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old age, assurance and triumph | Though she was willing to leave in death, and for distinguishing all with the Lord, and chose to blessedness and glory in heav- have him do with her as would en. What engaging motives be most for his glory; yet, if are these to persuade all young consistent with the divine will, people to remember now their she longed and prayed that she Creator in the days of their might be made more submisyouth? sive, and that God would lift upon her the full light of his countenance before she died; which it pleased him, who heareth the cries of his children, to grant, in a wonderful measure. For on the evening of the Lord's day, May 6, she broke out in the following words, which were

3. How important is it that we all become followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises? How honorable and blissful must it be to live as they have lived, to die as they have died, and with them to inherit the promises? May this be our happy lot.-taken from her mouth: " Oh,

Amen.

Memoir of Mrs. SALLY MORTON, of Williamsburgh, Massachusetts, who left this world May 19, 1804, in the triumphs of a gospel faith, cheerfully leaving her consort and young family with Jesus.

RS. MORTON was the

the happiness of the saints in glory when shall I leave this body of sin and corruption and go to enjoy God in his heavenly kingdom? My friends, praise God. I must soon go and leave you, but Christ can comfort you. My dear husband and children, may God provide for you, trust in him and you have nothing to fear. Praise God for

Mdaughter of Col. May of his wonderful works to the chil

Goshen, Massachusetts. It is a number of years since her parents deceased, hopefully in the Lord. Col. May was a chief pillar in the town, and a very worthy deacon in the church. Mrs. Morton, his daughter, was, as we hope, converted to God in her youth; ever after which she was an example of Christian meekness and piety, that did honor to her profession.

dren of men. Oh, join with me and sing redeeming love. Christ has redeemed his friends from the curse of the law. Oh, praise him! Let Saints and Angels, and all the heavenly choir, join with me and sing redeeming love. Christ stands with open arms ready to receive me to himself, and the holy Angels stand prepared to welcome me to the joys of the heavenly paraIn the beginning of her sick-dise. Come, my friends, ascribe ness, she could hardly think of holiness to the Lord, for he is leaving the world with that dis-worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy ease, having a great desire to is the Lamb that was slain, to live and bring up her children; receive honor and glory. but she soon became in a good us all join in the heavenly song. measure submissive to the will of the Lord, and said, "I can leave all with God, he can take care of my family without me."

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Glory to God on high,

And heavenly peace on earth;
Good will to nien, to Angels joy
At the Redeemer's birth."

Let

Christ has taken away the sting of death, which is sin, and sin is our misery."

cannot be moved. Improve every moment of your time to the glory of God, and remem. She conversed with great ber that it is short and precious. feeling and judgment, on vari- May we soon meet in another ous religious subjects. Speak-world, and there spend an etering of unbelievers, she said,nity of praise! I shall soon leave "Poor deluded souls, can you this tabernacle of flesh, and go to think of entering the pure walls my Father's house. Christ has of the heavenly Jerusalem with redeemed me. Oh, how wonall your sins upon your heads, derful is redeeming love! May and without an interest in the I patiently wait God's time-his Saviour! Oh, no you cannot ! time is the best time. I long to unless you accept of Christ, you have the world know the hapmust perish forever. piness there is in religion, and the high pleasure it affords-it almost overpowers my mind when I contemplate these wonderful things." She manifested a great desire that God would pour out his spirit upon the town, especially on the youth.— "I am distressed," said she, "for the youth of this place, they seem to be walking in the ways of sin, and in the broad road which leads to destruction; they are spending their best days in vanity and wickedness. Oh, that God would have mercy upon them, and turn them from their sinful courses. I wish that they might enjoy religion, for it is the only solid happiness that can be obtained."

"If sinners will not accept of the Saviour, it will be just in God to condemn them to eternal punishment. They must be born again, and believe in Christ before they can enter the kingdom of God." She slept but little that night, her mind was so much taken up with divine things. She would often say, "Oh, how wonderful it is, that God should appear for me, the most unworthy of all creatures, and give me those views of divine things, which I desired. My body was almost ready to fail, and could hardly sustain the discoveries he made to my soul. I have learnt to sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. Oh, praise the Lord, and let every thing that hath breath praise the name of the Lord. I long to leave this body of sin and corruption and to be present with the Lord. Oh, death where is thy sting! Oh, grave where is thy victory! God has been very merciful to me in my sickness, he has given me kind friends, for which I desire to be thankful. Oh, how wonderful is redeeming love.

God is my God, in him do I trust. Oh, put your trust in him, and you shall be as mount Zion, which

While an unsanctified, rebellious sinner, would have murmured and repined at the dispensations of divine Providence, she was meek and submissive, under all the dealings of God, and in the midst of her afflictions rejoiced that he reigned. "Oh, be thankful," said she, "with me, and bless his great and holy name. How sweet it is to live religiously! Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light. Glory to God-I am altogether unworthy and dependent on him. May he have all the praise! I

believe the Lord has heard the living, sensible proof of the exprayers of the saints for me-healtation of Jesus; for he being

is a God who hears prayer."

After this remarkable night she lived 13 days, in which she was favored with the light of God's countenance, and conversed freely with all who came in to see her; she said, language failed when she attempted to speak of the wonderful things which God had done for her soul."

When the following lines were repeated to her:

Jefus can make a dying bed, Feel foft as downy pillows are. She replied yes, this is the softest bed on which I ever lay. Oh, that you would all join with me in praise to God, for his goodness is unbounded. I cannot express the gratitude which I owe, but I hope I shall soon be where I shall praise God as I ought. I want strength to praise God he is good in every thing: I want to praise him in more noble strains. Cast all your care upon God, and he will sustain you-Live to the glory of God and you shall be happy."

In this frame of mind her eyes were closed in death, May 19, 1804. Thus calm, thus happy, are the last hours of those who trust in God, and build their hopes of happiness on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, in John xii. 36. concerning the voice from heaven, "this voice came not because of me but for your sakes"; so the above triumphant death and the like instances, are not merely for the sake of those who thus die, but for the instruction and benefit of all who hear of or behold them.

In these things we have a

exalted at God's right hand and ever living and reigning there, doth send down the comforter, the effect of which, even the world (as Peter told his audience) both see and hear. We know of the heaven of believers after death by divine testimony; but when God lets the heaven of saints thus take place before they leave these mortal shores, it is sensible as any of the objects of sight or hearing.

Hence it is supposed, that God in his sovereign goodness, grants to some of his favored people such triumphs in death, for the support and refreshing of surviving saints, and for the conviction of scoffers. It is a day of much infidelity, and of peculiar trials to the faith of the godly.

And when Christ lets some of his followers die thus on the mount, participating in such a wonderful manner of the joys above, it is most encouraging to mourning believers, to behold their fellow saints leaving the world after this sort. They are greatly quickened, and naturally feel, if this is the end of a few years spent in Christ's service, if Jesus will enable us thus to die, we will bid defiance to earth and hell, and follow him to the end. And the mouths of gainsayers are shut-the infidel is confounded, and even Balaam is forced to say, let me die the death of the righteous.

Those who have seen Christians leave the world in such triumphs, testify that the joy and glory of the scene, cannot be described. Much less is it in the power of the favored soul who thus dies, to utter the glory and

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number of respectable persons, friends to the missionary cause, came forward and manifested a desire to join the Society, and were received as members.

Owing to the great difficulty of obtaining suitable persons to send out as missionaries, the Trustees of this Society have not afforded to the new settlements SO much missionary preaching, the year past, as they expected to have done, nor so much as their means would have

joy which it feels. And if only this glory is eternal, how great are the rewards of Jesus? But when we consider that unspeakable as the present glory and peace are, they will be amazingly heightened, as soon as the spirit leaves this fettering body, and that they will be endless : Who can help exclaiming happy art thou, O Christian! Who is like to the followers of the Lamb? Surely such a blessed hope should make the saints tient under all trials, and faith-enabled them. But, they have ful to the end in the service of not been wholly inactive, nor, it their Saviour. For though all is hoped, altogether unsuccessmay not have these triumphs on ful in their exertions. their dying bed, yet all this glory and joy, even to perfection, must, (according to the word) fill their souls as soon as they reach the shores of eternity.

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The Rev. Benjamin Wooster has performed two missionary tours, under the appointment of the Trustees of this Society, of sixteen weeks each, since the last annual meeting. On both of these missions the field of his labors was nearly the same, viz. in the North-Western Coun ties of Vermont, and in that part of the State of New-York which borders on Lake Champlain. From the journal of the first of these missions it appears, that Mr. Wooster, in performing it, preached 102 sermons, baptized 22 adults and infants, attended 18 conferences and church meetings, gathered and organized one church, administered the Lord's supper once, introduced the catechism into two schools, attended one concert in prayer and two general meetings to seek the out-pourings of the Spirit, visited much from house to house, and collected for the use of the Society, by way of contribution and private donation, 19 86.

The journal of Mr. Wooster's last mission has not been received. In June last Messrs.

Samuel P. Robbins and Asaph Morgan were appointed by the Trustees of this Society to per- | form each a mission of sixteen weeks in the Counties of Luzerne and Wayne, in Pennsylvania; and on the 9th of July they set out on their missions. Mr. Morgan has lately returned from his mission, having been absent only fourteen weeks.At the close of his journal of this mission he observes, "In the course of my mission I rode 914 miles, preached 85 sermons, visited from house to house to the amount of between two and three hundred families, visited 3 schools, attended many conferences, and received in contribution for the Society $8 35.In those parts through which I travelled, stupidity and inattention to the things of religion generally prevail. There are some happy exceptions-some who appear to feel the power, and enjoy the comforts of religion; and who express great thankfulness to the Missionary Society."

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In consequence of a letter received from Mr. Robbins, informing, that he designed, after the expiration of his mission in the Counties of Luzerne and Wayne, to journey from thence to the Ohio, to visit his relations, the Trustees voted to request him to continue in their service, as a missionary, six months longer. Agreeably to this vote, an appointment has been forwarded to him, with instructions that he should do the du

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ties of a missionary, while performing this journey, and after his arrival at the Ohio, the whole or part of the six months, as to him might appear expedient.

The Rev. Messrs. John Morse and Samuel Fuller are also appointed to go on missions, the present fall. The appointment of the former is for eight weeks, and the field of his labor is in County of Columbia, State of New-York, particularly in the destitute towns and settlements on Livingston's Manor. Mr. Morse has entered on this mission. Mr. Fuller is appointed for twelve weeks; and to go to the western Counties of the State of New-York.

The officers of this Society, for the present year, are the following, viz.-Rev. Ephraim Judson, President; the honorable Timothy Edwards, Esquire, Vice-President; the hon. William Walker, Esq. Treasurer; Rev. Alvan Hyde, Secretary, and Rev. Oliver Ayer, Clerk. TRUSTEES.

Rev. Dr. Stephen West, hon. Timothy Edwards, Esq. Rev. Jacob Catlin, Deacon Robert Johnson, Rev. Aaron Bascom, Rev. Daniel Collins, Rev. John Morse, hon. Barnabas Bidwell, Esq. Rev. Alvan Hyde, Deacon John Hall, and Rev. Samuel Shepard.

The next annual meeting of the Society is appointed to be at the Court-house in Lenox, the third Tuesday in September, 1805, at 11 o'clock, A. M.

A Statement of the Funds of the Congregational Missionary Society, originated in the Counties of Berkshire and Columbia, and the expenditures of the same, from September, 1801, to September, 1804.

ACCOUNT OF MONIES RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER.

$205 78

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Balance in the Treasury, September, 1801, VOL. V. No. 6.

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