the inaccuracy of only one of those books, hey regard with equal reverence, and consult only guides, you must weaken their attachthe whole, and in the same proportion preeir minds for the reception of Divine truth. not always be advisable to promote such dis; but if proposed by the heathen, they should eclined. (See Christian Studies.)

visiting their pagodas (temples), you should rcibly enter the inner apartment where the ol is kept. This is forbidden ground to all brahmins in the service of the pagoda; and they may not always venture or be able to u, yet it is impossible to commit a greater upon their feelings, than by profaning-for ald consider your presence a profanationnsecrated receptacles. The Christian can elp feeling indignant at such a prostration of an understanding as he will behold there: nay think, that he has only to shew his disr the object of their adoration, by approachtouching it, in order to dissolve the spell Is them prostrate at its feet. But he would stake. The more gross the superstition, the ill be found the ignorance that gave it birth, nore pertinacious the grasp that retains it. e the prepossessions of such a mind, can y to augment their force, and thereby defeat ntion. They will allow you to stand at the look at the idol; and even listen to your ons on the inutility of imploring succour feless block of stone. But if you venture

beyond this, you will not find them so quiet, and will soon perceive in their determined opposition, or impatience to get rid of you, sufficient reason to regret your temerity.

The brahmins of the pagodas which are frequently visited by the English, have learned to ask for a present; and if they would accept a trifle merely in remuneration to themselves for their trouble, no one would refuse to give it. But it is notorious that they receive these donations as offerings presented to the god of the temple, and exult in the sanction thus given to their superstitions by Christian visitors. This information must be quite enough to shew the impropriety of complying with their request for money on such occasions,

You should always avoid intruding upon respectable Hindoos when at their meals. They have a proverb which enjoins all men to refrain from looking at others while eating: for they suppose the influence of an evil eye to be such as to pollute the food, and cause pain and disease to him who eats it. Consequently the heathen of caste always retire to a corner, or private apartment, to take their meals: and when a foot is heard approaching, they bend the body over the food, and look round with the apparent suspicion of one who thinks a stranger is coming to deprive him of his repast. Many of them carry this prejudice so far as to throw away the vessel containing their food, together with its contents, if touched by one of inferior caste: and as they class Europeans with the natives of no caste, none but the very lowest of them will eat in our presence. If the missionary be a devout, sensible,

udent man, they will admit his moral and mental ority. But if he offend their prejudice in this , they will not readily believe his professions ird for them, and will pay but little attention instructions. He has to deal with children of ears, and will find them much less docile than ant mind that is not yet warped by erroneous les, or confirmed in pernicious habits. It will, re, be necessary to refrain from all such conis likely to prove repulsive, and to endeavour, y way consistent with the dictates and duties gion, to win their confidence and esteem. her is it advisable for the missionary to admit nverse with respectable natives at his own for they could not fail to observe much that offend their prejudices, and diminish their for his character.

I

PROCEEDINGS AT THE FOUNDING OF A
MISSIONARY STATION.

THE first missionaries to any station in a foreign country will have more arduous duties to perform than those who succeed them, when the fallow ground of the vineyard will be broken up, and the foundation of the church laid. Most men will have formed a general plan previous to their arrival at the scene of their labours; but before they act upon it, they should proceed, like a skilful general, to examine their position-the local advantages of the station, with the character and inclination of the inhabitants, -in order to ascertain how far the line of conduct which they meant to pursue is adapted to the place. Circumstances vary at almost every station: you ought not, therefore, to be precipitate in adopting your measures, but should take your first steps with the most cautious deliberation, prepared to modify your plan, if necessary, or even to relinquish it for another better adapted to the people around you.

There are those who startle at the word prudence, as though it implied a compromise of principle: but the man who has not sufficient stability of character to exercise discretion without the most scrupulous fidelity, is not qualified to go forth as an ambassador of Christ to foreign lands. The missionary must expect occasionally to be placed in circumstances

ssimilar to those which surrounded his Master; e cannot take a better example for his direction the prudence which Jesus Christ invariably d.

is prudence is discerned, where prudence is most d, in his conduct on trying occasions, and in rs to artful questions. Of these, the following amples :-His withdrawing, in various ins, from the first symptoms of tumult (Matt. 2; Luke v. 15, 16; John v. 13, vi. 15), and ne express care, as appears from Saint Matthew 9), of carrying on His ministry in quietness; eclining of every species of interference with il affairs of the country, which disposition ifested by His behaviour in the case of the caught in adultery (John viii. 1), and in His of the application which was made to Him, rpose his decision about a disputed inheritance xii. 14); His judicious, yet, as it should seem, ared answers, will be confessed in the case of man tribute (Matt. xxii. 19); in the difficulty ing the interfering relations of a future state, osed to him in the instance of a woman who arried seven brethren (Matt. xxii. 28); and, specially, in His reply to those who demanded

an explanation of the authority by which He -which reply consisted in propounding a questhem, situated between the very difficulties ich they were insidiously endeavouring to m." (Matt. xxi. 23, &c.)-Paley's Evidences. edit. 1825, pp. 271, 272.