teach him the way to heaven. There are also many towns north-west of us, which are as helds white for the harvest. Tell the young men who may be disposed to come out, that the hardships of travelling are nothing that seeming difficulties, when approached, disappear.'. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. LETTERS FROM THE REV. DR Altona, Oct. 24. 1818. I have once more quitted my native shore, not without feelings of regret, produced by the recollection of the many kind friends I was leaving behind, and the rich abundance of gospel privileges with which Britain is so highly favoured. The conviction, however, that many prayers were ascending to God, on my behalf, inspired me with fresh resolution to spend and be spent for Christ, and cheerfully to proceed to any part of the world in which there is a probability that my humble endeavours may contribute to advance the Divine glory, and promote the interests of the Redeemer's king. dom. We arrived in safety at this place on the 7th instant, after a passage of ten days. It was to me a very interesting coincidence, that the day af. ter our arrival was the Anniversary of the Hamburg Altona Bible Society. Although the meeting was not so numerously attended as I could have wished, (a circumstance which, I believe, was partly owing to the hour at which it was held), I was highly gratified by their proceedings. The view of the progress of the dif ferent Institutions which have been formed throughout the world, which was drawn up with much ability by Mr Runge, excited a peculiar de gree of interest; and will, when printed, contribute very essentially to advance the cause of the Society. Schleswig, Nov. 9. 1818. HAVING bid adieu to our kind friends in Altona on the 27th, we proceeded to Ratzeburg, where we arrived the following day, and were happy to find that his Excellency the Governor had returned from a tour in Germany, and that every thing was in a fair train of preparation for the complete organization of the Lauenburg Ratzeburg Bible Society. Agreeably to a notice which had been circulated, a numerous meeting, consisting of the most respectable inhabitants of the place, assembled on the evening of the 29th, in the hall of the principal inn; when a statement was given by the two Superintendents of the measures which had been adopted since the formation of a Society had been first proposed, and partially ef fected, in the year 1816. From this interesting statement it appeared, that, though the Society had not been actually organized, much had been done towards giving universal publicity to the object, and ascertaining to what extent the leading friends might expect the countenance and support of their fellow-citizens. Official letters had been sent by both the Superintendents to all the Clergy under their charge; and subscriptions, amounting to upwards of 1800 marks, had already been obtained from the town of Ratzeburg, and the parishes in the country connected with it. It was highly gratifying to observe, with what eagerness the poor bad pressed forward, and contributed their mite in aid of the good cause. Widows, servants, and apprentices, were found enrolled on the lists, as well as those who occupy more conspicuous stations in society. From the liberal subscriptions which had been received from the town of Lauenburg, on the banks of the Elbe, there is reason to hope that an Auxiliary Society will, ere long, be formed in that place, for the purpose of giving greater effect to the operations in that quarter. After the statement just referred From the Report of the Danish Bible Society. Letter from His Majesty the King of Denmark to Count Schimmelmann, dated Copenhagen, May 16. 1818. We have received, with great pleasure and satisfaction, the Report you have communicated to us in the name of the Danish Bible Society, respecting its proceedings since the beginning of the year 1817.3 The useful object of the Society, to diffuse the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, by multiplying the means of reading them, has our entire approbation; as a proof of which, we have resolved to promote the work by the contribution of a sum of money. We have therefore given orders to our Board of Finance to pay 4000 dollars against your receipt. We recommend you to God. Given in the residence of Copenhagen, May 16. 1818. (Signed) FREDERICK, R. 66 and Laland, and the four Bishops of Jutland, are zealous promoters of the Bible Society. A translation of the New Testament, in the language of the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands, in which no book has yet been printed, is begun by a Clergyman of the name of Schroter, residing in one of those islands. A new edition of the New Testament, in the Creole language, of 1200 copies, is resolved upon. Death of the Rev. Christopher Burckhardt, communicated in a Letter from Dr Naudi, Secretary to the Malta Bible Society, dated La Valetta, November 12. 1818. I HAVE now the painful task to communicate to you distressing and melancholy news. . Our common friend, so highly respectable on every account, the Rev. Christopher Burckhardt, after his useful and persevering travels for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures throughout Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, had scarcely arrived at Aleppo, when a fatal fever, then raging in the neighbourhood, put an end to his most valuable life. The British ViceConsul at Aleppo, has given us the sad intelligence, that, on the 14th of August last, he had the melancholy task of attending the funeral of this indefatigable and efficient agent, who had been ill only a few days. The Rev. Mr Roenno, of Lyngbye, expresses himself, in the ReI wish that I were better informport, to this effect: During the ed of the 'studies and employmenť twenty-three years I have been mi- of this excellent man, that I might nister, I have never witnessed such write a sketch of his life as accura general and active zeal in promo- ately as I could of his death; this ting any useful cause. Men and event will be lamented by those who women, male and female servants, love the cause, in proportion as they boys and girls, eagerly subscribed know his life to have been blessed, their contributions, according to at least that small part of it which their larger or smaller abilities. All was spent in Egypt and Syria. We the members of a school attended in have seen many here who appeared a body, to contribute every one his to be well adapted to take Bibles, mite." The contributions of this and Testaments into Egypt; but place, being only a village, amount- most showed some fear, either of ed to the considerable sum of 836 the Bashaw, or of the Musselmen, dollars. or of the different Christian denoThe Bishops of Zealand, Fuhnen minations, or of the Jews: but our, esteemed Burckhardt left Malta on board a Greek vessel, with six large cases full of Bibles and Testaments, in various languages, without any fear: he read, conversed, and distributed, in the most open manner; and Divine Providence, which, without doubt, conducts these grand and important objects, assisted him in every step, as well in giving him a right discernment in his enterprises, as in preparing the people for the re ception of the word of truth. On his arrival in Alexandria, Mr Burckhardt landed courageously, with all his cases, which he took to an inn, where he with difficulty obtained a little garret, which hardly held him and his cases. After two or three days, the masons came to make some alteration in the inn, and be gan to pull down his room; but he, thinking the situation favourable for the sale and propagation of the Scriptures, would not quit the house, but removed, with his health giving merchandise, into a shed belonging to it. There he conversed with every one that passed by, peasants, strangers and merchants, both foreign, and from the interior of the country. The seamen, who are very numerous at Alexandria, came so often to him, that he wrote to us, saying, that "the Greek Testaments, which he had dispersed, would only be like so many drops thrown into the sea; so great was the demand for the word of God." In his hours of leisure he walked all over the place, visiting the Patriarch, or the Archimandrite, or the Greek Priests, mixing also, often, with the Turks, Copts, Jews, &c. Thence he departed for Grand Cairo, on board a country boat, surrounded by a great number of Bibles. After experiencing some dangers, he arriyed, took a little lodging, and, as before, exposed his wares to public sale. Here he found, that, not only was his mission known to all, but that he was really waited for: and Jews, Turks, Syrians, Copts, Christians, and Pagans, went to visit him, and, what is of more importance, to pro 66 fit by him. A few days after his arrival, he wrote to me thus: My dear friend, I have now nothing more to give to these people; all my stock is expended. If I had had with me twice or thrice as many copies of the Scriptures, I could have disposed of them without the smallest difficulty." In this central situation he had the pleasure to arrange various things for the future success of our Malta Bible Society, in those extensive countries, with the Bishops, Patriarchs, and other persons of rauk. The Coptic Patriarch has requested an edition in the Coptic Arabic, for the use of his flock, which most useful measure will, I hope, be attended to. From Cairo he went to Jerusalem, where he visited all the convents and public places, and furnished them, every where, with the word of God. He there commenced, for the Bible Society, a collection of books printed at Mount Lebanon, either in Arabic, Syriac, or other tongues, but particularly manuscripts, as printed works are scarce, This, I hope, he has completely done; and, by means of a friend in Cyprus, I have received, within these last few days, a case full of them, which are now in the quaran tine. This was done with a view to obtain a version of the Bible in the Vulgar Arabic, which is most generally used by the Modern Egyptians and Syrians. At length, leaving Jerusalem, going by Syria, and visiting the places on his road, he came to the great and commercial city of Aleppo, in the neighbourhood of which the fever attacked him; and thus, alas! we have been deprived of his invaluable services. The memory of Mr Burckhardt will always remain dear to us; and all the common friends to the cause, who knew him, or had any knowledge of what he has done in the Levant, have shed tears for him. By means of a friend, who left this place yesterday, we have written to announce the sad event to his father in Switzerland, and have enclosed him the last letter his son wrote to us, which was from Antioch. From the Rev. William Milne, dated Macao, Jan. 20. 1818. Mr Morrison has, probably, informed you, that the translation of the Old Testament is going on. The Psalms, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, are finished, partly by him, and partly by myself. Should life and health be continued, we trust the whole will be completed within this year. We have been thinking of Japan, after the Chinese version shall be finished, but cannot venture to say any thing yet. If a person skilled in Chinese could go thither, and procure an opportunity of comparing the Chinese and Japanese languages, he would be able to form a judgmenf, whether an entire new version for that country would be necessary, or whether the Chinese version, modified, and rendered conformable to the Japanese idiom, would an swer. From the Rev. William Anderson, dated Griqua Town, South Africa, March 7. 1818. I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of a supply of Bibles and Testaments from the British and Foreign Bible Society, which came very seasonably, and were received by many with much thankfulness; particularly by a female Bootchuana, who, we believe, has been brought to a saving acquaintance with the gospel, and is the first of her nation who can read. She makes considerable progress both in read ing and divine knowledge. When I offered her a New Testament, she seemed overwhelmed; her countenance indicated astonishment, with humble thankfulness; and, another time, she told me, that she felt too much to speak, "and was unworthy to receive such a gift, such a treasure!" don Missionary Society, many have been taught to know the value of the word of God; and, through the means of the Bible Society, we are enabled to put it into their hands. I would take the liberty of soliciting s some more Bibles and Testaments for the converted Hottentots of this station, and for others who can read. BAPTIST MISSİON. SERAMPORE. From Mr Ward to Dr Ryland, dated I send you on the other side one of Krishno's journals. He is at present here: he came down for the restoration of his health, and has preached here with great acceptance. But, till the Spirit is poured out from on high, all our efforts are vain as it respects fruit. Oh! my dear Sir, what shall we do, unless this blessing be soon poured out! Our Christian Hindoos are dwarfs; ou hearers sleep, or go away unmoved by the most awakening discourses. The labourers are few, and poor and weak; but, if refreshed by this living water, each one would become a Samson. Either we have not hit the chord which touches the heart of a Hindoo, or it is our jargon, or something or other is amiss. Powerful impressions, as in David Brainerd's congregations, we have never seen. Cannot you English Christians help us more, not by money; but cannot you pray more, pray more fervently, for this one blessing-the outpouring of the Spirit's influence. Human strength of body in this country is as the strength of a child; and labour here is indeed labour, and therefore" labour in vain" here means much more than in a cold climate. Still the chief ground of grief is, that myriads, like blades of grass, are perishing. Oh! my dear Sir, let the people of England listen Through the means of the Lon- | to this loud call, the groans of pe. Shree Krishna-pal humbly writes: Through the grace of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, the writer is in a state of health and peace. More particularly, in two days we arrived at Bulurapore, where we put up at the office of the taxgatherer, and proclaimed the glad tidings of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Very many persons heard the word. Secondly, we then proceeded to Kachunpore, where we saw that the people had set up three images, Chamar Kalee, Lukshme, add Peirasur. Here we read the divine Word, and prayed in the name of Christ, when all the people of the village abandoned the gods, and cried out, Let us break down these places of the gods, that the gods may never come to this place again." Agreeably to these words, they broke down with their feet these places of the gods. After this, we arrived at Dinagepore. A few days afterwards, we crossed the river Atrace, where, at the Varoonee festival, crowds of people assembled; and here Nidhiram, and Pudmulo. chun assisted me in publishing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ's death, and in distributing many tracts. While thus employed, I met with Goluk Mukooyya, a brahmun, who said, "O brother, I do not serve the gods! Brumha God, let him be blessed: I serve him." I replied, "O. brahmun, God hears not the prayers of sinners; but they who through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ pray, their words he hears. For except the justice and love of God can embrace each other, sinners cannot be saved; but in the death of Christ these two are united on which account, God has appointed Jesus Christ to the work of a Saviour. Therefore they who have laid hold of the death of 66 Christ by faith are saved.' He then said, "I have an elder brother, if you can visit him at Raneegunj, he will be glad to see you." We assured him that we would visit them on Lord's-day. We accordingly went, and I read from the third of John the account of the new birth. He, hearing, remained in silence, but convinced, and at length promised that he would go to the Saheb at Dinagepore, and hear from him these words. We next proceeded to Shikmurud fair, and, on the first day, arrived at Sadamuhul, and staid there three days, during which time I held meetings for prayer and worship, and visited the brethren and sisters from house to house, teaching them the doctrines of the gospel. We then went forward to the fair, where I proclaimed the glad tidings, and gave away tracts. On the 29th of April, we left Dinage pore, and came to Katavave, where I made known out message, reading the first of John. All the villagers were assembled, and they asked us what they should do with their gods. I told them to believe in the atoning death of Christ, and they would obtain salvation. They then requested that I would give them some instructions from the holy Book, and leave them in writing, then wrote some passages from the twelfth of the Ro mans, Brethren, I beseech you, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice to God, which is your reasonable service,' &c. Whosoever believes in the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon him the gods can have no power, but he shall obtain salvation." I added, "They into whose hands these instructions shall fall, after reading them, must copy and send them to the three next villages, or stand charged with guilt in the world to come, of the ruin of all those souls." 666 11th of May 1818. |