TO CORRESPONDENTS. T's "Observations on the account given in Rev. xx. 4-6, of the first and second resurrection, shall appear in our next number. B's critical observations on several texts of Scripture, are approved, & on file. A review of Mrs. Warren's History of the American Revolution, and of D. Mason's sermon, on Messiah's Reign; and also Memoirs of the late Rev. John Sergeant, father of the present missionary of that name, and of the Rev. John Moorhead, are received, and are intended for publication next month. We thank our respected correspondent Beta, for the letters he has sent us, "from an aged clergyman, to a young student in divinity." The attention of our readers, and particularly of magistrates_and legislators, is invited to the piece on the execution of laws, which will well reward a careful perusal, TO THE PUBLIC. AGREEABLY to an intimation in the Panoplist for October, the Editors of that work beg leave to state to their patrons in particular, and to the public in general, to whom they hold themselves responsible for the profits of their work, which are pledged to “ charitable uses," that their success, notwithstanding many obstacles thrown in their way, has much surpassed their expectations; that the avails of the Panoplist have enabled them to discharge all its debts for the first year, though increased by various necessary expenditures, which will not occur in future; and that a balance remains for "charitable uses," the exact amount of which, for reasons following, has not yet been ascertained. The Editors have experienced very considerable difficulties in closing their accounts for the first year, arising from unavoidable imperfection in their ear ly arrangements, and the scattered and distant situation of many of the subscribers and agents, from some of whom arrearages are yet due. Most of these inconveniences, they think, will not occur again. The profits already received, have been disposed of as follows: pious and ingenious young men, in indigence, to acquire educa- 810000 To the Hampshire Missionary Society 108 00 21 35 229 35 Beside the above, there is at least an equal sum, for like charitable uses, in uncollected debts, and in the Numbers of the first volume of the Panoplist unsold, in the hands of the Editors and their agents. When the amount of this unestimated property shall be ascertained, it will be carried to the credit of the charity fund, at the close of this year, when the Editors intend to exhibit an official report under the hands of the Trustees. In the mean time, they offer their grateful acknowledgments to their numerous subscrib ers for their past encouragement; and as this work is not intended to enrich its Editors, but to enlighten the minds, and do good to the souls of their fellow-men, to explain and defend the doctrines, and to recommend the precepts of the gospel, and to collect a fund for the benefit of the poor, they confidently sqlicit continued patronage from the friends of evangelical truth. of divine influences be here asserted, these strong declarations must have little or no import. For it is here said, that they, who are Christ's, have the Spirit of Christ; and that they, who are the sons of God, are led by this Spirit; i. e. directed and influenced in a holy life; and that those, who live in Christian obedience, do it by aid from above. It is through the Spirit, that they mortify the deeds of the body. Goodness, righteousness, and truth, are said to be fruits of the Spirit, (Eph. v. 9.) and so are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance, (Gal. v. 22, 23.) We know not the way of the Spirit; nor ought we to attempt minuteness in describing the manner, in which its effects are produced. God uses various instruments, and frequently accomplishes the same purpose by different means. At one time he leads the mind to serious contemplation of some weighty and alarming subject, and presents that subject to the view, in a clear and striking light. He fixes the attention of sinners on those considerations, which most evidently demonstrate their danger, and the certain ruin, to which they are approaching. He directs the humble soul, the broken and the contrite heart, to those declarations of mercy, contained in the covenant of grace; and either communicates, withholds consolation, as his wisdom and goodness dictate. or As to directing the Christian's life, God may, by an imperceptible impulse, preserve him from violent and overbearing temptations; or, when temptations are presented, may invigorate and Vol. II. No. 9. Ff establish his good resolutions by bringing to his mind som striking passages of Scripture, or some alarming ideas of God's presence, or of the world to come. He may excite him to a religious activity by representing to him the danger of sloth in the business of salvation; or may urge him to sobriety by representing to him the great solemnity of the work, in which he is engaged. Of Though the indwelling of the Spirit, or to be led by the Spirit, is peculiar to the children of God; yet there is reason to believe that all men under the gospel receive something of divine communications. The ancient Jews did always resist the Holy Ghost; but they could not have resisted the Holy Ghost, unless he had been sent to them. sinners it may, in general, be said, as of the ancient Jews, that they will not submit to the suggestions and influence of divine grace; they oppose and grieve the Spirit of God. Whereas the humble and contrite soul yields to the grace of Christ, becomes obedient to divine emotions, is led by the Spirit, and through the Spirit mortifies the deeds of the body. As God has a perfect knowledge of all means, circumstances, events and combinations of events; it seems reasonable to suppose, what is in fact the case, that he makes use of various means in producing the fruits of holiness in the human heart. Sometimes loss of worldly substance, severe disappointments, imminent danger, alarming sickness, the examples, or the private admonitions of good men, consideration of their triumphant death, or of the despairing death of the ungodly, and the reading of pious books, are used by God, as means of conviction, serious inquiry, and holiness. But the public ministration of the word, as it is the great instrument of God's own appointment, must be viewed as that, by which he usually, though not invariably, operates. That knowledge indeed of the blessed gospel of Christ, which we obtain by reading, by private and public instruction, is, in a certain degree, instrumental in every conversion, and in promoting the piety of every good man; for it is under the impression of evangelical truths, that our minds are excited, alarmed, renewed, and led on to holy obedience. The strength of religious impressions, and the outward evidence of the change, produced by them, are not less various, than the means, by which these impressions are made.. Some persons are exceedingly distressed, and violently agitated under the fearful apprehensions of divine wrath; and there have been some very extraordinary and sudden changes in the tempers, pursuits, and lives of men. There have been instances of men, whose lives had been wholly given up to dissipation and sinful pleasure, suddenly arrested in their dangerous career, and exhibiting, ever after, the fruits of holiness in a well ordered life. For, although there are many marvellous accounts of this nature, which, upon close examination, come to nothing; yet there are others, supported on such clear and weighty evidence, that it is difficult to see, how any candid and reasonable man can possibly deny them. Yet far the more common and ordinary way of the Spirit's working is less perceptible. The wind bloweth where it listeth; and ye hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. Our blessed Saviour has said, so is the kingdom of heaven, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. To the opinion of Dr. Watts on the subject of regeneration and divine influences we do most cordially accede. "In the primitive days of Christianity," saith he, "and. in the age of miracles, the Holy Ghost attended the preachers of the gospel, with his extraordina ry gifts of healing, of tongues, of prophecy, as well as with the graces of conviction, sanctification, and comfort; and the suddenness, and the glory of the change that was wrought on sinners, carried with it an illustrious and uncontested proof of the presence and power of God, and his Spirit. Nor has some faint resemblance of such glorious grace been altogether wanting in later ages. There have been some most remarkable instances of great sinners, converted at once by the gospel of Christ, and the demonstration of the Spirit. "But in his more usual and ordinary communications of grace, he works so gently upon our nature, and in so sweet and connatural a manner, as not to distinguish his agency, in a sensible manner, from the motions of our own souls; for he never disturbs our rational powers, nor may therefore easily be imagin- "Ah!-little think the gay- How many pine in want, and dun- Shut from the common air." THOMSON. Here I might paint, but I shall rather leave it to you to imagine, the extatic joy which many groaning under oppression felt, at starting into life and happiness, through the interposition of this their generous Patron; and the gratitude too, which even those who justly suffered imprisonment felt, for the alleviation of their miseries by his kind offices. His disinterestedness also in these exertions for the good of mankind, is deserving of our particular notice. For besides the consideration of the fatigues he endured, the dangers to which he exposed his person, and the expenses of various kinds he incurred, he well knew the reports he made to the public would af ford disgust rather than entertainment, and so be read and regarded by few. He wrote therefore not for the amusement of the curious, and could expect no applause from the unfeeling. Indeed his object was the information of Legislators, of whom he sought, and from whom, to his great satisfaction, he obtained, the redress of many evils he complained of. "As nothing, says he, but a consciousness of duty could have enabled me to go through all the disagreeable scenes which lay in my way, so I had the happiness of being placed out of the reach of other incitements." There is one more trait in his character which must not be overlooked, and that is his Temperance. Such a mastery he obtained over himself, that a little food, and that chiefly of the vegetable kind, satisfied the demands of nature; and with one night's rest out of three he could, for a long course of time, pursue his journies. No consideration could prevail on him to partake of the luxuries of the most elegant table, or to allow himself more rest than was absolutely necessary. Nor yet was he influenced, in this kind of discipline he observed, by cynical austerity. He found this mode of living most agreeable to his constitution, and best qualified him for those active exertions, which were the pleasure of his life. Such were the moral endowments of this extraordinary man; such his Fortitude, his Humanity, his Disinterestedness, and Temperance. I go on now to speak of his religious character. He was a firm believer of divine revelation. Nor was he ashamed of those truths he heard stated, explained, and enforced in this place. He had made up his mind, as he said, upon his religious sentiments, and was not to be moved from his stedfastness by novel opinions obtruded on the world. Nor did he content himself with a bare profession of these divine truths. He entered into the spirit of the gospel, felt its power, and tasted its sweetness. You know, my friends, with what seriousness and devotion he attended, for a long course of years, on the worship of God among us, It would be scarce decent for me to repeat the affectionate things he says, in a letter written me from a remote part of the world, respecting the satisfaction and pleasure he had felt in the relig. ious exercises of this place. I shall however be excused, if I just observe, that his hours of religious retirement, whether on land or at sea, were employed in reviewing the notes he had taken of sermons delivered here. And "these, adds he, are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Oh, Sir, how many Sabbaths have I ardently longed to spend in WildStreet! God in Christ is my Rock, the portion of my soul !” His candour, as might naturally be expected in a man of his exemplary piety, was great. As he steadily adhered to his religious principles, so he abhorred bigotry. Having met with difficulties in his inquiries after truth, he knew how to make allowance for those who met with benefactions. He well remembered what the benevolent Jesus was used to say when on earth, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Few, who sought his assistance, were refused, and many obtained it without seeking it. The advancement of the interests of truth and religion, was an object in his view most important. To the erecting of many a place of worship did he liberally contribute. And with what cheerfulness he assisted in building this house you need not be told. "He accounted it an honour, he said, to join his name with yours." Good men of every denomination he affectionately loved. And while with a manly firmness he asserted and maintained his own religious sentiments, agreeably to the sense he felt of their importance; he was a good deal hurt at every approach, in his apprehension, towards a little, narrow, contracted spirit in matters of religion. Yet he was a Dissenter from the established church on principle. Nor was he ashamed to have it known to all the world that this was his profession. He well understood the grounds of his dissent, nor could he on any consideration think it his duty to take the sacramental test as a qualification, either for enjoying any place of honour and emolument, or serv ing any burdensome office in the state. Called upon, however, to the latter, he did not avail himself of this just excuse for declining the service; but resolutely undertook it, at the hazard of incurring enormous pains and penalties, from which nothing but a bill of indemnity could secure him, |