WE cannot commence the labours of another year, without indulging a few reflections on the past. To us its occurrences have been deeply interesting and melancholy. We have been exercised with heavy affliction, nearly from its commencement to its close; and our afflictions have been of such a kind as materially to affect all our labours and hopes. Death and sickness have made dreadful ravages. Many of our friends, too, in missionary labours, have cause for similar recollections. To the cause of Missions, in India particularly, both last year, and the year preceding, have been peculiarly distressing. Many of our friends have slept în Jesus, and a considerable number have been, or are now removed from their stations for a time. All this is against us-and there has been no such remarkable success attending the labours of missionaries as to make us think lightly of our losses. On the contrary the year has been unusually barren, as far as our own observations extend.

Still under all these discouragements there are not wanting sources of comfort. In some cases God has been better to us than all our fears and if our strength and numbers have been diminished, those of others have been increased. We rejoice in the accessions received by several missions and stations, particularly the Church, the Orissa, and the Burman Missions. It appears too that the interests of real godliness are prospering amongst the Indian community: for we find the various religious Societies formerly instituted, still maintaining their ground, and new ones occasionally added to their num: bers. We cannot help regarding with peculiar interest the Cal

A

cutta Bible Association, the Church Missionary Association, and the Bethel Institution; for their very existence, especially since there is energy in them, gives proof of the diffusion of religion amongst the people.

Another source of pleasure in reviewing the past year is, the great extension of Education in India. Our readers are aware of the liberal plans of Government in promoting this important work. They extend equally to the poor in sequestered villages, and the more wealthy and civilized in towns and cities: and the instructions given are suited to every rank, and every order of intellect. No doubt very important benefit will be extensively derived from them, both to the persons taught, and through their instruction, to the Native community at large. It is pleasing also to remember, that the benevolent exertions of Government do not supercede what was formerly done by Societies and individuals, but afford a clear increase of good done in addition to all that was done before. Indeed we know of a considerable increase of individual exertion during the past year, and have heard of more in preparation. In some respects, the most pleasing part of Native Education, we mean that of Females, has the past year witnessed very gratifying progress. In the Presidency and its immediate neighbourhood the number of girls under instruction have been trebled: and in different parts of the provinces, exertions have commenced with every prospect of success, and in others they have been continued.

These are not things which will pass away and not leave a trace behind; and although conversions have not been BO numerous as we could have wished, yet they have not been so wanting as to afford any just cause for despondency: and that diffusion of the knowledge of the gospel, which we may fairly conclude is preparatory to its general reception, has been rapidly extending. When it is extensively known what are the blessings which "the glorious gospel of the blessed God" offers and secures, it may be that the people will almost instantaneously renounce the cruel bondage of their caste and superstition,

We have been gratified in observing during the past year, a considerable increase in the spreading of Christian knowledge by private individuals not set apart specifically to this important work. In this we have satisfactory proof, that the labours of Missionaries amongst Europeans and their descendants have not been frowned upon by their God, nor have they been un, connected with their primary design in coming into this country. The cause of God is evidently advancing, and we cannot look back upon these twelve months, without feeling that India has made a full year's progress towards that glorious consummation, which we pray may be speedily accomplished. Yet would we lay it deeply to heart ourselves, and affectionately press it upon the attention of our friends and brethren, that it is time to expect much richer displays of divine goodness and power than we have yet had to record. We must not be satisfied with mere preparation. Let us endeavour by united and fervent prayer, offered in singleness of heart, to draw down the abundant outpourings of the Holy Spirit. God will hear such prayer, though the sacrifice of fools is an abomination to him.

If we extend our review from what has transpired in India, to the occurrences in the world at large, of which we have received and communicated intelligence during the past year, we shall have still greater reason for gratitude and joy. In every respect it would appear, that Missionary, and all similar exertions have been increased. New Societies have been formed. in Christian countries, both for domestic and foreign operati

ons.

Larger funds than ever have been devoted to the great and sacred Cause. And we have had both public and private assurances, that the spirit of genuine piety has been much more extensively and evidently exhibited, in connection with the labours of God's people. They seem to be losing sight of themselves. and resting their hopes more upon Him, with whom nothing is impossible; but without whom they can do nothing, The field of Missionary labour, too, has been extended by the establishment of several new stations-such as the North West American Mission of the Church Missionary Society, the Mis

sion to the shores of the Caspian by the Bâsle Society, the Palestine Mission by the Paris Society, &c. Other Societies have in the mean time been strengthening their Missions, in some cases with much vigour.

Beside all this, the past year does not seem to have been destitute of new proofs that the moral and religious condition of the world in general, is silently but rapidly improving. In our present Number, our readers will find an interesting artiele extracted from a valuable work, lately come to this country. It affords a view of the progressive improvement and present state of the community in the city of Glasgow, which cannot fail to give delight to every lover of mankind, particularly as it is a fact, that nearly every native of Great Britain may take this description, and, by a little reflection, convince himself that it will apply almost as well to his own native city or town, as to Glasgow.

We have not only had proofs that religion is thus diffusing itself amongst the mass of human population; but also that it is now chosen as an estimable companion, where it was once despised and opposed. Commerce, literature, and science are fast seeking alliance with it, although the time has been, that nothing was farther at variance with it, than the worldly-mindedness of the first, and the pride and vanity which have too generally accompanied the two latter. We now have merchants who fear God, and display a zeal for his glory in connection with their own avocation, which is perfectly new. Hence arise the facilities so frequently afforded for the conveyance of Missionaries to distant countries, and of copies of the word of God to places which they could never otherwise reach, and for the re ligious instruction of the men who navigate their ships. The Bethel and other kindred institutions are amongst the most important now existing, and promise great benefit to the world at large.

There has been for a great length of time, what may be called, a religious literature; but it has never been in favour with the world. From it the reputed literati have stood aloof. Now

however, there is a decided alteration, since it has been seen how closely the diffusion of the Sacred Scriptures is connected with the study of languages, and the observations and experience of Missionaries, with the natural history of mankind. For proof of this change, we refer with pleasure to the correspondence between the Oriental Society of Paris and the British and Foreign Bible Society; to the communications from the shores of the Mediterranean, and from Persia, to be found in the Reports of Bible and Missionary Societies; while our own private correspondence, particularly with the continent of Europe, furnishes us with evidence of the same kind.

Science, too, has at length discovered that some connection with religion would be profitable to her. Myers in his introduction to his work on Geography, Douglass in his Hints on Missions, and Penn in his work on Geology, have shewn with great force, the propriety and advantages of a close connection between science and religion-and indeed it is becom. ing apparent to every one concerned in the matter. If science tends at all to make us acquainted with God, the Author and object of Religion, she must certainly be a fit handmaid to her; -and if she be faithful to her duty, she will not only be raised to honor by the service in which she is engaged, but her interests will also be essentially promoted by the mistress she It is a matter of no slight gratification, that many of the scientific men of the present day, have so decidedly avowed themselves the servants of Jesus Christ, and have lent their aid in their own department to the cause of their heavenly Master. We rejoice to remember Capt. Franklin's name in connection with the New Mission in North West America, Captain Sabine's at Sierra Leone, and Captain Scoresby's at the Bethel in Liverpool.

serves.

Indeed this new connection between religion and science, is both legitimate and beautiful. And so powerfully have we felt it to be so, that we have determined to devote a sheet of our little work monthly, to a Scientific Department. We shall therefore feel much obliged to any of our friends who