gion is tolerated, but not openly; they have therefore no Minarets, and the Muezan is never heard calling the people to prayer, and if any Turk is seen in the street on Sunday during divine service, he is immediately put to death.

They have no schools for the general education of their children, and no printed books among them: their knowfedge, therefore, is very limited; and very few, even among the better classes, learn to read. Instruction is confined to the clergy, as the only persons in the community who require it; and when a man is disposed to study he must become a priest. He is then supplied with such manuscript works as they possess in the different churches and convents. Among these are the Holy Scriptures translated into their language, which, though not printed, are sufficiently common in written copies.

They do not themselves know at what fime Christianity was first preached among them, or by whom. They pay no particular respect to St. Gregory, the great apostle of the East, whom the Armenians revere under the name of Surp Savorich. And it is remarkable, that the Armenians and Chaldeans, though living in countries in the east nearly contiguous, insulated among Asiatic nations, and separated from the rest of Christendom, should yet be so separated from each other as entirely to differ, not only in language, but in the doctrine and discipline of their churches. Their patriarchs and bishops have not the smallest connexion. The Chaldeans, at an early period, adopted the opinions of Nestorius, who denied that the Virgin Mary was the mother of God in his divine nature. Removed by their situation from the control of the Greek church, they retained the heresy in its primitive form, and are perhaps the only sect of Christians at the present day among whom it prevails. But though they were not influenced by the Synods of the Greek church, they have not all rejected the authority of the Latin. Very early missionaries from the college de Propaganda Fide,' at Rome, found their way among them, and at present they are divided into two hostile parties-primitive Nestorians, who hold themselves independent of any other church, and converted Catholics, who acknowledge a dependence on the See of Rome. Their church is governed by three Patriarchs:

Simon of Jolemark, a Nestorian.
Joseph of Diarbekir,

Mar Elias of Mousoul, Catholics. The two latter, though acknowledged by the Chaldeans, are not properly of that nation, but reside in Turkish provinces; but the former is strictly so: and in fact, the Chaldeans of the mountains, who are the vast majority, have hitherto rejected all submission to the church of Rome, which denominates them heretics, as they still retain the discipline and doctrines of their church in their primitive independence. Among the remarkable events of their history, is one which they speak of at this day with considerable interest. At a very early period, a part of their tribe emigrated from their mountains and proceeded to India, where they settled upon the sea-coast of the hither peninsula. They brought with them the original purity of the Christian doctrine and discipline, before it had been corrupted by heresy; and this purity, they assert, they still retain in their remote situation.

The following are the sacred book s enumerated by Hebed-iesu as the canonical Scriptures of the Chaldeans, and translated into their language. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Paraleipomenia, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Barascra or Eccles. iasticus, Isaiah, Jeremiah. Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosca, Joel, Amos, Abdeas, Jonas, Micheas, Nahum, Habakkuk, Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zecharias, Malachias, Ezra, Tobias and Tobit, Judith, Esther, Daniel Minor, that is, Susanna, Maccabees: Matthew from the Hebrew, Mark from the Latin, Luke and John from the Greek, Acts, Epistles general of James, Peter, John, and Jude, fourteen Epistles of St. Paul and Apocalypse. There is also extant among them a Gospel compiled by Ammonius or Titianus, and called Diatesseram.

AMBOYNA.-Extract of a letter from Rev. Jos. Kam, dated Amboyna, 19th January, 1825, giving an account of the Renunciation of Idols by four Villages in the Moluccas, containing 2500 Inhabitants.

"In December, 1823, I called at Elpaputy, which consists of two populous villages. Mr. Starnink, one of our

Dutch missionaries, strongly desired me to remove him from that place, having now been labouring there for almost three years, and there not being any fruit from his labours; which was also the advice of the Resident, who thought it would not be advisable for him to remain; but I said to him, My dear brother, try but one year more, because God is able to assist you, and bless your painful labours in his own appointed time.' On the 29th September, 1824, (nine months afterwards,) when he had again admonished both chiefs, or rulers of the villages, on account of their bad conduct in worshipping the dumb idols, some of the inhabitants hearing this began to be angry; and on the same evening, when he was engaged in service at the church, they went to his dwelling-house and put fire on the top of it, on purpose to burn it down; but no sooner was the fire there, than a shower of rain, for about half an hour, quenched the flame.

"After the service was over, his servants told him of the circumstance. Immediately he required the chiefs to come before him, to give them notice of what had happened. After this they promised to call the villagers on the following morning, to be present before the house of Mr. Starnink; when he asked the people, in general, to prove them, what was the reason of such bad conduct as that appeared to be to him, which had happened on the past night; whether this was the reward for the assistance he was always ready to give them, and still was ready to give them, in times of sickness and disease, as well as medicines, and for instructing their children in reading the Holy Scriptures. Not one of them was able to answer him, being too well convinced of their bad conduct towards a man of such a character. At this time one of the chiefs cried out, I will bring my idols.' He felt the power of the truth of what Mr. S. had said to them; and the more so, when he put them in mind of the providence of God, in saving his house by sending a shower of rain just in time to drown the fire on the top of it, and to show his power in saving his servants, according to his promise. As as they heard this, they were pricked to the heart; and the other 1826.-No. 5. 35

soon

chief, with the people of his village, promised to bring to him their idols at once; but as it was on the Sabbath morning, and the time when they should attend divine worship, he advised them to collect the idols altogether, of both villages, and to bring them the next day; and so they all went into church, with thanksgivings to God, the living God, for what he had done.

"On the next day it was indeed a great solemnity, and a real feast day, as the public and private idols were collected together. Before the fire was put under them, Mr. Starnink desired all the children of the two villages to be called together, to see, for the last time, the foolishness of their parents, and what was the end of their idols, that, they might keep it in remembrance; and after the fire was put under them, the children were very merry, and began to dance and rejoice; and the parents joined their children, and confessed their foolishness before God and man. Certainly we may say, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Mr. Kam, in another letter dated the 10th January, observes, that at Ceram, on the southern coast of the island, God has, by the preaching of the gospel, been showering down his mercy, so that four villages, containing 2500 souls, have forsaken their idols. Two of the villages drowned their idols in the sea, and the other two burnt theirs in the fire. He further says, "We recently celebrated the Saviour's dying love, when a small number of real converts sat down with us (two of his brethren) at the Lord's table. We have therefore great hope that in this part of the Molucca islands our dear Redeemer shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied."-Lond. Evan. Mag.

LEVANT MISSIONS.-We have selected this title for want of one more comprehensive, in order to lay before our readers a general view of the plans now in progress for the benefit of the inhabitants of the interesting regions which lie to the North, the South, and the East, of the Levant, comprising in our notice the operations of the various missionary establishments in the neighbourhood of the Red, the Mediterranean, the Black, and the Caspian seas,

and the Persian Gulf. We are indebted for the following particulars to the valuable digest in the annual survey in the Missionary Register, to which we refer those of our readers who wish to examine the detail of proceedings at each particular station.

The shores of the above-mentioned seas are inhabited chiefly by two great classes of persons-Mohammedans and non-Protestant Christians. Access is obtained by these seas to all the strong holds of Mohammedanism; and they wash the shores of all those nations which form the strength of Popery, and of those other countries also whose Christianity has suffered under its blighting influence or its corrupt example. There has been an almost simultaneous movement, of late years, for the benefit of these regions, among the three great divisions of Protestants-those of the United Kingdom, of the Continent of Europe, and of the United States of America. At the beginning of the present century, not a single missionary from these quarters could be found throughout these vast regions; there are now more than forty, a considerable number of whom are married, actually engaged in the different labours appropriate to these countries, or on their way thither and many of these are men of high character, not only in respect of piety, but of talents and attainments also. The number would have been, however, still greater, had not some difficulties led to the withdrawing of about twelve missionaries from the territory of Russia; part by the United Brethren and the London Missionary Society from Sarepta, and the rest by the Scottish Missionary Society from Karass, the Crimea, Astrachan, and Orenburg.

Many circumstances combine thus to attract the hopes and efforts of the purer part of the Christian church to this quarter. The field is indeed of a nature so different from that offered throughout the many hundred millions of the pagan world that it requires a course of proceeding in some measure peculiar to itself, as there are special difficulties and obstacles in the way; such progress has, nevertheless, been already made, as to offer the fullest encouragement to increased exertions. On these several topics we shall dwell a little for we are anxious to see a great augmentation of able and de

:

voted labourers in this field, and to awaken fervent prayer for the abundant influences of the Holy Spirit on these now benighted regions, preparatory to that signal overthrow of antichrist which shall take place in the predicted battle of that great day of God Almighty.

The course of proceeding required in these parts is sketched in the Instructions of the Church Missionary Society delivered to the Rev. W. Jowett, in the year 1815. The proper object and present work of missions in these seas are there stated to be twofold: 1. Acquiring information, by correspondence, conference, and observation, on the state of religion and of society, and on the best means of meliorating that state: 2. The propagation of Christian knowledge; by the press, by journeys, and by the education of natives;-such journeys being prosecuted not only with the view of extending the sphere of conference and observation, but to communicating Christian knowledge, by the circulation of books, by the declaration of truth whenever practicable, by promoting the establishment of schools and searching out young natives to educate for the Christian ministry. This course of proceeding is amply developed in the two volumes of Researches since furnished by Mr. Jowett; and its advantages are fully confirmed by the experience of other missionaries.

By the instrumentality of Protestant Christians only, is there any reasonable hope that the full power of religion will be felt throughout these regions. The fallen churches will not reform themselves, till stimulated by those which are already reformed; nor will the Mohammedan antichrist be subdued but by that sword of the Spirit which reformed churches alone can and will wield with effect. But Protestant Christians have, in almost every part of these countries, to make their way with difficulty. The character of their proceedings must, perhaps. for a long season, be migratory, rather than fixed and local; and their work preparatory. rather than that of open and avowed ministers of the Gospel. They have to communicate truth in the very regions where the apostles first diffused it, but under very different circumstances: they are not only devoid of that authoritative commission,

sanctioned by constant interpositions of the Divine power, which demanded obedience; but they have to labour among a people, not merely indifferent or contemptuous as the ancient Pagans were, or prejudiced as the Jews, but among Mohammedans hostile to Christ, and among professed Christians, many of whom are determined against all reformation.

To the direct exercise of the ministry among the natives there is, indeed, in most of these countries, an almost insuperable bar. Sound principles of civil liberty will, however, wherever they prevail, relax the bonds of religious intolerenee: Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Hartley, and others, begin to feel this with respect to the Greeks; but till the time shall come when the public preaching of Christ crucified shall bless these regions, enlightened and devout ministers may still in various ways become the means of effecting incalculable good.

The restraints on the exercise of the Christian ministry form, however, but a part of the obstacles opposed, in these countries, to the propagation of the Gospel. The circulation of the Scriptures is becoming an object of dread both to Roman Catholics and Mohammedans; and from Rome and from Mecca, systematic and determined opposition is shown to the enlightening of these regions. Where the Pope can exercise authority in directly crushing the circulation of the Scriptures, he exercises it without reserve; but where his subjects live under Mohammedan governments, he employs the arm of the latter. The arrest and temporary imprisonment, in this manner, of the American Missionaries, the Rev. Pliny Fisk and the Rev. Isaac Bird, at Jeru salem, are known to our readers. Another instance of the fears and hostility of the Romanists has occurred in reference to the College of Antoura on Mount Lebanon, which the Rev. Lewis Way rented for the use of missionaries, who have been obliged to leave it, through the interference of the College of the Propaganda at Rome. The anathema of the Maronite Patriarch against the Scriptures and against the Protestant missionaries, (issued in January 1824,) is a most hostile edict; utterly forbidding all the Maronites, of whatsoever state or condition, whether secular or regular,

monk or nun, from holding intercourse with the missionaries, or receiving their Bibles or Tracts. Mr. Lewis, a missionary, remarks on this anathema, as connected with the Firmân of the Porte; "The Patriarch and Council took great care to prevent this production from falling into our hands. However, notwithstanding every precaution, we have at last obtained it; and now I give it for the benefit of the British public, as a specimen of a Mount Lebanon Bull. If the people of the Roman Catholic persuasion (whether they wish it or not) must be debarred from the use of the word of God, is this a reason why thousands and tens of thousands of others, of different persuasuasions, and unconnected with the Roman Church, should be likewise deprived of the sacred Scriptures? Why should not the Armenians, and Syrians, and Copts, and Abyssinians, as well as the thousands of the Greek Church, be permitted to avail themselves of British benevolence, and of the bread of heaven; famishing as they are, in want of the staff of life, and willing to receive it when offered to them? And is the Gospel of the blessed Saviour to be denied to the Jewish people scattered throughout the Ottoman empire? Such, however, and more, are the evil consequences intended to be the result of the present prohibitory Firmâns.”

Of the influence of these violent measures, however, the American Board take a different view, which circumstances have since confirmed. They remarked; "Difficulties, great and many, do indeed lie in the way. The errors of a thousand years are not to be easily and at once eradicated. The sons of the false prophet will not be inclined to rejoice in the progress of truth; nor can the disciples of the man of sin be expected to favour the growth of righteousness. With regand to the Firman of the Grand Seignior, though by far the most serious instance of opposition which has hitherto occurred, the prevailing belief of the missionaries is, that it will not long operate as a material hindrance to their proceedings. At Aleppo, although the people who had received copies of the Scriptures were threatened with death if they refused to give them up, it was not ascertained that a single copy was given up, or that a single individual suffered injury on that account." Of

the progress which has been already made, the Board say; "At Malta, at Alexandria, along the banks of the Nile, at Jerusalem, and on the shores of the Mediterranean, from El Arish on the south to Tripolis on the north, tracts filled with Divine truth, and the holy Scriptures, the fountain of truth, have been disseminated; and, in numerous instances, have been placed in the hands of those who will carry them into remote and still more benighted countries. In Jerusalem, the ancient capital of the visible church, the standard of ruth and righteousness has been erected-it is hoped never more to be permanently removed. Among the mountains of Lebanon, the Gospel has been proclaimed to Druses, Maronites, Syrians, and Creeks. Jordan and the Dead Sea have heard the sound, and Bethlehem, Capernaum, and Nazareth. In that most interesting portion of the world, the light of life, after having been for ages quite extinguished, has been rekindled."

We might greatly extend this record of beneficial operations. The islands and continent of Greece, Asia Minor, Constantinople, the shores of the Black and Caspian Seas, the banks 0 the Tigris and Euphrates, and reInote Abyssinia, with some of the Barbary States, have al, in a greater or less degree, felt the advantage of the recent researches and exertions of Christian societies.

In the acquisition of information for the wise adaptation of measures to varying circumstances, advances have been made beyond all expectation.

The

communications made to the Church Missionary Society, to the American Board, and to the Jews' Society, by their respective representatives, are full of interest: those to the Church Missionary Society have been rendered peculiarly useful by having been embodied in the two volumes of Researches by Mr. Jowett; in each of which he has furnished hints and suggestions for shaping future measures, occupying nearly a third of his first, and more than a fourth of his second volume, which could not have been supplied but by experience and observation in the midst of the people for whose advantage he labours, and which will incalculably assist those who may follow.

Not discouraged, therefore, with the difficulties in their way, the progress already made, and the opportunities for new exertions opening before them, incline the great body of missionaries, not only to patient perseverance in that course of proceeding which the pecu liar circumstances of these countries require, but to plead earnestly for an increase of labourers.—Chr. Obe.

DONATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

In the month of March. To the American Education Society, $685.35.

To the American Board, $2847.17. To the Baptist General Convention, (from the 1st to the 24th March] $1783.03.

Feb. 22.-The Rev. STEPHEN PEET was ordained and installed Pastor of the church in Euclid, Ohio. Sermon by the Rev. Joseph Treat.

March 8.-The Rev. JOHN SMITH was ordained Pastor of the Presbyterian @hurch at Trenton, N. J. Sermon by the Rev. Professor Hodge, of Prince

ton.

March 8.-The Rev. ISAAC R. BARBOUR was ordained Pastor of the Cou

gregational church at New Ipswich, N. H. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Fay, of Charlestown.

March 14. The Rev. JOSEPH UNDERWOOD, at New Sharon, Me. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Thurston, of Winthrop.

March 16.-The Rev. ISAAC ROGERS, over the First Congregational church at Farmington. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Gillet, of Hallowell.