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In compliance with the above request, the Confociation proceeded to examine Mr. Woodward, and gaining full fatisfaction as to his qualifications for the ministry, and his views in entering on the work, unanimously voted to ordain him as an Evangelift.

Voted, That the ordination folemnity be attended to, to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock; and that the feveral parts of the public fervice be performed by the following perfons, The Rev. Abel Flint, to read the neceffary papers; the Rev. Nathan Perkins, D. D. to make the introductory prayer; the Rev. Jofeph Washburn to preach the fermon; the Rev. Nehemiah Prudden to make the confecrating prayer; the Rev. Aaron Church to give the charge; the Rev. David McClure to give the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Nathan Strong, D. D. to make the concluding prayer.

On Wednesday Sept. 29th, The Rev. James W. Woodward, in pursuance of the above vote, was folemnly confecrated to the work of an Evangelist. Certified by

The addrefs to the candidate, Mr. Washburn, at the request of the Editors, has communicated for the Magazine, and it is here fubjoined.

DEAR BROTHER,

THE fituation in which you this day ftand, is interefting and folemn. The King of Zion is now present in the inftituted authorities of his church; before whom you have prefented yourfelf to receive commiffion, according to divine inflitution, to preach the gofpel, and difpenfe the myfteries of the kingdom of God, to perifhing finners. The eye of God is upon you-He difcerns all your views--all your motives in thus prefenting yourself. The folemn scene is also witnessed by men and angels; and your or dination vows, now to be made, in this facred house, will be regiftered in Heaven. May the Lord fupport you in the folemn tranfaction-enable you to be deeply humble, and fincerely, cheerfully, and unrefervedly, to devote yourself to the important work to which you are called!

The fubject, my Brother, which we have been contemplating, must have interested your feelings, and fuggefted important thoughts, applicable to your fituation in view of the work before you. It must have fuggefted that the work which you defire, is a good work, and honorable. To be commiffioned to carry the light of life to the ignorant and benighted

ABEL FLINT, Regifter of the Confociation. Mr. Wafbburn preached a fermon well adapted to the occafion from Pfalm viii. 2. The object of the discourse was to how the unpromising fituation of the church with respect to their enemies, as viewed by aneye of fenfe; -the ground of confidence we have that tho weak and impotent as babes, they fhall finally prevail; and to point out fome of the principal ways in which they have been, and will ftill be enabled to withstand temptation or oppofi-way be inftrumental in the hand of tion, and fill the enemy.

to preach good tidings to the meck-to bind up the broken hearted-to proclaim liberty to the miferable captives of Satan, and the opening of the prifon to them that are bound, and in this

God, to ftill the enemy and aven

ger, how good the work: How honorable the employment! You will doubtless, in this view, adopt, with humility and thankfulness, the words of the apoftle, "unto me, who am lefs than the leaft of all faints, in this grace given, that I fhould preach among the Gentiles, the unfearchable riches of Chrift."

gefted by our fubject, as incum. bent on Chriftians, to be peculiarly incumbent on you. See to it, therefore, in the first place, that you be much in prayer. You will not have great fuccefs in oppofing the enemy, nor in comforting and edifying God's children; nor will you have comfort and peace in your own mind under trials, unless you are a man of prayer.

But the work, tho' good and honorable, is great and arduous. Where can you go for counsel, You must expect, in the profecu- comfort and direction, under the tion of it, to meet with peculiar trials of the minifter, and the pecu difficulties and trials. You will liar trials and more arduous labors experience oppofition from within of the miffionary, who has the and without. You will be tried, care of many churches and the and oppofed by the remaining oppofition of many and peculiar corruptions of your own heart enemies-where can you go but by the paffions and prejudices of unto God? You will by your fitunreasonable men-by the allur-uation, be deprived of the counfel ing vanities, and diftracting cares of the world-by the threatening prevalence of profanity, infidelity and irreligion and by the fubtle devices and artful machinations of the grand enemy and avenger.

But be not difcouraged. Go forth in the name and ftrength of the Lord Jefus-give no place to the devil-maintain your ground as a good foldier, under the great leader and captain of our falvation. Let none of these things move you, neither count your own life dear unto you, fo that you may finish your course with joy, and the miniftry you this day receive of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the gofpel of the grace of God. At all times realize your dependance and truft only in him who is able out of the mouth of babes, to ordain strength.

Let me add, that would you hope to be accepted of God and fucceeded in your work, to be made an inftrument to ftill the enemy and avenger and build up the kingdom of God, you must view, all the duties which have been fug

and advice of your fathers and brethren in the ministry, when you may feel that they are peculiarly defirable, and needful; but you will not be deprived of the prefence of God. He will be ready to hear, if you seek to him, and to give you counfel and comfort from his word, through the teaching and influence of his Spirit. Improve therefore the precious privilege, and be much in prayer.

Be confiftent alfo in your confeffion of Chrift. Maintain a holy

walk and conversation, and pray that you may not destroy the fouls of others, nor bring a reproach upon the facred office, by a loofe and unholy life. "Let no man defpife thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in purity." Give attendance to reading

especially the word of God :That contains your inftructions, and is your principal armor. Be therefore familiar with it.

Be faithful alfo in preaching

the gospel, wherever you are cal- | you fhall be called-give you led. Declare the whole counfel ftrength according to your day

and perfect ftrength out of your mouth to fill the enemy and avenger-May the bleffing of many ready to perish, come upon you, and may you have many fouls, who shall be feals of your miniftry, and the crowns of your rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jefus. Amen.

An Addrefs to the Churches and Congregations, from the Congre gational Miffionary Society, originated in the counties of Berkfhire and Columbia.

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of God. Keep back nothing.Fear not to let the whole character of God come out to view. Fear not to let the real character, and entire dependence of finners be known. While you choose acceptable words, carefully avoid that temporizing spirit which would conceal the fearching and humbling truths of the gospel under fpecious coverings. How many, alas! in this way, handle the word of God deceitfully! The words of fuch ftill not the enemy, neither do they difpleafe, because they ftrike not at the foundations of his kingdom. Remember, Brother, to guard you from unfaithfulnefs in this refpect, to which there are fo many temptations from the fear of man, and a regard to popular applaufe-remember that you are a dying man, and that you preach to dying men. Shortly you must stand at the bar of God, and give an account of your ftewardship. Remember that there will probably, be many unfaithful minifters at the left hand of Chrift at his appearing, whofe guilt will be awfully aggravated. The blood of fouls will be required at their hands. But we hope better things of you, Brother; yea we have a charitable confidence in you. We hope and truft that the grace of God is in your Notwithstanding all difcourageheart; and that it is and will con- ments, the fociety refolved to tinue to be your prayer, that you make efforts to carry into effect may be faithful. This is the the great end which it contem prayer of God's people, this day. plated, trufting the event in the We commend you to God and hand of the head of the church. the guidance of his Spirit; and As Chrift is always pleased we will continue to commend you. with endeavors of this nature, We will remember you in our the fociety took courage, and prayers, when you fhall be gone the efforts have been fuccefsfrom us to the field of your arduous ful. Individuals and congrega labors. May the Lord be with tions have been excited to liberalyou, wherever in his Providence, ity, in contributing for the fupVOL. III. No. 5.

BRETHREN and FRIENDS, HE object which the Society has in view is no lefs than the advancement of the kingdom of Chrift in the extenfive new fettlements of our country, and among heathen nations. The profpects of fuccefs at the time of the inftitution of this Society, in the year 1798, were doubtful. The number was then fmall, confifting of about twenty minifters, and a few serious breth ren of the churches, and others benevolently disposed. They were deftitute of funds, except their own entrance money, nor had they any where to look, for pecuniary aid, but to the charity of the people.

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port of Miffionaries; and Miffionaries have been induced to undertake the arduous work, with but a bare fupport.

The Miffionaries from this fociety, have been fent chiefly to the new fettlements, lying weftward of thefe northern States. Their inftructions from the Truf tees have been, to travel from place to place; preach to fuch people as cannot obtain preaching for themfelves; confer with people, publicly and privately, on the things of religion; form churches, and adminifter the ordinances, when they judge proper; and in fine, to do every thing in their power to build up Zion.

Journals of the labors and fuccefs of the Miffionaries have been duly exhibited to the Trustees. By thefe, and by verbal information, as well as by many affectionate and grateful letters from the people in the new fettlements, it appears, that their labors have been abundant, and fuccefs encouraging. They have preached almost daily, attended many conferences, and church-meetings, adminiftered the ordinances frequently, and collected churches. It appears, that much has been done to revive family religion, and to excite attention to the duties of the Lord's day; that they have, in fome inftances, been inftrumental of promoting Special arwakenings, which have been attended with the hopeful converfion of many; by which the churches have been edified, and the hearts of Chriftians gladdened.

Encouraged by thefe pleafing confiderations, and impreffed with a fenfe of the riches of divine mercy, in fucceeding paft efforts; the fociety feel ftrong obligations to perfevere. A great and effectual door is opened, to

the weftward and elfewhere, for a difplay of the most ardent zeal for the glory of God, and the good of mankind. The territory of new fettlements in the weft, is already more extenfive, than all the old fettlements in the NewEngland States. The most of the people in that great tract are, by their circumftances, deprived of the preaching of the gospel. Their children are liable to grow up in ignorance of religion, and forgetfulness of the holy fabbath.

And even your neighbors and friends, who emigrate in middle age, are liable, gradually to lofe the religious impreffions, and the habits of ferioufnefs, which they contracted under the peculiar advantages of the older fettlements of the country. Chriftians, scattered abroad in the new country, are mourning under thefe evils; and praying the Lord of the har veft to fend forth laborers into his harveft..

The condition of thefe emigrants, confidered in a religious view, is unhappy, and calls on youtoimbibe the feelings of acom paffionate friend, and to express them by contributing a portion of your abundance, to fend Miffionaries for their inflruction and encouragement. The mite of the widow will be as acceptable to Chrift, as the abundance of the rich; and be it more or lefs that you beftow, the whole will be appropriated for the benefit of your brethren in the new fettlements, or for the benefit of the heathen.

The experience of all paft ages proves, that preachers of the gof. pel are eflential to the very exist. ence of religion. The people in our new fettlements will, doubtlefs, gradually lofe fight of the gofpel, and fink into heathenifm,.

the Atlantic.

now abroad in various parts of the world, preaching the gospel of Jefus Chrift. Poor blacks in Africa, ignorant Hottentots on the Cape of Good-Hope, and the miferable inhabitants of the Eaft-Indies and of the South Sea Islands, are hearing the gospel from the voice of Millionaries. American Miffionaries are laboring in the new fettlements, where there is continual need of a much greater number. "The harveft is plenteous and the laborers are few." Several are among the Indian tribes, and there, the field is almost boundless.

if they, for a long time, remain | have been made, on both fides of deftitute of faithful preachers. If Miffionaries are therefore, you have any regard for their fpiritual intereft; if you wish well to the nation, of which they, as well as you, are members; if you are well withers to Zion, the city of our God, exert yourselves. Your charity, if done with a Christian spirit, will be returned to you an hundred fold. Open, therefore your hearts and your hands. Is it a great thing, out of your abundance, to part with a little, for the glory of HIM, who gives you all things? Be perfuaded to do fomething, that your brethren in the wilderness, and, if poffible, even their heathen neighbors, may have a share with you in the riches of Christ.

The work which is thus begun, is a great and good work. It has taken place, as we conceive, in confequence of the late effufions of the Holy Spirit, both in Europe and America. And while God's Spirit is poured out, it is hoped, that a ftandard will be fupported againft the enemies of

The gofpel is the greatest external favor, that God ever beftowed on finful men. It curbs corrupt paffions-meliorates favage ferocity-forms men into harmonious fociety, and lays a broad foundation for peace and happi-Christ's kingdom. nefs. It exhibits a fyftem of truth, fuited to enlarge the understanding, and give pleasure to the benevolent heart. It tenders a pardon to the guilty, and points out the way to eternal life. Thofe therefore, are doing the greatest poffible kindness to their fellow men, who are using the beft means to propagate the gofpel.

In the prefent day great efforts are made to spread the knowledge of the Redeemer among mankind. More, perhaps, has been done for this purpofe, within the last five or fix years, than in half a century before. Missionary Societies have been formed in various parts of Europe, calculated for very extenfive operations. A number of focieties are lately formed in America. Liberal contributions

The great body of men confifting of Miffionaries, members of focieties, and other benefactors, are united in one caufe: The caufe is the difplay of the glory of the ever bleffed God, in the falvation of finful men.

Arife, Brethren, and come forward to the help of the Lord againft the mighty, who wish to blot out the Chriftian name. Be animated in this glorious caufe: Join with thofe who are on the Lord's fide: Open your bountiful hands, to promote the great defign: Open your hearts to embrace the gospel; and pray fervently, that the knowledge of our Saviour may fpread through all parts of our nation, through the Indian tribes, and through the world.

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