"If you wish for further excitement, look to the men of this world, and let their zeal provoke you to emulation. The wicked are in earnest, they sin greedily, and that too with both hands. No stings of conscience, no rebukes of reason, no threatenings, however awful, no promises, however rich, will quench their zeal, or induce them to leave the paths of the destroyer. Wherever you turn your eye, all is full of labour. Man can not utter it. Commerce whitens on every sea, or roars on her ten thousand wheels. Agriculture employs her thousands of men and animals to sub due the earth and to gather her fruits. The manufacturer pursues his object, amid unceasing noise and labour. For a few cents per day the sailor braves the perils of the ocean and visits climes, yellow with disease. The soldier for a small reward will submit to hard fare and harder fighting. For the toys of honour the ambitious climb the pinnacle of fame, till they pant for breath. And the scholar to solve a favourite problem, or to riot in classic beauties, grows pale over his midnight lamp. All this they will do to obtain a corruptible crown, that soon fades away. But you are seeking a crown and glory, which will shine forever, when the heavens are no more. What are all the attain ments of the most favoured men of the world, when compared with the smallest success of the minister of Christ? They may acquire wealth, speak with the tongues of men and angels; they may navigate seas, traverse all lands, see and know all that can be seen and known in this world, they may conquer armies, capture fleets, gain the highest seats of earth ly distinction, and possess a fame eclipsing that of Cæsar, yet after all, if they die in their sins, they will have lived to no valuable purpose. They will all walk in a vain show, and all be disquieted in vain. But if, when you reach your final rest, you can see one soul, amid all the millions around the throne, who is loud in his praise to God, and points you out, as the humble instrument of his salvation, this sight will be your glory and crown of rejoicing." We earnestly wish for this sermon an extensive circulation. Happy for the church of Christ would it be, if all her ministers possessed much of the spirit bere inculcated. May God clothe the heralds of Zion with salvation, that his people may shout for joy. Though the sermon is addressed to ministers, yet it may be perused with great profit by private christians. Every disciple of Christ should be "zealous of good works" should be deeply interested in the prosperity of Zion. It ought to be the habitual feeling of his heart, to prefer Jerusalem above bis chief joy. We cannot omit to add, that should the perusal of this discourse impress on the minds of the reader the paramount duty of PRAYING FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE SANC TUARY, an important object would be attained. Missionary Intelligence. BURMAN MISSION. Extracts from Mr. Judson's Journal. DEC. 21st.-After having made arrangements for our wives' residence in town, during our absence, brother Colman and myself embarked. Our boat is six feet wide in the middle, and forty feet loog. A temporary deck of bam boos is laid throughout, and on the hinder part of the boat, the sides are raised with thin boards, and a covering of thatch, and mats tied on, so as to form two low rooms, in which we can just sit, and lie down. Our company consists of sixteen, beside our selves, ten rowmen-a steersman —a headman, whose name is inserted in our passport, and who, therefore, derives a little authority from government,-a steward or cook for the company, which place is filled by our trusty Moung Nau-our own cook-a Hindoo washerman-and an Englishman, who having been unfortunate all his life, wishes to try the service of his Burman majesty; and this last personage man may be called our gunner, he having charge of several guns and blunderbusses, which are indispensable on account of the robbers that infest the river. We have been much perplexed, in fixing on a present for the emperor, without which no person unauthorized can appear in his presence. Our funds were evidently inadequate to the purchase of articles which would be valuable to him, in a pecuniary point of view; when we considered also, that there ought to be a congruity between the present and our character, we selected that book, which we hope to be allow ed to translate under his patronage the BIBLE, in six volumes, covered with gold leaf, in Burman style, and each volume enclosed in a rich wrapper. For presents to other members of gov ernment, we have taken several pieces of fine cloth, and other articles. Thus manned and furnished, we pushed off from the shores of Rangoon. The teacher Moung Shwa Gnong had not been to see us for several days, ashamed probably of having declined accompanying us; but just as we were pushing off we saw his tall form standing on the wharf. He raised his hand to his head, and bade us adieu, and continued looking after the boat, until a project ing point shut Rangoon and all its scenes from our view. When shall we redouble this little point! Through what shall we pass, ere the scene now snatched away be re-presented! The expedition on which we have entered, however it may terminate, is unavoidably fraught with consequences momentous and solemn, beyond all conception. We are penetrating into the heart of one of the great kingdoms of the world, to make a formal offer of the gospel to a despotic monarch, and through him to the millions of his subjects. May the Lord accompany us, and crown our attempt with the desired success, if it be consistent with his wise and holy witl. JAN. 17th.-Reached Pah-gan, a city celebrated in Burman history; being, like Pyee, the seat of a former dynasty. It is about 260 miles from Rangoon. JAN 18th-Took a survey of the splendid pagodas, and extensive ruins, in the environs of this once famous city. Ascended, as far as possible, some of the highest edifices, and at the height of one hundred feet, perhaps, beheld all the country around, covered with temples and monuments of every sort and size-some in utter ruin-some fast decayingand some exhibiting marks of recent attention and repair. The remains of the ancient wall of the city stretched beneath us. The pillars of the gates, and many a grotesque, decapitated relic of antiquity, checkered the motley scene. All conspired to suggest those elevated and mournful ideas, which are attendant on a view of the decaying remains of ancient grandeur; and though not comparable to such ruins as those of Palmyra and Balbec, (as they are represented,) still deeply interesting to the antiquary, and more deeply interesting to the Christian missionary. Here, about eight hundred years ago, the religion of Boodh was first publickly recognized and established as the religion of the empire. Here, then Ah-rah-han, the first Boodhist apostle of Burmah, under the patronage of King Anan-ra-thamen-zan, disseminated the doctrines of Atheism, and taught bis disciples to pant after annihilation, as the supreme good. Some of the ruins before our eyes, were probably the remains of pagodas designed by himself. We looked back on the centuries of darkness that are past. We looked forward, and Christian hope would fain brighten the prospect. Perhaps we stand on the dividing line of the empires of darkness and light. O, shade of Shen Ah-rahhan! weep o'er thy falling fanes; retire from the scenes of thy past greatness. But thou smilest at my feeble voice. Linger then, thy little remaining day. A voice mightier than mine, a still small voice, will ere long sweep away every vestige of thy dominion. The churches of Jesus will soon supplant these idolatrous monuments, and the chanting of the devotees of Boodh will die away before the Christian hymn of praise. JAN. 25th.--Passed Old Ava, the scat of the dynasty immediately preceding the present, and Tsahgaing, a place of some note, distinguished for its innumerable pagudas, and the residence of one or two late emperors; and about noon, drew up to O-ding-man, the lower landing place of New Ava, or Ahmarapoor, about 350 miles from Rangoon. At our present distance of nearly four miles from the city (and we cannot get nearer this season) it appears to the worst advantage. We can hardly distinguish the golden steeple of the palace, amid the glittering pagodas, whose summits just suffice to mark the spot of our ultimate destination JAN. 27th. We left the boat, and put ourselves under the conduct of Moung Yo. He carried He us first to Mya-day-men, as a matter of form; and there we learnt, that the emperor had been privately apprized of our arrival, and said, let them be introduced. We therefore proceeded to the palace. At the outer gate, we were detained long time, until the various officers were satisfied that we had a right to enter, after which we deposited a present for the private minister of state, Moung Zah, and were ushered into his apartments in the palaceyard. He received us very pleasantly, and ordered us to sit before several governors and petty kings, who were waiting at his levee. We here, for the first time, disclosed our character and object-told him, that we were missionaries, or "propagators of religion;" that we wished to appear before the emperor, and present our sacred books, accompanied with a petition. took the petition into his hand, looked over about half of it, and then familiarly asked several questions about our God and our religion, to which we replied. Just at this crisis, some one announced, that the golden foot was about to advance; on which the minister hastily rose up, and pat on his robes of state, saying, that he must seize the moment to present us to the emperor. We now found, that we had unwittingly fallen on an unpropitious time, it being the day of the celebration of the late victory over the Cassays, and the very hour, when His Majesty was coming forth, to witness the display made on the occasion. When the minister was dressed, he just said, "How can you propagate religion in this epire? But come along." Our hearts sunk at these inauspicious words. He conducted us through various splendour and parade, until we ascended a flight of stairs, and entered a most magnificent hall. He directed us where to sit, and took his place on one side; the present was placed on the other, and Moung Yo, and another officer of Mya-day-men, sat a little behind. The scene to which we were now introduced really surpassed our expectation. The spacious extent of the hall, the number and magnitude of the pillars, the height of the dome, the whole completely covered with gold, presented a most grand and imposing spectacle. Very few were present, and those evidently great officers of state. Our situation prevented us from seeing the further avenue of the hall; but the end where we sat, opened into the parade, which the emperor was about to inspect. We remained about five minutes, when every one put himself into the most respectful attitude, and Moung Yo whispered, that his majesty had entered. We looked through the ball, as far as the pillars would allow, and presently caught sight of this modern Ahasuerus. He came forward, unattended-in solitary grandeur exhibiting the proud gait and majesty of an eastern monarch. His dress was rich, but not distinctive; and he carried in his hand, the gold-sheathed sword, which seems to have taken the place of the sceptre of ancient times. But it was his high aspect and commanding eye, that chiefly rivetted our attention. He strided on. Every head, excepting ours, was now in the dust. We remained kneeling, our hands folded, our eyes fixed on the monarch. When he drew near, we caught his attention. He stopped, partly turned towards us "Who are these?" The teachers, great king, I replied. "What, you speak Burman-the priests that I heard of last night?" "When did you arrive?" "Are you teachers of religion?" "Are you like the Portuguese priest?" "Are you married? Why do you dress so?" These, and some other similar questions, we answered; when he appeared to be pleased with us, and sat down on an elevated seat his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and his eyes intently fixed on us. Moung Zah now began to read the petition, and it run thus:- "The American teachers present themselves to receive the favour of the excellent king, the sovereign of land and sea. Hearing, that, on account of the greatness of the royal power, the royal country was in a quiet and prosperous state, we arrived at the town of Rangoon, within the royal dominions, and having obtained leave of the governor of that town, to come up and behold the golden face, we have ascended and reached the bottom of the golden feet. In the great country of America, we sustain the character of teachers and explainers of the contents of the sacred scriptures of our religion. And since it is contained in those scriptures, that, if we pass to other countries and preach and propagate religion, great good will result, and both those who teach and those who receive the religion, will be freed from future punishment, and enjoy, without decay or death, the eternal felicity of heaven,-that royal permission be given, that we, taking refuge in the royal power, may preach our religion, in these dominions, and that those who are pleased with our preaching, and wish to listen to and be guided by it, whether foreigners or Burmans, may be exempt from government molestation, they present themselves to receive the favour of the excellent king, the sovereign of land and sea." The emperor heard this petition, and stretched out his hand. Moung Zah crawled forward and presented it. His Majesty began at the top, and deliberately read it through. In the mean time, I gave Moung Zah an abridged copy of the tract, in which every offensive sentence was corrected, and the whole put into the handsomest style and dress possible. After the emperor had perused the petition, he handed it back, without saying a word, and took the tract. Our hearts now rose to God for a display of his grace. O have mercy on Burmah! Have mercy on her king! But, alas the time was not yet come. He held the tract long enough to read the two first sentences, which assert that there is one eternal God, who is independent of the incidents of mortality, and that, beside Him, there is no God; and then, with an air of indifference, perhaps disdain, he dashed it down to the ground! Moung Zah stooped forward, picked it up, and handed it to us. Moung Yo made a slight attempt to save us, by unfolding one of the volumes, which composed our present, and displaying its beauty; but his majesty took no notice. Our fate was decided. After a few moments, Moung Zah interpreted his royal master's will, in the following terms:-"Why do you ask for such permission? Have not the Portuguese, the English, the Musselmans, and people of all other religions, full liberty to practise and worship, according to their own customs? In regard to the objects of your petition, his majesty gives no order. In regard to your sacred books, his majesty has no use for them, take them away." Something was now said about brother Colman's skill in medicine; upon which the emperor once more opened his mouth, and said, Let them proceed to the residence of my physician, the Portuguese priest; let him examine whether they can be useful to me in that line, and report accordingJy. He then rose from his seat, strided on to the end of the ball, and there, after having dashed to the ground the first intelligence that he had ever received of the eternal God, his Maker, his Preserver, his Judge, he threw himself down on a cushion, and lay listening to the music, and gazing at the parade spread out before him! As for us and our present, we were huddled up and hurried away, without much ceremony. We passed out of the palace gates, with much more facility than we entered, and were conducted first to the house of Mya-day-men. There his officer reported our reception, but in as favourable terms as possible; and as his highness was not apprized of our precise object, our repulse appeared, probably, to him, not so decisive, as we knew it to be. We were next conducted two miles, thro the sun and dust of the streets of Ava, to the residence of the Portuguese priest. He very speedily ascertained, that we were in possession of no wonderful secret, which would secure the emperor from all disease, and make him live for ever; and we were accordingly allowed to take leave of the reverend inquisitor, and retreat to our boat. At this stage of the business, notwithstanding the decided repulse we had received, we still cherished some hope of ultimately gaining our point. We regretted, that a sudden interruption had prevented our explaining our objects to Moung Zab, in that familiar and confidential manner, which we had intended and we determined, therefore, to make another attempt upon him in private. : JAN. 28th.-Early in the morning, we had the pleasure of seeing our friend Mr. G. coming to our boat. It may not be amiss to mention, that he is the collector, who was chiefly instrumental in relieving us from the exorbitaut demand, which, a few months ago, was made upon us in Rangoon. He now told us that he had heard of our repulse, but |