fpend a part of that wealth which divine Providence has bestowed upon them. Laft winter the Rev. Solomon Morgan went on a miffion of nine weeks to the north-western part of Vermont. He preached 5o fermons, attended 6 conferences, admitted 5 perfons into churches, and converfed with many people under ferious concern of mind. To him as well as to other Miffi onaries much gratitude was ex-views with them. Many re The Rev. Alexander Gillet, into the benevolent people of the course of the year, performed a miffion of 16 weeks, in the Connecticut, for their liberal contributions for the fupport of mif ftate of Vermont. The follow-fions; to the Miffionary Soci ety; to the Board of Trustees; and to myself for my vifit and labors among them, and they begged the continuance of miffi ing is extracted from his journal : "In moft of the places where I preached, a certain folemnity appeared on the countenances of the affembly, indicating that "I could not but remark, that the fate of thofe fettlements which I vifited, is in general much bettered from what it was in my miffionary tours in the years 1797 and 1798. The good effects of miffionary exertions are clearly visible. Be'fides the late revival of religion in fundry places, a fenfe of the importance of the gospel has, within a few years, greatly increafed. The inhabitants appear 'much more fenfible of the falutary tendency of the Miffionsary Societies to reform selfish • man. "In feveral towns they are defirous of fettling ministers; and in others are prevented by an unhappy difunion in fentiment and by the influence of falfe 'teachers. Hence the manifeft 'importance of fending good, able be faved or whether they fhall per- per has been, in numerous inftanifh. Befides, this will do fuch ho- ces, adminiftered to large bodies nor to Christianity and to the fin- of Chriftians, and their hearts cerity of its profeffors, and exhibit have been made glad in the Lord. fuch a confiftency of character, as The fabbath has been fanctified otherwife could never have been in families, in congregations and done. A confcioufnefs of this, through confiderable tracts of will give to thofe who have pray- country, where otherwise it would ed, Thy kingdom come, and have been profaned and forgotten thy will be done on earth as it is had it not been for the faithful in heaven," and have employed labors of Miffionaries. The fanctheir money, labors and influence tuary of the Lord is honored, and for its advancement, a pleasure his worship devoutly attended, in life and death, which no wealth, where otherwife he would have no worldly confiderations nor en- been forgotten. The hearts of joyments could ever afford. Will many thousands have been made not this, through the merits and glad; mourners have been inmercy of the Redeemer, give a itructed, comforted and edified; luftre to their crown, and joy to the heart of the mournful widow their hearts forever in his prefence, and of the fatherlefs have been which no language can defcribe made to fing, and thanksgivings, nor heart conceive? in great abundance, have redoundFrom the accounts exhibited ined unto the name of the Lord. this and the preceding narratives, The miffionary bufinefs has now it appears, that for a term of a- obtained a confiftency and regubout ten years, the gofpel has larity, and by the incorporation of been preached, through the influ- the Trustees of the fociety, fuch ence and charity of the people of a ftability is given to it, and fuch this ftate, to the new and vacant a foundation is laid for its exfettlements forming in the wilder- tenfive future usefulness as it never nefs, through an extent of coun- before enjoyed. These circumtry larger than all New-England: ftances, with the fmiles of divine That many churches have been Providence, which have fo manigathered unto Jefus Chrift; that feftly attended the cause from its a foundation has been laid, by the commencement, the Trustees imMiffionaries, for the formation of agine, exhibit fuch motives for fuothers; and that through their la- ture charity and exertions, as will bors great additions have been powerfully influence all good peomade to feveral other churches ple, draw forth their charity into which were previoufly formed; lively and practical exercife, enthat a large number of adults have gage their fervent and united received the Chriftian faith and prayers, their harmonious and been baptized by them, befides vigorous exertions to fupport, and hundreds of children. more effectually to carry into execution, the charitable and noble defigns which they have fo happily begun. Miny. hundreds, in a judgment of rational charity, have been added unto the Lord, among whom are numbers, who once were the most bitter and violent oppofers of the gofpel, and of all the benevolent defigns of the Miffionary Society. | The facrament of the Lord's fup. JOHN TREADWELL, Chairman. January 6th, 1803. A STATEMENT OF THE FUNDS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT. No. 1. ACCOUNT of Monies contributed in the feveral Congregational Societies in the State of Conneticut, for the fupport of Miffions, on the firft Sabbath in May 1802, pursuant to a Refolve of the General Affembly of faid State, paffed May 1801. |
