And take my foul at last t' enjoy ib? sternal There! there!-behold the radiant place!

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. GUNTHER, Minister at Wedonoy Bujerack, in the Ruffian Government of Saratow, on the Wolga, in Afia, to the Rev. Dr. BURCKHARDT, London.

REV. SIR,

WHEN

HEN I received, by your favour, the book of Mr. Wilberforce, an important change took place in the concerns of my life, having lately received and accepted a call to the Minifterial Office on the Wolga, in the Ruffian poffeffions of Afia.

On the borders of that river 104 colonies have fettled, confifting of Germans, who emigrated to thofe parts in the years of dearth and famine. These colonies have already three Calvinist, and four Lutheran minifters. Some of them having been deftitute of a minifter for feveral years, fent a vocation, confirmed by their magiftrates in Saratow, to the brethren at Herrnhuth, which being offered to me, after fome hesitation, I have been inclined to accept; and am at prefent at Hambro', to go to Petersburgh, and to the place of my deftination. This change, however, fhall not hinder me from tranflating Mr. W.'s book, and I will gratefully acknowledge it, if you will fend me your Preface to it, (containing a collateral argument for the truth and excellency of the Chriftian religion, from the number of great and learned men who have embraced and profefed it as a Divine revelation, in antient and modern times.)

If you have any thing to communicate to me, before I write to you from my colony, be pleafed to fend it under my direction to the care of the Rev. Mr. Wigand, minifter of the brethren at Petersburgh, or of Mr. Weidlich, at Hambro'. VOL. VI.

U u

In

In Germany, things have a gloomy afpect with regard to religion and Chriftianity. Two of my religious friends, the fuperintendant T. and Mr. H. believe with me that Chriftianity is on the point of emigrating, and that the time of Antichrift is come. What infidelity did I witnefs on my journey, fome of the middling and lower claffes of the people faid. loudly and boldly, that the Bible, as a fabulous book, muft be thrown away!

I endeavoured to find out a fubftitute for my former place as a tutor, who, for a confiderable falary, fhould teach his pupils the Latin and Greek languages, and the genuine principles of the Lutheran religion. I found none: at the latter condition they moftly laughed; and the public profeffors of divinity, with great concern, informed me, they did not know any one of fuch a qualification. After four weeks, however, I was fo happy as to find a fucceffor in an academical friend, who had been expelled by the French from Switzerland, and who ftill profeffes his faith in the atonement of Chrift.-So far it is come with us.

I close my letter with the hearty with that God may blefs you with health and profperity, that the name of Jefus Chrift and his redemption may have in you a faithful profeffor and defender for many years to come.-I hope we fhall rejoice together before his throne, that we have chofen with him that good part, which fhall not be taken away from us. Should I not be fo fortunate upon this carth to fee you once more, I am delighted in the profpect of meeting hereafter in the fame happy place. I from Afia, and you from Europe; and if we fee Jefus as our friend, our hearts fhall rejoice for ever. With this charming hope I remain,

Hambro', June 18, 1798.

Your affectionate friend,

C. A. GUNTHER,

Note. The 104 fettlements mentioned in the letter, confifting chiefly of Germans, were established fince the year 1764. The crown has built churches for the Lutheran, Calvinift, and Popifh congregrations, and appointed minifters and fchool-matters for them. Their occupation is the cultivation of the fields, gardens, vineyards, and filk. The colonies fituated on the Saratow fide of the Wolga, have had better fuccefs than thofe on the fide of the Kalmucks, because they have better ground to cultivate.

The