1125 South-Sea Missionary Intelligence. NOTE FROM ARISTARCHUS. ARISTARCHUS presents his respects to the Editor of the Imperial Magazine, and will be much obliged to him for the insertion of the following corrections of the errors of the press in his last letter. col. 1017 line 59 for estimate, read estimates 5- contains, 1018 1019 1022 1022 1023 -29 10 20 contain pro proh d'ouvre d'œuvre cum dulce cum dulci heart breast Aristarchus avails himself of the present opportunity to state, that, having already, through the courtesy of the Editor, occupied so many columns of the Magazine, he intends to wait a month or two, in order to see what friends or foes may write in consequence of his last letter; and then he purposes to answer the whole in one general reply. A. trusts that his next letter will be as free from " angry feelings" as he KNOWS that the others were; though he certainly felt indignant at G. M's insinuating that he was an infidel. “A CHRISTIAN is the highest style of man;" and, "He who filches from me this good name; Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed." November 1. SOUTHSEA MISSIONARY INTELLI- 1126 ings connected with the unseen but eternal world, we are not altogether unconcerned about their temporal happiness, but anxious also to abate, if possible, the sum of their present misery, and to confer on them the blessings of this life, as well as of that which is to come. With this view, we have exhorted them to provide themselves more decent clothing, and our wives have taught many of the women to make very neat modest gowns, &c. which they find more comfortable than their former mode of dressing, which consisted of just binding a great quantity of cloth around them. They have also made themselves very neat European hats for the men, and bonnets for the women; also for all the little children, which they find very comfortable, and which make them look very creditable. We have also taught them to build themselves neat plastered cottages, instead of open and exposed houses, which could not shelter them from the bleak winds from the mountains, or the drifting rains from the southward. Several very neat houses are finished, and many in hand. Those who have got comfortable thing on a good plastered house, find it a very a cold rainy night, and enjoy good health, while their neighbours are laid up with colds, dysenteries, &c. THE following extracts from letters lately received from the Rev. Wm. Ellis, a missionary at Huahine, will, we doubt not, prove highly interesting to most of our readers. It will be perceived by the date which these the scarce season for want of food. They suffer very much also during extracts bear, that their passage to England has been accomplished in a cultivate more ground, and have the We are continually urging them to short space of time, which will scarce-pleasure to see many more acres cultily admit of example. The delinea-vated this year than last. Idleness is tions, therefore, which they contain, may be considered as descriptive of these interesting islanders at the pre sent hour. Huahine, June 13th, 1821. I AM happy to say things continue going on well among us. We are very comfortable among ourselves, and trust the Lord is using us as instruments in his hand, for the promotion of his praise among these people, and prospering his work in our hands. The salvation of their immortal souls through the blood and righteousness, merits and death, of our common Saviour, is of course the principal end to which all our exertions among them tend. But while we are principally concerned to interest them in the pursuit of those everlasting bless the source of the greatest misery to them; and the abundant manner in which nature spontaneously supplies most of their wants. is by them made an excuse to encourage it. For six or eight months in the year, bread-fruit grows almost sufficient for their want, with only the trouble of gathering and cooking it; so long as that lasts, they never think of planting, (unless continually urged to it,) but when that is over, they are obliged to live on wild roots from the mountains, fern root, or a sour paste called Mahi, which brings on the most violent disorders of the bowels, and carries many of them off every season. However, industry is on the advance, but we have great difficulties to overcome, to counteract habits which they have indulged since their childhood, and which we 1127 South-Sea Missionary Intelligence. cannot expect to see give way entirely in a day or two. We are also instilling into their minds principles of humanity and compassion towards the sick, to whom they used to behave in a most cruel manner. Generally, when persons were taken ill, they used to make a little hut by the water-side for them, take them there, and now and then take them a cocoa nut, or breadfruit, or, if very old, leave them to die without. Yea, they used sometimes to pierce the sick people through with a spear, to be free from the trouble of them, or else bury them alive, merely to get what little property they might have. Thanks be to God, they now shudder at such things themselves, and when we talk to them about their former cruelty, say, "Jesus Christ is a mild, kind master, but we were satan's slaves when we used to do so, and he was a hard-hearted cruel tyrant. They are now very kind to the aged and sick, and pay them every attention, and are anxious to procure from us medicine and medical advice, as far as we can impart it. Few days pass without several applications for a little "raau na te mai," "medicine for the sick." When they found our stock of medicines quite expended, they expressed themselves very sorry, and on the proposal being made, all around us immediately agreed to subscribe one bamboo of cocoa-nut oil, to send to England, to buy them some medicines for the sick. We hope to be able to send their aid by this ship, as we are sure the directors will be glad to sell it for them, and purchase them some medicines. They are remarkably fond of their children; and to see their affection for their offspring, I am often tempted to wonder how they could wantonly strangle them formerly. It is a most affecting thing to see a fond mother with a little boy or girl by her side, and another at her breast, and to ask her, as I asked one I overtook the other day, How many children have you? "Only these two." Have you never had any more? "O yes, I have had ten." And where are the eight? "Ah! (she answered weeping)they are na pau i te unmi hia, they were all strangled, while we were in darkness, under the dominion of the evil spirit." Are you not thankful that God in mercy has taught you the evil of such ways? "O 1128 yes, it is of his goodness that these two are spared; for had he not sent his word and his power, and overturned the kingdom of satan among us, these two most likely would have been strangled also." These and such kind of conversations we hear almost every day, which continually call forth our liveliest gratitude, and encourage us to persevere, amidst all the trials we are called to encounter. There are still some of the old warriors among them, who are sometimes trying to breed quarrels between the different chiefs; and there are, as in every society, a number of wild, idle young men, who are foud of learning to handle the musket, the club, or the spear, and who frequently talk of war; but we have decidedly set our faces against all such pastimes as they like to indulge in. The king and chiefs also of our island are peaceable men. I trust the gospel has reached their hearts. They also are for peace; so that though sometimes threatened, we have no very serious apprehensions of so destructive a calamity overtaking us at present. Second Extract, June 13th, 1821. It has often been alleged by the enemies to Missionary exertions, that Missionary labours are inimical to the introduction of civilization, and the comforts of social and civil society. The present appearance of our Missionary stations, enlightened by the gospel of Jesus, contrasted with the appearance of the same people and places, while illuminated by the light of nature only, would forcibly repel such charges. Not only are they made acquainted with the everlasting blessing of covenant love, and the unseen glories of the eternal world, as objects of faith and hope, but their present condition is vastly improved. Instead of degrading the light of nature by assembling in thousands to offer sacrifice and prayer to a senseless idol, the work of their own hands, they may now be seen rendering with devout demeanour their humble tribute of gratitude to Jehovah, the Lord of heaven and earth. Instead of offering violence to the best feelings of human nature, by sacrificing their fellow-creatures to appease the wrath of an impotent idol, they may be heard 1129 South-Sea Missionary Intelligence. 1130 government is cruelty. Instead of seeing the aged and sick cast out from the house, which perhaps their own hands had reared, and left by the side of a brook, beneath the shelter of a few cocoa-nut leaves, with now and then a cocoa-nut or a bread-fruit taken to them, or perhaps left to die with hunger and cold, the sick and aged are now attended to, and their wants supplied. Many, no doubt, are thus restored, who, formerly, after languishing in famine and nakedness, would have died a miserable death. praying unto God, for their parents, relations, neighbours, friends, and even their enemies. Instead of strangling their new-born infants, they may now be seen pressing them to their breast, nursing them at their side, or dandling them on their knee, with all a parent's fondness and affectionate, delight. Instead of consigning them to the darkness of the grave almost as soon as the light of day had beamed on their just opened infant eyes, the fond parents may now be seen placing before their intellectual eye, the irradiating beams of inspired truth, the Instead of the poor helpless sick enlightening word of God. Instead of being thrust through with a spear, or wandering about on the mountains, or even buried alive, which used to be wantonly rolling naked in the sand on the case when their attendants were the sea-beach, or committing to me- tired of waiting on them, or impatient mory the profane and obscene udes for the little property they possessed, (songs) of their warriors and idols, or or when the groans of the sick were strolling about without any one to care an obstacle to their merriment; the for their bodies or souls, the fond friends and neighbours may now be parents are now concerned if their lit- seen administering every comfort they tle children are out of their sight. can obtain, to the sick and dying, They may now be found morning and weeping over them in the most affecevening at the school, and, when at tionate manner, and mingling with play on the sea-beach, frequently seen, their tears, prayers, to Him with five, six, or seven in a party, teach- whom are the issues of life and death, ing each other to write in the sand; that health may be restored; or, if or, under the shade of a tree, hearing His will be otherwise, that the passage each other say their lesson ready of the departing spirit may be comagainst school-time. How often have posed and calm through the swellings I seen the parents on a sabbath morn- of Jordan. Instead of seeing both ing view their children, neatly dress- sexes dressed in a manner from which ed, clean and healthy, walking two the eye of decency would turn aside and two, from the school-house to the with disgust, their dresses are now chapel, while joy has beamed on their modest and becoming. Instead of countenances; and the big tear of glad- being in continual fear of the sly thief ness has appeared flashing and ready in open day, or the midnight plunto roll down their wrinkled cheek, derer, our little property, though not when the eye of their little boy or girl always secured by lock or bolt, rehas caught their own, as he or she has mains untouched. Instead of living passed along. The mother, perhaps, in open houses, exposed to the bleak has remembered the many dear infants winds from the mountains, or the her own hands have strangled, and drifting rains, sheltered from the infeels increased affection for, perhaps, clemency of the weather in the rainy the only one that has survived, to season, only by the leaf of cocoa-nut enjoy the blessings of the milder reign trees; the neat warm plastered cottage of Jesus Christ. The father, perhaps, here and there greets the eye. But I thinks that had the chains of idolatry must draw to a close. These are only been cast away sooner, I, instead of some of the blessings that have accomseeing one to bear my name, to inherit panied their reception of Christianity; my land, to eat of the fruit of my and much as the simple preaching of the cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees, should cross may be spoken against, I have not have seen five or six growing up to heard of any philosophical philanthromanhood, or mingling with those who pic scheme, from which the gospel of are going to the house of prayer. How Christ was excluded, however plausidifferent must their feelings be on ble and imposing it may have appcarsuch occasions, to what they were un-ed in theory, that has ever produced der the reign of the prince of darkness, | such practical effects, in any age, in the distinguishing feature of whose any country, or among any people. No. 34.-Vol. III. 4 C 1131 Reply to a Query on the Sabbath. Third Extract, June, 13th, 1821. With respect to the population of these islands, I am inclined to believe that, (like every other country which is only partially known) it has been vastly over-rated. I cannot give you an accurate statement of the number of inhabitants on any of the islands, but from all the information I have been able to obtain, I do not think I shall be far wrong when I say, the Leeward, or Society Islands, contain less than 6000 inhabitants (viz.) Huahine, and Sir Charles Sands Ísland, 2100; Raiatea and Tahua, 2300; Borobon and Mourua, 1000. Respecting the Windward or Georgia Islands, I cannot speak so correctly. Some of the brethren think they may be stated at 7000; so that the population of Tahiti and the adjacent islands may be safely rated at 14,000. The population had been most rapidly decreasing during the twenty or thirty years prior to the introduction of Christianity, as the remains of recently abandoned plantations and dwelling houses in every valley all around in almost every island abundantly testify. The population appears at present at a stand, neither decreasing nor increasing; for by an account which we have kept of births and deaths, we find them to be nearly equal: and if the deaths now (which are only natural ones) equal the births, how vastly must they have exceeded them when so many hundreds were annually strangled in their infancy; so many died by the unrestrained use of spirits, and from the diseases contracted from foreigners, which spread generally with alarming rapidity; as well as the great number killed in their frequent wars, setting aside human sacrifices, &c. &c.? The institution of marriage has been enforced, and is now universally acknowledged among the natives, and attended to by those who profess the christian religion. The parents also are very fond and careful of their offspring; so that I think we may fairly infer, that these islands are likely to become in the course of another century very populous: but we cannot expect a very rapid increase for a few generations to come; 1st, because of the diseases of the parents, many of the children when born being sickly or diseased, and the majority seldom survive three or four months; 2d, on account of the great disproportion 1132 between the adult males and females, which is not more than one female to three or four males, as the males were generally spared during the days of heathenism, and the female children were strangled, being less useful as warriors; and the same disproportion exists between the sexes of the rising generation, and is visible in the elder scholars of our Sunday Schools: at Huahine we have more than 200 boys, and little more than 100 girls. The births of the sexes are nearly equal. Fourth Extract. A canoe arrived lately with some of the inhabitants of Hao, an island several hundred miles off, to the eastward; another from Chituroo, a large island to the south-west. Their errand is, to inquire about the true God. They have embraced his gospel, and long to get back to their country to burn all their idols. 3000 copies of the Gospel of John have been printed at Tahiti, and I am now at work at 3000 more, for the Leeward Islands, for which the people are anxiously waiting. I have done three sheets, and shall, if not interrupted, finish in about two months. REPLY TO A QUERY ON THE SABBATH. MR. EDITOR. SIR,-It was with considerable pleasure that I read the following Query, proposed by "Gamma, col. 962 of your Magazine, "What scriptural authority is there to bind us to keep the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, sacred to the worship of God and other religious duties!" My pleasure arose from the considerations, that, answering such a query would allow an opportunity of exhibiting to the view of Gamma, some principles, which have been long and sinfully overlooked by a great majority of Christian churches. Such culpability must necessarily have produced its pernicious effects. This, Sir, I would presume is strikingly apparent, by the fact of this insertion of Gamma's query, which could only have originated in the entire neglect of scriptural light on this subject. To a mind under the conviction of the exclusive authority of Christ in his church, this, with some things that are connected with it, form a subject 1133 Reply to a Query on the Sabbath. of deep regret; and therefore, every opportunity of exhibiting that authority for the correction of what is antichristian, and the establishment of what is scriptural,is eagerly embraced. As this query stands intimately connected with the institution of the seventh day as a sabbath, it will be requisite to make a few observations thereon, as preliminary to answering Gamma's immediate point of inquiry. 1134 made for man," goes far to overturn all he has advanced against its moral obligation; for if it was made for man, it would unquestionably be given to man as soon as he was in circumstances to observe this appointment. And on this conclusion we rest with more confidence, when we consider, that the reasons of the institution existed at the creation. Not but that other reasons were afterwards added on its reappointment by Moses; but this, I presume, can make nothing against the original obligation which was still retained. Others were indeed added, but entirely on account of the peculiar circumstances connect God, in making the sabbath a memorial of other things, was only acting according to his usual plan in all his works, of bringing no more means into We shall first observe, that the original institution of a sabbath, was commemorative in its design. This we safely infer from Gen. ii. 3. "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work, which God created|ed with that nation. and made:" (see also Exod. xx. 11.) This institution then celebrates the completion of the glorious work of creation, which tuned the admiring souls of holy angels, for herein is dis-operation, for the accomplishment of played that which was calculated to call forth their praises. No intelligent creature can behold the glorious fabric of the earth and heavens, exhibiting eternal power, perfect wisdom, and boundless goodness, without feeling the deepest reverence for their Author. How befitting then the dignity of God, to appoint, and man to observe, the seventh day in commemoration of the accomplishment of creation. But the sabbath was also moral in its nature; the reason assigned by God for the appointment, was one in which all the human race were implicated, viz. "God rested on the seventh day from all his work." This reason must pertain to the inhabitants of every nation upon the face of the earth, as the work of his hands; and more especially, as the recipients of the blessings which his creatures afford: "in him we live, and move, and have our being," and who hath never left himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and glad an end, than what are absolutely necessary. It must be granted, that to the believing children of Israel, the sabbath was a sign of their entering into God's rest, and ceasing from their own works, as God did from his; but this could not apply at the creation, for man was in the rest God had appointed. It also reminded them that God had given them rest in the land of Canaan, from Egyptian bondage, which was a figure of the heavenly rest. But it is apparent, that these things were peculiar to the Israelitish nation, and were subsequent to the original institution, and thercfore could form no part of the reasons for the first appointment. Both the moral and typical obligations were indeed combined in the law given by Moses; but it is self-evident, that any typical purpose for which the sabbath was observed, could never have the least tendency to weaken its moral obligation. It was in one point of view a shadow, and passed away when the body came, but in another it was of moral obligation, and could not be rescinded but by him who made the appointment. This I think is still further confirmed by the circumstance that the command to observe the sabbath, when given by Moses to Israel, is found placed amongst those commands, which are acknowledged by all to be of universal obligation; which is a strong presumption that it was of the same character. It is this twofold relation, which it bore to the |