rights and duties of christians are here 2 fully developed; nor could the folios of a hundred St. Augustines display them more perfectly.

Every person, who believes the divine mission of HIM, who spake GR never MAN shake, must concede, that one of his sentences is of infinitely more weight, than the ponderous folios of all the primitive FATHERS, with the addition of all the lighter productions of the recent SONS of the church. But why is St. Augustine selected from the long list of the voluminous fathers? If it was from respect, a single epithet, at least, should have shown that intention. It was not, surely, because he wrote two tomes against here ticks; nor because he is styled the doctor of grace; but simply because he wrote ten folios.

The illustration then is allowed to be sprightly; but we cannot help thinking the manner of it to be neither dignified, nor deli

cate.

When the candidate is told, "we do think you obliged to be fair and manly in controverting our opinions," there seems an implication of apprehended controversy, which, it is presumed, was not meant to be implied.

The address to the church and congregation is very appropriate and impressive; the concluding passage however, originally descriptive of the joy of the prophet, on the foresight of the advent of the divine Person, who was to be a light, to lighten the gentiles, is, we think, too boldly applied to an ordination solemnity:

ABRIDGMENT OF MR. KICHERER'S ACCOUNT.

[Continued from page Po 1

ABOUT this time, feveral Corannas from the Great, or Orange river, arrived at our fettlements, repeating their invitation for us to visit their country, which is about 300 miles diftant. After a council with our old people, who determined to follow us, we fet out in

May, 1801. We found the country, through which we paffed, more populous than we expected. Proceeding on the journey we were joined by Cornelius Koopman, who was foon ftricken with conviction. His natural carriage

was proud, but as foon as the grace of

God touched his heart, the lion was changed to a lamb, his haughty deportment was laid afide, and he appeared with that humble fpirit, which is always the fureft fign of grace in the heart. His whole converfation now

was fuch as becometh the gofpel, and he became a pattern of godliness. In one converfation, among other devout things, he said to me, "I am fo poor here, I know not how to provide for

my family; I would gladly clothe my children, were it only in theep skins; but alas, I have no fupplies; for my few sheep are all gone: yet I had rather farve here where Jefus is preached, than return to ferve thofe christians, who never told me of God, or of Jesus, or of the way of falvation."*

Every day would he walk forth, three, four, or five times into the folitude of the wilderness to hold converfe

with Jefus in prayer. Many times have I followed, and feen him at a diftance wrestling with God. It was his cuftom about sunset to take with him two of his children, whom he tenderly loved, to be prefent at his folitary devotions. Often had I the pleasure to obferve numbers of my poor people, one here behind a rock, another there

under a bush, earnestly engaged in private prayer. Seldom did Cornelius fail to appear with his two little ones in his arms, or led by his hands, whom he

taught to bow with him on their little knees before the Lord. Arriving at the Great River, we rejoiced to find a great hunger for the bread of life; fome wept and others fainted under the preaching of the word. While we were engaged with about twenty Hottentots in clearing a piece of land or cultivas tion at Reed Fountain, the Corannas brought us every day three fheep, and three ho low bamboo canes full of milk as a prefent.

Sleeping one night with Mr. Scholtz, and my Hottentots, the barking of our dog gave me much disturbance; but the Hottentots understanding the creture better than I did, looked round and difcovered a lion, creeping near us like a cat. They fnatched their guns, which he perceiving inftantly fled. As brother Schltz and I lay on the fide next to him, and must in a few moments have been the victims of his rage, had not the dog alarmed us, we felt peculiar gratitude for this new deliverance.

Being comfortably turtled, we found ourfelves furrounded by people o. differeat tribes, Coranas, Namaquas, and Hottentots, Baftard Hottentots, i. e. thofe Hottentots, one of whofe parents is of fome other nation, and Bofchemen. The Corannas and Namaquas were in fervitude to the Baflard Hottentots, being fubdued by a bloody chieftain, call ed the AFRICAN. This man having murdered his mafter, collected a band of robbers, with whom he made incurfions into the Namaqua and Corunna countries. Some of thefe timid people requested that he would reftore a finall part of the property he had taken, one cow for a family, that they might fave their ftarving children. The wretch promifed to comply, if they would cross

the river to fetch the cows themfelves. When they came he treacheroutly fe'zed them, tied them to trees, maimed them, cut out their tongues, or hot them dead. The remnant were glad to be his fervants, for the fake of a wretched fubfiftence, being allowed little more than the milk of their fheep. Thefe people attached themselves-to us in hopes of protection. Our labours were foon attended with fuccefs; the tears ihed by there people cannot be numbered; and though all these strong impeffions right not end in a found converfion, yet we have reason to believe that in many infances they did.

Returning from Great River on hoifeback with only one Hottentot, we were obliged to fleep one night in the open field. Being waked by the noise of our horfes, we difcovered a lion, 20 or 30 yards diftant, his eyes burning like candles. The Hottentot preparing to fire his piece, defired me to set the grafs in a blaze. In a moment we had a full view of the huge animal, his mane erect, juft in the act of leaping upon us. My companion fired, and the lion fled. the morning, we could trace his bloody fteps on the ground. This proved our deliverance more confpicuous, for a lion wounded feldem retreats till he has avenged his blood. It was the Lord, who fhut the mouth of this foe. Ou our return home, we found that a lion had deftroyed eighteen of our oxen.

I now received intelligence that Stephanos, alter leaving us at Zak river, had gone to a horde of Bastard Hottentots, and fet up for a miffionary and prophet, and had established uncontrolled authority among them. He wal lowed in brutal crimes, and if any objected, they were put into the stocks or beaten unmercifully. Stephanos had built a temple, refting on pillars, and raifed an altar, on which he offered facrifices. A number of his felect difciples like himself, lay in trances feveral hours; they faw vifions, and when they awoke, they pretended to deliver meffages from Gabriel or from God himself. Did Stephanos wish to gratify his covetoufnefs, his revenge, or his luft, he pretended to receive a permiffion from heaven. If any of his friends became diflatisfied or cool, he threatened them with the judgments of God, yea, with the conflagration of the whole world. He preached against us, and we feared his influence would spread. It was, therefore, determined that I fhould go out to stop his diabolical proceedings. As the measure was dangerous, I took all our armed men with me. Stephanos hearing of our approach, called his followers together; delivered them various meffages from heaven, told them this was the moment to prove their attachment to God and his proph et; but if they were unfaithful, fire would inftantly fall from heaven and confume them.

We drew near them; their eyes fparkled with rage; Stephanos came forward, and offered me his hand;

refused it, but asked him to walk with me under a tree, and we would decide the matter. Our people followed. I difputed him four hours. He infifted chiefly on the prophecy of Joel, concerning the dreams and vifions of the latter days, and on fome paffages in Revelations. My people were fati fied. He and his followers were not convinced by my arguments. They were more enraged, and feemed difpofed to violence; Stephanos conveyed an idea of the chief of hell; his eyes rolled and flashed; his tongue moved inceffantly, and he endeavoured to juftify his crimes by examples from fripture Knowing him to be a fugitive from juftice, I thought it my duty to feize him, that he might be returned to the Cape for punithment. My people inftantly obeyed my order, and made him a prifoner. In a moment his creft fell, and in the French language, which his people did not understand, he requested me to fet him at liberty, and promifed he would leave the country. I replied that if I were convinced of his penitence, I might perhaps release him. He then fpoke to the people in a crying tone, acknowledged that he had impofed upon them, that if they went on in his ways they would certainly go to hell, and that they ought to thank God, who now had fent them teachers of the truth.

This confeffion had a wonderful effect on the multitude; they crowded round me, and thanked me for what I had done, and expreffed the greatest joy at their deliverance from the fhackles of this tyrant. They now wifhed to fend him naked into the defert; but I interfered, and he was furnished with provifions, and a guide to direct him into the Namaqua country. On his journey, an officer of militia recognized hita, and attempted to arrest him; but Stephanos cut his throat with a razor, he had concealed in his book, and fled, and joined the African, the robber, who has been mentioned; with whom he now roams the defert.

Having continued at Great River about ten months, we found the land would not fupport our cattle. It was determined we fhould feparate, and in March, 1801, the river being low we croffed it; but in fuch a dry time, we could not pass the defert; therefore we weted theds of boughs for a tempora

ry refidence, till we should return to Zak river. About this time, General Dundas, the Brit fh governor of the Cape, made me a prefent of £ice, and offered me the arish of Rodezand. This offer I declined.

Some of the Bofchemen about Zak

river, who expreffed a defire for our return, mifchievously told us that confiderable rain had fallen in the defert. We commenced our journey, but foon found that they had been falfe. We travelled till the third day, without a The cattle were in drop of water. great diftrefs; their looks were expreffive of anguifh, and their piteous lowing feemed to forebode our deftruction. At length we found a small spring; juft as we were going to drink, we difcovered to our amazement, that the water had been poisoned by the Bofchemen. We knew not what courfe to take. I deliberated whether I fhould call the

people together for a publick prayer meeting; but concluded to addrefs the throne of grace in a private manner, being fupported by brother Scholtz. The Lord graciously heard our supplications and in a few hours, fhowers of rain gave us relief. We praised the name of Chrift, and refted two days to recruit our cattle. The night preceding our departure, the Bofchemen stole 80 of our oxen, but we recovered: 73 of them. Soon after I left my flock to the care of brother Scholtz, and haftened forward myself with three companions to the neareft farmers, partly that I might gratify my extreme longings for bread, not having had any for half a year. The fight of the first house gave me inexpreffible joy. My first request was for a piece of bread, which I instantly devoured. Soon after I reached my home near Zak river. My dear Cornelius was overjoyed. "Oh, Sir," faid he, "what happy times we formerly had here! This houfe, could it fpeak, would tell what thousands of gracious. words have been spoken here, and how good the Lord has been to us poor Hottentots."

Making a journey to Cape Town I was again offered the church at Rodezand; on my return, I assured my people I would never leave them if they would be more diligent; but told thera that if they fhould grieve me, as they had done by their idleness, I must leave. them. They promifed every thing,

and began a more commodious church; but their indolence again foon prevailed. I repeated my declaration, adding that in eight days I would leave them, unless they increafed their diligence. A most affecting fcene followed. They began to weep, and entreat me fo importunately, that my heart melted within me. gave them my word I would not leave them. Their joy was now excelfive. Many of them clafped their arms round my neck, and I was convinced they loved me more than I had imagined. In ten months I formed here a regular fettlement. Our church will hold 800 people; we have a good dwelling houfe, and garden; the baptized Hottentots have built them decent dwellings in the farmer's ftyle; the heathen have fmall huts. We have a yard for our cattle enclosed with a high wall, and fields of corn. While we were labouring to civilize these people, the work of the Lord profpered in our hands; fome obtained a full affurance of their adoption. On the 3d of Oct. 1802. I baptized four Hottentot men and two women. They had the preceding day, given a fatisfactory confeffion of our calvinistick creed, and that they had found confolation in the truth. In the evening we celebrated the Lord's fupper. Our new brethren and fifters from the heathen partook with us, and we felt perfectly united with them. When leaving the chapel, it was affecting to fee how the Hottentots congratulated the new brethren, how they encouraged them to live entirely to Chrift. One exclaimed, embracing his new baptized friend," Ah, my dear brother, let go the world, and its allurements; they are crucified to thee by the death of Chrift; live and fuffet for him, keeping in remembrance your vows, and the holy Tri-une God will make good his promise to you; now you have nothing to do, but afk, and he will give you all you need."

At the clofe of this, and all facred days, it was affecting to fee the whole congregation, immediately after fervice, difperfed over the fields and hills to meditate, and pray over what they had heard. Wherever I went, I faw perfons engaged in folitary meditation, or lying on the ground, or behind the bushes, or between the clefts of the rocks, pouring out their fouls to God in prayer. On Lord's day no business is done; no vict

uals is dreffed till after the publick fervice: no perions are feen loitering about; there is but one business, and that bufinefs the service of God.

On the 22d of December, a number of chriftians and heathen arrived from various parts to be prefent at a baptifmal folemnity. On the 24th, the adults to be baptized were examined. They were four men, and twelve women. Some questions were put to the children. One little girl between 8 and 9 years of age, fpoke for half an hour with great propriety. On the 25th, I baptized the 16 adults and 27 children. It was a bleffed feason. On the 15th of January, 1803, I baptized three men, feven women, and twenty four children. This was two days before I left Zak river for Europe. I left 83 baptized people in the fettlement; the whole population was about 600.

In the course of the year 1802, I had a vifit from brother John Kock, who with three of his Bootfuannas, and their families had travelled to Cape Town. He related to me a curious fact. He preached to the Bootfuannas, who are but for fome time without any fuccefs. more intelligent than the Hottentots; One rainy night, a Bootsuanna being in the field, and not fucceeding in producing fire in the ufual way by rubbing two fticks together, it came into his mind that he would pray to Jefus, whom he had heard could anfwer the prayers of his people. To his furprife, the next attempt was fuccefsful. This induced him to be more attentive to the gospel preached. He became a attended Kock, was a chief, and asked hopeful convert. One of thofe, who me many pertinent questions, as wheth er the baptifmal waters differed from the rivers of Caffraria; whether Jefus was the faviour of Caffers, as well as

of Hottentots; how he could be God

and man.

He urged me to vifit his country, promifed to prepare every thing for me, and affured me it would be the happiest day of his life when he

fhould fee me at his Kraal. He even offered to go with me over the great

water.

About the fame time I had an agree able vifit from brother Anderson, who informed me that the work of the Lord profpered at Great River.

On the 17th of January, I took leave

of my dear affectionate people at Zak river to take my paffage for Europe.t

The following "account of the commencement and progrefs of an Inflitution (founded March, 1803) for the relief of poor and def titute children, throughout the Ifland of St. Chriftopher," drawn up by Mr. CLIMENT CAINES, cannot fail to intereft and gratify the beft feelings of our readers. We are happy in exhibiting fo valuable a document; an example fo worthy the imitation of the friends of piety and humanity. A TRAIN of affecting incidents about five months ago directed the attention of the community to the helpleffnefs and fufferings of children, who were left by the death of their parents with out fupport or friends.

Their deftitute and wretched condition became the fubject of general converfation and general pity. The compaffion, which it excited, influenced the publications of the day, and in confequence of hints communicated in the papers, a meeting was propofed, at which the humane and charitable might contribute their affiftance, and digeft a plan for the relief of indigent children throughout the island.

Dear are the offices of humanity. Every perfon, who undertakes their dif. charge, and every incident, which furthers their completion, it is delightful to notice. The fignature, which convened the friends of infancy and indigence, was that of William Thomson. The house at which they first assembled was that of Doctor Armstrong. There the benevolent difpofitions of the inhabitants of St. Christopher became manifeft, and to this fource may be traced the numerous streams of charity, which have fpread themselves over the ifland; which promise to diffuse relief and happinefs in all the directions they have af fumed, and through the whole "extent, over which they flow.

Mr. Kicherer's parting was very affecting The poor people wept bitterly. They laid hold of his hands, and said they could not let him

They said they would pray to God to bring hum brek soon; they thought they must die it he did not e torn. They apprehended their sns in not prizing his ministry occasioned his d-parare. A gentleman who saw them after Mr. Kicherer's departure, said that no person

st mention his name to them, and if any did, they would be affected and weep much. He promised them to return if possible. He left London, Dec. 21, for Holland, expecting a pastage thence to the Ca, e very soon.

Vol. I. No. 4.

Pecuniary contributions were in the first inftance fuggested and resorted to as a means of procuring for the inftitution fufficient funds to establish and

fupport it. A number of benevolent and refpectable individuals adopted this idea, and fubfcribed liberally in confequence of it. The Mount Olive Lodge of Freemafons caught the charitable fympathy. Governed by and revealing their principles, which fcorn the narrow felfish policy of affociations and orders, they fet an example of general benevolence, no lefs honourable to themfelves, than important to the inftitution. The Parochial Veftries of the colony recognized the fame impulfe, and applied to the relief of poor and deftitute children a part of the fums, which were levied for indigence, whatever might be its claims upon charity or its abuse of her benefactions. Loid Lavington, the governour of the leeward iflands, being apprised of the plan, which was in agitation to relieve the poorest and most helpiefs defcription of fubjects to be met with in his government, manifested his refpect for their claims by the liberality of his donation. Actuated by similar fentiments the Council and Affembly of the island of Saint Chriftopher voted for the furtherance of the eftablishment the fum of three hundred pounds.

The plastick hand of charity moulds every thing to its purposes. Not pecuniary contributions alone but whatever it poffeffes, whatever it can procure, becomes a fund for the furtherance of its views and the accomplishment of its darling object. The physician's skill, the mechanick's labour, the confolations. of the divine, are mixed and multiplied bleflings, of which the avails herself to mitigate the fufferings of the distreffed.

In aid of the inftitution for relieving poor and deftitute children, their coincidence was no less striking, than important and praiseworthy. Although it has been faid, that to relinquish our expectations is more painful than to beftow, what we have acquired; yet this facrifice was made by the profeffion of phyfick for the furtherance of charity. The characters most eminent in their profeffion engaged gratuitoufly and in rotation to prefcribe and furnish medicine for any of the children, who might be afflicted with fickness. Nor was the more important object, the