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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atra raproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est film* A partir de I'angle aupAriaur gauche, de gauche h droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'imagas nAcessaire. Lea diagrammea suivants illustrent la mAthoda. by errata ned to lent une pelure, fapon h 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 S 6 CANADA NATIONAL LIBRARY BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE e f m \ \ SERMON, } I DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL AMONa THE INDIANS AND OTHERS IN NORTH AMERICA, At THEIR ANNIVERSARY, WOVEMBER 7, 1811. BY JAMES KENDALL, A. M. MINISTKR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN PLYMOUTH. BOSTON : PRINTED BY JOHN ELIOT, Jtiv. 1812. ■9 1 I" i '» J iit^ i n s^ XX A MEETING OB TUE SOCIETY NOV. 7, 1811. Voted, That the President, Dr. Lathrop, and Dr. RJ-iot, he a committee, to present the thanks of the Society to the Rev. Mr. Kendall for his Sermon, delivered before tliem tliis day, and to request a copy of it for the press. A. Holmes, Secretary. > (( * • wore the the ofGl of I.> (( SERMON. ,'■■■•. ■ > ACTS. xiii. 47. THE LORD UATH COMMANDED UB, SAYING, I HAVE BET THEE TO BE A L.IOHT OK THE GeNTILES, THAT THOU SHOULDE8T BE FOR SALVATION UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. *' THE first commission, which the Apostles receiv- ed from their di\'ine Master, required them to ** go " not into the way of the Gentiles ;" but to "go rather " to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."* Hence the preaching of repentance and remission of sins in Christ's name began at Jerusalem. And in the histo- ry of the Acts we often find these ministers of the ho- ly Jesus in the synagogues of the Jews, preaching the kingdom of God. The context relates the conduct of Paul and Barnabas in this respect, and gives a par- ticular account of the treatment they received from the Jews at Antioch. Being in the synagogue on the sab- bath day, they were requested by the rulers, after the reading of the law and the prophets, to give a word of exhortation to the people. St. Paul improves the opportunity by applying what had been read Irom the scriptures to the character and mission of the Son of God. He addresses himself particularly to the men of Israel, " children of the stock of Abraham, saying, " To you is the word of this salvation sent." After re- * Matthew X. 5. 6. 4[j *^ }• H \ ■ lating the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ at Je- rusalem, conformable to the predictions of their ovvn prophets, he adds; "Be it known unto you, therefore, " men and brethren, that through this man is preaclied ** unto you the forgiveness of sins ; and by him all " that believe are justified from all things, from which " they could not be justified by the law of Moses." The Apostle admonishes them of the importance of accepting the offered grace, and cautions them to *' be- " ware lest that come upon them, which was spoken " of in the prophets ; Behold, ye despisers, and won- " der, and perish." ' Gentiles as well, as Jews, were assembled at this time in the synagogue at Antioch, who besought the Apostles to preach these words unto them the next sabbath. On this occasion, " there came almost the " wlible city together to hear the word of God." This uncommon attention and respect shewn the Apostles excited the indignation of the Jews; and " when they saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things, which were spoken by ** Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." The Apos- tles, neither discouraged nor disheartened by this abuse from their own countrymen, " waxed bold, and said ; " It was neceii^iary, ihat the word of God should first " have been spoken unto you ; but seeing ye put it " from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of ever- "lasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." C( <( By resisting the Holy Ghost, by of life from them, by persecuting the the word putting ambassadors ' of ** be- >» the Prince of peace, and by rcjoctinp all the overtures of mercy, that were offered theni, these unbelitving Jews frustrated the grace of God wuh respect to them- selves, and forfeited the mercy, which they were en- treated to accept. It was their own blindness and ob- stinacy, and not the arbitrary appointment of heaven, that rendered them so averse to the gospel, and pre- vented their complying with the terms of reconciliation, which it revealed. After witnessmg the obstinate un- belief of their own countrymen, no wonder these Apos- tles turned to the Gentiles, who appeared better dis- posed towards the gospel, more deeply concerned for their own immortal welfare, and resolutelv determined by the grace of God, on the pursuit and enjoyment of everlasting life.* This favourable disposition in the Gentiles towards the gospel concurred with the origin- al design and intent of this gracious dispensation ; and also with the express command of Christ after his re- surrection. This heavenly light was not to be confi- ned to a single nation ; but was gradually to extend its beams over the whole earth. The last command of our risen Lord and Master required the Apostles to " go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every *' creature ; to teach all nations, baptizing them in the " name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy " Ghost : to carry the glad tidings unto the uttermost ** part of the earth, that all flesh might see and rejoice *' in the Salvation of God." * See Doddiidge's Exposition, and note on the 48th. verse. II, ^; \ But the apostles on tliis occasion point the Jews to tluir own scriptures for tlieir authority, and prove horn thcMj, that they were lulfilling the predictions of tlieir own prophets, while they were proclaiming glad tidings to tlie Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded lis, sav '"g. I HAVE SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for Salvation unto the ends of the earth. These words were first delivered by the prophet, Isaiah, light with It express rcterence to the Messiah. " it is a " thing, that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up " die tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of "Israel. I will also give thee for a light " TO THE Gentiles ; that thou mavest be "mv Salvation unto the ends of the "earth."* The message, which this inspired prophet, in the name of the most high God, ad- dresses to the Messiah, the Apostles apply to them- selves, as the ministers and servants of Jesus Christ. What was prophecy with respect to Him, was a sol- emn charge to them. The Apostles considered the command as extending to them, and as requiring them to be the instruments of light and Salvation to the Gentiles — even unto the ends of the earth. Christ ^va8 the true Light, and the Apostles were the lesser lights, revolving about the Sun of righteousness, re- ceiving his rays, and reflecting the brightness of his gloi} upon " them, that sat in darkness, and in the " regions of the shadow of death." J,. * Isaiah xlix. 6. ll whii CC('se of his the liea- e of life, »'s, " that tiles, and as a cho- Gentiles. is instrii- le power light to r hearts, e of the his visit 't desig-n :^ of Sal- jiidiced ling the eccived »e nier- Juiitrj-- . 8. Iv. G. men ; that all besides were doomed to perpetual dark- ness and dctilcniciii, and unfit for the service or enjoy- ment oi heaven. An«.i it recjuired a miracle to con- vince him, that the spirit of the Lord was not straiten- ed ; that what He had cleansed was neither common, nor unclean ; that incense might ascend to heaven even from among the altars of paganism ; that prayers and alms were found, and accepted, where there was nei- ther priest nor Levite ; that " God, of a truth, is no " respecter of persons ; but in every nation he, that " feareth him, and woiketh righteousness, is uccepled " with him."* Although the piety and charily of Cornelius were not the meritorious ground of his jus- tification before God, they were the means of prepar- ing his mind for increasing light, and of bringing him to the knowledge of the way of Salvation by a Re- deemer. After this interesting scene, the AposUe could not doubt any more, than his brethren, the Jews, that '' God also to the Gentiles had granted repentance unto life."t Not less to our purpose is the vision of St. John, in his old age, on the island of Patmos. Among other important things, that were communicated to this ven- erable Apostle and prophet, he was permitted to hear, and see, the number of the servants of God, who \\ero sealed. Besides the hundred and fort}' and four thou- sand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel ; he " be- " held, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could '* number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, * ,^o!s X. t Ac Si. \i. 1<', 12 I "and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the "Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their "hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salva- " tion to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and "unto the Lamb."* This sublime vision represents the extent of the gospel, and the increase of the chris- tian church among all nations, and inspires the hope, that it will one day become the medium of light and Salvation unto the ends of the earth. It intimates fur- ther, that all, who are siived, of whatever nation, or peo- ple, or language, will be saved only through the mer- its and efficacy of Christ's atoiv ment and mediation. That is, they will ascribe their Salvation both to Him, ^vho sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. If Christ made propitiation for the sins of the whole world, it is an evidence, that the whole world were guilty, and '^eeded such a sacrifice. I do not mean to suggest, that none can be saved, who have nev- er enjoyed the advantages of an external revelation, nor seen the light of the gospel, nor heard of the name of Jesus. I believe there may be the spirit of faith, where the object of it is not seen, and where the voice is not hcard.f I could sooner indulge the hope, that the wretched, deluded victims of Jugger- naut, " who know not what they do," were the objects of divine commiseration and forgiveness, than believe, that God had doomed to everlasting peidition all, who have never heard c .' Christ, and for not believing in him, oi whom tiny have not heard. And is there no * Rev. vii. 0. 10. f Note A. )efore the s in their ig, Salva- one, and epresents he chris- hc hope, light and lates f'ur- , or peo- the mer- ediation. to Him, mb. If 2 whole Id were •t mean ve nev- elation, of the pirif of where ige the ugger. objects leiieve, 1, who ing in re no 13 foundation for this preference, but in the sympathy of the si)eaker ? Will it be deemed unchristian to ask, whether that compassionate Saviour, who so often wept over the blindness, the obstinacy, the infatuation of his guilty countrymen, to whom he repeatedly of- fered the message of reconciliation, and who as often rejected it ; who so earnestly desired and affectionately intreated them to take refuge under the wings of his grace ; who employed his last breath in interceding for mercy for his murderers, wafting to heaven an apology for the crime, " Father, forgive them ; for "they know not what they do ;" — Will this Jesus feel less pity, can he find no apology, will he offer no inter- cession, for the poor, infatuated />?7^rmj, who, conscious that some sacrifice must be made for his sins, and see- ing no Lamb in the thicket^ devotes his own life, be- cause he has nothing dearer, to appease the wrath of heaven — leaving his bones to whiten upon the plains as a monument of his delusion, and to excite the pity of the christian ?* Althou.^h this ignorance should not be winked at, sure I am, that the subject of it is less criminal, and will be beaten with fewer stripes, than ihose pretended cliristians, w ho make a traffick of diis pilgrimage, and who, like the vultures, fatten upon the victiins of this delusion. f A righteous and merciful God will, undoubtedly, make a discrimination between that error and delusion, which are *he consequence of having wilfully rejected the light, and such as result from the circumstance of I * ^^otc B. 7 Note C. i I 14 having been bom, where tliere is no light. It will at least be more toieiabie for the latter in the day of judgment than the former. And if a meek, humble, and contrite heart be found under cover of this delu- sion, are we not authorized to hope, that a place will be provided for it, through the mercy of God, in some one of the many mansions of bliss. The qualifica- tions for the kingdom of God among nations, who have never enjoyed tiie benefit of revelation, consist, no doubt, in an improvement of the best means, which heaven has granted, and in a disposition to receive and improve whatever further light God may be pleased to besto\^ ; rather than in the actual exercise of faith in a religion, or in doctrines, which were never revealed. But those virtuous heathen, who, by improving well the talent, that has been given them, shall add to the innumerable multitude, who will stand before the throne, will then learn, if not before, that even their Salvation must be ascribed to the merits and mediation of the Son of God ; and will join in the new song, saying. Thou art worthy ; for thou wast SLAIN, AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GoD BY THY BLOOD. When we consider the darkness, the ignorance, the error, and sin, in which the Ijeathen world are generally involved, and the superior advantages, which they enjoy, who live under the light of the gospel, for improvement, for comfort, and happiness in this world, and for laying a foundation, by purer faith and more perfect holiness, for everlasting life and happiness in f the pict ism, no the Worf Si mea It win at he day of , humble, this dclu. place will 1, in some quaiifica- ions, who ), consist, ms, which :ceive and pleased to r faith in a revealed, ving well dd to the 'fore the ven their nediation w song, U WAST JOD BY norance, orld are s, which pel, for s world, id more iness in ■1 i i IS the world to come ; the few examples of virtue and pict}', that may be found amidst the darkness of piigan* ism, will not be urged as a reason, why we should fed no concern, and take no pains, to furnish them with the means of better light, a purer faith, and a sublimer "worship. Secondly. I am to consider the instruments and means by which the gospel is to be propagated. In the first age of Christianity the Apostles were ap- pointed, and commissioned by their divine Master, and qualified by the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost, to propagate the kingdom of God, and carry tlie glad tidings of Salvation to all nations. They were set as a light to the Gentiles. And by bearing on their lips the message of reconciliation ; by planting and watermg the incorruptible seed ; by establishing and building up the church of our Lord among many na- tions ; and, above all, by leaving on record the words of eternal life, they have become the instruments of Salvation unto the ends of the earth. The world is now reaping the fruit of their labours, and rejoicing in their light. They had the greatest difficuhies to surmount, the most violent opposition to contend with. The heathen raged, and the people imagined a vain thing. Kings of the earth and rulers leagued to- gether, and marshalled themselves against the Lord and against his anointed, to impede the progress, and to destroy the influence of the Redeemer's kingdom. Tiie prejudices of the Jews, and the ignorance and idolatry of the Gentiles, were to be subdued ; and a 1 r 16 religion, then new in every part of the world, to be in- troduced, and esrablished in thcii pli)c< . Well might this liitle ba.id of christian heroes, in view of these diiiiculties, and in the commencement of their warfare, exclaim, " Who is sufficient for these things ?" Al- mifrhty Grace was sufficient for them. And, under the standard of the Captain of their Salvation, and clad in the armour of God, they advanced to the conflict ; and " came off more than conqueiors, through him " who ' ith loved us, and given himself for us.'' The rapid progress of the gospel, during the few years of their ministry, notwithstanding the violent opposi- tion it had to encounter, was itself a miracle, and among the strongest evidences of its divinity. The work was manifestly of God, and could not be over- thrown. The principal mean by which they promo- ted the cause, in which they were engaged, was preaching the gospel. This was " the weapon of ** their warfare ;" and it was " mighty through God " to the pulling down of strong holds."* They ** kept back nothing that was profitable ; but taught " publickly and from house to house, testifying both " to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance to- " ward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Chi ist. " Bonds and afflictions awaited thcni ; but none of " these things moved them ; neither counted (hey life " dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their " course with joy, and the ministry they received of the '• Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of ihc grace of God."t * 2 Corintliiaus x. 4. t Acta xx. 20. I Si but The! nal II catic presi the n izf^ ■^deRft;,.,,^^, 17 Since the days of the apostles miracles have ceased ; but ihe evidence of their truth and reality is not lost. The holy scriptures, which contain the words of eter- nal life, and which are the channel of divine communi- cation between heaven and the hearts of men, arc still preserved ; and a written and preached gospel is now the mediun of light and Salvation to the world. In- stead of th J miraculous gifts of the spirit, which ena- bled the apostles without previous preparation to ad- dress every nation in their own language, the ministers of Jesus Christ must be qualified and endowed by more ordinary means. They must study, in or- der to be learned ; and must be learned, and give themselves to meditation and prayer, in order to be mighty in the scriptures ; and must be mighty in the scriptures, in order to be witnesses to the truth ; and must he witnesses to the truth, in order to be the light of the world. Besides a well educated and regularly established ministry to water, where others have planted ; to build upon a foundation, which others have laid ; " to " raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the pre- '* served of Israel ;" there must be a light also to the Gentiles. There must be messengers of Salvation unto the ends of the earth. But before these messen- gers can give light to others, they must first be en- lightened themselves. Nothing can be more errone- ous, than the opinion, that an ignorant, ir iterate mis- sionary is a proper instrument for converting the Gen- tiles, or preaching the gospel to the poor. In order 1 >.; « i V It to be successful they must be men of intellip;ence and piety, of prudence and perseverance, of meekness and fortitudvi, that they may endure hardness as go(»d soldiers of Jesus Christ. Not novices ; but men of talents and information, that they may be able also to teach others. But it is said, the apostles were ignorant, that they were illiterate, that they were fishermen ; but were nevertheless commissioned, and sent, to preach the gospel to all the world. They were indeed commis- sioned, and sent on this heavenly errand. But not until they had spent several years under the immediate instruction of their divine Master. Not until their minds were miraculously endowed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So far from being sent, they were expressly forbidden to depart^ and commanded to wait^ until they were thus qualified.* St. Paul, though not called, until after this period, to be an Apostle, was nevertheless " not a whit behind the " very chiefest" of them.f He was a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name among the Gentiles. And was he unlearned in the wisdom of this world ? Was he desti- tute of human knowledge, or of human attainments ? Wiis he ignorant of the manners, the customs, and the habits of mankind, especially of the nations where he preached the gospel ? No ; he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the profoundest teachers of the age. And such was his fame as a scholar, such the display of his talents, that he drew from ; Roman Go ing his sui * Acts i. 4. f 2 CoriothiaDs si. 5. I' ip!«ncc and :ekness and »s as good Lit men of ble also to , that they but were 5reach the i commis- But not immediate intil their he gifts of they were landed to St. Paul, to be an ihind the vessel to id was he he desti- nments ? i, and the ivhere he jp at the ichers of lar, such Roman 19 Governor the confession, that he had " much learn- ing."* Besides his attainments in human knowledge, his mind was enriched with the truths, and his heart sanctified by the spirit of the gospel. It was probably on account ofsuperior abilities and more extensive eru- dition, that he was selected from among his brethren, as the chief instrument to enlighten the Gentiles, and pull down the ^'rong holds of pagan idolatry and superstition. I press this idea, my brethren, because I consider the want of success in the missionary societies in this country, and the consequent objection, that has been raised against this mode of instruction, owing princi- pally to want of talents, or character, or both, in too gr(;at a proportion of those, who have been eniplo} ed in the liervice of these societies. I do not mean to in- sinuate, that a man cannot be a christian without being a scholar. But every good man is not fit for a teach- er. Neither would I suggest, that a man, to be quali- fied for a missionary, must necessarily be acquainted with the whole circle of the arts and sciences. But he ought not surely to be without talents, nor without information, nor without some learning in his own profession. Much less ought he to be without char- racter, destitute of the temper, and unadorned with the virtues and graces of that gospel, which he pre- tends to propagate. It has been found by experiment, that when men of abilities and piety, and iniblcmihhed moral character, whose sole object has been to make * Acts xxvi. 21. n 20 J, I / I'V^'' those, to ^vhom they were sent, wiser, and better, and happier, "I'lph the instrumentahty of a preached ^f>s- pel, instea* , proselyting them to a sect or a party, — when such men have been employed in the service of missionary societies, success has generally, if not al- ways, attended their labours ; and those societies, who have been so wise, and so fortunate, as to employ them, have had no occasion to regret the pains or ex- pense of doing it. I would not be understood to in- timate, that missionary societies are chargeable v ith knowingly sending out missionaries of the opposite character. But have they not sometimes been de- ceived ? And have they always taken as much ptiins, as they ought, to be undeceived ? Have wc not on some occasions been influenced more from commise- ration to the personal wants of the missionaries, than from any sanguine hope of benefitting the people among whom they were sent. If they be objects of charity, let us bestow charity upon them. But \\ hen we send lights to the Gentiles, let us send " burning '* and shining lights ;" that they, who walk in dark- ness, may discover the path, in which they should go ; and, by following it, may be guided to the FaUier of lights. Another cause, which has often rendered the la- bours of our missionaries unsuccessful, has been an attempt to extend their labours over too much terri- tor}\ Instead of being a iight set, they have been xvandering stars ; and, by trying to diffuse their rays over too much space, they hjwe produced neither Ci ^y > ^'*'-— -«-*<► ...-^^ — .. '*• -^ * ,.^^*»M»---- 1 ■■ ■■ ■- •-.--*•-*-» -- «ifc«i. 1*. better, and ?uchtcl ^ns- a party, — service of if not al- ietics, who o employ lins or ex- )od to in- ^•ibJc V ith ' opposite been dc- icli pains, e not on :ommise- ries, than e people bjects of lit w hen burning in dark- )uld go ; "adier of the la- been an h terri- 'C been eir ravs neither 21 light nor heat. Expcrieri c has she\vn, that, in order to be useful, missionaries must be in some respects stationary ; and to produce the greatest eflt'ct the rays of light must be concentrated, and shine with a clear, steady, uniform lustre. Itinerant prvaching^ especially with the character of a great proportion ol those, who assume the name of itinerants, is of no service towards promoting the cause of pure Christianity. By the disorder, and confusion, and fanaticism, which mark their path, they demonstrate, that " they run before " they are sent;" or, at least, that they run without a commission from that " God," who " is not the author *' of confusion ; but of peace and order as in all chur- " ches of the saints." By this irregularity they dis- honour the name, discredit the religion, and multiply the enemies of the holy Jesus. The novelty of their appearance, and the rapidity of their motion, may, like the Cometf attract the gaze, and for a while awaken the terror of the ignorant beholder. But on their de- parture the mind is not less in ignorance and dark- ness, than on their approach. Or, if, perchance, the more intelligent, and the better informed, should make observations, they will be found on inspection to be dark bodies^ and all this blaze only the semblance of light. By itinerants I mean not to include such men as the intelligent, the pious, the brave Buchanan, whose sole object is to give light to the world ; and who by his indefatigable "Researches" has, more than any other man of the age, prepared a path for this light. V. 22 4 n i Neither would I include nmny respectable and pious mi: .'.ioiuuich, who, wiiif as go(.d n icittiunh, ui.d not wiilwait success, have laboured lo propagate the gos- pel anioi.g the unenlightened parts ol our own coun- try. But 1 ntcan those stU-aulhorized preachers, who, uh a cloak ior their ignorance, and sometimes lor their vices too, and lo delude and deceive their unsus- pecting and too credulous hearers, pretend to receive their light and dieir credentials by a miracle directly from heaven. *' By their Iruits ye may know them." In order to have missionaries with proper charac- ter and (|ualiiica(ions, there must be missionary socie- ties and other institutions, whose benevolent and pious object is to propagate the gospel, to extend the know- ledge of the hoi) scriptures, to give light to the Gen- tiles, and to be the instruments of Salvation unto the ends of the earth. Such societies and institutions have proved an incalculable benefit to mankind. By con- centrating their energies, and by interesting themselves in the situation of that portion of their fellow creatures, who have not the means, if they have the disposition, of providing themselves with religious instruction, the} have been enabled to furnish them with the Book of Life, to place before them christian teachers, and to receive in return a blessing from them, who were ready to perish. The benefit arising from these insti- tutions may be learnt from the means they have fur- nished for promoting christian knowledge and piety j, and which have reav.;.ed, not only to unenlighiei ed portions of our own country ; but to the vast and ex- tCT Vl^ no| tt chl it i( t ^- .,-•'" -V"* .,<*«i««»a!Sdrti— •-' -■" — O^— i*. ^,^^,^1^^ ■ ip- . 23 tensive regions of the Kast. Thousands, who recent- ly s;it in darkness, where was no lif^lil, hut th( dim lipht of nature, and even this little well nifj;h extin- guished through ijj^norance and superstition, have been visited by *' the Day spring from on liigli," and are now cheered with the mild beams of " the Sim of " Righteousness." From the liberality and piety of christian institutions, they have seen, for tiie first time, ** How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of " them, that preach the gospel of peace, and bring " glad tidings of good things."* The land of our Forefathers has taken the lead in these institutions, and lias contributed moie, than all the world besides, to the propagation of the gos- pel, to give light to the Gentiles, and to send Sal- vation unto the ends of the earth. This benevolent and pious example begins to be imitated in America. The spirit of our Fathers, through whose instrumen- tality the light of the gospel first beamed upon this western world, seems to be waking from its slumbers, and stirring up itself, to diffuse <^his light not only through those parts of our own country, where it has never been, or but sparingly, enjoyed ; but to reflect it back upon those regions, in Asia, where, though lotig since in darkness, once stood the golden candlesticks, and where He, who holdeth the stars in his right hand, delighted to walk.f The Missionary and Bible Societies, which within a few years have been established, and multiplied with- * Rom, X. 15, t Rev. i. il S\ ' 24 out example in this country, are among the principal means of propagating the gospel, and thus extending the knowledge of the way of Salvation by a Redeemer. But there are other means and instruments besides these of extending the light and influence of the gospel. Every christian, who cultivates its principles in his own hcatt, who imbibes its spirit, and who portrays in his life its virtues and graces, promotes the cause of Christianity, and becomes a light to the world. Every head of a family, who gives his children and his house- hold-a religious education, and brings them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, extends the influ- ence of the gospel, and is himself a preacher of right- eousness. Every christian Society, whose united prayers are unceasingly offered up for the advance- ment of Christ's kingdom, and who add alms to their prayers to furnish the means of light and Salvation to such as have no light, and no hope, are the agents of heaven, and labourers together with God, in strength- ening the walls of Zion, enlarging the borders of that kingdom, which is not of this wcrld, and multiplying heirs of the grace of life. Thirdly. If your patience be not exhausted, I will briefly state in the last place some of the principal mo- tives, that may tend to encourage and animate chris- tians in their exertions to propagate the kingdom of God. One of these motives arises from a consideration of the original design of the gospel, particularly with re- spect to the Gentile world. If it were the desig:n of 4> i ■«.t«WfTl'ii«t>l> Principal ^ tending leemer. besides I gospel, in his •ortrays ause of Every house- in the e influ- right- united vance- their tion to nts of -ngth- f that )Iying rwill mo- hris- n of n of 1 re- n of 2S heaven, as was shewn in a former part of this dis- course, lo extend this blessing to the Gentiles ; if holy men ct old, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, looked forward with joy and gladness to this interesting event ; if their predictions have been in the progress of accomplishment in every age of the christian church ; and if the} now appear to be in rapid fulriiment ; we must believe, that it is still the purpose of heaven to extend the blessing ; that the work, which has been begun, will continue to be carried on, as it ever has been, through the instrumentality of human exertions, and by the agency of christians, until all the ends of the earth shall see the Salvation of God. The whole christian world are witnesses of the accomplish- ment of the ancient prophecies relating to the Gentiles ; and the progress of Christianity in all quarters of the globe, and the vast means in operation to extend a knowledge of the holy scriptures, declare them to be now in rapid fulfilment. And is the spirit of the Lord straitened ? Is his arm shortened, that he can no longer save ? Has the gracious promise, made to the heralds of light and Salvation, " Lo, I am with you al- " ways, even to the end of the world," been stayed ? Has it seen its completion ? Has it reached the end f Surely not. Let us then, as christians, consider ourselves as the agents of heaven in propagating the gospel ; as messengers of light and Salvation to the Gentiles. Is it not an honourable, is it not a sub- lime employment to be associated with heaven in pro- moting a cause so much to the glory of God, so in- D V t I' 26 teresting- to the souls of men ? Will it not enhance the felicity of the mansions above, to be there recog- nized by those happy spirits, who have received the hght of life through our instrumentality, and who will greet us as "the servants of the Most High God, who " shew unto them the way of Salvation ?" The voice of prophecy is still echoing from the volume of inspira- tion, and, as a part of the Gentile church, let us s]:!eed its accomplishment : " Enlarge the place of thy ttnt, " and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habita- '* tions ; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen " thy stakes ; for thou shalt break forth on the right " hand, and on the left ; and thy seed shall inherit the " Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhab- " ited. — For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but " with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little " wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; but " with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, " saith the Lord thy Redeemer."* Another motive to stimulate the pious and the char- itable to exertion in propagating the gospel, and dif- fusing more extensively the light of life, may be drawn from a consideration of the ignorance, the darkness, and guilt, in which millions of our fellow creatures are yet involved, who were made of the same blood, and whose souls with ours arc d(?stined to immortality ; many of whom have never seen the light of the gospel ; and others enjoy but sparingly the means of religious instruction. For a particulai- view of the present state * Isaiah liv. 2, 3—7, 8. t enhance re iccog. reived the Hiio vviJI od, who c voice of f inspira- us s])eecl til}- tent, ie habita- tiengthen tlie right 'herit the ^e inhab- hee; but n a Jittic ent; but on thee, he char- and dif. e drawn irkness, ires are 3d, and 'taJity ; "ospel ; igious It state 27 of the heathen world, especially of the horrid super- stition and idolatry, that still prevail in the vast regions of the East, you are referred to the interesting " Re- " searches" of the celebrated Dr. Buchanan. Whoever can peruse these sheets without commiseration, with- out pity, without a desire to do something to chase away this darkness, to arrest the progress of this de- lusion, and to send ligiit and comfort to its miserable victims, must be destitute of common humanity ; much more of the sympathy of the christian. Will not a people, cannot a nation, whose sympathy is awakened, and whose liberality is cheerfully extended to the relief of their fellow citizens, whose dxvelimgs have fallen a sacrifice to the flames, feel s^^me pily for the infatuated mourner, stretched upon the Funeral Pile of her depar- ted Husband, and bestow some charity to rescue the life of the fairest of creation from the fire of Moloch *?* Shall christians feel less concern, or take less pains to pluck the souls of their fellow sinners as brands from the burning, and provide them with the means of de- liverance from a " fire that cannot be quenched?" V But the particular object of the Society, convened on this occasion, is to propagate the gospel among the Indians and others in North America. If it be our duty as individuals and as christians to provide for our- selves and our household ; it is unquestionably our duty as Societies and communities to provide for those of our own country and nation. And there iu^e objects of commiseration and christian charity, scattered iu * I^ote D. 'f I I I I 1^.' 'M a 28f remnants through these western regions ; some of of whom have no light to their feet, and no lamp to their path. Others have no oil in their lamps, and no means of replenishing them. I am aware, it will be asked, whether the attempts to christianize the Indians have been attended with sufficient success to encou- rage a continuance of these exertions ? They, whose liberality is so often taxed for the support of mission- ary establishments, have a right to hope and expect some fruit from their charity. We can answer, that these attempts have not been without success ; and where missionary labours have been wisely and judi- ciously directed, and faithfully performed, the result has been such as to authorize the belief, that it is at least practicable to meliorate the condition, to con- vey some light to the mind, and inspire some hope even in the heart of a savage. When we witness tlieir ignorance, their stupidity, and their vices, we sometimes may be ready to ask, with the despaiiing prophet, " Can these dry bones /w to con- Tie hope witness ces, we spaiiing y conti- in-struc- jjfaver, of life, ^e, aud d with Jal Jife, in the idians. lick to 29 aid us even in this improvement. Some preparation of the mental soil is necessary as well, as of ihe natur- al, before the incorruptible seed will take root, or bring any fruit to perfection. The wise and expe- rienced husbandman does not cast the finest of the wheat among the trees of his forest, nor the shrubs of the wilderness. ^\c first fells the trees, plucks out the roots and the stones, subdues the turf, and applies a seed best adapted to its rough state. When tmie, and labour, and industry have sufficiently mellowed the soil, he then casts in the choicest of the grain ; and, under the influence and blessing of heaven, gathers a harvest, some an hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty. Somethnig anala^ous to this must be the method of procedure with the rude mind of a savage, previous to his receiving to advantage the pure, refin- ed instruction of christian morality and piety. These tenants of the woods are wild men ; and they must be tamed, before they can be taught. They must be wed- ded, either from inclination or habit, to the axe, the plough, and the wheel, before they will submit to the moderation, the sobriety, the self-denial, and the pa- tience of the christian life. Experience has shewn, that the best success has attended religious instruction among this poor depressed people, where it has been preceded, or at least accompanied with some degree of civilization. The missionary should go to them iiv the double capacity of a teacher of youth, and a preacher of righteousness. He should plant himself by the side of his tawny pupil ; endeavour to do away va (I .*. .-.-^>. 1^ 1 :,-^^ so that jealousy, which is so natural to the Indian, but which is at enmity with the gospel ; and, after the ex- ample of his divine Master, should blend moral in- stniclion with a manifest interest and concern for his temporal welfare. In this way only can he gain his attention, secure his confidence, and win his heart. The faithful, pious labourer will not be discouraged nor disheartened by meeting, in the commencement of his work, with the wildness and rankness of uncul- tivated nature. When these are subdued by time, and patience, and industry, and grace, a fairer growth will spring up to reward his toils. And eveii amidst this wildness may he not hope in the progress of his labours and in his pastoral walks now and then to find the chaste and modest Fio/et, half concealed by the rankness, that surrounds it ; and which, but for hig vigilance and care, might have been ' ' ""» " Born to blush unseen, i " And waste its fragrance on the desert ah ■H : But there are others, besides the natives of the soil, who are objects of our compassion, and proper sub- jects for charitable instruction. Some of them are now hungering for the bread, and thirsting for the wa- ters of life. To such the bible, the book of life, the charter of our Salvation, would be a treasure ; and the voice of him, who bringcth glad tidings, cheering and delightful to the soul. Surely our char- ity cannot be better bestowed, than by giving light and instruction to the ignorant, comfort and consola- i iir. The ps and ar- M "View iued "in " has giv- fid of the he miUti- t without missed.'* isli by the as part of ims, who he hones 3d by the id M'e are n nature, aut have ley have ; charac- reatures. i by the iogy for ehovah, ;y were ad beeu dlstin^iiishRii from ilio idolatrous iiatioas mound tiiom by a spr- cial 'cvebtiua, which taught tliem ttie uatuie andcliaracler of tlic true God, and commauded tliem to worsliip uo other. Tlieir crime, therefore, appeai-s to ue more aggravated, thau tliat of the poor in- fatuated Hindoos. Tlic rigliteous judgment of God, no doubt, will have respect to the condition and circumstances in wliich tiiey are placed. According to the Apostle, i'aul, there was a time, wheu the ignorance and idolatrj- of the Athenians Viotl winked at. But after the gospel declared to tliem tlie true God, tliey were commauded to repent, to turn from tiieir superstilious, and worshiiy the God, who made heaven anii earth.* And \ devolved ou the Corpora* tioi) of Harviird (.'ollege, as -tated \i\ our last Jouriiai ; yet w liatever affects their religioiiK chai. rtcr and i:il» resta claims the notite of tlie SotiF.TV, \^hich has formerly had ihciii under its care. It ift with much patiHlaction tliat vcarc now able to report the fieUie- meiit of a minister at Marslipec, as successor to that able and faith- ful missionary, Kev. Mr. IIawlev, vho died in 1807. The Rev. Phinehas Fish Mas ordained a missionary on the 18th. of September last ; on vhich occasion the Ilev. Dr. Kirk- LAM), President of Harvard College, delivered an apuropriate sermon, and several neighbouring ministers performed tne oiher piiblick services. " The plantation of Marehpee contains almost the onl_> remaining vestiges of the native rac<- of Massachusetts. It is an ancient and valuable location appropriated to the Indians^ but its privileges are also extended to those in aflmity w ith them. In addition to the ; atronage ol the government, it has been favour- ed vith a continued enjoyment ol a regular miuifctry under men of eminent piety and worth. The first pastor of the place was the Hev. Richard Bouune, who gathered the chui-ch and Mas or- dained there in the year 1570. The celebrated Eliot, dibtio- guislied for unwearied exertions in cliristiauizing the Indiana, as- sisted on the occasion. Mr. Bourne died in 1085. Sikon JPop- KANET, one of the natives, was his successor. After his death, the Rev. Joseph Bourne, son of the first minister ot the plantation, was ordained there in 1 729. He resigned his mii>bion in 1 742. The oflice was then supplied by Solomon Bhiant, one of the In- dians, who remained in that employment until the settlement of the Rev. Gideon Hawley, in 1788. Mr. Hawle} continued in faithful adherence to this obscure but useful service, nearly half a centur>. He died October 3, 1807, aged eighty years. The proprietore of the plantation are much indebted to him for his min- isteiial laljours, and his well directed exertions for the secure es- tablishment of their civil interests. He faithfully pui-sued his course with honest animation, amidst man) perplexities, which would have ballled common minds, but which his prudence and energy of character enabled him to siurmount. — Mr. Hawley and ■ins predecessors • ere supported principally from tlie funds of the So 'ety in England for propagating tlie gospel, under ihe agc.icy of th ir commissioners in Boston. The prescut niiseionary is set- II Ifi I V 36 llcd by llic roi|mratloii of IlarxanI rollrjjr, an iriiMerg of a fiiiul, applirahic lo tli<> ixtipoi-f!, given h\ (he la^l v\\\ (tf Mir Pcv. Dan- iKi. V\ ii.MAMH, of Lomloii, ill tln' early part of llie last rciiliiry. Mr. ("ihIi liaH alto in cliai'};(; a htiiuli frttleiiii-iil of liidiaiiK at licr- liiiX I'oikL, brUccii l'l)iiioiit)i and Satulvicli. IliH eHtubllHlitiieiit comn'J'iiccs jiii.|)ii"«-H, uiul wv muj rluriHli n fii- voiirable liopc. tiiat llu; iM'iicvolciit vicuH of the lilx-ral donor, Mr. WillianiH, and of those wlio have tlie nian.igement of his bequest, will be accomi»lishcd." Slockhrhfgc tinHamt. The Society rontimu'8 to inaintaiii a miPbion anioiij? thene In- diaim at Now Siockbridge. iVothiiig material appears to have occurred of late, if mc except tlie expreoBioii of jealorsieH on tho part of some of the tribe, in regard to (luir lands ; a subject, which, 60 far as it is likely to affect the mission, will receive the attention of the Society. IMr. Sehoeant, in ailditiou to his salary, receives one hundred dollars for the maintenance of two Indian fcIiooIs ; and tliirty tlollars have be(;n applied, tliis 3 car, to the purchase of books for the uee of tills niissiou. Narragansetn. The Society reappointed the Ilev. Mr. Co\ to a mission of three months in Uhode Island, with particular reference to the relicks of these Indians, at Charlestown. The prepossebsions of these people in favour of their ov.n modes of worsliip. to the e>clu- rion. or limited indulgence, of divine service by regularly ordained miuisters, of such especially, as are even suspected ot receiving compensation tor their laboui's, and the vicious habits of the prin- cipal part of the adults, induced tlic missionary to " think the great- est prospect of good must be with tlie young." Accordiuglj, after pving previous notice of the design, he opened a school for their instruction on the eleventh of June last, to be kept five days in a week. From about ten to seventeen attended the school. Some of the Indians being apprehensive that they should lose the benefit de- signetl for them by the Society, a meeting of the tribe was held on the first of July, the result of which was highly favorable to the in- terests of the mission. The missionary made a prayer, and gave a ohort scriptural illustration of some truths, pertaining to chrit^tian ministers, which arrested attention, and called forth some expres- sions of approbation. The major part of the Indians in town, it was said, Avere present ; and they unauimoucly manifested their deske that his instructions ol their children might continue, and th- • he might preach to them, when they were not su])p]ied by thems-.'lves. The} also signed a petition, which had been previously signed by the Council, to that purpose. " It was evident that they had the [>'" a fiiiiij, V. Dan- at Ihr. hJiHlinKiiit fHtili n fa. Jiior, Mr. fJtquegt, It Ik'hc In- to liavp '-« oil tlio 'ti Mliicli, ;>ttPiifion iTccivcs fflioolH ; i< liatc of isBi'on of f; to tlie ^mons of fie e>cJu- ord.iincd ■eceiviiig ihe prin- •e great- ly . after or their !»} s in a Some of aefit de- lield on the in- gave a irit^tian J>[)res- it was denire '•■ • he '.'Ives, ^d by id the 37 p*''|»tc«l rr^ard for Ihr rchool. Sonic whltr people wlnhcd to soiid llH'ir cJiiidnri : Inil iliis nxctinp «1 the iHIm- wen- uiianimouiilf ngaiiiBt tlir :iinn «»r wliitc rhildnu. The) Mtie willing that blarkis not of the tiihe, Hhouhl alHiiii. I ; diKtrihnted uhal books were h:l't on huiui ; and took, his leave of them. " Of the in Lord's dayp," sayn the Journal, "since my coming among the Indians, the minintry of the vord hah been attended villi them »o much as there w as any prospect of doing iheni go(Mj." 1'ln; Hchool was kept five days in the week ; and 17 coloured peo- ple (of the tribe) attended at difl'ercnt times. Some wliiteK also vere taught several day». " Those, who moM generally attei.ded, were about one half of nearly adult age, and made gciod Improve- ment. Some can rea" have Ins. The [iitment of ^ecreta- d at jet, •f gofpel. f did not s, to the «, at the t contein- ready to to serve, 'Jr. Saw- npted to i at they er they id Mieir ir chiefs having tsiug to ;ar, to- r 0-om ated at 39 Ashtabula in May last, it appears, that the prospect of the succew of that mission is far loss favoiuahle than it was home time ^iiiee. *' Tlie Western Misfiionary Board have ^iven up the iden of lur- nishiiig preaching to the Indians. The Interpreter has left thentj.** They have still, however, a school master for their children, " a christian character, and a licensed preacher of the presbvterian oi^ der.' Mr. Badger encourages the expectation, that he Avill finidi the History of the Mission, parts of wliicli have already appeared in the publick Journals. " It is generally thought," he obficrves, " a Tiost di bap- tisms. " There has been a very general attention to meeting," says the missionary, " in almost all the places that I visited. The people aie in a a very destitute state in this region, in consc'^mence of divisionii and inability. There is not a 8ettle4l minister w ithin thirty miles, of our order." A committee, ' by order of the church, aud at the request of the Society," in Temple, have expreseed a very grateful sense of the benefit the-v have received in the aid af- forded them by the -lociety, for the settlement of the gospel among them ; and solicited further assistance. Mr. Smith has according- ly been reappointed to a tuissioa of three moathcs tliis year, at Temple and the vicinity. The Rev. Mr. Lovejov performed, the last year, a mission of four months at Vassalborough and the vicinity. He preached 7 sabbaths at SedgAvick, 1 at ITnity. ~ at Fairfax, 1 at Clinton and the remainder at Vassalborough- During tlie mission, he preach- ed for the Societv 65 times, attended \ meetings fw |)rayer and re- ligious conversation, and catechised children 9 times. In the courne of the last year 3 persons have been admitted to the eommuoioa of the church at Vassalborough, and 8 cUildreu bap- 40 tizetl there, and 2 at Faiifax. " A few persons have been incor- porated at Vassalborough, and organized into a religious Society. They have voted to raise money in the same proportion for preacli- ing, as heretofore they have raised by bubscription." Mr. 1 jove- joy has been appointed to a mission of three months, this year, in the same region, but with particular reference to Fairfield, which is judged to be "a more favourable stand at present than Sedgwick." The Rev. Mr. May performed a mission of three months, the last year, at Brown ville and its vicinity. He preaclied 82 ser- mons, attended 2 funerals, one advisory council, one church meet- ing, visited a school twice, visited many families, beside the time expended in preparation for the sabbath. On the 16tli of Septem- ber, Mr. May administered baptism to an infant child at Brown- ville ; which Avas the fu^t administration of this ordinance in that township. At another time he visited a sick man, who " gladly received a Bible fi-om the Society, being poor and destitute of an entire copy of the sacred oracles." " The success of the mission hitherto has been such as may commonly be supposed to be ob- tained where there is no special attention to religion. In Brown- ville," says Mr. May in his Journal, " I have generally counted from 20 to 30 hearers, and nearly the same number in the Sebec and Williamsburg settlement. The number of hearers however has been on the increase since I came among them, as is also the emigration into the townships. The sabbath is much less profaned by some ; it is more generally respected by the people at large than in times past. The minds of many are better furnished with religious truths which have a salutaiy influence upon the publick morals. On the Avhole, I see nothing to forbid the hope that the good which the Society aim at in supporting the mission may not be yet more fully obtained. It seems to be the order of heaven, that those who sow precious seed should oftentimes wait long for full returns." :. t ..■ . > . » • -j.? The Rev. Mr. Sawyer performed a mission of three months, at Lincoit .;ton, Elkinston, and the vicinity. He commenced his missionary labours 1 3 October, 1810, and closed them in January following. They appear to have been grai fully received. " The situation of the church and people in those infant plantations evi- dently calls for missionary aid. The Lord's supper, as appears by the missionary's Journal, had been administered but once " here iu the wilderness." In January Mr. Sawyer, with the Rev. Mr. May of Bi-ownville, and Rev. Mr. Blood ol Buckston, formed a council, at the request of the church and ueople at I^incolnston, to advise to the best means to be adopted to have the gospel statedly preached among them. "The council exhibited their .I".. 41 liicor- )ciety. reach- year, irfield, it thau advice in Miitliig, and left these plantations, apparently raucU pleased with what the} had witiiensed in the church and people, and with the hojjel'iil prosi)cct of good to them. The situation of this little church and these infant settlements," observes (he mis- sionary, " in the centre between Penobscot and Kennebcck rivers, in a very fertile part of the countrj, appears very iiileresliiig. and I greatly rejoice that the Soci( ty has granted such timely and bt- ncvoleut assistance." Mr. Samuel Sf,av\t-l, of Bath, has performed a mission of six ^veeks, for tiie Society, in the vicinity of Pownal. He preached at Litchfield, at Bowdoin, at Hebron, at Waldoborough, at 1 oland, and at Sumner. At Litchfield, " those avIio wish for congregation- al preaching have heretofore been very destitute." At Hebron there " is a small congregational church, in a very destitute, and, in some sense, a divided situation. They have a meeting house in building. I visited a school," says the missionary, " in a tolerable state of improvement, but veiy destitute of school books, esi)ecially Bibles and Psalters. Of thc,',c I presented them with a number from your bounty." In a part of Waldo- borough, called Dutch Neck, he preached to a large collection of persons, principally Germans. " They were veiy atten- tive, and desired him to come again. They appeared to under- stand very well, lljougli there was but o.ae man in that section of the t^wn, wlio Avas not a German, and no man ever preaclied there in the English language before him." Poland "is in a destitute, broken, divided situation." A few Psalters were left here for the use of scliools '^.c. In the whole period the mi«sIonary preached 41 sermons, made about 57 family visits, attended 2 conferences, and visited 1 school and 2 sick persons. Mr. Ephraim Abbot began his mJfesionaiy labours in Robbins- tOAvn., Calais, Denneysville, and r-everal neighbouring townships, .Tuly 9,1811. In the above to uns he was receiAed very cordially. In some of the neighlwnring townships Mr. A. found the state of religion and learning very loAV. They have no meetings, no schools, and it may almost be said no religious books. The moral and religious advantages of these people are apparently much less than those of the Indians in this neighhourliood. The Indians Lave a priest residing Avith tliem a coiisidenble part of the year; and Avhen they have not a priest, they uniformly assemble at the regular seasons of devotion, and conduct their worship Avith gieat seriousness, decency, and solenmity. The Indians have freijuent intercourse with civilized society, and many of them are honest, temperate, and chaste in their conversatiosi. But the inhab'tants of some of these townshi;)s are almost entirely excluded from the sight of society. They have no regular seasons for religious Avor- F, 42 4,; V n 'i Vt,:'»> V ?■'■ 'It h ship. C'hilflrcn have been born here, and liave grown almost to maturity, w ho cannot read a vord in the Bible. That intemper- ance should prevail in such a state of society, we cannot wonder. The establisliment of good schoolr. w ould do much tOM avds shedding light over this dark region. The inhabitants are poor, but are willing to do something, if aided by the Society; and an offer has been made by an agent of the proprietors to build school-houses in two of the townships, if the Society will furnish books, and jirovide and in part support an iostructer. Mr. Cook, preceptor of the academy in Frj'ehurg, preached fifteen sabbaths agreeably to his appointment, in Hiiam, Lovel, Chatham (N. H.), Bartlett (N. II.), and Denmark, towns in the vicinit}- of Frj ebiirg. " Hiram contains fifty families. The}' have no place for publick worehip. The meeting was in a poor school- house. About fifty people were present, who appeared devout and attentive." The missionary afterwards found a gi-eater audience in this place. Numbers were present from the adjacent towns. A third time he preached there " to a numerous assembly, who ap- peared devotional, and very grateful for the benefits bestowed on them." At Lovel Mr- Cook preached to an audience of at least one hundred people. The inhabitants of the toAvn are, with few exceptions, congregationalists, and have a church regidarl) organ- ized." At Chatham he " preached in a private Iioiise to about thirty people. About thirty families, of diHerent denominations, livejn the town. To encourage this people to do something for themselves," the missionaiy " ot'Tered them a sabbath's additional preaching, provided they would have and support a good singing school one month ; ^^ Inch they agieed to." He afterward preach- ed here to " an audience of forty ; found the singing in a state of improvement, and a school for cultivating music, under the care of a capable, well informed master." At Bartlett he " preached to an audience of about two hundred people, who were attentive and devout." At Denmark he " had an aud'ence of about fifty, men, women, and children, \> ho m ere principally Baptists." He " met •with a kind reception at the different places he visited," and had leason to believe that his labours Mere serviceable to the cause of Christ. " The schools," in the vicinity of this missionary', " are, in general, conducted on better principles" than they were formerly : convenient houses for the piupose are building ; more regard is paid to the education and morals of the mastere ; and the literary prospect is encouraging. " Considerable money is annually ex- pended for schools and the IiighAva-" s ; but that there should ex- ist a cold indifference in regard lo the support of the gospel — that the spiritual welfare is so little thought of, is indeed a souice of melancholy to the pious mind," '{ dol mi Sod III post to tniper- loiider. edding lilt are Ifer has If es in krovide \i 43 RHODE ISLAND. The mission of the Rev. Mr, Coe, this } ear, having been pecii liarJv designed for the benefit of the Narraja;antet Indians, iie per- formed but little service among the white inhabitants. He preach- ed, however, at Charlestown, to an audience of white people; in a scliool-liouse at Richmond, and at Mumford's Mills in the vicini- ty ; at South Kingston, and at Tower Hill in that town. He ex- pounded the scriptures ; gave religious counsel to individuals and families ; and distributed the Society's books. His aeco'uit of the state of religion among the white inhabitants, in the region hich he visited, gives an allecting confirmation of the prefpding accounts in our Journals, and shows the extreme want of the labours of in- telligent, discreet, and pious niissionarief . NEW YORK. The Rev. Mr. Oliver h."'-; performed a mission of two months in the north Avest part of this b!ate. During his mission he travel- led upwards of 1 lOO milc^; ; preached 49 times ; baptized 2 chil- dren ; attended 4 conference meetings ; visited 5 sick personu ; attended 2 funerals ; was moderator at 2 church meetings ; visited 77 families; and distributed a large number of religious books. " These books were gratefuU)- received by poor people and chil- dren ; and their thanks, 1 the missionary, are returned to the be- nevolent donors.* "Mai; of these books are gone more than three hundred miles beyond the Genesee river, Avhere moral instruction is very much Avanted. For religious worship the people assembled as well as could be expected. They appeared to be grateful to the Society for granting them religion* instniction, and return their tlianks, with a desire foi* more missionary service. Should the Soci- ety w ish to send missionaries into the State of New York, there is such an immense tract of missionary" ground, that it is difficult to de- termine where it is best for them to be sent. After you pass the north river at Hudson, between the North and South Turnpikes, and south of the South Turnpike, clear on to the Genesee river, and north of the North Turnpike completely on to said river, there is room for missionaiy semces. And after you paPs the Genesee river for 300 miles west, peo|)le have moved on. But it is of importance that Societies should be sup])lied this hide of the river ; for those be- yond vili take their complexion from tue conduct of well estal)- iished Societies this way." The Society, at its annual meeting in May last, granted 25 dollars to the Maine Missionary Society, for tlie encouragement of Mr. Chapin's settlement at I'ownal ; 50 dollars to the Pitcataqua •The priiK'ipal donors were William Piiii.r.jps, Esq Presidcnf of the Society, his Houor W nil am fiRAV, Tsii. Lieut. Ciovernor, ami Mr. Henuy Gka v. "- « i ^v^ I 1 44 i\li?Hionaiy Society, for tlir bciurit ol'llie Islo of Plioals; and !;>() dollar!- for hooks.' Tlir books have been purchased, and sent to the District of IMainc for distribution. Amount of stock on intcreBt, May, lUl 1 Probable income KTATF.MKNT 01' THE FUNDS. . . S2J^"I2, 1.". Donation of William I'hililps, Esq. received 3t!i. Septem- ber to be cvpended the c.irrent ) ear . 500, 00 Donation of Doct. llohoke of Salem . 10, (»(> IC?" Included in tliis amount is fhe sum of ?>or.l)1. !>{>. the do- nation of John Alford. Esq. The inlcK'st of wliicli. l.-eing $507, 50, is appropriated to the use of tlie Indians exclusiveis. Cash on hand, $152,70 Mission.irlcs. Rev. ITezekiali May David Smith, MlSSIOXARtES FOR A.D. 181 1. I'laccs of Abode. Broviivilh;, Temple, Edmund Eastman, Luncrick, \'ar.salboro'' Andovev, Hath, INewmarket, N. Stockb. Daniel Lovejoy, Mr. Ephraim Abbot, Mr. Samuel Seuall, Rev. Curtis Coe, ■ John Sergeant, Locations. INIoiitlis V'icinit; of Biowiivillc II Temple and Vi > ■ J*^^- ^'m-r !l to :3, r,\ 00 ()(» (lo- •fJlIC 70 :«'^-':^. 3*4 .^-t :»iW»f?(v;t*> *v n^ .>. .Si^H. , r*')^ k \' r*!' * .r\ > * V -■Vij Vlf »v- '•^ Sf' » « *.i 'I'^JI ^ A > r V 1 / ^ t> ^ > .1 iK '^T^^ J' ' ^v •5 ^ ,•*» j.j-1