THEOLOGICAL ACADEMY, COLOMBO.

Mr. Davies, who has recently taken charge of this institution formed for the training of native missionaries, says in a letter recently received, that the students are very much in want of books. Any copies of the New Testament in Greek, of standard works in theology, Butler's Analogy, Paley's Evidences, and a general Cyclopædia, will be of very great service. Are there none of our friends who have these volumes, and who are willing to consecrate them to this good work?

The thanks of the Committee are presented to the following friends

Mrs. Whitchurch and friends, Walworth, for a parcel of clothing, for Rev. J. Merrick, Western Africa;

Mrs. W. Kirkwood, Berwick on Tweed, for a parcel of clothing, &c., for Rev. J. Clarke, Western Africa ;

Mr. West, Amersham, for a file of the "Patriot" newspaper, for Dr. Prince, Western Africa;

Rev. W. Upton, and friends at St. Albans, for two cases of clothing, for Rev. J. Merrick, Western Africa;

Peter Hope, Esq., Bootle, for Carte's life buoy, for the "Dove ;" and two packages of cotton seed, for Western Africa;

Mrs. Houghton, Liverpool, for several volumes of the Baptist Magazine, and a quantity of tracts, &c., for the "Dove;"

Mrs. Jackson, for a quantity of Baptist Magazines, tracts, &c., for the " Dove ;"
Mr. R. Jones, of Liverpool, for several volumes of useful books, for the " Dove;"
Miss Wales, Leeds, for a parcel of brushes, for Western Africa.

The thanks of the Committee are respectfully presented to R. B. Sherring, Esq., of Bristol, for a valuable package of books for Messrs. Clarke and Merrick, Western Africa: also for the Travels of Bruce, in eight volumes, and of Burkhardt, in two volumes, for the Mission Library.

The medicine chest for Africa received from Mr. Harvey, of Leeds, and acknowledged in the last Herald, is the gift of a kind friend, Mr. R. Jowett.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, during the month of November, 1844.

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. Gurney, Esq., Treasurer, or the Rev. Joseph Angus, M.A., Secretary, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, LONDON: in EDINBURGH, by the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Jonathan Watson, and John Macandrew, Esq.; in GLASGOW, by Robert Kettle, Esq.; in DUBLIN, by John Parkes, Esq., Richmond Street; in CALCUTTA, by the Rev. James Thomas, Baptist Mission Press; and at NEW YORK, United States, by W. Colgate, Esq.

JANUARY, 1845.

THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.

THE end of the old, and the beginning of the new year, is generally a season of serious self-examination and resolve. What have we done for Christ, and what shall we do, to promote his cause, are questions which every devout mind will ponder very seriously. None can look back without deep sorrow and humiliation; nor forward without feeling an earnest desire that the coming time shall be more profitably spent, and resolving, in dependence on divine aid, that it shall be so. While we heartily join in all the good wishes so common, and in most cases, so sincere, at this season of the year; our readers will not be surprised or offended, if in these few lines we rather press home the questions adverted to.

Our friends will ask what has been done in Ireland? It is a matter of thankfulness, that not only have our little churches there been kept in peace, and enjoyed a goodly measure of prosperity; but during the past year two additional agents have been sent into the field-two new churches formed-two new schools opened and to the churches under the care of the fourteen missionaries who are wholly, or in part sustained by the society, there have been added nearly one hundred members. The losses by death, and other causes, amount to twenty-six. The whole number in connexion with these churches, is 509; the clear increase is therefore about five and a half to each church, and nearly seven per cent on the whole. This is quite equal to the average increase in England, and if the superior advantages which the latter sphere of labour presents be taken into the account, it is far greater. We mention this, not in a spirit of boasting, nor to draw invidious comparisons; but to show that all things considered, our dear brethren in Ireland, are as successful as their brethren here; to furnish a satisfactory answer to the inquiry, so often put, "what are you doing?" to sustain the confidence of those who so steadily and efficiently help us; and to show the propriety and hopefulness of increasing the agency of the society.

May our pastors and deacons and churches all resolve, that as the new year has opened, they will more cordially assist us. The facts of this Chronicle only add to the testimony of those previously recorded, that the day is breaking. May doubt, unbelief, and indifference vanish; and may we find that the new year is one of increased zeal, liberality, faith, and prayer; so that the Holy Spirit may turn, what has so long been a wilderness, into a fruitful field.

Our indefatigable brother Mr. BERRY, in a letter dated Dec. 3, 1844, makes the following remarkable statement:

There is one circumstance quite novel and portentous, which strikingly exemplifies the beneficial influence of our labours. The romanists are now to be found assembled and formed into scripture reading classes, proposing and answering questions from the word of God. Blessed be God, that I have lived to see this day; a day of small things it is true, but a day full of joyful events. Heretofore the young people might be seen assembled during the long winter nights for other purposes; but now may we not expect greater things. That we have had a large share in bringing about this great change, no one acquainted with the society's history can doubt; and we may in

dulge the hope that it will be acknowledged
by HIM whom we serve, in the great day.
With the most ardent desire for the perfect
suaded that the priests are the unchanged
liberty of my countrymen, I am still per-
ministers of Rome; and if they could by any
means prevent it the people would not assem-
ble for the purpose already named.
work then is not theirs. It is the work of
God. My preaching stations are attended as
well as usual-though always better when we
have light nights. I preached last evening
about twelve miles away, and had a large and
attentive congregation.

The

This very encouraging state of things in our brother's district, was adverted to

in the letter of JOHN TALBOT, published | in our last. It is further confirmed by the following extract from JOHN GOLDRICH's letter of November 1, 1844 :

In C--alone there are forty-three romanist families, to all of whom I have free access, and liberty to speak on every topic connected with religion. The priest has been several times here since the beginning of the month. What he said or did, I know not. But his visits had not the least effect in getting me a worse reception. The people are ignorant indeed, but at the same time are perfectly sensible of the worth of scriptural instruction.

gospel. The Lord's time is not far distant. May he soon arise in all his splendour and Power!

When lately in B--, I brought some tracts to the street. In ten minutes I distributed about a hundred. But as there is always a wicked person to be found, one asked whether the Virgin Mary was mentioned. I put this question to him from his catechism. "Is Jesus Christ better than his mother? Jesus Christ is better, because the creator is better than the creature." This stopped his mouth. But he destroyed his tract, and many followed his example. Yet though I had been so long speaking, I could not supply all who were crowding upon me. I showed them how Christ finished the work, which the Father accepted. With the exception of two or three, they went off pleased with the explanation of the tract.

This state of things is not confined to Mr. BERRY's district. It exists elsewhere. The following extracts from the letters of those readers who are located in the different stations in the province of Connaught, will afford the most satis-effect. factory proof. Thus WILLIAM MC ADAM states, October 22, :

I always bring the people to this grand criterion," My sheep hear my voice and they follow me." I then tell them that the sabbath breaker, the drunkard, the swearer, the adulterer, the liar, the extortioner, the reviler, the thief, the idolater, and the murderer, do not hear the voice of Christ, and consequently are not his sheep. This sort of remarks strike them forcibly, and cause many of them to cry out, "God help us, very few hear the voice of Christ, and follow him as they should do."

I rejoice further, to be able from my own personal knowledge to communicate to you, the general cry of the people that I visit in my extensive district, "when will Mr. B., or some other minister, come and preach to us the gospel of Christ." There are no less than twenty or thirty doors waiting to fly open to receive you. I can say that nothing would tend to banish ignorance so much in this part of the vineyard, as to send another missionary to help, that one or another might be out continually through the country, preaching the gospel to this people, who are inclined to hear it in its purity.

ADAM JOHNSON writes to the same

Though I am unable to relate to you any striking instances of conversion through the instrumentality of the tracts I have distributed, yet I am more and more convinced that they are the means of leading many to a knowledge of themselves as sinners, to see the value of the scriptures, and to discover a Saviour able to save to the uttermost. They are read by many with great attention, and in all my visits the people, with only now and then an exception, receive them with great thankfulness.

I

A few days since T. M. a romanist, came to my house requesting me to come to his cabin to read the Irish Testament to his family, and to his neighbours. He stopped with me all night. After comparing the doctrine of the church of Rome with the scriptures, and seeing their variance, he said, will no longer trust in deluding fables. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanseth from all sin." The next morning he roused me up early to read to him. When we parted I asked him, whether his priest would be pleased to hear of my going to his place to read the testament. He replied, that he did not care about his anger, "I am come to invite you to read to my family, and I hope you will not disappoint us." I told him if spared I would not. I gave him a few tracts, and he went

RICHARD MOORE also writes in a similar on his way rejoicing. strain, Nov. 16:

Lord's day morning, on my way to conduct three prayer meetings, I got into a small cottage, so low that I could hardly stand in it; when the neighbours saw me go in, in a minute or two the cottage was literally filled. They heard with great attention, and honestly said they had more information from me than from the priest. It is a fact, which cannot be denied, the people are inclined to hear the

The communications of PATRICK BRENNAN are as interesting as ever.

About three weeks ago one of our brethren, but a short time since a romanist, was taken dangerously ill. His wife thinking death was near, said to him, "Now is the time, Dick, you will not live till morning, and will I go for the priest ?" "No," said he, " my priest