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Even the Old Testament arrests the progress of the unqualified and worldly-minded teachIt is recorded that when Dathan and Abiram invaded the priest's office, with a secular spirit, "the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up," in the of Israel. This was written "for our presence admonition," that no man should attempt to minister in holy things until he has cleansed his heart from the impurities of life; and is able to publish the glad tidings of salvation with unpolluted lips.

If the student desire that God would honor his future ministry, and make him an instrument for preserving the unity of the Church, instead of his being an instrument of secession from it, he will seek to understand that pure doctrine of which our Lord speaks, when he saith, "He that will do the will of God shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God. This is an Era of Light in the church. Men are ardent to hear the word of God. And if a thousand churches were added to the present number, and "enlightened by the doctrine of the evangelist John," they would all be filled. Those who preach that doctrine are the true defenders of the faith, and the legitimate supporters of the church of England. If these increase, the cuurch will increase. If these increase in succeeding years in the same proportion as they have hitherto done, it is the surest pledge that the church is to flourish for centuries to come, as she has flourished for centuries past. And there is nothing which forbids the hope that she will be perpetual; if she be the ordained instrument of giving light to the world.

I shall now conclude this discourse with delivering my testimony concerning the spiritual religion of Christ. I have passed through a great part of the world, and have seen Christianity, Judaism, Mahomedanism, and Paganism in almost all their forms; and I can truly declare, that almost every step of my progress afforded new proof not only of the gen

eral truth of the religion of Christ, but of the truth of that change of heart in true believers which our Lord describes in these words, "Born of the Spirit;" and when the evangelist John calls, "Receiving an unction from the holy one." For even the heathens shew in their traditions and religious ceremonies, vestiges of this doctrine.* Every thing else that is called religion, in pagan or Christian lands, is a counterfeit of this. This change of heart ever carries

with it its own witnesses; and it alone exhibits the same character among men of every language and of every clime. It bears the fruit of righteousness; it affords the highest enjoyment of life which was intended by God, or is attainable by man; it inspires the soul with a sense of pardon and of acceptance through a redeemer: it gives peace in death; and "a sure and certain hope of the resurrection unto eternal life."

Let every man then, who hath any doubt in his mind as to this change in the state of the soul in this life, apply himself to the consideration of the subject. For if there be any truth in revelation, this is true. "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" What avails it that all the treasures of science and literature are poured at our fect, if we are ignorant of ourselves, of Christ, and holiness? The period is hastening which will put an end to this world and all its distinctions; which, like a flood, will sweep away its applause and its frown, its learning and its ignorance. The awful glories of the last judgment will ere long, appear; when the humble and penitent enquirer who has received by faith that stupendous grace which the doctrine of Christ reveals, shall be eternally saved; while the merely speculative student whose secret love of sin led to the rejection of that doctrine, shall, notwithstanding his presumption of final impunity, be, forever, undone.*

See the Star in the East.

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Forbes.

I cannot permit myself to conclude, without expressing my thanks for the very candid attention with which you have been pleased to honor these discourses. I trust that every word hath been spoken with a just deference for the learned assembly before whom I preach; for I greatly covet your approbation, and I hope that I shall obtain it. But I have a solemn account to render; for I have had many opportunities. And I desire to say that, now, which my conscience shalt approve, at that hour when I shall be called, to give an account of my stewardship.

I pray that "the Spirit of truth," which our Saviour promised should abide with his people for ever, may manifest his power amongst us, dispel the darkness of ignorance and error, and "guide our minds into all truth." John xvi, 13.

To this holy spirit, who, together with the Father and the Son, is One God, be ascribed all honor and glory, power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and evermore. Amen.

· Dr. KERR'S REPORT,

ECCLESIASTICAL ANTIQUITIES IN INDIA.

[We have been favoured by a respectable correspondent in India, with a copy of a REPORT, presented by a pious clergyman, at the request of the Governor of Madras, concerning the state of the ancient Christians in Cochin and Travancore. This Report is so curious and so interesting, that we shall give the whole of it to our readers, assured that they will esteem it, as we do, a most valuable and important document.]

London Evangelical Magazine.

REPORT of the Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George, to the Right Honourable Lord William Bentinck, Governor of Madras, on the state of the Christians inhabiting the kingdoms of Cochin, and Travancore, undertaken by order of the supreme government of Bengal.

"Public Department.

To the Rev. Dr. Kerr, Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George.

Rev. Sir,

The Right Honourable the Governor in Council, being desirous of availing himself of your vicinity to the Malabar coast, to obtain every possible information in regard to the establishment, &c. of the Christian Religion in that part of the peninsula, I am directed by his lordship in council, to desire that so soon as the state of your health and the season will permit, you will proceed to the provinces on that coast; and you will forward to me, for the information of government, such accounts as you may be able to collect, of the first introduction of christianity into India-of the arrival of the different sects who have been, or may be, in existence of their general history, and of the persecutions to which they may have

been exposed-of their success in making proselytes-of their church-establishment, and of the source from which they are maintained, and with all other circumstances connected with this important subject.

I have the honour to be, Rev Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

(Signed) G. G. KEBLE.
Sec. to Government.

Fort St. George, June 28, 1806."

"To the Right Honourable Lord William C. Bentinck, Governor in Council, &c. &c.

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MY LORD,

When at Mysore, I was honoured by the receipt of Mr. secretary Keble's letter, dated the 28th June last; and finding my general health much improved, I resolved to proceed to the Malabar coast, in search of the information required by your lordship in council, regarding the Christians inhabiting that part of the peninsula:-an investigation which I have found as interesting as it is important, whether it regards humanity at large, or as it is connected, in a political view, with the British interests in this country.

"To view the extensive field pointed out for my inquiries minutely, would require much more of my time than could be well spared from my other public avocations; and as I learned that the Rev. Dr. Buchanan was nominated by the government of Bengal, to travel over the same ground, for purposes somewhat similar, I did not think it incumbent on me to take up more than a general view of the subject, and I directed my attention accordingly not so much to details as to matters of hensive import.

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"The first object to which the orders of government refer, is to an account of the introduction of christianity into this country.

"There can be no doubt whatever, that the St. Thome Christians settled on the Malabar coast at a very early period of the Christian church; from whence they, at one time, spread in various directions as far even as Mileapoor, and St. Thomas's Mount; but to derive authentic information as to the time of their arrival, is at present no easy task.

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