He then spake of the value of the sacred book; and the sinfulness of those who withhold it from perishing and dejected sinners. After some time the widow inquired, "pray, sir, can you tell us if any thing wonderful is going on in the world? We are shut out from all intercourse, but we have an impression that God is beginning a great work in the earth."

"Great events have taken place, (replied the merchant) and news is arriving every day from all parts of the world, of the progress of the gospel, and the fulfilment of the Holy Scriptures." He then gave an account of the different Bible and Missionary Societies and Schools. When he had ended, his delighted hearers all joined in the prayer, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

The merchant was now obliged to pursue his journey. He exhorted them to cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart, and to receive and practice only what they found in his word. He also promised to do his utmost to send them a pastor, who should feed them with knowledge and understanding. Their parting was most affecting. Tears of pleasure, gratitude, and regret streamed from the eyes of the villagers; and the travellers were more deeply moved by having seen the grace of God, than by all the beauties of the country they had passed through. Following the direstions of the good widow, they soon arrived at the town of S―. The merchant was acquainted with some of the chief persons in this place. He inquired, as if with the curiosity of a traveller, the name of the village he had passed on the mountains-the employments and the character of the people. "The men, (said the mayor,) work in the mines, drive the teams, and work in the fields: and the women and children weave. They are a very curious people-new lights-but the most honest work-people of the countryhonesty itself. We have no need to weigh our silk, either when we give it out or take it in; for we are sure not to lose the value of a farthing; and the kindest creatures in

the world; they will take their shirts off their backs to give to any one in distress. There is no distress among themselves; for though poor, they are industrious, sober, and always help each other: but touch them on their religion, and they are almost idiots. They never go to mass nor confession; in fact they are not Christians, though the most worthy people in the world-and so droll! Fanc those poor people, after working all the week, instead of enjoying the Sunday, and going to merry-makings to amuse themselves, they meet in each other's houses and sometimes in the mountains, to read some book, and pray, and sing hymns. They are very clever work people, but they pass their Sundays stupidly enough."

This account was confirmed to the merchant by other persons in the town; who also said that such is their zeal, that they flock from the different hamlets, and meet in the mountains, even in cold and bad weather, at 8 or 9 o'clock at night, to sing and pray without being hindered by their enemies. When the merchant got to Lyons he sent the Testaments and some Tracts, which were acknowledged in a letter soon after, by the good widow with whom he had conversed.

The reader is referred for a translation of this letter, and a fuller account of this true and interesting history, to a tract just published by the Religious Tract Society.

AN ADDRESS TO THE YOUNG,

In behalf of the poor Heathen.

DEAR CHILDren,

I wish to tell you, that more than six hundred millions of your fellow-creatures know nothing of the blessed God, who made you and them; and have never heard the joyful news of that dear Redeemer who came down to bleed and die for us. Many of them, therefore, are worshipping great blocks of wood and stone, cut into horrid forms. Others have nothing but the name of a god, written in great letters, which they worship. Some worship the stars, and others the beasts.

But as prayers to false gods will never give peace to the conscience, they try to get pardon for their sins by torturing their bodies. One vows to keep his fist shut, till the nails. grow through the back of his hand. Another hangs himself by the middle of the body on an iron hook. Many offer up their children to a river, which they worship as a god, by putting the poor little creatures into baskets, and throwing them into the water to be cat by crocodiles. Others put their children, as soon as they are born, into trees, and there leave them to be destroyed by insects and birds of prey. Not a few burn widows alive along with the corpses of their dead husbands. Even the children are forced by the priests to bring their poor widowed mothers to the fire. Some bring their old parents, when sick, to the banks of a river at low water, and leave them there, that when the tide rises, it may wash them away: and others even eat them! O could you see such things, surely you would say, "Lord, I ascribe it to thy grace, And not to chance, as others do; That I was born of Christian race, And not a heathen, or a Jew :'

"For had I been born in the dark parts of the world, I might not have been alive now, but might have been given to the river Ganges, and my body might have been buried in the belly of some crocodile. Or my father might have died, and then my dear mother, instead of tenderly cherishing me, as she now does, might have been burnt alive; and I never should have had her dying shrieks out of my ears, and should always have fancied I saw her burning to a cinder. My grandfather and grandmother, who are now so fond of me, might have been left to die in the water, when sick, or have been eaten up by the rest of the family. Instead of this, I have many friends about me, who are made kind to me by the religion of Jesus. I am not hearing horrid tales of false gods, or crying out at the sight of the monstrous ugly idols; but am told of a blessed and glorious God, who fills heaven and earth, and of a dear Redeemer, who died to save me from hell, which my sins have deserved. I have the Bible which tells me all about Jesus, and shews the way to heaven. I have parents, teachers, and ministers, who love my soul, and long to see me holy and happy."

Then do you not wish that the poor heathen should be made as happy as you are, and be made to know your Sa

viour? Dear children, they may, if Missionaries are sent to preach to them. The Missionary Societies wish to make the Saviour known through all the world. But they have not Missionaries enough or money enough:-for it costs large sums to send to the other end of the world. Are you not saying-"I wish I could help them ?" But you can. Have you not now and then some pocket-money, which you spend upon toys, fruit, or cakes, which you do not need, and which often hurt you? Could you not save some of this money every year, and, putting together what each of you saves, send it to the Missionary Society? If you were only to give a shilling or two a year a piece, or, a half-penny or a penny a week, it would soon make a guinea; and such a sum from every school in England would make some hundreds. This would send one Missionary or more, who might preach the Gospel to thousands of poor Heathen. Thus you would honour the Lord with your little substance and the first-fruit of your increase; which is pleasing to him, and which he has promised to bless in his Providence. Thus also you would shew your gratitude to your dear Redeemer, for giving you friends to lead you to him, instead of leaving you to be murdered in sacrifice to some filthy idol.

Surely you are now saying, "the thought of this is sweeter than any cakes. We will make a subscription directly, and send it to the Missionary Society, that it may encourage the good people, when they see even children helping them."

May you, my dear children, early begin to help forward Christ's kingdom upon earth, and have the happiness when you die, of meeting some redeemed heathen in heaven, whom you helped to bring to the knowledge of salvation!

NOTICES.

Communications have been received from Scholasticus, A Constant Reader, a Friend in Hull, and Urbane. The request of the latter will, if possible, be attended to.

Just published, by the Editor, Prayers for the Poor TO USE IN PRIVATE; Fourth Edition.-Price one penny, or, twenty-five for 1s. 10d.

Printed and sold by A. Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale.

Price 7s. per hundred.

FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. XLIV.]

MAY, 1822.

PRICE ONE PENNY.

[VOL. IV.

PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. FOSTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE ;

And sold by L. B. Seeley, 169 Fleet Street, London; by R. M. Timms, 85 Grafton Street, Dublin; and by the Edinburgh Religious Tract Society, at their Depository in East Register Street, Edinburgh: of whom may be had, in neat, stiff, printed covers, Vols. 1, 2, and 3; price one shilling and fourpence each: also the two first volumes bound together in sheep and lettered; price three shillings and fourpence.

BLIND HETTY.

(A true account of a poor woman, as related by herself to a friend, in her own simple language.)

I have sent for you, Hetty, to talk with you. I wish to have some account of you, both before and after you begun to seek the Lord. Were you born blind, and have you always lived at W-?

Hetty-No, I was born near W~; and lost my sight when I was turned seven years old: it was through the small pox. Hey dear! you canna think what a deal I suffered, and my poor mother too! I do think it was the death of her; for her took a fret at the loss of my eyes, and never looked up after. Her used to look at us with tears, and say, "I shall see you all able to get your own living bat Hetty; and she'll be sure to come to the workhouse; and God only knowS what is to befal her there."

Well, Hetty, if your mother could have known as God knows, she would not have grieved so : for there you were to enjoy real happiness; and

E