I go forward as his unworthy servant, to testify the gospel of the grace of God; being persuaded that the gospel is the wisdom of God, and the power of God, to all them that believe. As to my being alone, which my father has mentioned, and also in your letter it was noticed, it is, confessedly, not so comfortable; it makes the task the more difficult; but, I say the truth, I am not under great apprehensions on that score. My fears relate to the difficulty of living above the world, living only to God, and not seeking myself. I am afraid lest, peradventure, after having preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. A missionary should be eminently a man of God."

His diary for the year 1806 thus closes :

"Dec. 31.-By the good hand of God upon me, I am brought to the last day of another year. I have looked over what I have written in this year's diary. O! how much is there to be thankful for, and how much to be humbled for. Mr. Brown came and joined me in my studies, and has taken his leave. During the whole year, I have been lamenting an evil heart of unbelief; and I seem at this day in the same situation. I hoped ere this time to have been on my way to China. The work appears increasingly arduous. I have read this morning in the 103rd Psalm what I take for my comfort, 'the Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all.' I this day again yield myself into the hand of the Lord my God. 'The Lord reigneth."

These extracts have been left, as they may be justly left, to produce their own unaided impression concerning the character and pious zeal of the writer. In every relation he appears the same disinterested and devout man; whilst his habits of activity, and diligence, and perseverance, will doubtless surprise many.

Having visited his friends at Newcastle, on his return to London he found himself fully occupied with the arrangements for his departure. At this period "strong prejudices existed in England, and in all parts of India where the British influence extended, against missionary exertions." Permission to settle in those quarters could not be obtained; and it became necessary to convey the missionaries to their destination by an indirect course, whilst it remained a question whether, on their arrival, they would be allowed to remain. A passage was accordingly taken for Mr. M. and two of his fellow-students, Messrs. Gordon and Lee, with their wives, in the ship Remittance, to New York; whence he was to proceed to Canton direct, or by way of India, as circumstances might determine. With the record of this arrangement he commenced his journal for 1807.

"January 2.-It was decided this day that I should leave the country by the first conveyance, which will in all probability be the 18th instant, going to Canton, by the way of America. It is agreed that my ordination should be next Thursday. This is one of the most important periods of my life. O Lord, 'except thy presence go with me, carry me not up hence. May the blessing of God Almighty accompany me. May the angel of his presence go before me. I feel not much cast down. I endeavoured this evening to recollect some of the promises on which I hope. Fear not, for I am with thee,' came into my mind; and again, 'fear not, thou worm Jacob.' I hope to be enabled to lean always and only on the arm of God; none else can hold me up."

Mr. M.'s ordination took place at the Scots church, Swallow Street, on Thursday evening, January 8th,

in connexion with Messrs. Gordon and Lee. "The service was introduced by the Rev. T. Townsend, with prayer, reading the Scriptures, and exhortation. Several questions were proposed to each of the missionaries, by the Rev. George Burder; and a profession of the great doctrines which they were to teach the heathen, was made by them. After which, solemn prayer was offered to God on their behalf, by the Rev. A. Waugh, accompanied by imposition of hands. The Rev. Dr. Nicol then delivered to the missionaries a serious and affectionate charge, grounded on Acts xx. 17—27; and the Rev. C. Buck concluded with prayer." Many, to this day, remember, with gratitude, the powerful impression made on that memorable occasion; not more by the addresses and prayers of the men of God since gathered to their fathers, than by the simple, unadorned appeals of a devoted youth of twenty-four, giving himself up as a living sacrifice to the service and faith of the Gentiles. His diary supplies the following record of the interesting transaction:

"A day never to be forgotten! I was this evening solemnly ordained to the ministry of the Gospel among the heathen. Mr. Waugh prayed the Ordination Prayer, and Mr. Nicol gave the Charge; for which see my papers. [These papers have not been found.] O! that the engagements of this evening may be sanctioned in heaven; that the Holy Spirit may separate me to the work of the ministry of the gospel among the heathen. O! that the instructions, which I this night attended to, may be impressed on my heart and conscience. Brothers Lee and Gordon were ordained with me to the same important and delightful work. I have now to buckle on my armour. O! to be enabled 'to deny myself, to take up my cross,' and to follow the Lamb fully!"

On the 26th of the same month, Mr. M. took leave of the Directors of the Missionary Society. The Rev. A. Waugh, his beloved pastor and faithful and affectionate friend, addressed him on the occasion in a most kind and touching manner; and the Rev. J. Clayton, junr., commended him to God in prayer.

Before his departure, the society addressed to him a letter of general instructions, and another of Christian counsel. They are officially signed; but are understood to have proceeded from the pen of Mr. Waugh. "They are here inserted," says Dr. Milne, who has preserved them in his Retrospect;-" the former, because it expresses, in their own words, the views which the Directors had of the mission they were undertaking, and of the agent they were employing in the work; and the latter, because it displays the pious solicitude which these venerable ministers and zealous disciples of Christ felt to preserve, in the mind of him whom they were sending forth, a deep and lasting impression of the sacred importance of his office."

66 LETTER OF GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.

"London, January 20, 1807.

"DEAR FRIEND, "The Directors of the benevolent institution with which you are connected, have great satisfaction in promoting the commendable desire which you have long felt of acquiring a competent acquaintance with the Chinese language. They have observed with pleasure the assiduity and perseverance with which you have improved, for this purpose, the means of instruction which have offered themselves to you in this country, and which they trust will facilitate your progress therein in a great degree, when you enjoy the superior advantages of a residence in a country where it is perfectly understood in its principles, and con

stantly spoken on all the occurrences of life. Under the uncertainty in which we are, as to the spot where you may reside, it would be highly improper in us to restrict your conduct by any specific instructions. We must necessarily leave you at full liberty to act on every occasion according to the dictates of your own prudence and discretion. And as we know that it will be gratifying to you, wherever Providence may cast your lot, to be useful to those around you, in the communication of valuable knowledge, we hope you will find an opportunity of exercising the profession of a mathematician, and delivering lectures on its various branches; and also of giving instruction in the English language, which must be an attainment of great value to many whose concerns lead them to hold intercourse with our countrymen who statedly reside in China, or occasionally visit that empire.

"We trust that no objection will be made to your continuing in Canton, till you have accomplished your great object of acquiring the language. When this is done, you may, probably, soon afterwards begin to turn this attainment into a direction which may be of extensive use to the world: perhaps you may have the honour of forming a Chinese Dictionary, more comprehensive and correct than any preceding one; or the still greater honour of translating the sacred Scriptures into a language spoken by a third part of the human race. If it should be expedient that you remove from Canton, the place to which you may remove must be decided by your own discretion. If you should call at Prince of Wales's Island, we trust you will find friends there. If you proceed to Madras, Calcutta, or Surat, you will be among friends, who will embrace you with the most cordial affection, and who will assist your deliberations as to the course most