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municate to you, you will fill continue to read with pleasure, hope and trembling. Poor worms as we are, our ftrength weakness, and our means very inadequate and infufficieut; yet if the Lord will work, none can let it: the jaw-bone or the ram's-horn will turn to flight the armies of the aliens, and caft down the ftrongest holds of error, ignorance, impuri

then, Brethren, with us to the help of the Lord against the mighty!

Our two great ftations for miffionary labor continue to afford us increafing hope of stability and ufefulness.

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From our Brethren at OTAHEITE, we have lately received the pleafing account of their perfect health and fafety, and the high refpect in which they are held by the chiefs and natives. The difficulties they have met in the acquifition of the language, we hope, are nearly furmounted; and the fears they have at times

this affociated hoft, avowing themfelves confeffors of the crofs, and determined to know nothing but Jefus Chrift, and him crucified, without brightening with the hope, that, amidst the blafphemy and impiety which lift up their banners for tokens, the kingdoms of the world fhall, ere long, become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chrift; for the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken it.ty, impiety and infidelity. Come Thus clofed our eighth annual affembly. The ftandard-bearers are difperfed, and returned to their various congregations, with fresh vigor to fulfil the vows of the Lord which are upon them, and to spend and be spent in the fervice of immortal fouls, bought by the blood of the Lamb. Their report to us is greatly encouraging throughout the land-the number which are continually rifing up to teftify the gofpel of the grace of God, is furprifing, when compared with the days within our remembrance. New and numerous congregations have within a few years been formed in hun-been exercifed with from the apdreds of places, and thofe eftab-prehenfion of the turbulence of lifhed filled with inereafing and fome Chiefs, difcontented with attentive auditories. Whilft we our friend Pomarrec's dominion, thus labor and ftrive together in are effectually removed by the arour prayers, that we may continue rival of a veffel, fent from Goverincreafing with the increase of nor King at Port Jackson, and God, and every dark corner of fhortly after by the more imporour land be bleft with the light tant reinforcement from the Royal and life of gofpel grace, furely all Admiral. Captain Wilfon's adthe angels in heaven rejoice at the vices are juft received from Canfight, and every good man upon ton, informing us that he had earth cannot but pray Thy landed in health and fafety all the kingdom come! Lord haften it Miffionaries entrusted to his care, in our day!" who were received with cordial welcome by their Brethren and the Chiefs, and that their journals and difpatches he hopes to deliver himfelf foon after this letter has reached us. He is daily expected with the Eaft-India fleet; and we carnettly look for the vaft body

Our miffionary efforts abroad afford us great matter for thankfulness. They are indeed at prefent but as fparks; yet how great a matter can a little five kindle? The fhort sketch of particulars which we have been used to coit,

of intelligence, which we truft will gladden our hearts, and be communicated with joy to yours. To the Miffionaries before on the ifland, the Royal Admiral hath now added eight others from England, and two have joined them from Port Jackfon. As all our advices affure us that the way was never fo prepared for miffionary labor there, as at prefent, we truft the confidence they exprefs will not be disappointed, that the first year of the commencing century will be marked with the converfion of finners in that heathen land." The King of Huaheine, a neighboring and populous ifland, has vifited them, importuned them to fend fome of the Brethren with him, affuring them he will himfelf attend to their inftructions, and ufe his influence and authority with his fubjects to engage their attendance on, and attention to, the Miffionaries. Our Brethren being then too few to feparate, they promifed him it fhould be done as foon as more Brethren arrived to ftrengthen their hands. This happy event hath taken place, and we hope to hear that the light, diffufing thence as from a focus, will overfpread thefe, affociated iflands :then the hope delayed, and the disappointments which afflicted us fo greatly, will only tend more abundantly to mark the finger of God in the fuller accomplishment of his own purposes of grace towards the Ifles of the Sea.

The CAPE of GOOD HOPE furaishes a vafter field, more eafily acceffible, and hitherto cultivated with the most promifing hopes of fuccefs. All our foreign Brethren who have been fent to us, have been difperfed through this extenfive region. Our eminently able and zealous Dr. Vanderkemp,

after an abode of great danger among the Caffrees, and ftill greater on his return to Graff-Reinet, from fome turbulent colonifts, unwilling that the Hottentots should receive inftruction, and bear the Christian name, puts his life in his hand, and counts it not dear to himself, that he may finish his courfe with joy. Several of them, we have reafon to believe, have been converted, fome of whom are baptized in the name of the Lord Jefus. He is gone with thefe, at the particular recom mendation of the Governor, and at the request of about two hun dred of the fame nation, to form a little fettlement near Algoa-bay, where they may be removed at a diftance from the ill ufage with which they have been threatened. Dr. Vanderkemp's life and labors form an honorable display of miffionary zeal. In fome other parts of the confines, or beyond the bounds of the colony, different small parties of our Brethren have penetrated, at the earnest request of the natives themselves, that they would come over and help them; and the Brethren from Holland and Germany, with fome natives of the Cape, and Englishmen from our Society, labor to spread the light of faith in thefe regions of darkness. We have just heard that, befides many feals to their miniftry in the places where they have refided by the way, their profpects are highly promifing, their reception affectionate, and the attention of the Heathen to their inftructions gives hope of happy fuccefs. Seven others are on their way, or on the point of departure from Holland, to aid the miffion already citablifhed, or to form new ones.

At the Cape, and its vicinity, the body of faithful men affociated

dence, tread in the fteps of the excellent Governor Dundas in this refpect, and encourage every ef fort that tends to ameliorate the manners of mankind, to introduce principles of godliness into the hearts of men, and in every place to make them thankful for the protection, and obedient to the authority of magtrates; engaging within the bounds of the colony more confcientious obedience, and beyond them, among the Heathen, infufing a spirit of peace and civilization, that shall foften down the favage manners into a happier fyftem of order and culti vation.-Thefe being the objects of our inftitution, as we are con fcious we deferve, fo we doubt not we fhall obtain, the approbation and countenance of the pow

with us for the miffionary work is
greatly increased, as is the num-
ber of laborers, and the auditory
of flaves, fome thousands of whom
attend the miniftry of the word,
and many are faid to be truly con-
verted to God our Saviour, by his
fpirit working mightily. From
thefe we hope to procure farther
means of diffufing the gofpel
grace, by felecting the beft in-
formed, and moft approved for fi-
delity and exemplarinefs of con.
duct, and at no great distance of
time to redeem them from captiv-
ity, and fend them back to their
own countrymen of Madagascar
and Mofambique with fome of your
Brethren and ours, to carry the
glad tidings of falvation to their
feveral nations, and to behold the
greateft good refulting from one
of the greatest evils, flavery, over-ers that are.
ruled by the providence and grace
of God for his own glory.

A fuller detail of circumftances will be found in our dispatches In the vicinity of the Cape it communicated at large in the Egladdens us to report the exten- vangelical Magazine. We have five fpread of the gofpel at Roo- refolved alfo to give periodically a dezand and its neighborhood, particular and explicit view of our chiefly by the labors of the excel-miffionary work, as materials shall lent Mr. Vols and others; under arife. him is one of our Brethren as a teacher and catechift, and others folicited from Holland are ready to enter the miffionary vineyard. The change of government which the peace has made, will, we truft, make no change in the foftering hand which has been, ftretched out to encourage thefe philanthropic labors. English or Dutch, we have one Lord, one faith, one baptifm. The kingdom of Chrift is not of this world, meddles not with its rule or politics, but is of the most effential fervice to the peace and profperity of every You will fuppofe we met not country, whoever are its govern- without new plans and purposes ors, or whatever the form of their for the extenfion of the Redeemadministration. The worthy Gov-er's kingdom, in addition to the crnor Janfen will, we have confi- fupport and enlargement of the

In a variety of other places, individuals of our body have gone forth to make an effay, at Newfoundland, Canada, in the Eaft, at Port Jackfon, and Norfolk Inand, from whom we receive accounts of fome bleffing on the gofpel word in every place, and of the falt of grace caft into the infalubrious waters for their healing. The day of fmall things is not to be defpifed. A fingle corn dropped into the ground, with the divine benediction, may fill the world with fruit.

doors of entrance and utterance | ny inftances of the happy effecis already afforded of thefe the produced by them, amply reward moft prominent and first to be car- our efforts, and encourage our perried into execution was a Million feverance in extending this facile to the island of CEYLON. mode of religious instruction.

The rifing generation attracts peculiar attention. The number of fchools erected, the immenfe numbers of children under tuition, and in very many of them the gra tuitous zeal of their inftructors, promise the most beneficial confequences. The principles of true Chriftianity cannot but have the moft powerful tendency to produce truth and godlinefs in the conduct. Vain must be every attempt to ameliorate the manners of mankind, where the only ener

Upwards of one hundred and fifty thousand who bear the Chriftian name, and profefs the proteftant faith, are faid to be fpread through Jaffnapatam chiefly, and fome other diftricts of that ifland, efpecially at Columbo, Punto Golle, and Trincomalé. We are very defrous to obtain for them a zealous miniftry, and to endeavor to spread more diffufively among the Ceylonefe Heathen the unfearchable riches of Christ. As we have but one object, the glory of God in the falvation of his re-getic fource of true morality, the deemed, we trust the means will be foon furnified for our first efforts, and the favor of our government further the attempts we wish to make. We are feeking men of a mifliozary spirit, and efpecially fome who are malters of the Dutch language, and hope to make a beginning in the courfe of the prefent

year.

love of God our Saviour, is not inculcated on the confcience. Bleffed be his name! we could already fill volumes with the happy experience of the living and the dying teftimonies of the little ones departing with joy to the Lamb's bofom.

The affociations formed among the faithful Miffionaries in particular districts, for fpreading the knowledge of Chrift, and fending forth certain chofen men to preach in a variety of directions,-and the numbers in England, Scotland, and Ireland, who travel about under the fuperintendance of Societies established in the feveral king

An opening, fuggefted by an American friend, into a part of America yet unattempted to be vifited by any miffionary laborer, is under confideration, and will, if practicable, engage our attention. We are longing to make manifeft the favour of the Redeemer's grace in every place. May God the Ho-doms for the more general diffuly Ghoft give the preparation of fion of gofpel truth, have produc the heart, and direct us to the ed the moft bleffed effects in thoumost effectual methods of proce- fands and ten thousands; and dure! Without him we can do under the happy toleration of this nothing. favored land, thefe labors of love, The diffufion of divine know- though they awaken the enmity ledge, by means of the Religious of many, continue increafingly fucTract Society, proceeds on a very cefsful, and promife to fill the face enlarged fcale. Hundreds of thou- of our Zion with fruit, which fhall, fands are difperfed through all through Jefus Chrift, be to the parts of the nation, and fent to A-praife and glory of God. inerica and the colonies; and ma- Among the established clergy

of the Church of England, a fociety has been also formed for the exprefs purpose of miffionary labors in Africa and the Eaft: this is their fecond year of public affembling. Their numbers and refpectability, as well as the purity of their doctrine, and zeal in their feveral fpheres of labor, promise great usefulness.

Your communications have been highly grateful to us, which conveyed information of the rifing flame of love and zeal among you : if ours, as you fay, have provoked very many, Oh, that it may burn brighter and ftronger unto the perfect day! We wish to obtain more blessed intelligence of you and from you, and mutually to receive and give the word of exhortation. There is need of greater union of heart and hands in all lands among real Chriftians; their enemies live, and are mighty, and bear a tyrannous hate againft them; but the Lord of Hofts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge! "Awake then, awake; put on ftrength, O Arm of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, as in the generations of old! Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon ? Art thou not it that hath dried

not afhamed of the gospel of Chrift

exhibiting in your lives and labors a conduct which shall confound, if it doth not convince, a world that lieth in wickedness. Continue with us befieging the Throne of Grace, humbly, yet confidently expecting that we fhall be made more than conquerors through him that hath loved us. His prefence and power, we hope, will be more abundantly displayed in your congregations and our own, than ever yet we have seen! So, when our God fhall have accomplished the number of his elect, and haftened his kingdom, if we never meet in the flesh, we fhall ftand before his prefence with exceeding joy, and be one fold, under one Divine Shepherd!

Brethren, to that great day we wish to direct your views, as our own, looking unto Jefus, waiting, for and hafting to the moment of his appearing and glory, when caught up to meet him in the clouds, we fhall be for ever with our Lord, and furround his throne with never-ending praifes.

No. 4.

Report to the London Miffionary
Society, concerning the fate of
Religion in France.
THE members compofing

the deputation formed by the Directors of the Miffionary Society, for the purpofe of vifit. ing France, in order to the publication of the New Teftament, and the essay on its divine author

up the fea, the waters of the great deep, that hath made the depths of the fea a way for the ranfomed to pafs over? And is His hand at prefent fhortened that he cannot fave? Or his car heavy that he cannot hear?" Can he not with equal facility caft down the Dagon of intolerant antichrist, and dry up the fwelling floods of un-ity*; and also to procure fuch ingodlinefs that have threatened to deluge the earth? In your place and Iltation, Brethren, quit yourfelves like men, be strong. In open profeffion daring to avow yourfelves on the Lord's fide, and VOL. III. No. 11.

An Effay on the truth and divinity of the Scriptures, by Mr. Bogue of Gofport, England. The Editors have not feen this Effay, but underftand it is to be a concife, plain ftatement of the evidences in proof of divine revelation. Fff

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