caused the evacuation of the water from the stomach; and thus the Lord prepared joy for him, whilst mourning. Another of these men was lately advised, as a trial, to revenge himself on certain enemies, who had made a false complaint against him and other Christians, which did not succeed. The man rejected the advice; saying, "The Lord Jesus was also reviled and beaten; but He did not beat again." When he was still urged to revenge, he said, 'If you do so, then you are no Christians." Thomas relates these things with a visible joy. Among the baptized is also a woman who has given similar proofs of true faith. It was a joyful evening. We separated at 10 o'clock. May the Lord's blessing rest further on this place!

66

March 8, 1830-Returned to Nedooviley. I had to settle some differences between the two Headmen, which now and then greatly disturb the Congregation. When I conversed with them, I found their case much beclouded by various and contradictory talk. I therefore joined a third person with them; told them to go alone under a tree, explain to each other, confess to each other, and come to a good understanding, as they themselves knew the matter best; and that until they had done so they should not stir from the place. They went, though reluctantly. In the mean time, I had the Congregation together, and examined into their progress. They were found wanting in the knowledge of the Catechism; however, I had still cause for rejoicing. We could pray heartily together, especially for the two quarrellers, and the people seemed afresh encouraged. The Meeting lasted till 2 o'clock. Shortly after, it was announced that the quarrellers had come to an agreement. I called them in; and was glad to find that one was sensible of his having acted from envy and spite, and the other of his not having done justice. They had given each other written declarations of peace. They seemed to see something more of the plague of their hearts, and the need they have of Christ the Saviour. I gave them some further admonitions, and prayed with them. Devanayagam remains here, to teach the people, for the present. I left them all in a promising state of mind. I only fear that the bad temper of one of the Headmen will soon cause him to vex himself again, and produce disturbances. May the Lord have mercy on them, and establish them! It seemed to strike them, that their Church

was so nice and fine, and their hearts so bad..

Arrived at Veeranallore. I soon found that the Devil had been actively at work, to divide the Congregation, and to destroy the seed sown here. Having taken some refreshment, I went out, and found two parties; one joining the Catechist, the other joining the Headman. The fault was evidently with the Headman's people, who were exceedingly filled with envy and spite against the Catechist's party; all, it seems, because the Catechist did not side with their endeavours to avoid paying their landlord what was due to him. Their minds were greatly out of order; and I was much grieved, so that I could not pray with them, but dismissed them with these words: He that knoweth His Master's will, and doeth it not, will suffer double stripes and, If ye neglect so great salvation, how will ye escape eternal punishment? We then went in, and prayed for them. To-morrow, therefore, I must have some further work with them; and I trust my God will enable me to do something towards driving out this Devil also. He is indeed a great troubler.

› March 9-Towards noon, the Congregation came together. I first read a part of the tenth chapter of Jeremiah, and the beginning of 1 Cor. x: and then, after an exhortation, proceeded to come to the bottom of their hearts, by sifting the causes of their evil behaviour. The Lord heard my prayer. I had not that great difficulty in the affair which last night's appearance led me to expect. The minds of the Headman and his companions were softened: they acknowledged that they had conceived ill-will against the Catechist, for insisting upon their paying what was just to the landlord: the Headman begged pardon of the Catechist, and submitted to pay a small fine to the Congregation's Charity-box. Thus, within an hour, the appearance of affairs took a most pleasing turn, and rejoiced my soul. What a powerful thing is the human mind! Upon its will, secondarily of course, depend the most tremendous convulsions and tumults of men; and upon its will they can be instantly turned into a most delightful calm. Oh, that we were more aware of the state of their mind, and watched more diligently, at its inlets, against the spark that can put the whole world of its passions into a flame ! We concluded with humbling

ourselves before God, and with prayer. There are some good people among them.

March 25, 1830-Went to Tinnevelly. Was glad to look at the bridge which our people are building over the Nella in the town, by public subscription, for the public good; and to which the Collector has also given assistance, on the part of Government. Even here envy is at work, to oppose this useful undertaking. A part of the Congregation assembled for prayer in the Church, whom I instructed in the way of applying Scriptural Promises to our hearts for comfort and encouragement. There is still much worldly-mindedness in the Congregation: but there is a seed among them. They have to combat many notions both amongst themselves and the Heathen: one is, concerning the prosperity of the wicked. Two of the baptized men have left off coming to Church, having given ear to their Heathen Relations. May the Lord rouse them!

March 31

whose faith has, I trust, been improved, has been restored to his former situation, and formally introduced into it, before the Catechists, with suitable admonitions. In conclusion, he begged to address them; which he did in a very humble manner, and at last requested their pardon for any offence he might have given them.

April 2 During the day I had much other business with some Catechists and people. To write down all the transactions of only one such day would fill not a few sheets, and be very interesting and instructive, both with regard to good and bad things. In what a wretched state is the Native Mind! What need have they of the Saviour! What pangs has the New Man, created in Christ Jesus, to pass through, in one single heart! It is most fitly called a Birth. Oh, that the Divine Spirit may still prove victorious everywhere! Sometimes it seems as if He cannot. But we must be ashamed of our unbelief.

April 24-In the evening, arrived at Raneekoodiyiruppoo. This is a place farthest off from Palamcottah, southward, excepting Karikovil, near the sea. The Congregation has not been visited by any of us for a length of time. Mr. Coombes was there a few months ago. The people here are still the same as I described them two years ago-neither cold nor hot. Eleven families are stedfast in the Congregation; but their worldly concerns and cares keep them

continually stationary in knowledge and piety. They are not poor: the country is very fertile; and they have many Palmyra trees, which, at this time, require the labour both of men and women, from morning to night. I do not wonder that the men, having climbed thirty or forty, trees a-day, and the women having stood the greatest part of the day, near the fire, boiling the juice of the tree which their husbands bring down, are quite worne out in the evening, especially when the trees are three or four miles from home. And this work must be done immediately, every day, for six months together: if not, the whole produce of every tree neglected by them is spoiled for the whole year. Late in the evening they came together; and I could not but reprove them for their neglect of their souls notwithstanding their hard toils. They took it well, as usual.

April 25: Sunday-In the evening, I went to Kistnapoorum, where Assistant Catechist Perupettan labours. Here the chief part of the Congregation are Weavers. About 9 o'clock at night they assembled, and we had an interesting meeting; but they have various bad habits still to lay aside. May the Lord grant them greater faith! A man who has been the first in venturing to embrace Christianity is in a great dilemma. He was a kind of Gooroo among the Shanars, performing certain ceremonies at their marriages, shaving their heads, &c. The Shanars dare not employ another: there are contracts between them, from father, grandfather, and great grandfather's time. Old money concerns have strengthened the connexion between them. The people have to pay him a great deal of money. Now he cannot perform these idolatrous ceremonies, having joined the Christian Church: his simply giving it up will make him a beggar: selling the contract to another will make him guilty. The question therefore is, What is he to do? I have left the discussion to the Meeting of Catechists. Some persons thought it rather difficult to leave off cheating in their bargains also: however, there is no alternative. May the Holy Spirit enlighten them on the subject!

May 6-Two Catechists have been, for the present, dismissed from their office, for unchristian behaviour. Special Prayer for the Congregations and the Catechists was offered up, against the fear and love of the world. We want a larger measure of the Spirit's graces,

among all classes: we are sick, very sick, in spirit. Yesterday we had the Lord's Supper, and then dismissed them to their Stations. [Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius. Oct. 5, 1830-During the vacations, I have sometimes made tours in the villages, to acquaint myself with the state of the Congregations, and the mode of administering to their spiritual wants. These seasons I have always found refreshing to my soul. Some of the Catechists are, I think, truly awakened and pious men, though often illiterate: their Congregations profit by them; so that not unfrequently do we meet with members of whom I would fain hope well. A few days ago, when the Catechists assembled here, as usual, for delivering their Monthly Reports, one of them, from whose conversation I always profit, came to me, and said that he wished to speak with me. I immediately consented; and after exchanging a few words on personal religion, he said, he had of late found some of his Congregation resorting to a person who used to sing the feats of some Heathen God: he remonstrated with them, but with little effect: he had therefore conceived the idea of writing a few lines on the History of Salvation, illustrative of its principal doctrines, agreeing with the metre and tune of the Heathen Song: this had not only the desired result, but animated the rest of the Congregation to such a degree, that even a woman begged him to teach her daily one stanza, and many of the men soon learned the whole poem. I was astonished at the deep and extensive knowledge he had of the Sacred Volume, and the happy illustrations and correct applications he had made of its truths. He recited to me, also, a few verses which, he said, he had composed on a rather curious occasion. It seems his wife had been once somewhat late in preparing the necessary things for his bathing, by which he was vexed, and he expressed himself rather harshly towards her: he however soon recollected that anger was one of the sins for which our ever Blessed Redeemer had died, and remembered the stripes which he endured by the malice and anger of his persecutors: he lamented that he could be so much under the influence of passion, and crucify, as it were, his Saviour afresh. He composed the verses; and resolved to call them to mind whenever he should again be angry. The lines exhibited much self-knowledge and deep

contrition, each stanza concluding with these words:

"Whene'er forbidden passions rise,

Jesu's wounds remember."

When he had finished composing them, he said, that his mind was, through Grace, pacified; and his wife ready, not only with what he required for his bathing, but with his food too. I do not hesitate to say, that this man is a true disciple of Christ: he however belongs to that class, who, as St. Paul says, speak not the wisdom of this world. [Mr. John Regel, Trials and Persecutions of the Converts.

The progress of the Gospel has here been opposed by those trials and persecutions which are the portion of all who will live godly in

Christ Jesus.

Jan. 16, 1830-The Komatikotei enemies now begin to make advances of reconciliation to our people. First, they beat them, and wounded some of them ; then, to prevent prosecution, accused them of murdering a Moorman; got Peons from the Tasildar to apprehend them, who came and caused no small distress to the whole Congregation; and now, they will make up matters clandestinely. I have earnestly advised our people not to listen to any such thing, but to allow the case to proceed regularly. The Magistrate, I doubt not, will see that justice be done. It is plain that the enemies fear that their plan will not succeed. The fact seems to be, that at the time they had maltreated the Christian, a Moorman happened to die of a sickness he had lingered under for the last five months: immediately upon his death, they made a cut in his head, and smeared some sheep's blood round it, and made other marks of violence on the body; thus reporting to the Tasildar that the Christians had killed him. The Tasildar came and inspected the body; he sees the cut, hears the testimony of various people on the spot to the contrary, reports to the Magistrate that he does not think the death to have been occasioned by the wound, also that the Public Servants of the place know nothing of the matter; and yet he aids the enemies in their design.

Jan. 22-Sixteen or seventeen Members of Tinnevelly were here, to speak about the state of the Congregation. Some of them are greatly vexed by the various acts of injustice they have to suffer; and indulge in murmuring against

me, and perhaps against the Lord. The better part of them were here, and we spoke freely together on all points. The Epistle to the Laodiceans was read, and applied. They were again encouraged to take the Cross upon them daily, and follow Christ.

Jan. 23,1830-I was happy to hear, today, that the Magistrate has acquitted our Komatikotei People from the charge of murder. And certainly it was a most vile conspiracy on the part of some Heathens and Moormen. I praise the Lord for the relief afforded to my mind. Today, Catechist Jacob came from Eilandapooram, with sadness informing me of the violent opposition the Heathen make to their building a small Place of Worship. They had hardly finished it, when the Heathen came and pulled it down.

[Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius. Jan. 25-The people of Ootjikoollam came and complained that the owners of their village, a sect of Brahmins in Tiroogoorangoody, not only denied them the cultivation of those grounds and trees which their fathers and themselves, many years since, had cultivated and improved; but that they also threatened to turn them with their families altogether out of the village, if they did not forsake Christianity, and turn again to Idolatry. They were very distressed. I pitied them greatly. Before this, I tried to strengthen them against their troubles, by words of exhortation and comfort, and by prayer with and for them. They were, however, so much overwhelmed by sorrow, that I was much perplexed: because, on the one hand, I cannot depart from my maxim of not mixing with the worldly concerns of our people on the other hand, I foresee the likelihood of their being driven from their homes and villages, and left exposed to various difficulties which might prove too powerful a temptation, and induce them to turn again to Idolatry. After considering all things well, with prayer for the Lord's guidance, I thought to steer a middle course in this case; that is, to send my Head Servant, and Daniel the Assistant Catechist, to the Brahmins of Tiroogoorangoody, merely to inquire how matters stood with the Ootjikoollam People. This seemed to have so far a good effect, that the Brahmins were induced, perhaps by shame, on account of the inquiry, to modify their undoubtedly unrighteous demands, and to declare that they had no intention to expel them from

the village, &c. But, after all, it seemed that enmity to Christianity was at the bottom. They would only permit them to have one-fourth part of the grounds, formerly cultivated by our people, to cultivate; and that under restrictions, which our people, knowing them better than I did, very much hesitated to accept. The people of Ootjikoollam are now deliberating what to do. Oh, may the Lord give power to my words of exhortation and comfort in such cases; and enable the people, which by nature they cannot possibly do, to view their vexations and sufferings in such a Scriptural light as to rejoice in the Lord, and trust fully in Him! [Rev. J. C. T. Winckler.

Jan. 26-Good Thomas, of Asirvadapooram, was dragged before the Tasildar, on a false accusation from some neighbouring Heathen. When he was going to the Talak, he prayed, Lord Jesus, I am unacquainted with Kutcherry affairs; but Thou hast promised to help us: do Thou therefore help us!"-and he was delivered. The Tasildar found out the trick, and reproved the false accusers. When returning home, Thomas asked his companions, Members of his Congregation, what they now should do to their enemies. One of them answered,

Nothing: let us leave that to the Lord." Thomas, in order to try them further, said, But have they not behaved very badly towards us? Should we not now join together, and punish them for it?" The man replied, "Not at all. The Lord Jesus, also, was falsely accused and beaten; and He did not revenge Himself upon His enemies." Thomas still making some objections, the man said, "Well, if you will do so, then you are no Christian." They then rejoiced together in forgiving their enemies.

[Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius.

Administration of Baptism.

Dec. 26,1829-To-day I preached a Sermon on Baptism, according to Acts ii. 37, 38. Respecting Baptism, as well as the Lord's Supper,our people are, I perceive, apt to fall into one or the other extreme; either to take up these Holy Ordinances too lightly and inconsiderately, or, as it respects the better part of them, to think that they are not fit to receive either, so long as they perceive in themselves remaining corruptions. I endeavoured to lay the middle path open to them; warning unrepenting sinners, but encouraging repenting though weak and feeble Believers. (Rev. J. C. T. Winckler.

June 6, 1830: Sunday-This forenoon I had the happiness of baptizing eight grown persons and one child. The Adults are from different villages. One of them is old Saviseskamuttoo of Kadatchapooram, the Headman of the Maravers thereabout, the same who some time ago embraced Christianity because of the healing of his leg. He gave a particular account, this morning, of the affairs of his mind; commencing with the history of his leg, which none of his Idols could heal: which circumstance was the means of opening his eyes respecting their uselessness. I was particularly pleased with his remembering passages of Scripture on which he had heard Discourses long ago. "I heard then," said he, "your Sermon on The Lord hears the prayer of the humble; He will not despise the prayer of the destitute and this gave me great encouragement. After that, I once heard Mr. Schmid preach, in Satangkoollam, on Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. I then thought, that is for me, and gave myself up to Christ."

Another person was baptized Joel. He was a kind of Gooroo among the people at Tattanmadam, and, till last year, a strenuous opposer of Christianity. When the Church was built there, he positively predicted that on the 15th their Swamy would destroy it; but no such thing happened: he became greatly ashamed, and since then has begun to study our Christian Books.

A third person baptized was Abraham. He was a Sanniyasi, roving about, and visiting the most famous Temples, but did not find any thing satisfactory to his mind. The Catechist of Taleivenkotei often spoke with him: his mind was already shaken a little, when Mr.Winckler, last year, visited the place, and exhorted him to turn to God in Christ Jesus; which, shortly after, he did. He is an able man, and now sings verses in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel. [Rev. C. T. E. Rhenius. State of Native Females. Oct. 24, 1829-My Wife is desirous to establish a Girls' School in Dohnavore; but not having a sufficient number of Girls, she assists me in visiting the families of the Congregation, either by going with me, or alone.

As I am speaking of the visits of my Wife to the people, I may be permitted

to add some remarks as to the result.

1. Through my Wife I have obtained more acquaintance with the external and

daily concerns and habits of our people than it was possible for me to obtain either by my own visits or by the Catechists' reports.

2. There are still many superstitions and prejudices among them, especially among the women. A few instances will suffice. In one of the houses there was a new-born babe, of about a month old, very poorly, on account of the mother being too unwell to feed it with her milk, it being fed only with brown Palmyra-sugar water. The mother, who had lost her first child from the same cause, and also the grandmother, regarded it as a very good sign that Mrs. Winckler took the child in her arms and caressed it. They said, "Now it will thrive." Mrs. Winckler, however, said, that, besides praying for the Lord's blessing, they must use proper means for the preservation of the child; and gave them some directions; among which was, that another mother in the Congregation should, out of mercy, feed the child, at least occasionally. The mother laughed, and said, "Who will do this? This is no custom among us." Mrs. Winckler, however, by persuasions, brought it so far, that some women volunteered their assistance; and, through God's blessing, the child begins to thrive.

Respecting sick children, the women of the Congregation would not at first receive Mrs. Winckler's assistance and occasional medicines: they tried every other means, until, in some cases, all failed; and they were brought to the extremity, either to lose their children, or to accept what they would not at first. Some accepted the proffered means. The Lord has hitherto blessed our means in all cases, though they were very simpleeither a purgative, or an absorbent medicine.

This the people look upon as nearly miraculous.

Thus the visits of my Wife, who likewise exhorts the slothful to come more diligently to the Evening Prayer and Sunday Service, are in various ways useful, by God's grace; and an effectual assistance to me, especially with regard to the female part of the Congregation.

[Rev. J. C. T. Winckler.

Deaths of Native Converts. Nov. 30-I was informed that the Wife of one of our Headmen in Aneykoollam had suddenly been taken ill and died. As there was no Catechist in the place, and her Husband was absent, I learnt, only from the Schoolmaster