salvation of sinners. Since he began his missionary labours in this place, he has erected two praying societies, one consisting of twelve men, and another of women, who meet every week for prayer and other religious exercises: but, since our first erection, three of our members have left us: "they went out from us because they were novall of us; for, if they had been of us, no doubt would have continued with us; but they went out from us, that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us." Twelve of us have this winter got out timber for a meeting-house; but our poor circumstances and small number has rendered us unable to proceed with speed; but we intend to solicit our neighbouring churches in Nova Scotia for help; and, if we are able to finish it, it will be the third Protestant place of worship built in Lower Canada. As some of our number have withdrawn from us, we were only able to raise twenty pounds last year towards the support of Mr. Mitchell; and we hope it will be no less this year. When we consider the stupendous love of Christ in sending the glorious gospel to this place, and visiting us with the glad tidings of salvation, who a little before were sitting in the region and shadow of death, our souls burn with love to our adorable Redeemer, who thought on us in our low and lost estate; and our hearts are filled with gratitude to the honourable Missionary Society, as the instruments, under God, in sending the Rev. John Mitchell among us, whose unwearied diligence in preaching, and supplying the part of a schoolmaster (a burden which few ministers would take upon them) we shall ever esteem an inestimable favour. May he, who is the Wise Counsellor, always direct you in the affairs of his church, and prosper your undertakings with his blessing, that you may be the honoured instruments in sending the everlasting gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth; that the infinite greatness of our Redeemer's glory and love may be known from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, is the sincere prayers of, Reverend Sir,

Yours, with great esteem and respect,

John Chisholm,

William Scott,

John Caldwell,

William Flowers,

Letter of the Rev. Mr. Stracke

to the Treasurer of the London Missionary Society.

Hatshusen, in East Freadia, 24th Sept. 1802.

-A FEW days after the arrival of your important letter, I had the pleasure to be visited by that eminently faithful servant of Christ, the Rev. Mr. Fenicke, of Berlin, who came hither accompanied by two believing merchants, Vetter and Hill, and by our dear Brother Renner; who is one of those youths destined for Missionary labours.

After a short stay of the above-mentioned Brethren, and after many important deliberations respecting our small Missionary Seminary, they departed from us, and have been safely conducted home by the gracious protection of our good Shepherd.

On the 17th of August we had the pleasure to witness the arrival

of

of the four Missionaries, Charles Albrect, Austin Albrect (two ewn brothers) Ehrhardt, and Mathes. We rejoiced greatly over these candidates for the kingdom of God. They have paid, here and there, visits to the servants and children of God; and have met everywhere with much esteem and cordial love, for they. are worthy. Each of them having also delivered three or four sermons, even in the presence of some very learned characters, we have been strongly reminded of that saying of our Lord: — " I thank thee, O Father! Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes! Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight!"

On the 8th of Sept. they departed from hence to Rotterdam, according to your instructions, accompanied, as we trust, by the angel of the Lord.

My dear wife, together with many Christian characters in my own congregation, and in the neighbourhood, most sincerely joined in my joy, to see the number of six Missionaries assembled under my roof for the space of three weeks. I entreated the four Brethren going to Rotterdam, to write some account of their life and conversion: most willingly they complied with my request; in con. sequence of which, I am enabled to send you hereby a short de scription of the life of our dear Brother Ehrhardt; who seems one of the most mild, chaste, loving, and humble characters I have ever seen in my life. A short outline of the life of the three other Brethren shall soon follow.

Immediately before their departure, I received a most affectionate letter from our Brother Verster, of Rotterdam; containing the desired answer to the notice I gave him respecting the speedy arrival of the Missionaries; that they shall be received in the most friendly manner, and be lodged in the same house in which the Brethren Palm and Ulbricht have been hitherto, to their greatest satisfaction.

I cannot suppress my heartfelt desires that the six missionary youths, who are now in Rotterdam, may be sent out by the direction of the London Society at the most early period which circumstance's shall allow. Perhaps it may please the Lord to signalize Ceylon as the most appropriate place for their future destination.

Your Brother,

STRACKE, Minister at Hatshusen,

Extract of a Letter addressed to the Directors, of the Religious Tract Society, by Professor Young, dated Marburg, 4th July, 1802.

"A FIRST fruit of your charitable institution you already reap in the celebrated German city of Elberfield; for there the Dialogues between Farmer Littleworth and Thomas Newman * have been pub lished in the German language, and distributed to the people: and as soon as my good Lord indulges me with leisure, I shall also compose some popular tracts. I have to lament, that in Germany there is a great difficulty to get a certain quantity of money, on be * Mr. Hill's Village Dialogues, 3 Q

VOL. X.

of

half of beneficial institutions. Surely, there is no want of good and benevolent Christians in my native country! but there is a real want of substance and money. One of the principal reasons of which, is to be sought for in the late heavy and ravaging war. Yet the Lord can help, if we have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed."

The Committee of the Religious Tract Society, request the attention of the public to that part of Professor Young's letter, which expresses the difficulty of obtaining pecuniary aid in Germany, in behalf of benevolent institutions and exertions; remarking, that many contributions, and much assistance have been received from that country in favour of the Missionary Society.

FRANCE.

Report concerning the State of Religion there.

THE Members composing the Deputation formed by the Directors of the Missionary Society, for the purpose of visiting France, in order to the publication of the New Testament, and the Essay on its Divine Authority; and also to procure such information of the actual state of religion in that country, as may assist the Society to form a discreet judgment respecting the most eligible means of promoting the interests of pure Christianity therein, have the satisfac tion to submit to them the process and result of their Mission.

They deem it, however, incumbent on them, in the first place, to record their grateful testimony to the goodness of God, not only for their safe preservation, but also for having prospered their way by preparing and disposing suitable instruments to promote their object, whose friendship has proved of considerable advantage; particularly, as it has been the medium of introducing them to persons of respectable station and influence, who have received them with cordiality, highly approved the benevolence and utility of their de sign, greatly encouraged them by assurances of its probable suc cess, and their co-operation to promote it.

Bearing on their minds the immediate object of their mission, which was the Translation of the Essay, and its Circulation with the New Testament through France, they have taken measures for its accomplishment; and have the pleasure to inform the Directors, that they have succeeded beyond their expectations. It will atford them satisfaction to learn, that God has graciously disposed the heart of a respectable member of the legislative assembly to take a lively interest in our cause; in consequence of which he voluntarily offered his services to translate the Essay; and is now assiduously engaged therein, receiving, according to his own declaration, increasing edification as he proceeds. The Society, we believe, may calculate on the future services of this gentleman, in any proper measures to promote the Protestant cause; and he feels so much animated by the account of the design and proceedings of our institution, as to have formed the intention of being present at our next annual solemnities.

But it is not in the French language only that the Society is likely to be instrumental in the circulation of the New Testament and of the Essy it is highly probable, that at the present moment the latter is under translation into the Italian language, by another indi vidual, whom God has raised up and filled with zeal against the

errors of the Popish Communion. The Directors will learn with pleasure, that an Italian Bishop has expressed his disinterested desire to serve their cause in this way; and it waits only their own determination to give full effect to his zealous disposition. This dignitary of the Romish See, in the early periods of the revolution, directed his enlightened efforts against the pretensions of the Papacy, and for three years suffered imprisonment, as well as the loss of his worldly substance. Feeling strongly on account of the abominations of Popery, he appears ready to lend his utmost assistance to diffuse the purer principles of the Protestant faith.

Another member of the legislative body, a zealous Protestant, and who appears eminently devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, entered most cordially into our views. He lamented the want of faithful and zealous ministers; and on our expressing a hope that our Society might be disposed to educate some truly devoted and zealous young men for the exercise of the ministry in France, said, "That he thought he could find out, in the south, six young men, truly devoted and spiritual, whom he would send over to England, to be trained up there for the service of the Protestants in France;" and he waits the direction of the Society for the accomplishment of this purpose.

The resolution of the Society was limited to the New Testament; because, it was concluded that the addition of the Old, would oc casion an inconvenient expenditure of its funds, it being under stood that they were to be distributed gratuitously: but on this subject, as well as others, the minds of the deputation were every day receiving more just and comprehensive information; and they have now the satisfaction to say, that the Directors are likely to have the opportunity of printing and circulating the whole Scrip. tures, as well as the Essay, and other Protestant works, to a very great extent, without any eventual expence to the Society: and although we would not too strongly indulge this expectation; yet, the following circumstance, among others, may in some degree enCourage it,

In Paris, it required a search among the booksellers, of four days, to find a single Bible :-we fear this is also the awful situation of the greater part of France, and other countries formerly connected with the See of Rome. The report of an intention to publish it, produced an application from one bookseller, for 1500 copies; and we found on calculation, that the sale of 5000 copies on his terms, would leave some advantage to the Society. This bookseller being a Catholic, it was supposed, that he might be inquiring for their edition of the Scriptures; but he stated, that it was the Protestant Scriptures that he wanted, and for the purpose of selling them to the Catholics, who were eager to procure them, in preference to their own.

That the Directors may form a judgment, as to the probable extent in which the Scriptures, and the works of the best Protestant Authors may be circulated, it may be necessary to state to them the information received from a gentleman who was formerly in one of the highest departments of state in Sardinia. Prompted by his approbation of the object, and desirous to promote its success, he communicated the following intelligence: That in Piedmont, and other Popish countries, the Bible was prohibited, under the penalty of eternal damnation, but that since their union with France, Pro3Q 2

testantism

testantism is not only tolerated, but its worship is public; and that the benevolent views of the Society would meet with the greatest success, if prosecuted with order and wisdom. In Piedmont, and especially at Turin, there are a considerable number of Genevans who would assist it, as well as most of the literary characters of the country. Besides books, he recommends, that well instructed, prudent, and discerning Missionaries be sent. There will be an equal opportunity of spreading instruction into the Cisalpine republic; and from thence into Tuscany. Books and Missionaries would also, he states, be received with enthusiasm at Naples; and this would prepare the way to Rome itself.-Without entering into further detail of the plan which he suggests, the Directors will perceive the immense scope which Divine Providence has prepared for the exertions of Christian benevolence, in the cause of the blessed Redeemer indeed, the moral effects produced over a very exten sive and populous part of Europe, by the late conflict of the nations, are so evident and important, as not to be overlooked without impiety; and the facilities for the introduction of the Gospel, are so greatly increased, as to invite, and even demand, the earnest prayers and unwearied efforts of the disciples of Christ, to improve to the utmost so interesting a dispensation. It is extremely manifest, that a wide door is opened for the Gospel; and it will be a great privilege and honour, if the Missonary Society should, in any degree, become instrumental in making it an effectual one. The operations of Divine Providence, in rendering the political convulsions of the world sub, servient to his superior plan of wisdom and grace, in relation to the kingdom of the Messiah, has seldom been more apparent than in the public events which have lately occurred; yet, it is not by great political arrangements only, but also by moral impressions upon the minds of those whose authority controuls the affairs of nations, that the duty of Christian Societies is pointed out, and enforced. This observation admits of an appropriate application.

The Protestant cause is considered by the present government of France to be favourable to its stability: the apprehension of danger is from the party attached to Popery; the government, therefore, is on its guard with respect to the latter, but is well disposed to the former: this is demonstrated by its appointments to stations of political importance, or to offices of magistracy. An occurrence which happened on the return of the deputation, will illustrate this remark. They had been informed that, in one of the departments through which they had to pass, there were a number of their Protestant Brethren destitute of a pastor: conceiving it to be their duty to visit them, in order to rouse and animate them, they staid for one day in that district. The useful friend who accompanied them, being acquainted with the prefect, called on him, and informed him of their design in coming to France: this great officer entered with much zeal into the subject, highly approved of the measure, strongly recommended the Protestants to exert themselves, and promised them a church and a house, both well repaired, for the use of the minister whom they might get appointed. This circum. stance being made known to two of the Protestants residing there, whose minds had previously been filled with gloomy apprehensions as to the state of religion, it had such an enlivening influence upon them, as to induce them to pledge themselves to furnish a very li beral support to any Protestant minister who would settle among