been employed; but, thank God, without fuccefs. Nothing can equal the firmnefs of the young converts. They ftand unfhaken, though almost every engine of hell has been made ufe of to caufe them to ftagger and turn afide from the good way. The magiftrates and principal inhabitants cannot deny but there is a great change in the place for the better; as many of the young men, who are fubjects of this work, were once both loofe in their principles, and irregular in their practices. But they are now new creatures, and one can hardly go thro' a ftreet of this little city, without hearing the voice of praife, or feeing the young men affembling together for prayer. What appears to me a pleafing circumftance is, that feveral of the young men have very promifing gifts both for prayer, and exhortation, which if piously improved, may render them truly ufeful at a future time. It would aftonifh you to hear with what propriety youths of fifteen or fixteen years of age, pour out their fouls to God in prayer. The fervency of their fpirits, the evangelicalnefs of their language, and the folemnity of their manner, tend not a little to imprefs the minds of fuch as hear them, and promote the work. Some have been awakened by hearing the prayers of children, while others have been ready to fay, that we put words into their mouths, and teach them how to exprefs themfelves in their prayers.

Our little chapel is fo crowded, that you can fcarcely fee any thing but human heads; and the meetings are folemn beyond any thing feen in this place for a long time. Often towards the conclufion a cry for mercy begins, which fpreads

from one to another till the union of the voices of thofe who are either praying, crying, or rejoicing, forms what worldly people call confufion. On thefe occafions fome are brought to taste that the Lord is gracious, and others alarmed with conviction, who perhaps in a few days can alfo praise a fin-pardoning God. Moft that I have clofely examined give a pretty clear account of being cut to the heart for fin; feel thankfulness that they are not in hell, fee their need of a Saviour, and are convinced they muft lead a new life or be loft. Hence they are led to implore forgiveness through the Redeemer's blood, and grace to help them on their way to heaven. What makes this appear the more fingular to fome well-minded people is, the order and ftillness which were obferved in the meetings prior to this period. Hence fome who once thought well of us, now take the alarm at what they think enthufiafm. A revival of religion, is like Ithuriel's fpear: it makes perfons affume their proper shape and character, and fhews the carnal mind in its native and undisguised colours. Our meetings are become the common topic of converfation Some wonder, fome mock, fome acknowledge the power of God, and feveral, not in Society, defend the caufe to the utmost of their power. But as yet none of the Ru lers have believed on him. The good that is done is chiefly among the poor and middling claffes of people.

Since this quickening began there has been a continual cry for books, efpecially Hymn books. It would be a work of mercy indeed, if fome of our rich friends at home would fend us two or three hundred pamphlets and little Hymn books. It

pains me to the heart that I have not books to distribute among the young converts, as many of them will be in danger from feducing fpirits, and that doctrine of devils, Antinomianifm. I have fometimes feared that the work of God among the Methodists would come to nothing in this province, but now I am abundantly encouraged, my heart dances when I fee the young converts crowding to the meetings, or when I hear them declare their experience in the things of God, in a manner which is chiefly clear, fimple and affecting.

This little town contains about two thousand inhabitants. There is a neat English church in it, befides our little chapel, which is old, ruinous, and inconvenient: and, at the moft, it will not hold above four hundred and fifty people. Becaufe of the war and other things our friends have hitherto been too poor to build a larger. But if the Lord continue to carry on his work among us, I truft we fhall fee a comfortable houfe erected, and the old ruinous one pulled down

I have now been feven years in this country, and if confiftent with my duty, would wish in about twelve months to return home, not that I am tired of a Miffionary life: no bleffed be God, I am determined to spend my ftrenth and all in the caufe of Jefus; but my health has fuffered and docs fuffer

daily. The extremely cold win ters affect my breaft in a very painful manner, and render me fome times quite unable to undergo the toils of my miffion, yet, by the bleffing of God, I have feldom flinched, tho' fometimes the confequences have been very painful. In the difcharge of my duty I have had many difcouragements both

from within and without; but what I have feen this month paft more than recompences me for all my difficulties. The life of a Miffion ary in fuch a climate as this is both difficult and laborious. But the prefence of Jefus can sweeten every toil, and make the wilderness blof fom as a rofe. One of our principal difficulties arifes from our be ing too weak handed, too far fe parated from each other. Hence our labours for want of being fe conded and continued, have fometimes failed of fuccefs. O for more young men of fteady zeal, unwearied patience, and active lives! Then we might expect to fee more fruit and more flourishing Societies. We are only fix preachers in this immenfe track of wilderness, and if Mr. Black goes to Bermuda our number will be reduced. This circuit, of which the little city above. mentioned is the head, extends more than one hundred miles to wards Canada, and there is no preacher but myself to fupply it. I fhould efteem a line from you or any of our London friends a great favour. In the mean time, May the Lord direct you in the great work of faving fouls, and make your life holy and happy!

This, dear Sir, is the prayer of your unworthy Son in the Gospel, JOSHUA MARSDEN.

ment and pecuniary aid, preffes have been fet up at Bafle, Berlin, and Copenhagen, for the purpofe of fupplying the Scriptures in the German, Bohemian, Icelandic and other languages, to countries which are in great need of them. The Society have further granted 2000l. to their correfponding Committee at Calcutta, for the purpose of aiding the tranflation of the Scriptures into the native languages of Oriental India. Various other important particulars were flated in the Report, which evince the vaft extent of the Society's operations, and the high degree of fuccefs which they have had in promoting the circulation of the Scriptures, both at home and abroad. This Report, with extracts of Correfpondence, lift of Subfcribers, ftate of Funds, &c. is now ready for delivery, and may be had a: the Depofitory, No. 19, Little Moorfields.

POETRY.

On a well-formed Imagination.

H! bleft of Heav'n, whom not the
languid fongs

Of luxury, the firen; not the bribes
Of fordid wealth, not all the gaudy fpoils
Of pageant honour, can feduce to leave
Thofe ever-blooming fweets, which from
the ftore

Of nature, fair Imagination culls
To charm th' enliven'd foul! What tho'
not all

Of mortal offspring can attain the height

Of envied life; tho' only few poffefs
Patrician treasures or imperial ftate;
Yet nature's care, to all her children juft,
With richer treasures and an ampler
ftate,

Endows at large whatever happy man
Will deign to use them. His the city's

pomp,

The rural honours his. Whate'er adorns The princely dome, the column, and the arch,

The breathing marble, and the fculptur'd gold,

Beyond the proud poffeffor's narrow claim,

His tuneful breaft enjoys. For him, the fpring

Diftils her dews, and from the filken gem Its lucid leaves unfolds: for him the hand Of Autumn tinges ev'ry fertile branch With blooming gold, and blushes like the morn.

Each paffing hour sheds tribute from her wings;

And ftill new beauties meet his lonely walk,

And loves unfelt attract him. Not a breeze

Flies o'er the meadow, not a cloud

imbibes

The fetting fun's effulgence, not a ftrain From all the tenants of the warbling fhade Afcends, but whence his bofom can partake

Fresh pleasure, unreprov'd. Nor thence partakes

Fresh pleasure only; for th' attentive mind,

By this harmonious action on her pow'rs,
Becomes herfeit harmonious: wont fo oft
In outward things to meditate the charm
Of facred order, foon fhe feeks at home
To find a kindred order, to exert
Within herfelf this elegance of love,
This fair infpir'd delight: her temper'd
powers

Refine at length, and every paffion wears
A chafter, milder, more attractive mien.
But if to ampler prospects, if to gaze
On nature's form, where negligent of all
Thefe leffer graces, the affumes the port
Of that eternal Majefty, that weigh d
The world's foundations; if to thefe the
mind

Exalts her daring eye; then mightier far Will be the change, and nobler. Would

the forms

Of fervile cuftom cramp her gen'rous pow'rs?

Would fordid policies, the barb'rous, growth

Of ignorance and rapine, bow her down
To tame purfuits, to indolence and fear?
Lo the appeals to Nature, to the winds
And rolling waves, the fun's unwearied
course.

The elements and feafons all declare
For what th' Eternal Maker has ordain'd
The powr's of man: we feel within our-

felves

His energy divine: he tells the heart, He meant, he made us to behold & love What he beholds and loves, the gen'ral

orb

Of life and being; to be great like him, Beneficent and active. Thus the men Whom nature's works can charm, with God himself

Hold converfe; grow familiar day by day With his conceptions; act upon his plan, And form to his the relifh of their fouls.