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laborious pastors from those who did not so entirely devote themselves to their work. To this interpretation Mr James inclines: see the note on page 55th, which note we would respectfully suggest it may be well to omit in the future editions of the work. We should hardly suppose an apostle would recommend as worthy of double honor a minister of Christ who was known to be deficient in his duties.

Mr Choules deserves the thanks of the churches for his labor in preparing this American edition. We trust the work will be widely circulated. Its influence must be salutary

The Story of Aleck, or Pitcairn's Island; being a true Account of a very singular and interesting Colony. 18mo. pp. 54. Amherst, Mass. J. S. & C. Adams. 1829.

THIS is, indeed, a remarkably interesting little narrative. It is well adapted to enlarge the views of the young, to awaken the thinking powers, and to leave on the mind a salutary impression. It is actual history; and we are assured that the author is not aware of having added the slightest embellishment to reality.' And yet the story is of such a nature, and it is told in so happy a manner, that many a group of little prattlers will have their attention fixed, and many a youthful eye will sparkle with curiosity and delight. All, of whatever age, who read it, will feel a gratifying consciousness of having increased their knowledge; and in the striking facts brought to view, all will have matter for useful reflection. 'The work,' says the preface, 'is designed for the use of children, and is commended to all who wish to promote in them a love of reading; especially to any, who think it best for youth to seek amusement and instruction, not in the airy regions of fiction, but in the rich field of historic truth.'

We join heartily in the commendation. For we have long been of opinion that if proper subjects for true history were selected, and if proper talents were employed, and proper pains were taken to render it attracting, the specious arguments for fictitious histories and religious novels would lose their power. We hope that the Author, who, we understand, is a distinguished classical scholar, as well as a gentleman of piety and of taste, will be encouraged to lay before the public additional demonstrations of the attractiveness which may be given to real history.

Pitcairn's Island, our readers will recollect, is one of the verdant spots that adorn the Pacific ocean. But we do not wish to make any abridgment of the story. The whole can be purchased for a few cents; and in any family, it would be a valuable addition to the children's library. About the middle of the thirty first page, there is a statement in which, perhaps, we ought not to acquiesce without some little qualification; we mean, in respect to the alleged becomingness of the ceremonies at baptisms. What those ceremonies were, we are not particularly informed; nor is it important to know. It is important, however, to remem

ber that, strickly speaking, no ceremony can be becoming which displaces, and in effect, makes void what our Saviour has commanded.

The benevolence which breathes throughout this historical tract, is happily poured forth at the close in asking, 'Who will not pray that all who are born on the surf beaten island, may become newborn heirs to the home of the saints?-That the children of Aleck, and his children's children down to the latest generation, may ascend from their dwelling amidst the roarings and tossings of the mighty deep, to find a surer and a sweeter rest in the broad, peaceful ocean of a Creator's glory and a Redeemer's love?'

POETRY.

THE following lines have been communicated for the Magazine by one of the most accomplished literary ladies of our country, one of those 'honorable women' whom the grace of God has taught not only to diffuse a benign influence around them in their families, and throughout an extensive circle in this country, but also to reach forth the hand of Christian kindness to the daughters of Greece, and to pray for the benighted and needy wherever sin has made its desolations.

The communication was accompanied by a note addressed to Mr Knowles, the insertion of which may be beneficial to some who have not seen the work that is mentioned.

'Rev. Sir,

May a stranger be permitted to express to you the deep satisfaction with which she has perused the Life of Mrs Judson, written by yourself, and her conviction that its clearness of arrangement, judgment in selection, and felicity of style, contribute greatly in aiding the impression which a character of such energy, disinterestedness, and sublime piety, is calculated to make on every reflecting mind. With sincere wishes that the cause to which her best years were devoted, may continue to become more interesting to Christians,

I remain yours, Sir, with high respect,

ON READING THE MEMOIR OF MRS JUDSON.

I SAW her on the strand.-Beside her smil'd

Her native land, and her beloved home,

With all their pageantry of light and shade,

Streamlet and vale. There stood her childhood's friends,

Sweet sisters who had shar'd her inmost thoughts,

And saintlike parents whose example rais'd

Those thoughts to Heaven. It was a strong array!

And the fond heart clung to its rooted loves.

But Christ had given it panoply, which earth
Might never overthrow.

And so she turn'd

To boisterous ocean, and forsook the clime

Whose halcyon bowers had nursed her joyous youth.
Again I look'd.-It was a foreign shore.

The tropic sun had laid his burning head

On twilight's lap. A gorgeous palace caught
His last red ray, while hoarse the idol song
To Boodh, mingled with the breeze that curl'd
Broad Irrawaddy's tide. Why do ye point
To yon lone prison? Who is he that gropes
Amid its darkness with those fetter'd limbs?
Mad pagans! do ye thus requite the man
Who toils for your salvation?

See that form
Bending in tenderest sympathy to sooth
The victim's sorrow. Tardy months pass by,
And find her still intrepid at the post
Of danger, and of disappointed hope.
Stern sickness smote her, but she felt it not,
Heeded it not, and still with tireless zeal
Carried the hoarded morsel to her love;
Dar'd the rude arrogance of savage power
To plead for him, and bade his dungeon glow
With her fair brow, as erst the angel's smile
Arous'd imprison'd Peter, when his hands,
Loos'd from their chains, were lifted high in praise.
There was another scene, drawn by his hand
Whose pallid pencil blotteth all the grace
And loveliness of man. Keen anguish pours
Its fiercest darts into that martyr's soul,
Who is about to wash her garments white
In the Redeemer's blood, and glorious rise
From tribulation to a world of rest.

Dark Burman faces are around her bed,
And one pale babe,-to hush whose wailing cry
She checks the death groan, and with fond embrace
Still clasps it firmly to her icy breast,

Even till the heart-strings break.

He comes! He comes!

The wearied man of God, from distant toil.
His home, while yet it seems a misty speck,
His glance descries,-half wondering that the step
Of his beloved glides not o'er the heath,

As wont, to meet him.

Ah! what heathen lip,
In its strange language, told him, that on earth
Nothing remain'd, which to his throbbing heart
In that hour's desolation he might press,
Save that poor, famish'd infant. Days of care
Were measur'd to him, and long nights of grief
Weigh'd out, and then that little, moaning one
Went to its mother's bosom, and slept sweet
'Neath the cool branches of the Hopia-tree.

'Twas bitterness to think that bird-like voice,
Which conn'd sweet hymns to charm a father's ear,
Must breathe no more. This is to be alone!
Alone in this wide world. Yet not without
A Comforter. For the meek heart that trusts
Its all to Heaven, and sees its treasur'd things
Unfold their hidden wing, and thither soar,
Doth garner up its hopes more firmly there,
And toward that blessed hour look joyously,
Which binds its sever'd links, to break no more.
Hartford, (Conn.)

L. H. S.

MISSIONARY REGISTER.

FOR JULY, 1829.

SUBSCRIPTIONS and donations to the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, for Foreign Missions, &c. should be transmitted to Heman Lincoln, Esq. Treasurer, Boston. Persons visiting the city, to whom it may be more convenient to call at a central place, can lodge their communications with E. Lincoln, No. 59 Washington-Street, who is authorized to receive moneys for the Treasurer.

BAPTIST GENERAL CONVEN

TION.

WE have received from a valued correspondent, and insert with much pleasure, the following notice of the late meeting of the General Convention.

The Convention held its sixth triennial meeting at Philadelphia, on the 29th of April, and after a session of a week, adjourned, to meet in the Oliver Street Meeting-house, in New-York, on the last Wednesday of April, 1832. The Minutes of the meeting, and the Report of the Board of Managers, were published in the preceding number of the Magazine.

The meeting was a very pleasant one. The number of delegates present was not as great, as at some previous sessions; but it was sufficiently large, to furnish a fair representation of the views and feelings of the whole Atlantic portion of the country, including the interior of the great State of New-York. From the vast regions beyond the Alleghany mountains, no delegate was present. It is hoped, that before the next Convention, the numerous Baptist Churches in the western States, will be enlisted with their eastern brethren, in the work of spreading over heathen lands the knowledge of our Lord.

The session was delightfully harmonious. Perhaps no equal number of brethren, many of whom had never before seen each other, ever met for legislation, on important questions, who were more perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. Differences of opinion existed, and were expressed freely and fully; but these were no greater than might be expected from intelligent minds, actJULY, 1829.

ing with independence and conscientiousness, without previous concert. But these differences related principally to modes of action, rather than to measures; and the decisions to which the discussions led were almost uniformly unanimous. In regard to the proceedings of the Board of Managers, and to all the leading operations of the Convention, entire approbation was manifested: and it may, we think, be safely affirmed, that at no previous period since the formation of the Convention, was there a more perfect confidence reciprocally felt by the members of the Convention towards each other, and towards the officers and managers. This is a token for good, which demands gratitude to God, who has shed abroad a Saviour's love in the hearts of his servants, and thus kindled theirs towards him and each other.

A considerable portion of the time of the session was occupied in devotional exercises; and several evenings were allotted to public conferences, in which the interests of the denomination, the state of our literary institutions, the progress of revivals, the best modes of ministerial actions, &c. were the topics of discussion. Much benefit will result, it is hoped, from these statements of facts, and this interchange of views. Scarcely any thing has retarded the prosperity of our denomination more, than a want of concert among its distant members. There has been little strife, and that little has been local and temporary; but there has also been little of mutual knowledge and co-operation. Our churches have been a vast multitude of units, standing alone, instead of being combined, to produce, by their union, a mighty sum. They have been single and small detachments of the great hosts of God's elect, inefficient, because 33

they were single; and feeble, because they were small. The Associations, and State Conventions, have done something towards marshalling these detachments into combined, active, and efficient array. The General Convention has been of the utmost service, in preparing the way for a perfect and general co-operation. We may hope, that there will be a rapid advance towards this desirable result; and that the numerous Baptist Churches, in our land, while they stand fast, in their individual independence, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free, will also stand firm in affectionate concert in the service of our Lord.

The prosperity of the Burman mission shed a delightful confidence and hope over the minds of the Convention. It animated their prayers, and gave vigour to their measures. It was felt, that God calls on the Convention for ardor and more vigorous efforts in his cause. It is hoped, that many prayers will ascend to God, for more laborers, and that our young men will inquire earnestly whether it is not their duty to serve their Redeemer as Missionaries among the heathen.

The presence of Mr M'Coy, our indefatigable Missionary among the Indians, and his statements, produced much sympathy for the condition of those unhappy men; and much desire that the measures for their removal to some permanent home, where the gospel may be preached to them, under more favorable circumstances, than it can now be, may soon be accomplished. The last evening before the Convention separated, Mr Cephas Bennett, whom the Board had appointed a printer to the Burman Mission, was, with his wife, set apart by prayer and by other services. The scene was deeply affecting. Mr Bennett gave a brief and modest statement of his conversion, and of his views and feelings in relation to the Burman Mission, ending with the words of the excellent and lamented Wheelock: "To Burmah would I go; in Burmah would I live; in Burmah would I toil; in Burmah would I die, and in Burmah would I be buried."

The father and mother of Mr Bennett were present; and it touched every heart to see these venerable parents about to take leave forever of their son, and his wife and child. The father, in a prayer, in which the overflowings of strong natural affection, and submissive faith in God, were strongly

blended, commended his children to the protection of his father and their father, of his God and their God. It was a scene long to be remembered; and it gave a sweet and most appropriate finish to the session of the Convention. The savor of these services will, it is hoped, long remain in the hearts of the members.

Mr and Mrs Bennet, and child, have since sailed from Philadelphia for Calcutta, where they will proceed to Maulayming. May the Lord speed them on their way, and may the Bible soon spread its light over the darkness of Burmah.

BURMAN MISSION.

MR BOARDMAN'S JOURNAL.
[Continued from p. 273.]

Visit of Myat Poo and others. April 26. Myat Poo (see journal for 19th inst.) was here last evening, and is with me again to-day. He has gained much light and knowledge since I saw him first, and avows himself a decided disciple. Indeed, he gives very satisfactory evidence of possessing true grace.

Bless the Lord, for so early a display of his grace in Tavoy.

27, Lord's-day. A congregation of about twenty persons, and among them were several whom I saw at the funeral on the 22d. I spoke a few words from John iii. 16. The people listened rather attentively, and I was glad to find when I had done, that they understood pretty well. They staid an hour afterwards asking questions. I hope some little good may attend these my first, and very imperfect essays at public teaching in the Burman language. As the people come of their own accord, and request me to speak to them, I dare not refrain, though I did not propose to commence public worship till after the present rains.

Description of the Karens.

May 1, 1828. Received a visit from about thirty Karens, with whom I had some conversation on religion. Their remarks confirmed the opinion I had previously entertained, that, as a people, the Karens are atheists in the fullest, largest sense of the wordthat they acknowledge no being whatever, as an object of worship. Some few of them, from their connexion with the Burmans, have become Boodhists. But the general mass of

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