They politely offered us any thing they might have on board, of the necessaries or comforts of life. It made my heart bleed to think of the horrid traffic that led them to brave the dangers of the deep. They were bound, as I said, to Africa, for slaves. I could but say to myself— can you call yourselves Christians, and so widely depart from the precept and example of Christ? You can neither find it in the divine law or common sense. ""Tis sardid interest guides you." In the day of judgment, it will be more tolerable for the oppressed than the oppressor. If there be those that can leave all that is dear in their native land; all that is dear in the love of parents, brothers and sisters, for the gain of Gold, shall there not, among Christians, be found those that can and believe on the Lord Jesus, as your hope and Mediator before the throne of God. Lucy, you have been to me most kind. O live for eternity, and I hope and pray, God may fit both for his holy presence. Though I address this to my sisters, yet my brothers are on my mind. Tell them I love them and pray for them, and hope to meet them where no sin or sorrow shall enter. I hope this, because they have the revealed will of God in their hands, and every mean for gaining religious instruction. Of all my friends none are forgotten; but none remembered with so much affection as my lovely children; they are with me sleeping or waking. But I am weary and must leave you. Our united repects to our dear parents. Tell all my sisters, they will hear from me as God may give me health-make the same sacrifices to gain With increased love, yours," * "R. N." In a letter to her parents, dated,- souls for Christ. My health never was better, and but rarely so good. We are now so situated as to have every thing comfortable. Our room is so large, and well furnished with windows, that we can ever enjoy the soft refreshing air of this Isle. "We arrived here the 8th of From the trial I have had here, and this month, after a passage of 105 during my voyage, it appears my days. No imminent danger lay in constitution is well adapted to a our way. My health was better warm climate, I cannot tell you than dared to hope; it was so much of this place but what will good as to enable me to pursue make your hearts ache to hear. something almost all the time.- Slavery has been countenanced here There was quite a sameness in my by government, till the late caplife, as must necessarily be the case ture of it by the English. Slaves at sea. The little variations we had, can no longer be imported; but interested me much. We saw some those that were in bondage at the land and spoke two or three vessels. time the Isle was taken, remain One, a Spanish brig, bound to the so, with this provision-they are African coast for slaves. Two offi- to be clothed by their masters, or cers from her, came on board our their masters are to pay a fine.ship-and, on the whole, it made These poor creatures are subjected one of the most novel scenes of my to every hardship that beasts of voyage. My fears for some time burthen are in my own country. Yes had been quite awake, not by under-every thing, that I have been used standing the movements of the then to see performed by the brute creamysterious brig, but by the concern tion, is here done by creatures made manifested in the countenances of of the same materials as my selfthose that were more used to sea bound to the same eternity-having etiquette. Our visitors, however, the same common parent-and who, soon relieved my mind, and altered to be made fit for heaven, must be the visage of others very materially. washed in the same Saviour's blood. The state of society is wretched, The form of religion, is hardly to be found. Roman Catholics have a place of worship, and some resort *Referring to the young ladies who had been under her care as pupils. to it to buy a pardon for their sins and a privilege to commit more. It is the nature of depraved man to pervert every thing. The best things are from that source, the most liable to it. My mind often dwells upon the changes that may have visited my native place in the last four months. They whom I now address, may be beyond receiving it. But Oh, may the day that calls you back to dust, be remote, and come when it may, a day that you shall welcome, and through the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, crown you with eternal blessed ness. " Vermont Academy. IN our last Number, we gave the articles from the Constitution of the Vermont Academy for educating religious young men for the work of the Gospel ministry. (See page 36.) Want of room prevented us from giving an acccunt of the manner in which this Institution originated. The benevolent design was proposed at the annual convention of the Clergy of Vermont. This Reverend Body adjourned to meet at Windsor, (Vermont,) October 21, A. D. 1812; further to consider of the subject. At the time proposed, there met at the house of Gen. Abner Forbes, Pastors and Delegates from the Coos and Orange Association; Delegates from General Associations of Massachusetts Proper, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and from the convention of Congregational and Presbyterian ministers, Vermont. Charles Marsh, Esq. officiated as Moderator, and Rev. David Sutherland, as Scribe.-The Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D. opened the conventionby an excellent sermon from Gal. i. 8, 9. To the articles, published in our last number, there is the following introduction explanatory of the design. ern parts of the state of New Hampshire, and the eastern parts of the 'state of Vermont, to establish an institution with a view to assist in 'the education of poor and pious young men for the Gospel ministry: And whereas many well disposed and benevolent persons have proposed to contribute of their substance to this desirable object ;'with a view, therefore, to concenStrate the exertions of the friends of Zion in this laudable undertaking, a convention of Pastors and Delegates of the churches of the Orange and Coos Associations, and of representatives from the Gene'ral Association of New Hampshire, the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, the Gene'ral Association of Connecticut, and the General Convention of Congregational and Presbyterian ministers of the State of Vermont, convened at Windsor, on the third Wednesday in October, A.D. 1812, by previous appointment, do agree to adopt the following constitution of a seminary for the purposes 'aforesaid." The following Gentlemen were chosen Trustees.-Charles Marsh, Esq. of Woodstock; Rev. Asa Burton, D. D. Thetford; Ebenezer Adams, Esq. Hanover; Rev. Bancroft Fowler, Windsor; Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, Hanover; Rev. David Sutherland, Bath; Rev.Stephen Fuller, Vershire; Rev. Abijali Wines, Newport; and Gen. Abner Forbes, Windsor. By order of the above convention, the following Address has been issued: TO THE CHURCHES, AND TO ALL WHO WISH WELL TO ZION. Christian Brethren and Friends, Having presented to your view in the preceding pages the great object at which we aim, the education of pious young men for the Gospel ministry; and having exhibited for your perusal the Constitution, by which we are to be governed, we now take the liberty, agreeably to the direction of the Convention and Trustees, to address you on this important and interesting subject. You readily perceive that our ob- ¡the sacred oracles, wherever they ject is such that it cannot be prose- are read: cuted without pecuniary assistance; and that it is an object in which we are no more interested than all who are friends to the cause of Zion. Whether it is your duty to contribute of your substance to promote a design, which to every candid mind must appear pious and benevolent, and whether donations for this purpose will be acceptable to God, you will determine, when you have seriously attended to the following considerations, viz. That the number of vacant churches and societies in our own nation is great, and, in the new settlements, annually increasing: That our missionary societies could employ, at home and in foreign parts, a number of able ministers considerably greater than they can now obtain: That the number annually from all the New England Colleges of those who are pious, and become Gospel ministers, is by no means sufficient to supply present vacancies, and the call for missionaries: That our new settlements, where they have not faithful ministers, will be left a prey to sectarian preachers, who disseminate errors, as ruinous to the soul, as poison is to the body; who create divisions, which weaken societies, render them unable to support the Gospel, and tend to destroy all peace and happiness: That there are many young men of piety in indigent circumstances, whose natural abilities are such as to render them eminently useful, could they have a liberal education. Unable to obtain this, their talents must be buried in obscurity, and the good they might do in building up Zion, must be lost: That sending forth a greater number of the faithful servants of Christ to labor in the field, and gather in the harvest, will afford aid to Bible societies in accomplishing their benevolent design. Translating the Bible into different languages, and dispersing it through the world, is a great and glorious work. While this is progressing, able ministers are needed to explain and enforce the doctrines and precepts contained in That the present Institution will be beneficial to our Colleges. When pious young men from The Union Academy become members of our Colleges, we have reason to hope they will be a mean of preserving them from corruption and of promoting their reformation. It will increase annually the number of students in the Divinity College at Andover, and render that important Institution more extensively useful: That the religion taught in the Bible is the greatest blessing to civil society. Were mankind governed by that spirit of love, meekness, gentleness, forgiveness and forbearance, which the Gospel requires and inculcates, they would beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks Wars and intestine broils would cease. Kings would become nursing fathers, and queens nursing mothers to the Church. The inhabitants of the earth would rejoice in each other's happiness. Society would be advanced to as high a degree of perfection as is possible in the present life: We That the events of the present day, compared with the prophecies, clearly indicate, that the millennial state of the church is not far distant, and is swiftly approaching. have reason to conclude, that as soon as the nations of the earth are supplied with Bibles in their own languages, accompanied with faithful preachers, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, explaining its sacred truths, and impressing them on every man's conscience, God will pour out his Spirit, and cause all, jrom the least to the greatest, to know, love, and serve him. In view of these, as they appear to us, very weighty considerations, is not your judgment convinced, that it is a duty to promote the object in view by liberal contributions, in proportion to the ability God has given you? Does not the present state of the world call for vigorous exertion in those who are friends to the Re deemer's kingdom? Whilst his king- substance I have given you to qualidom is with considerable rapidity ex-fy others, that all the ends of the tending its limits, is it not evident, earth may look unto me, and be sathat we are living in the last days of ved." blasphemous infidelity, when the prince of darkness is making great efforts to maintain his dominion over the earth, as if sensible that his time is short? Will you not unite with those in Europe and America, who, with no inconsiderable success, are using vigorous efforts for the diffusion of Gospel truth, and for the redemption of those who are dwelling in the region of the shadow of death? Will you not cast of your substance into the treasury of the Lord, that those who are perishing, may be fed with the bread of life? Property given to promote pious designs, is given to the Lord. To the liberal benefactor he has promised a reward Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. Is not all you possess the Lord's? Is not your property one talent, which he has given you to improve? Ought not every one to act as a steward, who must soon give an account? Of the improvement of what portion of your property can you more joyfully give an account to the Lord at his coming, than of that which you have given to promote the spread of the Gospel and the salvation of sinners? | Should you reach heaven, and thence look down on this world, and see multitudes flocking toChrist from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and, at death, ascending triumphantly to join with you in songs of everlasting praise, and know that what you had given, had been a mean of such blessed fruits, and occasioned such rich displays of divine love, could you repent that you had given of what you now possess, to the Lord? If, as we hope, it makes a part of your daily prayer, that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into his harvest, and that he would give to his Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, will you not manifest the sincerity of your petitions by doing all in your power to promote the end, for which you pray? We have confidence, brethren, that you will. The cause, for which we plead, we commend to God, in whose hand are the hearts of all, and who can turn them as the rivers of water are turned. ASA BURTON, 149 To THE EDITOR OF THE CON- An extract of a letter from a lady Could you, by your donations, be a mean of exciting those who are now destitute of a preached Gospel, to make the interesting inquiry, What [Homer is a flourishing town, in shall we do to be saved? and also of Cortland county, state of New York. administering comfort to such, would The first settlements were commenyou for a moment refuse to give? ced in 1793. In 1801, there was a Should you hear the Lord of life say- Church formed, consisting of fouring, "Educate these pious, indigent teen persons. In 1835, they began young men for the Gospel ministry, to build a large and elegant meetthat I may send them forth to pro-ing-house for public worship. It was claim the glad tidings of salvation, finished and dedicated in 1808; at and gather souls into my kingdom," would you not obey? Does he not say, "Go, preach the Gospel to every creature under heaven. If you cannot go yourselves, contribute of the VOL. VI. No. 2. which time the Church consisted of more than one hundred members.] "Homer, Jan. 10, 1813. "We are blessed with many mercies, both spiritual and temporal; K . for which our hearts should rise in grateful acknowledgment. The crowning blessing of all is, that God has visited this people with the outpourings of his holy Spirit. A goodly number, we trust, have been made to hear the joyful sound," and embrace the truth as it is in Jesus. The last Sabbath was our communion; at which time, there were received into the Church, one hundred and one persons: the most of them were new converts; thirty of whom were then baptized. The transactions of the day were peculiarly solemn and interesting; and witnessed by a numerous congrega tion. The like was never before seen in this western country, and doubtless will long be remembered. If you have had no account of the revival in this place, perhaps it would not be uninteresting to hear concerning it; though it is not in my power to enter into a particular detail of the work. Jersey. Before he left them, he addressed the following Letter of Advice and Exhortation to the people of his charge. The Editor believing it will be eminently useful to all Christian Congregations, has determined to republish it in this and the succeeding Numbers of this Magazine, for the benefit of his readers. MY DEAR PEOPLE, On the dissolution of the pas toral relation which I have sustained to you for more than five-andtwenty years, I am now to offer you my parting advice and exhortation. These I choose to deliver to you from the press, rather than from the pulpit, for several reasons, but especially for this, that you may possess them permanently, and be able to view them often-that they may, consult them deliberately, and to reperhaps, admonish and profit you, when the lips which have so often addressed you, shall be silent forever, and the hand which here records my last counsel, shall have "The seriousness commenced the last of June. It first appeared in the north and south parts of this town, and then in the west. In the centre, or village, they were regard-mouldered into dust. It does not less of the work, and many made light of it, as not concerning them. At this time, the attention has become general in all parts of the town; and the appearance in the village is greatly changed from what it was, a few weeks since. There are near thirty in that street who hope they have lately obtained an interest in the Saviour. seem unreasonable to hope, that what I may say on this occasion will claim your special attention and remembrance, since it is likely to be dictated by more than an usual solicitude to discharge my own duty, and to promote your best interests. Allow me, then, to speak to you in a style of great freedom and plainness-as a father to his children. You have, I think, a right to be told the reasons why I have conin-sented to leave you. They may all be resolved into this-I have been "Among the number of those who' are subjects of this work, are some of the first and most respectable habitants of the town. made to believe, that I should resist the plain intimation of duty in the Providence of God, if I did not yield to the call which takes me from you. My settled expectation certainly was, to live and die in your service. But a minister of the Gospel is, in a peculiar degree, not his own: He is devoted to the service of Christ in the Gospel, and is bound to forego his own inclinations and plans, whenever the Master and the cause which have a commanding claim upon him, require him to make the sacrifice. This sacrifice, therefore, it was not |