The following are extracts from the address to the missionaries in New Zealand. deeply injured race of my fellow-creatures, sent is a day of distress and gloominess, as the constituting a part of the innumerable inherit- morning spread upon the mountains, before ance of the Lord Jesus, I leave their shores illumined by the brightness of the rising sun; with a peaceful and easy mind;-at the same a day when some, struck with dismay as when time, comforted under a belief, that the ad- a standard-bearer fainteth, are ready to exdress to the missionary establishment will now claim with Elijah the prophet of the Lord,circulate to every member; many of whom "I only am left, and they seek my life." could not possibly have been present at a "Oh! the depth of the riches, both of the transitory interview, however regularly ap- wisdom and knowledge of God! how unpointed. On looking at this subject, I have searchable are his judgments, and his ways thought that the conflict of mind I have lately past finding out!" Who among the sons of the had to pass through, might be the means gra- mighty, at this cloudy season, can develope ciously vouchsafed, to beget in me a willing- the strength of the remnant of the called and ness to prepare the address. My desire is, chosen and faithful, when the penetrating eye that by it, and through it, the great name may of the holy prophet, strong in the power of be exalted, and the kingdom of Christ Jesus the Spirit, was ignorant in his day of calamity in the heart better understood and believed in, and distress, that the Lord had seven thousand than heretofore has been the case, in the minds men that had not bowed the knee to the image of many. May the Lord on high prepare the of Baal? It is enough for mortal man to be ground, in which it may, as seed, be sown; allowed to participate in the things that are and may He bless it with fertility to bring revealed, and no more is required from each forth fruit that will lastingly remain ;-that of us in return, than sufficient ability is given He may be glorified thereby. us to perform: our own individual duty is all we have to attend to, or shall be accountable for. It is not for us to say, "and what shall this man do?" lest the reproof should be ours, "what is that to thee? Follow thou me." So that while surrounding circumstances exhibit ample cause for lamentation, and mourning and woe; still we must not shrink, nor suffer ourselves to be drawn aside from following our Lord and Master, by searching after secret things which belong unto God, or in brooding over results beyond our reach, and our power to control. Our insidious adversary will not fail to prompt to any exercises calculated to prevent our seeking after that knowledge which giveth life; and the more plausible the engagement of mind, the less we suspect that a snare lies beneath. It is no matter to him, how near the Christian's path we may tread, if not in it; we are the more lulled into mistaken security: even under the semblance of promoting the cause of religion, our attention may be so unsuspectingly but completely engrossed, that the great work of labouring in our own vineyards, of seeking salvation in our own hearts, may be overlooked and neglected. It is of little consequence by what bait the grand adversary succeeds; his purpose is fully accomplished, if we are but kept destitute of that knowledge which is life eternal. 'Finding that I have no longer any place in these parts, and being at the same time restrained from journeying forward, as when the cloud rested on the tabernacle formerly, I have endeavoured to wait in singleness of heart at the posts of wisdom's gate. I find that, before being liberated from the Bay of Islands, there is something due on my part to the members of the mission; for whom I feel too much love to withhold any thing, that may tend to strengthen or encourage them on their way to the everlasting kingdom. 'In communicating what may be unfolded to my view, should it be my lot to impart any spiritual benefit, let it be remembered, that it is the Lord, from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift, and that the writer is but an unprofitable servant. 'Among the different isles that stud the capacious bosom of the Pacific, to which my steps have been directed, opportunities have most unexpectedly presented, for seeing the different members of the respective missions with their families, concentrated at one place; but in New Zealand, circumstances not only local, but of a deeply affecting nature, combine to render this impracticable, if not impossible. I have therefore no alternative, but through this medium to salute you on the broad basis of the gospel; which, expanding to earth's utmost bound, embraces all, while it ever breathes in angelic unison, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will toward men.' 'We live in no common times, and the pre 'To the heart that is upright and fixed, trusting in the Lord, the trials and conflicts of time are highest, richest blessings, operating like a weight of costly treasure on a pillar erect; the greater the burden, the firmer and stronger it stands, and the closer it presses the foundation. All the sufferings of the present time permitted to assail us, are not worthy to be compared to the glory revealed in that man; 'In the course of the last two years, I have had an opportunity of witnessing the attempts that are making to benefit the benighted inhabitants of various islands in the Southern and Northern Pacific Ocean, and have been enabled to visit almost without exception, the solitary and secluded allotments of those engaged in this important work. Although this has been but partially the case in New Zealand, yet opportunities have been afforded of seeing the faces of many of the members of this extensive mission from remote places, as well as of those who reside in this immediate neighbourhood, who with others scattered among the different isles, where my lot has been cast, are dwelling among strangers, in a strange land. Having myself dwelt among a people whose language I could not understand, gives me to know the heart of a stranger, and to feel for him; and I also know his only place of safety and refuge to be Christ Jesus the Lord-if He be with us, we have nothing to fear, for He is love itself, and "perfect love casteth out fear." It is that which revives and animates the fainting, wayworn traveller, to persevere in the tribulated path. It is the effect of this heaven-born principle, and the true dignity of its nature, to sustain the Christian with fortitude and innocent boldness, above the torments of fear, and far from the reach of terror. Christ: so shall we be in a capacity to benefit others. My desire is, that none of us may be contented with saying, we hope that we are led and guided by the Holy Spirit; for I can tell you, "in the word of the truth of the gospel," that no man led by the Spirit of the Lord can have any doubt or hesitation on this account, any more than he can doubt the shining of the sun, when he sees it at noonday: the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein, or be mistaken. If we are not in possession of this inestimable gift, the fault is our own, we have the word of a King for it, even the King of saints, and King of kings;-"ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you:" again, "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." But then it must be sought in faith, and as by those that have none in heaven but the Lord, nor in all the earth in comparison of Him. It must be sought as prescribed by the lip of Truth himself, "first ;" and before every earthly consideration whatever: "seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Without strict compliance with the terms "seek ye first," we ask and receive not, because we ask amiss. Let none be discour aged; there is no cause for it. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," but the words of our King "shall not pass away;" his promises are yea and amen for ever. "Seek and ye shall find;" but let us seek aright: for "the Lord is good unto them that wait for him—to the 'Although my tarriance has been but short soul that seeketh him;" and for the encouramong you, it has been long enough to allow agement of such as thus seek and wait for the me to witness the upright devotedness of heart coming of the Lord's holy Spirit, like those and intention, of some whom our intercourse who watch for the morning, after a dark and has given me an opportunity to know and dismal night of peril,-for such as these, the love; and to feel and sympathize with them. gracious promise through the inspired proI am also aware of the great difficulties to be phet is designed, that they "through patience encountered in the prosecution of the cause and comfort of the scriptures might have of truth and righteousness, and of the many hope:"-"the Lord whom ye seek, shall sudobstacles thrown in the way by the agents of denly come to his temple, even the messenger Satan but if the work be the Lord's, it will of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold assuredly prosper, though "the heathen" he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts." The should "rage, and the people imagine a vain heart of man must be purified and cleansed, thing;" however "the kings of the earth" may before it can become the temple of a pure and "set themselves, and the rulers take counsel to- holy God. "But who may abide the day of gether." "He that sitteth in the heavens shall His coming? and who shall stand, when He laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision." appeareth?" Truly nothing in man or of 'I believe that you are all desirous of know- man ;-self must be cast out, and all that being the Lord for yourselves; and I feel bound longs to it: for "He is like a refiner's fire and to encourage you to follow on to know Him, like fuller's soap. He shall sit as a refiner desiring to be your companion in a pursuit of and purifier of silver; and He shall purify such eternal consequence; for in the same the sons of Levi, (the priesthood He himself proportion as we ourselves grow in the saving hath chosen,) that they may offer unto the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Lord an offering in righteousness;"-even name. Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. At that day ye shall ask in my name, and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." those whom He hath chosen and called to been our petitions, because not in the name, proclaim the glad tidings of His gospel in His not in the power of the Spirit of the Lord name and by His power and authority, having Jesus, but in our own strength, time and will. their feet shod with His holy sanctifying prep-"Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye aration. O! how great is the work to be shall ask of the Father in my name, he will give done in the heart of every individual, before it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my it is fit for the reception of this heavenly guest, who only dwelleth in the temple of an undefiled heart! How many baptisms have we to pass through, in order to purify and prepare us for the knowledge of the "only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent" once in a body of flesh on the earth, but who now appears by the eternal Spirit in the heart of every man. We have great instruction from the narrative in holy writ, of the preparation which Elijah had to pass through on Mount Horeb, before he was in a situation to discern the "still small voice." He had first to witness "a great and strong wind to break in pieces the rocks,”—as a figure of that power, which alone can subdue and soften the rocky and obdurate nature in the human heart;"but the Lord was not in the wind." "And after the wind, an earthquake,"-another needful dispensation for the reduction of the creature, and the shaking and separating of the earthly part, and every thing in man that cannot abide the day of the Lord's coming, or stand when he appeareth." But the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire;"-that searching, consuming, baptizing element-the fire of the Lord, that consumes not only that which is light and chaffy, but also the dross and tin and reprobate silver; that nothing may remain, but what can endure and abide the trial, as pure gold." But the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice." This ordeal we must all pass through, according to our measure: it is the great work of regeneration; and in order to hear this "still small voice," we must ourselves be still, as with our faces wrapped in a mantle. The prince of this world must be cast out, and his strong holds pulled down; all our imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God must be cast down, and brought into captivity unto obedience, before we can know Christ to be in us, "the hope of glory." The silence of all flesh must be attained: the creature must cease from its own willings and runnings and strivings: the holy command must be obeyed," be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen I will be exalted in the earth." Blessed and happy are they, who thus seek, and thus find; and having found, to them the glorious day is come, when whatsoever they shall ask the Father in the name of the Son, He will do it. Before this day, how vain have 'I am reminded instructively of the confirming expressions of our dear Lord on another occasion, which prove to me how little can be done for the benefit of others, until the great and necessary work is first wrought in ourselves. Addressing Simon with the other disciples, he said, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." As a stream cannot rise higher than the fountain from which it issues, so it is impossible for any to instruct others further than they themselves have learned in the school of Christ. Let us then seek, until we find the prize immortal. Let us be determined to know nothing, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Let nothing on earth prevent us from coming to the life-giving knowledge of the Holy Spirit of this crucified, risen, and glorified Lord, in our own hearts; for unless we are crucified with Him to the world, and the world unto us, we can never rise with Him into life. And why should not we in this our day, be as complete as the Colossians, to whom the great Apostle writing, said, "and ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power; in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." The great apostle of the Gentiles and his contemporaries preached "Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God," unto salvation. Alas! we may see and believe from the conduct and conversation of thousands in this our gospel day, and these too in the higher walks of life, as well as in every other, without exclusion of sex, age, or condition,—that however this may be overlooked and unheeded, the same will judge these unhappy mortals at the last day. They will then remember how they have been striven with on particular oc- the apostolic language, and say from blessed casions, when the Lord's visitations have been experience, "I am crucified with Christ: extended towards them in love indescribable; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth staining the glory of this world in their sight; in me: and the life which I now live in the wooing, entreating, warning, and as when flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, reasoning "of righteousness, temperance, and who loved me, and gave himself for me.” judgment to come," making them afraid; "Happy is that people that is in such a case: stirring up the precious principle of life, pro- yea, happy is that people, whose God is the cured by the shedding of a Saviour's blood; Lord." In Him they live; in Him they die; as when "an eagle stirreth up her nest, flut- and with Him they are everlastingly blessed. tereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings," to strengthen, cherish, and save. A day will certainly come upon them as a thief in the night, unless averted by "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," when such will have, in spite of themselves, to look upon Him whom they have so long pierced; when they will find this "still small voice" to be the voice of the Lord in Spirit, "powerful and full of majesty," to the guilty soul. The judge standeth at the door-He who when on earth in the body prepared for him, told those who then disregarded His holy voice, that his words should judge them at the last day;-"I judge no man," said he;—"the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." "Then let us press towards the mark for the "The love in which this is dictated, still flows in my heart towards you, and in the same I trust it will be received. And now let me commend you in apostolic language, "to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified;" even that eternal word, which liveth and abideth for ever.* I remain your affectionate friend, &c. 'D. W.' Henry Freeling, off Paihia, Bay of Islands, * First month 18th, 1837.' A COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE MIS- 'Church Missionary Society's Station, Paihia, Bay of 6 'Before you bid adieu to New Zealand, we take prize immortal, the prize of the high calling this opportunity of expressing the pleasure, and, of God in Christ Jesus: let us be found striv ing together for the faith of the gospel; until we all come into the unity of the same, and thereby grow in grace and stature from measure to measure, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us not stop short, until we have obtained the like precious faith, once delivered to the saints;-the true faith of the gospel, which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and giveth victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave. A historical or traditional faith, or one that admits of a continuance in sin, is dead and unavailing; but the faith of the gospel is a living, operative principle, an impenetrable shield: it quencheth the fiery darts of the wicked, disarmeth sin, justifieth its happy possessor, and giveth peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; from whom alone it must be obtained, and for it we must all come to Him, in the humility and simplicity of little children; of whom is the kingdom of hea. ven, though they be upon earth "the poor in spirit." It is Jesus alone who imparts this heavenly treasure,-faith: He is the blessed author and finisher of it, and from him we must receive the precious gift into our hearts. "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith," to those who walk in the obedience thereof; it is indeed the life of the just, a glorious reality to those who are crucified with Christ, and live thereby. These can adopti we hope, the edification we have derived, by your unexpected coming to this country. 'We had heard of your benevolent mission to other islands of these seas; but we now have to record the higher gratification of having seen you and your affectionate son amongst us. 'We regret, that circumstances of war and tumult have not made it desirable for you to visit the more extensive field of our labour, south of the Bay of Islands. But we do hope, that the places favoured by your Christian example and addresses, may have seen and heard to profit, and that "at the last day" it may be found that your sojourn here has not been in vain. 'One effect of your visit to New Zealand has been to remind us, that though "there are differences of administrations, it is the same spirit" which actuates the whole of Christ's mystical body, "the Church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven." With gratitude, also, we have to acknowledge your liberal bestowment of school-books, tracts, clothing for natives, medicines, &c., which will remain behind you as a memorial of your Christian kindness. "The pleasure of our meeting together, is, alas! now embittered by the painfulness of separation;but our high calling entitles us to the privilege of a friendship, which is not interrupted by distance or time. We cannot, however, at your advanced age, and the immense distance which will ere long separate us, but be solemnly reminded of the affecting words of the venerable apostle to the elders of Ephesus, "And now I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more!" 'It is our earnest prayer to God, for you, that if [No circumstance attending Daniel Wheeler's visit to the South Sea Islands, appears to have more painfully affected his feelings, than the observation forced upon him from place to place, of the demoralizing and devastating effects of the intercourse of the natives with the crews of vessels visiting their shores. In some letters, not forming a part of his Journal, he thus alludes to the subject.] of the islands the use of spirits is forbidden, and the article itself destroyed when found, yet, even in those, there are too many who carry on the trade in an underhand manner; and of late its effects have been more and more apparent. Those who have it in their power effectually to stop it, are in their hearts desirous that it should be allowed; they not only like it themselves, but are fully aware how profitable the sale is to those that deal in it. Again, if my friends at home could witness for themselves the state of many of the islands in these seas, which we have visited,-lamentation and mourning and woe, must inevitably be their portion. Rum, muskets, and gunpowder, are articles brought in great abundance, particularly by the American ships, many of which are styled 'Temperance ships.' It is an incontrovertible fact, that vessels of this description have landed larger quantities of spirits on some islands than any other class of ships. On almost every island the population decreases, and the dreadful ravages made by disease is much aggravated by the use of spirits. We find that the voyages of the whaling vessels are much longer than formerly, their success being more precarious and uncertain, owing to the increased number of ships engaged in that employ, which constantly disturb a great breadth of ocean, by looking over several hundred square miles of its surface every day; so that the fish are becoming scarcer, and more shy than formerly. We should rejoice to hear of any cause that would reduce the number of shipping which visit these islands for supplies, and to refit; as they only tend to diminish their population, by bringing spirituous liquors amongst the people. It is the suffering case of an afflicted, injured people, and calls for the attention, and that speedily, of the legislature of every country, but particularly of England and America, which are the nations principally implicated in this dreadful traffic. Scarcely a ship arrives, but what has for sale rum, muskets, and gunpowder, for all of which the natives are extremely eager: many of these The island of Bolabola is one that has sufare denominated 'Temperance ships,' and yet fered most of any by the introduction of spiare engaged in producing madness amongst rits, as it has caused the people to distil their the natives, by furnishing the means of intoxi- bread-fruit, and every kind of food capable of cation, at the same time supplying them with producing spirit. I can never forget the abweapons of destruction to complete their mise-ject wretched state of these people, with scarcery. We saw much of this whilst our lot was ly rags to cover them, in want of every thing, cast amongst them: and although in certain and possessing nothing to purchase any thing [After giving an affecting description of the consequences of disease, and mentioning that he had, in as many cases as his stock of medicine would allow, successfully checked and eradicated it, he adds :-] with, their little property being consumed in consistent with His will, you may be spared to re-order to obtain spirits: the famished appearturn to our beloved native land, and to the bosom of your family, to tell all your eyes have seen of "what God hath wrought among the Gentiles by the ministry of reconciliation." 'Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified in New Zealand; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. 'Finally, Yours, very affectionately, 'P. S.-A difference of location of several of our brethren, and the absence of some from home, will not allow of their signing their names; but we can confidently say, they fully agree with us in this expression of our sentiments." ance also, of the more than half-naked children, who abound, will long retain a place in my memory, in that love which must ever intercede on behalf of, and plead the cause of suffering humanity. The little things used to come on board to us; and when on shore, we were surrounded in a few minutes by delighted groups of them. My heart often revisits Bolabola, and gladly would I bind up her wretched inhabitants in the Lord's bundle of life for ever. 20th. Yesterday, the weather was fine and wind fair. In the evening, the island of New Zealand was scarcely distinguishable from the deck. We are now steering a course for New South Wales, I trust, in the right line of things, to reach the port of Sydney, having nothing on my mind towards any other place. Not having sat down yesterday, we held our |