defire. But, dearest brethren, one circumstance perplexes us: we cannot do what we with. Poverty reftrains us. We have not fufficient funds to fupport the Gerinan miffionaries.

We dare not, therefore, promife much at prefent; but we facredly promife, that whatever money God thall give us, and love beftow, we will send to you for the miffionaries. We hope also, our bountiful Lord will grant us more than we can afk or think for the ufe of thefe, his fervants. Indeed we cannot doubt but we shall be able to fend you, on our parts, as much as will be neceffary, although we cannot now fpecify any large fum. We request, therefore, that you will affiit us. Antwer, dear brethren, our letter, as foon as you have had time to spread the matter before the Lord. O, that it may please him, to send out our young men into his vineyard! It would confirm the faith of many, who are fearing that our inftitution will come to nothing. The number, alfo, of thofe who would willingly contribute, by their prayers and of their substance, to the work of the Lord, will be wonderfully increafed. And our brother Jæn cke has other pertons in his eye, whom he will immediately begin to instruct. A&t, therefore, beloved brethren, as the love of Jesus shall direct you—to him alone we are under innumerable obligations for every breath we draw. What an infinite honour that fuch unworthy creatures fhould be permitted to confecrate ourselves to the fervice of fuch a Lord. May he preferve and ftrengthen our faith in the time of general apoitacy! He will be fa thful to his promifes! Amen. Hallelujah! Farewell, dearly beloved brethren ! Ceafe not to love your most unworthy, but very affectionate, Brother,

G. S. STRACKE.

Hatfbaufen, near Aurick, in Eaft-Friefland, March 6, 1801.

AFRICA.

Letters have been received from Mr. Schoonberg and Mr. Slotfboo, Secretary to the South African Miffionary Society at the Cape, dated Dec. 22 and 23, 1800. Thefe letters ftate, that brother Kicherer had been tempted with the offer of three parochial livings, but that "the virtue of the blood of the cross" had enabled him to refift." Brothers Kicherer and Cramer, have agreed to go eight day's journey farther to the great river, where there are near a thoufand baftard Hottentots, Couranas, Caffrees and Boschemen, who refide together, and who have, at five different times, with great earneftnefs folicited inftruction. Brother Anderfon will join brother Edwards in carrying on the work among the Bofchemen, The brothers, Lingen and Read, still mean to continue labouring in the Wagemakers Valley; the latter of whom, having been attacked by a fevere illness, has returned to the Cape for the recovery of his health, which improves daily. Brother Tromp perfeveres with indefatigable zeal to instruct both Chrif, tians and Heathen. But the way to Dr. Vanderkemp is ftill clofed up.

By thefe letters it appears allo, that through the activity of the South African Society, which confifts of 229 members, in the month of Auguß laft no less than 1900 heathen had already received inftruction, and fince that time their number has contiderably increased. The greater part of thefe ftill remain hardened and obftinate in their fins; many, however, en quire with many tears for the Lord Jefus, and fome feel the fanctifying power of his grace.

The above letter inclofes two from baftard Hottentots, with which we doubt not that the friends of the Society, and of the Gospel, will be gratified. The work of God is evidently begun among this poor people.

Letter

DEAR SIRS,

Letter of a Baftard Ho tentot.
[Tranflated from the Dutch.]

I can say no other now, than that I thank you, dear Sirs, that you have sent to us our dear Mr. Kicherer, he is fuch a dear teacher: he is always the whole day ready to inftruct us, and talks continually of that dear Lord Jefus, and that is fo pleafing. Now how good is that dear Lord to us, to lend his children to fuch blind heathens, who never have known the leaft thing about the dear Jefus, and who have done nothing,. but continually to fin against him; and to let them tell us, that we shall go to Heil, if the dear Lord Jefus does not fave us. I have now feen what a great finner I ain. All the bushes in the field are not fo numerous as all my fins. As I lay down to fleep, I grow fo frightened that I muft get up at once and pray to my dear Lord Jefus, that he will forgive my fins. O! was there not the dear Lord Jelus, I should not know now where to go to; I know no other place now, than to that dear Lord Jefus. I cannot bear to talk about any thing elfe than of him. It is only of Jefus people must speak to me. One of my fons is become the fame: he alfo will die for the Lord Jefus. O! the dear Lord Jefus, how good is he to me that he has from fo far fent to me that dear man to tell me, that I must be loit, if the blood of that dear Lord Jefus does not purify me, I cannot live now with ut that dear Jefus, and O! how I wish that all mankind would fall in love with that dear Jefus. Now farewell, dear Sirs, I with you may always love the dear Jefus; from him every thing is to be had. (Signed) JAN. Bastard Hottentot,

DEAR SIRS,

Letter of another Baftard Hottentot.

[Tranflated from the Dutch.]

I

Who have let the dear Mr. Kicherer come to us, I thank you a thousand times. He teaches us the whole day, and tells us of nothing else, than about the dear Lord Jefus and his blood. ɗ! how happy is a man who knows the doctrine of Jefus in his heart, who has fhed his blood for such great finners; and how good is that Lord Jefus, who calls fuch great finners, and will thew them fuch mercy, as that his blood will purify their unclean fouls, if they will turn to him; O I am to afhamed and forry, that I never have known that dear Lord Jefus before; and that I cannot ftand before him, if his blood does not wash away my fins. I fay, thanks to you again, dear Sirs! that you have fent fach a dear man to us. came to him about a year ago. He told us, that we were great finners, and gave us the book of our dear Lord Jefus, which he would teach us. I would fcarce believe it. But now I feel, that my fins are more than the hairs of my head. O! they are 100 great. Yea! they are more in nomber than all the grains of fand; but our dear teacher tells us, that, if we feek the Lord Jefus, we fhall find, that his blood is fo powerful in our hearts, as to prevail over the inclination to fin; and that, I feel, is the truth, for I find it nowhere elfe better, than with him. I cannot be longer without that dear Lord Jefus ; therefore, I run all the day to beg of him to teach me, not only in any head, but in my heart. It is fo lovely, when he teaches me, how poor I was, and how rich the blood of Jefus makes me, poor finner that I am! I leave not off begging the dear Lord Jefus, who becomes daily more the master of my heart, that thofe ugly fins may not yex me fo much, and take me from the dear Lord Jetus; and, if he does not, I apply the more earnestly to him. He must help me, I love him too much, now to commit fins. O! could I throw all my fins away at once,

how

how happy fhould I be but this I cannot, unless the Lord Jefus fhall be pleated to change me. I fall not, however, leave him, until he does it. I never thought, that a man who loves the Lord Jefus, would at the fame time love the children of the Lord Jefus ; but now I alfo feel different love to them, than what I had for my father and inother. Wherever our dear teacher goes, I fhall go with him. At whatever place he comes, he teaches the people and tells them, "If men, like you, do not feek for Jefus, it never will be good with you; but if you feek him, you will be happy in the blood of the Lord Jefus, and feel, how he works in your heart, and know that it is the Lord Jefus." He is afraid of nothing. Here are wicked Bofchemen, they fay, our teacher is a Devil to them, becaufe of the things he will learn them, therefore, they will fhoot him with the arrow. Some Hottentots told us, that they who are at prefent in the mountains, will come at a time that my good teacher gives us instruction, that they will plunder the house and steal the sheep. I was afraid they should come, but my good teacher flept without a door, there being no wood to make one. He tells me not to be afraid, for that the Lord Jefus will preferve us. Now, dear Sirs, I wish you a thousand times farewell.

(Signed) KAROLUS. Baftard Hottentot.

P. S. I let you know, that I am interpreter of the Bofchemen, the language of which I understand better than the Hottentot.

I forgot to fay, that I, who am interpreter of the people, tell them how they can be helped. O! how afraid I am, left I should not be helped myfelf.

INDIA.

Letters have just been received by the Baptift Society for propagating the Gofpel among the Heathen, from their millionaries.-It has pleafed God to try them farther by the death of Mr. Fountain, who died lait Auguft at Dinajepore, aged 32, leaving a pregnant widow, to whom he had been married nine months. The other miffionaries are well, and are labouring with great diligence, though with many difcouragements. They had in September laft printed the three firft Evangelifts, and the whole New Teftament, is, probably, completed by this time. Mr. Carey's two eldest fons give hopeful evidence of a work of grace, especially Felix, who already difcovers a miffionary spirit; they talk the languages of the country with the greateft fluency, beyond what is likely to be attained by any adult perfon. There will be a new Number of the Periodical Accounts published with all fpeed-the first of the fecond volume, in which many interesting particulars will be inferted.

A letter has been received from the Rev. Mr. Forfyth, miffionary in India, dated the 5th of Auguft, 1800. He was then well in health-had made confiderable progress in the language of the country, and intended to begin a fchool for the inftruction of the natives' children. A true misfionary fpirit, and fingular difinterestedness, are evident in this letter, as in all his former correfpondence. For though he has been about three years in India, he has never put the fociety to any expence. He lives in cordial union with the Baptift brethren, whom he frequently vifits, and speaks of them in terms of the higheft efteem.

JAMAICA.

THE Edinburgh Miffionary Society have received very agreeable intelligence from their miffionary at Kington, Jamaica, where he continues to labour with much zeal, and, there is reafon to believe, with fome fuccefs among the poor negroes. He acknowledges to have received great marks of attention from the Methodist preachers, and alfo from the Rev. Mr. Rees, the minister of the parish.

AMERICA.

AMERICA.

A Letter from Dr. W. Rogers, of Philadelphia, to a friend in London, fays, "Though this metropolis, and our great cities and large towns generally are truly dead, as to the important concerns of religion; yet, bleffed be God, fome parts of the United States are experiencing the plentiful effufions of the Divine Spirit." He then inftances the large additions to many of the churches in and near Kentucky. In the lower parts of that ftate, and the state of Tenneffee, 3,000 perfons continued together from Friday till the following Wednesday, and from 90 to 100 at the different meetings appeared to be favingly converted. When God works, who can let ? Surely the wildernefs fhall blossom as the rofe!

NEWFOUNDLAND.

Our readers will recollect the designation of Mr. Rutton Morris to a miffion at this place. Since then, a very interefting letter has been received, which we should be glad to lay before our readers, but are prevented, at prefent, by the want of room. By this letter, we learn that Mr. M. failed on the 16th of March, in the brig William, which on April 1, was taken by the Le Renaird privateer, which was going to carry him into France, when on the yery point of being landed on that fhore, he was retaken by the boat of an English frigate, and brought into Plymouth, where he was waiting for another opportunity to purfue his voyage with an unabated zeal for the great object of his Miffion.

ASSOCIATIONS.

April 1. The SURRY Miffion Society held their Quarterly Meeting at the Rev. Mr. Townsend's, Bermondfey. Mr. Jackfon, of Stockwell, and Mr. Hughes, of Batter fea, engaged in prayer, as did alfo Mr. Bowden, who then read a report of the progreis made by itinerant preaching in the villages. Mr. Upton preached from Ifa, xxix. 18, 19. Mr. Townfend concluded the fervice. The next meeting of this Society was appointed to be held at Batterfea, on the firit Wednesday in June. Mr. Harper to preach the

fermon.

The DORSETSHIRE Independent Minifters, held their Half Yearly Meeting, at Dorchester, on April 8. Public worship commenced at 11 o'clock, when the Rev. W. Sedcole, preached from Eph. ii. 5. Mefirs. Rogers, Gamble, Howell, and Foxell, engaged in prayer. At 3 o'clock, the affociated minifters retired, to tranfact county bufinefs; while thofe minitters who did not belong to the county affociation engaged in pubhic worship. Mr. Tracy preached from Matt. xi. 28. and Meffrs. Williams and Denný prayed. The evening fervice began at 6 o'clock, when a fermon was delivered by Mr. B. Cracknell, founded on Jer. iii. 15. The Rev. Meffrs. Wefton, Saltren, and Lamb, exercifed in prayer.

Mr. Cracknell, being about to leave Wareham, gave in his refignation as fecretary to the affociation, and Mr. J. Lamb, of Cerne, was appointed his fucceffor.

The HERTFORDSHIRE Affociation of Minifters, was held at Hertford, April 15, when the Rev. Mr. Venner, of Ware, prayed, and Mr. Parr, of Wymondeley, preached from Rom. xiv. 17; at whole place the Dext Annual Meeting will be held.

NORTHERN EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

G. I. G. and the friends of itinerancy in general, are respectfully informed by the Northern Evangelical Society, that their pecuniary refources are now very low; owing to which, they could not accept of the labours of refpectable preacher in Scotland, who offered himself laft October. They folicit the continued fupport of the friends of the inftitution, whole

donations

donations or contributions will be thankfully received by the Rev. J. Hill, Raventionedale,-the Rev. C. Whitfield, or the Treafurer,

R. Fithwick, Eiq. Newcastle upon Tyne.

CHAPELS OPENED.

On Lord's day, March 29th, the new Chapel, GREENWICH ROAD, was opened with three formos, That in the morning by the Rev. Row. Hill, (text, Phill. ii. 16.) The afternoon by the Rev. J. Townf end (text, 1 Cor. 1. 21.) And the evening, by the Rev. John Eyre, (text, Pla. 84. 10.) Mr. Perry, and Mr. Bickerdike, both of Woolwich, read the fcriptures and engaged in prayer.

On Thursday evening, April 9, the old Chapel at RYGATE, in Surry, was opened by the Rev. Row, Hill, who preached to a crowded auditory, from Acts iii. 19. This place of worthip had gone to decay, not having been used for upwards of twenty years; but it has been lately purchased, and-a considerable fum laid out in repairs. It will be fupplied by the fu dents from Hoxton Academy, with a view to a relident minifter who may visit the furrounding villages.

The Rev. R. HILL and Mr. CALDWELL will preach two Anniversary Sernions, at Hayes, Middlefex, on Tuelday, May 5.

ORDINATIONS.:

April . The Rev. Jol. Rate (late ftudent under the Rev. Mr. Bogue) was ordained pator over the congregation of Proteftant Diffenters in Bondgate, Alnwick, Northumberland; vacant, by the removal of the Rev. John Raton to Edinburgh. The Rev. Gr. Ewing, of Glasgow, preached the preceding evening from Pfa. Ixvii. 1, 2. Mr. Aikman, of Edinburgh, began the fervice with prayer and reading, and delivered an introductory difcourfe from Ephef. v. 25. lalt claufe. Mr. J. Haldane, of Edinbin gh, afked the ufual queftions, received Mr. R's confeffion or faith, fet him apart by prayer and impofition of hands, and gave the charge. Mr. Ewing preached to the people from 1 Theff. v. 12, 13. and concluded. April 8. The Rev. William Harris (from Hoxton Academy) was fet, apart to the pastoral office, at Kington, in Surry. Mr. Hughes, of Batteriea, began with reading the fcriptures and prayer. Mr. Yockney, of Staines, gave an account of a gofpel church, afked the queftions and re ceived the confeffion of faith. Mr. Simplon (tutor) prayed the ordination prayer. Mr. Bowden, of Tocting, gave the charge from Adis ix, 15. Mr. Townend, of Rotherhithe, (formerly paftor in this place) preached to the people from 1 Theff. v. 13. and Mr. Kent, of Graveiend, concluded with prayer. Mr. Dewhirit, of Bury St. Edmond's, gave out the hymns. The Rev. Rowland Hill preached in the evening from A&ts. ix. 31.

April 15. The Rev. EBENEZER WHITE (from Hoxton Academy) was let apart to the paftoral office at Hertford. Mr. S. Burder, of St, Alban's began with prayer and reading the Scriptures: gave an account of a go fpel church, afked the questions, and received the confeffion or faith. Mr. Reynolds, of London, prayed the ordination prayer, Mr. Greatheed, of Newport Pagnel, gave the charge from Coloff. iv. 17. Mr. Clayton, of London, preached to the people from Ephef. vi. 19. Mr. Chaplin, of Bishop Stortford, gave out the hymns, and concluded with prayer.

*We are forry to be confirained to defer the OBITUARY and POETRY

to our next.

Printed by T. Gillet Salisbury Square..