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hope to be saved!" An instance of stronger Christian faith can scarcely be conceived. So long as a Christian remains in the body, although all earthly things are withdrawn from his recollection, he remembers the di

had a thousand lives to spend, | Lord and my God, by whom I they should be devoted to the service of his divine Master, whose name and doctrines, thro' his whole life,he had endeavoured to preach. In his last hours, his mind became equally debilitated with his body.-On the evening before his death, accord-vine Lord whom he hath served. ing to custom, a neighbouring clergyman visited him, and said, how do you do sir, this evening? He replied, I do not know you. It is Mr., you know him. He answered no; I do not remember any Mr.. In the family there was a child to which he was particularly attached, and used to call her his little darling. The next question was, Do you

It also proves, that our gracious Redeemer withdraws not his Spirit from his precious saints, when they can no longer behold a perishing world. O that my death may be the death of the righteous, and that my last end may be like his !

Conscience.

SI conversed, the other

A day, with a wealthy mer

chant, in a place where men resort for business, and he was telling me of his ships, their outfits and returns, their destinations and cargoes; a pious,

not remember your little dar- | An incident shewing the power of ling? No, I do not know that I have any little darling His son, Doctor Cogswell was in the room and came to the bed-side. He was then asked, Do you not remember your son Mason? to which be replied, No, I do not remember that I have a son Mason. After a solemn pause, he was asked, do you not re-aged mechanic, who had lived member the Lord Jesus Christ? more than seventy years pasOn which his eyes brighten- sed by us. This pious pered, although in approaching son through a long life had indeath, and attempting to lift his dustriously served both God hands, he said, "O yes, I do, I and men. Covered with a do, I remember the Lord Jesus small house, clad in decent raiChrist, he is my Lord and my ment, and fed by wholesome God, by whom I hope to be food, he had not apparently covsaved;" and he then repeated the eted more. As he passed, the doxologies in long, common and countenance of my rich friend short metre, as they are written fell, and he involuntarily uttered by Doctor Watts. After which this wish, "I would give all the he spake little until his death. world to be in the condition of Reader, consider the faith of that man," at the same time uta Christian! Can you, after you tering a deep sigh. I enquired have forgotten your Christian for the meaning of his words, friends, your children and your-when he replied, "This man self say, "O yes, I remember hath been always as he now apthe Lord Jesus Christ, he is my pears, happy and contented with

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Rev. Messrs. Nathan Perkins, D. D. Ozias Eells, Cyprian Strong, D. D. Bezaleel Pimeo, Thomas W. Bray, James Noyes, Joseph Strong, William B. Rip

-a little. I knew him when a gentlemen were members of the boy, and remember how he re-body: proved me for some slight profaneness. He hath ever been an exemplary man. His children conduct better than my own, and in the church I have seen him cheerful under dis-ley, Horace Holly, Samuel Fishcourses, which chilled the blood in my veins."

With this description of the good man he turned and left me. I retired, silently meditating on the power of conscience, and saying thus to myself. If the -sight of a good man thus afflicts the sinful, I no longer wonder that they avoid them. If this man's conscience was so alarmed by seeing a Christian, who had been so much below him in this world, how will it be moved in the hour of death? How will his conscience sting him and become his tormentor, on a sight of that glorious company who are washed in the blood of the Lamb, and have eternal communion with the Father and the Son. May I ever be careful "to keep a conscience void of offence, both towards God, and towards men." "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominjon over me: then I shall be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

Extracts from the Minutes of the General Association of Connecticut, at their session in Saybrook, June, 1807.

The Rev. Nathan Perkins, D. D. was Moderator of the Session The Rev. Messrs. Ely and Pinneo, Scribes.-The following VOL. I. NO. 1.

er, David Ely, Israel, Ward,
Asa King, Alexander Gillet,
Joseph W. Crossman, Ebenezer
Porter, Zephaniah Swift, Elijah
Parsons, Aaron Hovey, Royal
Tyler, David B. Ripley.

Thomas E. Hughes, George C. Potts, John M•Dowel, Delegates from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

Heman Ball, Delegate from the General Convention of Ministers in the state of Vermont.

A motion was made by the Association of New-London County, That the business of the Missionary Society of Connecticut might be transacted, as far as possible, without expense to said Society: which was considered, ad referred to the following Committee, viz. Messrs. King, Crossman, Hughes, and Ward.

The Report of the delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church was received, which contained an interesting account of the state of religion, in the southern and western parts of the Union, and particularly the zealous efforts that are made by our Presbyterian brethren, to spread the knowledge of the gospel among the Indian tribes and African slaves, and the hopeful and animating prospect of success.

The Report of the delegate to the Convention in Vermont

E

was received, from which it ap- | Robinson, Bezaleel Pinneo, Matpears, that the number of settled thew Noyes, Zebulon Ely, Samministers is increasing in that uel Nott, Horace Holly, Jehu state, and additions are made Clark, Andrew Lee, Alexander to the Churches, and general Gillet, Azel Backus, and Elijah peace and harmony prevail Parsons. among them.

An enquiry was made respecting the state of religion in

The Committee, appointed on the motion of the New-London Association, presented the folour Churches, and those con-lowing Report, which was acnected with us, from which it cepted: appears, that although in many places great coldness and stupidity, and many errors exist, and an unusual number of the Churches have been bereaved of their stated pastors by death, yet in many places, religion is revived, and the great head of the Church is pleased to visit and refresh many parts of his vineyard, with his gracious and effectual influences, and call into his fold many guilty and perishing sinners, for which we desire to magnify the infinite grace and compassion of God.

The following gentlemen were appointed to certify the regular standing of preachers travelling from this into other parts of the United States, viz. Rev. Messrs. Nathan Perkins, D. D. William Robinson, Benjamin Trumbull, D. D. Matthew Noyes, Joseph Strong, Isaac Lewis, D. D. David Ely, Moses C. Welch, Andrew Lee, Samuel J. Mills, Dan Huntington, Elijah Parsons, and Nathan Williams, D. D.

The following gentlemen were appointed receivers of money in their several Associations, to be paid over to the Treasurer of the General Association, for the purpose of supporting our delegates to the several bodies with which we have connection, viz. Rev. Messrs. Ephraim T. Woodruff, Henry A. Rowland, William

Whereas it has been reported to the General Association that there are jealousies existing with some, that more of the Funds of the Missionary Society of Connecticut have been appropriated to the expenses of the Board of Trustees than the constitution warranted, or was expedient; after a critical examination of the subject, the Association are happy to state, that these reports are wholly without foundation; that the Board of Trustees have not only devoted much time and labor to the Missionary service, but have been at considerable expense which they have not charged to the Funds of the Society, as they might constitutionally have done; and that their diligence and faithfulness, in the business committed to them, entitle them to the gratitude of all the friends of Zion.

The General Association appointed the Rev. Abel Flint, their Treasurer, and the Rev. Andrew Yates, Auditor, for the year ensuing.

The committee, appointed for the purpose, reported a draft of a recommendation for the Rev. Thomas E. Hughes, on the subject of soliciting aid from the charitable and benevolent, for the encouragement and support of an infant Academy, in the western part of Pennsylvania, insti

1808.] Death of Richard Devens, Esq.... European Missions. 35

tuted with a view to qualify | by his will, at his death, prove

young men to take the charge and oversight of the destitute Churches in that new country,-which was read and approved.

The Rev. Messrs. Moses C. Welch, Andrew Yates, and Joseph Strong, were appointed delegates to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States, to convene at Philadelphia the third Thursday in May, 1808. The Rev. Messrs. Bezaleel Pinneo, Timothy Dwight, D. D. and John Elliott were chosen substitutes.

The Rev. Ebenezer Porter was chosen to represent this body in the Convention of Congregational and Presbyterian Ministers, in the state of Vermont, to convene at Middlebury the first Tuesday in September next, and the Rev. William Storrs his substitute.

The next meeting of this Body was appointed to be at NewLondon, at the house of the Rev. Abel M'Ewen on the third Tuesday of June, 1808, at: 11 o'clock A. M.:

The Rev. Cyprian Strong,D.D. requesting to be excused from serving any longer as register of this Association, the Rev. Calvin Chapin was, appointed Register. The thanks of this Body were returned to Dr. Strong for his long and faithful services, in the above capacity,

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him to have been one of those faithful stewards, to whom his Lord will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." If the report of Mr. Devens' character may be credited, in the end, it will be said to him, "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came une to me."We are informed that his last benefactions to pious purposes were liberal. That he bequeathed eight shares of the bank of the United States to the poor of his native town: To the fund of the Baptist Education Society, ten shares in the Fire and Marine Insurance Corpora tion in Boston: And to the Con necticut Missionary Society, to the Massachusetts Missionary Society, to the Hampshire Mis sionary Society, each, ten shares of the same stock. We trusts this man hath died in the Lord: He hath rested from his labors, 'and may his works follow him.

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From dreams so transient, and from joys so poor,
Disguise so tenuous, and toys so cheap,
Truth turns indignant-wisdom shuts the door,
Reason forbids, and folly's doom'd to weep.

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Hence these vain phantoms, and delights profane!
Sacred to Wisdom, henceforth be my song;
To thee my heart to thee each future strain,
Be thou my patron, thou my guide, my tongue.
Thy temple hence my best lov'd haunt shall be,
Thy hallow'd seat I'll visit for my theme,
To Calvary's Mount for inspiration flee,

And drink and bathe me in the purple stream.
Exhaustless fountain! stream like sacred fire,
Equal to every thirst to every stain ;* ́
This shall refine the long polluted lyre;
That swell the notes to an eternal strain.

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Retrospect of the Year.

Dark shades become the portrait of our time,
Here weeps misfortune, and their triumphs crime,
Let him that draws it, hide the rest in night.

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WALLER."

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Turn then vain man with refluent sight, ...O'er the departed year;

Call from oblivion's shades of night,

Thy misapplied care.

What were thy toils, and whence thy joy,

From daily morn to ev'n?

What thy designs, hopes, zeal, employ,

And what thy pledge of Heav'n?

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