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In a word, dear Brethren, we would fecure your attention, your hearts, your prayers, your influence, your exertions and your pecuniary abilities, to the benevolent object we are pursuing.

will give receipts, and enter fuch | uncommon folemnity and affection. contributions on the accounts of An animating fermon was deliverthe Society. ed by the Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D. from the 2 Chron. xv. 7. "Be ye ftrong therefore, and let not your hands be weak. For your work fhall be rewarded." This fermon, with a short sketch of the state of the Society, and an additional addrefs to the friends of religion, by the unanimous vote of the Society was printed. The funds of the Society were found to amount to upwards of a thoufand dollars.

That God may incline your hearts to that which is pleafing to himself, and prepare us, with all the redeemed, for his coming and kingdom, is the fervent prayer of your brethren in Christ.

In behalf of the Society,,
NATHANIEL EMMONS,
Prefident.

Done in Bofton, May 28th, 1799.

Atteft.

SAMUEL AUSTIN, Sec'ry.

The Officers chofen for the then enfuing year were as follows: Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D. Prefident; Rev. Samuel Auflin, Secretary; Deacon John Simpkins, Treasurer; Rev. Mefs'rs. David Sanford, Daniel Hopkins, Ezra Wild, Samuel Spring, Jofeph Barker, Samuel Niles, John Crane, Samuel Auflin, Jonathan Strong, Trustees.

Encouraged by its augmented refources, the Society at their laft meeting voted to employ four Miffionaries to commence a ferious execution of its defign. Four or dained minifters were accordingly, by the fubfequent exertions of the Board of Trustees, engaged. Two of them, Meffrs. David Avery and Jacob Gram, have undertaken, and are now deeply engaged in the labors of a Miffion among the fperfed new fettlemeats, and the aboriginal natives inhabiting the country between Whiteftown and the Genefee river. Several letters which have been received from these gentlemen, since their arrival in that country, ftate the very urgent call there is for fuch labors as thofe to which they are defignated, and fuggeft, that from concurring circumftances they have before them, and that there would be before any number of Miffionaries who might be charged with the fame fervice the most flattering profpects of extensive usefulness. By a pofterior order of the Board of Trustees they are requested to continue their Miffionary labors till the 15th of May next. An other of the four Miffionaries the

A fmall fund, being created by the depofits of the members, and feveral donations, the board of Trustees at their first meeting, made appointments of two Miffionaries, who were pastors of Churches, to undertake the labors of a Miffion, without delay according to the avowed object of the fociety. Several obftructions however fruftrated these appointments. At the annual meeting of the Society in May 1800, the members of the Society were found to be augmented to 119. Their attendance was general and ardent. Pub-Rev. Adoniram Judson, has undic worship was performed with dertaken, and completed a Million

GELICAL MAGAZINE.

of three months among the people | FOR THE CONNECTICUT EVANnewly fettled in the interior and northern parts of the state of Vermont. His detail of his labors. and the teftimony given in feveral letters from various collections of people to whom he preached, of the

with which they were received, were highly gratifying to the Board of Trustees.

Brief obfervations on the words in Pfalm Ixxiii. 4. "For there are no bands in their death."

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T

HESE are the words of the

wicked whofe prosperity excited his envy; and exprefs one inftance of their happiness and profperity, which, in his view while he was in the exercife of this evil difpofition was a real good, and he was difpleased that they fhould enjoy it.

This fentence, has been generally, if not univerfally applied to the death of the wicked, expref

oppofition to fears, diftrefs and horrors, which a belief and fenfe of future mifery would excite.But there are objections tothis fenfe of the words.

The other of the Miffionaries, the Rev. John Sawyer was appointed to a field of Miffionary labor in the remote parts of the Province of Maine. In a letter from him dated Dennyville Sept. 5, 1800, he speaks favorably of his Miffionary profpe&ts, and la-fing the calm and eafe of mind in ments nothing, but that his term of labor is neceffarily of fo fhort a duration. The officers for the current year are the fame that they were the last, except that the Rev. Abiel Holmes is chofen Trustee in To fay there were no bands in the room of the Rev. John Crane. their death, is not fuited to exprefs The events of providence feem any merely mental distress. With in general at the prefent moment what propriety of words can this to be highly aufpicious to the per- be called bands, in oppofition to petuity, augmentation, and exten- ftupidity and ease of mind? Befive ufefulness of the Society. The fides, the Pfalmift, in the frame fpirit of determination it is prefu- of mind in which he then was, ined does not abate. The fenti- had no view or even a thought of ment of all the members is one, the future punishment of the wickto give all the weight to the Soci- ed. His views were confined to ety which is in their power to pro- this life, and he thought nothing duce; to relax no effort for the of the fear and diftrefs that dying accomplishment of the benevolent perfons, whether righteous or wickobject it contemplates, and, in un-ed, may have refpecting their fu ceafing prayer to commit its im- ture exiftence. When the future portant concernments to the guar-ftate of the wicked was brought dianship, and bleffing of the Father of Ifrael. Undoubtedly difculties will arife, but the ardor of true piety is inextinguishable. It will burst through all the bar riers which mistake, or jealoufy, or virulence can form to oppofe it. God will be the ark of its ftrength, and crown its unceafing ftruggles with victory and glory.

into his view, it cured him of his envy, he fays; and he condemns himfelf for his former ignorance and folly, which made him more like a beaft than a man. More. ever, it is not true of all the wicked, and probably of wicked perfons in general, that they have no fears and terrors refpecting their future ftate, when they come to

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God and man, and yet continued to live in high health. He felt as if it would be much better for the world if they fhould be fick and die. He had been wifhing and hoping for this, that they might be taken out of the way, and do no more mifchief; but he was disappointed. That this is the true mean

die. Many of them have difcovered great distress and horror of mind on their death bed, and have died under awful apprehenfions of falling into endless deftruction. And this may be the cafe with most of the wicked when they feel they are at the point of death, efpecially of those who live in gofpel light, though it be not difcovered to othing of the fentence under confideers. It cannot therefore be faid with truth, that the wicked have no bands in their death, in this fenfe, if the expreffion were proper and fuited to convey this idea, which it does not appear to be.

Another fense of these words offers itself to which the objections made to the fenfe first mentioned, do not apply; and perhaps no objection will be made to it.

It is to be observed, that the words there are, are not in the original, but fupplied by the tranflators. If the original be rendered without a fupply, it may be thus; their death, no bands. But there must be a supply to make the fenfe clear in our language. Which may be thus; "Their death bath no bands." Death is here perfonified, and as if one fuch perfon belonged, or was related to each man. When men die, he is reprefented as coming to them as a conquerer who cannot be refifted, and with his bands binding them faft, and carrying them away as his captives. When the Pfalmift fays, Their death hath no bands, he means not to reprefent the wicked as immortal, but living long, much longer than he could wish, or is defirable; fo that it feemed to him as if death had no bands to bind them, and take them away. This is the feeling and language of one who envied them, and was uneafy and vexed at their profperity, who were proud, injurious, and fpoke haughtily with refpect to

ration, is confirmed by the words which immediately follow, "But their ftrength is firm." This has no refpect to their dying without fear or concern, or in diftrefs and horror; but is mentioned in oppofition to their being fick and dying. They did not die, but enjoyed health and bodily ftrength, "Their eyes ftand out with fatnefs-they have more than heart could with."

The bands of death doubtless are the bodily diforders, fickness, pains and diftrefs by which the body dies. And this obfervation may ferve, perhaps, to explain the words of Peter, Acts ii. 24, "Whom God hath raised up, having loofed the pains of death: because it was not poffible that he fhould be holden of it," or of him, that is death. These words would be more eafily understood, at first view, if the word bands had been ufed inftead of pains. But when the latter is understood as fynonimous with the former, all difficulty is removed. Death is fpoken of as a perfon, binding the glorious Saviour of the world with the pains and cruelties inflicted by his murderers. These bands were loofed in his refurrection, as it was not poffible death fhould hold him in them, as he did others.

Beza and Doddridge understand pains, in this paffage as of the fame import with bands.

PHILOGRAPHE.

QUESTIONS.

CA AN a good man be unwilling that the great, good, wife, juft, merciful Jehovah fhould fo plan his operations concerning all creatures, actions and things, as to answer his benevolent pur-I pofes ?

2. Can the eternal purposes of

God be hurtful in the end?

3. Are we afraid that infinite perfection will have too much influ

ence in the affairs of this world?

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2, on the 1ft Range the 30th ula. I went on foot and led my horfe nearly 200 miles-the travelling being exceffively bad, owing principally to the feafon of the year. and arriving in Washington county, "After paffing the mountains paffed through and near to, about twenty Prefbyterian congregations, where for two years paft, there has been in the most of them a pretty general ferious awakening. God has been pleased to carry on his work in convincing and hopefully converting many hundred fouls in thefe parts. The awakening extended nearly 80 miles from eaft to weft. A number of from east to west. new settlements north-west of the

Ohio, extending nearly to the

eaftern bounds of New Connecticut, were visited in a special manner, and there yet remain many instances of ferious awakening. minifters and people, the work has By what I can learn, both from been generally free from enthufiafm; but powerful in humbling the proud heart, and in bringing it to be fwallowed up in God's will.

for his church in this country. A "God has done great things bout fix years ago there were fereral young men hopefully brought advice of a few pious and learned into Chrift's kingdom. By the minifters, a number gave themfelves to study. An academic fchool was eftablified, where the languages and arts and fciences are thoroughly taught. There have been fixteen or feventeen very worthy and pious minifters raifed up in this fchool. It was thought by many, when they faw fuch a number entering on the miniftry, there would be no places for them; but the late awakening has opened places enough. The fettlements are many congregations forming, that making with fuch rapidity and fo

they cannot be fupplied but for a
part of the time.
There are now

to exert themselves to promote the great object of the Miffionary So

eight or ten young men who ap-ciety, and to encourage the Mifpear to be pious, preparing for the fionaries. I propofe foon to go to miniftry, in the fchool which I Plattsburgh, and from thence dihave mentioned, and which is kept rectly 40 miles weft into the Chatin Cannonsburgh, in Washington tagee fettlement, which lies on the county, nearly 100 miles from this road to Upper Canada. I have place, under the care of two in- formed a church in Elizabeth-town, ftructors. and baptized nine children. The principal men of the town joined in a letter of thanks to the Miffionary Society, and feemed greatly affected with the benevolence of the good people of Connecticut, who fhow fuch deep concern for the welfare of their fouls. Strict, evangelical doctrines gain credit, and the inhabitants feem to be moft fond of thofe preachers who preach and enforce fuch doctrines in the moft clear and difcriminating light. The evidence and confideration of this tend to gladden the hearts of all the well-wishers to Zion. My plan is to recrofs the Lake before the ice impedes, and to take the upper tour of towns through Vermont to Connecticut River, and vifit the fettlements on both fides of the river down as far as they appear to to be entitled to Mishonary fervices; and then through the lower range of towns to the lake-crofs it on the ice and revifit the new and needy fettlements on the weft."

"There were ordained three minifters in and near the county of Trumbull, laft September, by the Ohio Prefbytery. One of them, the Rev. William Wick, lives 8 miles from Young's town, at which place he preaches one third of his time. He appears to be a truly pious man. I am happy in having a brother fonear. From what I can learn of the prefent fituation of the fettlements on the Referve, it will be highly neceffary to fend on another Miffionary next fpring if poffible. I am confident, from the beft information I can get, I fhall not be able to vifit all the fettlements without making too rapid a progrefs to answer the defign of Miffionary labors.

"I have to acknowledge the great goodness of God through all my journey. My health is good. I have had an uncommon fhare of kindness and refpect shown me, and have been received with great cordiality."

Extra of a letter from the Rev.
DAVID HUNTINGTON, dated Pe-
ru, Weft of Lake Champlain,
Nov. 15, 1800.

"Since I began my miffion, I have in general been favored with the attention of the people. In fome places ferioufnefs prevails. God has hitherto remarkably difpofed wealthy and leading characters

New Connecticut, or the Weftern Reserve is formed into a county by the name of TRUMBULL,

The Rev. Jedidiah - Bushnell lately recommenced his Miffionary labours. He is to spend a few weeks in the north-western part of Vermont; and then proceed to the counties of Otfego, Herkemer and Delaware in the state of New-York.

Mr. Robert Porter has also gone on another Miffionary tour of three months. He is to labor in the new fettlements on Black river and parts adjacent.

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