have not seen the original Chinese paper. I have seen several papers in the Pekin Gazette; of which the following is indeed the substance. In those papers, however, the magistrates also are threatened with degradation, dismission from the service of government, &c. if they connive at the promulgation of what they denominate TEENCHU KEAOU (the Religion of the Lord of Heaven) -the name which the Romish Mission. aries have adopted. R. M. CHINESE EDICT AGAINST CHRISTIANITY. present in Pekin, if they are Mathemati cians, without having other office or occupation, this suffices to their being kept in their employments; but those who do not understand Mathematics, what motive is there for acquiescing in their idleness, whilst they are exciting irregularities? Let the Mandarins, in charge of the Europeans, inquire and act. Excepting the Mathematicians, who are to be retain ed in their employment, the other Europeans shall be sent to the Viceroy of Canton, to wait there, that when there come ships from the respective countries, they may be sent back. The Europeans, in [Translated from the Spanish into Eng- actual service at the capital, are forbidden lish.] The Criminal Tribunal, by order of the Emperor, conformably to a Representation made by HAN, the Imperial Secretary (in which he desired that the Promulgation of the Christian Religion might be obviated) decrees as follows: THE Europeans worship God, because, in their own country, they are used to do so; and it is quite unnecessary to inquire into the motive: but then, why do they disturb the common people of the interior?-appointing unauthorizedly priests and other functionaries, who spread this through all the provinces, in obvious infraction of the law: and the common people, deceived by them, they succeed each other from generation to generation, unwilling to depart from their delusion. This may approach very near to being a rebellion. Reflecting that the said religion neither holds spirits in veneration nor ancestors in reverence, clearly, this is to walk contrary to sound doctrine; and the common people, who follow and familiarize themselves with such delusions, in what respect do they differ from a rebel mob? If there is not decreed some punishment, how shall the evil be eradicated?-and how shall the human heart be rectified? From this time forward, such European as shall privately print books and establish preachers, in order to pervert the multitude, and the Tartars and Chinese, who, deputed by Europeans, shall propagate their religion, bestowing names, and disquieting numbers, shall have this to look to:-The chief or principal one shall be executed; whoever shall spread their religion, not making much disturbance, nor to many men, and without giving names, shall be strangled, waiting the time of execution; and those who shall content themselves with following such religion, without wishing to reform themselves, they shall be exiled to He-lau-keang, &c. As for Tartars, they shall be deprived of their pay. With respect to Europeans at VOL. IX. to intermeddle with the Tartars and Chinese, in order to strike at the root of the absurdities which have been propagated. In Pekin, where there are no more Euro, peans than those employed in the Mathematics, they will not be able clandestinely to spread false religion. The Viceroys and other magistrates of the other provin. ces shall be careful and diligent. If they find Europeans within their territories, they shall seize them, and act according to justice, in order, by such means, to exterminate root and trunk.-You shall conform to this decision of the Criminal Tribunal. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM À ZEALOUS GREEK MERCHANT TO A FRIEND IN MALTA, DATED Santorino, Feb. 8, 1812. My true Friend in the Lord, NOTHING gave me so much pleasure, on my arrival at Santorino, as your two letters. I have been, as you know, in many parts of Turkey, Syria, and Armenia, and in the neighborhood of the Caspian Sea, on my business; and I hope I have done some good in those parts, by the blessing of God. I was some time in a city, called Moussull (near the ancient Nineveh) where there are some Greek Christians, and a priest, named Basil, who is a relative, as he told me, of the primary bishop of Mount Lebanon. (Among the Mar onites of the Armenian church, at Mount Lebanon, there are 12 bishops; but as they do not allow of the title of Archbishop, one is styled Primary Bishop or Primus inter Pares.) During my resi dence there, he granted me the use of his chapel to preach when I pleased. After two months residence there, not only the chapel, but a spacious square behind it, was filled. The priest celebrated mass only sometimes. He read a prayer over the heads of those who knelt before him, accompanied with imposition of hands, and 48 touching their foreheads with a relic in a shrine, for which he required to be paid. This, you know, is a custom in many parts of Greece; but which I abhor, and reproved him for thus imposing on the people. I endeavored to make him better acquainted with the Bible, which he had not got; and accordingly copied him the Gospel of John, in modern Greek; and though I employed a long time about this manuscript, I trust it may be blessed, and praise redound to God. many.] We fitted up a chapel in a wood, and baptised several, stopping there 24 days; and at my departure they gave me every thing necessary, and would escort me, for fear of robbers or assassins. I could but promise to send them a minister, if possible, to help them; and in this I had some confidence, as I was going to Nikossia, in Cyprus; but I could do nothing there with Caramili the bishop, who replied to my earnest entreaty very coolly, by saving, he must not mind those parts, but his own flock. The best way now to execute my promise, is for you to write to your good friend Grassopolo. You have nothing to expect from Smyrna, where I tried in vain. It would be a good thing if you could send one from Malta: he must be dressed as a pilgrim, and he would be well received. I can now readily believe what that impostor the Sicilian Pilgrim told us. Oh! these unfortunate countries, where only hypocrites, or pretended Christians, come for worldly gain! I shall stop here two months for your di At some distance from Moussull, at a village called Ilar-ali, I met with a Christian gentleman of some note, who directed me to some others, whom I desired to call on me the next Sabbathday at his house. They did not fail to come, and with them many who were not Christians, perhaps out of curiosity. We all knelt down and prayed together, and some wept. When they rose up, I discoursed to them of the importance of true religion; and the deplorable state they were in, if they felt it not. You cannot conceive, my friend, my spiritual satis-rections. I cannot rest if I do not go again faction: I was quite overcome by the kindness of them. Every thing I could wish was at my service; and I was forced to stay many days; during which I had service every day. We fitted up a small chapel; but I am sure things will increase there. Providence so ordered it, that the gentleman I met with at first was a person of note among the people, as a serious and opulent man. I directed him to Aleppo or to Cyprus to get a minister; but I have since been there, and am sure he will not find one good for any thing. The priest and bishops are so ignorant, that they mingle their prejudicial insignificant ceremonies; and they are very mercenar thinking only about getting money. Notwithstanding, the people of these parts of Asia are readily disposed to receive the true religion. Oh, that there were some one to make it known to them, that millions might be brought to be partakers of the benefits of the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, my friend, how vile I feel myself, that the Son of God should descend from Heaven to undergo such sufferings for my redemption! God is unspeakably great, infinite, and incomparable: yet what am I? This is a point, you know, which has caused me great distress; but from this temptation I betake myself to faith; and there I find peace! I must tell you another little circumstance which happened to me as I returned through Syria to embark. [Here the writer gives a long account of a sick person, whom he was called to visit, and in whose death he had great hope; and then he adds, the death of this man seemed to be the means of awakening to the Levant;-I feel a great affection for I hear that in Zante are arrived some modern Greek Testaments. I am sure they must have come from that grand Society in England, in whose praise we often spoke. O, that it may be but true! what pleasure shall I have! how are they needed! If you have any, send me some as soon as you can, for my little societies which I have formed, and which need them so much. Put them to my account, if it is necessary to tell you so. I am going to Tripolezza; but write to our friend Nicolai Paronzi. I shall leave the commission for the Testaments, if I do not receive them before we go. O! what pleasure is this! to have the Holy Scripture, and in the modern Greek tongue, and printed too! How much time have I emploved in copying them! According to your advice, I have endeavored to leave portions of the Bible rather than of any other book. It is better to begin with the foundation: other things will follow. Pray for me, and for Simon, my companion.-Tell your Society to pray for me. GEORGIO KAKO. CORBAN SOCIETY.. THIS Society, as our readers are aware, was formed for the purpose of assisting pious young men, in indigent circum stances, while obtaining their theological education preparatory to their entering upon the Gospel ministry. The annual report of the Directors which was made to the Society in September last, states, that "through the goodness of God the Society has had an increase of members." "The income of the Society, including subscriptions, donations in cash, and interest of money, for the year past, amounts to $339 25," ་ The Society has been able to assist all who have been recommended to its patronage. Twenty-six young gentlemen have been aided by the Society during the past year. They have received in cash $65; in articles of clothing $266 27. There remains in the Treasury $38 45, beside $200 permanent fund, and 36 43 worth of clothing. This Society is peculiarly worthy of patronage, as all its expenditures are made with great judgment, and in such a manner, as to do extensive and permanent good with comparatively small pecuniary means. It is greatly to be desired, that these means may be speedily doubled or trebled; as, in that case, the number of applicants for assistance would doubtless increase. DEDICATION AND INSTALLATION. THE New Meeting House in the third society of Abington, (Mass.) was dedicated to the worship of God, on the 27th inst. The Rev. DANIEL THOMAS read some select portions of Scripture; the Rev. SIMEON WILLIAMS made the dedi catory prayer; and the Rev. JONATHAN STRONG preached the sermon, and made the concluding prayer. In the afternoon, the Rev. SAMUEL W. COLBOURNE was installed to the pastoral care of the church in that place. The Rev. CALVIN CHADDOCK made the introductory prayer; the Rev. OTIS THOMPSON preached the sermon; the Rev. JONATHAN STRONG made the consecrating prayer; the Rev. SIMEON WILLIAMS gave the charge; the Rev. DANIEL THOMAS gave the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. RICHARD S. STORRS made the concluding prayer. DONATIONS TO FOREIGN MIS, SIONS. Oct. 21. From the Foreign Mission Society of New London, by General Huntington, $172 00 From Mr. Stephen Peck, by the same hands, 22. From the Foreign Mission Society of New Haven and the Vicinity, by Mr.T. Dwight, jun. the Treasurer, the avails of a contribution after a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Dwight, From the Female Foreign Mission Society in Cornish, (New Hampshire,) 25. From E. F. Backus, Alba- 27. From the Female Cent So- 30. From the Foreign Mission- 5.00 100 41 13 69 3 00 27 87 10 00 50 00 381 97 LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INTELLI NEW WORKS,* GENCE. MEMOIRS of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. I. Part III. Report of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; compiled from documents laid before the Board, at the Fourth Annual Meeting, which was held at Boston, Sept. 15, 1813: To which is added an address to the Christian Public on the subject of Missions and Translations. Published by direction of the Board. Boston; S. T.Armstrong. Price 20 cents. Ir is well known, that instances frequently occur of females being burnt to death, by accidentally setting their clothes on fire. The knowledge of the following discovery by Sir Richard Phillips, if universally diffused, might be the means of saving many valuable lives. He states, from the principle of the ascension of flame, that females ought to lie down as soon as they discover their clothes to be on fire;-that the progress of the flame will by that means be instantly checked; and the fire may be easily extinguished without that injury to the head, face, and throat, by which death is often occasioned. He proves his principle by the following experiments. He took two strips of printed cotton, a yard long, and on lighting one of them at the lower end, and holding it perpendicularly, it was consumed in a fifth of a minute, and the volume of flame was so strong as to rise two feet. The other piece he lighted, and placed it horizontally on a pair of tongs, so that it lay hollow. In this situation it was five minutes burning, and the flame at no time ascended an inch; and it might at any time have been extinguished by the thumb and finger. This plain and easy experiment ought to be read in the presence of the females of every family. OBITUARY. We lament to state, that the name of the illustrious and beloved GRANVILLE SHARP is found in the obituary notices, in English magazines. The following hasty tribute to his memory is taken from the Christian Observer for August last, and was doubtless written by an intimate friend of the deceased. To the politeness of Mr. Wells it is to be attributed, that we are able to give this interesting article so early an insertion. ED. PAN. AT Fulham [near London] on the 6 of July last, died GRANVILLE SHARP, Esq. in the 79th year of his age; a man of varied learning and pre-eminent philanthropy; whose life was most actively and perseveringly devoted to promote the best interests of his species, under a deep sense of his responsibility to God! He was a man of singularly gentle and modest and courteous manners; but, in a cause which he deemed important, especially when it involved the rights either of his great Lord and Master, or of his fellow men, he was no less singularly bold and intrepid. With peculiar and perhaps mistaken, views on some political and biblical subjects, which might have exposed him to be undervalued as a man of understanding; and with a style of com. position which was far from attractive, he nevertheless was a most efficient instrument in operating some mighty changes in the opinions and conduct of nations-changes which will immortalize his name, while the idea of liberty is cherished, or fearless, and unwearied, and selfdenying and successful exertions for the happiness of mankind, are admired among men. But the praise of men was not the preVailing motive to exertion with this distinguished individual. He did what he did as unto God. His fear was ever before his eyes; and the life of Granville Sharp appeared, to those who knew him, to be marked, in a very extraordinary degree, by a reference to the will of his God and Savior, as the supreme and decisive rule of his conduct; and to the influences of the Holy Spirit as the only source of strength and peace. It is scarcely necessary for us, to advert to the part which Mr. Sharp bore in the great question of the slave trade and slavery. Every one in Great Britain knows, that if, in the present day, Her soil is freedom to the feet of slaves, or, as a contemporary journalist has expressed it, 'our air has become too pure to be breathed by slaves,' it is to the constancy and intrepidity of Granville Sharp that we owe this blessing. He achieved the recognition of this grand and ennobling principle, although almost singly opposed to the lawyers, the judges, and the statesmen of the day, and although vilified and traduced by the then numerous and formidable host of slave-traders, and their friends, in Liverpool, London, and Bristol. The history of this transaction deserves a distinct and detailed record, and is full of many valuable lessons to the politician, and of much encouragement to the philanthropist. Another distinguished event in the life of Mr. Sharp, was his having presided at the meeting at which the British and Foreign Bible Society was first formed. When his death was first announced to the Committee of that Society, the Chancellor of the Exchequer being then in the chair, they adopted an unanimous resolution, expressive of the mournful pleasure they felt in recording their veneration for his character and their gratitude for his services. "In him," they proceed to remark, "the Committee recognize the venerable person, under whose auspices the Society was formed, the earliest and largest benefactor to their library, and one of the most regular, diligent, and useful attendants at the meetings for the transaction of business. While the Committee acknowledge the obligations of the Society to the extent and accuracy of his biblical learning, they feel it their duty to bear particular and affec tionate testimony to the integrity of his mind, the simplicity of his spirit, and the philanthropy of his heart. The Committee desire to bless God for having continued so long among them an instrument of so great usefulness; and they trust, that the benefit of his labors may be perpetuated and extended by the in-fluence of his example." A similar feeling accompanied the intelligence of his death, when reported to the Board of Directors of the African Institution. On a motion of his Royal Highness the Duke of Glouces ter, a deputation of the Board attended his funeral; and it has been resolved to erect a monument, with a suitable inscription, to his memory.* *A funeral sermon for Mr. Sharp was to have been preached in Fulham Church by the Rev. John Owen, then curate of that parish, whose intimate knowledge of the deceased, during the last seventeen years of his life, had qualified him in a pes culiar manner for the office. But he was prevented from fulfilling his intention by a peremptory mandate, communicated two days before the appointed time, trom the Rev. Mr. Wood,† the vicar, denying him the use of the pulpit. This ungracious proceeding, by which the feelings of so many relatives and friends of Mr. Sharp the displeasure of the vicar with the active were wounded, originated, it seems, in and successful labors of his curate in promoting the extension of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The result has been, that Mr. Owen is deprived of a cu tNot the Rev. Basil Woodd. He would have cut off his right hand sooner than ED. PAN. sign such a mandate. |