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The Emperor Alexander encouraged the suffered much at first, but his end was working of evangelical missions. When joy and peace in Jesus.

this work was prohibited, or, at least, exceedingly limited by his successor, Kylius became the pastor of the Protestant colonies, principally German, which are now established in the localities where St. Chrysostome, John Howard, and Julie de Krudener died.

Neusatz and Friederthal, Kronthal and Simpheropol, were the fields of evangelization assigned to Kylius; and this field, unknown to the world, prospered till the time when the war came to cast around it sorrow and disaster; but in God's council, it was for these days that the young man of Baden had been called for thirty years to be a missionary. The following letter shews us what he did during this time of fear and desolation, in the name of, and from love to, his Saviour and Comforter: "The mis

fortunes which have fallen on the Crimea, hitherto so peaceful, weigh heavily upon our German colonies. All work has ceased; the inhabitants have nothing now to do, but to make baskets for the transport of the stores, for the amuni

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such fame as angels would rejoice to possess, whose name is remembered by heathen as his who first brought them to

Jesus!

The excellent William Burns, well known and much respected in Scotland, visited a town near Amoy in January 1854. For many years, Mr. Burns had laboured in China with unwearied zeal and singular self-denial, but no visible success had attended his mission. But God's time at last came, and, most unexpectedly, the Gospel was believed by a few in a town called Pehchuia. Mr. Burns was obliged to leave, and American missionaries were requested to carry on the work. We extract the following from the report of one of them in the Mission Board, which is given in full in tion, and, above all, for the innumerable the May number of The News of the sick and wounded. These are carried Churches. That man has indeed acquired far away, the nearest towns to the seat of war being long since overcharged. For example, Simpheropol, with its 25,000 inhabitants, is now one large hospital. Here our dear Kylius has sealed his faithfulness to the service of his Master with his life. Fearing no fatigue, no privation, no scene of suffering, however heart-rending it might be, he went from one hospital to another, animated by a deep Christian sympathy, seeking his brothers in the faith ;-on one hand offering them lovingly the spiritual consolations, which, by the grace of God, are found in the Word, prayer, and the sacraments; on the other hand, all the temporal relief which his judicious love knew how to bestow for their comfort. He loved them all; and his presence at the bed of suffering shed joy and comfort on all, to whatever nation they might belong. His own particular friends earnestly besought him to be careful, if not for his own sake, for theirs; but nothing could prevail upon him to be less assiduous in his attendance on those who were threatened and carried away by virulent typhus fever. At last, he himself became a victim. On leaving one of our hospitals, on one of the last days of the year, at a late hour, and when the cold was intense, he sickened, and he immediately felt that his illness would be fatal. He was not mistaken; his sickness was unto death, but it was for the glory of God. He

"Pehchuia contains, probably, some five or six thousand inhabitants. It is situated in the midst of a very lovely and fertile valley, on the south branch of the Chiang-chiu river, about twenty miles south-west of Amoy. It is about halfway from Amoy to Chiang-chiu, a few miles off from the direct route. It is a market-town, at which, on twelve days of every month, there is a large concourse of people from the surrounding region. There is a water communication to the city of Chiang-chiu, and to the large town of Hai-teng, some seven or eight miles distant, and Chioh-bey, some ten or twelve miles distant; also to many populous towns and villages still nearer. The place was not selected by ourselves, but by our Master, who has thrust us into it. Yet, if we had desired a central position, where we could operate to the best advantage in the country between this and Chiang-chiu, perhaps no better one could have been selected.'

"On the 30th of August, Mr. Talmage wrote again, inclosing the subjoined affecting appeal of this infant church for a missionary. It is addressed to the American Board, which these brethren call the 'Public Society.' 'They tell us,'

"It is to be deplored,-the brethren having heard the teacher William Burns preach the Word a few months, their spiritual nature only just born again, not yet having obtained firmness in the faith,

says Mr. Talmage, that every sentence | a pastor from the Public Society of your has been prayed over. According to nation, that he may quickly come, and their own statement, they would write a instruct as plainly in the Gospel. sentence, and then pray, and then write another sentence, and then pray again.' "By the mercy and grace of God, called to be little children of the Saviour Jesus, we send this letter to the Public Society, desiring that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, may bestow grace on all the saints connected with the Public Society.

"We desire you to know the boundless grace and favour of God towards us, and in behalf of us, little children, heartily to thank God because that the announcement of God's grace has been conveyed by your nation to our nation, and to our province, even to Amoy, and to our market-town, Pehchuia. We desire the Public Society to be thoroughly informed, so that they may very heartily thank God and the Lord Jesus Christ; for we at Pehchuia originally dwelt in the region of death and gloomy darkness, a place under the curse of God, and were exposed to God's righteous punishment. But, many thanks to God's compassion and mercy! the Holy Spirit influenced the pastors of your nation to send holy brethren [Amoy native Christians], in company with the English pastor, the teacher, William Burns, unto our markettown, to unfold the holy announcement of grace, and preach the gospel. Many thanks to God, whose grace called several brethren, by day and by night, to listen to the preaching of the gospel for the space of four months. Many thanks to the Holy Spirit, who opened our darkened hearts, and led us unto the Saviour Jesus, whose precious blood delivers from sin. By the grace of God, five persons were received into the church and baptized. Again, two months afterwards, four persons were received into the church and baptized. There are still some ten persons and more, from different quarters, not yet baptized, who have been operated on, so that they listen to the preaching with gladness of heart. "By the will of God, the English pastor has been called to return to his own nation. Our place is distant from Amoy by water several tens of lis, so that it is difficult to come and go. The two pastors of your nation at Amoy have not a moment to spare from labour; for the holy brethren (native converts) there are many, and it is difficult for them to leave home.

that just at this time, in the seventh month, the pastor should be separated from us. It is like the mother's milk failing her child. The Word to us, who are little children, is like milk. Day and night our tears flow; and with united heart we pray, earnestly beseeching God graciously to grant that of the disciples of the Lord Jesus a pastor may hastily come, and preach to us the gospel, this food of grace, with its savouriness of grace, in order to nourish and strengthen the faith of us, little children.

"We, the brethren of the church at our market-town, with united heart, pray, earnestly beseeching God again graciously to compassionate us, and send

"Moreover, we pray God to influence the saints of your nation that they may always keep us, little children, in remembrance. Therefore, on the twentyeighth day of the seventh month (August 21, 1854,) the brethren with united heart have prayed, earnestly beseeching God that this our general letter may be conveyed to the great Public Society, that you may certainly know these our affairs, and pray God in behalf of us, that this our request may be granted. Please give our salutation to the brethren. "KONG-BIAU, 66. U.JU,

KI-AN,
""TEK-IAM,

666

SI-BU,

"LIM-SAN, "TEK-LIAN, "JIT-SOM,

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KIM-KOA,

"The Disciples of Jesus at Pehchuia. "Presented to the Public Society, that all the disciples may read it.'"

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The fifty-sixth anniversary meeting of this society was held on Tuesday morning, May 8th, in the Large Room, Exeter Hall, London.

The Rev. John Venn read the Report, of which the following is an abstract :-The committee present their annual report on this occasion under very different circumstances from those which have characterized the anniversaries of this society since the year of its jubilee Hitherto they have had to report an advancing and a surplus income, and have made their appeal for men. Now they have to report a large increase a balance in hand, and an apprehension of conof men, but a deficient income-a debt, instead of siderable difficulty in meeting the demands of the ensuing year. The total income received in the United Kingdom is L.107,343, whereas the expenditure has been L.116,256, being an increase of expenditure over income of L.8,913; and deducting a balance in hand at the beginning of last year this year commences with a debt of

L.5,621. The exertions of the friends abroad, especially in North India, have been most noble, and have raised no less than L16,917, which, added to the amount collected in Great Britain, makes a grand total of L 124,260, being the largest amount ever received. But as the sums raised abroad are all expended in the Missions, the debt upon the society remains the same. Referring to the various Mission Stations, the committee commence with Western Africa. The statistical returns of Sierra Leone show a considerable increase in the number of communicants, who now amount to 3,354 The committee are thankful to say, that they have been able to strengthen their mission by several new agents; one of them a man of extraordinary powers in the acquisition of languages, who will devote his whole labour to the preparation of translations into the various and obscure languages which are spoken in different parts of Scinde, and in the countries adjoining. The statistical returns from all the stations in North India show that there are now more than 7,500 native Christians, being an increase of more than 400 in the year. At Bhagulpore, the work of the mission, especially among the hill tribes, has continued to prosper. At Benares, the various departments of labour have been carried on in the same spirit of perseverance, of holy decision, and of the love that is in Jesus Christ, which has characterized this mission in former years At the new station of Jubbelpore, in Central India, where an experienced European catechist has been placed, he writes, that a Pundit and several men in the village have embraced Christianity. The last statistical returns of South India show that there are now more than 22,000 baptized and registered native Christians in connexion with this society, besides 11,500 under instruction, with a view to baptism, making a total of 33,500; that these are distributed in 59 villages, possessing 384 places of public worship, and that the communicants exceed 5,000, A new feature in this district is an itinerat. ing mission amongst the unevangelized portions of North Tinnevelly, which has been continued throughout the year. The area over which they have been itinerating is about 300 square miles, containing about 300 villages, most of which have been visited two or three times, and some as frequently as five or six times The information received sufficiently proves that the time is come when the native church in New Zealand may be gradually transferred to selfsupport, and the funds of the society withdrawn from that island, to be expended upon the unevangelized portions of the world. The number of missionaries at Rupert's Land has been much increased, four European labourers having received ordination in the country. A new sta. tion of York Fort has been occupied during the last year. This will communicate with the Esquimaux from the far-north, and will be the limit of missionary operations in that direction, Connected with the Moose Factory station, there are 1,000 baptized Indians.

The following, it was stated, were the statisties of the Missions:-European Laymen, Schoolmasters, Secretaries, Printers, &c, 39;

European Female Teachers (exclusive of Missionaries' wives), 11; Native and Country-born Catechists and Teachers of all classes, 1,697; number of Communicants, 17,899.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society was held on Monday, May 7th, in Exeter llall, London.

The payments of the year have equalled the receipts, viz, L.111,048, 14s. 4d; and the debt of the society has been reduced from L.19,561, lls 1 d. to L.15,723, 19s. 7d.

The General Summary of all the missions under the direction of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee and British Conference, in Europe, India, China, Australasia, and Polynesia, South and West Africa, British America, and the West Indies, was as follows:-Central or Principal Stations called Circuits, 377; Chapels and other preaching places, 3177; Ministers and assistant missionaries, including twenty nine supernumeraries, 538; other paid agents, as catechists, interpreters, day-school teachers, &c., 798; unpaid agents, as Sabbath school teachers, &c., 8913; full and accredited Church members, 111,557; on trial for Church membership, 6478; scholars, deducting for those who attend both the day and Sabbath schools, 84,076; printing establishments, 8.

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Mr. W. H. Watson read the report. The ex. tent of the reference to home operations compelled the committee to omit any lengthened reference to the foreign field. They recorded, however, with satisfaction the progress of the Sunday school cause in France, where it had recently been ascertained that no less than 300 Evangelical Sunday schools already existed. In New South Wales a union had been formed at Sydney, and the committee of the parent society had just received an order from Melbourne for L.300 worth of their publications.

IRISH CHURCH MISSIONS.

The Rev. Mr. Welch read the report, which stated that the committee felt bound to acknow. ledge the encouragement which the society had received during the past year, under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty. The amount received from all sources was L.39,489, 2s, which was an increase over the receipts of the preceding year of L.2306, 8s 4d The number of lay agents and Scripture readers was 271, and of schoolmasters and schoolmistresses 144. The number of persons paid by the society as Irish and English teachers, and who were employed upon the plan originally pursued by the Irish society, was 399. The report then proceeded to state at length the success that had attended the society's operations, which was of an encouraging character.

Sermon.

By the REV. Walter Weir, one of the Ministers of Campbelton.

"O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, through our

Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Cor. xv. 55-57.

This chapter is one of great sublimity and absorbing interest. No page written by the pen of man ever discussed a subject of more momentous concern. How fares it with us when we die? What fate overtakes this wonderful frame? Whither does the disembodied soul resort? These have ever been anxious questions with frail and dying man. Here they are answered. This chapter reveals to us a resurrection of the body, and an eternal life beyond the grave. It speaks of another world than this; a state of incorruptible blessedness, of imperishable joys, of enduring glory.

What subject can be compared with this? What subject at any time more interesting? At present, at this very moment, it is engaging the anxious at tention of tens of thousands upon dying beds, for there are always tens of thousands dying. Consider; there are one thousand millions of our race upon the face of the globe; it is computed that thirty millions die annually, more than eighty-two thousand die daily, three thousand four hundred and twenty die every hour, nearly sixty die every minute, one dies every moment; another and another and another has sunk into the dread ocean of death, and still its dark waves seek and get another and another and another!

Oh! if we could see ourselves as God sees us! If we could look for one short hour upon all the families of men, how would the vast vision of death subdue our Souls! What an affecting scene! Consorts, parents, children, brothers and sisters are continually being parted. In the crowded city, in the quiet hamlet, in the rural home, the angel of death tears its victims from the doting heart.

In one quarter all is quiet, and life not death seems to be the law. But let every door open, and groups of weeping friends are here and there watching the dying bed. With bursting hearts they behold the sinking eye, the spreading paleness, and the convulsive motions that tell them a dear one soon shall be no more. In another quarter death seems to be the law, and to reign unrivalled and unchained; there are famines and pestilence, conflagrations and battles, and tens of thousands die. Crowded cities are left desolate, and scenes lately loud with life are now silent as the grave.

Oh! it is true, that a great destroyer is busy in the fair creation of God! that an enemy has entered that world which the holy and life-giving One once pronounced to be "very good."

But it is not from an outward view that we can derive just ideas of the awfulness of death. To contemplate the human race dropping off one here and one there like the withered leaves of a forest when the air is calm, and then again falling in thousands when a tempest comes, is melancholy enough, but it is not all. Death does more than sever us from friends, and lay our bodies in the chilly tomb. Fearful as may be the apprehension of parting with life, and closing the eye on all we hold dear, it is nothing compared with other terrors that death brings. "The sting of death is sin." All the pains and struggles incident to the separation of soul and body might well be endured, the sinner thinks, if that were all that death brings. But is it not a punishment for sin? Is it not a messenger from angry Heaven to take our guilty spirits to their doom? Ah! it is the feeling that death comes from an

offended Judge that makes him so fearful succeeds winter, so surely will life sucto contemplate. Oh! if we could assem- ceed death. Think of the beauteous ble in one view, the eighty thousand who butterfly, how it springs from the worm are this day to die! How many supersti- that seemed frozen and dead, or the tious alarms, cowardly imaginations, de- swelling germ rising from the rotting spairing prayers should we see! And seed, shall I seem more hopeless than what is the great agony of all? Listen they, as you lay me in the grave?" to the groan with which the sinner dies: "I am not only to be cut off from earth and earth's pleasures, but I am to be cut off from God for ever, this death is the wages of sin."

To terrors such as these our text points, and recognises them as clinging to fallen man, till once a victory over them has been given him. And, blessed be God, there are many now dying who have achieved that victory. If we could open now the apartments of the righteous, and listen to all the praises that ascend from thence to God's redeeming love, all the joyful expressions of faith in the Saviour, all the thanks for a conscience relieved from guilt, all the exhortations and blessings imparted to weeping friends, and all the adoration which the gleams from opening glory call forth, surely our souls would burn with the sentiment of the text: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We shall first examine the grounds of this sentiment in the Christian breast, and then endeavour to make it plain that none of us may be without it.

1. What are the grounds of this sentiment in the Christian? Vain are the reasonings of man on this subject. The saint that can echo on his deathbed the triumphant words of our text, has looked beyond human light. The eye of faith has pierced for him the drapery of sense, and carried him within the vail, where he gazes on a once crucified but now risen and exalted Saviour. Should the weeping friends that bend over him ask how it is that he can so confidently say, "Death is swallowed up in victory ?" his reasoning would seem weak if he could merely point to the analogies of nature, and say, "Fear not; as surely as spring

If he only spoke of these things, well might weeping friends say, ""Miserable comforters are they all," we require some other assurance that we are not to lose you for ever.'

But the departing saint speaks not of these things; they bring himself no comfort, and can impart none to others; they are not suited to the dying hour. When men are in health, and have time to examine them, they will indeed do much to strengthen our faith in the truth, that life succeeds death, but they are not the grand reason for our faith. Christ, when He was about to leave this world, spoke not in this way, neither do His followers: "Because I live, ye shall live also." In the strength of this faith, the Christian has joy in himself, and comfort for others: "Behold!" he says, "the Prince of life, in the tomb at Golgotha, how He rises from the grave, how He throws aside the garment of the tomb, and stands in quickened humanity a conqueror over death! Here is comfort, deep and lasting comfort for me and for you, my friends, in such an hour as this. The resurrection of our Lord is the pledge of ours. Because He rose, we shall rise; blessed be God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'"

If we look back on this chapter we see that the Apostle had been answering some false teachers, in the Corinthian church, who said "that the resurrection was past already." Those persons, not apprehending to its full extent the emancipation which Christ brings us, taught that a spiritual resurrection from sin was all men were to look for from their connexion with Christ. Many expressions of the apostles seemed to justify this view to them: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth." "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from

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