civilization and religious improvement are said to be advancing. The neighbouring Caffres discover a growing desire for religious instruction. It is the purpose of Dr. Vanderkemp to leave Bethelsdorp to the other missionaries, and to attempt a mission more in the interior of Africa, or in the island of Madagascar. The missionaries at Orange River are busied in teaching the people to build houses, and cultivate the soil; as well as in the gospel of Christ. Seventeen persons had been baptised. The natives had suffered from the small-pox; but the introduction of vaccination promised to eradicate that disease. The mission to the Namaquas is said to go on well. Mr. Kicherer has charge of the Dutch church at Graft Reienet, where he has an opportunity of preaching to a great number, not only of the colonists, but of the natives. When the news of the abolition of the slave trade reached the Cape, the joy was great; and a public day of thanksgiving was observed. In Asia, several missions have been begun. At Vizagapatam, Messrs. Cran and Desgranges are employed in instructing the heathen. They have begun to translate the Evangelists into the Telinga language. They have also printed catechisms, &c. in that tongue, in which work they are aided by a converted Bramin. They preach every Sunday to the Europeans in the fort; and superintend some large scools of native children, which they have established. In the Tinevelly district, Mr. Ringeltaube is engaged in visiting the small congregations of Christians scattered over the country, and occasionally in instrucing others. He has acquired great skill in the Tamul language. Mr. Vos, formerly a minister of Ceylon, is appointed to the Dutch church at Negapatam, where he enjoys an opportunity of being useful among the native inhabitants. Two missionaries are on their way to the country of the Birmans, and one to Seringapatam; and two are employed in the island of Ceylon. Another missionary, Mr. Morison, reached China, which was the place of his destination, in September, 1807. Although Mr. Frey, who formerly laboured among his countrymen the Jews, under the patronage of this society, has withdrawn himself from their connexion, they have determined to continue their endeavours for the benefit of that once-favoured race. Ministers are engaged to preach to them; and Essays witten by Mr. Ewing of Glasgow, and other tracts, have been published for circulation among them. In America, Mr. Pidgeon labours as a missionary among the inhabitants of New Carlisle, in New Bruns wick. In the West Indies, two missions have been begun; one at Tabago, where Mr. Elliot, the missionary, is permitted, on many of the estates, to preach to the negroes, not a few of whom, it is added, have shown a great readiness to receive instruction: and another at Demarara, of which we gave an account in a former number. 1049 DOMESTIC. Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Concord, Ver mont, to his friend in New-York, dated 11th January, 1810. "IT is with much satisfaction I have to inform you, that your prayers have not only been heard, but have been answered beyond our expectations, in crowning the work the Lord has begun in this town*. A considerable number of persons have come forward and joined the Church here: last Sabbath week, there were near forty at the communion, and a number of persons are propounded; indeed, the impression is general. Our Minister is truly faithful. We have service, forenoon, afternoon, and evening, on Sabbath; and conferences, two, three, and four evenings in the week, in different parts of the town. There are, however, as may be expected, some opposers; but some of these, it is believed, are struck with conviction. "I have also to inform you, that much greater work has taken place in the town of Guildhall; about 25 miles from here. A minister was settled there about a year ago; he had formerly been a Methodist, but is now a Congregationalist. When he was first settled, he had but one person that went forward in assisting him but there has been, within a few weeks back, an astonishing revival. Forty-two new communicants were ad nitted at the last, and thirteen the preceding communion; and it is said there is scarce a person in the • A place where not long ago, the Sabbath was hardly known. : There are two town who is not under deep concern. judges and two attornics in the town, who have come forward in the cause; and at the conferrence meetings, which are held there, it is said they plead more powerfully for the cause of Christ, than ever they did at the bar. They have all joined the church, except one of the attornies and his wife, who will join it at the next Communion." ON Sunday, the 17th Dec. the Rev. Jacob Brodhead, and the Rev. John Schureman, were installed as pastors of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, of this city. A sermon suited to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Livingston, from Isaiah lxii. 7, 8; and in the afterternoon of the same day, the Rev. Mr. Brodhead preached his introductory sermon, from 2 Cor. 12th cap. and part of the 14th verse: "For I seek not yours, but you.' And on Sunday, the 24th, the Rev. Mr. Schureman preached his introductory sermon, from 2 Cor. 2d cap. and part of the 16th verse: "Who is sufficient for these things?" FOR THE CHRISTIAN's MAGAZINE. It is not often that poetry of such intrinsic merit as the following, appears in the pages of periodical publications. We insert it with pleasure; and will feel ourselves obliged by any future communications from the same quarter. We should be gratified by an interview with the person who communicated it. WHY swells my full heart, with sad presage o'erflowing, As lonely I muse o'er life and its woes? The storm's howl without, and the winds loudly blowing, Are calm, to the feelings that break my repose. Ah why, busy Fancy! in haste to transport me O'er the wide peopl'd earth, to find sources of grief? Why to War's sanguin'd plains thus incessantly court me, When thou, even thou, can'st not picture relief? * We regret that this article has been so long delayed. Communications of this kind shall always be thankfully received; but we hope that here after they shall be transmitted to us as soon after the events as is convenient. ED. Why lead me to prisons, to dungeons, to gallies, Or point out the source, of our pains and our woes: In each beating bosom lies hid the dark treasure, Whence spring all the sorrows that break my repose. Sin! Parent of Evil of every description, From thy baneful influence our miseries flow: Though "fools make a mock," and pronounce it a fiction, To thee all our tears and our anguish we owe. In the childhood of Nature, in Eden's fair bowers, Pale Care was a stranger, while thou wast unknown: On Joy's tranquil bosom soft stole the sweet hours, 'Ere Sin was engender'd and Innocence flown. How sad the reverse! ah! how chang'd man's condition! Now evils unnumber'd crowd life's little span ; While, urg'd by fell Malice and wanton Ambition, Man plunges his sword in the bosom of man. Ye children of Folly's enchanting delusions! Do no secret terrors e'er break your repose, While ye harbour the Fiend in your own thoughtless boThe parent and source of Humanity's woes? But oh! shall a soul that has tasted of pardon, [soms, Has wept for the sorrows and sins of mankind, Heart-sickening picture! yet let me review it, Till the veil shall be drawn from my own darken'd soul; Till, humbled in dust, sovereign Grace shall renew it, And the Spirit of Jesus enlighten the whole. Oh! hasten, dear Jesus, dear FRIEND OF LOST SINNERS, To purge thine own children, and conquer thy foes:" To earth's utmost limits extend thy bright banners, And sign a release to Humanity's woes. Errors and absurdities of the PAPISTS, touching the doctrine of the Law and of the GOSPEL. < 1. THEY erroneously conceive an opinion of "salvation in the law, which only is to be sought in "the faith of Christ, and in no other. "2. They erroneously seek God's favour by "works of the law: not knowing that the law, in "this our corrupt nature, worketh only the anger of "God. Rom. iii. "3. They err also in this, that where the office of "the law is diverse and contrary from the Gospel, they, without any difference, confound the one "with the other, making the Gospel to be a law, and "Christ to be a Moses. "4. They err in dividing the law unskilfully into "three parts, into the law-natural, the law-moral, "and the law-evangelical. "5. They err again in dividing the law-evangeliVol. III.-No. IV. 2 B |