to fend you, as a token of our friendship, the laft volume of the Evangelical Magazine, and all the numbers of the prefent year hitherto publifhed. I truft you will favor us with frequent correfpondence, fhall we fay, twice in the year? and I will endeavor to tranfmit to you every religious event of importance. out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob fhall rejoice, and Ifrael fhall be glad. The Trustees made to the Society a report of their doings relative to the employment of Miffionaries, and expenditures of monies, fince their appointment in September 1802. From this report it appears, that the Trustees Our Society has in contemplation fending feveral more Miffion-employed the following Miffion. aries to the Eaft Indies, and a Miffion to the island of Ceylon, which laft we hope Mr. Vofs, an excellent minifter who was near the Cape of Good Hope, will direct. One of the Magazines will inform you of the wonderful fuccefs which it hath pleafed God to give to the labors of Mr. Geriké in the Eaft, which will afford you unfpeakable delight. We are waiting with fome anxiety to hear from our excellent brother Vanderkemp, from Algoa Bay, but fuppofe his difpatches are delayed by their circuitous route thro' Holland. I am, Dear Brethren, in behalf of the London Miffionary Society, and with great respect, Your affectionate Brother, GEORGE BURDER, SECRETARY. Religious Intelligence. Berkshire Miffionary Society. THE annual meeting of the Miffionary Society in the counties of Berkshire and Columbia, was holden at Stockbridge, on the 20th of September. A fermon was delivered, on the occafion, by the Rev. Thomas Allen of Pittsfield, from Pfalm xiv. 7. Oh that the falvation of Ifrael were come aries the laft year; viz. the Rev. Jofeph Avery twelve weeks in the county of Luzerne, in the State of Pennsylvania, and in the counties of Oneida, Chenango, Tioga, Cayuga and Onondaga, in the State of New-York; the Rev. Benjamin Woofter twelve weeks, in the new fettlements between Lake George and Canada line, and in the towns on the NewYork and Vermont fhores of Lake Champlain-and the Rev. Jabez Chadwick fixteen weeks in the county of Luzerne. This report ftates alfo, that the Rev. Mr. Woofter was appointed to perform another miffion of fixteen weeks, and to take nearly the fame tour which he did before,-that he had entered on the fervice, but had not finifhed his miffion. From the journal of the Rev. Mr. Avery, it appears that he commenced his miffion the 24th of November laft-that he travelled 986 miles,' preached 80 times -attended 22 religious conferences and 5 funerals-vifited 106 families and 6 fchools-baptized 8 children, affifted in one ordination, and received in contributions, for the ufe of the Society, 12 dollars 94 cents. The journal of the Rev. Mr. Woofter ftates, that he commenced his miflion the 18th of January laft-that he preached 75 times attended 21 conferences and other religious meetings,-bapti- | ver Ayer, Clerk.-Rev. Jeffe zed 10 children, adminiftered the Townfend, Rev. Aaron Bafcom, Lord's fupper once, and received Rev. Dr. Stephen Weft, Rev. in contributions for the Society Ephraim Judfon, Rev. Alvan 24 dollars 82 cents. Hyde, Rev. David Perry, the Hon. William Walker, Efq. the Hon. Timothy Edwards, Efq. Deacon Stephen Nash, Deacon John Hall, and the Hon. Barnabas Bidwell, Efq. Trustees. Rev. Mr. Chadwick, in performing his miffion, which he commenced the 28th of April laft, rode 1086 miles, preached 122 fermons, affifted in forming one church of 27 members, admitted 12 perfons to the communion of churches baptized 4 adults and 21 children-adminif tered the Lord's fupper 4 times, vifited 2 fchools and 80 familiesattended 2 religious conferences and 6 church meetings-and received in contributions, for the Society, 42 dollars 38 cents. By these three Miffionaries the Society has afforded to the new fettlements forty weeks of minifterial fervice, and 277 fermons, in the course of the last year. "MY laft informed you of the good work in Pitsford, WeftRutland, and fome other places, and the hopeful profpect here. At Pittsford the number hopefully born into the kingdom of grace, is 200, or upwards. At WeftRutland 100, or more. About one month fince there was the found of abundance of rain in Benfon, which ftill continues to pour down, and it is emphatical The Miffionaries bring back accounts of their reception and encouragement in their work, which must be animating to all who lovely a time of refreshing from the the profperity of Zion. They prefence of the Lord. Converts uniformly teftify, that the people fpring up as the grass. The wil are generally difpofed to attend dernefs and folitary places are glad upon the preached word, are for them; and this northern defprompt and apparently fincere inert is made to bloffom as the rofe. expreffing their thanks to the So-Saints feed on hidden manna, and ciety, and, in many inftances, through the infinite mercy of a fovereign God, their hearts are opened to receive, in the love of it, the truth as it is in Jefus. join in the joy of angels. I have heard fome grey headed Chrif tians exclaim in extacy, "Lord now let thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen of At the above mentioned meet thy falvation." The good Lord ing, the Society, in conformity to is now by his fpirit in this finful their conftitution, proceeded to town, and a greater fhaking I elect, by ballot, the officers for never faw amongst dry bones. Oh the enfuing year. The following pray for the enlargement and peace were chofen; viz. Rev. Ephraim of Zion. May her borders be Judfon, Prefident; the Hon. Ti- as extenfive as the globe-her mothy Edwards, Efq. Vice Pref- children numerous as the human ident; the Hon. William Walk-family-her peace as a river-and er, Efq. Treasurer; Rev. Alvan her righteoufuefs as the waves of Hyde, Secretary, and Rev. Oli- the fea!" ORDINATION. ON Thursday the 10th day of November 1803, the Rev. TIMOTHY STONE was ordained Paftor of the confociated church of Chrift în Cornwall. The Rev. Samuel J. Mills of Torringford, made the introductory prayer; the Rev. Bezaleel Pinneo of Milford, preached a fermon happily adapted to the occafion, from 2 Tim. ii. 15.3 the Rev. Ammi R. Robbins of Nor'folk, made the confecrating pray. er; the Rev. Peter Starr of Warren, delivered the charge; the Rev. Afael Hooker of Gofhen, gave the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Alexander Gillet of Tor rington, made the concluding prayer. Solemnity and pervaded the affembly. I. POETRY. order COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL. Reflections on the end of the Year. Once more his course has run ; 2. Within the year that's now no more, 3. While thousands, younger far than I, Have clos'd their earthly race, 'Midft tombs unnumber'd I am spar'd, A monument of grace. 4. And while along life's dang'rous path 5. How many precious hours and days Have I in trifles spent ; what bleffings unimprov'd appear, What murm'ring difcontent! 6. Blinded by earth's deluding toys, Which lead the heart aftray, How often have I turn'd afide From wisdom's narrow way! 7. Alas! how flowly have I learn'd Religion's heavenly art; How feldom have I rais'd to God 8. An undivided heart! Ev'n in his presence, in his house, How often have my treach'rous tho'ts To countless follies flown! 9. How cold my zeal to praise his name 10. Lord, fhould't thou ftrictly mark my faults, And bring thy judgment near, Beneath thy fearching, holy eye, Oh, how must I appear! II. But thou art LOVE; thy grace can cleanfe And fanctify my foul; The precious blood of Chrift can make The wounded finner whole. 12. Lord, glorify thy boundless grace By faving me from fin: Cast out, my God, the hateful foc, ASPASIO. Donation to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. D. C. December 21, 1803. Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, avails of his Sermon, 21 70 The Rev. CHARLES BACKUS, S. T. D. Paftor of the Church in Somers, and one of the Editors of this Magazine, departed this life Dec. 30th, 1803. ! R. BACKUS was born of after he commenced a preacher he miniftered to the people in Somers, and received the paftoral charge of the church in that place, by ordination, on the 10th of Auguft 1774 He was twice-elected Profeffor of Divinity, first at Dartmouth College, and afterwards at Yale College, both of which elections Dreputable and Chriftian pa- he declined to accept The firft attack of difeafe, which difabled him for public labor and hath terminated in his death, was on August 31ft, 1801. rents, in that part of Norwich which is now called Franklin, on Nov. 5th, 1749, and by the wife and righteous providence of God was left an orphan in his child. He departed this life, on Dec. hood, when his education fell un- 30th, 1803, after a faithful minder the direction of pious relatives.iftry of more than 29 years. Discovering an early love of fcience, although his patrimony was not fully competent for the purpofe, his friends determined to affift him in obtaining a liberal ed. ucation. He was graduated at Yale College in the year 1769. In the year 1801, Williams College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, His theological education was under the Rev. Dr. Hart of Prefton; and he became a licentiate for preaching the gofpel, in June 1773. On the fecond Sabbath VOL. IV. No. 8. In College, he made a diftinguifhing proficiency in science, and his life was moral and amiable. His understanding which was naturally clear, and his judgment which was correct, were improved by a general acquaintance with literary fubjects and the best authors. In the latter part of his collegiate life, his mind was impreffed with divine truth, and a deep conviction of the fin of his nature. Thefe impreffons, after a variety of exercifes, terminated in a comfortable Christian hope. M m In his private writings he speaks | life hath been spent, graciously remembered him to the end. In his laft fickness, which was long, he had much of the divine prefence until he departed, and as we confidently believe flept in Jefus. of a season in May 1770, in which the natural obftinacy of his heart was humbled, and he was led to a knowledge of the glory of a precious Redeemer; and from this time he maintained a Chrif tian hope.. The laft words which he was heard to whisper, were "Glory to God in theh gheft, and on earth peace, As a Chriftian, he was humble, exemplary and fubmiffive, efpecial-good will towards men."-His re ly fo, under the death of his only child, Mr. Jabez Backus, who died March 16th, 1794, in the 17th year of his age, and while a member of Yale College. As a Chriftian minifter he was faithful, evangelical and indefatigable in his paftoral fervices, being filled with a love of the fouls of his people. Under his miniftry, which we hope hath been bleffed for the falvation of many, there have been four feafons of the fpecial revival of religion. He was evangelical in all his inftructions, and his preaching, being drawn from the oracles of truth, was not according to the wisdom of man, but in demonftration of the fpirit and in power. The people of his charge, and thofe who occafionally heard his miniftration, are witneffes with what plainness he rebuked fin, and Laught falvation thro' faith in Chrift, together with the neceffity of perfonal holiness, as the only evidence of a good hope; and how he enforced thefe doctrines by Christian example. mains were committed to the dust, the Tuesday following his death. In the funeral fervice, Doctor Williams first prayed. A fermon was delivered by Doctor Strong from Pfalm xxiii. 4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.". The concluding prayer was made by Doctor Perkins. The friends of Zion are fenfi. ble that a light is extinguished in our churches, and they pray that much of the divine prefence may be granted to the bereaved widow, and to the church which is left without a paftor. [Sundry extrails from the writings of Doctor Backus will be publifked in the future numbers of this work.] Dialogues on the Chriftian Dottrines, continued from page 257. DIALOGUE II. our laft interview, that the Your doctrine of total depravity was very alarming to every natural man-but it appears to me if finners are ever fo much alarmed, it is to ho purpose. If God, from As a theologian he was eminent. His retired fituation which was favorable to ferious ftudies, and his eminence as an inftru&tor, drew around him many who were defigned for the Chriflian minifall eternity, has elected a certain try. Nearly fifty have been mem- number to falvation, they will be bers of his theological fchool, the faved, let them do what they will; greater part of whom are now and if he has determined a certain paftors in the churchesão number shall be damned, it will be impoffible to avoid it, as their The Lord, in whofe fervice his |