82 Narrative of the State of Religion within the bounds

period. Thirty-six persons have already made a public profession of their faith, and more are yet expected to join the church, as the fruit of this gracious refreshing.

At Bloomfield, 37 have been added to the communion of the Church, and at Paterson, 20.

The character of the work, in all these Churches, is such as to warrant the hope that it is, indeed, of God; and it ought to be added, in answer to special prayer: and it is peculiarly gratifying to the Synod to state, that, in most of these places, the visits, prayers, and exhortations of some of the students from the Theological Seminary at Princeton have been blessed as the means of promoting it.

The Synod have also learnt, with deep interest, that there now cxist very favourable appearances of a revival of religion commencing in the 2d Church at Woodbridge, and at Rockaway, within the bounds of the same Presbytery.

Nothing worthy of particular notice has taken place within the bounds of the Presbyteries of Long-Island, Hudson, New-York, and New-Brunswick. The Churches appear to be walking in the faith and order of the Gospel. In many of them religion is flourishing, whilst in some others it is somewhat declining.

The Synod, however, would observe, that in the congregations of Huntington, Fresh-Ponds, and Brookhaven, in the Presbytery of Long-Island, there is a more than ordinary attention to religion.

The Synod are happy to learn that a Female Missionary Society has been formed within the City of New-York, for the purpose of supplying the destitute of the City with the means of grace. The efforts of their Missionary appear to have been signally owned and blessed by the great Head of the Church. More than usual attention has also there been recently paid to seamen. A Marine Bible Society has been formed auxiliary to the American Bible Society, which promises to be an extensive blessing to this neglected and important class of men.

Agreeably to the recommendation of a late General Assembly, classes have been formed in the greater part of our congregations for the purpose of studying and reciting the Bible. The young people composing these classes have in many instances made considerable progress in biblical history, and while they have increased in speculative knowledge, their hearts in some instances have also been deeply affected and warmed with love to God, and to the great truths he has revealed in his word. If this mode of instruction be persevered in, it may, by the blessing of heaven, be attended with the happiest effects. The Pastors of our Churches will, we hope, by and by see themselves surrounded by youth well instructed in the great principles of the Christian religion, strongly attached to the congregations of which they are members, the promoters of every thing that will tend to advance the interests of religion and morality-themselves the strength and glory of the Church.

The concert of prayer on the first Monday in every month has

of the Synod of New-York and New-Jersey.

83

been very generally attended to during the past year: In Europe, in some parts of Asia and Africa, as well as in our own land, the friends of Zion on that day approach the throne of grace, and unite in the same prayer, that the kingdom of God may speedily come. How encouraging and animating! If the Lord Jesus has promised to answer the prayer of a few only who unite in the same petition, have we not great reason to hope that the united prayers of thousands will be heard and answered. Christians, persevere in this delightful duty. • For Zion's sake hold not your peace, and for Jerusalem's sake rest not, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.'

Societies for the gratuitous distribution of Religious Tracts have not been weary in well doing. The New-York Religious Tract Society has issued from its depository, within 5 years, more than three hundred thousand Tracts. A great proportion of this number have been distributed gratuitously throughout almost every county in the State of New-York, in almost every State in the Union, at the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia and Canton, in several of the West-India Islands, in Canada, on board of steam-boats, and on board merchant vessels bound to various and distant parts of the world. In the city of Trenton, in New-Jersey, a Female Tract Society, formed not long since, has purchased and distributed within the past year, about 10,000 Tracts Similar Societies have been formed in many other places within the bounds of the Synod.

The number of Sabbath Schools is constantly increasing. In our congregations in the country, as well as in our cities, these Institutions have been established, and almost universally are attended with good effects. In the city of New-York, the number of children attending the different Sabbath Schools, male and female, is about seven thousand five hundred; and it is an interesting fact, that in one of these Schools, within three months, 8 of the teachers out of 12 have made a public profession of religion: and similar beneficial effects to the teachers themselves, have in several instances been manifested in other schools within our bounds.

The Synod are gratified to learn that increased exertions have been made within their bounds, to instruct the people of colour, and that in some places these exertions have been specially crowned with a divine blessing. In several of the congregations within the bounds of the Presbytery of Jersey, which have been visited with special revivals, the people of colour have largely shared in the precious influence, and many have become hopeful. ly the subjects of divine grace; and in Newark and Elizabethtown, incipient measures have been taken to organize congregations of this people.

The Synod are also gratified to learn that liberal contributions have been made for the support of schools among the heathen.

The Synod in this place would take particular notice of the es tablishment of the African school under their care. From the re

84 Monthly Correspondence of the Br. and For. B. Š.

port of the Directors, it appears that two young men of promising talents are already in a course of education, and that a general attention begins to be awakened to that long neglected people. The Synod cannot but hope that the time is near when Ethiopia will indeed stretch forth ber hands to God.

The American Bible Society, since its establishment, has issued 13,500 Bibles, and the number of its Auxiliary Societies is 110. Among so many and such great things of a favourable kind, the Synod are pained to notice many grievous breaches of the Sabbath, by the travelling of persons from our large towns, particularly from the city of New-York into the country for their amusement, but to the great injury of the feelings of individual Christians and of the cause of Christ. It is devoutly to be wished that Moral Societies may be more vigilant and successful in the suppression of this great and alarming evil.

The Synod would exhort all who profess the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called-to let their light shine before men, that others, seeing their good works, may glorify their Father who is in heaven. Be sober, be vigilant, and fervent in spirit. The present period is distinguished from all others that have preceded it, by extraordinary exertions for the promotion of the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world. Throughout Christendom the friends of Zion are awake. The majectic and important objects they have in view, are the best interests of men, and the glory of God. Let every heart and every hand unite in this glorious work-let them not relax in their exertions until all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God!

1040

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Our readers will be pleased to learn that the Committee of this Institution have determined to publish a sheet of extracts of their correspondence in the last week of every month. We are indebted to our attentive correspondent at Liverpool for the first Number of the Extracts for August. We have already anticipated a part of the intelligence which it furnishes, and shall insert the greater part of the remainder in the present Number of the Christian Herald. The following extract from their

ADDRESS TO AUXILIARY SOCIETIES, will give a view of their plan:

It appears to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society to have become highly expedient, that a plan should be adopted for transmitting to the various Societies in connexion with the Parent Institution, more frequent communications than bave heretofore been usual of the interesting intelligence from time to time received, relative to the progress of the great work in which their efforts are united. The Committee regard it, indeed,

3d Report of the Bombay Auxiliary Bible Society. 85

little less than an act of duty, to impart to the friends of the cause, in every part of the empire, a portion of those moral treasures which are continually flowing in from all quarters of the world; and to admit them to share, with as little delay as possible, in the enjoyment of those fruits, to the production of which their local exertions have so materially contributed.

But the Committee, in resorting to this plan, have an object beyond that of conveying satisfaction and delight. They are deeply sensible of the beneficial influence produced upon their own minds, by the communications from distant lands read to them at their periodical meetings, both in exciting their gratitude, and stimulating their exertions; and they are anxious to establish such means of intercourse as may enable them to extend, as widely as possible, these salutary impressions. Experience has taught them to believe, that, if Extracts from the most interesting parts of the Society's Correspondence were read in the meetings of the local Committees, and distributed among the members, for the information of others, it would tend greatly to enliven the spirit of those meetings, and to invigorate and expand the general zeal.

Under this conviction, the Committee have determined to issue, in the last week of every month, a sheet of brief extracts from their articles of Correspondence, with a view to their being read at the meetings of the Committees of the different Auxiliary and Branch Societies, and Bible Associations, and distributed among their Officers, Members of Committee, and gratuitous Collectors.

These Extracts will be transmitted to the Secretaries of the Auxiliary Societies, who are earnestly requested to forward, without delay, a due proportion of the present, and of all succeeding Numbers, to the Secretaries of the several Branch Societies and Associations within their respective districts, so as to ensure the receipt of them in time for the Meetings in each ensuing month.

The Committee anticipate much good from this measure, if their views are followed up by their friends in the country; and they trust they may reckon upon a diligent and punctual co-operation from the Auxiliary Societies, in giving it effect in the manner suggested.

From the Third Report of the Bombay Auxiliary Bible Society, September 18, 1816.

The supplies of English Bibles and Testaments which the Committee have received, both from London and Calcutta, bave enabled them to furnish, to some extent, the immediate demands of the Europeans.

The want of the Scriptures among the soldiers and the poorer British inhabitants under this government, is probably greater than has been suspected; seldom, perhaps, does a copy of the Bible accompany the British soldier amidst the hurry of embarkation from his native shores; and, after his arrival in this foreign land, where its holy precepts should be more peculiarly presented, to

86 Bible intelligence from Colombo and Amboyna.

counteract the gross vices and idolatry by which he is surrounded, an opportunity has seldom been afforded him of perusing it.

From the coasts of Malabar, the Bombay Bible Society has endeavoured to extend its influence to the distant shores of the Persian Gulph, and they have there distributed several Arabic Bibles, partly through the means of the British Resident at Bussorah.

A connexion seems thus to be immediately formed with the Parent Society in London; who, by the numerous societies in Russia and Germany, in the Crimea, and even Georgia, by their correspondence at Constantinople, in parts of Asia Minor, and lastly with the itish Resident at Bagdad, have established a connexion. throughout the vast continent of Europe and Asia, from the banks of the Thames to the regions of the Ganges.

The copies of the Syriac Gospels forwarded to the Syrian Christians in Travancore, have proved a most acceptable gift to them. Three copies were presented to the Bishop, Mar Dionysius, and the Clergy with him at Kotyam; and three were given to the British 'Resident, Colonel Munro, who has established at Kotyam a college for the education of the Catanars. The type and character of these Gospels are considered by them to be executed in the best manner; and the Bishop and Catanars (or Clergy) expressed the most earnest desire to receive the whole of the Old and New Testament printed in the same manner: they have very few copies of the Scriptures among them.

From the Hon. Sir Alexander Johnston, Colombo, Sept. 25, 1816. The assistance which the Bible Society in England has given. the friends of Christianity in this island, has enabled the latter, as I have frequently written to you. to circulate the Scriptures among the people of the country in a manner which was never done before; and I do attribute the unanimity with which all classes of nations have resolved to put an end to domestic slavery, to the effect which has been produced upon their minds and upon feelings by those doctrines which are contained in the Scriptures, and which, from their simplicity, are intelligible by, and applicable to, every description of the human race, whether European or Asiatic.

From the Rev. J. Kam, Amboyna, Dec. 31, 1816.

their

Of the quantity of the Holy Scriptures which we had expected from Calcutta, only 400 copies of the Malay New Testament have been received, a small supply for upwards of 3,000 poor people, utterly destitute of the means of religious instruction and it is a truth, that their desire to be in possession of the word of God is very great. As an instance of this, a Malay Bible was purchased here last month at a public sale, for forty-one Spanish dollars, upwars of 101. sterling.

N. B. The British and Foreign Bible Society is preparing an edition of 5000 copies of the Malay Bible, and 10,000 extra New Testaments, for the use of the Moluccas. It should also be observed, that the Bible Society at Amboyna has already remitted to the Parent Institution nearly 10007.