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found among the converts, whose exemplary walk and good understanding have made them respected by the whole congregation. These are chosen from among both sexes, and have particular districts assigned them, in which they visit the people from -house to house, attend to the sick and infirm, &c. watch over order, endeavour to remove dissensions, and promote harmony among the flock. These Assistants meet the Missionaries in conference at stated times, at least once a month, and make reports concerning the state of the congregation. The Missionaries are thereby enabled to know, whether their - people walk in conformity to the rules of the Gospel, and where their help may be most essentially useful. In some Missions the Assistants are also employed occasionally to address the congregation at their meetings on a week-day, and God has laid a special blessing upon their simple testimony. Other persons of good character and exemplary conversation are used as Servants in the chapel, and meet also in conference, to consult on subjects, belonging to outward order in the congregation. At stated times a Council is held with a number of the most respectable inhabitants, chosen by the congregation, in which all things relating to the welfare of the settlement come under consideration.

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As to External Regulations, they cannot in all places be exactly uniform. Among free heathen, settlements, like those of the Brethren in Europe, are more easily made; but among slaves, this is not practicable. Yet every thing that tends to promote good order, and prevent harm, is every where inculcated, and the discipline of the Church uniformly administered. A free man or a slave who acts contrary to the moral precepts contained in the Bible, is excluded either from the Lord's Supper or the meetings of the baptized, or even in certain cases, from all fellowship with the congregation; for no situation or prevalency of customs can sanction a pretext

for any kind of disobedience to the rule of Christ. Such are not re-admitted, until they have given satisfactory proofs of true repentance.

Schools are established in all the Brethren's Settlements among free heathen; as in Greenland, Labrador, among the Indians in North and South America, and among the Hottentots. Though in the West India Islands this is not generally practicable, the children being not under the immediate controul of the parents; yet, by permission of some planters, a Sunday School has been begun with negro children in Antigua. For the use of the schools, spelling-books and a catechism, or summary of Christian Doctrine, are printed in the Greenland, Esquimaux, Delaware, Arawack, and Creol; hymn books in the Creol, Greenland, and Esquimaux Languages; and by the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Gospel according to St. John was, in 1810, printed for the use of the Brethren's Missions in Labrador; and other integral parts of the Scripture will be added. A Harmony of the Four Evangelists, in use in the Brethren's Church, is also printed in the Greenland and Esquimaux Languages; and other parts of the Scriptures, translated into different heathen tongues, but yet only in MS., are in constant use.

In all the Brethren's Settlements the congregations meet daily, either in the morning or evening, for social worship; and on Sundays the Missionaries are employed from break of day till dark, in preaching, meeting the different divisions of the congregations, and attending to their own people, or to hea then visitors under concern for their salvation. Nor can they be said to be less engaged in spiritual duties on the week-days: visiting the sick, or such who cannot attend them on Sundays, employing a great part of their time.

ACCOUNT OF THE SIKHS.

To the Editor of the Missionary Register. Mr. Editor

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It occurred to me, when reading an account of the Sikhs, published in London by Colonel Malcolm, that a part of the information which his work conveys might be adapted to your Register. I have, accordingly, made a short sketch of it, and selected some extracts, which may together be sufficient for an outline of the history and character of this singular people. The work of Colonel Malcolm, however, contains much beside that is curious and valuable. The existing state of the Sikhs, their original separation from the Hindoos, andthe success of their leaders in abolishing the caste, are worthy our notice: be cause from these circumstances we shall learn, that Hindoo Prejudices and Institutions MAY be overcome, that a large sect of converts from the doctrines of Brama, and who are even opposers of those doctrines, severed from India itself, does not excite any ferment amongst their neighbours; and that there is on that continent a power, which, although now weighed down by idolatry, may yet, when it is excited, raise the people of India into a wise, and free, and happy nation. It is the policy of Britain, as it is also her duty, to provide, in case any political revolution, like that of the Sikhs, should take place, that if a Christian Spirit cannot prevent the Hindoos from asserting what they may consider their natural rights, they may at least afterward feel, that they have owed to England the greatest of all debts, the introduction and diffusion of the Christian Religion. Your obedient Servant,

H. H. L.

The Sikhs inhabit that part of India which borders on Persia. They occupy the Penjab, or country of the five branches of the Indus, the scene of the last campaign of Alexander the Great, and where the Mogul Emperors

fixed the capital of their government. Their dominion extends from latitude 28 40, to beyond 32 N. Their population it is not possible to ascertain; but they hold themselves able to send 100,000 horse soldiers into the field. Colonel Malcolm has given a Sketch of their history, their customs, and their religion. I will follow him briefly through these divisions.

1. THEIR HISTORY.

In 1469 was born Nahac Shah, a Hindoo, but made conspicuous neither by the power of his tribe nor the rank of his parents. His mind was rather enthusiastic than ambitious. He formed the design of bringing his countrymen from the idolatrous worship in which they were engaged, to a pure and reasonable religion. He did not introduce force as an instrument of conversion; but rather chose out the parts of the native worship which were the most pure, and grafted them into his own stock, His life was spent in missionary labours, in retirement, and in acts of beneficence. He did not pretend to work miracles; and he derided those who did, as deriving power from evil spirits. It was said by him, that a holy teacher needed no other defence than the purity of his doctrines. He did not establish his family in the power to which he attained, nor did he himself aim at more than a spiritual authority; and died in obscurity, leaving many disciples. During five successive reigns, or rather priesthoods, which followed that of Nahac, the converts to his doctrines gradually increased. They excited, however, no jealousy in the Mahometan Government.

About the year 1606, Argunmal, who was priest of the Sikhs, improved their Sacred Books, and first gave a form and union to the sect. He fell a victim to the revenge of the government. Under his son Har Govind, the Sikhs took up arms to revenge the death of their revered ruler, and, from that tiine, an irreconcileable hatred sprung up between the followers of Nahac and Mahomet."

In the government of Guru Govind, the grandson of Har Govind, the Sikhs took the form of a nation, and materially altered the fundamental doctrines of their religion. The object of Nahac had been to purify the religion of Brama, which he united with his own, and treated with the greatest respect. But Guru Govind broke all terms with the Hindoos. He abolished the caste, and made the equality of all men the basis of his doctrine. He required every individual to devote himself to arms; and always

to have about him steel in one shape or other. He gave the nation the name of Sing or Lion, a name of distinc tion assumed by the first military class of Hindoos a word, he changed the whole nation from a quiet inoffensive sect, into a daring and inbitious and formidable 'power.

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Guru Govind was, after a long contest, overwhelmed by the arms of Aurungzeb, and the Sikhs obliged to fly to the mountains for safety. From this time an unceasing war was declared between the two people. The Mahometans offered a reward for the head of every Sikh'; -and, on the other hand, when a favourable opportunity -offered, the Sikhs rushed from their retreats, and laid waste the finest provinces of the Mahometans.

The weak state to which the Empire of Hindostan was reduced after the death of Nadir Shah, which happened in the year 1747, afforded an advantageous occasion to the Sikhs to return to their former possessions, and to add new provinces to their government; and this they did, notwithstanding the united power of the Affghans and Mahrattas was opposed to them. Their governors were -limited by a prophecy of Nahac to ten, of whom Guru Govind was the last.

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Of late the nation has been at peace; and, being governed by a number of petty princes, it is now reduced to great political weakness. If, however, at any future time their old principles of action, ambition and religious zeal, should resume their power, or a new principle of Christianity and a love of social order, be introduced among them, they have, especially from their local situation, the power of becoming most useful friends or most formidable enemies to the English Government of Hindostan.

2. THEIR CUSTOMS.

Their government is, in theory, a Theocracy. The General Council, which meets on public emergencies, is thought to be actuated by the immediate inspiration of the Deity. A class of devotees, called Acáli, who are the priests of the nation, have, by their boldness and union, aided by the superstition of the people, acquired a great ascendancy in the government. These men summon the General Council.

The ceremony of meeting, on these occasions, is worthy of notice. When the chiefs are collected, they first bow down their heads to the Sacred Books which are placed

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