am a Christian. Had I found the Gospel to be what might very naturally have been expected from the innumerable and bloody hostilities of Christian nations, I should have rejected it with abhorrence as far more dishonorable to God than the religion of Loo Choo. But the God which the Gospel reveals, is infinitely adorable, worthy of the esteem and homage of all intelligent beings. The Son whom he hath "sent to be the Savior of the world" is "the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person." His doctrines, his precepts, and his examples are all benevolent, pacific, and admirably adapted to make men wise, virtuous, and happy, both in this world and in the world to come.

My understanding approves and my heart is delighted. This religion I can most cordially recommend to all my brethren and friends; and wherever I may spend the residue of my days, I hope to evince the sincerity of my heart in the profession I have now made.

Do not, my brethren, indulge the least suspicion that, by becoming a Christian I am alienated from my brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh. Never were my feelings more tender towards them than at the present time. Nor have I become a despiser of those humane and beneficent principles and dispositions which have so exalted the Loo Choo people, and made them an honor to human nature. As much as I now admire the Christian religion, as instituted by the Messiah, I am free to own that the people of Loo Choo, as a people, are much better than the majority of those who are called Christians. It is said in the New Testament that a "meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price." This leads me to hope for the salvation of a great portion of my countrymen, though they may have lived and died without seeing the gospel. By some care of the heavenly Father, they have been made to possess much more of the meek and quiet spirit than is generally seen among professed Christians; and I cannot believe that God will cast away his Loo Choo children merely because they have not embraced a gospel which His Providence has seen fit hitherto to withhold from them. If I understand the gospel, it is the spirit exemplified by the Messiah which qualifies the soul to dwell with him in the world of glory. On this principle I cannot but regard the Loo Choo people as much better prepared for a heaven of love and peace, than fighting Christians. It must indeed be by the mercy of God that any sinners are saved. This mercy is revealed by Jesus Christ; and the gospel assures us that with God there is no respect of persons; and that in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him. I have no doubt that a great number of my Loo Choo brethren now possess that humble and benevolent temper which prepares men to rejoice in Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life; and that they will embrace him as soon as he shall

be clearly made known to them, whether it shall be in this world or in the future state. Such a temper is always pleasing in the sight of God. It prepares men to rejoice in Him, in Jesus their Mediator, and in the pardoning mercy by Him revealed to the sons of men. It also prepares men to delight in serving God, and in doing good to their fellow-men according to the will of their heavenly Father. Hence those who possess the spirit of Christ, are prepared for the rest that remains for the people of God. In that state of rest, my brethren, I hope to meet you and to rejoice with you forever in the redeeming and saving mercy of God which has been revealed in the gospel by his beloved Son, whom he hath sent to be the Savior of the world. L. C.

LETTER XIV.

Mount Joy, 10th month, 1826. THOUGH I have become a Christian I am not the less affected with the inconsistences of those who have been called by that name. The more I reflect on their religion and on their wars, the more I am astonished, and the more I see to lament; and as it is possible that I may not live to see you again in this world— and as it is also possible that Missionaries may be sent among you, who still retain prejudices in favor of war, I shall briefly mention some things which may be useful to you; and put you on your guard.

From much of the conduct of Christians since they became a warring people, and from the use which they have made of their Savior's name and his religion, it would seem that many of them have regarded his death as designed to encourage men to engage in hostilities with one another. In ages past, when two armies were about to engage in battle, it was not uncommon to prepare them for the conflict, by administering to the officers and soldiers what is called the Lord's Supper, or the memorials of his dying love, and a symbol of the unity of his disciples. An image too of the cross on which he suffered for sinners, was used as the military standard of Christians, to encourage them to fight as soldiers of a crucified Redeemer. In some Christian countries, the military banners have been consecrated by religious ceremonies, performed by bishops or ministers of Christ. To this day it is common for ministers of religion to accompany fleets and armies, to pray with the seamen and soldiers, and to stimulate them for the work of death. When victories have been obtained by the slaughter of many thousands, thanks have been offered to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, for his aid in enabling the victors to destroy their brethren of the opposing army. These celebrations of victories, it is said, are often associated with the most abominable revelling and drunkenness.

From facts like these-many more of which I could mention, it might be inferred that in the view of military Christians, the

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Messiah died to procure a dispensation for his disciples, that in time of war, they might murder each other with impunity, and that by dying for them he had cancelled their obligation to love one another. No works of benevolence have been in so high repute among Christians, as the works of hatred and successful strife; and no other men have been so much praised by Christians as the most successful military conquerors-the greatest robbers and murderers of mankind.

Among the different sects of Christians, there has been a great diversity of opinion, as to the design of the Savior's death. All, I believe, have admitted that he died for sinners, "the just for the unjust that he might bring them to God,"-and that in some way, his death has an influence in favor of the salvation of all who obey him. Still there are various opinions on the subject, as to the manner in which his death avails for the salvation of men. I am not, as you may well suppose, sufficiently acquainted to decide with certainty or confidence on questions which have long divided men of the best talents. From the different forms of speech used in the gospel relating to the subject, I am inclined to think, that several important purposes were answered by the Savior's death. But there was one design of his sufferings, pretty clearly expressed by an apostle, which seems to me to have been entirely disregarded by military Christians;—that is, to show mankind what temper they should exercise under the trials, the insults, and injuries, which they experience from one another. The apostle says, "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps-who, when he was reviled, reviled not again-when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to Him who judgeth righteously." I do not say, nor do I think, that this was the only design of the Savior's sufferings, but this surely was one, and one of great importance. If this idea had been duly embraced by Christians, thoroughly cultivated among them, and impressed on their minds, the world would never have read of the wars of Christians. For it is impossible for men to fight with such a submissive, benevolent, and forgiving temper, as the Messiah displayed during his ministry and on the cross. Had this sentiment been engraved on the minds of all Christians, even for the last thousand years, it would probably have prevented the untimely or violent death of more than a hundred millions of mankind! It would also have prevented those antichristian, disgraceful, and murderous prayers, which have been offered to God in the name of his Son, for divine assistance in the work of human butchery.

I may add, that I am still of the opinion which I expressed in a former letter, that there is as much need of missionary exer, tions, to abolish human sacrifices in Christendom, as in Hindostan. Affectionately yours, LILLIAN CHING.

ARABS SUBDUED BY KIND WORDS.

MR. KING, a respectable American Missionary in Palestine, mentions a remarkable instance of the effect of pacific words, which operated to preserve his own life and the lives of a considerable party, when assailed by a more powerful band of Arabs on the plain of Esdracion. The party of Mr. King had lost a trunk, which had been stolen, as they supposed, by some Arabs. In consequence of this, they seized two Arabs, and bound them together with cords, believing them to be the robbers. These they took along with them, on their journey, contrary to the wishes of Mr. King. Soon the whole party were attacked by a band of Arabs, who set their brethren at liberty. Great was the alarm; but one of the party of Mr. King being about to fire on an Arab, Mr. King objected, and others interposed in season to prevent the evil intended. Every part of the Kofila was soon attacked, and Mr. King observes

"It was no time for parley. All was confusion. No one knew whether to expect life or death. The latter, however, seemed to stare us in the face." "Our baggage was at length cut off: there seemed to be a little cessation on the part of the Arabs, and I hoped that, contented with our baggage, they would let us go in peace. But in a moment I saw them coming on again; and I thought that probably all was lost, and that, as they had stopped our baggage, they now intended to take our lives. It was an awful moment. I could only say 'Heaven defend us.' I was in front of the Kofila, and a little distance ahead, when an Arab Sheik came flying up to me on his steed with a large club in his hand. Making a halt, I addressed him, calling him brother; and said, 'Do me no harm, I have not injured you."

"I spoke to him words of peace and gentleness. Upon this he let down his club which he had been brandishing, halted, listened, and presently turned away; and soon after I saw him driving back some of our pursuers, and the cry of ayman (safety) was heard by us; and I need not say it was a welcome sound to our ears.

"The baggage too, to my surprise, was soon after permitted to come on. The attack was a gallant one, and made by the Arabs as if they were determined to carry their point through life or death. And I have no doubt that had one of their party fallen by our hands it would have been the signal for the slaughter of us all."

Such facts as these are worth recording, and they particularly deserve the attention of all who read them; for they are adapted to correct the barbarous policy by which many human lives are thrown away. Mr. King, in speaking of the attack, very properly observes,-" I was unarmed. If I had had arms, I should not have used them. I came here not to fight; but to bring the gospel of peace." Had Mr. King but attempted to deter the Arab by harsh or opprobrious language, or by assuming a menacing attitude, he would doubtless have lost his life; but by peaceably and kindly calling the Arab brother, he disarmed him of his hostile feeling and purpose. If Asiatic Arabs and Ameri

can savages may be disarmed by kindness, let us hope that the principle may be safely applied to people who profess to be civilized Christians. Millions of lives have been lost by acting on the opposite principle.

THE ALARM GUN.

A New Orleans paper complains of the smallness of the United States' Army, and says, that on the frontier, from Pecan Point on Red River to St. Marks in Florida, there should always be a disciplined force of 4000 foot and 1000 horse. It urges the necessity of sending a strong body of the regular army to that part of the union, on the ground of the disaffection and insubordination now spreading among a certain and not the least numerous part of the population." Baltimore Courier.

This call from New-Orleans to have the standing army in. creased, and employed to protect the slave-holders, will, it is hoped, have some influence to open the eyes of our countrymen in respect to the guilt and the perils of the slave-holding policy. If the slave-holders are already alarmed, what will be their condition in thirty years more, when the present number of slaves shall be doubled? How humiliating is the thought that, in a country which boasts of the freedom and glory of its institutions, a standing army should be necessary to keep slaves from asserting their rights as men! And what is a regular army composed of, but bands of slaves-of men as destitute of rational freedom as the Negroes themselves? Shall our country, then, be burdened with the expense of increasing the number of one description of slaves, to perpetuate the bondage of another! If an application should be made to Congress for this purpose, I hope it will be met in a manner which will convince the slave-holders, that the principles of self-preservation require them to change their policy, and to endeavour, by kind treatment, to keep the slaves quiet till their emancipation can be effected. What parent, who is deserving of freedom himself, would consent that his son should become a military slave, for the purpose of holding the Negroes in perpetual bondage? If there must be an army for such a purpose, is it not reasonable that it should be wholly composed of slave-holders and their sons,—and of such only of these as are opposed to the abolition of slavery?

THE PRAYER OF ONIAS.

WHILE Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, two brothers, were contend ing for the government of Judea, the Jews were divided into parties. Hyrcanus resorted for aid to Aretus, the King of Arabia.