HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
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in him.’ Prov. xiii. 24. ‘ He that spareth his rod, hateth his son ; 
but he that ioveth him chasteneth him betimes/ Prov. xix. 18. 
( Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare 
for his crying.’ Prov. xxiii. 13, 14. 1 Withhold not correction from 
the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from 
hell.’ These words cause us confidence, although there is much 
in this world which cause us troubles. 
u Thus we write to you, beloved friends ! Do not forget to entreat 
a blessing for us ; but pray to God that he may hasten his pity, 
and have mercy upon this dark land of Madagascar. 
“ Farewell to you, saith your Friend. ” 
Ambatonakanga, July, 1836. 
To my Friend Mr. Canham, and his Family :— 
“We do not forget you, notwithstanding we are separated far from 
you. Your leaving was as it were the beginning of sorrows, which 
were to accumulate more and more ; but, alas ! what can we do ? 
Health and happiness to you and your family, is the wish of my¬ 
self, my wife, and my children ; for we visit you thus by letter, as 
we are desirous of asking how you are. 
“ My father is dead, and my wife’s father and my mother’s brother 
also; this I think is comparatively easy to forget; but there is a 
certain leading thing which causes me too much grief. When I 
pass by Ambatonakanga, (where the chapel stands,) and when 
Saturday arrives, and business is to be done on the Sabbath, which 
cannot now be refused,—this, this is indeed heavy to bear ! All 
the Missionaries are gone, for their work is ended ! Oh, when 
shall we again behold a new day? Make haste the promise which 
says, ( The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, 
as the waves cover the sea:’—that the broken heart which is too 
heavy may be bound up, and may the power of Jehovah quickly 
appear, that all may see it and be astonished thereat! Do not 
forget to pray for us, saith your friend R-” 
“ Salutation from the ‘ little flock.’ By the blessing of God we 
are all well, and our state is one of increasing piety and augmenting 
numbers, and we are able to assemble often to praise and honour 
God, as described 2 Cor. vi. 7—10. e By the word of truth, by 
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