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the mission. We shall receive him on trial, and after a reasonable time, write to our brethren in England to appoint him a missionary. I look upon this as a remarkable appearance of divine Providence for this mission.

The walls of our new chapel are raised up, and most of the timbers are placed on it. May it be a house where God will dwell.

We have had some additions from among the natives. The churches at Dinagepore and Cutwa, have also been increased. We have twenty members in Calcutta: a number sufficient to form a respectable church. A new church has been formed in Jessore; and Ran Mohun, one of our native brethren, has been lately called to the ministry. There are now four Baptist churches in Bengal, besides the materials for another in Calcutta. Blessed be God!

The translations of the Bible are going forward as fast as can be expected. The prophets, to Joel, are printed in Bengalee. The New Testament, to the 16th of John, in Sangskirt; to the middle of Luke, in Orrissa; and Matthew is more or less advanced in Mahratta, Hindoosthanee, Persian, and Gujerattee. Seven editions are therefore now in the press, and the translations of five more going forward.

He wrote to a gentleman at Madras, stating his scruples. This gentleman sent him an Arabic New Testament.. He read it; and as he read, new light broke in. In consequence of this, he went to Madras, and was baptized by a clergyman for whom I have a high esteem, (Dr. Therr). A few months ago, Dr. Therr sent him to us; but I hope he has received the grace of God. He is studying Syriac and Hebrew, of both which he will soon be master, on account of their near affinity to Arabic. He is a complete master of the Arabic, Persian and Turkish, languages, and a good Hindoosthanee scholar. He is now employed to assist in the Persian translation.

Brother Marden has declined the mission to the Burman empire; and my son Felix has offered himself to engage in it, and is accepted. Encouragement in that quarter is greater than we expected. Love to all friends.

W.CAREY.

TO THE REV. DR. ROGERS.

My Dear Brother,

You must at this time excuse the shortness of my letter. The great press of business which at the pressent lies upon me, holds my hand, whether I will or not.

We received the dollars safe, God has sent us a person who, which were brought out by Mr. I hope, will be of great use in Drinker. I think I acknowledged assisting us in the translation in the receipt of them immediately by to the Persian language. Ana ship which was then leaving the Arabian, A DESCENDANT OF MA-place. I feel under great obligation HOMMUD HIMSELF, Who was to our dear friend Mr. Ralston, but about two years ago convinced fear I cannot at this time, write eiof the falsehood of Mahome-ther to him or to captain Wickes. tanism by reading the Koran. Give my love to them both.

India her Viedam burns. The polish'd land
Of China owns the NAZARINE's command:
Ador'd Confucius is no more divine,
And pagods fall before JEHOVAH's shrine.

1808.

In Scythian wilds, beneath the freezing Bear,
I see IMMANUEL his ensign rear.

O'er Lybia's burning plains he sends his name,
And all her sable sons resound his fame,
Salvation with a swift effulgence beams,

On the vast western world's remote extremes;
Casiques and Sachems lay their axes down;
Barbarian fierceness, and the savage frown,
Melt into social love, the look humane,
And the mild spirit of MESSIAH's reign.

A new creation springs, the hallow'd earth
Is fill'd with children of celestial birth;
A race divine, to life immortal born,
Whom God's own virtues with renown adorn.
O Times, O Manners, innocent and blest!
Joy to the fruitful womb, and milky breast,
No pirate roves the flood, the trading sail
Securely flies before the fanning gale.

Safe is the travell'd shore, the pilgrim takes
His fearless journey when the morn awakes.
The villages rejoice; th' exulting hind
Eyes his pure harvest waving in the wind.
Nor in the hut alone contentment sings,
But wondering, comes to statesmen, and to kings.
Cities rejoice; no sons of Belial tear
With bacchanalian roar the midnight air.

Nor boldness prowls at eve, nor villians creep
Thro' windows in th' unwary hour of sleep.
Justice her forces breaks, fierce war his lance,
Order and peace the social bliss advance :
All kind affections thro' all hearts extend,
And every man knows every man a friend.
MESSIAH reigns, the ALMIGHTY FATHER Smiles,
Discord no more his holy mount defiles;
One faith, one hope, the happy nations bind,
The world his Zion, and his fold Mankind-
Fly, intervening ages, fly away;

Come, long foretold, long wish'd triumphing DAY.

Donation to the Missionary Society of Connecticut.

Jan. 29. Received of Rev. Abel Flint, being avails of Summary of Christian Doctrine,...894

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1

FROM THE LONDON EVANGELI-ted from the German, or at least its

CAL MAGAZINE.

most essential parts. By this means every reader would be enabled to

Memoir of the late Rev. John appreciate the character of Mr. La

Caspar Lavater.

TO THE EDITOR.

Dear Sir,

YOU have expressed a wish for a short account of Mr. LAVATER'S Life in your Magazine. I feel the more willing to comply with your request, as I have had many opportunities to observe, that Mr. Lavater is not so well known in this country as, in my humble opinion, he deserves to be. Some persons being, perhaps, only acquainted with the eccentricities of his Physiognomical Works, seem disposed to decry him altogether as an enthusiast; and, as for his religious principles, some are pleased to call him a Socinian; and others, I am told, have very gravely accused him of having lived and died

a

vater, who (notwithstanding all his imperfections) for talents, extensive knowledge, unremitting zeal and activity, noble courage, unfeigned Christian piety, and universal benevolence, deserves to hold a distinguished place among the most excellent Divines of ancient or modern times.

Being circumscribed by the plan of your work, which admits only a few pages for Memoirs, I have confined myself, to a short narration of the most remarkable events of his life, which are taken, for the most part, from Mr. Gesner's Works; in the selection of which I have paid a principal regard to his private and religious character.

C. F. STEINKOPFFT.
Savoy, London, Nov. 13, 1804.

JOHN CASPAR LAVATER a champion of Popish superstition was born in the year 1741, All these misrepresentations would be rectified, if the account of his life, which has been published by his son-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Gesper, in three octavo volumes, were transla-ledge and abilities, educated him VOL. I. NO. 3.

of very respectable parents, in the city of Zurich, Switzerland, who, to the best of their know

L

in the strictest principles of virtue and religion.

to whom I suspected I had given the least offence." This illness, he adds, left behind it many a serious impression.

Soon after this, having taken a long walk on a very hot day, and too eagerly drinking more wine than he could-bear, he got nearly intoxicated; which grieved him to his very heart.

From his infancy he had many serious impressions; and, when only seven years old, felt himself strongly drawn to seek God by prayer. "To use God," says he," as my own God, was one of the earliest and most deeply impressed ideas in my mind.Observing the indifference of "Hardly," says he, "any ocothers towards. God, I was de- currence in my whole life has termined to make the best use made such an indelible impresof him I could. I felt a need sion upon my mind as this acof his presence, and made it a cident. I shed streams of penconstant practice to pour out my itential tears, and nothing could heart before him in fervent erase the remembrance of it prayer every morning and eve- from my mind; and, even now, ning yet my light and volatile after the lapse of twenty-six disposition oftentimes disturbed years, it serves me as a powerful me in my devotions. To listen warning never to exceed modeto the sermons was too tiresomeration in drinking, in the least for me, so I took my little pock- degree." et Bible to the place of worship; and, with the greatest eagerness, I read the Histories of the Old Testament, more especially that of Elias and Elisha. Christ and the New Testament had but a small share of my attention or affection at that time."

In the fifteenth year of his age, a violent shock of an earthquake, and the happy departure of his elder brother, greatly contributed to confirm and to increase the good impressions and pious resolutions of his mind.

"When," says he, " my brother was in his last moments, he sat up in his bed, lifted up his hands, and, looking up stedfastly toward Heaven, exclaimed," Behold, I see the hea

When ten years of age, young Lavater freely declared his intention to devote himself to the ministry, and, notwithstanding all the objections and difficulties he had to encounter, he never changed his mind; but zealous-vens opened, and the Son of ly applied himself to the study Man standing at the right hand of the Latin language, and other of God! Father, into thy hands branches of human learning I commend my spirit."-Thus requisite for this purpose. saying, he sunk down and expired. All of us were dissolved in tears. Now I saw my brother a dead corpse on the very same spot on which I was born, I felt quite heavenly-minded.Death and Heaven were my only thoughts; so I went to bed; but when I awoke the next

In his fourteenth year he had a dangerous fit of sickness. "When thus taken ill," says he, "I seriously reflected upon my former life, endeavouring to purify my heart, most heartily forgiving every received injury, and asking pardon of all those

morning, I felt quite pleased in | journals and letters, written

my having become the eldest
son of the family, and the heir
of the cabinet of natural curi-
osities which my brother had
collected. I could not help ab-
horring myself, on account of
this sudden change of mind.
"Oh! vanity of vanities! all,
indeed, is vanity!"

When young Lavater entered upon his academical course, his talents soon began to shine forth so brilliantly, as to attract the notice of the most learned characters who were at that time Professors in the College at Zurich, some of whom endeavoured to encourage and direct his rising genius.

about this time. In the early part of his twentieth year he thus expresses his feelings in a letter to a friend :

"Alas! what a sinner I am! Oh! that all created beings might weep before God on my behalf! and yet their combined efforts could not save me. No, no! I have sinned against the infinite Majesty of Heaven! but, lo! the Creator himself becomes man-my brother! He lies prostrate before his Father! he prays, and wrestles, and sheds tears of blood for me even for me! Oh, what boundless love and compassion! I am lost in wonder, love, and praise, and melted in tears of shame and gratitude! I bow before him, and adore!"..........................

In another place, he says,When I examine the secret springs of my actions, words, and thoughts, sincerely as in the presence of God, I must confess that I do not always act from a principle of pure love to God, and a sincere regard to his glory; but alas! too often I observe selfish motives, which I cannot but consider as grievously sinful. Genuine religion rests not satisfied with a mere outward form; it requires the heart. All virtues, considered in themselves, are a mere mechanical motion, if they are void of the Spirit's enlivening influence. Morality, without the heart, is like a body without a

During the three years of his studying divinity, he was most deeply impressed with a sense of the infinite importance of wellemployed or mis-spent time;" and had such views of the awfulness of sin and the holiness of God, that he oftentimes humbled himself in the dust. He made it a point of conscience daily to examine himself, watching over all his thoughts, words, and actions, and most sincerely bewailing, not only every improper action which he had done, but even every impure motive which might have influenced his conduct. At the same time, Christ, in his person, and all his endearing characters and offices, was rendered exceedingly precious to his soul. To him he approached, "weary and heavy laden," seeking rest for his immortal soul, and entirely devot- * It may not be improper to obing himself to his blessed ser-serve, that Mr. Lavater most carevice.

In confirmation of what has just been stated, we subjoin a few extracts from Mr. Lavater's

fully "fled youthful lusts;" and was very much esteemed by all who knew him, on account of the regularity of his conduct, and the virtuous life he led.

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