discouragement; and have been led most earnestly to supplicate God in their favor. It is however unquestionably my duty not to act with precipitation in this affair. Of Jacob Levi, I feel considerable confidence that he has his heart, as well as his mind, interested in the faith of Christ: of Chaim Castro, my confidence is not equally strong; but he also gives every appearance of full persuasion that Jesus is the Messiah. The state of the Turkish empire is such, that I question if the truth will ever gain signal victories, till a readiness for martyrdom be evinced on the part of those who are enlightened.

About this time, I became acquainted with two other believing Jews, and was in habits of constant intercourse with them. One of them was David Bechas a Rabbi; the other, Missim Cohen, a youth of respectable connexions. I found the Rabbi well read in the New Testament; he informed me, that, upwards of a year ago, he had been presented with the Hebrew New Testament, and that it had been the means of his conversion: on one occasion he shewed me the book which had proved the instrument of such blessing to him, and it bore all the marks of having been well used.

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Nov. 8. This has been a day of most painful interest. Missim Cohen and Chaim Castro called to inform me, that Jacob Levi had been seized, thrown into prison, and bastinadoed. This young man has displayed the true spirit of a Christian martyr: when they were conveying him to the Casa Negra, a Rabbi, concerned in the transaction, exhorted him to declare himself "a good Jew," and he would suffer nothing. "No," he replied, "I am Christian! the Messiah is come! If I were to be confined a thousand years in prison, still I would declare that Jesus is the Messiah!" Neither the bastinado itself, nor the barbarous threat "that he should eat it three times a day," could move him from his steadfastness. In the course of the day, others were seized; and means were taken to apprehend David Bechas, Chaim Castros, and Missim Cohen: happily they have for the present escaped.

9. This morning I visited the three fugitives, and conversed and read with them. We are also taking means to ascertain the situation of Jacob Levi, in order to render him such assistance as shall be possible. The number of believing Jews who composed this party was eleven-nine men and two women.

10. A Jew, acting, I doubt not, as a spy of the persecuting party, called upon me: his message was, that "there were several Jews, friends of Missim Cohen, who wished to bear him company: I must tell him, therefore, where Missim was to be found, and he would conduct them to him." This man failed, of course, in his design. He afterward went to Mr. Leeves, but had no better success. Mr. Leeves set out to day on a journey to Adrianople.

12. To day I have had the pleasure of baptising the three Jews. Prior to administering this very solemn ordinance, I examined them

This is the term by which they designate a prison, made use of by the Jews. It answers to our expression, "Black Hole." Of this place, the converts had always expressed more apprehension than even death itself.

very carefully with regard to their faith, and their intended fidelity to Christ. Their answers gave me the greatest satisfaction; and I could not feel at ease, till I had, in their instance, complied with the injunction, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." It was to me a subject of much regret, that, in consequence of Mr. Leeves's absence, this duty devolved on me: I should otherwise have left the whole transaction to his judgment and discretion. A difficulty was presented by the diversity of language which it was necessary to make use of. I endeavored to obviate this inconvenience in the following manner:-I first knelt down and prayed with Mrs. Leeves in English: I then prayed in Greek; and a Greek who was present repeated the petitions in Turkish. Afterward I put questions to the following effect, to each of them-"Do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, and the Son of God?"-"Do you believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one God?""Is it your determination, by divine assistance, to be faithful unto Jesus Christ, in prison, in tortures, and even unto death?"-"Do you place your hopes of salvation exclusively on the merits of Jesus Christ?" They all answered these questions in the most explicit and serious manner. They then knelt down; and I went up to each of them, and poured water upon his head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They were exceedingly affected, weeping most copiously; and the impression made on all present was, I believe, almost equally great. I then returned thanks to God, first in Greek and afterward in English, for the grace and favor bestowed on these converted Jews, and besought from Him that peculiar aid for which their painful circumstances called. I afterward delivered a short address to them, in which I set before them how awful would be their state, were they now to apostatise from Jesus Christ; and encouraged them to seek his assistance by assiduous prayer, and to stand ready for every trial to which God might call them. We all rejoiced exceedingly at having three Christian brethren given to us from among "the lost sheep of the house of Israel;" though our joy was greatly tempered by the recollection, that it had not been permitted to Jacob Levi to make one of their number: he has been torn from our hands, and is confined in a dungeon where no Christian minister can approach him, either to baptise him or to afford him the slightest consolation: he is, however, in the hands of his heavenly Father. May divine consolations support and cheer him!

Dec. 1. Melancholy day! This morning, early, G. burst into my apartment, with the intelligence "The Jews are taken!" Who has been the traitor we know not; but, last night, about an hour after sunset, the house in which they were lodged was surrounded by Turkish soldiers, and our poor friends were forcibly taken out and thrown into prison, together with the Armenian to whom the house belonged: on their arrival at the prison, the Turkish officer asked them a variety of questions; in answer to which they avowed themselves Christians, and asserted their allegiance to the Grand Seignior. This morning they were

carried to the court of the Seraskier, or commander-in-chief. A young man, whom we sent to inquire after them, found it impossible to see them. Their trial does not take place to day, as it is the Turkish Sabbath.

2. This morning G. came hither, with the mother-in-law of Bagdasar, the Armenian. He informs me, that, last night, the converts sent word that they were determined to stand firm to the last extremity: they expected that it would be first proposed to them to become Moslems, and, in case of non-compliance, the alternative would be death, or the arsenal. May God strengthen them for the hour of trial! Our persecuted friends are destitute of all human succor. God alone can help them! About noon, I went myself to the prison to which they were removed this morning; and, as I thought it might afford them some encouragement to see me, even though I could not converse with them, I obtained admission: on this occasion I saw enough to convince me that there is a wide and essential distance between the theory and the experience of martyrdom: a warm imagination may contemplate a violent death, while it is at a distance, with triumph, and even with a species of ambition; but, bring a man into actual contact with prisons, chains, armed guards, examinations, stripes, and all the appalling pomp and parade of a public execution, and nothing short of a powerful and direct communication of divine assistance will impart the needful fortitude. Truly, in every Christian martyrdom, it is God who gives the victory, and it is God who claims the glory! In consideration of a few piastres, the Armenian was called up. and I was permitted to converse with him for a few minutes: the poor man was clearly suffering the greatest agony: I said all that I could to encourage him, but felt much regret at being unable to speak to our Jewish friends: the large room, which constituted the prison, was exceedingly dark, and they were at a distant part of it, I should barely distin-. guish a number of Jewish head-dresses. Thus were our friends surrounded by their most bitter foes, while I could not even obtain a sight of them: of me, however, they would have a clear view, as I stood in the light of the door. They have been interrogated in three different places; and, on each occasion, they have firmly declared themselves Christians.

8. In hopes of serving them, I went to the chief dragoman of the Porte, a man of considerable influence, and interceded in their behalf; making a simple statement of their case. He shewed me a letter, signed by four of the heads of the Jewish nation in Constantinople, in which they supplicate the death of "that accursed Chaim Castro;" and a friend of mine was informed by a Turk at the Porte, on whose word he places reliance, that the Jews have actually paid four hundred thousand piastres into the chest of the Grand Vizier, in order to accomplish their diabolical intentions! Thank God! they have been thwarted in their schemes. The persecuted converts have been sent to labor in the arsenal, a punishment from which I have reason to believe we shall see them soon delivered. This leniency on the part of the Turks is, probably, owing to the assistance of the dragoman.

10. The Jewish converts have appeared before the grand Vizier, the reis effendi, and the chief dragoman, not to mention inferior officers, and before all "they have witnessed a good confession." The day after their removal to the arsenal, John Cohen's father found access to him; and, declaring that he would much rather have seen him become a Turk than a Christian, offered him a large sum of money. The youth, regarding it as a bribe, would not receive the least part of it, even though he was at the time in great want. They have been loaded with heavy fetters; Peter the Rabbi and John Baptist Castro being chained together, and John Cohen and the Armenian.

13. An Armenian priest, who acts as chaplain in the arsenal, came to inform us how severely they are treated: they are still loaded with their chains; and the Armenian has been so much hurt, that he is obliged to wear his arm in a sling: to day, notwithstanding the heavy and incessant rain, they are compelled to be abroad at work.

The father and mother of John Cohen yesterday came to visit him, and attempted to bring him back to Judaism. He is still unmoved, though "making trial of such cruel sufferings." I am glad to find, from the priest's information, that they are comforting themselves in the best manner: their language is, 'Christ our Saviour has said, "Fear not them which kill the body, and have no more that they can do"-and when we die, we hope that we shall be received into heaven.'

14. Wrote a letter of encouragement to the converts. G. learned to day from a Turk some particulars relative to Jacob Levi and Menahem Castro: he stated himself to have been

present when they were brought before the Seraskier: a Jewish Rabbi appeared as their accuser, and offered a thousand purses to the Seraskier, if he would put them to death: they affirmed that their belief in Jesus of Nazareth was the only reason of their being brought before him; they were bastinadoed, and sent to the arsenal. I hear of a young Jew at Ortakeny, who has been delivered by his brethren into the hands of the Turks: he received 50 blows, and is thrown into prison. How many believe in Christ, and how many suffer for his sake, it is impossible for us to tell.

15. We are informed, that the Jews have divided 2,000 piastres among the Turks who have charge of the prisoners, for the purpose of obtaining their exertions in tormenting them to the utmost possible degree. Thus are our poor friends suffering a continual martyrdom! Happy would it have been for them, to have terminated their woes by the bowstring or the sword, in comparison of their perpetual torments. The object of the Jews is clear: they hope to wear out the constancy of the converts, by incessant sufferings: or, if that attempt should fail, to bring them to the grave. The whole system of Turkish proceedings is so utterly corrupt, that I see no prospect of a happy termination of this affair, except in divine interposition. "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, and not into the hand of man!"

19. I was much struck with a Jew, whom I met to day on the quay. I conversed with him on the subject of the Messiah: instead of that angry and immediate opposition which

unbelieving Jews usually make, the tears were in his eyes; and he regarded me with a seriousness and a silence, which appeared little short of the language, "I believe."

21. G. informs me, that, yesterday, a Jew inquired very eagerly of one of the hawkers for a New Testament, and gave him orders for a copy. Thus we see, that all the fury of persecution has not been able to destroy the thirst for divine knowledge, which has been excited in the breasts of the people of Israel. I believe, that, by God's blessing, this disposition will, ere long, triumph over all opposition. The Armenian, Bagdassar, sent word last night, that if they were not soon released from their fetters, he apprehended the most fatal consequences. They have indeed suffered so much, that it is surprising that they have not sunk under it.

22. G. saw, this morning, our imprisoned friends. They are as steadfast as ever, but suffer greatly. John Cohen had a large present of clothes from his Jewish friends; but he thought it his duty to send them all back. They actually heard his father reasoning with the Turks, for not beating them more severely, and reminding them of the money which he had given them for that purpose!

From the correspondence of Mr. Leeves, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Constantinople, we derive some additional particulars, which are here subjoined.

On one occasion, especially, their fortitude was put to the test; for the Jews, seeing that they could not work on them by promises, had it finally announced to them, that their fate was sealed, and that the next morning they would be led to execution: thus, for a whole night, they had the view of death before their eyes; and they spent it in reading the New Testament with weeping and prayer. Two other Jews were left in prison with them, whom John Baptist reproved for their unbelief in the Messiah; exhorting them to follow their example, and become martyrs for the name of Christ: these Jews, unmoved by their behavior and exhortations, wrote to the Rabbies to inform them that there was no hope of their ever returning to the Jewish religion, and that the only course to be pursued with them was to get them put to death.

The punishment of prisoners in the Bagnio consists in being chained, two and two, with heavy chains, and employed in the laborious works of the arsenal, under the superintendence of Turkish guards, who beat them if they do not perform the task to their liking: there are about 700 persons in this prison; of whom about 300 are Greek slaves, the greater part prisoners taken in the Greek war. The

circumstances of this affair, having produced a general sensation and sympathy throughout the city, had penetrated within the walls of the arsenal; and the prisoners, when brought there, were kindly welcomed by the poor Christian slaves, who went in a body to the aga and officers, to beg they might be kindly treated and not put to severe labor. In consequence of this mediation, they passed the two first days unmolested; but, after this, several Jews came, and among them the father and intended father-in-law of the young man,

who, after another fruitless attempt to bring them back to Judaism, went and gave a considerable sum of money to the officers of the prison to put them to hard work, and to beat and torment them. They suffered severely under this persecution for five or six days; until the matter coming to our knowledge, our ambassador was so kind as to send his dragoman, and by representations, to procure the cessation of this wanton and cruel treatment, and the weight of their chains was diminished one half; although, being still in the class of chained prisoners, they have continued to labor with the rest. A few days ago, two of them were thrown down and bruised in working at a large wheel used for raising the masts and fixing them in the vessels of war; by a similar accident to which two men had been before killed before their eyes: they are now, however, recovered from their bruises; and will not, I believe, be henceforth employed in similar works.

I cannot resist adding one additional circumstance which have just learnt concerning our three Christian Jews. During the time they were in concealment, they never entirely liked the idea of quitting Constantinople, though they thought they saw a necessity for it in the hot persecution which awaited them if they remained. They thought they could be more useful here than any where else, and their hearts were set upon proclaiming the Gospel to their brethren: they, therefore, often made it their prayer to God, that, if he saw it good, they might be found out and taken, and that they afterward might remain in Constantinople to be the evangelists to their brethren in error.

Interview, in behalf of the Jewish Converts, with a Turkish Officer.

Mr. Hartley, for the purpose of making a special effort in behalf of his persecuted brethren, sought an interview, early in December, with a Turk of considerable distinction. This man had once been a Jew, and informed Mr. H. that he was well acquainted with the New Testament, and also with the peculiar sentiments of the protestants, and that though he was a Mussulman, he was "a philosopher." Mr. H. gave him the history of the Jewish converts, and convinced him that nothing of a political nature was connected with the proceedings in relation to them; and the officer promised to do all that was possible for their safety. The information which follows, is important, as it explains the probable reason, why the Turks have heretofore been prevailed upon to throw obstacles in the way of circulating the Scriptures.

This officer told me plainly, that the Turkish government were at a loss to comprehend the proceedings of the Religious Society in England, which was at such expense in printing and circulating books: they were well acquainted with the conduct of the Jesuits in China and in other countries, and also with the

enthusiastic superstition evinced by the Spaniards in former times; but they had always considered the English a nation free from superstition: they were led therefore to suspect that there was some political plot in these proceedings. I assured him that the Society, to which he alluded, was wholly unconnected with the British government; and that though there were, unhappily, Englishmen who were indif ferent to all religions, yet the persons who composed this Society were men who did indeed believe that the Gospel was from God, and thought it therefore their duty to communicate so inestimable a gift to the whole world. He then indulged in some playful remarks on the impossibility of converting the world by books, alleging that St. Paul had been converted in a different manner, and that this was by no means the method of Moses. He asked me so very particularly what was Mr. Leeves's object in this country, that I am led to think Mr. Leeves has been for some time an object of jealousy to the Turkish government. I told him, that Mr. Leeves's object was, "to sell the Holy Scriptures." Much more was said as to religion; and I feel confident that the conversation removed from his mind all suspicions, that our proceedings have a political tendency, or that we are a plotting, Jesuitical fraternity. We became extremely sociable: he said that he would introduce me to other Turks, and take me to the school in which French and various branches of science are taught.

The whole of the scene was to me full of uncommon interest: I was come to rescue, if possible, from death, four persecuted Christians: I was in the building which contained the great offices of the Ottoman empire, and which is dignified with the appellation of the Sublime Porte: the domes and minarets of the mosque of Sultan Suleyman, one of the most magnificent structures in Turkey, were towering above my head: I had passed through spacious halls and passages, all exhibiting specimens of Turkish taste: I was encircled by numerous guards and attendants, arrayed in the splendid diversity of costume observable in eastern countries; and I was surrounded with all the pomp of oriental manners. The window of the room in which I found myself, commanded a view of the large court, in which were seen horses richly caparisoned awaiting their lordly masters, and in which objects wholly novel to a European eye were continually presenting themselves. "Do you see that officer riding out of the court?" said my Turkish friend. I observed a man whose dress and carriage denoted a person of considerable rank. "He is going," said he, "according to his daily custom, to the Sultan, to acquaint him with the affairs which have been transacted here." "Does the Sultan," I asked, "pay minute attention to business? Does he know this affair of the converted Jews?" "Yes, certainly," said he: "there is nothing that escapes his attention. In Europe you imagine that we are all barbarians; and that the Sultan does nothing all day, but loll on his divan and amuse himself: but it is far otherwise. The princes of Europe are far more ef feminate than Sultan Mahmoud." He then made various remarks relative to the recent public events, which led me to suppose that the Turks have really been awakened to a

sense of their public interest, beyond what I had ever suspected.

I just notice other subjects of conversation, because it may serve to shew that the Turks have men in their service much better informed than is usually supposed. The following topics came forward: religious liberty in England--Roman-Catholic emancipation--the king of England, in his character of Head of the Church-Spanish proceedings in America -the existence of Greek manuscripts in the seraglio-conic sections-the site of ancient cities in Asia Minor-the Koran, &c. He informed me, that he was very fond of mathematics, and that he had translated from the French a treatise on conic sections. He also demanded of me, if Mr. Leeves had been concerned in the affair of the converted Jews: "Concerning myself," I replied, "I am will. ing to give you any information, but concerning my friend, I cannot, in honor, tell you any thing." "When you have made the whole world Christian," he asked, "what will be the consequences?" I replied, "When the precepts of Christianity are universally obeyed, there will be an end of envy, animosities, murders, wars, and of all the other causes of misery. We shall all be brothers: the greatest happiness will every where prevail." appeared struck with this reply.

He

AN interesting supplement to the article in the last number (pp. 250-254,) on the state and progress of missionary operations in Ceylon, will be found in the following account-furnished by Mr. Clough, Wesleyan missionary,of the recent conversion and baptism of a priest of Buddhu, who was second in rank on the island; and also of the more recent awakening of another member of the same priesthood. Mr. C.'s communication is inserted in the Report of the Wesleyan Missionary Society for the past year.

With regard to the first mentioned priest, Mr. C. thus writes:

We have lately had the happiness to witness some cheering triumphs of the sacred Scriptures over heathenism and its perverting records. About a fortnight ago, our missionary brother, Mr. Sutherland, stationed at Matura, baptised a priest of Buddha, whose conversion may be chiefly traced to the effects of reading the New Testament; and is one of the most interesting conversions to Christianity ever witnessed. The district of Matura, I would just observe, is the most famed of any part of Ceylon, or perhaps of the world, for being the chief seat of Buddhism. The chief priest resides here, and here also is their chief college. I have been told by a missionary who had access to the public records of the district, that it contains 1,300 priests, and in fact they

The

nearly people all the district; and almost every || inch of ground is considered sacred to Buddha. About six years ago, our assistant missionary, Mr. Lalmon, met this priest in the prison at Matura, visiting a native man condemned to die. The one had gone to impart the consolation of heathenism to the poor man, the other to recommend Christ the Saviour of the world. A little conversation took place in the cell between them, on the great question of a Saviour. The missionary at length challenged the priest to produce a single proof from any of their sacred books, that a Sa. viour for man was to be found in them. priest, although young at that time, was a man of rising eminence, and a most notorious opposer of truth; having labored in every possible way to thwart the operations of the missionaries. On this occasion he felt highly indignant at the challenge of the native missionary, and went to his temple with a resolution to examine their books for proofs to contradict him, and continued his search for two years in vain. About this time he went to a village in the Galle district to meet the high priest of Kandy, who had come to perform some great ceremony on some important occasion. Here he met with another missionary, who presented him with a copy of the New Testament in Singhalese. This he took to his temple and read, but it was four years before the pride of his heart would allow him to divulge the struggle that was going on in his mind. The rank he held in the priesthood, being now second in the island, the high reputation he bore for his learning and acquaintance with their religion, and the influence he had among the people, were circumstances which induced him so long to resist that light and conviction which the reading of the Scriptures had conveyed to his mind. He ventured however, at length, to go to our missionary, Mr. Lalmon, and make a complete disclosure of all the workings of his mind. But repeat ing his visits, the thing was soon discovered, and the alarm soon raised. This being the case, he was compelled to fly from the temple, and take refuge in the house of the missionary. His intentions no longer remained a secret; and every means were used to frustrate his designs of becoming a Christian. The priests wrote a letter to him, which was signed by them all, stating the disgrace that would befal them all, if he became a Christian; that were such a calamity to happen, their religion would receive an incurable wound; and the priests be exposed to the contempt and ridicule of the populace. To this he paid no regard. A second document then came from them, making him an offer of certain temples and emoluments, provided he would abandon the idea of becoming a Christian. This produced no effect, when a third came, in which they declared that, if he became a Christian, they would, by some means or other take his life. This rather startled him at first, but, on advising with the missionary, he resolved to be firm to his purposes, and run all hazards of the consequences. After remaining some time learning the way of the Lord more perfectly from the missionaries, he became the subject of still more important convictions than those that effect the mind and judgment; namely, convictions of his sinfulness, and need of a Saviour to pardon. Being thus

prepared, the missionaries thought him a fit subject for Christian baptism. It happened to be the time for preaching the missionary an niversary sermons for that station. On these occasions large crowds of natives come together, and it is usual for all the native chiefs, headmen, and principal native inhabitants to be present. This therefore was the time he chose, that he might have an opportunity of witnessing a more public confession of the name of Jesus. In order that no tumult might take place before the congregation had assembled, his baptism was kept a profound secret. And one of the largest and most respectable congregations that had ever been seen in the place assembled, when, after the reading of the Liturgy, the priest advanced towards the font, at the head of the church, in the presence of the people, disrobed of the priestly garment. Mr. Sutherland then asked a few appropriate questions, to which he gave very satisfactory answers; after which he stood forward, and addressed himself to the congregation, giving in detail his reasons for renouncing Buddhism, and the priesthood, and for embracing Christianity. As may be expected, this produced a wonderful effect. For it is well known that the greatest part of the people already referred to, although nominal Christians, yet are Buddhists in their hearts, and rigid supporters of that religion. However, many of them not only felt this unexpected event, but approved; and one of them came to the missionary after the whole was over, and requested that the king of England might be informed of it. The conversion of this man is so impressive an event, that it more than a thousand fold rewards us for all the toils we have had in translating and publishing the Scriptures in Singhalese.

Mr. C. next describes the manner in which the second priest was led to seek an acquaintance with the missionaries, and with the religion they inculcate.

But the good effects of distributing the Scripture, do not rest for proof on an individual solitary case; I could multiply instances that come under my own observation, and I am thankful to say, my colleagues and coadjutors

are witnessing the same. I will detain you a moment till I just refer to another case equally, if not more striking than the former; for in this instance, the word of God, and that alone, led to the change. About a month ago, a very interesting looking priest as I ever saw, was introduced to me at my house here in Colombo; we were perfect strangers to each other, and this drew an apology from him, for his abruptness in calling on me. I first made a few inquiries as to his residence, &c., and found he came from a place about sixty miles from Colombo, quite away from all missionary stations. His errand to Colombo was, he told me, to perform, by special request and invitation from the inhabitants, a ceremony which is called Wasalakirima, which is one of great importance; and requires about three months to complete. But from his manner of conversation, I could evidently perceive there was something working in his mind, which he wished to divulge. However, while in conversation, he received a message from his en