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them and whatever others may believe, I know I am in the right when rejecting every thing that surpasses my comprehension." "Were you ever in London ?" "No, Sir."-" Did you know Voltaire, Tom Paine, and others, whose works you "No."possess ?" Do you believe that there is such a place, and that the books which are said to be written by those men are the works of their hands?" "Doubtless, Sir."—"Then what reasons have you for believing this book-the Bible-to be an imposture? and on what grounds do you reject the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, as relating to matters of fact?" His answers were shrewd, and some of them absurd. From his answers, I perceived that he must have read Hume with much attention; and therefore answered him with Paley's arguments, but more particularly with Scripture; as, after all, this is, and ever will be, the sword of the Spirit, whereby even the mighty are discomfited, and must fall prostrate before it. Four hours had passed; and seeing that little good was likely to result from carrying the conversation any farther, I concluded by saying, "With all this your wisdom, which more properly would be called self-conceitedness, you are still an unhappy man, and a slave of your passions: -unhappy, because there is no peace, my God, to the wicked;-a slave, because you are not yet come to Him who has said, If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

saith

I

What a

Dec. 22 - Met this day with Mr. M., the blacksmith, and entreated him to return to God with a perfect heart. enlarged upon the love of God toward him -upon eternity and judgment to comethe wretchedness of those who are lostand the blessedness of those who are saved. He deeply felt what was said; and replied: "Mr. Bernau, you cut me to the quick and to tell you the truth, I have never given these things any serious thoughts; but I shall do so." confession!-Is not the manner of this man like to many of those who call themselves sincere, and wish to appear in earnest about what they speak and do concerning religion? I am persuaded, that if all infidels were to bethink themselves as becomes reasonable and accountable beings, there would be more devotedness to the cause of truth, and less cavilling about mere fancies and lies. When taking farewell of him, I said, "Mr. M., God loves you, but you hate yourself. O

turn to the Lord! why will you die ?" He turned away apparently much affected, and said, “I see I must begin anew: may God assist me."

eyes,

While it is an affecting sight to the it is yet a strong confirmation of the truth of the word of God, to behold the wanderers of the House of Israel carrying their weary steps to the uttermost parts of the earth. The following passages of Mr. Bernau describe a few

Interviews with a Jewish Rabbi, prior to his death.

Aug. 29, 1836-An old Rabbi, from Poland, called on me to-day: he is, strange to say, on his way to Jerusalem. He is full of Talmudical learning, and very selfconceited. After many hours' conversation, I inquired into the reasons of his hope; and whether he believed that Messiah had already come? or whether he expected Him-and how? He denied that He had come; and said that he believed He would come in glory. Upon this, I brought my German Bible; but he objected to enter upon any argument drawn from the German Text. I accordingly put aside the German, and took up the Hebrew Bible. After having made many frivolous objections as to the time when, the place where, &c., Messiah should appear, I referred him to the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, asking, “To whom do you believe all this refers ?" He replied, "To Messiah." "How is it, then, that you expect Him to come in glory, whereas the Prophet describes him as a suffering Messiah ?" He seemed perplexed; and, laying aside the Bible, he said, "I was born a Jew, and I will die as such." This gave occasion to speak of Israel's forlorn condition and wretched state, until this very day, on account of the blindness and hardness of their hearts, in reference to Hosea iii. 4, 5. He wept bitterly. I handed him a Hebrew Testament, saying, "Read this with prayer; and you will be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth is that Prophet of whom Moses and the Prophets give witness. Believe in Him as a crucified Messiah for our sins; and when He comes in glory, you shall not be confounded."

Oct. 26-On my return from the coast to-day, I was not a little surprised at seeing the old Rabbi in town, whom I mentioned in my Journal not many days

ago. A heavy gale had carried away the mast of the vessel in which he was passenger, and obliged them to put back, having had a narrow escape from a watery grave. Once more I directed his attention to the one thing needful; and took a farewell as if we should never again meet on earth, being at the same time deeply impressed with the blindness and hardness of heart of this son of Abraham. Oh! how long shall the veil remain on the heart of Israel? Is that time yet distant, when the Spirit of the Lord shall revive these dry bones, and accomplish that which seems impossible to us, through our unbelief?

Nov. 12, 1836-Alas! the Rabbi is no more! A fatal fever, soon after his arrival in Surinam, put an end to his life. O God! how wonderful are thy ways with the children of men! Did he come to Berbice, a country distant from his home, to hear once more, before his death, the invitation to seek the Lord God of Israel while He may be found, and to call on Him while He is near; for until then he had been apparently deaf to the entreaties of other Missionaries? Did he cross the Atlantic to accept of a Testament sealed with the blood of the Son of God, which he often had refused in the pride of his heart? He was born a Jew, as he used to say, and wished to die as such; and the Lord appears to have taken him at his word! When I saw him last, he applied the passage relating to Cain's wandering about, to himself; and, with tears in his eyes, added, "Surely the God of our fathers has forsaken us, and made us a by-word among all nations! Whereupon I remarked: "Yes, such is the case: but return, O Israel, to thy God, and He will have mercy upon you. 2 The Hebrew Testament which he received may, perhaps, be a seed carried by this wandering bird to Surinam, where there are multitudes of Israel's forlorn sheep: for who can search out the ways of the Almighty, whose paths are in the mighty waters, and whose footsteps are not known?

We have noticed that Mr. Bernau terminated his labours in Berbice with the year 1836. The following are his

Reflections on the Close of the Year. Dec. 30-Amidst all the trying circumstances of our situation throughout this year, which is now drawing to a close,

I have the satisfaction to state, that the Lord has been with us; and that therefore a blessing will come; nay, has already manifested itself in different quarters. One pleasing circumstance is this, that our Family Prayers have been well attended, and, I humbly trust, have proved beneficial to many. Several persons inquired to-day, whether there would be a Meeting at the close of the year; and whether I would permit them to come to our house to spend the close of the old and the beginning of the new year in singing and prayer. I not only permitted, but invited them to come. No sooner was my intention known, than it was noised abroad, and much spoken of.

Dec. 31-Hitherto the Lord has helped us! Praised be His name for His forbearance and goodness toward us! Surely the Lord is kind and merciful, and hath compassion over all His works! While I am writing these few lines, and meditating on my farewell discourse, to be delivered to-morrow, the people are flocking to our house. O may they not go away empty!

Jan. 1, 1837-Before I go to rest, I cannot but remember the goodness of our Heavenly Father in bringing us to this place, where there are no doubt many that shall be called to eternal life. The room was crowded to excess; and never have I felt the presence of the Lord so mightily as in the solemn moments when the old year closed upon us and the new begun. May the many resolutions that were formed in those awful moments be acceptable to the Lord! and may He give us strength to carry them out in our lives and conversation! The new year is begun; but who of us will see it close, the Lord only knows! So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, was my text, and shall be my prayer as long as it is said to-day.

I preached to-day my farewell discourse to a crowded congregation in town; having done so on the coast on Sunday last.

At a period when Mr. Bernau was anticipating his removal to labour among the Native Indians, having also paid a visit to those on the Corantyne River, he thus expresses

his

Thoughts on the Mission to the IndiansRecollections of the Moravian Mission to them.

In a former Letter to you, I promised

to give you a more detailed account of the Indians in Corantyne River. But what shall I say of them? If I tell you what they really are, I must place a picture before your eyes painted with the deepest colours, and veil the whole in dark

ness.

And if it were not for the promises, the dawnings of that glorious day when there shall be no more darkness, but all light in the Lord, it would be extremely difficult to behold even one pleasing and promising feature behind the almost impenetrable forests of ignorance, apathy, and lethargy, in which this race of mankind seem to be buried. Not only are their dwellings completely surrounded by bush, and almost inaccessible to a stranger, but also their mind is so overgrown with superstition and indolence, that it would appear that every vestige of consciousness and knowledge of the existence of a Supreme Being were completely choked: and that portion of this race which has not been disfigured by natural evils appears to have been ruined by spirituous liquors, obtained from those who ought, as professed Christians, to have taught them better things. This is the dark side of the picture;-and it would remain so, were it not for the express promise, that all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.-But our duty is not less binding upon us-Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every crea

ture.

The day which I spent among them being rather rainy and cold, I felt chilly and uncomfortable; but what pen can describe the feelings of my heart, when contemplating the spiritual darkness brooding over this wilderness? It is chilly, it is cold, all around;- -no friend to sympathize; no fruit, no blossom, to be seen among those who bear the Name of Christ, by which the solitary wanderer may be refreshed. But the Lord is near, and He can make up for every thing. When standing on the spot where the House of Prayer is said to have stood when the Moravian Missionaries laboured among this benighted people, my heart was musing on the past: and calling to remembrance, that there have been some whose hearts believed in the Son of God, I began inquiring whether there were any still remaining of those few;-and my inquiry was not made in vain. A woman was pointed out to me, who had been dedicated to the Lord by her pious parents in

her infancy; but having been left to herself, without the means of grace, there was nothing to distinguish her from others, save the Christian name. She could neither speak English nor Dutch: I was therefore deprived of the pleasure of talking to her. When it was told them that I was a Domine (Minister), one of the Indians, apparently a Captain, for he had a cap curiously wrought and decorated with many feathers, came and placed himself before me; saying: "Domine, are you coming to learn us? Oh glad me be, we learn good!"—I was very desirous of penetrating higher up to the Falls, where large numbers of the Carabeese are said to reside; but the weather being too rainy, and the river too much swollen, I desisted from my purpose. There are but few Indians in this river, belonging to the Arrawack Tribe: the greater part by far are Carabeese: these are a fine-looking and strong race of men: their demeanour is friendly, but their warlike appearance threatening, as they are constantly armed with a gun, and bow and arrows; or a club and long knife. Their bodies are painted a deep red; which colour they extract from the leaf of a certain tree. Their faces are tattooed; and, strange to say, their hair is more like that of coloured persons, between the coarse straight hair of other tribes and that of the Negroes. The beard and eye-brows are plucked out when they are yet young; and all, without exception, walk about naked; whereas I have seen a great many of other tribes decently dressed. From intercourse with the English, they have learnt English, and speak it tolerably well; but among themselves they speak their own language, which appears to be purer than that spoken by the Carabeese in Berbice and Essequibo River. When will the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings, in this wilderness? The Lord have mercy on them! going down the river, we struck on the same bank on which the boat belonging to the Moravian Mission was lost, though the Missionaries escaped from a watery grave. The water being low, we escaped unhurt, by the help of the Lord, after having used every possible means to get her afloat with the return of the tide.

In

He adds the following account of a conversation with some of the Indians:

I feel much interested in the Indians: and if permitted to labour among them, I hope I shall do it with holy joy. This morning, a number of them came to my house, asking for rum. I told them, by an interpreter, that I was a Minister, and wished to teach them the way to happi

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ness. I asked one, "Who made you?" He answered, The Great Spirit; and when me die, my soul must go to Him; my body to the grave." I told him, that his body must come forth again at the Last Day, to receive according to the works done during life. He laughed; and shrewdly observed, "No man come and tell you this [to be] true. How do you know?" I told him, that the book which I wished to teach them said so. Domine," he replied, 'me too old for learn: here my children." As he had two wives, I told him that the Great Spirit was angry with all that have two. "Oh! I shall leave them all, when I die." He then went away. This man, whom I chiefly addressed, appeared to be the Head of them all. It was but eight o'clock in the morning, and he seemed to be already tipsy.

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Bartica.

Having quitted Berbice, the Rev. J. H. Bernau thus relates his entrance on his Station at Bartica. The Rev. T. Youd had returned thither, having just before visted Barbados for the purpose of receiving Holy Orders. Mr. Bernau writes

Jan. 12, 1837-Thanks be to the Lord, for His protection vouchsafed to us on our voyage hither! Our hearts feel refreshed in the midst of kind and Christian friends. The Corresponding Committee having acquainted me with the state of things relating to this Mission, desired me to proceed without delay to Bartica, in order to get an insight into the external and internal affairs of the same. Leaving Mrs. Bernau in town, I proceeded up to-day; and am now on my way.

Jan. 19-On my return to town, a Committee was held; and the moving of the houses from Bartica to the Grove finally decided on. At the same time, I was acquainted that I should settle my accounts for the year past with the Society at home; and in the mean while take possession of the house at Bartica until a RECORD, August 1837.]

carpenter could be procured to move the

same.

Jan. 20-We left town to-day, for the future sphere of our labours. O may the blessing of God rest upon our going out and coming in! The arrangements which Mr. Youd and I have come to, as it regards the labours in the Mission, are the following:-I have taken the School, and am to instruct the boys maintained by the Society they are seven in number. It will be my object to impart to them a plain education, so as to enable them to be interpreters for us, and, at the same time, readers and-God grant!-Teachers among their own nation. Mr. Youd will visit the out-posts until I shall be able to take part in it; he being able to speak Creole Dutch, which I am now learning. This will give time to Mr. Youd to acquire the Carribeese language, in which he has made much progress. The plan which I wish to adopt and follow out is simply this-To bring them well acquainted with the Holy Scriptures; to teach them so much History and Geography as may be required for the better understanding of the Bible; to make them acquainted with the history of Christ's Church for the establishing of their faith; and, particularly, to prepare them for teaching both children and adults. This, together with order and punctuality, in which I am sorry to observe they are very deficient, may perhaps, under the favour of the Lord, prove a great blessing to themselves and others. I have begun to turn my attention to the Akawi Language, as there are large numbers who speak this language; but find great difficulty in procuring a master. Most of the Arrawacks speak Creole Dutch: I am therefore able to teach them on Sundays, through an interpreter; which, however, is not the case with the former.

On entering this new sphere of labour, which properly may be called a Missionary field, it has been, and still is, my fervent prayer that I may be possessed of a Missionary spirit, and have a heart full of love and patience;-for what will all our labours avail, if they are not the labours of love? O, then, do not forget us in your prayers, that we may prove a blessing to all around us; and, while we are preaching to others, may save our own souls! The little which I have learnt in mechanics is here of great service to me; and not less to the Indians, inasmuch as occupations of such a kind are calculated 2 C

to counteract their disposition to rove about in the woods and rivers.

The labours of Mr. Youd at this Station have been considerably interrupted by his absence at Barbados, while preparing for Holy Orders. From the following passage in his Letter of January 7, 1836, it is to be expected that he will resume his former exertions with unabated zeal. He observes

I am proceeding slowly with the languages. However, I expect two interpreters on Monday; one for Carribeese, the other for Macusie. I think my Dictionary of the four languages, CreoleDutch, Carribeese, Akawi, and Macusie, will be valuable to those who come after into this laborious and self-denying, yet blessed work; as also the Grammar of the Carribeese.

Trinidad.

The arrival of the Society's two Missionaries, the Rev. J. G. Mühlhauser, and the Rev. Alfred E. Eckel, in Trinidad, and the apportionment of land for their Missionary labours by the Governor, were stated at pp. 147, 148 of our Volume for 1836. The arrangements made by the Missionaries, in separating themselves, and thus more effectively following up their labours in adjacent Districts, are stated in a Letter of the date July 1, 1836. The Bishop of Barbados, who had just visited the Island, fully approved of their proposed separation, and divided the surrounding quarters into two distinct parishes. Mr. Eckel thus describes the spheres occupied by himself and his Missionary Brother, respectively:

The parish of Mr. Mühlhauser comprises the quarter of Point à Pierre, North Naparima, South Naparima, and the quarters in the south-west part of the island. The first three quarters are populous, and partly Protestant; but the latter are scarcely inhabited, and only by Roman Catholics. The parish which is assigned to me comprises the quarters of Montserrat, Savanna Grande, and Moruga, on the south coast. Savanna Grande has about 2000 inhabitants: in which number are included 600 Free Negroes, all Protes

tants, commonly called Americans. These Americans originated from six companies of Negro soldiers, who assisted the British armies in North America, and were brought over to this island twenty years ago. Many of them left their settlements in Savanna Grande, and are dispersed in the island; but those who are still in their settlements amount, with their children and families, to about 600 souls. Each company has a separate settlement, which is sometimes called a village. The Serjeants of these six companies are still alive; and although they have no military nor municipal authority over the rest, yet the people look to them as Chiefs or Headmen; and I endeavour to keep up the feeling, as it is calculated to promote good order.

The following Extracts from the Journals of the Missionaries describe the commencement of their labours, in

Preaching, Catechizing, Conversation, and Education.

Mr. Mühlhauser, speaking of his Station at San Fernando, relates, July 18, 1836

Every Sunday Morning I preach at San Fernando; except the third Sunday, when I have to go to Couva. On Sunday Afternoons I go to some Estate, to have prayer and a short sermon, and to catechize the Negroes. I find catechizing

answers best.

During the week I go once or twice upon an estate, to instruct the Negroes: at other times I visit my School, where there are about eighteen scholars. Then I have to carry on my Church Subscriptions: besides which, the Couva Schools and Church business are laid entirely upon me, as likewise the two Chapel School-houses in my district. Last week I was four days at Couva, for the

regulation of the two schools; of which, one was opened on the 18th of May, the other on the 6th of July. The first has nine scholars, the second eight, besides six or eight evening scholars. In about a fortnight I have to go thither, to collect subscriptions for the Couva Quarter Church; and in doing so, I must ride through all the country.

Again he writes, on November 28, 1836, more particularly describing his method of public instruction, and especially insisting on the utility of catechizing :