of May, when he returned again to Lifle. Mr. Woodward's report of the religious state of those fettlements tized 51 children and 3 adults; 'administered the Lord's fupper 10 times; affifted in forming 3 churches; attended conferences; 6 through which he paffed, perfect-vifited schools and private family agrees with that of Mr. Wil listen already related. In the feveral towns which Mr. Woodward vifited, he preached about 180 fermons-administered the Lord's fupper 8 times baptized one adult and 38 children: Among which are included 6 houfeholds, containing 25 children. He writes, People in general have been friendly to the defign on which I was fent." 6 lies. I have vifited moft of the 'fettlements in Luzerne and Wayne counties, excepting those on the Delaware river, and fome of them three or four times. Miffionaries are cordially received by many in this country, and happy fruits attending their labors are apparent. I travelled into • Northumberland county and vifited a few fettlements there be'tween the north and weftern 'branches of the Susquehannah river. In the ftate of New York, my labors were chiefly 'confined to the counties of Tioga and Chenango. I have, been The 19th of May above mentioned, Mr. Woodward again left Lifle, and proceeded on the way to revisit the northern counties in Pennsylvania; and again returned to Lifle the 24th of Auguft fol-kindly treated in moft places lowing. In this tour Mr. Wood- which I have vifited, and my laward travelled over a large num'bors have been gratefully reber of fettlements; not only attend 'ceived." ing on conferences, making family vifits, &c. but he preached between 70 and 80 fermons-baptized 3 perfons-affifted in examining feveral perfons for communion; and in the formation of one church, confifling of 27 members. Mr. Woodward in a letter obferves; " In places which I vifited laft fpring, I think there is an increafed attention to the word. It is a country which greatly needs * reforming. The ftate of the country claims the pity and the prayers of faints." Mr. Woodward is re-appointed a Miffionary for this year and it is expected will foon revifit the field of his former labors. Mr. Samuel P. Robbins was appointed a miffionary, to labor among the inhabitants on Black River and parts adjoining. A letter was received from him, dated Rutland (No. 3) and Lowville, (No. 11) October 10th and 15th, 1803, when his miffionary appointment was about half expired. He began his miffionary labors at Camden. From thence he went weftward about 20 miles Mr. Woodward continued to itin-"preaching in different neighborerate as a miffionary till towards hoods, 3, 4 and 5 miles apart." the clofe of the year, when he re- Thence he proceeded to Steuturned to Hartford. The follow-ben. Heobferves, "People treat ing extract from his journal con- 'me kindly wherever I go, a very tains a fummary view of his whole miffion. "Since October 7th, 1802, I have preached 321 times; bap few inftances excepted." From Steuben he proceeded to the river, preaching in every fettlement and making family visits. He purposes finishing his miffion, by revifiting the fettlements of weftern Camden. Thence to proceed through Redfield (Salmon River county) to Ellifburgh, Perch River, Catfish Creek, &c. Then return to Knoxville, and pafsthrough the river towns homeward. Mr. Robbins in his letter observes, "The state of religion, have time, and vifit all the places I ought-I have been kindly ' received, &c." Mr. Williams returned from his miffion about the first of January and gave the following fummary account of his labors: "I preached 111 times; vifited several schools; 'vifited a few perfons who were fick; and attended feveral church meet in general, in this country is rath-ings. I have heard many expref er low. Oh, how much the peo'ple here need the miniftrations of 'the gofpel!" 'fions of gratitude to God and to the Miffionary Society for the la'bors of miffionaries; and have At a late meeting of the Truf-feen abundant evidence of the tees it was voted that Mr. Robbins should be requested to continue in that country till the first of May next. Mr. Thomas Williams was appointed a Miffionary for 4 months. The field of labor affigned him,' was the counties of Delaware and Otfego in the state of New-York. He began his miffionary labors about the beginning of September laft. By a letter, dated at Meredith (Delaware county) Sept. 30, it appears he began his labors in the county of Delaware, except ing one fabbath which he spent at Worcester, in the county of Otfego. He had then spent 4 weeks in the county of Delaware; and had vifited every fettlement in the county, excepting two. He had preached 28 fermons vifited fome fick perfons, and families in which there were perfons under ferious impreffions. In his letter he obferves, "The hearers good effects of those who have been employed before me, in the counties to which I was fent ; and I fee very great need of the 'continuance of miffionary fervices among the people in that region." The Trustees, at their meeting the beginning of January, re-appointed Mr. Williams a miffionary to the fame counties for one year; and deeming it expedient that he should be ordained previoufly to his entering on his miffion, voted to requeft the Affociation of Windham county, of which he is a licentiate, to ordain him as an Evangelift. About the middle of Decem-ber, the Rev. Ira Hart finished a miffionary tour of twelve weeks in the Black River country. The following is an abftract of his journal: "During my miffion, I preached 55 fermons ; attended 'feveral conferences; vifited and prayed with the fick and attend 'ed funerals. I formed two churches, one in Leyden, confifting of 15 members, and one in Lowville, confifting of 16, to ⚫ which there is a profpect that fer eral additions will foon be made. I alfo met with feveral churches which had been previously formed, and attempted to heal divi fions and compofe difficulties | which had fprung up, for want of ⚫ a regular adminiftration of Chriftian ordinances and difcipline. During my miffion, I adminif⚫tered the facrament of the Lord's fupper 6 times, and baptized 4 adults and 14 children. I found in almost every place fome indi'viduals under ferious impreffions, • and in Turin a very confiderable • revival of religion. I was receiv. ed in almost every inftance with great kindness, and treated with polite attention; and though there may be fome who would rejoice to hear no more of miffionaries, and to be left to walk in the light of their own eyes, this cannot be faid of the people in general. The fettlements on Black River are increasing with an unexampled rapidity, and loudly call for miffionary labors among them, till they fhall be able to fettle minifters." If God always tion of any one. works in men, to will and to do of his own good pleasure, what does he ever do more, which you distinguish by a special or an irrefiftible operation? John. It will be necessary for me firft, to explain what I mean by the common grace of the gof. pel, in order to give you my ideas of fpecial grace. The law of God, arifing from his perfections, is eternally binding on all intelli. gent beings, to love, ferve and obey him, with all their powers, unceafingly; for he is infinitely deferving and lovely in his nature, and one deviation from this law muft neceffarily bring fin, guilt and mifery; and it being impoffi ble ever afterwards for beings to render to God more than all their love and obedience, so it will be impoffible for them to atone for the leaft offence, and according to ftrict juftice they muft eternally deferve punishment. But God, from his own felf-moving goodnefs, concerted a plan whereby he could be just and yet the juftifier of every one that believeth in Jefus; for he fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten fon a ranfom, that whofoever believ eth on him might not perish, but have everlafting life. In confequence of Chrift's atonement, falvation is offered to all mankind, that will throw down the weapons of their rebellion, and repent of ther fins, and look alone to Jefus Chrift for juflification. The invitation is, whofoever will may come and partake of the waters of life freely-fo that all who will, may now embrace the terms of falvation, as eafy as they can partake of a rich feast, provided by a generous friend, who invites them in the most kind and tender manner to receive it, without mo ney and without price. This free provifion of falvation, with the preffing invitations to receive it and every good that flows from it, is what I call common grace. I call it common, because it is offered to all who enjoy the light of the gofpel.-God warns, calls and invites finners to embrace the gofpel, with his fpirit, word, providence, judgments and mercies, expreffed in various ways. God "commands men every where to repent;"but mankind, poffeffing a fpirit of fupreme selfishness, with to fulfil the lufts thereof, and with one accord they begin to excuse themselves, and refuse the kind invitations of the gospel feaft; and one will go to his farm, and another to his merchandize, notwithstanding the feaft was provided at the expense of the precious blood of the Son of God; and not one of all the race of Adam would ever participate of it, if God did not by the special agency of his divine fpirit compel them to come in, by working in them both to will and to come, that Chrift might fee the travail of his foul and be fatisfied. When God by his fpirit works in his people to will, that is, to exercife true faith and repentance, it is what I call the fpecial operation of the holy fpirit. James. Do you believe that none ever exercise true faith and repentance except thofe who will finally be faved? John. I conceive this to be a doctrine fully taught in fcripture. It is evident that Chrift has a chofen people in diftinction from the world. The fcriptures fay, "Thy people fhall be willing in the day of thy power." Again: "and he hall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the fpirit of VOL. IV. No. 9. truth, whom the world cannot receive, becaufe it feeth him not." Again: "that he fhould give eternal life to as many as thou haft given him." Chrift faith, "I pray not for the world, but for them thou haft given me, for they are thine." It is farther evident that Chrift's chofen people receive a new heart, and are born again by the power of the Holy Ghost. -God faith," And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall return unto me with their whole heart." "And I will put my spirit within you and caufe you to keep my ftatutes." "But according to his mercy he faved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghoft." "But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the fons of God, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." James. If it be a fact, that fuch an entire change of heart is wrought in those who are renewed by the fpirit of God, why do we not fee its fruits acted out in their lives and converfation? Why are they not holy, harmless, undefiled, and feparate from finners; which was peculiarly characteristic of Chrift? The impreffion of a feal gives a perfect image of its original. John. The fupreme bias or inclination of their heart, is after the image of Chrift. "He that hath not the fpirit of Chrift is none of his." In this world they are fanctified only in part, they have the remains of fin in them; Tt inform me at what period they become fo. If infants poffefs all the faculties of men, however fmall the degree, even if it is lefs than we can conceive of, then God is as able to regenerate them by the fpecial operation of his spirit, and change their natures as he is an adult. For it is written, "Out of the mouth of babes and fucklings thou haft perfected praife," and it appears from scripture that Samuel, Jeremiah, and John the baptift were regenerated in childhood. James. It appears evident from fcripture that real Christians may fall from grace, which if fact, will totally destroy your idea of special grace on a certain number only. they have a law in their members, | warring against the law of their mind, fo that they, with their mind, ferve the law of God, but with their flesh, the law of fin. They delight in the law of God after the inward man; fin becomes their greatest enemy, and when they fee it in themfelves, they loath themselves and repent in duft and afhes, and cry with the apoftle, "O wretched man that I am, who fhall deliver me from the body of this death!"-Chriftians are not free from fin and temptations. They fometimes fall into great crimes, but it appears to be a uniform rule of God's difpenfations to bring them to true humility and unfeigned repentance, and to lead them to confefs, with the deepest contrition of fpirit; as we fee in David, Peter and many other ancient faints. But every one that is created anew in Chrift Jefus, is created unto good works, and let any one make ever so high profeffion of religion, if he does not bring forth fruits meet for repentance we have no evidence that he is born of God. By their fruits fhall know them." This great change confifts in having the fupreme affections of men's heartsing faith and a good conscience, taken from felf, and placed on God, so that they love God's holy character independent of any expected good to themfelves. ye James. It is not poffible in the nature of things, that infants fhould be capable of thofe exercifes which you fuppofe abfolutely neceffary for falvation, and of courfe all who die in infancy, agreeable to your ideas are inevitably loft. John. Infants are men in miniature, and poffefs the fame faculties as men, only in a very small degree. If they are not men in miniature, I would thank you to John. I would thank you to quote thofe paffages of fcripture which you fuppofe eftablish the poffibility of true Chriftians falling from a ftate of holiness, so as finally to fail of falvation. James. I conceive the doctrine very fully taught. The Apoftle fpeaks in pofitive language to fome of the Church, "Ye are fallen from grace." Again, "But if any man draw back, my foul fhall have no pleafure in him:" "Hold which fome having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck. "When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them, for his iniquity that he hath done, fhall he die." And every command to watch and pray and be ftedfaft, implies, that there is not only a poffibility but even great danger of Christians finally falling away to everlasting deftruction. John. I acknowledge, if there were no other paffages of feripture on the fubject, except thofe you have quoted, I should say these |