LETTER FROM REV. C. LACEY. nist system of religion, to hindooism: now, the brahmins, the conservators of idolatry, feel that they are assailed, that their system has commenced to wane; and are called upon to step forward in defence of the faith which has made them, and supports them in their dignities and emoluments. No voice exhibited and explained the doctrines of Christianity-now, tens of thousands have heard them from our lips, and retain a portion of the precious truth they have listened to. No doubt ever disturbed the mind of any among the mass of the population, that "Perhaps hindooism is not true," now, doubts are everywhere discovered to exist; they set in from the sphere of our labours and ministry, and, like a wave of the sea, are spreading wider and wider-not a book existed, but books of false religion and sin-now, every village in the country possesses many, and some of these are being daily read. The increasing light and influence of Christianity has already destroyed some of the monstrous institutions engendered by a dark, an infernal, and destructive system of idolatry. The flames of the suttee have been quenched; human sac. rifices have been abolished;* brahmins are rendered amenable to the law of criminal jurisprudence ;-punishment for embracing Christianity is done away with, and the tax by government on shrines of idolatry abolished. Not a Christian native existed from east to west of the land,-now, we have eight Churches and branch Churches, containing several hundreds of converted natives; and our schools are rearing num. bers of young persons of both sexes, who are forming families, and those families Christian locations among the people. work has commenced, and has considerably advanced; and these testimonies are many of them among the means of facilitating its progress: so that every year the general improvement will be more and more strongly developed, till converts (for conversion is a degree in its progress) will, in large num. bers, be brought into the fold of Jesus Christ. To promote the moral, intellectual, and spiritual regeneration of these degraded and miserable people, The OUR EFFORTS MUST BE INCREASED and continuous. Our labors and sacrifices have been already crowned and rewarded, and converts from time to time will still come forth to encourage our efforts; but, in a while, thousands and tens of thousands will bless us for thinking of them, and laboring for them: and when the brief scenes of time shall close, we shall reap eternal and peculiar satisfaction for having brought the Gospel here. How glad should They still exist in the tributary states. 283 I I be could I encourage the exertions of our friends at home by a relation of instances of conversion among the heathen, but I can only encourage them by the considerations with which I am myself encouraged. enjoy the immediate approbation of God in spending my life and labors here; and so may they in sending us forth, and keeping us here we are, (I mean, ourselves and they,) effectually though apparently slowly, demolishing a system of idolatry which has flourished for unknown ages, and has defied all other attempts;-the mighty super. structure is being undermined, and is cracking and splitting, preparatory to its fall, its fall to rise no more. These efforts they have largely contributed to produce; and, as the crisis comes on they do not think of slackening their efforts, much less of suspending them! How act the brave phalanx which assails the citadel of the foe? Every intimation of approaching success, serves but to stimulate their zeal and increase their efforts, and though many brave men may fall in the breach, they press on till the standards are planted on the conquered battlements, and shouts of joy proclaim the conquest effected. So we may fall, and our friends at home may fall; yet, seeing the intimations of approaching conquest, we must press onward in our labors till the enemy is subdued, and Christ shall reign in the plains of Orissa. As foremost in the band we write to tell our fellow-laborers, our help-fellows in the rear, that many and indubitable signs exist that the enemy is yielding, and the conquest is proceeding. Let them continue, and if possible, increase their efforts; and in due time, all these fair realms, at present blasted and cursed by idolatry, will yield to our Lord, the prince of peace; and his banner will wave throughout the land. I am often delighted with the grateful sense our native Christians feel and express for the Gospel and all its blessings, sent to them by, as they designate them, their brothers and sisters in England. We should like to see them much improved beyond what they are; but this improvement will occur as they recover from the physical, moral, and intellectual weakness, induced by idolatry. Meantime, they see and feel the value of the precious Gospel, and rejoice in its communications, and various privileges; and are especially thankful that our friends at home ever sent forth the tidings of revealed mercy to them. O how important it appears to me, that this precious plant has been placed in this soil! Happy are those who sent the seed, and happy are those who put it in the ground! It is bearing the fruit of everlasting life, in many instances, and must now multiply till it fills the land. (To be continued.) MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARIES. SPALDING.-On Lord's day, June 30th, two sermons were delivered in the General Baptist chapel by the Rev. I. Stubbins, on behalf of the General Baptist Missionary Society. A public meeting was held on the following evening. Mr. Butters presided. After prayer by brother Matthews, of Boston, addresses were delivered by brethren Ferneyhough, of Nottingham, Goadby, of Leicester, Stubbins, Hearnshaw, (Wesleyan) and Everard, of Gosberton. Mr. Hoe gave out the hymns, and intimated that he should be glad to receive the names of several young people as collectors. A friend promised to give five shillings each to five collectors, to encourage them in beginning. BOURNE.-Three sermons were delivered in the General Baptist chapel in this place, on Lord's-day, June 30th, by Mr. Goadby, of Leicester. A public meeting was held on Tuesday evening, July 2nd. Mr. W. Wherry presided. Addresses were delivered by brethren Deacon, Peggs, Goadby, and Stubbins. Great interest was excited by the address of brother Stubbins. In addition to the usual collections and contributions, it was announced at this meeting, that four respected friends had given a donation of £5 each for the China Mission. LETTER FROM J. POYNDER, ESQ. We have much pleasure in laying the following brief communication before our readers; but we must express our surprize that the account of Mr. Phillips, in our last, (p. 251,) should not be thought of sufficient importance for the India House. When will British patronage of idolatry cease? London, June 22, 1844. MY DEAR SIR,-Your anecdote as to the salt golahs is not formidable enough for the India House. What are all the missionaries now about, to report nothing of the annual festival of Juggernauth? -no doubt as bad as ever-but no thanks to them for their silence. Of course you saw the accouut of the court of 19th inst. Whether lord Ellenborough's madness and wickedness united, or the wickedness of agents and collectors, hindered the Bengal government report coming here, viz., that there was no pledge for this £6,000 annual payment, I cannot tell; but certain it is, the Report has been suppressed, and has never officially arrived! So much power has the god of this wretched world over it and its victims. I cannot enlarge; but you must read the statement of the court. My heart would sink but that I know the fall of heathenism, puseyism, socinianism, chartism, mahomedanism, socialism, arianism, and all other devilism, is certain. Luther said, read the 55th Psalm, I say, read the 2nd Psa., that is enough for me. Yours ever, J. POYNDER. EXTRACT OF LETTERS FROM MR. AND MRS. SUTTON. Cuttack, March 18, 1844. What can you do for the mission? Why, think about our claims. Look over the length and breath of the land; look at our few stations, and how many more are wanted? Reflect, that while we keep ostensibly the possession of the field and do not cultivate it, that we are cognizant of all these myriads going down to the grave without the Gospel! We virtually prevent others coming to their rescue. Think of it, dear brother, and be very serious and earnest in sending us more help, and may God bless you in the effort. We want a few good men who can and will work for Christ. Now is the time for our efforts to tell. Our materials are ready for the workman's hand, but the laborers are wanted. We want, as Harris says, "picked men," the very best the Churches can supply,wise, pious, devoted, hard-working, resolute, possessing, with all the required knowledge to be had, a good stock of common sense; more fond of sterling truth and sober plans, than speculations, fancies, and fickle scheming. Payne has just taken his farewell of Cuttack. He says, I now begin to feel as you do, that the Company are wrong in having anything to do with Juggernauth, and that they ought to give back his lands, and have no more to do with him." But I must say, good bye. Our united love to thy dear wife, and a kiss all round for the young ones. The proofs are gathering thick round me. Thine affectionately, A. SUTTON. MY DEAR SISTER,-I have been reading over my husband's letter and though he has united me in love to you, yet I beg in my own hand-writing to assure you of my affectionate remembrance and my warmest desires for your happiness and usefulness. I hope your dear children, some of them at least, are walking in the fear of God, and that all will chose the path of early piety. have no young immortals of my own, yet with the eighty precious souls committed by Providence to the united care of my dear husband and myself, you readily allow that I am not without my responsibilities. Sometimes I feel them to be awfully solemn. Pray that we may have "grace to be faithful," and that God would pour out upon our schools the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit. Yours in the best of bonds, IRISH CHRONICLE. FOR AUGUST, 1844. BE MEN. SOME of the supporters of Christian institutions become dispirited from what they deem past want of success; and relax in those persevering efforts which are necessary, not only to maintain our ground, but to achieve greater things. Of course we have special reference to Ireland. "Want of success" is a comparative term, unless it be total. But thousands of immortal spirits have already been the reward of evangelical labour in Ireland; not a few of whom were in connexion with the church of Rome. It would be difficult to ascertain what amount of this success belongs to each section of the church of Christ there. But the Baptist Irish Society has not been less favoured of God than any similar institution, while it is unquestionable that, for some time past, it has been more successful than at any former period. There is not space to suggest more than a few thoughts, which our Christian friends are requested to consider patiently and seriously, as men of intelligence, and then to act as men of principle; only premising, that the want of success (whatever the different estimate of its degree) is always attributed to the difficulties to be surmounted. 1. Success is not the rule of duty, but the encouragement to its full and continued performance. Were it entirely withheld, the obligation would still remain, to go forth sowing the precious seed, in faith and hope, imploring the needful blessing in earnest importunity with God. It is distinctly intimated in scripture, that patience of many days may be required to witness the result of the "bread cast upon the waters." 2. Success is not doubtful in the degree in which difficulties are presented. In both the ancient and the modern instances in which the largest amount has been realized, God has taken occasion from their most formidable appearance to glorify himself, and to magnify his word. 3. Difficulties are designed to act on the respective qualities of the Christian mind as stimulants; producing the exercise of fortitude, and perseverance, commensurate with faith in the promises of God, and the convictions arising from an experience of the power of the gospel. Thus the apostle was not discouraged in the prospect of preaching in imperial Rome. "If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small." 4. Continuous effort in the discharge of a divine requirement, when combined with suitable motives, is a moral alliance with infinite wisdom and goodness. Distrust and despair were shamefully dishonourable, like the spirit of the spies who brought up an evil report from the land of Canaan. 5. Effort itself, in circumstances of difficulty, is a part of mental and moral discipline that must be advantageous. Every single act of resistance to the tendency towards discouragement must be valuable, and this in proportion to the goodness of the cause we seek to promote. The adverse influences surrounding all evangelical effort in Ireland, and especially, in some respects, that put forth by voluntaries, is indeed great; but we must either meet them as men, or relinquish that effort altogether. Let it be considered whether the latter course can be adopted, consistently with our allegiance to Christ, who has not yet excepted Ireland from the visits of his servants. 6. The amount of apparent difficulties is not to be considered alone. There may be much at work in the interior of a system to be assailed, which, were it known, would encourage the most vigorous operations, as if the face of a fortification within had been rapidly crumbling away. There may be events transpiring, or about to transpire, to us invisibly connected, that will soon become powerfully auxiliary. The war with China, for instance, led to the introduction of the gospel there. How important to be prepared to take advantage of such movements! 7. Above all, is it desirable fully to ascertain our duty. Happily for India, the suggestions of the good men who thought the effort to evangelize her inhabitants impracticable, were not regarded. The promise of the Father, and the commission of Christ, were opposed to these, and all similar intimations. What a calamity and dishonour would the recall of Carey or Moffat have been! Next to this, is the feeble support, or relaxing effort with respect to any Christian mission. While continued, let not the voice of discouragement be heard! No one interested in Ireland's welfare will read the last Chronicle without thanking God and taking courage. Her friends will watch over their own spirits in connexion with all the events which affect her condition. They will stand fast in the faith that she will yet be Christ's, an emerald in his crown. They will quit themselves like men! C. H. The following extracts, from the letters of some of the readers, will be read with satisfaction and pleasure. PATRICK GUNNING writes, June 1: At one of my stations recently visited there were about eighteen Romanists among the congregation. I read several portions of the Irish Testament, and spoke to them from the tenth chapter of Hebrews, and showed them the wickedness of keeping the word of God from them. Several of them boldly declared, that liberty of conscience to study his word and to teach it to others was the right of all, and that no man was justified in interfering with it. Such as could read, confessed that there was nothing in the Bible to countenance such interference. At another place, where I went the following day, many left the fields and their work to listen to the truth. Some of them invited me to their houses, assuring me of a warm reception. They said to me, if the priest would read to us in our own language, we would understand him better than we do now. The man of the house observed, "I remember when priest Sheehee burned the testaments; at that time I thought he was doing God's service; but now the case is altered. I have one, and I would not suffer either priest or bishop to injure it." JOHN NASH writes under dates of April 2 and June 4. The following are extracts: At one of my stations, Tthere was a man whom I had taught to read the scriptures in Irish. The Lord was graciously pleased to show him the truth; he renounced his errors, and, instead of going to mass, he spent his time in improving his knowledge of scripture, burnt the scapulas he wore, and left the town carrying his bible with him, his employer being afraid the priest would prevent people sending work, if he kept him any longer. Passing through N- a few days since, I went into the house of a man named B The woman and many of her children were there. She said to me, "I believe it is about six years since you taught my husband to read the Irish testament, and we have suffered many troubles in consequence of the priest setting our neighbours against us. I have six children here, two more are with their father. Four are able to read the Irish testament, through the means of a neighbouring farmer, whom my husband taught to read. This farmer, likewise, has given up going to the priest." ADAM JOHNSON, under date of June 14, gives the following encouraging instances of success : I gave a testament to a man named F. a few months ago. I visited him shortly after, to give him some instruction in the Irish language. I found him and his three sons contending about the consecrated wafer. I endeavoured to show them, from the word of God, the impossibility of that wafer being both the humanity and divinity of our Lord. Christ, quoting those passages which assert The old man said he would not believe such an absurd doctrine, and has not gone to mass since. I gave a testament to one of his sons some time after, and I have hope that he will soon become obedient to the faith. I also read and expounded a few chapters in the house of a man named F- to himself and family; showing that there is salvation for the chief of sinners through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. A few IRISH CHRONICLE. days after, the priest came and told him he must quit the preaching and give up his testament. He refused to submit to the priest, because, as he said, he had been directed to the great High Priest above. The priest went off, declaring he would make him an example in the country. I visited this man again, and he says he would not give up his testament for all the priests and bishops in the world. I have given two Irish testaments to two young men named M'T, and taught them to read them in their native tongue. They told me they have given up going to mass, and are searching the scriptures daily to see whether these things are so. 287 PATRICK BRENNAN writes as follows, June 20: Since my last I have travelled through large portions of Leitrim, Roscommon, and Sligo. I inspected the schools in my district, and found them getting on well. I read the word of God in every place where I had an opportunity. Several romanists attended, and the people are very attentive. I went to the house of D. D, and this man's children learned to read the scriptures, and commit portions to memory, in one of our schools. It pleased the Lord to bring the daughter to a knowledge of the truth. When the mother had an opportunity of hearing it, God was pleased to give her a desire to know more. I trust she, too, is JOHN MONAGHAN writes, under date of growing in knowledge and grace. They are June 21st: In one of the houses where I read the scriptures in S- I met a man who showed much opposition. After much discussion on various leading points of the popish system, he asked with an air of triumph, which was the oldest religion? I replied, we had first better ascertain what religion meant, and asked him for a definition of it. He replied, to believe every thing taught by the church. I said, we should be sure the church is scriptural, before we attend to her commands. I then brought instances from scripture, Noah and his family, Lot, Moses, Daniel, and, passing on to the New Testament, showed that religion consisted, not in obedience to a church, but to God; not in the performance of ceremonies, but in reliance on Jesus; that this was the oldest religion, and the true religion, and was the religion of all sound protestants. An aged man said, "How do we spend our lives! I am now in my declining years, and never knew the right ground of religion before." My opponent added, "No, nor do I think the best informed of us ever did before hear of the right way of a sinner's acceptance with God." A third person exclaimed, "God help us, we are all ignorant, and I am afraid we shall all die in our sins." I endeavoured to set forth the Saviour's invitations to penitent sinners. I am also happy to inform you (Mr. Bates), that many who heard you when you were here, have expressed an earnest wish that you would come again soon. A romanist who attended, and whom I thought a protestant, from his assisting in singing the last hymn, after leaving the preaching-room, went into a shop, and hearing a respectable protestant use profane language, said to him, "Ah, sir, if you had heard the gentlemen that preached there beyond, just now, I think you would not make use of any language so injurious to your own soul, or so dishonourable to your Maker." much persecuted by their ungodly neighbours. One of her sons, also, was savingly converted, and was so much persecuted by his own relations that he went to Australia. These are some of the fruits of our schools. I spent four days, in company with Capt. R, visiting the poor, and reading the word in their cabins. We had a meeting every day, and spent the remainder in going from house to house. While writing this, a young man named M'G, that had an opportunity of hearing me speak to a sick woman in the workhouse, came in. He got a testament, and began to read it. An old man told the priest; and the following Sunday he spoke of him in the chapel. He came to me afterwards, and said he hoped God had brought this about for his good; " for since I began to read, my conscience was not easy; did not know how to act; but now the Lord hath opened a way. I shall not go to chapel again." He promised to attend our meetings. I read several chapters for him, gave him an Irish testament, and several suitable tracts. JOHN TALBOT mentions the following interesting fact, under date of June 1. A romanist, named T. B-, highly esteemed, and inclined to read all the authors he could get, is much resorted to by neighbours from all parts. He did his best to make them believe the Douay testament I read to them was false. I gave him the testament, and asked him to show it to the priest. I do not know whether he has done so, nor will he tell me; but it has had such effect on the people's minds, that they gave 10s. for a Douay bible, and he is continually reading it to them. His house is filled with hearers. I spent the greater part of last sabbath with them, comparing the two versions, and they agree that the difference is, not in You can the Bibles, but in the teachers. hardly believe how earnest is the spirit of inquiry among the people. |