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quished, without great criminality on the part of the Christian community.

Various Notices.

4. An interesting young man called upon me at my room, and an hour passed in conversation upon the nature of the new-birth as distinct from baptism, morality, or external sanctity.

7. Visited the French Consul, and dined with him. He spake decidedly in favor of the efforts, which are making to distribute the holy Scriptures in the common Greek. Few, he remarked, understood the Testament in the ancient language. This remark is made by every intelligent Greek, and still the church service, the prayers, the singing, the reading of the Testament, are in the ancient language. Thousands attend service for years, and remain almost as ignorant of the Bible as the heathen.

9. Visited the Greek bishop of Samos. He was too much engaged in public business to devote much time to conversation. The day was devoted to a review of the troops stationed for the defence of the island. After the soldiers were arranged, the bishop and priests read prayers for more than an hour. Returned to the house of the Consul, and found a young man waiting for me. He made inquiries with regard to the Lancasterian system of education.

18. A respectable gentleman, directly from Rhodes, informed us, that sixty pilgrims had been beheaded at the port of Rhodes. Very probably, among them were some, to whom I have read the holy Scriptures, and who are, in this awful manner, called to give an account.

25. A Greek priest of some distinction gave me the following statement, with regard to all the churches and monasteries of Šamos. Monasteries on the island, 15;— monks, 100;-churches, 300;-priests, 150, -villages, 38;-in Vati, the principal village, are 1000 houses, and 8 churches.

Removes from Samos to Syra.

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18 miles. At 3 o'clock, came to an anchor in the port of Syra.

Syra, July 2. Dined with the English Vice Consul of Syra. The captain of the Genoese vessel, in which I took a passage from home, concluded to set sail for Smyrna, instead of returning to Tino. For this reason, I accepted of the invitation of the English Consul to reside in his family, till the vessel returned with information from brother Fisk. Syra is under the special protection of the French flag, and affords a safe retreat from the noise and alarms of the present war.

10. With regard to the fruits of this island, we have already ripe for use, apricots, plums and pears. In a few days there will be an abundance of figs and grapes.

Interview with a Catholic Priest.

15. Accompanied the Consul to a Catholic church, to hear a sermon from the bishop. We arrived at an early hour, and were invited into the apartment of one of the principal priests. Immediately was introduced the subject of the "Catholic catechism for children." The inquiry was made, why the second commandment was omitted, and, to make out a full number, the tenth divided into two? He replied, "What you call the second commandment, is only a part of the first, and the tenth contains two distinct subjects, and should be kept separate. Besides, in forming our catechism, we designed to give only the substance." I assured him I was not satisfied with this explanation, and that, in forming a book for youth, the commandments should be presented word for word as they are in the Bible.

After this, the subject of Bibles was introduced, and with pleasure I heard him remark, that the Italian translation, made by Antonio Martini, a Catholic priest, was without an error. At ten o'clock we were called to the church. The bishop, after a few prayers, took a seat a little elevated above the assembly, and read the 20th verse of the 5th chapter of Matthew, first in Latin, and then in Greek. Closing the Bible, he began a discourse, in modern Greek, upon the religion of the Pharisees; and inquired if there were not many, at the present day, whose religion consists in forms, and not in the heart. After sermon, about 20 children were presented to receive the sacrament of the holy oil. The bishop, dipping his thumb in oil, laid it on the forehead of the child, and pronounced the name of the sacred Trinity. I have inquired of several priests concernquence of a violent wind, we could noting the import of these ceremonies. enter the port, and the captain directed his They reply, "It is the regulation of the

28. I have been advised to take a short voyage without delay, as the best means of restoration to health. A vessel is now in port, bound to Tino, and I have engaged a passage, with the expectation of sailing in the morning.

29. At an early hour, left Samos in a Genoese vessel. Made but little progress on our voyage during the day.

30. A little past noon, came in sight of the principal village of Tino. In conse

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course for Syra, an island distant from Tina "church."

Tract for the Pilgrims.

28. Passed the day in preparing a tract to be called "The Holy Week," for the use of pilgrims of all denominations at Jerusalem. It is to contain a scriptural account of all the transactions of our Savior during "the holy week." It is to be

merely extracts from a work highly approved by the Catholics, with this difference, that the characters are changed from the Roman to the Greek. This tract may be approved by Catholic pilgrims, which will render it more acceptable to pilgrims of all denominations.

[Here the journal was interrupted by the severe and dangerous sickness of Mr. Parsons, of which a brief account was published in our April number, p. 111.]

Reflections on the two past years.

Nov. 3. Two years to-day, since we' sailed from Boston.-Two years of repeated afflictions; and yet, in view of what has been done for us, we are constrained to say, two years of loving kindness and of tender mercy. If we have not realized all that could be wished, we have received greater encouragement than we feared. The exertions, which have been made in the distribution of tracts and of Testaments, we trust, will not be in vain. The oppor

30. After much deliberation as to the most prudent method of passing the summer, I concluded it was duty to dismiss my interpreter, and reside alone in the fam-tunities, which have been given us for seily of the English Consul. This arrangement will greatly diminish my expenses, and give me a better opportunity to pursue my studies. As soon as the heat of the season is past, I hope to set sail for Palestine, and till then, shall have no occasion for an attendant. In the morning made known to George, my interpreter, my intention, paid him in full for his services, and dismissed him.

Aug. 3. Yesterday visited a Catholic priest, who has been employed in the fami

rious conversation upon the essential doc trines of the Gospel with many immortal beings, demand our gratitude and unceas ing praise. We rejoice in view of the past, and we trust, through the prayers of many, that we shall see greater things than these.

Sails for Smyrna.

21. At an early hour this morning, with a gentle breeze in our favor, set sail from Syra for Smyrna. The weather was dely of the French Ambassador at Constanti-lightful beyond any thing we had seen for nople. His remarks, respecting the objections of infidels to the Scriptures, were judicious and instructive. "They arise," he said, "from two facts, ignorance of the geography of the country, and of the customs of the people."

12. Sabbath. Passing through the streets of the village, on my way to the Catholic church, I observed every article of provision offered for sale, as on other days.

16. A priest inquired of me, in what respects the Testaments of the Protestants differed from those of the Catholics. This led to a long conversation on the subject of an extensive distribution of the holy Scriptures. We have, I remarked, the ancient Greek Testament,-the Catholics have the same; we have the Italian Testament, translated by a Catholic priest,-you have the same, and pronounce it to be a correct translation from the Latin; we have the Arabic Psalter, the Catholics approve of this translation. Now here are three books, which Catholics, Protestants, and Greeks receive as parts of the Word of God.

17. Found a part of a modern Greek Testament in the room of a Catholic priest. We read several chapters together, and compared them with the London edition of the Greek Testament. He remarked, "There is no difference. The one approved by the Catholics, and the one approved by the Protestants, are without errors." VOL. XVIIL

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months. Thus, after a delay of more than a month, and after frequent disappointments, the path of duty was made plain. The accommodations on board the vessel are excellent, and a very warm apartment is appropriated exclusively for my use during the voyage.

22. Off Tino,-wind in our favor,several vessels in sight. In the morning, supplied the officers of the vessel with religious tracts in the French language. They read them attentively, and the clerk of the ship was much interested with the tract called, "Short method with Deists." He is a Catholic, but he remarked, "Christians of all denominations must approve of this, It is well calculated to do good in this country." He accepted of a copy, which I had with me for the purpose of perusing it frequently. At evening, were prayers on deck. The sailors were all arranged in order, and, with much solemnity repeated the Lord's prayer, the ten commandments, and offered prayers to the Vir gin Mary. But the same officers, who led the prayers of the evening with the utmost external sanctity, during the day, repeatedly denounced the most dreadful curses on the sailors. Surely this people draweth near to God with the mouth, while the heart is far from him,

Scio, 26, Sabbath. The President of the principal Catholic monastery in Scio called upon me, and in conversation said,

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"We permit women only to read the Testament in modern Greek and in Italian. If the priests have it, they will not study the original language. And besides, if every man reads the Testament, every man will form his own opinion, and thus render ineffectual the institutions of the priests."

29. Early this morning left the port of Scio for Smyrna. The wind unfavorable, but the cold moderate. An Italian traveller took passage with us, and passed his leisure hours in reading religious tracts, which I presented to him.

Arrives at Smyrna.

Dec. 3. At 6, set sail for the port, and at one o'clock, brother Fisk arrived on board the ship. In view of the afflictions of the past year, our meeting was rendered deeply affecting to us both. May it tend to quicken us in our work, and prepare us for more vigorous exertions in the cause of Christ. Passed the night with brother Fisk at the house of Messrs. Vanlennep, and united together in observance of the monthly concert.

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4. This afternoon took the room in the house of Mr. Werry, the English Consul, || which was occupied by the late British Chaplain. On the 14th of December, 1820, I left the same room for a voyage to Jerusalem. On the 4th of December, 1821, I took up my residence in the same apartThe year is past, and my first mission to the holy city is sealed up to the final judgment.

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hoped and believed, though I apprehend brother Parsons had less hope of it, than any one who knew him.

His symptoms continued favorable, till day before yesterday; and our hopes were rather brightened. Then his diarrhea returned, though not severely; and the physician said it would be easy to cure it. Yesterday it was worse, and he was weaker than I had ever seen him. My apprehensions respecting a fatal termination of his disorder, were greatly excited. He conversed on the subject with his usual serenity, referring the event continually to the will of God, as he has always been accustomed to do. Last evening, we spent a most precious hour in reading the Scriptures, prayer, and conversation. We read John 14th, and conversed some time about the 27th verse. "Peace I leave with you,' &c. After conversing about an hour, I told him it was necessary that he should stop and take some rest. He replied, "I feel as though I could converse two hours longYou don't know how refreshing these seasons are to me." He then fell asleep, and I sat down to write. I soon heard him saying in his sleep,-"the goodness of God-growth in grace-fulfilment of the promises-só God is all in heaven, and all on earth."-After sleeping a while, he awoke; and seemed about as usual at that hour. I proposed sitting by his side through the night; but he insisted on my going to bed; said he felt as though he should have a very quiet night; and as his attendant always slept near him, and awoke at the least word or motion, he urged me to retire to rest. About 11 o'clock I bid him good night, and wished that God might put underneath him the arms of everlasting mercy. He replied, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him."

er.

These, my dear Sir, were the last words that I ever heard that beloved brother speak, the last, that I shall hear him, until I hear him speak in the language of immortality. Twice, while I slept, he awoke, and told Antonio, his servant, that he had slept very quietly, and felt easy and well. At half past three Antonio heard him speak, or groan, and started up. He saw something was the matter, and called me. I was by the bed side in a moment. what a heart-rending noment was that! He was gasping for breath, unable to speak, and apparently insensible to all around him. I stood by his side and attempted to revive him, but in vain. I sent in haste for the physician, but did not obtain him. Nor do I suppose it would have been of any use whatever, if he had come. evident, that he was dying. I attempted to commend his departing spirit to that Redeemer, on whom he had believed. I press

It was

ed his hand, and kissed his quivering lips, and spoke to him; but he gave me no answer, not even a look, or a motion. He took no notice of me, or of any thing around him. His appointed time had arrived. He continued to breathe till a quarter past four. Then the muscles of his face were knit together, as if he was in pain. It was the dying struggle. It was the dissolution of the last ties that united soul and body. It was the soul breaking off its last fetters. His features then be

emotions in the friends of Zion. Most tenderly will they sympathize with that beloved missionary, who was thus suddenly deprived of his true yoke-fellow, and left alone in a land of strangers; and with no less tenderness will they mingle their tears with those of the be. loved parents, who, for reasons such as in this world we can seldom fully comprehend, have been called to this afflictive loss.

We would, however, remark,--that the

His breath stopped. language of this, or of any similar providence,

came placid again.
His pulse ceased to beat. His soul took
its immortal flight.

After the first pang of separation, I stood pensive by the corpse, thinking of the scenes which were opening to his view. O what glories! O what glories!

I turned my thoughts to myself, and found my heart sink and faint. But I have not room here to describe the emotions, that agitated my breast.

A little while after, as there was no person with me who understood English, I read a chapter, and prayed in Greek with Antonio, and then we dressed the body for the grave.

Early in the forenoon, Mr. Lee, the Consul, called on me, and kindly offered to see that all necessary arrangements were made for the funeral. He said, that in this climate it was necessary to bury soon, to prevent putrefaction. On this account he thought it necessary that the funeral should be to-day. Four o'clock was accordingly appointed. All the English gentlemen resident in the place, six or seven in number, the captains of several English ships, and a great number of merchants, principally Maltese, attended the funeral. The consul walked with me next to the coffin, and the others, 60 or 70 in number, followed in procession to the Greek convent, where the few English who reside here, bury their dead. At the grave, I read some verses from Job xiv, Ps. xxxix, 1 Cor. xv, and Rev. xxi, xxii, and then made a short address, and closed with prayer. We then committed the dust to its kindred dust, there to await the archangel's trumpet.

To me the stroke seems almost insupportable. Sometimes my heart rebels; and sometimes I hope it acquiesces in the will of God. I desire your prayers, that I may not faint when the Lord rebukes me. With a heart overflowing with grief, I subscribe, yours affectionately,

PLINY FISK.

This simple and affecting narrative of the closing scene to the labors of that faithful servant of Christ, whose early departure we are now called to mourn, will excite the liveliest

is not that of discouragement. He, to whom all power in heaven and on earth is committed, has certainly more regard for Zion, and for the attempts, however feeble, which are made, in obedience to his command, to render her the joy of all lands, than the most holy of his saints can ever have; and will by no means suffer a permanent injury to befal her. In this truth, we find the common refuge of God's people, in every age when the Church has been afflicted.,

MISSION AT BOMBAY.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR.
HALL.

March 17, 1821. The return of the Holeo, an annual holy-day, and one of the greatest abominations among the Hindoos, is now filling every street, day and night, with the confused din of music, and shouts of the most degrading revelry. Business has been, for several days, almost entirely suspended. It is with difficulty that our schools are continued.

I have addressed people in various parts of the town to-day. In one place the number was considerable.

Interview with Mahommedans.

18. Sabbath. Meetings to-day as usual; and this evening I have held a second conference with a company of respectable Mahommedans. Some time ago, I distributed among them several copies of Matthew's Gospel, which they have read. The other day, as I was passing that way, they invited me in, for the purpose of conversing on religious subjects. They brought foward the Gospel, and a book of their own, which they said contained all the prophets. They began with our Savior's conception, and, as Matthew's account of it did not agree with their own, they wished me to reconcile the two. I told them I should not undertake to reconcile the Christian Scriptures with the Coran; that if the Bible was true, the Goran was false; and if the Coran

was true, the Bible was false; both could not be true. I desired them to search out the true one. "Do you think, then," said they, "that the Coran is false?" "Certainly," I replied. "What are your reasons for thinking so?" I told them,

1. That Mahommed was a mere man, and wrought no miracles to prove that he was sent of God; and, therefore, there was no reason for believing that he was a true prophet.

2. He and his followers propagated his religion, not by persuasion, but by warfare, and that too, on the principles of covetousness, lust, ambition, and revenge; which were in accordance with all the depraved passions of man; and in direct hostility to all the precepts of the pure religion of Christ, which is holy as God is holy, and requires all men to be holy and harmless as its divine Author.

To this they listened with unexpected calmness and patience. But as I concluded, their chief speaker replied, that it was not altogether by warfare that Mahommed propagated his religion, but that he wrought many miracles. At one time he called on the people to embrace the faith; but they required a sign that he was sent from God, and, at his word, the moon was rent in twain before their eyes.

I objected, and told them that he disclaimed all power of working miracles, and that the Coran recorded no miracles of his. I desired them to inquire of their most learned men, and learn whether I had not stated the truth. They engaged to consider the matter, and wished me to call again, which I engaged to do. The general spirit, with which the conference was conducted, was very pleasing.

Addresses a company of Hindoos.

19. Addressed a company of Hindoos, who were assembled for the worship of one of their idol gods. I exhorted them to repent and turn to the worship of the true God. They listened silently, and, as I thought, showed some symptoms of shame and compunction. Surely, when these captives are set free from the adamantine chains, which now so firmly hold them in - servitude to satan, the triumph will be peculiarly glorious to our King and Savior.To-day I have been employed in writing an address to the Mussulmauns, in Hindostanee. The scope of it is, "Christ contrasted with Mahommed."

Second Interview with the Mahommedans.

20. Called, as I promised, at the place where I had a conference with a company of Mussulmauns. They still maintained, that Mahommed wrought miracles. I point

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ed out to them several chapters in the Coran, where he disclaims all power of working miracles. I desired them to examine farther, and inquire after the truth. I lent them a manuscript copy of the tract enti tled, "The Heavenly Way," which I have translated into Hindostanee. To the tract was also appended a form of prayer in Hindostanee. They promised to read it.

Some days ago I received a letter from the Jewish schoolmaster at Pane, a town on the continent containing about 18,000 inhabitants, mostly Hindoos. He had collected 36 boys in his school, and expected more after the holy-days. He wished me to send him some books for distribution, as frequent inquiry was made for them. I sent him a large number, and wrote him a letter, exhorting him to attend himself to the great salvation; to give books to all, who desired them, provided they could read; and to disperse them, as he had opportunity, in the neighboring towns; and told him, that when his present supply was exhausted, he should be furnished with more.

21. In the afternoon, went among the people as usual, and addressed the word of life to several companies of people in different places. In one place, more than a hundred were present, and there I had to encounter the contradiction of sinners against our dear Redeemer.

Lapsed Catholics.

22. I addressed two companies of the lapsed Catholics. In the largest company there were more than twenty of these people. They are fast learning to use the Hindoo sophistry in defence of their idolatry. I called on one very aged Roman Catholic, with whom I have several times conversed. When, among other things, I urged on him the duty of abstaining from all labor on the Sabbath, he objected, and said, in the manner of the Hindoos, "How then shall our bellies be filled?" O, that light may soon spring up in the midst of this darkness!

25. Three men came to unite with our family at our morning service. Eleven natives, men and boys, attended the Mahratta service. I afterwards took my usual circuit in town, and fell in with large numbers of people, whom I addressed.

Third Interview with the Mahommedans.

Called on the Mussulmauns, where I had before held conferences, and lent the tract. The number collected was soon increased to about fifty. As I entered the place and gave them a friendly salutation, they seemed agitated, and some immediately desired me not to come among them,

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