THE SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN HERALD, CONDUCTED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF DRAWN UP BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LANARK. DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN,-In the name and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose ordained servants we are, to "watch for your souls, as those who must give an account;" | enter into that rest; even through the privilege As Jehovah thus instituted the Sabbath from nings of Sinai," saying-" Remember the Sab-meeting-place between ransomed souls and their bath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou God-so is the holy Sabbath the especial season, is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou lowship with the Father of our spirits. Then shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy and there, by eminence, God hath recorded his daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, name, to meet with his people and bless them. nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy Behold the promise-" If thou turn away thy foot gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the of the Lord honourable; and shalt honour Him, Sabbath-day, and hallowed it." not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Hear the Church-" The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's Here Jehovah, in the most solemn manner, de- clares the appointment and obligation of the day of rest-the type of his own glorious complacency in the great work of creation, and calls on man to enter into fellowship with the divine rest and joy. Man, by transgression, incurred the awful guilt of breaking God's rest in his holy workman- ship; and to redeem the loss, and restore to both Thus the obligation and sacredness of the Sabbath, so far from being done away, were but For be warned, dearly beloved-God is a holy and a jealous God, who will not give his glory to another, nor accept a divided heart and service at the hand of any man. God spake by Moses unto the children of Israel, saying, "Verily my Sab- baths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout all your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord, that doth sanctify seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord whosoever doeth work on the Sabbath-day he shall surely be put to death." As Jehovah on the seventh day rested and was refreshed, so he his own solemn sanction to the prohibition gave from working, except in works of necessity and mercy, not only by his signal judgment on the daring transgressor, (Num. xv. 36,) but by the two striking facts, that not a stone was to be added even to the Tabernacle, nor was any manna rained from heaven on that day. While by this also warning those who neglect to be built up "living stones" into Jesus, and refuse to feed upon him as their soul's life, now; that no soul can be added to the house of God, which is the body of Christ, and no part be had of the bread of God, which is the living Christ, in the long Sabbath of eternity. Alas! to all such, soul-work hath ceased for ever; for thus we read, "And Moses said, Eat that to-day, for to-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord; to-day ye shall not find it in the field," the field is this world or age. "Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none." Ah! brethren, none can have Christ in heaven, who have not gathered and laid him up in their hearts upon earth. But while, "knowing the terrors of the Lord," we thus solemnly warn, knowing also "the joy of the Lord," we would affectionately encourage you. "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." As "watchmen, set over the house of Israel, and lest your blood be required at our hands," we press the duty and obligation, as affectionately desirous to have you, and willing to impart to you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own lives, because ye are dear unto us," we urge still more the beauty and blessedness of "remembering the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy," and of "taking sweet counsel together, in walking to the house of God in company." Then and there is the season and the place of ordained and especial response to the voice of your Father. Children, "seek ye my face." "Abba, Father! Thy face will we seek!" "The sacrifice of praise is the fruit of the lips." "I create (says God) the fruit of the lips"-by giving constant and ever-new occasion and theme, proclaiming each Sabbath in my sanctuary "peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is nigh, and I will heal him." "But there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Then and there, too, souls are bowed down, under a common burden of sin and sorrow, before the great throne of a pitying God, or taken and washed of the Word and Spirit, in the laver of Emmanuel's blood, or melted into forgiveness and brotherhood, as the fire of His love burns within and among them. And then and there are they soothed under their "depths" by "the grave sweet melody" of Psalms. or lifted out of them by the tide of song, borne on from heart to heart, and upwards to the throne of God. Heaven opens; and they see "Jesus standing on the right hand of God." And then and there are the infants of the Church dedicated to God-and as "the Lambs" of the flock, received to our faith and prayers and keeping "nurture"-in the covenant of holy baptism-while there, "the season of the passover being now come," is spread, from time to time, the table of communion, at which sat our fathers, now "sleeping in Jesus," and where shall sit our children, when we are "gathered to our fathers"-that, as a warned, solemnized, and separated people, we may together "eat the Supper of the Lord"-high antepast of that "Table, which shall never, never be drawn!" "Surely God is in this place!” “There descends the blessing from on high-even life for ever more!" And "God in very deed dwells with man upon the earth!" Thus does God's ordinance of the Sabbath and the sanctuary nourish, strengthen and extend the life and thankfulness it is so beautifully fitted to express; and thus it prepares for and assimilates to, the worship of the sanctuary above. There "his servants serve Him." And there is no rest there!-no cessation-no weariness-no imperfection-no interruption-no end! "And they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." "And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him, that liveth for ever and ever!" It is, brethren, to a service so pure, affectionate, and heavenly, and not to any Pharisaical sanctimoniousness, that we rejoice to call you. Deprive and rob not, then, your own souls, nor the souls of your children and households, dearly beloved, by the remissness of your authority, or the contagion of your evil example, of this "beauty of holiness"-the ordinance of the Sabbath and the sanctuary-God's greatest ordinance for the blessing of man upon the earth. Be witnesses for God against the spirit, maxims, and practice, in its manifold, open, and ever-increasing Sabbath desecrations and encroachments, by all classes, of a God-forgetting and wrath-provoking, because a Sabbath-breaking age. "God is no respecter of persons ;" nor, in a matter so solemn as this, any more can we be. The court with its Sunday parade and music-the Privy-Council with its so frequent meetings on that day-ministers and statesmen with their party-conferences and entertainments-the man of the world" finding his pleasures"-the merchant in his counting-housethe man of business with his correspondence-the lawyer at his briefs-the medical practitioner careless of ordering his visits-the proprietor or manager of works "exacting all his labours"-the trader at his traffic-the farmer by inspection of his crops-the dealer, travelling with his cattle to, and from, markets the shopman with his sales— the publican with his gains (gains, the price of souls!) the idler listlessly strolling in fields and lanes the gossip, male or female, making this a day especially of those "idle words," of each of which "account must be given at the day of judgment" the dissolute yet in their haunts-the drunkard and sensualist on their beds, unsobered and uncooled from their cups and revels overnight, or reaching far into the hours and breaking the stillness of the hallowed morn-ALL, ALL, by "turning away their feet from God's holy Sabbath," are "separating between their souls and their God," and bringing down swift judgment on the land! "Woe unto them, who say, what a weariness is it! And when will the Sabbath be gone, that we may sell corn, and set forth wheat ?" Vain quest of gain! For thus saith the Lord. "Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of Hosts; because of my house which is waste (empty); and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth; and upon man and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands." And, O, cannot God do this again? II. Beside all waters sow, The high-way furrows stock; III. The good and fruitful ground, Expect not here, or there, O'er hill, and dale, in spots 'tis found, IV. Thou knowest not which shall thrive, And duly shall appear In verdure, beauty, strength, VI. Thou shalt not sow in vain, Cold, heat, and moist, and dry, VII. Then, when the glorious end, The day of God is come, And heaven shout Harvest home! A VISIT TO THE SAMOA ISLANDS. BEFORE submitting to our readers the following very interesting picture of a missionary station, it may be useful to state, that the islands here named are of the Navigator or Samoan groups; laid down in the map appended to Williams's Missionary Enterprises' as considerably to the east of Tahiti. In November 1838, mention is made of an "infant Church of five mem " Let, then, the voice of your petitions against it go forth to "the high places" of the land; telling your Queen to call on her people to "make Jehovah their fear and dread," by keeping His Sabbaths and honouring His house; and "He will be" both her "sanctuary" and theirs and let the voice of your cry against it ascend unto the ears of Jehovah Sabaoth; for thus is it writ-bers," in the Island of Tutuila, where the Rev. Architen:-"I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly; who are of thee; to whom the reproach of it was a burden." Soon may that day break, and the shadows flee away!" Then "violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. The sun shall no more be thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. The sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." "Finally, brethren, pray for us." LINES UPON SOWING THE SEed. BY JAMES MONTGOMERY, ESQ., SHEFFIELD. [The following beautiful Lines never before published, we believe, have been kindly sent us by a friend.] 1. Sow in the morn thy seed, At e'en hold not thy hand, To doubt or fear give thou no heed, bald Murray, a native of Roxburghshire, was the first settled missionary, under the London Missionary Society; and where, but three years before, the whole population was given to idolatry. The letter from which we are about to quote has just reached us from that now interesting spot, and furnishes lively evidence, if that were required, of the humanizing power of the Gospel. The writer does not belong to the mission, but sailed from Sydney in the missionary ship Camden, in company with three of the brethren; hoping to have his health confirmed by living for a time in that salubrious climate: Pango Pango Tutuila, March 16, 1840. It was on Saturday, March 14, that we arrived here, having left Sydney 12th February. As we approached and sailed up the harbour, we were gradually surrounded by many canoes, and before we were anchored, the deck was covered by natives, all anxiously and affectionately greeting the "Mishingalies." We were, however, the bearers of heavy tidings, and this cast a gloom on every heart, and brought a tear to almost every eye. The first canoe that reached us was guided by a middle-aged man, who, as soon as we were within hail, called out to our native teachers, inquiring for Misi Williamü ;” till by the end of the sermon nearly all the tender sex were in tears, and the prayer was scarcely begun before Mr Murray's voice was drowned by similar manifestations on the part of the whole assembly. Mr Murray left the pulpit, but finding it vain to attempt to restore quiet, or quell the burst of feeling, the assembly was broken up. and those who witnessed it will not forget the stunning | women, but evidently stifled; gradually they spread, and agonising effect which the news of his death produced. The man seemed at once unhinged-he dropped his paddle, and stooped his head and wept. We could not understand his words, but his gestures could not be misinterpreted. He accompanied us for some time, making various inquiries; but no smile enlightened his expressive countenance, and ever and anon he burst out into fresh cries and tears. Every one who came on board shook our hands heartily, many kissing them, and all pronouncing the word " Talofa," expressive of affectionate greeting; which we reciprocated with all our hearts. After a while we came on shore, to see Mrs Murray; Mr Murray being absent at Leone Bay, a station fifteen miles off, which he visits once in three weeks. As we passed up to THE HOUSE (par excellence), we observed the large erection formerly used for holding their savage dances, crowded with women, who were holding a prayer-meeting (it was Saturday night,) and filling the air with notes of praise, in place of their ferocious and abominable war-songs. Mrs Murray received us with Christian and joyous cordiality, though very much overcome by the sad intelligence, which had been already communicated to her. The first she heard of our approach was, that Mr Williams was coming, his ship was close at hand. This was hailed with a thrill of joy; but soon another native arrived, who gasped, "I can't speak !--I can't tell it you!" and at last gulped out, that Mr Williams was murdered. . . . . We went on board again at night, and returned at nine o'clock on Sabbath morning, to attend the native service; which was conducted by Matthew Ankin, who was originally a profligate runaway sailor, but, converted by Mr Murray's instrumentality, is now a valuable, ardent, and efficient auxiliary in the great cause. The chapel is one hundred feet by twenty-seven. benched very thick, and capable of containing about a thousand people; for they fill every corner, passages and all, besides standing at the windows outside. The preacher was very earnest, and a more decorous and eagerly attentive congregation I never saw. Mrs Murray had told me before going in, that the Holy Spirit has of late been operating powerfully among the people... You may imagine my feelings, when standing in the midst of reclaimed savages,-hearing them sing, with all their might, the praises of Jehovah; seeing them bow the head, and reverentially cover the face, and scarcely one wandering eye during prayer; and during sermon, seeming to devour the word as it dropt from the preacher's lips; while a woman would sob out, in spite of her efforts to repress it; and a man would wipe the unbidden tear from his swarthy cheek, so lately marked by all that could express a ferocious heart, but now meek, humble, and subdued. . . . . . We next had English service in the native chapel; conducted, I need not say how well, by Mr Harbutt, attended by our party, and almost all the sailors. Next came examination on the morning sermon, the Sabbath school, and then afternoon service; which was conducted by Mr Murray, who had been sent for, and arrived during the forenoon. He gave them some account of Mr Williams's death, which he compared to Stephen's; and the effect - was overpowering. When he introduced the account of Mr Williams, sobs were heard among a few of the Now, no doubt you are wondering what was the cause of all this, and thinking the Samoans must be very soft-hearted and susceptible, and the more so, when you hear that the people were little acquainted with Williams, who was only here twice on brief and flying visits. The reason is found in the power of divine grace. There has been a great revival here, and Mr Murray and his truly valuable wife adore, with grateful wonder, the work of God. Five months ago the Church consisted of thirty individuals, which itself was a large amount of fruit from three years' labour among untaught savages. Since then there has been a great shaking among the dry bones, and it has been said to many of them "Live." There are now two hundred baptized, and hundreds anxiously inquiring, so that they have to be kept back, lest their minister should be entirely overwhelmed. His plan is, to cause native teachers, who visit continually all the villages, to select those who seem most evidently under the power of divine grace, and them he receives, examines, and instructs. . . . . The cause, then, of the violent emotion is this,--the people have been taught of the Spirit to value the Gospel, (many of them supremely,) and the mere thought, that Mr Williams was the first to bring it to their shores, and perished in doing the same for others, produces all this feeling. It is love of the truth, reflected back on him who brought the glad tidings. It is to me most delightful to know, that the distinction between real and professing Christians is clearly understood by the natives themselves. On this island there are four thousand three hundred inhabitants, three hundred of whom have not yet renounced idolatry. But even among these, the influence of Christianity is such, that they to a great extent abstain from many things on the Sabbath-day, such as cooking and fishing." There are about one hundred in full communion, and eight hundred more, who would be, according to the Presbyterian mode of admission, besides seven hundred at Leone Bay. March 12.-O how I wish you could be present in church to see the fervour of the people, or any where to see their subdued affectionate countenances those whose hands were deeply stained with blood and murder, washed and purified by the blood of Jesus! The men are the majority in the church-they were the first, as the women were much degraded and stupid; the members, however, are fast equalizing now. April 10.-Apui Bay, Upolu. Mr and Mrs Mills occupy this station, and no sooner had we arrived, than messengers were despatched to the various stations on this island to collect the brethren for a meeting. The sloop of war, Favourite," which left Sydney to call at Rotuna, Tiana and Eriemango, for the purpose of seeing after the welfare of native teachers left on the two former, and recovering the remains of Mr Williams 66 The writer mentions in a subsequent letter, of date April 15th, that nearly all the above-mentioned three hundred had openly em braced Christianity. from the latter, had arrived the night before us, and saved us the painful task of breaking the sad news to Mr Williams' family. Mrs Williams has borne up exceedingly well. The first shock was awful to her, but, as she said to Mr Murray, she can now contemplate her husband as he is, and apart from the circumstances of his death. The general meeting was exceedingly interesting,-Captain Croker of the "Favourite," in the chair; (this captain has since lost his life, not by savages, but by a Welshman who has made himself a leader of savages.) Amongst other things, Mr and Mrs Hatyer are appointed to Leone Bay, Tutuila, and Mr Heath accepted the appointment of his brethren to carry out the plans of Mr Williams. This was a matter of great solemnity, all seemed willing to risk their lives for their Saviour. Mr Heath was most suitable, as being robust, well informed about the islands, firm and free from anxiety about family, as his poor wife died some time ago. He accepted the office on three conditions, one of which was that, if he was cut off, another should take his place. Thus, do these men put their life in their hand, in the cause of God. It is easy to talk of the thing at a distance, but it assumes a stern reality when one visits the field and sees what is the nature of the work. Mr Williams's remains were interred on the 31st March, with much solemnity. The English service was read, and an address delivered both in English and Samoan. The concourse of people was immense. The sailors and marines from the man-of-war were on shore, and three rounds of musketry were discharged over the tomb. We have had the Lord's Supper twice here, and on other occasions have had some most interesting addresses from natives, especially from Teana; he is a superior, and most intelligent, and reflecting man. The value which the natives. set on instruction was strongly attested by their eagerness to keep their missionaries. Even one of the native teachers was strongly opposed, when he offered himself to go to one of the new islands. There is so much need of labourers here, that they would hardly let me go to Tutuila, but wanted to lay violent hands on me, in favour of some new district... April 15, Tutuila.-Mr Murray has communicated with the teachers to know who of them were willing to go as teachers to New Caledonia, &c., and they retired to consider the matter with much coolness and solemnity. This morning, after much prayer and thought, they came forward and presented themselves as a body, expressing their perfect willingness to go to any place where it might be judged that they would do good to souls. Glorious fruit unto holiness! Glorious proof of the sincerity of their profession, and reality of their love! This is no hasty determination which will afterwards be repented of. Many of them have, indeed, long since offered themselves to this work. And it is no light sacrifice that they make. They leave their wives and children and dear friends; and you know how strong friendship is when Christian love is in the heart. Some of them leave all the influence of a chief, to become teachers of the Word, perhaps despised and | persecuted; at least, for long looked upon as of a lower grade. The chief carries no outward badge of superiority, and so no strange people will pay him honour. They are willing to leave all for Christ's sake. Mr Murray selected five from their number, and we went down to the "Great House," to tell them who were chosen. There were about thirty of them, and the deepest solemnity on all faces. When the names were announced, they felt considerably, and one wept much that he was not allowed to go, so did the love of Christ constrain him. Oh! that our Scottish students and Scottish Churches could imbibe such a spirit; against how many will the men of the South "rise up in judgment," how many will they condemn! This afternoon two of the missionary teachers gave short addresses to the people, both most appropriate, beseeching to be constantly prayed for, and expressing, what rendered in English, is more than "I am willing to die," it is, "I am ready," or almost "I will be glad to die for the sake of Jesus." Pomare is one of these, he is the son of a former chief, but when a dispute arose as to the succession, although he had the decided claim, he gave it up to another, rather than raise disturbance, and not being sorry to be rid of a dignity which might have come in the way of his piety. Two of the teachers volunteered to go to the very place where Williams fell. This is not to be attempted at present as the natives are so savage. Mr Murray, in a letter dated 16th April says, that he is getting the teachers ready to sail with Mr Heath. He says he feels as if parting with his own sons,' and they are his own sons in the best of bonds. They want no salary, the love of Christ constrains them, and they get their food where they go. Pomare's going here is something like a nobleman in England taking a similar course. There are many people collecting to take leave of them, and, poor fel. lows, they say they wish they were fairly off, for their hearts get soft when others weep over them. We hope that the reflex influence on the people will be good. The office gains honour in the eyes of many when those whom they highly respect, engage in it. ON REGENERATION. BY J. GRANDPIERRE, DIRECTOR OF THE MISSIONARY Translated from the French. Ir all that we have described is not, what is Christian regeneration? Regeneration, as we have already said, is an inward change effected in the soul, before becoming sensible in the life and conduct: the heart, the seat of life within us, receives a new moral impulse, a new spiritual life; the principle of love to God is substituted for all other motives to action. To love God, to love nothing but him, to love all in him and for him-this is the sum of the Christian life. Before his conversion, the Christian did not think of God, or thought of him only occasionally, of necessity, without pleasure; now these thoughts are sweet to him, he seeks instead of fleeing them. The presence of his Creator is not disagreeable; he loves to have a regard to him in all that he does. He is grateful for the blessings he has received from him, and takes pleasure in acknowledging that all he possesses is held of his bounty. He has fellowship with God; formerly he knew not what it was to pray. He communes with his heavenly Father in the Bible; formerly it was to him a sealed book, which he did not |