quire. The experiment has been often made, by particular individuals, and particular societies of men. And the experiment has never failed to shew the happy, humanizing tendency of the Sabbath. Those who have observed it, have found a sensible benefit, and those who have despised and neglected it, have suffered a very great temporal inconveniency and injury. The happy influence of the Christian Sabbath upon the Christian world, has been unspeakably great. It has formed the Christian nations for those various modes of civil government, which have been the principal source of their public peace, harmony and happiness. And there can be no doubt, but the God of order ordained the Sabbath for the peculiar benefit of mankind, in their civil as well as social connections.

gious instructions. All religious parents and heads of families, therefore, must esteem the Sabbath as a precious opportunity for them to discharge their duty to those under their care and instruction, and whose spiritual and everlasting benefit they ardently desire to promote. This benefit of the Sabbath has been seen and felt, wherever it has been duly observed. What a striking contrast may be discovered between, those families, where private instructions are given Sabbath after Sabbath, and those who are allowed to grow up in ignorance of religion, and the neglect of all the duties of the Sabbath?

5. The Sabbath gives a precious opportunity for hearing public instructions in religion. It is one principal design of the institution of the Sabbath, to give mankind an opportunity to 4. The Sabbath is highly ben- hear the great truths and duties eficial, as it gives opportunity of religion explained and inculfor private religious instruction. cated. Faith cometh by hearParents and heads of familiesing, and hearing by the word of ought to give religious instruc- God. And the Sabbath is the tion to those under their care, day, which God has appointed and to do all they can to pro- for man to hear his word. Acmote the salvation of their pre-cordingly he has appointed an cious souls. But amidst the la- order of men to deliver his mesbors of the week, they can find sages, and preach the everlastfew good opportunities of pour- ing gospel to poor perishing ing religious instructions into souls. This he did under the the minds of children and youth. law, and this he has done under And if they could find time, the gospel. And this certainly children and youth would not ought to be esteemed an unbe disposed to hear instruction, speakable benefit. For all men while all their thoughts were are in a state of probation, and engaged in worldly and trifling their future and eternal happiconcerns. But when they ness depends upon their hearing, know, that God has required understanding, believing, and them to remember the Sabbath loving the gospel. In this resday, and keep it holy, their pect the Sabbath is of all other minds are better prepared to days the most beneficial and imbear and feel the force of reli- portant. For without it all other Vol. VI. No. 1. D

days may be infinitely worse | public instruction. It is a day than nothing. Thousands and thousands have blessed God for the Sabbath, as the day of receiving everlasting benefit, and all ought to bless God for the opportunity of such spiritual and everlasting benefit. I may add,

6. The Sabbath is a peculiar benefit, as it gives opportunity for public worship, as well as

of devotion, and calls men together, to join in public prayer and praise, and, if prepared, to join in celebrating the wonders of redeeming love at the table of Christ. The opportunity for public worship is one of the most desirable and precious seasons, that the people of God ever enjoy on this side of heaven.

A MISSIONARY ADDRESS

From the Trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, to the Ministers and People of the State; and a Narrative of Missions.

HE American continent was settled under the greatest ad

Tvantages for improvement in civilization and religiones The

nations of Europe, who discovered this land and owned colonies in it, felt an interest in the civil and religious improvement of its inhabitants from the beginning. Much labor and treasure have been expended to clear the wilderness, to civilize the natives, and to fill this country with Christian people. Much has been effected; more than could have been reasonably expected on the most sanguine calculations.

Yet after the lapse of three centuries, we find a large proportion of this new world lying in a wilderness state; numerous tribes of its aborigines unchristianized, even uncivilized; and many of those who immigrated here from Europe, with their descendants, in a great measure destitute of evangelical instruction.

Not only are the frontier settlements of the United States destitute of gospel ordinances; but in the old settlements, even in those which are most favored with religious privileges, many societies have become disorganized and desolate. Societies, which once were prosperous, and rejoiced in the approach of the Lord's day, with its privileges, have lost every semblance of piety, except what is seen in the lamentations of a few in the midst of them, who sigh and cry for the abominations which prevail.

The circumstances of our country, in a moral and religious view, call for the efforts of those who devise liberal things.

It is matter of gratitude and joy, that the hearts and hands of nany have been opened for the aid of such as suffer for lack of vision. What has been done in the establishment of Missionary and Bible Societies in our country, and what has been effected for the spread of the gospel by these charitable associations, demand our thanks to the Father of lights, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift.

Of the progress and state of the missions, conducted under the patronage of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, the Trustees present the friends of religion with the following, which is their fourteenth Narrative.

The Connecticut Reserve, which is inhabited principally by people who are united to us both by ties of nature and friendship, and which, for reasons obvious and weighty, has received the greatest attention from this Society, has been abundantly favored with divine blessings. It has grown up under the nurture of Christian charity, and in its orderly observance of Christian institutions is before many settlements of an older standing. The state of the country can be best presented in its true light, by the communications of the missionaries whose residence is there, and who travel over a great part of the country, continually publishing the gospel, teaching the ignorant, comforting the distressed, and building up waste places.

From the statements of our missionaries, received since the publication of our last Narrative, it appears that about two hundred weeks missionary labor has been bestowed on the Reserve; and that the time devoted to the service of the Society has been industriously improved, in visiting from house to house, to learn the state of the people and to impart instruction; in visiting the sick and the distressed as occasions offered; in preaching on week days, when people could be convened, as well as on the Lord's day, and in strengthening the hands of the faithful.

The Rev. Jonathan Lesslie, in the course of a year terminating with June last, spent about thirty weeks in the service of the Missionary Society. He was not so frequent in preaching weekly lectures as is usual. In his apology for this he says, "Two things have prevented me from preaching much in the week, A want ' of strength, which was the case in April when I was in the south, and a want of hearers in this northern region. The lateness of the spring, the prospects of war, and the scarcity of the last uncommonly hard winter, afford an excuse for such as do not greatly esteem the gospel, not to attend on working days."

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In his account of the country in general, a number of places are mentioned in which a serious attention to religion has been excited and continued. Many ecclesiastical societies are anxious to settle ministers for a part of the time. Errorists of various kinds croud into the places were seriousness prevails, to turn the people away from the truth. He concludes this head with observing, that more, many more ministers are wanted among them, and that they would soon settle in the ministry. Mr. Lesslie's commission as a missionary is renewed.

The Rev. James Boyd was engaged in the service of the people of his charge for the whole of the last year of his commission, except for the term of about seven weeks. This time was devoted chiefly to places which had not been favored with much missionary labor. In assemblies collected in neighborhoods for the accommodation of the people, and in schools and families, he pub

lished the great salvation. The blessed fruits of missionary labor, and of the circulation of religious books, he observes, are witnessed in every part of that country. "In all the places above ' mentioned," he says, "there was a decent attention given to 'the preaching of the gospel, and in some of them, the attention < was serious." A special attention prevailed in Bazetta. Four young persons had become anxiously concerned for the salvation of their souls, and the pious few were stirred up to prayer for a continuation and increase of the seriousness. Respecting the state of the country in general, he observes, "Missionary labors are thankfully received by the greater part of the inhabitants of this country. The longer I missionate the more fully am I convinced that 'this is the case; nor does it appear a matter of mere compli'ment; many with tears will speak of their destitute situation, 'not having a sermon on the Sabbath more than twice or thrice in 'the year; and urgently solicit us to visit them again. More mis'sionaries, could they be sent to us, would be very acceptable: such as would be willing to settle in our country are those we we wish to visit us. There are a number of settlements which wish 'to settle a minister for part of the time. It is true that the state

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of our country at present, is not promising as formerly. The ef 'fects of the war are sensibly felt in consequence of so many of our inhabitants being called forth in our defence. We are not appre'hensive of danger in this part of the country." Mr. Boyd is continued in the service of the Missionary Society for the ensuing year.

From the Rev. Thomas Barr a communication was received containing an account of missionary labors from May 1811, to Dec. of the same year. The journal was not recived in season to be introduced into the Narrative of that year. Another journal has been received bearing date Sept. 3, 1812. The two furnish an account of twenty-seven weeks of service for the Society. In preaching daily, when people could he collected in any way, though in small numbers; in family visits; in urging on professing Christians the duty of assembling on the Lord's day and worshipping regularly together, though they may have no preacher; in alarming the secure, stirring up the careless and animating profes sors, he husbanded his time to the best advantage; and the satisfaction of some fruit of his labor has not been wanting. In both the letters of Mr. Barr accompanying his journals, he speaks of the cordial manner in which he was received in almost every place; of the anxiety of the people to hear the gospel; and of the promissing state of the country, in a religious view previous to the war. The unhappy change effected by this demoralizing scourge does not prevent, but calls for missionary exertion. The people attend to the gospel, and some of the troops have the gospel preached to them. Of some who had been captured, and who returned sick and were put in hospitals, Mr. B. says, "I have 'visited these since they came back, and have distributed among them some of the missionary pamphlets which were gratefully re

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ceived." Mr. B. has received a commission to continue in the service of the society another year.

The journals of the Rev. Nathan B. Derrow contain an account of about twenty-five weeks missionary labor, in the course of one year ending with the month of June last. With perseverance and unwearied diligence his labors were prosecuted through the whole of this term.

Mr. D. remarks, "A new song is put into the mouths of many in this quarter, within a few months past, and in several places the wilderness has become vocal with the praises of God." A number of towns lying contiguous to each other, are mentioned as having been visited by the effusions of the Spirit. Mr. D. is reappointed by the Missionary Society for another year.

The Rev. Joshua Beer spent in the service of the Society, about seven months in the course of one year, terminating with the month of February last. He visited some settlements south of the Reserve, which had not been favored with the attention of missionaries heretofore. The people were very ignorant of the doctrines of the gospel, and could scarcely be collected. After spending a few days with them in teaching and exhortation, they were decent in their attention. He continued his mission, teaching, exhorting, and catechising daily, and on his return through the places which he had visited, he was refreshed to see some more attention to divine things among them.

The Rev. Abraham Scott is employed by the people of his charge for the principal part of his time. He performed a tour of service of three months between Oct. 1811, and February 1812. Nothing extraordinary attended his mission. The people appeared to be well disposed and desirous to hear the gospel. His observations respecting the state of religion coincide with those already mentioned.

"In this country," observes Mr. Scott, "particularly in New • Connecticut, assemblies for public worship are considerably more numerous than formerly, owing principally to our growing population. There is in general a professed, and in many places an • apparent anxiety for the gospel. In almost every place I have • visited since I left home, I have been received and treated with the greatest degree of friendship." Mr. S. was re-appointed in the month of May last.

The Rev. John Field resides in Burton, and from that place makes frequent excursions into the destitute settlements. His last communication, giving a statement of his labors and of the manner in which his missionary services are performed, is dated 1st Oct. 1812. From the beginning of the same year to the date of his last letter, he spent a little more than nineteen weeks in missionary labor. With much self-distrust and apparent humility, he labored in season and out of season, according to his ability and health. His account of the country corresponds with those before given. The people in general pay good attention to preaching, though some care for none of these things, and others oppose.