Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/40

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26
Religious Intelligence.
May,

senting such a picture of our species; and we do it, solely in order to give an accurate view of the character of the people, and of the difficulties to be encountered, in bringing them to the knowledge and full enjoyment of Christianity; and we are happy to add, on the authority of the same correspondent, that some, a few even, of that sad set, have embraced the gospel and been baptized.


Siam. We have received a copy of the Missionary Journal of the Rev. J. Tomlin, giving an account of the proceedings of the Rev. D. Abeel and himself, while at Bankok, the capital of Siam, from July 2nd. 1831, till January 6th 1832. While there they distributed Christian publications in Chinese, Siamese, and Malayan; healed the sick, preached the word, and conversed freely from house to house, no man forbidding them. Members of the Royal Family, officers of the government, and priests visited them, and accepted of their religious books. We sincerely hope and pray, that the seed sown may take root, may be watered with the heavenly influences of the Divine Spirit, and bring forth fruit abundantly to the glory of God, and the everlasting happiness of men.

At another time we hope to make some extracts from Mr. T's Journal, which commences only about "ten or twelve days after his former fellow-laborer, Gutzlaff, embarked on board a junk for the north of China."


Malacca. By last accounts Messrs. Tomlin and Abeel were both at the Anglo-Chinese college;—Mr. T. acting for the principal, Mr. Kidd, who is absent on a visit to England, for the benefit of his health; and Mr. A. on a visit, his health having declined at Siam. However, being somewhat better, he contemplates returning thither. He had been preaching a few times for the Rev. Mr. Hughes, who, in addition to his duties as a Missionary to the Malays, acts as English Chaplain.

Postscript. Since the above was in type, we learn by a letter from Mr Abeel, of his return to Singapore, (at which place he dates, April 8th,) and of his purpose to go back immediately to Siam, in order to supply, with Christian books, the 60 or 70 junks then at Bankok.


Bombay. We have received the Oriental Christian Spectator up to Dec. 1831, which completes two Vols. of that instructive Magazine. We rejoice to perceive a spirit of inquiry roused among the Parsees on that side of India, and the revolution of opinion, on the subject of religion, among some Hindoos at Calcutta. Truth will triumph; and the eternal immutability of Indian superstition, so often asserted, will vanish before the power of God's everlasting gospel.

Chinese philosophism, too, has its advocates, who assert its immutability, and its superiority over the religion of Jesus. But the contest, be it remembered, is between truth and falsehood, and of no doubtful issue. The Press, the Preacher, and schoolmaster have, at various times and places, effected great moral changes on large portions of