THE MARINER'S HYMN. LAUNCH thy bark, mariner! Christian, Heaven speed thee, Steer thy course steadily; Christians, steer home! Look to the weather-bow, breakers are round thee! What of the night, watchman? What of the night? 86 Be wakeful, be vigilant, danger may be At an hour when all seems securest to thee. How-gains the leak so fast? Clear out the hold; Slacken not sail yet at inlet or island, Straight for the beacon steer-straight for the highland; ON LEAVING AN OLD HOUSE AND ENTERING A NEW ONE. BY THE LADY SUPERINTENDANT OF THE NATIVE FEMALE INSTITUTION, SIERRA LEONE. JANUARY 1865 found us struggling on still in the old house, wearied with long delays, discouraged by dilatory workpeople, overwhelmed with business, and sick in body and mind. January 1866 finds us in a very different case, thanks be to our gracious, allwise God! The old house is forsaken by us, and is undergoing necessary repairs for the reception of our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton: its occupants and its name will be changed truly, but it will ever be endeared to the hearts of those who belong to the Female Institution, and who lived together happily so many years beneath its roof. We were right glad to leave it, because its limited size greatly hindered our work: proper arrangements could not be made; plans for the improvement, civilization, or elevation of the children could not be carried out; there was no fit accommodation for any European assistant; and the fact that about sixty human beings daily assembled in a house built for the accommodation of a small family, is sufficient to convince every one that the change was very desirable; and now it seems almost impossible to believe that so many could have lived there so long with any degree of comfort. Nevertheless, comfort we had, and abundance of it at times, and blessings, mercies, lovingkindnesses, joys, pleasures in rich abundance; many good and perfect gifts daily showered down upon us from the great Father of lights; unnumbered answers to prayers; much joy, and peace, and rest in Jesus; many strivings of the Holy Spirit for victory over inner sin and outer darkness; much light and comfort from the presence of our God and the reading of his word;-all these, and much more, could we record, for his mercies were new every morning, and renewed every evening. Great was his faithfulness. This is a bright picture of goodness and mercy; but there were spent, also, in that old house, many days, weeks, and months, of sickness and weakness, pain and weariness; there were many heartrendings, many discouragements, trials, and disappointments; and many a hard battle was often fought against Satan and his kingdom of sin and darkness in human hearts. All this may be considered sufficient to obliterate the brightness of the above; but the truth is far otherwise. The latter only adds to the beauty of the former, for in sickness and in weakness the Lord made our bed, and strengthened us thereon. His left hand was under our heads, and his right arm embraced us; his banner over us was love, in weariness and pain, in trials and discouragements. He was still by us, as a hiding-place from the winds, a covert from the tempest, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land; so as our days were we found our strength to be, and in the midst of tribulation we could sing aloud with heart and soul, "There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help!" The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. This, again, is not all. In that old house, mingled with instruction, prayer was wont to be made: many, we hope, were answered. Much seed was sown, and appeared from time to time to take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. Some dear girls, who spent a time amongst us there, will remember that house with a peculiar feeling as the place where the Spirit first strove with and conquered their hearts, and no doubt will say, "Lo, I was born there." We may hope, also, such was the case with some who have been taken from this world, and that others, now living carelessly, may yet have some of the good seed of the word still in their hearts, though now smothered up in the dust and rubbish of this perishing world and its vain pursuits. This is our affectionate farewell tribute to the old house, its blessings, its joys, and its sorrows; our tribute of praise and gratitude to the Lord God, the Lord holy and true, merciful and faithful ; but our hymn of praise and thanksgiving must be continued in this our Dew abode, where we were permitted to assemble as a family on the 28th June last, for He is still with us, to bless and to guide, a very present help in trouble, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." SAFDAR ALI. WOULD our readers desire to know what it costs a native of India, of some position in society, to become a Christian, and publicly profess it before his countrymen? Then we can give them an instance, by which they will be enabled to form a judgment on this subject. Three years ago a Mussulman of respectability, a Deputy Inspector of Schools, was led to embrace Christianity, and be baptized. But this was not done until after long inquiry and hesita tion. His father, a Mussulman of the Syud race, having experienced some reverse of fortune, had become resident at Agra, where his son, Safdar Ali, had an opportunity of attending the Government school. A strict Mohammedan, he had no greater object than to attain perfection in the faith of his fathers, and in the study of the sciences and the prescriptions of the Mohammedan religion he spent many years. He was led to acquaint himself with the religious books of the Hindus, and, extending his researches, entered on the metaphysics of the Greek philosophers, and even adventured to read the works of atheists and deists. Christianity, however, he did not examine. He had concluded, without examination, that it was false, and had shut it out altogether from his consideration. The fact was, he was not satisfied; he felt that he wanted something. He practised austerities, but found they did not promote purity of heart and holiness of life. He sought after a guide, and waited upon a great number of sheikhs and fakirs, but they did him no good. He had thought of visiting Mecca, but was providentially prevented by family circumstances. In searching for some books he came incidentally upon two, which, although in his possession, he had never looked into-a portion of the Holy Scriptures and Dr. Pfander's Mizan-ul-haqq. These he determined to read, and, during three years, spent all the time he could spare in the study of the Mohammedan and Christian Scriptures, and works of controversy on both sides. At length, through the grace of God, the truth opened before him; all his doubts and fears were dispersed; and on Christmas-day, 1864, he was baptized at Jubbulpore by our Missionary, the Rev. E. Champion. Now came the heavy trials, the domestic persecution, the being hated, cast off by those whom he most loved on earth, but who had now ceased to love him. His relatives, when they heard from him that he had been baptized, were completely astounded at the intelligence. His wife cast herself to the ground, and there remained for days, without speaking or taking food, nor would she speak one word to him; and when she did take food and recovered some strength, it was only to reproach him. She declared that she would no longer live with him. Day by day he besought her, but in vain, and at last, thinking it best to let her have her own way, sent her, with her father and his little girl, back to their home at Agra. Nor was this all: the whole world seemed to turn against him. He had been esteemed as a learned Molwee, and every one had approached him with respect. Now he was denounced as a fool. His former friends, when they saw him coming, to avoid him, took a different path, and the common people scouted him. None stood by him but his Christian friends, and their sympathy and counsel he did not fail to have. Nay, more; the Lord stood with him and strengthened him, so that, like Paul, he received all that came to him, and taught them the things which concern the Lord Jesus, But the fact that several Mohammedans had visited him for conversation on religious subjects raised the excitement to such a pitch that his enemies were overheard to say that nothing remained to do except to kill him; and this no doubt would have been done, but that God, in his providence, has given to Great Britain the rule in India, and the Queen's proclamation having guaranteed to all freedom of conscience, injuries to the person and property are not permitted. Has his wife returned to him? It is now three years since she left him. Has she relented, and desired reconciliation? Let the following letter answer these questions. He had gone to Agra, in the hope that, after so long an absence, affection might revive, and the severed relations of husband and father be restored. And he tells us how he fared, and that so touchingly, and yet so meekly and resignedly, that it is impossible to read it without being moved. Aug. 27, 1866-I have not replied to your letter till now, and in these days I have been in great tribulation, and I have been ill too. I have been suffering from that pain in my heart, and from cold, and a pain in my ear has given me much trouble also; and, more than this, my head became several times giddy, and a noise sounded in my ears. through the Lord's mercy, I am better, and am taking medicine. Seventeen days ago my mother and brother, and many members of my family, came from Dhaulpore. By God's goodness all are well. Now, My wife's heart is hard as before, or rather it gets daily harder and harder. I have explained every thing to her, and reasoned with her, and have hitherto displayed my affection for her in every way. I have besought her, have even joined my hands in my entreaty. I went so far as this, and said, "My coming is after four or five years. Now I ask thus much from you, that you will go to Jubbulpore, and remain there, and I promise you this, that, if you desire, you shall remain in one house and I will remain in another; and without your order I will not come into your house, no, not even to the door." But she does not agree to one word of this. In this she is obstinate, and says "If you will become a Mussulman again (in your heart hold what you like), but, with your mouth, before all own the truth of Islam, then I and all your family are with you, and what you say we will do. Otherwise between me and you there is no connexion. The world may be turned upside down, but I cannot be with you, nor have I any thing to do with going to Jubbulpore, and remaining there. If you like, don't give me money for my support, and don't write I am not your wife, nor are you my husband. Why do you follow me? If you like, marry again." In a word, these are hard sayings; and she lives and dresses in all respects as a widow. But, Sir, how is it possible that I, leaving my God, should attend to the word of men, although there is at this time such terrible grief in my heart, that, as it were, every day my soul is expelled from my body. Those people who before were silent, and did not reproach me, now do such heart-breaking things, and all the beloved ones of my heart are to-day separated from to me. me for ever! I have had my last interview with them. My friends, my family, my wife and little girl, one and all are gone, and on this account I am in such heavy grief as never before had happened to me. But how can this be, that I should turn my face from my Saviour and forsake my Master and Maker, the most merciful Lord God? I will never do so. I am contented with whatever is the will of my most merciful Father. In happiness and sorrow, He is my helper. In this great tribulation He supports me, and ever will support. The comfort of his grace to me is unspeakable. Oh, Sir, the substance of this is, that these have all gone from me, and there is no hope at all now of their joining me. My wife's object is just this-"One or two thousand rupees, if you like, spend on your house, which is half made. Send me money for my support. Marry your daughter where I like among the family, and let me remain here in Agra, and come again, just as you like; but continue no connexion with me. I cannot become infidel because of you. I cannot forsake my relatives. I cannot, like you, consent to be defamed by the world, and to be considered outcast. People say you are worse than other Christians, and they think you hateful. And if you don't help me, then my provider is another (her false god). As far as I am able I will labour and work for hire, but with you no connexion remains." At first it was my wish to repair my house, lest if it should not be repaired this 3000 rupee house should fall; but now, seeing the hardness of my relatives' hearts, I think, whether it falls or stands, I will do nothing, but come direct to you. I commit all these to the Lord. What He approves is best, and enough. We ask for the prayers of every one who reads the above. Many and effectual prayers, who can tell what a change they might be instrumental in bringing about? At any rate, we know this, that prayer on his behalf, that he may be sustained, will assuredly be answered. A MISSIONARY PRAYER. O MOST merciful Father, I [we] come to Thee through Thy Son Jesus Christ, to intercede on behalf of the benighted heathen. I [we] humbly pray for those who are perishing in their sins, living without a knowledge of Christ, and dying without a good hope of eternal life. Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon them in Pentecostal abundance. Bring them to a knowledge of themselves as sinners, and Jesus Christ as their only and all-sufficient Saviour. Have pity upon those who have no pity upon themselves. Open their blind eyes, soften their hard hearts, and cause them to attend to the things which make for their everlasting peace. Give unto Christ, according to Thy promise, the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Let the everlasting Gospel have free course and be glorified in the salvation of many souls: may its joyful sound be heard in every land, be preached in every tongue, and its truth received into every heart. Send out Thy |