that they are blessed who sow their seed beside all waters, and that we know not which shall prosper, this or that, I conversed with them a little; and considering they might never have another opportunity of hearing the Gospel, of of learning the way of salvation, I gave each of them a small portion of the Scriptures. This seed of life, though it should not find a friendly soil immediately, may hereafter be lodged in some distant spot, where it will bring forth fruit unto life eternal. One of the merchants read to the others for some time, and they departed, saying they would read the books daily.

"July 22. Lord's-day. One of the severest privations we experience here, is the want of public worship and gospel ordinances. To supply this loss, in part, it is our custom to read an approved sermon on Lord's-day morning, and engage in prayer. To-day, Mrs. Boardman and I have united in commemorating our dear Redeemer's dying love, at his last table. Although only two in number, we trust we had some enjoyment of the presence of our beloved Saviour. We experienced in a degree what Paul meant when he said, 'The love of Christ constraineth us.' I desire that the love which Christ has manifested towards sinners, may constitute the main-spring of my actions, and the governing, controlling principles of my life.

August 3. Twenty-five or thirty persons have visited us to-day. Although they do not all come for the purpose of obtaining Christian instruction, yet they afford us an opportunity of saying something about Christ, which they generally hear with attention. Some come for the express purpose of being instructed; and when we tell them we know but very little of their language, they reply, Do speak to us according to your ability.' If, at any time, they do not readily comprehend our meaning, they request us to repeat our words again and again, till they understand us fully.

"The other day, Mrs. B. and myself took our little babe and walked out to the road. In a few moments more than sixty children, all, I judge, under twelve years of age, gathered around us. O how we longed to be imparting to them the saving truths of the Gospel! Indeed, no one, who has not been in similar circumstances, can

tell how a missionary feels on beholding hundreds and thousands around him perishing for lack of knowledge, with no one to point them to the Lamb of God. A fire is shut up in his bones, he struggles to give it vent in language, but his tongue, chained in silence, cannot perform its office. Such, at least, have been our feelings for some time past. May the Lord listen to our cries, and send salvation to this people.

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August 4. Early this morning a respectable Burman, who has been attending for some time on the preaching of the brethren at Amherst, called to see us. He affords considerable evidence of a change of heart. He has spent some time with us, conversing on the Christian religion, which, he says, he intends soon to profess by baptism.

As I was passing through the bazar to-day, I met with one of the Burman merchants to whom I had given portions of Scripture, July 21. He accosted me very respectfully, and said, 'Teacher, there are some things in the books you gave us, which I do not fully understand. What is meant by angels?' I told him they were spiritual beings whom God had created, and who stood around the throne of God to execute his commands. He seemed satisfied. Here we were interrupted, but he said he would call at the house for further instruction.

"August 5. Lord's-day, 2 o'clock, P. M. Since breakfast I have been incessantly employed in declaring to a company of Burmans and Talaings, the unsearchable riches of Christ. They do not dispute, but inquire. They waited and conversed to-day till I was completely exhausted, and could say no more. I was however seconded and greatly assisted by the man from Amherst, mentioned yesterday, who boldly espoused and attempted to explain the Christian religion among his own countrymen.

August 12. Lord's-day. A spirit of inquiry seems to be excited to a considerable extent. Many who have visited us, and heard the word, wish to come again and obtain a more perfect knowledge of it, and many others signify a desire and intention to come soon. The Burman merchant to whom I gave the books, called on me yesterday for further information on some points which he did not fully understand. While he was here, the head man

of the village also came; and these two, together with our Burman teacher, who seems to be inquiring, entered into some particular discussion of the Christian history and doctrine. In the midst of this discussion, how great was my joy on beholding Mr. Judson approaching the house. It is now probable that we shall all be settled together at this place."

CHAPTER X.

Mr. Boardman is joined at Maulmein by Messrs. Judson and Wade -He opens a school for boys-Conversation with his two Burman scholars-Review of the past year, and resolutions for the future -His letter on the death of Mr. C. Holton-An interesting extract from his diary.

The

WHAT Mr. Boardman anticipated at the close of the last chapter, was soon after realized. The prospects for successful missionary operations at Amherst were every day becoming darker, while those at Maulmein were as constantly brightening. Events which could not be foreseen, contributed, one after another, to diminish the population of the former, and to increase that of the latter. missionaries at Amherst had repeatedly been assured by Mr. Boardman, that his house was daily thronged with inquirers, who were desirous to obtain further information respecting the Christian religion. Besides, it was very confidently expected that the parents and friends of the children in the school at Amherst, would, in the event of a removal, follow the missionaries to their new station, and thus continue to receive their instruction. These circumstances determined them to enter without further delay the inviting field of labor at Maulmein. It was to make preparations for their removal, that Mr. Judson had now come up. These preparations were soon made, and on the 14th of October Mr. Judson and Mr. and Mrs. Wade left Amherst, and the same day took possession of their new abode at Maulmein. This station, the first occupied by Mr. Boardman on entering Burmah, and which, aided by the counsels of his brethren, he had himself established, now became the seat of the mission in that great empire. From this spot, most delightfully situated, and commanding unusual advantages for missionary enterprise, the light of the Gospel began now to radiate, as it had before done from Rangoon and Amherst, into the darkness of the surrounding regions. It seemed evident that God had designed this place eventually to become as "a city set on

a hill, that cannot be hid." Before the close of the year, the female school, which had been removed from Amherst, was again in successful operation under the combined instructions of Mrs. Wade and Mrs. Boardman. Mr. Boardman had himself commenced a school for boys, which it was thought would meet with considerable encouragement. Mr. Judson was building a zayat at Koung-Zay-Kyoon, about two miles and a half north of the mission premises, in a very populous part of the town, where he was soon to commence public religious services. Mr. Wade had completed a zayat for himself, about half a mile south of the mission house, on the principal road leading from Maulmein to Tavoy-zoo, in which he also was proclaiming. the word of life to all who would hear. All the places of worship, so soon as they were completed, were thronged with company, to whom tracts and portions of the Scriptures were distributed.

Some portions of Mr. Boardman's journal kept at this time, will show with what feelings he regarded the progress of religion both in Burmah and America.

"Oct. 23, 1827. Lord's-day evening. Till to-day I have never had the pleasure of a free conversation with a Burman Christian. This evening I have been conversing with Moung Ing.* He has lately returned from Mergui, where he has spent a few months in preaching to his countrymen Christ and him crucified. In my former conversations with Burmans, I have been obliged to combat their prejudices, and to bear with their weaknesses; but in Moung Ing I found a friend and a brother. While expressions of love and praise to the Redeemer flowed from this convert's tongue, the Burman language seemed much more musical than ever. It gave me a pleasure which I cannot describe, to hear him relate his conversion, and his present feelings and hopes. He has a firm conviction that ere long the gospel will spread over this whole country. Relying on the divine power, and faithfulness, and grace, he says, we

* This converted Burman, now a promising preacher of the Gospel, is one of the first fruits of Mr. Judson's labor in that land of darkness. He first visited the zayat at Rangoon, in the character of an inquirer, August 31, 1819, was baptized March 4, 1821, and ordained in the early part of 1827.