observed, and promises a blessing. Sunday Schools have been established in most of our Presbyteries, and are affording to multitudes the means of instruction for their present and eternal welfare. In these Schools, as well as in Bible and Missionary Societies we have heard, with no ordinary satisfaction, that the female sex have taken an active part in promoting their success. They thus manifest their gratitude to that religion which in Christian lands has elevated them to their proper station, and qualified them for discharging its duties with honour and usefulness. Last, but not least, we state the flourishing condition of our Theological Seminary at Princeton, which promises to send forth streams continually to make glad the city of our God. More than fifty preachers of the Gospel have already gone forth from it to labour in the Master's vineyard; many of whom are engaged on most important Missionary ground.

2. The beneficial results of the efforts of these Institutions. They appear in the success of Missionary exertions-the increase of our churches-a growing disposition to give liberally of this world's goods for the cause of Christmelioration of public morals—and revivals of religion.

1. The Missionary field which we occupy is almost as extensive as the boundaries of our country.

For many years past the reports of the Missionaries who have laboured under the direction of the General Assembly have been highly gratifying and encouraging. But in no year hitherto have these reports been so fanimating to the friends of the Redeemer as the present. Not only have many new congregations and churches been formed by the labours of our Missionaries; not only have those who on the frontier and in the destitute parts of our country mourned their silent Sabbaths and their dearth of spiritual refreshment, been cheered by the evangelical messages they have heard; but in several instances revivals of religion, of the most important kind and interesting character, have followed the faithful preaching, and been fostered by the pious zeal of our missionaries. The demand for their labours is most urgent and importunate, particularly in the western and northern parts of the state of NewYork, and throughout the transatlantic states.

2. During the past year God has been pleased to add largely, not only to the number of our churches, but also to that of our members. In many of the presbyteries new congregations have been formed. And in those churches who have not been blessed with special revivals, the accessions to the communion in most have been numerous, and in many, more than usual. God has not forgotten to be gracious to them, but has accompanied his word and ordinances with power to the salvation of sinners.

Throughout our churches also a spirit of harmony and brotherly love prevails; which we trust will be cherished in all time to come. The existence of such a spirit, where it is not connected with the dereliction of principle, is a decisive evidence of increase in the divine life. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples," said Christ, "if ye have love one to another." We are constrained to add, that a very large proportion of Sunday School teachers in different places, especially in Philadelphia and New-York, have had their work blessed to their conversion.

3. We rejoice as one of the fruits of Religious Institutions amongst us, in the growing disposition on the part of professors to give liberally of their worldly substance for the promotion of the Redeemer's cause. We are persuaded that where religion is experienced in its power, there wealth will always be considered as granted with the express provision that a portion must be devoted to the Lord. They who do not act according to this provision, clearly prove that they love their money more than their God and Saviour.

4. Public Morals are decidedly better than they were some time back throughout the Church--but particularly in the Presbyteries of Niagara, Onon'dago, Bath, Albany, Long-Island, Lexington, Transylvania, and the cities of Philadelphia and New-York. In these the improvement has been specially observed--though in other Presbyteries and places it is progressing. We feel constrained here to mention, and we do it with pleasure, that in those states

where slavery unhappily prevails the negroes are treated with more attention than heretofore, and increasing exertions are made to promote their comfort and correct their vices, which are the natural result of their state of bondage. 5. God has been pleased to grant unto several of our Congregations a time of refreshing from his presence. The Assembly feel considerable difficulty in selecting from the number of revivals which have occurred, those especially deserving notice; for they are not furnished with statistical information as it respects the population of the different places. Whilst they desire to mark with peculiar attention all the gracious dealings of God towards our fallen race, they feel it to be their duty to discriminate between those which partake of an ordinary character and those which are more than ordinary. Inattention to this rule, they are persuaded is calculated to reduce all God's gracious dealings to a level, which must have a corresponding effect upon the thanks and praises of his people. The Presbyteries which have been blessed with revivals are Cayuga, Champlain, Columbia, Jersey, West Lexington, and Concord. Of these the most extensive have occurred in the first, where, out of twenty-six Congregations, seventeen have been visited with the outpouring of the spirit, and nearly 600 added to the Church on confession. Of these seventeen, the trophies of divine grace have been most numerous in the Congregations of Ithaca, Lansing, Aurelius, but chiefly Auburn.

In the Presbytery of Jersey, the congregations of Bloomfield, Connecticut Farms, Newark, Elizabethtown, Orange, and Patterson are gathering in the fruits of the revival of last year. The congregation of Rockaway and the second church in Woodbridge, of this Presbytery; the congregations of De Kalb, Malone and Russel, in the Presbytery of Champlain; Mount Pleasant, Stoner Mouth, Paris, Concord, Hemingsburg, and Smyrna, in the Presbytery of West Lexington; Bullock's Creek, Salem, Beersheba, Bethesda, Bethel Olney in the Presbytery of Concord; Pittstown and Bolton in the Presbytery of Columbia, have been favoured with special revivals. The character of these revivals has been such as to prove them divine. The subjects have conducted themselves with that propriety and decorum which always characterize the work of God: and after obtaining a good hope of acceptance, have walked in the ways of the Lord blameless.

The General Assembly feel thankful that they can, without being charged with enthusiasm, say, the interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom have advanced throughout their bounds. It is true the number of revivals is not so great as in some former years-but the fruits of these revivals remain in their beauty and usefulness to gladden our hearts. They who have been called into the Church from the world, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. This we consider as a subject of congratulation and praise; for it is an indubitable truth that on the consistent deportment of professors of religion, under the divine blessing, depends the successful recommendation of its claims to the world. "Let your light, (such is Christ's command,) so shine before men, that they seeing your good works may glorify your Father who is in heaven." "We therefore exhort you brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, that you walk worthy of your high vocation." Whilst you earnestly and perseveringly seek for the salvation of sinners, do not neglect your own growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. The age in which we live is correctly denominated the age of action. So numerous are the associations for promoting the cause of truth, and so assiduous are the exertions of its friends to ensure success, that more than ordinary diligence is necessary to take heed to ourselves. There is a splendour which this universal and increasing action in the Church reflects upon individual character, that may so far dazzle the spiritual perception, and taint the spiritual taste, as to give the adversary a real advantage over those very persons who are attacking his kingdom, and circumscribing his power. Be much engaged in your closets, examining the state of your own hearts, and the nature of your motives. Do still more for God in the world than you ever have done; but connect with this, an increasing attention to your personal sanctification. Forget not that it is indispensably requisite for you to cultivate

purity of intellect, as well as purity of affection. No attention to the latter will, or can compensate for neglect of the former. Such neglect has, in too many instances already in different parts, caused a conformity of conduct to the maxims of the world. It is not sufficient for the professed believer to keep within the established rules of conducting social business, or the statute laws of the land; he must, in spirit and in deportment, do unto others as he would wish to be done by himself, under similar circumstances. His morality must be Christian morality, the legitimate fruit of his actual union with Him who is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the Heavens Remember that "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost: for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."

In the bounds of the General Associations of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and the General Convention of Vermont, nothing has occurred of special importance since the last report. The Churches are reaping the fruits of past revivals; the cause of Religion is advancing; error and vices are losing ground. The Theological Seminary in Andover has eighty studes preparing for the work of the Ministry.-The various Institutions which have been established in past years for the promotion of Religion are prospering. We rejoice in the progress of truth among our Congregational Brethren, and pray that God may continue to bless them.

In the conclusion, the Assembly adopt the language of the Psalmist, "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory." Amen, and Amen.

Published by order of the General Assembly,

Attest,

Philadelphia, May, 1818.

WILLIAM NEIL, Stated Clerk.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

From the London Evangelical Magazine.
INDIA.

Extract of a letter from Messrs. Loveless, Knill, and Mead,
Madras, September 5, 1817.

With gratitude we record the loving kindness and tender mercies of our God: his band has been stretched over us for good: your prayers have been answered: we are still alive and well: and very busily engaged-new fields of labour are opening to our view continually and the desire of our souls is to approve ourselves unto God as his faithful and devoted servants.

As it regards our labours, we hope, we have left nothing undone, as far as health and ability would permit. Learning the language has been our every-day work: visiting the schools has been our constant employ-to visit, the dying bed, and direct the departing spirit to the Saviour, has been our office: preaching the gospel from four to eight times every week; holding public meetings for prayer and exhortation three evenings in the week regularly; and endeavouring to stir up our friends to assist in the great work, by every means which our hands or tongues could frame, or our hearts devise, has been our constant aim.

May 14 and 15. Held our Missionary Meeting. Brothers Rhe

nius and Gordon preached. This is our grand festival. It is truly Catholic. All unite.

'Then sects, and names, and parties fall.'

It is impossible to describe the feelings which were excited on this memorable occasion. Think, dear Sir, what you and the other good fathers of the Society would have experienced at passing through the streets of Madras to the chapel. We see you proceeding solemnly through a host of people; your ears are filled with the buz of commerce: at your right hand is a devotee standing upon spikes; on your left, is a temple, where the worshippers. of idols are adoring the work of their own hands; while before you is a procession with drums, trumpets, torches, and idols: then longing for a place where to vent your sighs, you behold a tabernacle for the Lord of hosts: you enter, and with rapture hear a brother say, 'For Zion's sake, I will not hold my peace; and for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest,' &c. Isa. lxii. 1. (Rhenius' text.) Would you not have exclaimed, 'Bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy name!' and leaving us your mantle, as it dropped from your ascending spirit, we should have heard you say, 'Now we depart in depart in peace, for our eyes have seen thy salvation.'

Aug. 21. Attended, as usual, to the daily work (language :) at 4 P. M. went to Triplicani ;-a mussulman's feast;-great bustle ;hastened to the Brahmans' streets, of which there are four;-saw a great many of these holy men. Their tank is amazingly large; situated in the middle of a large square neatly built, with flights of steps on all sides for the accommodation of the people. In the middle of the water is a sacred place highly decorated, built for the reception of the god, when he takes his annual round. In this place he stops for several days in the month of June, being carried from the temple every morning on a raft, and sent back in the same way at night. The Pagoda attached to this is very large; it is indeed a prodigious pile of sculpture, descriptive of every animal created by God, or which fallen man in his vain imagination could conceive. Alas, what is man when God departs! Here indeed they worship the creature instead of the Creator. Not less than two hundred monkeys are sacred to this Pagoda; and are fed by the offerings of the people. Great veneration is paid to this animal, as one of their incarnations was a great monkey.

My chief design in visiting this place was to open a school, and to get familiar with the people. Thus far I succeeded, though the owner of the room would not permit me to enter till he had removed, lest I should defile him. A great many Brahmins came around me, looked strange at first, but when I took leave they appeared very kind and obliging.

On the first of Sept. this school was opened, which makes the number of our schools not less than nine. Two large English schools of about two hundred boys and girls are there supported by kind

and liberal friends. Two native schools, supported by a friend of missions. The other five are supported by the Society.

Brother Hands, on his way home to Bellary, writes to brother Loveless thus:

Bangalore.

" The poor soldiers of the 69th were greatly rejoiced to see me. I have preached to them thrice, and trust the Lord was with us. Great numbers attended. The ordinances of the gospel were refreshing. I hope my visit has been a blessing to many.

'Soon after I ascended the Ghauts, I got among the Canaree people, and in every place I halted I endeavoured to make known the glad tidings of the gospel.-Great numbers in every place attended; and almost always after preaching in the street, I was followed home by numbers who desired to know more fully what they had heard; in most places I was entreated to stay longer. They are every where exceedingly eager to obtain the Canaree Tracts, and I am distressed that I am not able more liberally to suppy them.' He also speaks in the highest terms of officers and other gentlemen, who have treated him on his journey with the kindness characteristic of Britons.

At Seringapatam there are a few country-born young men, who from time to time have been encouraged by brother Loveless to seek the Lord. He has supplied them with Burder's and Cennick's sermons, and books of all descriptions suited to their circumstances. They write to him in the most humble and spiritual manner, and appear like plants of the Lord's right hand planting, in the midst of a desert wilderness. Brother Hands has engaged to see these young men, and we anticipate a pleasing account respecting them.

Through the aid of a kind friend we have lately employed a Reader free of expense to the Society. He is a respectable native Christian, one of good Mr. Gerricke's people, a teacher in the College, and has expressed a desire to be employed some way or other with us. He was Mr. Meade's teacher; and since brother Mead's departure, we have engaged him every evening to read the NewTestament in his house, or by his house-side. Many have attended.

Sept. 26. Yesterday was to us a very memorable day indeed: a Bible Association was begun at the Missionary Chapel. Brother Knill preached previous to the meeting from John v. 39. After sermon brother Loveless was called to the chair-Rules adoptedPresident, Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee appointed, and about 70 pagodas were given as donations. We cannot but hail it as another trophy of redeeming love which shall bring much glory to our matchless Redeemer.