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state of mind of another religious inquirer, who expressed her gratitude for freedom from slavery and instruction in the Word of God; adding, "When came to this country, I was in great trouble; for they told me on the slave vessel, Suppose you come to the white man's country, the King will kill you, and boil your blood;' but I found that white man do not eat black people, and the King does us good."

July 15, 1836- A backslider, who has been re-admitted into the Church, spoke to me in this very affecting manner :"When I was once reading in the Hebrews, tears came into my eyes: I felt a love to Christ; and had I then died, I believe I should have been in the hands of God; but now I feel that I am a great sinner in His sight."

Mr. Warburton, labouring as a Catechist at Kissey, relates the following conversations with various persons :

"Mr.

July 13-Conversed with three persons, one man and two women, who desire to join the Church: they can read the Word of God; and, what is interesting, one of the women was instructed by Mrs. Warburton and myself, when in charge of the Liberated Africans' School at Bathurst, to which she then belonged. -The man was educated in the school here-Kissey-in the time of the Rev. G. R. Nyländer and Mr. Coney. He says, that Mr. Nyländer took particular notice of him, instructed him, and received him into the Church by baptism; but that after the death of Mr. Nyländer he went astray. I said to him, Nyländer gave you much good instruction: he baptized you, and admitted you to the Lord's Table; and yet, you have turned out of the good way in which he endeavoured to lead you, and for many years you have been living without God: when you think of this, how do you feel?" 'When I consider this, I am not able to bear it tears come into my eyes it is a great grief to me. The devil and the world draw away my heart: but my heart tells me I must leave off, because I am a dying man, I want to live Christian way. For some time previous to this application, I have perceived this person to be regular in his attendance at the Sunday School, and in the House of God. May the Lord heal his backslidings!

be good for you to go and hear the Gospel: while you neglect the House of God, you can never be happy. But I perceive, by your conduct, that you do not want to go to heaven, and be happy when "Yes, I want to go to heayou die. ven: every body wants to go to heaven." -"No, you do not. If you want to go to Freetown, do sit down in your you 66 No.' "If you desire to house? go to heaven, would you sit down in your house, and refuse to go to church, where you might learn the way ?" "No." -He seemed to feel what I said, and I endeavoured to follow up the conviction.

If

Sept. 17-I examined a person who wished to be taken under religious instruction. He expressed himself as follows. "My heart trouble me to come before Christ for what I have done. I try to beg Christ, He will help me. I 66 When have sinned against Him." your heart troubles you, what do you Ikneel down and pray.” do?"

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"What

do you pray for?" For God to teach me to forsake all my sins, and to help me to "What more? "To serve Him."give me the Holy Spirit, to show me the way of truth.' Do you remember any thing you have heard in the House of God?" "I can hear; but when I go out, I forget."-He was taught to read the Bible in our Sunday School.

Mr. Schön, in his report of Bathurst and Charlotte, gives the following instances of the sorrow of penitent backsliders; and one of an individual continuing negligent of Religion :—

July 16-A man from Charlotte came to me, crying. I asked him what was the matter he replied, "Too much trouble with this girl, my daughter: she is going on bad way, and will neither obey me nor her mother. Since she left school she has followed bad ways.' He then related what I cannot commit to paper; and was often so overcome, that he could not proceed. His daughter was at his side, and betrayed no feeling of sorrow whatever. She began to defend herself most furiously; until I stopped her, and pointed out to her the

sinfulness of speaking against her parents. Turning to the father, I said, "I could better weep with you than comfort you, when I think of the great sin your daughter has committed, and of the many advantages which she has enjoyed; having been taught to read the Word of God and understand His will, and the bad returns she makes. I expressed my mind in a way that they could understand; and said, "I am sometimes afraid that Missionaries come to this place in vain; for some, as soon as they leave school, behave worse than the people who are brought to this country, though they know not God. I must write to the people in England to send Missionaries to other places; and to such as will not only learn the will of God, but do it." No," replied the father: suppose Missionaries no come to this country to teach us, I cannot be sorry for my daughter's sin in my country I did not know better. Please speak to my daughter, that she must repent, and be sorry for her sin; and comfort her."

Comfort her, you say; and you see her heart is as hard as a stone! She does not yet feel what she has done. She is not afraid, though she is on the way to hell."-I seriously admonished her to flee youthful lusts which war against the soul, and to obey her parents; which she reluctantly promised to do.

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A woman called on me. I said, "What do you want ?” “ Please, Sir, in Mr. Johnson's time, I belonged to Church: then I fell into sin; and now I have no comfort in my soul. I wish to return to God.' "What was it you did?" "I left my husband.". Did he fetch you back?" "Myself came back, three years ago. "What made you go back to your husband ?” The man, with whom I lived, died.". "What do you now come to me for? Did you ever go to class meeting?" "Yes, when Mr. Young was here.' Do you think that what you did was wrong?" "Yes, Sir, it is sin before God. I have followed my own heart; I have no peace; I am afraid to die."-" Can I give you peace? or who can give you peace ?" "No; you cannot give me peace: your word broke my heart down, the time you were preaching the last year: Jesus alone can give me peace ?"

When did my word break your heart?" "The time you baptized people, you preached to backsliders: you said. Many who had been baptized,

and had received the Sacrament, had gone away and lived in sins; and could not go to heaven, because they did not abide in Christ. When I heard it, I said, 'True, me one:' I did make agreement with God, but I break it: my work not finished. I am sorry for my sins.""You said that Christ alone could give you peace, and forgive your sins: do you believe that He forgave you? "Yes; because He has kept me to this day, and has not punished me for my sins." Do you not fear that He will punish you in the next world ?" "I am afraid to die; I have no peace; I have no hope; what shall I do ?" Return to God with all your heart; confess your sins; pray for the forgiveness of all, for the Saviour's sake."

The last I would mention, is a man who had been in the habit of neglecting Divine Service. When he was asked the reason, he said his wife had no time to wash his clothes. He defended himself very obstinately against one of the Society's servants formerly employed here, whom he considered to have wronged him very much, in taking notice of his not attending church; which, he said, was no great sin. I allowed him to go on without interruption; by which I became acquainted with his whole mind. When he had done, I told him, that as he was a neighbour, I had had opportunity for watching him well; and by what I had observed, I was convinced that he was a very unfit person to be admitted to church; that I was grieved to see him neglecting Divine Service Sunday after Sunday, and even preventing his wife from attending; that he was not a good father, or he would take more care of his children. Before I could finish speaking to him, he went away, evidently angry with me. I could not make up my mind to allow any of these persons to attend the Sacrament; though I am not without hope that there are I earsome tokens for good in them. nestly entreated them to seek the Lord while He may be found-to call upon Him while He is near.

While the Gospel is bringing light to the minds of those who embrace the Truth, it is very painful to see the lingering influence of early errors still haunting their imaginations This is a class of evils by which hea thenish countries are peculiarly cha

something heavily pressing on her mind; and when I asked her, whether she could

racterized; and the trials hence arising to the Ministers of the Gospel must be proportionably great. A few instances will serve to illustrate

this

Distressing Influence of Early Superstition.

Mr. Kissling relates the following case of one of his charge in Gibraltar Chapel :

A circumstance which came under my notice shows the remains of idolatry and superstition in one who had professed the name of Christ. I was called to the death-bed of a woman who had been for many years afflicted with a bodily distemper. Her state of mind was distressing she complained against God, that she was so long laid up with sickness, and that He had not heard and answered her prayers. I told her that God did not punish in anger: His chastisements were intended for our good, that we might seek His face with full purpose of heart, and flee to Jesus the friend of sinners: and that her sufferings were nothing, when compared with the sufferings of hell, which we all had deserved. I then asked her whether she had ever prayed that the Lord would save her soul? She answered, "I have prayed till I became tired; but my sickness is still the same; pain, pain, pain all over my body! I can no more pray. Will you join me and your husband, if we pray with you ?" "It is not for me. Jesus Christ was once dear to my soul: I could then eat and drink at His Table, and feel that He lived in my heart: but now my heart is like wood, no feeling. God cannot be pleased, if my lips say the words, and my heart is not there." Then only listen ; and we will entreat the Lord that He may be pleased to take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh, and that His Holy Spirit may prepare you for another world." To this she consented; and, on my going away, expressed her thanks for the visit.

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When at the house of this much afflicted woman the second time, I thought her countenance was more cheerful: she also expressed her gladness to see me again, as her end was nigh at hand. Finding that her strength, indeed, was rapidly declining, I spoke freely of death, and told her that she should prepare to meet her God. During the conversation, however, I perceived that there must be

now look on her affliction as sent for her 66 This sickness was good, she replied,

brought on by bad people: they were angry with me, and did something to make me lie all this time on my bed." Jesus Christ has all power, both in heaI observed, "Do you not believe that

ven and on earth ?" "Yes," she replied, "He has all power; but He does no more mind me.' I remonstrated with her; and told her, that Heathens were troubled with such foolish thoughts, but that Christians should not be. I spoke particularly against idolatry; but I soon discovered that I was losing access to her mind, and therefore changed the subject; dwelling chiefly on the love of Christ to sinners-the blood which cleanseth from all sin-and the righteousness in which she could appear before God. In this she seemed to take more interest. After again offering up a prayer with her sorrowing husband, that the Lord would receive her graciously and love her freely, I took my leave, fully persuaded that I should see her no more in this world. Shorly after, she became delirious, and died in that state. It would be unbecoming in me to make any reflections on this poor woman's case. I have rather related it as one of those instances which, in a measure, let us into the secret of the conflicts and temptations to which those are exposed who are gathered into the Church from among the Heathen. They are liable to trials of which we ourselves have little experience. Being from their childhood inured to the customs, habits, and notions of their idolatrous countries, they find it no easy thing to cast away, at once, such works of darkness, and to look upon them with contempt. I fear that many, who are sincere in their Christian Profession, have to strive against the influence of superstition all the days of their life. Hence the utility of showing, again and again, to our Congregations, the errors and absurdities of Heathenism.

Further instances of this nature are reported as follows, by Mr. Kissling

I will mention, on this occasion, two cases of superstition, which I observed with much grief. A child of a communicant had a cushion tied to his neck, when attending our Sunday School at

:

the chapel on inquiring of the parent and sponsor what the cushion signified, I was informed, that the boy was born with a membrane encompassing his head, which was sewed up in the cushion, and that he wore it "to keep him from sickness and fits of fright." My arguments against the superstitious practice availed very little: the individuals indeed consented that the charm should no more be brought to school; but the importance which they attach to it, I believe, remains still the same.

At another time, when I had to attend a burial, I noticed, at the house from whence the funeral proceeded, a bason of water with strong smelling leaves in it; in which the mourners, on their return from the grave, formally washed their hands; to prevent, as I was afterward told, the departed soul from pursuing them. It is not to be wondered at, that such a superstitious practice should exist among Heathens; for the vilest of them believe in the immortality of the soul, and the best of them have fears on account of it; but to see Religious Professors join in it, is grievous, yea, disgraceful. But such occurrences, painful as they are, do not discourage us in our work.

John Attarra, relating his visits to the people at Hastings, gives also some similar instances of superstitious habits among them. He

states

August 22, 1836-I went out this afternoon, as usual, to visit people at their houses.

When I had been to different houses, and had declared to them the Word of the Lord, and had also exhorted some, who never attended church, to come, I came to a house wherein resided a man who is an idolater, or rather a worshipper of thunder. I had sometime ago conversed with this man respecting this evil way of living; but he did not regard it; but would persist that he was right, and I was wrong. To-day, I asked him, what he thought about his own manner of living, and whether he still believed it to be better than the Christian life? I put this question to him, because I had seen him attend our chapel on the two preceding Sundays, which he never did before. He replied, that he was convinced that my way was right, and his wrong. I then inquired of him, what it was that had induced him to say that my

He

way was better than his. He said, that he knew it by experience; “for,” said he, "I had put my trust in country fashion, to assist me, in many things; but I found it could not help me." said, that he had wasted a great deal of money on it, but all was in vain: this caused him to see that he had been a foolish man, to depend upon such things, which could not help him, either in this world or in that which is to come. With regard to what he had spent for that purpose, he said, that if the money he had spent were to be collected, it would be sufficient to build a frame house. I then admonished him to pray to God to keep him from turning back to his former state. He promised that he would come to church often, to hear God's Word; and since that time he has regularly attended Church and School.

I went to another house, the owner of which is the chief drummer, but a very superstitious man. As soon as I entered the piazza, he offered me a seat. I then asked him the reason why he never came to hear the Word of God. He replied, that he had much country fashions in his head. I told him, that although he had much of it in his head, yet he should come to church to hear the Word of God, which is able to save the soul. He promised that he would begin to attend. He found it a difficult thing to forsake his country fashion, as I advised him, because he was born in a heathen country; and therefore, whenever it wants a fowl, or any other thing, he will make a sacrifice to it; that by so doing he may please it, in order to preserve him from sickness and trouble; and also, when he is in need, that it may assist him. I endeavoured to point out the evil and folly of depending upon such things, which could not help him; but he could not be persuaded to believe the Truth. He said further, that I disbelieved him because I was not of the Aku Nation. I replied, that this was not the reason; for the country which I came from observed the same evil practices : the only reason why I opposed it was, that the Word and Spirit of God had convinced me of the evil of it: I was taught by that Word the vanity and folly of trusting in such things.

Fear being the prevalent principle of false religion, the following account, given by Mr. Warburton, of the

people's worshipping even Disease will not surprise, though it will pain our Readers :

Sept. 17, 1836-Had a conversation with one of my Helpers; whom I had requested, sometime ago, to go to a dark part of the village, inhabited by his country people; many of whom are idolaters, and know little of the English Language. He obtained permission to hold a weekly meeting in one of their houses; but shortly after, an apprentice falling sick of the small-pox, the owner said, that" meeting should no longer be kept there;" adding, "You know that this thing no like noise in our country." I inquired what the man meant; and was told, that in their country-the Aku-the people worship the small-pox, under the name of Shapouna; a being who, they imagine, presides over this disease, and to whom they offer sheep and goats, that he may not afflict them. When any one has this disorder, they also offer sacrifices; and if the person die, they will not suffer any one to cry and lament, as is customary when a death occurs; but they give praise to him, and say, "He do what he please," to show that they do not grieve. This they do through fear. After this, he went to several other persons, but was unsuccessful.

From a passage in a Letter of the Rev. J. Raban, dated Feb. 22, 1836, we observe something like the rudiments of the system of Caste; which, but for the Gospel, might easily spring up among a people emerging from barbarism to a state of comparative civilization. Having related some instance of discord, in which affronting language had been used,

he adds

Strange as it may seem, this is by no means the only proof we have of the existence of feelings very much akin to those which have prevailed so long in India, respecting what is termed Caste. When the Africans are disputing one with another, it is not uncommon for individuals born in the Colony-such as the wives of several of the Schoolmasters --to show their contempt for such as have been liberated from a slave-vessel, by Captured; applying to them the term while, with exulting self-complacency, they style themselves "Free-born." I may be allowed to observe, that this

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Conversation with a Mahomedan. August 10, 1836-On my way to Freetown, I met an aged Mussulman belonging to Gloucester, with whom I had had several conversations before. At our last meeting, he promised to go to church. I now asked him, whether he had attended church since I saw him last? He replied, "No."Did you not promise

me that you would go, and endeavour to care for your soul ?" Yes, Sir, I did: I care for my soul; God knows it."—" The same answer you gave me before; but you are always the same man; you cannot care much for your soul." I do nothing bad; I drink no brandy, no gin, no wine; I do not make greegrees; I do not curse; and suppose any body hurt me, I cannot hurt him again.” I endeavoured to make him understand, that we defile ourselves more by what comes out of the mouth than by what enters in ; but the carnal mind perceiveth not the things of the Spirit. He smiled, and spoke of the assurance which he had, that, by God's power, he should go to heaven; and seemed to consider it unnecessary to exert himself any further than to abstain from spirituous liquors. When I mentioned that God looked upon the heart, which in every man was bad, he said, "No, Sir, I do not know your heart; but I cannot believe that my heart is bad: my heart is good; I know it."