they have found that Saviour of whom it was said of old : "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write."

In illustration of this, a little half-clothed girl was asked: "What is the meaning of faith?" The child answered: "The soul's strong trust in the Lord Jesus Christ." I think a more beautiful definition of faith, not to take the apostle's own definition of faith, could hardly be found. "Why is it wrong to pray to the Virgin Mary?" the child was asked. Her answer was: "Jesus has said, 'Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will do it."" Again the child was asked: "But is not the Virgin Mary a kind mother, and ought you not, therefore, to honour her and pray to her?" The little child answered at once: "Greater love hath no man than this, that He laid down His life for His friends." These are specimens of the way in which the children feed on the blessed truths of the Gospel. So, on another occasion, when some of the convert children were exposed to danger in a boat, during a storm, when they were directed by the missionary to lie down at the bottom of the boat, and keep quiet, they were presently heard singing, in notes which sounded sweetly amid the tumult of the waves,—

"Why those fears? Behold! 'tis Jesus
Holds the helm, and guides the ship."

On another occasion one of the children was asked: "Can you tell me, my child, what was that miracle in which our blessed Saviour exhibited his divine and human nature at the same time? The answer which the child gave was: "It was the miracle which He wrought at the graveside of Lazarus. He wept as a man; He said: 'Come forth,' as God." Another little boy stretched forth his hand to shew that he could give an answer; and when asked: "What was the miracle?" his reply was: "Jesus in the ship, when the storm was at its height, slept in the hinder part of the vessel, as man. He rose and rebuked the winds and waves in the majesty of His Godhead."

There is a spiritual tone among these children, and, while they are coming out of Romanism, they are also coming to that spiritual understanding-that feeding on the truth, and application of the truths of the Gospel to their own souls, which gives the conviction that it is not only an emancipation from the outward trammels of Romanism, and an introduction into the visible fold of Protestantism, but that it is a real work of spiritual emancipation from the power of Satan to the power of God, and from the errors that make them slaves, to the truths that make them free.

NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

MID much that is of stirring interest in the shape of news from the seat of war in the East, our young friends will be gratified to read the following:Bibles have been distributed, through the care of some pious persons, among the soldiers and mariners who have gone to the East; and they will in some sort supply the absence of Protestant chaplains. It is difficult to know if the inspired volume is regularly read by those to whom it has been given. The good seed, however, is not entirely lost. A sergeant-major has written a letter from the seat of war to his brothers at Lyons, from which I transcribe a few lines:-"Our vessel," he says, " arrived at Gallipoli ; and the next day, being disembarked, we encamped near the village of Boalain. Dear friends, in our unoccupied moments those who love the Gospel meet together. We go outside the camp, to be able quietly to converse with God, and meditate on His holy Word. I have observed, with great joy and thankfulness to our Saviour, that many of the soldiers to whom I gave New Testaments at Lyons have carefully preserved them. The number of Christians is very small, but it has increased under the Lord's blessing since we encamped. Some of the soldiers in my regi

ment, convinced of sin, have enrolled themselves under the banner of Christ. Let us pray that this sad war may come to an end, or, at least, that it may contribute to the advancement of the kingdom of God. Let us supplicate the Father of mercies, that the evangelical element preserved in our

No. X.

OCTOBER 1854.

little Christian band, may be a precious leaven in the ranks of the army; and that in poor Turkey there may shine some rays of the grace which enlightens souls."

BAPTISMS AT OUR ORPHANAGE IN CALCUTTA. Ir will gladden the hearts of our young friends who support the Orphanage at Calcutta, to receive the good news conveyed by the following extracts from a letter written by Mr. Henderson, one of the chaplains of the Church of Scotland at Calcutta:

"Besides, I have another purpose in writing to you at present, viz.,-to give you some account of the baptisms which lately took place in the Orphanage, that you may communicate the impressions which I have received of the girls who were baptized, to the Committee of the Ladies' Association, of which you are a member.

"I suppose Mr. Yule has already given you some information regarding the very interesting events; and it must have been gratifying to all the Christian ladies, whose sympathies are so enlisted in the work which this Association has in view, to hear what great things the Lord hath done for us, and to know that six of the children who have shared so largely the benefit of their generosity and prayers, had been admitted into the flock and fold of the Lamb.

"But, peculiarly interesting as this must be to the Christian friends of the Association at home, it was above measure so to all of us here. To me it was an especially solemn and interesting ceremony. I had had frequent interviews with the young converts preparatory to their baptism. I had often conversed and prayed with them alone, and felt deeply convinced that the Lord, in His mercy, had indeed touched and changed their hearts; and, therefore, it was with devoutest gladness and gratitude to God that I admitted them into the bosom of the Church of Christ. Their religious knowledge was accurate and extensive. They have a conception of the way of life such as few girls of their age at home can boast of; and had I not had frequent opportunities, on other occasions, of knowing how minutely they have been taught the lessons and truths which the Bible contains, I would have been perfectly amazed at the

amount of information on the scheme of salvation which they displayed in their interviews with me. But what was more pleasing to me than all was, that I fervently believe that they not only knew, but felt the power of divine truth. Some of them had passed through greater anxiety than others their convictions had been deeper and strongertheir concern more intense; but all had felt, more or less, of that trial and travail through which a spirit always passes in being born again. One of them was in great distress of mind during my first interviews with her; but she, in common with the others, was able at length to rejoice in the sweet sense of a reconciled Father's love.

"My object in all my conversations with them was, not to ascertain whether they understood the nature of the vows which they desired to take, (I was speedily satisfied on that point,) so much as to learn, if possible, whether they had the love of God in their souls, as I felt that, unless I had good ground to be satisfied on this point, I could not feel warranted to baptize them. And truly thankful am I to be able to say, that I have much reason to hope and believe that they have all been born again-that the great Shepherd has indeed had mercy on them, and called their souls to Him. When I closely questioned them on the motives which had induced them to desire to be baptized, they all said, 'that it was because they felt they were sinners, and wished to be washed in the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin.' I then asked: 'Whether they believed that baptism would wash their guilt away?' -They said: 'No; that it was only Immanuel's blood, sprinkled by the Holy Spirit on them, which could purify their sin-polluted souls. I then asked them: 'Who were the persons for whom baptism was intended?'-They said: 'For those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts.' I then inquired: 'Do you so believe?' They replied that they did. Wishing to ascertain their views of the nature of saving faith, I reminded them of the passage which describes it as 'purifying the soul,' and 'working by love;' and then asked them: 'Whether their faith had shewn its purifying influence by making them grieve for sin?' They said that it had. When I inquired: 'Why it grieved them ?'-they replied: 'Because it was such ingratitude towards God.' I then put the solemn question: Do you feel in your hearts that you truly love the Lord? If the Lord Jesus were to appear and say to you, as He did to Peter of old, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" could you lay your hands upon your hearts and

say, as Peter did: "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee ?" And four of them replied, one of them with tears in her eyes: 'Yes, we do love the Lord Jesus,'-the tone of their voices, and the expression of their faces, giving me reason indeed to believe that they felt what they said.

"The other two could only say that they desired, and prayed to be able to love the Lord. They had been under very strong convictions, and had not yet got the peace which springs from a sense of acceptance through the blood of Christ. I was naturally very anxious on account of these two, and conversed and prayed much with them-directing them to make this the subject of fervent supplication to God. During some of my subsequent interviews with them, they continued in great distress and anxiety of mind; but at last, I am thankful to say, obtained peace through the blood of the Lamb. I solemnly charged them that they were to search their hearts, and answer, as in the sight of God, whether it was out of love to Jesus that they wished to be baptized;' and they said, both with an expression and a tone which I shall not soon forget, that they now felt that they could say in truth that they loved the Lord.

"That they have uttered the solemn convictions of their hearts, I firmly believe. They have lived as the regenerate ever live. They are jealous of sin-humble in spirit. They are much in prayer, and love to read the Word of God. Mr. and Mrs. Yule have testified that, both before and since their baptism, they have given most compatible evidence of a change of heart.

"Of course, in the above I have given only the substance of our conversations. I, on every occasion but one, saw them separately; and though they answered differently, so far as the words they employed were concerned, they all said in substance what I have stated above.

"In public, I put only a few questions to them, as I informed the audience that I had already been satisfied of their fitness as candidates for baptism. The questions which I put regarding their knowledge of the great doctrines of the Bible, were simply and satisfactorily answered, but the inquiries which I put as to their motives were peculiarly so; and the earnestness and feeling which breathed from their reply, 'that they were moved by love to Jesus to desire to be baptized,' touched every one who listened, and moved them almost to tears.

"I need not swell out my letter to greater length, although I feel that I could say much more than I have said; but I