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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-FOREIGN.

SOUTH SEAS.

In the Navigator's Islands, one island, Savaii, in which there are five missionary London Missionary Society.-The re-stations, has been the scene of a lamentcent communications from this impor-able civil war, which has more or less tant field of the society's labour con- disturbed the tranquillity, and injured the tinue to be of deep, although of some-prosperity of every one of these stations, what varied interest. In the western and caused much grief of heart to the misgroup of the New Hebrides, where Wil- sionaries. The greater proportion of the liams fell, and from one of which, namely, members of the churches remained stedTanna, their missionaries, Turner and fast, refusing to take part in the war, Nisbet, were obliged, after a short resi- and some of them rather abandoning dence, to flee, they are still anxious to their lands and houses to the will of their establish a mission, and are about to re-invaders, and escaping for their lives, new the attempt. In a late visit of the than violate the principles of peace; but missionary ship, it was ascertained that there were a good many mournful extwo of the society's teachers had been ceptions among both the members and cruelly murdered on the island of Eranan; the inquirers. Amid the violence and in another they found their teachers la- outrage of the triumphant party, the bouring with some success. In Tanna chapels, and the houses of the missionary a reaction had taken place in their fa- and teacher were spared; or, if the provour; their visit was hailed with joy; perty of the missionary was in the general the teachers they brought were wel- tumult plundered, it was subsequently comed; and three important stations restored. Yet the missionaries in this formed. In another island fresh teachers island have many things to narrate which were placed, under hopeful circum- are hopeful and encouraging. In the stances. The dark island of Erromanga six stations of the island of Upolee there appears to be the least accessible of the is much prospect of good, with perhaps group, and may probably be the last to one exception, where little impression receive the message of mercy. There the appears as yet to have been made. A door is still shut. The society could not boarding-school for native girls, with an in present circumstances place teachers attendance of 30, whose ages vary from in this island. The continued atrocities of 7 to 13, promises important good, in the white savages, who visit these islands training up a class of pious and educated to obtain sandal-wood, create the chief females, whether to become teachers obstruction to the settlement of Christian themselves, or suitable wives for the missionaries upon them. "A tale we native teachers. At another station a could unfold," says one of the mission- printing press is in active operation, aries at Raratonga, "about the sandal- having in the course of the year thrown wood vessels, which would make huma- off upwards of 40,000 copies of portions nity shudder. Erromanga and Sand- of the scriptures, school-books, &c. wich Island have again been the scenes They have been somewhat tried by the of savage cruelty and blood, the latter crews of some American and British island especially, where there has been vessels, who touched at a port in this an indiscriminate slaughter of men, wo- island, attempting to introduce ardent men, and children." These murderous spirits among the natives, happily withaggressions upon the unoffending natives out success. They are also threatened produce in them a distrust of every white with a colony of popish missionaries. man, accompanied with feelings of trea-The island of Tutuila, which was the cherous revenge, which must cause more scene of a happy revival of religion in or less of insecurity to any European 1839 and 1840, has been again visited missionary who may attempt to settle with a similar awakening. At one staamong them, until these unhappy island- tion there were upwards of 100 brought ers come to know that among white under conviction; and the work has men there are men of God as well as gone on, various arousing dispensations murderers, and are able to discriminate of providence contributing to forward it. the one from the other. Some remarkable cases of external re

in Tahiti. In the other station they had experienced little of the effects of the war; but the faith of the missionary had been severely tried by the defection of a great number of the peopłe, including several church members, whose im morality and licentiousness had brought deep reproach upon the cause of Christ.

formation have occurred, attended by the neighbouring island of Eimeo not evidences of an internal change, which less than one-half of the population at encourage them to hope that real con- one station had joined the native army version has taken place. These cases are chiefly among young men, though not confined to any age. In the Hervey Islands the progress and prospects of the native seminary, for the training of pious young men as evangelists and teachers, are deeply interesting and encouraging. In addition to their theological and general studies, the youths are instructed in various branches of art, especially cabinet-making and carpentry, by which it is hoped they will hereafter be able to support themselves while labouring to diffuse the gospel.

The Society Islands have been a scene of trying interest; in consequence of the Queen of Tahiti having taken refuge in one of them, rather than submit to the French usurpation; and these unprincipled persecutors, following her to this To the Georgian Islands belongs the group, where they have blockaded the unhappy island of Tahiti, where the island of Raiatea, in which she had boar out of the wood has been per- sought a place of exile, and attempted, mitted to waste so sadly the heritage although in vain, to inflict their proof God, and the wild beast of the field tectorate on that and two others of to devour it. Six of the missionary these islands. The latest intelligence stations on this island have, by the dis- from the missionaries in this group astrous occupation of it by the French, is not wanting in encouragement. and the resistance or the dispersion The public services have been well atof the natives, been entirely broken tended, and the church had received an up, or left with a small remnant. In encouraging accession of members whose three stations the work goes forward knowledge and christian experience afwithout interruption; and amid the ford great satisfaction, while the commountain fastnesses, in which many of municants generally continued to honour the Christian population have sought se- their profession of the Saviour. Weekly curity from a powerful and ungenerous meetings and classes for religious instrucinvader, and where only they can breathe tion were largely maintained, and unithe air of freedom, the suffering people formly attended with interest and profit; cleave fast to their holy faith, and enjoy the instruction communicated appearing the special presence of him who is a pre-to be blest to the souls of many of them. sent help in trouble. And there the missionary is still permitted to make regular visits to them, and to witness the confidence with which God sustains them in their deep affliction, and the grace which he manifests to them. Though persecuted, they are not forsaken, though cast down, they are not destroyed. In their camp they have all religious ordinances dispensed to them; and in this situation many, who during the most prosperous time of the mission had remained careless and unconcerned, are now, when their religious privileges are so few, declaring themselves upon the Lord's side. In returning from one of Wesleyan Missions.-In Tongatabu, the his visits to them, a missionary remarks, endeavours of the popish emissaries to "We returned in the evening, leaving counteract the influence of the mission the natives very quiet-no wish or have been unremitting. The priests thought of war-if they are not attacked have visited all the missionary stations, they will not attack. I never saw them and have endeavoured to subvert the more peaceably disposed. Upon such faith of the native converts, resorting to an occasion, you may be sure we thought every species of calumnious misreprebut little of the conduct of the French-sentation. The missionaries, however, we had higher subjects of contemplation. gratefully report that, to the best of their Not one political word was uttered." In knowledge, their traducers have not

In most of the islands of this group they had been tried with severe and fatal epidemics of various kinds, which, however, God had made the means of spiritual blessing-a salutary warning to some, while others were constrained by the terror inspired to flee from impending wrath to the Saviour of the world. Ă more afflictive trial had arisen from the encouragement given by the chiefs to the importation of ardent spirits, from which the most baneful results had flowed to those undecided in character, especially the young; but the members of the church had for the most part escaped.

POLAND, SILESIA, AND OTHER PARTS
OF EUROPE.

(Communicated by the Rev. J. C. Brown,
Cape Town.)

succeeded in leading astray so much as | THE RELIGIOUS STATE OF THE JEWS IN one of their people. From Feejee, the missionaries still communicate harrowing details of the savage barbarities to which the rude inhabitants of these islands are abandoned, and which call so loudly for every exertion by them and by us to rescue these degraded tribes of the human family from the dominion of him who was a murderer from the beginning. Yet the endeavours of the missionaries, now reinforced by an addition of two to their number, have been attended with marked success in spreading the gospel among this barbarous people, more than one thousand of them having become members of their religious society; and although war continued to rage in various places, yet the prospects of the mission were very encouraging.

LABRADOR.

THE missionary ship of the United Brethren has returned in safety from its annual visit to this outlandish field of missionary enterprise, in which their self-denied labourers have opportunity only once a year of learning what is passing in other parts of the church and the world. During the past year sickness to a distressing extent and for an unusually long period had prevailed among both them and their flocks, and had caused a mortality unusually great among the natives, and to some extent disabled them from making the necessary provision for the support of their families. One esteemed missionary had been cut off on the 14th of May, after a protracted illness, in the midst of his vigour and usefulness, causing a loss which would be the more felt in consequence of the deep and accurate acquaintance which he had with the Esquimaux language, in which he has left several translations behind him. Their report as to the spiritual progress of the several Esquimaux congregations does not present any thing very remarkable. With many of their church members they have satisfaction, their walk being consistent, and their desires evidently fixed on heavenly things; in others they are concerned to perceive too great a hankering after the things that are perishable and unsatisfying, and in some a love of sinful ways and practices—those former things which they had professed to put away. The children, in general, afforded them pleasure, giving diligent attendance at school, and many of them appearing to be impressed with the truths of the gospel.

THE removal of the Jewish population of the frontier of Russia to the interior of the empire, has of late called the attention of many to that interesting people,—and a few notices of the Jews residing in the countries bordering on that empire may not be uninteresting to your readers. In the beginning of 1840, at St Petersburgh, the writer made the acquaintance of Pastor Boerling, a clergyman of the Lutheran church, and himself a descendant of Israel, who stated, amongst other things, that he was stationed as a missionary for many years at Schloss, a town in Poland, which is inhabited chiefly by Jews. When he first went there he saw no opening for usefulness; and after a little time he began to fear that he had run unsent. But the cholera soon broke out in the place, and all the medical men fled; he then concluded that he had been sent thither of God,—for a previous residence in several towns of Asia, while the cholera prevailed in these places, had made him acquainted with the most improved methods of treating the sufferers, and now the people implored his aid. He cheerfully attended the sick, and soon gained their affections. From that time their houses were open to him, and he was invited to all their entertainments and feasts.

On one occasion he was present at a marriage feast, when, according to custom, all the guests presented gifts to the newly married pair. He had just received from London a few copies of the 12mo. edition of the Hebrew Old and New Testament bound together, and he presented them with one of these. It was gratefully received, and at the close of the feast, when the bridegroom held up the different presents, and announced the names of the giver of each, exhibiting the bible last, he said, " But see what our friend the missionary has given us, the scriptures! This I value more highly than silver or gold!"

The young man took the bible regularly to the synagogue, when he went to worship. The reader, observing this, demanded of him how he dared to bring the christian book into the synagogue. Ile replied, that he had read it through, and found nothing ungodly in it, that he

must and would read it. Many of the other Jews then applied for copies, with which they were supplied, and the desire for instruction became so great that the inhabitants of the town requested the missionary to organise a school for the instruction of the young. He complied with their request, organizing one for the instruction of boys, under his own superintendence, and another for girls, under the superintendence of his wife.

He assured me that ten times the number of missionaries now labouring in Poland and Silesia might find full scope for their energies in cultivating that extensive and hopeful field. The opinion prevails that the Jews present a hopeless field for missionary culture, but there are many things leading us to a contrary conclusion.

if we search amongst the Jewish people, we may find many like their fathers, who bowed not the knee to Baal; many like the godly Jews of former days,-men like Simeon, “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel."

I felt much interested by the descrip

God hath not cast off his people if, with the apostle, we believe that God is He met with opposition from quarters no respecter of persons,-but in every whence he had least reason to expect it, nation he that feareth him and worketh but the great body of the Jews encour-righteousness is accepted with him; and aged him; and after some time a Jew of considerable learning and influence came to him and said, "One or other of us must leave this town. If you don't go, I go; for if things go on thus, my children also will be taught to read, and to read the books of the Christians." He also mentioned that he was ap-tion given by Pastor Boerling of one of pointed at one time to labour in Upper his acquaintances, an aged Rabbi, who, Silesia. He went thither, and on ap- like Anna the prophetess, the daughter proaching one town, the first he entered, of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, departed he was informed that all the inhabitants not from the temple, "but served God were Jews, but that he would have no with fastings and prayers night and day." opportunity of prosecuting missionary Regularly at the hour of midnight, was labour there, for they were all rich and that aged patriarch to be found in the wanted nothing. On entering the town synagogue, making confession and suphe was soon convinced of the correctness plication unto God. He was accidentally of the information he had received; but overheard on one occasion by Mr B., and as a few christian Jews resided there, he he repeated to me the prayer, which a resolved to spend a few days in intercourse retentive memory enabled him to recal. with them. It was then Friday, and on While I listened to it, I thought I saw the following day he went to the syna- before me Daniel, when he set his face gogue. Several of the Jews assembled unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer there, observing him to be a stranger, and supplications, with fasting, and sackwelcomed him with the usual salutation cloth, and ashes. The spirit was the of," Peace be with you!" When, how-same, the expressions similar to those ever, they observed that during the which characterised the prayer presented prayer which was offered he stood de- by that prophet, and recorded in the 9th voutly and still, instead of looking about | as did others, they whispered aloud, He is not a Jew but a missionary, for all the missionaries pray so.

What were the consequences? In the course of the day many of the Jews visited his apartment for conversation concerning christianity; and they spent the time not in disputation as at other places, but in calm and dispassionate comparison of the Old Testament prophecies with the history of Jesus of Nazareth, recorded in the gospels! In the evening six Jews, whose heads were silvered with age waited upon him, and almost adjured him to tell them what had convinced him of the truth of christianity; and they too spent their visit in a calm and apparently dispassionate examination of the attestations of the Messiah.

chapter of the book which bears his name:

"O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments; neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

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O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our

righteousness, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God; for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."

This Rabbi led an abstemious life. On one occasion, when offered a little wine, he declined. In a short but thrilling reply (to which I cannot do justice in a translation), he stated his reasons for acting thus-"I read," said he, "that wine makes glad the heart of man, and I-can I be joyful while the city of the Lord is trampled under foot? Can I be joyful while the name of Jehovah is blasphemed? Can I be joyful while the people of God, having turned their back upon the Lord, are weltering in sin?" Is not this the spirit expressed by the Psalmist "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave unto the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."

On another occasion, he slipped away from a marriage feast at which he had been present He was soon missed; and one and another of the guests exclaimed at once, "Where is the Rabbi?" A search was made, but nowhere could he be found. At length some one inquired, "Have you been to the synagogue? The parents of the bridegroom and bride caught at the suggestion; they hastened thither, and there they found him in the dark, engaged in prayer. They entreated him to rejoin the party, and to bless the youthful couple with his presence. He replied, "No, I cannot. You are joyful, as is befitting the occasion of your meeting, but my heart is sad-sad; sad, when I think of the condition of my people." They still urged him; when, to meet their wishes, he consented to rejoin the party on the condition that all music should be laid aside. A marriage party without music, is an incident almost unknown amongst the Jews; but such was the attachment of his flock to this Rabbi, that the concession was made at once. And on his rejoining the party, marked attention was given to several addresses which he delivered in the course of the evening, on the sins to which they and their nation were addicted.

There was at that time a very prevalent expectation that the Messiah would appear in the course of that year. The expectation was founded on calculations made by many of the Talmudists, from data drawn from prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures; and I was told of one learned Talmudist, who had declared that if the Messiah did not appear in the course of that year, they were shut up to the conclusion, that he must have already come; and if so, that Jesus of Nazareth must have been he. I have had no opportunity of learning the effects of the disappointment which followed this expectation, but if the result be to lead the Jews to prayer, we may yet see literally fulfilled that ancient prediction—“I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace, and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart. All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart," Zech. xii. 10-14. And "if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"

Amongst the more learned of the Jews in those regions, I have reason to believe there are many who are not satisfied with Judaism. I made the acquaintance of one such-Dr Levaison, a learned Rabbi, who was profoundly versed in the Talmud, but found in it no satisfaction. While inquiring after the truth at one of the universities of Germany, he became acquainted with a distinguished professor, whose neological sentiments have secured for him a soubriquet importing that he is a personification of Pagan philosophy. From the same friend I also learned He gradually imbibed his sentiments, and that in Prussia there are few Jewish fain proportion as he did so, he had to give milies of which some of the members or connexions have not been baptised. These are, in general, Christians only in name; but he knew many who were also Christians in conduct, and Christians in heart.

up his Talmudical theories, but he still felt that more was necessary to enable him satisfactorily to account for all the phenomena with which he was acquainted. In this state of mind he met with

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