views and diction of the Jewish nation? All serious christians admit an adverse spiritual agency, seductive or terrifying, as the infernal prince is permitted to put it forth. Hence we are taught to pray for deliverance from the evil one; to 'resist him steadfast in the faith;' to 'be sober, to be vigilant, for your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he devour.' Most devout Most devout persons

may

accept these passages as they find them, without affecting to explain away or abate their force, and without regard to the difficulty they may feel, of making it square with their ideas of the spontaneity of human actions and their consequent moral turpitude. Why, then, should we esteem it more hard of belief that the great adversary, or some part of the apostate agency over which he presides, should mischievously assail our intellectual nature, and disturb the connection between it and that part of our animal economy through the medium of which it acts, than that he should criminally operate to our spiritual detriment? In both cases, Satan is under the control of Omnipotence; and beyond this a pious mindcan desire no stronger guarantee for its defence andcomfort.

It has indeed sometimes been assumed, that the possessions referred to in the gospels took place by a special providence during the incarnation and ministry of our Lord, to supply occasions for the more splendid demonstrations of his power. A weak and hazardous hypothesis, and calculated to create far more scepticism than ever it can remove. In what a circle of absurdity would it involve us, to suppose one

miracle, or one series of miracles, should be created, to offer an occasion for the display of a second! We should act quite as reasonably, and confer as much honour upon the evangelical testimony, if we were to believe and affirm, that all the sick, and all the blind, and all the deaf, the maimed, the leprous, and the dead, were brought into their respective conditions that the compassion and power of the Saviour should be evinced in their recovery.

Besides, these possessions are never referred to by our Lord or his apostles, neither at any time by their bitterest adversaries, as new creations; but always as existing, and well known and acknowledged calamities. 'If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.' The Hindus entirely agree with the Jews in their ideas upon this mysterious and affecting subject, and their language precisely accords with that used by the divine historians. If a sufferer of this class attract the attention of an European, and he inquire of a native as to his malady, the reply will be, ‘He is possessed, a spirit hath gotten or seized him.'

23. Lord's day. Enjoyed much happiness in reading to and instructing my family. Had much pleasure, and a revival of ancient friendship in my soul, by reading dear Mr. Ryland's Circular Letter on Zeal; but sorely feel the loss of those public opportunities which I enjoyed in England. Hope, however, to have something more to do for God at Malda.

24. Devoted in some measure to God; but O how

little is my will swallowed up in his! Long delay and unsettledness have filled me with discouragement, and drank up my spirit; but I feel some rising composure in reflecting, that all my times are in the hand of God. This evening I was enabled to contend for the truth as it is in Jesus, with my host. O that God would requite his kindness to us by converting his soul !

25-28. Days spent in a mixture of pleasure and pain, and every day in expectation of being removed from hence. I am loaded with civility from the kind Mr. Short, but I am ashamed to receive the tokens of his friendship: was it not that my wife is so ill as to be unable to sustain the fatigue of an incommodious voyage to Malda, I would set out at any rate; but as it is, I cannot till Mr. Thomas sends me a letter. I rejoice to find and feel that all my times are in the hand of God. O what must those persons undergo in affliction, if their consciences are at all awake, who have no sense of the infinite wisdom and goodness which order all things here below; but eyeing a covenant God, I can say, with exultation, 'Though the fig-tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit in the vine; though the labour of the olive should fail, and the herds be cut off from the stall; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.'

29. Through mistake spent this day as the sabbath. I have, however, abundant reason to be thankful for the mistake; it has been a time of refreshing indeed to me. O what is there in all this world worth

living for, but the presence and service of God! I feel a burning desire that all the world may know this God and serve him. O how long will it be till I shall know so much of the language of the country as to preach Christ crucified to them! But, bless God, I make some progress.

'31. A day of hard labour at Bengali, and I trust some enjoyment in divine things. This evening the long expected letter from Malda arrived, at which my heart was made glad: the prospect of re-union with my colleague, and of our being so provided for as to carry on the work of printing the bible, gladdened my heart. I am resolved to write to the Society that my circumstances are such, that I do not need future help from them, and to devote a sum monthly for the printing of the Bengali bible.

April 1, 2, 3. These three days have not at all been favourable to the growth of grace. The company of four of the first gentlemen in the settlement, though civil, genteel, and kind, is yet unfriendly to the work of God within. However, this good end is answered, I become more known, and have assurances that even the officers of government will help me in the work which I am engaged in; though the cause, I am well assured, will thrive without any of their help. However, if offered, I think it would be criminal to reject any thing that may tend to the advancement of the work, and the comfort of my family. Nothing yields me more pleasure than the prospect of Mr. Thomas and I being re-united in the work; and particularly as he has, of his own accord, written

to me that he knows his conduct at Calcutta was wrong, and he was desperately drinking into the spirit of the world, to the destruction of godliness.

'5. How wicked is the heart of man; and what a curse must it be to be wholly under its wicked dominion! Then all mercies are repelled, all privileges neglected, and all God's authority slighted. This awful spirit so prevails in me, that I can scarcely tell whether I have the grace of God or not. If I have it, how very low is the degree! And if not, then how shall I teach others! I can scarcely determine; but be it as it may, I am resolved to spend and be spent in the work of my Lord Jesus Christ.

'6. Had some sweetness to-day, especially in reading Edwards's sermon, The Most High a prayerhearing God.' What a spirit of genuine piety flows through all that great man's works! I hope I have caught a little fresh fire to-day; but how desirable and important is it that God should constantly fan the heavenly flame! I need abundance of grace, in order to communicate divine things to others; but to my comfort, Christ has said, 'He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters;' no doubt meaning, that faith is a communicative principle, and that true believers will as naturally speak of the things of God, as a fountain casts forth streams of water. I wish I could speak so as to be understood: I can say a little, but not sufficient to answer the objections brought against the gospel.

7. I have enjoyed some pleasure in God to-day, and spent the evening in a long dispute with my