and heard the sound of "My rest is in heaven" coming through the still evening air from the chapel, where nightly some of the members congregate and love to linger. In such moments, a Missionary reaps a rich reward, his cares and toils are forgotten; he hears the voices of the children whom the Lord has given him, and forgets the anxiety and labour of his position. In such moments too, he prays, Only give me grace to lead these thy ransomed ones to thy kingdom, only give me strength that I may gather in those who still wander, and the glory shall be thine." During the last two months, I have devoted as much time as I could spare from the study of the language to the study and practice of medicine. Mr. Hall kindly placed the whole of his valuable stock of drugs at my disposal, and Mr. Innocent has, with untiring patience, assisted me in dispensing medicine to more than two hundred patients. Some very difficult cases have been placed under my care, and I am thankful to state that I have been successful in all save one, the exception being as follows: On the afternoon of Sunday, April 1st, a conveyance was sent to me, with a messenger, who entreated me to return with him to visit his sister, who he said was exceedingly ill. I understood that she was suffering from convulsions, and took the ordinary remedies, but on our arrival Mr Innocent and I found it was a case of idiopathic tetanus, for which we were unprepared. We dashed over the plain in a cart drawn by four of the fastest mules they could borrow for the necessary opiates and instrument. Mrs. Innocent was unwell, but she no sooner heard our sad story than she resolved to accompany and assist us; but in vain we hastened. As we neared the village a messenger met us, and told us that a fearful paroxysm had proved fatal to the poor creature, and left her little babe only four days old in a home without a mother. Silently and slowly we returned, each one busy with those reflections which such an event in such a land must suggest. A case is worth mention which has had a more favourable issue. I was receiving my patients after my arrival at Chu-chia, when a young man was almost carried in by three women, who told me that thirteen months previously he had cut the little finger of his left hand with a knife which was poisoned with putrid flesh. The wound was slight but would not heal, it had spread until one half his hand was a mass of putridity, in which only the shape of two fingers could be traced. The poor fellow was reduced to the last stage of weakness. I removed the bandages, and though the stench drove my female friends away, and made me very sick, yet I was able to wash and dress it without further aid. From that time to the present I have dressed it two and sometimes three times every day, and about three weeks ago, contrary to my fears, and to the opinions of all who saw the hand, it gave unmistakable signs of healing, and is now so far restored, that I have only to bandage two fingers. The young man is rapidly gaining strength, and declares that the first two hundred thousand cash he can earn shall come into the mission treasury. We have faith in his gratitude, but have no intention to receive his money. AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, Aprit 27th, 1867. We occupy a better position and our affairs are in a more flourishing state than when I forwarded you my report in January. On the 22nd instant, we held our quarterly meeting in the Baker-street church. A general invitation was given to our members to attend, that they might obtain a clearer view of our principles and proceedings, and thus become more firmly and intelligently attached to our denomination. Thirty-eight of our friends sat down to tea, and were present during subsequent deliberations. This was the second quarterly meeting held in connec tion with the Melbourne mission, and was, in many respects, one of no ordinary interest. The business of the meeting furnished incentives to prayer and praise. It was good to be there. The returns of our societies show that we have now 39 members, 19 probationers, 5 local preachers, three preaching places, two societies, one sabbath school, 133 scholars, and 10 teachers; being an increase in Churchfellowship of 21, in local preachers of two, in preaching places of one. WM. D. THOMPSON. The following resolutions, passed at the quarterly meeting, will not be uninteresting to you. The first is expressive of gratitude to God for spiritual prosperity, the second of a determination to do what can be done towards bearing the pecuniary burdens of the mission. 1. " This meeting desires to express its gratitude to Almighty God, for the measure of success which has attended the labours of his servants during the quarter, and prays that our churches and congregations may be favoured with still more abundant manifestations of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit." 2. "This meeting recognising the Scriptural principle of weekly offerings in support of the Church of God, would affectionately urge its adoption on our members, and for this purpose requests the leaders to collect their class monies weekly instead of quarterly. It also advises that weekly-offering boxes be placed in our churches, for receiving the gifts of the members of our congregations." As we have five local preachers, it was thought desirable to increase the number of our preaching places, and for this purpose, a deputation was appointed to visit several destitute districts, and ascertain whether they presented any openings for our community. Carlton and Emerald Hill were spoken of as being the most likely localities, and finally, it was determined to commence at the latter place. Emerald Hill is properly South Melbourne, and is separated from the city by the river Yarra Yarra. It contains a population of 11,000, and of this number it is to be feared, making a liberal calculation, not 2,000 ever attend the house of God. The Wesleyans were the only section of the Methodist family represented there, so that it seemed there was room enough for us. The Temperance Hall was offered at the nominal rent of 2s. 6d. per Sabbath. We determined to take the place, at all events, for three months. Our first service collapsed, in consequence of the rascality of certain bill posters, who covered our bills as soon as they were placed on the walls, and thus prevented publicity being given to our services. Last Sabbath evening, the second service was held, and proved a decided success. After the sermon, a gentleman went up to the brother who had officiated, and informed him that after twenty years of unbelief, he had determined, in consequence of what he had heard that night, to abandon infidelity and embrace the religion of the cross. The conversion of an infidel of twenty years standing must surely be regarded as a triumph of grace and a signal token that our movement has the approval of God. bless us with an increase of means or ability. CLEMENT LINLEY. ADELAIDE, April 29th, 1867. I AM truly glad to hear the glorious news from China. Coming at the moment of the arrival of two new agents it seems happily providential for both ends of the mission. These tidings will put fresh life into our missionary friends and ought greatly to improve our status in the eyes of the missionary world. I am happy to be able to report a very healthy state of things in connexion with our mission here. Since last mail our congregations have continued to improve, and we have had several interesting cases of conversion. There is a precious feeling experienced in our public services. Our praying men, steadily increasing in number, enter with greater fervour into our religious services, and altogether we have in our midst the umistakeable evidences of spiritual life. I am looking forward to a happy and successful winter in connexion with our mission. We are not yet quite through our pecuniary anxieties, but there is no question but that we shall surmount them. Our quarterly churchmeeting is to be held in the course of a fortnight, when I intend to propose a plan by which as speedily as possible to make our Adelaide church self-supporting. We lay the foundation stone of Hope Valley little church next week. The pressure of the times has long retarded that work but we think our way is now open to advance. Next to the conversion of sinners there are two things required here in the coming year, the first is the reduction of the floating debt upon our beautiful church and noble mission-house, and the other is the raising of the local contributions for the support of the mission. To all these objects I mean by God's help to devote my untiring energies during the approaching winter. That my heart's desire may be realized I am sure you will join me in prayer. J. MAUGHAN. CANADA. may state that the addition of this place is not likely to involve us in inconvenient expense, as we expect to raise more than the rent by a weekly collection. And further, we shall not weaken any existing interest. Experience has shown us that just in the proportion as we enlarge our sphere of operations does God DR. COCKER writes under date Aurora, June 13th, the day on which the Canadian Conference closed, "We have pleasure in reporting a year of general prosperity. There is an increase in every department. The membership has increased 220; the Mission income is $600 more than last year; there are eleven more chapels, and two more parsonages; the members of congregations have increased 1450; there are 18 more sabbath schools; 914 more scholars, and 113 more teachers, than last year. The value of chapel and parsonage property is returned as amounting to $207,385, being an increase of $13,040 on last year's return. There is an increase in all the funds. A resolution has been passed in relation to the wonderful suc of our Mission in China, and a ription has been commenced with a of raising £50 as a gift to China." Mr. Robinson writes from the same place, "I go to Toronto another year with Mr. McClure. I am now charged with the treasureship of the entire funds of the Connexion, including the Beneficent Fund. I have plenty of work, very con genial to me, only too much of it. I am needed here, and I trust useful to the cause I have so long served. I do not think the Mission was ever better cared for. Dr. Cocker does admirably in his department. He is relieved of many cares that crushed me down, and I, on my part, am relieved of the journeys, the official responsibility, with the platform and special preaching work. I am much more comfortable than ever I have been since I came to this country, and greatly relieved in my mind. I hope we shall have continuous and large prosperity." THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1867. Theology and General Literature. ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE BIBLE. WE have before given a rapid sketch of the connection of the Jews with this interesting country, beginning with Abraham, passing over the period of Joseph and the Israelites, and coming down to a comparatively late age. This we shall not repeat. What we now propose is, to select a few of the incidents of that history, and show how they illustrate Egyptian manners, customs, habits, social position, civilization, and such like, and how-by a new chain of facts, most of the links of which have been discovered during the present centurythe history of Egypt, as made known in her monuments, is confirmed by the Bible, and how the truth and authenticity of the Bible, in their turn, are confirmed by Egyptian history. Not, indeed, that the Bible is in need of any aid from such a source; the old Book stands firm as the hills on distinct and independent testimony which nothing can shake, though Egyptian archæology does indeed receive important help, nowhere else to be found, in the shape of confirmatory evidence from the Bible. Facts and names in scores have been discovered, amongst the vast mass of hieroglyphics, which would have been utterly without significance but for their connection with sacred history. But while the Bible thus makes intelligible much that would have been enveloped in darkness in relation to the monumental history of Egypt, the monumental history of Egypt, in its turn, is valuable and interesting simply as cumulative and confirmatory evidence of what has been long since settled on appropriate and independent grounds bearing directly on the truth or falsehood of the sacred narrative. The history of Abraham's travel and sojourn in Egypt is found in the Book of Genesis (chap. xii.).* In that narrative we find that, in Abraham's time, Egypt was a wealthy, a highly civilized, and a powerful country. All that we have before said in relation to the history and social condition of the people proves beyond question the truthfulness of this representation. In government, in social standing, in social intercourse, in domestic habits, in literature, in arts, in science, in manufactures, in commerce, in military organization and strength, in magnificent palaces and temples, and in everything representing wealth, power, and progress-in short, in civilization, as * If the reader will carefully look over this chapter, from the 10th verso to the conclusion, he will much better appreciate what may be advanced in this part of the discussion. |