country were such as to allow pilgrims to go, as usual, to the Holy City. We apprehend very few, if any pilgrims will go this year." Speaking of the embarrassments under which the Board at that time labored for want of funds he says: "For missionaries themselves to speak on the subject of contributions for their own support, is a del. icate thing. I have, more than once, resolved never to mention the subject in my communications to you or others. If I know myself, I would never do it for my own support or comfort. I would sooner, in case the provision now made for my support should fail, devote one half my time to labor, and thus support myself. But when I read the journals of our brethren in other missions; and when I look at Smyrna, and Armenia, and then see how difficult, how next to impossible it is, for the Board to send additional laborers into any of these fields, though there are young men ready to go, who ask for nothing but their food and clothing, I cannot but wish that I were able to say something, which would rouse Christians to greater liberality. When a tabernacle was to be built, the people of Israel, of every condition, age, and sex, came forward voluntarily with their offerings, till the priests were obliged to say, 'Stop. There is enough and too much.' When a temple was to be built, David offered willingly gold to the value of eighteen or twenty millions sterling, beside a large amount of silver and other things, and his chief men then offered a much larger amount; and David's prayer shows that, instead of feeling any reluctance, he offered all this from choice, and felt unworthy of the privilege of doing it. Thanks be to God for the grace bestowed on his people. There are, in the present day, many bright examples of cheerful liberality. But alas! how often is the opposite true! What reluctance! What frivolous excuses! What absurd and ridiculous objec tions! I have been an agent for the missionary cause, and shall never cease to remember, with gratitude, the kind encouragement, the cordial approbation, and the cheerful contributions, of a few, in many places which I had occasion to visit. But the coldness, the shyness, the studied neglect, the suspicion, the prejudice, which the simple name of missionary agent produced in the minds of many who profess to be Christians, to have their treasure in heaven, to prize the Gospel above all other things, and to pity the perishing heathen, cannot easily be forgotten. "A missionary ought unquestionably to labor contentedly, and be grateful for whatever support the churches may afford him; and, I am sure, if the donors could know with what emotions missionaries sometimes read over the monthly lists of contributions, they would not think them altogether ungrateful. But is it a duty, is it right, while so many are living at home in ease and affluence, that missionaries should bring themselves to an early grave, by cares and labors, which might be relieved by a little pecuniary assistance? I know not how it may seem to others; but, knowing as I now do the various expenses to which a missionary is constantly subjected, it seems to me hardly possible, that the sum you allow should appear too great. The sum which we receive, is a mere pittance, compared with what other travellers, who come into this part of the world, expend. It is, in fact, small when compared with what the episcopal missionaries in these parts receive. You merely defray the expenses of your missionaries, and those kept down by the most rigid economy; and yet there are generally several waiting, who cannot be sent abroad, for want of money. An individual in England sometimes sends forth a missionary, and provides liberally for his support. The lamented Burkhardt was thus employed. Mr. Wolff is now supported by one or two individuals. Among all the men of affluence in America, are there none who will go and do likewise?" "9. This evening I sat by the bed-side of my feeble brother, and he requested me to repeat the following hymn: "There is a land of pure delight, Afterwards we enjoyed a happy season in conversing about heaven. If I were to live my missionary life over again,' he remarked, 'it seems to me, that I should wish to devote much more time to reading the word of God; and if any thing else, Dr. Scott's Commentary.' COMMUNICATION TO JEREMIAH EVARTS, ESQ. RESPECTING THE SICKNESS AND DEATH OF MR. PARSONS. Alexandria, Feb. 10, 1822. "Very dear Sir,-I have written to you twice, since we arrived at this place. In my last I stated the opinion of the physician, that brother Parsons would probably never enjoy perfect health in this climate; though he said, without hesitation, that he would recover from his present weakness. So we all hoped and believed; though I apprehend that Mr. Parsons had less hope of it, than any one who knew him. "His symptoms continued favorable, till day before yesterday; and our hopes were rather brightened. Then his diarrhoea returned, though not severely; and the physician said it would be easy to cure it. Yesterday it was worse, and he was weaker than I had ever seen him. My apprehensions respecting a fatal termination of his disorder, were greatly excited. He conversed on the subject with his usual serenity, referring the event continually to the will of God, as he has always been accustomed to do. Last evening, we spent a most precious hour in reading the Scriptures, prayer, and conversation. We read John xiv, and conversed some time about the 27th verse, 'Peace I leave with you,' &c. After conversing about an hour, I told him it was necessary that he should stop and take some rest. He replied, 'I feel as though I could converse two hours longer. You don't know how refreshing these seasons are to me.' He then fell asleep, and I sat down to write. I soon heard him saying in his sleep,-'the goodness of God-growth in grace-fulfilment of the promises-so God is all in heaven, and all on earth.'After sleeping a while, he awoke; and seemed about as usual at that hour. I proposed sitting by his side through the night; but he insisted on my going to bed; said he felt as though he should have a very quiet night; and as his attendant always slept near him, and awoke at the least word or motion, he urged me to retire to rest. About 11 o'clock I bid him good night, and wished that God might put underneath him the arms of everlasting mercy. He replied, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him.' "These, my dear Sir, were the last words that I ever heard that beloved brother speak, the last, that I shall hear him, until I hear him speak in the language of immortality. Twice, while I slept, he awoke, and told Antonio, his servant, that he had slept very quietly, and felt easy and well. At half past three Antonio heard him speak, or groan, and started up. He saw something was the matter, and called me. I was by the bed side in a moment. what a heart-rending moment was that. He was gasping for breath, unable to speak, and apparently insensible to all around him. I stood by his side and attempted to revive him, but in vain. I sent in haste for the physician but did not obtain him. Nor do I suppose it would have been of any use whatever, if he had come. It was evident that he was dying. I attempted to commend his departing spirit to that Redeemer, on whom he had believed. I pressed his hand, kissed his quivering lips, and spoke to him; but he gave me no answer, not even a look, or a motion. He took no notice of me or of any thing around him. His appointed time had arrived. He continued to breathe till a quarter past four. Then the muscles of his face were knit together, as if he was in pain. It was the dying struggle. It was the dissolution of the last ties that united soul and body. It was the soul breaking off its last fetters. His features then became placid again. His breath stopped. His pulse ceased to beat. His soul took its immortal flight. "After the first pang of separation, I stood pensive by the corpse, thinking of the scenes which were opening to his view. O what glories! O what glories! "I turned my thoughts to myself, and found my heart sick and faint. But I have not room here to describe the emotions that agitated my breast. "A little while after, as there was no person with me who understood English, I read a chapter and prayed in Greek with Antonio, and then we dressed the body for the grave. "Early in the afternoon, Mr. Lee, the Consul, called on me, and kindly offered to see that all necessary arrangements were made for the funeral. He said, that in this climate it was necessary to bury soon, to prevent putrefaction. On this account he thought it necessary that the funeral should be to-day. Four o'clock was accordingly appointed. All the English gentlemen resident in the place, six or seven in number, the captains of several English ships, and a great number of merchants, principally Maltese, attended the funeral. The consul walked with me next to the coffin, and the others, 60 or 70 in number, followed in procession to the Greek con |
