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backs, and charged with the theft. This was the occasion of a furious attack on the part of a company of Arabs, who came to rescue the two prisoners. Mr. Fisk gives a brief account of it in the following letter to Mr. Temple, at Malta.

"The night before we reached Nazareth, Mr. L.'s trunk was stolen. Two men, supposed to be the thieves, were seized in the morning by a part of our company, to be carried to the governor of Nazareth. We had proceeded but a short distance, when a horde of Arabs arrived, and with muskets, swords, and clubs attacked our caravan. The attack was furious and wild as the whirlwind of the desert. Had it been their design to take our lives or our property, we were completely in their power. One man in our train' received a slight sabre-wound in the arm. Many received heavy blows over the head and back. A heavy blow of a bludgeon grazed my head and spent its force on my arm, which was in consequence lame for several days. The baggage was scattered in every direction. Men tumbled from their beasts, and all was perfect confusion and terror. At length the assailants retired with the prisoners, and to our grateful astonishment we found that all our party were safe, and that even of the baggage, only a few trifling articles were missing. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up quickly when their wrath was kindled against us."

They arrived that day at Nazareth, and on the next set out for Tiberias. They found themselves once more removed from those scenes of confusion and terror, with which for two months they had been familiar. They had heard in Jerusalem the groans of the bruised, the wounded, and the dying. Their way thus far had been through a troubled country, full of dangers; and they had just escaped as from the jaws of death. This was the first peaceful day

they had enjoyed, since their arrival at Jerusalem in March.

In two hours from Nazareth they came to Cana of Galilee, where Christ turned the water into wine. It is now sometimes called Kafar Cana. It is situated on the slope of a hill, inclining towards the west and north-west. Before entering the village they came to a fresh stream of pure water, gushing from the earth, of which they drank, finding it the best water they had seen south of Lebanon. This place is mentioned as being favorable for a missionary station.

In course of the day they arrived at Tiberias, where they pitched tent in the court of the church, and were refreshed with an excellent supper. About noon of the 14th, they prosecuted their way, taking Safet in their course, where they lodged with a Jew. Here they spent Sabbath, and improved the opportunity to converse with the Jews, who are numerous in that place.

May 16th they set out for Tyre, which they reached after riding thirteen hours. They speak of the country, through which they passed, as diversified with hills and vallies, which appear exceedingly fertile. It is well watered, and has a good supply of wood. In the vallies were seen numerous herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep and goats, and many. Bedouin tents; and at a little distance beautiful villages rose on the tops of hills and mountains, and were scattered along the plains and vallies. The impression which that part of the country made on their minds, convinced them, that it is naturally a goodly land capable of supporting an immense population.

May 18. Mr. Fisk once more had the happiness of reaching the mission family at Beyroot, where he had it in contemplation to pass the summer, for the purpose of improving his impaired health. Excepting some short excursions in the vicinity, he con

tinued with the family, prosecuted the study of lan· guages, and consulted with his missionary brethren about future labors. For five or six years he had been "in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often."

While at Beyroot he wrote a number of letters, which are among the last productions of his pen, from which extracts will be introduced.

TO ONE OF HIS MISSIONARY BRETHREN.

"Beyroot, June 18, 1825.

"It would make your heart ache to spend a Sabbath in this country. Among native Christians it is a day for visits and amusement. And I am sorry to add, that with resident or travelling Protestants, it is the same thing. We have a service here in the consul's house in English; and in the afternoon I preach in Arabic to a few hearers. I generally spend several hours in my room alone, and sometimes, I trust, I enjoy communion with God. Oh how precious it is! Though we get but now and then a glimpse of divine glory; yet how cheering it is in this world of sin! How my heart would rejoice to spend a few hours with you.-Well, we can meet in spirit, and live in hope of meeting in that blessed world, where love will be perfected."

TO MR. T. P. OF S.

"Beyroot, June 26, 1825.

"It gives me much pleasure to hear that your attention has been directed to religion, and that you find reason to hope that your peace is made with God. How great the blessing to be delivered

from the polluting influence, the eternal dominion, and penalty of our sins, and to be made holy, in part, even here, with the assurance of being perfectly holy, forever, hereafter. Let us then follow holiness.

"I can now, as I trust, greet you as a brother in the service, fellowship and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome then as a fellow laborer in his service; welcome to a participation in its selfdenials, struggles, and conflicts; its sacrifices, reproaches, and scorn; its doubts, fears, and anxieties; its defeats, disappointments, and losses; its desires, hopes, and anticipations; its temptations, assaults, and deliverances; its sorrows and joys; its crosses and comforts; its dark scenes and bright ones;welcome, as a member of the body of Christ, to a participation in all that belongs to the Christian warfare; in all that is implied in Christian fellowship; and in all that He, who died for us, will ultimately bestow upon his disciples. If you are truly his, you will find yourself called in one way or another, to all these things. See to it then, that your heart is right with God, that your great aim be to do his will; and whatsoever you do, to do it not for yourself, not unto men, but to the Lord.

"I am glad to learn that you are preparing for the ministry. Perhaps by this time you are about entering on its duties. You will feel, I doubt not, a solemn sense of the holiness and usefulness of the work. I am sure you will enter upon it with trembling. May it be with right motives; a desire to glorify Christ, and win souls to him. If you enter upon the work under the governing influence of these motives he will guide and bless you, you will find it pleasant; and if the love of God reign in your heart you will love it, and rejoice to labor, and to deal faithfully with the souls of men. But when love of ease, and earthly principles obtain influence in your heart, and you lose sight of the cross of

Christ, and the day of judgment, then your duties will become a burden; and if performed at all, will be likely to leave your own soul barren, and the souls of your hearers in the way to perdition.Watch then and pray and labor, that you may have grace to 'make full proof of your ministry.' Remember, in regard to all to whom you preach, or who may come under your pastoral care, that unless they are born of God, they must lie down in eternal Wo. How then can a minister give himself any rest, if he loves his people, until he has evidence that they are all born again; and till this is the case how ought he to pray, preach, and exhort, publicly and privately. My Brother, may the Lord himself make you a workman who needeth not to be ashamed.'

"So much is said and written, at the present day, on missions, that I take it for granted you have attended to the subject, and carefully considered the question, whether it is your duty to engage in the work. I consider it the indispensable duty of every young man, going into the ministry, to read, meditate, pray, and examine in regard to this question, till he is satisfied, that he has ascertained the path of duty; and I cannot conceal my conviction that, if this were done, the number of missionaries would be vastly greater than it is now.-Our Saviour's command was, to preach the Gospel to every creature. How do you know that it is not your duty to go in obedience to this command, and preach to pagans? If this be your duty, may you discover it, and have grace to perform it."

TO A NIECE IN S.

"Beyroot, July 15, 1825.

"Though you are now nearly six years older, than when I saw you last, yet I can think of you only as the little girl that used to sit on my knee and play

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