these notions, which he cherish- | sy; but surely there can be no ostentation in a man's confessing to his pastor that he is an unconverted, inexcusable sinner; or in relating the imperfection of his duties and the weakness of his graces. es with a fatherly fondness, considering them as the fruit of his own invention, the result of his own ingenuity; and therefore he would as soon suffer you to offer him the grossest personal insult, as to rob him of any of these opinions Again, the spirit of party among many people is so prevalent, that they will hear nothing willingly, receive nothing cordially, unless it comes through one particular channel. A single phrase, which they consider as belonging to a different system, even if it be a scriptural phrase, will shut the mind against all instruction from the person who was so unfortunate as to use it. Some serious people are as much offended at hearing the words, "election" and "predestination," as if they were never used in scripture, but invented by the enemies of God and religion. Young people are generally much afraid to be interrogated about the concerns of their souls, and they dread the company of clergymen on this very account, fearing that they may be asked whether they are engaged in the great work of their salvation. But ministers should never cease from their endeavours. One word, seasonably and affectionately spoken, has often been the means of saving a soul from death. Private admonition and advice have been remarkably blessed in former times, and they are so still where they are diligently, tenderly, and prudently used. I wish therefore that the old practice of parlour preaching But the chief obstacle with all should be revived: and in order classes is a want of taste for reli- to encourage it I purpose to furgious conversation. On any nish, from time to time, some other subject they will be fluent, specimens of this mode of but here they are mute. If you preaching by a friend of mine, begin conversation. you must who makes up his deficiency as carry it on yourself. Those a public speaker, by unremitwho habitually neglect their salting efforts to be useful to his vation, take no pleasure in hear people in private; and the good ing of its importance. Especial- effects of his labors in this way ly, most people dislike to be in-have induced me to recommend terrogated by their minister, as the same practice to others in to the condition of their souls, the same office. As the modesthough it be done in a private, ty of my friend would be greatly personal conversation. They violated by introducing his real are conscious that all is not well, name into this paper, I shall and they cannot bear to confess speak of him under the fictitious the truth. Many therefore keep name of Eusebius; and the up an opinion that the exercises reader may expect one of his of the heart ought not to be spok-parlour discourses, in the next en of, that it savors of osten-number of the magazine. tation and is a mark of hypocri 236 Report of the Trustees of the Missionary Society. [JUNE, To the Honorable General As-accumulate that part of their sembly of the State of Connecticut now convened at Hartford in said State. HE Trustees of the Mis funds which the donors have devoted to immediate service, but on the contrary, they will not fail to expend the same as fast as they can employ fit instru Tsionary Society of Con-ments and means of carrying on, successfully, the great and benevolent work committed to their care. This fund being at present adequate to their pros necticut, pursuant to the requirements of law, REPORT, That the state of the Society's funds, at the close of the year 1807 is exhibited by a statement accom-pects of immediate service, they panying this Report.-No. 1 of that statement shews the amount of contributions of the Ecclesiastical societies therein named, being $2780, 82 1-2. No. 2 shews the amount of revenue within the year derived from other sources, being 8 3056, 20 1-2. No. 3 shews the amount of disbursements by order of the Trustees, for the same period, being $ 1877, 84 and No. 4 being an account current with the Treasurer, as stated on the annual audit of accounts, shews the balance in favor of the Sociéty, being 8 29153, 78. The funds of the Society, though far from being adequate to the diffusion of Christian knowledge in the United States connected with the funds of other missionary institutions in the other States, yet are at present adequate to the number of missionaries which the Trustees can obtain, and to the other means of religious instruction which are proper for them to employ. The expenditures for the year past indeed exceed those of the year preceding, and probably will continue to increase, in future, as the obsta cles which for some years past, have diminished missionary labor, are overcome. It is no part of the object of the Trustees to have thought fit to intermit their usual application to your Honors for licence to solicit further contributions from the Ecclesiastical societies in this State. As the great sources of revenue are, therefore, either exhausted, or intermitted, the fund destined for immediate consumption will, no doubt, suffer a gradual diminution, until it is expended; and whenever the service of the missionary cause shall demand further aid, from that circumstance or from an extension of their sphere of usefulness; the Trustees will not be wanting in their duty to ask your Honors further patronage to obtain it, having perfect confidence that the Honorable Assembly, who have so uniformly manifested their approbation of the object and conduct of the Society, will continue to foster the one, and approve the other, as occasion shall justify. By order, and in behalf, of the board of Trustees. ABEL FLINT, Secretary. Hartford, May 25th, A. D. 1808. N. B. The statement of the Society's Funds referred to in the preceding Report, was published in the Magazine for Feb❘ruary. POETRY. On the late Effusion of the Spirit in various parts of the United States. HAIL! happy period, favor'd land, Long thro' our coasts has sin prevail'd Hail! children of Emmanuel's love! No more our faith with fainting breath, Beneath the spirit's gentle dews, The scorner sees and doubts and fears, The infidel almost believes, And marks in thoughtless crowds-the change. Christians content not thus-rejoice In God your Saviour and his care, • But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgo ten me. a very emphatical manner. "I say the truth in Christ, I lye not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart the best, and comprise, on the whole, the greatest quantity of real good and true happiness. But the fact hath proved, that God judged otherwise. The infinite wisdom and pow justice, goodness and faithfulness of God, render it certain, that he could have prevented the existence of sin and misery, if he had chose and designed, on the whole, to prevent it; and also, that he would have willed to prevent it, if he had not judged and known the existenceof these evils was necessary for the best good of the system, on the whole. for my brethren, my kins-er, men according to the flesh."And the man Christ Jesus, when in the form of a servant, was very sensibly affected at a view of their approaching misery and ruin for their incorrigible wickedness." He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." So likewise, now, men of a 2. It doth not appear how a benevolent heart might still benevolent heart can be recon- think, if not otherwise informed ciled to the existence of misery, by God, that it would be much and completely happy whilst it better, on the whole, and produce does exist, but only from a full the most glorious and happy sysconviction, that it is not only de- tem, if all evil was to be wholly served and just; but also neces-destroyed and for ever extermisary to the greatest good or hap-nated. But if, by the express piness on the whole. But if this declarations of the word of God, is clearly seen or firmly believed it appears, that he judges otherto be the case, the benevolent wise; and if at the day of judg heart will not be the less happy, ment and thenceforward, the on account of the existence of same shall be proved by his conso much evil as is necessary duct; there will be sufficient for this end. For nothing is evidence, to satisfy all who bemore common than for men lieve the absolute perfection of cheerfully to submit to a less God, that the existence of evil evil, when necessary, for the is necessary to the greatest good, sake of a greater good. on the whole. And, probably, all holy creatures will then, and thenceforward, clearly see how the existence and continuance of all the evil which doth continue, is necessary and subservient to a greater degree of real good and true happiness than could otherwise have been effected. Hence, they will be com pletely happy, since the bene volent heart must necessarily be most completely gratified with 3. Before the existence of sin or misery commenced, beings of such finite understandings -of such scanty views and limited capacities, as all mere creatures, and, especially, as mankind are, would probably have thought it could not be for the best, that it should come into existence; but that a system, into which sin and misery should never enter, must necessarily be the attainment of the greatest | further view to obtain praise or attainable sum of real good and true happiness in the system. On what hath been illustrated, it may be proper to remark, gloryof men, as the end in itself was more pleasing and happifying to their hearts; which proved that they acted from a selfish spirit. But the real Christian gives alms to relieve his neigh his comfort and happiness, because this is in itself an object agreeable to his heart. The pleasure arising from the comfort and joy of his neighbor, in 1. The benevolent spirit required in the gospel the charity or love, which seek-bor from distress, or to increase eth not her own, though perfectly contrary to a selfish spirit, is not opposed to or inconsistent with desiring and seeking our own happiness: or, in other words, The spirit of true Chris-dependent of other consideratian love is no more opposed to tions, is with him a sufficient or inconsistent with desiring, motive to contribute for his reaiming at, and seeking our own lief and comfort. In doing thus, true happiness, than a selfish he as really seeks an object spirit; but it is, in its nature, most grateful and pleasing to so different from and contrary to his heart, as the Pharisee doth, selfishness, that it leads us to in giving to be seen and obtain seek our own happiness in dif-glory of men; but from the ferent objects, from different sources, and in different ways. The benevolent man, no less than the selfish, is constantly seeking the object or end, which is most grateful and pleasing to his heart, and in which, of course, he places and expects to find his greatest delight or happiness; and the different nature of the principle, spirit, or disposition, from which they respectively act, appears and is expressed, by the different objects or ends, which they ultimately seek, as being in themselves most grate ful to their hearts. different nature of their ultimate ends, the different nature of their dispositions appears, the one as altogether selfish, the other as truly benevolent. If a man engages in the sacred work of the gospel ministry, because his disposition is such, that he finds the greatest satisfaction in doing and communicating good, and especially in contributing, under God, to the spiritual and eternal welfare of his fellow-creatures, he will direct all his labors and studies to this end. And if his labors are crowned with success; if The hypocritical, selfish Pha- sinners are converted-edified— risees gave alms so doth the comforted-stand fast in the faith Christian. The Pharisees did-grow in grace, and rejoice in it, that they might have glory of hope of the glory of God; he men; and they had their re-is peculiarly gratified. ward. The object, then, ulti-heart is filled with joy. In the mately sought by them, was not happiness which they enjoy, the good of others; but what- and the glory thence redounding ever subordinate view they to God, as the fruit of his labors, might have to the relief of the he rests satisfied, as an ample distressed, they acted with a His |