THE SABBATH.-The more delight we have in God, the more delight he will have in us. He takes no pleasure in a doleful melancholy service. Why should we not exercise as much joy in holy duties as formerly we did in sinful practices? How delightfully will men sit at their games, and spend their days in gluttony and luxury! And shall not a Christian find much more delight in applying himself to God? We should delight that we can and have hearts to ask such gifts, that thousands in the world never dream of begging. To be dull is a discontentedness with our own petitions. Delight in prayer is the way to gain assurance. To seek God, and

treat him as our chief good, endears the soul to him. Delighting in accesses to him will inflame our love. And there is no greater sign of an interest in him than a pre valent estimation of him. God casts off none that affectionately clasp about his throne."-Charnock,

Poetry.

LINES

ON HEARING OF THE DECEASE OF THE REV. J. COLEMAN, B.A., VICAR OF CLARE.

His work is done. He taken to his rest,

His cares, his conflicts, and his griefs are o'er : Still is the brain that toil'd in learning's quest : His large and loving heart will heave no more.

No more will witness'd be that stately form,

Its way pursuing down the accustom'd street. Many will miss the greeting, frank and warm,

And mourn the friend they ne'er again may meet.

On Zion's wall a faithful warder he :

Wary and vigilant his watch he kept, And sounded the alarm right worthily

In dangerous days, when far too many slept. Weep not for him: he hath his anchor cast

On that bless'd shore, where billows never beat.
He reared his Captain's banner to the last,

And now he reaps his recompense-how sweet!
Weep for the widow'd one he loved so well:
An arm omnipotent be now her stay!
Weep for the church's loss: his funeral knell
Tolls for a Boanerges pass'd away.

Ah! his poor flock! their shepherd's voice is mute.
That trumpet voice, of no uncertain sound,
Shall never more their longing hearts salute:
The giant oak is stricken to the ground.

We willingly insert these lines, forwarded to us by a clergyman whose contributions are always acceptable. We knew and highly respected Mr. Coleman,―ED.

|

How strange is man's condition! Here to-day
He mingles with his fellow-men; to-morrow
He is laid out, perhaps, mere lifeless clay;
His spirit flown to scenes of joy or sorrow.
Did he live only here, his life how vain!
Gifts, goodness, godliness, and varied lore,
Rare constellation! destin'd or to wane,

Or to be quench'd at once-to shine no more.
Blessed be God! though star may after star
Fade from the firmament they had made bright,
They beckon us to regions fairer far,
Where still they shine with everlasting light.
Dec. 29th, 1868.

HYMN.

J. D. H.

(For the Church of England Magazine.) BY MRS. PENDEREL LLEWELYN. (Translated from the Welsh). WHEN I pass through death's dark river No one can my soul sustain But the ever-faithful Saviour,

Who for sinners once was slain. In that torrent he will guide me,

He will there uphold my head;
In the stream, his face beholding,
Through its waves with songs I'll tread.

Boundless is the love of Jesus:
Mighty is his sovereign grace:
Faithful is his every promise

Made to Adam's fallen race.

'Tis my anchor in life's tempests

That my God will firm remain :

Though I pass through death's dark portals, In his wounds I live again.

Llangynwyd Vicarage.

Miscellaneous.

TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.-The annual soirée of the London auxiliary of the United Kingdom Alliance lately took place in the Arundel-hall, Arundel-street, Strand. After tea, which was partaken of by no less than three hundred persons, the secretary read a report, setting forth the operations of the society during the past year. The committee, it was stated, had put into gratuitous circulation a great amount and variety of Alliance publications, including tracts and placards of various sizes; and, with a view to the encouragement of literary acti vity among their working-class supporters, they had issued an advertisement, offering a prize of five guineas for the best essay on the permissive bill by any manual workman residing within ten miles of St. Paul's. With regard to the general election, the committee declared their belief that the members elected by the metropolitan constituencies would, as a rule, be more favourably affected towards the policy of the Alliance than at any former time. The report having been adopted, the chairman (Sir George Brooke Pechell, bart.), Mr. Whitworth, M.P., and others, delivered addresses in support of the temperance cause.

London: Published for the Proprietors, by S. D. EWINS and SON, 9, Ave Maria Lane, St. Paul's; ROGERSON and TUXFORD, 265, Strand; and to be procured, by order of all Booksellers in Town and Country.

PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD,
265, STRAND, LONDON.

MISSIONARY RECORDS.

No. CCLXXXIV.

MADAGASCAR.-Coronation of the Queen.-Mr. Port writes to the London Missionary Society's committee, and thus describes the preparations made for this ceremony: "Great excitement prevails, in consequence of the extensive preparations for the coronation which will take place in two days. All the military (I think the whole army of the capital) are being supplied with new garments: to make the shirts, hundreds of women are daily employed, this is according to custom: all the guns are being cleaned; those of the queen's guard have the woodwork painted in different colours, according to their division: hundreds of tents are being set up in the rice-grounds, to the west of the parade or Imahamasina; these are Betsileo Sakalavas, and other tribes; and the capital is receiving daily additions. We are all to meet in one house, when an officer from the government will be sent to conduct us through the crowd to the platform. This evening, at seven, the batteries will all fire a salute: the Malagasy day, like the Jewish day, begins at sunset. To-morrow morning, at five, another salute will be fired. At eight o'clock the queen will leave the palace, a procession being formed; and, it is said, that the reading of the laws, the paying of alle giance, &c., is likely to last until four o'clock in the afternoon. What a convenience it is to know there will be no rain: fine weather can be depended on; and a rough wind is scarcely felt at Andohalo. The scene will be photographed by two members of the mission. Tomorrow afternoon there are to be novel exhibitions of joy by the civilians, who are living in tents, and have come from different parts of the island. This afternoon the Christians will assemble in Miss Usborne's church at three o'clock, to pray for the queen: the building and yard in which it stands are sure to be crowded. The city and its environs are filled with people; and still they come. Certain old customs will No. 1953.

be adhered to, such as the keeping of all beasts and fowls out of the public roads for two days, and slaughtering all found straying in them." Rev. W. E. Cousins, writing on the 30th October, 1868, speaks of the coronation as having excited great enthusiasm among the people, who gathered on the occasion four hundred thousand in number. "The coronation of the present queen, which took place, September 3rd, 1868, was distinguished by the absence of all reference to idolatry, and by the first public national recognition of Christianity on the part of sovereign and government of Madagascar. On a broad platform, raised for this occasion, around which the thousands of her subjects from different provinces assembled, the queen directed a small table to be placed by the seat which she occupied in the centre of her court; and on this table was placed the handsome bible presented to her predecessor by the bible society. On the canopy raised over the royal seat, on the west side, were inscribed the words, 'Glory be unto God'; on the north side, 'Peace on earth'; on the south side, Good-will among men'; and on east side, 'God shall be with us.'

The Queen's Speech.-The speech delivered on the present occasion has many striking features; and, as it is the first document of the kind which has been printed in the island, we give it entire, as translated (though not into very capital English) by the rev. R. G. Hartley. We invite special attention to the eighth clause: "1. This is my word unto you, ye under heaven, for here are ye under heaven assembled; for God has given up to me the country and kingdom; and I thank God above all, O ye under heaven, that God has not abandoned this country to evil, but it has been prospered and blessed with Andrianimpoinimerina, and Lehidama, and Rabodoandrianimpoinimerina, and Rasoheri-manjaka, and has now descended to me. 2. And now that the day of my public appearance has come, and ye under heaven are assembled here, and have not neglected the summons of me, Ranavalomanjaka, but have come in immense numbers when bidden, whe

ther by day or by night, and acknowledge me, Ranavalomanjaka, I make my acknowledgments and offer thanks to you; for I have a father and mother, having you; therefore may you live, may God bless you. 3. And now, that being finished, this is my word to you, ye under heaven: Seeing that ye have not altered the word of Andrianimpoinimerina, and of Lehidama, and Rabodoandrianimpoinimerina, and Rasoheri-manjaka, but they four have been dear to you, and ye have maintained their bequest, and have not changed their word, may you live, may God bless you, ye under heaven. 4. And I give you encouragement, ye under heaven; for me has God appointed to reign in this island, to be the defence of your persons, and your wives, and your children, and your possessions; for he who has much possesses his own, and he who has little possesses his own. Therefore, be of good cheer; for I consider that you have father and mother, having me. And I pray God above all things that I may govern you in uprightness and justice. Is it not so? 5. That being finished, ye under heaven, it is not I only who am responsible for this land, but you and I; for you have been appointed to me, and I have been assigned to you; therefore, if any one should covet this land which has been left by iny predecessors, even to the extent of a single grain, I refuse that. Is it not so, ye under heaven? 6. And this being finished, ye under heaven, this is my word unto you; Behold I will read the law to you, and do ye all hearken; for, if you love yourselves, and your wives and your children, and wish to enjoy peaceably what you possess, observe the law; for I do not love to make you guilty, and it is not I who give up a man's life to death; but observe justice, and regard righteousness, for peace is the end of that; for the law chooses not, and respects not men's persons, but is for the benefit of the country and kingdom; and ye and I will regard the law; for it is not I, Ranavalomanjaka, who condemn him who is guilty, nor is it you; but that which he himself has done condemns him, and we only treat according to the law him who transgresses; for the commandment is a torch, and the law is a light; for the law chooses not, but is the portion of him who accepts it. Is it not so? 7. And this also I say unto you: Here art thou, Rainilaiarivony, prime minister, for I made thee the chief of all under heaven in my kingdom; and you, too, ye men of honour, and the twelve royal ladies, and my kindred, and the judges, and the blood royal, and the chiefs of the land for you have I made fathers of all under heaven, leaders of the people, to teach them wisdom; and it rests with you to make them wise or make them foolish: therefore take good heed, for my land is at peace and my kingdom is settled; therefore, if in this state evil counsels be insinuated, to lead astray the wise, and to give encouragement to the foolish, and to raise tumult in my kingdom; and if any one relying on good service previously rendered, trusting in my conpassion and relying on my love, shall do evil to my land and kingdom, I condemn him to death, should there be any such. Is it not so? 8. And this also is my word to you, ye under

heaven, in regard to the praying: it is not en forced; it is not restrained; for God made you. 9. And this also is my word to you, ye under heaven: I have concluded friendship with my kindred beyond the sea; therefore observe well the treaty; for, if any one transgresses that, I hold him guilty. Is it not so? 10. And this also is my word to you, ye hundred thou sand men (the army); if the subordination appointed by Lehidama, and the pledges that ye have given to my predecessors shall be altered by any one and become obsolete, I condemn and put to death whoever does this. Is it not so, ye hundred thousand men ?" And, when the people answered, then the queen spoke again, saying, "Since such is thy answer, 0 chief, and your answer, ye under heaven, I take courage, for I have father, and I have mother. Therefore may ye live, ye under heaven; may God bless you. God bless the queen." Rev. W. E. Cousins reports on the 30th October and 1st December: "We are glad to know how much interest has been excited at home by the cheer. ing news we have been able to send during the past few months. Another step in favour of Christianity was taken yesterday. There are in Imerina a number of weekly markets; and seve. ral of these have hitherto been held on Sunday, much to the grief of the various Christian congregations near them. A proclamation was made in the large market here yes. terday, to the effect that markets that have been hitherto held on Sunday shall in future be held on Monday instead. This has given very great pleasure to the Chris tians in the several districts where Sunday markets have been held; and I do not think the heathen will feel much annoyed at the change. Many of them will doubtless begin to attend the chapels instead of the markets. You will also be interested to hear that on Sunday last a Christian service was held within the palace in closure, at which the queen, principal chief, and about a hundred of their attendants were present. This service will most likely be kept entirely in the hands of the natives. The inte rest recent events have given to our work is very gratifying to us; and we trust that; in answer to the special prayers that have been offered on behalf of our mission, an abundant blessing may be bestowed upon Madagascar. The present is certainly a critical time in the history of Christianity here. Some will, doubtless, attend religious services, because they see that the government is favourable to Christianity; and there is reason to fear, too, lest the government should wish to get the native churches too much into their hands."

THE PUNJAUB.-On the 11th January, the committee of the Church Missionary Society adopted the following minute with reference to the lamented decease of sir Herbert Edwardes, K.C.B., a vice-president of the society: "In receiving, with deep and affectionate regret, the announcement of the death of sir Herbert Edwardes, K.C.B., one of the vice-presidents of the society, the committee record their convic tion that the society has thus lost the services of one who was no less eminent as a soldier and servant of Christ than as a soldier and servant

of the crown. In advocating by word and deed the cause of Indian missions, his courage and ability were as conspicuous as in the field of Indian warfare; and his example remains as a monument of the extent to which active service under an earthly sovereign can be combined with the higher service of a heavenly Master. Having identified himself with the society's work wherever he might for the time be resident in India, sir Herbert Edwardes rendered very essential service to the society at home. He greatly enkindled the missionary zeal of the society's supporters by the eloquence, force, and power of speeches delivered, not only at the anniversary meetings in 1860 and 1866, but also at influential meetings in many large towns; and he frequently, especially when questions connected with India were under discussion, took part in the deliberations of the committee, or, if unable to attend, he communicated his views in writing, as when, recently, the locality of the proposed institution for educated natives in North India was to be determined, he transmitted a minute on the document presented to the committee. The committee feel that it is impossible to enter upon the many services rendered by sir H. Edwardes to the society, and request the president to transmit this brief mi- | nute to lady Edwardes, as some indication of the affectionate estimation in which they held her lamented husband."

WESTERN AFRICA: ABBEOKUTA.-The latest advices show that there is still a strong party in this town opposed to the return of the white missionaries, and that at the head of this party are certain Sierra-Leone emigrants, who have worked themselves into influential positions. In fact, the Sierra-Leone emigrants in Abeokuta may be viewed as divided into two parties, the Ake party and the Ogbe party; the former of these disapproving of what is called the Egba board of management, the members of which are chiefly persons of the latter party. The retrograde party carried with them at first the main influence of the heathen authorities, and the white missionaries were expelled; but, carrying matters with too high a hand, the wrecking and plundering of the Christian churches and mission-houses never having been contemplated by the Egba chiefs, a reaction has taken place, which has afforded the native Christians à locus standi. Of this they have availed themselves, acting in a body, and with considerable boldness; and now, instead of being dealt with as an insignificant fragment of the population, it is felt that they have weight, and are deserving of consideration. We further learn that the adversaries of the mission, some Sierra-Leone men, who are the bitter enemies of the gospel, had ulterior objects. They expected that the expulsion of the European missionaries would so discourage the native Christians, that they would abandon their Christian profession and backslide into heathenism. It was a critical period in the history of the mission. Native Christianity was about to be tested as to whether it had strength to stand alone. It was, moreover, disadvantaged by the withdrawal of several of the native agents who followed the missionaries down to Lagos. A statement of

the rev. W. Moore, the native pastor of Oshielle, will show that, thus left to itself, the native Christian element did not die out, but, quickly recovering itself from the heavy blow which it had received, showed that it was not so dependent on extraneous aid, as to be paralyzed by the withdrawal of the European missionaries, and rendered incapable of action. The Christians gathered together for mutual counsel, support and prayer; and, as the churches were closed, and public worship forbidden, they met in private assemblies for such purposes. Even baptisms were not suspended; and, in these dark days, new converts were added to the church; and, if some had hoped to eradicate Christianity, the numbers of the native Christians, and the tenacity with which they adhered to their Christian profession proved the hopelessness of such an undertaking. In May, of 1868, a letter from the parent committee was received by the native agents at Lagos, inviting them to return without delay to the charge of the flock at Abeokuta, a summons which was promptly obeyed; and the mission, in spite of many hindrances, is, we are happy to say, reestablishing itself satisfactorily.

INDIA.-Visit of the Governor and Lady Napier.-While his excellency was at Mengnanapuram, the lofty spire of the beautiful and spacious Gothic church there, built by the senior missionary, Mr. Thomas, was completed. The latter gives the following interesting particulars of the occasion: "On Friday, the topstone was put into its place on the spire, in the presence of the governor and lady Napier; and there were, I should think, five thousand persons present, who shouted, Glory be to God!' There were eleven hundred children present of the vernacular schools assembled in church; and the party came to see them. Afterwards we had a short service, Te Deum, &c., when 2,700 people were present. The catechists and schoolmasters read an address to his lordship: the native clergy and all made salaam as they passed. His lordship examined both boarding-schools, went round the village, visited the houses of the people, and, last of all, he went up into the spire. Lord Napier, in his tour through the Tinnevelly province, after visiting six of the missionary stations, arrived at Palamcotta on Wednesday morning, the 14th October, and, being pressed for time, was able to devote only that day to visiting the several educational establishments of the Church Missionary Society at this station. It was truly pleasing to see the painstaking interest which his lordship and lady Napier took in every department of the work. Starting at eleven o'clock, they went first of all to the Sarah-Tucker Institution, which is designed chiefly for the training of schoolmistresses, and saw all the arrangements which are there made for so important an object. After this they visited the Church Missionary Society's native English school. His lordship examined the highest class in history and geography in a way to them rather new, but thoroughly sifting; then the second class in Euclid and arithmetic; after which, one of the native masters read an ode, composed by Mr. Cruickshanks, the head-master, on the visit of lord Napier to the Tinnevelly

province. After this, the governor went over the printing-office, then to church, where were assembled some few hundred children from the mission-schools in the town of Tinnevelly and the neighbourhood. Then the party adjourned to Mr. Sargent's house, where, after a short repast, the governor's party was amused for a little time by the exhibition of five or six native instruments of music of the less noisy kind, such as the guitar, &c., by native performers. I regret that I cannot afford space for the other very interesting circumstances attendant upon lord and lady Napier's visit to the Tinnevelly mission they are given at length in the "Church Missionary Record" for February.

A PLEA FOR THE SEA BIRDS.

Our readers will remember that the wanton destruction of these beautiful and harmless creatures was the subject of animadversion at the recent meeting of scientific men at Norwich; and we now learn from a letter by the rev. F. O. Morris to the "Times" that the discussion then and subsequently has borne good fruit in a movement in the East Riding for the obtaining an act of parliament to stop the destruction of the harmless gulls during the breeding season, and also that a petition will be sent round to support the bill when before the house. Mr. Morris appends to his letter the following elegant verses from the scholarly pen of the rev. Richard Wilton, rector of Londesborough.

Stay now thine hand. Proclaim not man's dominion

Over God's works, by strewing rocks and sand With sea-birds' blood-stained plumes and broken pinion.

O, stay thine hand.

Spend not thy days of leisure

In scatterring death along the peaceful strand For very wantonness, or pride, or pleasure.

For bird's sake, spare:

Leave it in happy motion

To wheel its easy circles through the air, Or rest and rock upon the shining ocean.

Raised against God's fair creature,
Beware lest there be found a crimson brand
Indelible by any force of nature.

PERSEVERE.

The spider seems to understand, or, at least, to act upon, the idea contained in those simple lines:

If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again.
Let your courage well appear;
If you only persevere,
You will conquer, never fear;
Try, try again.

Twice or thrice though you should fail,
Try again.

If at last you would prevail,
Try again.

When you strive, there's no disgrace,
Though you fail to win the race;
Bravely, then, in such a case,
Try, try again.

Let the thing be e'er so hard,
Try again.

Time will surely bring reward,
Try again.

That which other folks can do,
Why, with patience, may not you?
Why, with patience, may not you?
Try, try again.

This is just what the spider does. And if we only learn to do this well we shall be sure, with God's blessing, to succeed in every right thing we undertake. The old proverb says, "Perseverance conquers all things."

RIGHT AND WRONG.

"The way by which to judge whether anything is right or wrong is to ask what the will of God is concerning it. God cannot will or order any. thing wrong; and, whatever God does will and order, you may be sure is right. It would not be honest or right for you or me to get our living by robbing our fellow-creatures, because this is contrary to the will of God. His command to us is, "Thou shalt not steal.' 'Do violence to no man.' But is not it honest for the fisherman to throw his line, or net, into the river or sea, and get his living by catching the poor innocent fish? Certainly it is. God made the fish for this pur pose. It is his will that they should be caught and eaten; and this makes it honest and right for the fisherman to get his living by catching them. Is not it honest and right for the butcher