the Missionaries, who preach to them the holy doctrine. There are ten Local Preachers in the valley of Freysinnères, who faithfully fill their appointments. I question them and instruct them, once a fortnight, in the doctrines of salvation. They are a small army, I allow; yet they are formidable to sin and error. In considering the wonders of divine grace in this country, the words of the Prophet present themselves to my mind: "It shall come to pass in those days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established upon the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow into it." You will read with pleasure the following extract from a letter, written by an orphan, at Dourmillouse, and addressed to sister Baridon and myself. Her father died about a year since; and her mother, a fortnight ago. She is left in charge with all the family affairs, and with two sisters younger than herself. You must form an idea of her situation in order to appreciate her simple language, which breathes the spirit of faith and divine love : "To my dear father and mother in Jesus Christ, whom I tenderly love.Desiring an interview with you, but not having time for that purpose, I write to inform you, that I have committed every thing into the hands of my God. If the worldling knew my state, he would, no doubt, call me a fool. He would say, How can she, who ought to be anxiously careful, be free from care?' It is true, that, according to the maxims of the world, I ought to be careful; but I have cast all my care upon the Lord, and I trust in Him. Very often, I say to myself, Jesus is my father; Jesus is my mother; Jesus is my brother; Jesus is my all! David called him his hidingplace, his fortress, and his Redeemer; and I know he will be the same to me. O how good is Jesus to me! How well he treats me ! O that my whole being may be a sacrifice to the Lord! I wish to have one only desire, and that is, to live for my blessed Jesus. I seem to have now no affection for the things of this world. And since my blessed Je. sus says,If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;' can I prefer the pleasures of this world, to the cross which Jesus has commanded me to take up, and carry after him? O may he preserve me from such an evil; for I desire nothing but him. Pray, pray for me, that I may burn with love for my blessed Jesus; and that I may, every day, advance more and more in the way of sanctification. I feel myself unworthy to speak to you, but I cannot forbear thus to address you, seeing the Lord has, by your instrumentality, granted me grace to become his child. How insensible must that child be, who would not converse with a tender father! Surely that love by which the Lord has united us, is stronger than the natural affection of the men of this world. I finish; for it is time for me to take a little rest." Vauvert, 24th April, 1835. Dear Brother, I send you, by the brethren Cook and Hocart, eighty francs for the second subscription of the Society du Gard, which is auxiliary to the Reli gious Tract Society, established in Paris. For the encouragement of your truly biblical publications, I will inform you, that the reading of your tract, entitled, L'Eternité Malheureuse, “A miserable Eternity," has, by the grace of God, been the means of the conversion of a person at Cayle. "What," said she, after having heard it read; "what! shall I go to hell for a mere nothing? I shall be eternally miserable! O Lord, preserve me from this evil!" Then throwing herself at the feet of Him who had alrea dy given her the grace of repentance, she besought him to grant her the remission of her sins. A few days after she ob tained that which she so earnestly desired and prayed for. She has ever since been happy in the enjoyment of communion with God her Saviour. Already God has blessed her efforts, in giving her to see her mother, and two of her sisters, joined to the class; and, I believe her father died in the faith. Is not this both a recompence and encouragement in your work? Go on, and send as many more of these messengers as you can, which neither eat nor drink, but invite all those to the banquet of the Saviour, whom we cannot visit personally. May the Lord increase for this work our feeble faith! for our work is peculiarly a work of faith. O what might we not obtain from God, if, when we pray, we always prayed in faith! Lord Jesus, increase our faith! Last Tuesday, a day devoted by the world to a bull-race, I was taken from the house of the Mayor to the residence of our brother Papineau, by about four thousand persons, amid the noise of the people, and with cries, hootings, &c., of all kinds. Though they did many times thrust at me with the end of their sticks, no one ventured to lay hands upon me. God gave me grace to be cool, and to walk quietly on among the populace, without fear, though the people more re sembled mad dogs and bears, than human beings. God be praised, that I have courage, and am enabled to proceed with tranquillity of mind. Many of our sisters have been maltreated by their husbands, because they will not cease to meet in class; but they are graciously supported by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us, that there may be no wood, hay, or stubble among us; but rather much gold, silver, and precious stones; for now the work must be proved, in order to its being purified. Vauvert, June 12th, 1835. Dear Brother, You have already heard something of the opposition that has taken place in this town on the subject of the chapel; but it was the cause of the Lord Jesus that gave rise to the troubles in Jerusalem, and the massacre at Bethlehem. I will only mention two circumstances which have recently occurred. To tell you all that has happened in this town, would fill a volume. May 22d, in the midst of my sermon, a considerable number of persons entered the chapel, both married and young men, who, in the course of the day, at the instance of the greater part of the town, had plotted together to take away my life, and maltreat those who attended my preaching. They began by laughing, whistling, and shouting, to such a degree that I was unable to continue my discourse. The boldest of them ascended the steps of the pulpit, and stood by me. One of them, a servant of M. Villard, said, with an air of impertinence, "Come down, and I will pray: at the same instant the words, "Jou, jou," were heard in every part of the chapel; meaning, "Seize him." But He who numbers the hairs of our heads did not permit them to lay a hand on any of His people. Scarcely were we out of the chapel, when our lanterns were put out, and a shower of stones fell among us. The bullets which struck against the door by which we entered brother Papineau's house, penetrated a quarter of an inch into the wood. By the kind providence of God no one was killed, though many were injured by the stones that were thrown at them. Humanly speaking, we had no reason to expect that any one would again attend our meetings, through fear of los ing their lives; for many times before this we were in great danger. But, no; like nails in a sure place, which, the more they are struck, the deeper they enter, and the faster hold they take, our friends, denying themselves, and offering their bodies a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God, have become more zealous and diligent than before. The only change I have made has been, to fix the service for seven instead of half-past, that we may have time to return home by day-light. me, 24th. Worse than ever the rage increases; and, among others, the young people have determined to put an end to my life, as not being worthy to live. Their design has been baffled. "Would you go, or would you not ?" Such was my reasoning; but that I might not yield to my fear, which would give the adversary an advantage over me, I went to the chapel, relying on the promise of Him who is faithful and true, fully persuaded, that he would suffer me to die, or deliver me from the hands of my enemies, as might be most for his glory. I approached the door, when a young man, accompanied by three others, perceiving me at the distance of a few steps, instantly stopped, and pointed me out to his companions; saying, with an air of surprise, "Here he is:" adding, with a threatening aspect, while he entered the chapel with "We will this day drive you out of this country. To-day you will see something.-Begone!" To this I made no reply. At the close of the sermon, M. Villard so inflamed the minds of the people, by speaking of the strangers who had come to raise the standard of Methodism in his church, as he had done on the preceding Sunday at Cologne and Vergise, that all the people rose up to look at me. The young people assembled in great numbers on that day, not for their edification, nor for the purpose of devoting themselves to God, but to stone me on my departure from the chapel. They looked upon me with the eye of an eagle, just on the point of seizing its prey. The tumult was great, and would have been still greater, had not the singers struck up a psalm, even while M. Villard was speaking. Before the service was concluded, many went away as pale as death. I was the object of their attention. Some pitied me; others, who felt no pity for me, nevertheless feared for me. Some laughed, and others breathed out their imprecations in the form of a murmur. The Reader, perceiving what was to be expected, namely, a massacre of the Methodists at the close of a Protestant sermon, in a Protestant temple, went, unknown to me, to the Commissary of the police. The mover of all this confusion having said, "Go in peace, people of God," the congregation went out. Being arrived at the portico, I heard the words, "See him; there he is; he is coming! I stood at the door, as a proof of the fortitude which God, by his grace, had given me, being determined to seal the truth with my blood, if that had been necessary. I cast a calm look over the populace, who were thirsting for the blood of a Frotestant, a Methodist Missionary. I descended the steps gently, that I might not manifest any signs of fear. A loud cry, which I did not distinguish, (for I was more in heaven than upon earth,) was heard among the people: the multitude then darted forward at the same moment towards me. But, O, the wonderful deliverance which the Lord wrought out for me! The Commissary at this moment appeared, and, lifting up his staff, stopped, as with a bank, the torrent of malice which was breaking out upon me to overwhelm me, and carry me among the dead. Was not this populace composed of Africans, or the barbarians of New-Zealand? No; they were a civilized people, who call themselves Protestants and Christians. They belong to a church which sends Missionaries to the Heathen beyond the seas. Two years ago I mentioned to you the great blessings which God had bestowed on this country,-blessings such as every sincere Christian desires to see: and now, whatever may be said by others, I still speak of divine blessings, but of a different nature; blessings such as no one desires, but such as God freely gives: "for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." The following are the first good effects of this blessing:-The friends are more united, and our brotherly love is greatly increased; we understand the word of God better, and have a greater thirst for it. By the remarkable deliverances we have experienced, our faith is much increased; we value more highly the grace of the Lord Jesus; and we are consequently more grateful, and more detached from the world, than we formerly were. Our friends have all become as many Preachers of the word, in the streets, and in great numbers of houses. Finally, the bonds of false shame have been burnt, like those of the three young Hebrews; and glory be to God, we have walked with Him through the furnace. We have reason to believe the persecution is ended. The authorities at Nismes have been officially informed of all these vexations, and have, consequently, written to those at Vauvert. On Friday and Sunday last quiet. Let us give thanks to God, and live to his glory! we were We gladly avail ourselves of this op portunity to invite the attention of our readers to a valuable and interesting pam. phlet, recently published by Mr. Toase, containing a history of the rise and progress of the Wesleyan Mission in France. EDIT. METHODIST QUARTERLY FAST. THE next Quarterly Fast for the Methodist societies, according to the Rules of the Connexion, will fall on New Year's Day. But as the observance of this day, in some cases at least, will probably be rendered inconvenient by the Watchnights of the preceding evening, and other causes, perhaps the most appropriate substitute will be Friday, January 8th, 1836. MISSIONARY NOTICES, Relating principally to the FOREIGN MISSIONS carried on under the direction of the METHODIST CONFERENCE. SOUTH AFRICA. KAFFER MISSIONS. HOWEVER painful the events connected with the late Kaffer war, the influence exerted by the Missions of the Wesleyan Society among the native tribes is cause of devout thanksgiving, while it affords encouragement to renewed exertion. That influence is best perceived at a distance by its indirect effects,-by the steady attachment of the instructed natives to the Missionaries who have laboured among them, and by the peaceful disposition which they have mani fested in the midst of the most exciting circumstances. In regard to the Amakosa, the Chiefs, Pato, Kama, and Congo, at Wesleyville, and Umkye, at Mount-Coke, absolutely refused to join in the war, and protected the Missionaries, as long as they were able, from the hostile Kaffers. Passing on to the Amatembu, a nation perhaps equal in number to the former, we find that the principal Chief, Vadanna, displayed the warmest affection for the Missionaries at Clarkebury and Morley; received with kindness all the English who fled to him for protection, and refused to join the belligerent Kaffers in their attack upon the colony. Advancing next to the Amapondo country, the population of which is not inferior to either of the other nations, it is gratifying to be able to state, that Faku, the sovereign Chief, showed the like affection for the Missionary and his Assistant, at Buntingville, and kept aloof from the war. The fact, however it may be accounted for, cannot be denied, that the two whole nations of the Amatembu and the Amapondos, to which the Wesleyan Missionaries have carried the Gospel, and that of the Amakosæ, or Kaffer Chiefs, excepting Hintza, among whom the Society has carried on its Missionary operations, have remained at peace, though greatly urged by the hostile Chiefs to embark in their cause. That this is the effect of an influence higher than was merely human will scarcely be questioned by those who are acquainted with the native character, and know that the commencement of a war among any of the tribes has too generally been as the outbreaking of many waters. It is not our province to dwell at large upon the causes of the Kaffer war. Those who are aware of the irritating effect produced upon the mind of Makomo, by a succession of such measures as that to which the Rev. William Shaw has referred, in his Letter to the Earl of Aberdeen," lately published, (a pamphlet which we strongly recommend to those who desire thoroughly to understand the subject,) will not be at a loss to account for the origin of the recent calamity. But of whatever Makomo and his brother Tyalie might have to complain, in respect to the policy pursued by the colonial Government, Hintza had no personal grievance to be redressed. His territories were too remote to suffer from any incursions from the colony. On one occasion, when threatened with invasion from other tribes, he had been defended by the colonial forces; and he had always the means at command for protecting his people against the wrong-doings of any English traders who might visit or reside among them. It would not really serve the cause of humanity to deny, that his native cupidity had no small share in prompting him to cherish and promote the war. It would be a mistaken philanthropy, and a palpable contradiction of St. Paul's description of the Gentile world, to represent mere heathen men as combining in their character all that is noble and excellent. It is not their virtue which entitles them to our sympathy, but their bondage to demoralizing and cruel superstitions, and their need of that Gospel which alone can save fallen man; and the fearful energy even of their vices tends only to strengthen the appeal in their behalf. The death of Hintza is an event deeply to be deplored: Christian charity would have rejoiced in his preservation and final subjugation to the Gospel; yet his murderous intentions towards the Missionary can can scarcely be doubted. His growing dislike to "the truth as it is in Jesus," united with other motives, had evidently placed the Mission family in imminent peril; and their providential deliverance is cause of gratitude. The heroic firmness of the Missionary, which proved, most probably, the means of preserving the lives of the new converts from the vengeance of the pagan Chief, will be duly appreciated; and the friends of the Society will offer their fervent prayers to the great Head of the church, that the scattered flock in the late Hintza's territories may speedily be collected again, and that the hopeful work which had been begun among his people may be prosecuted more successfully than ever. The deliverance of the Fingoes from a state of slavery under Hintza, their settlement within the colonial boundary, and the appointment of Mr. Ayliff as their Missionary, form a series of highly interesting events. These people are the mere remnants of several tribes and nations, which have been almost exterminated by the murderous native wars of the last twenty years. A Kaffer Chief is ever anxious to increase the number of his dependents: and Hintza had received, at different times, a number of these wretched fugitives into his territory; but their condition there was that of slavery. They were styled by the Kaffers," their dogs," and were frequently subjected to much hardship and cruel treatment. Among these suffering outcasts, the labours of the Missionary were attended with considerable success; and to some of the Fingoe converts, under divine Providence, Mr. Ayliff ascribes, in part, the preservation of his family and of the Mission station at Butterworth. When the English forces entered Hintza's country, the Fingoes applied to the Governor for protection; who, collecting them, to the number, as it is now ascertained, of sixteen thousand souls, sent them under an escort to the colony, accompanied by the Missionaries and their families. At the date of the latest letters, Mr. Ayliff and Mr. Shepstone had been appointed by the Governor to assist in the settlement of the Fingoes and of the tribe of Pato and his brothers, in the territory assigned to them. The Committee are anxious that the Missionaries of the Society should ever avoid, as completely as possible, any entanglement with civil affairs; but the very peculiar circumstances in which these brethren were placed, appear to have rendered it almost necessary that they should take a part in a work of so great humanity. Whatever difference of opinion may prevail on the subject of the new province of Adelaide, to the plan of this settlement no valid objection can be offered. Pato, as we apprehend, is to be placed again upon his own land, and the Fingoes are to have a portion of the neutral territory. There is surely as much justice in giving the neutral territory in part to the Fingoes, as in peopling it with Hottentots from the colony, which was a plan recommended even by the excellent Mr. Pringle. The same letters mention that the Missionaries had prepared an account of the very heavy and calamitous losses in Mission property, which had been sustained during the war; and had applied to the colonial Government for assistance to rebuild the Mission premises. The friends of the Society, we are sure, will be anxious that these important Missions should be re-commenced with the least possible delay; being persuaded that, whatever political arrangements may be adopted, the general diffusion of Christianity among the Kaffers will, |