nental currency, which had before || latter part of it, and only use it to

supply us with such facts, and occasionally with such reflections, as may throw light upon the character of its author.

depreciated to almost nothing, ceasLed. The little silver that remained in the coffers of the rich, was with much reluctance permitted to be drawn from its long sequestered It will be readily perceived from concealment. It hence often hap- what has been stated above, that the pened, that the travelling preacher labours of Dr. Baldwin in Canaan must either beg or go hungry, if he must have been excessively severe. happened to travel where he was not His reputation as a preacher was known. This, however, did not such, that his assistance was very very frequently fall to my lot. I frequently required at ordinations am, however, well aware, that man- and councils in all the surrounding kind in general are much more like- country; and besides, the destitute ly to remember a single circum-condition of many of the neighbourstance of affliction, though the suf-ing settlements presented innumerfering be ever so short, than many able claims upon his Christian symmercies of long continuance." pathies. To all these calls he unhesitatingly yielded himself up. In the narrative before alluded to, af

the tone of his piety, and also of the honourable disinterestedness for which he was always distinguished.

We have thus far followed the manuscript with scarcely any alteration or abridgment. On the inter-ter relating the events of one of esting topics to which it refers, the these journeys of an hundred miles conversion of its author, his change from home in the dead of winter, of sentiments on the subject of bap-in which he had suffered much from tism, and his call to the Christian cold and something from hunger, ministry, we felt it our duty to al-and had been engaged in almost low him to speak for himself. In daily preaching, he concludes with doing this, we doubt not that we the following reflections. We inhave performed a most grateful ser-sert them as a happy illustration of vice to our readers. There is always a charm about a narrative, in which a man declares what he himself has seen and felt, which a nar- "During this tedious journey, I ration written in the third person had suffered some little inconvencan never acquire. And besides iencies, but enjoyed much comfort this, there is in the Memoir above, in my own soul. O what an honour so many traits of genuine Christian to be engaged in so good a cause, simplicity, so well executed a de- and to serve so glorious a Master! lineation of the workings of the hu Like him, for the joy that is set beman heart in many of its most fore me, may I ever be willing to interesting attitudes, that it can endure the cross, and despise the scarcely be read without lively and shame, continually looking unto Jepeculiar interest. Instead, there-sus, the author and finisher of my fore, of apologizing for its length, faith." we are persuaded that the wish will be general that it were longer.

66 It has often afforded me much consolation to reflect on what Christ The remainder of the narrative said to his disciples, when one of is not, however, so well adapted for them said, Lo, we have left all and a memoir of this nature. It con- followed thee; and he said unto tains many incidents interesting to them, Verity I say unto you, there the author and to his particular is no man that hath left house, or friends, but which might not so gen-parents, or brethren, or wife, or erally interest a miscellaneous pub-children for the kingdom of God's lic. We shall therefore leave the sake, who shall not receive manifold

more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. I have never been able to discern any worldly motive which could have had any influence in making me a Baptist. I had literally to forsake (in point of sentiment) all my earthly friends, all my expectations of honour, and I may also say, of wealth. When I was settled in the ministry, it was without any stipulated salary whatever; and during the seven years which I spent with the church where I was first settled, the whole of my salary would not average forty dollars a year! Hence I may say with the Apostle, "These hands have ministered to my necessities and those that were with me." I would have gladly devoted myself wholly to the work, could I have seen any way in which my family could have been supported."

wards the close of the winter of 1790, the Baptist Church in Sturbridge, Mass. understanding that he was not confined by his ordination to the people in Canaan, applied to him to visit them as a candidate for settlement. After some hesitation, the church in Canaan granted him liberty to visit Sturbridge, and promised, that if after due deliberation he should consider it his duty to remove thither, they would furnish him with letters of dismission and recommendation.

About the same time, he also received a letter from the church in Hampton, Con. containing a similar request, And while on his journey to visit these places, early in the summer of the same year, he received an invitation to visit the Second Baptist Church in this city, which had just before been deprived by death of their excellent pastor, It could not be expected that a the Rev. Mr. GAIR. After visiting minister of Dr. Baldwin's native Sturbridge and Hampton, and retalent, and we may now add, celeb-ceiving from both churches an unanrity, should be destined to labour imous invitation to become their for life amid the sparse population pastor, Dr. Baldwin continued his of an almost frontier settlement. journey to Boston; and in compliThe event proved, that by this se-ance with the request of the church, vere discipline, Providence had preached his first sermon to them been preparing him for a field of July 4, 1790. more extensive usefulness. To

[To be concluded in our next.]

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS...

LETTER OF DR. BUCHANAN.

To the Editors of the American Bap. Mag.
I send you the following excellent Let-
ter of the pious Dr. BUCHANAN, which I
do not recollect to have seen before in

any periodical work. It breathes so hum

"My dear Sir,

"Calcutta, 29th Nov, 1801.~

"I received your letter last night. I envy much the zealous affection which animates your mind, and would gladly go up to ChandernaMr. Newton when in the country gore also, to obtain the same. Ola used to think that London was Sardis; but when he came up to town, he found there a great assem

ble a spirit of piety, and is at the same time so full of encouragement to many who are desponding on account of their falling so far short of the religious attainments they desire, I am sure it will be acceptable to a large portion of your read-bly walking in white; and so he

era.

joined them. I have thought more seriously in Calcutta than ever I did

at Barrackpore. But what I have been (at any period of my life) is so little like what I would wish to be, that I cannot contemplate it without remorse. I do not know that I ever had what Christians call zeal.' I recollect that I expected it would grow, when I entered the ministry; but I had scarcely entered the ministry, and preached a few times, when I was sent to this

and is constantly forming lively images; and, though the mouth be rude in speech, the full heart bẹcomes vocal, and utters the word in season.'

"Whether either of us will be able thus to make the Gospel the one thing,' time will shew. He that warreth,' ought not to entangle himself with the affairs of this life.' But do we war? Time country. enough for the soldier to disencum"I never knew, as you do, what ber himself when he begins to fight. it was to preach profitably and zeal-It is easy to throw off a college; ously for a season. That is a work but it is very difficult to take up I have to begin; and how to begin the church. But when the church it I know not. I need an unction spirit appears, it will soon conquer from on high, which I anxiously the college. look for; and yet in looking for this, I look for that which I never knew, as most have known it.

"One thing urges me sometimes to press forward with hope; and that is, that all I hear and all I say appears to me to be so very unlike what it ought to be, that I imagine something better might be attempted. And yet were the Spirit indeed to descend, we cannot expect that God, who worketh by natural means, should suddenly add the eloquent mouth, and new powers of memory and understanding. The holy skill of preaching appears to be the fruit of long experience and converse among God's people. And in Calcutta, as in every other place, the able minister of the New Testament can only be made, by nightly and wakeful meditation, patient study, and prayer producing self-denial.

It appears to me that it was never intended that the Gospel should flourish in the heart and mouth of any minister, who did not make it the one thing,' the sole point of heartfelt recurrence. But when it is made so, I can easily conceive how the tender plant grows a great tree with spreading branches and refreshing fruit. Then, no doubt, even a mind naturally barren bears exuberant ideas,

"The grand question is, ought not means to be used to mature that spirit which we desire ? We read that a good soldier of Jesus Christ entangleth himself not with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier; or, as Guyse explains it, he must not follow any civil calling, unprofitable reading, or unnecessary relaxation, to entangle his thoughts, and swallow up his time;' (superintending a college is a civil calling; Latin and Greek is unprofitable reading, and lying in bed after five in the morning is unnecessary relaxation ;) but his whole time, words, thoughts, and actions must be employed, like a soldier's on his calling, that he may please || Him who hath chosen and authorized him to fight.'

"How far, in what manner and in what particulars, St. Paul would obey the spirit of this passage, were he in your situation or mine, I really cannot tell. Were he here, he would be warring. After we have warred for some time, we also shall know. O that I knew the will of God in this matter,' saith Augustine: but I am not worthy to know his will. This ignorance is the fruit of my backsliding.'

"One thing seems probable, that no sudden success will appear from

"However, the chief considera- The cause of Missions is at the present tion at present is the state of the day attracting a very general attention. heart. How is the soul with God? It has been attacked and defended on evI endeavour by prayer to restore itery side, and as yet it has come off from daily, relying (though feebly) on every contest completely triumphant. the aid of the Mediator, wondering | Opposition to it has not, however, entiresometimes that I am not worse, op-ly ceased. It is yet demanded by some, pressed in spirit at a review of the what good has been done by missionary past, and hoping for better days. effort; and this demand is made in full

view of all the glorious successes of the gospel in South Africa, in Greenland, and in the Islands of the Pacific. The testimony of the following letter, though referring to this subject, is of a different character from most of those which we have seen. It bears directly on the moral character of the Missionaries, and the influence which that moral character has exerted over the surrounding heathen.

||

At last, the Rajah said to one of out principal gentlemen:-We all, you and I, have lost our credit; let us try whether the inhabitants will trust Mr. Schwartz. Accordingly he sent me a blank paper, empowering me to make a proper agreement with the people. Here was no time for hesitation. The Seapoys fell down as dead people, being emaciated with hunger. Our streets were lined with dead corpses every morning. Our condition was deplorable. I sent, therefore, letters every where round about, promising to pay any The circumstances under which it was one with my own hands, and to pay them written are as follows:-A Mr. M. Camp- for any bullock which might be taken by bell had asserted, and his assertions had the enemy. In one or two days, I got above a thousand bullocks, and sent one been printed in a newspaper of May 24, of our Catechists, and other Christians into 1793, that no good had been done by the the country. They went at the risk of Missionaries in Tanjore, and moreover, their lives, made all possible haste, and that the venerable Schwartz himself had brought into the fort, in a very short time, eighty thousand kalams. By this means been utterly unsuccessful in producing the fort was saved. When all was over, any beneficial moral result on the natives. I paid the people, (even with some moTo this attack, the letter of which the ney which belonged to others) made them a small present, and sent them home. following is an extract is a reply. After The next year, when Col. Braithwaite stating at length Mr. Campbell's assertions, with his whole detachment was taken and showing their utter want of founda- prisoner, Major Alcock commanded this tion, Schwartz first notices some of the fort, and behaved very kindly to the poor starving people. We were then, the secresults of his fellow labourer Gericke's ond time, in the same miserable condiexertions. He then proceeds to state what tion. The enemy always invaded the had happened to himself. It may be prop- hand. I was again desired to try my country, when the harvest was nigh at er to add, that the letter is addressed to former expedient, and succeeded. The the Secretary of the Society for promoting || people knew that they were not to be Christian Knowledge. Tanjore, where deprived of their pay: they therefore came with their cattle. But now the danthe letter was written, is in the Southger was greater, as the enemy was very east part of the Peninsula of India nearly || near. The Christians conducted the inopposite to Ceylon. Its date is Tanjore, habitants to proper places, surely with no Feb. 13, 1794. small danger of losing their lives. Accordingly they wept, and went, and supplied the fort with grain. When the inhabitants were paid, I strictly inquired whether any of the Christians had taken no; as we were so regularly paid, we of from them a present. They all said no, fered to your Catechist a cloth of small value, but he absolutely refused it.

It is a most disagreeable task to speak of one's self. However, I hope that the Honorable Society will not look upon some observations, which I am to make, as a vain and sinful boasting, but rather as a necessary self-defence. Neither the missionaries, nor many of the Christians, have hurt the welfare of the country.

In the time of war, the fort of Tanjore was in a distressed condition. A powerful enemy was near; the people in the fort numerous; and not provision even for the garrison. There was grain enough in the country, but we had no bullocks to bring it into the fort. When the country people formerly brought paddy into the fort, the rapacious Dubashes deprived them of their due pay. Hence, all confidence was lost, so that the inhabitants drove away their cattle, refusing to assist the fort. The late Rajah ordered, nay entreated the people, by his managers, to come and help us; but all was in vain.

Christians are profligate to a proverb.
But Mr. M. Campbell says, that the

would explain to him, who are the profli-
If Mr. M. Campbell was near me, I
gate people who drain the country. When
a Dubash, in the space of ten or fifteen
lacks of pagodas, is not this extortion a
years, scrapes together two, three, or four
high degree of profligacy?

Nay, government was obliged to send an order, that three of those Gentoo Dubashees should quit the Tanjore country. The enormous crimes committed by them, filled the country with complaints; but I have no mind to enumerate them.

It is asserted, that the inhabitants of the country would suffer by missionaries. If the missionaries are sincere Chris