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in my district, who had recently professed a desire to receive Christian instruction. By threats to rob their houses-threats which were carried into effect in numerous instances and by various other methods of annoyance, many of the people were induced to backslide. But as bringing every one to Trichendoor was hopeless, operations were commenced in the different villages; and, to show a bold front, a crowd of about 500 persons assembled within a mile of my house, and threatened to rob the village in which I live. Prayer-houses were violently pulled down— houses robbed-Catechists and people turned out by force from Places of Worship, persecuted with false complaints, and unjustly treated by the subordinate Heathen officers of Government, whose duty it was to protect them.

The Rev. P. P. Schaffter, in his Report of the Northern District for the half-year ending December 1841, thus describes one instance of violence which occurred in his district :

:

While some of the Catechists and other Christians of the Zemindary of Oottoomaley had met together at Kamanoor for the purpose of edification, a troop of armed men, led by the head-man of the Zemindar, surrounded and entered the Church in which they were assembled, and flogged and illtreated them-one of them, the old Catechist Ignatius, to such a degree, that his life was for some time in great danger. I saw the poor man three days afterward. He was in the greatest pain, unable to move, breathing with difficulty, and expectorating blood in consequence of some internal injuries he had received. The Zemindar's party had no sooner performed this iniquitous act, than they preferred a complaint to the Tahsildar, accusing our people of robbery and some other great crimes. The affair at last came before the English Authorities, who, notwithstanding the great influence and deeply-laid plan of the adversaries, were able, by a long and thorough investigation, to arrive at the truth. Our people were honourably acquitted; and the adversaries were punished as they deserved.

The EFFECT of these persecutions, as in all similar cases, has been two-fold-discriminating, and puri

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fying. It has caused some to draw back: it has been the means of calling into exercise, and strengthening, the graces of others. The Missionaries of the Palamcottah District observe, in their Report for the half year ending December 31, 1841

It has, however, been no small comfort, to find that many, even of the new people, remain stedfast, notwithstanding all these difficulties; and that the mobs did not attack the older congregations: indeed, they scarcely seem to have calculated upon the probability of driving them away from the refuge of the Christian Church. We are moreover truly thankful to say, that, notwithstanding all who have been forced back, a very large increase remains over last year's account of souls brought regularly under the influence of Christian truth and the daily means of grace. We believe, too, that this trial has been and will be of great service to the Christian congregations—in teaching them the source of their strength, quiet confidence in the Lord, and patient suffering for His sake.

Another good effect has been, an evident sympathy throughout the Christian Body for those thus exposed to trial, extending wherever the news of the opposition had reached; and thus we trust that unity of feeling, termed "the communion of saints," has been promoted by these afflictions. One instance of this is worthy of being mentioned here:-A Christian of long standing, a communicant of excellent character, lately died, giving good evidence of faith and hope. When dangerously ill, he became delirious, and the great subject of his wanderings was the disturbance at Yeraal, the successful violence of the Heathen, and the loss of the new people.-To this we could add many more instances of the deep interest taken by the Christian People in the spread of the Gospel, and the conversion of the Heathen. And surely no man can regard this as a slight proof of the blessing of God upon the labours of His servants, and of the reality of their success.

On this subject Mr. Thomas also, in whose district the Inquirers were most numerous, and the opposition most fierce, remarks, in his Report previously quoted:

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About 1000 souls, after having come within the precincts of Mercy, were drawn, or rather forced back again to the region of the Curse; and may not, perhaps, ever have another opportunity afforded them of obtaining the salvation of their souls: for it usually happens, that backsliders become more hardened than the worst Heathen, and often prove the most violent opposers of the Gospel. There remain, however, of those who have recently come over from Heathenism, between 2000 and 3000; and as they are daily becoming more and more acquainted with Divine Truth, I have strong hope that they will continue stedfast. It is a gratifying fact, that none who had been any length of time under Christian instruction went back during our troubles, and not one baptized person. And I am thankful to say, that, notwithstanding these great and incessant troubles, the people have by no means relaxed in attention to their Catechisms, and to the usual means of grace: many have been approved as Candidates for Baptism. On Christmas Day I baptized 109 at Pragasapooram; and altogether, during the year, 246. Between 40 and 50 new Communicants have been admitted, and in every village there are persons now waiting to be received.

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THE RULE OF GIVING.

It has been frequently wished by Christians that there were some rule laid down in the Bible, fixing the proportion of their property which they ought to contribute to religious uses. This is as if a child should go to his father and say, Father, how many times in the day must I come to you with some testimony of my love? how often will it be necessary to show my affection for you ?" The father would of course reply, "Just as often as your feelings prompt you, my child, and no oftener."-Just so Christ says to His people, "Look at me, and see what I have done and suffered for you; and then give me just what you think I deserve : I do not wish any thing forced."

[Salter's Book of Illustrations.

CHURCH MISSIONARY

GLEANER.

No. 12.

DECEMBER, 1842. VOL. II.

THE NEED OF PRAYER IN BEHALF OF SINCERE CONVERTS.

SANCTIFICATION is a progressive work. There is a growth in grace, and an advancement in the divine life. It was by little and little that the enemies of God's people were to be driven out of the land of Canaan. In like manner, it is gradually, by a successive series of victories, that the soldier of Christ is enabled to overcome his remaining corruptions, and to triumph over his spiritual adversaries. Hence it follows, that in estimating the progress made in the heavenly warfare by any individual believer or body of Christians, it is most important to bear in mind the number and power of the foes, the deeply-rooted prejudices which had to be overcome, and the inveterate evil habits which had to be eradicated. A due consideration of this subject is also essential, to excite our sympathies, and to call forth our prayers, in behalf of the infant Churches recently gathered from among the Heathen.

With this view, the earnest attention of our Readers is called to the remainder of the Address of the Rev. T. Vores, the former part of which was inserted in our last Number.

Having spoken of the urgent necessity of prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in order to produce conviction of sin upon the minds of the

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INQUIRERS after Christian instruction, he thus proceeded to show the equal necessity for the same Divine influence, in order to stablish, strengthen, and settle the feeble graces of the SINCERE CONVERTS to the Faith of Christ :

It is a common notion, though plainly a mistaken one, that the early converts of our Missions are at once to exhibit all the matured graces of a Christian. The Committee of the Church Missionary Society, in commending to you such a Resolution as this, show you that such is not their opinion. They expect, that, in accordance with the experience of Apostolic times, the converts, even when sincere, will, for a long time, be but babes in Christ; and that it is absolutely needful that they should be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, in order that they may grow up to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. And surely, if we find it in our hearts to pray for those who are but inquirers, and stained as yet with so many prejudices and so many sins, we may well be the more disposed to pray for those who have already given some proofs that they are sincere converts.

Let me recal an instance, to show how greatly such persons need our prayers; how weak and feeble they are; and how hopeless it is to expect that the converts of Krishnaghur, Tinnevelly, and New Zealand should really adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, unless the Holy Spirit be abundantly given to them.

Mohesh Chunder Ghose, a native convert of Bengal, on one occasion addressed a large Meeting at the Anniversary of the Church Missionary Society in Calcutta. He was, there can be no doubt, a SINCERE convert, and he died, as well as lived, in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. He addressed the Meeting in the following manner:— "It is the custom of the Hindoos to bring up their children in lying and artifice. I was brought up in such a way that I did not know the difference between truth and falsehood; and this terrible habit has got so ingrained in my heart, that I cannot express to you, Christian friends"-appealing to them most touchingly-"how immense the difficulty with me is to eradicate this evil, which has, as it were, twined itself around my heart."

Now here is a plain proof that even a SINCERE convert