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five or six days, and sometimes | persons had presented themselves to the church for examination, and fourteen were baptized on the Sabbath of the preceding week.

appeared to be seriously disposed, while at others, they greatly disturbed religious service. At the tavern, they asked a blessing on their meals, often prayed, and preached in mockery of religion, At length, after drinking deeply, they sacrilegiously administered the holy communion, and after choosing two or three of their number as leaders and speakers, they went into an enquiry meeting, and placed themselves among those who were to be conversed with; when the minister asked one of them whether he wished to converse relative to his moral state, he answered in the affirmative, and proceeded to vent his opposition in the most indecent, malignant, and blasphemous manner!-The others were not disposed to converse. After the meeting, they all returned home; but the next evening they went back, when it appeared that nearly all of them were under deep conviction, principally from the horrid language of the one, whom they had deput ed for the very purpose, in the enquiry meeting. Nearly all of them have since obtained a hope in Christ. The circumstance excites much attention in the place where these late profligate young men, but now hopeful disciples of Christ, reside. And it ought to produce gratitude in every believing heart; and also to strengthen the faith of saints, as an evidence that the Lord's hand is not shortened that He cannot save. Verily He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

"I ought to add, that twelve or fifteen have recently obtained hope in Millbury, where a powerful appears to have begun."

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Bos. Tel. Maine. The Boston Recorder of the 8th of May states, that a revival of religion in Winthrop is increasing in interest. Forty-two

Connecticut. Haddam, Burlington, Harwinton and Bristol, are said to be favoured with a very interesting work of grace.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The receipts of the American Bible Society during its eighth year, have been $42,416 95. It has printed 34,000 Bibles, and 42,875 Testaments, exclusive of 2000 printed from the plates by the Kentucky Bible Society; and issued from its depository 31,590 Bibles, and 88,849 Testaments.

Massachusetts Missionary Society.

This Society was formed on the 28th of May, 1799. Its object is to spread the gospel among the destitute in our own country, and among the heathen.

To accomplish this object, it has employed, at different times, two hundred and twenty-four missionaries. These missionaries have generally been employed from three to twelve months each.They have laboured in destitute places in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and the various States west of the Alleghany Mountains, from Lake Erie to the Floridas. They have also visited and laboured among several of the tribes of Indians within the limits of the United States. Their term of service, it is supposed, has been, upon an average, about six months each. Upon this supposition, they have rendered 1344 months missionary service, amounting in all to 112 years.The present efforts of the Society are particularly directed to the supply of destitute churches in Massachusetts and Maine.

ORDINATIONS AND INSTALLATION.

1824. May 20th. Ordained Pastor of the Congregational Church in Manchester, Ver. Rev. HORATIO A. PARSONS.Sermon by Rev, Alexander Proudfit, of Salem, N. Y. from Eph. iii. 8.

1824. May 26th. Ordained, at Conway, N. H. as colleague Pastor with the Rev. Dr. Porter, of the Congregational church in that town, Rev. BENJAMIN WILLEY. Sermon by Rev. Asa Cummings, of Nor. Yarmouth, Maine.

Ordained, as Pastor of the Baptist Church in Wrentham, Mass. the Rev. JOHN ALLEN. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Hall, of Attleborough, from I. Tim. iv. 16.

SELECTED

From the Philadelphia Daily Advertiser.
THE MISSION SHIP,

Installed, as Pastor of the Congrega. tional Church in Hampton, Con. Rev. DANIEL S. SPRAGUE. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Dow, of Thompson, from Rev.

xv. 2.

[In the notice of Mr. Eaton's Installation, in our number for March, it should have been mentioned, that Rev. THOMAS ANDROS, of Berkley, gave the Charge. At the ordination of Mr. Clarke, mentioned in our last, the Charge was given by Rev. WILLIAM PATTEN, D. D. of Newport]

POETRY.

Waft it quickly! O ye breezes!
Winds of heav'n, propitious smile!

With Missionaries for the Sandwich Isl- | Speed the tall shi o'er the ocean,

ands.

Softly blow, ye fav'ring breezes!
Winds of heaven! propitious smile-
Speed the tall ship o'er the ocean,
Safely to her destin'd isle.

Now she rides the bounding billow,
Proudly urging on her way:
HE who holds the storm is with her,
GOD, the Missionary's stay.

Fathers! faint not, those departing
To a friendless heathen shore,
Go to toil, 'mid scenes of peril,
Where Immanuel toil'd before.

Mothers! weep not, these, your offspring
Bound to yonder pagan coast,
Go to reap the martyr's laurel,
Go to seek the poor and lost.

Who are these that haste to greet thee,
King of men! in gath'ring clouds?
Who are these that fly to meet thee,
Rapidly as summer's clouds?

Lo! the ships of Tarshish, bearing
Nobler freight than Ophir saw;
Thither where the isles are waiting,
Waiting the Messiah's law.

Roll, Pacific, roll thy billows,
Proudly to the whisp'ring wind;
On thy bosom floats a treasure,
Richer than remotest Ind;-

Safely to her destin'd isle.

From the Boston Telegraph.
HAPPINESS.

T.

Oft in my gay and thoughtless youth,
I've drank at pleasure's stream;
But found my happiness, forsooth,
As waking from a dream.

Smooth was the current, but the ray
That shoots from folly's eye,
Can beam on pleasure but a day-
At evening it must die.

And often dimm'd at pleasure's stream,
Is youthful fancy's eye;
For pleasure's not what it may seem,
It springs from joys on high.

There is a stream, the youthful heart
Oft dreams a bitter sweet;
But ye, who've chosen Mary's part,
And sat at Jesus feet;

Say, if there springs from earthly rill,
A joy so pure as this?

Ah none!-but God the soul can fill,
And give us solid bliss!

Oh! there's a boon, of worth untold,
To man, lost mortal, given;
And reason bids us there behold
The path to peace and Heaven.

Maine, April, 1824.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ELLEN.

B-C N- -1, and the remainder of PHILO-HOPKINSIAN, will probably appear in

our next.

A. B. C. is received and shall appear in our next,

It will be recollected that $1 50 is now due from those subscribers, who have not paid in advance. Payment will be acceptable to the Printers.

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MATTHEW VII. 7. "Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

THESE words of the Saviour express infinitely great and precious promises, on the most favourable terms. No laborious task is required, no sacrifice of real good is to be made, as the condition of salvation. It is only to ask, seek, and knock; and "All things are now ready." Do we stand in perishing need of an unmerited favour? or do we need the forgiveness of many offences? It is only to ask the favour and the forgiveness which we need; and all is right and well with us. Or, have we carelessly lost a most valuable treasure? how liberal is the promise, that, if we seek the treasure, we shall find it! Or, do we stand in the utmost need of admission into a glorious habitation, of which we are most unworthy? even decency requires, that we knock for admission. Surely, nothing can be more liberal, than the terms of salvation. It is only to desire salvation, and we have it freely.

For a more full discussion of this subject, we may consider, in the first place, the peculiar state of fallen man, under the dispensation of the gospel; and in the second place, the nature of the asking, seeking and knocking, which are the conditions of salvation.

I. As to the state of fallen man, under the dispensation of the gospel, three things are to be considered;

1. It is a state of total sinfulness, or depravity of heart. By the orthodox, at the present day, it is acknowledged, that mankind, in a state of nature, are totally depraved in heart-have not the love of God in them. They are dead in trespasses and sins. Such are said to be carnally minded, which is death; for the carnal mind is enmity against God. "Every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart, is only evil continually." And although an infinite atonement is made, and made for the sins of the whole world; yet this alters not the character of sinners. Still the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God." Still, the state of fallen man is such, that "destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known there is no fear of God before their eyes."

2. The state of fallen man is a state of condemnation. "As ma ny as are of the works of the law, are under the curse ;" for it is written, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things."

For a single transgression, men | sisting of a holy society, engaged

fall under the curse; a curse from which the law cannot provide relief or deliverance. Impenitent sinners, if they depend on any thing for the hope of salvation, depend on their own righteousness. But justification is only by faith in Jesus Christ.

eth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already." In this deplorable state are all the impenitenttotal enemies to God, and God to them. For he holds them under the sentence of a righteous condemnation.

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in holy exercises. Without holiness, therefore, no one can seek for the enjoyments of heaven. Really to seek for heavenly objects, is to seek them as silver, and to search for them as for hidden treasure. With regard to knockHe that belicy-ing, it implies a sincere desire of admission into the kingdom of God, on account of the holy society and felicity of this kingdom. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, where his Christian friends were assembled, praying for his deliverance from prison and from death; he felt a pressing desire to enter in, and enjoy the holy fellowship of the saints. Had Peter been a sordid miser, and an enemy of the followers of Christ, who knocked for admission among that praying company, for selfish purposes; would the devout company have bidden him such a cordial welcome? Certainly not.

3. The state of sinners, however, is not a hopeless state. Blessed be God, there is a plan of deliverance, and salvation, through faith in Christ, and the forgiveness of sin. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Now the door of mercy is open; and all things are now ready. All are now urged with the most pressing in vitations, such as our text contains ; "Ask, and it shall be giv-ident from reason, and the nature en you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

II. We proceed to explain the nature of the asking, seeking and knocking, which are the conditions of salvation. To ask for any thing as a favour, implies, that we really desire the thing that we ask for, on account of its own intrinsic worth. To ask for holiness, implies that we love holiness, and hate iniquity. The disciples of Christ gave a specimen of this kind of asking, when they said unto him, "Lord, increase our faith," To seek the kingdom of God implies, that, in our view, it is a most desirable object and it implies a heavenly temper. Hence, the Saviour, when he exhorted the people to seek first the kingdom of God, added, "And the righteousness thereof.' Heaven is a holy habitation, con

Neither will the door of heaven be opened to those, who knock from selfish motives. In short, it is ev

of things, that the asking, seeking and knocking, which are connected with the divine promises, imply real, Christian sincerity.) They are the exercises of a humble, penitent, believing heart-a heart reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ.

Accordingly, the declaration of Christ is, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." The testimony of James is, "Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, to consume it upon your lusts." A holy asking, a holy seeking, and a holy knocking, are essential to the approbation of a holy God. As there are those, who ask and receive not; so there are those, who seek and find not. "Strive to enter in at the straight gate; for many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

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humble and contrite; to the poor in spirit, to those that mourn; to the meek; to those that hunger and thirst after righteousness; to the merciful; and to the pure in heart. All these meet the divine approbation.

Having considered the state of fallen man, under the dispensation of the gospel; and explained the nature of the asking, seeking, and knocking which are the condition of salvation; we proceed to an IMPROVEMENT.

Many are also said to knock, and knock in vain, saying, "Lord, Lord, open unto us. But the Lord from within declares, "I know you not, whence you are, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." Thus evidently it appears from scripture and reason, that the "asking, seeking and knocking, which meet the promises in the text, flow only from holy love, and Christian sincerity. The same truth is evident, from a view of the divine requirements. The law of God is holy, and the com- I. By this subject we are taught, mandment holy, and just and that the first and immediate duty good" Every precept of which, of sinners, is genuine repentance. requires a holy heart. Without The conditions of divine favour, the exercise of holiness, no duty expressed in the text, clearly imcan be performed acceptably. ply the exercise of repentance to"Love is the fulfilling of the wards God, and faith towards our law." Without faith, which works Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance by love, it is impossible to please and faith are the special requireGod. "Follow peace with all ments of the gospel. Without men, and holiness, without which these there is no religion; no duty no man shall see the Lord." In is done. These were taught by all this view of the nature and im- the prophets, and especially by portance of the divine require- John the Baptist, by Jesus Christ ments, can it be conceived that and his holy apostles. Nothing God directs people, with an im- is mentioned in the scriptures, as penitent, unbelieving and rebel- a duty, antecedent, or preparalious heart, to ask, seek and tory to these duties. No prayers knock ? and on these conditions, and 'strivings, no previous efforts, loads them with his richest prom- no steps are pointed out in the ises? In the holy scriptures, we gospel, by which sinners may gradfind no promises made to the un-ually attain to the Christian charregenerate, and the impenitent.acter and the Christian hope.Their best works, and richest sacrifices, are an abomination to the Lord. Their plowing is sin; because they regard not the honour and glory of God. There are many who seek to be justified by Christ They make the Christian profession, and conform to all the externals of religion: But on a close inspection, they are found sinners. These are abhorrent in the sight of God, and of his people. The benedictions of Christ are withholden from all the proud in heart, and from all hypocrites in practice. They are limited to the

When multitudes on the day of Pentecost, under the preaching of Peter, were pricked in the heart, and cried out, Men and brethren, what shall we do? The answer was not, "Do as well as you can; exert your best endeavours; and trust in the Lord to make up your deficiency:" but the very first word, by way of an answer was, "Repent; and (of course) be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins." No duty could be even attempted, previous to a deep, sincere, and genuine repentance.

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