1858.] ONE OF THE GREAT MULTITUDE. 129 in like circumstances, can understand the relief it was-I was able, though without any possibility of procuring a coffin, to make such arrangements for the interment as were decent, and not dishonourable for a dear member of Christ's body. In the evening dear Joseph and Satthianathan joined me. The grave had been dug abreast of that in which dear Every's* remains lie; and we were only waiting for dear Brother Meadows' arrival, when news reached us, filling us with fears about dear Fenn, happily not realised. We had heard from Nathanael that Fenn had been taken ill that morning, with what he was afraid might be cholera. It was with a peculiarly heavy heart we went through the funeral service, not knowing but that before another evening a third grave might have to be dug. I started directly afterwards in a bandy; but, thank God! dear Meadows, who had reached before me, came out to meet me, with the good tidings that the illness had passed off, and only left our brother a little weak. We are now all three in his tent; and, if it pleases God, hope to go to night to Paneiadipatti, and before Sunday to Sivagasi, and on Wednesday to meet Mr. Sargent at Virdhupatti, with whom Fenń proceeds to the Nilgheries. But all this if it pleases God, and we live. ONE OF THE GREAT MULTITUDE. THE Gospel is aggressive in its action on every thing of a spiritual character that is hurtful to man, whether false doctrines or vicious practices. It goes forth to emancipate souls, and bring forth the It is prisoners from the prison-house of superstition and sin. actively engaged in heathen lands, and in those countries where corrupt Christianity prevails. Thus the fields of Missionary labour are of diverse aspects; some, where Siva and Vishnu have their shrines, or where Buddhism fills its temples with numberless idols; some where the Greek church leads the multitudes astray with picture-worship, or the Papal church becomes more and more sunk in the idolatry of Mary. În each sphere of action the Gospel is at work, and souls have been rescued. Here we have a case from Ireland-the peaceful death of an Irish Scripture Reader, taken from the Irish Society's "Record" for October 1858. I sincerely regret to have to inform you of the death of one of our Irish teachers and best of Irish scholars, but at the same time rejoice in his happy' death. I have known him for more than twenty years, but lost sight of him for a long time, by his going over to England; but, as he said himself, God in his divine providence brought him back to show him his great salvation. It was more than twelve months since he returned to this town, a bigoted Roman Catholic. I renewed old acquaintance. He argued most strenuously with me. I brought that most powerful of all weapons on all points of controversy, the word of God, and gave him an Irish Bible, with texts marked. He said, as I gave it to him, "Welcome to me, my old friend; I shall read you with more interest than ever:" and * Vide “Church Missionary Gleaner" for January last. 130 kissed it. A MOHAMMEDAN CONVERT. [NOV. He did read the word, and the Lord blessed it to his soul's eternal salvation. : After some time, he said to me, "I am no longer a Roman Catholic, as I hold not their doctrines, which cannot be supported by the word of God; and why should I seem to wear the trammels of Popery?" He came the following Sunday to church, for which he was severely persecuted by his friends and neighbours, and to the last he was threatened by some, and inducements held out by others; but he was faithful unto death and I believe the Lord has given him the crown of life. His sister came to him, and said, if he would receive the priest she would look after his children. "No occasion," said he; "I have the great High Priest with me, who washed me from my sins in his own blood-that blood that cleanseth from all sin, and ever lives to make intercession for me and all that come to God by Him. And He invites you to come to Him, and will give you salvation free, without money or price." "Well," said she, "you are more learned, and ought to know better than me. On my last visit, a few days before his death, I asked him if he had any fear to die. His answer was, "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; they are passed from death unto life. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. The finished work of Christ, his righteousness, is put on all them that believe, unworthy though I be." He said a good deal of God's love to him, in leading him to see the error of his ways, and what a sinner he had been. "But," said he, "God tells me, though they were as scarlet, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sins." He said, "Doubts often arise in my mind, but God enables me to look to the great High Priest. May He enable me to finish my course with joy! it may not be long, but the Lord's will he done." When leaving him, he earnestly prayed for me and the work of the Society. After his death, I visited his wife. She said, "I have lost my good husband: latterly he was the kindest creature in the world. He took his children and kissed them, and said to me, I entreat you, for the Lord's sake, do not neglect your immortal soul; read your Bible, and teach my poor orphans, and you will find that God is a father to the fatherless, and will give you eternal life.' He then closed his eyes and expired without a struggle." A MOHAMMEDAN CONVERT.. THE Mohammedan population throughout the Ottoman Empire presents itself at this moment under a most interesting aspect. There are to be seen, in many directions tokens of good-the awakening of an inquiring spirit, which, we trust, will wax stronger and stronger, until they outbreak into a flame; and, as might be expected, conjointly with this, the working of a fanatical spirit, showing itself in acts of violence, not only towards converts, but the Christian population generally. This shows that the enemy is alarmed lest the goods he has so long held in peace, be wrested from him by one stronger 1858.] A MOHAMMEDAN CONVERT. 131 than himself. Of the first class of facts, that of the more cheering and encouraging kind, we select one which will be read with interest. It is from the pen of an American Missionary at Tripoli, in Syria. We have recently been greatly interested in the case of a converted Moslem, who came to Tripoli, from Bagdad, on his way to some country where he could enjoy freedom of conscience, and study the Gospel, so as to prepare himself to do good, without fear of molestation. He came to our house on Sabbath afternoon, May 2, and listened to the Arabic preaching with great attention. After the audience had retired he remained and gave us some account of his conversion, showing us, in proof, a note from the Missionary of the London Jews' Society in Bagdad. He came from Bagdad, via Mosul and Aleppo, under French protection, and chiefly through the agency of Romish monks in the convents along the road. They had strong expectations of inducing him to go to Rome or Paris, to study for the priesthood; but he tells us he has continually replied to them, that he wished to follow the Bible alone, and was not a believer in the Pope. He came on the Austrian steamer from Scanderoon to Tripoli, and was here the guest of the Carmelite monks. Their object in detaining him here was, probably, to keep him out of the way of English and American influence in Beyrout, until they could write to Beyrout and get permission to send him by the next French steamer directly through to France or Italy. On the Sabbath afternoon above mentioned he walked out from the convent, and, after considerable inquiry, found the way to our house without the knowledge of the monks. The next day he came again, and twice afterwards. On Saturday, May 8, we gave him an Arabic Bible, which he took with him to the convent, though expressing great fears in case the Papists should find it out. We urged him to leave them at once, and be at rest; but he thought it better to remain, and we took no special pains to get him away, being not quite sure of his sincerity, though our interest in him constantly increased. After the 8th, we saw no more of him for nine days, and had con cluded that he had gone to Paris or Rome, when he suddenly appeared in our house again, almost trembling with fear. He said that the prior of the monastery had been to Beyrout, and in his absence he had not been allowed to go out unattended by a monk, as they had some suspicion of his leaning toward the Americans. The prior had returned with authority to send him away by the next steamer, and had to-day gone up to a village on Mount Lebanon, intending to return in a few days. Meanwhile he (the Moslem) was to be kept under close scrutiny. A Maronite was brought in to instruct him in the Romish catechism, and warn him against Protestant heresies. He told them that the Bible was admitted to be God's book, whereas the catechism was only man's book, and he preferred to drink from the fountain-head. The teacher of the catechism soon gave up teaching Yusef as a bad case. When they urged the authority of the early Fathers, he asked them where the Fathers got their authority and wisdom. If they got it from the Bible, why should not he? (To be continued.) ( 132 ) "ABSOLVO TE." Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.-Luke vii. 50. Or bid me "Go in peace;" And make these heart-throbs cease. It said, “I bore thy sins-rejoice!"-1 Pet. ii. 24. He showed the spear-mark in his side, In chains of sin once tied and bound, Each spot I tread is hallowed ground, Who died a victim on the tree, That he might say, Absolvo te."-1 John i. 7. By Him my soul is purified, Cleansed by the water from his side, No priest can heal or cleanse but He: No other say, Absolvo te.-Matt. viii. 3. He robed me in a priestly dress, Of prayer, and praise, and righteousness, And when he gave this robe to me, He smiled and said, Absolvo te.-Zach. iii. 4, 5. In heaven He stands before the throne, Can sin's dark stain remove; To him I look, on bended knee, And hear that sweet Absolvo te.-Heb. viii. 1. A girded Levite here below, willing service bring; And fain would tell to all I know Of Christ, the Priestly King; Would win all hearts from sin to flee, And hear him say, Absolvo te.—1 John ii. 1. "A little while," and he shall come To call his pardoned brethren home. Then every blood-bought child shall sec The Priest who said, Absolvo te !-Heb. ix, 28. [NOV. 1858.] ( 133 ) THE INDIAN FEMALE. IN family life, the husband and wife have each their special duties. As the weaker vessel, the woman's burden ought to be the lighter. We believe it never is so, except where Christianity has made its influence to be felt. In all other cases she is, more or less, overburdened, unless |