At another time, Naimbanna saw a dray- much engaged as to the best means of man ill-using a horse. The sight stirred doing good to his countrymen; and his up in him a strong passion. He said he anxiety brought on a fever, which ended would get a gun, and shoot the man direct-in death. During his illness his mind was ly; for he thought such persons deserved to full of hope, relying on his Saviour for be killed. But his anger was instantly sub-eternal life. dued by a friend repeating to him the text, The story of this African prince is a "Be ye angry, and sin not let not the sun beautiful illustration of our Saviour's words go down upon your wrath," Eph. iv. 26.66 Except ye be converted, and become In this way did the young African prince as little children, ye shall not enter into overcome the natural passions of his heart, the kingdom of heaven," Matt. xviii. 3. which had been nourished by his heathen opinions and habits. After Naimbanna had been in England about two years, he prepared to return home. On his voyage, his thoughts were In the spirit of little children we are to submit ourselves to the commands of God's word; and, relying on Divine grace, we are to avoid all sinful tempers.-Missionary First Fruits. CHINA OPENED.-No. II. Besides this mission, other stations were opened in Malacca, by Dr. Milne, where a college was established, in Singapore, in Batavia, and in Penang. These stations are none of them in the heart of China, but on the outskirts; and have kept up the circulation of tracts amongst the people, the religious instruction of all that came their way, and the education of many little Chinese boys and girls. THE next convert to God in China was a | several schools, and most laborious missionyoung man called Leang Afăh, the fruit of aries connected with it. Mr Milne's labours. This man seemed to have good talents, and he was accordingly set apart to preach the gospel, in which he still is labouring. After him a third was added; and then a fourth, the last of whom, Keŭh Agang, became a useful helper in the mission. Things now began to do pretty well; and in 1832 Dr Morrison wrote that he was now reaping some fruit of his labours. In that year no fewer than 20,000 sheet tracts, and 10,000 copies of Besides these missions, it was thought prayers and hymns were printed, which well in 1835, to send out some medical were openly given to the people by Afăh men as missionaries. The Chinese had and Agang, and read with great readiness. no very good physicians, and it was thought One after another also were converted; if we could only send some godly physiand by 1834 there was a little church of Chinese Christians formed, consisting of ten apparent converts. cians, the Chinese would come to be healed of their sicknesses, and then an opportunity would be given to preach to them the gospel. Some of these good men have gone from England, and some from America, and so far, they have succeeded very well. Such have been the efforts of Protestants. They have been very trifling, when we think of the people's wants; but the Lord has blessed them so far, and now he is opening the way for more to go, and has caused 86 THE FIRST MISSIONARY VOYAGE. the emperor to let as many go as please, to preach the gospel in the five chief ports. Let us pray that he will raise up more means and men to send the gospel to that great land, and let us all be seeking to bring in the time when China shall all be Christ's, and darkness, and ignorance, and sin shall be banished from its shores. THE FIRST MISSIONARY VOYAGE. ABOUT eighteen hundred years ago, a time the people worshipped false gods, little ship was seen, with sails outspread, named Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and a great lying at Troas, a small sea-port town of many other idols. Asia. As the sailors were busily preparing to depart, they little thought that the account of the voyage they were about to make would be written in a book, and read by people of far-distant lands, when hundreds of years had passed away. In this little ship were four passengers: they were missionaries, and were going to cross the sea, that they might preach the gospel to the heathen who lived in Europe. Their names were Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. God had given a dream, or vision, to Paul, in which he saw a man of the country of Macedonia, who earnestly prayed that he would come over the sea, and preach the gospel in that land of idols. He knew that this was a dream sent from God, and at once he obeyed the heavenly vision. The ship now went on its first missionary voyage. At night they arrived at a little island, where they stopped until the morning, and then again set sail; and as God gave them a prosperous voyage, they landed in safety at a small sea-port town, called Neapolis: it is now a little village. Of its former size or history we know nothing. It is only known as the spot where the first Christian missionaries set foot on the continent of Europe. They made no stay there, but hastened on to a city called Philippi. This city is famous in history for its beautiful palaces, and for a great battle which was fought near its walls; but the Christian looks to it as the place where the gospel was first preached to the heathen in this part of the world. At that When the Sabbath arrived, the apostle went out of the city to the side of a river, to pray in secret; and soon he came to a spot where others had also met for prayer; and sitting down, he began to preach to the women who were present; we are not told what he said; but no doubt he told them of Jesus, who was crucified to take away the sin of the world. Nor do we know in what language he spoke as a Jew, among his own people he spoke the language then in use in Palestine; as he travelled through Asia he spoke Greek; and now in Europe, most likely he spoke in the Latin and other tongues. The first preachers of the gospel could "speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," Acts ii. 4. Now missionaries have to study, sometimes for years, to learn a language, so as to be able to address the people to whom they are sent. Did he preach with success? Yes; for the Lord opened the heart of one of the females, so" that she attended unto the things which were spoken." The name of this first missionary convert in Europe, was Lydia. From Philippi the gospel spread to other lands, and at last came to Britain: and there it is still to be found; and there may it continue, and every heart be opened to receive its truths. It would have been sinful if the first Christians had kept the gospel to themselves; for their Lord had told them to preach it to all the world. It is also sinful for us to withhold it. The lands from which we received it are now in spiritual darkness, and they seem to return the cry, world, and prepare them for the happiness "Come over, and help us. Send us that of heaven! Such conduct would be cruel, gospel which you first received from our ungrateful, and highly sinful. Let us send shores. Let us share with you in its bless-them Bibles, missionaries, and tracts; for, if we love Jesus, and believe in him as the only Saviour, we shall wish that all the world knew and loved him too.--Missionary Tracts. ings." Five hundred millions of heathen join in the same cry, "Send us the gospel!" Oh! how shall we withhold that which alone can make them happy in this A LITTLE boy in America once went with his father into their apple orchard, to shoot the mischievous jays. The man fired at them, and the little boy saw something fall to the ground, and ran to pick it up, expecting to find a jay. The jays, however, were all flown, and in their place, bleeding to death, he found two pretty harmless mocking birds. The old man looked at them with grief for several moments, and then threw them down with the words, "That's what you get for being in bad company." and how many evils do you think, dear children, come out of our being found in bad company? I was once visiting some friends at a distance, and found the whole family in trouble. The poor mother often wept, and all were cast down. What was the matter? A place was empty at the table. A son that used to fill it was not there. Where was he? No one knew. He had been a fine interesting lad, and was much beloved; but he had got acquainted with bad and careless boys, and they had seduThe little boy never forgot the words; ced him to leave his home and friends, for but all through life, when he saw peo- what purpose none could tell. Where was ple suffering from their connexion with he? What was he doing? None could bad men, he used to think, Ah! that's tell; and in the silence that was kept what you get for being in bad company;" about him, the deep grief of his friends was 66 88 seen. YOUR OWN CHAPTER. He was at last found, but involved to worse, became a gambler, and got connected with the vilest people. Ile now grew idle and left his work. His father and mother were broken-hearted; but all their anxiety was vain. To get sufficient money to pursue his course of vice, he resorted to dishonest means; was at last found out, tried and transported; and as he left our shores, declared that this was what he got by being in bad company. in much misery-all that he got from being in bad company. I once knew an intelligent young man. He was often impressed with divine things, and in concern about his soul. I have sat by him for hours, talking to him of his everlasting interests, and had some hopes that he knew and loved the Saviour. All round admired and loved him; and we ventured to look forward to his being a happy and a useful man. He got acquainted with some gay young people. They led him into scenes of vanity. They laughed at his religious scruples, and ridiculed his fears. He soon got ashamed of his feelings, lost his impressions, broke out into all their follies, and ran a course of vice. So low has he now sunk, that his friends will have nothing to do with him; but view him as a disgrace to their family, and a grief to their hearts. "That's what he got by be ing in bad company." I have heard of a Sunday scholar who was once a diligent attendant at his class, read his Bible, and seemed to love good things. As he grew up, and left the school, he was apprenticed amongst ungodly men and boys. At first, he was to be seen regularly in his place upon the Sabbath, but by and by, his wicked associates led him away, first from one service, and then from another, till his place was always empty. He now spent his Sabbaths in strolling through the fields, or visiting places of amusement and sin. From bad he went I could have told you more. Young men and young women have gone to the gallows, declaring, as they went, that all this was from being in bad company. Fortunes have been lost, characters ruined, hearts broken, and prospects withered, by being in bad company. But more, far more than this has happened. Could you or I lift up the curtain of eternity, and look down upon the caverns of hell, oh! how many should we see brought there by being in bad company! Souls that once seemed to promise fair for heaven, now blighted and destroyed. Dear reader, take warning! Have you begun to break the Sabbath, and to stroll the fields on that day? Are you making friends of the wicked, and going with sin ners? I beseech you to stop and think; and as you would not be ruined here, and lost for ever, avoid their company. Remember what Solomon declares, "THE COMPANION OF FOOLS SHALL BE DESTROY ED;" and attend to his admonition, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Prico d., or 4d. per dozen. Published by J. GALL & SON, 38 North Bridge, Edinburgh. G. GALLIE, Glasgow. W. M'COMB, Belfast. J. ROBERTSON, Dublin.. HOULSTON & STONEMAN, London. I AM sure that all the little boys and bear a few natives, was launched to meet girls who read this paper have taken a her. The whole bay was thus covered deep interest in the missionary ship, and with boats, and a happy busy scene prewill now be glad to hear that she arrived sented. All admired the beautiful vessel, safely at Raratonga last January. As she and blessed God, who had put it into appeared off the coast, the people flocked the hearts of British children to send her down to give her a hearty welcome, and out. when she entered the bay, every canoe, From Raratonga, she next proceeded and boat, and vessel that would float and to Aitutaki, where she encountered a vioDecember 1845. |