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this country had their rise from this school." Sunday Schools are now established in gre at numbers in this country; so that upwards of 5,000 Children are instructed, who used to Tange the strets."- Sunday Schools are also established almost all over this country, au d'are rapidly spreading"

Mr. MAY arrived in India in August, 1812. His subsequent zeal in this province in the establishment of Schools, for Native Children, and also the pains he took in imparting reli gious instruction to the children of Europeans, 1.re matters of too general notoriety to need 1specification in this Preface. But, alas! the period was at hand, that was determined by an inscrutable yet all-wise and merciful Pro vidence, to be the boundary of his mortal existence. By a singular coincidence he entered Calcutta on the 11th August, in order to begin his race in India, and on the same day of the same mouth of the year 1818, he entered Calcutta to close it. In the beginning of the month he was attacked at Chinsurah by a fever. The disorder gaining strength; he was induced to come to Calcutta, that the best advice might be obtained; but, alas! eve.ry attempt proved vain, and on the day after his arrival he breathed his last.

The zealous and humble state of his mind a short time previous to his death, will in part appear from two extracts of a letter, written by him at that period to an intimate and par ticular friend,

Extracts

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Extracts of a letter dated Chinsurah, 17th July, 1818. "I was thinking about these instructions last evening till near 12 o'clock, and at the same time praying for "their success. Othat GOD may support our weak endeavours to promote his glory."—" Indeed I feel myself at times so totally unworthy of being employed in the Lord's work, that I am surprized that he continues to spare me, when I am only as a cumberer of the ground. O for the fruits of holiness! I am but a barren Fig-tree, leaves in plenty, but no fruit. I often feel dead, dull, lifeless, and wonder that I am permitted to open my month at all for him. O for that blood of sprinkling that speaketh bet ter things than that of Abel; that peace which passeth all understanding, and that faith which exalts the mind above the world; pray for me, that my faith fail not. I am often afraid, my strength is weakness. My easily besetting sins impede my journey, they keep me from running so swiftly as I might otherwise do, if I would lay aside every weight. God knows what is best, he is greater than our hearts, better than our fears, stronger than our strength, wiser than our wisdom, higher than our thoughts."

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During his illness the spirit of self abasement, manifest in the latter extract, was much increased even to such a degree that at times he doubted, he said, whether one so unworthy as himself could be accepted. But towards the close of the disor

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der which terminated his life, his mind was comforted, and he found joy and peace in be lievingi "I build upon the foundation, CHRIST," said he. "Oh the value of a preached CHRIST."-"JESUS is precious to my soul." And to the afflicted partner of his joys and cares he with tender earnestness said, 66 Oh, live near to CHRIST." Such was the tenor of his expressions during the last hours of intellectual composure that the disorder granted him, and even after his mind became delirious, the bent of his soul towards the Lord Jesus was manifest: imagining in his delirious moments that some one had brought him a present of gold and silver, he said "I want not gold and silver, it is the LORD JESUS CHRIST whom I want."

To shew the esteem in which Mr. MAY was held by all denominations of Christians, the three following Extracts from let ters of condolence received by the writer of this preface, shortly after the afflictive event, may be inserted.

Extract of a note from the Revd. Mr. WARD of Serampore." Be assured, we all very deeply feel for the loss the rising generation have sustained in the removal of your and our dear brother MAY. Who should now say, I am secure?' Who shall say that he has a minute of Missionary time to spare? Oh that we may feel the rod and hear the voice that speaks to us from the grave of our dead brother"

Extract

particular friend, England. "He Well do I know every thing that

Extract of a note from a a Member of the Church of was a truly catholic spirit. how much he mourned over was unseemly or likely to diminish love in any denomination. I have heard him often advert to such things and suggest measures to remedy them. His being offered four pulpits of four denominations in one day in New York, is a fact worth mentioning, not so much as it res, pects him, as the peaceful catholic spirit there. His good temper was remarkable. This was one cause why Children loved him so much. He was open to advice and received reproof in a Christian manner. He was very fond as a husband, trusty as a friend, and affectionate

as a son.

Extract of a note from the Revd. Dr. BRYCE, Minister of the Church of Scotland. "I have heard with deep regret of the death of Mr. MAY. Although I had not the pleasure of being much acquainted with him, I have always admired the integrity of his character, and have uniformly regarded him as a man to whom the rising native generation were already laid under the greatest obligations, and who, if Providence had spared his life, would have contributed much to the diffusion of knowledge and religion in this country."

As it respects the Lectures contained in this volume, after what has been above stated, it would be superfluous to subjoin more by way of recommending them to the

kind reception of the Christian Public, espe cially such as have youth under their controul or care.

In favour of Mr. MAY's talents, as an author in this particular department, it might however be permissible to add, that his first publication, entitled" LECTURES TO THR YOUNG, ON INTERESTING SUBJECTS," has met with so much approbation as to have passed through four or more editions, and that in the Eclectic Review for March 1817, the work is thus noticed: "For the office in which Mr. MAY here presents himself, he appears to possess no ordinary talent; and we cannot, after the perusal of his work, hesitate to describe it as a real acquisition to the religious public."-"In these addresses the teacher has adopted a familiarity of manner, and a simplicity of style, which are well adapted to the capaci ties of the young; and he has enlivened them by the introduction of several unexceptionable and interesting anecdotes."

May the present volume be attended by the Divine Blessing, and prove a blessing to many, is the prayer of the friend of the departed Author, and the servant of the Public,

H. TOWNLEY,

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