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forgiveness. His other hand was then cut off. “But sir," said Sabat in his imperfect English," he never changed, he never changed." And when he bowed his head to receive the blow of death, all Bochara seemed to say, "what new thing is this?"

Sabat had indulged the hope that Abdallah would have recanted when he was offered his life; but when he saw that his friend was dead, he resigned himself to grief and remorse. He travelled from place to place, seeking rest, and finding none. At last he thought he would visit India. He accordingly came to Madras about five years ago. Soon after his arri val he was appointed by the English government a Mufti, or expounder of Mahometan law; his great learning, and respectable station in his own county, rendered him eminently qualified for that office.

now the period of his own conversion drew near. While he was at Visagapatem, in the northern Cicars, exercising his professional duties, Providence brought in his way a New Testament in Arabic. He read it with deep thought, the Koran lying before him. He compared them together, and at length the truth of the word of God fell on his mind, as he expressed it, like a flood of light. Soon afterwards he proceeded to Madras, a journey of 300 miles, to seek Christian baptism; and having made a public confession of his faith he was baptised by the Rev. Dr. Kerr, in the English church at that place, by the name of Nathaniel, in the twenty-seventh year of his age.

Being now desirous of devoting his future life to the glory of God, he resigned his secular employ, and came by invitation to Bengal, where he is now engaged in translating the scriptures into the Persian, language. This work hath not hitherto been executed, for want of a translator of sufficient ability. The Persian is an important language in the East, being the general language of western Asia, particularly among the higher classes, and is understood from Calcutta to Damascus. But the great work which occupies the attention of this noble Arabian, is the

promulgation of the Gospel among his own countrymen; and from the present fluctuations of religious opinions in Arabia, he is sanguine in his hopes of success. His first work is entitled, (Neama Besharatin lil Arabi,) "Happy news for Arabia," written in the Nabuttee, or common dialect of the country. It contains an eloquent and argumentative elucidation of the truth of the Gospel, with copious authorities admitted by the Mahometans themselves, and particularly by the Wahabians. And prefixed to it, is an account of the conversion of the author, and an appeal to the members of his well-known family in Arabia, for the truth of the facts.

The following circumstance in the history of Sabat ought not to have been omitted. When his family in Arabia had heard that he had followed the example of Abdallah, and become a Christian, they dispatched his brother to India, (a voyage of two months,) to assassinate him While Sabat was sitting in his house at Visagapatem, his brother presented himself in the disguise of a Faqueer, or beggar, having a dagger concealed under his mantle. He rushed on Sabat,, and wounded him. But Sabat, seized his arm, and his servants came to his assistance. He then recognized his brother. The assassin would have become the victim of public justice, but Sabat interceded for his brother, and sent him home in peace, with letters and presents to his mother's house in Arabia.

The conversion of Abdallah and Sabat seems to have been as evidently produced by the Spirit of God, as any conversion in the primitive church. Other instances have occurred in Arabia of a similar kind, and on the very borders of Palestine itself. These are like the solitary notices which, in other nations, have announced the approach of a general illumination. John Huss, and Jerome of Prague, were not, perhaps, more talked of in Europe, than Abdallah and Sabat are at this day, in Bucharia and Arabia,

Section III.

CHARACTER OF A CLERGYMAN.

I was very much pleased, in my last visit to Colonel Caustic's, with the appearance and the deportment of the clergyman of his parish, who was a frequent visitor of my friend, and his sister. The Colonel, after drawing his character in a very favourable way, concluded with telling me, that he had seen something of the world, having officiated, in the early part of his life, as the chaplain of a regiment. To this circumstance, I confess, I was inclined to impute some of the Colonel's predilection in his favour; but a little acquaintance with him convinced me, that he had done the good man no more than justice in his eulogium. There was something of a placid dignity in his aspect; of a politeness, not of form, but of sentiment, in his manner; of a mildness, undebased by flattery, in his conversation equally pleasing and respectable. He had now no family, as Miss Caustic informed me, having had the misfortune to lose his wife, and two children many years ago. But his parishoners are his family, said she. His look indeed was parental, with something above the cares, but not the charities of this world; and over a cast of seriousness, and perhaps melancholy, that seemed to be reserved for himself, there was an easy cheerfulness, and now and then a gaiety, that spoke to the innocent pleasures of life, a language of kindness and indulgence.

""Tis the religion of a gentleman," said Colonel Caustic." "Tis the religion of a philosopher," said I.-""Tis something more useful than either," said his sister. "Did you know his labours as I have sometimes occasion to do! The composer of differences, the promoter of peace and of contentment; the encourager of industry, sobriety, and all the virtues that make society prosperous and happy. He

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gives to religion a certain graciousness which allures to its service, yet in his own conduct he takes less indulgence than many that preach its terrors. The duties of his function are his pleasures, and his doctrine is, that every man will experience the same thing, if he bring his mind fairly to the trial; that to fill our station well, is in every station to be happy." "The great and wealthy, I have heard the good man say," continued the excellent sister of my friend, to whom refinement and fancy open a thousand sources of delight, do not make the proper allowance for the inferior rank of men. That rank has scarce any exercise of mind or imagination but one, and that one is religion; we are not then to wonder, if it sometimes wanders into the gloom of superstition, or the wilds of enthusiasm. To keep this principle warm, but pure, to teach it as the gospel has taught it, the mother of good works,' as encouraging, not excusing our duties, the guide at the same time, and the sweetness of life; to dispense this sacred treasure as the balm of distress, the cordial of disease, the conqueror of death! These are the privileges which I enjoy, which I hope I have used for the good of my people they have hitherto shed satisfaction on my life, and I trust will smooth its close!"

""Tis the religion of a Christian !" said Miss Caustic. Lounger.

Section IV.

RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION CONTRASTED.

A VISION.

I had lately a very remarkable dream, which made so strong an impression on me, that I remember every word of it; and if you are not better employed, you may read the relation of it as follows:

I thought I was in the midst of a very entertaining set of company, and extremely delighted in attending to a lively conversation, when on a sudden, I perceived one of the most shocking figures that imagination can frame, advancing towards me. She

was dressed in black, her skin was contracted into a thousand wrinkles, her eyes deep sunk in her head, and her complexion pale and livid as the countenance of death. Her looks were filled with terror and unrelenting severity, and her hands armed with whips and scorpions. As soon as she came near, with a horrid frown, and a voice that chilled my very blood, she bade me follow her. I obeyed, and she led me through rugged paths, beset with briars and thorns, into a deep solitary valley. Wherever she passed, the fading verdure withered beneath her steps; her pestilential breath infected the air with malignant vapours,obscured the lustre of the sun, and involved the fair face of heaven in universal gloom. Dismal howlings resounded through the forest; from every baleful tree, the night raven uttered his dreadful note; and the prospect was filled with desolation and horror. In the midst of this tremendous scene, my execrable guide addressed me in the following manner.

"Retire with me, O rash, unthinking mortal! from the vain allurements of a deceitful world; and learn, that pleasure was not designed the portion of human life. Man was born to mourn and to be wretched. This is the condition of all below the stars; and whoever endeavours to oppose it, acts in contradiction to the will of heaven. Fly then from the fatal enchantments of youth and social delight, and here conseerate the sclitary hours to lamentation and woe.Misery is the duty of all sublunary beings; and every enjoyment is an offence to the Deity, who is to be worshipped only by the mortification of every sense of pleasure, and the everlasting exercise of sighs and tears."

This melancholy picture of life quite sunk my spirits, and seemed to annihilate every principle of joy

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