things?" " By the blessing of God, I intend to inform him,' was his reply.

purify your heart? He still answered in the affirmative. "Now," said I, "all that you require is, to believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. Come to God as a guilty sinner; and entreat, that, for Christ's sake, He would freely pardon all your sins, and remove your doubts and fears."

He was much affected with the relation in which he stood to his venerable Father. "I am sure," said he, that my apostacy will bring him down with sorrow to the grave." He spoke very feelingly of his Father's peculiar situation; and added, My Father has many enemies at Derbent; and when they hear of his Son becoming an Infidel, they will rejoice and thank God

for it."

April 20, 1823-Mahomed Ali spent the afternoon with me. Conviction is taking deeper root in his heart.

April 21-Mahomed Ali came as usual this morning. When he went home yesterday evening, he found Mirabutalib, the Mission Teacher, and his Father conversing together. He took his seat beside them, and began to speak of the Gospel. As he was proceeding, his Father interrupted him, and requested that he might hear no more vain words.

I endeavoured to comfort his mind. He said, "I know that God is about to call me to endure afflictions for His Name's sake; but I trust that He will enable me to hold out. I once thought that I should like to leave this country; but, upon more mature reflection, I am convinced that it is my duty to remain, and suffer all the will of God. I exhorted him not to fear; but to hold fast the beginning of his confidence stedfast unto the end. "Oh," said he, "I am not able, of myself, to stand before my Father. Now is the time to pray for me! I entreat you to pray for me."

April 22-Mahomed Ali made his appearance to-day at the usual hour.

His

Father sent, the night before, for one of his Persian Friends, and requested him to take his Son aside, and give him some salutary counsel. The following conversation ensued:

"So you intend to become a Christian." "Yes, I do"-" Are you not satisfied with "the Koran, and with your own religion?" "No. Can you prove to me that the Koran is a revelation from heaven?""Come, come: tell me how much money the English Mollahs have given yon for becoming a Christian." "Read the Gospels, and reflect seriously on them; and, at the end of three days, you will not ask me that question"-" -"Remember, your Father, your honour, your reputation, are all at stake: it will be for your advantage in this world not to change your religion." "What will that avail me, if I must suffer the wrath of God in hell for ever?"-" You will be persecuted." "The Gospel saith, And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other." On hearing this reply, the Persian Gentleman was confounded, and said, "Why do you not tell your Father these

He slept none during the course of the night; but was engaged in constant prayer both for himself and his Father.

April 23-Mahomed Ali still professes his attachment to the doctrines of the Cross; and says that he is determined, by the grace of God, to make an open profession of his faith in Christ. The Persian Gentleman has been using every means in his power to withdraw him from the faith of the Gospel; but without effect. That Gentleman acts in the capacity of mediator He is between the old man and his son. a man of extensive knowledge, and approved piety in the Mahomedan Faith; yet so successfully has Mahomed Ali applied to his conscience the arguments with which the Gospel furnishes him, that he has come to the following conclusion:-" Perhaps you may be right. You may have truth on your side."

The Directors add

His Father, acting under the influence of his Persian Friends and his own inveterate prejudices, treated him with the utmost harshness, when he perceived his determination was fixed to become a Christian. He has been exposed to much contumely and reproach; and has been confined, and beaten with great severity. The Missionaries, under the impression that his life even was endangered, conceived it to be their duty to provide for his safety, by soliciting the aid of the Governor, by whose authority he has been lodged in safety in the Mission House. A few additional extracts will unfold the nature of the trials to which this convert has been exposed, and the blessed state of mind which he has been able to preserve under them all :

Upon inquiring of Mahomed Ali, as to the state of his mind during the time that he had been confined by his Father, he said that it was in the most peaceful and happy state, notwithstanding all the wrangling and abuse to which he had been exposed-that his tongue was quite tired, by the perpetual discussions which he was obliged to enter into, with crowds of Persians who visited at his Father's-that God had, indeed, been, a mouth and wisdom to him; for that, upon no one occasion, had he not been able to give them such answers, as they could neither gainsay nor resist: so that the Father declared to his Son, "The Devil has more power over you than even the Englishmen have; for if they were to preach and argue as you do, all the town would renounce our Prophet, and become Christians."

The meekness with which he was able to bear their ill usage, strikingly exhibited the deep influence which his Christian Belief exercised over his heart. One man called

upon him, for the purpose of arguing with him; and, after giving him many bad names, began to pray to that God "who neither is begotten, nor begets"-this is one of the distinctive titles of God by Mahomedans-that, before this week was ended, he would shew his just displeasure against this apostate, by causing him to die. After he had finished, M. Ali said, "You have now prayed for me: I shall pray for you:"--and, raising his hands and his eyes to heaven, he entreated that God, in His mercy, would lead this man into the true way of salvation, and deliver his soul from the pains of hell. After he had done, he added, "You have called me by many hard names: and you know that if you had done so a few weeks ago, I should have broken your mouth for it; but now they produce no such irritable feelings. I am able to bear them all."

We have no doubt that the meekness which he has all along displayed, will have a strong impression on the minds of those who have had intercourse with him.

When he came to us, he said his head was still painful from the blows which he had received from his Father; and added, "I have suffered much since I saw you; but Christ suffered much more."

Baptism of Mahomed Ali.

On the preparation for the Baptism of this Convert, the Directors thus speak :

After Mahomed Ali was lodged in the Mission House by the civil authorities, the Missionaries flattered themselves that their anxieties on his account would

now be allowed, in a great measure, to pass away. They were, however, speedily revived, by the proposal of the Archbishop of Astrachan, that Mahomed Ali should be placed under the charge of a Greek Priest, with the view of his receiving the necessary instructions, previous to his being admitted into that Communion, by the rite of Baptism. The Missionaries respectfully stated the nature of the privileges which they, as Scottish Colonists, possessed; and, finally, it was agreed, that the right of the Missionaries to receive this Persian Convert into Church-fellowship, should be referred, by both parties, to his Imperial Majesty; Mahomed Ali, in the mean time, being permitted to remain under the charge of the Missionaries.

The Letter which the Missionaries addressed to Prince Galitzin, the Minister for Religion, was accompanied by a Petition to the Emperor, from Mahomed Ali, soliciting that he might be allowed to receive Christian Baptism from those who had been the instruments of his conversion.

We have much pleasure in annexing

the reply of Prince Galitzin-confirmatory as it is of the privileges granted, in 1806, to our Missionaries in Russia granting the eager wish of this converted Persian, strengthening the hands of our Missionaries in that country, and breathing the true spirit of Christianity.

To the Members of the Scottish Colony, residing in Astrachan, Messrs. Glen, Ross, M'Pherson, Dickson, and Mitchell

Your most agreeable Letter, dated Astrachan, 7th May, respecting the conversion of the Persian Mirza Mahomed Ali Bey, and the enclosed Petition from him to His Majesty the Emperor, I have duly received. I was, at the same time, favoured with a communication from his Grace, Abraam, Archbishop of Astrachan and the Caucasas, relative to the same subject.

Taking a cordial interest in the conversion of this Young Persian, I considered myself bound to embrace the earliest opportunity of bringing it before his Imperial Majesty; that the pious wish of Mirza Ali Bey, to obtain the sacrament of Holy Baptism, might be fulfilled with all possible dispatch.

His Majesty the Emperor having himself perused, with the greatest satisfaction, the account of the conversion of this Mahomedan, has most graciously been pleased to order me, Gentlemen, to inform you of His Majesty's pleasure, that this Persian should receive Baptism in the Communion with which he wishes to be united.

This measure is in perfect accordance with the privileges graciously bestowed, on the 25th December, 1806, on the Scottish Colony settled in the Government of the Caucasas; in the articles of which, is contained a sufficient decision, authorising them to receive, by Holy Baptism, all who are converted to the Lord through your instrumentality.

The delight with which I communicate to you this pleasing intelligence, is equal to the cordial joy which was afforded me by the perusal of your interesting Letter. May the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed and glorified! May His blissful reign be extended every where throughout the earth!

Requesting you will transmit, in future, an account of those individuals, who, like this Persian, are converted with their whole heart and soul to the Faith of Christ; it is with pleasure that I, at the same time, assure you of my sincere good-will towards the object of your Society, and my constant readiness to render you my services, and all necessary protection.

St. Petersburg, May 30, 1823.

Our Readers have seen some notices on the subject of Restrictions on Baptism in Russia, at pp. 297 and 298 of the Number for July; of the Scottish Missionaries conand will rejoice to find the privileges firmed.

Under this high sanction, the

Baptism of Mahomed took place, in the presence of Greeks and Turks, Persians and Frenchmen, Britons, Germans, and the dwellers in Armenia. The Service was performed by Messrs. Glen, M Pherson, and Ross, in English, Turkish, and Persian; so that all understood some part or other of the Service. Previously to the administration of the ordinance, Mahomed Ali made the following Declaration of his Faith:

When the Most High God, of His boundless mercy, presented to me the tidings of the Gospel, I read and saw that it gave information concerning a Saviour, whom God Most High had made a propitiation for His sinful servants. I next reflected on my own sinful actions, which I had committed in times past: I saw myself a sinner, and perceived what an enemy to God sin must be in myself, I had on hope of life or salvation from the wrath of God. I then compared the Gospel with other Sacred Books, namely, the Psalms, the Law, and the Prophets; and saw, that, in sense, they were in perfect unison with one another, respecting the forementioned Saviour; nor could I find the slightest discrepancy between them. After this, I was drowning in a multitude of thoughts; but, at all times, I earnestly entreated God Most High to shew me that way in which alone the salvation of the soul is to be found, and that He would perfect His will concerning His servant.

And, after some days, in a remarkable manner, my heart and soul, and my whole frame, gave me testimony that the blood of Christ has become a propitiation for all my sins, and if I should at this time die I had nothing to fear.

To the praise of God, from that hour to this, my belief is, that Jesus Christ is the Only-begotten Son of God-that His blood was shed for the sake of sinners-and that, except the Holy Books above mentioned, there is no Oracle from God. My faith increases daily; and my hope is, that it will continue to increase. Subsequent advices bring the encouraging information, that the work, thus happily begun, is extending its influence over other Persians.

Nov. 1823.

Nogay Tartars.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Adoption of a Missionary among the THE Society has been led, in an unNogay Tartars. expected manner, to adopt a Missionary, who had previously found self-devotion, to fix himself among means, in a truly heroical spirit of the Nogay Tartars. The Rev. W. H. Angas, who is visiting the sends the following account of this Baptist Churches on the Continent, Young Man to the Secretary. His Letter is dated Bâsle, Sept. 24, 1823.

In passing through the Prussian Churches, I obtained tidings of a Young Man, a native of Switzerland, and by name Daniel Schlatter, whom I think the Committee will consider worthy of their attention. He served in the capacity of a merchant's clerk in the town of St. Gallen, for a number of years, with great credit to himself, comfort to his family, and advantage to his employer. Very early in life, his Mother's pious care for his soul was blessed to his conversion. As he rose in years, he was accustomed to read Missionary Intelligence with great avidity as he read, he felt a growing interest in the Lord's work among the Heathen; until, at length, this came to a burning desire, that, one day, He might open a door for HIM also into the wide fields of Missionary Labour.

His prayers to this effect were, after some years, graciously answered; so that he found himself at liberty to apply to the Missionary Institution here, for admittance as a student. But as he had embraced the sentiments of Adult Baptism, he could not, consonant with the rules of the Institution, be taken upon its establishment. For the great regard, however, which the Directors had for his character, and respect for his natural capacity for the work, they liberally paid his travelling expenses to Tartary, where it was in his heart to go, among the Nogaïen Tribe, as their Missionary.

Being shut out from pecuniary support from all Missionary Institutions on, the Continent, he hired himself out as a groom and house-servant to a Tartar Chief, by name Abdullah. By this 3 R