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The Persian (beside in Persia itself), is the written language over a considerable part of Eastern Tartary; it is the court language at Delhi, and all the Hindoos, who would prefer themselves in the service of the government, are constrained to learn it; into this language have been translated the four Gospels.

The Chinese language is spoken by 300,000,000 of men. A spirit of innovation is said to be beginning to reign ; and from the natural inquisitiveness of the Chinese character, and the freedom of their press, great hopes are entertained, that a complete version of the scriptures into their language, would be attended with considerable success. A translation into the Mandarin dialect, therefore, has been undertaken, and is in great forwardness; executed by an Armenian christian, a native of China, assisted by a Chinese Munshi.

Next to the Chinese, no other language in the world can boast so wide a diffusion as the Tartarian; a version, therefore, is preeminently desirable. The translation into the Turkish language, by Mr. Brunton (of Charass,) is expected to be executed in such a manner as to render it intelligible also to the Tartars; should this prove to be the case, this desirable end will be in a measure accomplished.

The second proposition of Mr. Pearson, is an ecclesiastical establishment, and the public and authorized administration of Christian institutions, after the manner of those recommended by Dr. Buchanan.

Iu the principle of this proposition, we wholly and entirely acquiesce; but we have too much cause to fear, that in the present state of the East India Company's affairs, it would be impracticable; we shall therefore wave for the present any discussion of this question, and proceed to state what we think really practicable: and this is nothing more than an increase of chaplains, and the establishment of an episcopal authority. We propose this, however, with no other view than as preliminary to greater efforts; but after this is once put into execution, the due observance of religious rites, and the erection of edifices for public worship, would, we apprehend, follow as matters of course.

* Johannes Lasser, professor of the Chinese language.

With respect to missions which occupy the third section of this chapter, we have little to remark. No mission, in our opinion, can be effectual in enlightening a whole people, or even a district, where the missionaries do not carry in their hands a translation of select books, at least, of the holy writings; it will be a work begun in righteousness, executed in toil, and finished in defeat. On the other hand, where men are selected for their piety and their ardent wishes for the success of the cause; men, whose enthusiasm masters not their judgement, and whose genius do not crouch to difficulties, then, indeed, if they take an olive branch in one hand, and the scriptures in the other, nothing is too great for expectation.

The duty incumbent on Christians to propagate the sacred truths, in which they have been instructed, both as a moral law and divine obligation, can be doubted by few, who are not wilfully blind as to the expediency of that law, and the authority for that obligation.

In a moral point of view, we stand justified in the eyes of all nations; since, to cultivate the faculties of man,and to improve his sense of moral truth, is to refine the rougher qualities of his nature: it is to teach him the best possible mode of governing his more turbulent passions, to foster in his heart the more amiable feelings, and to direct his views to something higher and more enobled than mere animal existence: in fact, it is to enable him to assimulate more nearly, and to ally him more intimately to his Creator.

With respect to its being a religious duty, we will barely observe, that it is not only a duty to be inferred from the general spirit of the scriptures, but the command is verbal and peremptory. "Go ye, (says Christ a little before his ascension,) Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you, and lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.

The fourth proposition for propagating Christianity in Asia, is a very important one; and if instituted with right principles, and persevered in with diligence, would ultimately effect much towards the accomplishment of this great design. The

importance of education, with respect to the happiness of individuals, and the prosperity of a state is too generally admitted, to allow us to dwell upon the importance of establishing schools in every nook and corner of our Indian possessions. But while we are alive to the advantages, we are not insensible to the difficulties, that stand in the way of establishing many of those schools at present; what can be done, however, ought to be done; and since we cannot do all the good we wish, let us endeavour, at least, to do all that we are able.

The work closes with a statement of the consequences of translating the scriptures into the oriental languages, and of promoting the cause of Christianity in Asia; these remarks we recommend to the serious perusal of those, who still retain doubts as to the policy and expediency of adopting those mea

sures.

Of the historic view of the progress of the Gospel, we cannot express our opinion more decidedly than in having request permission of the author to permit it to add value to our historic department of the present year.

On the Religious Improvement of Prisons: a Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of Durham, at the Assizes, holden there, August 10, 1808, to which is added an Appendix, on Subjects connected with the Sermon, by John Brewster, M.A. Rector of Redmarshall, Vicar of Greatham, and one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the said County of Durham. 8vo. pp. 36, Rivingtons, London, 1808.

The Text of this Sermon is from Psalm LXXIX. 2. "O let the sorrowful sighing of the Prisoner come before thee."

This verse, as we have been anticipated by Mr. Brewster, when read in the Chapel of a Prison, visited by Mr. Howard, was observed by him to have a most impressive effect upon the feelings of all the Prisoners,

The observations of Mr. Brewster are for the most part just, and their tendency uniformly benevolent. To rescue those miserable outcasts of society, from the evil of their courses, to exhort them by precept, and to instruct them by example; to soothe their wounded minds, and check the growth of hardened

feeling, and finally to restore them to the world, and awaken in them a willing allegiance to their God, is an employment highly grateful to the heart; and a duty peculiarly incumbent upon those, to whom the Legislature has more particularly entrusted the spiritual reform of those miserable and misguided men.

A prison should resemble (says Mr. Brewster,) a well-regulated family, where fervent prayer and scriptural instruction form a part of the general system of duties; where evil words, as well as evil actions, meet with speedy censure, and where the master, under an earnest conviction of the importance of his charge, adopts the firm and religious resolution of Joshua.-" As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord."

If

The holy day, which brings tidings of salvation to all, should be hailed within the walls of a prison with peculiar welcome. the feet of him that preacheth the Gospel of peace, and bringeth glad tidings of good things, be beautiful upon the mountains," and acceptable to the general congregation of Christ's flock, how much more acceptable and harmonious must that voice sound, which proclaims liberty to the captives, and opening of the prison to them that are bound, which heals the broken hearted. Oh! let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoner come before Thee, and let him not sigh in vain! Let his tears be glad tears, and his sorrow be a goodly sorrow that worketh repentance; and when his eyes are lifted up from the dungeon, let them rest only on the offspring of David, the bright and morning star of his redemption.

It will be evident from these observations, how little can be expected in the general reformation of prisons, by the casual visit of the most pious chaplain. And when we further consider, that in England and Wales alone, not less than four thousand persons are annually returned upon society from a temporary imprisonment, where far the greater of them, I am sorry to say, have rather increased, than diminished, the malignity of their vices, the government of the country is loudly called upon to extend her powerful arm, which, in the cause of humanity, much more of religious humanity, will not be extended in vain.

The religious establishment of the nation contains within itself every beneficial assistance for the devout worshipper in public congregations. The Services of our Church are rich in language, and in doctrines; but a peculiar office is still wanted adapted to the situation of the prisoner.

It is of importance to the community, that the instruction and discipline of prisons should be more than ordinarily Christian. Few of their inhabitants have been taught to know Christ; still fewer, to know Him crucified. Few of their inhabitants have been taught to know any thing of the influences of the Spirit; still fewer, that their own minds are capable of divine impressions. When they have made this discovery, reformation, on the best of principles, will not be distant. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." Thus, and thus only, can the commission of crimes be

prevented. Thus only can the convict be rescued from a state of mental degradation, or be received again into society, cleansed from the pollution of his former iniquities. "It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

There is another period in the history of the prisoner, when it is of infinite importance to him, by whom he is attended, and what are the religious principles of his spiritual friend-I mean in the last scene of criminal conviction. In making the observation, I am far from wishing to deprive the prisoner of the kind assistance of the ministers of any religious persuasion, where he has previously and professedly been a member of any separate congregation. But there is reason to believe that great delusion of mind has been the consequence of an indiscriminate admission of spiritual visitors under such circumstances. A misconception of the doctrine of absolution in the one case, and of justification by faith only, in the Antinomian definition of it, in the other, has, I fear, often produced false confidence in a monent of despair. Far be it from me to extinguish the slightest spark of hope when its value is so great. But as we ought not, under any notion of misplaced tenderness, to encourage a false hope, so we ought not to inculcate a false religion. Both doctrines, rightly understood, are salutary and scriptural. But when it is imagined, that either one or the other, personally applied, will remove the offence, and disarm the justice of the Almighty, without the inward conviction of the heart, we are then resting in outward means, and cherishing a dangerous error. The Saviour's merits are indeed infinite, and his atoning blood is imputable to every penitent. The thief upon the cross received his gracious approbation and the labourer of the last hour was accepted. But these were peculiar cases; and instead of exciting in us an unwarrantable confidence, they should produce a prompt, radical, and an evangelical repentance.

This sermon is accompanied with an appendix. We extract No. 11, in the hope that it may induce those Gentlemen who are engaged in the office of Prison Chaplain to put in practice, what Mr. Brewster so benevolently and conscientiously recommends.

BOOKS AND PRAYERS.

The distribution of religious books in prisons is of great importance, in conjunction with the private discourse, friendly admonition, and useful instruction of a pious minister. Indeed every prison should be supplied with a divinity-library suitable to its size; and books should be delivered, from time to time, to all those who are able, and inclined to use them. Every cell should be furnished with a Bible and a book of devotion; and where a prisoner cannot read, the chaplain, or some better informed prisoner, should occasionally read to him.

Besides the public service of the chapel, prayers ought to be read in the prison, as soon as the prisoners meet in the day-room in the morning, and before they are separated in the evening. When pure re

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