their comforts; and, unlike war, while it exalts many, this is at the expense of none-binding nations, too, in the bonds of brotherhood. But the best things may be overdone, and so perverted. This high pressure of trade among us is, therefore, not without its hazards and its ills. Oh! tell me, is there no loss incurred when, usurping the throne of the heart, it leads us to give God a secondary place there-to overlook the giver in straining our eyes on the probable gift? Is there no loss, when the avaricious spirit is quickened within us, and the Holy Spirit quenched by the dross of this world's getting? Is there no risk lest, while forecasting our bargains or counting our gains, we may hold at discount "the one thing needful," and see, dimmed by the glories of commerce," the glory, that is to be revealed?" Is there no risk, amidst the eager competitions that prevail, lest, in our expedients, though we cross not the line of honesty, we may yet contract a wiliness of habit which is at variance with "the simplicity that is in Christ?" Is there, when disappointed in our sanguine speculations, no hazard of having our minds envenomed by envy and chagrin? or, amidst sudden successes, of being inflated with pride, which tramples down the lowly graces of the Christian? Ah! there is, there surely is, danger, and that of the darkest cast. And what if God, to counteract these hazardous influences, send a wail among our merchants, which may reach from the loftiest Exchange to the lowliest cottage in the land!-Rev. A. Munro of Manchester. Fragments. THAT Satan may work our final overthrow, it is his usual custom to tell the true believing Christian-that he is destitute of faith; and contrariwise, the unbelieving worldling, that he hath a strong faith: whereas, in truth, there is nothing in him but secure presumption.-Bolton. How unsuitable as well as sinful is it for them to lust after worldly things (such are all the lustings of the flesh), who are themselves but strangers in the world! It is both the honour and safety of those who are strangers in the world to be strangers to it; and because they have bus a little while to stay in it, to look but little after it, and for little from it.-Caryl THE CHRISTIAN TREASURY. 613 INDIA: THE PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS OF ITS CONVERSION. BY THE REV. WILLIAM ARTHUR.* THE first system, coming from' without, that challenged Brahmanism was Christianity. It does not, however, appear to have made a powerful impression on any Indian country except Travancore, into which it was originally introduced. There it existed, and to some extent, throve, up to the era of European discovery. About eight centuries and a-half ago Mohammedanism first formally reared its banner in India. Since then its votaries have won in the sacred land of the Brahman magnificent triumphs and resplendent empire. Consequently, scarce a village exists without some followers of the prophet; and in such countries as are still under a Mussulman prince, they form a considerable proportion of the people. But their numbers and their influence are on the wane; their own faith is corrupted by Hindu superstitions, and though an important section of the population, they still leave Brahmanism the religion of India. One important effect of their power is the diminished lustre of the native hierarchy. In the north, where their dominion was first established, and where it always held its centre, Brahmanical pride and caste scruples are much abated. In the south, also, the same effects are visible, but in a less degree, for there the foreign yoke was imposed much later and less completely. In some districts of the extreme south, where the Brahmans were never fairly humbled by Mussulman rule, they bear themselves with a loftiness now unknown in the other parts of India. The arrival of the Portuguese brought a fresh rival to the pretensions of the Brahmans. The new teachers had claims of a divine mission more distinct than the native sectaries, and more ancient than the Mussulmans. They had also, with the people, the advantage of demanding but very inconsiderable changes. They called themselves Brahmans from the north, thus accounting for a lighter complexion and foreign tongue. They left caste untouched, image worship they slightly modified; but The volume recently published by Mr. Arthur, entitled "Missions to the Mysore," is a valuable work, and abounds in vivid and interesting sketches. When the Romish missions were in their decadence, a new agency entered the field. This was at first represented by a few Germans and Danes, men of simple mind and fervent zeal. When they had already begun to reap encouraging fruits in the south, fellow-labourers appeared in Bengal. A poor and humble man in England had become inspired with the sublime resolution to attempt to confer on India the boon of Christianity. His work and his weapon were truth. He sought not to reconcile native superstitions and Christian laws, or to raise a host of untaught proselytes. He believed in good faith that truth existed under the sun; that to mix it with error, was to destroy its identity; and that God who gave it would make it prevail by its own mild light. Simply to spread that light was his task. In this he and his brethren in the south were one. each in his own sphere brought into action three agencies hitherto little known in India as the instruments of Christianity, namely, the sermon, the book, and the school. They The surrender of a foreign flag to that of England flatters our pride; and when that surrender is made without bloodshed, a Briton's heart is warmed. But one flag has, not long ago, been peacefully struck in favour of our own, which I would fain have had to wave There was a day while the world stands. when an English nobleman formed the resolution to drive our bright Christianity from the shores of India, because she disturbed native priestcraft, and exposed English crimes. The apostolic Carey, disowned by the standard of Britain, took shelter under that of Denmark, me at Serampore. Our governor-general demanded that he should be delivered up! The noble Dane refused, and added, that should the missionary be taken by force, he would strike the flag of his nation. That flag was respected; Carey pursued his work; helpers came to his side; the sermon, the book, the school multiplied themselves; an invisible hand passed over the thrones of India, and levelled every barrier that shut out these three agents; until at this day they speak and spread whereever the Churches will. I say again, that I should have loved that Danish flag to wave over Serampore to the world's end. but it has disappeared, and the most timid now Brahmanism might still laugh at the Protestant missionaries, if it regarded only their numbers. Two or three hundred strangers attacking a system that has stood for three thousand years, and is defended by millions of hereditary priests, would not, ordinarily, cause alarm. But alarmed and disheartened the Brahmans are. The new teachers have met them in a way before unknown. They have published in nearly all their tongues another Shastra, of which the strange purity casts the very gods into disrepute. They command unheard-of lights of science, whereby they give dazzling proof that on every possible subject the Shastras abound in lies. They circulate, far and wide, books and pamphlets of immacu- In speaking of the decay of Hinduism, it is late ethics and high doctrine; they carefully undesirable to use expressions that may be teach the young, and powerfully address the misinterpreted. To say that its foundations! populace. Though so contemptible in numbers, crumble; that its sun has set; that its citadels they have about them a deep faith that they capitulate; that it is feeble with age; that it are sent of God, which in itself makes them lies on its death-bed, and similar metaphors, terrible; and in ardent prayers they appeal to may, with the writer or speaker, have a clear Almighty power to work in some wondrous and just meaning. But a reader or hearer' ways the overthrow of all the Brahmans vene- does not interpret language by previous inforrate. Already their zeal has made impression; mation; he looks for information to language," and unlikely answers to their prayers have and nine out of every ten will take from such seemed to fall from above. The sacrifice of expressions a meaning far beyond the truth; suttee, which appeared secure beyond any while not a few will expect to hear forthwith daring, is offered up no more; and the worthi- of the abolition of idolatry all over Hindustan. est compatriots of the Brahmans join in the Now all that can truly be said is something gratulation of their foes. The British Govern- to this purport: Veneration for the Shastras, ment gave to idolatry a powerful support, fear of the priests, and belief in the divinity of which being at once flattering to the crowd, ad- caste, have much declined, and are rapidly devantageous to the hierarchy, and gainful to the clining; around all the older mission stations executive, seemed to be, as both governors and great numbers despise the prevalent superstiBrahmans wished it to be, perpetual. As tion; this feeling is fast extending; just views though an invisible hand had moved at the of Christianity and prepossessions in its favour prayers of the strangers, this support has sunk are daily spreading; numbers of natives have away. A law was administered by the tribu- embraced the Christian faith, and not a few nals, disinheriting every man who forsook the are intelligent labourers in its cause; the creed of his fathers. That law alone was a building of a temple or other sign of vigour in wall of fire around the altar of the Brahman; Hinduism is rare; the Brahmans are generally An outburst of inquiry is beginning. India is in a state of transition from a prostrate, timid, slavish apathy, to thought, activity, and Occupy it then. Not alarmed; and all close observers find in their and colleges refuse the flower of their students. system marked symptoms of decadence. Thus much may, thank God, be safely stated of India as a whole. But it must be remembered that many Hindu nations have not, as yet, re-enterprise. . . . . . . God is at work. I firmly ceived from Christianity the least impulse, ex- believe that, from the first promulgation of the cept in an indirect way. Perhaps it could not gospel, a crisis of such importance as the prebe affirmed that, in any one country of Hindu-sent, for the salvation of such a population as stan, Brahmanism and caste hold at present India, has not occurred. ground equally high with that which they oc- a moment is to be lost. cupied fifty years ago. But in several of those Souls are perishing." countries the change is very slight, and not the result of direct Christian labours, for these A GOOD FELLOW NOBODY'S ENEMY BUT have not been given; but the result of political changes, of such public measures as Christian influence has won, and of the insensible spread of new feelings. That Brahmanism is declining cannot be denied, nor do any admit it more fully than the Brahmans themselves. . . "Do you seriously believe that India will be converted to Christianity?" is a very natural question. If put by a man of the world, I should reply to it by asking, "Do you seriously believe that a people so rational and inquiring as the Hindus will for ever worship stocks, cows, birds, monkeys, and snakes! Do you seriously believe that they can long continue to do so after the light of Christianity has reached them?" But if that question come from a Christian, I reply, Yes. And do you seriously doubt that the power which converted your soul is unequal to the conversion of the Hindus? I do seriously and joyfully believe that the rapid conquest gained over India by the British arms, is the preparation and will prove the type of the conquest to be gained over it by the glorious gospel. "If," said the venerable Bishop of Calcutta, preaching before the Church Missionary Society, "the succeeding ten years should be blessed at the same ratio as the last ten, half-a-million of souls would be brought under Christian instruction in India alone, and at the end of a period equal to the length of the Society's past labours (say forty years) the whole population of British Hindustan would be the Lord's." Nor can this chapter be more impressively closed than in the sage and moving words of that same apostolic discourse:-" And yet we are inert. The immense number of families enriched by India are asleep. The spiritual Church shrinks back. Selfishness lays its icy hand on the warm seat of life. The mother starts at the thought of parting with her beloved son. The kindred interpose between Christ and the testimony of his blood before the nations. Our universities HIS OWN. IT hath ofttimes been matter of wonderment to me how many phrases do come to be received as current lawfully stamped in the mint of either religion or coin in the world, which for certain were never reason; and among these brass shillings of society, I know none that better deserveth to be nailed to the counter than the one above placed; for many an idle young man hath, before now, found it the last in his pocket, and haply hath exchanged it for a pistol bullet, thinking himself a gainer by the barmight he haply be his own enemy without any great gain. If man grew to a rock like a limpet, then harm to his neighbours; but he who liveth in society, and faileth to perform his part aright in the station assigned to him, doth all that in him lieth to destroy the body politic. He who is delivered over to vice and drunkenness-for such, being interpreted, is the meaning of a good fellow who is only his own enemy -setteth a bad example to his dependants; squandereth his fortune on unworthy objects, to the neglect of all that he might and ought to have done towards the relief and advance of the deserving; plungeth his family into difficulties-grieveth, shameth, and perhaps starveth them; ruineth his health, so as to make himself a burden to those about him; and finally, after having been a bad citizen, a bad master, a bad husband, a bad father, sinketh into the grave with a soul so irrecoverably poisoned by habits of sensuality and gross earthliness, that it would seem rather fit to rot with its putrefying companion, than to enter into any region of spiritualized existence. And this man who hath fulfilled no one duty, but on the contrary hath spread around him a dank atmosphere of sin, is called "a good fellow," merely because he hath done all this with an air of reckless gaiety, which showed an utter absence of any feeling for the beings he was rendering miserable! Verily the cubit and ephah of the sanctuary.-Exposition of world's measure is wofully short of the standard Vulgar Errors, by Thomas B. Redivivus. THE LADDER. In the year 1830, there lived a little boy who spent all his Sabbaths in studying the Bible, in which he tion, he would repair to the garret; and that no one felt the greatest interest. To be free from interrupmight find him, he used to "take the ladder up after him." This little boy loved Jesus Christ, and delighted to do his will. He had read those words of the Saviour: "And when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father in secret." He had no closet; but he could climb into a garret by means of a ladder; and that he might study the Bible, and pray to God in secret," he took the ladder up after him." In 1831, this youth died-he climbed to heaven. He is now enjoying the presence of Jesus in a mansion where he needs no ladder; but free from the approach of interruption, can unite with angelic spirits in praise to the God of the Bible, and in adoring the love of that Saviour who died, that even a little child believing on him might inherit the kingdom of heaven. A GREAT MAN ON THE VANITY OF GREATNESS. of man. (Bonaparte speaking in St. Helena.) WHAT recollections (said he) crowd upon my memory, when my thoughts are no longer occupied here [St. Helena] with political topics and local vexations! I am carried back to my first impressions of the life It seems to me always, in these moments of calm, that I should have been the happiest man in the world with 12,000 francs (about £500) a-year, living as the father of a family, with my wife and son, at our old house at Ajaccio. You remember its beautiful situation. Happy hours!-the native soil has its infinite charms. Memory embellishes it with all its powers, even to the very odour of the ground, which one can so realize to the senses as to be able, with the eyes shut, to tell the spots first trodden by the foot of childhood. Come, place your hand upon my bosom! See how it beats! [And true it did beat with great rapidity.] It is like the sound of a bell (added he). There is none here [St. Helena]. I am no longer accustomed to hear it. The sound of a bell never strikes my ear, without carrying back my thoughts to the sensations of my youth. The Angelus bell led me back to pleasant reveries, when, in the midst of earnest thoughts, and burdened with the weight of an imperial crown, I heard its first sound under the shady woods of St. Cloud; and often have I been supposed to be revolving the plan of a campaign, or digesting an imperial law, when my thoughts were wholly involved in dwelling upon the first impressions of my youth. "CUT IT DOWN." IF thou be a professor, read and tremble: if thou be profane, do so likewise. For if the righteous scarcely can be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinners appear? Cumber-ground, take heed of the axe! Barren fig-tree, beware of the fire !-Bunyan. A GOODLY HERITAGE. CHRISTIANS should be comforted from this point. All the wealth of Christ is communicable: heaven is communicable-communicable to you, to saints. The complaints of God's people are many; this point answers all. My losses are great, says one; so says another. Will not heaven make them up? Thou hast neither money nor goods, thieves and plunderers have stolen all. Hast thou not treasure laid up in heaven, where no spoil can be made? In cases of persecution, Christ teaches us to comfort ourselves with heaven-how all is doubly made up there! "When men persecute and revile you, rejoice, and be exceeding glad." (Matt. v. 11, 12). Upon what ground? Why, upon this: "Great is your reward in heaven." Loss hath its quantity. It is great, that makes it so heavy; reward hath its quantity too: "Great is your reward in heaven." If a man had lost a kingdom on earth, is not the all this world, is not the world to come as good as kingdom of heaven responsible? If a man had lost this? Is not heaven as large as earth? as good as earth? as much good? as lastingly good? Will not your heaven above be as sweet as your hell here is, bitter? Suppose there is nothing above but Christ, to make up all thy loss here below, is not He enough? Canst thou not comfort thyself in Christ alone? What a soul hast thou? It was high time thou didst lose thy treasure here; it was thy god. Thou wouldest otherwise have lost thy soul.-Lockyer. |