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Connecticut Evangelical Magazine.

VOL. I.]

JULY, 1800.

[No. 1.

INTRODUCTION.

country :-Information refpecting HOULD this Magazine meet with the friendly patronage Miffions to the new fettlements and encouragement of the public, in the United States and among it will be continued; and as the Heathen nations:-Narratives of fubfcription papers, on which the revivals of religion in particular terms of publication are expreffed, places together with the distinare to be returned to the publishers, guifhing marks of true and false the Editors will annually publish religion :-Accounts of remarkathose terms, in the firft number for ble difpenfations of divine Provieach year. They therefore in this dence :-Biographical sketches of first number infert a copy of the perfons eminent for piety :-Origoriginal fubfcription bills, which is inal hymns on evangelical fubjects: followed by fome introductory re--Together with whatever elfe on marks on the utility of fuch pub-the fubject of religion and morals lications.

PROPOSALS

For printing a periodical Work, to
be called, The

Connecticut Evangelical Magazine:

TO CONTAIN

may contribute to the advance-
ment of genuine piety and pure
morality.

This work will confift of original pieces and of extracts from the best European and American publications. As the Magazine is Efays on the doctrines of Chrif- defigned for the promotion of vital tianity, and on religious, experi- Christianity, and of a knowledge mental and moral fubjects :-Oc- of the great and effential truths of cafional remarks on the fulfilment the gofpel, Effays which are mereof fcripture prophecies in the prefly controverfial or deeply metaphyf. ent day, and expofitions of difficult and doubtful paffages of fcripture-Religious intelligence concerning the state of Chrift's kingdom, throughout the Chriftian world, and sketches of the original ecclefiaftical concerns of this

ical, it will be feen, come not. within the object of this publication; nevertheless, should any fuch be fent which, in the opinion of the Editors, are highly meritorious, they will be admitted. The Magazine will be open to receive com

munications from all denominations

CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION.

of Chriftians who believe in the pe-1. The Magazine will be published

culiar principles of Chriftianity; but if written upon the diftinguifhing tenets of their refpective fects, they will be excluded. The profits arifing from the fale of this publication will be appropriated to the fupport of Miffionaries to the Heathen or among the inhabitants of the new fettlements.

The utility of fuch a work, if judiciously conducted, must be obvious to every well-wisher to the caufe of religion and morality.The Editors therefore flatter themfelves, that the public will patronize a design whofe object is to conyey religious knowledge; to promote experimental piety and that practical godlinefs and true morality which are fo immediately conducive not only to the happiness of individuals, but to the welfare of fociety at large; to evince the pernicious tendency of modern irreligion; and to raise an annual fum to gladden the hearts of our brethren in the wildernefs with the preaching of the gofpel and the adminiftration of Chriftian ordinances, and to fpread the favor of the Redeemer's name among thofe who are perishing for lack of knowledge.

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The Editors are induced to hope that their brethren in the miniftry, and other literary characters, in this and the adjoining states, will forward the above defign by communicating original pieces.

Hartford, April 9th, 1800.

N. B. As the profits of this work are to be appropriated to charitable purpofes, it is particu. larly requested that all communications may come poft free, addreffed to the Editors, to the care of Meffrs. Hudfon & Goodwin.

2.

3.

monthly to be printed with a new type and on paper fimilar to that on which these proposals are iffued.

Each number will contain at leaft 40 pages; the price to fubfcribers twelve cents and a half, to non-fubfcribers fourteen cents. At the end of every year an index to the preceding twelve numbers will be given gratis. 4. Payment to be made on delivery of the books; but if any perfon of known ability will beco:ne refponfible for 12 or more copies, three months time will be given him to collect the money and make payment; the evidence of which refponsibility must be the perfon's acknowledging it by writing on the bill returned.

5. The publication will commence

as foon as 400 copies fhall be fubfcribed.

6. The publishers will give notice in the CONNECTICUT COURANT, when the first number will be ready for fubfcribers, which will probably be in June or July

next.

Thofe who receive fubfcription papers are requested to return win, the intended publishers. Subthem to Meffrs. Hudfon & Goodferibers out of the ftate are requested to direct where their Magazines fhall be fent to fome principal town, either by water or the flages.

THE usefulness of periodical religious publications hath been churches of Europe. long experienced, in the Christian That fo

few attempts, of this kind, have been made in the American church hath arifen, neither from a deficiency of zeal and abilites, nor

1800.]

INTRODUCTION.

from a want of valuable matter in |
this country to form a monthly
publication, which would be in-
terefting to pious minds.

The religious as well as civil po-
licy of this country, before the
independence of the United States,
drew all important communications
to a central point across the Atlan-
tic; and a confiderable period of
time was neceffary to change the
current of intercourse, and bring
the churches and clergy of the dif
ferent states, to that mutual and
extenfive acquaintance, whereby
proper matter for an Evangelical
Magazine may be regularly fur-
aifhed. This difficulty is continu-
ally becoming lefs, by a free and
friendly intercourfe between the
northern and fouthern churches.

There is alfo in the public mind
a growing confidence in the abili
ties of American writers and di-
vines to equal their European breth-
ren in evangelical difcuffion. It
is become more eafy to make a col-
lection of such facts in the divine
government of the church and in
the experience of pious people, as
will inftruct the understanding and
warm the heart.

The wonderful fpirit of religious
miffions to heathen people, and to
our new and scattered fettlements
on the borders of the wilderness,
which, within five years, hath
awoke both in Europe and Amer-
ica, furnishes much new and inter-
efting matter. This fpirit of love,
to our diftant and perishing fellow
men, appears to have been the
means of exciting a greater degree
of brotherly love and more fervent
communion among those, who
have long believed and rejoiced in

our common Lord.

The abounding corruption of the present age in fentiment and practice, and the united efforts of those who hate pure Christianity,

have been seen by the king of Zi-
on, and he appears, in many ways,
to be raising a standard against his
enemies while they attempt to come
in like a flood. He hath arifen
and come forth from his place, and
is bathing the fword of his justice
in the blood of those who have
moft openly denied him, or idola-
troufly departed from the purity of
the gofpel. He hath given them.
up to hardness of heart and blind-
of
nefs of mind, and, by the rage
their own paffions, mutually to ex-
ecute on themselves the vengeance
of an injured Lord. In all this
the enemies of pure religion mean
not fo, neither do they think fo, but
it is in their heart to destroy the
faith of our Lord Jefus Christ,
and bring his people every where
to fhame.

While there appears, in multi-
tudes, this fixed oppofition to the
caufe of Chrift, it is very manifeft
that his true friends are more ani-
mated and perfevering than former-
ly; and, perhaps, there are no
better means for increasing the
flame of Chriftian love still higher,
than fuch a periodical history of
the state of religion, in our own
churches, and through the world
as will be attempted in this work.
It is a natural means, for warming
the hearts of Chriftians; to fee the
love of their brethren in the cause
of Chrift, and their humble zeal
for the falvation of fouls. It is
hoped that, by these endeavors,
the fervor and communional zeal
of Chriftian piety may be increaf-
ed-that the miffionary interests,
among new and fcattered fettle-
ments of thofe born from Chrif
tian parents, and among the Hea
then, may be promoted-and that
a monthly history of the American
church and of the victories of di-
vine grace in this land, may in-
creafe the love and comfort of our

1

Europe. The time is near approaching when Chrift will visibly reign through the earth, and it becomes his fervants, in every part of the world, to strengthen and encourage each other's hands and hearts, that they may be prepared to meet this bleffed coming of the Lord.

Christian fathers and brethren in | for the purpose of awakening the fecure. Great revivals of religion have been fo rare for the laft half century, that multitudes began to believe, the accounts received from the lips of their parents to have been fabulous. Indeed it was time for God to work marvelously, to fet evidence before a fleeping generation of his mighty power in awakening and fanctifying finners, and convince them of the truth of Chrift's words, Except a man be born again, he cannot fee the king

Those who live in this day of revival, where the fpirit of God hath been remarkably poured out, without coming to repentance and a holy life, have reason to fear they will be left to an aggravated con

The late wonderful out-pouring of the Holy Spirit and revival of experimental religion, in large dif. tricts of the American Church, will furnish much matter for pub-dom of God. lication to delight the hearts and fatisfy the benevolence of the children of God. There hath not been fo great and extenfive a work of divine grace in this land fince the years 1742 and 1744, and although the awakening and fanc-demnation tifying influences of the fpirit have generally been local in the western and northwestern parts of the country, we still hope these fhowers may foon increafe to a univerfal rain of divine grace, on all the churches of our Lord Chrift thro' this land and the world.

Many narratives of this revival in particular churches are already prepared, and will be inferted in their place, and when the whole fhall be before the public eye, the Editorstruft they will furnifh means to difcriminate experimental godlinefs, both from the fancies of fanaticism and the coldness of formality. It is devoutly wished that a hiftory of this work of grace, which commenced at an unexpected moment, and when there was an appearance that the gates of hell would vifibly prevail against the pure religion of Chrift, may be the bleffed means of awakening thofe churches which are yet in a lukewarm state. Such difplays of divine power and grace ought to be faithfully narrated to the world,

To all fuch the faith

ful fervants of Chrift ought to teftify, that the kingdom of God hath come nigh unto them and they have put it away.

It cannot be expected, that in a publication of this nature, the Editors will make themselves refponfible for the truth or prudence of every thing which may be publifhed. There is a variety of natural tafte in good people. The experience of real Chriftians is not in all refpects fimilar, and men are prone to judge of piety from their own experience; alfo that which is prudent in one place may be im prudent in another. Were every communication to be fubmitted to the rigid cenfure and correction, of any fet of Editors which can be procured, it is probable that many beauties would be destroyed, and fome truth fuppreffed. The best men have their fingularities in opin ion.

The Editors will ftill endeavor to fupprefs, whatever may, in their opinion, be directly fubverfive of the peculiar doctrines and holy

practice enjoined in the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift. They hope the charity of their brethren will cover their frailties, and ask their affiftance in the execution of this difficult work.

LONDON MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

As one defign of the CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE is to convey intelligence refpecting miffions to Heathben nations, the Editors prefent to their readers the following abftract of the inftitution of the Miffionary Society of London, and of its fubfequent proceedings, to the commencement of the prefent year. Further information refpecting this and other Miffionary Societies in Europe will be published from time to time in this Magazine, as often as fuch information fball arrive from Europe."

own want of exertions as reproached by the fuccef which had attended the efforts of the Moravian brethren in were roufed from their torpor, and various parts of the world. They animated with a strong defire to do fomething towards diffufing the light of the gospel among the dark and benighted parts of the earth.

In the year 1792, the particular Baptifts in Great-Britain formed a Miffionary Society, and in June 1793, fent two Miffionaries to the East-Indies.

About the fame time a fettlement was formed and a colony established at Sierra Leone, on the western coaft of Africa, one object of which was to christianize the natives.t

The various confiderations mentioned above, excited the general at tention of the friends of Zion in Great-Britain; and after much converfation and many letters on the subOR fome years previous to the ef- ject, a number of minifters of differ tablishment of the Miffionary So-ent denominations convened at Lon ciety of London, the attention of ma- don, November 4, 1794, with a view ny ferious Clergymen and other pious of forming a Miffionary Society. In people had been turned to the subject January 1795, they met again, and of diffufing the gofpel among Heathen prepared an addrefs to be difperfed nations. Several paffages in the proph- through the kingdom, calling the atecies of the holy feriptures, togeth- tention of the pious and benevolent er with the fingular revolutions which to the fubject of a miffion to the were taking place among Chriftian naHeathen. The addrefs was fpirited, tions-revolutionsin fentiment as well pious and animated, enforcing with as manners and government, induced energy the duty of Chriftians towards ferious, reflecting people to believe the Heathen, and anfwering popular that Divine Providence was about to objections againft attempting to fpread introduce fome great change in the the gofpel among them. The refult religious state of the world; and par- of thefe and fimilar measures was a ticularly that the time was approach- general meeting of the friends of the ing when" the fullness of the Gentile defign, at London, September 1795, nations was to be gathered in." Vaat which time the Society was regularrious publications appeared on the ly inftituted, and its object declared fubject, and much converfation took to be, " to fpread the knowledge of place among the evangelical minifters Chrift among Heathen and other unof England and Scotland, at their enlightened nations." meetings, relative to the duty devol"At the appointed place of meeting ved upon those who enjoyed the gof-there appeared a very numerous and pel,to diffufe its bleflings as extenfively as poffible. They felt their former negligence in this refpect and their

refpectable affembly of Ministers and private Chriftians, an affembly whose afpect indicated feriousness, ardor and

In fome future numbers there will be given a brief biftory of the Moravian. Brethren, and also of the Baptift Miffionary Society and of the Sierra Leone Colony.

The Editors are fenfible that much has been published in this country concerning this Society, and many of their readers are perhaps acquainted with its biftory: but as the future proceedings of the fociety are to be inferted in this work, it is thought beft that this firft number should contain a gene-ted val biflory of the inflitution.

The Baptift denomination, as they have a Society inftituted by them, are not affocian with other denominations in the London Miffionary Society.

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