heard De F- twice in the church tast Lord's day, and in the evening in a private house. He delivered a very pleasing and useful discourse in the afternoon on the new birth. It is at present a day of small things. His audience in the city amounts to about 60; and he preaches in a village three leagues from Tournay to about 130 persons, who come out of seven villages. He says, that he has reason to believe there are above ten persons, since he has been in the country, who have been savingly converted to God, most of whom were Roman Catholics. They have renounced Popery, and are much persecuted by their relations and the priests. I have conversed with much pleasure with his little flock. You must recollect that in Brabant the people are all bigoted Roman Catholics, who would persecute the Protestants to death. The govern ment is mild, tolerant, and Protes, tant. Brabant is to Holland, what Ireland is to England; it is full of ignorant and furious Papists. In France it is quite the reverse. There the government is bigoted, and thoroughly devoted to the priests, who triumph; whilst the lowest of the people are much more enlightened than their government. The majority of the people in France laugh at and despise the mummeries of popery, and cordially hate their priests. The government have augmented the salaries of the priests two-fifths, and reduced the pensions of the soldiers. I have seen the French Protestant minister at Brussels. He is a converted character. He preaches the gospel, has the interest of Christ at heart, and has lately opened a lecture on Sunday evenings, which is well attended. Here is a Wesleyan Methodist preacher, who preaches in a room. Oh, that the drop may become a rivulet, the rivulet a river, and the river an ocean!-May the Lord hasten it in own time! Amen. Yours, &c. &e. T. B. AFRICAN COLLEGES. Several Institutions have been formed in the United States of Ame rica, for training African youths for missionaries, by instruction in classical learning and scientific knowledge. One at Philadelphia is called Augustine Hall, and the design is much promoted by circumstances. Through the benevolent exertions of pious persons of different denominations, and particularly of the Society of Friends, nearly all the slaves in this state have been liberated. There are five hundred children in the schools, and three congregations, the ministers of whom are all men of colour, and very zealous in the promotion of this object. The Synod of New York and New Jersey have also established an African school for the same object, and among the Directors we observe the names of Drs Richards, Griffin, and Romeyn. A third Society of the same kind has been formed in New England, and the preachers thus educated are intended to be sent as missionaries to fifty millions of negroes, and other inhabitants of Africa, beside three millions or more in North and South America, and their islands. Extracts from "Morier's second Journey through Persia," &c. as illustrative of certain passages of Scrip ture. "Mahomed Zemaun Khan was carried before the King. When he had reached the camp, the King or dered Mahomed Khan, chief of his Camel artillery, to put a mock crown upon the rebel's head, and a sword by his side; to mount him upon an ass, with his face towards the tail, and the tail in his hand; then to parade him throughout the camp, and to exclaim, This is he who wanted to be the King" After this was over, and the people had mocked and insulted him, he was led before the King, who called for the Looties, and ordered them to turn him into ridicule, by making him dance, and make an 6 ticks, against his will. He then ordered, that whosoever chose, might spit in his face. After this, he received the bastinado on the soles of his feet, which was administered by the chiefs of the Cajar tribe, and, sometime after, he had his eyes put out." This must remind us of the man. ner of the crucifixion of Christ. "The King always talks of himself, in the third person; and, frequently, swears by his own head. Also, Be Jan Shah,-by the King's soul; Be Merg Shab,-by the King's death; and these expressions, in constant use by all Persians, will remind us of Joseph's speech to his brethren, By the life of Pharaoh," &c. Gen. xlii. 15, 16. "The bazaars at Ispahan are very extensive; and it is possible to walk under cover in them for two or three miles together. The trades are here collected in separate bodies, which make it very convenient to purchasers: and, indeed, we may from analogy suppose the same to have been the case from the most ancient times, when we consider the command of Zedekiah to feed Jeremiah from the baker's street.'" xxxvii. 21. Jer. "A poor man's door is scarcely three feet in height; and this is a precautionary measure to hinder the servants of the great from entering in on horseback; which, when any act of oppression is going on, they would make no scruple to do. But the habitation of a man in power is known by his gate; which is generally elevated in proportion to the vanity of its owner. A lofty gate is one of the insignia of royalty: such is the Allah Capi at Ispahan, and Bob Homayan, or the sublime poet, at Constantinople. It must have been the same in ancient days. The gates of Jerusalem, Zion, &c. are often mentioned in the Scripture with the same notion of grandeur annexed to them." A proud man is denoted by a lofty gate, &c. racter, to ride on white asses,-which is a striking illustration of what we' read in Judges v. 10. Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment."" MISCELLANEOUS. One of the Hibernian Society's Correspondents writes I found a poor Roman Catholic, who could not speak a word of Eng. lish. I asked him what was his hope of salvation. He answered, with tears of gratitude and joy, "My whole dependence for salvation is on Christ Jesus; who suffered and died for me, a poor sinner. I thought, some time ago, that the, angels in heaven, the priest on the earth, and different other things were to save me; but, by hearing the Scriptures read as often as opportunity offered, I have learned a better and a surer way of salvation : for Jesus hath shed his blood, which it was not in the power of any other to do, for the transgressions of sin ners. The following is an instance of a Mussulman's reverence for the Ko ran, or his Bible,-which might shame many Christians. 66 "A Mollah brought us some books for sale, which he spread upon the ground before us;-one of us, by chance, placing his foot upon a Cuffick manuscript, containing sentences of the Koran, was reprimanded by the Persian, who exclaimed, Beware, that is the word of God!" "Among other things, the King asked, What difference is there be tween your religion, and that of the papists? The ambassador answered, that we had discarded from our service the mummery of theirs and that they believed in certain doctrines which were contrary to our faith; and particularly instanced that of transubstantiation. What! (exclaimed the King,) when they eat a bit of bread, they really believe it to be flesh! what dolts! you are in the right. I can comprehend eating "The Mollahs, or men of the law, bread in commemoration of the death are generally to be seen riding about of Jesus, to be a good doctrine: but on Mules: and they also account it that bread should turn into flesh, is a dignity, and suited to their cha-nonsense indeed.'" THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. FEBRUARY 8. 1819. THE LAST ACCOUNT RECEIVED CONCERNING THE TWO SAISANGS, OR BURAT NOBLES, NOMTU AND BADMA, AT Present RESIDING AT ST PETERSBURG, [From the Periodical Accounts of the United Brethren.- Our readers will find an interesting account of these two Noblemen, in our fifth vol. p.201.] . BROTHER Jacob Isaac Schmidt, in a letter, dated St Petersburg, 16th-18th of April 1818, gives an account of these two nobles, which proves, that they are proceeding in the good way into which they have been led by reading the word of God, being more and more convinced, that it is the only way which leads to life eternal. That which they themselves have acknowledged as truth, they can no longer keep secret. They say, "We must openly confess Jesus, whatever may be the consequence to us. They have lately given a public testimony of their faith to their whole nation, by writing to the Taischi, or Prince, the following letter. It will be seen that they are enabled to say, what St Paul said of himself and of the believers at Corinth, "We also believe, and therefore speak," 2 Cor. iv. 13. "Ar all times, gracious and benevolent Prince and Father of the eleven tribes of the Chorin-Burät people, DINGBIL GALSANG, TAISCHI,-we wish you to enjoy peace, joy and honour, evermore ! "We have received from your exalted person, last March, a letter of friendship and kind greeting, together with letters from the nobles in our chancery, and from other nobles among our people and our families. VOL. VI. F "We rejoiced greatly on reading the contents of your letter, in which you send us loving exhortations and words from your heart; expressing your wish, that we might use all diligence in the translation of the sacred Gospels. We have nothing further to reply to it. "Of the words and doctrine of the most high God and Saviour Jesus Christ, we have translated the first book, called the Gospel according to St Matthew, into the Mongolian language and character; and we shall soon finish another book, called the Gospel according to St John. As far as we know, we have perfectly well understood the words of the Calmuck-Mongol writing and doctrinal language, and faithfully translated it into our Mongolian dialect. As the word of God is clear and plain, we can never be tired of reading it; and we feel that it is certain truth. "The most high God and Saviour came into this world, as into a great wilderness, with a view to bring together, and unite in one fold, men, who were walking in various ways, in darkness, like straying sheep, having no owner. It pleased his merciful love, to save and deliver them all. He left His divine majesty, and came as the Son of God into this world, being born in a mean condition, and was called JESUS CHRIST. "That He might show us the most exalted Father's truth, mercy, and love, in all their clearness, He became our Light, our Trust, our Guide into all truth. He took on Himself the grievous sins and trespasses of all men, and instead of them, gave us His easy and gentle yoke. Though he could declare to His cruel and savage enemies, that he might have twelve legions of holy angels ready, at His beck, to turn them into dust and ashes, yet He delivered Himself up to these cruel and savage enemies, and suffered Himself by them to be nailed to the cross; and all that He did for us, that we might be inseparably preserved in His faith, and to unite all men under His merciful hand. Before the sign of the cross, all the gods that had before been on earth, all idol temples, all traditions of men, all Boddi Sadoh and Chutuktes,* must vanish. The prophecies were fulfilled, and that tree sprang up, which grows more and more glorious, under whose leaves those related to each other by religion, though differing ever so much in form, may assemble together and build their nests. 66 Though 1818 years have passed away, yet this vessel of a reasonable faith, this pearl of a devout heart, has not yet reached the ears of our Mongols and Buräts. According to our humble conception, our highly exalted, most gracious Sovereign, (Emperor), is a hand (instrument) of God; and the Society of the * No explanation is given of these names. sacred book of religion, called the Bible, a true apostle of Jesus Christ. summer. "We hope to send you the translation of the Gospel this We are of opinion, that you, exalted Prince, according to the upright and sound judgment you possess, will receive them with joy. We likewise believe, that the priests, the learned, and the nobles among our people, and the whole nation, will rejoice at it. We wish and hope that the Tunguses also, on the river Onon, the Selengenskian Mongols, and the Mongols beyond the frontier, may be converted by it. "As to yourself, having already made most laudable attempts to comprehend this doctrine, do not any longer act according to the will of your old priests. As you well know the proper aim of religion, you will soon love the doctrine of Christ. "When, by the grace of God, both our own people, and all, and every one who speak the Mongol language, shall leave their old belief, and receive the doctrine of Jesus Christ; and when they shall walk in the only way of salvation; then they will likewise adopt a godly conversation, and good usages: God only can work faith within us. "Thus have we by this letter, laid before you the feelings and thoughts of our hearts in words of truth. We have made the same confession to the President of the Society of this holy doctrine, and to other enlightened persons; but particularly to our most enlightened teacher, Jacob Isaac Schmidt. "We are thoroughly and firmly resolved to adopt the doctrine of the Saviour and true God, Jesus Christ. Though we are as yet ignorant of the customs and rites of Christendom; and when we return home, shall neither find a teacher, upon whose breast we may lean our heads, nor have a house of God; yet, after receiving such convictions of the truth of the word of God, we can be satisfied no longer, but must remain true to this doctrine. "We hope that our highly exalted and most gracious Sovereign, on hearing that his subjects in the uttermost part of his empire, will receive Christianity, will favour us with worthy and wise teachers." [Brother Schmidt adds the following.] "The TAISCHI, DINGBIL GALSANG, succeeded his father GALSANG MARDAY, who died last year, in the government of the eleven tribes of the Chorin-Buräts. "Besides these tribes, amounting to twenty-one thousand souls, all of whom are of the religion of the Lama, there are many other tribes of Buräts in the province of Irkutsk, chiefly. on the west side of the lake Baikal, each having its TAISCHI or Prince, and so called Shamans, that is, devotees to the ancient Pagan superstitions of Siberia. They have no priests, but the |