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time. It appears to us, as if an immediate spiritual intercourse were thereby maintained among all the members of our church, however scattered. By the want of text-books, we are also left in the same uncertainty respecting the precise time of Easter, in which all our African neigh. bors are.

In March, a slave, called Comaar, by birth a Malabar, came to stay some time with us, by express permission of his master, who places great confidence in him. In one of our meetings, in which the subject of discourse was, the incarnation, life, sufferings, and death of our Saviour, he was so much affected, that he could not forget it. He said, that he had heard this great word for the first time in his life, and his whole conversation was about Jesus, and what he had done to save the lost human race. With the greatest satisfactionwe could converse with him, for hours together, upon this subject. His expressions frequently filled us with joy and astonishment, and were a new proof, that the word of the cross is the power of God unto salvation, to all them that believe. April 12th, he left us, glad and thankful for all the good he had enjoyed in this place.

We received, about this time, a friendly letter from the Rev. Mr. Schreyvogel, a Missionary from Halle in Saxony, who is going to the East Indies, and likewise, Some time after, one from Dr. Van der Kemp. We value these proofs of that spirit of brotherly love, by which the servants of God, in all denominations, are united under the same gracious

Master.

March 17th, a baptized Hottentot departed this life. In her healthful days, she was of a very quiet deportment and few words, but in her last illness, her love to and trust in our Saviour and His merits was made manifest to all who visited her. She constantly expressed her joy in the Lord, and that, though an unworthy and sinful creature by nature, she had found grace, and now expected the hour of her dissolution with that firm hope, that she should see her Saviour face to face in glory.

April 1st, an extraordinary number of hearers crowded our church early in the morning, and afterwards walked, in the greatest order and silence, to the buryingground, where we prayed the Eastermorning liturgy. Though the ground is large, the company filled all the walks between the compartments.

On the 2d, six adults received holy baptism. The gracious presence of our Lord was most sensibly felt by all pre

sent during this transaction, and many tears were shed by the congregation.

During the last days of this month, the Rev. Mr. Voss and his family, from Capetown, paid us an agreeable visit. He has been a director of the S. African Missionary Society. He expressed great satisfaction on observing the silent devotion | of the Hottentots, and their harmonious singing at church. Some time after, we had a visit from Mr. Dankelman, who, by commission of Government, is travelling through the mountainous parts of the country, to examine into its minerals.

May 2d, Brother Marsveld was attacked by an inflammatory fever, the violence of which made his recovery doubtful. We were under the greater concern about it, as Brother Rose and his wife, with Brother Kuehnel, had set out for Capetown on the preceding day. But it pleased the Lord to bless the means applied by Dr. Temple, and the disorder was soon subdued.

During the week before Whitsunday, many Hottentots came of their own accord to speak with us concerning the state of their souls, which they did in the most confidential manner. Some declared, with humble gratitude, that the Lord had had mercy upon them and forgiven their sins.

The Whitsun-holydays were days of blessing to us and our people, and the few strangers present declared, that they should not forget what they heard and felt on this occasion.

May 25th, Brother Rose and his company returned safe to us from Cape-town He gave the following account of their proceedings:

"Immediately on our arrival at Capetown, we waited upon Mr. Von Mist and Governor Jansen, by whom we were received with great politeness. They enquired minutely into the progress of the Mission, and the well-being of our fellowlabourers, with whom they are now personally acquainted. In a second audience, they desired us to pay a visit to the Hottentot camp, which we readily complied with, as we wished to see those of our Hottentots who are engaged in military service. We had likewise received a friendly invitation from Captain Lesueur, who commands the whole Hottentot corps. Brother Kuehnel, therefore, went with me to the camp, where Captain Lesueur treated us with great hospitality, The camp looks like a regular village, and consists of twenty-two well-built cottages. Captain Lesueur first showed us every part of it, and then most of the Hottentots from Bavianskloof met before

the Captain's house; some being absent on duty. We addressed them in a short discourse, reminding them of what they had heard and learnt at Bavianskloof, and what the Lord had done for them. They expressed their joy and thankfulness for our visit, with tears of gratitude. Captain Lesueur gave them a good testimony and said, that, while others employed their leisure in idleness, and folly, our Hottentots came together to speak of spiritual things, and to sing hymns. He added, that they were once desired by their officers to declare, whether they were satisfied with their treatment. They answered in the affirmative, and observed, that there was only one thing they found hard to bear, which was, their being obliged to hear the continual swearing and cursing of the soldiers, which they had never been accustomed to before. This answer did not displease the officers, and was reported to their honor in Cape-town

"One chief aim of our journey was, to endeavour to obtain some relief for sister Rose, who suffered from an excrescence on her head. When Governor Jansen passed through Bavianskloof, his surgeon, Mr. Passet, being consulted, advised an operation, to which she now submitted. By God's blessing, the excrescence was removed with safety, and she recovered in a few days. We were the more thankful for the success of the operation, as, in a short time, it would have been at tended with great danger, from its position near the skull.

"We now prepared to return home, when we received, by a messenger from Government, an invitation to a conference with Governor Jansen and Mr. Von Mist. As we had but just taken leave of them, we were at a loss to guess what could be the object of it, but waited upon them immediately. They informed us, that, as they had raised a corps of Hottentots, consisting at present of 400 men, but which they meant to increase to 1000, they wished much, that one of the Missionaries from Bavianskloof would accept the office of chaplain to that corps, live in the camp, and instruct the Hottentots in the christian religion; that he should have a dwelling, and a proper salary, provided by Government: that in due time a church should be built, for it was their intention, even in the event of peace, to retain this body of Hottentots. They added, that they conceived such a proposal could not but be agreeable to our wishes, as we thereby should gain an opportunity of preaching the gospel to a considerable number of heathen, which was the aim of our residence in this coun

try. They likewise expressed their ap prehensions, lest, by the long absence of our Hottentots, now in camp, they might by degrees forget the good precepts they had received at Bavianskloof, and the weeds choke the good seed sown in their hearts. Our Hottentots had also frequently declared to their officers, that they could not live without hearing the word of God."

Brother Rose writes: "I confess I could not hide the embarrassment into which this unexpected proposal threw me. In answer, I first expressed my thanks for the many favours received from Government, and especially for the confidence placed in us and our missionary labours. I granted, that the whole aim of our living in this country, was the instruction of the Hottentots in the knowledge of their Creator and Redeemer, and in the way of salvation; that therefore, in this respect, the proposal just now made, was quite consistent with our calling. But I represented, that the age and infirmity of the Missionaries at Bavianskloof (each of whom has full employ in that settlement), would make the execution of the plan very difficult: besides which, we could not well undertake any thing new, without a direction from the Bishops and Elders of our Church in Europe. I therefore begged them to have patience with us, till we could write home, and obtain such advice and assistance as might enable us to comply with their wishes. Upon this, the Commissarygeneral, taking me by the hand, said:

My dear father Rose, all you say is true; but if even your letters reach your friends soon, and they immediately find the man you wish; yet a year and more will elapse, before the assistance you speak of can arrive; and we are very intent upon immediately making such regulations, that the Hottentots be instructed in the word of God, and become partakers of the blessings of civilization, which cannot be obtained but by their becoming christians in truth; as is sufficiently exemplified at Bavianskloof. And as this plan is meant for the benefit of this whole colony, and of vast importance to the state, I have acquainted all the gentlemen in Government with it, and it has received their most cordial approbation. We therefore wish, that you would help us to execute it, by immediately consulting with your Brethren at Bavianskloof We promised to do so, and were dismissed with expressions of much friendship."

Thus far Brother Rose's report.
(To be continued.)

POETRY.

The following beautiful little poem is from the pen of Mr. Montgomery, of whom we gave some information in our last number, page 496.

THE GRAVE.

THERE is a calm for those who weep, A rest for weary Pilgrims found, They softly lie and sweetly sleep

Low in the ground.

The storm that wrecks the winter sky
No more disturbs their deep repose,
Than summer evening's latest sigh
That shuts the rose.
I long to lay this painful head
And aching heart beneath the soil,
To slumber in that dreamless bed
From all my toil.
For Misery stole me at my birth,
And cast me helpless on the wild:
I perish; O my Mother Earth!

Take home thy Child!
On thy dear lap these limbs reclined,
Shall gently moulder into thee;
Nor leave one wretched trace behind
Resembling me.

Hark! a strange sound affrights mine

ear;

My pulse, my brain runs wild,-I rave: -Ah! who art thou whose voice I hear? -"I am THE GRAVE! "The GRAVE, that never spake before, Hath found at length a tongue to chide: O listen!-I will speak no more:

Be silent, Pride! "Art thou a WRETCH, of hope forlorn, The victim of consuming care! Is thy distracted conscience torn By fell despair? "Do foul misdeeds of former times Wring with remorse thy guilty breast? And ghosts of unforgiven crimes Murder thy rest? "Lash'd by the furies of the mind, From wrath and vengeance wouldst thou flee?

Ah! think not, hope not, Fool! to find
A friend in me.

"By all the terrors of the tomb,
Beyond the power of tongue to tell!"
By the dread secrets of my womb!
By death and Hell!

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"Art thou a WANDERER?-Hast thou

seen

O'erwhelming tempests drown thy bark
A shipwreck'd sufferer, hast thou been
Misfortune's mark?
"Though long of winds and waves the
sport,

Condemn'd in wretchedness to roam,
LIVE! thou shalt reach a sheltering
port,
A quiet home.

"To FRIENDSHIP didst thou trust thy

fame,

And was thy Friend a deadly foe,
Who stole into thy breast, to aim
A surer blow?

"LIVE!-and repine not o'er his loss,
A loss unworthy to be told:
Thou hast mistaken sordid dross

For Friendship's go. "Go seek that treasure, seldom found, Of power the fiercest griefs to calm, And soothe the bosom's deepest wound With heavenly balm.

"In WOMAN hast thou placed thy bliss
And did the Fair One faithless prove?
Hath she betray'd thee with a kiss,
And sold thy love?
"LIVE!-'twas a false bewildering fire:
Too often Love's insidious dart
Thrills the fond soul with sweet desire,
But kills the heart.

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A nobler flame shall warm thy breast,
A brighter Maiden's virtuous charms!
Blest shalt thou be, supremely blest,
In Beauty's arms.
-Whate'er thy lot,-Whoe'er thou
be,-
Confess thy folly,-kiss the rod,
And in thy chastening sorrows see
The hand of GOD.

"A bruised reed he will not break;
Afflictions all his children feel;
He wounds them for his mercy's sake,
He wounds to heal!
"Humbled beneath his mighty hand,
Prostrate his Providence adore:
"Tis done!-Arise! HE bids thee stand,
To fall no more.

"Now, Traveller in the vale of tears!
To realms of everlasting light,
Through Time's dark wilderness of years,
Pursue thy flight.
"There IS a calm for those who weep,
A rest for weary Pilgrims found;
And while the mouldering ashes sleep
Low in the ground:
"The Soul, of origin divine,
GOD'S glorious image, freed from clay,
In heaven's eternal sphere shall shine,
A star of day!

"The SUN is but a spark of fire,
A transient meteor in the sky;
The SOUL, immortal as its Sire,

SHALL NEVER DIE.”

1

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THAT Saturday, December 31, he was mightily enfeebled, and sometimes very drowsy: he spake but little that forenoon. After noon when divers friends visited him, and were discoursing among themselves of the nature of his disease, he heard all that passed between them in the chamber (for he was very quick of hearing) and gathered both from their discourses, and also from his own knowledge of the disease he laboured under, that his distemper was that which physicians call miserere mei, which he was not likely to pass through without very grievous symptoms: such as, a burning fever, delirium, and vomiting of his excrements: and thereupon he began to be afflicted with much solicitude, while his mind was intent upon the thoughts of the grievousness of these symptoms: and in frequent ejaculations he sent up short and ardent prayers to God about it.

"My God (said he) have mercy upon me; deliver me from the opprobrium which I fear; for thou art gracious: but thanks be to my God, that he hath afflicted me in this more ignoble part; my heart in the mean time remaining strong, and my brain • free and clear, so that I might have liberty to meditate upon thy power and goodness. This favour, O Lord God, (which is invaluable) reserve for me, that my mouth may utter nothing but what breathes forth charity, praises, and thanksgivings: O that it may not be defiled with this filthiness: (namely, the casting up of excrements.) Let this building be brought down where its ruin VOL. II. 3 X

began, which let me behold as one set on high with a constant and peaceful mind, even a mind elevated to spiritual things, which with all earnestness I follow after; knowing that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither can corruption inherit incorruption."

And in the ensuing night he did often inculcate, "who is mortal man, that thou shouldst so magnify him, and think upon him! he is like to vanity: flesh, and a wind that passeth away. With how small a thing are the strongest among men cast down? by a vile excrement, by a little obstruction, which no remedies can open! Thou hast done this, O thou eternal One; thus it pleaseth thee; and I would have it so too: let it be done to me according to thy word: I am in thy fatherly and gracious hands, I fear nothing; thou art my safeguard, and my exceeding great reward. Then he repeated in the Hebrew tongue that sentence out of Lament. iii. 24. Thou art my portion, saith my soul.

And seeing those, that stood by him, were always speaking to him of good things, "Well done, (said he) cease not to strengthen me; unto that end God will supply you with matter for discourse, for he is not only present with the sick himself for his aid, but also with them that are called to succour him; for he is nigh unto all that call upon him in truth."

Then he again poured forth his prayers for the church of God, saying, "O Lord, it is thy possession, which thou hast purchased with thine own blood: forsake not thine own work; let a holy jealousy be kindled in thee, lift up on high the arm of thy power, and bring down the audacious ones, which tyrannize over thy flock; rebuke thou the negligent, that heal her wounds slightly: reduce into the way those that wander; and strengthen that which is ready to fall, through division. Gather both the one and the other to thyself into one body, building them upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord." And then making a little pause, he added, "I have been one of those builders; I have brought what I received from the Lord, that I might put to my helping hand with others towards the building of this temple; and I myself shall be a living stone in this spiritual house."

On the next day, which was the first of the year 1651, and the Lord's-day, when he first beheld the light, he said, "O Lord, thou hast granted unto me to see the beginning of the year: thon hast measured out my time unto the middle of this age:" then he asked what hour of the day it was, and what weather? when it

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