"Yes,

anything about Him who loved us and gave himself for us?" yes; I have reason indeed to value, love, and bless Him, for his kindness to such a hell-deserving sinner. He plucked me as a brand from the burning, and, I humbly hope, has made me a new creature." This led to some conversation on the love of God in the gift of his Son, on the offices and relations of Jesus Christ; His suitableness to poor sinners; how able and willing He is to save the chief of sinners; and how many great sinners have been saved from the wrath to come. While conversing on Jesus saving great sinners, the poor carter's eyes glistened with delight; and he could not help exclaiming, "Ay, great, great sinners are saved, or I never should have been saved." Upon this the other begged him to give some account of the Lord's dealing with him, when he gave the following short but impressive detail: "I was brought up, as many also are, in a careless manner, as it regarded my soul; all I was taught was to get my bread in an honest way, but never was told how I was to escape hell and get to heaven. After spending my younger years without God and without Christ in the world, wanting a regular trade, I went on board a man of war, and there I met, in the ship -, men who suited my depraved nature. Religion was never thought of, and I followed the example of the men around me; I swore, and drank, and ran the broad road that leads to destruction with haste. I was regardless of danger, and sin had made me indifferent to the whispers of conscience, which sometimes told me I was wrong. I was in the battle at the Basque Roads, and at the battle of Trafalgar, though the ship I was in was not engaged in the conflict. I have been in various parts of the world, and have seen much, and often had narrow escapes from shipwrecks, accidents, &c. But nothing but Divine grace will awaken a careless sinner. At the close of the war I was, like many others, paid off, and Providence directed me to yonder village, where I married, and have brought up a family. While living there, the Lord, by means of the preached gospel, brought me to consider my ways; I had no pretensions to religion before I went to hear the word. I did not say I was increased with goods and had need of nothing, for I knew how I had spent my past life, and was well aware I was not on the road to heaven. Conviction followed conviction, I found I was a lost and ruined creature, and could make no recompense for my past bad conduct; the light of God the Holy Spirit discovered the evil of sin, and my awful and sad condition. I was not long under these convictions before I was brought to see that nothing but the blood of Jesus could atone for my sins, that none but Jesus could save me. To him I went, and as a poor perishing sinner cast myself at his feet; and O, let me not forget to tell you, in Him, in a dependance upon his merits, I found joy and peace, such pe ce as I was a stranger to when living in the practice of sin. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for delivering such a sinner as me." This short account cheered and animated the young man, as it had in a great measure described his own experience. He found how true the words of God are: "As face answers to face in a glass, so does the heart of man to man:" and he also found that all believers agree in describing their hearts by nature what the word of God describes them to be, and that all true peace is found in Jesus alone. In the course of their conversation, the inquired if he met with any trials, as few believers live long without

young man

them, of some sort or other. "O yes," replied the converted sailor; "I have had my trials, though I must say my heart, and the corruptions of my heart, are the greatest burden to me; but the Lord seldom gives us strong faith without putting it to some trial. I had a lovely boy, O how my heart bleeds when I think of him; he worked at the coal-pit, and as he and a man were descending into the pit the rope broke, my dear boy was killed by the fall, and the other was providentially saved; but while I mourned over his loss, I was not without comfort; I do think he is gone to a better world, for he gave evidences of a change of heart. Our Lord Christ Jesus, I can assure you, never leaves his people in trouble without affording them seasonable aid; you know it is said, 'As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him :' while I feel sorrow for his loss, I know it was for my good, for all things work for good to them that love Him." As he seemed to speak with so much comfort, and appeared to be a christian who enjoyed great consolation, the young man inquired if he was always happy, always comfortable in his mind. Upon this question being asked, a pause ensued, the old sailor shook his head, and replied, Alas, alas! I wish I could say I was always happy; at times I feel depressed, and doubt if I am a true christian; and, should I commit sin, this is always followed by doubts and fears, for I assure you I do not sin now as I used to do; I used to sin and think nothing of it; I was as cheerful after sinning as before it ; but now, when I know I have done wrong, I feel such depressed spirits, such deadness and dulness, I know not what to do. And I never regain peace of mind until I am led, as a poor sinner, to cast myself at Jesus' feet, and pleading that promise, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' Oh! that has been a precious word to my soul." By this time the conversation was interrupted by the carts turning up a lane; and, as they could proceed no farther together, they affectionately bade each other farewell, glad they had so very unexpectedly met, and hoping if they did not meet on earth to meet in heaven.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BROKEN BY GIN

DRINKING.

THE first commandment requires that we shall have none other god than the Lord. Now gin-drinkers seldom trouble their heads about God at all! if they did, they would fear and tremble at the consequences of drinking gin; for gin-drinking often leads a man to deny God, until in the agonies of death he feels that God has forsaken him.

The second commandment forbids our worshipping any thing but God; but a gin-drinker is about as ready to worship one thing as another; and would rather bow down to a cask of spirits than forego his accustomed glass, and worship that holy Being, who has commanded us to live "soberly, and righteously, and godly."

The third commandment forbids us to take the name of God in vain ; but if any thing excites a man to break this commandment, gin-drinking does it. No people in the world take the name of God in vain so often as those who are given to drink. You know this to be the case!

We are told by the fourth commandment to "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." If cursing and swearing, taking God's name in vain, neglecting divine worship, idling and indulging in all iniquity on

the sabbath day be keeping it holy, gin-drinkers keep it holy enough! but if by doing these things they break the commandment, then no person on earth can be more guilty of doing so than the gin-drinker.

"Honour thy father and mother," says the fifth commandment, " that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." What think you! Is gin-drinking likely to assist you in keeping it? Where are there people to be found who honour their parents less; and who disobey, and dishonour them more than gin-drinkers? As to the days of a gin-drinker being long in the land, that is quite out of the question, for where one lives to the age of threescore and ten, fourscore and ten die before they are forty. "The wages of sin is death." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace;" but who would look for peace in the latter end of the gin-drinker?

The sixth commandment is, "Thou shalt do no murder." Now, murder is generally the result of passion, or hatred, or malice, or revenge, or covetousness, and sometimes of want. Every one of these evils is abundantly brought about by gin-drinking. How often do we hear of murder committed after gin-drinking!

"Thou shalt not commit adultery," is the seventh commandment; and nothing excites impure and unholy desires in the mind so much as intemperance and gin-drinking. Drinking gin is opening the doors of your heart, and giving a general invitation to every kind of impurity and uncleanness to enter in, and reign, and revel there. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;" but there is no purity to be found in the heart of a gin-drinker.

The injunction of the eighth commandment is, "Thou shalt not steal;" but extreme want will make a man do any thing. It will make him steal the first thing he can lay his hands on, and who is more certain to know extreme want than the gin-drinker? If he does not break open a house, or rob on the highway, or pilfer from a shop, still the gin-drinker is a thief, he robs his wife and family of comforts they ought to possess, or society of his services, or himself of health and peace of mind.

As to bearing false witness against our neighbours, a crime forbidden by the ninth commandment, the gin-drinker is pretty sure to commit that. Being bad himself, he thinks that others are bad too; and he who has evil thoughts, has generally evil words in abundance. The gindrinker will not stick very carefully to truth, but will backbite and scandalize all who do not drink gin, ay! and those who do drink it too. evil tongue is the willing and active servant to an evil heart.

An

And now I am come to the tenth commandment, which requires us to be free from covetousness; but instead of the gin-drinker refraining from coveting any thing belonging to his neighbour, he covets them all. His wants, and his inflamed passions will prompt him to covet every thing.

I do not say that all gin-drinkers are gone so far as actually to do the things which I have mentioned; but I do say, that if you continue to drink gin, the probability is, that you will do them.

Perhaps you may know enough of the holy scriptures, to remember that our Saviour gave us a new commandment. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." Is he who accustoms himself to drink gin, more likely to keep this than others? How much brotherly love and affection will be found in a gin-shop? Plenty of clamour, and strife, and hatred abound there,

Extracts of Correspondence.

FOREIGN.

INDIA.-NILGHERRY HILLS.

Eagerness of the Natives for Tracts and the Scriptures. DURING Mr. Schmid's residence on the hills, he employed himself, so far as his debilitated state would admit, in different branches of missionary labours, particularly the distribution of tracts of these labours he relates the following particulars.

"Dec. 29, 1831. Arrived at Chaughaut; where I found one or two persons who understood Tamul: I gave them some Malayalim tracts; and soon afterwards many Brahmins, and others who could read, applied for tracts; so that the little stock which I had taken with me from Cottayam and Cochin was sooner spent than I expected. Surely in every corner of India the heathens are ready to read christian books! Shall it be said that the heathens are more ready to read christian books, than Christians are to give such books, and the necessary money for printing and circulating them?

Aug. 22, 1831. There is much opportunity here of doing good to the souls of men; since many native merchants, coolies (porters), and domestic servants of gentlemen, of the Tamul, Telinga, Canarese, Mahratta, and Malayala nations, are continually coming up the hills, and going down again; and many of them express a desire to take tracts down to their relations. The 2200 Tamul and Telinga tracts, which I received from the Madras Tract Society, in the beginning of this year, have already been nearly all put in circulation, through different channels; and I expect daily a new supply from thence, as well as one from Palamcottah. I give only to such as ask, and can read tolerably ; and also to such as, with indications of sincerity and earnestness, ask for tracts, in order to take them to their relations and friends in other parts of the country.

"Various striking instances of the interest which these books excite, and of their usefulness, I have communicated to the Bible and Tract Societies at Madras, when applying for bibles and tracts; and it is unnecessary here to repeat these, or similar ones; since the Society is acquainted, from my former journals, both with the manner of my proceedings, and with the manner in which Hindoos receive our message." Mr. Schmid mentions some instances of the beneficial effects of christian books.

"The first fact is, that three persons, a Roman catholic gardener in Dimhutty, and two servants of different gentlemen, have commenced, of their own accord, learning to read; and one of them gives his fellow-servant presents, from time to time, for teachiug him. I myself do not know them personally; but I know, from authorities which are quite unsuspected, that they learn to read, in order to be able to search for themselves the contents of the books which I am distributing.

"The second fact is, that even the bigoted Mahomedans are excited by our tracts to ask after the New Testament. When going through the bazaar, I saw a Mahomedan shopkeeper reading a book written on palmyra leaves. I approached, and asked what he was reading. This led to a conversation: and after I saw that I had gained his confidence

and good-will, I took out of my pocket the 'Letter addressed to Mahomedans,' printed in Nagercoil, and reprinted by the Madras Tract Society, which I desired Anthony to read to them; whilst I added such remarks and explanations as I thought necessary to preserve their good-will. In the meanwhile, five other Mahomedan shopkeepers came and sat down within the shop, whilst from fifteen to twenty heathens and Mahomedans assembled in the street round us. When the reader came to words like these, All men have a corrupt nature; Mahomed has done nothing to remove it; but hear what Christ has done,' &c. all these five Mahomedans cried out together most violently; one saying one thing, and another another; so that I saw there was no possibility of any more being understood. After having obtained a little silence, I exclaimed, Allah has given you an understanding search then your koran, and our scriptures, and you will see what is truth.' I then left them, for I knew they would not have left me time to say one word more. Anthony stayed a little longer; and they told him, "If you come any more, and tell us such things, we will kill you." About ten days afterward, when I went through the bazaar, I was asked by a Mahomedan shopkeeper, in another shop, for a book which contains the history of Jesus; and I recognised in him one of those Mahomedans who had, a week or ten days before, spoken most violently against Christ! In proof that inquiry is excited amongst the Mahomedans, I must not forget to mention, that when I asked him what particular book he wished to have, he asked an old Mahomedan, in the opposite shop, what the title of the book was in which they had been reading together lately.

:

"

"A further instance of the usefulness of tracts is, that in a place at the foot of the hills, called Avanary, a great excitement exists. The native merchants, who come up to the weekly fair, frequently ask-for new tracts; and state, that many of the Brahmins and other inhabitants are reading them with great interest, and often give express commissions to them, the merchants, to procure more, and larger tracts. purpose to visit that place as soon as I can."

I

IT may not be unseasonable to introduce a fact, which fell under our own immediate notice, in reference to the beneficial tendency of tracts: not that you want similar testimonials, seeing they already abound; nor encouragement, from other motives, to go forward in the work; but the pleasure of beholding a plenteous harvest surely belongs to the

sower.

The back part of my house overlooks extensive premises belonging to a great contract paviour, in which many men used to meet and congregate on a sabbath morning, not only following sundry weekly occupations, such as attending to the forge, shoeing of horses, mending carts, &c. but even quarrelling, and fighting, and using all manner of blasphemy, &c.

About three or four months ago, my wife being much distressed at this continued and dreadful contempt and violation of so holy a day,