months ago, and were observed to be diligent | following the Lord Jesus Christ. Her husin attending on the public means of grace, band has been a member for several years. and to manifest an earnest endeavour to walk in conformity to the commandments of God. One of them, I am happy to add, can read the scriptures in Bengali. Another of the said number, the daughter of Christian parents, can also read. She is a young disciple, being about thirteen years of age. It is truly delightful to see young people

She came here some time ago, on a visit to her mother, and it pleased the Lord to make his word instrumental to her conversion. I hope and pray, that by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ each one of these disciples will continue to glorify God to the end, and at last obtain eternal life.

DACCA.

Our brother ROBINSON, under date of July 31, 1849, gives the following account of the labours of the native preachers, and the opening prospects of the gospel in India. In his desire we most fully sympathize, and would cordially urge it upon the disciples of Christ, "Oh! that our frinds at home could be persuaded to push on the work." Let this cry for help be heard by all who love the cause of their Redeemer.

The labour, I fear, was too much for me, for fever followed, and I was kept at home on the two following sabbaths. Last sabbath I preached in the evening; I did not feel much fatigued, but I got a slight return of fever in the night. I am better to-day, but, of course, weak. I hope I may continue better, but

Seed time and harvest.

July 31st, 1849. Just after I had written at the beginning of this month, Mr. Atherton called on me, and having seen how weak I was in the pulpit on the preceding sabbath evening, offered me his boat for four days to go on the river. This was a very kind offer, and the river air was just what I needed. The next day, therefore, I was on the Suk-my hope is mixed with fear. heya, and, on the evening of the second day, I reached Kapashya-ganj, a village which I had visited only once before. The next morning, before sunrise, Chand and I went into the bazar, and collected a few people round us. I spoke to them for a little time, but I had neither energy nor strength, and was soon obliged to desist. Chand then commenced, and gave them a rather long address, to which they became increasingly attentive, and he concluded by praying with them. We returned to the boat, and Chand soon went out again, and was well received. After breakfast, as our time was short, we were obliged to leave the place on our return. In the afternoon, we reached a place called Sumbadarit, just at the time the market com- Chand and Jaynarayan have been to menced. Chand spent about three hours in Bikrampur. They speak well of their rethe market in preaching and distributing ception. God is working a change in the books. He was well received; the people were much pleased both with his preaching, and the books which he gave them. Gladly would I have joined him, but I was so weak that I was obliged to remain the greater part of the time on my bed.

Return home.

How much things are changed! Almost every where now our preaching and books are well received. There will be a harvest; in due time we shall reap if we faint not. On the next day, Saturday, I reached home, and being a little refreshed by the trip, I engaged in two services on the following sabbath.

Ramjibam returned from Tippera after being absent more than two months. He has much to say of an encouraging nature about the people among whom he has been. Some of them have said that they will be Christians, and I hope that they will eventually prove a people prepared for the Lord. I mean to send him again this month; and I wish him, if he can, to bring over two or three of the best of them, that I may see and converse with them. I cannot go to see them; the expense would be too great, and I am wanted here at Dacca.

native mind. Oh that our friends at home could be persuaded to push on the work! They helped us heartily to clear the forest; but now the time is come for ploughing and sowing, they seem to faint. The fields are not white to harvest, but if you have passed through the Sunderbans, you must have been struck with the difference between the dense forest, and the lands which have been cleared and subjected to the operations of the plough. Such is the state of things here; the forest, once so dense and formidable, has disappeared, and we can drive the plough nowthe gospel plough-just where we please. I may not live to see the harvest, of which I

feel assured; but let me, while I do live, | home, that in due time they will reap if they bear my testimony to the present encouraging faint not. My fear is, that they will live to state of things; let me tell our friends at mourn that they have sown so sparingly.

SERAMPORE.

In the November Herald we gave an interesting narrative of the awakening and death of a youth who had for some time been receiving the instructions of Mr. DENHAM, and promised to give an example of the class exercises he was accustomed to prepare for his tutor. The paper we now present to our readers, displays no common power of thought and expression, and at the same time exhibits his knowledge of the great features of God's plan of redemption. His heathen extraction, and consequent early initiation into Hindoo idolatry, must not be forgotten in its perusal, nor the fact that it was written, not in his native tongue, but in the language of Britain, which he had acquired.

ON THE MERCY OF GOD.

sages of the earliest times. They failed to solve the question satisfactorily. But is there no way of solving it, no way of reconciling these apparently conflicting attributes? None but the plan laid down in the scriptures of truth-He who is sent of God, and is able to stand in the place of sinners, and endure the penalty due to them. This he did when he died for them. The justice of God is seen in Messiah's obedience and sufferings, Jehovah's mercy in his being sent.

Mercy is an attribute of God, distinct from goodness, and opposed to justice. The distinction between mercy and goodness is, that the former consists in pardoning, the latter does not; the goodness of God alone is not enough for the salvation of man, for he is a sinner. Many, even among good and learned men, mistake in treating of this subject; they confound goodness with mercy, consequently they have an imperfect idea of the grounds of The mercy of God, though pure mercy, is salvation; but there are some who err still yet consistent with justice. God is righteous further, in professing that they can be saved in showing mercy to the most guilty, and by the performance of various duties, and appears as unimpeachably just in receiving affirm that mercy is not necessary to salva- sinners of the human race who were polluted tion. True, God is a just God; if there be with sin, as in conferring happiness on the nothing blameworthy in them, certainly they highest archangel, or confirming the blessed will neither incur, nor will He inflict, punish-spirits in their standing, because the debt of ment on them; but the question is, are their deeds blameless, perfect, such as God can acknowledge? Take the best of them,instance their love to that God in whom we live, move, and have our being. Should not the love wherewith we love Him be perfect? Ought we not to love him with the whole heart, and soul, and strength? But those men fail to love God even as they love the world; how much more to love Him with a love corresponding to his goodness?

Man, moreover, is a sinful creature; no works of his own can be the meritorious cause of his salvation; surely, sinners need mercy. But in what way can God show his mercy, without violating the harmony of his other attributes? If a man be brought before a judge, and his crime be fully established by the testimony of competent witnesses, should the judge forgive, instead of decreeing sentence to the criminal,-nay more, set him free,would not justice be outraged and violated? If man, sinful man, feel it to be a sin, how must God, who is a holy Being, regard it? The great difficulty, how can God be just and yet merciful, exercised the minds of the

justice, if not paid by the saved sinner, has been fully paid by Jesus the Saviour.

When the necessity of Divine mercy is distinctly declared, some persons, though fully convinced of its truth, will rise in hostility against it, and will declare it cannot be mercy unless extended equally to all. This is one of the misconceptions arising from an improper view of the nature of Divine mercy, to which we before adverted; they want to bring those who reject the word of God to stand on the same level with those who are accepted by Him. Men naturally wish that kind of mercy in God, which they imagine will allow a portion of human merit to be blended with Messiah's obedience, or their sincerity. This cannot be. Others would have God all mercy. These should look around them; how often do they see their fellow-creatures suffering, and the sufferings they undergo beyond the reach of human control. There are many ills of life which arise not from the imprudence of those who are the sufferers; nor are they ascribable to the individual, but to causes above and beyond him-the cholera, the pestilence, hereditary sufferings, and the

"Be

like. If God be all-merciful, why are such | above the earth. But how wonderful is it things permitted to exist? Neither do these that the mercy of God may be obtained, even agree with Divine justice abstractedly. Tell at the last moments of the life of the most the man who has violated God's laws by guilty; still none can guarantee a single day folly or constant dissipation-tell such people or hour; none therefore should delay. that God is all-merciful, and mark the reply. hold, now is the accepted time; behold, now It is not because their sins are too great to be is the day of salvation; to-day, if ye hear His forgiven by God, but because of their unbelief voice, harden not your hearts." My earnest and impenitence. Faith is the medium desire for myself, and all my fellow-creatures, through which sinners approach God; by is, that they trust not to themselves, but faith in the Redeemer they obtain mercy; all entertaining a lowly opinion of themselves deserve to die, but mercy declares he who before God, and being deeply humbled with a believes shall be saved. sense of their need of his grace, seek after that satisfying blessing which can be had without money and without price. C. P. C. Died April 20th, 1849, aged 19, or 20. Serampore College.

Fellow-traveller to eternity, a Hindoo asks you what are your views of God's mercy? It is as far above the mercy that could be anticipated by the human mind, as heaven is

It is with great pleasure we announce that the Government of India has issued the draft of an Act, designed to extend the just and humane principle that no man shall be deprived of his rights and property on account of any change in his religion. Native converts to Christianity, whether Hindoos or Mohammedans, will not therefore, as hitherto, be called upon to sacrifice their earthly possessions in making a profession of attachment to the gospel of Christ. This anomaly under a professedly Christian government has too long been suffered to prevail. The abrogation of the laws of Menu and Mahomet will be hailed by all the friends of the missionary cause with gratitude and joy, as another obstruction removed to the prevalence of the gospel in Hindostan.

CEYLON.

COLOMBO.

The following letter, dated November 8th, addressed to Mr. Angus, from our esteemed missionary, Mr. DAWSON, conveys the very afflicting intelligence of the departure into the rest of God, of our worthy, tried, and excellent brother, Mr. DAVIES. He has long delivered his Master's message of peace with fidelity and zeal, and not without many tokens of that Master's approbation. Now, his labours ended, he is for ever with his Lord. But, who shall take his place?

You will, I am sure, be exceedingly any longer in the island. Dr. and Mrs. Elgrieved to hear the intelligence which it is my liott, with their usual kindness, invited him, painful duty to communicate. Our greatly with Mrs. Davies and the children, to spend esteemed brother Davies is no more. His the last month at their house. They went long affliction, after baffling all available on the 27th ult., but on the same day our medical skill, had led him to determine on going home, but infinite wisdom ordered otherwise, and removed him to his home above. In connexion with the late reduction in the grant to Ceylon, arrangements had been made for brother Allen to come to Colombo. He arrived about a month ago, and in consideration of brother Davies's weak state of health undertook at once the principal part of the duties of the station. Brother Davies hoped to be able to do a little, but finding himself get worse, he was reluctantly compelled to give up the idea of remaining

lamented brother was attacked with dysentery, or rather the symptoms of that disease, under which he had for some time been labouring, then became very decided, and soon assumed so severe a form that it became evident his end was near. Brother Allen informed me of his danger, and I went down to Colombo just in time to have the mournful satisfaction of attending him in his dying hours. You will not be surprised to hear, that through the whole of his affliction his confidence in the Redeemer never for a moment forsook him. He was strong in

faith, giving glory to God," looking for complete redemption as the result of his free grace through Christ Jesus. His sufferings, under the disease of which he died, though short, were more than ordinarily severe; yet he manifested great patience, and perfect resignation to the will of God. On the 2nd of November, about two o'clock, P.M., his sufferings terminated, and his spirit joined "the spirits of the just made perfect."

Mrs. Davies has keenly felt the trying dispensation, but is, I am happy to say, enabled to bear her heavy loss with much Christian fortitude. At her desire, I write to you. Mrs. Davies is thinking of leaving,

with her two little ones, in the "Garland Grove," which will sail for England in a few days. Her failing health has long made it necessary, in the opinion of medical men, for her to leave the island.

You will hear from other sources of the high estimation in which our deceased brother was held by a very large portion of the community, who are now anxious to testify their regard by making some provision for his surviving family. Need I say, that we all feel the deepest interest in their welfare, and that the case of Mrs. Davies especially calls for our keenest sympathy:

WEST INDIES.

BAHAMAS.

RUM CAY.

Our laborious missionary, Mr. LITTLEWOOD, gives the following interesting general view of the extent of his labours, and the difficulties and discouragements of the work, especially with regard to schools, in a letter dated Sept. 22, 1849.

San Salvador.

Other islands.

Connected with the Rum Cay station occasional visit from the clergy, who are exunder my supervision, are more than twelve erting their every power to establish themislands, and a great number of sub-stations. selves. These islands are far removed from each other, the means of reaching them irregular and expensive. In the absence of the mis- San Salvador, above eighty miles sionary the public services are conducted by long, has several large settlements, and is the deacons, men of good character, but entirely under Baptist control, with the extotally destitute of any advantages except ception of the late interference of the estapiety, and the ability to read very imperfectly. blishment. We had four day schools there; Sabbath schools are established wherever we they have been closed, and the teacher can obtain the services of a few able to teach; thrown upon his own resources. This is a but in some places little more than the very important station, comprising eight alphabet is known by the instructors. Hun- churches. A man of active habits might be dreds of children on these sea-girt islands are kept itinerating here with very great advangrowing up without the means of education. tage. We had connected with this station till lately six native agents supported by the Missionary Society; those funds failing, they were thrown Crooked Island has several good settleupon the people with whom they were located, ments and three churches, but is without a who from their poverty and a want of a school. Could we establish a good native proper appreciation of mental and spiritual preacher at Long Cay, twenty miles distant, advantages, took but little interest in them he could supply the church there, and comafter the first few months. At Rum Cay, my mand an influence over Crooked and Acklin's principal station, we have one day school; Islands. Grand Bahama is an extensive we had two, both well attended for a time. island, surrounded by others, where we have One failed a year ago, the other is fast de- several stations. Our schools have been clining, and the teacher fears he will be closed, and the teacher recalled. At Andros obliged to close in a few weeks this, the Island we have been uninterrupted in our only school on the island. The public ser- engagements till the rage of proselytism. vices here are better supplied than at any Here we have several stations under the of the other islands, the missionary making charge of an African youth trained by Mr. this his head quarters for three or four Capern; he is, however, badly provided for. months of the year. The island is left to Baptist influence, with the exception of an

Eleuthera is committed to the charge of a worthy native preacher, who is labouring

upon the willows; coming generations would rise up to call their benefactors blessed, and the unconverted would present themselves at the Saviour's feet as trophies of mercy. Thirty or forty pounds annually would support a schoolmaster or a native preacher, whose time might be divided between the schools and the public services. If a few friends, a school, or a church, would support one or more of the above stations, they would do an incalculable amount of good. Unless something be speedily done to regain our lost ground, we shall be driven from this interesting field, and the labour of years be rendered ineffectual. Our prayer is, "Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine, and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted; then shall not our teachers be removed into a corner any more, but our eyes shall see our teachers."

Our brother desires that we should "urge the claims of his station;" the above account given by himself will speak far more effectually than any words of ours.

TRINIDAD.

SAVANNA GRANDE.

The following interesting passages relative to schools, are from a letter from Mr. CowEN, under date of October 17, 1849.