adoption, and of the renovation of his heart, he at once exclaimed, "what must I do to be saved;" and being directed to the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," he threw himself at the foot of the cross, as a guilty, condemned sinner, and there lay, until he heard the "still small voice" proclaiming, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins," or, until he had received a consciousness of his acceptance with God. Though his life was moral, yet he was most deeply convinced of sin. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness," shone clearly in his heart, discovering unto him that "inwardly," he was "full of all manner of filthiness and uncleanness," that he had neglected to love God with all his heart, that he was an entire stranger to inward religion, that he was under the condemnation of the divine law, and that, consequently, he was liable to eternal death. His distress of mind, in con. sequence of these discoveries, was great. "The pains of hell got hold upon him he found trouble and sorrow;" and literally roared for the disquietness of his heart." But his groaning was not hid from God; neither was it of long continuance : his sorrow was turned into joy; and a new song was put into his mouth, even of praise and thanksgiving. Having drunk the "wormwood and the gall" for about a fortnight, one evening, when alone, wrestling with God in prayer with all possible importunity, he was enabled to believe in the atonement with his heart unto righteousness; and, in consequence of that act, was immediately "justified from all things, from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses." His distress and sorrow of mind then gave way to peace and joy in the Holy Ghost: his slavish fear to filial love; and his dread of death and hell, to a blessed hope of the glory of God. I have frequently heard him say that his sense of pardon and adoption was so clear, that he could not doubt for a moment that he had received those blessings; and it was really delightful to hear him quote the following lines, as expressive of his experience : "Long my imprison'd spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature's night; I woke the dungeon flam'd with light! Jesus, and all in him is mine! And cloth'd in righteousness divine, It was also evident to all who heard him make these statements, and who knew his "manner of life," that he was not deceived; for his life, in all respects, corresponded with these professions. His religion consisted not in empty forms, in saying "Lord, Lord," but in sensible communion with God, and in doing the will of his "Father which is in heaven." "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus having made him free from the law of sin and death; the righteousness of the law was fulfilled in him: he walked not after the flesh, but after the spirit;" and, as far as I was capable of judging, he adorned "the doctrine of God his Saviour, in all things." It also soon became obvious, that he had no desire to share the blessedness of a religious life alone, and that he was likely to be useful in the Church of God. Freely he had received, and he seemed resolved at once freely to give-having received the riches of divine grace himself, to do all he possibly could, instrumentally, to impart them to others. The love of God was shed abroad in his heart; and this constrained him to feel keenly for those who were "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity;" and I have often MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. T. GRANT. heard him exclaim, with an emphasis of which I can convey no adequate idea, "O that the world might taste and see The arms of love that compass me, I believe, almost immediately after his conversion, he received a powerful impression, that the great head of the Church designed him for the work of the Ministry, and it appeared to me. as though he could scarcely have lived did he not preach or promote the salvation of sinners in some way or other; and to the momentous work of saving souls he was soon called, not only by God, but also by his Church. But, before he was formally called to the work by the Church, he did, in a sense, preach the Gospel every day; for he warned all who came in his way, of the folly and danger of sin, and earnestly and affectionately exhorted them to flee to Christ, as their only refuge from eternal death. And such was his zeal, such his solicitude to do good, that in less than twelve months, he was put upon the plan of the Wesleyan preachers in the Hinckley circuit, as a Local Preacher. The first time he went out to preach, I went with him. He commenced the great work in which he expired, on Christmas day, at Sharnford, a village about three miles from Hinckley. His text was "God is love ;" and considering it was the first time, he preached with liberty and enlargement. I heard him several times after, and though I did not think he possessed first-rate abilities, I was quite convinced he was calculated to be useful." Mr. Grant's views on the subject of baptism, became decidedly opposed to those entertained by the Wesleyan body, and he, with his master, united 66 27 themselves to the General Baptist With commendable diligence, and considerable success, Mr. Grant applied himself to the study of Oreah, after his arrival at our Missionary Station at Cuttack. He frequently visited the bazar, with brother Lacey, and in the Autumn of 1842, went a Missionary tour with brother Wilkinson, and two or three native preachers. Before he returned home, Mr. Grant had symptoms of illness. On the 22nd of January, 1843, he was so far recovered as to preside at the Lord's table, and deliver a short address in Oreah. He afterwards visited a Hindoo festival with the native preachers; but, on Thursday, January 30, he was again afflicted. On Tuesday, recourse was had to more decided medical treatment, and he appeared to rally. But on Saturday, February 4th, he was suddenly seized with the pains of death, and in about half-anhour, his liberated spirit winged its way to the regions of the blessed. Thus, when he was entering on his sacred work, and the prospect of extensive usefulness was before him, Mr. Grant was taken from his labors, and another breach was made amongst our already too weakened Missionary band! May the Lord, who does all things well, stimulate our Churches to increased zeal and devotedness in his cause, and raise up amongst us a succession of devoted Missionaries, who shall be his witnesses to the ends of the earth! EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MRS. LACEY, TO MRS. PEGGS. MY DEAR SISTER PEGGS-Yours is the As your letters were six months old, we had heard all the news in various ways. About May 15, we received, through Mr. Marshman of Serampore, the March number of the Repository, containing an account of the committee at Loughborough, in February. So you see all your news flies to us now.adays you can scarcely conceive how the dis. tance between us and you is shortened. We see one or two English newspapers every month, and seem to be nearer to you than ever. I suppose you have heard of the Ærial Steam Carriage, which is just about being completed in England. It is to come to India in three or four days at least, and of course we shall hear of brother Peggs being a passenger in it, deputed from the General Baptist Missionary Society, on a visit of instruction to the Orissa Mission; after it has made two or three successful flights. I shall scarcely expect you with him the first time, as your little Mercy could not very well bear the journey, or your absence. I am now writing in what was Alkinson's English Shop. We have been here since the first of March, and hope to leave it next month, for what will be our last residence in Cuttack. We have been strangely tossed about here of late. When Sutton went to Calcutta, we let our own house in Cantonments to live in his, to be nearer the schools. When he returned in four months we hired Beetson's Bungalow, and stayed for three months, then we went back to our own. Then the major of the regiment thought he wanted our residence for two of his officers, because it was nicer than some others that were at liberly, so we *That is a letter by way of the Cape. The overland mail charging but one shilling for a letter. were obliged to give it up and let it to them. I declared that I would not live where we were in danger of being removed at any man's wish; so my husband has been building a house which is nearly finished, and in which we hope to spend the rest of our India life, or perhaps the whole of our life. The spot is about the middle of the plain, between Field's house and the fort, and just opposite a little old temple. Building is troublesome, and Lacey will be glad when he has done with it. He spends a good deal of his time there to get it done speedily. We have a small christian village near it, and the Printing-house. Sutton's and the schools are all between us and the English chapel, besides another christian village not far off. We have three villages rising up at Cuttack, inhabited exclusively by native christians. There are several houses near the English chapel, Christianpore, Societypore, Laceynoger. If you could visit Cuttack again you would see great changes amongst us. You would be shocked to hear of the death of poor brother Grant SO soon after he came amongst us. We all thought he had a poor constitution, that would not stand India long, but had no thought that he was so soon to bid adieu to earth. July 5th. This, my dear sister, is the last safe day for the overland this month. Lacey will write soon. We had a letter from Mr. J. Marshman yesterday, chiefly about government's yearly grant to Juggernaut. There was a good piece in "The Friend of India" a fortnight since. He wants Lacey's opinion about it, and infor. mation. He says the subject is much agitated at home, and this is the time to stir here. The rut jattra took place June 28th. The pilgrims have been returning in droves the last three days. About noon yesterday, a young Bengalee called with a small bundle under his arm and asked me to purchase a tooth-brush, paper, &c., when the following conversation took place in Hindostane, English, Bengalee, and Orcah, for we talked all these languages in different sentences. He was about twenty-four years of age. You have been to see the Shree Nook, (beautiful face!!) have you? Yes I arrived here on my horse last night. What are you? A native of Calcutta? Yes. Were you highly gratified with the sight of Jugger. naut? Oh yes, very pleased indeed. Did you get inside the temple walls? Yes, and LETTER FROM MR. W. BROOKS. saw all the gods there. Have you any relations with you? Yes, my mother, my aunts, two servants, and a few of my friends, we formed twelve in our party. Is there much sickness there? A great deal; plenty men die of cholera. How many do you think are dead at Pooree? O, 500, lying every where about the streets; plenty dead. Are there many on the road? Yes, many. How many? I suppose 200. Have any of your party been ill? No, I got medicine. What medicine have you? Brandy, Laudanum, Peppermint, &c. My brother is a docter at Pooree hospital. Have you a father living? Yes. What trade or caste are you? A brahmin, and live near the Circular Road. Can you read English? A little. Where did you learn? In the Padre's school for a little time. How long did you stay at Pooree? One month. How much did it cost you? One rupee per day for food, ten rupees Boze (offering) to Juggernaut. What did you give the Pundas? Sixteen rupees. What else? I gave 125 rupees to the temple. This will feed one poor beggar there, and I get much merit by it. How long is it to feed one poor man, for your life, or the lives of all your families? Oh! for ever. How do you know the Pundas will use it for such a purpose, if written before you in a book? The rajah will see it is rightly disposed of. The rajah may never hear of it, or if he does they may keep back the 100 rupees and give him the twenty-five. How can you believe these brahmins? Of course they will eat your money themselves? Well, if they do, I have given it with the best intentions, and it is accepted of my god, and if the brah.. mins throw it into the sea, let them look to that, I have secured my reward! Why wlll you be so deluded and be at so much ex. pense and fatigue to seek salvation? worship the true God. Yes, you sit in your house, and worship your God, I worship the same God; but God tell you to go one road to heaven, and tell me to go that, so I go. My way is the best for me, and yours for you. There has been a very rich gentleman from Calcutta passing through with all his people, four elephants, and palanquins without number. He gave the Pundas 2000 rupees, and it will cost him 25,000 rupees before he gets home. Aug. 9th. The last safe day for this month. Gunga Dhor has been sitting by me, having a long chat; I told him I was writing a letter to you. He said, give my nemuskar to them. Tell them to send more missionaries out, that the work may not stand still when the two padries here shall have done their work. Tell bahe Peggs never to rest while this 46,000 rupees are paid by government to the support of Juggernaut. These are his messages. Four of 29 the school boys were baptized last Lord'sday. We have a new Oreah convert, who will be baptized soon. He is from beyond Jajpore and has a wife and family. Remember us to your children. Perhaps shall write to them. Ask them to write to me or my Willey, who is at Serhampore, I hope he will answer their letter. Lacey unites with me in much love. A. LACEY. EXTRACTS OF A LETTER OF MR. W. BROOKS, TO HIS BROTHER IN LEICESTER. Dated Cuttack, Aug. 10, 1843. After describing his journey from Cuttack to Ganjam, where he took Mrs. B. for her health, he adds," Brother Wilkinson's house stands open to the sea, being not more than a mile and a half from it, with a splendid sea breeze blowing nearly all day. You will have seen accounts of brother Wilkinson's labours in the Report. I went out with him most evenings into the bazars, where he was generally listened to with a good deal of attention and apparent interest. Ganjam has in its day been a very large and important place, as its numerous fast decay. ing houses plainly testify. It has a modern built forte, with a ditch all round it, and a very large house, &c., going fast to ruin. We spent a week at Berhampore, and were very much pleased with the school, or asylum, there. The girls sing several English tunes very nicely, both in Oreah and English, knit, sew, &c., and I am quite sure that if their benefactors in England could but just see them at their work, singing the while, and think what would have been the state, temporal and spiritual, of all these but for their being placed under religious instruction, they would, from sight alone receive an ample reward for their kindness. But many of them are doubtless being trained up as heirs for immortal glory. We had received the painful intelligence of dear George's death before yours arrived. We should have liked to have been with you to follow him to the house appointed for all living. Blessed be God he has not left us without hope. It is well, infinitely so with him. He is only gone before us. "For humble faith with steadfast eye, Last Sabbath our hearts were cheered by an addition of four to the Church here. They are all boys from the school, and are all engaged in either printing or binding. One of them at least was rescued from the Khunds, another was bought by brother Sutton, for a rupee, in the time of famine. Two other boys are candidates. There is also another candidate, from a distance, of whom I know but little. But you will most likely see more particular accounts from brother Sutton. You have heard of men prostrating them selves before Brahmins. I did not witness this before I went to Ganjam; but my not seeing this before may easily be accounted for, as I am seldom out of the compound except about an hour in the evening, for a little fresh air. Brother Wilkinson and I went into a carpenter's shop, where he fre. quently gets a congregation, and while talking to the workman a Brahmin came in, when one of them cast himself at his feet. I could scarcely refrain from expressing my indignation in English, though I knew they could not understand me. I think Mr. Pike's opinion respecting a native Preacher being sent to England, will set the matter at rest. Pooroosootum is the only one who could be sent with any degree of safety but he cannot be spared. There is so much that is amiable and pleasing in him, that no one who has seen him, can help admiring him. I went out with him twice, while at Berhampore. The people were very noisy, but he spoke to them in the most affectionate manner possible. We have now been to all our mission stations. There are but three effective European laborers; and what are these amongst such an immense population? Brother Sutton's labors are confined entirely to translations and the schools on our own compound, leaving but two, viz., brother Lacey, and Wilkinson, for out-door work. There are the native preachers as well, but they like to have a European with them. Your affectionate brother, WILLIAM. MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARIES. BARTON, &c.—On Lord's day, Nov. 26th, &c., the friends at Barton, and in the neighbourhood, held their annual services in aid of the Foreign Mission. Sermons were preached on the Sabbath, at Barlestone, Barton, and Market Bosworth; collections at each place, respectively, £1. 17s., £4. 5s. £2 14s. On Monday afternoon, a public meeting, followed by a tea meeting, was held in the Chapel at Congerstone; the profits of the tea amounting to £3. 7s. 6d., for the Orphan Asylum, at Berhampore. Missionary meetings, of a most interesting and impressive character, were held on the evenings of the 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th, at Congerstone, Barton, Newbold, and Bagworth. Collections £2., £4., 8s., £1., 16s., 6d., £3.; making a total, in collections and subscriptions, for the year, of about £54., 10s., £15., or nearly so, more than usual. We were favored on the Sabbath, and at all the other meetings, with the presence and help of brother Stubbins. His statements and appeals, were deeply interesting and impressive, and we cannot but feel, that his return to his native land, and his visits to the Churches, will be overruled for great good. The other speakers were, the Revds. J. G. Pike, Buckley, Moody, (Independent,) J. Derry, and J. Cotton.-J. C. On the Saturday following the delightful and soul-cheering missionary meetings in Barton and the neighbourhood, I set off for SMALLEY where I was appointed to preach on Sunday afternoon; but as brother Wilders was very unwell I engaged to take the night service also. The congregations were good, and the collections amounted to about £2. 16. On Tuesday, brother Buckley and myself went forward to Nottingham, to hold meetings in the out-stations of Stoney Street Church. Meetings were held at Arnold, Carlton, New Lenton, Hucknall, Ruddington, and Bulwell-and sermons were preached on Sunday, 10th, by Mr. Buckley, at Prospect Place, and Hyson Green-and by myself at Old Basford. The whole of the collections amounted to something less than £12. The attendance at the first three meetings was far from being so good as could have been desired, owing chiefly, perhaps, to their not having been sufficiently notified; there was however a very gratifying improvement in all the lat. ter meetings. A very good feeling seemed to prevail in all, and at the close of each, several friends came forward to engage themselves as regular collectors. The Lord bless and encourage them, and as he has inclined some to collect, may he incline many to give, to send the gospel to their perishing brothers and sisters in India! The speakers generally, were brethren Hunter, W. Stevenson, treasurer, B. Wood, Buckley, and myself; and on one occasion, brother Ferneyhough, and on another, brother Peggs. It is but due to the three first dear friends to state, that we received every possible kindness and attention from them, and that their presence, as well as their appropriate and stirring addresses, could not fail to do good. It is equally due to Mr. Palethorpe, to mention his kindness in conveying us, and other friends, from one place to another. Another thing I may mention is, that several of our Nottingham friends have engaged to make up a box of useful articles as presents, especially for our dear native preachers in Orissa. ! 1 |