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summer of which was, however, very rainy, the Cholera was brought from Bucharia to Orenburg, (who can then assert that it is not infectious?) where, however, it did not spread very much, owing, probably, to the precautionary measures taken by the Colonists. It was also reported that the physician, on especial desire, had bled 400 of the Colonists. By persons arriving from infected places the Cholera was brought to Volsk, to Cossack-Sloboda, opposite Saratoff, and to Lesnoy Earamisch, and yet, after all, it is asserted not to be infectious !!!

Happily, the fearful news from the above-mentioned places has not been confirmed to its full extent, and it is now reported that but comparatively few, and in Sarepta, where the strictest quarantine regulations were enforced, -not one person has fallen a victim.

A report has just now arrived, that the Cholera has again broken out at Orenburg. God Almighty grant that the rumour may prove unfounded.

Returning home late on the night of the 6th of August, I was exceedingly annoyed by the sluggishness of the horses, and think I must have taken cold, owing to the slow place at which we travelled, for I was in consequence, slightly disordered. From that time till the 11th of August no case occurred among my congregation; but every where around us numerous persons had died, and the burials were daily on the increase, for the distemper had now penetrated into every street of the

town.

On Lord's Day, the 10th of August, I preached from the Evangelist, on the following text, " He beheld the city and wept over it:"

and as the danger and fear were already so great, we also wept, not only over the city, but for ourselves and our children. After having sung the 91st Psalm, I endeavoured to cheer the drooping spirits of the congregation, and earnestly exhorted them to put their trust in God, to banish fear and trembling, and not to let the joyous assurance of faith sink within them. Those who were present felt themselves strengthened and supported to await in confidence the progress of those events which pressed onward with such rapidity and violence.

From the commencement I not only felt the danger I was exposed to, but also the personal devotedness my profession required of me, and with my whole soul I prayed, "O God, preserve me to my congregation and my beloved ones! Regardless of my own safety, willingly will I venture my life for thy sake; do thou uphold and strengthen me!" The words of Jesus, "He that will save his life, shall lose it, &c." came vividly and strikingly to my mind, and deeply impressed my soul.

On 11th of August, at noon, I was first called to attend the doorkeeper of our church; he had been seized with the usual symptoms and dreadful spasms. After administering the Lord's Supper to him, I endeavoured to console and encourage him, and advised him to be bled, get himself well rubbed, and to take sweet mercury. I was, however, acquainted that he had incurred a slight inflammation, in consequence of having taken cold, not a usual symptom, which caused me to fear these remedies would not avail. Our old door-keeper, however, is yet living. I was afterwards called to a young woman in a state of

pregnancy. I administered to her what my office required; but though the usual means were employed she very soon expired, which was the case with several others.

Within twenty-four hours five persons, whom I visited three or four times each, died;-they all suffered dreadfully from violent spasms, and the other deadly symptoms. The hands and feet were cold and blue, cold sweats flowed down in streams, and they all experienced a deadly pressure on the pit of the stomach; the most insupportable thirst, which nothing could allay, parched their mouths, and caused an unutterable degree of pain; and, while the deadly pressure in the region of the stomach agonized the poor patients, the heart, together with the arterial system, was supposed to be overwhelmed with coagulated blood. Thus this dreadful disease manifested itself in all quarters of our devoted town; and, up to the 20th August, nearly every one who was attacked, died, and with fearful rapidity. Knippel, the postillion, who was a hearty hale young man, was taken to the hospital, and after being bled, died within a few hours. The lives of those of whom the greatest care was taken, and who were better attended, were, alas! only prolonged for a few hours.

It was on the 12th of August that I went about from house to house, visiting the healthy and the sick, and endeavoured to console and encourage, by exhorting them to have confidence in God, and not to kill themselves by allowing their fears and anxieties to prevail over their energies, nor by any means to let their natural cheer fulness of mind be depressed. Some new cases, however, occurred, and the distemper still continued to spread.

On the 13th I was called to attend one of our colouists, a young man about eighteen. Afterwards the blacksmith Hartmann, then Mrs. C. Flock, and a maidservant. I administered the Lord's Supper to them, and they all died except the maid-servant, who was not so violently attacked, and happily always remained warm. It was early in the morning, and not yet light, when I was summoned to attend these patients, who resided at some distance. The previous night several persons must have been seized in the streets, as I witnessed such disgusting evidences as filled me with nausea and loathing. In ejaculatory prayer I cried, "O God, help me, for of what use is my religion, if it will not enable me to surmount every difficulty, and inspire me with zeal for the discharge of my arduous duties ?" Encouraged by this appeal, I entered one of the abodes of misery, and found Hartmann and his wife lying on the ground on some wretched pallets of straw. violence of the disease had produced around them a most loathsome scene, out of which they were unable to move, and was enough to forbid the approach of any one. I was compelled to leave my upper garments in an out-house, and to administer the Lord's Supper in the midst of a pestilential effluvia, which forced me to hurry through the service, and escape into the fresh air with. out delay. These scenes of wretchedness were of hourly occurrence, so prevalent was the disease, and so great was the terror and destitution among the inhabitants. By degrees, however, I became more familiar with these horrors, and could perform my duties with less inconvenience.

The

On the 14th of August, I visited

many other sick, timid, and fearful; for so general was the panic, that numbers gave themselves up to listless despondency. I seized several by the arm, and said to them, in the most serious and impressive manner, In the name of God, arise: your appearance exhibits none of the usual symptoms; why will you kill yourselves before time? Up, then, and your cherish your lives for the sake of your children and families. With God's blessing you shall live and not die."

This kind of exhortation

succeeded with many. But I was, at times, excessively annoyed by the ignorant meddling of the poor, thus: N.'s neighbour on the left came to him, and said, "Poor fellow, how wretchedly ill thou lookest; thou certainly hast the cholera, and wilt die." His neighbour on the right confirmed this, and added, "Yes, thou wilt surely die; let the minister be fetched." Having become familiar with the real symptoms, 1 found, on arrival, that he was only under the influence of terror.

I

I, therefore, took him by the arm, and said, "No, thou wilt not die; thou hast no appearance of being infected! Away with you, ye sorry comforters; will you kill him with fright? As to thee, my friend, take courage; thou hast yet no need of the sacrament: keep thyself warm; beware of drinking any thing cold, and let not thy mind be uneasy, but get up, take bodily exercise, and pray to God to impart to thee cheerfulness, courage, and confidence. must now proceed to one who is really sick, and hast therefore more need of me than thou hast; let not thyself be frightened by what any body may say to thee." returned in the evening to visit him, found him much better, and he is still living. This day I prayed over five dead persons at their respective abodes, and then proceeded as I had time (for during the daytime I was seldom summoned to the sick) to the burial-ground with the funeral procession. On the road, we met with nearly sixty other funerals, so extensive was the mortality.

(To be concluded in our next.)

I

FORBIDDEN TRUTH.

THE following anecdote is given in an excellent weekly paper, edited by the Rev. C. P. H. Brandt, late of Roth, near Nuremberg, but now of Windsbach, near Arsbach. It is among the best theological periodical works of Germany, and has, during the seven years of its course, been of eminent service to the cause of divine truth and piety. It is entitled "Das Homiletischliturgisches Correspondenzblatt ;" a designation which scarcely admits of being rendered into Eng

conveyed by Repository of Clerical Correspondence. The anecdote is cited from another periodical, with which we have not the happiness of being acquainted; "Der Bergedorfer Bote," The Bergedorf Messenger, published at Hamburgh. No date is given to the anecdote; it occurred probably before or about the time of the Reformation.

"Forbidden Truth. "Frederic Vulgentius, a Ca

lish; but its meaning would be tholic divine of Venice, preached

upon the words of Jesus, Mark xii. 10. Have ye not read this Scripture, The stone, which the builders rejected, is become the head-stone of the corner, &c. Upon which he went on to say- If the Saviour were to put this question in the present day, all people would have to answer, No, we have not read it, for it is forbidden us to read the Scripture.' Upon Pilate's inquiry-What is truth? he said, 'We have, now-a-days, good reason to be vexed at Pilate's hastiness and impatience. If he had but waited for our Lord's answer,

or had he been a man good enough to receive the answer, we might have found the truth without so much difficulty. I have sought that truth in deserts and in cities, in society and in cloisters, in hermits' cells and at the pope's court, which is said to be infallible; but I have found it nowhere, except in this book.' He then took out a New Testament, opened it, shut it again, and added, But beware of seeking truth in this book it is forbidden you to read it.' ”—Hom. Lit. C. Blatt, Aug. 31, 1831.

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PROPOSAL FOR A DAY OF PRAYERFUL HUMILIATION.

WE are happy to insert the following serious and excellent Letter, and very cordially commend the proposal to the notice of all our Churches.

On behalf of the Board of Congregational Ministers in London, we feel compelled, however, to state what was not otherwise designed to be made public, that the Members of that Body observed Wednesday, Dec. 28, as a day of special prayer, and that a Meeting was accordingly held at the Congregational Library at noon, when the Rev. Drs. Smith and Winter, and the Rev. H. Townley, Knight, and Berry, engaged in prayer.

We fully expect that the subject of a day of humiliation throughout our churches will undergo further discussion at the next meeting of the Board, for the result of which, however, we cannot presume to ask our brethren throughout the kingdom, to delay the arrangements they may think necessary.-Editors.

To the Pastors and Members of
Churches in the Independent De-

nomination.

Beloved Brethren and Friends.Reluctant as we are to obtrude ourselves upon your notice, especially when we bear only the burden of the Lord, yet, after taking counsel together, we have agreed to bear all risk of blame for thus stepping out of our proper sphere to disclose to you the deep convictions which oppress our hearts. You feel, probably as intensely as ourselves, the interest which attaches to the present state of public affairs. You possibly, with us, conceive the present era to be pregnant with great events.

N. S. No. 85.

we

hope indeed they are for good;but at present their pointings are, to say the least, ominous. We will not here recount those signs of the times which should arrest the attention of the Church, but simply remind you, that, to a very unusual extent, the present is a day of adversity. In such times the duty of God's people is plain, -"The Lord's voice crieth unto the city." Public affairs are in a state of extreme agitation; commerce, as well as trade of all kinds, is at a low ebb; the fatal pestilence, like a destroying angel, has set its foot upon our shores, and pauses only till the Almighty Sovereign shall seal its commission.

F

Infidelity vaunteth itself at the corners of the streets, and in the markets; crimes unexampled have been brought to light; violence has been rampant in our cities; wasting and destruction have entered into all our borders; the Church languishes, its vintage faileth; fanaticism and speculation, like a wrathful bolt from the skies, have scathed some of the cedars of Lebanon; we have seen contention and strife among brethren, in the city; and a breach is made in an Institution which we had deemed a high tower, and the glory of our time and of our common profession; shall we not then weep for these things, like one of old, between the porch and the altar? Are not these distinct and imperative calls to humiliation and prayer? We respectfully and affectionately implore you to join us in the design of keeping "a day unto the Lord." He has threatened; but the threatening bespeaks forbearance; yet only when it brings our sins to our remembrance, and our souls into the frame of penitence. Let us arise then, and go to our Father; let us confess our sin and deprecate his wrath,-so

shall we take hold of his strength, --and then the plague, both in the city and in the temple, may be stayed.

It is our humble but earnest entreaty that all our brethren will consider the signs of the times; and that they will either agree separately, as may suit their convenience, to set apart a day for fasting and prayer; or that, if any proposal, with such an intent, should be made to our churches generally, it may be observed with the utmost unanimity and serious

ness.

We have thus ventured to name this business to our brethren, because we heard of none others who were intending to do so: and we have taken this step without consulting others, simply because there was not time to do so. The impious negative which has been put upon the proposal for a national fast, seems to render it imperative upon us to wait no longer. We are, dear Brethren and Friends, yours, unfeignedly to love, and faithfully to serve,

POETRY.

GEORGE REDFORD, JOHN ANGELL JAMES

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