awakening, who have not embrac ed the Calviniftic fyftem of doctrines. Although the new converts appear to have defires to comply with all known duty, yet in general, they have great diffi dence about joining the church for fear of deceiving themselves and others, and for fear of dishonoring the caufe of Chrift. They have fuch a fenfe of their own unworthinefs and guilt, that they are, for the most part, far more doubtful concerning their own good eftate, than others are con cerning them. Perhaps fome, when reading the foregoing narrative, may fuppofe there was much enthusiasm among the people. But this is a wrong fuppofition; for inftead of A new beauty appears in gofpe truths in general, and it feems to them that minifters preach much better than they formerly did. Some have expreffed themfelves, that they never heard a fermon before, that they have juft awaked out of fleep, and that they wonder how it was poffible that they fhould not have attended more to religious concerns before. Even that timidity as to being alone, which was natural to fome, is now much departed, on account of a new confidence in God. Numbers have faid they have experienced that happinefs in one hour which is worth more than all the enjoy ments of their former life. One faid, her fatisfaction in one minute, was worth more than all her former pleasures. But notwithstand-noife and enthufiafm, even when ing the change of which the fub- there was the greatest engagedjects of this work are fenfible, nefs, there were remarkable regu they have fuch a fenfe of their larity and order. I have never own vilenefs, and feel fo different heard any outcries in any public in fome refpects, from what they meeting, and the appearance of formerly fuppofed Chriftians felt, people was more like rational that for a while, they in general creatures, who realized they were are not ready to think they are very foon to enter the eternal really regenerated. On further world, than like boifterous enthuexamination however, of their ex-fiafts. crcifes and the real marks of reli gion as recorded in the fcriptures, they are led to entertain a humble hope that they have been born again. They are ready to allow that if they be converted, it was done by the agency of God, that it was not for any of their own performances, and that it was wholly owing to God's having mercy on whom he would have mercy. Numbers who were not only inveterate, but open oppofers of the doctrine of election, now not only acknowledge its truth, but fay if it were not true, they fhould not have the leaft hope of heaven. And I know of none who have obtained hopes in this The good effects of this work are very visible, which show it to be the work of God. Public worship on the fabbath and on other days is attended by greater numbers and with more conftancy. A very great alteration has taken place in the fociety, as to family prayer. The fcriptures are more generally read, and all divine ordinances are apparently much more reverenced. Church difcipline is reviving and the fabbath is vifibly kept in a more fuitable manner. There appears to be a remarkable friendship among the fubjects of this work. This is more obfervable on account of the former difagreements arifing from political | away the glorious harveft feason," and it is to be feared they are left to ripen for final deftruction. It is high time for them to fear and tremble, and to flee to the Saviour left they be confumed. Notwithftanding the great things God hath done for us, whereof we are glad; yet it is an affecting confideration that there are many among us who have hitherto refufed when God hath called, and difregarded when God hath firetched out his hand. Let every benevolent reader of this narrative be intreated not only to praife the God of all grace for his goodness; but pray, that the fubjects of this work may have grace to be faithful to their God and to their own fouls, and at laft be found at the right hand of their judge; also that the unhappy mortals among us who are yet impenitent may be awakened and converted, by the fovereign grace of God now in time, before they awake in that hell from which there is no redemption. opinions. It was pleafing It was pleafing to fee thofe who had been at variance in political matters, unite in joining the church, in love and harmony. Although there be ftill perhaps the fame difference in political opinions, yet difagreeable animofities are much laid afide, as far as refpects the fubjects of this work. There is a pleafing alteration among the youth as to vain amufements. I have not known of a ball being attended in the fociety, fince the beginning of the revival. In the first part of it there was one attempted, but it failed for want of numbers to attend. One evening in each week is fet apart in particular, for young people to meet and attend to religious concerns; on which occafions they choose to meet, in preference to attending to the found of the viol and spending their time in mirth. It is peculiarly pleafing to fee fo many youth draw around the table of the Lord, on communion days. Almoft the whole of thofe who fing in public worship, are profeffors of religion. Those new converts who have made a profeffion of religion, appear as yet to bring forth the good fruit of a regular life and converfation. But, after all, it may be that fome of them have deceived themselves, and others are still in the gall of bitternefs. They ought to be exceedingly critical in felf-examination, and conftant in watchfulnefs and prayer, confidering they are to be judged by the heart fearching God, and that it will be unfpeakably awful to fall from a vifible ftanding in the church into the horrors of hell. Some who were TTITH increafing thankalarmed to a confiderable degree fulness to the God of all in the time of the awakening, have grace, who is pleafed to accept relapsed into a state of inattention, and blefs our labors of love, we and many who were folemnized wish to communicate to you, brethappear on the whole, to have idledren, and all who love our Lord Withing the bleffing of heaven to attend your benevolent exertions, I am, gentlemen, SILAS CHURCHILL. Letter from the London Miffionary" Society to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. London, 12th July, 1803. Dear Brethren, W Jefus Chrift in fincerity, the refult of our ninth annual affembly. Through the good hand of our God upon us we have again met to confult on the beft means, and to carry them into the fpeedieft effect for fpreading moft extenfively throughout the world, and fpecially in the lands of the heathen the knowledge of falvation miffionary labors have not difcou raged us. We have met a hoft, and renewed the folemn pledge to each other never to be weary in well doing, to redouble our exertions, and when our ftrength fhall fail, hope to devolve the bleffed fervice on our fucceffors more able, more active, and more fuccefsful, till the earth be filled with the waters cover the sea. by the blood of the Lamb. Ful-knowledge of the Lord as the ly perfuaded that we fhall finally reap if we faint not, and favored with beholding the bleffed commencements of the Redeemer's kingdom in the lands which are afar off, we haften to detail the prefent ftate of our miffionary labors, and the fteps we are still parfuing; affured that you will. join with us in bleffing the great head of his church and people for all his mercies paft, and cry mightily with us to him, whochath the refidue of the fpirit, that he will crown these efforts with more abundant fuccefs, fet up his kingdom through the earth, and take to himself his great power and reign. We doubt not the common in terefts of Zion have lain deep upon your hearts; and that we have fhared the bleffing of your prayers, which have entered into the ears of the God of Sabaoth; we therefore address you in the confi dence of fraternal regard that you may abound more and more, and as iron fharpneth iron we wish to excite and animate a fpirit of more vigorous exertion in all lands, to promote the fame great object. Every where the means are with in your reach, and with us you will find, that the facilities of execution will advance with the activity and perfeverance of the faithful. The returning horrors of renewed devaftations fo inimical to It will hardly be poffible to communicate to you an adequate view of the fcene prefented in our affemblies of the faithful minifters of Chrift from all parts of our ifland, and the thousands of our Ifrael united with them; indeed no place of worship however vaft could contain them. The report is every where gladdening of the endeavors made to fpread the gofpel through every corner of our own land. The numbers of faithful witneffes daily increafingthe care of the rifing generation particularly attended to-many thousands are under the tuition of faithful men, who freely devote themselves to this charitable work, and happy inftances conftantly occur of the bleffed effects on our youth, living and dying. Societies for the difperfion of the moft impreffive religious tracts are formed in different parts, and the immenfity of the number of these fpread through the land, and daily increafing, has had the ftrongeft tendency to diffufe evangelical truth on every fide. But as we efpecially have longed for a more univerfal diffufion of the fcriptures, that every family may poffefs a bible, we with pleafure inform you that a particular attention has been lately paid to this important fubject. With this view an addrefs has been circulated and enquiries inftituted, in various parts of the British empire, and alfo on the continent, to afcertain the actual fituation of the poor with refpect to the facility with which they may obtain bibles. The refult has already proved that they are under much greater difficulty than could have been ex-, pected from a fuperficial view of the fubject, and we hope it, will ftimulate the opulent profeffors of Chriftianity to adopt fome fufficient measures, which may enable every poor perfon who fhall be defirous of reading the word of life to obtain a bible, on making proper application. Permit us, brethren, to urge you to inftitute a fimilar enquiry in your vicinity, and alfo to try what can be done to promote the object for which fuch enquiries are entered upon. And we fhall feel peculiar pleafure in fubmitting any communications on the fubject to the Christian brethren who have entered with diligence and zeal on fo noble a purfuit. Amidst the fhaking of the nations we truft the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will be our ftrength and our redeemer, and make us yet a praife in the earth. Oh that the days of peace may quickly return, the fword be beat into the plough fhare, and men learn war no more. It will be fo, whenever the fpirit of God and of glory refteth upon us. But you will defire efpecially to know how the more immediate objects of our miffionary efforts proceed and profper. And herein, glory be to God! we may truly fet up our Ebenezer, and fay the Lord hath helped us. In all places where our brethren labor, the Lord of Hofts is with them, the God of Jacob is their refuge. The accompanying report will in the fulleft manner communicate to you the prefent ftate of our miffionary labors by which you will perceive with pleasure that many of the heathen receive with gladnefs the word of life. To you therefore, our Christian brethren in all lands, we would addrefs ourselves, affured how much joy it will give you to hear of the progrefs of the Redeemer's kingdom, and confident we shall find in you an awakened fpirit of wifdom, zeal and exertion to promote the fame bleffed object, according to the means which the divine providence may point out to you; only be ftrong and very conrageous. Our Redeemer is mighty, tho' we are few and feeble and as the excellency of the power is of him and not of us, we will not defpair under the fenfe of our infufficiency, or any of the diffi culties and dangers in the way. In the ftrength of the Lord and the power of his might we refolve in the patience of hope to perfe vere. Never can we fufficiently acknowledge the great things the Lord hath done, the widely diffufed fpread of evangelical truth in our own land, the host of witneffes rifen and arifing to lift up the ftandard of the crofs and determined to know nothing but Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. Tidings of great joy are wafted to us across the atlantic, that times of refreshing from the prefence of the Lord, are given to many of our brethren in different provinces of America. From various parts of Europe we receive the pleafing intelligence that in many places the living waters have broken forth to renew the face of the earth. Societies are formed to promote miffionary objects; and active zeal employed in the publication and difperfion of religious tracts, admirably calculated to revive the flumbering, to call the inattentive, to inftruct the ignorant, and to confirm the faithful. On you, brethren, therefore we are emboldened to call, up and be doing, before the night cometh when no man can work. In your feveral fpheres of usefulness redouble your activity. Look round and confider what can be done wifely, fpeedily, for the fouls perifhing for lack of knowledge, or languifhing for want of the vivifying breath to kindle the fmoking flax into a flame. Much may be hoped from united efforts. But no individual is fo inconfiderable, as that from him may not arife the commencement of the greateft effects; at least every man who defires to do fomething for his Lord, and the fouls redeemed by his precious blood, may reft affured the labor fhall not be in vain. He fhall fee of the travail of his foul, or it fhall be remembered to his praife, at the great day of the appearing of our God and Saviour Jefus Chrift. ony of zeal and love rejoice to be found among the last and leaft. Together then let us arise to the work of the Lord, nor doubt that he who is for us, is greater than all that are against us. Before Zerubbabel the great mountain becomes a plain, difficulties and dangers disappear where infinite wifdom and infinite power unite to fulfil the counfels of his own will, to accomplish the sure word of his prophecy, and to manifeft the faithfulness of his promises. GEORGE BURDER, Secretary. Report of the Directors to the ninth T HE communication of those occurrences which relate either to the introduction or revival of the gofpel-difpenfation among the nations of the earth, is a circumftance which ftrongly excites the attention, and engages the feelings of those who have a fuitable concern for the honor of their Saviour. Whilft, as mem bers of civil fociety, they are actuated by thofe benevolent principles which embrace with ardor the interefts of the human race, their minds are engaged with others in the confideration of those momentous operations of Divine Providence, which are producing fuchimportant effects in the world : Defirous of maintaining endeared communion, with thofe who love our Lord Jefus Chrift in every land we greet you in the bonds of that peace which paffeth all understanding-And whilst we refpectfully addrefs to you the detail of our feeble efforts, we hope to receive from you more animating communications of the rifing glories of the Redeemer's king-yet it is the connection of these dom; we expect to be comforted with the fpiritual dominion of and rejoice together to be anima. Chrift among men, and their inted to more vigorous contention fluence in relation to that subject, in the race where the ftrife itself is which moft ftrongly fixes their redelightful, whilft preffing to the gards and interefts their hearts. mark for the prize of our high calling of God in Chrift Jefus, each can exult in the fuperior excellence of thofe who precede him in the courfe, and with all the ag Not only is this the evangelical medium through which the great arrangements of the Governor of the univerfe will be contemplated, by fuch as confider the triumphant. |