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lishment of a mission at Housatonic, on the part of the Indians, being thus removed, the next object was to find a suitable person to undertake the arduous employment; and Mr. Sergeant was the man in every respect qualified for the work. His desire to carry the glad tidings of pardon and salvation to those, who were ignorant of divine truth, being known, he was requested to accept the proposed mission, and he cheerfully consented. In Oct. 1734, he bid adieu to the pleasures of his situation in an excellent seat of learning, and proceeded towards the place of his future labours. From Westfield he was accompanied by Mr. Bull. "We sat out," he says in his journal, on Thursday, October 11th, in the afternoon, designing to lodge at a house about 15 miles onwards upon the road, which was the only house before we came to Housatonic. But night coming on too soon for us, we were forced to lodge in the woods without fire or shelter. The next day we got to Housatonic, a little before night, through a most doleful wilderness, and the worst road, perhaps, that ever was rid." "Oct. 13th, I made a short discourse to the Indians by an interpreter, an Indian called Ebenezer, to which the adults, about 20 in number, gave very good attention, especially Capt. Kunkapot, their chief, and his family. I adapted my discourse, as well as I could, to their capacity and manner of thinking."

Ebenezer possessed a considerable knowledge of the principles of the Christian religion, and the next day, at his request, atter declaring that he would rather

burn in the fire, than forsake the truth," after engaging to "forsake heathenish darkness, and embrace the light of the gospel and the way of holiness," and promising "by the help of divine grace to cleave to the Lord, with purpose of heart, &c." he was baptized by Mr. Bull at the house or wigwam of the Lieutenant. Thus was the mission smiled upon at its very commencement.

Mr. Sergeant persuaded the Indians, who, it has been observ ed,

lived at Skatekook and Wnahktukook, 8 or 10 miles distant from each other, to fix upon an intermediate spot between them, and to live together in one place for the greater convenience of assembling on the Sabbath and of having their children instructed. Here they cheerfully built a house, which answered the double purpose of a

school-house and a house of worship; around which they constructed small huts for the accommodation of their families. This establishment, however, was only for winter, for in the summer they separated, and returned to their little tracts of land to plant corn and beans, which were the only vegetables they cultivated. Their principal reliance for subsistence was upon hunting.

Ebenezer informed Mr. Sergeant, that "some of the Indians whom he had known, were atheists, who supposed all things began, continued, and ceased according to their several natures without any cause or direction from a superior hand. Others believed the sun to be God, or at least the body or residence of the deity; but that now they gener

some practical observations. By a Citizen of Baltimore. 8vo. 25 cents.

Charity recommended from the social state of man. A Discourse, delivered before the Salem Female Charitable Society, September 17, 1806. By Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 8vo. pp. 39. Salem. Joshua Cushing.

A Discourse, delivered at Stillwater, before the members of Montgomery Lodge, August 12, 1806. By David Butler, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Troy, and of Trinity Church, Lansinburgh. 8vo. pp. 24. Troy, N. Y. Wright, Goodenow, and Stockwell.

A Sermon, preached July 13, 1805, at the funeral of Mrs. Lydia Fisk, late consort of the Rev. Elisha Fisk, pastor of the church in Wrentham. By Nathanael Emmons, D. D. pastor of the church in Franklin. Dedham. H. Mann. August, 1805.

The Life of God in the Soul of Man; or, the nature and excellency of the Christian Religion. By Henry Scougal, A. M. To which are prefixed, memoirs of the author. Boston. E. Lincoln.

A Discourse, delivered next Lord's day after the interment of Deacon Peter Whiting, who departed this life, December 9, 1805, in the 60th year of his age. By Nathanael Emmons, D. D. pastor of the church in Franklin. Providence. Heaton and Williams.

An Oration, pronounced at Littleton, July 4, 1806, the 31st anniversary of American Independence. By Edmund Foster, A. M. minister of the

gospel at Littleton, Cambridge. Hilliard. 1806.

The Death of Legal Hope, and the Life of Evangelical Obedience. An essay on Gal. ii. 19. Shewing that while a sinner is in the law, as a covenant, he cannot live to God in the performance of duty and that the moral law is immutable in its nature, and of perpetual use, as the rule of a believer's conduct. By Abraham Booth. 12mo. pp. 84. Boston. Manning & Loring.

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Scott's Family Bible, vols. I, II, & III. Price to subscribers $6 per

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vol. Philadelphia. W. W. Woodward. These vols. complete the Old Testament. The fourth and last, which contains the New Testament, will be finished in the spring.

American Annals; or, a Chronological History of America from its Discovery in 1492 to 1806. In two volumes. By Abiel Holmes, D. D. A. A. S. S. H. S. minister of the first church in Cambridge. Vol. II. Cambridge. W. Hilliard.

Hora Pauline; or, the truth of the scripture history of St. Paul evinced by a comparison of the epistles which bear his name with the Acts of the Apostles, and with one another. By William Paley, D. D. Cambridge. W. Hilliard. 1806.

PROPOSED BY SUBSCRIPTION.

A Theological Dictionary, containing definitions of all religious terms; a comprehensive view of every article in the system of divinity; an impartial account of all the principal denominations, which have subsisted in the religious world, from the birth of Christ to the present day; together with an accurate statement of the most remarkable transactions and events recorded in ecclesiastical history. By Charles Buce. Philadelphia.

W. W. Woodward.

A complete system of Geography, ancient and modern, in 6 volumes 8vo. By James Playfair, D. D. Principal of the United College of St. Andrew's Historiographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; F. R. S. F. A. S. Edinburgh; and author of "A system of Chronology." Philadelphia. J. Watts.

Collins, Perkins, & Co. of New York, propose to put immediately to press, a new and valuable work, entitled French Homonysms, or a collection of words, similar in sound, but different in meaning or spelling. By John Martin, professor of languages in New York.

The Era of Missions. By William Staughton, D. D. pastor of the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.

sionary societies to ascend the prophetic mount, to enjoy the vast prospect laid open to their view, and to engage in strenuous, persevering exertions to propagate the gospel. The close is full of rapture.

"We wait in confidence for the full accomplishment of the promise, and participate gladly in the triumph of the gospel. What John saw in vision, we now behold an existing fact. We see another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth. With fervent prayers and raised affections we cordially bid him God speed. Go, welcome messenger of good tidings, bear the invaluable treasure to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Proclaim with a loud voice that the hour of his judgment is come; cry aloud, spare not, until the whole world shall learn to fear God, to give glory to him, and

worship him as their CREATOR and REDEEMER. Amen.”

Such is the sermon, of which we think it useful to exhibit this particular review. Some parts of the discourse might, with advantage, have been abridged, par, ticularly the illustration, page 10, 11, 12. An appendix of unusual length, made up of learned & very useful notes, closes this valua ble pamphlet. The theme of this discourse is judiciously chosen ; the division of the subject and the arrangement of the parts marked with natural simplicity and correct taste, and the whole is evidently executed by the hand of a master. But the highest encomium, which can be bestowed, is found in the im pression, which the sermon has made on devout attentive minds.

Religious Intelligence.

The Twelfth General Meeting of the London Missionary Society, held May 14, 15, and 16, 1806.

"WHAT hath God wrought!" Is an exclamation, which has seldom been uttered with more sensibility than by the members of the Missionary Society at their sucessive meetings, and especially at their twelfth meeting; the particulars of which we have now the pleasure to record.

"What hath God wrought!" said our friends in 1795, when the measure of forming the Missionary Society was so unanimously adopted, when the solemn vote was passed on the evening of September 21, "It is the opinion of this meeting, That the establishment of a society, for sending missionaries to the heathen, and unenlightened countries, is highly desirable," when the places chosen for the first public services were crowded with attentive hearers,

when about two hundred ministers

testified their cordial approbation of the design,-and when, in a few months, many thousand pounds flowed into the treasury of the socieety, then, again and again, did the pious exclamation proceed from a thousand tongues, "What hath God wrought!"

But surely there is now more abundant cause than there was eleven years ago, to admire the good hand of God in this matter. It is more than ever ev, ident, that "the thing proceedeth from the Lord;" and that he deigns to accept and prove the ardent desires, the holy breathings, and the ac. tive exertions of his people, to diffuse the fragrant name of Jesus among those who never heard his fame, nor saw his glory. Every succeeding anniversary strengthens this confidence in God, this lively hope of his effectual blessing; and, to say the least, no preceding Anniversary more than the last. Of this, we believe, none could doubt who were present;—to other

Christian friends we can convey but a faint idea of the general impression by the following detail:

On the evening of Tuesday, May 13, a considerable number of the ministers who had arrived in town, assembled at Haberdasher's Hall, when some arrangements were made repecting the public services of the following days.

On Wednesday morning, a great congregation was assembled at Surry Chapel, long before the time appointed for the commencement of the worship, and notwithstanding an incessant rain, which fell for several hours. Mr. Charles, a minister of the establishment, resident at Bala, in Merionethshire, Wales, preached a sermon from Isaiah x. 27, "And the yoke shall be destroyed, because of the anointing." The preacher considered the text as expressive of a distressing calamity, the bondage and slavery of sinners; and of the means of deliverance by Christ, the anointed Saviour.

In the evening the Rev. Mr. Bradley, of Manchester, delivered a discourse at the Tabernacle, which was exceedingly crowded, from Psalm lxxxiv. 20, "Have respect unto the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." After some general observations on the Psalm, the preacher shewed, by a detail of various particulars, that the Heathen countries are filled with cruelty,-that the great cause of this is moral darkness, the interest the church of God feels in the state of the Heathen,-the way in which it should be expressed,-that God's covenant secures to the church success in undertaking missions to the Heathen.

On Thursday morning the Society held their General Meeting for the Annual Business at Haberdasher's Hall. Mr. J. A. Knight began with prayer. The Minutes of last Annual Meeting were read, together with the original Plan of the Institution. The Report of the Directors, containing an account of their proceedings during the last year, and the present state of the several missions undertaken by the Society, was read; and, we believe, afforded much satisfaction to the Members, of whom there was a more numerous attendance than on ‚Any former occasion. The Rev. Mr.

Hall, of Edinburgh, delivered an animated and impressive Address to the Society, exhorting them to perseverance in the good work, and suggesting many encouraging considerations to strengthen their hearts and hands.

On Thursday evening, Mr. Bogu preached on the appointed subject, from Rom. x. 1, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Mr. Bogue considered the state of the Jews in three periods, viz. of past excellence, present degradation, and future glory; the obligations under which we are laid to seek the conver. sion of the Jews, arising from the claims of gratitude, compassion, equity, justice, and benevolence :-the means to be adopted, in order to effect this object:-and some encouraging considerations by which the duty may be urged. Mr. Frey, one of the house of Israel, concluded the service by prayer.

On Friday morning, a large congregation assembled. Mr. Whittingham, of Everton (the successor of the memorable Mr. Berridge) delivered a discourse from Isaiah xi. 10, " And in that day there shall be a root of Jes se, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." Mr. Whittingham considered the prophetical declaration concerning the Mes siah, which the text contains,-the glorious effects arising from the full accomplishment of this prophecy and he improved the subject by ap plying it to the design of the Missionary Society.

The pleasing solemnities of this Anniversary were concluded as usual, by a Sacramental Communion; to which the friends of the Society were admitted by tickets, previously dis tributed by the Ministers among the Stated Communicants, of various denominations of Christians: so anxious were many persons for accommodation, that they were seated in Sion Chapel nearly three hours before the time fixed for beginning. Much care was taken by dividing the whole area of this vast place into distinct com. partments, marked with large figures, to facilitate the distribution of the elements by the ministers to the great assembly, and to avoid confusion as much as possible.

obvious sense of the words, and not be made to speak the language of our particular theory. If we depart in the smallest degree from this rule, we open the door for incalculable injury to the cause of inspired truth. Were the passage abovementioned the only one, in which similar language is used concerning the ways of God, the construction of T. might be more readily admitted. But no one who has attentively read the Scriptures, needs to be informed that, in different connexions, and in various forms of speech, they often convey the same sentiment. Nor can I easily conceive that the figure, which T. introduces, of God's hardening himself against sinners, conveys a sentiment any more pleasing, or more free from difficulty, than the language of our common version.

T.'s explanation of Rom. ix. 2, 3, I am disposed to receive, if it will bear a close examination. But at present I am apprehensive that it weakens the apostle's reasoning, and sinks the sublime, holy patriotism, which glowed in his breast. At least I would ask, before resorting to T.'s explanation, whether the passage may not receive light from other parts of Paul's writings? May not his admirable sentiment in this place be illustrated by what he said to his brethren, who wept in prospect of the evils to which he would be exposed at Jerusalem; "what mean ye to weep and to break my heart for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Why may it not be illustrated by what he says to Timothy; "I endure all things

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for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory ;" and by the spirit of a martyr, which he so strikingly expresses to the Philippians; yea, and if I be offered, &c." or as Doddridge translates and paraphrases it; "if I should even be poured forth, and my blood be shed, as a kind of libation or drink-offering, on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith, while you are presented by my means, as an acceptable offering to God, far from lamenting that I should meet with death in such a cause, I rather rejoice and congratulate you all. He

not only presents himself as a resolute victim at the altar of God, but speaks of that stroke, by which his blood was to be poured out, as an occasion of joy, and calls for the congratulation of his friends upon it." Finally, how beautifully may the apostle's sublime sentiment, now under consideration be illustrated, by the self-denial of his life; by his voluntary submission to the severest sufferings; and by the Christlike benevolence, with which he forsook his own private interest, and devoted himself unreservedly and heroically, to the cause of the church.

Requesting you, Messrs. Editors, and Theophilus, to consider candidly the freedom of these remarks, and every reader to ex amine and judge for himself, I subscribe your constant friend,

CRITO.

BRIEF REMARKS ON A CIVIL

OATH.

AN oath is the "calling upon God to witness, i. e. to take no

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