BAPTIST MISSION. A BRAHMIN has renounced his caste, embraced the Gospel, and has been baptized at Serampore. Another Brahmin has lately been baptized at Pruhladghat by Mr Smith. Several more converts have been baptized at Dinagepore by Dr Marshman. Several more are waiting for baptism at Cutwa. We can scarcely conceive of the various inconveniences and difficul ties to which converted nations in India are exposed. A petition from some Native Christians to the ma gistrate of Jessore, states, that since their conversion, the barbers refuse to attend upon them, and the midwives upon their wives; the latter refusal sometimes occasions great danger. The petitioners intreat the interference of the magistrate that they may be delivered from this oppression, which has been promptly afforded. The Translations of the Scriptures are pursued with continued zeal. The Bengalee Bible, in one volume, octavo, goes on well. A fount of small Nagree is now preparing, similar to the small Bengalee. When this is finished, Dr Carey will print a complete edition of the whole Bible in Sangscrit, in a large octavo size. The Schools are prosperous; the introduction of the copy-book plan gives great satisfaction, and will be adopted by the School Society. "The 16 Morning and Evening Prayers of the Church of England, with the Psalter,' bound together; translated by Dr Morrison, in the autumn of last year, and printed in a neat pocket size, at the expense of the London Missionary Society." The number of Chinese Tracts and pamphlets composed, printed and circulated by this mission, since its commencement, is considerably more than thirty-six thousand, and of above twelve different kinds. The blocks of these (that is, the stereotype wooden plates) all remain good; and will bear to throw off many thousands, without any repair. Several other tracts and treatises are projected and begun. A course of 66 Evening Conversations," or "Polemical Dialogues," in which the idolatry, superstition, false philosoPhy, and iniquitous practices of the Chinese will be discussed, has been commenced by Mr Milne, and will form two small volumes. RELIGIOUS TRACTS IN CHINESE. Mr MILNE writes from China "To our former tracts we have added the following: person named Jogee Das, about 160 years ago; who, it is pretended, was raised from the dead by a mendicant stranger, after he had been slain in battle. He was commissioned by that stranger to become a reformer, and teach true religion. He and his disciples laboured to convert the people from idolatry to the worship of the one God as a Spirit, and with the heart and life. It is not impro. bable that Jogee Das had received information from some Christian, as several divine truths and some rites resembling those of Christians, are found among this people. They reject all the Hindoo deities, images, ablutions, and the doc trine of transmigration, and fully expect a future judgment, which will establish the good in a state of uninterrupted happiness, and doom the wicked to dreadful torments, whereby they shall expiate the sins they committed in this world. They hold a monthly meeting, (formerly a weekly one, every Saturday), when all in the neighbourhood assemble, each person furnishing according to his means, flour, ghee, milk, or su gar. Some of them form these into bread, while others converse on the affairs of the community, or investi gate complaints against any of their people. In the evening the bread is placed on a small elevation, and, after a short prayer, divided among the guests; after which a vessel, containing sherbet, called the " cup of fellowship," is passed round, and the remainder of the night is spent in rehearsing verses in praise of the founder, and directions for their moral conduct. Persons convicted of immorality are excommunicated; falsehood, dishonesty, and all dissolute practices being strictly forbidden, and the people are taught to earn their living by honest indus try. A few years ago, a copy of the Serampore translation of some of the Gospels was brought them from Hurdwar fair; of the meaning or spirit of these they seemed to have little notion, until Anund Messeh, from Meerut, paid them a visit, and explained some passages to them. They entertained many prejudices at first against any attempt to instruct them, lest Christians should imitate the Mahomedans, (whom they abhor), by forcing a new religion upon them. Their prejudices, however, seem to have abated; a school has been established, and they more readily receive Christian books, and listen to Anund's comments on the Scriptures. May we not hope that these people will hereafter become enlightened in the knowledge of the Gospel? NEW COLLEGE AT SERAMPORE. A prospectus of a new college at Serampore, for the education of Christian, native, and other youth, has been lately published. The plan is of considerable magnitude. His Excellency the Marquis of Hastings has consented to be the first patron of this new college; and its government is placed in the hands of the Serampore missionaries, who have given their premises for the use of the institution until suitable buildings can be erected. The main object is to instruct native youth in the Sanscrit language, that they may be enabled, by a thorough knowledge of the sacred books of the Hindus, to compare the tenets of Brahma and of Bouhdism with the doctrines of Christianity, and thus become qualified for spreading a knowledge of the truth over Asia. INDEX. Biography. Africaner, an African chief, account Brown, Rev. David, account of, Ewan, John, providences connected Essays. Affliction, improvement of, 291 Church, Sion a type of the, 299 Divine example, 19 Holydays, on the nature and tenden- Influences of the Holy Spirit, on the Kingdom of Christ, the certain suc- Old Testament, Divine inspiration Peter's sin and repentance, reflec- Providence, on the dispensations of, Punishment, on the eternity of, 170. Submission, duty of Christians ex- From Mr Romaine, 59. a Soldier in Miscellaneous. Address to a Christian church, 90 Illustration of Scripture. Friends, society of, on a late deci- sion of the, 407. 446 334 Grey, Rev. H. speech of, 149. re. Edinburgh Bible Society, 68 Jews, intelligence respecting the, 35. 118. 200. 398 Jutland, account of a colony of Moravian Missions, 37. 120. 470 232 Port of London Society, 148 Scottish Missionary Society, 36.112. South Seas, 38. 277. 358 Review. A Word to the Wise, 140. 184. 214 the means of its attainment, 102 church, by G. Young, 384 Irvine's Speech, 219 Narrative of a Private Soldier, 345 Notes on an excursion into the High Reply to the Objections against the PRINTED BY J. RITCHIE END OF VOL. VI. |