Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

till to day I have been with them.
They have not seemed to think it
a burthen to attend fermons day
after day, and conferences in the
evening. Yefterday, there were
170 people at meeting, which is
a great number for fuch a fettle-
ment. Several have obtained a
hope of their interest in Chrift.
Among these there is one man
who was first a universalist, and
then a deift and an open fcoffer
at religion. God faw fit to make
use of his own wickedness to awa-
ken him. The Sabbath before
I came there, brother Woodward
administered the Lord's fupper to
the little church, which confifts
of eight members, and this man
made game of it, and endeavored
to turn into ridicule this holy or-
dinance. But the grace of our
Lord has been exceeding abun
dant towards him.
It appears,
that for this caufe he has obtain-
ed mercy, that in him firft Jefus
Chrift might fhow forth all long-
fuffering for a pattern to others.
The great alteration which has
taken place in this man, has ap-
peared to be a great mean in the
hand of the Spirit to awaken the
attention of other stupid finners.
He now declares, that the con-
temptuous language which he used
with refpect to the facrament was
made ufe of to awaken his fears.
Thus was Goliah flain by his own
fword. There is another man,
who has been an open deift, whofe
mouth is ftopped. He believes
that Jefus is the Son of God, and
hopes he loves him. There is a
confiderable number in the settle-

counties of Luzerne and Wayne. | The greater part of the time I have been permitted only to fow the feed, and leave it without knowing whether it would come up: But the laft part of my miffion has been more evidently owned and bleffed of God; and to his name be the glory. I came to a fettlement called the Nine Partners, in Nicholfon's Townfhip, five weeks ago to day, intending to preach a lecture or two, and then pafs on. But God determined otherwife. I came here "at fupper-time." The firft text which I preached upon, was 1 Pet. i. 12, concerning the gofpel's being preached with the Holy Ghost, fent down from heaven. This feafon feemed to be an illuftration of the text. This was Monday evening: they urged me to ftay thro' the week. I agreed to ftay and preach again the next day. I now agreed to ftay over the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a remarkably folemn day. I be lieve God was in the midft of the affembly, of a truth. The fermon in the afternoon was concerning the folly and wickednefs of men's not improving the little fpace of life to repent of their fins, make their peace with God and prepare for heaven. Sabbath evening we had about as full a meeting as in the day time, tho' there was no moon to make it light. The next day I bade them farewel, and rode this week down the Wyalufing Creek. I fpent a little more than two weeks up and down the Creek. The people at the Nine Partners lay foment, whofe attention is much much on my mind, that I con- called up to things of the greatest cluded to return and fee them a- importance, and fome are under gain. I returned to them a week deep concern and conviction. ago laft Friday. I found that They appear fully convinced they the work of God had fpread du- have never done any thing but fin ring my abfence. From that time against God all their days. Some

of them alfo fee clearly that all | feveral parishes in Middlesex county in this State. They hope foon to be furnished with further information refpecting this work of God and to be able to affure the public that God is in very deed carrying on a glorious work in that part of the country.

THE Editors take the liberty to remind the good people of Connecticut that the first Sabbatlı of May next, their charitable contributions will be again solicited for the support of miffions. The intelligence published from time to time in this Magazine, respect

they are now engaged about is to fecure their own happiness. The doctrines of grace are believed, and apparently loved by thofe who have obtained a hope--they are believed and hated by thofe under legal conviction. The old profeffors appear to have been, in fome measure, waiting for this confolation to Ifrael. They rejoice in what they fee-they are aftonished at the goodnefs of God. It exceeds their hopes. The work has been very rapid, and is yet increasing; and at the fame time very still and orderly. There is an unbounded defire to hearing the benefit which has accrued "The word of the Lord is pre- from former contributions, it is cious in these days." They thank prefumed will induce the pious God for his marvellous grace; and benevolent to continue their and they exprefs their thankful- liberal donations for the promotion nefs to the miffionary focieties, of fo important an object. and all who have been inftrumental in fending laborers into their harveft.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

TWA

1.WAS not blind chance that laid me low,

Nor chance my health reftor'd; In each, my God, I fee thy hand,

And be thy name ador'd.

2. Father, if I indeed may call
Thee by a name fo dear,
With thy rebuke thy bleffing grant,
And teach my foul thy fear.

3. My health with all its cluft'ring fweets

Teach me aright to prize;
And 'midst thy bounties let my heart
In conftant thanks arife.

4. Yet let not earth's enjoyments lead
My heedlefs feet aftray;
But teach me as a stranger here
To walk the heav'nly way.

5. Oh, let my beft affections, Lord,
Be fet on things above:
There fix this wav'ring, wand'ring heart,
Nor let it thence remove.

6. Subdue each finful, low defire
Within this foul of mine;

My God, let ev'ry wish I form
And ev'ry thought be thine.

[blocks in formation]

grace

Can drive my cares away;
Thy love can cheer my faddeft hour,
And turn my night to day.

2. Though in a dreary wafte I walk,
My foul fhall fear no ill;
If on my head thy candle fhine,
The wilderness shall smile.

3. Though from my pious friends remov'd,

To me fo justly dear, Thou, Lord, art present still with them, And thou art present here.

4. Ev'n abfent, we can still enjoy,
Around thy throne of grace,
Communion fweet in humble prayer,
And fongs of facred praise.

5. Haften, O Lord, that joyful day
When all who thee adore,
Shall meet around thy throne above,
And parting be no more.

PHILANDER.

Donations to the Miffionary Society of Connecticut, from February 15th to March 15th, 1803.

Rev. Jedidiah Bushnell, contributed in new fettlements,
Rev. George Colton, Bolton,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

NOTE.

SINCE this Magazine went to prefs, fome very interefting communications have come to hand from the London Miffionary Society to the Trustees of the Miffionary Society of Connecticut, extracts from which will be pubifbed in the next Magazine. From thefe communications it appears that the miffionary caufe is profpered, and there is great reafon to hope that the London Society will be made the inftruments of promoting pure Chriflianity in France and the northern parts of Italy.

[blocks in formation]

I

London, 20th Nov. 1802.

DEAR SIR,

of a divine impreffion on the mind, and then it will most probably be lasting-increasing-and effica

cious.

Our official letter to your Society, and the papers which accompany it, which you will no doubt fee, render it unneceffary for me to enlarge on thofe fub jets.

We have reafon for thankfulness that Divine Providence has rendered our inftitution the occafion of fo much advantage to the general interefts of religion in the world as to encourage our cheerful perfeverance, and our firm confidence in his continued protection and bleffing. The fur

HAD the honor to receive your letter accompanying the five firft numbers of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine.-Itther we proceed, the more enafforded me great fatisfaction to larged appears to be the sphere in be informed of the formation of which our operations are invited, your Miffionary Society, and of and we indulge the hope that the the measures which you are adopt-animated and increasing exertions ing to communicate to the Hea then the knowledge of their Creator and Redeemer. This meritorious zeal to enlarge the boundaries of our Saviour's kingdom on earth is happily extending on every fide, and is an honorable mark by which the prefent generation of Chriftians is characterized and diftin guished. We hope it is the effect VOL. III. No. 11.

of Chriftians, in different parts of the world, will, in the courfe of a few years, be inftrumental in producing a confiderable extenfion of our Redeemer's kingdom.-You will perceive by the accompanying report, that a wide door is opened in France for the introduction of the pure principles of Chriftianity, and there is now ftrong

Eee

ground to believe not only that

London, 10th Nov. 1802.

the fcriptures will be extenfively DEAR BRETHREN IN Our

circulated there by means of our Society, but alfo that we fhall without delay proceed to build a

LORD JESUS CHRIST,

place for divine worship in Paris-THIS Letter will accompany

a circumftance which a few years ago muft have appeared in the highest degree incredible.

The difpenfations of Providence, as they affect the moral condition of the human race, are very remarkable; and difaftrous as they have undoubtedly been to every clafs in fociety connected with antichrift, their refult appears aufpicious to the interefts of the true and unadulterated religion of our Saviour. And while the men of the world are looking to future events with a confiderable degree of anxious forebodings, the difciples of Chrift are full of hope that by means of the great political occurrences which fo materially vary the ftate of civil fociety, the peaceful kingdom of the Redeemer will rapidly ad

vance.

It will afford me pleasure to receive your communications on this interefting fubject, and to have our languid zeal quickened by your accounts of the more animated exertions of our Chriftian Brethren in America.

I am very respectfully,
Dear Sir,

Your faithful fervant,
JOSEPH HARDCASTLE.

The Hon. John7
Treadwell.

No. 2. Letter from the Directors of the London Miffionary Society, to the Miffionary of Connecticut.

our laft annual addrefs and the Report of our Brethren lately deputed to vifit France, for the purposes therein stated From both which you will we doubt not receive pleasure.

We cannot communicate thefe papers to you without taking the opportunity of testifying afresh cur chriftian affection and our cordial union with you, in the work in which you are engaged. To have any reason to hope that the Lord is employing us as inftru meats, however unworthy, of promoting his caufe and intereft, in the world, and of furthering his bleffed defigns and eternal purpofes,-how comforting and animating is it! To have any ground to believe that through his divine benediction, we are not wholly laboring in vain,-how ought it to excite our highest praises, and to ftimulate us to undaunted efforts and unwearied diligence ! Be this encouragement and this confolation yours, Dear Brethren, and ours, and the portion of all those who love the name of the Saviour, and who pray and flrive that it may be known from the rifing to the fetting of the fun.

The former of the enclosed papers will inform you of what are our general purpofes, and plans: the latter will offer to your view a field of operation fo unexpected, fo ample and fo promifing, as will leave you in doubt which most to admire, the goodness of God in opening it unto us, or the magnitude of the work of which it may be the commencement. But to indulge ourselves in reflections of

« AnteriorContinua »