The gospel is now disseminating with great rapidity. The Missionary Society in London have a large and "goodly company" of ministers and others among the Hottentots: they have an establishment of missionaries in the South Sea islands-in France-and in Germany--and application has lately been made to that society for protestant puritanical ministers and the protestant testament, from Naples in Italy and Canton in China. The situation of Germany is completely changed within these two years the nails of the "Whore of Babylon" have been só clipped-that she can scratch no more; the friends of truth are consequently making increased exertions and hopes are entertained that no long space of time will elapse, ere the thunders of the gospel shall be sounded in the midst of "Babylon the great."-In the East-Indies, the Baptists have a very large mission-the New Testament is already translated into one of the languages-and the missionaries new possess the means to furnish it in six different tongues-they have extended themselves from Calcutta nearly 500 miles into the interior; and the seed which has been so long sown. begins to promise a harvest.The Moravians have missions in the North of Europe and in the West-Indiesthe Methodists have a mission in the West-Indies and in the British American dominions-and the work is advancing in every part of Europe.-The head of the church has kindled a missionary flame in the hearts of his people, which is strengthened and increased, by the success with which he deigns to honour them.

If we advert to the United States, what a powerful instance have we of the success of the gospel! The Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Baptists, are all striving to spread the savour of the Redeemer's religion, and the Lord adds to the church daily such as "shall be saved." Two hundred years ago, the religion of Jesus was not known on the Continent of America. Now

in those parts of the states which have been some time settled, the gospel is preached. Fifty years since, it is almost certain that there were not five Methodists, strictly so called, from Maine to Georgia. At this period they pervade every part of the Union, and have extended their labours amongst the Papists both in upper and lower Canada-From Niagara to Penobscotfrom Portland to St. Mary's-from New-York to Albany-from Montreal to Pittsburg, and from Baltimore to New-Orleans-few of the inhabited districts are entirely bereft of the gospel-through the labours and selfdenial of the Methodist travelling preachers.-Aiready has a door been opened amongst the benighted multitudes in Louisiana, and great hopes are indulged that the message of the Lord will be productive of fruit,

It may be presumed that the Methodist church at this period includes more members than any other church on the Continent. During the last year 103 travelling preachers were admitted upon trial into the connection and 14020 additional professors of Christianity joined the church-such a prodigious increase to one church only, augurs well for the United States, and auethorises a hope that the mercy of the Lord is still to be continued amongst us.

The following Table has been carefully compiled from the Annual Minutes of the Conferences, it shews the increase of the Methodist church, as nearly as the inaccuracy of the returns in some instances, and the changing of the ministers' stations in others would admit-and I trust will not be deemed the most uninteresting part of the volume.

Exhibiting the number of Itinerant Ministers and Members in the Methodist Societies throughout the United States, from 1773, the year in which the first Conference was held in Philadelphia, until the year 1807.,

The number of the Preachers was computed by the list of Stations: hence it includes those who were admitted into full connection at the conferences, those who remained upon trial, and those who were admitted upon trial, during the year which is mentioned in the table.

The diminution in the number of the Preachers, during the years 1778 and 1779, was owing to the separation which occurred in consequence of the disputes upon the propriety of the administration of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; to the return to Europe of several ministers who were partizans of the British during the revolutionary contest; to the seclusion from their publick labours, and to the retirement, to which some others were obliged to submit.

At the Baltimore general conference in 1785, the present form of their church government was established by the Methodist Societies: the number of Preachers from that period, was collected from the list of stations, as before; and consequently comprises the Elders, Deacons, those who were admitted into full connection, those who remained upon trial, and those who were admitted upon trial during the year designated.

Until this period, there was no distinction in the accounts transmitted to the conference between the members of the Society, whether white or coloured; the small number of the latter was most probably the reason; but the increase of the coloured Methodists has been so unexampled, since the year 1786, that a duplicate return has always been made to shew the relative progress of the gospel.

The great diminution which appears in the numbers of this and the several following years, must be imputed to the incorrectness of the returns.-Annually large districts of country continued unnoticed in the accounts transmitted to the conferences. In the year 1792 also, Mr. Kelly and several of his brethren, with about 1500 members separated themselves from the Methodist church-but it does not appear from the information which I have procured, that the Congregational Methodists, as they are denominated, increase so rapidly in portion as the body from which they withdrew.

pro

No return was made in the year 1801, from Ken

tucky, Tennessee, Rhode-Island, and several other cir

12,236

61,351

13,452

64,894

15,688

72,874

At the last general conference in 1804, an attempt was made to ascertain the whole number of local Preachers in the Methodist connection. Although the number could not be obtained with precision, yet, it was discovered that they must amount to 2000 at least, in the United States.

I have endeavoured during the progress of this volume, to learn the number of houses for divine worship in the Methodist connection, with their situation, and the date of their erection: but I did not succeed Nevertheless I anticipate on some future occasion to be enabled to gratify the public with an authentic Table upon this subject. Indeed so obscure is this part of the history of the Methodist church, that those who are best informed, and deeply versed in the Society's affairs-are perfectly incompetent even to form an opinion with any probability of correctness.

FINIS.