Page images
PDF
EPUB

I asked him, Do you wish to be saved by Christ alone? "Yes," said he, " I often retire in secret, kneel down before him, and implore his aid, that he might take away those wicked thoughts from me." "Be of good cheer," I replied, "he is both able and willing to help you, his word is perfect truth, he cannot lie;" he has also declared, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven ;" and he has invited the " weary and heavy laden to come to him." Soon afterward he found rest for his soul, and is going on in a steady cheerful course. He will soon be baptized. Thus you see, that among our heathen also the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. I thank you a thousand times for the printed accounts of the Bible Society, which afford us a most delightful entertainment in our long winter evenings. I hope that our fellow-Missionary, Mr. Schreiber of Nain, will send you at this time the translation of the Acts of the Apostles into the Esquimaux language. At least, he promised this, last spring, when I was at Nain on a visit, provided the revision of the same should be completed. The Epistle to the Romans, and the first of Corinthians, have likewise been translated by our brother Schmidtman, but we have determined to use the manuscript before we get it printed, as by this means we can the more easily discover and correct any faults which may have crept in.

1040

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

OBITUARY.

Henry Y. Bishop, (of New-York,) departed this life on Tuesday, 21st of January, 1817, aged eleven years.

In early infancy his friends discovered the dawnings of a bright genius, and as he advanced in life he evinced strength and firmness of mind far above his years. His manners were distinguished for sweetness and affability, which gained the affections of all who knew him. To his parents he ever yielded the most implicit obedience. To his brother and sisters, amiable and condescending in his deportment. He was an early sufferer; but under his greatest suffering, he could sweetly submit to the will of God, without murmuring or impatience. Early instructed in the first principles of religion, he realized, in a degree, the importance of regulating his conduct by those principles.

At three years of age he was put to school.-The Bible first eugaged his attention; he was soon able to read it correctly. The questions he frequently asked proved that he comprehended, with surprising clearness, the plan of salvation. At the age of six, he commenced the study of Latin, Arithmetic, and Geography: when entered upon his year, he could read correctly the whole volume of Virgil, was perfect in the common rules of Arithmetic, and had a thorough knowledge of Geography.

When his illness increased, he became more than usually thoughtful. He was strictly conscientious in the performance of every thing which he conceived to be his duty; but never at any time did he advert to his attention to duty as the ground of his hope in God; but acknowledged that he was a sinner, and could not be saved but through the merits of the Redeemer. He said that the subject of his prayers was, that God would pardon his sins, and prepare him for heaven. When told that he must endeavour to keep his mind stayed upon God, and dwell much upon the goodness of God in giving his Son to die for sinners, he replied, "I do, and I think I love the Saviour; I know he is willing to receive all who come to him." He was reminded, that the Saviour loves little children; he said, with much feeling, “ I know it, and t think if he takes me away, I shall be happy." He expressed no anxiety to recover, but said, “If it is the will of God to afflict me, I am willing, for he knows what is best for me.”

A few days after this, his teacher called to see him. He said, “Henry, you have been sick for a long time—we feel very anxious about you-we fear you cannot recover, and are desirous to know if you have a well-grounded hope of acceptance with God, through the merits of a Saviour? You know if you love God, all things shall work together for your good." He said, "I believe God will do with me as he sees best for me.” "Do you feel willing to give yourself up to His disposal, and can you recognize a Saviour who is infinitely dear to you, and altogether lovely?" "O yes, I can." "Do you love to pray to him, and to make him the subject of your meditations?" With a placid countenance, as if looking into the eternal world, he exclaimed, though with a feeble voice, “O yes! I love to pray-I love Christ, and 1 love to think of him."

Two days before his death he said, that company disturbed him, and wished to be denied to all that might call, that he might enjoy his own reflections. He lay great part of the time with bis eyes closed-being asked if he was asleep, he replied, "I cannot sleep, but I keep my eyes closed that I may contemplate the glories of that world to which I shall go if I die." He was asked, if he had any views of things beyond this world? "When my eyes are shut, I see angels hovering around me, and can see them smile upon me.'

Recollecting, that on that day, the Lord's Supper was to be celebrated in the Church to which his parents are attached, he expressed a wish to commune with them, and desired the prayers of the Church. From that time he spoke very little, but lay patiently waiting for all the will of God to be accomplished in him-until he closed his eyes upon this, to open them on a world of spirits.

[ocr errors]

A Juvenile Bible Society was instituted at Salem, Washington County, (N. Y.) on the 5th instant. It has about one hundred annual subscribers of one dollar each.

FIDELITY; OR, SCIPIO THE NEGRO BOY.

THERE are few traits in the human character which are more deserving our regard than fidelity, or a faithful, honest, and conscientious discharge of the duties of social life. I know of no subject in which the universal suffrages of men are so closely united as that of awarding praise to those who act with integrity and probity. The Patriot who faithfully serves his country, the Commander who fights her battles, and the domestic whose hairs are grown grey in the service of his master, afford us so many illustrations of this truth. Indeed the approbation of men is in perfect unison with the mind of God himself, as the scriptures abundantly testify.

The following anecdote of a Negro Boy furnishes a striking proof that, notwithstanding the difference in complexion between us and our African brethren, they are both naturally and generally possessed of as much genuine feeling as ourselves, and are equally capable of exemplifying all the virtues which adorn our nature. The truth of the account may be relied on, as it was related to me by the master of the boy himself, a man of undoubted veracity.

On

A gentleman in the province of Virginia had in his service a Negro youth, about fourteen years of age, who was named Scipio. The gentleman had a son about the same age, to whom Scipio was greatly attached. This youth was taken ill, and was constantly attended by his anxious parents, who relieved each other at proper intervals. One evening, however, being greatly exhausted, they both retired to rest, leaving the patient to the care of a friend who had volunteered her services on the occasion. About 2 o'clock in the morning he became very restless, and called for something to drink. The nurse fell asleep, but Scipio had calculated upon such an event, and had therefore concealed himself under the bed. hearing his young master's voice, he put out his head, saying, "Massa George, wat you want, me come arectly." He arose immediately, but not knowing the contents of three or four bottles which were on the table, he went and called his mistress, to whom he related his adventure. After supplying the wants of her son, she commended the prudence of Scipio, and desired him to go to bed. But the faithful and affectionate youth could not be prevailed on to leave the room, but said, "Poor Massa very tired, poor Missey very tired, Missey go bed, Scipio no tired, Scipio no sit up last night, Scipio no go bed now." Soon afterwards the youth recovered, and his father, in reward of Scipio's fidelity, offered him his freedom; but such was his regard for his young master, that he declined the favour, and still remains in the family, beloved and respected by all who know him.

I doubt not but many of my juvenile readers will both admire and imitate the conduct of this poor Negro on all suitable occasions. But should any of them betray a contrary disposition, I hope some of their friends will recall to their remembrance the fidelity of Scipio; and I trust it will produce a due effect on their future conduct Youth's Mag.

On Anger.

ANGER, if it be soon kindled, is a sign that secret pride lies lurking in the heart, which, like gunpowder, takes fire at every spark of provocation that lights upon it. For whatever may be owing to a natural temper, it is certain that pride is the chief cause of frequent and wrathful resentments. Pride and anger are as nearly allied as humility and meekness. "Only by pride cometh contention." Prov. xiii. 10. And a man would not know what mud lay at the bottom of his heart, if provocation did not stir

it up.

66

Áthenodorus the philosopher, by reason of his old age, begged to retire from the court of Augustus, which the emperor granted him; and as Athenodorus was taking his leave of him, " Remember," said he, Cæsar, whenever you are angry, you say or do nothing till you have repeated the four and twenty letters of the alphabet to yourself." Whereupon Cæsar, seizing (or taking) him by the hand, said, "I have need of your presence still," and kept him a year longer. This is celebrated by the ancients as a rule of excellent wisdom; but a Christian may prescribe to himself a much wiser, viz. "When you are angry, answer not till you have repeated the fifth petition of the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us, " and our Saviour's comment upon it, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive, your trespasses.”

ib.

Mr. C. of Manchester, having distributed some Religious Tracts in that town and its vicinity, soon afterwards received a letter from a woman, thanking God in the most affecting manner, and Mr. C. as an instrument in his hand, for being useful to her soul by means of a Tract he had given to her; by the reading of which, through the blessing of God, her mind had been enlightened to see her miserable state as a guilty sinner, and the way of salvation by Jesus Christ. Having found so much benefit to her own soul, she lent the Tract to one of her neighbours, which, by the goodness of God, was the means of opening his blind eyes. She concluded the letter by praying that the Lord would long spare Mr. C.'s valuable life, to do more good to precious souls.

New Auxiliaries to the American Bible Society.

The Oneida B. S.; The Essex B. S.; The Montgomery B. S.; and the B. S. of the county of Steuben;-all in the State of New-York: The Roxborough B. S. in Pennsylvania; The Scioto B. S. in Ohio; and the Merrimac B. S. in Massachusetts ;—have recently become auxiliary to the National Institution.

These make the number of Auxiliaries to be Eighty.

[blocks in formation]

WE have the pleasure to present our readers with the Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Trustrees of the Society for the support of the Gospel among the poor in the city of New-York.

None, we presume, will dispute the claims which this interesting charity has on the sympathy and beneficence of those who value the blessings of the Gospel of the grace of God. The liberal contributions by which this Institution has been supported, furnishes an evidence of the public sense of its utility, and is a creditable testimonial of the Christian character of the inhabitants of this city. We trust that the fruits of the ministrations which the Society has been instrumental in affording, as detailed in the several cases stated in the Appendix, will add fresh encouragement to a continuance of that support which is necessary to the prosecution of this good work, which by the Divine blessing has been crowned with such happy results.

After some preliminary remarks, the Report thus proceeds :

We have attended the steps of the stated preacher to this abode of the poor; we have seen collected a numerous, solemn, attentive assembly, catching the words of peace and comfort which fell from his lips, and many a streaming eye testifying that their hearts, as well as their ears, welcomed the joyful sound of the Gospel.

Here aged believers have had their faith strengthened and confirmed, their hopes of glory enlivened, and their love of a once crucified, but now gloriously exalted Redeemer, enkindled into an ardent flame. We have heard the sighs of those who were led to sorrow for sin, we have seen the tear of contrition trembling in their eyes, and often has the cry arisen, "What must I do to be saved?" Souls, immortal souls have been won for Christ's kingdom. The poor. have had the gospel preached unto them, and it has not been preached in vain. God has prompted and enabled you to sow the seed, and He has given the increase.

There is another class of men to whom the benefits of this institution are regularly and constantly extended. Separated from the rest of society by the sentence of the law, and confined to a PRISON, where shall the poor criminal look for aid and comfort, but to God, who forgiveth iniquity for his dear Son's sake? But how shall they hear without a preacher? Into this abode of miserable men your VOL. II.-No. 23.

Z

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »