she turned her bow to the billows, to convey the beloved men with whom she was freighted to the pagan islands to which they were destined. These men, Eyre, Jefferson, and Lewis, with twenty-six others, formed the first company sent out by the London Missionary Society for the reclamation of the heathen world to Christ. A new era in the history of missions dates from the sailing of this ship. Amid peculiar trials and many Divine interpositions she pursued her voyage: she doubled the stormy Cape in safety-she visited Otaheite, the Marquesas, and other islands-she landed her missionaries on the islands selected for the commencement of the work of missions; and after a three years' voyage, whose narrative forms one of the most delightful chapters in the history of modern missions, she returned home to England, to make another at a subsequent period.

The narrative of this voyage was soon published in London, and dedicated to the king. It excited extraordinary attention among all classes in England, by the revelations which it made of the awful degradation of the islanders of the Pacific. The book was republished in America; and although there were no Tract societies to print it, nor colporteurs to scatter it over the land, it obtained, for that day, a wide circulation.

At that time there was a village rising amid the woods of Western Pennsylvania, composed mainly of Presbyterian emigrants from Scotland and Ireland. In this village there was neither church nor settled pastor, nor stated means of grace. It was occasionally visited by a missionary, whose services were anticipated with pleasure, and remembered with gratitude. By some kind providence a copy of the narrative of the voyage of the ship Duff was conveyed to this village. A good new book was then regarded, when there were so few in circulation, as a great acquisition to a family, and even to a village. The volume went from house to house, until it was read by nearly every family in the settlement. In one of these Scotch families was a young boy, on whose mind its perusal made a very deep impression, and who, although not then a decided Christian, made the resolve that if ever he should become so, he would go as a missionary to the heathen.

Soon afterwards this town was visited by a missionary, whose preaching was greatly blessed. A delightful revival accompanied his labours, and some conversions occurred in

every family, without an exception, in which the little volume had been read. The youth to whom I have alluded was among the first subjects of the good work; and, faithful to his resolve, he commenced a course of preparation for the work of the ministry and of a missionary. Circumstances which he could not control, just as he was concluding his studies, compelled him to remain at home, but without in any degree calling off his mind and affection from the heathen world.

It was to him a day of joy when his first son was born. Remembering the vows which he once made, but which he was prevented from fulfilling, he dedicated that infant son to God, and to the work of missions. That son was hopefully converted in his youth; and when prepared for the work of the ministry, devoted himself to God as a missionary. He went to India, where feeble health permitted him to remain only a few years; but in those years he laid the foundation of missionary operations in Northern India, which from their commencement have been remarkably successful. Seeking health at a sanatorium among the Himalayas, he laid a tract upon the table. It was read by an officer and a physician attached to the English army, and was blessed to the conversion of each. How wonderful are the ways of God! These men, unimpressed by Christian ordinances at home, thrown amid circumstances only calculated to wean them from God, abroad, at the very ends of the earth, and at the farthest possible remove from gospel institutions, are brought to embrace the gospel by a tract! Surely, "there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."

This father had a second son born to him, whom, like the first, he consecrated to God and to the work of missions. Early in life he was made a subject of saving grace, and devoted himself to the ministry. The heathen world opened before him; and although endowed with talents and acquisitions which would have made him the ornament of any pulpit in the land, he selected downtrodden, perilous Africa as the field of his labours. The fact that so many missionaries found in Africa an early grave, seemed only to strengthen his resolution to go there. And he was induced to yield his preference only by his brethren, who wished him to enter the wide field just then providentially opened in China. No more able or promising missionary has the church of God sent to that

country. There for a few years he laboured with untiring zeal, respected and beloved by all with whom he had to do. And when the centre of many high hopes and expectations, when best qualified to discharge his duties, when exerting a wide influence at home and abroad, and in the zealous pursuit of his one great object, the conversion of China to God-the Christian world was called to mourn his death by the hands of cruel pirates. Long will the winds that sweep over the Chinese seas be regarded as singing his requiem. And although his grave is amid the pearls and corals of the ocean, many a voice will be heard rising from it through coming generations, calling upon the sons of the church to devote themselves to the salvation of China.

It is not for man to know all the influence of that one book in preparing the way for that revival of religion, in preparing the mind of that young man to receive the impress of the Holy Spirit, in inspiring that faith which led the father to consecrate his infant boys to the work of the ministry, and of missions, in laying the foundations of influence in India and China, which will continue increasingly for ever. Yet the narrative teaches us,

1. The real value of a good book. What would be the blessing to the church if the ministry of such men as Baxter, Doddridge, Whitefield, continued in its vigour for a thousand years? And a good book, as eloquently as they, and to far more numerous people, may preach for that number of years twice told! Well may any man exclaim, Oh for grace and strength to write a good book or tract!

2. It teaches the importance of circulating good books. A boy found an old volume of poetry, covered with dust, on the sill of a window in his father's house. Its perusal led him to attempt poetry, and he became one of the greatest of English poets. We know not what we are doing when we secure a serious perusal for a good book. We may be putting springs in motion that will never cease acting for good. Perhaps the voyage of the Duff was sent to that little Pennsylvania village by some pious man. so, and had he never done any thing else, would he have lived in vain ? If that missionary had never done any thing else than lay that tract upon the table of the hotel upon the side of the Himalayas, would he have lived in vain?

If

3. It teaches us what fruits we may expect from parental fidelity. None can tell how many holy ministers, devoted missionaries, or self-denying members of the church we owe, under God, to parental consecration from the hour of their birth. Let every parent that reads this article consecrate anew their children to God; and although they may not become lights on high to guide the movements of the church, they may become centres of influence in the circles in which they are to move; and if they can do no more, they may lay a tract upon a table which God may bless to the salvation of immortal souls.

WEAK THINGS CHOSEN TO CONFOUND THE MIGHTY,

A RICH, learned, and powerful nobleman of Saxony, having frequently visited Berlin, Frankfort, and Paris, had imbibed a bitter hatred against Christianity. The conversation of wicked men, the reading of infidel books, and the pleasures to which he was addicted, all had inclined his heart to sceptical principles. Returning home, he abandoned himself without restraint to sensual pleasures, and openly professed infidelity, diffusing this poisonous influence all round him.

As he had in his gift the appointment of the pastor of the parish where his domains lay, he gave it to a young minister whom he had formerly known at the university, and who was no more religious than himself. These two men seemed to vie with each other in ungodliness. Being the count's favourite companion, the unworthy pastor sought only to please his patron. Their favourite talk at table and elsewhere was scoffing at sacred things, so that the servants, frivolous as they were, could not avoid being shocked.

The count was highly pleased with his minister and chosen friend. He told him often that his greatest delight would be to see all religious opinions-which he called superstitions-effaced gradually from the minds of his tenants; and he added, that if he could obtain such a result, he should think he deserved well of the country. The parish thus went on very badly, and impiety prevailed in all its forms. Only one man-the schoolmaster- resisted the current; but he had no great learning or authority, and he was under the jealous watch of the pastor, who

did not wish the children to hear evangelical truths, or as he said, to be imbued with dark and gloomy notions.

66

wrote

What human means were there to rescue this German count, since the pastor himself encouraged him in his infidelity? But that which is impossible with man is possible with God. "A poor child, of about eight years,' the count afterwards to one of his friends, was chosen by the Good Shepherd of our souls to be an evangelist to me, and to lead me from infidelity to living faith. The event will be for me a perpetual motive to adore my Redeemer." The case was thus:

One day the count, walking over his grounds, heard the sweet voice of a child in a garden. He approached, and saw a little girl who was singing, seated on the grass, her eyes moistened with tears. This sight excited his curiosity; he entered the garden, and seeing that the little girl had a sweet and intelligent air, he felt moved with pity, the more so as her mean clothing showed that she belonged to a very poor family.

"Why do you weep? are you sick, child?" asked the

count.

"No," she replied, "but I weep because I am happy--so happy!"

"How can you weep, if you are happy?" said the count, surprised.

"Because I love so much the Lord Jesus Christ! "Why do you love him so much? He has been dead a long time; he can do you no good."

"No, he is not dead; he lives in heaven."

"And even if this were true, what benefit is it to you? If he could help you, he would give money to your mother, that she might buy you better clothes."

"I do not wish for money; but the Lord Jesus Christ will take me one day to himself in heaven."

"It is your grandmother, or some such person, who makes you believe this."

No, no; it is true, and it makes me glad." And the child's eyes filled again with tears.

These simple replies, this candour, this happiness in poverty, forcibly struck the count's mind. He gave the child some money, and went away.

"Two things," he wrote in the letter above cited, OCcupied my thoughts on my return to the house, and the following days. I asked myself, How did such sentiments