ment and good sense, and which is supposed to have had great influence.

"We left Brainard,' said the missionaries, that storehouse of human happiness, with peculiar emotions, after having united with the mission family in prayer.' A brother, who had accompanied them in all their visits, and had been indefatigable in his exertions to help them, went with them a considerable distance, and in parting they again united in prayer in the woods."

(To be concluded in our next.)

Prospects of Christianity in India.*

We have already adverted to some encouraging considerations respecting the progress of Christianity in India. Who can refrain his pity for its immense idolatrous population? who does not earnestly desire success to the efforts that are made to enlighten their minds and save their souls? And who is there who will not eagerly fix his eye on every aspect of encouragement? With very few exceptions, we know the heathen remain still the worshippers of idols; but little actual impression has been made upon the mass of the population, and hence some have felt discouraged. Let it not be overlooked, however, that the means for spreading the gospel have accumulated, and are still accumulating with unexampled rapidity; and that Providence is bringing every plan into operation with unexampled favour. What, though the inAluences of the Spirit be delayed, is it nothing, that on every hand arrangements are made for bringing on the great result? The entire conversion of a single province, would be less encouraging than the present aspect of the whole. The scattered settlements along our wide extended wilderness, no more clearly indicate its future settlement, and prepare the mind to picture to itself busy cities, cheerful villages, and wide spread cultivation, than the numerous missionary settlements amidst the moral wilds of India, prepare the believer to fix his eye of faith upon the cheerful prospect of wide-spreading Christianity. The Church Missionary Register, for the month of January, presents this subject in an interesting manner:

"In surveying this immense and populous field of Missionary labours, (India within the Ganges) our course takes us, from India without the Ganges, into the south-eastern extremity of Bengal. From Chittagong, in that quarter, we may pass on, after visiting Dacca, to the north, by Sahebjung, in Jessore, to Calcutta. Thence, ascending northward, by Dum-Dum, Serampore, Chinsurah, Burdwan, Cutwa, Siooree, Moorshedabad, and Malda, to Dinagepore, we there turn westward, up the Ganges, by Monghyr and Digah, visiting Guyah on the south, to Buxar and Benares. From Benares, still ascending the Ganges, our course brings us by Chunar to Allahabad, at the junction of the

* This article should have preceded the Report of the New-Hampshire Bib Society, p. 179.

Jumna with that river. Proceeding north-west, up the Ganges, to Lucknow, we there leave the river, and travel north to Bareilly; from which place proceeding westward, by Meerut, we reach Delhi, one of the most distant missionary stations toward this quarter. Descending the Jumna, on which Delhi is situated, we proceed south to Agra, on the same river; from Agra, a little southward of west, to Agimere, a new station, in the territories lately acquired; and thence, nearly due south, to Surat, on the west coast of the peninsula. From Bombay, further south on the same coast, we come, diverging inland, to Bellary and Bangalore, in the Mysore; and thence, down again on the western coast, by Cannanore and Tellicherry, to Cotym and Allepie, in North Travancore, and to Nagracoil and its associated stations in South Travancore. Crossing the peninsula near its extremity, we reach Palamcotta; and thence proceed northward, to Trichinopoly and Tanjore; and turn eastward, to Negapatam and Tranquebar, on the coast. From Tranquebar, passing somewhat inland, by Vellore, Chittoor, and Vepery, we reach Madras; and thence, by Vaddadelhi, proceed to Masulipatam, Vizagapatam, and Midnapore, on the eastern coast; and thus complete the circuit of the missionary stations, at present occupied in this great division of our survey."

Of Ceylon, which is but the southern extremity of India, the Register for February proceeds :-"In surveying the stations occupied by the missionaries of these societies, beginning with Colombo, the capital of the British possessions, surrounding the whole coast of the island, and proceeding to Kandy, the capital of the interior provinces now all annexed to the British crown, we shall follow the direction of the coast to the southward from Colombo, by Caltura, Galle, and Matura, to Batticaloe and Trincomalee on the eastern shore; and thence, by Tillipally, Batticotta, and Jaffna, in the northern part, shall complete the circuit to Colombo, by Calpentyn and Negombo, on the western coast of the island."

What an interesting view is this: how great and how sudden the change! About 30 years ago, except the Catholics, and the few Protestants in the south, there were no missionaries in India. Thomas, who accompanied Carey at the commencement of the Baptist mission, in his previous residence in India, advertised for a serious Christian in Calcutta. It is less than 30 years since Carey and Thomas landed friendless on the shores of India, and wrought their way through discouragements and poverty without any to lend a helping hand.

But passing over the difficulties of these first attempts, what discouragements were presented only fifteen years ago. Carry your thoughts back only that short space, when the government of India were guarding it with a thousand hands and watching it with a thousand eyes, lest missionaries should be introduced, to disturb the religion of the people-when the few who attempted

to elude its inspection or baffle its power, reached their destination by a circuitous route; when even by your own shores, they were obliged to steal their honest way. Or reflect how it was, when your own missionaries were sent to India only eight years ago: how they were met with mandates of exclusion on their first landing, and pursued for a year and a half with various efforts at expulsion. How is it that in so short a time so wonderful a scene is presented to our eyes. New missionaries are frequently admitted and hospitably received-now they are spread far and wide over all the land. With short and easy journeys you might go around the whole circumference of British India, and resting at every stage among the missionaries of Jesus, revivé your piety by mingling with their devotions. Almost on every Sabbath you might pause and find among the temples of Paganism, at least one temple to the true God, and the praises of Immanuel might be heard of amid the bustle and confusion of idol worship. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." Why all this preparation, unless HE that made it, designs to propagate his truth through all the land? Why all this cultivation of the ground, why this sowing the seed in every quarter, unless the Husbandman be looking for an abundant and general harvest? Why is the standard of the cross erected at short intervals among an hundred millions of people, but because it is designed that it shall draw all the nations around it? Why is the gospel dawning upon every part of this valley of the shadow of death, unless the Sun of righteousness is hastening to arise with healing in his beams? Come blessed day!-When India shall come to thy light, and her Bramhun's, and her nobles, and her merchants, and her Soodras, to the brightness of thy rising.

Before we close our remarks upon this subject, we cannot fail to notice another aspect of the missionary stations, which has sometimes been regarded with concern, but which is in truth, a new source of encouragement: We refer to the variety of denominations engaged in the great work. It has been apprehended that opposed to each other as they have been at home, they will exhibit their opposition to the greatest disadvantage among the Heathen, and by each sect it may have been apprehended that the labours of the rest would rather promote the errors which they combat, than help on the truth which they desire should be promoted: while the nations beholding in Heathen lands a conflict such as Christian lands too often witness, would be in doubt what to believe and what to follow, terminate their suspense by cleaving more closely to their own ways.

It was natural that each sect should entertain some suspicion concerning the labours of the other, and to expect that feelings and conduct so injurious to the prevalence of Christianity among a Christian people, would materially obstruct its progress among the Heathen. In the course of a wonder working Providence, however, nature in this respect has become reversed, and a new

miracle confirms our faith. The various denominations whose love for the Redeemer has prompted them to extend the knowledge of his name, have found in that object their feelings united and their confidence mutually one; and hence it follows among the Heathen, that they harmonize in the great work, and appear to them not as conflicting enemies but as a body of united friends.. Nor do we lose sight of the probability that Christianity will be more likely to be spread there by the various denominations, than by any one alone, unless we were freely to except the one to which we belong. In harmonious intercourse together, each will insensibly drop their technicals, and lop off those extravagancies to which, from the nature of the human mind, men of every name are exposed. And we apprehend, if the converts of the Baptists at Serampore, the American Independents at Bombay -the Episcopalians on the North, and the Wesleyan Methodists on the South, should meet in the centre of that region of desolation to compare their views of the new religion, they would find them much more correspondent, than those of the same people among ourselves. We would not intimate that we believe with each of these denominations.-This is impossible. We have our own opinions, but in the main articles of our faith, we are convinced we do not essentially differ from either. Our mutual union in spreading the gospel will bring us nearer together, while it will ensure the communication of our common Christianity to the Heathen more fully than if the business were in the hands of either sect.

TENNESSEE.

Second Report of the Female Bible Society, of Knoxville. The Female Bible Society, auxiliary to the East Tennessee Bible Society, convened on the day appointed for their annual meeting, finding $24 25 in the treasury, appropriated the money to the purchase of Bibles, for distribution. Although our fund is small, we will not be discouraged, but excited to more earnest endeavors to increase our stock; that every year may find us more zealous and persevering, and though no great good may immediately result from our labors, we will have the consolation of at least throwing our small weight into the right scale, remembering also that" it is more blessed to give than to receive."

We lament that our sex is not more generally alive to the work; that there are some who forget that to " do good and communicate," to "be rich in good works," are sacrifices with which God is well pleased. That it is our duty to administer to the wants of others is an indubitable fact, which few dispute; and that our spiritual concerns are far more important than our temporal, few are inclined to question, therefore, to dispense charity to the needy soul is better than any temporal blessing whatever. Shall we not then persevere in our endeavours, to make known that book which contains the words of eternal life, trusting that many

to whom this gospel shall come, through our means, shall be made "meet and fit for the saint's inheritance in light." The Bible when most known is most admired; for simplicity of language, strength of expression, grandeur of conception, purity of doctrine, and sound morality, it is as far superior to any other book as its great author is superior to his imperfect creatures. An acquaintance with the Bible is calculated to smooth the asperities of the human character and by showing us the vanity of all earthly honors, riches, and distinctions, it makes us more contented with our station in life, whatever it may be. In some of the South Sea Islands, an acquaintance with the divine truths of the gospel has rescued from the flames thousands of infants, whose tongues may yet praise the God of mercy who sent the knowledge of the truth amongst them. If such be the effects of the Bible on lands long buried in heathenish darkness, what may we not hope from our more enlightened country? Let us therefore take heed, lest while the wants of other nations from one pole to the other are supplying; the cries of our poor and destitute at home should enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth.

Receipts by the Treasurer of the American Bible Society for the month of June, 1820.

To constitute Ministers members for life.-Rev. John White, pastor of the West Parish of Dedham, Mass. by a Female Cent Society of that place, $30. Rev. Thomas Dixon Baird, from the Female Benevolent Society of Newark, Ohio, $30. Rev. James Latta, from the Ladies of the Presbyterian church of Upper Octorara, Chester Co. Pa. $30. Rev. Moses Hoge, from the people of Cumberland Congregation, Prince Edward Co. Va. $30. Rev. Joseph Treat, Sharon, Ohio, by the Female Benevolent Society of that place, $30.

To constitute Laymen members for life.-J. Green Pearson, Esq. New-York, by his own subscription, $30.

Annual subscribers and Donalions from individuals.-Isaac Collins, New-York, annual subscription $3. Isaac Sherwood, Esq. Skaneatalis, donation, $10.

Donations from Auxiliary Societies.-Albany Bible Society, $250. East Haddam Bible Society, $17 50. Union Bible Society, Burke Co. Georgia, $120. Female Auxiliary Bible Society, Stubenville, Ohio, $50. Jefferson Co. Va. Auxiliary Bible Society, $100. Middlebury, Vt. Female Bible Society, $11. Peekskill Female Bible Society, $10 50. Guildford Bible Society, N. Y. $16. Female Auxiliary Bible Society, Westbrook, Conn. $27 20. Carlisle Female Bible Society, Pa. $86 40. Beaufort Bible Society, S. C. $6 12. Lynchburg Va. Bible Society, $105 50; and $194 50 for Bibles, &c. Female Bible Association, No. 1, Middletown, N. J. $20. Orange Bible Society, N. J. $16 04, and $3 96 for Bibles, &c. Union Bible Society of Greenbrier and Monroe, Va. $165 60, and $214 for Bibles, &c.

Bible Societies and other Benevolent Societies not Auxiliary.-From Bible Society of Washington, Washington Co. Pa. $130. Congregational Society, Leyden, N. York, $4. Female Society of the Associate Congregation of Pittsburg, for printing and translating the scripture, $16.

From Auxiliary Societies for Bibles, &c.-Montgomery Co. N. Y. Auxiliary Bible Society, $102. Massachusetts Bible Society, $504. Salem Bible Society, Botetourt Co. Va. $45. Connecticut Reserve Bible Society, $250. Yorktown, West Chester, Co. N. Y. Female Bible Society, $4. Orange Bible Society, N. J. $4 76. Cumberland Co. N. J. Bible Society, $70. "Wilkesbarre Female Bible Society, Pa. $25. Fishkill Bible Society, N. J. $34 33. Carlisle Female Bible Society, Pa. $9 60. Beaufort Bible Society, S. Č. 863 88. Frederick Co. Bible Society, Va. $200. West Chester Co. N. Y. Bible Society, for Testaments, $6. Morris Co. N. J. Bible Society, $41 10. Bibles and Testaments, &c. sold to individuals, $85 15. Total, $3202 15. WM. WOOLSEY, Treasurer.

New-York, June 30th, 1820.