during Mr. Allen's absence, I have visited several places in the
country, and hope to visit them as often as I possibly can. The
preaching of the gospel, accompanied by the blessing of God, like the
waters of a mighty river, bears down all before it; and Jehovah has
promised that it shall rise and expand, like the waters of the deluge,
until it cover the whole earth, and universally prevail. A few Roman
Catholics have attended preaching since I came to reside in this
village. May the Lord give me wisdom and understanding that I may be
wise to win souls to Christ, and more grace that I may be more devoted
to his service!
Your's &c.
=J. Bates.=
* * * * *
_To the_ Rev. =J. Bates=.
_Easky, Mar. 30, 1835._
Since my last letter I travelled through parts of the counties of Latrun
and Sligo, earnestly endeavouring as usual, by reading, conversation,
and expounding the Scriptures, to promote the design of our Institution
among my friends and acquaintances.
Within one mile of Dromahare, I entered the house of an old woman of
ninety-eight years, with whom I had often-times before conversed, on the
doctrine of justification by faith; when she understood I had arrived,
she sent for me, stretched out her hand, and said she was happy to see
me before death would call her away. I told her I was sorry to see her
so low, but as it was the will of the Lord, we ought to be resigned to
his will. I asked her what her dependance was? Her reply was, In Jesus
Christ alone, and that she had derived great comfort from reading some
tracts I had left her, the last time I was with her; I said to her,
"Have you never done any thing to please God?" "O no, Sir, I was too
long of that opinion, and through hearing you, and reading the parts of
the Scriptures you pointed out to me, I am persuaded that all the power
and the glory is the Lord's." I was rejoiced to find so great a change
in this poor woman, and endeavoured to point out to her the Lamb of God,
who taketh away the sins of the world. I read several chapters of the
word of God, and prayed with her. I conversed and read with many
Protestants and Roman Catholics during my journey, as well as in the
neighbourhood in which I live; many of them will pay great attention,
while others think they are not safe to hear me read the Scriptures.
=F. Irwin.=
* * * * *
_To the_ Rev. =W. Thomas=.
_Ballycar, April 13, 1835._
I forward you an account of my labours, during the past month. March
17th. In Crussagh, I read Matt. xxv. to four persons, pointing out to
them, from the parable of the ten virgins, the absolute necessity of
watchfulness, and of being prepared to meet our Lord when he doth come.
March 22nd. In Newmarket, I read 2 Cor. v. to two persons, pointing out
to them the full assurance which the apostle Paul had of the immediate
happiness, in eternal felicity, after death, when he could say, "We
know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens." One of these persons said he could not be convinced that any
poor sinner could be good enough to enter heaven, or appear in the
presence of God, without being cleansed from his sins in purgatory. As
to goodness, our Lord declares, "after all we have done, we are
unprofitable servants." And he says of the unprofitable servant, "Take
and bind him, hand and foot, and cast ye the unprofitable servant into
outer darkness, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing
of teeth." Again, we read in Eph. ii. 8. "By grace are ye saved, through
faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works,
lest any man should boast." Again in Titus iii. 5, "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
After reading different passages of Scripture to these persons, proving
that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God eternal life
through Jesus Christ," I endeavoured to convince them, from different
passages of Scripture, that Christ, after having purged our sins, sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. March 28th. In Drumline,
I read John v. endeavouring to impress on the minds of three persons the
necessity of reading the Scriptures, and of obeying that direct command
of our Lord's, who says, "Search the Scriptures." One of these persons
replied, that the Scriptures ought to be read by every person, and he
was convinced any person preventing others from reading them, had a
great deal to answer for. April 2nd. I read to two persons Matt. vi.
pointing out to them the crime of persons who repeat the Lord's prayer,
who have the smallest enmity to others, showing them they were not
calling upon God to forgive them, but they were calling upon him to
condemn them, as long as such a spirit of hatred existed in their minds.
These persons never seemed to have considered this before, and seemed
much alarmed at the idea of it. April 5. In Quin, I read Luke xi. to
five persons, pointing out to them the great inducement which our Lord
gives to prayer, when he says, "If a son ask bread of any of you that is
a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a
fish give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him!" April 10. In Granahan, I read
Acts v. to four persons, pointing out to them the dreadful visitation of
God's judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, in consequence of a lie, showing
them from different portions of Scripture, that liars are set down with
murderers.
=Samuel Cross.=
* * * * *
_To_ =Rev. J. Allen=.
_Ballina, April 18, 1835._
Dear Sir,
It is now about twelve months since I entered on the active duties of my
station at Easky. On beholding opposition directed against the cause of
Christ from various quarters, and conscious of my own weakness, I
commenced my labours with a trembling heart. In humble dependence on Him
who can do infinitely more than short-sighted mortals can comprehend, I
entered the field, and, the Lord's name be praised, experienced that
"the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong;" and though
"there are many devices in man's heart, nevertheless, the counsel of the
Lord shall stand." In the commencement, Roman Catholics and nominal
Protestants were unwilling to come under the preaching of the gospel;
but at present Roman Catholics, as well as Protestants, are regular in
their attendance at preaching; and the spirit of inquiry, that prevails
among both parties, exceeds any thing that I have hitherto witnessed.
May not the friends of Christ hail with rapture the approach of that
period, when their exertions on behalf of Ireland will be rewarded, and
their hopes realized? Yes: there is at present much cause of
thankfulness, that their labours have been already abundantly owned, and
the word of the Lord is gone forth, and is daily prospering in the
things whereunto it was sent.
During the spring, as the people can come a longer distance, the
congregations, on the Sabbath-days, are larger than in winter, but on
the week-days not so well attended in the villages, as the people are
employed in the fields. However, I endeavour to meet them at their work,
for the purpose of speaking to them about the salvation of their souls;
and on these occasions I find the Irish language very useful, as the
most inveterate opposers of religion, when addressed in their own
tongue, are ready to hearken with attention. The conversations that
occur from time to time are often very interesting.
=M. Mullarky.=
CONTRIBUTIONS.
Received by the Treasurer:--
£ s. d.
R. G., per W. L. Smith, Esq. 1 1 0
Legacy of the late Mrs. Bailey, of Brixton 200 0 0
T. Stephens, Esq., Ramsgate 1 0 0
Mrs. John Gale, Bedford 0 10 0
Mrs. Gamby, ditto 0 10 0
Received by the Rev. J. Dyer:--
Rev. J. B. Burt (Beaulieu) and friends 2 0 0
Sylvanus Fox, Esq., Wellington 0 10 0
Hetton, by Mrs. Greatrex 1 10 0
Manchester, York Street Sunday School, by Mrs. Giles. 2 2 0
Plymouth, by Rev. S. Nicholson 3 1 0
John Baylis, Esq., Ponders' End. 10 0 0
Rev. J. Stuart, Sawbridgeworth 1 1 0
Bewdley, Friends, by Rev. G. Brookes 1 15 9
Edinburgh, Friends, by Rev. W. Innes 4 0 0
Edinburgh, Friend, by Miss Haldane 1 0 0
Rev. Reynold Hogg, Kimbolton 2 2 0
By the Secretary:--
A Friend to the Baptist Irish Society,
by the Rev. C. Elven, of Bury 100 0 0
W. Paxon, Esq., ann. subs. 1 1 0
W. B. W. 5 0 0
C. Robson, Berwick 5 0 0
The Baptist Congregational Missionary Society, Berwick 5 0 0
Collected by the Rev. S. Davis,--
At Cheltenham, additional 2 2 6
Worcester, Mrs. Page 5 0 0
Birmingham 34 5 10
Liverpool 100 4 8
Bradford (Yorkshire) 3 0 0
Rochdale 8 5 0
Manchester 33 9 0
Bolton 4 0 0
Warrington 8 14 7
* * * * *
Subscriptions received by S. Marshall, Esq., 181, High Holborn; Mr. P.
Millard, Bishopsgate Street; Messrs. Burls, 56, Lothbury; Rev. G.
Pritchard, 4, York Place, Pentonville, gratuitous Secretary; by Messrs.
Ladbrokes and Co., Bankers, Bank Buildings; by Mr. H. D. Dickie, 13,
Bank Street, and Rev. Mr. Innes, Frederick Street, Edinburgh; and P.
Brown, Esq., Cardigan.
LONDON: J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.
MISSIONARY HERALD.
CXCVIII. JUNE, 1835.
BAPTIST MISSION.
The Friends to this Mission are respectfully informed, that the
following arrangements have been made for the =Annual Meetings of the
Society=:--
TUESDAY, JUNE 16.
=Morning, xi.=--The Committee of the Society will assemble at the Mission
House, Fen Court, when the company of all ministers of the Denomination,
who may be in town, is requested.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17.
=Morning, xi.=--Sermon at the Poultry Chapel (Rev. J. Clayton's), by the
Rev. =Samuel Summers=, of Bristol.
=Evening, vi.=--Sermon at Surrey Chapel, Blackfriars Road, by the Rev.
=Benjamin Godwin=, of Bradford, Yorkshire.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18.
=Morning, IX.=--Meeting for prayer, at Eagle Street Meeting House. Some
Minister from the country is expected to deliver an Address.
=XI.=--Annual Meeting of the Society, at Finsbury Chapel, =T. F. Buxton=,
Esq., M.P., in the Chair.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
COLOMBO.
We have much pleasure in communicating the following intelligence from
this important station. The baptism of twenty-four native converts in
less than a year, and the formation of another church composed of those
who were lately heathens, are circumstances of great interest, and must
be very encouraging to our worthy brother, who has been labouring so
diligently among them.
At nearly the conclusion of another year, I am reminded of my
obligations to write to you. On surveying the events which have
occurred in it, we have reason to sing both of mercy and judgment to
our heavenly Father. While much affliction has reigned around us, I
have to bless God for the continuation of my own life and health to
labour for Him. Each of the members of my own family have had to
endure a large degree of sickness and debility; yet it has not come
near to myself, except as the enervating nature of a tropical clime
has produced a considerable degree of lassitude, connected with the
labours of a Missionary life. Nor do I recollect that, during the
year I have been obliged to suspend any public exercise through
personal indisposition. This continuance of health has been rendered
more valuable in consequence of the repeated illness of my
colleague, brother Siers, who has been many times laid aside from
his work, so that I have been obliged in many instances, as far as I
could consistently with my stated engagements, to take what devolves
on him. As he is chiefly occupied in labouring among the Portuguese,
I have been under the necessity of cultivating an acquaintance with
their language, and have now acquired a sufficiency of it to preach
in it the glorious Gospel of the blessed God.
In the commencement of the year, things wore a distressing
appearance, and we went forward with our work under many
discouragements. But in the progress of the year I do not know of
any part of the time since I have been here, in which a greater
degree of the Divine blessing appears to have rested on my labours,
as far as the native population is concerned. Twenty-three
Singalese, and one Tamil man, after subjecting them to a
considerable trial, and private as well as public instruction, have
been baptized and added to the church, and they appear to continue
to walk according to the vows they have made. Sixteen of these live
contiguous to the village called Byamvillee, which I either supply
myself or some of our friends, every Sabbath-day; so that we have
now a little church in that village of twenty-eight members, to whom
the word of God is regularly preached, and the ordinances of His
house duly administered. By the aid, too, of some of the members of
our Singalese church, we have been enabled, on a Sabbath-day, to
carry on a village itinerancy to a greater extent than before. So
that, in addition to the Singalese, Portuguese, and English
services, which are conducted in our regular places of worship in
the Grand Pass, Pettah, in the Fort, and Hanwella, we have seven
places around Colombo, or in the environs of it, where there is
Singalese preaching, either every Sabbath or every other
Sabbath-day. These are independent of many places to which, on week
days, we go to make known the name of the Saviour.
In consequence of the recent removals of the 61st and 97th regiments
from Colombo to other parts of the island, our English church has
been almost entirely scattered; but a small number are now again
collected, who have been regularly organized into a Christian
society. Our schools, which at the commencement of the year were
much diminished by the alarming prevalence of the small-pox, have
again recovered to in general their former size; especially the
female school in our own yard, conducted by my own family, which now
numbers more than fifty scholars, who have made very rapid progress
in reading and in needlework. I fear unless we can obtain further
assistance in this school, it must for a time be renounced, as my
eldest daughter appears, by a continued pain in her side, to labour
under a liver complaint, which renders a relaxation of her labours
indispensably necessary, even if a removal to a colder clime be not
requisite to save her life. Our schools, with the exception of one,
which, on account of local circumstances, has for a time been lately
discontinued, are the same in number as at the conclusion of the
last year--and the number of attendants nearly the same.
The inhabitants of this part of the island have been much afflicted
lately by a dreadful flood, which no one living ever recollects to
have been equalled. It came on suddenly and unexpectedly, at
mid-night, like the judgment day. By it multitudes were roused from
their slumbers, and obliged to fly for their lives. Many were killed
by it; the houses of others destroyed--and being near the approach
of harvest, the injury done to the rice and other crops is
incalculable. Many of our members have suffered severely from it, in
the loss of their little property, in the destruction of their
houses, and in the bodily privations they have endured. I went on
Wednesday last to preach at a village where one of our members
lives, and the account he gave me of the perilous condition in which
he and his family were, was most heart-rending. The water rose as
high as the shoulders of a tall man in his house. His dwelling was
washed away. He and his son were obliged to ascend to the outside of
the roof of a bungalow, where they remained two days without food;
if they called no one could hear them, they could get near no one,
nor any one near to them. There, amidst the pelting of the rain--the
howling of the wind--the creaking of the trees--and the fear of the
place on which they were sitting falling, they were obliged to
continue. The government, with the most commendable diligence, sent
boats laden with rice and dried fish, as far as they were able; and
a subscription has been opened to afford relief to the sufferers,
which has been liberally supported. I engaged persons, whom I
supplied with money, to go among the most needy in and near to
Colombo, and give them food to prevent their dying with hunger. Our
meeting-house at Hanwella has been entirely destroyed by the
inundation; and, in the present state of things there, I do not
think it expedient to build it again. A small bungalow will be
erected for the accommodation of those who wish to hear the word of
God; and I hope to obtain a sufficient quantity of timber from the
wreck to erect a little place of worship at Byamvillee, if I can
obtain sufficient subscriptions for it.
I have now my hands completely full in preparing an answer to a
Catholic priest's reply to a tract I published on saint and image
worship. I believe I mentioned the original tract, entitled, "St.
Antonio," in my last, which has excited no small stir among the
papists in this place. An abusive and crafty reply has been
circulated by them, to which the Tract Society here has deemed a
rejoinder requisite. As I was the person who began the assault, the
burden of preparing it has fallen on me. The drift of the answer
will be to disprove the authority of tradition--to destroy the
claims of the Roman Catholic church--and show the vanity of the
arguments by which they endeavour to support their soul-destroying
idolatry. It will occupy, as far as I can judge, about 250 pages,
and is now nearly ready for press. Indeed the first sheet is gone to
it; but as the Wesleyan press works very slowly, and they have two
or three other works in hand, it may be some time before it makes
its appearance. O that it may be the means of leading some of the
multitudes of the deluded people by whom we are surrounded, to
consult the Bible for themselves!
* * * * *
SEEBPORE.
We are thankful to report that our friends Mr. and Mrs. Penney, and
their companions, arrived in safety at Calcutta, about the end of
September. Two months afterwards, as our readers will perceive by the
following letter, Mr. and Mrs. George Pearce rejoined their missionary
associates, with health mercifully recruited by their voyage.
By the good providence of God my dear partner and I arrived once
more in Calcutta, in safety, about the end of November last, after a
speedy and pleasant passage to the shores of India, of three months
and twenty days. The voyage proved very beneficial to the health of
us both, but particularly so to Mrs. Pearce, who landed here much
stronger than she was when she left Bristol. We had the happiness of
finding all our immediate associates well; and that Mr. Penney, with
his companions (with the exception of Mrs. Anderson, of whose
lamented decease you have long ere this been apprised), had arrived
in safety. I mentioned in my letter to you from Madeira, that the
Captain of the St. George had requested me to conduct divine service
on the Lord's-day. This I continued to do till the close of the
voyage, and I had the happiness to witness the regular attendance of
most of the passengers, as well as the ship's company. We have to
speak in the best terms of the treatment we received from the
Captain and officers of the ship, and also from the passengers.
I should have written to you before this, but I was anxious to
inform you at the same time of the station we are to occupy in
future. That point is now settled, and Seebpore, the place I
mentioned to the Committee when in England, is to be the place of my
future labours. Here I have already obtained a house, situated on
the bank of the river, about a mile and a half below brother
Thomas's, at Howrah, and am now residing in it. The spot will prove,
I hope, a very eligible one for native work, as we are in the midst
of a very dense and respectable Hindoo population, with ready access
to numerous villages a few miles in the interior. With the exception
of one or two schools for teaching Bengalee, under the patronage of
the Bishop's College, there is nothing being done here, for the
instruction of the heathen in the knowledge of Christ; and I believe
of late years, nothing has been done. As far as I know of Calcutta
and its suburbs, there is no spot that I am aware of, that needs
missionary efforts more than Seebpore, and none more eligible. May
the blessing of God attend the efforts now about to be made for
their spiritual benefit!
The brethren have requested me also to resume charge of the
Luckyantipore station, and to take the oversight of Kharee also, as
brother W. H. Pearce is desirous of relinquishing it, in consequence
of his increasing work in Calcutta. This I have consented to do, not
however without being in some measure sensible of the arduous nature
of the work now devolving on me; especially as the number of people
at the stations have considerably increased, and are greatly
increasing. I would, however, humbly look to Him who giveth strength
according to our day. This department of my work will occasion my
leaving home for days together several times in the year. The
brethren have also considered it proper to divide the Christian
Boarding School; and as Mrs. Ellis was desirous of some relief,
owing to the increase of the schools, her weaker state of health,
and the increasing cares of her family, Mrs. Pearce has been
requested to take charge of the girls' department; which she has
consented to do; and in the course of a few days expects to enter
again on this interesting sphere of labour. I have little more to
add, excepting just to mention that, about ten days after my
arrival, I accompanied brother W. H. Pearce on a journey to
Luckyantipore, where we had the pleasure of baptizing eight natives.
A full account of this interesting journey you may soon expect.
Under date of the 9th of December, Mr. Anderson remarks:--
Since I have no interesting intelligence to communicate respecting
my own labours in this country, perhaps I may be privileged to speak
of the good that has apparently resulted from the labour of others.
And here I would refer to the native church, over which W. H. Pearce
presides as the pastor; it is impossible to contemplate but with
feelings of interest and gratitude, upwards of sixty of your
fellow-creatures, who were once in the darkness of heathenism, now
uniting in rendering worship to the true God. There is an appearance
too in many of them, that would indicate that they live very near to
God--that they are none other than the meek and penitent followers
of the Lamb. I would not forget to mention the schools at Chitpore,
under the care and superintendence of my esteemed friend the Rev. J.
Ellis; they speak highly of the diligence and devotedness of the
labours both of himself and of his dear partner in life. Having been
requested to examine them in history, geography, and the Scriptures,
I complied, and the result was most satisfactory, and beyond all
expectation. I would that I could say any thing to stir up the minds
of the friends at home on behalf of these valuable institutions. In
addition to the five youths, who have publicly professed their faith
in Christ by baptism, and who afford unequivocal proof of a change
of heart, there are two others, who will speedily follow their
example. We bless God for these fruits, which we hope are but the
earnest of a future glorious harvest.
* * * * *
DIGAH.
We learn, by a letter from Mr. Lawrence, dated the 22nd of November,
that he was about to remove from this station to Allahabad. At that
large and populous city, which, it is expected, will be the seat of the
new presidency, he will be joined by Mr. Anderson, and both will labour
in conjunction for the benefit of the native population of Allahabad and
its neighbourhood. The reasons for taking this step have been explained
at length to the Committee, who concur in the arrangement, and trust it
will promote, in an increased degree, the great object in view.
* * * * *
JAMAICA.
The tenor of recent letters from this island is, on the whole, highly
satisfactory. Our brethren on the north side are actively engaged in
rebuilding their chapels. Mr. Knibb writes from Falmouth, under date of
the 20th of February:--