patient and conftant was he in the | Jefus Chrift. He believed in a midst of the most extreme tortures, that he appeared to move no more than the ftake to which he was bound. His eyes were lifted up to heaven, and he often used the words of the bleffed martyr St. Stephen, "Lord Jefus, receive my fpirit." till the fury of the fames extinguishing his life, he gave up the ghoft. The opinions of RUBRICUS changed in the hour of death; a late fat in the ftate of Connecticut. heaven, for on his own principles it was for his intereft thus to believe; but in a fate of future mifery he had no belief, faying that a God of almighty power could have no motive to punish finners. He was in the cafe of other finners, who fee nothing of the glory or the beauty of justice. He treated all, both the ferious and profane, with an apparent civility, but faying of one "they are too gloomy," and of the other "they are un RUBRICUS died in the be-hous Rubricus was philofop ginning of his twenty-fec ond year. He was the fon of pious parents who were wounded in the highest degree by the death of their child. Although, as parents they wished his falvation, they were ever ready to acknowledge that it would be juft in God to leave him in unhappiness. For they had feen, that being feduced by the amufing company of an old man in the neighbourhood, whofe early days were paffed in debauchery and his latter ones in trying to difbelieve, their child was in danger of perishing by this temptation. civil and have not benevolence enough to preferve them from paining the feelings of people, whom they ought to refpect." Thus was philofophi, cally going to peace, for he tho't God to be fuch an one, as he determined he would be, if he were on the throne of the univerfe. He had refolved never to form the moft endearing connexion of life; left his own heart, or the hearts of others, fhould be pained by a feparation, and he had determined never to be inftrumentally acceffary to pain. Pleafed with his own notions of perfection and especially of benevolence, it is not proba ble that he ever had a true idea either of the goodness or justice of God. The natural difpofitions of Rubricus appeared to be amiable, and His first decay took place in all admired the benevolent ac- confequence of extreme exertion, tions, which were daily occurring and he died because men must die, in his life; but thofe who had op- rather than by any disease which portunity for more intimate obfer- phyficians could regularly name. vation, faw the young difbeliever, Through the first months of difeafe even in the goodness of his life. he was penfive and gloomy, beThe fact was, that being early ad- caufe as he faid, he was deprived monished of his danger by his fa- of the focial and benevolent pleaf. ther, but not believing, he had de- ures of life; but after he faw his termined to be as good on his own cafe to be dangerous, he refumed principles, as Christians were on a calmness, which continued until theirs. He was philofophically the two or there last days of his benevolent and juft to men, but life. He de'ighted to fee a cheerhad no piety and repentance to-ful countenance by the fide of his wards God or faith in our Lord fick bed, and appeared to make little difference in converfing with the pious and the profane, for all were civil in fo folemn a fituation; as they clearly faw him approaching to a diffolution. By his own defire a very aged clergyman vifited him two or three times in a week. The good man in converfing with Rubricus at firft appeared to have fome fears; but as the converfation never turned on the principal fubject of his errors, he was pleafed with the particular defire, which and often did their voices join in painful concert, “O Lord have mercy on our child." SINCERUS. [ON the peceding account, the Editors remark, that it is thus many are deceived by a falfe idea of benevolence without juftice.] was always mentioned before pray-W er, "that he would give thanks to God, for his goodness." The third night before he died he was in great difcompofure. The aged minifter was fent for by his own defire, to whom on entering the room, he faid, "I fear that I have deceived myfelf. Until ⚫ this night I never thought it pof fible that God fhould make any ⚫ one miferable. A new thought has occurred to me, and I wonder that I never had it before. More than half my life has been filled with difappointment and unhappinefs, under the government of the fame God, into whose prefence I am going, and why may it not be fo with me * forever? I have been strangely blind in this point and am afraid ⚫ for myself." The good man was deeply affected, for he now faw his firft fears to be truly grounded. Scarcely did he leave the bed-fide, until death had done its work. He inftructed, he prayed, he called the trembling youth to the blood of a Saviour and the grace of God, but there were no apparent comforts in the hour of his departure. His destiny is nown in the counfels of heaven. Two parents, who were pious and prayerful, each one kneeling, in the laft moments held the cold hand of a dying fon, ANECDOTES. HEN Mr. Pafchall obfer ved of his friends to any be afflicted at feeing the fickness and pain he underwent, he would fay "Do not be-fo concerned for me. Sickness is the natural ftate of a Christian, because by it we are what we always ought to be, in a state of fuffering evils, mortified to the pleasures of fenfe, exwork upon us as long as we live, empt from all those paffions which fice from ambition or avarice, and in a conftant expectation of death. And is it not a great happiness to be by neceffity in that ftate one ought to be in, and to have nothing elfe to do, but humbly and peaceably to fubmit to it?" This is a noble, a juft, a comfortable reflection! MR. HOOKER, the firft minifter of Hartford, when one that ftood weeping at his bed-fide, when he lay dying, faid to him, Sir, you are going to receive the reward of all your labors ? he replied, "Brother, I am going to receive mercy?" MR. HERON, a minifter in NewEngland, when dying and leaving a family of many small children; his poor wife fell a weeping, and faid, alas, what will become of all thefe children? He presently and pleasantly replied, "Never fear ; he that feeds the young Ravens, will not ftarve the young Herons." And indeed it came to pass accordingly. It was an ancient obfervation concerning the English martyrs under the bloody Marian perfecution, "That. none of them went more joyfully to the ftake, than thofe who had the greatest families to commit unto the Lord." Extract of a letter from one of the "IN my tour from the Catskill to the head of Delaware river, I found fome religious attention, in fome places, efpecially in the towns of Freehold and Blenheim, the | former of which is ten miles west of the Catskill, the latter ten miles eaft of the head of Delaware river. A confiderable number of people, in each of thofe places, and fome few in other places have of late hopefully come into the kingdom of Chrift. In the town of Delhi, the capital of the coun Mr. PHILLIP HENRY, when dying, his pains being very fharp, faid to his neighbours who came to see him, O make fure work for your fouls, by getting an intereft in Chrift, while you are in health; for, if I had that work to do now, what would come of me? A lit-ty of Delaware, in one part of tle before his laft illness, he wrote to a reverend brother, "Methinks it is ftrange, that it should be your lot and mine to abide fo long on earth when so many of our friends are triumphing above; but God will have it fo; and to be willing to live in obedience to his holy will, is as true an act of grace, as to be willing to die when he calls." He was fometimes taken with fainting fits, and when recovering he would fay, "Dying is but a little more." Once he faid, after a little recovery, "Well, I thought I had been putting into the harbour, but I find I am still on the boifter. ous ocean." Prob the town, by the name of little Delaware, there appears to be fome dawn of an awakening; fome perfons appeared folemnly convieted. There have been great effufions of the divine fpirit in the wilderness within a year and a half paft. I hear of awakenings almoft in every direction. And in places where there do not appear to be any general awakenings, the ferious people inform me there is better attention to religious things than has ever been before. ably the estimation would not be too great if we should say that thousands in our New-Settlements, within the space of two years, have hopefully believed on the Lord Jefus Chrift. It is a time of harvefting fouls; the year of redemption is come, when the prifon doors are opened to the captive, and Jerufalem breaks forth in fongs, and deferts learn the joy. It is a time is carrying on a glori-which calls for the exertion and ous work about 60 or 70 benevolence of all the friends of miles north of this, in the towns the Redeemer." of Berlin, Barre, Orange, Plain Religious Intelligence. Extract of a letter from Windfor, "GOD field, Marfhfield, Calas, Wafh-Extrait of a letter from Haverhill, ington, and Orford. To the eastward in New-Hampshire, I learn a good work is carying on.” Vermont, July 12, 1800. "A WORK of grace is going on at Guildhall. I trust 20 or 30 perfons have been favingly wrought upon. The attention is rapidly increafing. There is alfo great attention at Orford, 18 miles above the College. Almost the whole of the young people have been brought in and many of the middle aged. The attention at Calais and Marshfield continues, and in a number of towns adjoining." the Rev. John Elliot gave the right hand of Fellowship; and the Rev. David Selden made the concluding prayer. THE Trustees of the Miffionary Society have voted "that fubfcription books should be opened at the Treasurer's Office and in each county town in the state, under the direction of fuch perfons as the TreafuThe Editors learn that at Eaft-rer fhould appoint, to give opportu Hampton, Bridgehampton, Brook-nity to thofe who may be difpofed Haven, and many other towns on Long-Iland there are at prefent very promifing appearances of a religious revival. Extrait of a letter from the county of New-Haven, addreffed to one of the Editors. "THE evening after receiving the first number of the Connecti. cut Evangelical Magazine, I read the accounts of revivals of religion contained therein, to a number of perfons affembled in conference meeting. I obferved them to be more attentive than ufual. They appeared to be ftruck with the manner of the fpirit's operating upon the hearts of ftupid finners, and to apply what was read to themfelves. From this effect I am led to believe, that fuch accounts of the revivals of religion which have taken place in this ftate and elfewhere, will be exceedingly useful to finners and very comforting to God's people." ORDAINED-On Wednefday the 11 of June 1800, the Rev. Ifrael Brainard, over the first Church of Chrift in Guilford, State of Connecticut. The Rev. Achilles Mansfield made the introductory prayer; the Rev. James Dana, D. D. preached the fermon; the Rev. John Foot made the confecrating prayer; the Rev. Thomas W. Bray gave the charge; to fubfcribe to the funds of the Society, defignating whether the mon ey fubfcribed is to be appropriated at the difcretion of the Trustees, fund the intereft of which only to or to go to the establishment of a be thus appropriated." In conformity to this vote, the following perfons are appointed and furnifhed with fubfcription books, (viz.) Mr. Jeremiah Atwater, Merchant, New-Haven, Capt. Richard Douglafs, New-London, Doct. Jafbua Lothrop, Norwich, David Burr, Efq. Fairfield, Hon. Jofeph P. Cooke, Efq. Danbury, Benjamin Talmage, Litchfield, Jabez Clarke, Efq. Windham, Col. Matthew T. Ruffell, Efq. Middletown, Doct. Smith Clark, Haddam, Ephraim Grant, jun. Efq, Tolland. Extrad of a letter from one of the Trustees of the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. THE difficulties of communicating the gospel to the Heathen, and the grace which has given it to us, appear greater and greater in my view. Mountains and rough places appear indeed before us. But Jefus left the bofom of infinite and eternal delights, that he might fave Gentiles; he has the fure promise that they fhall be his inheritance, and performs all things for his people; let us not then be difcouraged. He may caufe diffi culties, and appear to hedge up Our way, to show us our weakness, try our faith, patience, zeal and perfeverance in his caufe, and to prepare us for fuccefs. Let us imbibe his fpirit and caft ourselves at his feet, imploring his help, and he will not forfake, nor difappoint us. It is his own cause we are attempting to serve, and he will effectually plead it in the appointed time. HYMNS. COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL. 1.COM The Lord's Supper. OME, ye disciples of our Lord, Behold, your Saviour's here; Affemble round his gracious board, To prove your love fincere. 2. This holy table Chrift hath spread, 3. Our Lord hath gone to yonder fkies, 4. The bread & wine prefent to view, His body on the cross, In pangs which mortals never knew ; T'enrich us by his lofs. 5. His bloed doth wash the fouls of And purge their fins away; [men, It makes their guilty natures clean, And fits for endless day. 1. The word of God. EHOLD in facred writ, 1. BEH The image of our God; In fairest lines his mind reveal'd An high display of good! 2. It guides the feet of men, By light divinely spread, And trains them up for realms of joy, When number'd with the dead. 3. Our duty there we learn, The path is clear in view, To honor, ferve and blefs the Lord, And pay th' obed'ence due. 4. The volume of the word With profit we peruse, And learn to run the heavn'ly read; The charms of vice refuse. 5. O may our fouls be fed With dainties at the feast; That we on earth, in grace, may live, In glory dwell at last. I. The Gofpel. ! The rapturous found, 2. Sinners were doom'd to death, To feel the vengeance of the Lord, Sink down to endless woe 3. But God hath fent his fon Infpir'd with life divine, In courts of blifs we'll shine. 4. Let ev'ry heart rejoice; |
