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pears like a tinselled ornament, exhibiting itself for the vain purpose of attracting public attention, and dazzling the eyes of gaping spectators; but it shews itself only in cases of necessity, to aid in illustrating some intricate point in some important science; when its modest appearance adds dignity to the person who, already clothed with the graces of the Spirit and other literary acquirements, derives increased splendour from this useful accomplishment. With such a man, this kind of learning takes its subordinate place, is made subservient to the advancement of virtue and happiness, and never appears either for the purpose of mortifying the less knowing, or of feeding the pride and vanity of its possessor. It is only wielded in de fence of the injured rights of truth, and for protecting the inno cent against the assaults of the malevolent. The wings of his expanded mind, decorated with the rich plumage of various sciences, while they spread around his expressive countenance a glow of modest diffidence, hide the eye of learning from public view. If at any time it beam through the veil, the mantle of hu mility casts such a shade around it, that even envy itself beholds it with respectful silence. Before a character thus adorned with every useful qualification, the mind pays a sort of involuntary homage, acknowledging that superior merit, from which the tongue of malevolence itself dare not detract. In a word, an assemblage of the richest graces unite, with his other acquire ments, to render him respectful and respected, agreeable and useful, humble and dignified, learned and modest, and, in all the actions of his life, CONSISTENT.

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THALES, the Milesian, one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, being asked, What is the oldest thing? He answered, God, because he has ever been, and exists immutably. What is the handsomest thing? He said, the world, because it is the work of God. What the largest thing? Space, because it comprehends every thing besides. What the most lasting? Hope, because when all other things fail, that remains. What the best thing? Virtue, for without it nothing that is good can be said or done. What the quickest? The thoughts of the human mind, because in one moment they overrun the universe. What the easiest? To give advice. The hardest? To know one's self.

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Religious and Missionary Intelligence.

From the London Methodist Magazine.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE

WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Meeting of the Auxiliary Society for the London District was followed by the Religious Services which were preparatory to the more General Meeting of the Members and Friends of the WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, assembled from many different parts of the Kingdom, for the purpose of renewing their public testimony of attachment to its object, and their annual pledge of persevering exertion in its support.

The three Sermons, usual on this occasion, were this year preached on Thursday and Friday, April 26th and 27th, in the Chapels of City-Road, Queen-street, and Lambeth, by the Rev. Messrs. BUCKLEY, ROBERT NEWTON, and LFSSEY, jun. We take this opportunity of remarking, that we are more than ever convinced of the great importance of connecting such services with the Public Meetings of Missionary Societies, whether in Town or Country. They greatly tend, by the divine blessing, to produce a serious and hallowed tone of feeling; to chasten and sanctify that high and cheerful excitement, which naturally results from the happy intercourse of large numbers of Friends with each other at these Anniversaries, and from the speeches addressed to them, when so assembled, on some of the most interesting, and often delightful topics, to which the attention of human beings can be directed ;—and to maintain those great principles, by which alone the purity and permanence of missionary zeal can be secured, in their proper position of paramount authority and obligation, as essentially identified with whatever is sacred or amiable in our Holy Religion, and founded on the peremptory injunctions of Divine Revelation. For Public Meetings, as affording the very best facilities for the communication of important intelligence, both as to the incipient success, and as to the still-existing necessity, of Missionary labours, we are sincere and decided advocates. We believe they are greatly blessed by Almighty Gon, not only in the excitement, but in the proper and efficient direction of benevolent zeal and activity; and that if they were neglected or discouraged, a large portion of our present means of doing good must at once be (in our judgment most foolishly and criminally) abandoned. But if Missionary Sermons, without Meetings, would leave the work in most cases but half-done, we fear, on the other hand, that Missionary Meetings, unconnected with Sermons suited to the solemn occasion, and with other special and appropriate exercises of social devotion, would soon loose, by such an omission, more than half of their present blessing to ourselves, and of their eventual utility to those for whose illumination and salvation they are principally convened. For the various information on missionary topics, and for the free and spirited displays of christian eloquence, which characterize a good public Meeting, we are best prepared, when we take time and pains to "sanctify" the whole system "by the word of God and prayer." "Much of this holy influence, we trust, was felt in our late General Meeting, as the result, under GoD, of the Three Annual Sermons to which we have referred; and of those which were preached in various Chapels ou the subsequent Sabbath.

The business of the General Meeting commenced at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of Monday, April 30, in the City Road Chapel, which was well filled by a highly respectable audience at a very early hour. The applications for admission were, indeed, numerous beyond all former precedent; which we notice with gratitude, as one indication among many cheering ones, that though the novelty of such meetings is over, the interest felt in them has not subsided but increased.-The following is a Report of the Proceedings.

THE REV. JABEZ BUNTING, as President of the Conference for the time being, was requested to open the Meeting by the usual devotional exercises. He then reported to the Society the unavoidable absence from town, through

ill health, of one of its excellent Treasurers, JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, Esq. M. P., who was expected to have officiated as Chairman; but announced at the same time that COLONEL SANDYS, well known to many of them as a gallant officer long resident in India, and a tried friend of our own and of other Missionary Societies, was on the platform, and had kindly allowed himself to be prevailed on to preside on this occasion.

COLONEL SANDYS, having accordingly taken the Chair, spoke, in substance, as follows:

It is with no small degree of reluctance that I find myself placed here, and especially when I look around me and see so many Gentlemen on the platform, who have in foreign climes devoted themselves to the glory of GoD and to the service of his cause. The reason which has prevented MR. BUTTERWORTH from taking the Chair will be sincerely regretted by all who are acquainted with him, and who know how to value a Christian Gentlemen, who adorns his religious profession in all the private and social relations of life. I would impress upon all our minds this general observation, as one which must strike us in all our considerations of the subject now before us, that no man can behold the signs of the times, the signs in the heavens above, and those wonderful signs which have in a manner deluged the earth with blood,-without perceiving that a peculiarly bright and glorious rising of the Sun of Righ teousness is about to break forth upon us; and as the day advances in which the mysteries of Providence and of Grace are unfolding themselves, I am per. suaded that there is not a feeling heart, within these walls or elsewhere, that will not unite in good wishes on behalf of this cause.-This subject is so vast that one really knows not where to begin. It is not, however, my duty to enter into any details; but if, from my long residence in India, (nearly half of my life,) I can suggest any thing useful, I shall be happy to do it. I am glad to see some of my brother officers here, who have come for the same purpose, to pull down the infidel delusions of some, to support the faith of others, and to aid in erecting the standard of the Cross throughout the world. If we look around the globe, and especially if we read the MISSIONARY REGISTERS of the present day, we behold a new era. They are the best cotemporary histories of inankind that are now published; and (blessed be GoD!) they show us, all over the habitable globe, the rise and increase of such a zealous affection towards these things, and such a growing desire for christian instruction, as must induce us to give our humble assistance and our prayers to that great work which God is now carrying on for his own glory and for the salvation of souls. Here then, upon the broad principle of the divine will, and on the authority of the moral law, which commands us to love our neighbour as our ourselves, we ask for Missions the assistance of every person present, (for I see Christian Brethren of almost all denominations around me) whether united or not to this particular Society. "What!" said a Pagan to a Christian some years ago, when his eyes began to be opened by means of one of those translations of the Scriptures which a Learned Gentleman now upon your platform, (the REV. MR. WARD, of Serampore,) was the means of sending to them, "What!" said he, "have you had this blessed book so many hundred years, and never till now communicated it to us?" The natives of India reason closely, as you see from this anecdote, and think deeply, on these subjects.-Nay, some of our elder brethren, the house of Israel, in these times, begin to mark and admire the Scriptures of their prophets. They who have been "scattered and peeled" are learning to look to the standard of the Cross, and to behold him who was pierced, and to mourn. My heart feels warm on this subject while I address you; and I am persuaded when I relate to you what I yesterday saw, your hearts will rejoice with mine: On that sacred day I kneeled at the altar with a converted Jew, ordained now as a Missionary of CHRIST. NEHEMIAH SOLOMON was ordained yesterday in my presence to the sacred office of a Missionary.-1 spoke just now of divine commands. Let us hear what the Word of GoD says: look at the 96th Psalm and 3d verse, “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. Is not this obligatory upon Christians in the present day?-Look again at the 9th verse, "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; fear before him, all the earth; say"-mark the word-" SAY among the heathen, that the LORD reigneth." These, and many other similar texts, contain positive commands of God; and every brother officer of mine on this platform will tell you, that, in our military ca

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reer, it is indispensably necessary for us to obey the word of command. We are met, strictly speaking, not to reason on the expediency of Missionaries going abroad, but to know how those Missionaries, whom it is our absolute duty to send, are to be supported. From what we shall hear this day, I am persuaded, we shall all go away with increased ardour for the cause of God and his Gospel. The Chairman concluded by reading a letter from the REV. H. DAVIS, at Bombay, describing the deplorable state of the heathen, as being most literally" without Gop, and without hope in the world."

The Report was then read by the REV. R. WATSON, one of the Secretaries of the Society.

It stated that nearly One Hundred and Fifty Missionaries, (many of whom are married,) besides a number of Catechists and School Masters, are now employed under the direction of the Committee of the Society, on more than One Hundred highly important Stations, (if places inhabited by a numerous but deeply degraded and perishing population, willing to come under Christian instruction, constitute important Stations for Missionary labours,) and that upwards of 27,000 Members have been united in Religious Societies. In addition to the advantages derived to the heathen from the pastoral labours of Missionaries, extensive and prosperous Schools have been established by them, both in the East and West Indies. In the island of Ceylon alone, nearly 5,000 native children are under daily tuition; and many thousands of the children of the Negroes of the West-India Islands regularly attend the Sunday and other Schools which are established in those Colonies. The Society's Stations both in Western and Southern Africa are extending; and a new Mission bas lately been sent out to a part of New-Zealand, in which there will be no interference whatever with the labours of the Church Missionaries. A Missionary is also just gone to the Black Natives of New-South Wales.

THE REV. WALTER GRIFFITH, of Bath, after apologizing for speaking so early, observed, that in former times, there was a necessity for taking pains to convince our friends, that the state of the heathen was quite as bad as it actually is. We all indeed seemed to think, that, though they were not quite equal to ourselves in religious privileges, their case was not quite so deplorable as it is now found to be ;-that though they might not have the same measure of light as that with which Christians are favoured, yet they had a measure of piety without our troubling ourselves about them, and would in some way or other, (we could not tell how,) get within the threshold of heaven, though they might not be quite so exalted as those who have heard the gospel, and trusted in CHRIST for salvation. But we have lived long enough to get out of this opinion on the subject; for we have found in our own country, notwithstanding all the means of religion, and the dissemination of the Scriptures, that the number of ungodly is still immense. If this be the case in our country, how deplorable must be the situation of those persons who are "sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death!" This point, said MR. G., is now settled, Sir, by your testimony of the fact, and by the general declaration of the Scriptares. There is another topic on which we used to dwell, but of which we are now deprived; it is, that the faithful preaching of the Gospel by faithful men, accompanied by the influences of the HOLY GHOST, is indispensably necessary for the salvation of the world. Some had been accustomed to think that they might be taught reading, &c. and so, without Missionaries, by reading the Scriptures (if they could get them) or other works of a religious nature, might be led to salvation. But we have all been taught by experience, that when the world by wisdom knew not Gop, it pleased Gov by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe ;' and therefore this point also is now set at rest. Another topic on which we used to enlarge, and which is now taken away from us, is, that Christian people of every age and of every description are bound to come forward in one way or other to give this gospel to every creature under heaven. My younger brethren are bound to offer their per sonal services, to go out, when called for, into all lands, and preach the gospel to every creature; and old men, like myself, uniting with the respectable assembly before me, are bound, in every way in our power to aid in the same delightful work. Of these solemn obligations we are now all convinced. When I saw the people crowding into this place, I thought to myself, What can any man say to this people to make them give more than they are already willing to give?"-Neither is it now necessary to dwell largely on another of VOL. IV.

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our old topics, viz. That the gospel, so preached by men of GoD, and accompanied by influence from heaven, cannot fail of producing effect. There is not a spot under the operation of Christian Missions, where the Missionaries have laboured long without fruit.-Without enlarging, then, on these topics, now no longer disputed, I will only say that we are engaged in a very glorious warfare; we are forcing our entrance into the dominions of the Prince of this world; we have to contend with enemies exceedingly cunning and powerful; and, humanly speaking, the strength of our army is exceedingly small. I doubt, Sir, with all your gallantry, whether with 140 or 150 men, you would venture to attack such countries as we are attacking by our little band of Missionaries, and pledge yourself to go forward till you had obtained the victory. But we have made some way,-we have taken some of the enemies' out-works. Some of our blessed men have fallen in the attack; but they have not fallen in vain,-they have taught a lesson in their death which the Heathen never knew, that Christians die conquering. They have taught them, that it is possible for men to die triumphantly; they have left behind them the savour of a holy life and the savour of a victorious death. Their places are supplied by others; more re-inforcements are about to join them; and the part of this business, which lies more immediately within the sphere of our duty, is the furnishing of money for sending out new Missionaries, for supporting those who are gone, and for supplying the wants of those widows and fatherless children whose husbands and whose fathers have fallen in this conflict; and shall we not have it? will not this meeting supply it? There is not a person within the reach of my voice to-day, who would not deprive himself even of some of the necessaries of life, rather than this work of God should not be carried on.-MR. G. then moved the first Resolution.

JOHN POYNDER, ESQ. said, It falls to my lot to second the Resolution just proposed. There are two leading arguments which have suggested themselves to my mind, and upon which most other arguments may be raised: the one is the necessity, and the other is the duty, of Missionary exertion. I hold in my hand a statement in reference to the world at large, on the supposition that it contains ten hundred millions of souls, of whom only 175 millions are even professing Christians; and the remaining 825 millions are either lost in the blindness of Jewish obstinacy, or sunk in the prejudices and vile abominations of Pagan or Mahometan superstition. Perhaps the darkest spot in this picture is that of Paganism, where we see so many men degraded by their ini quities, and wandering in that darkness that may be felt; and vet many of these are regular in their devotions, have cultivated minds, have large capacities, and a finished education, while they are still in a state of dreadful idolatry. So it was of old in lettered Greece, and in accomplished, warlike Rome; St. Paul's striking account of whose idolatries is confirmed by the saying of one of their own Satirists, that it was easier in Athens to find a God than a Man. I mention these things only in confirmation of what has before been observed, that "the world by wisdom knew not Gon;" and now, whether the case be that of the stupid Hottentots, or of the hordes of ferocious savages on the Atlantic shores, each of these is sunk as low, certainly, but no lower, in the eye of an angel and in the contemplation of those who know God, than the most lettered heathen of China or of India. There is no deficiency of natural intellect in the learned Brahmins; many suppose there is a superiority of it; and yet we see them in the same state of degradation. Look at the Chinese; what has the wisdom or the learning of Confucius done for this polished people? For an answer to this I beg to refer to the first proclamation of their present Emperor, lately published in the Newspapers, which awfully shews how little this great Emperor can do for his great people, till Christianity has first done much for him. In India, the scene is not only one of darkDess, but of bloodshed and misery, and that dark part of the earth is still full of the habitations of cruelty. I refer here particularly to three things,namely, infanticide, burning of widows, and suicidal sacrifices. And, first, concerning infanticide: it is stated that three thousand infants were sacrificed in one year; and this happened not in India generally, but in two provinces only. Secondly, as to the custom of women burning themselves with the bodies of their deceased husbands; Dr. Carey, who is not accustomed to come to hasty conclusions, estimates that ten thousand are sacrificed in this way annually; and Mr. Ward, in the work he has lately given to the public, states,

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