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United States of America, be condition in this life, by a knowl

edge and belief of the Scriptures, would be an event calcu

disposed to contribute to this good work, Mr. Ralston, will gladly receive whatever may belated to produce a lively joy, in sent to him for that purpose, and add to it the above sum, to be forwarded to the Missionaries at Serampore near Calcutta. (Signed)

BENJAMIN WICKES, Sen. Philadelphia, Nov. 4, 1805.

every mind influenced by humanity: For their horrible superstition subjects them unceasingly to the most dreadful torments, and annually deprives a large number even of life itself. But in addition to this, how interesting must be the thought to every truly pious mind, that many of these miserable creatures, by having a Bible in their hands, may not only better their worldly condition, but become truly converted unto God, and through the merits of the Saviour, be raised to eternal happiness and glory. Among the many objects which we know are now soliciting the patronage of the pious and the liberal, throughout our country, we cannot but think, that this deserves a marked attention. Nor can we forbear to add, that we have good reason to believe, that donations from the inhabitants of the United States, for the promotion of the design which has

WE whose names are underwritten, Ministers of the Gospel in the city of Philadelphia, do hereby certify that we are fully ascertained that the statement made by Capt. Wickes, in the foregoing advertisement, is perfectly correct. We also take the liberty respectfully to recommend to the pious and the liberal of all denominations of Christians, in the United States, an attention to the important objects which this advertisement holds up to their view. Nothing, it appears to us, can be more interesting to a truly benevolent mind. The design contemplated, is not to disseminate the favorite tenets of any particu-here been specified, would greatlar sect of Christians. It is to print and propagate, among a race of heathen who are sunk and degraded by the vilest and cruelest system of superstition and idolatry, the fiure word of eternal life contained in the holy scriptures, without any gloss or comment whatsoever. If this can be extensively effected, the happiest consequences may be expected to follow; since the natives of India, unlike most other pagans, are many of them able to read, and still more of them are disposed earnestly to listen to what the Bible contains. Even the amelioration of their

ly animate and encourage the worthy men who are engaged in the translation of the Scriptures, by giving them a striking proof that their arduous work interests the feelings, and is accompanied by the good wishes of Christians, in every region to which the knowledge of it has extended.

Some other important considerations, which it is hoped will as much encourage the liberality of the public, as they animate the hopes and labors of the Missionaries in India, ought to be briefly stated. At Serampore, the immediate seat of the

Mission, there are a type foun-da's and Shasters are now pronounced divine.

dery and printing presses, together with a valuable library, consisting chiefly of books containing the various copies and readings of the Scriptures, with

ASHBEL GREEN, Senior pastor of the 2d Presbyterian Church.

J. HENRY C. HELMUTH, Pastor

of the German Lutheran Church. WILLIAM ROGERS, Professor of

JOHN HEY, Pastor of the Independent Church,

JOSEPH PILMORE, Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Paul's. JAMES GRAY, Pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE POTTS, Pastor of the 4th Presbyterian Church.

whatever can materially facili-English and belles lettres in the unitate the labors of a translator.versity of Pennsylvania. Learned natives can be procured to assist in the work; and the local situation of the mission is such as will render its distribution throughout India easy and immediate. The Missionaries themselves, (among whom is the laborious, learned, and pious MR. CAREY, professor of Oriental languages, in the college of Fort William, at Calcutta) have been so long engaged in studying language, and in translating, that the employment has become in a good degree habitual.

WILLIM WHITE, Pastor of the 2d
Baptist Church.

Associate Congregation.
JOSEPH SHAW, Pastor-elect of the

SAMUEL HELFENSTEIN, Pastor of the German Reformed Church.

JACOB J. JANEWAY, Co-pastor of the 2d Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM COLBERT, Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of St. George.

WILLIAM STAUGHTON, Minister the 1st Baptist Church.

Seven languages are spoken in India: the Ootkul, which pre-of vails among four millions of IT is respectfully sug the inhabitants; the Telinga and gested, that as the season for the Kurnata, each spoken by about departure of the Calcutta ships seven millions; the Maharatta is fast approaching, whatever is used by eight millions five hun-done to promote the design dred thousand; the Tamul, by which has been specified above, upwards of nine millions; the must be done without delay: Hindostanee, by at least forty- and it is requested, that the dofive millions; and the Bengalee, nations or collections which shall in which the translation is al-be made throughout the Union, ready compleated, by a number may be forwarded to any of of inhabitants nearly equal- the under-mentioned gentlemen, ling the population of the Uni- who will remit them to MR. ted States of America. The toRALSTON.* tal of the benighted Idolaters of India, equals about the one eighth of the whole race of men now dwelling on our globe. How animating the prospect, that the Holy Bible, by the efforts of pious Christians in Europe and America, is likely soon to circulate among these millions of wretched people, by whom absurd and injurious Ve

The Rev. Dr. Rodgers, the Rev. Mr.
Williams, New-York.

The Rev. Dr. Stillman, the Rev Dr.
Eckley, Boston,

The Rev. Joseph Buckminster, Ports-
mouth, N. H,

The Rev. Dr. Dwight, Hew-Haven.
Mr. Gallaudet, Hartford, Conn.

* What cannot be forwarded this

spring, will answer very well in the spring of 1807.

The Rev. Dr. M'Whorter, Newark, art she had spared no time, nor

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exertions. Complete skill in this exercise, she, like many in this age of refinement, considered the most valuable and most necessary accomplishment for youth. She as well as her parents had doubtless begun to anticipate much future happiness, as well from the society of her private friends as from association with her more fashionable companions. Her views in life were flattering, her prospects pleasing, and her hopes encouraging. Her health was good, her worldly interest sufficient, and her education complete.But alas! how soon is the scene changed, how suddenly is every flattering prospect cut short, ere it presents itself to full view.

Selina fond of displaying herself to her admirers, frequently engaged in her favorite exercise. But oh, the effect which she ultimately experienced from this amusement. One evening, fond

ved in the spring season, salutary plants shooting up, and spreading forth their flowers, in such a pleasing and beautiful manner, as to attract the eye and charm the senses. You have seen them flourish for a while with the most luxuriously imagining herself free from all growth, promising you a very rapid progress towards maturity, until affected by the chilling damps of the evening, they droop, they wither, they die! Not the smallest traces of their verdure can you afterwards dis

Cover.

Thus died young Selina! She was a youth of beauty, gaiety and vivacity. She was not only fair, but the natural endowments of her mind rendered her promising. To her natural qualifications, were added, by means of her education, the shining acquirements of general knowledge in polite and fashionable arts.Amusements of almost every kind, that become her sex, were familiar to her mind, but dancing was her favorite. To attain this

danger, she imprudently suffered herself to dance excessively and then become exposed to the chilling damps of the night.An unusual disorder soon succeeded, which threw her into the most violent contortions of body, and a total derangement of mind. Her friends anxiously solicitous for her recovery, could only observe the spectacle, without restoring her to health, by medical assistance. In this situation, she languished for a few days, and died.

Selina, that once fair, beautiful and promising youth is now no more.. Just so precarious, my young friends, is your situation, however lovely, however sprightly you now appear. Though you are in the bloom of life,

midst of your literary pursuits, to be summoned without the least warning, to appear in the presence of your Judge, there to be acquitted or condemned, according to the moral character which you severally sustain.Consider the miserable conditions of those who die impenitent, and unholy, who are strangers to experimental religion, and enemies to the Saviour of sinners. Let such an affecting instance of mortality, together with the call of God in his holy

though you are the rising hopes of your fond parents, though you are now employed in forming your minds, and enlarging your understandings, yet like the tender plant, or like the young Selina, you may die. The awful providence just related is an admonition to you. It is a voice from the dead, warning you to prepare to meet your God. It speaks in accents louder than thunder, and if properly heard more piercing than lightning, admonishing you not to promise yourselves long life, or the enjoy-word, excite you to an earnest and ment of future pleasures in this diligent attention to your own world. everlasting happiness.

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Remember your Creator in the Endeavor to gain the chief, days of your youth, is comman- the only good, by seeking first ded in scripture; and surely it the kingdom of God and his is sanctioned by this alarming righteousness. Remember that stroke of divine providence.- what the world denominates Selina's death bids you not to happiness is not worth a straw, put far away the evil day; nor in comparison with that solid to say that you have found secu- peace of mind, which results rity from danger, until you have from the service of God. Resecured an interest in the bless-member that all the pleasures ed Redeemer. Death is often and enjoyments that are derived sudden and unexpected, which solely from the fashionable amakes it the messenger of ter-musements and refined accomror, gloom and despair to the plishments of the world, have thoughtless soul, while the true not the weight of a feather, when Christian is enabled to triumph tried with those pleasures, that over the grave, and to say the children of God enjoy, from death where is thy sting, O grave the sublime contemplations of where is thy victory! his nature, his word, and his works, as displayed to our view, in the dispensation of his providence and grace.

Learn, my young friends, to think of your being continually exposed to death. You are frail, dying creatures; liable, in the

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Thoughts on the Divine Govern- ter, and the wisdom of his go

ment; suggested by the ing of the 97th Psalm.

read-vernment. Thus "light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart."

N no exercise is the human

I IN

True religion is reason remind so nobly employed fined-reason established upon in no subject is such a boundless its proper base, and exalted to field for contemplation and im- its sublimest height. Vain is provement presented, as in the that religion which ascribes to direct and devout meditation of casualty the direction of events; the government of God. It re- or arrogating to creatures the spects all creatures, directs all rightful honors of the Creator, events, connects the two ex- yields not to Jehovah the absotremes of past and future, and lute possession of his throne, embraces the vast concerns of and the universal influence of his eternity. Every object, or oc- power. Absurd is that philosocurrence, forms a part of the im- phy," opposition of science, measurable whole, and is as a falsely so called," which, by aslittle stream issuing from this cribing any independent efficacy infinite fountain. It is this alone, to means and second causes, opwhich gives importance to the pugns the sovereignty and most inconsiderable things. Ab- universal agency of God-shuts stracted from this, the greatest out the immediate power and lose their magnitude, and inex- presence of the Divine Maker pressive of order, beauty or de- from any part of his system, and sign, would serve but to involve denies, to the King Immortal, the moral world in darkness and that dominion which he exerconfusion. It is only in God's cises over all the works of his light that we see light. It is hands. The government of but by considering the operation God is as unlimited as his works, of his hands, by the attentive, benevolent as his nature, and piercing eye of faith, that we unchangeable as his being. It discern the beauty of his charac-is the united display of all his VOL. VI. No. 11

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