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renounced for this world: it seemed to bring them nearer the scenes to which they had recently bid a last adieu. I felt a strange emotion, in being thus made the link of communication between these self-devoted followers of our blessed Lord, and the world which they had for ever quitted; and, when I saw with what affection they cherished the recollection of many whose faces they expected to see no more in this life, I turned with peculiar pleasure to our Saviour's animating assurrance-There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

"I left with them a late Number of the Missionary Register, and another of the Christian Observer, which I had just received from England.”

(To be continued.)

CALCUTTA MISSION COLLEGE.

From a sermon preached by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, on Advent Sunday, 1820, and coutaining many excellent and impressive passages, we shall extract a few paragraphs respecting the value and importance of the Gospel, and the duty of communicating it to the heathen, with especial reference to the case of the natives of India.

"There lurks in some men," remarks his lordship, "a degree of prejudice against what they denominate SPECULATIVE TRUTHS, and a proportionate disposition to treat them as of little importance: such will not very readily discern in the scheme of our redemp tion any proofs of the Wisdom of God. There cannot, however, be a more unjust or more dangerous distinction, than that which is thus attempted. All the speculative truths of religion which are revealed in Scripture (and no others deserve any serious regard), are, in their inferences and consequences and relations, highly practical: they are, in truth, the very basis of all practice; and none is more extensively so, than the doctrine of our redemption through Christ.

"We find, through all the walks of human life and in every region of the earth, that faith in a DvineRedeemer is the groundwork of the severest morality; and that no virtue, judged even as the world judges of virtue, from its benign effects on social happiness, can in point of efficacy or extent be compared with -the graces of the Christian. It may truly be affirmed, that the Advent of Christ has, in its consequences, enno

bled our nature; and, where, happily, men are living under the influence of the Holy Spirit, has visibly restored it to the semblance of something divine. The ideal standard of human excellence, formed before our Saviour's appearance, falls very far short of what is attainable, and is really attained, in the school of Christ."

"Our nature, in its inconsistencies and contradictions, in its weaknesses and in its strength, in its elevation and depression, conspires with Scripture to bear witness to our primeval fall: aud the wisdom of God has been exerted in a scheme for our restoration through Jesus Christ; a scheme, in which mercy is the moving principle — in which holiness is vindicated-in which justice is satisfied-in which our weakness is upholden by Divine support—in which holy desires are instilled into the heart-in which sorrow is comfortedin which repentance is efficacious-in which sin is pardoned-in which God is reconciled-in which the world is overcome; and, in our last hour, death is deprived of his triumph. It is to such a scheme more especially, that the Apostle refers, when he speaks of the manifold wisdom of God: and its complicated characters of power and wisdom we are able to a certain extent to appreciate, even with our faint perception of things divine. In no speculation merely human have such difficulties ever been proposed for solution; still less can it be said that they have been solved upon principles, at once so coherent, and at the same time so sublime in their objects, so simple in their operation, and so effectual in their result. The greatness of the Diety and the misery of man had been the theme of sages from the earliest times: but who had ever theory, by which, while God should be suggested, as among things possible, a vindicated, man should be saved?

forcibly directed to the state of those "A zeal for the glory of God will be nations, in which the Gospel is not merely undervalued, but utterly unknown.

gies be excited, if they are dormant in "Where, for instance, shall its enerthe land which we now inhabit? In is the glory of God more effectually what other region of the known world obscured, and his truth—to allude to turned into a lie? (Rom. i. 25.) The the Apostle's saying-more palpably case of ruder nations furnishes no ancorrupted, may be worse than barbaswer to this question: refinement, when rism; and system has a power of evil beyond simplicity.

find more evident vestiges of that fall "Where else too, we may ask, do we

from primeval uprightness, which the Gospel was designed to repair? From the dislocated strata and confused position of heterogeneous substances in the bowels of the earth, the Geologist attests the breaking up of the vast deep in times remote, if he yield not implicit faith to the Scriptures; and here, in like manner, does the Christian trace indubitable evidence of that wreck and ruin of the moral world, which the same Scriptures record. And who can contemplate these appearances, and not lament them? or who, that laments them, can be backward to employ the remedy?-1 mean not, of course, in any way but that of affectionate and Christian solicitude, and by teaching and ⚫ persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.'

"There have been, and even yet perhaps they are not extinct, certain prejudices against all endeavours to disseminate Christianity in this country. With those which are purely political I have no other concern, than to remark, that all policy is, to say the least of it, very questionable, when it is manifestly opposed to the purposes of Him who ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.' (Dan. iv. 17.) No policy, in fact, in a ease like the present, can be openly avowed, which does not profess to keep in view the real interests and permanent happiness of the governed: and thus the question will be reduced to the very simple one, whether the temporal and eternal good, one or both of them, of the nations around us, would not be promoted by a gradual development to their minds and hearts, of the truths of the Gospel. I say, gradual; for he who should attempt or expect more than this, would in the attempt do mischief, and in the expectation evince little knowledge of the actual state of things.

If,

"We hear it sometimes hinted, that these people are already in a condition which, perhaps, may be deteriorated, but cannot easily be improved. however, the prevalence of liberal knowledge-habits of industry—mutual confidence in the transactions of lifea respect for the basis of all moral integrity, I mean truth-the absence of those social distinctions, which serve only to depress the great mass of the species the elevation of the female part of society to their proper dignity and influence-and the possession of that liberty, wherewith Christ hath made men free (Gal. v. 1), and which is really the principle, however overlooked, of all national greatness and prosperity in modern times;-if these several par ticulars enter largely into the theory of

the well-being of any people, it were surely too much to abandon all established maxims, and the dictates of our common feelings, in mere courtesy to supposed interests or secret predi lections. For the want of such tional blessings as those which are here enumerated, no equivalent can be pleaded, and no compensation made.

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"There is one other point which must not be overlooked: it is the UNIVERSALITY, professedly intended and promised to the Faith of Christ; and, of course, the duty, which is thus imposed on all Christians, in their proper spheres of action, to promote and extend it.

"If God is one, so also must be His final purpose respecting man: if the Saviour be but one, so also must be the method of salvation: if the Holy Spirit be but one, He can never have inspired or suggested all the jarring systems, which divide mankind."

"It cannot be imagined, that, in the work prescribed to the Church of Christ, that branch of it to which we belong has no part, nor even a subordinate part, to fill. It should seem, indeed, it her duties are to be measured by her means and opportunities, that no church since the days of the Apostles has been called to such high destinies. To what fortuitous coincidence shall we impute it, that, at this moment, her clergy are exercising their ministry in every quarter of the globe? In America, flourishing churches have grown up entirely under her patronage. In Africa, a colony has been planted, by which her doctrines and discipline are brought into contact with the superstitions of iguorant and barbarous tribes. In New South Wales, she has a field before her nearly equal in extent to the whole of Europe. And what suall we say of Asia? A vast empire has been given us, or rather imposed upon us: and wherefore? He, who can reconcile such a consummation even to philosophical Views of the ways of God, without reference to the purposes of His manifold wisdom as revealed in Scripture, aud can believe it to have been brought about merely for the gratification of our avarice or vanity, cannot have advanced very far in the knowledge which sound philosophy might teach him: it is not merely unchristian; it is unphilosophical, it is unreasonable, to believe that God ever works in vain, or ever brings about mighty revolutions with a view

to

results comparatively mean aud trivial."

His lordship then adverts to the intended mission college at Calcutta. “An institution," he remarks," is likely to arise in this vicinity, calculated as we trust, un-.

der Providence, to advance the glory of God, and the highest interests of man. It is designed to be strictly collegiate, in constitution, in discipline, and in character."

"The intention is, to make the discipline and studies established in our English universities, with so much benefit to the cause of true religion and sound learning, the basis of the constitution of the college near Calcutta; and to raise upon them such a superstructure as the circumstances of this country and the particular destination of the students may require. In their studies, theology, with all that is subsidiary to it, will form the prominent employment of those who are designed for the ministry; combining with the study of the holy Scriptures, Hebrew and the learned languages, ecclesiastical and profane history, the elements of natural philosophy, and so much of mathematical knowledge as may tend to invigorate their minds and facilitate all other acquirements. There is no district within the limits of the British possessions in the East, to which the benefits of the college may not eventually be extended."

The objects and expected items of expenditure of the college are thus enumerated by his lordship.

“ 1. The Society, in founding the college, contemplates the establishment of nissionary stations, wherever an opening shall seem to present itself for accomplishing their benevolent purposes. To supply such stations with missionaries and their proper assistants, and to keep up a never-failing succession of them, is their primary object; to which every thing else is collateral and subsidiary.

2. The foundation of scholarships is only second in importance to the preceding head, and even prior to it in actual operation. A scholarship, it is computed, taking the average on the difference of expense in maintaining European students (or those of European habits) and Natives, and reckoning on a moderate rate of interest, may be founded and endowed for 5000 Sicca Rupees. On the interest of this sum, one student at a time may be constantly educated in the college, free of every charge.

3. The College Library is calculated to receive nearly 5000 volumes. It will be desirable to store it with the most approved works ; the purchase of which will obviously be attended with considerable expense.

"4. The College Press will embrace an important and efficient department of the college labours. For the expense

of printing versions of the holy Scriptures, if a statement already alluded to may be credited*, provision for some time will probably have been made: but for printing versions of the Liturgy, of short Religious Treatises and Tracts, such as those of the Society for promot ing Christian Knowledge, of elementary books of science, and of school books, a considerable fund will in time be required: and from the very com. mencement of the college labours something may be attempted in this way.

"5 & 6. Both Christian and Native Schools are within the contemplation of the Society. One of the former kind will be indispensable to every missionary station; and such might be established to great advantage, in some instances,' where no missionary station could conveniently be formed. In Native schools, the elements of useful knowledge and the English language will be taught, wherever it may seem desirable, with out any immediate reference to Christi. anity. In either case, it will be among the objects of the college to supply masters well qualified for the undertaking.

"7. The College Buildings, it is expected, will be of as durable construction as any which have lately been erected in this country; but the expediency is manifest, especially considering the ravages made by the climate, of having a small fund in reserve for repairs.

UNITED STATES COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

Our readers will recollect the painful reverses which befel the United States Colonization Society's first mission to Africa, to form a settlement on the Sherbro for recaptured Negroes and Free People of Colour; and we regret that the mass of current religious intelligence has hitherto prevented our stating subsequent proceedings on this subject, whichi, we are happy to say, are of a more auspicious character.

The misfortunes of the first expedition being clearly traced to circumstances of a peculiar kind, and capable

• His lordship alludes to 5000l. voted by the Bible Society, in aid of the translation and publication of the Scriptures by the College; a report, but not the official communication, of which seems to have reached India. His lordship has since handsomely acknowledged the grant.

of being guarded against in future, a second expedition was sent out from the United States, and arrived at Sierra Leone, where the survivers of the first party had found a hospitable refuge. The delay which had occurred in consequence of the first failure, gave time for a deliberate consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of locating the intended American settlement in the Sherbro country, on the very confines of Sierra Leone; in consequence of which it was wisely determined to fix upon a spot further down the coast, where there would be an ample field for the exertions of the settlers of both nations, without danger of collision, and with much greater facilities for effecting the humane object common to both. Accordingly, Mr. Andrus and Mr. Bacon proceeded in a schooner down the coast towards the Bassa conntry, to fix upon and negociate for an eligible site for the intended colony, taking with them two converted natives, with whose names our readers are familiar, William Davis and William Tamba. They reached the Bassa country at the beginning of April of last year. The old King, John, who had received Mr. Cates so cordially on his visit to these parts, was dead. On the 12th of April, the new King and the Headmen held a palaver with their visitors; when an agreement was made for a quantity of land, to be held by an annual payment, or tribute, of two casks of rum, two casks of manufac tured tobacco, one box of pipes, twenty pieces of cloth, and other articles.

The following extract of a letter from the Rev. W. Johnson to the Church Mis.

sionary Society, dated Regent's Town, April 27, 1821, states some of the circumstances under which the negociation was brought to a successful termination.

"Last night, I was agreeably surprised at the return of Mr. Bacon, who had been down the coast to the Bassa country. William Davis also returned; and they were accompanied by the King's son of that country. William Tamba is gone again on a missionary visit to the Sherbro people.

"The Missionaries have succeeded in obtaining land: they have a sufficient

quantity to begin a colony in the Bassa country. It appears that the king of that country is in earnest, or he would not have sent his son; which may be taken as a token of his sincerity in respect to his promise of the land.

"Our people were in the evening school when William Davis and the Prince arrived. I took the Prince to the school-house; and, had our friends' in England seen the sight, they would have wept for joy. His countrymen classes, left them without asking leave, who were standing in their respective surrounded the son of their king, shook hands with him in the most affectionate manner, and inquired after their rela tives. Some leaped for joy when they heard that their parents were alive: and the prospect of the Gospel being soon carried to them, caused such sensations as cannot well be described. David Noah heard that his father and brothers were all alive and well. William Davis said that he had seen some of the persons who had sold him; and who tried to hide themselves, being ashamed to look at him. He heard that his mother was alive; but she was too far in the interior to enable him to pay her a visit this time: he, however, sent hoped soon to see her, and to have her in her a present, and a message that he his family. Some of the people were so struck when they saw Davis, that they scarcely would believe that he was the same; as an instance of one returning, who had been sold out of the country, had never occurred before. Is this not derful are the ways of the Lord! like the case of Joseph? Oh, how won

"The Missionaries have agreed to settle on the shores of the Bassa country, in the beginning of next dry

season.

It had been the intention of the Church Missionary Society, to embrace the first opportunity of entering on the promising field of missionary exertion late Mr. Cates's visit had opened. The among the Bassa people, which the friends of the Society must rejoice that American Christians have gained a footing there; and that the previous researches of their Missionary have led, in any measure, to the attainment of this object. The new colony will serve as a point of support to the exertions of Native, as well as of American and English, Christians, to diffuse the light of the Gospel on these long injured shores.

For a variety of interesting Religious Intelligence, we refer our readers to the Appendix for 1821.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN.

FRANCE. The new French ministry have begun to develop, in no very conciliating or prudent manner, their views respecting the internal administration of the country. The keeper of the seals (M. Peyronnet), in introducing the project of a new law for the regulation of the press, in the place of the censorship, which is about to expire, began with stating the necessity of restraining the licentiousness of the political journals, and the difficulty of framing laws for that purpose; especially as an article in a paper, and still more a series of articles, might have a decidedly libellous or seditious tendency, though so cautiously drawn up as to afford no ground for legal conviction. He considered, therefore, that a "moral appreciation" is necessary to prevent the effects of inflammatory writings which evade the technical provisions of statutes. To remedy the evil, the new project proposes to take into consideration the general spirit and tendency of periodical publications, and to try offenders, not by a jury, but by the judges of the royal courts, who are stipendiaries of government. Under such a system, it is plain that no opposition paper, however moderate, can be safe; for, temperate as may be each individual article, it will be easy to denounce the journal, in the language of the project, as injurious in its spirit and rendency to public peace, to respect for the religion of the state or the other religions legally recognized in France, to the authority of the king, or the stability of the constitutional institutions;" nor, we conclude, will it be difficult under such circumstances to procure its "suspension," if not its "suppression," by the royal courts. It is this last point that constitutes, in our view, the chief enormity of the measure; for, to a certain extent, the "spirit" of a writing is always taken into the account by a jury, as well as the precise words; nor should we greatly fear for the cause of liberty, either in France or England, if even a more considerable latitude were given in this respect to twelve impartial persons, in forming their opinion of alleged libels. But it is the supercession of a constitutional jury, and

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the substitution of what in this country we should call a star-chamber, that renders the proposed law so fatal to honest discussion. Some modifications, which might abate the oppressive tendency of this measure, were expected from the committee to whom it was referred to report upon the provisions; but not only have all the obnoxious parts of the law been permitted to remain in full force, but farther severities appear to have been introduced. The reading of the report of the committee caused the most tumultuous agitation in the chamber of deputies; and we may look forward to very stormy debates upon every stage of the progress of this projêt. Among various other provisions proposed to be adopted, and some of which strike us as highly exceptionable, is one which permits the restoration of the censorship in the interval of the sessions, whenever ministers may consider it expedient.

It is curious to remark the language employed by the committee in making its report. They deny the necessity of the existence of public journals to the preservation of liberty, so long as the right of petition is secured, the tribune is free and public, the admistration of justice is pure, and every one may print his opinions in another form. They admit their possible usefulness, but represent the danger arising from them as much greater than their usefulness. In short, their principles would lead to the suppression of all public journals which treat of political subjects, and which are not dictated and controlled by the state. Should this projêt be adopted in its present form, the boasted charter of France will be little more than a dead letter; and the will of the minister of the day, and not the principles of the constitution, will regulate the freedom of public discussion. What is to be expected from the present cabinet, may be augured from this initial project, to which their conduct in the mean time has exactly corresponded; for though they came into office with a pledge to abolish the censorship, they have not only brought forward a measure far more injurious and tyrannical (a measure also which puts it into their power to re-appoint a censorship whenever

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