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sides I know that he troubles me, and pushes me on to bad things; why does not God first convert him?

Missionary-The Devil was the first sinner; no person tempted him; and as he sinned without being tempted, God cast him into hell, and there he must remain for ever. God will not have mercy on him: but it pleased God to have pity upon man; yea, he loved man so much that he gave his only-begotten Son to die for us, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Here the subject of redemption by Christ was enlarged upon.

I have transcribed a part of this conversation, in order that you may have some idea of the acuteness which these natives occasionally display. The questions were proposed by one Caffree; the eyes of some of his companions seemed to sparkle with satisfaction, when they thought they had asked a question which would puzzle us. The answers were given by us all three; sometimes one, and then another of us, taking up the subject, and replying to the inquiries of this shrewd man. We more than once had the satisfaction of hearing from T'ZATZOE, after interpreting some of our replies, "Now he is stom," (dumb,) by which he meant that his objections were silenced.

After this conversation was ended, the principal man of the kraal made an animated oration of a quarter of an hour long, which TZATZOE* informed us was to the following purpose:-"That every thing, mountains, rivers, grass, cattle, down to even his kaross, or cloak, proved the being of a God. God had sent Missionaries into the land, to speak of Him, and they ought to receive and hear them. If even a child were to call out to them, as they passed a kloof, or a bush, and begin to tell them any thing respecting God, they ought to stop and hear; much more when such men as these speak, who are now in the land. The words of the Missionaries should be believed, and not reasoned about: (alluding to the man who had asked us the above questions.) You allow, that you know nothing; then why should you cavil at the word. These men are much superior to you, and they know more: besides, they have God's word," &c.-He delivered all this with such animation, and display of natural oratory, as surprised us and the people listened to his speech with profound attention. We sung a hymn in English, with which the natives were delighted. T'ZATZOE prayed in the Caffree language. About nine o'clock, the night threatened rain; we, however, lay down in the open air, in preference to sleeping in a native hut; with our saddles for pillows we slept very well, although it was very cold.

Friday, 9th. GAIRA did not come; we set off for the kraal of which T'ZATZOE's father is the Captain, or Chief, and which is just in the neighbourhood of the place where GAIKA was understood to be. We passed a number of villages on the road, and saw several more at a distance. We crossed the finest river I have seen in Africa, a most beautiful stream of excellent water; the country over which we have travelled is also very fine. There is clearly an improvement in the magnitude of the rivers, and the appearance of the country, the further a traveller proceeds to the east from the colony. We arrived at Captain T'ZAT`ZOE's kraal, in the afternoon; and found about fifty men assembled, cutting up `an ox, which they had just slaughtered, and were about to cook. After a pause about two minutes, on our presenting ourselves before them, during which time we silently gazed at each other, old Captain T'ZATZOE recognized, in our interpreter, his son: and, on his rising to welcome him, we were presently surrounded by all the people, who eagerly shook hands with us. They gave us about twenty 'pounds of the beef they were cutting up, as our share. We took up our abode under the enclosure of a plot of ground, intended to be sown with corn. About sun-set the heavens gathered blackness, and threatened a storm; a little rain felt at night, which did us no great mischief, but induced us to praise God for the comfort of a large fire, at which to warm our cold feet. We held service after 'dark; a great number attended, and when they had seated themselves round our fire we sang a hymn, and delivered, in short sentences, a few simple truths. We find it an advantage to draw them into conversation on religion. They were here, as in all other places, in a dreadful state of ignorance. Indeed, in Caffre land, if any where, gross darkness hath covered the minds of the people.

* I often mention TZATZOE, our interpreter: he belongs to the London Society's Mission, having been given by his father, a Caffree Chief, many years ago, when very young, to the late DR. VANDERKEMP, to be brought up. T'ZATZOE is now a credit to those under whose care he was placed. He reads Dutch, is a good carpenter, is truly converted to God, and an occasional Preacher at Theopolis.

SOUTH-SEA MISSIONS.

We are happy to be able to insert the substance of a Letter from MR. LEIGH, whose continued preservation, and that of his excellent wife, in New Zealand, will call forth the grateful acknowledgments of the friends of the Heathen. He enters into no particulars as to the unsettled and warlike state of the country mentioned in his last but this silence gives us the hope that tranquility has, for the time, been restored. MR. and MRS. LEIGH remained at the Church Settlement, until the arrival of the other Missionaries sent out.

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Extract of a Letter from MR. LEIGH, dated New Zealand, Nov. 16th, 1822.

I know you will be glad to hear of our safe continuance in New Zealand. We are, and shall remain, at the Bay of Islands till Brother WHITE, or some one else, arrives to assist in the Mission, inasmuch as it would be useless for me to fix in any place in this land by myself.

MRS. LEIGH has a good state of health, but I am sometimes unwell; however, in all my exercises, I can say the LORD is my portion, and in him will I trust. You must not conceive that I am without my measure of trials, from the world, the flesh, and the Devil: but so far the Lord hath helped me, and I hope and pray that he will continue to guide me by his counsel, and afterwards bring me to glory.

MRS. LEIGH and I are going on in learning the language, and are likewise doing a little among the natives. The prayers or hymns in the native language, we can read and sing with ease; and I am sure you will be pleased to hear, that the New Zealanders in the wilderness join with us in repeating and singing these compositions. Even among these heathen, when engaged in these exercises, we have been constrained to say, "LORD, it is good for us to be here." We have one great mercy, which is, free access to the Heathen.

The following are Extracts from Mr. LEIGH's Journal; they exhibit the miserable superstitions and cruelty of this people.

Aug. 20, 1822.-A few evenings ago, I went to a native hut to spend the night. During the evening, there was much conversation on the subject of Religion, and the true God, and among others, with a heathen Priest, who was so far interested as to listen with attention.

In the morning he visited the hut early, and observed, that the white man's God had appeared to him in the night, and had spoken good to him.

A young man who was sick, and far gone in a consumption, asked me, if the white man's Gon was a good GOD; and when I answered in the affirmative, he observed, that the New Zealand man's god was a very bad god, for he eat their inside, and made them very ill, Besides, said he, "our god gives us no such bread, and clothes, and good houses, as your God gives you."-So earthly are all their

views.

One tribe of natives in New Zealand object to Europeans settling among them, and give this reason:-"That if the white people came to live amongst them, they would bring the European GoD with them, who would kill the whole tribe. Since the white people have been at the Bay of Islands, many New Zealand men have died, and their GoD is very angry with us."

25th-Last Sabbath, MRS. LEIGH and I visited a number of natives who were planting potatoes. I conversed with them for the first time in their own language on the evil of working on the Sabbath day, and recommended that they and their slaves should rest on Sundays. After a short sermon on this subject, the people said they would work no more that day, but rest until the day after, which I believe they did.

I lately met with a Priest, who directed my attention to a place where the bones of a young woman lay. He said he had killed her for going with a sailor to a ship, which was contrary to his order; and that after he had put her to death, he gave her body to his men, who ate it, near the place where her bones were now strewed.

At a little distance from the above-mentioned place, he showed me another spot, where were the bones of a man whom he had killed for stealing potatoes. Among themselves, theft is punished with death; but not so if they steal from persons of another nation, or from their enemies.

The first pig I bought in New Zealand was with the hat which I took off my

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head nothing I had besides would procure it, and we had been in the land four months without animal food.

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I always disapproved of Missionaries procuring food, or any thing else, with muskets and powder; although we have suffered for a time in consequence, I hope the trial is nearly over. We have lately been able to purchase pigs for

dollars.

30th.-In one of the native villages a young man was lately taken sick. Tea and bread were sent him from time to time; but when he himself seriously thought that he should die, he observed, to the person who conveyed the food to him, that he should not eat the bread at that time, but would save it for his spirit to eat after it had left the body, and was on its way to the North Cape.

September 3.-A sick chief was asked by a European, Do you pray to God to restore you to health ;-Answer, "No. We have no good God; our god is a bad spirit. He gives us no food, he makes us sick, he kills us. Yours is a good GOD; when you pray, your God hears you, and gives you good things. Do you pray for me? Pray for me, and I shall get well. Yours is a good God. Teach us

to know him. New Zealand people know nothing that is good: we have too much fight, and too much eat men. European people no eat men; that is very good."

On a journey lately in a boat, I met with some natives who had been fishing. I wished to procure some fish from them, but when I inquired if they would sell me some, they said they could not let me have any, because they were the first had at that place that season, and that they must eat them on the first beach or shore they came to; but if I wished to have some on my return, they would go out and procure more.

October 14.-I visited the church settlement at Kidde Kidde, in which I found good wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, and vegetables of all kinds in abundance. Five natives can repeat the LORD's Prayer and the Belief by heart, and are able to answer many questions on religious subjects.

Poetry.

Say, angel of celestial light!

For the Methodist Magazine.
RELIGION.

What brought thee to this vale of tears,
To shine upon a world of night,
And dissipate our gloomy fears?

"Twas love co-heir with light divine,
Caus'd thy effulgent rays to shine.

Spirit of bright expanded wing,
Brood o'er the chaos of my mind;
Hither immortal pleasures bring, "
And fill my soul with joys refin'd:
Let uncreated light inspire,
And wake to ecstacy my lyre.
Come, and o'er my minstrel breathe,

And bring from yon perennial bow'r,
The aramanth to form my wreathe,

That sweet and never fading flow'r:
Then sweep the chords with golden wing,
While I immortal numbers sing.

Faith saw thee, by that fountain clear,
Which issues from the throne above,
Where mercy stoops our plaints to hear
Where flow those streams of sacred love;
The jasper skies irradiant shine,
By thy celestial rays divine.

The harp of Patmos sung for thee,
When lo! the prophet's raptur'd soul
Beheld, with joyful ecstacy,
The bursting visions o'er him roll:

He sang and panted for the skies
Lost, to behold its grandeur rise.
To thee, their Pæans angels sung

Before primeval light arose,
Or dropp'd a note from mortal tongue,
Or blush'd in beauteous tints the rose;
Thy presence makes the bliss of heav'n
The greatest joy to mortals giv'n.

In paradise thy charms were known,
Where first the morning stars appear'd,
When light upon the orient shoue,
And the sweet vale of Eden cheer'd;

The happy pair by thee were blest,
In innocence divinely dress'd.
Whate'er in social life endears,
Is soften'd and refin'd by thee;
Beneath the weight of growing years,
Thy pow'r preserves the spirits free;
All care before thy presence flies,
And joys within the bosom rise.

In friendship's bonds thy pow'r divine,
Displays its pure unsullied light,
Brighter thy emanations shine,

Than ought which glitters in our sight:
No earthly form of beauty fair,
Can with thy matchless charms compare.
Thou art the lonely stranger's friend,
Who drinks the bitter cup of grief,

Whose secret sighs to heav'n ascend,
And finds in tears a sweet relief:

A soother of the orphans' woe,

Who sorrow in this vale below.

Come, then, descend thou heav'nly guest,
And to the cross my spirit bind;
Impart that ardour to my breast

Which elevates and cheers the mind.
Then waft me to my native skies
Where joys immortal ever rise.

From the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.
THE WIDOW OF NAINA SKETCH.

He was an only child :

And all the fond affections of her heart,
A Mother's heart, were fix'd to agony

On him, her darling. The strong nervous frame,
The manly feature, and the graceful air,
But most the voice melodious, often drew
The tear of memory from her fading eye.
She was a Widow-and in these could trace
The dear resemblance of his Father's form.
He was her hope; and all of future joy
She told on earth, did aggregate in him.
O! 'twas her daily, her delightful task
To minister his comfort; well repaid
If he were happy, while her aged breast

MIRANDA

For human wretchedness,-so deeply felt,
That not his life was dear that man might live.-
"Weep not:"-but from her quivering lip, a
word

Escap'd not, while expressive of despair
She shook her hoary bair.-Straight to the bier
In solemn silence, great in conscious power,
The Saviour now advanc'd.-Back to the heart
The wond'ring blood impetuous recoil'd,
And ev'ry eye was rivetted. They stood
Gazing; while, 'neath the weight of morbid clay
Inanimate, their terror-stricken limbs
Shook, like the pendant dew-drops in the breeze,
The Son of God, in all the majesty

Throbb'd with delight, when from his smiling lip Of power illimitable,—all the zeal

Dropp'd, in kind accents, filial gratitude,

His cheek grew pale;

Save that a crimson blush, more delicate
Than health's coarse pencil on the face of youth
Delineates ever, fiercely kindled there.-
The Mother's eye saw the deceptive spark,
Like some advancing meteor, soon to lay
Her hopes in ashes.-Long her aged form
Bent o'er his wasting frame, in agony
None but a widow'd mother e'er can know,
As sinks the crescent moon, in feeble splendour,
Yet mild, and lovely, so he sunk to rest,
She gaz'd in all the silence of despair;
And when the last faint beam of parting life
Had pass'd her eye, a more than midnight gloom
Hung o'er her soul. They bore him to his grave,
A lovely victim; many a weeping eye
Shed kind libations on his early bier.
In all the racking emphasis of woe,
The trembling mother follow'd.-On they pass'd,
And soon the lofty gates of Nain unfold,
As mov'd the solemn pageant to the tomb.
Scarcely they clos'd, when from the bleeding
heart

Of the lone Widow burst a shriek of woe,
While from her eye a flood of burning tears
Issued afresh.........

..... What soothing, gentle voice,
Breaks the sad silence? Widow, weep no more!"
She rais'd her drooping head; the tender sound
Seem'd like the filial accents of her child.
It was the "Man of Sorrows," he who felt

Of pure benevolence,-now rais'd his arm;
And as it rested on the moveless bier,
His voice imperative the silence broke,-
"Young man arise."____

A deep, responsive groan,
An undulation of the spreading pall,
Convulsive motion, and thick breathing sobs,
Declare the spirit heard its Maker's voice,
Heard and obey'd. The fainting mother sunk
Beneath contending passions, whilst her eye,
Bursting with hope, anxiety, amaze,
Watch'd ev'ry motion, and her list'ning ear
Drank ev'ry sound:-she saw the corse awake,
Cast off the folded cerements of the grave;
She saw her only, her lamented child
Rise, like a midnight spectre from the tomb,
And gaze in wild amazement on the scene.
She saw that well-known eye, she lately clos'd
Resume its brilliancy, she saw it rove
From form to form,-she saw it rest on her.

"'Tis false! 'tis visionary! madness! vain!
It cannot be !" she deems the bliss too great-
"Mother!"—She hears the voice, and, starting
quick,

Springs from the earth; again the filial cry
"My Mother" bursts upon her ravish'd ear,
She flies to his embrace, she grasps her child,
No shade delusive; tears of ecstasy
Relieve her loaded bosom; down they sink
O'erwhelm'd with gratitude, and at His feet,
Who wrought the deed of mercy, pour their
praise,

Methodist Magazine,

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1823.

Divinity.

A DISCOURSE ON FUTURE PUNISHMENT.

(Concluded from page 290.)

We have hitherto considered sin in relation to the immortality of man, without taking into view the degree of criminality attached to it. And here we are lost. We have not the means of determining the degree of criminality attached to a single sinful action. On the one hand, God has given us no rule to determine precisely its dimensions; and on the other, our hearts are too hard, and our understandings too dark, for us to comprehend what is continually present with us. And yet we see that one sinner destroyeth much good. If the slightest motion of the corruption of the heart gives exquisite pain to a tender conscience, what shall we say of those crimes which are committed in defiance of all laws human and divine! By a single action a man forfeits his life, and makes himself and his friends unhappy. By a single action of a despot, oppression and war spread wide devastation and misery. In these instances we see that sin is a great evil, and its magnitude can be determined only by the magnitude of the misery inflicted; to determine which, we must know the nature of the relation which one bears to universal being. But this relation is perhaps never seen by us in all its extent in this life, Man is related, not only to his fellow creatures, to the animate and inanimate parts of creation, but to angels, and to God: When, therefore he sins, he outrages the relations he sustains to every part of the universe. He violates universal order; and the magnitude of his sin is in some sense co-extensive with the order violated.

This may be illustrated by referring to the case of our first parents. They sustained this manifold relation; and when they transgressed the whole universe was affected by their transgres VOL. VI.

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