He says that whilst sinking lower and lower in moral degradation, the people had never fallen, physically or intellectually, to the level of certain stunted and brutalised races fast failing, through mere exhaustion, from the mass of mankind. Constitutional vigour and mental forces aided and fostered the development of every crime; until crime became inwrought into the very soul of the people, polluted every hearth, gave form to every social and political institution, and turned religious worship into orgies of surpassing horror. The savage of Fiji burst beyond the common limits of rapine and bloodshed, and, violating the elementary instincts of humanity, stood unrivalled as a disgrace to mankind. Saul of Tarsus supplied the raw material out of which was fashioned Paul the Apostle. That fiery force and energy of character which had made him pre-eminent among persecutors, and "the chief of sinners," when subdued and guided by the grace of God, caused him to be "in labours more abundant than them all." Similarly, the Fijian savages when converted to Christ develop some of the noblest traits of character, and may take their place among the finest specimens of sanctified humanity. The fullness of force and life which raises their wickedness to such gigantic proportions makes them heroic Christians when under the influence of Divine grace. It may readily be imagined, from what we have said, that the introduction of the gospel among these tribes was attended with peculiar difficulties. Sometimes we read of a succession of petty minor annoyances, with no element of romance or grandeur to alleviate them, which might seem trivial did we not remember to how large an extent our daily life is made up of trifles-mosquitoes, so numerous, crafty, and ferocious, that no netting could exclude them; the stock of flour exhausted, and the two families compelled to subsist for months on yams and salt; cooking utensils and crockeryware disappeared, so that "Mr. Cargill had only one tea-cup left, and that had lost its handle." Mr. Crossland lands at Rewa with his family; for months they have only a single room, and that small, low, and damp; for six weeks he lay ill here, first with · intermittent fever, then with cholera, and then with typhus fever, until his strength was all gone, and his poor wife saw threatening her the hard lot of being left alone with her little ones among cannibals. At Somosomo, the chief and people seemed to take delight in perpetrating their most hideous and revolting cruelties in the presence of the missionaries, and on more than one occasion threatened to make them victims. On "one strange and memorable night," the devoted mission band spent the hours of darkness in constant prayer, "one after another calling upon God the whole night through, expecting every moment to be attacked, and resolved that the murderers should find them at prayer." of "Just at midnight each pleading voice was hushed, and each head bowed lower, as the stillness of the night was suddenly broken by a wild, ringing shout. But the purpose the people changed, and the night passed safely." But nothing could shake the heroic resolve and determined perseverance of these true successors of the Apostles. In reading their narratives of fortitude and fearless fidelity, when women and children seem, in the presence of danger to dilate into heroic proportions, we are reminded of the promise-" he that is feeble among them shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them." Mr. Calvert having received a very earnest plea to visit a distant island in which a work of grace had begun, hesitated to go and leave his wife and infant child alone among the cannibals of Lakemba. She, however, insisted upon his going, whilst she remained to assist in conducting the affairs of the station during his absence. That we may not draw all our illustrations of this undaunted heroism from the reports of the missionaries themselves, we would adduce a most remarkable instance recorded by Captain Erskine, in his journal of a cruise among these islands. He narrates, with admiring wonder, that the wives of two missionaries having heard, during the absence of their husbands, that a party of native women were being slaughtered and eaten in an adjoining island, they at once launched their canoe, and proceeded thither. They found that ten had already been devoured before their arrival-three alone remained. The ladies entered, unattended and unprotected, the scene of the cannibal orgies, and boldly demanded that those who survived should be spared. The presiding chief was filled with wonder, as well he might be, at this courageous act, and granted their request, saying, Those who are dead, are dead; those who are alive, shall live." Let the slanderers of missions and missionaries lay to heart narratives like these, which are not wanting in the history of any similar enterprise since the days of the Apostles, and blush for very shame at their foul calumnies. The second of the volumes before us contains numerous instances of the successful prosecution of missionary labour; and the opinion, expressed by not a few naval and trading visitors to the islands, that this is a model mission, seems to be fully borne out. The history of the introduction of Christianity into the Island of Ono is very remarkable. We can recall no instance parallel to it. The extract, though long, is so curious, that we give it entire : "In 1835, the same year in which the missionaries first came to Fiji, Ono was visited with an epidemic disease which killed many of the people, and, together with the destructiveness of late wars, thinned their numbers in such a way as to excite great uneasiness and alarm. Offerings of food and property were brought in plenty to the gods of Ono, and the rites of their worship were observed with all zeal and perseverance; but no relief came. Just at this time, one of the chiefs of the island, named Wai, went to Lakemba, bearing the accustomed tribute. While there, he met with Takai, a Fijian chief, who had visited Sydney, Tabiti, and the Friendly Islands, and had become a Christian. From this man Wai first heard about the true God; though his information amounted to little more than the fact that Jehovah was the only God, and that all ought to worship him. Carrying this scanty supply of truth with them, Wai and his friends went home. But far more precious than the cargo of tribute they took away was the first glimpse of light which they brought back. The introduction of that first element of Christianity, though but dimly understood, was the beginning of a new age of healing and of gladness to those lonely isles. "The Ono chief and his companions felt well assured that their own gods could not deliver them from the present calamity, and therefore resolved to forsake them, and pray only to Jehovah, of whom they had lately heard. Several more approved of their purpose, and determined to join them in the new worship. The late visitors to Lakemba had also heard something concerning the Sabbath institution, and resolved to set apart every seventh day as holy, to be used only for the worship of God. Food was accordingly prepared for the Sabbath, and the best dresses were put on, and the bodies of the worshippers anointed more profusely than usual with oil. But, on meeting together, they found themselves in a great difficulty about the conduct of the service. None of them had ever tried to pray; but they had always been accustomed to employ the mediation of priests in their religious observances. A heathen priest was therefore waited upon, and informed of the purpose and perplexity of the people. Whether moved by his own good temper, or by fear of the consequences of refusal, the priest consented to become chaplain; and in this strange, groping way did these Ono heathens feel after the Lord, if haply they might find him. When all were seated, the priest offered prayer in terms after the following fashion: 'Lord Jehovah! here are thy people: they worship thee. I turn my back on thee for the present, and am on another tack, worshipping another god. But do thou bless these thy people: keep them from harm, and do them good.' Such was the first act of worship rendered to the Almighty in the far-off island of Ono, After it was over, the people returned to their usual work for the rest of the day, and, with the heathen priest still for their minister, tried to serve God as well as they knew how. But they were not satisfied, and a great longing grew up among them to have some one to teach them the way of the Lord more perfectly. A whaler, on her way to the Friendly Islands, called at Ono for provisions, and a passage was engaged on board of her for two messengers, who should lay the case of the people before the missionaries at Tonga, and beg them to send a teacher. The return from such a voyage is a long affair in those parts; and since the time when Wai came back from Lakemba, after having heard of the lotu, many months had passed." The Lord, who knew the desire of these simple hearts, making such clumsy efforts to struggle up to him out of their old religion of falsehood and crime, was not unmindful of their prayer. A canoe having a number of converted Tongans on board, was drifted from its course, to Turtle Island, about fifty miles distant from Ono. A young man on board, named Josiah, who had conducted the worship of his fellow-voyagers, hearing of this religious concern, determined to proceed thither and teach them the way of the Lord more perfectly." He at once took the place of the old priest, a little chapel was soon built, and many began to worship God "in spirit and in truth.” Among the converts at Ono was young lady of the highest rank, named Tovo, betrothed to the heathen king of Lakemba, who had already thirty wives and concubines. Her family had previously been admitted to baptism when she became a candidate. The missionaries steadfastly refused to receive her unless she first resolved not to proceed with her intended marriage. To this she instantly acceded, though the king of Lakemba claimed sovereignty over the island, and would be certain to avenge with frightful cruelty the insult which her refusal would put upon him. The old chief, her father, and all the Christians, resolved to suffer anything rather than give her up. The girl was thereupon baptized, taking the name of Jemima.* The heathen inhabitants hereupon urged Tui Nayau to demand his bride, and to punish the refusal to fulfil her betrothal. This he was only too ready to do, and proceeded to equip eleven canoes, filling several with fighting men. Still the Christians stood firm, prepared to die at the hands of those ferocious cannibals, rather than surrender the girl. The missionary had tried his powers of persuasion upon Tui Nayau in vain, and, finding him determined to proceed to Ono, parted from him with these words : "Tui Nayau, before I leave you, I warn you faithfully. I love you, and therefore I warn you. God's people are as the apple of his eye. In fetching the girl you are fighting against God. If you go on this errand, you imperil your safety. Remember, that on the sea and at all the islands between Lakemba and Ono, the Lord Jehovah rules supreme, and can easily punish you if you are found fighting against him. Take care what you are about." The result was, that four canoes, with about a hundred desperados on board, to whom the king looked to execute his vengeance, were cast away, and were never heard of more. The king himself was in imminent danger, and at one period abandoned all hope of escape. Though they sighted Ono, they could not reach it, and were borne away to Totoya, whence they returned to Lakemba. Out of the eleven canoes only two of the smallest ever reached Ono, and they were owned and manned by Christians. No wonder that, immediately on his return, the king sent for Mr. Calvert, and begged that "his words of warning might never follow him again." Narrations of faithfulness and of deliverance scarcely less remarkable than this abound in the volume which is devoted to the narrative of missionary work. The success which has attended these faithful labours is marvellous. It becomes a serious difficulty with our Wesleyan brethren how to meet the demands which the state of the islands make upon them. They seem to realise the accomplishment of the promise: "I will open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room to receive it." The volumes before us contain ample statistics in illustration of this. We give the following statement from a more recent report made by the Rev. J. Waterhouse : We wish our Wesleyan brethren would abandon this very foolish custom of giving English names to their converts. The effect is always ludicrous, often offensive. "We ask you now to make provision for the fifty-five thousand Christians who have an existing claim on you. Leave the 150,000 heathens to Australasia, if you will; but do not desert your own offspring. In one circuit we have 4,600 communicants, scattered over twenty-five islands, under the care of one missionary! It is true that he has four native assistants; but they are very inefficient, and require vigilant superintendence. In another circuit we have twenty-two thousand attendants on public worship; but we have only two missionaries, and one natíve assistant, to attend to these thousands! Another missionary has 10,000 attendants on public worship (including 2,095 communicants) under his spiritual care. Connected with my station alone we had, at the date of my departure, 32 chapels, 49 other preaching-places, and, on the morning of May 24, 1857, there were 10,015 attendants on public worship. The church-members numbered 1,373, and the number of candidates for church-fellowship, 722. Upwards of 2,000 learnt to read fluently during two years. In January, 1857, the king publicly renounced polygamy, following in the wake of thousands of his subjects. By this act he solemnly set aside 80 wives." He thus contrasts the state of the heathen and Christian tribes :"The state of heathen Feejee is awful beyond description. Every man's hand is raised against his neighbour. Wars, deaths, cannibalism, strangling, and desolation, are events of daily occurrence. Here you may see, as we have seen, and do still see, the most appalling scenes. The nations are without God, without hope, without Jesus, without salvation, without the Holy Ghost, without purity. Whilst we write, the sufferers groan, the captives sigh, the mangled shriek, the widows are being strangled, the fatherless lament, the cannibal death-drum beats, and the curling smoke of the ovens, consecrated to the gratification of the most fiendish appetite, ascends to heaven as a witness against Feejee. "Contrast this with the Christian tribes. The murderer is hung as an outcast unfit to live! The polygamist abandons eighty wives in one day! When reluctantly compelled to engage in defensive warfare, they do not disregard the principles of humanity. The unresisting are spared, the dead, instead of being eaten, are buried, and the repentant are pardoned. Widows live to tend their children, and love displaces terror. Daily is prayer offered to the Father of spirits; daily is the blessed name of Jesus pronounced with reverence; daily is our heavenly Father supplicated to pour out the Holy Spirit." 66 He who, in the country of the Gadarenes, took pity on the naked raving demoniac, delivered him from a legion of devils, and brought the miserable wretch to sit down at His feet, clothed, and in his right mind," said before He left us, "Whoso believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto the Father." Strange words! yet, in the history of missions to the heathen, most true. Legions of devils are cast out. Foul wretches are reclaimed. Ferocious cannibals become as little children. THE END OF THE WORLD." "Lo! I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, UNTO THE STRANGER'S Be thou the stranger's friend; Do good to all; let none All souls in sorrow 'neath the sun Where'er by dire disease Go thou his pillow smooth, and ease Great Missenden. FRIEND. Where'er the hand of death Haste thee, and, as he gasps for breath, The sinner tell of One He needs his soul to cure: The good Physician, who alone Be thou the stranger's friend, C. W. SKEMP. THE MARYS AT THE CROSS. III. THE LESSONS. BUT it is time now to notice the lessons which are taught by the passage-not those general lessons which might, with equal propriety, be deduced from any passage connected with the Saviour's death; but those more specific lessons which are peculiar to, or derive peculiar force from, the text and context. The way to bring out of the treasury things new and old-it seems to us-is not to find precisely the same truths in, or to hang precisely the same truths around, every text; but to find in each the specific truth which it is intended or specially adapted to convey. Such was the mode of instruction adopted by our Saviour. He did not give a formal statement of the same truths, whatever the theme of his discourse, but applied the great principles of his kingdom to all the varieties of human character and condition, and to all man's circumstances and relations. With such a pattern, therefore, we think it better -having chosen a text-to bring out its peculiar lessons than to indulge in general theological statements, such as might be founded on any passage relating to the Saviour's death. 1. And, first of all, the text leads us to think of how those things which excite our fondest hopes, and are fraught with the richest promise, occasion the most bitter pangs. * * What a strange termination this is to the hopes and joys which Mary had cherished during these three-and-thirty years! What becomes now of the angelic salutation, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured blessed art thou among women." Might not the tempter have tauntingly asked her this in that dreadful hour? Might he not have said in grim irony, as he pointed to that "countenance full of wounds and blood, full of scorn and pain; to that beloved head, with its thorny crown;" to that bleeding and tortured frame which once her arms had nursed, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured!" Might he not have echoed in mockery those words of praise to which she gave utterance when she knew what honour God had done to her: My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. And holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation." Might not the devil have triumphed over and wounded her sufficiently to gratify even his fiendish malice had he whispered these words in her ear? Strangely they must have sounded by the side of the cross. O Mary! was it for this thou didst nurse thy first-born-the child of so much promise! Was this among thy thoughts when in the stable at Bethlehem thou didst, with a mother's fondness, press thy nursling to thy breast! Is this the end of all the hopes and fancies with which thy glad heart fluttered when sages from afar spread their offerings, and paid their homage, at the feet of thy new-born child! Is this the end of those fond imaginings which thou wert wont to indulge when the maternal eye detected in his boyhood gleams of the superhuman wisdom which slumbered within! Is this the deliverance which thou didst believe he had come to work out for Israel! Must all the expectations with which thou hast waited in |