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1802.] Extracts from the Son's Letter in reply to the foregoing. 235

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were required, and that I fhould never be any better-I was led to believe that to rid myself of the troubles and perplexities of this life, and go into a future ftate, would be far preferable. I believed alfo that God had given me up to hardness of heart, and to blindness of mind, and had configned me to eternal mifery. With thefe dreadful apprehenfions, I fuppofed no good could refult from my continuing here in this world, a day or a moment longer."

In this fituation, his mind being greatly agitated, and affailed, at times, by the moft fhocking temptations, he continued during the fall of 1801-after giving the particulars of which, he proceeds.

"In the beginning of the laft winter I came to this determination (viz.) to live a life of exter

"the Hebrew, Why fhouldeft thou be defolate? Alfo chap. xi. 9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the fight of thine eyes." You will notice here, that I did not include the latter part of the verfe, (viz.) "But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." Thus I collected detached texts to answer my purpofe. In fhort, I had recourse to a "Refuge of lies," "and to that falfehood which failed on my guilt." Not fatisfying myself with arguments derived from fcripture, I turned my attention to the writings of thofe men who had boldnefs enough to affert that the fcriptures were falfe, and an impofition on mankind—that religion was prieft-nal morality in order to render craft, and "death was eternal Neep." Pondering over their fophiftical arguments for fome weeks, I almoft reafoned myself into a belief of them, yet in my retired moments, the truths of divine fevelation stared me in the face and I could not but acKnowledge their worth and importance. I had, at times, dreadful apprehenfions of the confequences that would refult from a difbelief of them. I conceived that the doctrines of the divine decrees, election and fovereignty, were altogether inconfiftent with my free agency-and that for God to punish a finner forever, when he had determined all his actions, was arbitrary, partial and unjuft. During thefe conflicts, and ftruggles of my mind, and knowing that God muft be holy, juft and good, and that his word was true-I thought that as I could not ferve him here with fuch sa temper and frame of mind as

my friends happy-Still believing that when death fhould clofe my earthly career, hell would be my portion forever. I thus refolved to think no more of a future state, but I was now and then overtaken with this terrible truth, that my works must be brought into judg ment. The fudden death of a friend, or an acquaintance, would alarm me. I often called to my remembrance the awakening fermons that I had heard from the defk; nor could I wipe from my mind the awful denunciations of my bible. All these combined would occafion the deepest anguifh in my foul.

At thefe times I was extremely unhappy. Life appeared to be a burden, and what heightened my mifery, was the peace and happiness that Chriftians enjoyed. To fee thofe of my clafsmates, who were religious, walking calmly along thro' this vale of tears, without a murmuring or repining figh, and fubmif

five to the divine law and govern- | ment, was a fource to me of the deepest affliction. Thus was I alternately calm and fecure, and afflicted with bitter remorfe. Sometimes I was unable to purfue my ftudies, and at others, I ftudied merely to expel thofe thoughts, which lay with fo much weight on my mind. I continued in this fituation, that I have now related, till the 6th of May laft, when upon reviewing my life for months paft, and reflecting on the courfe that I had purfued, and the many refolutions that I had formed of destroying my life, I fell into a ftate of dejection and defpair. I more fully believed, than ever, that the torments of hell, were to be my everlafting portion, and that remaining here on earth enhanced the mifery to which I thought myself inevitably doomed. I felt fully confident that God in his wrath had faid, Depart from me thou worker of iniquity."

From this, to the 9th of May, which was the fabbath, the anguifh of his mind feems to have rifen to its height; during which period, he was powerfully attacked by the adverfary, and his mind filled with horrid temptations. The state of his mind, and the relief which he experienced, on the fabbath, he relates as follows:

"I was very much diftreffed all the forenoon, was in pain of body, as well as in exquifite horror of mind, and concluded that nothing but death could mitigate my fufferings. But alas! who can fathom the love and benevolence of an all-wife creator? He had referved me for fomething which I did not expect. About one o'clock in the afternoon, having my bible in my hands, and turning from one

end to the other, I happened to caft my eyes on this paffage in the cxxxviii. Pfalm, "In the day when I cried, thou anfweredit me, and ftrengthenedft me with ftrength in my foul." Upon reading this paffage, fomething which never entered into my heart to conceive now poured in upon my foul like a " mighty rushing wind." Every thing now appeared like a new creation. The day which had appeared before this time, dark, difmal and gloomy, now appeared uncommonly pleafant. Christ my only Saviour, whom I had fo long despised and perfecuted, now appeared altogether lovely. The bible above all other books appeared the beft and the most important. The pain of body under which I la bored, but a few hours before, was gone. In fhort this was one of the most agreeable afternoons that I ever fpent in my life. Every thing appeared perfectly right in the divine government; I felt fubmiffive, and rejoiced that God was on the throne, and I felt fully refigned to his holy law, as being juft and good, and I hope I fhall never feel otherwise. From that day to the present I have enjoy ed myself uncommonly well. My chief delight has been to worship God, who from his boundless goodnefs, has been pleafed to manifeft himself, by his grace to me, who am the greatest of finners. I confider myself, dear father, as a brand fnatched from the burning. I am now refolved to devote the remainder of my life to the fervice of my Redeemer; and finally I hope that I may be made a trophy of his grace in his heavenly kingdom.

"Thus I have given you a brief account of the fcene through which I have paffed, and with all

filial affection I fubfcribe myself | Bibles and other pious Chriftian

your dutiful fon."

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HE Trustees of the Hampshire Miffionary Society, in conformity to the fixth article of the Constitution, make to the Society the following Report of their doings, fince their appointment in January laft-of the pleafing profpects before the Society ;and of the meafures which the Trustees judge to be proper for accomplishing the benevolent and pious defigns of the Institution.

The Trustees entered, immediately, upon the important duties affigned to them. Copies of the Conftitution of the Society and papers, to obtain fubfcriptions to its funds, were fent into the feveral towns, and parishes of the county; and expedients were employed to procure returns of the donations and fubfcriptions obtained. Inftructions for the direction of the Miffionaries and an address to the inhabitants of the New-Settlements were formed and printed.

writings to be distributed in the New Settlements.

Under the appointment of the Trustees, Rev. Samuel Taggart, and Rev. John Taylor have entered on a miffion to the counties of Montgomery, Herkemer and Oneida in the ftate of New-York, to be employed on the north fide of Mohawk river. Mr. Taggart began his tour about the laft of June, to continue in the fervice of the Society fixteen weeks, with liberty to vifit for three weeks the counties of Chenango and Onondago, to preach to the people and gain information of their religious ftate. Mr. Taylor followed him about the middle of July, and is to join and co-operate with him for the term of twelve weeks.

Under like appointment Rev. Jonathan Grout, early in July, began a miffion to the new settlements in the District of Maine. His engagement is for fixteen weeks. In the fecond week of Auguft, Rev. Enoch Hale followed Mr. Grout with directions to join and co-operate with him for twelve weeks.

Thefe Miffionaries have fo lately commenced their labors, that the Truftees have not been able to obtain any very interest. ing intelligence from them to com、 municate to the Society, excepting that the three first named have arrived, in good health, at the places of their destination, and have entered upon their work with a becoming activity and zeal and with flattering profpects of accomplishing the object of their miffion with happy fuccefs. The

As foon as fufficient information could be obtained of the state of the Society's funds, measures were adopted for procuring fuitable Miffionaries; and five hun-acquaintance which the members dred dollars were appropriated for of the Society have with the charthe payment of Miffionaries the acters of their Miffionaries will, prefent feafon; and three hun- it is prefumed, excite, in addition dred dollars for the purchase of to their fervent prayers, and

lars 77 Cents, of which fum 27 Dollars 58 Cents are now in the hands of the Committee of the Trustees, ready to be delivered to the Treafury, and the remainder has been paid into the Treasury and the Treasurer's receipts for the fame are in the hands of the Committee; 372 Dollars 14 Cents are now due to the Society and remain to be collected; 432 Dollars 42 Cents are payable annually in the month of January for the fix following years; 4130 Dollars 43 Cents are the total amount of the fubfcriptions and contributions which have been made by pious and liberal benfactors to the Society.

thanksgivings to God in their be- | the ufe of the Society 1163 Dol half, the pleafing expectation of their fidelity and good fuccefs. The appropriations made for the purchase of Books have been carried into effect as far as circumstances would admit of its being done advantageously for the Society. One grofs of Bibles, five dozen of Janeway's Token for Children, and thirty copies of the felect Sermons lately published in this county have been purchased. An impreffion has been made of 1000 copies of Doddridge's Addrefs to a Master of a Family, and of the fame number of the Affembly's fhorter catechifm. Nineteen copies of Dr. Lathrop's Sermon, entitled God's challenge to Infidels, have been contributed. Five hundred copies of the Truftees Inftructions to the Miffiona-ciety to realize the joyous fruits ries and their Addrefs to the in- of their liberality in its happy efhabitants of the new fettlements fects among their brethren of the have been printed: And Propo- New Settlements. But the rich fals are iffued for reprinting Dr. bleffings, which have been expeLathrop's four Sermons on the rienced, in various and diftant remode and fubjects of Chriftian gions by fimilar institutions of an Baptifm, and his two Sermons en- earlier date, may well excite in titled Chrift's warning to his this Society pleafing and joyful churches to beware of falfe pro hopes that the merciful Jefus, phets. Measures are alfo purfu- who hath fhed his blood for fining to procure Doddridge's Rife ners, will acknowledge and blefs and Progrefs of religion in the them alfo, in their fincere and arfoul, and Fuller's Gofpel its own dent zeal to promote his kingwitness, that they may be ready dom in the falvation of immortal for diftribution another season. fouls."

The infancy of the Inftitution has not furnished time for the So

Berkshire Miffionary Society.

The Trustees have fent on for diftribution by the hands of their Miffionaries, fix dozen of Bibles, five hundred of Doddridge's Ad- ON the 21ft of Sept. the drefs to the Master of a Family, Miffionary Society in the counties one thousand of the shorter Cat- of Berkfhire and Columbia held echifms, five dozen of Fanervay's their annual meeting at Pittsfield. Token for Children, fifteen of the The following officers were choSelect Sermons, nineteen of La- fen for the year enfuing, viz. Rev. throp's God's Challenge to Infi-Ephraim Judson, Prefident, the dels, and eighty of the Trustees Hon. Timothy Edwards, Efq. Inftructions and Addrefs. Vice-Prefident, the Hon. William Walker, Efq. Treasurer, Rev.

There have been collected for

Alvan Hyde, Secretary, and Rev. Oliver Ayer, Clerk. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Weft, the Hon. Timothy Edwards, Efq. the Rev. Ephraim Judson, the Hon. William Walker, Efq. the Rev. Thomas Allen, Elijah Williams, Efq. the Rev. Daniel Collins, Deacon John Hall, the Rev. David Perry, Deacon Stephen Nafb and the Rev. Alvan Hyde, Trustees.

weftern counties of New-York, preached 43 fermons, attended 15 conferences, baptized 26 children and 3 adults, administered the Lord's fupper twice, and admitted 11 perfons to the communion of churches. The journals of the miffions of Rev. Meff'rs. Leonard and Woofter, in the northern counties of Vermont have not yet been received.

The Miffionaries uniformly tef tify, that the people in the new fettlements are much difpofed to attend religious meetings, and that Miffionaries were never more need

better treated than at present.

From the report of the late board of Trustees to the Society, it appeared that they had employed the following Miffionaries the laft year, viz. the Rev. Samuel Leonard two months in the north-ed, more cordially received, and ern counties of Vermont, and two months in the western counties of New-York-the Rev. David Perry three months in the weftern counties of New-York-the Rev. David Porter three months, and the Rev. David Harrower, nine weeks in the county of Luzerne in the state of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Benjamin Woofter three months in the north-western counties of New-York, bordering on Lake Champlain.

From the journal of the Rev. Mr. Harrower, it appeared that in performing his miffion, he rode 459 miles, preached 40 fermons, attended 10 conferences, and 2 church meetings, and vifited more than 50 families. Rev. Mr. Porter rode 711 miles, preached 60 fermons, attended 14 conferences, and 4 church meetings, affifted in forming two churches, baptized 15 children, and made 141 family vifits. Rev. Mr. Perry, in accomplishing his miffion, rode 1037 miles, preached 117 times, attended 8 church meetings and religious conferences, adminiftered the Lord's fupper 3 times, baptized 4 children, vifited 6 fchools, and 96 families.Rev. Mr. Leonard, when on his miffion in the

POETRY.

COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL.

The Spirit of prayer, and acceptance with
God defired.

I.

GOD fupreme, whofe piercing

fight, Darts thro' the darkest shades of night, Look down, with a propitious eye, While proftrate, at thy feet I lie. 2. Th' appointed hour of prayer is

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roam;

Sin has eftrang'd my heart from thee,
And guilt would from thy presence flee.
3. O'erwhelm'd, my bofom fwells
with grief;

My native vileness! unbelief!
If only mov'd with flavish fear,
Will God vouchfafe a gracious ear?
4. What flatt'ries vain have I believ'd!
Oh, how thy Holy Spirit griev'd!
In this my wretched, helpless state,
Is he quite gone? Is all too late?
5. I am a finner, poor and blind:
"Tis not in earth to ease my mind;
I walk in darksome shades of night,
Nor can creation cheer my fight.
6. Father, I would not yet despair,
But ftill prefume a humble prayer;

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