ductive of good to his people, let us before-hand praife him on the account. I conclude, dearly beloved brethren, with the salutation of our prefident Bishop Reichel, and of the whole conference, as commiffioned by them. I venture to add, that all our abfent brethren, whether nearer or more distant, unite in the fame defire; affsuring you of our love and respect, our conftant prayers and brotherly attachment. 28 Aug. 1800. I am, in the name, and as the least of all, your brother in the bonds of Jefus Chrift JOHN DAVID HEINRICK, FRANCE. The attention of those who interest themselves in the affairs of religion, has been lately drawn to the proceedings of the Clergy in France, who having taken the oath of allegiance to the Republic, are acknowledged by the government, and exercise ecclefiaftical functions. They have lately held a Council at Paris, on the state of Religion in their country; and as we doubt not but it will gratify our readers to be informed of their proceedings, we present them with the outlines of a Discourse delivered by one of their leading members, at the opening of the Council, tranflated from an extract taken from the republican paper, "Clé du Cabinet." We give it without comment, leaving every one to draw a conclufion from the view it prefents of the fentiments entertained by the acknowledged body of the French Clergy. "la THE Council was opened at the cathedral of Paris, in the most folemn manner. The clergy confifted of about forty bishops, and as many priests, each in the habits of his order; the greater part of them hoary with age, and still more fo from the perfecutions they have undergone. A great multitude of fpectators filled the church, throughout which a religious filence reigned. Lecoz, Metropolitan Bishop of Rennes, was prefident. The Bishop of Paris, affifted by the Bishops of Tours and Touloufe, performed mass; and the introductory difcourfe was delivered by Gregory, well known for his talents, virtues, and toleration. He took a view of the state of politics and religion in Europe at the conclufion of the lately finished century. He obferved, that hiftory will dwell with complacency on those eminent men who have enlarged the boundaries of fcience, and on the founders of liberty in Europe; and drew a fketch of the ecclefiaftical events of the eighteenth century. "Religion," faid he, "should not interfere in human affairs, except to introduce virtue and happiness. It has been attacked on account of the abuses which ignorance and hypocrify have endeavoured to affociate with it, as philofophy is by the hypocrites of the prefent day, on the ground of the actions of certain men who have put on its garb; as if these abufes were either religion or philofophy. We will not imitate these modern Pharifees, who impute to the latter the exceffes it difclaims; but will it ever be, that men will have the honefty not to impute to religion the crimes which it condemns and abhors? It has become the custom to call civil and religious fociety by the name of the Two Powers. From the word power, applied to things totally different, have arifen very dangerous equivoques, when thofe at the head of government have invaded the rights of confcience, and when ecclefiaf VOL. IX. 3 D tical tical rulers have ufurped the civil authority. Every fociety has the right of laying down rules for the individuals of which it is compofed, and even to exclude them from its bofom; but with this difference, that civil fociety has the coercive power; religious fociety can only decree spiritual punishments; it has no other authority than that which the voluntary confidence of its adherents gives it, A religion which would disturb fociety, and which, from principle, would think itfelf authorized to perfecate any one under pretext of difference of fentiment, would bear, from that circumftance, the character of falfehood, and ought to be profcribed. The christian religion is formed for edification, not for domination; it shuts its bofom againft error, but opens its arms to the erring; it fays to men, "Whatever be your country your colour, your opinions, ye are brethren, love one another." Love is the call of the Gospel. Jefus Chrift is the only legiflator, who, by the ties of love, has endeavoured to unite the men of every country, and of every age; and his religion, like the rays of the Sun, is adapted to the whole world. The author paffed to the affemblies known in the church by the name of Councils. He pointed out the origin, nature, form, different kinds, end, authority, and use of these assemblies. This subject leads to a great number of very curious facts, of which the refult is, that these councils, anxious to preferve the doctrines and morals of chriftianity, ufed their utmost efforts in the middle ages to oppofe a barrier to the ignorance and violence which ravaged Europe. They iffued a multitude of decrees in favour of the freedom of the vaffals, and for the overthrow of flavery. There is to be found likewife in this fpecies of literature, now fallen into neglect, many documents on the fubject of manners and cuftoms. It may be fuppofed that the Gallic liberties fhould have a diftinguished place in this difcourfe.. The author unfolded them with energy: he called to remembrance what Boffuet did in that refpect, in the affembly of 1682; at the fame time he profeffed throughout an attachment and refpect for the head of the church, as the centre of unity, and marked the diftinguishing line between legitimate authority and its abufe. He furveyed the different chriftian nations, and detailed what they did in the laft century, to reconcile their attachment to the holy feat, with the defence of their political and religious liberties; and the perfecutions raised against thofe who defended the latter. He pointed out Savonarola fastened to the ftake at Florence; one of his crimes was, his having required a general council for the reformation of the church, in its head and members. Viera and Cavranfo were dragged to the dungeons of the inquifition; Giannoni expired in the prifons of Turin; Van Efpen, at the age of upwards of eighty, was obliged to feek an afylum in a foreign country. The orator then difplayed the benefits of religion: he defcribed it as the friend of the arts, of the country, of liberty, of virtue, and of peace. Here naturally prefented itfelf a review of the disturbances of which, fince the revolution in France, religion has been not the cause, but the pretext. He defcribed the perfons who are inceffantly talking of briefs and bulls, inftead of the gofpel; and who go 300 leagues to be informed by a decifion, whether they fhould obey that gofpel which commands obedience to the laws; who have on a fudden arrogated to themfelves the exclufive poffeffion of piety, and whofe devotions, although apparently paid to the altar, are in reality addreffed to the throne. While he bewailed their error, in the most earnest and affectionate manner, he invited the diffentient minifters to union. Ah," faid he," why can we not infcribe, as a frontispiece to the opening opening century, thefe words, "Union of hearts ! If you love truth, come, we will difcufs it together; if you love peace, we will in connection labour to cement it: a refufal on your part, will be a mark of the badnefs of your caufe, or of a difpofition to prolong troubles. While the powers of Europe, bringing to an end their fanguinary trifes, ftretch out to one another fraternal arms,-while our invincible troops, holding in their hands the palm of victory and the olive branch of peace, return to their homes,-shall it be faid that minifters of the gofpel, minifters of peace, repel our embraces? This, our invitation, will refound throughout Catholic Europe, and will produce the definitive fentence of contemporaries and of pofterity on your conduct.” AMERICA. The following Letters are taken from the appendix to an excellent difcourfe delivered before the New York Baptift Miffionary Society, by J. N. Abeel, A. M. by which it appears that our brethren on the other fide the Atlantic are exerting themfelves in favour of their Heathen neighbours, whofe hearts we hope the Lord has opened to receive them. Mr. Holmes is a Miffionary from the above Society, well-known and refpected by the natives. Addrefs to the Rev. E. Holmes, in Behalf of the Muhheconnuk Nation. Father, attend! WE feel ourselves happy that, by the goodness of the Great and Good Spirit, we are allowed to fee another good day, and to fee one another's faces, and that we are all well. Father, while our heads were hanging down by the fide of our fireplace, and almoft difcouraged to think whether we fhould ever fee you again, we heard the found of your feet walking on the good path we lately made; and when we lifted up our eyes we faw you coming in with a fmiling countenance, as ufual, which gladdened our hearts; then we fhook hands with you for joy, that you did not forget your poor children, nor the covenant of friendship which has been made between our nation and our brothers, the affociation to which you belong. Father, after we got together, you delivered the talk which our good brothers fent to us by you. We are very glad that they are ftill holding faft the chain of friendship with us, and that their compaflionate feelings ftill continue towards us, and towards our poor brethren in the wilderness; and alfo rejoice to hear that you have feen your way more clear, after you had gone through many dark and heavy clouds; that, by the permiffion of the Great and Good Spirit, you have travelled on our path thus far, and that you go at the requeft of your good brothers, the Affociation, together with that of the Miffionary Society. As our brothers told us in their talk, that you wish to go beyond our fire-place amongst fome of the western tribes, they hope we will favour your good intentions, and help you by our counfel and affiftance. Father, according to the defire of our brothers, we are willing to favour your good intentions, and to help you by our counfel and affiftance according to our capacity. Would our fituation conveniently permit, we might, fome of us perfonally, go with you to introduce yo amongst our brethren of the different tribes; but fince it is otherwife, we think it would be as well to fend our talk, with wampum, by your interpreter, to 3D 2 the 1 the tribes to which you may come, making known our acquaintance with you, and the motive of your visiting them. Alfo, we think it would be well, whenever you come to a town or village of any of these tribes, in the first place to go with your interpreter, and fee the chief or chiefs, call a council, give a complimentary fpeech, explain your miffion as plain and fhort as you can, and then wait for their anfwer: and we must remind you of one thing more, though it feems but a fmall thing; but knowing the difpofitions of heathen nations, we advife you to fix your mind upon it at all times whilft you fhall be amongst them; take willingly any thing eatable laid before you : you must not manifest any flight or difrelifh on account of its not being dreffed well. Father, you have already diftributed to us the good word feveral times fince your arrival here, for which we heartily thank you; and as you are about to take up your pack for a long journey, we with you the kind protection of the Great Good Spirit, and that he may profper your good and important undertaking: that you may be the inftrument of bringing many poor Indians from darknefs to marvellous light; and, in due time, return home fafe to your friends and employers, giving them a pleafing relation of your journey. Farewell. Jofeph Shauquethqueat, Sachems, Jofeph Quinney, John Quinney, Counsellors, let Solomon Quauquanchmut, Owls, Letter from Hendrick to Red Jacket. My good friend, attend! THIS day I have an opportunity to fend a few words to your ears, to you know that I am well; I hope the fame with you. I will also inform you that a good man, whofe name is Holmes, is fent by the good people who refide at New-York, to vifit your nation, and that I have been acquainted with him these several years, and have found him to be very friendly to all Indians. His bufinefs is to fpeak about the mind of the Great Good Spirit, and he does not want any thing from you; but wishes to teach the Indians, that they may have fome knowledge of thefe great things, I defire you, my friend, to be friendly to him, and to help him, that he may be ufed well by your nation. For you are a wife man : you know how to ufe good people; and you know there are only two forts of white people; one who aim to get all they can from you, and the other who try to help you, to promote your happinefs; and I muft expect that you will be friendly to thofe who endeavour to raise your nation, and by your wifdom you will always choose that which will be for the benefit of your nation-and may the Great Good Spirit bless you. Give my love to all my friends at your village. Farewell. Hendrick Aupaumut. EAST KENT ASSOCIATION, THE Eaft Kent Affociation was held at Mr. G. Townfend's, Ramfgate, April 8, 1801. Mr. Vincent, of Deal, preached on the preceding even ing, from Pfalm xlviii. 14. Mr. Young, of Canterbury, next morning, from 2 Cor. v. 7. Mr. White, of Ashford, in the evening, from Pfalm lxxii. 17. Mr. G. Townsend was appointed Secretary to the affociation. The next meeting is to be held October 21ft. Mers. Gore and Giles to preach. CHAPELS OPENED. JUNE 26, 1801, was opened a Chapel at Hungerford, Berks. Mr. John Clayton, jun. began the service with prayer and a short addrefs from Exodus xii. 26. latter claufe. Mr. Clift, of Marlbro', engaged in prayer; and Mr. J. Winter, of Newbury, preached from Acts viii. 8. AUG. 2, 1801, a new Chapel was opened at Alfriston, about nine miles from Lewes, in Suffex. Mr. J. Mather preached in the morning, from Pfalm cxxvi. 3.; and Mr. Gilbert, of Heathfield, in the afternoon, from Exodus xxxiii. 16. and again in the evening from Deut. xxxiii. 3. The place was crowded, and many were fatisfied with the goodness of the Lord's house. This village has been favoured with the Gofpel for many years. A private house was first appropriated to this purpose, and afterwards a Imall Chapel was erected, at the fole expence of an individual in the vicinity. Preaching, however, could only be obtained once in a month, till within the last four years, when they have been favoured with preaching every Sabbath; and the confequent increase of the congregation has made this larger chapel neceffary. AUG. 13, the first stone of a new Chapel was laid at Margate, in Kent. The Rev. J. Bikerdike, of Woolwich, delivered a thort in, troductory addrefs, and offered an appropriate prayer on the occafion. Welch Congregation, Lambeth. FOR many years Lambeth has been a place of public refort by Welsh people on the Sabbath Day; and the hours facred to religious purposes have been devoted to thofe of amufement and diffipation. The reason affigned for this fhameful practice, has been their not understanding the Tanguage in which public worship is performed in this country; therefore in the year 1791, a few well-difpofed perfons rented a large room upon the fpot, and met together every Sabbath Day to pray and read the Word of God, in their own language, and were occafionally favoured with a Welch Sermon. At length the number being increafed, they formed themselves into a church; and Divine worship is now regularly carried on twice every Lord's Day in the ancient British tongue, in general, to as large an auditory as the place can contain, and there is reafon to hope, not without fuccefs. The congregation, however, being poor, confifting for the most part of hard-working people, are obliged to depend in great measure upon the affiftance of benevolent individuals, communicated through Mr. Evan Lewis, of Marshall-ftreet, St. George's Fields. ORDINATIONS. JULY 8, 1801, the Rev. J. MANN from Hoxton Academy, was folemnly fet apart to the paftoral office over an infant church, at Morton, in |