tivating the ground, has been very great ; aoe The work of preaching the Gospel continues; and so far the Lord has over ruled the disorders of the land, by giving seve ral hundreds of this island and Eimeo, an opportunity to hear the word of salvation, who never before did hear it; and, perhaps, 'would not have heard it for months to come. One circuit of the island was taken just before the rebellion broke out, and the Gospel preached in every district, except Attahooroo. In the midst of great darkness and perplexity of mind, we sometimes have a gleam of hope that God is humbling this people, and thereby prepar ing them for a more cheerful and univer. sal reception of his word. Otoo has, of late, on two Sabbath-days, desired to hear the word of Jehovah; which was accordingly spoken to him, and others of his family, and many of his subjects, that he assem bled to hear. He seems to have some idea that there is but one God; and expresses no dislike to any part of the plan of salvation, so far as he can comprehend it. Pomarre is a most bigotted man, and is, as it were, the soul of his country's abominable superstition. The civil war that existed in Ryattecat, when the Royal Admiral was here, has lately been quelled; and the chief remains in his full power. Since Pomarre's retreat from Tyaraboo to Mattavai, a flame of a like nature broke out at Eimeo: but Pomarre sent over a strong party, which, for the present, extinguished it, with the loss of twenty of the rebels. From the statement of the foregoing particulars, we leave it to our honoured fathers and brethren's better judgment, to consider, whether or not it would not be expedient to fix such a body of Missionaries on Otaheite, and to accommodate them with every necessary, as to be independent of the support of the chiefs; and not to stand or fall as they stood or fell; and whence also the Gospel may be dispersed abroad among the neighbouring islands, as the leadings of Providence directed the way. This, we say again, that had not God in his great mercy, unexpectedly and singularly lodged Capt Bishop and men on the island, and wrecked the Norfolk on our coast, we should this day most assuredly have been, with Pomarre, &c. expelled the island (if not some of our lives cet off) and our usefulness, it may be, at an end. Through the mercy of our Heavenly Father, we, in general, enjoy a good portion + Or Ulietea. of health and strength. Our prayers are for Zion's increase and prosperity. We beseech you to pray for us. Demain, Dear and honoured Fathers and Brethren, in the Lord. To the Directors of the Missionary Society. Extract of Letter from Mr. Henry to Mr. S. Pinder, of London, dated "Numbers of people, who, from different districts, flock to Maitavai for refuge, now hear the word of life: and Ooo's mind is so far changed, and his superstition so diminished, that, instead of being greatly averse to our preaching the doctrines of Christianity in the land, and using all his influence (secretly at least) to deter the people from hearing them, as we expected he would, when we should commence our public exercises, he happily rather countenances and encourages our labours in this way; and last Sabbath, and the Sabbath but one before, requested to hear the word of God; and was, with the rest of the royal family, and some hundreds of people, assembled by his orders, addressed on the first Sabbath by Brother Jefferson: and on the last by Brother Noti; but not so many people were assembled then as on the foriner occasion. "As a proof of our toleration here, and the liberties we enjoy in propagating our religion, I shall just relate an occurrence of last Sabbath. Mrs. Eyre and Henry taking a walk in the afternoon, towards the king's house, which is but a small distance from ours, for the benefit of the air, the king sent to them, and invited them in; and while they were sitting with him, he took it into his head to send for me. When I came to him, he placed ine close by his side, as he usually does any of us when we visit him; and after a little conversation had passed between us, about the ship in the harbour' and other things, he mentioned the sacred name of Jeherub, in the broken manner the natives in general do. This I pronounced Yelovab (the Hebrew pronunciation of it) and he repeated it after me very properly. I then told him, this was a sacred and powerful name, and not to be mentioned irreverently; and took occasion to represent Jehovah as the only true God, and to point out his power and greatness, as the Creator of all things; ohserving, that the gods of Taheite were only evil spirits, banished by Jehovah to the Pos, The Taheitans consider their images as representatives er vehicles, of the gods which are in the Po; i. e. the invisible world. 1 for their rebellion against him; and that there were many such, who deceive nien, desiring their destruction; that our fore. fathers in Britain were deceived by them in time past, and worshipped them, and images like the Taheitans, until the serv ants of the true God came there, and taught them his word; which they attending to and receiving, cast away their false gods, and took Jehovah for their God, and served him Thus much of my discourse to him and his attendants, on this occasion, is sufficient to shew what liberties we may take, &c. To relate, in order, all that I told them, would take up too much time; suffice it briefly to observe, that I treated of the Fall,-the way and method of salvation by Jesus Christ,—and the happiness or misery of the souls of men after death, — of the resurrection, and of the misery of the wicked, and happiness of the righteous afterward. All which things the king lis tened to with attention and apparent pleasure; and when I was about to depart, he requested me to meet him, with the rest of the brethren, in the evening, to teach him and the people again the word of God; which was done as before related." THE ANNUAL MEETING Of the Missionary Society will be held as follows: ON Wednesday morning, May 11, the Rev. S. Bottomley, of Scar borough, will preach at Surry Chapel. At Three in the afternoon the Society meet for business. In the evening, the Rev. T. Young, late of Canterbury, is to preach at the Tabernacle. On Thursday morning the Society meet for business, at Ten o'clock. In the evening, the Rev. Greville Ewing, of Glasgow, will preach at Tottenham Court Chapel. On Friday morning the Rev. Jeremiah Newell, Vicar of Great Missenden, and Perpetual Curate of Lee, Bucks, will preach at Shadwell Church. In the evening, a general communion at Sion Chapel. The morning-services will commence at Half Past Ten; and the even. ing-services at Six. The Meetings for business will be held, as usual, at Haberdashers' Hall, Staining Lane, Wood Street. The Religious Tract Society will meet at Seven o'clock on the Thursday morning, at St. Paul's Coffee-House, Ministers, and other Gentlemen attending the Missionary Meeting, may render important service, by bringing with them authentic documents respecting the want of BIBLES in their different neighbourhoods. Various means will occur for ascertaining the fact; probably, much information may be obtained by enquiring with minuteness and care among the children supported in Charity-Schools.—A particular attention to this hint is earnestly requested. MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS. From the Basil Society, by the Rev. Mr. Steinkopff £.30 0 19 14 9 A Letter from Professor Young to the Committee of the Marbourgh, March 13, 1803. Honoured Sirs, and, in our blessed Redeemer, dearly beloved Brethren! I AM not able to describe how greatly I am affected by your benevolence, zeal, and activity, in the work of the Loid; and how much your example excites me to exert myself more and more for the salvation of my fellow-men. When I received the agreeable letter of our dear Brother Steinkopf, with your draft for 281. my wife happening to sit by me, my head sunk upon her bosom; and I was moved to tears of gratitude to God, and to you. I indorsed the draft to a friend at Frankfort, who received the money for it. 1 I hope you have received my letter of the 27th of February, in which I menti oned the principal occurrences of my life; and expressed a wish that it might please the Lord my God, in his gracious provi dence, to release me from all worldly em ployments, so that I might live and la bour for him and his cause alone. Although this is still my heart's desire, yet I am quite easy, and resigned to the will of God; he will continue to guide me according to his good pleasure, and that is the best for myelf, and for my use fulness in his kingdom. I likewise requested you to defer sending us any money, as we would first try See the Evan. Mag. for November last, page 461. what we could do in Germany. This I did, in order to spare you, and not to be burthensome to you; but now you have been beforehand with us. May Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven and Earth, abundantly bless the donors of this gift of charity, influence their hearts by his Spirit, and make them all blessed instruments for the promotion of his kingdom, and for his glory, in time and eternity. The thirteenth number of "The Hoary Man" is now in the press; in which I have again called upon all my serious readers to follow the example of the English Tract Society. We shall soon see what effect it will produce. I am in great hopes that the use to which I have applied your remittance of 281 will produce a strong sensation, and occasion many to join themselves to me, and assist me with money for the purpose of distributing tracts. I shall inform you, dear brethren, from time to time, what success I have. But as you would probably like to know to what use I have applied the 287. I will detail to you my whole plan. We are, it is tree, pretty well provided with small tracts for edification in Germany; but, in general, they are not so calculated as to excite the attention of the unconverted among the common people, and them we should have particularly in our view; for as to the pious of that class, they find op portunities enough, either of receiving gratis some edifying books, or they scrape together a few pence to buy one. These are, therefore, not the proper objects of our care, because they belong already to the kingdom of Jesus, and he cares for them himself. But our principal care must be directed to the unconverted of the lower class, that as many of them as possible might be converted and become real Christians: for this end, it is of no manner of use to supply then with edifying books, written in a dry sermonizing style. Such books they accept, perhaps, with thanks, look into them once or twice, and then lay them by for good and all; and thus all the expence and trouble are last. Therefore it appears to me the best method, to clone the principles of Christianity and godliness in the form of stories, either real or ficti trous; so as in administering medicine to children we mix it with sugar, to render it palatable, and induce them to take it. I am convinced, by long experience, that, this is an excellent method, and very etfectual; for having frequently inserted such stories into almanacks, I have observed, that they have been eagerly read by citizens and peasants. This has induced me to form the following plan:I am now writing a tract, entitled, "The Christian Friend, or Stores for Citizens and Peasants." This first Number contains only one story; but full of instruction, and particularly adapted to the lower class of people. It will contain about eight sheets in print; and next week I shall ' finish it, and send it to Nurenberg; be cause our friend Mr. Rau, the printer there, is himself a Christian, and will conse quently make no gain of it. Thus I write gratis, and Mr. Kau sends me as many guilders, only deducting the price of the copies as he can afford for the 281. or 312 paper and the wages paid to his men. I expect he will be able to send me 8co' copies; which I will send to such minis. ters as I know to be truly pious throughout all Germany, with a request to distribute them among the common people. But as there will be many who would like to buy the bock, Mr. Rau may afterwards reprint it, and sell it on his own account. also send a few copies to you, beloved brethren, and request you, if you think proper, to get it translated into English by a skilful hand, being persuaded that it wilt be attended with good effects in England I shall then likewise send you the account and the list of those to whom the books are sent, that you may see how your money has been applied. May the Lord be with you, and with your brother to eternity! H. YOUNG. too. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. SUNDAY, March 27, a Sermon was preached for the Deaf and Dumb Charity, at St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, from Mark vii. 37, by the Rev. S. Crowther; after which a collection was made of Sol. for the Charity. The same day the Rev. R. Hill preached the two Annual Sermons for the benefit of the Surry Sunday-Schools, at Surry Chapel. -April 11, being Easter Monday, Mr. H. preached his Annual Sermon to Children; when between three and four thousand were present, besides adults.-We understand he is also engaged to preach before the Serry Mission Society on Tuesday Mornig, May 3, at Mr. Collyer's Chapel, Peckham. 1 shall On Thursday, March 31, a deputation from the body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, in and about London, waited on his Majesty, at the Queen's Palace, with a Congratulatory Address, on his late providential deliverance. The Address was presented by Mr. Paliner, of Hackney, and signed by Dr. Rees, Dr. Rippon, and nineteen other Ministers of the three denomirations. To which his Majesty returned a gracious answer; and they all had the honour of kissing his hand. April 12. The Rev. J. Fowler, late of Sheerness, was set apart over a new interest of Protestant Dissenters at Edmontod. But the particulars, with the rest of our intelligence, are unavoidably deferred. Elegy ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. EYRE. DAUGHTER of Zion, join the pensive strain; Rich schemes of wide benevolence for men : Mute is that tongue, whose artless eloquence Not periods polish'd by scholastic art, Nor morals borrow'd from some heathen's shrine, No more his flock those soft persuasions hear, And sooth'd the mourner into gentle peace. That swept such mellow'd talents down to dust: To still the storm, and stem th' o'erwhelming tide, And dare with Martyrs' zeal the fiends controul. America's vast continental tribes, And southern isles embosom'd in the sea: Nor dang'rous leagues, nor savage darkness hides Their wretched sons, Almighty Truth, from thee. The Annual Meetings of the Missionary Society, which is referred to in the following lines. Fathers in Christ, from Britain far remote, Ye saw the God, the men, the cause, he lov'd. Alike the gen'rous flame of love ye feel. He lov'd his country, and with ardour strove He felt the int'rest of the rising race And led their doubtful feet to Wisdom's ways; And gave to God the blossom of his days. And from his death-bed catch a sermon new. "To God I leave my charge, from whom it came; And ye who bear his name, who felt the ties For he has finish'd well his course below; Nor death dissolves the bonds of love again. O blissful scene, thy prospect cheers the mind; As Secretary to the Missionary Society. ALIQUIS. By promoting lunerancy. |