On reaching FORD, I was interested to learn that Aston Sandford, where Scott the Commentator ministered the word of God the last eighteen years of his life, was only a mile and a half distant. It is a small hamlet of about 80 inhabitants. Scott's Life is a valuable piece of Biography, and his Commentary, so far as I have read it, generally judicious, sound, and practical. The services at Ford were of a very gratifying character. A sermon was preached in the afternoon on the future glory of those who are given to Christ. The congregation was the best afternoon one I have seen in my journeyings, nor was it divided, as it has been said afternoon congregations often are, into two classesthose who are asleep, and those who are falling asleep. All were awake and attentive. In the evening the attendance was overflowing. Mr. Tyler of Haddenham, an aged minister of Christ, occupied the chair, and enlivened the meeting by his remarks. Other friends who took part were Messrs. Pegg, Payne, Hood, and myself. It was really animating to see such interest displayed in the missionary anniversary. The collections and subscriptions, amounting to £15 11s 6d, were remarkably good. I was interested to hear that every year since Mr. Hood settled there, which I believe was fourteen years ago, there had been a regular increase in the mission collection. Such friends deserve kind and encouraging words, and from me shall hear no other. Their steady and warm attachment pleasingly contrasts with the instability that in some cases has to be deplored. One esteemed friend contributes £5 annually; and to others I have no doubt the commendation of the apostle may be fitly applied :"For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves." The former meeting-house at Ford was erected in 1716. Two years ago it was enlarged and improved considerably. The Lord make the place of his feet glorious. The meeting at WENDOVER on Thursday evening was not so cheering, though it is trusted, not wholly devoid of interest. Mr. Amos Smith presided. Prayer was offered by Mr. Hood; Mr. Barteram, senr., and junr., briefly spoke; and my esteemed friend, Mr. Pegg, who had rendered valuable help at the former meetings, contributed to the interest of this. The cash account was not read. Wendover seems a quiet little town. It formerly sent mem. bers to Parliament, and was several times represented by Hampden. It was disfranchised by the Reform Bill. On Friday evening a brief address was delivered at a well attended and spiritually conducted prayer meeting at Chesham, founded on Psalm 1xxiii. 23-28. I have lingered the longer on my labours this week, because these churches are not so well known in the midland counties as many others. Our denominational hymn book is not used amongst them. The church at Berkhampstead, Chesham, &c., was a flourishing community prior to the Revolution. At the same time there was a considerable church at Aylesbury, in the county of Bucks, some of whose members drank deeply of the cup of persecution. Twelve of them were apprehended when assembled for the worship of God, and confined in prison three months; they were then called upon either to conform to the church of England, and take the oath, or to abjure the realm; they declared they could do neither, and threw themselves on the mercy of the court. They were at once pronounced guilty of felony, and sentence of death was passed upon these unoffending servants of Christ. It was feared that the terrible sentence would be executed, but as soon as it was passed, the son of one of the prisoners rode up to London, and informed Mr. W. Kiffin, a Particular Baptist minister of independent fortune, and possessing much influence at court, of all the circumstances. They were introduced to the king, Charles II., and related the whole affair. He seemed much surprised that any of his subjects should be condemned to death on account of religion, and inquired whether there was any law in force that could authorize such a procedure, although he had only a few months before given his consent to the very act under which they were convicted. A reprieve was obtained, but they remained in prison till the next assizes, when the judge brought down his majesty's pardon.* Let us be thankful that our lot is cast in more peaceful times, and wisely improve the increased opportunities we enjoy for making known the gospel. The secret of Kiffin's influence at court was his property. A. Taylor, in his History, mentions a story from Crosby, which shows that the Baptist minister had not the highest possible opinion of the honesty of that "most religious and gracious king." Charles once condescended to ask Kiffin for the loan of £40,000. Mr. K. apologized to the messenger for not being able to advance so large a sum, but desired him to inform his majesty, that if £10,000 would be of any service, he would * A. Taylor's History, Vol. 1, p.p. 226-229. make him a present of it. This offer was graciously accepted; and the old man had such an opinion of the monarch's punctuality in paying his debts, that he used jocosely to observe to his friends, that he had saved £30.000 by his liberality. About the time of which I am writing, there was also a small G. B. church at Aylesbury another town in this county. On Saturday I rode from Chesham to LOUTH, via Tring, Blisworth, Peterborough, Boston, &c. The journey seemed long and tedious, but as in other cases, so in this, christian kindness at the end sweetened its toils; and at the appointed season I found what the patriarch desired, but found not. 66 My bed," he said, "shall comfort me;" but with him it was not so. Let us be thankful when we lay ourselves down in peace and sleep; and oft as we do so, let us think of being laid in that bed from which the sleepers" shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep, till the heavens be no more." Common mercies, constantly given, should excite continuous gratitude; and common things, as eating, drinking, and sleeping, should be suggestive of spiritual lessons, so that all should be done to the Lord. On Sabbath-day, May 21st, I preached morning and evening at Walker-gate, Louth, and at MALTBY in the afternoon. A missionary prayer-meeting was also conducted by Mr. Kiddall, the pastor of the church, at the former place, in the afternoon, and I was glad to learn that a good degree of holy fervour was manifested. On Monday afternoon, a tea meeting of the friends of the cause was held, after which a lecture on India with details of missionary success in Orissa was announced. This arrangement was made in order that the whole of the time might be occupied by the missionary. Mr. Barker, Independent minister, engaged in prayer. The attendance evinced the interest of the friends in the mission, and the collections exceeded £18-a gratifying improvement on former years. At Maltby, I remembered with interest my visit ten years ago, and thought of some of the changes that had taken place. Lord's-day, May 28th, preached morning and evening at BOURNE, and in the afternoon addressed the young friends. On Monday evening, a gratifying and useful meeting was held, speakers, Mr. J. B. Pike, pastor, Mr. Jones, a friend then residing at Bourne, and the writer. The amount collected I cannot state, but believe it was in advance of some former years. The friends here have been steady and liberal in their support of the cause; they have laboured and have not fainted; and I have no doubt have done it for His dear sake, who will remember and recompense. Bourne, too, it must be added, has some deeply interesting missionary associations. Bampton, our first missionary, was born in this neighbourhood. His sister was present at the meeting. His mother was baptized when far advanced in life, and was, I believe, either brought to a knowledge of the truth, or greatly benefitted, by a sermon from a missionary who went to India 17 years after her son (Mr. Wilkinson). Bampton was a man greatly devoted to his work. He lived for one object-the salvation of the heathen. Placed at the head-quarters of Satan's kingdom, he had perhaps more to bear than any missionary has ever had. What "trials of cruel mockings!" How "his righteous soul" must have been vexed by "the grinning brahmins of Pooree," as he aptly called them-hard to bear even now, with an English brother and a number of native preachers at your side, but he bore it all and laboured on, and laboured faithfully to the end. Peggs, his fellow labourer, was once pastor here, and the former part of the time was probably the most useful period of his life. He did a work for India, though not in India. The physical wretchedness of which he saw so much greatly afflicted his heart. The younger brother of the late Mr. Ward of Serampore, now far advanced in life, resides here. I went to see him, and he asked sundry questions about his brother's family. We had a little conversation about " weightier matters," and when at parting it was said, May your brother's God be your God for ever, he responded, Amen. He remembers his brother leaving for India nearly fifty years ago, but did not see him when he returned to England. An important sentence from Bampton's bazaar book, which is in my possession, embodying a sentiment worthy of being the guiding-star of life, shall close this paperalready too long; but we have travelled over some interesting ground, and it is difficult, when passing green and lovely spots, not to linger a little, and pluck a few flowers. -"Let me aim at devoting every hour of life to God, considering how each hour may be most effectually devoted to his glory; and let me aim at the spiritual advantage either of myself or others in all I say and do." J. BUCKLEY. CALCUTTA. HINDOO OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY. therefore, is it to forsake our present religion to embrace a new one? 6. Of what use is it to exhort us to embrace christianity, seeing that what is written in our foreheads must of necessity come to pass, whatever we may do? OUR honoured brother, the Rev. A. F. | Lacroix, from his long experience in the Missionary work, and his intimate acquaintance with the character and mental habits of the Hindoos, has become conver sant in no ordinary degree with the objections on which they mainly rely in opposing christianity. A specimen of these objec-guilt on our part; since it is God himself, tions, derived from so authentic a source, will, we are persuaded, be interesting to many of our readers. In an explanatory note, dated Calcutta, Sept. 1st, 1853, Mr. Lacroix thus intro. duces the subject : Having been lately requested by the Rev. Mr. Cuthbert, Secretary to the Calcutta Auxiliary Church Missionary Society, to furnish him with a list of the Objections to Christianity usually made by the Hindoos, it struck me that the friends of our own Society might feel equally interested in the subject. I therefore subjoin, as a specimen, a list of twenty-three of these objections. With the exception of two or three, these objections, with suitable answers to them, form the substance of a very good Bengali tract, by our late lamented brother Mundy. It should be noticed that the objections on the list, with many others of a similar nature, are made to the preachers of the Gospel by the Hindoos of the old idolatrous school. To these the educated Hindoos add many more, borrowed from the writings of European infidels; but which, for this reason, cannot properly be characterized as Hindov objections. Popular Hindoo Objections to Christianity. 1. We must not depart from the religion and customs of our forefathers. 2. We cannot leave our own Gooroos, whom we are to account as gods, and who are our proper guides in the way of salvation. 3. What a number of persons say we ought always to conform to. As long, therefore, as the majority of our countrymen adhere to Hindooism, we also must continue doing the same. 4. Let our Pundits, Baboos, and chief men embrace christianity, and then we, who are their inferiors, may perhaps follow their example. 5. Every one will be saved by minding his own religion. As there are many roads, all leading to the same city, so there are many religions in the world; but they all lead to heaven at last. Of what use, 7. When we commit sin, it involves no the Author of all things, who causes us to commit sin. 8. Our souls are portions of the Deity, which after a while will be re-absorbed into it. What is the use, therefore, of troubling ourselves about eternity? 9. The age in which we live is the Koli Joog (iron age), in which, according to our Shastres, wickedness necessarily abounds; it is therefore useless for us to stem the current, and to turn our minds to repentance and holiness. 10. The various gods we worship are all portions of Brumho (deity, i.e., the pantheistic soul of the world'); and therefore by worshipping them, we in fact are worshipping Brumho himself. 11. You blame our worshipping idols; but we say it is a good practice; for though it is true that Brumho has no shape, yet in worshipping him we derive great advantage from idols and images which have a shape; in the same manner as the sound of the first letter of the Ben gali alphabet has no shape; nevertheless it greatly assists us in conceiving what that sound is, if we trace with ink a figure or shape on paper which represents the sound of that letter. 12. Many christians (meaning Roman Catholics) worship images. Why, then, do missionaries find fault with us for doing the same? 13. We doubt christianity to be the true religion; because, whilst it professes to make men good, we nevertheless see many christians leading very bad lives. 14. Christians, by the permission of their own Shastres, eat all kinds of forbidben food without sin. How, therefore, can a religion founded upon such a Shastre be true? 15. Christians destroy animal life, and even the life of cows, for food-which is very cruel. How then can we embrace a religion which sanctions such practices ? 16. Jesus Christ is not mentioned in the Vedas, nor in any of the histories of the four Joogs (ages of the world). 17. If christianity be the only true religion, why was it not made known to us before? 18. If christianity be the only true religion, then all our forefathers must have perished. 19. If we embrace christianity, we shall lose our caste and subject ourselves to many painful trials. Why, then, should we become christians? 20. If we embrace christianity, we must give up worldly business; for we know by experience that, unless we tell lies, we cannot prosper in business. 21. The Hindoo Shastres foretell that, ultimately, all will become of one caste. The success of christianity in our days is a fulfilment of that prophecy; and such prophecy, being fulfilled so accurately, proves those Shastres to be true. 22. By the tables and directions contained in the Hindoo Shastres, our Pundits can foretell long beforehand when eclipses will take place. Those Shastres therefore must be true. 23. Perform a miracle, and then we shall believe that christianity is true; but not before."-From the Missionary Mag. BAPTIST MISSION. DEPUTATION TO INDIA. Not the least result is the proposal to send twenty new missionaries into that wide field. Their visit has rendered the one now decided upon necessary. Had they not gone it is not likely that the Committee would have been led, at least for a long time to come, to take the steps they have taken. In fact, this visit is a corollary to that. Theirs was one of inquiry into the state and prospects of the mission. This is intended to carry out what they, in fact, suggested, and what appears to the Committee necessary to give full effect to the future management of the Indian mission, guided, as they have been, by the information which the visit of the deputation supplied. Mr. Underhill will have an arduous duty to perform. But we doubt not that he will receive aid and wisdom from on high. We entreat the prayers of the churches on his behalf, that he may have a prosperous journey, be kept in health during his absence, and when he has fulfilled his mission, be brought back in safety and peace. THE Committee have had before them for | amount of most valuable information. consideration for some time past, the changes consequent on the determination to consolidate and extend the mission in India, and the best mode of carrying them out. The settlement of the brethren who are gone, and those who may hereafter be sent forth, the proposed establishment of a training school for boys at Serampore, and one for girls at Calcutta, the arrangements necessary to be made at Serampore in reference to education of the students for the work of the ministry, and other matters of great importance, connected with the press, and the general conduct of the mission, are some of the more prominent. It has long been felt that correspondence would fail to effect these changes. The presence in India of some one duly qualified to effect them, and who was moreover thoroughly acquainted with the wishes of the Committee, and enjoying their confidence, was felt to be indispensable. The sub-committee, to whom the subject in its entirety was committed, recommended that one of the Secretaries should be requested to go; and after due deliberation, the Committee resolved, at their last quarterly meeting, to request Mr. Underhill to undertake the mission, who has since informed them that he was willing to comply with their request. The Committee have received this communication with great satisfaction. Mr. Underhill is expected to leave on the 20th September. He will probably be absent not less than two years. This step has not been hastily determined on. If it should be said, "Can it be necessary, considering the recent visit of the brethren, Russell and Leechman ?" it must be remembered that theirs was a mission for the most part of inspection and inquiry. They brought home a large It will be the earnest endeavour of the Committee to conduct the affairs of the mission during the absence of one of the Secretaries with the present staff if possible. Some aid will of necessity be required, but they will wait until the exigency arise, and do the best to meet it. Meanwhile, we must urge our friends to continued effort. Six new missionaries will entail an increased outlay for outfit, passage-money, and support, of at least £2000 for India alone this year. The Committee have gone no further than the answer to their appeal, as shown in the income of the past year fully justified. The appeal was made and accepted before they took a single step in the increase of pecuniary obligations. They think, there fore, that having relied on the intention to the executive shall proceed to the full continue the help promised, they can accomplishment of the scheme for extendfairly look for the funds necessary to meet | ing and consolidating the mission in India. the liabilities now incurred. It rests with Baptist Missionary Herald. the churches now to determine whether REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF A TINNEVELLY SHANAH. OUR Mission field at Tinnevelly is interesting and extensive. It is divided into thirteen districts, in which are to be found 28,444 professing Christians, under the charge of eight European Missionaries and seven native Pastors, besides native catechists, readers, &c. There are amongst them, we rejoice to say, very many truly God fearing people, who love their Saviour, and endeavour daily to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called;" and efforts are not wanting, on the part of all engaged in this work, to deepen and strengthen the hold which Christianity has on the minds of those who profess it, and to extend its influence among the surrounding heathen. It is deeply interesting to read the accounts of the different districts sent home by the Missionaries, and much there is to gladden the hearts of those at home who desire the salvation of poor sinners and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. In the "Church Missionary Record" of this month our readers will find a review of the whole Mission. In one of the reports-that of the Rev. P. P. Schaffter, of the Nullur district, for the half year ending June 30, 1853—we find the following instance of conversion, one of the most remarkable he had ever witnessed. He expresses a wish that many hardened sinners might read it and reflect, and that many burdened and heavyladen souls might get peace and joy in Jesus the crucified Saviour. We are anxious to make it known, in the hope that such a prayer may have its answer, and that this fact, like a seed borne on the wings of the wind, may fall on some heart, and, sown there by the Spirit of God, may bring forth fruit unto eternal life. was Vitheyalingum, of Alankullam, deeply versed in astrology, magic, necromancy, and all those secret arts calculated to render him the oracle of an ignorant and superstitious multitude. He had studied the rarest books on those subjects, which enabled him, in the estimation of others, and perhaps, also, in his own, to divine the fate of new-born children, the success or failure of an enterprise, the eligibility or ineligibility of a piece of ground to build a house or sink a well on. There was scarcely a mystery which he did not profess to fathom; so that he was incessantly consulted, his advice implicitly followed, and he grew rich by the reward and, as he was generally kind and fair in his dealings, he was looked upon by the Shanars, to which caste he belonged, not only as a clever, but also as a most respectable man. He was one of the corner-stones of heathenism in Alankullam and in the neighbourhood, and did probably much harm to Christianity, not by opposing it openly, but secretly, and by artfully casting contempt on it. In the beginning of March last I was informed that Vitheyalingum was very ill, in great agonies of mind, and wished much to see me. I found the poor man in a condition deplorable beyond description. He was much reduced by illness. Fear and anguish were depicted in his countenance, and he was bewailing his state in an agony of mind. "Oh!" said he, as soon as he saw me, "I am miserable beyond description: it will soon be all over with me. I am undone ! Vain knowledge! wicked world! how you have deceived me! I know now that Christianity is true, and all the rest is a lie. Sir, you are a teacher: can you not advise me? What have I to do? I am undone, I am undone!" He went on in this vehement strain for some time, fixing an eye of despair on me, I was much shocked, and was apprehensive he was going out of his mind. He grew more composed; and then he gave me, in a weak and less agitated voice, a long account of himself, by which it appeared that he was deeply conscious of his sinfulness; that all the prayers on which he had stayed himself had failed him, one after the other; and that the problem, What shall I do to be saved? now proposed itself to his mind with an overwhelming power. As he went on exposing his great misery, I felt myself as poor and as needy as he did, with this only difference, that I knew there was a Saviour for him and for me. I read to him the parables of the lost son and the lost sheep-blessed parables! and a few other portions of Scripture, which record the tender love of God in Christ Jesus towards the greatest of sinners; making a few remarks, as I went on, to render the meaning clearer to him, and apply it to |