Egypt-Operations of the Ch. Miss. Society. 189 and religious tracts among the rem-||homedan children among these boys, nants of the Coptic and Greek chur- the others would contend with them ches, scattered in the various cities about the right to receive tracts; urand villages of Upper and Lower ging me not to give them to any boy, Egypt, have been noticed, to consid- except be made the cross, or brought erable extent, at pp. 286 and 355, an image of the virgin Mary. There vol. xxiv; and pp. 219 and 294, vol. are about 90 Christian families in XXV. In a late tour thro' the Delta, Zephte, who have one church, with Rev. J. T. R. Lieder had much in-a Kumus and a common priest; the tercourse with these nominal chris- church is small and dark: part of it tians, witnessed their state of ignor- is a school, with about 30 children. ance and depression, and left in their In the afternoon, several Mahomeschools, convents and families, many dans called on me; who behaved copies of the Bible or of portions of very well, so that, I am grieved to it, and of tracts. From the number say, they surpass in manners and edand condition of these people, as ucation most of the Christians here. represented by Mr. Lieder, compar-I read with them some passages of ed with the statements made respect- the scriptures; at which they showing them by Mr. Jowett, it seems ed, externally at least, their satisfacthat they are in a languishing state, tion. One of them bought the book and will soon become extinct, unless of Genesis; and three others I presomething is done speedily to in-sented on their own request, with crease knowledge and piety among them. Their readiness to receive the scriptures, and especially, to use them in their schools, gives some ground to hope that, by the divine blessing on missionary labors, they may be restored to their pristine life and purity-[Missionary Herald for November. the Psalms and Genesis; they revere the Psalms exceedingly; and the Old Testament would, in general, be received by many of them with pleasure, if it were separated from the New. Several Christians told me that it was a disgrace to give the Mahomedans a book of the holy Scriptures, and I had much difficulJuly 29.-Landed at a very early ty in convincing them of the ungodhour, at Zephte, a town on the wes-liness of such a principle: I often tern bank, and inhabited by many heard Mahomedans say, that the Christians: their ignorance is aston-Christians did not suffer them to ishing, as well as their indifference read our books. The Mahomedans, respecting the word of God. Several asked me why we had but four Gospels, thinking there were seven; and many I found who knew nothing of the word of God, except, the Psalms, and that there is an Old and a New Testament. As everywhere, so here, I found the boys most eager, but also the most ill-mannered: hav-read it purely and full-sounding, acing, this morning, presented some with tracts, such a number of boys crowded, towards noon-day, near the vessel, and made su a terrible noise, as to oblige me, as words did not prevail, to permit my servant to strike them, in order to compel them to desist. As there were many Ma however, do the same: they would beat a Christian if they happened to meet him with the Koran in his hand; and they cannot conceive that one who reads the Koran should not immediately do homage to Islam. I like very much to hear Mahomedans reading the Bible; because they cording to the grammar, as they read the Koran; whereas even the best educated Christians read it, and can read it only in their broken, corrupted dialect. Towards evening a Coptic priest-invited me to his house: I found several Christains assembled with him, and have hope that they listened to the truths of the Gospel. the cross, has offered his life for our sins, by faith in my heart; and if you have not THIS, you will not stand, at the day of judgment, before the throne of God, though you have hanging about you, and painted on you a thousand crosses; which all of them confirmed. One of the party observed: "There is no need for us to make crosses; since from the fall of man to this day, God has made crosses everywhere, and in each man's life, in order to guide us to humility; and you have but to In the afternoon, we touched at Mit Demsis, a large village on the east side, where there is a Coptic convent, pretty regularly built, and consecrated to St. George, (mar Girgis.) As there are no Coptic friars in it at present, it is inhabited by a married Coptic priest and his family there are, besides, only seven Christian families here, who all live within the walls of the convent. My servant invited one and another to come on board the vessel; but he had no sooner brought, by much per-stretch out your legs and your arms, suasion, one of the Copts, than he and you are yourself a cross, as perjumped on shore, and ran away. I fect as can be imagined." I was was greatly surprised at this conduct, much pleased to hear such an idea and lost no time in taking a few from the mouth of a Copt; as it books and going to the convent.- evinces some reflection on religion, When I arrived, all houses were shut||which is very rare among them.up from fear: an old man at last appeared, whose fears I soon removed, and on whose persuasion the rest successively approached. They told me that, some time ago, a servant of the pacha arrived here, who forcibly took away two boys, and carried them to Cairo, to be educated there July 31.--Towards noon-day, moorfor the service of the pacha; anded at Sammannoud, a considerable from that day they were in constant and populous place, on the left bank fear. After inspecting the church, of this branch of the river: it is ato which women, children, old and dorned with three beautiful towers young, followed me, and having pre- of Mosques; and is properly the susented those who could read with burb of Mehalet el Kebir, the capital parts of the Scriptures and tracts, a of the Delta, from which it is two young Greek who has lived here for hours distant. some time, invited me to his house. Several Copts joined us, and the leading subject of conversation was, the kingdom of God-Christ urgently calling to us, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you: but the natural man, "Seek ye first the things of this world." One asked me, among other things, why I had no cross pointed on my arm; which is the universal custom of the Copts, as well as of the Syrian Christians. I answered, "Because I have Christ himself, who, on the cursed wrod of Another Copt remarked: "I only carry my cross in order that, if I should be slain anywhere, the Mahomedans may not take me up and bury me ;" which is the most abominable thought which a Copt can conceive. Aug. 2.-This morning two Coptic priests called: they informed me that, formerly, a large number of Christians resided here; but that, at this time, only 20 families remained, having one church, but no school.— Three priests are stationed at the church, among whom there is a Kumus; they behaved very kindly and openly towards me; and were thankful when I presented them, on their request, wit the Psalms, in Coptic and Arabic. In the afternoon, crowds of boys and young men thronged near the vessel, for tracts; most of whom Egypt-Operations of the Ch. Miss. Society. 191 were Mahomedans. I carefully a-ted the captain of the vessel to steer voided asking who were Mahome- to the opposite side of the river, hopdans or Christians; and distributed ing to obtain a little retirement; but tracts among all who could read, but I was prevented, by several Chrisespecially the epistles of St. John, tians, who approached in boats: I and the parable of the sower. At conversed with them a little on the this, the Christians exhibited envy shore; and, on my promising to viand anger; calling to me continual-sit them again before sailing, they ly: "He is a Mahomedan !" "What returned. While walking up and a shame!" Among the rest, a bold down on the bank of the Nile, conlittle boy pressed towards me, stretch-templating the waving waters pressing out his hands, and begging a ling towards the sea, and absorbed in tract. Some young Christians who reflection on the new heaven and the were near him, endeavored to push new earth, in the 21st chapter of the him back, calling to me "He is a Apocalypse, I had another unexpecMahomedan!" The little boy, how-ted but cheering visit. A Coptic ever, lifted up his hands, either from husbandman, living opposite Sammistake or from childish simplicity, mannoud, in El Miniet Sammanoud, by the life of his prophet, that he was who had been in Mehalet El Kebir, a Christian! I gave him a tract and and to whose wife I had to-day givdismissed him. Poor boy! may you len the Acts and some tracts, had just become, in the full sense of the word, crossed the river with his wife, on what you have sworn to be! The their way home; the woman knew tumult of the boys soon attracted me immediately; and, after directing the attention of the sheik of the her husband's attention to me, they place, and as I was told that he had both came. This affectionate, guilesummoned several boys to him in or-less old man knew not how to exhider to see their books, I lost no time bit his gratitude enough; he kissed in putting on my bornos (a kind of my hands many times, and pressed Turkish cloak, and betaking myself them towards his forehead and heart. to him, in order to prevent misun-They both invited me and the crew derstanding: he received me very to enter their cottage in the neighkindly, and I was happy enough soon boring village, offering to refresh us to succeed in satisfying him respect-with all that they could afford; but ing the occurrence. On leaving, it was too late to go there, and I left presented him with a copy of Gene- them with some admonitions, blesssis, which he gratefully accepted.-ing them with the peace of God.Mothers came and desired tracts for their sons, and sisters for their brothers; and, when I requested to see them, in order to try their power of reading, they answered, "That they were yet little and could not read; but they apprehended that I should not come again, and they should thus be left without books, when able to read." of It is a custom with the Copts, and with nearly all oriental Christians, on taking leave of a priest, to supplicate his blessing: he puts his hands on the heads of the people, and pronounces on them the peace God. Such delightful moments occur but seldom, and tend to comfort him on his way. This morning, I sent my servant with a number of In the vicinity of Sammannoud books to Mehalet el Kebir, in order there are some villages in which to offer them for sale to the ChrisChristians live,who on Sundays come tians who live there: towards evehither to church: hence the con-ning, he returned, and said, that he course of people whom I met with had visited all the Mallims, and that to-day. Towards evening I reques-all had seen his books and said they ling head, The storm in all its fury hath swept by; When the loud ocean rose within its bed, And whelmed, with greedy roar, the struggling dead, [eye, were provided with them, having || Thou hast been called, when o'er thy tremb bought them from the abuna Mueller. The poor man looked very distressed, because nobody would buy his books: he thinks every man should buy the books, concerning which he knows so many good things, viz. all he had learned and conceived from my mouth: in fact, he needed to be looked at with a very friendly countenance, in order to exhilarate him. Poetry. From the Protestant Episcopalian. THE AGED CHRISTIAN'S DEATH BED. The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the ways of righteousness. Upon that brow, no diadem Hath shed its splendours, rich and rare; But faith beholds a radiant gem In every silver ringlet there. The faded lustre of that eye, The icy coldness of that cheek, Yet hope is in that dying smile: In whispers soft, it seems to say, Stay hov'ring angels-stay awhile, And bear my ransom'd soul away. Oh soon to holier joys he'll wake 'Mid sainted choirs.-Ah! dost thou see The silver chord's about to break, Who never more may greet thine anxious Thou hast been called, when, beautiful and bright [lay, The calm still sunshine round about thee And in thine ecstacy, thy spirit's flight Where thy God's presence beams eternal The chains of mortal flesh & clay hath riven, Hath thrilled thy heart with its majestic And the loud passionate sob break silence round. Yea, oft hast thou been called! and often now The "still small voice" doth whisper thee of God; Bidding thee smooth thy dark & sullen brow, "Tis done 'tis done.-The spirit's free! And from thy lip the prayer repentant flow, Oh let me hear that rapturous strain And now in grand, harmonious sound, And as they float heaven's arches round, Spirit of God! illume my way: Thou lamb of God! when I remove From the Amulet. By many an awful and neglected sign, Which may not rise unheard to His abode. Yet empty is thy place amid the choirs Of God's young angels in their peace and LUTHERAN MAGAZINE. VOL. 4.] Original. JANUARY, 1831. For the Lutheran Magazine. ORIGINAL SIN. [NO. 9. ed; our understanding has been darkened; our wills perverted and our affections alienated from the true source of our happiness. We are sub By one man's disobedience, many were||ject to the influence of a corrupt and depraved nature; we are conceived made sinners." The evil effects of Adam's trans-in sin, and born in iniquity; we are gression were communicated to his naturally poor, miserable, blind and posterity. He could convey no high-naked-incapable of heaven, and uner title to his children than that which able to escape hell, without the dihe himself possessed. Having for- vine aid and assistance. These are feited the privileges of the first co- the evil effects we have experienced, venant, he could not transmit them in consequence of Adam's apostacy as an inheritance to his posterity.— -this is the sin imputed to us. In His posterity therefore suffered the this sense all men have sinned. Not consequences of his disobedience. that all men are considered as havThey were included in the sentence ing participated in the guilt; but as of condemnation, and incurred the having suffered the punishment of penalties it inflicted. The effects of Adam's original transgression. For this condemnation have been expe- God could not consistently with his rienced by the whole human race. justice, impute to Adam's posterity, One generation has transmitted them an act which they never committed, to another, until they have reached or consider them guilty of a crime the remote period in which we live, of which they are innocent. The and began to operate upon us. We holy apostle never uses the term imalso, are the children of apostate pa-puted, with a view of conveying such rents, who have forfeited the right an idea. The word imputed whento covenant privileges. We are the ever it occurs in the holy Scriptures, descendants of degenerate ancestors, is used in reference to some personwho have inherited the corruptions al quality or action. Our own prinof their forefathers, and suffered un- ciples and actions, and not the prinder the influence of their vices.-ciples and actions of another, are reWe have lost the best part of the presented in Scripture, as being imIn this sense, the divine image; we have come short puted unto us. of the glory of God; we are far word is used by the apostle, when, gone from original righteousness;-in his epistle to the Romans, where Our moral faculties are impaired; he professedly treats of this doctrine, our intellectual powers are weaken-he observes, "If the uncircumcis |