the course of his sermon the Rev. Mr. Shrieves said, "You are now listening to the word of God-you do not know if you will have another opportunity. You may die this night, and then what will become of your immortal soul? This word which you hear must either be a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death to your soulit must either make you happy or miserable for ever: therefore, before you close your eyelids go to Jesus Christ with contrition, confess your sins, and entreat Him to pardon you, and make you His child." After hearing these words, I was much troubled in mind. I went home but found no rest. Sleep forsook me—the accusations of my conscience were fearful-and I was like one without hope. All my past wickedness came to my recollection, and some thing within me said, This night your soul may be required of you-doubt not it will be taken away-you will not see another day. Thinking that I should die before the morning, I procured a piece of paper, and wrote these things down, that it might be a warning to my relatives after I was dead. I endeavoured again to compose myself to sleep but could not. Satan, the great enemy of souls, that I might sink in despair, whispered that I was a great sinner, and would never be saved. In great anguish I poured out my soul in prayer to God, and besought Him for the sake of His beloved Son Jesus Christ to pardon my sins, to make me a new creature, and to receive me as his child. From this time I began earnestly to seek the Lord with my whole heart. When I attended the means of grace, I found every word precious to my soul. I loved to join with the people of God, for prayer and religious conversation. Thrice a day I poured out my soul in prayer, and besought the Lord to grant me the aid of His Spirit, that I might be able to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil; and I humbly hope that the Lord has heard my cry, and that He has in mercy granted unto me His Holy Spirit and a new heart. From this time my love to the Saviour increased, and my greatest delight was in reading the word of God, and prayer. I then made known my desire to the Rev. Mr. Shrieves, and the members of the Church, for permission to commemorate with them the dying love of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, I was received into Church-fellowship, in which I have enjoyed blessed communion with my brethren and sisters, having wholly consecrated myself to the service of God. May the Lord grant unto me His gracious aid to continue faithful unto the end, and to His name be glory for ever! Amen. HISTORY OF A FEMALE CONVERT, THE following record of the history and experience of an excellent Christian woman, now a member of the native church at Cuddapah, will not only awaken in the minds of our readers the tenderest sympathy for Christian Converts in India, especially during that fearful period of mental conflict antecedent to the open acknowledgment of Christ; but it will also lead them to admire and exalt that grace by which strength is brought out of weakness, and the newly-regenerated Hindoo is made willing to lose all that is most prized among men to enter the fold of salvation and enjoy its manifold blessings. In this narrative we behold the example of a young and timid woman, whose eyes had been opened to the glorious realities of the Gospel, casting away her idols in the face of the day; resisting equally the persuasions and the threats of heathen friends and relatives to bring her back to their polluting creed; and finally obtaining boldness to brave every difficulty and confess the Lord Jesus before the world. The statement, which is in her own words, was originally made in the Teloogoo language, and the following translation was furnished by her pastor, the Rev. J. Shrieves : I formerly belonged to the Farmer Caste, and was an inhabitant of Goorgalah in the province of Cuddapah. My age is about thirty years-I was married about twenty years ago: my husband and I have lived by farming, and we have three children. My parents and family being idolaters, from my infancy I was brought up to reverence and worship idols. About nine years ago, when Venkatareddy and Nonapah, my relations, embraced Christianity, they came and told us what they did, and made known the way of salvation. They read Tracts and parts of the Gospel, to which I listened with attention, feeling inclined to believe that it was the true way of salvation, and that there was only one God. After some time my husband began to feel a desire to embrace Christianity, became an inquirer after the truth, and frequently went to the Reader at Cheroolahpully. I seized every opportunity myself of hearing more of this great salvation, and, being desirous to become more acquainted with Christianity, I commenced learning a short Catechism. Through increasing knowledge of the word of God, I lost all confidence in Hindooism, and by degrees forsook its idols and its sinful cus toms. At times my relatives would tempt me to accompany them to their idol-temples, and to assume the mark of idolatry on my forehead, but I would not consent. When mendicants came to my door for alms, dressed in the garb of Hindooism, I have often said that I could not countenance them, and therefore they were not to come again in that manner. When the people of the village asked me for my contribution towards celebrating the annual festival of the tutelar goddess of the village, I refused, for I felt convinced of the sin and folly of idolatry. Although I had forsaken the worship of idols, and rejected all dependence on them, I was conscious I had not courage enough to confess Jesus Christ before the world. About this time my relatives and neighbours threatened me, that, as I had forsaken their gods, and felt inclined to embrace Christianity, I ⚫ should be treated as an outcast; that I and my children should not be allowed to associate with them, nor enter their houses; and that when anything of a joyous or sorrowful nature (meaning marriages or funerals) occurred in my house, they would not take a part in it. On hearing all this I became timid, and, taking my children with me, I went and abode for some time with my mother in an adjacent village. About the same period my husband went to Cuddapah, and, after being baptized by the Rev. E. Porter, remained there for a while. On hearing of his baptism I felt deep sorrow, not that he embraced Christianity, but because I had not done so too; and when I thought of the transgression of Adam, and its consequences, I became afraid lest God should visit me with his displeasure for not forsaking idolaters and uniting with His people. My fear was so great, that several times I dreamt that a body of fire descended from the sky as if it would fall on me, but each time it fell to the ground at a little distance, leaving me unhurt. At this time I began to feel concerned for the salvation of my children, and commenced instructing them on the folly and sin of idolatry, shewing them that the worship of idols was forbidden in the word of God, and that idolaters would be cast into hell. My children said, If it is so, come let us go to Cuddapah. But I felt great misgivings at times, and an unwillingness to forsake my relatives. Just about this time I had another boy, who, shortly after his birth, fell very sick, and, though I had a native doctor to attend him, he continued poorly for some time. My relatives then surrounded me and tempted me to make vows to idols, but I peremptorily refused, knowing that God alone could restore my little boy to health and strength; and soon after the Lord did in mercy restore him. When I was about sending my children to Cuddapah to receive Christian instruction, my relatives and neighbours came about me and asked me why I was so foolish as to send them, as they would all become outcasts. My mother threw her arms round my neck, wceping, and persuading me not to send them. I replied, They may become outcasts-you are outcasts from God; these children, by going to Cuddapah, will derive much benefit-and without delay I sent them. Because it is said, in the fourth commandment, that no work shall be done upon the Sabbath, I refrained from all work on that day, and strove more than ever to adhere to the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel; and, being fully assured that there is salvation in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ, in August last I requested the Rev. J. Shrieves to baptize me. After a suitable course of instruction, which was continued until the month of December, he baptized and admitted me into Church-fellowship. May the Lord, who has thus far been my guide and my preserver, still grant me His grace to live to His honour and glory! MANGAIA. ENCOURAGING STATE OF THE MISSION. THE succeeding communication, addressed by the Rev. George Gill to the Foreign Secretary under date of June last, conveys a most gratifying picture of the condition of the people in this favoured island under the salutary and sanctifying influences of the Gospel. It exhibits the progress of the natives, in relation both to their temporal and spiritual interests, from the period of the hurricane in 1846* to the date at which it was written; and, from this statement, it will be seen that, while the power of Christianity has brought them into fellowship with God and cheered them with the prospect of a heavenly and eternal inheritance, it is also developing those mental energies which are necessary to the growth of public and social improvement. In conveying these interesting details, Mr. Gill thus proceeds : tokens of success. In the review of the past years of labour among the people of this island, amidst much that has called for anxious solicitude, there have not been wanting pleasing and cheering As upon my arrival in their midst they gladly welcomed me, so now the general mass still manifest a warm and encouraging attention to the means of instruction, and are walking in harmony and love among themselves, and in accordance with their name and profession. Diligent Efforts in Agriculture, &c. The dreadful gales of 1846 are still remembered with humility and thankfulness. Our people are, in some little degree, just recovering themselves from the desolating effects of those hurricanes on their plantations. Much time has been necessarily spent by them in planting and improving their lands; and we hope, by the end of 1848, or early in 1849, to rebuild the three chapels and schools in their respective settlements. "Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly, At present the mass of the people are dwelling in very inferior and unhealthy buildings; their time and labour, as I have just intimated, having been so fully occupied in cultivation. Lime has, however, been prepared for the chapel at Oneroa, my own station; and we fully hope soon to begin again. Grateful Sense of British Benevolence. In building the chapels, and making other arrangements at the respective Settlements, we shall be greatly encouraged by the supplies of cloth and tools which have been received. The prayerful sympathy and generous help of the Churches of England can never be forgotten, nor will they fail to produce real and lasting benefit. Our people are surprised and delighted with such liberal donations, and cease not to implore the richest heavenly blessings on their benefactors. They continually talk of the "Society:" it is a word of great pleasure and interest We have had rather heavy gales this year among them; and, in the anticipation of the also, especially in March last. We were last Annual Meeting in May, they deter * See "Missionary Magazine, for July, 1847." mined to give some substantial proof that their interest and gratitude were sincere. For the year ending in the month of May, 1847, the contributions amounted to 731. The same year, also, they paid 51. towards the expenses of my return from Rarotonga; and, in addition to this, paid for their copies of the Scriptures printed at Rarotonga, and the New Testament printed in England, 501, 1s. 6d. They prize the written Word of God, search therein daily, and cheerfully pay for all their copies. At present I have disposed of all the British and Foreign Bible Society's New Testaments, as well as of all Scriptures printed at Rarotonga. The people are greatly rejoiced to learn that Mr. Buzacott is to remain in England, to revise and print, under the auspices of that Society; and they are all but impatient to receive the whole Bible complete. Liberality of the Native Christians. At the close of the Annual Meeting, held on the 31st of May, 1848, the total amount of contributions was 1201. You will observe that the amount of contributions in money is small; but the amount of personal and individual labour, required in the manufacture of the arrow-root and the fishing-net, gives a pleasing proof that they love the cause of Christ, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. Freely have they received and freely do they give. You will, I am convinced, receive these contributions with pleasure: they are from a poor and destitute people, whom God has honoured the Churches of Britain to bless, and who now rejoice to do a little to help the great interests of the Society, in the name of Him who has so richly loved them, and who, though so rich, for our sakes became poor. Progress of Public Improvement. We have just completed a great public work, by carrying good paths and roads around the whole Island and through the Settlements. Formerly the paths were very narrow, and in many places almost impassable to any but the natives, who can go through water, mud, or mire, with ease and facility. You may remember, Mr. Williams, in his narrative, gives no very pleasing account of his walk through one of the inland stations. We have log-bridges over all the watercourses, and firm stone-paths through the Taro Plantations. rejoice that now I can make very frequent visits to either of the villages on horseback. I visit them now twice a month, and, in cases of emergency, oftener. You will not think these labours incompatible with my other more important and immediate duties. The preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Christ will simultaneously expand and improve the moral and social condition of the people. The inland station, Tamarua, was formerly located around the swampy and unhealthy courses of water passing through the Taro-patches: it is now removed to a more healthy spot on a site originally suggested to the people by Mr. Williams. A temporary chapel has been erected there, and a dwelling-house for the Native Teacher. The people are now removing their houses to the new Settlement, which we hope to arrange in a neat and healthy manner. More Missionaries desired. The people of this village are very solicitous for a European Missionary. I have told them that I have written, and also told them your reply, and they say "Write again! Ask The Governor of the Settlement again!" said to me last month, "Write again and ask the Society how much property we shall send to Engiand to buy a Missionary? for," said he, with great energy, "I think we can buy him, and feed him, and pay him.” Interesting Services on the Arrival of the Missionary Ship. arrived at Mangaia. I have to acknowledge, On the 12th of May, the John Williams with unfeigned gratitude, the very kind and liberal supplies then received. The wood will be of great value and service in our contemplated new buildings, and in finishing our own dwelling-house. This land is remarkably poor in wood, and such a grant as your kindness has supplied is really invaluable. The people had long anticipated the Missionary Ship, with a desire to enjoy a pub. lic service with the Captain, and the brethren who might arrive. It was in the afternoon of the Saturday when the goods were all landed, and the wind not being favourable for Rarotonga, the urgent and pressing desire of the people that the vessel should remain over the Sabbath was gratified. Informa tion was forwarded to the two inland stations that the churches might assemble at the principal village for the services of the day. Many, as soon as they heard of it, came immediately, and others arrived at midnight, rejoicing to hold fellowship with our Christian Friends. It was a lovely Sabbath-the ocean calm, so as to allow the vessel to lie on-and-off in safety. At an early hour, Captain Morgan, with our brethren and the boat's crew, came on shore. Captain and Mrs. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, and Mr. Ella, with Mamoe, his wife, and the crew, were received by the people with much joy. The morning services were conducted as upon ordinary occasions. I preached from "God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." In the afternoon the Captain first addressed the people, giving a very interesting account of the Ship's voyage to England, and of the continued interest and sympathy of British Christians towards Polynesia. Messrs. Schmidt and Ella also followed in warm and animating addresses. Mamoe quite electrified the people with his descriptions of all he had seen and heard. The wonders of England, and the love of British Christians, as he had seen them manifested, were themes upon which he dilated with feelings of unspeakable joy and gratitude. When unable fully to express himself in language, he was content to use gesticulations, which he frequently did for several minutes consecutively. We could all understand what he meant and what he felt when he pointed to the circumference of the horizon, intending to give us some idea of the greatness and extent of the love of British Christians. Delights of Christian Intercourse. Several interesting remarks were also made by the members of the Churches: one old man, the principal Deacon, of whom I have formerly spoken as being the first to receive the Gospel in the commencement of the Mission, addressed us with tears of joy, saying: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. Here we all are -never has the land seen such a thing until now, that we should see so many English Christian brethren with us. We have had fellowship with them before in prayer and in thought, but this day it is with the body too. I think I now understand the meaning of John, where he says, truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, because we and all Christians are his children. There is no difference-they and we are all the same: we and they are children. It is this little thought of mine that makes me wish to die soon, that I may see my brethren who have died even from the time of Moses; for we and they, and they and we are children of our Father who is in heaven. My heart is large when I look at my brethren and sisters from Britain. I shall only see them to-day. I shall soon die, and then I shall see them again with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob." The services of the afternoon were also interesting, from the fact that four young men and their wives bade farewell to their friends, to enter the Institution at Rarotonga, to be further trained as Teachers for the Islands to the Westward. It is a pleasing reflection to the Churches of Mangaia, that, among the first Pioneers and Native Teachers, taken by the honoured WILLIAMS to Samoa and the Islands westward, were young men from their number, and that we have sent to the Isles of these seas many who have, through God, magnified their office. I find, that, up to the present time, nearly thirty young men and women have devoted themselves to the work of teaching and evangelizing their brethren around them. Freely have they received, and freely do they give. Early on the Monday morning the Churchmembers made presents of food and other supplies to the Ship and the brethren, and sent them on their way rejoicing. This visit of the vessel has done us much good. |