London Missionary Society. SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. WE rejoice to learn that other islands in this remote quarter are following the example of Taheite and Eimeo. At Raivaivai, or High Island, about 400 miles S. E. of Taheite, the natives have renounced idolatry, and built a house for the worship of Jehovah, at the entrance of which they have placed their gods, to serve as stools for the people to sit on! The chief of another island, called Rurutu, has requested that instructors might be sent to his subjects also, and two christian natives from Raietea were about to sail thither for that purpose. ened to put her away because she | how to tell him so, and him own words prayed! She said that she often wept best." She lived to learn them, but and prayed on his account, but he still she is gone to heaven to repeat them remained the same impenitent person. to her good Lord that she loved so One night in particular she entreated much. She died of a short illness, God much" to do something for him." and was, when I saw her last, insenWhen he fell asleep she arose and pray-sible from severe fever. ed, "blessed God, thy eye open, dou seest dat poor man, me no able to tell de what him do, but him do ebery bad ting-do, good Lord, do someting for him, make him blind eye see him danger, him dumb mouth peak; O do, me sweet Massa Lord, do make him heart, him stony heart feel." She got into bed again undiscovered, and in a little time he awoke, weeping very bitterly, having been disturbed in a dream-he cried, "my wife, my dear wife, get up an pray for me poor sinner you husband lost! O him lost!" In the morning he was still in great trouble, arose and went to seek for a good man to tell him whether he would be lost or not: the man he found told him, "dat no religion, religion no come like dat." His instructor either knew nothing of true religion, or supposed that God had but one way of bringing sinners to himself. The account filled him with grief: but he said, as he left the blind guide, "Well, if me no got religion in me heart, it quite time to seek itGod will may be give me a little." God has indeed manifested himself to this now bereaved man, 66 as he does not unto the world." They were, after their public profession, most exemplary in every christian duty. She lived nine and sometimes twelve miles from Kingston, but she was most regular in her attendance; an attentive hearer, and was generally bathed in tears. She once made a little remark about the former Mrs. Coultart, which was applicable to herself in a high degree. Whilst my present wife was teaching her to read, she said, in her usual affectionate way, "Me loving pickaniny, what make God take away dat oder loving pickaniny just when she coming to do we poor perishing tings good; me tink dis, God have him garden, she one of de fruit, him take de ripe fruit first-it no so, me child?" She had a strong desire to read the Bible, but said, "she should not live to read it all:" but she wished to learn two or three verses of some psalm that suited her. When she heard the two first verses of the hundred and third, she said, "Yes, teach me these, em help to peak God's goodness, for him so good to me poor ting, dat me no know MADAGASCAR. MR. Jones, the Missionary at this station, has lately taken under his tuition, at the request of the king Radama, several children, among whom is the heir apparent to the crown. The others are all children of the nobles, who possess bright talents and a clear understanding; some of them already begin to read portions of the sacred scriptures in English. They know that they have immortal souls, and can answer many questions concerning God, Jesus Christ, death, heaven, &c. It is extremely difficult, however, from the poverty of the language on abstract subjects (a difficulty, by the way, felt, more or less, in every heathen country) to convey to their minds ideas of a religious nature. The providence of God seems, also, to have provided, in a remarkable way, for the introduction of the gospel into Joanna, one of a group called the Comoro Islands, situated between Madagascar and the eastern coast of Africa. The eldest son of the king of this island, and his suite, were ship. wrecked on a voyage to visit the tomb of Mahomet at Mecca, and touching, on their return homeward, at the Cape of Good Hope, were detained for some time waiting for a conveyance. In this interval the prince and his attendants applied themselves very diligently to the study of the English language; and became so much interested in the pursuit of knowledge, that they took back with them, as an instructor, a Mr. Elliott, who, there is reason to hope, may not only aid them in their laudable attempts to acquire sound information, but communicate, at the same time, the glad tidings of salvation through Jesus Christ. American Board of Missions. MESSRS. Parsons and Fisk, who were sent out by this Society to attempt the establishment of a Mission in Palestine, have lately paid a visit to several of the Apocalyptic churches. The following account of their visit to Sardis will be read with melancholy interest. Nov. 12. Sunday.-After our morning devotions, we took some Tracts and a Testament, and went to the mill near us, where three or four Greeks live. Found one of them grinding grain: another soon came in both were able to read. We read to them the Address to the Church in Sardis, and then the account of the Day of Judgment: Matt. xxv. Conversed with them about what we read, and then spoke of the Lord's Day, and endeavoured to explain its design, and gave them some Tracts. We had our usual forenoon service in the upper part of the mill; and could not refrain from weeping, while we sung the 74th Psalm, and prayed among the ruins of Sardis. Here were once a few names, which had not defiled their garments; and they are now walking with their Redeemer in white, But, alas! the Church as a body had only a name to live, while they were in reality dead; and they did not hear the voice of merciful admonition, and did not strengthen the things which were ready to die. Wherefore the candlestick has been removed out of its place. In the afternoon we walked out, and enjoyed a season of social worship in the fields. This has been a solemn, and, we trust, a profitable Sabbath to us. Our own situation, and the scenery around us, have conspired to give a pensive, melancholy turn to our thoughts. Our eye has affected our hearts, while we saw around us the ruins of this once splendid city, with nothing now to be seen but a few mud huts, inhabited by ignorant Turks; and the only men, who bear the Christian name, at work all day in their mill. Every thing seems as if God had cursed the place, and left it to the dominion of Satan. We add, with great concern, that intelligence has lately arrived of the death of the Rev. Samuel Newell, Missionary at Bombay, husband of the excellent Harriet Newell. He expired, after a few hours illness, on the 30th of May last, leaving behind him, says a brother Missionary, "this testimony, that he loved, and feared, and glorified God in this his day and generation." Contributions received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, from October 14, to November 14, 1821, not including Individual Subscriptions. FOR THE MISSION. Wales, Eastern District of the South-East Association, by Rev. ..... M. Thomas 1 16 0 0 0 Dundee, Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society, by Mr. Gourlay 26 8470 51 18 343 ២ ទី២០ Laverton, Collection by the Rev. Mr. Winter..... 4 Reading, on account of Collection, &c. by the Rev. J. H. Hinton 100 Edinburgh, Sundries, by the Rev. W. Innes Uffculm, Subscriptions, by the Rev. Dr. Rippon Brechin and Montrose, Society for Missions, by Rev. Dr. Waugh Coventry, Collection, by the Rev. John Mack. 63 14 6 7 0 3 14 10 0 8 6 0 Bristol and Bath Auxiliary Society, by Mr. John Daniel.......... Collection and Subscriptions *Missionary Association Donation 20 090 Hants and Wilts Assistant Society, by the Rev. John Saffery * Of this amount, Five Pounds is a Contribution for the purpose of Female Education. The sum of £227 18s. 7 d. has been remitted, on account of this Society, at various periods before, in the course of the year, so that the total Receipts are £686 19s. 3d. Harlow, Collection, by the Rev. Thomas Finch .... 9 192 203200 Newcastle on Tyne, Penny-a-Week Subscriptions, by Miss Angas 14 FOR THE SCHOOLS. .... ..Donation Portsea, Lake-lane Sunday Scholars, for a Native School, to be selected for them, by the Rev. W. Ward, (First Annual Payment,) by Mr. Ellyett.. Glasgow Auxiliary Society, by Mr. James Deakin ......... 52 2 Ο 62 18 ...... ..Donation 20 0 0 Bristol and Bath Auxiliary Society, by Mr. John Daniell, Jun. FOR FEMALE EDUCATION. Harlow, Juvenile Society, by Miss M. Lodge Dundee, Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society, by Mr. Gourlay 3 13 0 FOR THE COLLEGE. Thomas Thompson, Esq. Newcastle under Line 5 5 0 ..... 12 8 0 N.B. The Contributions from the "North Staffordshire Auxiliary Society, by the Rev. Isaiah Birt, £45," should have been mentioned as sent for the Translations instead of for General Purposes. The thanks of the Committee are presented to the Author of The History of the Christian Church, in 2 vols. 8vo. for 10 Copies of that valuable work; 10 of M'Lean on the Apostolical Commission; and 10 Sets of the New Evangelical Magazine, from its commencement. J. BARFIELD, Printer, 91, Wardour-Street, Soho. THE Baptist Magazine. FEBRUARY, 1822. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV.WILLIAM BUTTON. (Continued from Page 10.) IN 1814, Mr. Button accompanied by his brother-in-law Mr. Isaac James of Bristol, went through Holland and Flanders. His Journal of this Tour is highly interesting; but the following is the only extract for which we have room. Brussels, Sabbath-day, July 10, 1814. often the organ brake out, which was a little more grateful to the ear than the muttering of the priests. Thousands were present, and all apparently truly devotional; men, women, and children, kneeling with their mass books, lifting up their eyes to the cross over the altar, and seemingly in earnest for the blessing of Him who was represented as hanging "After engaging with my com- thereon. Their serious behaviour, panion in devotional exercises in and devout manner of worship, our chamber, we went into the may put to the blush our protescity, and were surprised to see tant congregations in general. so little appearance of religion Just as we left the cathedral, amongst the generality of the peo- music was heard: we followed ple. From the exhibitions in the the sound, and presently perceivstreets, you would imagine your-ed it was the playing of the bands self in a heathenish place, in a of the three regiments of soldiers pagan city. Shops open, markets before mentioned, who were gofull, even fuller than they were ing to St. Augustine's church, a yesterday, buying, selling, shows church appropriated for English of various kinds, round-a-bouts soldiers, and protestants in genewith horses and boxes; and all ral, and on which account all the employing themselves in dancing, crucifixes, images of Saints, &c. skipping, and playing all sorts of are removed. We attended them, tricks and games. Something and heard the chaplain read somewhat different presented it-prayers. After this we proceedself to us in the CATHEDRAL; ed to another church, and were there were the priests at the altar, just in time to witness the prowalking and bowing, tossing over cession of the host. I have read, the leaves of books laid on the and I have heard of such processacred table, and making a noise sions, but now my eyes saw one in which I should think must be un-perfection. I have seen. many intelligible to all. Now and then processions, and grand ones, but VOL. XIV. F |