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Natives. In these labours they are persevering with unabated zeal; and-notwithstanding the very low state of religion among those of the Cingalese who profess the Christian Name; and the superstition, ignorance, prejudice, and atheism of the Pagan part of the population-not without cheering hopes of great ultimate success.

Four new Stations appear on the Minutes of their last Conference, held at Colombo, to each of which a Missionary is appointed; aad as their number is now increased to thirteen, including two Converted Priests of Budhu, who act as Catechists, it is hoped that the accounts from the Mission there will continue to present new and glorious evidences that the Gospel is the power of God unto sab vation wherever it is preached.

CONVERTS.

Character of the Converts. The Committee inquired as to the truth and extent of the change which the Converts professed. Mr. Harvard expresses his persuasion, "that, in every case, it has been real, according to its degree." Former practices have been renounced; and convictions of sin have been felt, with an earnest desire to be saved, and a consistent Christian conduct maintained. "It is scarcely to be expected," indeed, as is justly remarked, "that a man coming out of the darkness of Heathenism, under the ordinary influences of the Spirit, should very rapidly apprehend the things of God!"

Reception of Two Budhist Priests.

On New-Year's Day of last year, two Budhist Priests openly renounced Idolatry in the Mission Chapel, and cast off their yellow robes. We shall extract some particulars from the account given by Messrs. Harvard and Clough

Don Audries de Silva and Don Adrian de Silva were both born of parents who were nominally Christians, and who had them baptized in their infancy. However, when they grew up to youth, they were placed under the care of two Budhist Priests, by whom they were edu

cated, and initiated into all the rites and ceremonies of their idolatrous system. This faithless practice of their parents, which is too common among our Nominal Christians, entirely estranged them from the religion into which they had been baptized; and hence they grew up as confirmed Heathens as any in the dark jungles of the interior.

At a proper age, they were regularly appointed to exercise the functions of the Budhist Priesthood, and were attached to a celebrated temple. Here they continued to lead their deluded disciples for several years; and perhaps would have remained in that situation all their days, had not the late attention which has been excited to Christianity attracted their notice, and led them seriously to reflect on the faith from whence they had revolted.

After some time they earnestly requested baptism. On this point it is said—

In making this request to us, they were not aware that they involved us in a difficulty; as, from their having been baptized in their infancy, it would have been contrary to the usages of our branch of the Christian Church to baptize them a second time. Notwithstanding which, having seriously deliberated on the subject, we concluded that some outward ceremony ought to be observed, in such a case, to mark their change, especially in the sight of the world: and as we had never heard of any provision on that head among the moderns, we thought it would be useful to borrow an idea from the expressive ablutions of the Sacred Scriptures; and accordingly appointed them religiously to wash their hands, in the presence of the congregation, to signify their total separation from the filth of Heathenism, and their return to the pure and sacred religion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Accordingly, on New-Year's Day, a Cingalese Congregation assembled in the Mission House, when one of us expounded and preached from the story of Philip and the Eunuch; the two Priests, in the mean while, sitting in their robes before the pulpit after which, the other of us proposed the following questions to them, which they answered in a very modest and satisfactory manner':

1. Do you here publickly profess the falsehood of the Budhist Religion, in denying one Supreme Creator and God, and attributing all things to chance?

2. Do you hereby declare your conviction that the Budhist Religion is insufficient for Salvation?

3. So far as you are acquainted with the truths and doctrines of the Christian Religion, do you profess your firm belief of it as a true religion, and as a religion from God?

4. lu particular, do you believe that after death there will be a resurrection of the body, a general judgment, and eternal rewards and punishments?

[A difficulty was here suggested to them, relative to the resurrection of the

same identical body, which they resolved with the utmost readiness and address.]

5. Do you, then, before God and this congregation, confess yourselves to be sinners, and the Lord Jesus Christ to be your only Saviour?

6. Do you fully rely on the merits of his atonement for Salvation?

7. And, finally, do you hereby engage to receive his Laws, as contained in the

Holy Scriptures, as the constant Rule of your Life?

After their answers to these questions, they were conducted into a room to change their dress, which they appeared to do with much cheerful satisfaction: and returned, each dressed in white

cloth, and with his yellow silk robe in his band; which was laid on the table, as a trophy won from Heathenism, They then washed their hands, in the Name of the Lord, and were publickly received within the pale of the Christian Church, and sealed their renunciation of idolatry by solemn prayer to the Sacred Trinity.

SCHOOLS.

In the education of the children of the Natives, large and increasing exertions are making, and especially in the South or Cingalese part of the Island; and the Schools have been extended far beyond the anticipations of the Committee.

In consequence of this increase of the Schools, the grant of 300l. per annum has been augmented by the Committee to 6001.

We have introduced the chief passages of the Report on this subject, in the preceding statements respecting Native Education.

The Appendix contains "Extracts from the Wesleyan Mission Native School Report for 1817," in which the necessity for Native Education in Ceylon is treated at length, with the encouragements to engage therein; and their Plan is detailed, and the Schools enumerated and described.

STATIONS.

These appear to be twelve in number. Their names, with those of the Missionaries who respectively occupy them, were given at p. 42 of the "Survey," in the January Number.

TRANSLATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Cingalese.

An extract is given from the Fifth Report of the Colombo Bible Society, detailing the manner in which the translation of the New Testament into Cingalese, left unfinished by Mr. Tolfrey, was carried on till completed.

The following passage in the Anniversary Sermon, before the Bible Society, by the Rev. George Bissett, printed with the Fifth Report, exhibits an exemplary picture of co-operation in this good work:

Attached to the regular Church, by education, by profession, by affection, as the great majority is, of our Society for the distribution of the Scriptures, we must avail ourselves of the instruments which Providence has been pleased to bring within our reach; nor sacrifice the Propagation of the Gospel to the maintenance of any particular doctrine or discipline. Without their various aid, our exertions would be weak and inefficient.

skilful and industrious Conductors of our The Wesleyan Methodists are the Press: one of the most learned Superintendents of our Cingalese Translation is a Baptist: and the respectable Americans have, with true Missionary Zeal,

at once abandoned the Stations of Euro

pean Residence, and fixed themselves among the Natives, whom they are labouring to instruct and convert.

A more striking example of the spirit of cordiality in which all is carried

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on there cannot be given, than a simple account of the present mode of translating the Scriptures into Cingalese.

The Native Translators are the same learned and intelligent men who have always been employed; and it is not a little remarkable, that three of the most profoundly skilled in the literature of their country were, but a few years ago, Priests of Budhu. The superintending Englishmen are, a Preacher of the Gospel in the Portuguese and Cingalese Languages, following the Liturgy of the Church of England, and holding his appointment from Government; a Baptist Missionary; and a Wesleyan Methodist. Their Meetings are held four times a week, at the Wesleyan Mission House, where they have the benefit of a theological library; and they are close to the Press which is employed in printing their work. It is to their union and zeal, that we owe the late completion of the Cingalese New Tes tament, and must look for a translation of the remainder of the Bible.

Were we to be deprived of their united talents, I know not how this important work could be continued.

Country Portuguese.

Mr. Newstead, the Missionary at Negombo, has undertaken to translate the New Testament into this tongue. On this subject he writes

I have been enabled, with the blessing of God, to complete the translation of the New Testament into the Ceylon or Indian Portuguese, just as the people commonly use it. 1 was led to this attempt, partly by the great desire manifested by the people for it, who were frequently hearing me read from the pulpit parts which I had translated for that purpose; and partly by a conviction that I could not do better than furnish myself with a complete New Testament in a language which the people understand, for my own use among them. It has, at least, tended greatly to enlarge my views of the Sacred Scriptures themselves; while it has also much aided me in speaking to the people. Several portions of it have been lent, while I have been going on with it, to sick persons; one of whom, I believe, died with a chapter of St. John under his pillow.

PRINTING ESTABLISHMENTS.

Colombo Press.

The Printing Establishment at Colombo continues in full activity. Besides Catechisms, various School Books have been issued; of which there was so lamentable a deficiency in the Island, that, in several of the Old Schools, the Schoolmasters had been obliged to resort to Heathen Books for the instruction of the Children. This want is now removed; and a good supply of Elementary Publications, proper for Christian' Schools, has been put within the reach of the Schools of every Denomination, as well as our own. Various Religious Tracts have also been published, for the use of the Natives; but the noblest application of the Press has been the printing of the Holy Scriptures for the Colombo Bible Society.

The Committee have lately received copies of the New Testament, in quarto, of the Cingalese Testament, the translation of which was commenced and carried on to the second chapter of St. Paul's Second Epistle to Timothy, by the late W. Tolfrey, Esq.; and finished by Messrs. Armour, Chater, and Clough, assisted by Learned Natives. Another

edition, of a smaller size, and better adapted for general circulation among the Natives, is, we hope, by this time commenced. In addition to the New

Testament in Cingalese, there have been printed, at the Mission Press, the Parables of our Saviour, the Discourses of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, separately; Ostervald's History of the Bible, abridged; Prayers and Collects from the Liturgy-all in Cingalese and the Miracles and Parables of our Lord, in separate volumes, in the Tamul.

To liberate the Brethren at Colombo from the press of labour which has devolved upon them, in consequence of the Mission Printing Office being established in that Station, the Committee lately engaged and sent off a Printer to superintend that department of the work; and to give his Sabbaths and leisure time to the promotion of the spiritual objects of the Mission. This measure was earnestly requested by the Brethren at Colombo: and will at once keep up the activity of the Press, now become of great importance; and enable those who have been occupied too much in its mechanical superintendence, to apply themselves fully to the work of

Translation and the Preaching of the only rouse them to new and superior Gospel.

Intended Press at Jaffna.

The great utility of the Printing Office at Colombo, in providing for the Natives of the southern parts of Ceylon the means of instruction, by the Scrip tures and other books, has determined the Committee to recommend to the Conference a similar establishment at Jaffna.

The language spoken in the northern division of the island is the Tamul, and the inhabitants chiefly of Malabar origin. Hindouism, too, is the prevailing Paganism of the North, as the religion of Budhu is that of the South; and, though some works in the Tamul have been printed at Colombo, it will doubtless be the most efficient means of communicating the Scriptures and other publications in Tamul, by a separate establishment, where printing in that language will be the principal object.

The importance of this part of the island is also heightened by the circumstance, that its language is also the language of a very large proportion of the opposite part of the Continent of India; and, whatever books are published there, and whatever of Christian Knowledge and Influence is produced, must be felt aud circulated in the numerous population of the neighbouring Continent, from the constant intercourse

which exists between them.

For this reason, too, the Committee have recommended the appointment of three additional Missionaries for the province of Jaffna; that every effort may be made to revive the Christian Religion in a province where, formerly, Paganism was almost utterly extirpated, but where, from the supineness of later Christians, one of the worst forms of Modern Paganism covers the country with its polluted temples. Triumph in this quarter must make a powerful impression on the idolatry of India itself; and many suitable instruments may, by the Divine goodness, be raised up to communicate the knowledge of Christ in a tongue native to both, in that extensive district on the Continent where the Tamul Language is spoken.

Much greater difficulties and discouragements have presented themselves to the Missionaries in the North than in the South; but the importance of a Christian Mission there will, we hope, March, 1819.

efforts.

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I am fast approaching the completion of a Dictionary of the language which is called Portuguese in this country, but differs materially from what is called Portuguese, in Europe. This language has never been written. When the Dictionary is finished, which will fix the orthography, we shall be able to give, it is said, to 30,000 people what they never had-the New Testament in their own language.

Another useful work was also in preparation

We have nearly ready for the Press a Vocabulary of English, Portuguese, and Cingalese, with a pretty large collection of useful phrases and familiar dialogues, making between two and three hundred rable pains, as nothing of the kind was pages quarto. It has cost us consideever yet published.

TWO BUDHIST PRIESTS IN ENGLAND.

their warmest thanks to Sir AlexThe Committee, after expressing ander Johnston for his valuable assistance to the Mission, report the arrival in this country, under his protection, of Two Cingalese, of the highest order of the Budhist Priesthood.

They were taken (it is stated) on board his vessel when on the point of sailing, at their own most pressing request; and cheerfully submitted to the difficulties and privations of the voyage, that they might be placed under the care of the same religious body by whom the Wesleyan Missionaries had been sent out, to be instructed in Christianity and European Knowledge.

The Rev. Dr. Clarke having kindly offered to superintend their religious and literary instruction, under the direction of the Committee, they are now under his care; and the zeal and affection with which he has applied himself to promote their best interests will, we

hope, be fully rewarded by the Divine blessing upon his labours, and their true conversion to the faith of Christ. Their learning and character among their countrymen will, in that case, be powerful auxiliaries to their future exertions to communicate the light of the Gospel to their benighted country; and very reasonable hopes may be entertained, that the cause of Christianity may, by their means, be greatly promoted in Ceylon.

The names of these Priests are, Munhi Rathana and Dherma Rama: the first 27 years of age; and the second, 25.

Dr. Clarke has reported very favourably to the Committee of their disposition and improvement. He says of them—

Munhi Rathana and Dherma Rama entered the Temple when they were about five years of age: and, before they could arrive at their high order in the Priesthood, were obliged to learn several languages, not only the Cingalese in its purity, but also the Pali, Patois-Portuguese, Tamul, and Sanscrit; and to commit to memory many thousands of Verses, containing their Theology, Physic, Metaphysics, Traditions, History, Mantras or Incantations, and their most curiously involved doctrine of the Metempsychosis or Transmigration of Souls. From these Verses they have derived all their principles of Morality, Theology, Medicine, Philosophy, and Political Economy.

Dherma Rama is a young man of very high integrity; of an ardent and strong miud; wishing to sift every thing to

the bottom; and never to take a STAND any where, till he is fully satisfied that the ground will bear him up. What be gets he keeps.

Munhi Rathana has a fine mind; truly spiritual, meek, and affectionate; seeks God, I believe, with his whole heart; and enjoys many consolations from His Spirit.

All who are acquainted with them, esteem Dherma, and love Munhi.

CONCLUSION.

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Such is the general aspect of the Ceylon Mission. All those means which appear essential to the diffusion of Christian Knowledge and Influence have been put into activity-the printing and circulation of the Scriptures and useful Books on religious subjects, the Instruction of Children in the faith of Christ, and the Preaching of the Gospel. Generally, those Stations appear to be occupied where the population is greatest, or the access to the Pagan Natives most easy; and the neglected professing Christians of the Island have been again visited. In many of these Stations, "laborious man has done his part," or is diligently employed in performing it; but the blessing of God is necessary to make it to prosper: and the Committee would join with all who are anxious for the spread of Christianity in Heathen Lands, in praying, with special reference to the work in Ceylon-Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children! and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon them, and establish Thou the work of their hands upon them; yea, the work of their hands establish Thou it!

BOMBAY AND MADRAS.

I have visited several of the most celebrated Hindoo Temples in Bombay. Many of them are dark, dirty places; indicative of the worship performed within. The Idols are awkward figures,

We have given the chief intelligence from these Stations, under their respective heads, in the "Survey." Mr. Horner writes, from Bom- generally smeared over with red paint; bay

I have been much gratified by the social disposition manifested by many of the Children. They will walk along the streets with me, in groups of five or six, conversing and asking questions in the most familiar manner; while the old people stand looking on, as if they wondered what the "Padre" was doing with them.

and, on certain days, have white or black streaks round the eyes and mouth, which gives them a very grim appearance. At the entrance to their Temples there are generally several bells hanging, which persons strike who come to worship or make an offering. One day I asked a Brahmin why that was done. He said, it was to inform the god that somebody was about to pay his devotions. I could not help thinking of 'Elijah's

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