house in the circumstances above-mentioned, it is not expedient to say more at present, than that it is much feared that justice has not been done to their religious views and moral impressions. Behrámjí, who strenuously resisted the many and strong temptations with which in the first instance he was assailed in common with his fellow-students, has continued to justify the hopes with which his case was regarded by his Christian friends. After receiving daily and hourly instruction in the missionhouse, and occasionally in the Free General Assembly's Institution, for three months, and affording many pleasing proofs of his sincerity and devotedness, he was admitted into the visible church on the 31st August last, when the following Sermon and Baptismal Address were delivered, and when Behrámjí himself, in the interesting and affecting Personal Statement, also here printed, "witnessed a good confession before many witnesses." The supplementary article on Religious Inquiry and Religious Confession, is taken from a Lecture delivered to the students of Bombay a few weeks previously.

The Sermon briefly treats of the Star of Bethlehem, and the visit of the Magi seeking the Born-king of the Jews, both in their literal and symbolical import. It directs attention to the first manifestation of the Messiah to the Gentiles, and to the signs of the times in India, considered in their highest relations, and with reference to the responsibility of those who should observe and interpret them. It points to providential dispensations and agencies,

which call upon the people of India to "turn to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come." The Baptismal Service, by Mr. White, exhibits the peculiarities of both the solemn commencement and future progress of Christian discipleship and profession. The personal statement of the young convert explains and vindicates the important step which, by Divine grace, he has been enabled to take, as well as calls upon his companions in study to imitate his example. The remarks on Religious Inquiry and Confession are principally designed to form a quiet protest against methods frequently resorted to by the natives of India to prevent the profession of Christianity by the young, and to lead earnest and sincere inquirers of that promising class of the community to form a calm judgment of the peculiar temptations with which they are assailed when they seek to avow their attachment to the truth as it is in Jesus. To the friends of missions, who have requested their publication, as well as to those who are the objects of the missionary enterprise, they may not, through the Divine favour, prove unacceptable. The movement towards Christianity on the part of the students of Bombay, in which they have originated, still continues; and as these pages have been going through the press, two other students, one a Muhammadan and the other a Pársí, have reached the portals of the visible Christian Church, into which they are anxiously seeking ad

May

mission. Individuals of mature and advanced years, too, have come forward to the same position. God perfect that which concerns them; and to Him

be all the praise.

BOMBAY, December 1856.

J. W.

NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

AN account of the Conversion and Baptism of the two Students here referred to, is added to the Illustrative Documents, reprinted from the first edition of this little volume.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

"We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."-MATT. ii. 2.

IN describing the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, Matthew evidently carries us beyond the ordinary circle of providential dispensations, and introduces us into the region of miracles. In doing this, he makes no extravagant demand on our faith, and presents to the eye of our candid contemplation no incongruous scene. The Creator of the universe remains to all eternity its Governor. The physical records of the earth, as cautiously interpreted by the science of geology, indubitably show to us that since the first creative and formative processes connected with our globe commenced, there have been many miraculous forthputtings of the Divine power, in fitting it for the abode of man, and in the creation of the innumerable species of plants and animals which, after living and dying, are now entombed in the rocky layers and beds of its crust. That Divine