A Bechuana Chief on Doctrine

They which have been patrons of it before, should do like the father and mother of an idolater; that is, lay the first hand upon him to shorten his life. Henry Smith. 811%. DOCTRINE, Heathen View of.

A chief of the Bechuanas, after having listened to the Gospel from Rev. R. Moffat, calling thirty of his nen about him, he addressed them, pointing to him, ‘There is Ra-Mary (Mr. Moffat) who tells me that the heavens were made, the earth also, by a beginner whom he calls Morimo.

Have you ever heard anything to be compared with this? He says that the sun rises and sets by the power of Morimo; asalso that Morimo causes winter to follow summer, the winds to blow, the rain to fall, the grass to grow, and the trees to bud;” and, casting his arm above and around him, added, “God works in everything you see and hear! Did you ever hear such words?” Seeing them ready to burst into laughter, he said, “ Wait, I shall tell you more.

Ra Mary tells me that we have spirits in us which will never die; and that our bodies, though dead and buried, will rise and live again. Open your eyes to-day; did you ever hear fables like these?” This was followed by a burst of deafening laughter; and on its partially subsiding, the chief man begged him to say no more on such trifles, lest the people should think him mad. S118.

DOCTRINE, Importance of. When the peace and purity of our mind, the rectitude and happiness of our lives, and the blessedness of eternity, has so close and necessary a dependence upon the doctrines we imbibe, that we hereby either secure or forfeit them; whe sees not, unless he be stupid and infatuated, that greater care and solicitude is necessary here, than in any matter whatever, because there is no other of equal moment?

Bad money, or bad wares instead of good; an ill title or conveyance instead of a firm and clear one, may impoverish us: bad drugs instead of good may infect the body, and destroy the ealth: but what is all this to the dismal consequences of error and heresy, which impover ishes and infects the mind, perverts the life, and damns the man to all eternity? We must admit nothing hastily, assent to nothing without examining the grounds on which it stands. Credality, precipitation, and confidence are ifeeeneiar e enemies to knowledge and wisdom.