others, perhaps with a little col- reproach of the grossest offences ouring, till the whole neighbour will not be wiped off from a church, hood is filled with scandal. Diffi- even by the excision of an offend. culties thus take their rise, and in- er, while there is any room for crease by gradual accessions, till that act to be ascribed to improper the church is divided into parties, motives. Hence all attempts to and rent with animosities and mu- maintain the discipline of the tual jealousies, and made a taunt, church, in such circumstances, and a reproach, and a proverb, in usually fail of success. And the mouths of its enemies. Is this churches which have made the exa picture of fancy? Have we no periment, usually become discoursad examples of it in real life? aged, and suffer offences to pass And is it not the natural result of without notice. Let me not be that state of coldness and stupidi- thought to advocate the neglect of ty into which a church sinks down, discipline in the churches. Its after a revival season? And what neglect is exceedingly criminal, church can promise itself an ex- and highly offensive to God. No emption from such a result, when church can prosper without disciit has once begun to backslide? pline. It must be maintained. If any have not yet reached such And in order to maintain it, the a point in their downward course, church must awake from their I venture to say, that if they have slumbers, and be alive to the hongrieved away the Holy Spirit, and our of God and the welfare of lost the lively exercise of the souls , Christian graces, they are rapidly

3. Let themi consider how necverging towards it. No earthly essary is a revival in the church, power can arrest their progress, to prepare them to maintain the unless they will awake, and re- ordinances of the gospel. On the pent, and turn to God. Nothing church it depends whether the orbut a revival of religion in the dinances of the gospel shall be church can prevent its being thus maintained.--It is not to be extorn in pieces.

pected that others should feel 2. Let them consider how nec- much solicitude on the subject. essary is a revival in the church, When the church are indifferent, to prepare them to maintain the it is to be expected that others discipline of the gospel. What will be so. Or if the church has been said under the last par- are indifferent, and the mainteticular, will throw light upon this. nance of religious institutions is In such a state of things as is committed to other bands, it is there described, cases of discipline scarcely to be expected that they are multiplied, while the power will be maintained in their purity. and the disposition to attend them Men of the world do not love the are greatly diminished. How can gospel of Christ. Let the maindiscipline be maintained, when tenance of religious institutions the church is divided into parties? be committed to their hands, and How can the discipline of the gos- they will very soon be corrupted. pel be administered, without the The church usually make up but a spirit of meekness and brotherly small part of the population in any love? How can an offender be place. Their influence depends

? brought to the exercise of a proper very much on their union, and temper, without the exercise of a their consistency of character.proper temper towards him? The Let their influence be diminished by disunion, let it be weakened by Let religion be in lively exercise a depression of the Christian char- in a church, let all its members acter, and let their disposition to maintain a consistent character, exert what there is be enfeebled and they exert a mighty influence. by the decay of religion in their But let them lose their Christian hearts, and what efficiency will character, and put out their light, they exert for the maintenance of anu the effect is most disastrous. gospel ordinances ? In view of Then the enemy comes in like a these things, it is easy to account food. Then iniquity abounds. for the fact, that the support of the Then evil men and seducers was gospel so often fails, and that so worse and worse, deceiving and many churches are destitute.- being deceived. Such has been When we look at their numbers the influence of a revival, and such and their wealth, we see no reason the influence of a subsequent dewhy they are not supplied ; but clension, in every instance, to a when we look into their internal greater or less degree. Is it most state, and ascertain the feelings of desirable, that vice and immorality their hearts, we see reasons enough should be restrained, and the good to account for it. Let such a order and happiness of society church experience a revival of re- promoted? Then it is of great imligion, let them be united in their portance that there should be a views and feelings, and let them revival of religion. to increase the

. feel the importance of gospel in- strength and efficiency of the stitutions, and the support of them church, and to add to their numwill be easy

bers and their influence. 4. Let them consider how nec- 5. Let them consider how pecessary is a revival in the church, essary is a revival, in order to perto increase its efficiency in pro- petuate the existence of the cburch, moting the order and happiness of and prevent its becoming extinct. society. It is to the influence of Is there nothing painful in the the gospel we are indebted for all thought, that the church to which the blessings of civilized life. we belong shall cease to be? Can Where this is felt, good order, we look back upon all the priviand good morals, and intellectual leges we have enjoyed in it, and improvement prevail, accompanied all the sweets of Christian interby all the charities of social life. course-Can we call to mind the Where this is wanting, there vice, prayers we have mingled together and immorality, and ignorance, before the throne of grace, and the and superstition, reign; and the delights of Christian communion

“ dark plaees of the earth are full of at the table of our commun Lordthe habitations of cruelty.” And Can we remember when we have in proportion as the influence of taken sweet counsel together, and the gospel is felt in any place, in walked to the house of God in the same proportion is vice re- company.-And can we look forstrained, and the good order and ward to the time when these prihappiness of society promoted. A vileges shall here be enjoyed no single consistent Christian is like more, and these precious seasons a light placed upon an eminence, be no more known--Can we antiwhich shoots its beams far into the cipate the time when this communsurrounding darkness. The wick- ion table shall be removed, and ed see it, and are abashed. Like this sanctuary of God shut upthose ferocious beasts which prowl Can we contemplate the time when in darkness, they fear to approach. Ithis vine which the Lord's right

us.

hath planted, and which ciated, when first we knew the he has often watered with the dews Lord-how many of their places of heaven, and which we have seen

are now vacant.

We shall go to so fair and flourishing, shall droop | them, but they will not return to and die, and this beautiful heri- And let a few more years tage of God lie waste-Can we pass away without a revival, and anticipate all this without emo- none arise to build the walls of tion? But let no revival of religion this Zion, and the place that once take place, and how long will it knew her shall know her no more be, before all this is realized ? | forever. Do our hearts respond, What inroads has death made up- | Oh that this church might live! on the church already!--Our fath- | Oh that it might arise and shine! ers, where are they? and the pil- | Let us awake, then, before it is lars of the church, have they not too late. fallen ? The companions of our A FRIEND TO REVIVALS. youth, those with whom we asso

Utica Cbrist. Repos,

Religious Intelligence.

OLICS.

GREAT INCREASE OF ROMAN CATH- ! containing 2000, and yet insuffic

ient for the accommodation of new According to returns laid be-converts to Popery; 3000 Roinan fore Parliament, about thirty-five Catholic children were confirmed in years ago, the then number of Ro- | 1813, in Liverpool, Manchester and mon Catholics was 69,376; but, | Preston; the Roman Catholic chapaccording to the statements of cer- els in Lancashire and parts of the tain Roman Catholic writers, the adjacant counties are nearly as number of souls belonging to their numerous as the Protestant churchcommunion amounted, about six es. Jesuits officiate in all of them; or seven years ago, to 500,000. the Jesuits of Stonyhurst are lords In the year 1781, there were of that manor, of which they reonly three Roman Catholic schools serve, for the use of their estabof any note in England; but at lishment, 1000 acres; they invapresent upwards of fifty; most of riably dispossess their unconverthe Roman Catholic chapels, the tible Protestant tenants, as soon number of which is actually no as their terms expire, and substiless than nine hundred, were built | tute Roman Catholics in their within the last thirty-five years; | places; they find means to restrain in the collegiate establishinent at many Protestant booksellers from Stonyhurst, there are accommoda-selling any books against Popery, tions for 500 pupils, besides pro- while there is a Popish bookseller fessors, managers and domestics. , in a large town, whose shop is Before the arrival of the Jesuits, abundantly supplied with publicathere were not more than ten or a | tions hostile to the cause of Protdozen Roman Catholics in the imestantism; their ablest orators regmediate neighbourhood of Stony- ularly preach against the doctrines hurst, but now several thousands; l of the Reformation and the Estabwithin a few years, there have I lished Church ; they frequently been crected near that place two despatch agents to Ireland, and spacious chapels, each capable of I appear to be deeply interested in

the religious and political concerns, attended. God is pouring out kis of that distracted country.

Spirit on this wicked place. O it Col. Mag.

is a solemn time indeed! It would

do your heart good to witness the AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. engagedness of Christians.” This Society has been in opera- Another letter, dated Sabbath tion ten years. During this time,

During this time, evening, December 19, saysit has published 4,217,500 Tracts. • This day has been peculiarly Its receipts have been, from do interesting. The meeting-house nations, * $ 12,467,54, and for was crowded with hearers, so that Tracts sold, $22,366 06. It is many could not obtain seats.estimated, that about one third of Have we not reason to think it the the amount received by donations, work of God, when the Universal. has been delivered to donors in ist, the Deist, and those who have Tracts at cost. Hence, the amount denied the divinity of our Savour, of charity, which has been suffer- come out from the world, and proed to remain at the disposal of fess to be on the Lord's side?" the Society, is about $8500. With

Bos, Tel. this sum, in ten years, 4,217,500 Tracts have been printed; that is,

DESTITUTE CHURCHES. each dollar, devoted to the ob- From the minutes taken at the jects of the Society, has already Vermont Convention of Minisbeen, on an average, the means of ters, September 17, 1824, it apprinting about 500 Tracts. But, pears, that in Windham county the value of the Tracts, now con- there are no less than 13 Congre. tained in all the Society's Deposi- gational and Presbyterian Churchtories, is more than $8500.- es destitute of Pastors-PenningHence, every dollar given, has ton county, 6–Windsor, 15% not only been the means of print- Caledonia, 7-Chittenden 4,-Esing 500 tracts; but remains some- sex, 1-Rutland, 4-Orange, 4what increased, to print the same Addison, 11- Washington, 11number, in an equal space of timne, Orleans, 13—Franklin, 6–Grand or about once in five years, so Isle, 1. Total destitute CHURCHlong as the Society shall continue Es, of one denomination, in the its operations. Perhaps an equal State of Vermont, 96. The whole sum of money was never more ad- number of settled Ministers of the vantageously appropriated. See same denomination is but 77. Of “Proceedings of the First Ten course more than half the churches Years" of the American Tract are destitute of a regular ministraSociety."

tion of the word. How many

towns there are which have neiREVIVAL IN LOCKPORT, N. Y. ther Congregational Ministers nor

We have been favoured with the churches, we are not informed. perusal of letters from Lockport, The facts above stated, however, Niagara county, N. Y. which give are sufficient to convince every information of a powerful revival friend to religion and morality, of religion recently commenced in that even in New-England there that place. In the first, dated remaineth yet very much land to December 13, the writer says, “I be possessed," and still more to have just returned from one of the be cultivated and improved. most interesting meetings I ever

OBITUARY.

Died Jan. 17, 1825, Rev. David SEL- pense of his education. In college, he DES, pastor of the church in Chatham, was distinguished as one of the best Con. He preached, as usual, on the scholars of his class. He received the Sabbath, and died on the Tuesday fol. honours of Brown University, in Seplowing. He had been pastor of the tember, 1812. At this period, his mind church in Middle Haddain, Chatham, was much exercised on the subject of nearly 45 years; and was beloved by religion. For years before, he had, at his church and people. by bis brethren intervals, been subject to serious imin the ministry, and by all who knew pressions, occasioned, it is presumed, by hin.

Communicated. the example and instructions of a pious In Mobile. on the 30th of November mother. At the time of his admission last, Dr. Alva CaRPENTER, son of Dea. to college, he indulged a hope, that he Elihu Carpenter, of Seekoak, Mass. in had experienced a change of heart.the 27th year of his age. Nature bad This hope, however, he soon relinquish. endowed him with a generous, humane ed; having found in himself “ a disposiand active mind. He was a graduate of tion opposed to the gospel.” He expe. Brown University, in 18.8, and turned rienced an increasing conviction of the his a'tention to the study of medicine. truth of the peculiar doctrines of the I!! health induced him to seek a climate gospel, during his collegiate course ; more coogenial to his constitution. He but it was not till nearly the close of it, visited the Southern States in search of that he ventured to hope, that bis heart knowledge, as well as health. In the had become reconciled to the truth.first, success attended him ; of this his | The indulgence of such a hope, deterpractice so long as bis health remained, mined his mind, in the choice of a prois the best evidence. Under a lingering fession. "Though (as he wrote, in the sickness, he suffered mush, but he suf- relation of his experience) I had previfered patiently; he was afflicted, but ously designed to study physick, and not deserted, nor left unpitied. He was had actually attended lectures, prepar. not insensible to the first virtue in hu- atory thereto; I thought it my duty to man nature, gratitude. He fell among engage in that profession, in which I strangers; but was with those, whose might be most useful. I, indeed, feared charity, kindness and urbanity, spring that I was not prepared for the imporgently and rarely as the drops of a liv. tant office of a minister of the gospel; ing spring

Gazette. but I thought it would afford me conso.

lation, even if I should finally be exclud. Died Feb. 4th, 1825, Rev. JOSEPHUS ed from the presence of the Almighty, WABATON, pastor of the church in Hol. that I had been made an instrument in liston, Mass. aged about 40 years. his hand, in rescuing others from a sim.

Tbe biography of Mr. Wheaton, ilar fate." On leaving college, he pur. would be very interesting and instruct. sued the study of Divinity a few weeks, ive. It would serve to show, what na- when he received and accepted an invi. tive talent, accompanied with industry tation to take the charge of an Academy and virtuous habits, may achiere, amidst in Providence, R. I. for the term of one formidable difficulties and discourage- year. But, before this term expired, he ments; and, at the same time, striking. was appointed Tutor in the University, ly illustrate the declaration of Davich and entered on the duties of that office that " verily every man at his best state in 1813. These duties he discharged in is altogether vanity."