nd whether, at any time, the Services were performed in the language of he country. The inquiry, to which we have last eferred, involves in it an examination f the Lives and Conversation of the Clergy. It will, we fear, be found, at the erroneous notion of the ac eptableness, in the sight of God, of ne celibacy of the Priesthood, has een the foundation of much sin mong you. We are not surprised at The rules laid down for us by God, are formed with a view to our Onduct in the present life, and with knowledge of the nature of man as lapted to it: if we adhere to those ules, in dependence on Divine assistnce, we shall live and walk in a manner acceptable to God; but if we ttempt to be wiser than God, and to evise rules stricter than those conained in the Bible, we are only laying nares for our feet, and securing our own downfall. We need not, we feel persuaded, press on you the necessity of suspending from the office of a Minister of the Sanctuary every Caanar who shall be found guilty of immoralities of the nature alluded to, after the removal of the temptation which has generally proved so fatal. The duties of a Catanar-in making all the people acquainted with the Scriptures-in going from house to house, warning, comforting, and visiting the sick-in superintending the education of the young-and many similar duties, should be stated. You are placed here as the Heralds of mercy and reconciliation to all the neighbouring countries. With them, it is gross darkness: with you only, is there any glimmering of light. We trust that your light is advancing, that the glory of God is rising upon you; and we cry unto you—Arise and shine! -Say among the Heathen, that the Lord reigneth; and call on all nature to rejoice at his coming. To take these matters into consideration, the Metropolitan will appoint six of your most able and beloved Catanars; who will meet and discuss them, and report to you the result of their deliberations. We are happy in this opportunity of addressing a few words to the ELDERS AND HEADS OF THE PEOPLE. As Elders of the different Churches, your principal duties are, the repairs of the Churches, their crection where they are wanted, the establishment and support of Schools, the mainte nance of the sick and infirm, and the support of the Catanars. These objects will require funds; and your first business will be to consult on the best plan of providing them. Another important duty is, a familiar acquaintance with the state of morality among the members of the Churches to which you respectively belong, and making the Catanar acquainted with it: also informing yourselves of any instances in which any Christian is oppressed; and, in case the oppression is contrary to any enactment of the Government, sceing that the Christian is redressed; and, if it be a case not provided for by the Sircar, to transmit an account of it to the Metropolitan at the College. You will keep in mind, that every convert to Christianity among the Syrians, however low may have been his previous caste or situation, is to be treated, both by the Christians and Heathen, with the respect due to the Syrians. You should make it your business also to allay, as much as possible, all animosities existing among Christians; and, by your strict impartiality in all matters referred to you, and your courtesy to all, to invite their application to you for the adjustment of their mutual grievances. The Elders should keep a watchful eye over the Schools belonging to the Church, and take care that no Christian Child grows up in ignorance. They should also visit any Hospital or Infirmary, that may be established in the place of their residence. The Elders will ever remember, that they are subject to the Ministers of the Church to which they belong. The Heads of the People, who are not attached as Elders to any particular Church, should make it their business to acquire that general information, which may render them useful to the great body of the Christians. Particularly, they should ascertain and define the rights and privileges, which have at various times been granted to the Christians, by the Government of the countries in which they live; and it is a duty which they owe to the memory and to the Successors of the Princes who granted these privileges, to honour, value, and, in a peaceable manner, support them. The Governments of Travancore and Cochin have been lately calling on the Christians to fill up several important stations, as Judges, Collectors of the Revenue, &c. It has, therefore, become an imperious duty, on the part of the Christians, to obey every such call; and, by every possible means, to render themselves qualified to discharge the arduous duties required of persons filling those stations; and to conduct themselves, when in the exercise of such employments, with ability, uprightness, and activity. Whatever be the duties which the Government calls on any of its subjects to discharge, Christianity requires that the subjects so called on should cheerfully obey the call. This rule knows but one exception-when the employment is contrary to the duties required by God. The temper enjoined by Scripture, with reference to public situations, is a readiness to comply with every wish of the Government, but no anxiety for the situations themselves. We have been much disappointed in discovering great reluctance, on the part of the Christians, to fill some of the situations to which they have been called by her Highness the Rannee. These remarks will lead the Heads of the Christians to discover, wherein the Education of the Youth has been defective. We have been surprised at finding such an absence of all manly exercises among them; and such an ignorance of the use of every weapon, whereby they might be ready, when necessity required, to rally around the person and the throne of their Prince. It is disgraceful to a Christian Subject, to be either unable or unwilling to defend the person or the rights of his Prince: but it will argue the greatest ingratitude to her Highness the Rannee, if such inability or indisposition should remain among the Syrian Christians of Travancore. Her Highness has attached the Christians to herself, by every possible mark of condescension and favour. She has erected and endowed a College, for the education of their Priests and other Youths. She has invited many Syrians to fill posts of great eminence and importance under her; and she has given this additional proof of her favour, in wishing to have some of them around her person to protect her. Whatever be the relations which a Christian sustains, it should be his constant endeavour, not only to fulfil the duties resulting from those relations according to his information and a. bility, but to render himself, by daily study and observation, better qualified for their discharge. It is, indeed, distressing to perceive the extreme indolence of the great body of the Syrians: it is so great, and their incapacity, even for the commonest kind of tillage, so notorious, that Syrians, who have a little property to cultivate, uniformly prefer, as labourers, Chowgans and Parriars. Cultivation among you is also strangely confined to paddy, cocoanuts, and beetle-nuts. These, with a few yams and a little grain, comprehend almost the whole of your cultivation. How little qualified are you ww to benefit the country, compared with what would be the case if every useful article was cultivated by you! Pepper, Ginger, Turmeric, the Sugar Cane, all species of dry Grain, Coffee, together with many kinds of Trees, would greatly enrich yourselves, and prove very beneficial to your country. These things are not unimportant. It is your duty to adopt every measure which is calculated to make the Christian Religion respected and loved by the Government and the People; and none can be recommended more strongly than the strict discharge of every relative duty. That these matters may be duly considered, the Metropolitan will select a few of your principal and most respected Members; who will fully discuss them, and report to you at some future Meeting. It will be of considerable importance, that an examination be made into the degree of information possessed by the Christians on the most important truths of Religion; and also into the effect produced on their manners and habits, by the information which they have. We fear it will be found, on examination, that their ignorance is great, and their conduct much at variance with the commands of God. Among the sins prevalent among them, the breach of the Sabbath, the prostitution of that hal lowed day to the ordinary avocations of life, will be found pre-eminent. must be discerned in all the oppresThe displeasure of Almighty God sions which the Syrian Christians have for so long a period endured, and the state of ignorance and vice to which they are reduced; and in the provocations given by the Christians sought the reason of his displeasure. to their God and Saviour, must be again; and the best way in which, He now seems propitious to you both as a Church and People, you can secure His favour, is by a confession tion among all classes before Him, of all your offences, a general humilia to Him for his pardoning mercy and and united and fervent supplications With these, unite your praises and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. thanksgivings, for the deliverances which you have, in past ages, exlous deliverance, which He seems perienced; and that yet more marvelabout to work out for you, practice to remember, with gratitude We trust that it will ever be your to Almighty God, the alliance and friendship existing between the Government, under which you live, and the British Nation-an alliance, which has occasioned the residence in your country, of one, who has unceas ingly endeavoured at the revival of genuine Religion and Piety among you; and to whom, under God, you owe all the blessings which you enjoy, and the happy prospects before you. EXTRACTS OF THE JOURNAL OF THE REV. THOMAS NORTON, at (See Page 179.) Nov. 29, 1818. Sunday.-Preached, in Malayalim, in the Syrian Church at Mauvellicarre; and, at the request of the Catanars and several of the people, read a portion of our Church Service; with which they were much pleased. One of the Catanars read part of the Third Chapter of St. John, as a Lesson; and a Syrian, whom I took with me, acted as Clerk; so that we proceeded in an orderly manner, and, I hope, to the edification of those present. After Service, the Vestry was filled with Catanars and people. I urged the Catanars to study the Scriptures, and preach Christ to their people; and the people to look to Him alone, as none other could save them: and intreated all to pray much to God for his grace, to enable them to live to His glory. Blessed be God, that He hath enabled me to open my lips in His Name among the Syrians, and to com. mence preaching Christ crucified in their Churches! This is the day, for which I have long looked and prayed. Oh that He may render our labours a blessing to numbers! Dec. 6, 1818. Sunday. This morning I was much pleased at seeing so many assembled at Malayalim Worship: but, in the evening, the number was considerably greater; perhaps near 200. Among them was a Brahmin, who attended both morning and even. ing. I preached from Acts xiii. $8, 39. After Service, I had some pleasing conversation with two or three, concerning the love of Jesus; and exhorted them to believe in and rest on Him for salvation. Blessed be the Lord, my Mission is now my delight; and I trust that it will become so more and more. Oh that I may soon see of the travail of my Redeemer's soul, in the conversion of sinners! Apr. 19, 1819.-This evening I sent in my resignation of the Office of Judge. I have found it a trying situation; but I have learned by it the character of the people, to a degree in which I could not otherwise have acquired it. I could not have imagined them to be what they really are. My only hope is, that Almighty Grace will subdue and overcome all difficulties in our way! June 21.-In the evening Major M'Douall, the new Resident, left for Cochin. He stated himself much pleased with my plans and proceedings, especially with respect to the Orphan Children; and promised to assist me, on his return. July 9.-I saw the Resident, on his return from Cochin. He promises to procure me a piece of ground, for a School, in the great Bazar, to obtain her Highness's patronage and assistance to my Orphan School, and to subscribe to it himself; for which purpose I am to send a statement of my plans and views, that he may present it to her Highness when she goes to Trivandarum. These are great mercies, and, I trust, will be productive of much lasting good. May very many of these miserable objects become subjects of the grace of God, useful members of society, preachers of His blessed word to their countrymen, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven! July 18. Sunday. Opened the Church to-day. A good number attended Malayalim Worship, at half. past seven in the morning-a pleasing Congregation at English Worshipand, at Malayalim, in the evening, a very considerable Congregation, and all attentive. May it please God to incline numbers to attend, and change their hearts by His Grace! I gave notice, that, on Thursday Evenings, I should preach for the benefit of those in Allepie who un, derstand English; and, in order that they might become acquainted with the nature of the Christian Religion, and the character of the Christians in the first ages of the Church, I should expound the Epistles. July 22. Thursday.-This evening extremely wet; but more than I could expect were present. The Epistle to the Philippians pourtraying the character of real Christians in heart and life, I have selected as most appropriate to begin with. I look, with the blessing of God, for much pleasure in delineating the Christian character, feelings, views, and experience, while going through the Epistle. After worship, a Catholic expressed himself very thankful, saying, God had now sent them light. I look forward to the time when I may preach one night in the week in Portuguese, having seriously applied myself to it again. The Portuguese are so prejudiced against Malayalim, that they will scarcely attend to any thing in that language; but are partial to their own. In this I feel desirous of meeting them. August 5. Thursday.-A few attend, and are very serious. O Lord, fill the House of Prayer which Thou hast given us with sinners, and with Thy glory in converting their hearts and preparing them for Thy kingdom above! I find these Weekly Lectures very refreshing to my own soul. They are, indeed, as Brooks and Rest-houses by the way to heaven. In them I know what it is to have my own soul watered; and I trust that they are not unprofitable to others. August 14.-Opened a School in the great Bazar. Two children were taken in. Inquiring into the cause of so few coming, I found it to be fear. Fear of what? Lest I should compel them to come to my Church and be Christians, notwithstanding the assurance that compulsive measures will never be used. For this we may thank our false Brethren, the Catholics (principally Roman Syrians), who have busily employed themselves in prejudicing the minds of the people against us. I doubt not but the present difficulties will, through the goodness of God, work for good. God can and will bring good out of evil, and sinners shall be converted to Him. I have been greatly revived by reading the Annual Publication of our Society for 1818. It contains much good intelligence of the salvation of sinners. Africa is, at length, stretching out her hands to God, in prayers and thanksgivings, by many of her poor sons and daughters. Will not God work here also? I feel so knitted to Br. Johnson, that I would do any thing to see him. O Lord, make me like him! I feel for Brother Collier and others that have suffered so much there. How thankful ought we to be, who are so highly favoured! May it please God to support and bless them! I am particularly comforted by a passage in Professor Farish's Sermon, p. 42. ("It does not follow," &c.) It suits my circumstances. Often have I been dejected, that the Lord had not savingly wrought in the hearts of sinners here. I could not think of baptizing improper persons, which I might have done in great numbers. My unbelieving heart was dejected, and led to sup pose that I was doing nothing; and tempted to think that my friends would imagine that I was occupying my post to no purpose: but I would rather unbaptize multitudes who are a reproach to the Gospel, than increase their numbers. I have been much refreshed by read. ing the Journals of Brethren Rhenius and Bowley; and have seen much in both to humble and encourage me. August 20.-A Mussulman called, and began disputing against Jesus being the Son of God, I had given him, at his own request, an Arabic Testament, and from it he had gathered this doctrine. I endeavoured to preach Jesus to him, and urged the necessity of looking to Him by faith for his soul's salvation. He began to be uneasy, lest his caste should know of this con ference with me. For the present, I dismissed him; begging him to meditate on what had passed between us, to read the Testament which I had given him, and to pray to God to give him to understand it. Satan, to destroy the souls of men, has thus made them fear one another, with regard to religion. I do not perceive it in other matters. Concerning |