as a burning and shining light among his countrymen, and, in his example and his testimony, prove to many a savour of life unto life :— In the month of March last, (writes our brother), a soldier in the Chinese Army, named Tan-tai, offered himself as a candidate for the rite of baptism, stating his full conviction that the Gospel which we preached was, indeed, divine; and expressing the hope, that, when he should become more enlightened and confirmed in the faith, we might baptise him. Tan-tai has continued to attend earnestly to our preaching ever since, and has been very often with us at our houses for private religious conversation. He became more and more fervent in his desire to be admitted to the Church by baptism, and to "walk in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord." After advising together, and also consulting the Chinese members of the Church-all who know him testifying to his irreproachable moral conduct-we felt satisfied that he was truly devoted in heart to the Redeemer, and that he ought to be received into our Christian fellowship. We appointed Lord's-day morning, November 26th, for his baptism. On acquainting our American brethren with the arrangements, they kindly promised to be present on the occasion, and to bring as many of their Chinese friends as they could induce to attend. At the appointed time, being the first day of the eleventh Chinese month, our chapel was crowded to the door by Chinese, eager to witness the baptism of Tan-tai. Mr. Pohlman commenced the Service by giving out a Chinese hymn, reading Acts viii. 26 to the end, and afterwards offering up prayer. Mr. Young then preached from 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. Tan-tai then stood up before the large congregation, ready to profess his faith in Christ and his devotion to His name. Mr. A. Stronach began by alluding to a remark just made by Mr. Young, that this candidate for Christian Baptism was about to profess before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, before angels and before men, his rejection of all idolatry, and his faith and obedience towards the Lord Jesus Christ as his Supreme Lord and his Divine Redeemer. Tan-tai was then asked, Why he wished to be baptised, and thus become one of the avowed disciples of the Lord Jesus? In a distinct tone of voice, and with a holy boldness, he answered – "Because I believe that Christianity is the only true religion, and that Christ is the Divine and Only Saviour of a lost world. I therefore wish to live all my future days as his devoted disciple. "You believe that mankind are lost, and must perish, unless saved by the Lord Jesus? "Yes, I believe, that unless Jesus had pitied us, we should all have sunk down into hell. "What has Jesus done to save us? "He left His throne of glory in the highest heavens, and 'came into the world to save sinners.' For us He lived, and toiled, and suffered death on earth; He was buried, but rose again; and He lives in glory now, in order to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.' "What is the difference between those who are in their natural state and who do not obey the Gospel, and those who have been enabled to believe and love the Lord Jesus Christ? "There is a very great difference. I feel as in an entirely new world: 'old things have passed away, and all things are become new;' and now my desire is to be entirely cleansed from my old iniquities, and to walk henceforth in newness of life. "What changes the wicked heart of man, and inclines him to return to God? "The power of the Holy Spirit alone changes the heart, and opens the mind to discern the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,' and so teaches us to love Him. "You used formerly to worship many idols: now how many gods do you believe there are? "I believe that all idols are vanity and lies, and that there is only one God-one living and true God." "How many persons are there in the Godhead? "Three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; yet these three are but one God. "You know that the Chinese generally are very greedy after worldly gain, and the honours and the pleasures of this life. Do you expect that, by joining the Church of Christ, you will secure for yourself any worldly advantage? "No, none! I expect only to suffer reproach and persecution for the name of the Lord Jesus. "Since you do not expect any worldly advantage, what sort of happiness do you hope to attain ? "I look for happiness only from God, and hope to be admitted at last, through the merits of Christ, into His glorious and heavenly kingdom." Mr. A. Stronach then baptised Tan-tai, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and concluded the service with prayer. The answers of the convert were given with such evident truthfulness, modesty, and feeling, that he was listened to by all present with intense interest; and afterwards all the members of the united Church at Amoy, both foreigners and natives, came forward publicly and gave him the right hand of fellowship, thanking the Lord for having given him grace so courageously to confess His name before men. Tan-tai is, as before stated, a soldier in the Chinese Army; but on account of his having, fully a year ago, distinguished himself by his brave conduct during a contest with pirates, in which he lost the use of his left eye, he is now ranked among the Hau-yiong, or men who, for merit, are entitled to future promotion as commissioned officers, and who are honoured to wear caps surmounted by a gold button. He is about twenty-six years of age, tall, and strongly built, yet he is distinguished by much simplicity and mildness of demeanour, and is a diligent student of the Word of God. Since his baptism, Tan-tai has become the subject of persecution and reproach before his whole regiment. One of his relations is a Mandarin, now acting as Secretary to the Colonel of his Regiment, who is exceedingly angry with him for professing himself a Christian; and who, after seeing all his "strong reasons" proved futile, became so enraged that he publicly reviled him in the fiercest manner. This caused many others to mock and shun him, as an apostate from the religion of his country, and a follower of the religion of foreigners. Tan-tai sustains the trial nobly, and assures us that he is more and more deeply resolved, in the strength of the Lord, to continue faithful unto death. Some of his companions have told him that he may now give up all hope of being made a commissioned officer. To them he replied, that "promotion cometh from the Lord;" but that he was not much concerned though he should not be promoted at all. To those who revile and abuse him, he "answers not a word." Our other Chinese members continue to afford us much joy, through the grace of God manifest in them. Go-t'o is now employed as a colporteur, in connection with the Religious Tract Society; and, in his present duties, he engages with his whole heart. From his evidently sincere desire for the welfare of his countrymen, his glowing piety, and his sedate demeanour, he commands the respect of the people generally, and is almost always welcomed into the houses of the Chinese whom he visits, both in town and country. He has already distributed hundreds of tracts and books, and has brought several persons to our chapel, who are now constant hearers of the Gospel. THE SECRET DISCIPLE. WHILE the visible triumphs of the Gospel among the heathen far more than repay the labour bestowed in their acquisition, there is reason to believe that the truth has won many a trophy which only the great day will reveal. The following impressive circumstance, related by Mr. Cleland, and which transpired during his residence at Hong-Kong, supplies a strong argument in support of this view. Our brother, writing from Canton, on the 29th of October, observes :— While thankful for the opportunity afforded us of proclaiming the truth, we rejoice in being able to state that this proclamation has not been without its due effect. Some, Christians already, rejoice that ever their steps were directed to the Sanctuary; some have come to know their need of a Saviour; and others, doubtless, of whom we may never hear, have received good to their souls. That the belief of this last result is not founded upon mere supposition will be evident from the following circumstance : It happened, in a part of the island adjoin. ing the town, that some Chinese, with a view to plunder, set upon three others passing near the place, wounding two severely and the third mortally. Two of the highwaymen were speedily captured, and taken to the policestation, being afterwards recognised by the three wounded men. While at the policestation, the serjeant of police perceived one of them beckoning to a man standing outside the house; and, conceiving that this man had also been implicated in the matter, he made him prisoner. Now, two of the wounded men declared positively that he had nothing to do with the assault-in fact, that they had no knowledge of him at all; while the third, who was mortally wounded, and now in the ago nies of death, swore that he was one of the murderers. Upon such evidence the three men were condemned to die. While lying in prison, under sentence of death, some of our Chinese Christians were sent to read and converse with them. They found the one last captured fully acquainted with the leading doctrines of Christianity. He had heard and knew about Jesus. He had often attended the preaching, both at the Hospitals and our Chinese Chapels; and declared that he believed in Christ as his only Saviour. He adhered firmly to this confession up to the morning of the day which was fixed to be his last. He declared that the bitterness of death was passed—he feared it no longer. In the meantime, the Authorities, apparently re-considering his case, concluded that the evidence was not sufficient to condemn him; and, at the hour which he was thinking would be his last, a reprieve came. He received the news in peace. He was thankful that his life was spared; and yet, in that trying moment, emerging from a felon's death to life, his professions were the same, and have continued to be the same day after day. He has been kept a prisoner: why, I cannot conceive; for if the evidence were insufficient to hang him, so assuredly was it to keep him in chains. This, then, shews, that, in the preaching of the Gospel, more good may be done than comes to our knowledge here; for it was only the peculiar circumstances of this case that brought it to light; otherwise, in all probability, we should have remained in ignorance of it to this day. THE CLAIMS OF INDIA. MISSIONARY JOURNEY FROM ALMORAH TO BENARES. ALMORAH is the principal town in the Province of KAMAON, and situated about 500 miles to the north of Benares. Our brother, Mr. Watt, now in England, spent some months there previous to his return, being joined, for a part of the time, by Mr. Kennedy, of Benares. Early in November, 1847, our brethren set out on their return to the latter station; and the following statement from Mr. K. contains an interesting, though very painful, account of the character and condition of the people in the countries which they traversed. The field they surveyed is but little known to the friends of Missions generally, and many will hear, for the first time, of the magnitude and urgency of its claims. But this is no rare case. India presents many similar spectacles of spiritual desolation, and, on every hand, the cry of the perishing is still heard," No man careth for our souls." In the several facts adduced by Mr. Kennedy, a solemn voice is heard reminding the Churches of duties yet to be fulfilled, and sacrifices still to be made, and no language can add to the power with which they speak: Our journey (writes Mr. K.) extended to nearly 800 miles, and occupied fully two months and a half, During the greater part of the time we lived in tents. Throughout this long journey the weather was most favourable, and we had reason to be thankful for many mercies. No harm occurred to us; although, at the outset, we met several inconveniences, which travellers must make up their minds to bear. We all enjoyed excellent health. Our route lay through Miradabad, Merut, Delhi, Aligarh, Agra, Mynpoorie, Cawnpore, Allahabad, and Mirzapore. At these stations we had the privilege of meeting Christian bre thren, who gave us a kind reception. We had daily opportunities of preaching the Gospel to the inhabitants of the towns and villages through which we passed. The contrast be tween the thinly-populated country we had left, and the densely-peopled districts which we traversed, was very striking. We had seldom to walk above half a mile, and often not so far, to get an audience. Our congregations, of course, differed greatly, both in attendance and attention. We scarcely ever failed to obtain hearers, though on some occasions we had many more than on others; and, though we could not always congratulate our selves on having secured attention, we had very seldom to complain of disrespectful de meanour. But we must have been blind indeed had we attributed the respect, which we almost invariably received, to a regard for our message: though it was undoubtedly rendered to us only as Europeans, we had reason to consider it an advantage in the prosecution of our work, for which we ought to be grateful. We were in the midst of idolaters-often at a great distance from an European station and yet we were not only in perfect safety, but had entire liberty to declare the truth, and expose the false confidences to which the people have so long clung. In this respect our position in India is peculiarly advantageous; and we trust the day is not far distant when the Church will avail itself of this circumstance, to an extent and with an effect in some degree commensurate with its importance. Over a great part of the route we followed, Missionaries have very seldom travelled; and all the knowledge of Christianity possessed by most of the people is, that it is the religion of the English, which a few of their number wish to be adopted by the people of this country, but which is considered by them to be unadapted to their state. Though Missionaries have very seldom travelled in some of the districts through which our route lay, yet, as the people of those parts crowd to the great annual festivals of Hurdwar and Gurmucktesar, which are generally visited by some of the up-country brethren, they thus become acquainted with the fact that we wish Christianity to spread. Of the immense multitudes that assemble at these places, only a small proportion listen long enough to the statements of the Christian messenger to have any comprehension of his doctrine; and of these it is to be feared but few acquire even so much information as is needed to shew the infinite superiority of Christianity to the idolatry which they have so long practised They hear words by which they may be saved-they are pointed to the only Saviour; but they hear these words perhaps only once, and are then left exposed to the lies in which they have been brought up. Can we wonder, then, that the impression sometimes made is soon effaced, and that they yield themselves anew to the soul-destroying system which maintains its sway around them? It may be said, that, although the people have not the Gospel preached to them by the living voice, -on their return from these festivals to their homes, they are accompanied by the substitute of the preacher, in the shape of tracts and Scriptures, which are distributed with a liberal hand. Our acquaintance with the people will not allow us to place so much dependence on these as some are inclined to do. We must have Scriptures and tracts, and we ought to distribute them among those who can be reasonably expected to profit by them; but we know that in Europe they do not accomplish the work of the living preacher, and still less in India can they be considered as filling his place. We travelled through an extensive region, teeming with a vast population, in which not a solitary Missionary is found to warn them of their danger and invite them to the Saviour. It was saddening to see such multitudes living without God and without hope-satisfied with the lies which are drawing them to ruin; without any to witness against their delusions, and point them to the true refuge, except a solitary Missionary at a festival, and travellers like ourselves, at long and uncertain intervals, who speedily pass on, and leave none behind to sustain any interest which may be excited. It is saddening to think, that, while so many of our fellow-creatures, who are likewise our fellow-subjects, are in darkness and in the shadow of death, with only a faint and transient ray to point them to the kingdom of light, which, in their deep slumber, is disregarded, the Church of Christ halts in its course, and, instead of advancing to occupy these important fields, with difficulty maintains the posts it has established. The very limited agency for the evangelization of this vast country which the Christian Church provides, on the one hand; and its immense extent and fearful spiritual destitution on the other-are facts well fitted to humble us, and lead us to place all our dependence on Him whose unfailing promise secures the establishment of His kingdom over the whole earth. So far as human means are concerned, the prospect is dark and discouraging: it is no wonder that those who see only these means consider the work to be hopeless; but it is our joy to know, that, for the final and complete success of our undertaking, whatever may be the temporary reverses it may meet, we have an assurance founded on the unfailing word of the living God. We dare not doubt the result, as we would be thereby doubting infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. The prospect of the final result, on which it would be most, sinful to let the shadow of a doubt rest, ought to cheer us amidst much that is fitted to dis courage, and chase away the gloomy thoughts which the present condition of this immense country often excites. Our labours during this long journey much resembled those reported on former occasions. Hindooism and Mohammedanism presented the same features to which we have been so long accustomed. The remarks of the people, their questions and objections, had a striking resemblance to those which we so constantly meet at Benares. The most deadly error of the Hindoo, and the most deeply lodged in his mind, is the identity of God with Nature, and the consequent absence of all proper responsibility. Often this error assumed its boldest form, maintaining that only God exists, and that it is mere illusion to suppose that we have a separate existence. At other times God was spoken of as entirely distinct from his creatures; but then He was conceived to use them as the workman uses his instruments-the doer of their actions, and the speaker of their words. It is unnecessary to mention what havoc of every right and noble feeling such sentiments make. Man is considered a mere machine impelled by another, and no place is left for the idea of responsibility. I have often been surprised that, with such views, the Hindoos do not break down every barrier, and indulge in a wantonness fatal to the very being of so ciety. We see in the restraint which, notwithstanding these views, they, in many things, impose upon themselves, the working of the natural feeling of responsibility implanted in the human mind, and practically opposing the mischievous doctrine which would lay it entirely aside. We see still more strikingly in this restraint the wisdom and goodness of the providential government of God, setting bounds to the workings of human depravity, and maintaining a degree of order among men, without which the earth would be filled with confusion and despair. These erroneous views of God we met everywhere, and to their refutation we had daily to apply ourselves. The persons who advanced these views often shrank from acknowledging their consequences, but it was too evident that they remained attached to them. We had, at different places, a good deal of intercourse with Mussulmans, whom we found ready with their usual objections and cavils. We arrived at Benares on January 22nd. It gave us no small pleasure to rejoin our old Mission. We have had our trials here, and some of them have been of a severe kind; but we are assured, that this is the path of duty to which our Heavenly Father has appointed us, and I trust we are not only content but rejoiced to occupy it. MISSIONARY LABOURS IN THE TAMIL COUNTRY. ON no class of natives in Southern India has so large an amount of Christian labour been bestowed as upon the Tamil population; yet our Missionary brethren frequently remind us of the mournful fact, that there are thousands of this more favoured portion of the Hindoos scattered among the remoter districts and villages of the country, the great majority of whom yet remain utter strangers to the salvation of God. The condition of these idolatrous masses, lost to the sight of Christian benevolence, and perishing in their own corruption, is portrayed, though not in its darkest features, in the following passages of a Missionary Journal, recently received from our devoted brother, Mr. Drew. The only relief to this scene of spiritual desolation is the knowledge that it offers no barrier to the entrance of the Christian husbandman, but, on the contrary, entreats his presence, and promises to repay a hundredfold his largest efforts. May the great Lord of the harvest, who is able to impart the willing mind and the liberal hand, speak in power to the hearts of His people, and speedily send more labourers into His harvest! The neglected Harvest. In March last, (writes Mr. Drew), I made a tour of about 150 miles round, from Tripas sore to Nagary, Pulicat, and home. Many circumstances of deep interest occurred to shew how accessible the country is to our efforts, how strongly it needs them, and how urgently its neglected villages and towns, with their teeming thousands of immortal souls, call upon the churches to send them |