528 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
friends, and of the abundant measure of the Divine blessing 
evidently attending their exertions, filled his heart with the 
liveliest gratitude, and inspired him with the most animating 
hopes of the extension and stability of the cause of Christ 
in Madagascar. 
Although, since the edict of the 1st of March, 1835, no 
meetings had been held for public worship, and many who 
had before associated themselves with the Christians had 
since appeared foremost amongst their enemies, and had 
indulged in all the vices of the heathen, a goodly number, 
holding fast their profession, continued in the faith and 
purity of the Gospel, shining as lights in the midst of a 
crooked and preverse generation. 
These native Christians were accustomed to read the 
Scriptures at the hour of midnight in their own houses, or 
other places of concealment, and to meet in small companies 
for singing and prayer. They were also at the capital, and 
in some of the provinces, in the habit of meeting together 
on the Sabbath, either in retired places in the forest, in 
caverns among the rocks, or on the summit of a moun¬ 
tain, for the reading of the Scriptures, and social worship. 
There were several of these assemblies when the last of 
the Missionaries left the island. 
After the departure of the Missionaries, the disciples con¬ 
tinued to attend to these means of instruction and edification 
to themselves, and to seek the spiritual good of others. They 
were favoured with great spirituality of mind, and enjoyed 
frequent and delightful fellowship with God, living much 
under the evidence of things hoped for, and the conviction 
of things not seen; while the Lord gave testimony to the 
word of his grace which they disseminated, by inclining 
many, notwithstanding the offence of the Cross, and the 
peril of confessing the name of Jesus, to associate them- 
