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FAITH'S GLIMPSE OF GLORY.

I WILL sing of the land where the curse is not found;
I will tread, in my fancy, the beautiful ground

Where the riches of God are revealed,

Where the spring always blooms and the sun ever shines, Where luxuriant clusters depend from the vines,

And the sorrows of mortals are healed.

I will wander abroad o'er the bright sunny vales
Where paradise all its rich odour exhales,

And joy gladdens every breast.

By the streams I will roam of the river of God,
Where angels and saints long before me have trod,
And dangers no longer molest.

I will gaze on the city which sparkles in light,
And whilst all its glories bedazzle the sight

I will worshipping stand at the gate.

I will listen till rapture shall stream o'er my soul,
While the music of angels around me shall roll,
And its swellings my heart shall elate.

The spirits who stand by the throne of the Lord,
The cherub and seraph who bow to his word

Shall lead me through every strait;
And when I behold all the mansions so fair;
All the loved and the lovings one resident there;
All the good and the wise and the great;

I will join in their songs to the Lamb on the throne,
Who died for the sins of the world to atone,

And to purchase a mansion for me.
To Him I will give all the glory and praise;
To Him, above all, my thanksgivings I'll raise,
As His beauty and goodness I see.

I will tread all the courts of the temple above;
Over worshipping millions my vision shall rove,
And mark all the blessedness there;
Then, when I descend to this valley of woe,
To wait ere I more of its blessedness know,
For its glories my soul I'll prepare.

I will cling to my Lord with the arms of my faith;
I will listen with gladness to all that he saith,

And meekly confide in His word.

When death shall appear with the courier's flight
I will gladly depart from these regions of night
For ever to be with the Lord.

Ashby,

J. SALISBURY.

MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

LETTER FROM MR. STUBBINS.

MY DEAR BROTHER GOADBY,- Little more than a week ago I was favoured with a sight of your long and very interesting letter to brother Buckley, and felt grateful for all your kind remembrance. Though I must and do plead guilty on the score of not writing to you, I do not, and shall not, on the score of not remembering you and all your interest and labour. I often think about you, and sometimes dream about you. It was only the other night I was peeping into your study, and saw you as plainly as ever I did in my life. You were just putting the finishing stroke to the outline of an address you were to deliver at some anniversary tea meeting. Well this was a dream, but it is pleasant to visit old friends though it be in the visions of the night; and I was glad to see you looking well and happy. I hope you and yours are and will long remain so.

But now to the business of writing you a few lines before I close the day. I really know not what to tell you about, so will take We start on the eve of you a short tour. the 14th of December, and after riding a short distance discover that my large hat for keeping off the sun, is left behind. I ride back for it in haste, and as hastily return to overtake my horse-keeper, who was ordered to go on. I ride and look, and look and ride, but as one said, the more I look the more I don't see him. I wend my way as well as I can through jungles, streams, and continents of mud, and in due time reach my destination near Conchoor.

find my

tent and all things in readiness for my reception, and the native preachers just returned from their work of love in the bazar. They are busy over a fire at the foot of a mangoe tree, preparing for their evening meal-but where is my sais? After cogitating for a considerable time as to where he could possibly have gone, or whether he had run away and left me in the lurch, up he comes, running, puffing, and blowing; but where he had been neither he nor any one else could tell. He had lost his way in the jungles, and with difficulty found it again. The atmosphere was heavy, and I felt rather low and gloomy, and slept little during the night. Early in the morning a large village named Dura Bandha was visited, and a good and attentive congregation heard the truth. Returned for breakfast and hailed the safe arrival of brother Wilkinson. After breakfast and a little rest, went into the market, which in consequence of the people being busy in their harvest fields, was not nearly

so large as usual, nevertheless we had good congregations throughout the day. On returning to my tent, I preferred taking a circuitous route to avoid some mud, and suddenly came upon a party preparing to burn a dead body. The scene was sufficiently disgusting; the body had been partially burnt before, and their fire had gone out; now some were chopping fresh wood and abusing each other like pick-pockets; and another was blowing a piece of live charcoal in a bundle of straw, to ignite the pile. Of all scenes I most dislike to see a body burning: the smoke, the smell, the extreme indifference of the people, (and they are generally the children or friends of the deceased,) all contribute to unnerve one. Towards evening we walked through the village, and had a pleasant, and we trust profitable conversation with some of the operatives, who were busy defiling the sacred hours of this holy day. On Monday morning rode to Hatu, a distance of about seven miles, and had a sort of conversational sermon with the people, who soon collected around us. Spent the day in a small government bungalow there; and in the evening brother W. went with Ghaunshyam to one village, and I and Deena Bandhu to another. Most of the men in our village were from home, so that we had to preach mainly to women and children. On returning to the Bungalow I went up to some men warming themselves over a fire, and in the course of conversation one man repeated a Sanskrut couplet, of which the following may serve as a translation,—

Human life is short and fleeting;
Wealth and youth decaying;
Children and wife are mortal,-
But religion is eternal.

This solemn truth I tried to impress upon his mind, and shewed the influence it should have on his conduct.

Next morning we take a good ride to Boirani, but stop to preach in a nice village by the way. Our congregation consisted of plain simple-hearted farmers; they readily assented to all that we said, and seemed not a little surprised and delighted at the idea of the sahibs speaking Oriya. On arriving at Boirani we find our tent pitched in the worst, lowest, and dirtiest part of the town; why and wherefore I know not, unless it was that we should consort with all the pigs and nameless filth of the place; this however was not our desire, and so we gave an order for the tent to be removed towards evening. Scarcely had we seated ourselves when we heard that the cholera was raging in the

place, and through the whole district we pro-
posed to visit. The people were so terrified
that scarcely any of them dare come out of
doors, unless absolutely obliged, lest the de-
mon should seize them.
Two people died in
the evening close to where our tent was
pitched in the morning. Our servants
caught the alarm, and what with affrighted
servants, and small congregations, we soon
found that we should be disconcerted.
We
thought and talked over various plans, and
at length resolved that as our labours were
not more needed in that district than in
another of a more healthy character, it would
be wisdom in us to return from the north-
west and go south-west; so we took a long
ride on the 18th, and reached home in safety
in the evening, thankful to escape the pesti-
lence that walketh in darkness, and the de-
struction that wasteth at noon day. But
what is the reason that cholera should rage
at this time of the year, and in places where
it had never been known before? The rea-
son is obvious: large crowds had lately been
from this district on a pilgrimage to Jaga.
nath; many of them died on their way home,
and others brought the disease with them;
and like an overflowing tide it was breaking
down and carrying all before it, swelling
and widening yet more and more till scarcely
a nook or corner would be left that had not
felt its influence.

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'Yes,' replied another, 'One must not beat one's wife when she deserves it I suppose!' thinking, apparently, that this of all others was a hard saying. In the next place our congregation was of a very different order. They were most of them brahmins, conceited, discourteous, and noisy, so much so, indeed, that we had to battle with them for near an hour, before we could get a hearing. I would have left them and gone elsewhere, but that it would have been a signal for a defeat in every place. But to pass on. The next day found me and the native brethren busily engaged at a market about nine miles distant from Ichapore. The market-place is a large area surrounded by thick set lofty tamarind Here we preached and rested, and preached and rested again, till towards evening, when the people began to disperse, and we left for our tent a few miles distant. Early next morning we left for some large villages, and found some capital congregations, though in one some of the brahmins were very noisy, Reached tent for breakfast about eleven o'clock, tolerably tired and hungry. In the evening while preaching in the village, near which we were encamped, brother Wilkinson arrived from Berhampore, and since then we have been pushing on together, and I think I may say, in labours more abundant, and realizing this truth, that 'two are better far than one.' I wanted to have taken you with Attended to various matters at home till us to the present time, but space will not adthe following Lord's day morning, when I mit. One racy bit, however, I must not omit. rode over to Ichapore, seventeen miles dis- Last Sunday morning we left together to visit tant, and preached twice in English, to a some good villages, several miles from the congregation of East Indians, consisting of tent, intending to be out all day. After only three families, but embracing young journeying along for some time very pleasand old, some eighteen or twenty souls. antly, we came to a wide muddy place in the The court house was my chapel, the judge's road. We looked round, but there was no bench my pulpit, and the witness benches help for ourselves, go through it we must. were mainly the seats for my congregation. We had not gone far into it, before I heard I trust there are some among them that fear close behind me a tremendous splash. On the Lord. They are professedly members looking round, there I saw brother W. and of the Episcopal church, but are glad when his horse down in the mud together, as if any body will preach to them. I like to struggling to see which should be upperavail myself of every opportunity of visiting most. The horse had set his foot into a them. Some months ago I asked one of deep hole, and could not extricate himself. them to become a collector for our mission, Brother W.'s coat, trowsers, &c., were all and she has since then regularly collected saturated, and his boots and pockets filled among these poor families nine shillings a with mud. Mercifully, however, neither were month! She has just been married, but I hurt beyond a slight bruise on the arm. found others ready to take her place. On my companion was obliged to return to the Monday we preached to three good congre tent. I had one of the best days I have gations in the different principal streets. Our experienced. Preached to three large confirst congregation was mostly composed of fish-gregations, and all heard with unusual soermen. They are among the lowest castes, because they destroy life, and are almost brutally ignorant. When Ghaunshyam told them we had come to tell them how they might be saved, 'O,' said one, tell us how we may catch most fish, and then we will hear you!' Erabhan gave a nice address; and as he repeated and expounded the commandments an old man said, 'This is all good.'

But

lemnity and attention. I think I have never been a tour when the people have generally heard so well as during this. There is evidently a great deal of serious feeling. Last night an interesting brahmin came to see us a distance of about six miles. For two or three years he and a few others have been secretly meeting together and reading our books, and after a long conversation with

him, Ghaunshyam said, 'that man is a real christian.' Now my paper is full; what more shall I say, than wish you good-bye, and pray that this may be the holiest, happiest, and most useful year of your life. With love to all that are in thy house, and the friends among you who love the Lord and his cause, believe me, yours in blessed bonds, Tent, Nua Parda, I. STUBBINS. 1st Jan. 1851.

LETTER FROM MR. MILLAR.

Cuttack, Jan. 2nd, 1851.

MY DEAR BROTHER GOADBY,-If the following account of the last Pooree Ruth Jatra, which I copy from the Calcutta Christian Observer, of October, be not too old, or be not anticipated by anything that Mr. Pike may have sent you, its insertion in the Repository will be deemed a favour. I remain, affectionately yours, W. MILLAR.

'The Puri Rath Jatra of 1850 commenced unusually late, and at a time considered inauspicious by astrologers and pundits, on July 11th; consequently the number of pilgrims present was compartively small, not exceeding sixty thousand, three fourths of whom were Oriyas. For some time previous to the 11th, workmen were employed day and night in preparing the cars, which notwithstanding were turned out in a very rough and unfinished state. Thursday, at 4, p.m., the cars having been drawn up in front of the Singhadward, the idols were brought out, and having been rocked and hauled to their respective cars, were lifted up and well secured on their thrones in the presence of the assembled multitudes of infatuated worshippers, who by uplifted hands and loud and often repeated shouts of Hari, hari, Jaganath, Jaganath, expressed their delight and devotion. The presence of several Europeans of the station and from Cuttack, opposite the Singhadward, mounted on the Raja's elephants, was most gratifying to the priests and people, who considered it a high compliment to the idols and a splendid argument in defence of their divinity, against the merciless attacks of the preachers of the truth, who at a short distance were holding them up as peices of rotten* painted wood.

The cars did not move until the morning of the 12th, after which their progress to the Gundecha temple was rapid, and marked by the usual obscene and unutterably filthy speeches, songs, and gestures of the chariot

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eers and their assistants, the intense excitement, horrid shouting, and abominable idol. atry of the people.

It was the pleasure of Jaganath- (adopting the language of the priests) when going to knock down a wall the indignant owner of which threatened to prosecute the Raja; and on returning to knock down the tati house of a biragi, and kill the owner, who was sitting inside probably insensible from the effects of ganja.

The weather continued very favourable until the cars reached the Gundecha; the rain then fell in such a manner as to inundate the large road and render the cars for some days immoveable, and thus delay their return, which was not effected without great difficulty before the 23rd. Most of the people having retired before the change of the weather not a single case of cholera occured to our knowledge in Puri, and very few within twenty miles north of it; but though the insulted Majesty of heaven and earth has not manifested his righteous displeasure and punished these wicked idolators by that scourge which last year had so many victims, yet who does not know that for them to be given up to believe such a lie and work such abominations as their presence at the festival involves, is a punishment infinitely more awful than the destruction of the body or any temporal calamity that could possibly befal them.

In consequence of the lateness of the festival and the probability of its being thinly attended, only one of the Orissa missionaries and two native preachers were present. Having gone some days before the commencement of the festival, we began our labours on the 4th. Our first effort was an encouraging one: about two hundred persons listened attentively, confessed the truth, and appeared impressed by ideas respecting idolatry and the gospel which perhaps had not previously occupied their mind. The next evening a circumstance occurred which has no precedent to our knowledge in connection with the preaching of the gospel in Puri, viz., a person who may be called a Puri brahmin, from the vicinity of his residence, unsolicited coming forward und preaching boldly Christ and him crucified. While addressing a large audience opposite the Raja's residence, and near the temple, a brahmin from a village named Chundanapur, five miles from Puri, on the Cuttack road, (whom we first met with at the Puri Chandama Jatra, June 3rd, 1850, and who appears to have been led to a knowledge of the truth by perusing a bound volume of poetical tracts, presented to him by Mr. Lacey at the Rath Jatra of · 1844 or 1846,) joined us, and when an opportunity offered commenced speaking to the hearers in a correct and impressive manner on the condescension, purity, mira

cles and dying love of the Lord Jesus; his being the true incarnation and the only Saviour; also in reference to the ignorance, weakness and sinfulness of the Hindu gods and incarnations, and their utter inability to save. To the various objections made his replies were pertinent and satisfactory. A person enquiring what was sin, he repeated the ten commandments, and explained how the transgression of them was sin. Up to the evening of the 12th, we visited the town twice each day, and in some crowded part preached the gospel, held discussions, and conversed with from 300 to 1000 persons on each occasion. Our addresses, invariably embodying a description of the true and false Jaganath, the sin and punishment of idolatry, the glory and grace of Christ, a full, free, and present salvation through faith in him, excited considerable attention and feeling, so that at the close, after having requested our hearers to ask any questions or offer any objections they pleased, many arguments in defence of the idols and questions respecting Christianity were presented, the answering of which involved a lengthy discussion or conversation, and often afforded favourable opportunities for recapitulating and enforcing the truth. Our congregations were not exclusively composed of Oriyas: we generally in the morning had Bengalis and persons from the Upper provinces; among the latter were Sikhs, one party of whom hearing the gospel for the first time seemed deeply interested and asked for tracts in their own langauge, which to our regret we could not supply. On the morning of the 12th, at an early hour we proceeded to the Athara nala bridge, and remained several hours preaching the gospel, distributing tracts and portions of Scripture, (5000 of which were given away during the festival) to the returning pilgrims. In the evening of this day while addressing the largest congregation we have preached to, (above 1000 persons) one of the cars was drawn up just in front of us, without however affecting our audience; and then with the ugly idol and its patched up shabby car, drawn by a noisy rabble just before us. We had an excellent opportunity for proving to the people that the whole affair was got up by crafty wicked men for filthy lucre's sake; and that by countenancing it they were bringing down upon themselves the curse and eternal wrath of God; and thus preparing the way for telling them of God's long suffering in hitherto sparing them; his love in sending his Son to die for them, and the glorious salvation through his death offered without money and price to them. Though the pundahs and priests did not resort to their favourite weapons, stones and clods, in opposing us, yet the government grant argument was frequently, to our confusion, employed. That

the rulers of this land may speedily enable us to deny the existence of this iniquitous grant, and vindicate them without difficulty from the charge of being the patrons of idolatry, and that God may bless our humble efforts to snatch souls from death and establish his religion where Satan's seat is, is the W. M. prayer of,

LETTER FROM MRS. WILKINSON.

Berhampore, Dec. 25th, 1850.

MY DEAR SIR,-Your welcome letter was received last month at Cuttack, and has been sent to our several mission families for their perusal. Our best thanks are due for such a communication. The glance at our beloved churches at home was peculiarly grateful to our hearts, and awakened many pleasing and hallowed associations. Though at a distance from you, we love to recognize the sacred bond of christian union, which is not affected by place or clime. We are all engaged in the Lord's work, whether amidst the opposing elements of Hindooism, or under the more favoured influences of our native land. At this cool season of the year it is cheering to think of the missionary brethren as being all engaged, scattering the good seed of the kingdom in distant parts of the country among poor deluded idolators. May these labours produce an abundant harvest! We believe they will, it is the word of our God which they publish among the people, and we have the promise of our God that it shall accomplish that for which it was sent. But we should not forget that it is our duty to make known the gospel, whatever may be the results. In one of the sermons at the last Association (I think) it was observed, regarding preaching or teaching, that it would be our duty to make known the message of God to man, even if it were a message of condemnation; how much more then should we be urged to the duty by the consideration that it is a message of reconciliation.' The end will soon come; whatsoever our hands find to do let us do it with our might. The Lord has spared us as a mission band to see nearly the conclusion of another year. For ourselves we have to sing of mercy and of judgment. During the year our school and our people have been visited with the cholera, and many of them died; and with regard to most of them we trust they were heirs of the kingdom of God. From our people and our school premises our house became the scene of much affliction, and in one instance of death; not a member of our own family but a dear English lady who, as we thought, came on a visit for a few days to obtain medical advice, but who lingered on a bed of suffering for nearly four months. I am delighted to add that this time was occupied in seeking the Saviour; nor did she

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