leges of believers under the Gospel. Communion in the body and blood of Christ. Paul's benevolence towards his nation. Divine glory displayed in building up Zion. Abraham offering up Isane. God's feelings toward the wicked. Great question of circumcision. Importance of early religion. Necessity of regeneration. Our griefs and sorrows borne by Christ. Importance of being kept in the truth. Man a sojourner.

The following paragraph is extracted from the Preface.

With the character of the late Dr. Worcester, the Christian community are already in some measure acquainted. His abundant labors, and his eminent services, in the cause of missions, have greatly endeared his name to those who feel an interest in the great work of sending the Gospel to the heathen, and will long be gratefully remembered. Though he was less extensively known, as a Preacher of the Gospel, than he was as Corresponding Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; yet many have listened, with lively interest, to the word of life, when published by him from his own pulpit, and in various other places where he was providentially called; and there are already before the public a number of his occasional discourses, which have been favorably received. An expectation there. fore, has probably been cherished, that a volume of his sermons would be a valuable acquisition to the Church of Christ. This expectation, it is believed, the volume now offered to the public, will not disappoint.

INDIAN YOUNG MEN.

IN our number for January, p. 29, we gave some account of the visit of Indian young at Charleston and Augusta, on their men, way to their own country, after having received an education at the Foreign Mission School. It may be well to mention, that clergymen of different religious denominations, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Baptists, were equally explicit and decided in bearing testimony to the value of the missionary cause, as illustrated by the appearance and attainments of these youths.

On one occasion, an aged and venerable clergyman dined in company with Gibbs and Boudinot, and was greatly animated with the interview. He said it was a new era in his life, and that he had now, for the first time, heard the praises of God spoken from the mouth of an Indian.' The heart of this good man has been for some time much intent upon promoting the welfare of the Indians; aud, for that purpose, be took a journey the past summer into the Creek nation, with the design of exciting a favorable disposition in that tribe towards missions.

TO THE FRIENDS OF MISSIONS.

It must be very evident to all, who have just views of the missionary work, of the number of persons employed under the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and of the urgent call for more laborers in many different fields, that the resources of that Board need to be greatly increased. The late reinforcement of the mission at the Sandwich Islands will probably add to the expenses of the present year at least ten thousand dollars. A considerable addition has been made to the Palestine mission; agents are to be sent, with the leave of Providence, into South America; and urgent claims for additional aid are preferred by the missionaries at Bombay and Ceylon. The Foreign Mission School needs to be enlarged, so as to accommodate more youths from different heathen nations; and the Indians of our wilderness are importunately asking for schools in many places, where they might be established with good prospects of success.

Which of these objects shall be defeated for want of means? Which band of missionaries shall be discouraged and embarrassed, for want of active and spirited co-operation, on the part of their brethren at home? Look at the South Sea Islands, at Sierra Leone, at South Africa:- Was it desirable that the missions in these places should be sustained, and the means afforded, which have led to so glorious a display of divine power and mercy as our eyes now behold. Will it not appear as desirable, twenty years hence, that the Bible should be given to the millions of western India? or that the inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands should be rescued from their igno. rance and superstition? or that the Cherokees and Choctaws should now, at this crisis of their history, receive all the aid which we can give them, in their attempts to rise above the condition of their fathers, and to partake with us of the blessings conferred upon us by the Gospel? Will any man regret that he has made sacrifices for such objects as these? Sac. rifices must indeed be made; but is not the cause worthy of them? Let every professed follower of Christ seriously consider the subject. Let him estimate, if he can, the value of the Gospel: and let him resolve, however others may neglect their duty, that if any mission is straitened in its resources, or embarrassed in its operations, the fault shall not be chargeable to him.

PALESTINE MISSION.

EXTRACTS FROM MR. FISK'S COMMUNI

CATIONS.

In our last number, we made some extracts from the closing part of a long communication from Mr. Fisk, which had recently come to hand. Those extracts related, principally, to the case of two Greek youths, who had been sent to this country for their education, with the advice, and under the auspices, of the American missionaries. The preceding parts of the document contain an abridged historical account of Malta, with such notices concern. ing the island, and its inhabitants, as seemed interesting to the writer.

Of the history of Malta it is not necessary to say more, in this place, than that it was given to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem by the Emperor Charles V, in 1530; and that the order held possession of it till 1798, when it was forcibly taken from them by Bonaparte. The British soon after blockaded the island, and besieged the strong places, which surrendered in 1800. Malta has ever

since remained in possession of the British, to whom it was confirmed by the treaty of 1814. It is of vast consequence to the cause of truth, that presses are now established here, and schools commenced. A new era has arrived. This central situation, so near Europe, Africa, and Asia, and holding so easy a communication with three quarters of the world, is now likely to be the focus of religious intelligence, and the point whence evangelical laborers shall proceed into all the surrounding regions.

Description of Valetta.

At present, the principal city on the island is Valetta. It is built entirely of stone, and is consequently exempt from one of the greatest evils to be feared in the cities of the Levant;-viz. fire. It would be almost impossible to burn a house here, if a person should undertake it; and it would be quite impossible that a fire should VOL. XIX.

The

spread in any part of the town. streets are in general well paved; and are kept tolerably clean by the labors of convicts, who clear and sweep them regularly, under the direction of soldiers. The houses are, almost without exception, well built and excellent. The churches are numerous; and the larger ones, particularly, are furnished with two or three bells each, and some of them with still more. These are rung almost perpetually. The streets cross regularly at right angles; and, at the respective corners, are images of the different saints; as St. Augustine, St.

One

Francisco, St. George, the Virgin Mary, &c. &c. Under many of these images there is an inscription, in the name of the bishop of the island, promising 40 days indulgence to every one, who shall repeat before the image a Pater Noster, an Ave Maria, &c. I have inquired of two priests, and several others, about the import of this promise; but can get no satisfactory answer. says, it means 40 days earlier release from purgatory. Another says, it means a release from forty days of penance imposed by one's confessor. A third says, it does not mean precisely 40 days, but a much less period, the duration of which is not precisely known; for instance, if a confessor orders 40 days fasting as a penance for some sin, this indulgence may perhaps release from one day of it. Thus we see, in passing through the streets, that the city is given to idolatry. The population of Valetta is about 20 or 25,000. West of the town is a small bay, which forms the harbor called Marsa Musciet, in which vessels perform their quarantine. In the middle of it, is a small island, on which stands the Lazaretto. In the time of the knights, this was a prison for slaves. East of the town is the great harbor, and, beyond it, forts Ricasoli and St. Angelo, and the towns Sanglea, and Vittoriosa. At the north end of the town, between the two

harbors, is fort St. Elmo. The south end connects with the country.

Visit to Citta Vecchia.

Not long after my arrival in Malta I one day made an excursion into the coun18

years of his life, in Spain. He came to Malta about eight years ago; and, after considering in what way he could best promote the welfare of his countrymen, be determined on establishing a school at Zeitoon. The lasal contains about 4,000 inhabitants. He began a school with 30 or 40 boys. Mr. Migino, the Spanish consul, became acquainted with his plans, and gave 700 pounds sterling to build a house for the school; and, before his death, which happened not long after, he bequeathed 100 pounds more to the school. In January 1821 the school was opened, in the new building, on the Lancasterian system, with about 80 boys. This year a school has been opened in another apartment of the same building for girls. There are now about 100 boys and about 50 girls. Don Luigi receives no compensation for teaching; and the incidental expenses of the school are defrayed by donations and subscriptions, among his friends. He seems engaged in his work with a zeal truly laudable. He earnestly desires to see his countrymen more enlightened, and less superstitious. I made some inquiries of him one day concerning the education of the people in the country. His reply was; "Not one in 100 knows how to read; among the women, none at all.” Were the island

blessed with a few more such men, the prospects of the rising generation would brighten.

Literary Institutions.

There is a school, or college of some sort, at Citta Vecchia; but I know little about it. The principal literary institutions of the Maltese are the Library of the Knights, and the College of the Jesuits. Both these are now in the hands of the government. The library is open at certain hours, every day except feast days; and all persons have free access to the books, but no book can be taken from the room. A large part of the volumes are in Latin; many in Italian; some in French and other languages. There are very few modern publications among them. The whole number of volumes I believe, is 50 or 60,000. It was founded by a knight in 1760, who gave 9,700 volumes. Afterwards, whenever a knight died, his books were added to the public library. Formerly the Jesuits had a large establishment here. What was then their college, is - now the university of Malta. Its funds have fallen under the management of the English government, but are still devoted to the support of the institution. There are 15 or 20 professors, and perhaps 200 students. Dr. Naudi is professor of chemistry in this institution. I apprehend the stipend of the different professors is not very great.

There is a Lancasterian school in Valetta. Mr. Joseph Naudi, a brother of Dr. Naudi, is the master. He learned the system in London, and engaged in his present useful work in 1819. The government gave rooms for the purpose in one of the public buildings. The school now consists of

200 boys and 150 girls. The whole number that have been admitted from the first, is 606 boys and 330 girls. There are now six Jews in the school. The course of instruction, I believe, is the same as that pursued in the Lancasterian schools in England. The expenses, amounting to about $800 a year, are defrayed by a Society formed in Malta for the purpose, and consisting of English residents and Maltese. Sir Manly Power, the Lieut. Governor, is patron of the school. In Valetta, a great part of the inhabitants speak Italian, and the children of respectable families are taught to read and write it. In many families, French is also taught. Men of business sometimes speak English. A newspaper is printed twice a week in English and Italian, by the government. Generally speaking, the inhabitants of the island have neither means nor inclination, for cultivating literature and the sciences. Should they continue permanently under the English government, a most happy change in this respect may be anticipated.

Religious state of the People.

Pro

In regard to religion, I apprehend the Maltese must be considered among the most dutiful and devoted sons of the church of Rome. In the bishop's catechism, in reply to the question, "What do you believe?" the child answers, "I believe all that which our Holy Mother Catholic Roman Church believes and teaches." bably few of the Maltese could express their creed more correctly, or assign any better reason for it. My Arabic master, who is a priest, bas told me, "We ought to believe blindly, whatever the church says." The Pope sometime since sent permission to relinquish a considerable number of the festivals, so far as to labor during the day, after attending mass in the morning. But the Maltese (whether excited to it by their priests or not I cannot say) refused to comply with the new plan, and strictly observe all their festivals as before. ecclesiastics are very numerous. streets seem always full of them. The whole number in Malta, I have not been able to ascertain. Some say 500; others 1,000; and others say not less than 3,000. Only a small number of these are preach

ers.

The

The

The others find employment in saying mass, hearing the confessions of the people, visiting the houses of the people at certain seasons to bless them, ad