sion to a church, renders it proper || partakers in his sin, and assume to ourselves the responsibility of dispensing with a positive enactment of our Supreme Lawgiver. If we do this in one case, we may do it in another. If we dispense with obedience to one commandment, we may upon the same principle dispense with obedience to the whole code, and thus place ourselves in the attitude of lawgivers rather than of subjects."

to withdraw occasional communion." He allows that my argument is sufficient to silence our Podobaptist brethren; that it is a fair application of the argumentum ad hominem. That is, he allows that I have shown our practice on this subject to be perfectly in accordance with the principles adopted in the standard works of our Predobaptist brethren. He allows, then, what I have asserted in the The justness of this principle in Review, that we stand in this re- general, will not, we presume, be spect precisely upon the ground of questioned. It is always admitted all other Protestant churches. If in cases of discipline for immoralithis be the case, it was what I ty or heresy. We presume even wished to show, and I certainly your Constant Reader will allow it am not obliged to show any farther. to be true even on the "principles It does not devolve upon me any of sound common sense. And if more than upon any one else, to it be asked how it shall be applied defend a practice or a principle to the case in question, we answer, common to all. Nor does it be- what we mean by close communcome others who admit the prin-ion, is, to testify our disapprobaciple, and in general practise upon it, to blame us for following their example.

But though not actually obliged to do so from the state of the question, I did really attempt to go farther, and to show that this so general practice of churches of different denominations, was necessary from the fact of diversity of opinion, and justified on the ground of conscience. If your correspondent will read again, pp. 406, 407, he will see the reasoning by which we defended the practice, and which seems some how or other to have escaped him. Allow me to quote a passage from p. 407, which embraces the leading idea of the argument. "Where Christ has left a positive rule, we have no right to infringe it. We must take it just as it is, and leave the consequences with him. All the means in our power for enforcing obedience to the commands of Christ, are the refusal of admission into a church, or the exclusion from it, of him who continues in a course of disobedience. If we do not take these means, we become JAN. 1825.

tion of an institution which we conceive to have no warrant in the word of God, and which we believe to have produced incalculable evil in the church of Christ, and also to maintain, in so far as it is within our power, obedience to what we consider a command of Christ. I beg that your correspondent will show me, if either the principle be incorrect, or our application of it unjustifiable.

But it is asked, why may we not admit of occasional communion? This question I must confess sounds rather oddly. It is like saying, Granting you are right, I pray you go a little wrong; or like admitting the principle to be correct, and then asking us to deviate from it in practice. If we have any conscientious difficulty in the case, it is the same in one instance as in a hundred. If we have none, we might as well abolish the practice altogether. And in a word, the distinction so frequently urged between occasional and constant open communion, seems to us altogether vain. What real communion could I have with a

3

church, which, to gratify me, would relinquish what they really considered a principle of obedience to Christ? And what fellowship could they have with me, who partook with them on such terms? We should reciprocally respect each other more, and love each other better, and enjoy more real communion in declining, than in partaking, of the Lord's supper on such terms. The figurative question with which your correspondent closes his second remark, I believe I understand. If I do, it literally means, why cannot churches of different belief commune together? As this is the very question which I have attempted to answer, I conceive no farther attention to it will be necessary.

3. The third remark of your correspondent is, a declaration that among Podobaptist churches in New England, the declining to offer up children in baptism is not considered a sufficient cause for church discipline. To this I would remark, that when I wrote, I was ignorant of the fact. I have since however been informed, that the cases are becoming numerous of members of congregational churches. refusing to have their children baptized. But even granting this to be true, I presume the omission would be considered censurable, and an appeal would be made to such parents from the articles which they had professed to believe, and had promised to obey. It would in all ecclesiastical judicatures be allowed, that the articles and standards were correct. And hence what is appealed to for one purpose, may be also appealed to for another.

claim, or if I have supposed them more interested in the support of infant baptism than they really are, I rejoice to be corrected. The more widely their principles and practice on this subject differ, the better shall I be pleased; and when the practice of infant baptism shall have grown into utter desuetude, the great barrier will have been removed, which stands in the way of open communion.

A constant reader closes his letter by requesting, that I will show that baptism is a necessary prerequisite to communion. With regard to this request, I answer, If I have succeeded in showing, that any as great difference of opinion as that respecting the mode and subjects of baptism, must in the present imperfect state lead to close communion, his request is already complied with. It was partly the object of the Review to show, that this was one among many differences of sentiment, which must, until we all know our Lord's will better, divide conscientious Christians into different denominations, and confine them to separate communions.

As

I fear I have occupied your pages already too long; I will therefore hasten to conclude. For aught I can see, separate communion is one of the evils attending necessarily upon the present imperfect state of the church. the church advances in holiness, it will, I presume, be done away; but in what manner I cannot yet foresee. In the mean time, let us each one do all in our power to alleviate the unpleasant circumstances attending it; let us unite in every thing where we can do it conI remark again, where the arti- scientiously; and where we cannot, cles and practice of men disagree, let us separate with Christian charit is always considered most charity, and each one devoutly pray that itable to judge of them by the the time may come when we shall former. This I have done. If in all see eye to eye. If we do this, so doing, I have given those who we shall not certainly be very far differ from us praise for consist- asunder. I am, gentlemen, ency to which they resign the

Yours truly, THE REVIEWER.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

BURMAN MISSION.

usefulness. To our minds it appears very probable, that the events which have recently transpired in Burmah will be for the furtherance of the gospel in that benighted empire.

OUR readers will be gratified to || learn, that after waiting with much anxiety, we have at length received letters from the Missionaries who sailed from this port a year ago last June. Although they are of a date anterior to the attack of the British on Rangoon, yet they will be found interesting, as they exhibit the earnestness and determined resolution, with which, they were seeking to prepare themselves for mission-ed of the character and prospects ary service.

But perhaps we have detained our readers too long from the communications of our friends, and some other sources of information, from which some idea may be form

of the Mission at the last date.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. JONAL
THAN WADE, TO REV. F. WAYLAND, JR.
DATED

The letter from Dr. Judson at Ava, does not lead us to expect that the Emperor would grant them any particular marks of favour, should the enemy appear before the metropolis of the empire. Unless the inhabitants should be filled with the same consternation which was manifested at Rangoon, and which was so favourable to the safety and which was on the fifth of the present

lives of our friends; the mildest act
would probably be, an order that all
Europeans and Americans should
be banished from the country.
It would no doubt be

presump

tion in us to predict what intelligence we shall next receive from this station. We may, however, derive consolation from a conviction that the Lord reigneth," and that however dark and afflictive the dispensations of his providence may seem, "righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne."

The cause in which our Missionaries in Burmah are engaged, the degree of success which has already attended their labours, the translation of the New Testament into that language, and the deliverance of the Missionaries at Rangoon from death, although they had executioners placed over them, induce the hope, that they will yet be spared for future and eminent

Rev. and very dear Sir,

Rangoon, Dec. 27, 1823.

I EMBRACE the first opportunity to inform you of our safe arrival in Rangoon,

month. Our whole voyage from Boston to this place was peculiarly prosperous.

I need not attempt to describe the joy that Mr. and Mrs. Judson felt at meeting each other again in health, in this heathen

land; nor our own feelings upon seeing this place, which we had so often prayed might be the scene of our future labours and sufferings in behalf of the heathen, whose deplorable condition had often drawn from our eyes the tear of Christian sympathy.

Mr. Judson, as you have already been informed, had determined to remove from this place to Ava, and only waited the arrival of Mrs. Judson for this purpose. Accordingly they left us on the 12th, just one week after our arrival. May the Lord make their way prosperous, and give them favour in the sight of the king.

Mr. Hough is employed in printing the New Testament, which was translated by Mr. Judson; but he labours under much inconvenience, and makes but slow pro- › gress for want of proper types.

Perhaps you have been already informed || ters, on whom the injunction is laid, to go that one of the native Christians, Moung- || into all the world and preach the gospel Shwa-ba, is learning the art of printing. to every creature?

Since we arranged our family concerns

This may be a most beneficial circumstance to the Mission at some future pe-a little, we have been employed in the

riod, especially if Mr. Hough should be removed from his labours by death, without leaving any other foreign printer to succeed him. Moung-Shwa-ba already renders the mission essential service by assisting Mr. Hough in this department. A number of the Christians are now at Ava and in other places, too distant to attend worship every sabbath at the Mission house, so that sometimes we have only two or three of them with us at such seaBut although scattered, perhaps they will be instruments of more good to their fellows by extending the light of the gospel over a wider range, than if they all resided at this place. This will depend in some measure upon their boldness and faithfulness in the cause which they have espoused.

sons.

I cannot say that at present there are any inquirers of whom we have special hopes. But we trust that the God of Missions will not leave his labourers here without some fruit, and thus put us to confusion in the sight of the heathen, and blast the expectations of the thousands in America who are constantly praying in the assurance of faith, that this little one may become a thousand, and the light of the glorious gospel overspread this whole empire.

To a heart which has ever felt the love of God, and a Christian benevolence for the souls of the heathen who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, it is most painful to see the multitudes who are scattered abroad upon the face of this whole empire, and reflect that there are but three Missionaries at present able to impart to them the words of eternal life. I feel a great anxiety to obtain a knowledge of the language, that I may be able to join my brethren here in the great work of pointing Burmans to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. But why should there be so few Missionaries of the cross in this and other places, while at home there so many professed minis

study of the Burman; but should make
much greater progress if we had a diction-
ary that contained all the words. Mr.
Judson's dictionary affords much assist-
ance, but it contains only the words be-
ginning with the letters of about two thirds
of the alphabet. Some of the words not
contained in it occur in almost every sen-
tence, sometimes several in one. Hence
it is with the utmost difficulty, that the
meaning of the sentence can be made out.
A Burman teacher can render but little as-
sistance in searching out the meaning of
words, especially at first, for he can speak
no English; and if he gives a definition
by employing a synonymous word, we
can understand the definition no better
than the word itself. Mr. and Mrs. Hough
are our best dictionary. But they cannot
consistently devote much time to us by
way of instruction. We hope by a steady
perseverance, however, to be able in a
little while to say something to the Bur-
mans about Christ and their own souls.

Pray for us, my dear brother, that we may live to the glory of God, and die as those who have worn themselves out in the toils, sacrifices, and trials of a missionary life.

JAN. 3d. A day or two past, a Burman came to see us at the Mission house, who we supposed like others, was a worshipper of the gods of the nation: but of his own accord he introduced the subject of religion, said he did not worship at the Pagodas, that he believed in the eternal God, also that he knew of many in the jungles who believed the same, but are deterred by fear of persecution from coming to our worship. Let our Christian friends, therefore, be more importunate still at the throne of grace, that peradventure God may give us favour in the sight of the king.

Do frequently give us the pleasure of reading letters from you.

Yours with much affection,

J. WADE,

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MRS. WADE || pected here within a few days, and will

You have no doubt heard of our safe arrival in Calcutta. We embraced the first opportunity of a passage to Rangoon,|| and arrived at our destined home within seven weeks from our arrival in Bengal, all in good health. I think no Missionaries have ever had so speedy and pleasant a passage to Rangoon before. Your prayer meetings on the 22d have often been a cordial to our drooping spirits; and we often think peculiar blessings descend on us through the prayers of our dear American friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Judson left us for Ava in just a week from our arrival, and you will readily imagine that it was very painful parting with those with whom we hoped to spend our days. During our voyages at sea, I have been very happy indeed with Mrs. Judson. She has been a sister to me; and though our acquaintance with Mr. Judson has been short, we feel equal- || ly attached to him. But we all highly approve their removal to Ava, and hope much from their influence at court. We are very happy with Mr and Mrs. Hough,|| live in separate families, and have just made arrangements so as to study to advantage. We have one of the Christians for a teacher, and hope we begin to get on pretty well in the language. Besides my domestic cares, (which are much increased in a country like this) I am reading the New Testament, translating Mrs. Judson's Catechism, and make it an object to get something new. to speak every day. We found the little church much scattered, by means of the oppressive taxes of late, which many being unable to pay, flee into the woods. Mr. Judson and Dr. Price have several of the converts at Ava, and we have three with us, besides a few others who live near enough to come here to worship.

As to political intelligence, we are constantly hearing of preparations for war with the Bengal government, and the reports have just been confirmed by a letter from Mr. Judson, which says he is just passing a body of troops which are ex

||

probably be stationed not far distant. We suspected all this when in Bengal, and were most affectionately invited to stay with our Serampore friends until the commotion ceased. It was thought by many in Bengal, to be very improper for us to come here in the present state of things; but we felt unwilling to spend our time where we could not study Burman to advantage, and Mrs. Judson being resolved on coming, we felt no hesitation. Should there be war, the king well understands the difference between the English and Americans, so that we hope our brethren at Ava will be safe. But we have very little hope of being able to convince the Burmans here, that we are at all different from the English. In war, should we escape the fate of Englishmen, we should be a constant prey to robbers and murderers. But, my dear friend, I know who is our keeper, and if we are indeed the children of God, we have nothing to fear. I am sure I feel willing to suffer any thing from changes, if these may open a more effectual door for the introduction of the gospel into this pagan empire.

I think, through the grace of God I can say, "none of these things move me." A firm confidence that this is the path of duty marked by him, in whose hand is the hearts of kings, suppresses every rising fear, and we sit down in our study, day after day, with a sweet confidence in the wise directions of our heavenly Father, and forget every thing but the acquisition of this difficult language. We have more temporal comforts than we expected, and begin to think of our dear brother Boardman's leaving America with much anxiety. We hope that our excellent patrons will not send him alone. I am sure they would not, if they could look across the great waters, and behold this wretched, wretched land.

Our retired situation is peculiarly favourable to the acquisition of language, and religious enjoyment. We feel perfectly contented with no society but Mr. and Mrs. Hough, and happy in retiring from the gay temptations of the world. I can truly say, the height of my ambition is to be able to speak Burman with ease,