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. Arvixnn n ... . f
JOSEPH S. BAJOaß—ETfirrofi'.
• fM.I i' ’ ‘ it*. M L * - _ ,- A
VOL. XII.
TERMS-—PKR ANNUM. . .* . . ‘
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_j -i
j John *iii. s.—aVe commence in this
weeks paper the* republic,ation of a critical
essay bn this - uieniorablb passage of siirip
• turc, written.by thy President of our Uni-:
versify, some years since, and published in
Philadelphia in 1839. We heartily Concur
til the views of this passage given by J)r.
Dagg, ‘hpitifli wc are aware a respectable
portion of our-lire three ctiiertaiu irilferent
views from us in reference to it.
inlrrptrtiiliou of Jalin iii: j. • .
Exceptit liltin’ be. ‘Morn of water anil vs
IIIi. •Spirit, /it Kiiuibt inter the Aing
. . Horn of Ooil.
We propose to ascertain, by a simple add
direct application of the l;iWs-of interpreta
tion, tile sense of-this text.
I. I SI’S LOQIIKMH.
\\ itli a view to ascertain the renter I
signification of the principal terms I'utmd
in the text, we shall f'xaliihie fire ustislo
queoih with reference to them, or the'man*
tier in w hich they were usually emphned,
in the language, of the primitive times., .
I. I SI i> LOQUEN ill OF THE SA
CKED Khlll'TdKES.
ne'iT'tTThrriTS’ TA?|'>i itii ffrrv
ters claims out lirsl attention.
111-; Hokn, GiivNiiTiu:.
The following-are examples in wliioli
gennao is used in ils proper signification.
John iif. 4. How can a mail be born
w lieii he is old f Gun lie enter the second
lime into’liis mother’s woinli, and l> abcrijT
Malt; i,2. Atrt?rhafrt~- Srfitt Isaac ami
Isaac begat Jacob.
Luke f. 13, Thy wife Elizabeth shall
bfitf thee a'soil..
87. And she brought forth a son.
/.cell, xiii, 3 (Sept.) Ills father ami his
mother that•/<'"■([ him.
In.these anil similar examples, w c may
observe ihc following things:.-—l. This
wofd is applied to p:|renls only.—2: It is
.'■p|ilied to either parent, father or mother,’
indifferently.- 3. Il always signifies tile
production of existence.-—4. The- exis
tence •produced is always that of children.
The therefore in its proper significa
tion,-ibno/e* the agency if either parent
in the bringing of children into being.
The following are examples of the met
aphorical use of the same term.
2 Tun. ii. 23. Knowing that they do
gender sjrife.
1 Cor. iv. 15. In o!irit Jesus I have be
gotten you through the gospel.
I'hiiem. 10, Whom 1 have begotten in
my bonds.
John i, 12, 13. To them that believe
. . which wer eborii .... of God.
1 John ii. 29. Every one that ddfcli
righteousness is born of him.
*• iii, •!>. Whosoever is- -born - .of
God doth noicommit sin.
“ iv. 7) Every one that lovpth is
born of God.
“ , v. 1. . WliosocvcrbelicCetli. ~ •
is born of God : ami every one that lovetli
him that begat, lovetli him also that is be
gotten of him.
*• v. 4. Whatsoever is born of
God-, overcometh the world.
v. 18. Whosoever is burn of
God, someth not; but ho that is begotten
of God, kcepeth himself, and that wicked
one ioucheth him not.
In. the.first of these examples, the term
denote? the'canning of absolute, existence:
in all the resi, the euv.sing of a new-mode
or relation of existence.
As the text uiuler investigation is in the
writings of John, the iisus loqiicndi of this,
writer possesses the highest-authority in
determining the correct interptelaiion. We
observe, therefore, that John frequently
uses gennao lirtlli in tire literal and the met
aphorical sense that lie uses it in the
metaphorical sense oficner than any oiltffr
inspired writer:'and that .whcirhe uses it
in this sense, he always intends by it, (mi
les* the text under ‘ investigation is an ex
ception,) a great literal change of which
God is the author, and which is character
ized by producing faith, love, righteous
works, victory over the world, and prOser-’
vation from the power of the wicked one.
Water, HhdJtOs.
Huilor is used in its - literal sense, ill the
following passages:
Matt. jj|,. 11. I baptize you with water.
Joli'u’if. 7. Fill the water pots with water.
-•* xiii.-5. He poti'reth water into a
basin. - ■ .
There cart be no doubt about'thi! ‘sense,
-.in all stielt cxatiiples. _
-lil'the following example?, which arc all
THE CHRI ifIAN INDEX.
lake.if fr 91.11 the.waitings of John, the same
term ie\\sin\.me'ietpkoneul/i/.’ .
John tv. 10. If thou knewesl thegift of
God, and who k is thalsauh to thee, give
loidank; th'oii wonkiest have askeil of
liilfK and lie would have given thee living
wale)-. 7 .
” iv? 14. But -whosoever’ drinketh* of
(hit water tliat-I-elwll'give him, shall nevei
ill if si; but'the r(/er that I shall give him,
shall be jir liim a Well of water springing
up info everlasting hie. >.
’• . “ 38, 39. lie that believetb on me,
as the eeripnufe liatli said, out.of jiis JieHy
shall flow rivers of living water. But ibis
spake he of the Spirit, wKiph tliey that be
lieve on him should rfece ive': for the Holy
. Ghost was not yei,givcti; because that Je
i su& was nol.ycu'gliifified- - ’
-Rev. vir.T7. For tlie Lamb, which is in
the'mhfst of the throne, shaliffeed them,
qmf shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters : and Gpd shall wipe away all
tears'from tin ir eyes.
“ xxi, (i. 1 will give unto him that js
athirst of the fountain of ihe water of life,
freely. •’W- ‘'; “
“22: 1. And lie showed toe a pure
river of Ivaler i>f life,.clt ar aslerysud, piu
cecdiug itui el ‘the throne of Godi and -of
the. Lamb. . . ..
“ xxii. 17, And let liiui that is athirst
ebrue. Ami whosoever wi'/l, let him take
.the water of life IVcelv.
i In lii ‘se examples, water is regarded as
’ a poiahle liquid j, and ll.ie’fact, tlia'l, assueli,
•j it slakes thirst, administers enjoyment, and
jis necessary to life, is the foundation el
.the metaphor. The tiling intended, iiiev
eryhnsiatioc, apjiears lo Jio divine iulhi
ence.:. and if -t lie* method oi’ coin.iminicatym
may lie siipposed ‘ inilmaii. ii is nil inthi
\ rare from fbrd through Jesus Christ In/
\the liblp ; Spirit. • - . .'’
f Tiie p'lnral liudalawaiers’is iised. iiip'ro
! phetie si vie, hv the same writer, ltcv. xvii,
I. to denote a rnulliUide ol people: eoni
j pare ver. 15. The plural is also used hv
,j.other inspired writers, fir alllietious -as
I’salm l.\i,x. I.
i As to the general use- ol the .term.in the
y auu.ui.vbucikmi;tfb.i4.-iti itiin.u.nw-u.litußb-jii
|lv employed in the literal, than ill any |lg-
I ura-tive se-iise : and ivlkmi used figuratively,
.j it signifies, in die; plural, ahont half ‘tlie
times of ils oeeurehee, and-, in the singular,
.ahiiost alnays, sum o beneficial or gratifi/-
ing influence. ll derives this sigmfiealion
from its iinporlaiHf and neeessiiy |o holli
vegelithliMiiul aiiuuul hte. ‘*■
j . Isa. xliy. 3. I-’oi I will pour water upon
him that is thirsty, and Hoods upon the dry
, ground. I will will pour my Spirit, upon
I tliv seed, and tm‘ blessing upon tliiue iill'-
; spring:
** Iv. I. Hu, every one that (hirslelli,
Cnn'o ye to the waters.
Jer. xvii 13. ik-eniiso they have forsa
ken ilte Lord, the.fountain ol living wafers.
A less.important use of water is ,dial in
winch it is e.xjernalh applied (or die pur
pose of pnrily i-ug: and with relereuec lo
this the term is sonietimes used, though
less frequently, to denote a purifying in
fluence.
Ezekiel xxxvi. 25. Then will I sprinkle
clean water upon you, and ye shall beeleivu;
from all your lililnuess, ami from all yoiir
idols, will I demise you.
Eph. v. 25. 20. Glirist luvpil the Chureli,
and gave himself sot itthat lie iniglit’sano
lifv and- cleiuise it with the washing of wa
ter hv the word. .
Tiie ten'll still imports, in this use of it,
as iveH'iis in the former divine influence.
Upon Hie whole therefore, if we- ascer
tain that this term in lire text which.we are
investigating, is used ill a iiietaphoric.il
‘sense, die ustis liKpieinli of the saerefl wri
teis, and especially,of Joint, must lead us
to expect that it signifies a divine influence
niecssari/ lo spiritual life, and well-being.
Spirit, PYieiunalas.
The literal signification of puetljna may
be-seen.in the following examples.”
John iii. 8. The wind lilfiwctli where it
listeth, anil thou liearest the gfiiind thereof,
but e.anst not tell whence it comelli, and
wither it goeth : so is every one that is born
of the Spirit.
Ezck. xxxvii. !). Prophesy unto the
wind, son of man anil say to tiie wind,
Tims sajlh the Lotil GodtUome from the
four winds,.O breath, and breathe upon-llte
slain that they may live. So I prophesied
as lie commanded me, and the bi‘(ulh came
mi to them-.
From those and. similar examples, we
may observe,.lliat, in its literal acceptation,
.it denotes air in motion, and may lie ren
dered mhifor breath. ,
When,used in a mciapborical sense’ it is
.generally , rendered spirit ; sometimes
ghost. The following are examples of
thii- use.
‘Matt, xx’vi. 41. Watqh.iihtl pray, that ye
enter not into temptation.: the spint indeed
is willing hut the Hesh is weak.
John iv. 24. God.is a Spirit: and they
that Worship him, .must worship him in
spirit mid m truth.
l (Jor. ii. 1(1. God-hatli revealed them
tin to us by hjs Spirit: for the Spirit
sear'eheth all tilings, vea, the deep things of
God
“ It. What mart, knoweth the tliingrs
of a man, save the spirit of man wliiel.i is
in him? even so the things of God knotvedi
no, man, but the Spirit of ‘GoiJ.
Ileb. xii. 9. We have had fathers of.our
Hesh, which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence : sh ill we not much I ‘lllier
FOR..;(CF®E-JJ4i > 'TlST^FON'vi:iN'®* OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
•p : ENFIEtiBfS-GSP JULY 12, 1844.
be In subjection unto the Fatheffbf. spirits,
and five. - -; - U”’ i
.“.i. Hi, Are they net- all ininist#tji,
spirits.
“ xii 22. -To Qsitl flic Judge of all’, and
Bo'the spirits of-just men made perfect.
Matt. Xx'viii 19, Go ye thCrelbre’,-aittt
teach all nations', b'-'pfotng •Mmt . m tttfe
name of the FMheVj'aud of the Son, and nj’
‘the flolytrAos/. O’
‘Luke. i. lb. shall be. great.’ ifi thij”
sight of theTrard, and sjiall ‘ drink.''neither.
wine rmrsirong dtiiTff} apd lie shall be till
ed with the Holy Ghost. . ,- • • i
Acts ii. 4. And they wvre l nU-filled with,
the Holy (ihost, aiiil begun to. speed; witli
other tongues, as she Spirit .g:tve th.eln
termiee. ’- -
•m Jwbiv-Tin -tttt. 1 TfrfV spat; b fte'nt-' nte tSpi)\-
it, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet
given.
Luke xxiv. 39. A spirit hath mil llesli
ami hones, as ye see me have,
John vi. 03. It is tin; Spirit that quick
enbtfi—the winds that I speak imlo you,,
lljey are spirit, and they-are life.
’l'lie inyisiliiliiv of air is tlie properLy on
which- the mctaporicU-M-se pmMHpnllv de
pends.’ The term is applied to variiiqs suli
jei'ts ; as, tiie smil.of nmn, angels,
third.person in the Godhead, and divine
influence-:-but in every ease, it suggests tlie
idea of.invisrbiljly or; immaterial it v, cinji
biiwd with activity,. This is, ihorefm.e,
flie common metaiihoriealjsense of-pßenmu,,
eorrespmiiling to the literal sense, air, in
mol ion. Someinpes, as in she fast’ oxaiii.-
ple, ifivre is nn. allusion to the agency of
air, when, is-sptr'ejJ, in siipportiilg animal
fife, .’ -d
Ii may lie .added, Hm.', when pneunra is
employed lor tlie third person’ of. the God-j
.lii’Atl, ii is tile usage of the inspired, writers
to add, either- to the, or hapion hah/ : and
very commonly both of these, ; .lhus,‘ tbhn
gion .pneuma, the Ifoh/ Spirit. In our
text neither of these is found. - Instead,
thet.eioiV, of signifying the /lull/ .Ghost -in
•this .passage, il uiueli moje -pr'ohahly; has
some oilier uieauhig;- sia-li as, a ilivine in.
Jhicncr.
~l "iTr: TTTxdm f foE (,'oT"'"'/r'/f' lamfrumlou
Iheou.
Hasilei.i, kingdom, appears lo he used in
its simple, proper signification, in the fol
lowing examples.
Rev. xvii. 12. Anil the ten horns which
thou saivest are ten kings, which have re
rivcil no kingehnn as yel.
- Luke xix. 12. A certain nobleman went
into a far country lo receive lot himself a
kingdom.
•• 15. When he was relumed, having!
receiver Hie kingdom.
II the phrase king/// aulhorit// he sub j
slituted for kingdom in the above examples,
the lull sense of tlie'-several passages will
lie conveyed. If this experiment lie made i
on other texts of .scripting in -which king
dom occurs, it will lie perceived’ that, in
iißistcases, otliei words need to he supplied,
ill order to express the. sense fully. In ev-’
cry case the radical idea, king/// authority,
is presented in the mind , Imt combined
.with such additional ideas as are necessary
lo make tlie parts of the sentence Congru
ous. To expiess these additional ideas,
other words must lie supplied, anil some
times a considerable eiieiiiiiloeiition must,
lie admitted.’ The supplemental ideas are
derived from something, implied in every
exercise of kingly authority; such as the
parties, the lime,.the place', or the eirriim
stances : or from the’ theological doctrines
respecting God’s exercise qf kingly author
ity through the jßessiali, which were re
ceived among the Jews, though hut little
understood by them. When -these doc
trines affect the sense, the phrase kingdom
of (foil is generally employed ; hut some-,
time )he .single word kingdom is used.
iVlatl. iv. 8. And showeth him fill the
kingdoms of the world : i. ii. the'places
where kingly authority is exercised.
“ xii. 25. Every kingdom divided a
gainst itself is brought to desolation : i. e.
every community subject to kingly author
ity-
Luke i. 33. Atul of his kingdom there
shall he no end : i. e. the time of exercis
ing kingly authority.
Matt. iv. 23. And preaching the gospel
of the kingdom : i. e. the*good liew# con
cerning God’s exercise of kingly authority
through the Messiah.
Luke vi. 20. Blessed he ye poor: for
yours is the kingdom of God : i. e.. the fe
licity resulting from God’s.exercising king
ly authority through the- Ajossiah.
In most eases in which - words arc used
by metonymy, there is little difficulty in
.deciding what Words must be supplied in or
der to express- tlie sense fidly ; for exam-}
pie, “ Whosoever sfrall drink this .cup,” i?
readily- supplied thus, “tin; wine.in this
cup.” In tlie metonymical use of basileia,
kingly authority, siutie difficulty may arise
to the interpreter; p artly from the fact that
the.proper signification.is an abstract idea ; j
bni cjiielly,-when it-relates to th<s kingdom 1
of tlie .Messiah, because lire true character
of that kingdom had* not been developed,
and the notions ii'spccting it were vague
and indefinite. N’ieoHeinns had yagne.hnd
indefinite notions respecting a'statc of pros
perity which the Israelites hail longexpect
ed, and which was; to attend the reign of
their MeasiAfi. In tire text under investi
gation, Jesus did not inform him when, or ;
where, the felicity of this state should be I
enjoyed ; Imt taught him what must be the |
character of (hose who shuhld In-admitted j
that enjoyment. The best interpreta
ifimi. therefore, which ean he given of this
Hsf**’ ‘ v assign a more definite sense
Igaffie phrase “ kingdom of God ,” than
intended his instructions, on this oc
■Bbn, tt> convey, “To enter into the
jkijudpin of God,” signifies,— to partake of_
felicity resulting from God's exercising”
1 authority through the Messiah.
} ‘ (-To be continued-,)
■P';-- Fbr the Christian Index.
‘•• Slavery.—No. %
KiAe- staied in tlie last nulnber that we
Jhgdlif proceed in this to show that slavery
JfRJVt a moral cHil. To tills end. \ye Jay
Jbvvif, aii'i) shall endeavor to. sustain., the
i two following .propositions.
1. If it not an immorality itself.
If. It has not an immoral tendency.
The s >uee allotted to the present munber
will sufjee to.do little- if any pi ore than to
. settle so lie preriminaries. . ■
Hist. It inay lie well, in the first place,
to ilefitir the idea we have al :\.nwral evil.
Mora s', from the Latin word mores, sig
nifies. ni inners. A moral law is a law
ol fndiYpeWr.'TCgnlatiiVglini'tngcfiriiSTßgis,”
such as arc capable of ilistingiiishi’ng-be
t” ecu i jglit and wrung, in their feelings ail’d
aqlious (ovvards other intelligences created
aml'iiireieated.- An hinnoraft/i/, then, il is
scarce!}) -necessary to say, is .something,
which, in any way, violates such hnv. Tlu;
law, i-egiilating mu rn'timters towards God j
and oilr olio w .r.reiittires, no'one eotilil enact j
hut God At ini lie lias inaile no other revc-
Liiun of it than such as is contained in lire j
Seri |it in -s of the Old and New Testament.
I.heliovi ii is coni.edcd by fill mural j’liilos
ophiirs Ail’ the vliTtstiiui school, that God’s
‘will is .he only rule of uioral action. An v
. Bring uhjylt eotlflicts w itli [lts-revcialioii, ■
of runs in.ai.lvanei) of.it, is a sjiurious inor
-1 al.i.ty, a id nothing which accords ‘with It
.. jra-imimikL.kuj iUi.mmik.tLm',.
H’e define a moral evil, then, tube that,
which, either in iis naitiic, or its Icmlen
i'i‘ S, is opposed to the Scriptures of Divine
Truth .
I know that in this age of “free inquiry,”
■anil exeitcliient, and, 1 mny sav of mawk
ish ?eniim6nla!iiy, turn the Bible is begin
ning loJic considered 100 low a standard of
; morals.’ .Its precepts, it is thought, many
| of them, were suited mil y to a mile and un-
I cultivated age, and designed for such alone-;
! but the present refined and intellectual age
! should take a position oven in advance of it-.
Like tlie Neolqgisis. ol Germany, who np
- ply the knife to the sacred scriptures) with
a freedom limited only by their inclinations,
those refined moralists, in efii-t-l; lake upon
i them to say, what precepts have become
j obsolete, and what should he engrafted upon
the remainder Ip. supply the deficiencies
of-bihlo morality.
I j-ccognize iio code of morals but that
i onlmned in the sacred Scriptures,-and this
is tin: lest to which. I am willing and design
• to apply lliis subject.
Second. It is esscniial lo our argument
that \ve show, in advance, line, nature of the ‘
two .systems of slavery as they existed sev
erally under Hie Old and New Testament I
dispensations.. Abolitionists acknowledge, ]
as, indeed, compelled to, that such’ ,
all institution was iii existence during (ltd I
whole time that God employed in making I
successive revelations of Iris .will; but main- t
tain dial there is Ho analogy—not Hie slight- I
est resemblance, between oven the worst t
forms of it and that now in existence in our
midst. Eel us.see.
1. Among the Hebrews-there were two
kinilsjef slaves—foreigners and Hebrews.
T|ie former were obtained, I. By puichase,
Gen. 17: 12—Lev, 25: 44, 15. 2. By
capture-; as in the case of the Gibeonites
and others. ,_3. They, were burn in the
house From bond-parents, Gen. 11 : 14,
As so tliejr cotidiiioii: I. They were
considvcd.ns properly,’Ex. 21 : 21, which
the m:i|tcrlia;l the .right to dispose of as he
pleasi and. They cool'd be bought and sold
—transferred from-ope. person to another by
gift, Gen. 20: 11—inheritance, Lev. 25:
If, 45, or in any other way in which prop
erty could pass from one person to another.
2. Their-bondagc was perpetual, Lev. 25:
•10—in cry-re only with their lives. 3. Tlleir
niasfer coitljf punish them.with stripes, and,
even witlrdealh, Without public process.—
Ry. 21: 20, 21.
. Fit)in this brief siateiniml, it will be seen,
.that tlii- “homl-serviffe” of tire old testament
times iliffiSred'frOih otiroWn only in the fact
that ft was more rigorous. Hebrews be
came slaves in various ways.—l. .Barents
could sell th’ei.r children. Ex.. 21 :7. 2. A
poor man could sell himself. Lev. 25: 39.
il. Debtors, were sold to their creditors. 2
.Kings fs l. 4, Thieves, who could ..not
inako ri -litiilion Could Ire sold for the liene
lit of the sufferers. E;x. 22 ‘: 3.
As to their conTlition : it wqs much more
aliloliora|cil than that of tire: “bond-servants,”
and, in many respects, their servitude was
milder than that endured bv-our negroes.
It was provided that they, should go out
free on tire. Sabbatical or seventh year, with
their wives and children-, provided their
wives came into servitude with them ; but
if tlreir masters (fail given them wives, they,
and their issue, were to remain in slavery.
If, however, the slave so “ loved his master,
his wife and his children” as to prefer
remaining with them, his ear was bored
throughwlth an awl and lie became a servant
forever.
2nd. With regard to the slavery that ex
isted in the time’ 1 of otu Saviour, and His
ApoOtlfeS : il is hardly necessary to remark
that it ‘■was as yimitigated as it could'well,
he. At that time, die sway of tiie Romans
was acknowledged over all tire civilized
world, and wherever Roman citizens were,
there was Roman shivery. The churches,
therefore, which the Apostles constituted,
were composed of slaves and their owners.
Among the Romans, slaves were consid
ered as things, Tlie master could treat his
servant as he pleased : could sell him, pun
ish him, oi put him to death.- A slave could
not contract IViarriage, and no fega! relation
was acknowledged between him and his
children. 11 is master i4>iild separate him
froio his family whenever lie pleased. He
could have'lio property. He was not in
capable of acquiring it; but his acquisitions
belonged to his master. Os course, therefore,
| lie could neither will away nor inherit pro
perty. He could not testify in a court of
i Justice. They’ were carried about by slave
ihere.hauls, who, many ol them, realized
immense fortunes by the traffic in them.—
There were regular -.mil legal slave-markets
where tltey were exposed naked, and ad
could examine them whether they wished
to purchasT!.them oi not.
.(The' reader can see the subject present
ed at length hv reference to lire article “ser
vus” in tire Dictionary of Greek and Roman
Antiquities, and by Consulting Adam’s Ro
man Antiquities.) From what wo- have
j briefly,presented, it will he seen, that in
their essential features, neither ol tlibse sys
tems was milderjhnn that m pur rniilst.- ‘
Having premised thus nniyli. wy'alipil
take up, in our next number, the first propo
sition laid down.
A Baptist, Minister.
For the Christian fmtcX,
WAviTiotutvii.x.i;.’ June 18, 1844.
Dear brother linker —l have lately re
ceived adeller liom my dear son in Bonnali.
It contains some cheering intelligence in re
gard to the state of the Mission. The last
date is as late as Hie 4th January. I have
tliouglit proper lo transcribe a part ol his
journal which is contained in his letter and
for ward it to you. If you think the publi
cation of it, or any part of it, will be likely
to .gratify tire friends of missions, convince
opposers of the utility of the work in which
we are engaged, or in any wav advance tlie
cause of our Redeemer, you have liberty to
give it a place iii your very useful paper.
He (list says.;
. “ lain happy to inform you that I have
baptized, within the present year, thirty
persons connected with the English church:
Among whom were two officers of H. M.
84tli Regiment; .the rest, men of the same
Corps. I also baptized, within the same
time, fifteen Karens, besides two who were
baptized here in July last by Bro. Bray
ton,”
lie then says:
“ Having met with a case of hopeful con
version which lias deeply interested my
niinil, anil knowing that you will be grati
fied lu hear of il, 1 will transcribe it from
my journal as 1 noted it down at the time
—Aug. It), 1843. This morning Called to
see a sick Borman, named Ko Shuui, (some
times also called Mining Yuai,) who has
been two months confined io his room. I
had called several times before lo converse
with him oil the concents of liis soul-, and
he had appeared somewhat affected by the
truth. Yesterday 1 also called, and in con
versation aseertai.icil that lie was convinc
ed, tiiiii none.but the Eternal God could help
him. lie said that Im often pfayed to Clod,
but when closely questioned, acknowledged
that lie had not lirsl all confidence in idola
try, though he knew that lire idols eonlil not
save or help him. 1 pressed linn im lire
necessity of giving tip all reliance on them,
andnf an utter rejection of them, if he would
obtain answer to his prayers from God.—
And after praying with him,! left him. This
morning lie sent for me. Expecting the
physician-to call, 1 delayed to accompany
him. When we arrived at the .house and
the physician had prescribed, the old man
wished me'to remain and pray with hint.
L did so,.but before prayer, enquired into
the state of his mind. He told me lie be
lieved iii God, and Had utterly abandoned
all trust iii idols. After my conversation
yesterday’, lie reflected inure seriously, and
Priu.isnEr—UENJ. BRAfIiTLY
and said, that during the night he (tad slept
but little, and had spent much time in pray
er. lie had fclltoo^mn unusual earnestness.
in ptayer, and while in that exercise receiv
ed peculiar lighfiand felt relief from the bur
den which had weighed down his mind.—
He had told me the day before that he felt
greatly concerned 1 about himself, as lie ex
pected to die anil did not know when he
should go. Now, lie said he had no fear,
liis-peace he believed was made with God.
Ho had given himselfrrp ffr him, He felt
himself unworthy, aiiif wlieii lie thought of
the great kindness of God to him, he wish
ed in some way to •re'py> it, but In* heart
was all lie had to give,;.and that Vurt(B3 gl‘
, eii lo Inin. . - ,
* I I’lie were well enough In? would gTadlv.
lie baptized immediately. Hettvished that
I would sometime call nil the Teachers to
his house, that lie might make his confes
sion before them, lie felt himself to be a
great sinner, but said-lie • thought the Lord
had, fievettlrelcss, looked upon him in com
passion,’ or he would not have given him
light as lie hud done tire night before.
The result of the whole conversation, is
an impression on my . nihul,-.(list the old
man is sincere and that’ he really lias at tlijs
late hour of Fils life, obtained pardon and
peace with God* Long has he withstood
the light. For senjitren years lias he been
connected with the mission in some humble
rapacity; chicily as a cooki yet, during this
long period, he. has iruiforinly kept aloof
from the means of grace. One missionaty
al’ter another has taken Iris turn in ernleav
ois to bring this tried servant to a knowl
edge of the truth';- hut till now all efforts
have proved tinitless. By the rod of afflic
tion he lias at last been softened, and wc
trust brought io humble himself before God,
and to experience the joy of the gospel. .
“Another ci'reUrtistai'iCe’ fiats gfewfly con
tributed to strengthen mj- hope, that the
1 work of grace burr indeed eoninicm.cd on
Ko Shut/i's heart. This evening on eoni
iniinicatiiig to Mai Dok,■ the Christian wo*
1 man who particularly brought to my. notice
the fact of the old mail’s illness—she sub
stance of the above conversation, she meii
’ ritoifed TTnrf Tof a'Tcng'iTr oTtfiile past.'s'hehad
felt an unusual spirit or player for him, so
- that not a dav-hud.passed without her bring
ing his'ease before the throne of grace. In
•fimneelian with prayer, she had frequently
gone to him herself, and also persuaded oth
ers to do the same, to endeavor so eulight
’ cn his dark mind and to lead 1 liim to Christ.
This I thought.is in answer so the prayers
’ ol ibis pious woman. And wha! is more
s scriptural than-such a supposition.
“25. This morning Ko Shuui died. I
railed early to see liim. He had had diar
rhea during the night, which proved too
muchTor his little remaining strength, But
we’ little thought when we called (Mrs. S.
was with me) that he was so near his end.
Mrs. 8. asked him if lie’ was happy 1 “Ve
ry happy,” Ire replied, f said but little,
pcicciviug that lie Was*exhausted. About
i an li-om after 1 sent him some nourishments
hut received word that Ire could not take it,
hut lay speechless. I went io see'him.—
He lay motionless on his back, his features
fixed, and his breast moving with that deep
drawn, slow, measured breathing, whrtdi
instantly told me that Death had seized his
victim. 1 hastened to liis side and placing
myself before him called, but there was no
answer, for hearing seemed to have ceased.
In a little while his languid eyes tumeiL-alid
resting upon me, lie fixed them for a mo
ment, and .then turning them away again,
the tear drops trickled down his temples.
1 wiped them away. Several limes he
thus turned his eyes anil fixed them mo
mentarily upon nte.’ Once his countenance
seemed to brighten as though in an effort to
speak, hut it was foo late, and only by the
silent tear again wetting his cold temples
could 1 judge of tlie state of. his mind.—
Several times after his change he had ex
pressed his affection towards me and his
gratitude that'l had gone to see hint, and
that from time to lime I had warned .hint
and had tried to lead his mind to God,-sav
ing that although in those conversations lie
had uniformly opposed, ye! he could not
forget them, nor lose the impression of
them. Seeing l could do no more, I left
•him, and soon after they told me he was
gone. We have consigned liim to the dust
in the mission burial ground, in the com
forting hope that lie will come forth again
•unto the resurrection oflife.’ ”
OLIVER STEVENS.
He that desires to die well and happily,
abova all things must be caroful -that he
docs not live a soft, a delicate, and a volup
tuous life; but a life severe, holy, and un
der the discipline of the cross, under the
conduct ol prudence and observation, a life
of warfare and sober counsels-laber ami
watchfulness. -
NO. 28*