tions might be, was obliged to put him to death instantly.

"In the times of some of the emperors, the lower class of Roman citizens were certainly as worthless a set of men as ever existed, stained with all the vices which arise from idleness and dependence, living upon the largesses of the great, passing their whole time in the circus and amphitheatres, where every sentiment of humanity was annihilated within their breasts, and where the agonies and torments of their fellow creatures were their chief pastime. That no occasion might be lost of indulging this savage taste of the populace, criminals were condemned to fight with wild beasts in the arena, or were exposed unarmed, to be torn in pieces by them; at other times they were blindfolded, and in that condition obliged to cut and slaughter each other. 99

ularity enough to gratify the public taste. And they were always found in abundance in the disciples of Christ. They were always easy to be convicted. They never excited sedition during their most calamitous persecutions. And thus whenever the lust for carnage desired it, they could without danger to their enemies, and in any requisite number, be led as sheep to the slaughter.

Such was the position in which the church of Christ stood to the world during the three first centuries.

Armed with a resolution which could look unappalled upon an imperial edict, the emperor abhorred them. The propagators of a system, which, if it succeeded, must subvert the interests of the higher classes, the higher classes were bent upon their destruction. Each one the possessor of a body, which by being torn in pieces, was capable of administering to the pleasures of the crowded amphitheatre, the populace rejoiced to see them set apart for the carnage. If the people murmured at an unpopular law, it was only necessary to persecute the Christians, and the murmur was drowned amidst the

In addition to this statement of undoubted accuracy, we would just remark, that one of the emperors, we think it was Vespasian, computed that more lives had been lost in the amphitheatre during his reign, than by all his wars, though they had been many and destructive. We hope there is no need of apolo-shouts from the arena. If the ingizing to our readers for the length of this quotation. Christians will remember, that these amphitheatres were the death beds of their brethren.

It is at once evident, that so insatiable an appetite for human blood, could not be gratified by any of the ordinary means, which the vice or the turbulence of society presents. Criminals could not be found by hundreds in the week to fill the amphitheatre; wars could not always be waged, and when waged, did not always yield a harvest of captives; nor could the captives of an army be distributed over a whole empire. They must be found among the inhabitants of every village and country, or the shows could not be carried on in magnificence or reg

terests of men were assailed, it was only to persecute the Christians; and if interest was not regained, at least the malice which its diminution created was gratified. And to use the words of Tertullian, "If the Tiber flows up to the walls; if the river Nile do not overflow the fields; if the heavens alter their course; if there be an earthquake, a famine, or a plague, immediately the cry is, Away with the Christians to the lions."

Such do we consider the brief outline of the causes, which led to the persecutions of the primitive church, and such the bloody field on which she achieved her first victories. And if the records of the human race present any exhibition of pre-eminent moral sublimity, it

may be found in the history of these || ness, and the cruelty of the world

times; in the spectacle of the church relying simply in the moral efficacy of its doctrines; making headway against the power, the interest, the learning, the wealth, the wicked

combined against her. And if such a history teaches any thing, it teaches incontrovertibly the truth of the apostle's declaration, "Christ crucified, the power of God."

་

CAREY STATION.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. ISAAC
M'COY, TO A GENTLEMAN IN MASSACHU-
SETTS, DATED

Carey, (Michigan Ter.) Nov. 19, 1824.
Rev. and dear Brother,

I HAD another severe turn of sickness

last summer; yet through mercy I am still alive, and now enjoying usual health. Our infant daughter died at Troy, the 26th of October. Mrs. M'Coy was sick there, but has returned, and partly recovered her health.

WE are now amid the noise and bustle of war, and are surrounded, on all sides, by an army of ten thousand British troops, a greater part of which came up the river, and attacked the town on the 11th ult. The town was completely evacuated when the British landed, by the Burmans, who all fled into the interior of the country. Many skirmishes have taken place since, and we are now, from the forces which the Burman chiefs are collecting, expecting, probably within sight and hearing, a bloody and destructive battle. The Burmans have exercised many cruelties, both on one another, and on a few prisoners who The Lord has lately blessed us with a have unhappily fallen into their hands. | gracious smile, which has made my soul This presents no inducement to the Eng- like the chariot of Aminadib. About the lish to spare their lives. The war, ac- 10th of October, appearances in our famcording to every present appearance, mustily had become so favourable, that it was continue for some time to come. Every|| remarked, “ Here are prospects of a reviBurman Christian excepting Moung-val." We have not been disappointed. Shwa-ba has fled,and all missionary work, excepting the study of the language, has|| ceased.

Four young men, three of them from near Troy, (Ohio) and one from Wabash, were brought under deep concern for their souls. One of them I baptized on the 7th inst. and three others I baptized on the 15th. At this time, there are three other young men deeply sorrowful for sin, and of three girls we have similar hopes, especially of two of them. Should I be ultimately disappointed in relation to those, you will not reproach me for hoping for the better. Among our Indian neighbours is one woman, and she says, two others,

1

of whom we indulge hopes relative to effectively, ever has supported itself, or godly sorrow for sin.

It is a solemn, weeping, joyful time with us; the best, I think, by ten times, that I ever before experienced in the desert. We try to preach, and talk, and pray, but all this amounts to but little. The Lord has done, and is doing the work; to Him be all the praise.

Besides a sermon in English, I am in the habit on Lord's days, of delivering one, sometimes two addresses to the Indians in their own language. Usually I speak through an interpreter, though sometimes I read a discourse written in the Putawatomie language. Last Sabbath we sung twice, in one of our congregation tunes, a hymn in the Putawatomie tongue.

:

ever will. The proportion of those who are to be supported and taught, will even be too great for that of those who can support and teach. When the savage becomes civilized, then our establishments will assume a different shape.

You express some concern for the support of the mission. I am concerned too, and would be more concerned, were there not such men as brother E. to help us ; were it not that the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. When the Pu tawatomies shall find no friends in the eastern or western States, but Isaac M'Coy || and his better associates, then they must beg for bread, the bread of life too, and die with hunger! Our worthy patrons, the Board of Missions, have not been able to afford us scarcely any relief for more than a year. This circumstance has thrown upon us an almost insupportable burden. I cannot repress my tears, when I tell you this. You have no idea how we have toiled, and actually suffered for food-how we have tugged and contrived; and blessed, O blessed be my God, the Mission was never in better condition in relation to supplies, than at this time; never so good. Our share of the appropriation of Congress, is yet rather small. Last winter we got it raised from 200 to $600 per an. I hope they will shortly allow us more. Our timely efforts for aid at the treaty of Chicago, has become the most fruitful source of relief. We are determined to follow up our rigidly frugal and economical course, and when our wants can no longer be borne, we will raise our cry for

You may rest assured, my brother, that the surrounding Indians are becoming more and more satisfied and pleased with our efforts for their relief. Our number of scholars is 66. You advise us to raise corn, &c. and so aid in the support of the mission and to strengthen these remarks, you refer to the practice of other establishments. This is good advice, though I am happy to say, it is a little too late. I am not certain, that there is now, or ever was, a mission among the Indians, which manufactured more than we do. There has been manufactured on our loom, since last February, almost 300 yards of cloth. Last year we raised 900 bushels of corn. This year, besides 5 acres of oats, we raised about 1500 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of potatoes, 120 bushels of turnips, &c. Which of the mission stations, loca- || ted 200 miles in the wilderness, did more || help, so that it shall be heard in New-Enthan this, the second year after they struck the first stroke? Consider, too, that we have not half a competent number of missionaries. We are wearing out very fast, and sometimes fear we shall hardly last until we can be reinforced. If you say this savours of boasting, I reply, Brother E. has compelled me.-We have not been able to build a mill, but hope to have one running in April next.

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gland; and I am confident that there are
in those regions many who will not not
eat, while we are hungry, nor wear ap-
parel, when we are naked.

Your affectionate brother,
ISAAC M'COY.

LETTER FROM REV. ISAAC M'COY, TO ONE
OF THE EDITORS, DATED

Dear Brother,

Carey, Dec. 30, 1824. Your hopes that we shall ultimately be able to support ourselves chiefly by our WHEN I last wrote you, my health was own industry, can never be realized. No declining, and soon afterwards, I was, to station among savage Indians, operating | human appearance,brought near the grave.

My protracted indisposition, shortly after || place, prepared for one among the Miaa long absence from home, caused bus-mies, and another among the Ottawas, and iness to so multiply on my hands, that I for such had obtained the patronage of have not even until this time been able to government, in a way that would secure get through, so as to keep along with it. to each of those places, a certain annual Brother Lykins and Mrs. M'Coy had pecuniary relief of considerable amount. also severe attacks of fever last summer Our acquaintance with the Miamies was and fall. An infant daughter of ours died. more extensive than with any others, and Some others in our family were also very we had actually afforded them more aid sick. and encouragement in the education of their children, and the improvement of their lands, then we had others. But for want of missionary aid we were forced to abandon one of those tribes, and for reasons not necessary to detail here, we let go the Miamies, but have ever since endeavoured to maintain a hold on the business begun among the Ottawas.

These things have greatly interrupted the labours most pleasing to us; the labour of imparting, directly, instruction to the natives. Nevertheless, the Lord, to show that the work, the power, and the glory, are his, has not permitted the affairs of the Mission to retrograde, but on the contrary has multiplied his blessings upon it.

Taught by many occurrences, whose voice could not be misunderstood, how little we could do in the work in which we had been privileged to engage, our private beggings for mercy, and select social prayer meetings, were esteemed blessed privleges indeed. While at the same time we endeavoured to improve || every opportunity of imparting to the poor Indians, such instructions as their cases seemed to require.

It is with gratitude to God, that I assure you, my dear brother, that for six months past our prospects have been brightening. The surrounding Indians have listened with more confidence than formerly, to our advice on all subjects. Topnibee, Koungec, and Koessun, chiefs, with their parties, and many others, have declared their determination to make houses and fences, the ensuing spring. Some of them will, in these things, no doubt, disappoint || our hopes, chiefly in consequence of their great scarcity of food, which will oblige them to spend most of the time in seeking subsistence, and on account of their limited means. Yet still to us, who by daily observation have become so familiar with the wildness of these people, even their consenting to these things is considered auspicious.

I believe you have understood that while the mission was located at Fort Wayne, in expectation that we would soon be amply reinforced with missionaries,we had in addition to the station at this

These latter we found to be the most savage and suspicious of any of the natives with whom we have formed acquaintance. In consequence of these obstacles, of the want of missionaries, and of the means of support, we have hitherto been able to do very little for them. A cloud of dark, discouraging difficulties has hovered over the concern. But being favoured with an agency under our government in supplying those Indians, with a blacksmith, agriculturists, cattle, and farming utensils, we persevered in our limited, and unpromising efforts.

On a tour I made among them, and another by Brother Polke, we found a considerable portion of them actually opposed to all our overtures; and on neither of these towns alluded to, could we prevail on them to meet in council' and give us a hearing. Their jealousies and opposition having originated in occurrences unconnected with missionary concerns, were the more formidable.

Last summer, a part of them began to come to their senses, and sent us a favourable message. Not being able to visit them at the time appointed, a man was sent hither to enquire the cause of delay.

On the 24th ult. I set out for the place, 130 miles, N. E. of this. To our great satisfaction, I found the chiefs (in all nine) and other inhabitants of three villages, not only willing, but solicitous, that we should form, permanently, a mission establishment among them.

For the inhabitants of one village, a direct application was made for assistance in the erection of eleven log houses, and the making of considerable fence for oxen and other cattle, for sheep and hogs, for ploughs, hoes, chains, and other farming utensels; they entreated that a blacksmith || might be located near to them; that a school should be opened for the instruction || of their children; and that their women might be taught domestic economy, and the arts of spinning, knitting, &c. and what was more interesting than all other requests, they solicited instruction in matters of religion. This last, as well as preceding requests, were accompanied by argument, and reference to their own condition. "I am an Indian," said the chief Noon-day; "nevertheless, I think of God and religious things, and had we a preacher among us, perhaps I could become good. I often reprove the vices of my children, grand children, and others; but they do not give attention to what Possibly they would obey a

I say: preacher."

flax, and woollen cloths. Two of the boys are apprentices to the blacksmith's business, and one to that of the shoemaker Our farm at present incloses 81 acres, 26 acres of which is pasture. The product of the other, the past season, was, 150 bushels of oats, 1,600 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of potatoes, 120 bushels of turnips, 1000 cabbages, also peas, beans, &c.

[The remainder of this letter, giving a particular account of the revival at the Station, must be deferred until our next, for want of room.]

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY
OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER FROM REV. J. M. PECK, TO THE
SECRETARY OF THE BAPTIST MISS. SOC.

OF MASS.-DATED

Cherry Grove, (Illinois) Dec. 27, 1824. Rev. and dear Brother, PERHAPS I shall be censured, that I have made no more frequent and particHe pointed out the bounds of a tract ular communications to the Society, the of land, say six or seven hundred acres, present year; but almost constant absence on which he wished us to locate the mis- from home, and unusually pressing ension establishment. "This," said he, "Igagements of various descriptions must give to you, and if you will do for us as you have said, and do not deceive us, I and my children after me, will esteem you our friend and brother, and your kindness will never be forgotten by our people." Two children sent from those regions without our request, are now in our family and school.

be my apology. Four months of my time has been in the service of the American Bible Society, and the remainder occupied in the multifarious concerns of Sunday School, missionary and other matters.

The Bible cause is advancing much beyond my most sanguine expectations. Most of the Societies are now employed in distributing the Bibles received from the parent Society. The auxiliary in the county where I live, has more than 100 members, and every week is adding to the number. The following sketch will exhibit the progress made in Sunday Schools the past season, as nearly correct as partial reports from some Schools, and verbal intelligence from others, enable me to do.

There are now 67 native scholars belonging to our school at this place, 45 males, and 22 females. 19 have advan- In Illinois, Sunday School labours comced to the study of arithmetic, ten others menced about 1820, and during each year to reading and writing, 16 are spelling, since, one or more schools have been open and 22 are yet in monosyllables and al-in some part of the State. These were phabet. Two of the girls are weavers, without any regular system,and depended and there have been wove on our loom upon the activity of a few individuals. I through the past year, 317 yards of cotton, do not know of more than one instance