THE BEST OF ALL IS, GOD IS WITH US. REV. DR. JUDSON. In the month of February, 1832, Dr. Judson commenced a missionary tour among the Karen villages on the river Salwen, accompanied by several Christian native assistants. Under date of March 11th, the missionary relates the following circumstance, with the delightful reflections appended, The extract is inserted as a specimen of the encouraging incidents of missionary life. On their way down the river, they had met a boat full of men. "On hailing them," says Dr. J., "to know whether they wished to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, an elderly man, the chief of the party, replied, that he had already heard much of the gospel; and there was nothing he desired more, than to have a meeting with the teacher. Our boats were soon side by side; where, after a short engagement, the old man struck his colors, and begged us to take him into port, where he could make a proper surrender of himself to Christ. We accordingly went to the shore, and spent several hours very delightfully, under the shade of the overhanging trees, and the banner of the love of Jesus. The old man's experience was so clear, and his desire for baptism so strong, that though circumstances prevented our gaining so much testimony of his good conduct, since believing, as we usually require, we felt that it would be wrong to refuse his request. He went on his way, rejoicing aloud, and declaring his resolution to make known the eternal God, and the dying love of Jesus, on all the banks of the Yoon-za-len, his native stream. The dying words of an aged man of God, when he waved his withered, death-struck arm, and exclaimed, 'The best of all is, God is with us,' I feel in my very soul. Yes, the great Invisible is in these Karen wilds. That Mighty Being, who heaped up these craggy rocks, and reared these stupendous mountains, and poured out these streams in all directions, and scattered immortal beings throughout these deserts — He is present by the influence of his Holy Spirit, and accompanies the sound of the gospel with converting, sanctifying power. THE BEST OF ALL IS, GOD IS WITH US! In these deserts let me labor, APPEAL FOR BURMAH. REV. DR. JUDSON. The following impressive and truly eloquent appeal from the missionaries in Burmah, was written by Dr. Judson, and signed by himself and Messrs. Wade, Bennett, Cutter and Jones. It produced, at the time of its publication, the deepest sensation in the minds of American Christians; and is deemed worthy of a place in the present volume, as the most thrilling and remarkable production of its kind that has ever fallen under the observation of the editor. It is dated, Maulmain, June 4th, 1832, the day of the monthly concert, and is addressed to the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, Boston. We are in distress. We see thousands perishing around us. We see mission-stations opening on every side; the fields growing whiter every day; and no laborers to reap the harvest. If each one of us could divide himself into three parts, happy would he be, not only to take leave of his native land and beloved connections at home, but of still nearer and more intimate connections. We want instantly to send aid to the Tavoy station, where brother Mason is laboring almost alone. We want instantly to send a missionary to Mergui, a pleasant, healthful town, south of Tavoy, where a small church has been raised up, and left in charge of a native pastor. Our heart bleeds when we think of poor Mergui and the Karens in that vicinity, many of whom are ready to embrace the gospel and be saved. But how can we allow ourselves to think of that small place, when the whole kingdom of Siam lies in our rear, and the city of Bankok, at once a port for ships and the seat of imperial government? We want instantly to dispatch one of our number to Bankok. One? There ought, at this moment, to be three, at least, on their way to that important place. Another ought to be on his way to Yah-heing, a large town east of Maulmain, from which there is a fine river leading down to Bankok. There are many Karens at Yah-heing. The Christian religion is creeping that way, by means of our Karen disciples. North of Yah-heing and the Thoung-yen river, the boundary of the British territory on that side, lies the kingdom or principality of Zen-mai. There have been several communications between the government of Maulmain and Lah-bong, the present capital of that country. Moung Shway-bwen, one of our disciples, formerly with brother Boardman at Tavoy, is a nephew of the prince, or deputyprince, of that country, and is anxious to return thither. But how can we send him, a very young man, without a missionary? If we had a spare missionary, what a fine opportunity for introducing the gospel into that central nation? It would open the way to other neighboring nations, not even mentioned in foreign geographies, and even to the borders of China and Tartary. Between Maulmain and Zen-mai are various tribes of Karens, Toung-thoos, Lah-wahs, &c. The former are literally crying out aloud for a written language, that they may read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. From the banks of the Yoon-za-len, on the northwest, the celebrated prophet of the Karens has repeatedly sent down messages and presents to us, begging that we would come and instruct his people in the Christian religion. But how can we think of supplying that quarter, when the old kingdom of Arracan, now under British rule, and speaking the same language with the Burmese, is crying, in the whole length and breadth of her coast, for some one to come to her rescue. that country are one or two hundred converts, and one country-born missionary, from the Serampore connection, who is laboring without any prospect of reinforcement from Bengal, and desirous that one of us should join him. In Kyouk-pyoo, lately established by the English, is esteemed a healthy place. The commandant is disposed to welcome a missionary, and afford |