SPECIAL PRAYER FOR INDIA. A FEW Christian officers and other gentlemen visiting the station at Konoor, in the Nilgherry Hills, have recently issued an appeal on behalf of India for larger means and agencies to secure its conversion to Christ. They desire that in the usual week of prayer-the first week in 1867-one day should be devoted by the entire Church of Christ to pleading with God for India. The subjects for prayer suggested by them are the following: 1. For the Government of India, with its rulers, British and native. 2. For the foreign and military residents in India, that they may become living witnesses for Christ. 3. For Indian Missionaries, foreign or native, their families, and their work. 4. For native Pastors, Evangelists, Catechists, and their work. 5. For native Christians in India. 6. For educational institutions in India. 7. For the speedy overturning of heathenism, Mohammedanism, and their interest. He heard the quotaother superstitions. tion, "None other name," and 8. For the heathen of all classes passed on. The familiar language in India. 9. For a blessing to follow the painful dispensations with which India has been afflicted. 10. For the Missionary organizations striving to promote the evangelization of India. "NONE OTHER NAME." vain. was like a special message from God to him. Nothing could have been more opportune. He had lately become convinced of sin, and was earnestly seeking peace with God. His efforts, however, were New resolutions, changed habits, religious exercises, were all tried; but each proved ineffectual. But the verse of which the beggar reminded him, like a sudden flash of light, showed him in a moment the error into which he had fallen. He had been endeavouring to obtain salvation by his own works. His conduct was based on selfrighteousness. "I see it; I see it all now!" cried he, joyfully. “I have been seeking deliverance by my own works. I see my mistake. It is Jesus alone who can save me. I will look to him; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'" 6 NOT long ago a little crowd might be seen on the bridge of the canal, City Road, London, attracted by a not very uncommon sight. They were looking at, and listening to a blind old man. Poor fellow there he sat—where you may see him every day—his useless eyeballs moving restlessly to and fro, and his fingers touching an embossed book. He was seeking a livelihood by reading portions of the Bible. Day after day is his voice heard repeating chapters of God's word. On the occasion to which we refer, There are many whose souls are by some accident he lost his place. deprived of peace by the mistake While trying to find it, he kept which this gentleman made. When reiterating the last clause, " None they ask, "What must I do to be other name; none other name; saved?" they lay emphasis, in none other name." Some of the their own minds, on the word "do," spectators watched him with pity; thinking there is a certain "doing" others waited, curious to observe to be accomplished ere they are how he would overcome his diffi- made right in Jehovah's sight. But culty; boys laughed at the occur- the New Testament teaches, clearly rence as a joke. Just at this time, enough, the very opposite of this. however, a gentleman on his way It is by grace only that we are saved, home from business, observing the Wise was the old Scotchman's supgroup of people, joined them, glanc-plication, "Lord, give me grace to ing inquisitively at the object of feel my need of grace; give me grace to ask for grace; give me effort was futile. The longer he grace to receive grace; and when, wandered, the more bewildered he O Lord, grace is given, give me grew. Abandoning all hope, he grace to use it." Yes; forgiveness flung himself to the ground in utter is a free gift. If a little child dis- misery. As he fell, however, his obeys its parents, feels miserable hand providentially touched somebecause of a condemning conscience, thing. What was it? No other and comes at length, with tearful than a thread which had been eye and tremulous voice, asking to placed as a clue to the pilgrim. He be forgiven, that parent does not kept hold of it, followed its guiddemand, as a condition of recon-ance, and regained the spot from ciliation, toys or pocket-money whence he had set out. In like from the repentant offender; nei- manner, when we mistrust ourther does our Father expect any selves, ceasing to make our own offering on the part of his rebellious escape out of the dark regions of children as the price of granting spiritual gloom, we discover the their requests. The great offering precious clue which brings us to the has been made; once in the end of light of God's reconciling countethe world hath Jesus appeared, to nance.-Tract Magazine. put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. This having been done, the glorious invitation is made known, "Buy and eat; buy wine and milk without money and without price." "Take the water of life freely." Not until we have " no confidence in the flesh," and complete confidence in the sacrifice of the Saviour, do we attain that grace which 66 passeth all understanding." DESTRUCTION OF THE LAST THE last heathen temple in Samoa has recently been destroyed in my district. It was a large tree, situated in the village of Salelavalu, only a mile or two from the spot On one occasion, a young artist where John Williams first landed in Rome went into the catacombs in Samoa. Under the shade of alone, to copy some of the designs this tree the principal deity of the on the tablets of the ancient sepul- city was supposed to reside. Here chres. After winding his way about the people were formerly accusfor some time, his lamp went out. tomed to assemble to keep their Terrible disaster! A frenzy of hor- feasts sacred to their village god. ror seized him, for there was not a One of the highest chiefs of the ray of light. Trying to find his village, called Sua, who has died way out, he stumbled to and fro since we have been here, remained amongst dead men's bones, half a heathen to within about three choked with the dust of bygone months of his death, and by him generations. All in vain. Every the sacred character of this tree was preserved. Although his fel- the consent of the principal chief of low-countrymen had years before the village. Now, however, all forsaken their imaginary gods, so that was necessary was the consent that for more than a quarter of a of the remaining rulers, who were century Samoa has been called a all professedly Christians. The Christian land, this man, with one teacher went to his appointment or two companions, indignantly resolved to carry out the suggestion refused to embrace Christianity, de- of his fellow-student. After being claring their unshaken faith in the in the village about a fortnight, he gods in whom their forefathers had went to the chiefs and proposed to trusted. But the infirmities of age them that he should be allowed to at length compelled this old heathen destroy the temple of Taima, and to acknowledge, what pride had so remove from their midst what hitherto prevented his doing, viz., had so long been a reproach to his belief in the God of the Bible, them. They consented, although and he died earnestly seeking the some of them did not do so without favour of Him whom he had so long manifesting considerable superstidespised. The influence of this tious fear. Having obtained their man upon the inhabitants of the consent, he set to work, assisted by village was very baneful. Through the boys of his school and the other him a great deal of heathen super-young men, members of the church, stition remained amongst the peo- in collecting firewood, of which ple, although, with one or two ex- they had made a huge pile around ceptions, they were all professedly the trunk of the tree. This done, Christians. While they worshipped they waited till the evening, and Jehovah in his temple, it was evi- then, as the villagers were lighting dent that many of them had not their evening fires, at the hour at ceased to reverence the temple of which, in their heathen state, they their old god. would have been seen carefully closing up all their houses, lest the glare of their fire should reach the temple of their god-fire being particularly offensive to him-the Soon after the death of Sua, I appointed a new teacher to the village, a young man from the Malua Institution, full of zeal and earnestness. Before leaving the teacher lit his torch, and with institution to go to his appointment, one of his fellow - students, a young man of Salelavalu, urged him to commence his labours in the village by an attempt to destroy the heathen temple. Several attempts had been made to do this in Sua's lifetime in vain, as it was impossible to do it without grateful joy went forth to kindle the fire which was to destroy the last heathen shrine in Samoa. As the flames arose, the whole village were attracted out of their houses to witness the work of desecration. Amongst them was a decrepit old man, a heathen, who was heard vehemently imprecating curses from give us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." And a cautious spirit-"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." his gods upon the teacher for this act of profanation. In the wrath of this old heathen we see how reluctantly Satan retreats from his strongholds; but by the light of that burning temple we read afresh the promise that all the ends of the earth shall fear God, and in its ashes we see a fresh type of the final destruction of Satan's last stronghold; and, in prospect of beautiful prayer? Jesus, our dear that glorious climax to all our labours, we take courage.-Rev. Jos. King. THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER. WHICH? Why, that one which your mother taught you. Did you ever think, short though it is, how much there is in it? Oh, it is beautiful! Like a diamond in the crown of a queen, it unites a thousand sparkling gems in one. It teaches all of us, every one of us, to look to God as our parent— "Our Father." It prompts us to raise our thoughts and desires above the earth-"Who art in heaven." It tells us we must reverence our Heavenly Father-"Hallowed be thy name." It breathes a missionary spirit- And a submissive, obedient spirit Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." And a dependent trusting spirit "Give us this day our daily bread." And last of all an adoring spirit --"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen." Now, is it not a wonderful and a Saviour, taught it; and who could better tell us how to pray to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God? THE JUVENILE REPORTER. THE REPORTER is glad to be able once more to come forward and bid all his friends, young and old, a Happy New Year. The past year has been a time of darkness and trouble to many-to others a year of suffering and death. Those of us who are spared to stand on the threshold of this New Year had better consecrate ourselves anew to God, and strive to live more to his service and his praise. There is a work for every one to do, for himself, and for others. The REPORTER, in a word, would remind his young friends of their duty to their own mission. The Collecting Cards must all be in by the end of February, and therefore the work should be thought of during the holidays. "Work while it is day-for the And a forgiving spirit-" For-night cometh." |