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the door, but could get no farther; all the floor beyond it being in a blaze. I then climbed up on a chest, which stood near the window. One in the yard saw me and proposed running to fetch a ladder, another answered, there will be no time, but I have thought of another expedient. Here I will fix myself against the wall. Lift a light man and set him on my shoulders; they did so and took me out of the window. Just then the whole roof fell in, but it fell inward, or we had all been crushed at once. When they brought me into the house where my father was, he cried out, come neighbours, let us kneel down, let us give thanks to God; he has given me all my eight children, let the house go I am rich enough. The next day as he was walking in the garden, and surveying the ruins of the house, he picked up part of a leaf of his polyglott Bible, on which just those words were legible: "Vade, vende omnia quæ habes, et attolle crucem et sequere me!” "Go, sell all thou hast, and take up the cross and follow me."

The memory of Mr. Wesley's escape is still preserved in one of Mr. Wesley's early prints; under his portrait there is a house in flames with this inscription:

IS NOT THIS A BRAND

PLUCKED OUT OF THE BURNING.

The above recited anecdote of Mr. Wesley is but one of a thousand illustrations of the great truth," that when God has a work for a creature to effect, that creature is immortal till the work is accomplished. The renowned Columbus was once saved from death, by swimming, with the aid of an oar, six miles from his sinking ship. The author of the Pilgrim's Progress, in his early life was twice saved from drowning. When, being a soldier in the parliamentry army at the seige of Leicester (in the year 1645) he was drawn out to stand centinel, a comrade, at his own pressing request, took Bunyan's place. The comrade, shortly af ter assuming the post, was shot through the head, and fell to the ground lifeless.

A man, once given to intoxication, but afterwards savingly converted to God, happening to fall in company with his former associates; they begged of him to cast away religious impressions and drink with them; at least, they said, a draught of liquor could do him no harm. The good man answered, “I am as a brand plucked from the burning; but as a brand that has once been in the flame, may easily take fire again, I will keep myself, in God's name, from the danger.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Account of a settlement of the Moravians of the Lower Country. He had formed

in the south of Africa. [Continued from page 544.] ON their return, we entered into a consultation, how to make it practicable to comply with the wishes of government in the best manner. We felt it our duty not to refuse, especially as we are expressly called, to improve every opportunity of instructing the Hottentots, and preaching the gospel to them. The text of scripture appointed for that day was also deeply impressed upon our minds: Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak. Jeremiah, i. 7. We were thereby greatly encouraged to place our whole trust in the Lord, and to commit this important matter to Him, assured that He would help us in all difficulties. Brother Rose, therefore, was commissioned to write to the commissary-general, and express our willingness to comply with the desire of government, and to appoint a missionary to attend the Hottentot soldiery, and preach the gospel to them. We requested, however, that the name of chaplain might not be given him, but that he might be considered only as a missionary of the Unitas Fratrum, with permission to regulate his pastoral labours according to the manner usual in our church, and to be subject to our own rules, so as to be called home, in case the plan did not answer the proposed end A messenger was dispatched with the letter, and by the answer we meant to be directed in our future deliberations.

This year was distinguished by an extraordinary drought. The country was so parched, that it could not be ploughed, and large tracts remained uncultivated. There was consequently a rise in the price of corn, and frequently not a grain was to be had at the farmers. The grass in the meadow-lands withered, and the poor cattle, in many places, died with hunger.

On the 9th and 10th of June, we had a terrible storm, which rose to such a pitch, that our roofs suffered damage. We were obliged to stop short during the sermon on the 10th, and the Hottentots had enough to do to secure the roof of our church against the violence of the wind. In this, however, they succeeded, and in the following days diligently exerted themselves to repair the damage done to the dwellings.

June 12th, Mr. Alberti called upon us. He has lately been appointed Landdrots VOL. II.

4 D

an acquaintance with the Brethren Rose and Kuehnel in Mr. von Mist's house at Cape-town, and declared his great regard for us and our mission.

In the middle of July, our friend Peter D. and his brother Daniel, spent a day with us, and gave us some instruction in the manner of treating our vineyard.. The latter called upon one of our oldest Hottentots, and addressed him thus: "I remember having been brought up by you, and therefore still respect you; but I could not have supposed, that you would attain to such an age." The Hottentot was much affected by this friendly speech, and answered: "Yes, Baas, this God has done for me, out of love and mercy. He spared my life, that I might become savingly acquainted with his son Jesus Christ, and be baptized and washed from my sins in His precious blood. Nothing but the power of His blood could change my bad heart. But Baas must not suppose, that now all is complete; O no, sin lurks on the outside, and sometimes demands entrance; and old as I am, I feel that much is wanting to make me what I should be." Daniel D. listened attentively to the venerable old Hottentot's account of himself, and could not refrain from

tears.

July 22d, four adults were baptized into the death of Jesus. It was a solemn transaction, accompanied with a powerful sense of our Lord's presence with us, of which, in the following days, the newly baptized testified with great gladness. One of the communicant sisters, related, that, on the evening previous to its being announced, that the above-mentioned four persons should be baptized, she went into her garden, and prayed unto the Lord: "O gracious Saviour! though I and my family are such ungrateful beings, do not let others in the congregation remain behind. Now," added she, “ I perceive, that He does not despise the prayers of a poor sinner!"

July 5th, we received a letter from Mr. von Mist, in answer to our above-mentioned proposals, all of which he agreed to, and again urged the sending of a missionary to the Hottentot camp as soon as possible, for whose maintenance provision was made. Brother Kohrhammer, having received and accepted this call, committed the school to the care of Brother Kuehnel. This was made known to the children, by brother Rose, on the 27th, and it is impossible to describe how they

were affected. They came and expressed their thanks to Brother Kohrhammer for his love, and the pains he had taken to teach them, in strong language and with many tears, and promised anew to use all diligence, in future, to learn their

lessons.

Brother Kohrhammer and his wife could not set out as soon as was expected, on account of great inundations, occasioned by torrents from the mountains, in this rainy season.

August 24th, the waters having abated a little, they left us in two waggons, two draughts of oxen having been sent halfway to relieve the first, as the poor creatures are at present so weakened by bad food, that one draught could not travel from hence to the Cape. We commended our dear fellow-labourers in fervent prayer to God, and Brother Rose gave them letters of recommendation to Mr. von Mist, Governor Jansen, and Captain Lesueur.

September 3d, the waggons returned, and brought us very agreeable accounts of their safe arrival at the camp, and the friendly reception they had met with from all ranks. Brother Kohrhammer informed us, that, shortly before his arrival at Cape-town, nine missionaries had arrived there from Copenhagen, on their voyage to the East-Indies. Among them were Messrs. Ringeltaube and Voss, the latter having been formerly stationed here at Rodesand as minister. This circumstance had given rise to a report, sent us express by a farmer's wife, that two teachers had arrived from Herrnhut, who were already engaged in the camp, and that Brother Kohrhammer, therefore, need not go thither.

Brother Rose received, by this opportunity, a letter from a German soldier belonging to the garrison at Cape-town, a native of Sulla in Thuringia, educated in the brethren's school at Ebersdorf, and there received as a member of the congregation and a communicant. His step-father, however, prevailed upon him to quit our connexion. He afterwards went to Holland, where he fell into the hands of Scelenverkaueffer (a species of crimps), and into the utmost wretched

ness.

He lost all his property, and lay for six weeks in a state of delirium, but having recovered a little, was shipped off for this country, after the Cape had been restored to the Dutch by the English. Brother Rose being at Cape-town last spring, this poor man made search for his residence, and poured forth his distress of mind more by tears than words. His letter was as follows: "The sympathizing particination, with which you attended to

me, a miserable creature, encourages me to hope, that you have not forgotten me, but still remember the distressed state of my soul. I can only send up sighs and cries of anguish, with bitters tears, to our Saviour, and this alone seems to afford my wretched mind some relief. But, alas! I am often almost driven to despair. Pray for me to Him, from whom all help cometh, and who knows our ne cessity. O that I had always continued in the way of His gracious purposes with me, then I should not have been plunged into this dismal state. I beseech you, receive these open-hearted confessions in love, for I find some comfort in complaining of my distress to others, especially to such, who live in communion with God, and are His servants.

September 5th, captain Paravicini de Capella, adjutant to governor Jansen, the the governor's son, and some other offcers, called upon us. They are travelling through the country to make everywhere the needful arrangements for defence, in case of an attack. At their request, several of our school-children sang hymns during dinner, which gave great satisfaction. At taking leave, the gentlemen gave us ten dollars, to be spent in some rewards to the children. We therefore distributed a quantity of dried peaches to above eighty children, which particularly acceptable at this time of general scarcity.

were

Some days after, captain Paravicini sent us an order from government, to keep some of our most intelligent and trusty Hottentots in readiness to be sent, at the shortest possible notice, to Zoete Melks valley, where they were to be employed in conveying powder from the new magazine to different places, where it might be most wanted.

Towards the close of September, the whole country was thrown into great consternation, by a communication on the part of government, that a British fleet was expected on the coast. Several farmers in our neighbourhood received orders to repair to Cape-town to do military duty, and our Hottentots were afraid, that they should be obliged to follow them.

On the 29th, we received, by express, a letter from governor Jansen, to the following effect: That the present circumstances had rendered it necessary to provide some safe place for the women and children belonging to the Hottentot corps now serving with the army, where they might be provided for, to the satisfaction of their parents or husbands; and that, in his opinion, there was not any place so eligible as Bavianskloof. He had,

therefore, that confidence in us, that we would be willing to suffer these women and children to remain here as long as might be required by the present state of affairs, and to provide them with the necessaries of life, on government account; which kind service done to these forsaken people, would be gratefully acknowledged.

Though our compliance with this wish could not but be attended with much inconvenience to us, and we even feared that much moral evil might ensue, by the admission of so many people, who are chiefly in a wild, unconverted state, into a missionary settlement, yet we could not refuse. Brother Rose, therefore, wrote in answer, that, considering it our duty to support government to the best of our power, and pitying likewise the case of the poor people alluded to, in these calamitous times, we were the more willing to take them under our care for the present. We only humbly requested, that immediate steps might be taken to provide a sufficient quantity of corn, as we had none of our own growth, and did not know, in the present dearness of that article, how to procure any. Two messengers were immediately sent off with this answer to Cape-town, one of whom, at the governor's request, was appointed to accompany the said women and children to our settlement. The other returned to us on the 5th of October, and brought a letter from the governor, containing orders to different officers of this district, to furnish us with the needful quantity of grain. Brother Kohrhammer likewise informed us, that the whole Hottentot camp had broken up, and that the corps was now stationed on different parts of the coast. He therefore desired us, as soon as possible, to send two waggons to bring him and his wife back to Bavianskloof. They were sent off on the 6th, and we had the pleasure to see him return to us on the 12th.

By a letter from captain Lesueur, received October 5th, our Hottentots were not a little alarmed. The captain demanded, that all those men, who had promised to come forward for the defence of the country in case of actual danger, should now make ready, and by degrees join the army. When our Hottentots suffered their names to be put down in this view, they understood, that they were not to be called upon, till notice was given, by the firing of alarm-guns, that the enemy was really on the coast. But as it is the intention of government to be fully prepared, before the appearance of the enemy, and the Hottentots enjoy the pro

tection of government, in common with the rest of the inhabitants, they are therefore obliged to take their share in its defence, and to turn out, whenever required. Several officers, therefore, called here in the following days, and took with them the most able of the Hottentot men. Thus we lost again thirty of our people, who marched to Cape-town towards the end of October, besides ten men, appointed to the service of the powdermagazines in Zoete Melks valley. They bid us farewel with many tears, and we dismissed them, not without some painful apprehensions, lest the good word they have heard in this place (which in the hearts of many seemed to promise good fruit), should be forgotten amidst the hurry and dissipation attending a military life.

The place of these people was soon filled, but not in the manner most agreeble to us, by the arrival of the women and children belonging to the Hottentot corps, 187 in number. They arrived in three divisions, during the month of October; and we cannot express what our feelings were, on seeing about sixty women and children in a company, all in rags, and half starved for want of food, coming into our settlement. Being seated in rows before our dwelling, each of them, young and old, received a good slice of bread, previously baked in prospect of their arrival, which they seized with all the greediness of hunger. After this meal, and suitable exhortations, they were distributed partly in the empty houses, partly among the Hottentot families. We felt great support, under all the inconveniencies occasioned by such an unusual number of guests, from the enlivening consideration, that, perhaps, by the Lord's blessing, many of these poor people will hear the gospel in this place for their everlasting salvation. We were likewise pleased to perceive, that their relatives in the Hottentot corps remembered them, and, as much as their circumstances would admit of it, afforded them some assistance. Thus we received, by captain Lesueur, twenty dollars, collected by the Hottentot soldiery for the use of their wives, which we immediately distributed among them.

During the month of October, two Hottentot children departed this life very happily. The first was a boy, nine years old, of whom its parents used to say, that it was the most obedient child they had. Whenever we spoke to little Joseph (for that was his baptismal name) about our Saviour and his love to the children, he not only showed great attention, but his

whole soul seemed to delight in it. In his long and painful illness, he showed great patience, and sometimes, when he was almost worn out with pain and weakness, he cried simply and confidently to the Lord, praying him soon to come and deliver him from all earthly grief and trouble. The other was a girl of the same age, and when first taken ill, had not been baptized. She now prayed most fervently, that our Saviour would forgive her all her sins, and cleanse her soul in His precious blood. We could not refuse her request to be baptized. Brother Rose, therefore, administered this sacrament to her, on her sick bed, calling her Elizabeth, during a most powerful sense of the Lord's presence, by which all were melted in tears. The poor girl could not find words sufficient to express her gratitude for the grace of God bestowed upon her. When sister Rose visited her, some days after, she found her longing to depart and be with Christ, and rejoicing greatly at the prospect of soon seeing her Redeemer face to face. Sister Rose then began to sign verses, treating of that blessed subject, during which the child lay quiet, and soon after departed gently into the mansions of bliss.

The month of November was the most distressing period we have ever known since our arrival here, chiefly on account of the severe illness which befel our dear Brother Rose. In the night between the 26th and 27th of October he was seized with an uncommon difficulty of breathing, which alarmed us very much. Early in the morning, we sent a messenger to Dr. Temple, who arrived with us in the afternoon, and prescribed proper means of relief, by which these first symptoms were removed, but, in the night between the 8th and 9th of November, they returned with greater violence. The pre

scriptions of the physicians seemed not to produce the desired effect: every night he experienced the same suffering, by which he lost all sleep, and the attacks became so violent, that frequently the person watching with him thought his breath would stand still. Our distress was much heightened by the declaration of Dr. Temple, that he really knew no means of cure for this disorder, and being old and infirm, he was frequently prevented from calling upon his patient, when most wanted. To send for a phy sician from Cape-town, would be attended with great expense and trouble. length, on the 30th, these asthmatic affections seemed, in some degree, to abate, and brother Rose joined us in thanking our gracious Lord, the physician of soul and body, for this relief However, we remain under great concern on his account, and have no hope, but in the mercy and help of God our Saviour.

ORDINATION.

At

On the 24th Sept. the Presbytery of Oneida ordained Mr. George Hall, of East Haddam, Con. to the work of the gospel ministry; and installed him in the pastorsi charge of the congregation of Cherry Valley. The Rev. James Southward, of Bridgwater, made the introductory prayer; the Rev. Samuel F. Snowden, of New Hartford, delivered the sermon; the Rev. James Carnahan, of Hillsborough, made the ordaining prayer; the Rev. Joshua Knight, of Sherburne, presided; and gave the charge to the minister, and the charge to the people; the Rev. Mr. Southward gave the right hand of fellowship, and the Rev. Andrew Oliver, late of Pelham, Mass. made the concluding prayer. The scene was peculiarly solemn and impressive.

OBITUARY.

For the Assembly's Magazine. An account of the life and death of Mrs. Joanna Craig, late wife, of Mr. Samuel Craig, merchant, who died at Alexandria, 21st Oct. 1806, taken from the funeral sermon, preached after her death. Joanna Craig was a native of the state of New-Jersey, but has resided many years in Alexandria. A frank, open, cheerful temper was her leading characteristic. She thought for herself, and spoke as she thought. She was sincere, steady and warm in her attachments. Incapable of

disguise, she expressed with freedom her aversion at what appeared unworthy. In the various relations of daughter and sister; of wife and mother; of neighbour and acquaintance, she commanded love and esteem; confidence and respect; good will and friendship.

Religion, I have reason to believe, carly impressed her mind. Receiving her first impressions under the ministry of the Baptists, she became familiarized to their modes of worship, and a zealous advocate | for their peculiar tenets. But as she

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