with another. And because they see the Christians pursue their wonted pleasure presently after divine service; some of the heathens have from thence taken up a notion, as if we preachers, in our ordinary sermons, did teach people all those debaucheries, and encourage them in so dissolute a course of life. Now to remove, as much as in us lies, those headstrong obstacles, we have endeavoured to give them a frequent opportunity to hear the word of God itself, if perhaps they might be induced to take that for a standard of the Christian faith, rather than the corrupt life, and loose conversation of the so-called Christians: for this hath levened their mind with a world of prejudices, and prepossessed it not only against the Christians, but against Christianity itself. But finding our Jerusalem church of too small a compass, we have thoughts of enlarging it, as soon as we are enabled to go about it. Besides this, we are resolved to raise another church in a town not far from hence. If this be brought about, it will enable us to scatter the word of the Gospel among the heathens more abundantly. However, our present efforts are chiefly bent upon translating the New Testament into Malabaric; in hopes that such a work may prove the foundation of a plentiful blessing, if once it should happen to see the light. A Malabaric and Portuguese printing-press, you know, would be highly serviceable for the whole design; the transcribing of books being attended with almost insuperable difficulties. "Our charity-school," they add, " is now branched out into two, and the number of children considerably increased. And we are more than convinced, that here the beginning of a real conversion must be made among the heathens; the old Malabarians being generally so fond of their accustomed idolatrous way of worship, as maketh them unwilling to forsake it." The remaining extracts are from the letters of the missionaries themselves. Tranquebar, October 19, 1709."As the Lord hath on one hand, not left our labour altogether withont a blessing; so hath the enemy of souls not been wanting on the other, to set himself with might and main against it, and to destroy, if possible, the work of the Gospel at its first appearing in the heathen world. Three days ago a Malabar poet was christened by us, not without a great commotion of the hea thens that inhabit those parts. He has conversed with us these three years past, and during that time received many good conviction of the truth of our holy religion. He has been particularly helpful to me both in purchasing abundance of Malabar authors, whom he procured for me; and in getting a competent insight into the poetry of this nation, which he himself gave me. Almost a quarter of a year ago, he writ a letter, and directed it to all the learned in Germany, together with 608 questions, treating upon divinity and philosophy, wherein he wanted to have their determination. I have indeed translated those questions, but never could be induced to believe this young man would ever embrace in good earnest our boly profession; as being too much influenced by the suggestions of his own corrupt reason, which, you know, is apt to cast mists before people's eyes, and, when it gets the sway, to adulterate the simplicity of Christian faith and practice: but the Lord hath given a check to this my unbelief, the young man being now lively touched, by the operation of God's Holy Spirit, and resolved to give himself up to the conduct of a better Master. We put him at first upon transcribing such books as we composed in Malabaric, for the benefit of the heathen; such as the Gospel of St. Matthew, and a piece containing the first rudiments of the Christian faith. By being taken up with so sacred a work, our poet was wrought upon to such a degree, a to enter into more serious thoughts with himself, and at last to give way to the divine conviction about the pre-eminence of the Christian religion, beyond theirs. Hereupon we employed him daily some hours in teaching in one of our Malabar schools: and it was then, he reduced the catechism and the history of Christ into Tamulian verse, which at night, when business was over, he would sing with the children at the top of the house. And from these and the like transactions, wherewith in all appearance he was extraordinarily pleased, we silently gathered, there was perhaps some good impression conveyed into his mind, which in time might gain more strength, and conquer the opposite sentiments of his reason, for which he seemed to be so great a stickler. We endeavoured also to blow up, by seasonable instructions, this tender spark of life, that began to break forth in the midst of a multitude of strong and inveterate prejudices. At last, he unbosomed freely to us the more interior recesses of his mind, which was to this effect: I have read all along,' said he, the books both of the Malabarians and Mahometans, and left none unperused that came to my hands: I have publicly taught them in my school; but after all my searches for truth, I am obliged to confess, that I never found any solid rest and satisfaction in those books: I am more than convinced, they contain nothing but a pack of lies, and a huddle of odd and confused notions. But after I began to apply myself to the reading of Christian books, I met indeed with things that did much perplex and alarm me, though as for their fundamental principles, I found them in the main, so strong and prevailing, that I was obliged at last to yield to the conviction resulting from thence, and to own this to be the only true, and saving religion in the world. I have not been easy in the very nights, nor would my thoughts suffer me to sleep quietly, till things were ex brought to this pass. I have for this purpose got by heart the catechism already, and given diligent attendance whenever it was pounded by you.' Hereupon he asked our further advice and instruction. We heartily rejoiced at so noble a conviction, which, having worked a while within, did now, by a free and uncompelled confession, vent itself from without. We then explained to him the duty of prayer, of repentance, of a living faith, and of other such points as did more nearly relate to the present frame of his mind. After this, he gave plainer proofs every day of a principle of grace acting within, and quickening him at last into a full resolution of espousing the Christian faith. But this was followed soon after by a train of various trials, when the rumour of his being made a Christian spread itself through the town, and became the common subject of conversation among the heathens. They now began to insult him every where. They did their utmost endeavour to restrain him from venturing too far into the ways of Christianity, lest by his example he should draw many others after him. His parents thought themselves more particularly obliged to confine their son to the old way of worship; and this they prosecuted a while with much vigour and fierceness. They shut him up for three days together, and left him all this while without any food at all; for no other reason, than to terrify bim thereby from the way he was now engaging in. After this, his friends and relations rushed in upon him: and because it was just then that one of their great heathenish festivals was to be kept, they would needs have him go to this pageantry: but they could not prevail. Being thus every where exposed to the insults and menaces of his enraged countrymen, he desired leave from us, to retire to some place of privacy, in a house belong. ing to a widow, which is a member of our church. Here he designed concealed for two days, and meditate upon the word of God. But he soon was found out by his parents, who, with great clamour and violence breaking in upon him, told him plainly, they would dispatch him with poison, if he should persist any longer in a love to that new religion he was embracing; the mother having a dose of poison ready prepared for effecting that black and wicked design. These threatenings not producing the desired effect, they, both father and mother, fell down at his feet, and with most endearing words, endeavoured now to gain by offers and promises, what could not be obtained by spite and malice. Home he went with his parents, whence, after a long discourse with them, he returned to us again, accompanied by his father, who, with many fair words, entreated us to discharge his son from the service of our house. To this we replied, we were willing to do it, if he himself did require any such thing. The young man admonished all this while the father, not to fight any longer against God. Hereupon the father quitted him with great indignation, but soon after stirred up more than two hundred Malabarians, who surrounding the young man at a convenient time, haled him into an house, and by force would make him forswear the Christian faith. He said: he was willing to forswear what was bad, but not what was good. Being got once more ont of their clutches, he would venture no more among the heathens hereafter; but most earnest ly entreated us to baptize him with all convenient speed, fearing the chief of the country might combine against him, and hinder him, if possible, from receiving this ordinance. When we saw his earnest desire for holy baptism, and considering the necessity of going about it without delay, we fixed a day for that purpose. But the poet would by no means have this baptismal act performed privately on the contrary, he offered to write a letter to some of his friends, and therein openly declare, that no irregular end, but the conviction of the truth itself, had brought him over to the religion of Christ. No sooner did they receive that letter, but away they trudge to the governor, and with many solicitations intreat him to interpose his authority, and thereby forbid the reception of this young Malabarian into the Christian church. Nor did the enraged crew desist there, but soon after dispatching a letter to the governor, did openly declare that, in case he refused to restrain the missionaries from their present design, they were all resolved to abandon the country, and for ever break off all trade and commerce with the company here. All these threatenings we laid before the young man, to see how he stood affected; but he readily answered, he was willing to suffer with us, even unto death, for the truth of the Gospel. He did not see any reason, why he should not bear affliction and reproaches, seeing that Christ himself and the apostles had undergone the same so cheerfully in their days. At which readiness, we did not a little rejoice, and after we had conferred together about it, baptized him the 16th of October last. No sooner was this over, but another threatening letter was sent to the governor by some of the young man's friends living in the country. They required the governor to deliver up the poet into their hands, and thereby prevent farther mischief betimes. The poet himself had a letter sent him by an eminent black, wherein his friends did promise to make him a governor of a whole country, and swear obedience to him in the presence of the bramanes, provided he would return to his former religion: but then again, they threatened to burn him, if he should presume to reject so splendid an offer. Our governor soon after received a third letter from another of their leading men, importing, he would shut up all the avenues to the town, unless be made the poet return to his duty. How ever, our governor promised to return a smart answer to these busy heathens, in order to allay, if possible, the commotion that put them upon such restless contrivances. The poet, under these difficulties, addressed himself to the governor, and implored the protection of the Christians against his enraged friends and relations. He told him, that he was not the first of the Malabarians that embraced the Christian faith, but that many before him, and even some of the first rank, were gone over to the Roman catholics, and yet were never suffered to undergo so cruel a usage as he was obliged to do*. Upon the whole, you see, sir, that little good will be done among the heathens, except a man be armed with patience and an unshaken firmness of mind, to bear the affliction which generally has attended the propagation of the Gospel in all ages. It is true, much more might be effected, if Christians, and particularly those that sit at the helm, were inspired with a greater zeal for the glory of God, and the good of souls, than what is commonly observed among them. I was not a little affected when I lately read, that some of the English nation were earnestly disposed to promote the cause of Christ among the heathens in the West Indiest. The reader may probably recollect a transaction, nearly resembling that which is detailed above, which occurred a few years since at Serampore, and which Major Scott Waring makes the ground of much violent censure of missions and missionaries. The chief difference was, that in the instance before us the government took a decided part with the missionaries; which was not the case at Serampore. And be it remembered, that it is the probability of the government being regarded as supporting the missionaries, which Major S. Waring considers as the great evil to be dreaded. How lamentably has the English nation (may we not say, the English church?) failed in realizing this fair promise! With two large societies incorporated for promoting Christian knowledge abroad as well as at home, both possessing immense funds, and the capacity, we will be bold to say, of extend I wish they would exhibit the same kindness to the poor benighted nations in the East, and, by sending over some able men, attempt the conversion of souls in those parts. Great is the harvest here, but few labourers! I hope the Lord will, in his time, bring multitudes from among the heathens to his church, and polish them like so many stones for the spiritual structure of his most holy and living Temple." (To be continued.) To the Editor of the Christian Observer. Your correspondent, Dr. A. Clarke, seems to have wholly misapprehended my design, in attempting to collate the New Testament quotations from the Old Testament, with the Septuagint. I had no intention of opposing him, in any other way than as every fallible man, sincerely investigating truth, should be willing to be opposed by another sincere inquirer, who deems him mistaken in some particular, and wishes to attain further information and satisfaction respecting it; or who desires that it should be fairly examined and determined, for the common benefit. I never intimated, or suspected, that Dr. A. Clarke had hastily taken up his opinion: but I thought it too unqualified, and in a measure er ing those funds in proportion to the zeal they may manifest in the prosecution of their avowed objects, they have done for the wretched population which crowds our West-India Islands literally nothing, Had it not been for the exertions of the late ever to be lamented Bishop of London, and the pious labours of the United Brethren and the Methodists, Christianity would have been absolutely unknown among those Negroes, who for nearly two centuries have been the disgrace of our empire, and still more, if possible, of our church. It is to be hoped that this reproach will soon be wiped away, and that, among the other objects which you have recommended in your number for June, p. 303, to the reviving zeal of the Bartlett's Buildings' Society, the negroes in the West Indies will not be forgotten, and that full provision will at length be made for their Christian instruction. roneous. I have met with similar assertions in other writers; and I wished to draw the attention of the more learned part of your readers to the subject. There is no doubt but that the sacred writers of the New. Testa ment, in many instances, quote the Septuagint literatim; in still more verbatim; and in a great majority of the quotations, as to the substance, though with variations in the words themselves. But the question is, Do they always thus quote the Septuagint? This is the point at issue, and which I desire to have determined. I make no pretensions to those kinds and degrees of learning which your correspondent demands; but I thought, and still think, that, by comparing even the Roman edition of the Septuagint, with a Greek Testament, where most of the different readings are found, the above stated question might be decided: but if this cannot be done without that multifarious learning which Dr. A. Clarke requires, I can only give it as my opinion that it never will be determined. I before intimated, and I now more expressly avow, my sincere desire of assistance, and even candid correction, from the learned; especially those who have access to sources of information from which I am necessarily excluded. If the Septuagint be, for substance, quoted in the New Testament, in all places except where a various reading, either in the one or the other, can be well supported, so as to reconcile satisfactorily every apparent discordancy; then the question is answered affirmatively: and this concession shews, that, however valuable the qualifications and preparations are which your correspondent requires (and the want of them does not induce me to depreciate them), they are not essentially necessary to the inquiry. But if many instances may be adduced, in which no satisfactory various reading can be substantiated, and yet the quotation in the New Testament diflers materially from the Septuagint; then the question is determined negatively. This latter is my present opinion; but, conscious of incompetency on the more recondite parts of criticism, I crave information, and am open to conviction; especially when any learned man, who once thought as I do, will favour me with his reasons for changing his opinion. It still appears to me, that if "the Septuagint was the fountain whence all their quotations are drawn," the writers of the New Testament have established the Septuagint as the genuine Scripture, with all the authority of inspiration, and in preference to the Hebrew text. I own, I cannot see how this conclusion, from such unqualified premises, can be avoided: and I shall be glad to see the argument fairly answered. If our blessed Saviour preached in Syriac, and the Evangelists recorded his instructions in Greek, their words are not his words (unless Greek be Syriac), but a divinely inspired translation of his words into Greek; sometimes in the words of the Septuagint, and sometimes not, as the Lord directed them. "Our Lord wrote nothing;" that is, he was not an author; he did not write his own history, or publish his own sermons. This was all which I meant to say; and not to affirm, that he never wrote in any sense. I am, however, ready to allow, that even this is rather too unqualified ; for the Epistles to the Seven Churches of Asia are his writing, nearly, as the Epistles of St. Paul are his writing; that is, he dictated them to the apostle Jolin, as his amanuensis, But this was not during his abode, as man, on earth. If the Alexandrian Septuagint be the most approved (which I leave to more competent judges), then, in the first instance which I adduced, the Evangelist quoted the Septua gint. "A Virgin shall conceive, is not indeed, strictly speaking, a literal translation; yet it would not |