But let none of these things de ter us from the firm and reso the smiles and frowns of earth. It was humility which enabled the blessed Jesus to be content-lute, yet gentle and affectionate, ed with his poor accommoda- discharge of duty. tions, to despise the baits of the world, to tread under foot the pride of life, to bear patiently the taunts of the wicked, and to be fully resigned to his Father's will. Let us learn of him, who was meek and lowly in heart. Such is the world, that we must expect tribulation in it. Evil tongues cannot be silent. No gentleness and kindness can tame them; do not unnecessarily exasperate them; give them no occasion to speak reproachfully; but let not your peace of mind Cs depend on the speeches of the ungodly. Let them not gall, provoke, or discourage you. Only be particularly careful, that when all manner of evil is spoken of you, it may be spoken falsely for Christ's sake. Then you may trust and rejoice in the Lord; and in anticipation of the peace and glory of heaven. Soon will the pious be, where the wicked will forever cease from troubling. If we endeavor, on all occasions, to be faithful and to mani fest the spirit of Christ, we must also expect coldness, censures, hard speeches, and rash judgments, from some, of whom we hoped better things, and whom we may still believe to be pious, though under prejudices and mistakes. The zeal of some Christians is too fiery, bitter, and indiscriminate; the prudence of others is too much allied to lukewarmness and the fear of man. They, who take the happy mean between these two classes, will probably be censured by both, and be regarded with jealousy. Finally, let all of us, who profess to be disciples and follow. ers of Christ, endeavor to derive all possible advantages from the ill-treatment we receive in the world, and to persevere in our duty without remissness or discouragement. Thus we may make great improvement in self knowledge, and in the Christian temper and practice; and we may do great good to many, and adorn and recommend genuine religion. Thus also we may do much to prevent divisions, contentions, and animosities. How often revenge perpetuates a quarrel, which forgiveness might easily and speedily heal. How many, and how extensive, are the evils which infest, not only society in general, but the churches of God; which might be prevented, would all, who call themselves Christians, study to know and subdue the evil tempers of their own hearts; to love, forgive, and pray for their enemies; to be meek, humble, and peaceable; to bear ill-treatment with the spirit of Christ; and to overcome evil with good. Let us, my brethren, deeply and seriously consider the impor tance of these things; and may God direct and enable us by his Spirit, to glorify him by a right temper and conduct in every situation. R. W. HINTS TO DO GOOD. NO. II. BIBLE Societies are formed in almost every country of the Christian world; and many, who are rich, cast in much to pro mote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. Cannot some more effectual way be devised, than has been devised hitherto, in which the poor may unite and help forward this great and good work? There are numbers among the poorer class, in almost every town, who are as desirous of doing good, as their more wealthy neighbors. Why should not their benevolent feelings be gratified, and an opportunity be given them to bring their offering, even if it were no more than one mite. The Savior noticed with approbation the poor widow who cast but a single farthing into the treasury of the Lord; and an inspired Apostle hath informed us, If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Let every one give, then, according to his ability. He that giveth let him do with simplicity; he that showeth mercy with cheerfulness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bounti. fully shall reap also bountifully. Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth the cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed scwn, and increase the fruits of your rightrousness: Being enriched in eve ry thing, to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanks giving to God.' I beg leave to introduce a quo. tation from Scott's commentary upon these words. "The Apos tle would not prescribe the proportion, (says he) which every one ought to give; nor would he write as one that aimed to extort money from them; but this he said, that God would measure to them, according to the meas. ure which they used towards their poor brethren. Money given in charity, seems to unbe lief and selfishness to be finally thrown away; but in fact, when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, and the only part of a man's substance from which a valuable increase can be ex pected. The Lord would with out fail in one way or other make up to the givers what they expended in this good work; for he was able to make every gift of his free favor to abound to them; and so having a sufficiency of all things desirable for themselves and families, and being enlarged in faith and love, they might have both a willing mind, and ability for every good work. Thus the character and blessed ness mentioned by the Psalmist would be verified in them; and their acts of kindness to the poor, from love to Christ, would be accepted works of righteous. ness for which the benefit would remain with them forever. "Many an intended good work has been neglected or rendered useless by delay: it is therefore proper to exhort men to be prompt in doing what they have shown a willingness to engage *Rom. xii, 8; 2 Cor. viii, 12; and ix, 6—1. in. Works of piety and charity should flow spontaneously from the gratitude and benevolence of a believing heart, and not require extorting by importunity. This savors of covetousness, and it even puts those, who forward useful designs, to the painful necessity of laboring to draw money from those, who ought to give, but are reluctant to part with it. Yet the main benefit of every act of charity for the Lord's sake will redound to the giver. He sows his good seed in a fruitful soil, and his bountifulness to man will assure him of the Lord's bountifulness to him. Whatever expenses therefore are retrenched, or from whatever fund it is deducted, we should not grudge, or be sparing in this seed. It is spiritual policy for us to spend less on every kind of indulgence, and to lay by less for our families, that we may give more to the needy for Christ's sake: for this will be best secured and most productive. Even persons in moderate circumstances may sow much of this seed; if by various little sav. ings and self-denials, they will but study to spare something to relieve their distressed brethren; and this they will do if their faith and love abound. "There are a few who scatter and yet increase, but there are far more, even among those who are zealous for evangelical doctrines, who withhold more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty. God can easily give us enough to use; and enough to disperse; that we may have more, sow more, and reap more, and so increase the fruits of our righteousness, that, being enriched in every thing unto all bountiful ness, we may be happy in ourselves, blessings to others, and instruments of promoting his glory.* The plan which I would propose, that all persons of every denomination may unite together in doing good, is to have Bible Societies formed in every town throughout the United States, and subscription papers circulated among all classes of people. Such societies might be under the direction of committees, whose duty it should be to collect, and pay over to a common treasurer, such sums of money as might be subscribed, and likewise to make inquiries concerning those who were in need of assistance from the society. Should such societies be formed, would not the poorer classes feel more interested to procure Bibles for themselves, and make inquiries among their neighbors to ascertain who were destitute. If there were any, who should wish to join such societies, who could pay but a small part of what a Bible would cost, let it be accepted, and if on inquiry it should be found that these persons were destitute of the Bible, let them be supplied *It is earnestly recommended, to every one who can have access to Dr. Scott's " Notes, and Practical Observations, upon the 8th and 9th chapters of the 2 Cor. to read them with careful attention, and also consult his marginal references. There, indeed, is a feast of fat things. If other readers gain half the pleasure from the perusal, which the writer of this paper has experienced, they will be ab vndantly rewarded for their trouble. Would not these two chapters with the marginal references, and Scot's commentary upon them, make a very useful tract, to be printed by Religious Tract Societies, for distribution? The subject is submitted to the consideration of the committees of such societies. from the funds of the society. In this way a number of poor families might have the word of life put into their hands, who will otherwise remain without it. Another important benefit resulting from this method, would be, that persons in indigent circumstances would more highly prize the Bible which should cost them something, than if they could possess it gratis. It may perhaps be said, that the sums of money collected in this way would generally be very small; and it would not be best to subject a committee to the trouble of collecting such trifling sums, as would be frequently contributed by the poor. To this it may be answered, that all great sums are made up of small items, and a large part of the expenses of government are ultimately paid by the poor in small sums. Let us turn our attention for a moment to the subject, and inquire what would be the result should each individual contribute only one cent in a year. According to the last census, the number of inhabitants in the United States, and theirterritorial governments, was 7,230,514. A tax of one cent upon each individual would produce a sum of 72,305 dollars and 14 cents. This sum, according to the cost of Bibles to Bible Societies, would procure 115,680 Bibles, which might be distributed to the poor. Surely this would make no contemptible figure in the reports of these general Bible Societies. But where is the individual who can not give one cent or even six cents in a year. These minor contributions need not prevent a single dollar being given by the opu lent. Indeed, I believe, should such societies become general, probably many times more would be given by the rich, than is given at present. Let an annual Report be published, stating the sums contributed and the number of Bibles distributed in each town; and, in a few years, there would no doubt be an astonishing change in the moral state of society for the better; and almost all classes of people would be so interested to promote the common cause, that there would not be a single cottage where human beings could be found without a Bible. This may seem a chimera; but it will surely take place in its time. It is a great and good work, to be engaged in spreading the Holy Scriptures, and let none who have entered the field retreat or be dismayed at the enemies which appear: To those, who have done little or nothing, a door is now opened, and they are invited, to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. I shall close the present number in the words of Moses to the children of Israel. This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, take ye from among you, an offering tinto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; goid, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet and fine linen. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. BAPTIST MISSION IN INDIA. From the Christian Ohserver. THE 25th Number of the Periodical Accounts of the Baptist Missionary Society, which brings down the history of the Mission to the close of the year 1812, has just reached us. It is prefaced by some observations of the Committee which serve to give a comprehensive view of its progress since the close of the year 1809. At that period there were six stations, containing 191 members; at the close of 1812 there were twelve stations, and about 500. members. The main part of what has been done in Calcutta, has been done in these three years. By circulating the Scriptures in the native languages, by preaching, and by the establishment of a large school, on Lancaster's model, a strong impression has been made on that city. During this period, not less than 160 persons have been baptised at Calcutta and Serampore: -a mission has been planted in Orissa, the seat of Juggernauth, where not only have the Scriptures, in the language of the country, been liberally distributed, even within the precincts of the temple, but the Gospel has been diligently preached, and a church formed of between thirty and forty members:-the church in Jessore has increased from thirty to eighty members: the Gospel has been preached and churches formed at Bheerboom, Agra, Dijah, Patna, and Dacca:-the word of God has been introduced into the Mahrat a country, where many are reading it with apparent effect:-and three new stations have been occupied, viz. Columbó, Chittagong, and Bombay. The state of the translations at the end of 1812, was as follows: 1. In Bengalee, the New Testament had gone through three editions, and was ready for a fouth; the second edition of the Old Testament was printed to the fourth chapter of Leviticus, 2. In Sungskrit, New Testament printed; Old Testament printed to 2d Samuel, and translated to 2d Chronicles. 3. In Orissa, New Testament printed, and tried and approved by Orissa Pundits; Old Testament, the Hagiographa and the Prophets, and the Historical Books to 1st Kings, printed. 4. In Telinga, New Testament translated, Matthew in the press. 5. In Kurnata, New Testament translated, Matthew revised: 6. In Mahratta, New Testament printed, and in circulaon; Old Testament printed to Numbers. VOL. X. 7. In Hindoost'hanee, New Testament, second edition in the press; Old Testament printed to Exodus. 8. Shikh, New Tes tament, translated and printed to Luke vii. 9. In Burman, types cast, a volume of Scripture extracts printed, and the translation prepared to Luke xviii, 10. In Chinese, New Testament translated; Old Testament translated to ist Samuel v, and Gospel of St. John printing. 11. In Cashmire, New Testament, translated to Rom. ii. 12. Assam, New Testament, translated to John vi. Besides which the translation of the Scriptures into the Pushtoo or Affghun, the Nepala, the Brij Basha, the Bilochee, and the Maldivian were commencing, important improvements had been made in casting types and manufacturing paper, and the younger branches of the family were so educated, as to be able to carry on the translations. "The feeling excited by the disaster at Serampore, not only produced a prompt and very liberal contribution for the reparation of the loss, but probably increased the interest which the Christian part of the nation felt in the question, Shail Christianity have free course in India? That interest certainly was great, and of great impor tance. The temperate but decided way in which the sense of the country was expressed, as well as the respectful manner in which it was treated by the Government and the Legislature, call for our grateful acknowledgments both to them, and to Him who disposes the hearts of all for the accomplishment of his purposes."-"Finally the Committee observe, and we are anxious to second their pious admonition, "while solicitous for the success of Christ's kingdom in other lands, let us not forget our native country, and while the souls of our fellow-sinners are dear to us, let us not be unmindful of our own. It is too possible that a zeg! may be kindled for a public object, while at the same time things of a personal nature are neglected. Surely it would be a grievous thing, if while basy here and there about converting the heathen, we lose our own souls!" We proceed to make some extracts from the Periodical Accounts themselves. "Serampore and Calcutta-Fifty-nine have been added to this church, the greater part of whom are natives of India of various religions." "The Scriptures and Scripture tracts in various languages have been largely distributed by the members of the church among their neighbors, their servants, and the strangers from various 54 |