In

malignant, and will not sit with the wicked." the Revelations the Church of Ephesus is highly commended, because she tried such as said they were Apostles, and were not indeed, and therefore would not abide the company of them. Further, God commanded his people that they should not seek Bethel, neither enter into Gilgal where idolatry was used, by the mouth of his Prophet Amos. Also we must consider that our bodies be the temple of God, and whosoever (as St. Paul teacheth) doth profane the temple of God, him the Lord would destroy. May we then take the temple of Christ and make it the member of an harlot ? All strange religion and idolatry is counted whoredom with the Prophets, and more detestible in the sight of God than the adulterous abuse of the body.

Therefore the princes of the earth, in the Revelation of John, be said to go a-whoring when they are in love with false religion, and follow the same. How then by any means may a Christian man think it tolerable to be present at the Popish private mass (which is the very profanation of the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ,) and at other idolatrous worshippings and rites, which be not after the word of God, but rather to the derogation thereof, in setting man's traditions above God's precepts, since God by his word judgeth all strange religion, which is not according to his institution, for whoredom and adultery?

Some fondly think that the presence of the body is not material, so that the heart do not consent to their wicked doings. But such persons little consider what St. Paul writeth to the Corinthians,

commanding them to glorify God as well in body as in soul.

Moreover, we can do no greater injury to the true Church of Christ than to seem to have forsaken her, and disallow her by cleaving to her adversary; whereby it appeareth to others which be weak, that we allow the same, and so, contrary to the word, do give great offence to the Church of God, and do outwardly slander, as much as men may, the truth of Christ. But woe be unto him by whom any such offence cometh. Better it were for him to have a millstone tied about his neck, and to be cast into the bottom of the sea. Such be traitors to the truth, like unto Judas, who with a kiss betrayed Christ.

Our God is a jealous God, and cannot be content that we should be of any other than of that unspotted Church, whereof he is the head only, and wherein he hath planted us by baptism. This jealousy, which God hath towards us, will cry for vengeance in the day of vengeance against all such as now have so large consciences as to do that which is contrary to God's glory and the sincerity of his word, except they do in time repent, and cleave inseparably to the Gospel of Christ, how much soever at this present both men and women otherwise in their own corrupt judgment do flatter themselves. God willeth us to judge uprightly, and to allow and follow that which is holy and acceptable in his sight, and to abstain from all manner of evil; and therefore Christ commandeth us in the Gospel to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

(To be Continued.)

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

(West-Africa Mission, Sea District.)

KENT. This Station is at the extreme south of the colony. The Rev. F. Bultmann has been in charge of it since his return to the colony. It is most consolatory to find that the Lord, in his mercy, comforts his servant by cheering proofs that his labour is not in vain.

He thus writes in his Journal:

'August 30, 1840.-Since my return to Kent the Lord has been very gracious to me, not only in removing completely my old and obstinate disease, the dysentery, but, as if pitying me under my great bereavement, and willing to compensate in some measure for this heaviest of all losses, he has blessed me in my work, and cheered my heart by brighter prospects of usefulness. This day especially I have had more certain and unequivocal indications of genuine conversion and established piety among the Negroes than ever since my residence in Africa: I have had the most cogent evidence that the Africans, with their very limited knowledge, can be, and are, the subjects of the same convictions and experience as the more cultivated and enlightened minds of European Christians. It was on the occasion of my administering the Lord's Supper this day that I gave to those of the Communicants who were desirous to partake of that holy ordinance, a preparatory address, as usual, the preceding evening; taking this time for my guide the Lord's last celebration of the Passover and institution of this Sacrament, as described in Luke xxii.: and at the close I observed, that if any of those now absent

intended to come to the Lord's Table on the morrow, I should like to see them first. Accordingly there came, early this morning, some few who had been absent; but, along with them, several of those who had been present the preceding evening; and they, "with one consent, began to make excuse;" but excuses very different indeed from those in Luke xiv. They had looked into the abyss of their secret thoughts, and they had found that "the heart was deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;" and they judged themselves unworthy to join the rest. in receiving the tokens of Christ's dying love. I read in their looks and throbbing hearts, deep contrition, verging on despondency, which in general forms no very prominent part in the African's character; their minds being naturally very susceptible, but not deep and reflecting.

Having conversed with each one separately-and being confident, both from the conversation and their general character and conduct, that it was not a particular heinous sin which had caused this uneasiness-I told them that the Sacrament was for the penitent; but that, at the same time, I was not authorised by the word of God to take away any of the requisites I had named to them on the preceding evening; and that hungering and thirsting after righteousness were as essential as poverty in spirit. It was now nearly time to commence Service, so they went away; one of them saying, that he would not come to the Sacrament, his heart not being prepared; or, to use his own expression, he would not hang a bly before his eyes.' Some of them, however, came; and among the rest one whose feelings of unworthiness had

been keenest, so that he frequently shed tears when with me in the morning; and after the celebration of the Sacrament he was so overcome, that he raised, of his own accord, a hymn of thanksgiving,

'Glory, honour, praise and power,

Be unto the Lamb for ever!'

In which all instantly joined. This forwardness re minded me forcibly of Peter, to whom this man's character bears a striking resemblance. Like the Apostle, he always takes the lead among his brethren. The whole number of the Communicants present at the Sacrament was thirty-five.

September 18.-In concluding my report, I will merely add, that indeed the ignorance of the majority of the people, and more especially the Candidates, would sometimes dishearten me, but that I am happy to find that Religion takes root in the hearts of many before their understandings can give an answer for the hope that is in them.'-Church Missionary Record.

THE PATH OF FAITH.

THE path of faith is like a path leading up a steep mountain: the higher you get the steeper it goes. But observe, as the air becomes more bracing and invigorating the higher you get up the mountain, so the consolations and encouragements of faith invariably increase with its difficulties. A. T.