two or three years ago, he seemed a confirmed self-righteous character. He soon applied for admission into the church, but fearing him to be in a dangerous error, I gave him no encouragement. I tried to make him understand the insufficiency of his own self-righteousness, the efficacy of the Saviour's atonement, and the necessity of depending entirely on him; this I did often, both in conversation with him, and from the pulpit. He perceived that many of my remarks from the pulpit were directed to his case, but he did not, like many, take offence; no, he thanked me for taking so much pains with him, and labouring so much to make things plain to him. Thus by degrees he was brought, as I have no doubt, to see his lost and helpless condition, and to feel his need of Christ. After repeated applications, he was at last admitted into the church; he was baptized with his wife in September, last year. From that time to his death he gave me great satisfaction; he seemed to be a humble Christian, deeply sensible of his own unworthiness, and clinging to Christ as his only hope. Of his affection for me as his pastor, he gave many proofs. I could see that I lived in the poor old man's heart; he also showed great love to his fellow Christians, and they loved him much in return. Though we were for a long time afraid to admit him into the church, yet, after his admission, we rejoiced over him, and said, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" I said to him, when I was about to leave him on the morning above mentioned," Brother J., I must leave you, as I have a hard day's work to-day." He looked at me, and said, Oh, I love you very much."

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About seven on the same evening, just before the commencement of the evening service, I was informed that another of our members had the cholera, and wished to see me. As I could not go at that hour, I requested my son John to visit him, while I went to chapel. After service I received a very pleasing account of him. He was in a very comfortable state of mind, and had a great desire to depart and be with Christ. "If ever," said he, "the Saviour loved a poor sinner, he loves me." He, too, expressed great affection for me as his pastor, and sent his love to me. He thought, I suppose, and I trust it was so, that I had been the instrument of bringing him to trust on the blessed Saviour. He was, I believe, about thirty years of age, but he had been blind from the age of six. He was a ward of the lower orphan-school. The hearing of a book read first awakened his attention to divine things; and no sooner did he begin to think about his soul, than he inquired for the Loll Bazar Chapel, where he

became a regular attendant to the day of his death. He was baptized in August last year.

On the following Sabbath morning, I preached a funeral sermon for them both, to a very attentive and serious audience. We had lost two members and two hearers by death in less than a month; and wishing to impress upon those who then heard me the uncertainty of life, and the probable suddenness of death, I reverted to this circumstance in my introduction, and said, "Both these friends were in health till last Sabbath, and now I have to preach a funeral sermon for both; who can tell whose funeral sermon will be preached here next Sabbath?" Words which now appear to have been awfully ominous, and almost prophetic. I could not have preached on that day, had I known whose funeral sermon would be preached there on the next Sabbath. The event, alas! soon showed whose it was to be; it was to be that of one who was there and heard me, and marked my words; it was to be that of my own beloved and most affectionate wife. The next Wednesday, about one in the morning, the fatal cholera attacked her, and before one at noon she was a corpse. Thus was the desire of my eyes taken away with a stroke. I left her, in her usual health, about four on Tuesday afternoon, to go to Serampore, where I had a little business to transact. The infant was hanging on her breast, when my lips met hers in a parting kiss, hoping to see her again on Thursday morning, as well as I had left her. I was sitting at the breakfasttable the next morning, when a servant appeared at my side, despatched on purpose to bring the mournful tidings, who told me that my dear wife was ill of the cholera, and that I was requested to return immediately. I obeyed, and was instantly on my way home. I cannot describe the state of my mind during the journey. I hoped and feared, and prayed, and turned over the pages of my Bible, to find something to comfort me; but nothing had any great effect. I was in a kind of stupor. When I

arrived, the sorrowful countenances and flowing tears of my children and friends might have told me the fatal truth; but as no one spoke in plain terms of the extreme danger, I at first indulged hope. She knew me, and I might have spoken a few parting words to her, though she was unable to converse; but not suspecting her end to be so very near, I only made an inquiry or two about the pain she felt. I assisted to turn her, and then, to my inexpressible grief, I saw her sinking into the arms of death; she spoke no more, and in a few minutes she was gone. She had spoken about the state of her mind before my arrival, so as to give

may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday, 21st. Before I dismissed my boys to-day, I read and explained a portion of the divine word. Some of the boys were affected. I told them that, in the course of my reading and explaining the word of life, I wanted them to judge for themselves,- -to observe every passage of Scripture, and to note how far the unerring test of truth, the infallible word of God, would bear out the Romish church in their superstitious practices and tenets. That, instead of being guided by the priest, by the prejudices of their parents, if they would apply to God for direction, he would no doubt direct them into all truth. The children felt the truth, and some asked me to give them Bibles.

Thursday, 31st. Read the journal of the native preacher. He has during this month laboured in preaching the gospel to the extent of two miles, morning and evening, in all the haunts and public places. He says "the Hindoos hear and receive books." The Mahommedans oftentimes slight him, reject Christianity, and are disposed to gainsay his preaching.

JAVA.

From Mr. Bruckner to the Secretary, dated,

Samarang, 2nd December, 1837. My dear Friend and Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ-Several months ago, I wrote you a letter and sent you a parcel of Javanese books, which I hope have reached you by this time. Since that time we have reprinted one of the Javanese tracts in the Arabic character, as a great many of the natives can read their language better in the dress of the Arabic character, than in their own. All those who have been in the schools of the priests can read Arabic, as all the books which they use are either in the Arabic tongue, or in the Javanese with the Arabic character. Mr. Young, at Batavia, the assistant of Mr. Medhurst, has kindly assisted me in printing the mentioned tract for me by his litho graphic press. Now he is printing the book of Genesis for me by the same in strument, which I find very well adapted for the native languages. The natives are constantly desirous of tracts and books in their language, and when I meet with any to whom I have given some formerly, and

say to them, Well, I have already given you some; what have you done with them? The general answer is, O sir, my brother or relation saw it, and he asked for it. By this means are books disseminated in distant villages. I should humbly

trust in the Lord that he will witness with his truth in many a heart of the natives whilst they are reading of his mercy and justice; although I must add with sorrow that I see little yet of its effects. Want of thought is a prominent feature of this people; to this must be added the prevailing habit of opium smoking, and which appears is spreading farther like a contagious malady from year to year. It happens often that I fall in with people who are addicted to smoking opium; thus it happened last Sunday, while I was walking in the compounds or villages, that I saw a man sitting before his lamp smoking. I entered his hut, telling him how sinful it was to ruin his body which God had given him, by this poison, and how necessary it was for him to leave off, and turn to the Lord for mercy. While I was speaking, several more of the neighbours came in seating themselves on the ground to listen, when I expatiated on the way of repent ance. Several of them approved of what I said, and asked for tracts. The first man had laid down his pipe while I spoke, but when the company broke up, I went also away; but a boy called behind me, saying, "there! he smokes again!"

I regret that I cannot now go so much among the natives as I used to do, on of my lungs, in which I feel frequently account of bodily weakness, and especially pain when I speak long and often to them. Yet I have reason to be thankful that I am not laid aside altogether. May I still be spared to see the Lord's kingdom come in this island! I have sent some New Testaments to the upper parts of the country. One had fallen into the hands of a prince who used to read diligently in it, and had learned the history of our Saviour from it, which he admired much. A friend of mine came lately here who informed me of the fact. Thus it would appear that the word of God is still free.

JAMAICA.

Port Maria.-Our readers may have noticed, from an article which appeared in our September number, that Mr. Day, at the recommendation of several of his brethren, had taken charge of the stations at Port Maria and Oracabessa, left vacant, more than a year ago, by the decease of our late missionary, Mr. Baylis. This change of residence was, on various accounts, a self-denying one to Mr. Day; but the following extract from a letter, written soon after it had occurred, will show its necessity and probable advantage :—

These stations I found in great need of the superintendence of some missionary; many of the members had left, and attended other places of worship, and those that remained were very dissatisfied; they had been expecting a minister for so long a time, and so often been disappointed, that a large body of the members had resolved to join

:

some other denomination of Christians, if a minister did not come to them within six months. I came among them a few weeks after this determination was made, and many of the people knew not how to express their joy and gratitude, at the prospect of being again favoured with the word of life, and the regular administration of Christian ordinances. The congregations, which were much diminished, are now increasing, and already I have pleasing evidence that my labours have not been in vain amongst this people. Last week I went to Bagnal's Vale, where my worthy predecessor had a preaching station; he had succeeded in gathering a large congregation in that densely-populated district, but since his death many of the people will not attend at all, and many listen to preachers who have not the sanction of Christian ministers, or come at the request of some of the members of the church to Oracabessa. I sent word that I would visit them on a certain evening when I arrived, I found a great number met together in a house on Russel Hall estate, where I preached to them, and was kindly entertained by the overseer of the property, who made me promise to repeat my visit as early as possible. He also desired me to speak to the negroes, as they were not going on so well as he could desire; and my speaking to them, he said, would be much better than soliciting the interference of the Special Magistrate. This I did early next morning, and they all promised to do well, and hoped they should soon see massa again. This station is about 16 miles from Port Maria, and 8 or 9 from Oracabessa. This distance, and roads sufficient to startle an Englishman, will prevent my visiting it as often as I could otherwise do; but I will give to it all the attention I am able. At Oracabessa we have a neat and substantial chapel, which was completed a short time before the lamented death of my predecessor. At Port Maria we meet in the same chapel which was tumbling down before his death, and which almost daily gives us some indication of its increasing decay and final dissolution. The house, too, in which I live is the same in which Mr. Baylis died; it admits the rain, and affords shelter and safety to numerous scorpions and centipedes, from which myself and family are often in danger. I have been endeavouring to rent a house, but have not succeeded, being unwilling to give

the rent required for it. At present I have no prospect of a change for the better, except in building, and even that is rather

distant.

We regret to add, that intelligence has just arrived of the death of Mrs. Day, on Aug. 31st, soon after giving birth to a female infant. Her afflicted husband was himself also much indisposed at the time of writing the letter.

Old Harbour.-Under date of Aug. 20, Mr. Taylor writes as follows:

My congregation and school are greatly increasing, and I think I must add a second wing to my chapel. We want help on this side of the island, particularly in Clarendon, Vere, and Manchester, where professed Baptists abound. I could go, and collect a thousand people in each of these districts immediately, and I think it a pity something is not done for them. May the blessing of God attend the recent change in the condition of the people, and all our churches become increasingly prosperous!

Falmouth.-On the "Freedom day," August 1, after religious services, in the course of which, an appropriate sermon was preached by Mr. Knibb, from Neh. xii. 42, 43, a public meeting was held in the chapel, at which, all the speakers, except the pastor of the church, who occupied the chair, were descendants of Africans. As specimens of the addresses delivered by these free men, on the very day of their becoming such, we extract the following.

Mr. William Kerr, who rose to move the second resolution, said, "My dear friends, I stand up to give hearty thanks to the people of England for sending us the gospel. One time I was blind, but the gospel make we see, one time I was deaf, but the gospel make we hear. The gospel bring we to see this day, the gospel bring we free. (hear, hear). No one can tell what we see one time, and what we was suffer; but the gospel bring us joy. We bless God, we bless the Queen, we bless the Governor, we bless the people of England for the joy we have. Let we remember that we been on Sugar-Estate from sunrise a-morning till 8 o'clock at night; the rain falling the sun shining, we was in it all. Many of we own colour behind we, and many before; we get whip, our wives get beat like a dog, before we face, and if we speak, we get the same; they put we in shackle; but thank our Heavenly Father we not slave again!" (cheers).

a few words, which I do with much feeling to my heart: my feelings are so much I can hardly speak. My dear friends, we did not expect to see this day, but God has spared us to see it. The same God who said "Let there be light, and there was light," has brought us to see this day. If it was not for the gospel, the freedom would not have come. The people of England, who did not know us, cared for our poor immortal souls, and sent us the gospel, (hear, hear) and then send us ministers to preach the gospel to us (hear). We thank God for the gospel, and for the ministers who have preached to us; we pray God to spare them, and enable them to go through that work which they have begun. We pray for better freedom; for that good part which shall never be taken from us. We pray God that we and we ministers may be together in heaven, where we shall praise God for ever." (hear, hear).

Mr. Edward Barrett rose to move the fourth resolution, and said: "My good friends, we are meet together here, to show our gratitude to a certain gentleman and the people of England, who felt for us when we did not feel for ourselves. We have been made to stand up and see our wives flogged, and we could not help them; the people of England did not see us, but God see us, and God stir up their hearts to get us freedom, and now we are all free people! (cheers) What shall we say? Let us lift our hearts and bless God, let us bless Queen Victoria, (hear, hear), yes, Kings did sit on the throne, but kings did not make we free; no, that was left for a woman to do; when kings could not do it, Victoria did. (Tremendous cheering). She send a good Governor, who use his best efforts, (hear) who will not allow us to be imposed upon, (hear, hear); when we lay down in the cool shade, must we not raise up our hearts and hands to Almighty God, for the blessings he gives us ?

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

CARDIGAN AUXILIARY SOCIETY.

The Annual Meeting of the Cardigan Auxiliary, in aid of the Baptist Mission, was held on the 23rd and 24th of Sept. At 6 o'clock in the evening, Rev. Messrs. Eustace Carey, and J. Jones, of Blaenavon preached to an over-crowded congregation, from Rev. i. 5, 6, and John xviii. 37, 38. Both sermons were characteristic of the respected preachers. On Monday evening a public meeting was held, P. Brown, Esq., in the chair; and Messrs. E. Carey and J. Jones (deputation from the parent society); Philips, (Indep.); W. Thomas, Blaenywaun; W. Roberts, Penypark, &c., very eloquently and forcibly addressed the meeting on the importance of missionary efforts, and the

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Mr.

pleasing prospects which now present themselves in the East and the West. Carey's speech, in particular, rivetted the attention of all present, and excited the best feelings of his heart. He seemed to have imbibed a large quantum of "Welsh fire;" so that his successful efforts made all to jump for joy, and to regret that his visits were, like those of angels, short and far between. The collections, including the donation from the Sunday School, amounted to £52 11s. 3d.

Not many years ago, the collection from the church at Cardigan, (which was nearly as numerous then as it is now) was only £1. 1s., but since then, the church has inhaled a missionary spirit, and the sums collected augment every successive year. I beg to state that the church here would not make half the amount they have done this year, if they had adopted the plan of most other churches, to collect only at the time the deputation visit them. The friends here have devised a better plan; they collect in the Sunday School, each teacher has a missionary box, and receives weekly the voluntary offerings of his class; and when it is stated that from Oct. 9, 1837, to Sept. 23, 1838, the different classes collected the sum of £37. 7s. 4d., it will be seen that the Sunday School here has carried out the Cornish motto, "one and all." We invite the Welsh churches, aye, and the English churches too, to imitate us in the above plan, and to exert themselves more on behalf of the heathen; and by doing so ere long there will be,

"Meib i Garey 'mhob gorawr,
Canwgf mwy, cyn auaf mawr.”

deacons lately, "I hope your great exertions A respected friend said to one of our on behalf of the missions do not curtail &c.; the reply was, "No, sir, far from it, your benevolence towards the ministry," but on the contrary, our minister receives now nearly double that he did when the collection for the mission was only £1 1s. The academy receives from us three times as much as on prior years, and no other good cause receives a fraction less."

J. M. T.

DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.

On the 21st of September, our friends Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, embarked on board the Moira, at Gravesend, for Calcutta. Mr, and Mrs. Aveline, also, embarked on board the same vessel, for the Cape of Good Hope, whence they will proceed to Graham's Town, to occupy the post left vacant by the decease of Mr. and Mrs. Davies. May the divine protection be graciously experienced by these dear friends on their voyage, and an abundant blessing rest on their future labours!