great ardour, and during the year 1800 had the pleasure of printing the New Testament in Bengallee, consisting of 800 pages. sheet; and his opinion and mine are in almost every particular the same. He and brother Marshman think the work would be read in England. The contents On May 10, 1802, Mr. Ward are as follows:-Chap. I. Intro. entered into the marriage relation ductory.-II. Shastras.-III. Cewith Mrs. Fountain, widow of remonies.-IV. Gods.-V. TemMr. John Fountain, a Missionary, ples, images, worship. - VI, and now the afflicted widow of Learned men, priests, drooties.Mr. Ward. An interesting ac-VII. Sacred places.-VIII. Casts. count of the marriage ceremony, IX. Manners and customs.performed by Mr. Carey, was published in No. XI. of the Periodical Accounts, p. 277. In June, the next year, we find him preaching at Calcutta, and exclaiming, "Oh! it is hard labour to preach to eight or ten persons only, and that continually." So deplorable was the state of religion in the capital of India at that period! On the 1st of July he was appointed a deacon of the small church at Serampore; and on Oct. 6, 1805, he and Mr. Marshman were called to be joint pastors with Mr. Carey. In 1806, he preached a funeral sermon for his friend Mr. Sedgwick of Hull, which, was printed in England. On this occasion he remarks, "O that God may prepare me to follow him! To me the world gets poorer every day. My friends gone-my work done -all the rest is dung and dross!" X. Concluding remarks. I shall in the Preface give a complete sketch of the Hindoo system, and add an Index and Glossary. "You are not aware that very pernicious impressions have been made on the public mind, by the manner in which many writers on the Hindoo system have treated it. My desire is to counteract these impressions, and to represent things as they are." This work was printed at Serampore, by permission of the Indian Government, in 1811, in four quarto volumes, of from 400 to 500 pages each. A second edition of this work, " carefully abridged and greatly improved," was printed in one large quarto volume at Serampore in 1815; and a third edition, in two octavo volumes, was published in England in 1816. In the year 1811, March 10, a calamitous fire happened at Serampore, by which the printingoffice, types, &c. &c. were wholly consumed and destroyed. In attempting to extinguish this, Mr. Ward was in imminent danger of losing his life, but was mercifully preserved from personal harm. He had been now for some time engaged in compiling a work of considerable magnitude. The first account of it was given in a letter to Mr. Fuller, Jan. 12, 1809. "I have been for the last five or six years employed on a work on the Religion and Man- The Periodical Accounts furners of the Hindoos. It has been nish many interesting facts in remy desire to make it the most lation to Mr. Ward's missionary authentic and complete account labours, to which the reader is that has been given on the sub-referred for further information. ject. I have had the assistance In June, 1819, Mr. Ward ar of brother Carey in every proof-rived in England, and made his first public appearance at Great Queen-street Chapel, on the anniversary of the Baptist Missionary Society. His address after the sermon produced a powerful impression. He preached in the evening at Zion Chapel to a crowded auditory, from Eph. ii. 11, "Without God in the world." The awful description which he gave in this sermon of the " abominable idolatries" of the pagans in India excited deep commiseration. He afterwards visited many parts of England, Scotland, and Wales, preaching and collecting for the College at Serampore. He also visited Holland and America, collecting for the Missionary branch of the College for educating pious Hindoo youth, members of churches, for the ministry. Mr. Ward sailed from the River Thames on the 28th of May, 1821, in company with Mrs. Marshman and her daughter, and several Missionaries belonging to different societies in England. Just after they sailed, Mr. Burls received the following note from Mr. Ward, dated from the Abberton, 20 miles below Gravesend, May 31, 1821. "We have worship, singing, reading, and prayer, morning and evening, in Miss Cook's cabin.* Last night, I preached my first sermon to my brethren and sisters from Acts xx. 24. All seem very happy, and I trust God will be in the midst of us, and bless Don't forget us in your family, but especially in your closet remember me. us. "Ever most truly, most affectionately yours, "W. WARD." *This lady went out in the service of the British and Foreign School Society, to superintend the education of native females in Calcutta. The Missionary Herald for March, 1822, announced that the Abberton, with Mr. Ward and his companions, arrived in safety at Madras, after an expeditious passage, on the 24th of September, 1821: and a letter, dated Calcutta, Oct. 25, (inserted in the Missionary Herald for May,) communicated the gratifying intelligence of their safe arrival at that place. Mr. Ward, in a letter addressed to the Rev. John Dyer, dated Feb. 27, 1823, says, "We are in merciful circumstances as it respects health." This letter he put into the post-office with his own hand, the next day. Little did he imagine that the vessel appointed to carry it to England would be a "swift messenger" to convey also the sad news of his premature and sudden death; but so it was. He died March 7, in his fifty-fourth year. So true is it, that "we know not what shall be on the morrow; for what is your life? it is even as a vapour, which appeareth for a short time, and then vanisheth away." Mr. Ward has left a widow and two daughters. May HE who is the Father of the fatherless, and the God of the widow, in his holy habitation, support, protect, and bless them, under this heavy and unexpected deprivation of an affectionate husband and parent. The last publication of Mr. Ward was printed at Serampore a short time before his death. It is entitled, "Brief Memoir of Khrisna-Pal, the first Hindoo in Bengal, who broke the Chain of the Cast by embracing the Gospel."* A few copies only of this most interesting account were sent to England, and those di *It is expected that this will soon be reprinted. rected by Mr. Ward's own hand to some of his particular friends, in January last, seem silently to say, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest." warned sinners: but he felt his own weakness, and was often greatly discouraged on account of it: this led him to cry mightily to God for help. On one occasion he writes, "I was greatly discouraged and distressed about my work, and the frame of my mind, especially toward the latter In reflecting upon this solemn providence, we may feel satisfac-end of the week. I uttered many tion that our late worthy brother was (as he expressed himself in his Farewell Letters respecting the death of Mr. Fuller, p. 233,) | "permitted and assisted in so happy a degree, in promoting the extension and final triumph of the glorious kingdom of the Redeemer." This short sketch cannot be better concluded than in his own animated description of the opening prospects of the Redeemer's kingdom: "In all this progress, what difficulties have been removedwhat ground prepared-what an army in array-what resources provided-what auxiliaries in the prayers of the saints! All, in fact, rapidly tends to the grand consummation. The Lord whom we seek will suddenly come to his temple,' and amidst the ballelujahs of a saved world, he will be crowned Lord of all "One song employs all nations; and all cry, MEMOIR Of the Rev. Joshua Symonds. (Concluded from page 362.) MR.Symonds continued to pursue his course with unabated diligence, and was the happy instrument of feeding many a hungry soul with the bread of life, while he faithfully but affectionately groans before the Lord, which I have reason to believe he condescended to notice and regard." In such a strain be often writes; but such seasons of humiliating perplexity were not unfrequently the forerunners of rejoicing. After one such season he records, "This afternoon was a time of remarkable liberty in prayer;" and of the evening service he observes, "A precious friend is Jesus, excellent, constant, and everlasting. O that my soul could live nearer to him! how would this lessen my burdens, alleviate my distresses, banish my fears, relieve me when low, calm and compose my spiritsquicken and animate to greater zeal, diligence and fervour, in my Master's work! Precious have been the discoveries my soul has this day enjoyed. O that the word I have this day delivered to others, may be as a nail fixed in a sure place by the great Master of assemblies; and may my own soul retain the savour and impression of divine truths!How diffusive is the religion of Jesus! the mind that is a partaker of its delightful enjoyments, soon expands in ardent desire that others may also partake of the same felicity. March 14, 1774, Mr. Symonds notices in his diary a very affecting occurrence. "A poor Inde, pendent minister in this county (Bedford) was committed to our gaol for taking a little hay at three different times from a neighbour- had been the delightful theme of ing gentleman, whose horses had his ministry in supporting the damaged his straw, and for which mind under such trying circumhe could obtain no recompense; stances, and it was in these seaso the poor man very improperly sons the love of Christ was to took this method of making re-him as ointment poured forth. prisals. Last Friday he was tried" January 14, 1782. Last and convicted; on Saturday evening I was affected with the evening sentenced to be privately asthma at Meeting, but worse afwhipped, and was yesterday (the terwards, especially from nine Sabbath) discharged. Surely the till after twelve o'clock; but O it melancholy event may remind us was a night much to be rememof the apostle's exhortation, 'Let bered! O the sweet consolations him that thinketh he standeth, with which my soul overflowed at take heed lest he fall.' The affair times! I was favoured withprehas made much noise in town and cious views of the dear Redeemer, country, and much dishonour is and delighted with the manifestahereby cast on the good ways of tions of his love and condescenthe Lord, as well as the dissent- sion. I felt more than can be ing interest. expressed, and cried out, Mr. Symonds generally begins sweet, sweet, sweet, precious, the year with recording the good-precious, precious Jesus! How ness of God to him through the ravishing, how unsearchable thy past year. January 1, 1775, he love and grace! O free, free, writes, "Innumerable have been free, sovereign, sovereign, sovethe instances of the Divine good-reign grace! I had more insight Bess, care, and tenderness, to me and mine the past year. The Lord has been pleased to grant me a liberal supply for both soul and body for my person and family, and for the flock I am called to feed. Many a time when II have been at a loss for texts, method, and matter, I have been supplied, by the word and spirit of God, out of the rich and glorious fulness of Jesus Christ. Many a time when I have been distressed and dejected, a kind and generous Father has cheered and supported me; and has kindly reconciled several of his children to me, who were alienated in some measure by my change of sentiment." Disease at length began to make inroads upon his strength, and he was called, in the exercise of severe and protracted suffering, to display the influence of those principles and doctrines which than common into my own weakness, and therefore cried out, Vile, vile, wretched, unworthy being!' but I cried out for pardon and cleansing through a Redeemer's blood, and was satisfied had obtained mercy. 'O what immortal joys I felt, And raptures all divine; "I thought the time went away a great pace. I was both these nights of illness vastly confirmed in the truths I had been enabled to preach, both as to doctrine and practice.” From this time Mr. Symonds was frequently called to great bodily suffering, arising from asthma, gravel, gout, and dropsy; but he proved the promise to be sure, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." From this period he appears to have experienced increasing delight in the secret | preaching. He was at length de silence of the mind. April 6, 1783, he writes, "Monday morning I longed, I languished, I panted after the blissful and immediate presence of my precious Lord." "7th. O the sweet discoveries of love divine that I have been favoured with this day! O the condescending visit that my Lord has indulged me with! Sweet communion and familiar converse did I enjoy with my heavenly Father, and dear Redeemer, and with the blessed Spirit, towards whom my heart was ardently drawn out, in vehement longings and aspirations." livered from these disturbers of the church, some being cut off for immoral conduct, and others leaving of their own accord. The commencement of the year 1788 brought with it a considerable increase of bodily affliction, which frequently laid him aside from his beloved work; but herein was displayed the faithfulness of a covenant God, and the power of that religion which is wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God. Jan. 20, he remarks, “A dismal night was the past, with the asthma, which did not go off till four o'clock this morning. I could not lie down, but sometimes sat and sometimes kneeled in bed. I cried for mercy, and begged for patience, and the Lord graciously heard me, and granted me both, and supported me with the text I preached from this afternoon, [the only part of the day he was able to preach] Psalm xlii. 8; The Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.' The Lord graciously manifested himself to me, so that I was for a short time almost overwhelmed with a view and persuasion of it." In the year 1785 Mr. Symonds was much troubled with hearers who disliked his addressing sinners, and much he endured from them; but the Lord, as heretofore, was his helper; and convinced that as his divine Master came to call sinners to repentance, so it was the duty of his ministers to hold out the offers of mercy to all, he persevered amidst all the opposition he sustained, and the designs of those who were inimical to him proved abortive, though they used great exertions to form a party strong enough to obtain his removal from Bedford. Many bitter things they "Jan. 21. I feel too often a said of him; but he observes, selfish spirit about my removal "The more mine enemies rage, by death, and too much eagerthe more the Lord cheers and ness and impatience for my dissocomforts me, both in a way of lution: yet at other times 1 am providence and grace;-the more willing to live, if it pleases the they load me with calumnies, the Lord to enable me to glorify him more he loads me with his bene-as an instrument in his hand, but fits." At the same time he was I long to be resigned to suffer af very watchful over his own heart, fliction, as well as to be actively lest he should indulge in an im- engaged in his service." proper temper against those from March 9, 1788. Daily afwhom he had received such ill-flicted more or less with asthma treatment, and very carefully and sickness, yet through the Diavoided an allusion to the subject vine goodness no bad fit of my both in his public prayers and disorder last week till yesterday |