Unchang'd through time's all-devastating flight; Thou only Gon! There is no God beside! Who fill'st existence with Thyself alone: In its sublime research, Philosophy There is no weight nor measure: none can mount Up to Thy mysteries; Reason's brightest spark, Though kindled by thy light, in vain would try Even like past moments in eternity. Thou from primeval nothingness didst call Sole origin:all life, all beauty Thine. Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate! Thy chains the unmeasured universe sur round, Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspir'd with breath! Thou the beginning with the end hast bound, And as the spangles in the sunny rays A million torches, lighted by Thy hand, All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss. What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light A glorious company of golden streams- beams! But Thou to these art as the noon to night. Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, What are ten thousand worlds compar'd to Thee? And what am I then 2 Heaven's unnumber'd host, Though multiplied by myriads, and array'd Nought! But the effluence of Thy light Pervading worlds, hath reach'd my bosom too; Yes! in my spirit doth Thy Spirit shine, Just on the boundaries of the spirit-land! The chain of being is complete in me; I can command the lightning, and am dust! lously Constructed and conceiv'd? unknown! this clod Lives surely through some higher energy; CREATOR! yes, Thy wisdom and Thy word 'Midst Thy vast works, admire, obey, adore; And when the tongue is eloquent no more, The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude. MISSIONARY NOTICES, Relating principally to the FOREIGN MISSIONS carried on under the direction of the METHODIST CONFERENCE. CEYLON. Extracts from the Journal of Mr. OSBORNE, at Batticaloa, from October 26, 1819. A procession able fully to ascertain to what profession this ceremony belongs: but I am led to think that it is partly mahometan, and partly heathen. Ο that they were better acquainted with that GOD in whose hands are the issues of life and of death! 30. Last night and this morning my mind has been peculiarly impressed with the nearness of death, and the importance of eternity. I have had such a sense of the presence of the invisible world as nearly overwhelmed my soul, and led me to hope that the time was near when I should join the heavenly family. I had the assurance of hope: I felt a large degree of the blessedness of being a child of God: I thought and questioned, upon what ground do I feel that happiness? By nature I am a fallen soul; by my reiterated sins I have dishonoured God; but JESUS HAS DIED! This, this is the ground of my joy; the blood of CHRIST has atoned for my sins; and even now I feel it cleanseth me from all unrighteousness. This is firm footing. JESUS my foundation is, This shall stand, and only this." I feel dead to all below, but a desire to do good to the souls of men. The small-pox is drawing very near our habitation, and my two dear babes are exposed, and I believe myself also; and no vaccine matter can be procured in the district. But I am without fear; the LORD can preserve us. 31. Last night, while walking on the Esplanade about nine o'clock, I was attracted to a certain spot by some very loud talking. Upon advancing I saw a company of Moormen (Mahometans) marching slowly along, repeating certain prayers.→→ They were preceded by an aged * 2 Y * priest in long white robes. I was particularly struck upon coming up to him, to find that he had a naked broad-sword in his hand, the edge of which he pressed against his upper lip. After a few minutes he stood still; and when the company surrounded him, he, in a very solemn manner, and in a low-toned voice, repeated short sentences; at the end of each, the company shouted, ami. When they turned from the place, I saw a Tamul man at a short distance, of whom I enquired what was the nature of this ceremony. He said, because a bad sickness, was at hand, they performed this ceremony, as they expected GOD would spare them for it. This piece of folly reminds me of what I saw at Jaffna, when the Cholera Morbus was so prevalent there. The people sacrificed so many fowls and sheep, that we had to pay treble the price to procure them, till the Collector actually interfered to prevent it. Every white fowl was purchased by them at any price. Lord, help us to turn the minds of this people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GOD! What an advantage to be born in a Christian land! Our very prejudices are in favour of the truth. Our education is Christian. We have more knowledge than this people. Oh that we were proportionably wise and good! I read prayers and preached this morning from "If any of you lack wisdom," &c. I experienced much pleasure and profit in explaining and enforcing this encouraging and interesting passage of Scripture to a large congregation. May the LORD give the increase! Nov. 5. I have made greater progress in Tamul this day than in any one before; therefore, this has been a good day. My soul has been much profited by reading a part of Bishop Taylor's "Holy Living." This book was made a great blessing to me about four years ago. I copied from it some directions then, which I have found it profitable to follow ever since. 10. Going up the lake to-day in a small boat, I had an opportunity of talking with the Coolies who rowed it. There were three men. I asked them of what religion they were. One answered that he was a Roman Catholic; the other two that they were heathens. I asked the Roman Catholic the difference between his religion and theirs? he answered that he did not know. Ques. How then do you know you are a Roman Catholic, and that these are heathens?---No answer. Ques. Who taught you your religion? Ans. I was never taught. Ques. Then your religion has done you no good. Do you believe you have a soul? Ans. Yes. Ques. (To the heathen,) Do you? Yes. Ques. Will your souls live after your bodies are dead? Ans. (All,) Yes. Ques. Will they be happy or miserable? Ans. (All,) Some will be happy, and some not; good men will be happy, and bad men miserable. Ques. Well, that is true; but what must a man do in order to be good? Ans. (A heathen,) Love all men, and do good to all. Ques. That is very good; but do you do this? Ans. No: but we know it is good to do it.-I was particularly struck with this remark of a heathen. Dec. 5. I had a large congregation at the English preaching, and, for the first time in Batticaloa, saw some of the congregation in tears. 7. I visited the sick soldiers in the hospital, and found some who were not ignorant of the Gospel. I often meet with soldiers, both officers and privates, whose parents were members in our society, and who have spent much of their youth among religious people. Our preaching in Ceylon has brought many such into the ways of God, who are now steady members among us. 12. Lord's-day. We had no public service, in consequence of heavy rains. 24. I have had some conversation with a young Modelier, who, I believe, has some degree of the fear of GOD before his eyes. I have invited him to the class-meeting, for which he is very thankful. His public character is excellent. He is very desirous of religious instruction. 27. This evening, in conjunction with the sitting Magistrate, I proposed setting on foot a Benevolent Society, and have a prospect of success. Jan. 2, 1820. I was alarmed this morning, about two o'clock, by the falling down of a part of my house; very providentially it was not the part in which we slept. My greatest loss is a part of my winter's stores. The rains are still very heavy, and I am apprehensive that still more of the house will fall. The houses here are all built with unburnt brick, which dissolves upon the touch of water. 18. This morning a Benevolent Society was commenced, in support of which the gentlemen of the place came forward with much spirit. I can labour in this work with pleasure, having seen the good effects of a similar society in Jaffna. At the same meeting this morning, the subscribers to the Bible Society formed themselves into a little society, which 19. My little class met again as NEW SOUTH WALES. Extract from the Journal of Mr. LAWRY, dated Sydney, July 30, 1820. July 17. On Friday last, I attended three men to their execution: they astonished every body, so contrary was their end to that of most others who have been hanged at Sydney. About a week before the day appointed for their death, they discovered very little contrition for sin. I paid sedulous attention to them, and so did several of our society. The poor culprits appeared to become truly penitent. Many thousands of persons witnessed their death, whom they addressed with considerable energy, and at some length. Before they Extract of a Letter from Mr. I finished my last sheet with an extract from my journal, and will begin this with another. August 24. Twelve men have been executed this session; and I attended the last of them yesterday to the gallows. They discovered evident ascended the platform, we sung a LAWRY, dated August 26, 1820. marks of contrition. D * 2 Y 2 * SOUTH AFRICA. We mentioned some time ago, that Mr. SHAW had undertaken a journey to the Great Orange River, and to some tribes beyond it, in order to explore the interior in that direction, and to avail himself of any opening which might offer for the further spread of the Gospel. The following are extracts from his Journal, and will, we are persuaded, give great pleasure both as they relate to a part of Africa but little known to Europeans, and as they shew how easy it is to extend Missionary operations in a direction still nearer to those interior tribes who have been for a long period out of the reach of Christian instruction and influence. The enterprize, difficulties, and perseverance of the excellent men who made this journey for purposes so truly laudable, and the union of affection and effort among Missionaries of different religious societies, will commend them to the esteem and prayers of all real Christians. I consider it a duty incumbent upon me, to transmit to you the following extracts from my Journal; and also a short account of the Great Namacquas. I am aware that Vaillant, Barrow, Patterson, and others, have written respecting this people, and their country; but as none of them were ever there, it cannot be expected that their statements should be very correct thus all of them have been mistaken respecting the extent of their country, as it lies several degrees more to the northward than they had supposed. The narrative, presented for your perusal, was written whilst travelling in Great Namacqua-land, and consists of a brief statement of facts.-I might have enlarged respecting the more northern and eastern tribes, but accounts received from the natives are so frequently of a contradictory nature, that little dependence can be placed upon them. I doubt not, however, but that Missionaries will gradually explore those unknown regions, and eventually publish the Gospel to every nation on the continent of Africa. March 25th, 1820. All being in readiness for our going to Great Namacqua-land, we bade farewell to Brother and Sister Archbell, as also to the congregation of Little Namacquas, and departed. The usual salute was fired on the rising ground near the institution, after which we drove forward with all possible speed. May the choicest blessings of divine grace descend upon teacher and people during our absence; and may we, who again go forth into the wilderness, continue under the care of Him who is every where present "In the void waste as in the city full." 26. Held divine service amongst a mixed race of people, at a place called the Kail, (or Den.) Our route in the afternoon was through a kloof (defile) between two large mountains. The road was so extremely rugged, that we were necessitated to walk a considerable part of the stage, and feared much that our waggon would have been dashed to pieces. Most of the roads in this part of the Colony are very bad, but particularly the passes of mountains: no respect whatever is paid to public convenience, but each gets over a dangerous place as well as he can, and those who follow are left to do the same. In one of these difficult descents, a part of a broken waggon was lying on the side of a rock, which we beheld as a beacon, warning us to proceed on with caution. In the bed of a narrow river, where we halted in the evening, a sufficiency of water was procured. The surrounding mountains, whose jagged summits resembled battlements and towers, had a grand appearance by the light of the moon. 27. Our path wound along between two enormous ridges of solid rock, whose steep sides projected like so many lines of masonry: the heat, increased by the reflection of the sun's rays from the sides of the mountains, was intensely great. About mid |