provement made by the teachers fully evinces the utility of such a school, and it is our intention to establish a permanent one at this station so soon as a suitable house can be fitted up for the purpose, in which all the teachers under our care shall be instructed, from time to time, in those studies which may hereafter be introduced into the schools. A writing school has just been commenced at this village by gov ularly designed for those who are ernor Adams, composed principal- LETTER MRS. BOARDMAN, OF THE ly of his own people, of which he is the patron and one of the teach ers. BURMAN MISSION, TO MRS. B- Detailing the exposures and losses Maulaming, Nov. 3, 1827. My very dear Friend, The translation of the Scriptures has occupied the greatest share of our time, since we last wrote you. In connexion with Mr. Ely of Kaavaroa, we have translated the Gospel by John, which we have twice revised, and it is now nearly ready Though no opportunity of sendfor the press. Besides this, we haveing to Bengal offers at present, yet prepared the eighteen last chapters I will commence a letter, as we are of Matthew, from the translations often in extreme haste at the time previously made at the different sta of sending. In many instances tions. On these, we have bestow- interesting particulars have been ed all the time afforded us from the omitted on this account. ordinary labours of the station; and perhaps the translations are as correct as our circumstances and the helps afforded us would permit. When I last wrote to you, we had just found ourselves comfortably settled in our little cottage, diligently pursuing the study of the language. I had but recently recovered from a severe illness, and our dear little girl was then suf Our congregations on the Sabbath consist of between two and three thousand. The weekly lecture on Wednesday is still continu-fering from a similar complaint. ed, and well attended. There are also three social meetings held during the week, which are frequented by the more serious part of the people. The one on Friday afternoon, in which the males and females meet by themselves, consists of persons who profess to have forsaken their immoral practices, and to be seeking the kingdom of God. On the evening of the same day, there is a meeting of a more select nature, consisting of males and females, most of whom give evidence of piety. The present number is sixteen. The instructions given to this little company, are more partic 4 Through the abundant mercy of our heavenly Father, she is now quite restored to health, and my partner and myself are also enjoying this great blessing. We have no reason to think that the constitution of either of us has suffered any unfavourable change since we left our native land; on the contrary, the climate seems very congenial to us. I think I have, in letters to other friends, spoken of the productions, climate, &c. of this place. I have hitherto refrained from letting you know the extreme loneliness of our situation, and the constant danger to which we have been exposed. I knew that the mention of these || Europeans living outside. Maulaming, the place of our residence, is separated from the Burman province of Martaban, only by a river. The opposite side is the refuge of robbers, who come over in parties, 20 or 30 in number, armed with muskets, spears, knives, &c. Thus equipped, they break into houses in the most daring manner, seize every thing valuable, and retreat immediately with their booty to the other side, where they are entirely out of the British power. They have, in one or two instances, surprised and destroyed small villages that were left unguarded. And in one place, they even attacked a guard of seapoys. In some cases, persons by attempting to defend themselves and retain their property, have fallen victims to the cruelty of these monsters. Thus surrounded by dangers, we lived alone, in a house of such frail materials that it could be cut open in any part with a pair of scissors,* in the midst of a desolate wood, and at some little distance even from a Burman || neighbour. There was then, not one person in the Burman village, in whom we could place the least confidence. It was even intimated to us, that the head man of the village, had, in former times, been at the head of a party of robbers. The military cantonments are about a mile distant, and we are the only Before Be we took up our abode here, Sir Archibald Campbell intimated that some danger might be apprehended from wild beasts and robbers if we built without the cantonments, and generously offered us a place inside. This kind offer we felt it our duty to refuse, as a residence in the cantonments would have cut off nearly all our intercourse with the Burmans, and thus our dearest hopes and fondest anticipations be blasted. Mr. B. therefore, declined Sir Archibald's proposal, and with the approbation and advice of his brethren at Amherst,erected a house on this spot which we now occupy. We came to this place wishing, I trust, to spend and be spent among this people, and trusting in an Almighty arm for protection. assured, my dear friend, we felt happy in our decision. We saw these wretched, deluded people perishing in ignorance of the gospel, we thought of the love of our Saviour to precious souls, we cast a glance towards Gethsemane and Calvary, and that was sufficient. Shall we consult our own ease and comfort? we said; or shall we be willing to take joyfully the spoiling of our goods? This was the question, and I trust the grace of God enabled us to choose the latter. And the spoiling of our goods we were called to take. About a month af ter our removal, we were awakened one morning just before daybreak. Mr. B. called for a light, and to our surprise and consternation, we saw every trunk and box in the room broken open, and robbed of their contents. The bureau also shared a similar fate. The looking-glass we brought from Philadelphia was gone; the watch Mr. B. had kept so long, and our silver spoons, given me by my They also took our bunch of keys, causing us to fear that they would visit us again; especially as they found only eight or nine rupees in money. After the first other, Perhaps the next attack will be upon us, and the next charge may be aimed at our bosoms." Then I have been almost ready to exclaim, “O for one little, little room of such materials, that we could (as far as human means go) sleep in safety. But these moments of fear have been transitory, and we have generally been enabled to place our confidence in the " great Shepherd of Israel, who never slumbers or sleeps," assured that he would protect us, and if most for his glory, he would suffer no arm of violence to be raised against us; and we have also felt a sweet composure in the recollection that God had marked out our way, and if it best accorded with his designs that we should fall a prey to these blood thirsty monsters, all would be right. amazement, had a little subsided, I || silenced by the report of a musket raized my eyes to the moscheto near us, we would say to each curtains surrounding our bed, and to my indescribable emotion saw two large holes cut, the one at the head and the other at the foot of the place where my dear husband had been sleeping. From that moment, I quite forgot the stolen goods, and thought only of the treasure that was spared. In imagination, I saw assassins 1 with their horrid weapons, standing by our bedside ready to do the worst, had we been permitted to wake. O! how merciful was that watchful Providence which prolonged those powerful slumbers of that night, not allowing even the infant at my bosom to open its eyes at so critical a moment. If ever gratitude glowed in my bosom, if ever the world appeared to me worthless as vanity, and if ever I wished to dedicate myself, my husband, my babe, my all, to our great Redeemer, it was at that time. On the next morning persons were employed in critically searching the village in order to recover the goods, but to no purpose. To this day, not a trace has been found of them, leaving no doubt that they were taken immediately over the river to Martaban. Since our loss, we have received many kind presents from our friends, so that we now find ourselves comfortable, and we are contented and happy. Yes, my beloved friend, I think I can | say, that notwithstanding our alarms, never did five months of my life pass so pleasantly, as the last five have done. The thought of being among this people, whom we have so long desired to see, and the hope that God would enable me to do some little good to the poor heathen, has rejoiced and encouraged my heart. I confess that once or twice, my natural timidity has for a moment, gained ascendency over my better feelings: And at the hour of midnight, when the howlings of wild beasts have been us Shortly after the robbery, Sir Archibald kindly furnished with two armed seapoys to guard our house-also with two guns. A short time since, one of the seapoys while sitting in our verandah, was attacked by a tyger or some other wild beast, but the creature was frightened away before the man was much injured. But what has contributed more than any thing else to produce the pleasant change in our situation, is the prospect of settlers near us. Our missionary associates from Amherst, will be in our immediate vicinity. I feel very solicitous that they should join us soon, as the rains have just closed, and this is a favourable time for the commencement of schools. I just begin to speak the language a little, and am anxious to be engaged in this long anticipated employment. Pray for us, my beloved friend, that we may be led to adopt such measures, and pursue such a course, as shall be most for the spiritual good of this benighted people. Yours, &c. S. H. BOARDMAN, [For the American Baptist Magazine.] THE BIBLE INTERPRETED BY MIS SIONARY OPERATIONS. THE reasons which induce people to engage in the support of missions are various, though generally, we would hope, from a conviction that it is agreeable to the will of God. Yet there are those, who, while they pay over their annual subscription, or cast in a piece or two as the contribution-box passes, do it because others are forward in the work, or because they hope some human misery may be mitigated, or perhaps, conscience may not allow them a quiet repose in wealth and knowledge, unless they bestow a pittance on the needy and ignorant. We will not discuss the value of these, and other motives, which possibly might be detected in the hearts of some of our friends, but would fain lead them to higher ones, drawn from the word of the living God. We will advance, and shall endeavour to prove and illustrate the following proposition, that There are some portions of the word of God that can be interpreted to our understandings only in connection with an extensive system of missionary operations. And in fact we are prepared to say, that unless the present plan of evangelizing the world is laid deep in the oracles of divine truth; if it is not an essential and vital principle of the gospel itself; then it is not entitled to the support of christians as a part of their duty. If the Bible throughout can be fairly and candidly interpreted without any recurrence to it, then the missionary cause must depend more on the generosity, than on the duty which Christians may feel. and practically, the friends of missions; and instead of merely concurring in that which is amiable and benevolent, it will be an essential article of our creed, 'I believe that it is my sacred duty, and high privilege to do all in my power to spread the gospel to every nation and people under the whole heavens.' I. Some of the prophecies of the Old Testament evidently contem. plate a system of missionary effort and itinerant preaching "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Dan. xii. 4. Now we inquire, what can this mean, but that many preachers shall travel in various directions, preaching the word of God? And who does not perceive at once the very exact fulfilment of this prophecy in the plan of sending the gospel to the heathen now in successful operation ?—and how, we ask, can this prediction be accomplished without such a plan? The exclamation of the prophet, (Isa. lii. 7.) "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings," &c. which is referred by the Apostle Paul, (Rom. x. 15,) to the proclamation of the gospel, with equal force points to the travelling ambassador of Christ, announcing the good news of salvation both to the dwellers in the valley, and to the inhabitants of the rock. No other easy and sensible illustration offers itself to the mind. The vision which John saw on Patmos, of "an angel flying through the midst of heaven, preaching the everlasting gospel to them that dwell on the earth," (Rev. xiv. 6.), is prophetic; and how shall it be fulfilled? Most certainly not in a literal way, but in the ordinary But if, on the contrary, we main- method of ambassadors going forth tain our position, then, as Baptists, on the breadth of the whole earth, and as disciples of Jesus Christ, we and preaching to every nation under shall be bound to yield it an untir-heaven. "The sacramental host ing and cheerful support. We shall of God's elect," engaged in the difthen be sentimentally, doctrinally, fusion of the glorious gospel are powerfully represented to the exiled | tery on others, that they should go and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ; and carry on the work they had commenced, until every knee should bow, and every tongue confess the name of Jesus. They evidently intended that their successors should act on the principles which they had received from the Great Head of the church, and go forth and share with them the reproach and glory of the cross. apostle by the figure of an angel saying, with a loud voice, FEAR GOD! On the supposition that a plan of missionary operations had never been known or thought of, how would these passages be understood? To be told that many should run to and fro; that the tops of the mountains should be covered with messengers of peace; that an angel should preach the gospel to every nation and people, and yet no means in advancement to fulfil these predictions, no societies or combinations, no evangelists sent, or go-ary system. "Provide," says Christ, ing, is, in fact, to seal up the proph ecy. II. The commission given by the Prince of Salvation to the Apostles, Mark xvi. 16—“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' The question is, What does this mean, and how did the Apostles understand it? The subsequent conduct of the men who first received the command will explain. They went every where, preaching the word of God. They abode not long in a place, but having scattered the seed, and appointed cultivators, they went to preach the gospel in other cities also. They interpreted the command, in strict analogy with the genius and design of the gospel, which is to bring all men to the knowledge of the truth. For indeed, the means being adapted to all, the authorized declaration of it, could not with propriety be limited to any less number. This command, then, contains the very essence of the Gospel, good news to all people," and as such is the foundation and pillar of the missionary cause. III. The manner in which the first preachers were sent forth, evidently requires the aid of a mission "neither shoes, staff, coat, nor money;" but why? because, "the labourer is worthy of his hire The Apostle Paul, also, insisted on the right of the ministers of Christ to their support from the churches. 1 Cor. ix. When Christ sent forth his disciples, he gave them no assurance of any miraculous supply of their temporal wants. They had to depend on the churches for their sustenance. This was often scanty, for Paul suffered by hunger and fasting The very design of this direction by Christ would be, and actually was, to lead Christians to associate and contribute together for the support of the apostles and early preachers of the gospel. This, and this only, would be working together with God in saving souls. IV. It is only on the principle here advanced, that we can account for the contributions and charity bestowed by the primitive Christians. The Philippian church sent once and again to the necessities of Paul, while at Rome; and he tells the Corinthian brethren, that to relieve them he "robbed other churchIn obedience to this injunction, es ;" i. e. other churches supported the whole apostolic order were con-him while he was labouring with verted into a missionary association; and into active, indefatigable, suffering, dying missionaries themselves. The whole work was not accomplished by them, therefore they laid the hands of the presby them. In this way they gave an effective support to the gospel, and fully admitted the principle, (so important in this age,) that the gospel is to be sent forth by the resources of the church. Such was their lib |