rising generation, and through the blessing of God, enable them to become more acquainted with Gospel truth. Mrs. Tucker now instructs nineteen boarders and ten day-scholars. In some of the villages children are taught by catechists, as stated in my last Report, so that in the whole of the district schools there are upward of 550 children.

Accessions from the Heathen-Need of a New Church.

Jan. 5.—I read the Morning Service before breakfast, when, to my great joy, twenty-five families, all inhabitants of Panneivilei, joined the congregation; at the head of them was an old Pandaram who had despised and rejected the Gospel for many years, but who is at last persuaded to become a Christian: he has given up a small devil-temple, and with it some garments used in devilworship. As he and the other families before mentioned have abandoned idolatry, there are now no heathen in Panneivilei. The conversion of these people from the worship of devils to the profession of Christianity has been, in a great measure, effected through the active exertions and zeal of one of the leading men of my congregation. There is every reason to believe him to be a sincere Christian, and one who is more especially anxious that all his neighbours should become Christians. He was very active also, and gave great assistance, when the present Panneivilei Church was being built. This church is now completely filled with the Panneivilei people only, and besides them I have 400 Christians around me, so that I must immediately set to work and procure, if possible, the wherewithal to build a large church. The probability of many others turning from heathenism to learn the doctrines of Christianity, induces me to settle at once that I will build, without unnecessary delay, a substantial church. I wish, with all my heart, that some of the rich friends of Christian Missions could know what a congregation I could assemble on the Lord's-day, if I only had a large church.

March 15.-The new converts assembled at seven o'clock for Morning Prayers. I again addressed them on the folly of idolatry, and the advantages of Chris

tianity. It was pleasing to find them so willing to attend the means of grace, and still more so to see that the Madum was not large enough for all who were desirous of joining the service. When I was afterwards speaking to them of the necessity of serving God with all their hearts, they answered, that it was their desire to walk according to the will of the Lord God. As a proof of their sincerity, they delivered over to me a devil-temple, out of which, with their own hands, they brought a large idol, which for some years past they had ignorantly worshipped. God is indeed fulfilling his word, and answering the prayers of his Church in this province. Heathen are day by day forsaking their abominable idolatry, and joining that one flock over which the Lord Jesus Christ watches with a shepherd's care, and for whom He ever liveth to make intercession. At two o'clock P.M. we assembled in the devil-temple, and the people, for the first time on that spot, joined me in prayer and praise to the ever-living and true God, through his only Son Jesus Christ.

NULLOOR.

(Report by Rev. J. Schaffter.)

Nadan, who, according to unanimous testimony, must be seventy years old, and consequently, must have been. more than fifty-five when he first heard the Gospel, would not put us to the blush were he to be compared with our good Christians in Europe. I believe he would stand high among the poor in spirit and the simple in faith. He has hardly ever been known to miss divine service on Lord's-days, and evening prayer on week-days: sickness, which prevents him from putting his hand to any thing, does not prevent his repairing to the house of God and praising Him in the assembly. By this, and his earnest behaviour at those times, he shows that the word of Christ is sweeter to his soul than honey. His countenance, which usually expresses earnestness, and sometimes sorrow, often brightens up when he hears of the love of the Saviour toward poor sinners, and of the tender care of our heavenly Father over his children. Though he has very little strength left, yet, when I come

to his village for prayer, he revives, and goes from house to house to press the people to come and hear the good tidings of salvation. He is zealous in endeavouring to rouse the people to contribute largely toward the erection of the church which they intend to build. Some time ago, an act of this old man came to my knowledge, which gave me much pleasure. I have placed at a young man of very low caste, to assist the catechist in teaching the catechism. At this some of the people murmured, saying to the catechist, "How can we, being Shanars, submit to be taught by a Pallar?" and seemed disposed to make a stand against the arrangement. The old Nadan then interfered, and spoke thus: "The Christian religion has nothing in common with our caste customs. The question is not, is the man who teaches it of a low caste, or a high caste, but, is he a good man? Were the youth not a proper character, our minister would not have sent him to us: therefore it is our duty to learn from him." These words of the Nadan, supported by his example and authority, settled the question, and procured a favourable reception for the young man, who has ever since been teaching the catechism in the place; and told us that the people treated him with great respect.

ANECDOTE.

AN ingenious foreigner was this week observing to me, that "of all the nations of Europe in which he had been, the English were the most afraid of death." I fear the reason is because the English have less religion than other nations.-From Anecdotes by Rev. A. Toplady.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of L. S. R.; E. A.; L. S. P.; a Layman; X. Y. Z.; Delta; M.; and some anonymous correspondents.

A

IT is often asked by the simple reader of Scripture, Why did our blessed Lord rebuke and destroy the figtree because it had no fruit, when the same Scripture clearly states that "the time of figs was not yet?" great many different answers have been given, because we are quite sure that there was some good and justifying reason for every act of that Holy One and True, who never could err. The natural history of the fig-tree affords to one who is acquainted with it, some means of unravelling the difficulty.

In the case of this particular tree, we know that the fruit usually appears, in its singular little green germ, some time before the leaves are formed on the branches; and that we may therefore judge whether it will bear fruit this year, before the leaves appear. When the leaves are in full luxuriance, and no fruit is seen advancing towards perfection, we may call it a barren fig-tree for that year with perfect certainty, although "the time of figs" being ripe, may not yet be come. It seems that

VOL. XXVI.

this was the case with the fig-tree which our Lord met with on his way to Jerusalem. He was hungry, and saw the tree afar off, and went to it to gather its refreshing fruit: but he found none, it was a barren tree. Let us not think that any disappointed feeling caused Him to act as He then did towards it, still less that any resentful one could enter His holy bosom. The fig-tree was a type and emblem by which He sought to teach His disciples; and graciously turned an incident in their journey into a means of instructing His little flock on their return. By saying, "Let no man eat fruit of thee for ever," He pronounced a curse on the fig-tree, which was at once obeyed and carried into execution in the course of nature. The fig-tree withered away. When they returned from the city, the disciples saw, with surprise, what had happened. The tree, so beautiful in the morning with its full green foliage, which had refused to support the Saviour on His hungry and toilsome way, was now become a withered stump; for, when once the life had left it, the heat of the midday sun could soon cause it to droop, and fade, and dry up. They all observed it immediately, and in these expressive words described their feelings, "How soon is the fig-tree withered away!" How great an exercise of mighty power has been here since we passed this way in the morning! How quickly has the command of Jesus been fulfilled!

But does the Lord execute vengeance upon the trees of the field? Would the Saviour, intent as He was upon the work of salvation of sinners, stop to destroy this solitary tree, if it had not a purpose and an object in the work in which He was engaged? No; doubtless for our sakes this was done and written. He Himself alluded to it as an instance of what power over nature and nature's works should be hereafter used by those who believe on His name. The apostles were informed, that they should see, and do themselves, greater works than these, through faith in the Lord Jesus; that they should even say to a mountain, Be thou cast into the sea, and it should be done. The greatest difficulties should fall before them, if encountered in the name of their Lord. Nothing should be impossible unto them.