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"But I ought first to inform you, that I have visited other places where the Gospel is preached to the Hindoos. In some parts of the Deccan the newly-converted Christians have suffered persecution. This persecu tion has, however, been thus far useful, that it shews the serious change of mind in the Hindoo who can bear it. For it is often alleged in India, that the Hindoo can never be so much attached to Christ, as the Bramin is to his Idol.

"When I was at Tranquebar, I visited the church built by the pious Ziegenbalg. His body lies on one side the altar, and that of Gindler* on the other. Above are the epitaphs of both written in Latin, and engraved on plates of brass. The church was consecrated in 1718, and Ziegenbalg and Grudler both died within two years after. I saw also the dwelling-house of Ziegenbalg. In the lower apartment are yet kept the registers of the church. In them I found the name of the first heathen baptized by Ziegenbalg, and recorded by himself in 1707. I also saw old men whose fathers saw Ziegenbalg. I first heard in Ziegenbalg's church, and from the pulpit where he preached, the Gospel published to the Hindoos in their own tongue. On that occasion they sung the Hundredth Psalm to Luther's tune. To me it was an affecting scene. Tranquebar, however, is not now what it was. It is only the classic ground of the Gospel. European infidelity has eaten out the truth like a canker. A remnant indeed is left, but the glory is departed to Tanjore. When I entered the province of Tanjore the Christians came out of the villages to meet me. There first I heard the name of Swartz pronounced by a Hindoo. When I arrived at the capital, I waited on Mr. Kolhoff, the successor to Mr. Swartz. There also I found two other Missionaries, the Rev. Dr. John and Mr. Horst, who were on a visit to Mr. Kolhoff.

"On the same day I paid my respects to the Company's Resident,

• See Christ. Obser. Vol. for 1806, p. 308 and 607. These two men were the first Protestant missionaries to India.

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who informed me, that the Rajah had appointed the next day, at twelve o'clock, to receive me. Immediately on entering, the Rajah led me up to the portrait of the late Mr. Swartz, and discoursed about that good man, and of his present happiness in a heavenly state. I then addressed the Rajah, and thanked him in the name of Christians in Europe, and in India for his kindness to the late Mr. Swartz, and to his successors, and particularly for his recent acts of benevolence to the Christians residing within the province of Tanjore. He has erected a college for Hindoos, Musselmen, and Christians, in which provision is made for the instruction of fifty Christian children. Having heard of the fame of the ancient Sanscrit and Marattah library of the kings of Tanjore, I requested his Excellency would present a catalogue of its volumes to the College of Fort William. The Bramins had formerly remonstrated against this being done; but the Rajah was now pleased to order a copy to be made out, and I have it already in my possession. It is voluminous, and in the Marattah character, for that is the language of the Tanjore Court.

"Next day I sat some hours with the Missionaries, conversing on the general state of the mission. They want help their vineyard is increased, and their labourers are decreased. They have hitherto had no supply from Germany in the room of Swartz, Iænicke, and Gericke, and have no prospect of supply. It appears to me that the glory is departed from Germany, and God has given it to England. Last Sunday and Monday were great days with the Christians at Tanjore. It being rumoured that a friend of the late Mr. Swartz bad arrived, the people assembled from all quarters. On Sunday morning, three sermons were preached in three different languages. At eight o'clock we proceeded to the Church built by Mr. Swartz within the fort. From Mr. Swartz's pulpit I preached in English, from Mark xiii. 10. 'And the Gospel must first be published among all nations.' The Resident, and other Gentlemen, civil and military at the place, attended, and also the Missionaries, Catechists, and

English troops.

After this service was over, the native congregation assembled in the same church, and filled the aisles and porch. The service commenced with the Common prayer, read by an inferior minister, in which all the congregation joined with loud fervour. A chapter of the Bible was then read, and a hymn of Luther's sung. Some voices in tenor

and bass gave much harmony to the psalmody, as the treble was distinguished by the predominant voices of the women and boys. After a short extempore prayer, during which the whole assembly knelt on the floor, the Rev. Dr. John delivered an eloquent and animated sermon in the Tamul tongue, from these words, 'Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” As Mr. Whitefield, on his first coming to Scotland, was surprised at the rustling of the leaves of the Bible, which took place immediately on his pronouncing his text, so I was here surprised at a noise of a different kind, viz. that of the iron pen engraving the palmyra leaf. Many persons had their ollas in their hands writing the sermon in Tamul short hand. Mr. Kolhoff assured me, that some of them are so expert in this, that they do not lose one word of the preacher; and the sermon of the morning is regularly read in the evening by the Catechist from his Palmyra leaf.

"Another custom obtains which I may mention. In the midst of the

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discourse, the preacher puts a question to his congregation, who respond, without hesitation, in one voice. The object is to keep their attention awake; and the answer is generally prompted by the minister himself. Thus, suppose he is saying, My dear brethren, it is true you are now a despised people, being cast out by the Bramins, but think not that your state is peculiar; for the Pharisee and the worldly man is the Bramin of high and low cast in Europe. All true Christians must lose their cast in this world. Some of you are now following your Lord in the regeneration, under circumstances of peculiar suffering; but let every such one be of good cheer, and say, I have lost

my cast and my inheritance among men, but in heaven Fshall obtain new name and a better inheritance through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The minister then adds, My beloved brethren, what shall you obtain in heaven? They immediately answer in one voice; A new name and an inheritance thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.' It is impossible for a stranger not to be affected at this scene. Children of tender years inquire of each other, and attempt the responses. This custom is deduced from Ziegenbalg, who proved its use from long experience.

"After the Tamul service was ended, I returned with the missionaries into the vestry or library. Here ! was introduced to the elders and catechists of the Church. Among oth ers came Sattianaden the celebrated preacher. He is now stricken in years, and his black locks have grown grey. As I returned from the Church I saw the Christian families going back in crowds to the country, and the mothers asking the boys to read passages from their ollas.

"At four o'clock in the afternoon, we went to the little chapel in the mission garden out of the fort, built also by Mr. Swartz, and in which his body now lies. This was a solemn service. Mr. Horst preached in the Portuguese language from these words,

Ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ." I sat on a granite stone which cov ered Swartz's grave. The epitaph is in English verse, and written by the present Rajah, who has signed his name to it. The organ here accompanied the voice, and the preacher addressed the people in an animated discourse of pure doctrine. In the evening Mr. Kolhoff presided at the exercise in the schools; on which occasion the sermon of the morning was repeated, and the boys' ollas. examined.

"In consequence of my having expressed a wish to hear Sattianaden preach, Mr. Kolhoff had given notice to the congregation in the morning, that there would be divine service next day. Accordingly the place was crowded at an early hour. There appeared more of a divine unction in this assembly on this occasion, tha

GREAT BRITAIN.

on any of the former. Sattianaden bles. I mean to proceed from this delivered his discourse with much place to Madura, where the Roman natural eloquence, and visible effect. Catholics cover the land. Mr. PohHis subject was the marvellous light! le told me that one of their priests, He first described the pagan dark- who was lately in this vicinity, preachness, then the light of Ziegenbalg, ed the doctrine of the atonement with then the light of Swartz, then the ef- great clearness and force; in conseforts making in all lands to produce quence of which he was removed by light, and, lastly, the heavenly light, his superiors. I shall endeavour to when there shall be no more need of find him out. Some of the Romish the light of the sun nor of the moon. Churches are very corrupt, mingling In quoting a passage, he desired a Pagan superstitions with Romish cerlower minister to read it, listened to it emonies. It is nevertheless true, as to a record, and then proceeded to that the Jesuits have hewed wood the illustration. The responses by and drawn water for the Protestant the audience were frequently called mission." Ch. Ob. for. He concluded with a fervent prayer for the Church of England. After service, I went up to Sattianaden, and took him by the hand, and the old Christians came round about weeping. He said he was unworthy to preach before his teachers. The people asked me about Bengal, saying they had heard good news from thence. I told them the news was good; but that Bengal was exactly a hundred years behind Tanjore. Mr. Kolhoff is a man of meek spirit, but ardent faith, labouring in season, and out of season. His congregation is daily increasing." Soon after leaving Tanjore, I passed through the woods inhabited by the Colleries or theives who are now humanized by the Gospel. They were clamorous for a minister. They have Churches but no European minister.

"At Tritchinopoly is the Church first built by Swartz, and called by him Christ's Church. At this station there are a great number of English, civil and military. On Sunday morning 1 preached from these words, For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.' Dr. John, who followed me thither, preached afterward to the Tamul congregation. Next morning a serjeant called on me, who said he had seen the heavenly light in the East, and wanted Bibles for the religious Eng. lish soldiers. There is a great cry for Bibles in this country, both by the native and European Christians. Mr. Pohle, the German missionary here, told me he could dispose of 1000 Bi

British and Foreign Bible Society. On the 6th inst. the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY held their third annual meeting, which was numerously and respectably attended. The President (Lord Teigumouth) read from the chair a report of the proceedings during the last year, from which it appears that the society have distributed, either gratuitously or at reduced prices, many copies of Bibles and Testaments in various languages; and that by their encour agement and pecuniary aid, presses have been set up at Basle, Berlin, and Copenhagen, for the purpose of supplying the scriptures in the German, Bohemian, Icelandic, and other languages, to countries which are in great need of them. The Society have further granted 20001. to their corresponding committee at Calcutta, for the purpose of aiding the translations of the scriptures into the native languages of Oriental India.

An abstract of this report, as well as of the reports of the proceedings of the missionary and other societies, will appear in a future number.

On the 12th ult. a Sermon was preached and a collection made at Bentinck Chapel, St. Mary-le-Bone, by the Rev. Basil Woodd. M. A. for the benefit of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East, when the sum of 1781. 146. was obtained.

Ch. Ob.

List of New Publications.

A PHILOSOPHICAL Grammar of the English Language. By Noah Webster, Esq. New Haven. 0. Steele, & Co. for Brisban & Bannan, New York.

1807

An oration delivered at Northampton, July 4th, 1807, on the anniversa ry celebration of American Independence. By Jonathan H. Lyman. Northampton. T. M. Pomroy, 1807.

An oration, delivered at Salisbury, N. H. July 4th, 1807. By Ezekiel Webster. Concord. G Hough. 1807.

Doddridge's Family Expositor, Vol. II. Samuel Etheridge. Charlestown. 1807.

Rees' Cyclopædia, Vol. V. Part. I. S. Bradford. Philadelphia.

On

Lectures on the Jewish Antiquities. By David Tappan, D. D. late Hollis Professor of Divinity in the University at Cambridge. 1 vol. 8vo. W. Hilliard and Lincoln & Edmands. 1807. Sermons on important subjects, viz. On Christian Zeal. On Brotherly Reproof. On secret Faults and presumptuous Sins. On the Love of God. On the Love of our Neighbour. Christian Charity. On the Vices of the Tongue. The Character of the Wise Man. On the Pleasures of Religion. The want of a practical Re. gard to Religious Truth, the Cause of dangerous speculative Errors. Naaman the Leper. On the Love of the World. On the Divine Preference of Mercy to Sacrifice. On Christian Hope. The Christian Pattern. Religious Joy explained and recommended. On Prayer. The Spirit, Employment and Design of the Christian Ministry. The Benefits of Aiction. On the Duty and Advantages of Worshipping God. On Forgiveness. On the Connexion between denying the Son and denying the Father.

Relig

ion the one Thing needful. By David Tappan, D. D. late Hollis Professor of Divinity in the University at Cambridge. To which is prefixed, Memoirs of the Life and Character of Dr. Tappan, and Dr. Holmes' Discourse at his funeral. 1 vol. 8vo, W. Hilliard and Lincoin & Edmands. 1807.

Burlamaqui on Natural and Politic Law. 2 vols. 8vo. Fifth edition, corrected. W. Hilliard, Cambridge. Essays moral, economical, and po litical. By Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England, First American edition. Boston. Jo. seph Greenleaf. 1807.

The New Universal Letter Writer. By Rev. Thomas Cook. Boston. Jo seph Greenleaf. 1807.

The Mourning Husband. A Dis. course at the Funeral of Mrs. Thankful Church, late consort of the Rev. John H. Church, Pastor of the Church in Pelham, N. H. April 15, 1806. By Leonard Woods, Pastor of a Church in Newbury. Second Edition. Boston. Lincoln & Edmands. 1807.

WORKS PROPOSED.

Andrews & Cummings, and L. Blake, propose to reprint by subscription, A Dissertation on the Prophecies, that have been fulfilled, are now fulfilling, or will hereafter be fulfilled, relative to the Great Period of 1260 Years; the Papal and Mohammedan Apostasies; the tyrannical reign of Antichrist, or the Infidel Power; and the Restoration of the Jews. By the Rev. George Stanley Faber, B. D. Vicar of Stockton-upon-tees.

IN THE PRESS.

The second edition of President Webber's Mathematical Text Book. W. Hilliard. Cambridge.

Drdination.

Ordained at Canaan, (New York) the 17th March last, Rev. Azariah Clark. The introductory prayer was made by the Rev. David Perry of Richmond. The Rev. Alvan Hyde of Lee, preached the sermon. The Rev. Thomas Allen of Pittsfield made

the consecrating prayer. The Rev. Jacob Catlin, of Now Marlborough, gave the charge. The Rev. Jonathan L. Pomeroy of Worthington gave the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. John Morse of Green River made the concluding prayer.

Obituary.

Character of Mrs. Elizabeth Devens, wife of Richard Devens, Esq. who died

at Charlestown, (Mass.) MRS. DEVENS was a Christian of distinguished piety. She exhibited evidence in her devotional and exemplary life, that she knew from her own experience the blessedness of those, who are chosen of God, and whom he causeth to approach him. She knew what it was to draw near to God, and to hold communion with him. She possessed in a happy degree the know ledge and love implied in this duty; and few Christians have oftener felt themselves in his immediate presence, or performed all their duties with more sincere views to promote the glory of God. Entire conformity to the divine character, and submission to his will, were her constant aim and study. She was desirous "to have no will of her own," but to have God all in all. Her life for a long period before her decease, was a life of self-denial and suffering. The Christian virtues, which distinguish. ed and adorned her character, were of course those, which flourish best in retirement and affliction; patience, resignation, mcekness and devotion. In the exercise of these virtues, those who were conversant with her, can witness, how often, and with what delight, she approached her God; with what humble submission, and thank

Aug. 5. 1807. Aged 80.

fulness for intermingled mercies, she endured her confinement and bodily infirmities; how deep was her sense of unworthiness; how tender her af fection for, and how firm her confidence in her Saviour, on whose mer. its alone she depended for pardon and salvation. Weaned from this world, her conversation was about heavenly things, on which were placed her su preme affections. In her last sick. ness, which brought her enfeebled body to the grave, her faith was lively and unwavering; her hope was raised, even to assurance; her com forts were strong; no temptations were permitted to assail her; no doubts or fears perplexed or alarmed her. With a smile she yielded her soul into the arms of her Saviour, and in him she fell asleep. In her life, under her sufferings, and in her death, were exhibited the precious fruits of the doctrines of grace, which she had cordially embraced, as the truth of God. In reference to her, it may be truly said, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

A short time before her death, she repeated the following lines, which were penned, as she uttered them:

"Cold death my heart invades, and I must die;
O Christ, my everlasting life, draw nigh!
Why quiver'st thou, my soul, within my breast?
Thy angel's come to take thee to thy rest.
Quit cheerfully this tottering house of clay,
God will rebuild it at th' appointed day.
I know thy sins, but let not them be urg'd;
All those have with the blood of Christ been purg'd.
Is death affrightning? True; but yet withal,
Remember Christ, through death, to life doth call:
He'll triumph over Satan, sin, and death,
Therefore with joy resign thy dying breath."

In contemplating the death of such a Christian, who will not exclaim; "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like theirs." Such Christians, in their death, leave solid ground for comfort to their sur viving relatives. They afford impor

tant instruction to all the living. Their language is, If ye would die as we have died, live near to God, and know from your own experience, as we have known, the blessedness of that man, whom the Lord chooseth, and causeth to approach unto him.

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