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142

Letter from a tutor to his pupil,

To

duct, however outwardly moral; no performance of services, how ever regular and exact, can of itself form a truly religious character. -This is the work of the Holy Spirit-he must teach you your total depravity, and renew you in the spirit of your mind. him therefore you must look as your instructor-your comforteryour sanctifier.-Depend upon the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon of sin, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified in heaven.

Pay the greatest attention to all the ordinances of religion and to the various means of grace.

The Bible is the book of God; read it daily and attentively with meditation and prayer to the Holy Spirit to impress it upon your memory, explain it to your understanding, and apply it to your heart. Regularly attend the preaching of the word upon the Lord's day, and at other times as opportunity may occur.

Never

let the Sabbath be profaned by you, either in journeying, visiting, or walking for pleasure. Let your petitions ascend to the Father of mercies for His presence and blessing-on no account restrain prayer before God.

'The benefits and adyantages of religion should often engage your thoughts-you will be preserved from a thousand snares, and possess the sweetest consolation.

sions.

'Tis religion that can give

Sweetest pleasures while we live,
'Tis religion must supply
Solid comforts when we die.
After death its joys shall be
Lasting as eternity.

II. Let me next call your attention to the government of your pas The passions in youth are strong. Unrestrained by the curb of religious principles and motives, they will lead you into every disorder, they will precipitate you into destruction. Flee, therefore, from every youthful lust. Constantly pray for grace to regulate your affections and subdue your self-will: contemplate your fallen depraved state as a sinner, to repress every proud thought and haughty disposition: watch against improper desires, and should you feel their obstinate struggle for victory, pray for› strength from God to resist them, that you may return from the contest a conqueror over yourself, the most formidable of enemies.

III. Avoid all scenes of temptation open and disguised. Against visiting the theatre I must expressly caution you; there you may be amused, but you cannot be profited. The lewd, profane, and unprincipled characters that are to be found amongst those who resort there; the nature of the pieces exhibited, and the expense of admission, are some of the imperious reasons for your abstaining from those haunts of folly and dissipation. Nor can I think more favourably of cards; if, as in amusement, it were innocent, yet it is at best very trifling and childish; it wastes precious time, promotes evil tempers, induces an idle habit, conducts to gaming, and often to suicide; it indisposes the mind for retirement and study, affords opportunity for scandal, and seeins adapted for none but

Letter from a tutor to his pupil.

143.

persons of weak minds and slender abilities, who ought rather to employ their hours in gaining real knowledge, than to waste it in a manner so disgraceful to an immortal being. Be firm in your aversion from evil company. Should you step on the forbidden ground of a tavern, except when business demands, I tremble at the consequences. Many young men have, by this way of spending their evenings, contracted the most injurious habits, and by mixing with persons of improper sentiments, gradually imbibed erroneous, and even vicious principles.

Hitherto I have spoken of outward scenes of temptation, but there are others more disguised, and consequently more seductive and dangerous. You ought therefore to examine carefully whatever presents itself to your notice, and reject all that the Sacred Scriptures either directly or consequentially condemn.

IV. Form a proper estimate of the world It will appear to you pleasant and desirable, but it is deceitful, and like the prince of darkness, often transforms itself into an angel of light, till its specious covering is removed, and then its true character is exhibited, "vanity and vexation of spirit." What are worldly pleasures but concealed torments! what are its honours but fading wreaths! what are its riches, but discontented sojourners? in a word, its ways and customs are evil, its promises vain, and its applause dangerous. O, my dear Thomas, be firm in your attachment to God and religion; suffer neither the flatteries, the ridicule, nor the threats of the world to lessen your concern for your eternal happiness, but say to every such seducer,

O tell me no more of this world's vain store,
The time for such trifles with me is now o'er;
A country I've found, where true joys abound;
To dwell, I'm determin'd, on that happy ground.

V. Let your general conduct be governed by the Bible. Maintain a strict regard to truth in all your words and expressions; never habituate yourself to equivocation, for between truth and falsehood there is no medium. Avoid profane swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain. Be just in all your actions. Integrity will procure you the esteem even of your enemies. Regard temperance; let your moderation be known to all men. Waste not your hours in unnecessary sleep: early rising is the key to knowledge, health, and riches. Beware of eating and drinking to exCESS. A drunkard is scarcely fit company for a beast; no object. can be more contemptible. The Persians caused their slaves to be intoxicated, and then exhibited to their children, to inspire them with a detestation of this vice.

While I would caution you against rudeness and clownishness, I would equally admonish you against that excessive politeness. which grows into effeminacy. In your general conduct observe decorum and propriety, and avoid every remark that might offend the chaste ear; obscene expressions, and even insinuations, render a person despicable and disgusting. It should be your desire always to profit and never to offend by your conversation. Many young men, by a conduct in this respect justly called scandalous, merit no higher appellation than that of "filthy talkers."

144

New Tract and Missionary Societies.

Finally. Let me entreat you to keep in view the awful reali ties of eternity; a regard to them will, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, moderate your passions, calm your temper, solemnize your mind, endear to you the Scriptures, render the Lord Jesus Christ invaluably precious, and counteract the influence of a gay and sinful world. "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ" to receive our final sentence to happiness or misery, Heaven or hell! Dreadful alternative! Let the solemn thought impress you with the importance of being a decided character.

These remarks I commit to your careful perusal and serious refection. May I at last meet you on the heavenly shore, and the praises of God and the Lamb be our eternal employment.

I am, my dear Thomas,

Your most affectionate friend and tutor,

NEW TRACT SOCIETY.

R. C. [Youth's Mag.]

The "Bethany Tract Society" has been formed in Livingston County, Kentucky. The members agree to abstain entirely from the free use of ardent spirits, and use their personal influence to deter others from indulging in so pernicious a practice; and reprove and discountenance profane swearing, Sabbath-breaking, gambling, &c.-The object of this Society is explicitly stated by the Managing Committee in the following words :-"The members of our Society are few in number, and of low worldly circumstances; but hearing of the great things which God has done in other parts of the world by means of a few religious tracts, we are encouraged to contribute our mite, humbly hoping that God, who has chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty, will make such a use of this little Society, as that it may prove a blessing, not only to the members, but likewise to many of our poor neighbours, who are destitute of the common means of grace and instruction." A Female Society has also been formed in the same place for the distribution of Tracts. [Chilicothe Recorder.]

18401

Communicated for the Christian Herald.

A Society has lately been formed by a number of pious ladies in Savannah, (Georgia,) styled The Savannah Female Mite Society for Missionary purposes.-Their object is to provide Missionaries for the destitute in their own state, and assist in extending the kingdom of the Blessed Redeemer among the heathen.

NAMES OF THE OFFICERS.

Mrs. Stiles, First Directress; Mrs. Early, Second Directress ¿ Mrs. A. Smith, Secretary; Miss A. Jones, Treasurer.

Other Managers.

Mrs. Stark, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Wall, Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Lethbridge, Mrs. Hart, Miss Dunning, Miss Barron.

A number of ladies of the congregation of the South Dutch Reformed Church in this city have contributed thirty dollars to constitute their Pastor, the Rev. James M. Matthews, a member for life of the American Bible Society also thirty dollars to constitute him a member for life of the Young Men's Missionary Society of New-York.

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. III.]

Saturday, May 31, 1817.

[No. 10.

THE CARAITE JEWS.

In No. 9, 10 & 16, of our 2d volume, we published some interesting extracts of the correspondence of the Rev. Robert Pinkerton, on his late tour in Russia, Poland, and Germany, to promote the object of the British and Foreign Bible Society. We recently received a large collection of letters of that worthy and indefatigable labourer in this great cause. We shall furnish our readers occasionally with extracts from this highly important correspondence. We now present them with one dated

Bahchisaray, June 16, 1816.

THE romantic situation of this ancient Tartar capital, in a narrow deep vale between two ranges of huge perpendicular rocks, the ancient palace of the descendants of Djinge Khan, with its fast decaying remains of Asiatic luxury, and Tartar royalty; the numerous fruitful little gardens attached to almost every Harem in the city, each encompassed with high walls, erected by the morose jealousy of the Moslem race, to exclude the female sex for ever from the view of strangers, together with 32 Mosques, and their towering Minnerets, and 79 fountains of the purest and most wholesome water-combine to render the situation whence I now address you, striking and interesting to the view of the traveller. But it is not with the view of describing the romantic scite of Bahchisaray, and the customs of its Tartar inhabitants, that I resolve to write to you at this time. A gracious Providence has given me a theme of a nobler kind, has been pleased to lead me to this place for purposes more intimately connected with the temporal and eternal welfare of the Tartar race. Permit me therefore to give you a simple statement of facts.

pro

The next day after the establishment of the Tauridian Bible Society, in Sympherpole, I took my departure for Sevastopol, in company with one of the Vice-Presidents, Colonel Taranoff, a man heartily attached to the cause of Christ, and a zealous moter of the object of Bible Societies. We lodged at the beautiful seat of His Excellency the Governor, eighteen wersts from Sympherpole, and arrived, the next day, at the sea-port town of Sevastopol. Here we succeeded in extending the interests of the Bible Society, far beyond expectation; and the Greek Metropolitan, with several other persons of distinction, not only subscribed themselves Members of the Institution, but engaged to become correspondents and co-labourers in the work, with the Committee. in Sympherpole, and by every means in their power to turther the benevolent objects of the Society. From Sevastopol we ar

K.

146

Visit of Rev. Robert Pinkerton.

rived, last evening, at this place, where we found a most hospitable reception in the house of of a rich Greek Merchant, also a cooperator in the cause of the Bible Society. This morning early we set out on horseback to visit the ancient Jewish fortress, situated on the summit of the rocks, about two wersts above the city, inhabited by Caraite Jews, and denominated Dschoufait Kalé.When we had ascended about half way up the narrow track along the side of the rocks, we met with one of their chief Rabbies, called Aaron, to whom our conductor introduced us, and who im. mediately returned with us, to show us the place. I entered into conversation with this intelligent Rabbi, in the Tartar language, who replied with an unexpected freedom and openness to all my inquiries respecting the situation, opinions, and customs, of his brethren, the Caraim of Dschoufait Kalé, towards which place we were approaching slowly. Among other interesting particulars, I here first obtained information of a fact which afforded me inexpressible joy-that the Caraim were in possession of a translation of all the books of the Old Testament in the Tartar language! This piece of intelligence immediately engrossed my whole attention;-Aaron promised to procure me a sight of a copy. At length we reached the summit of the rocks, and entering the fort, proceeded through several winding narrow lanes, and halted at the gate of their chief synagogue. Here we were met by the principal Rabbi, a reverend old man, who gave us a friendly welcome. We entered the Synagogue, and were soon surrounded by the elders of the people, to whom I made known whence I came, and the object of my journey. I spoke to them of the exertions now making in every quarter of the world to spread abroad the word of God, the Old and New Testament, among all nations. They heard with attention, and wondered much at the particulars which I related to them. I then produced a single copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew, which I had brought with me, in the Hebrew tongue, and a copy of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews, in the same language, and presented them to the principal Rabbi, who accepted them most willingly and thankfully. I told him that they were published by a Society in London, and that in a short time I hoped to be able to send him all the books of the New Testament in the Hebrew language. He again expressed his acknowledgments for what I had given him, and assured me that they would be very happy to obtain a copy of the remaining books of the New Testament. Rabbi Aaron told me, that he was promised a written copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew in Hebrew, taken from that which I had given to their principal Rabbi. He pleaded with me for a copy of the Epistle to the Hebrews also. I had only two copies remaining, and I gave him one of them, which afforded him great pleasure.

T

In the mean time, our conductor Aaron was in search of the Tartar translation. He was not long in procuring me a sight of a beautiful copy of the five books of Moses, in the pure Jagatai Tartar, written in the Hebrew character. He informed me, that

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