ance of a large choir of singers, who tuned every heart to the influence of devotion, while thronging multitudes and listening thousands inhaled the pure spirit of impartial benevolence, and with joy unspeakable and full of glory, received the divine energy of eternal and infinite love. From the record of Heaven's gracious will, and the Testament of eternal mercy, we learned that God is the ever-living fountain of goodness, the everlasting Benefactor of all his creatures, and that no created being can prevail against us. There we contemplated the vast importance of the pure inspiration of Heaven, uncontaminated by the senseless traditions of a superstitious world, and unadulterated by the labors of imperfect men.-There we feasted on the bread of God which giveth spiritual and eternal life to a sinful, famishing world. There we received the strong injunction of perpetual continuance in the doctrine of divine life and eternal truth. The heavens showered down righteousness and grace -our minds were instructed our souls edified—our hearts gladdened-our spirits rejoiced-the silken cord of divine love entwined every heart-the accents of mercy breathed in every breeze-creation smiled in the boundless bounty of God-and the swelling tide of gratitude and heart-felt joy ascended to the holy habitation of Divinity.

The believers in the fulfilment of the divine promise that all nations, all families, and all kindreds of the earth shall be blessed with justification through faith in Christ, the spiritual head of every man and the heir of all things, have abundant reason to rejoice in all the dispensations of our heavenly Father, and to let their light shine before men that others beholding their good works may glorify their Father in heaven. Brethren, while you behold the light of the Sun of righteousness beaming from on high in all the splendor of unclouded day, and chasing darkness from the human mind-while you are surrounded with the numberless blessings of the all-bountiful Providence of God, and enjoy the privileges of social existence

while you feel the delightful, the life-giving influence of Almighty goodness and grace-while, by an eye of faith, you witness the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christwhile you contemplate the nameless felicities of immortality and endless life-can you suppress the rising emotions of love to the God of your salvation? Can you fail to cherish the spirit of universal philanthropy— to promote the peace and good order of society-to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly-and to evince by well ordered lives and conversation that you have been taught of God? May the peace of God that passeth all understanding be ever yours.

Brethren in the ministry of universal reconciliation, Suffer the word of exhortation from one who would ever joyfully share with you the instructions of divine wisdom, and would humbly solicit the counsel of age and experience in the reciprocal exercise of fraternal affection, and the faithful performance of christian duty. The whitened fields of the Redeemer's harvest extend in boundless prospect. The chrystalline streams of the river of life in gentle currents flow-The spirit of inquiry is abroad in the earth, and all eyes are directed to the mountain of Zion to receive the blessing of those whose feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of divine peace, who bring good tidings, who publish salvation, who proclaim the universally triumphant reign of Jehovah, and pronounce the words of eternal life. If you would finish your course with joy to testify the everlasting gospel of the impartial grace of God, it is highly important that you give yourselves wholly to these things that your profiting may appear to all that you hold frequent, sweet communion with your God-that you teach by precept as well as by example-that you preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace-that you be instant in season and out of season in the arduous labors of your vocation-and that you ever keep in view the bright example of our Lord and Master, whose soul was compassion, whose life was purity, whose word was truth,

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and whose governing principle was, thy will, O God, be done! Remember that it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful. Remember that the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient in meekness, instructing those who oppose themselves. Remember that our bond of union is not any particular speculative opinion, but it is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned. Preserve inviolable, this bond of perfectness. Your duty is to instruct the ignorant, reform the vicious, console the afflicted, confirm the wavering, uphold the weak, relieve the oppressed, break the bread of life, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine; and let humility, sincerity, forbearance and charity, adorn your lives, while instrumentally directing the triumphant march of the human mind to the glorious Temple of divine wisdom and eternal truth. Above all things, be entreated to remember your entire dependence on Him at whose mandate all worlds were formed-all beings created, and all creation crowned with light and glory.

All herein addressed, are most affectionately commended to the paternal care and tender mercy of a God of underived, immutable, unbounded, and endless love! And may all people respond, Amen.

Per order,

PITT MORSE.

From the Universalist Magazine.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSALISTS.

At their annual meeting, the Southern Association of Universalists convened at the house of Col. Sullivan Sumner, of Milford, Mass. Dec. 9th, 1823.

Br. Thomas Whittemore opened the meeting of the Council by prayer.

Chose Br. Richard Carrique, Moderator.

Br. Jacob Frieze, Clerk.

Chose Brs. Edward Turner, Barzillai Streeter, and Joshua Flagg, a Committee to receive requests for Letters of Fel

lowship and Ordination. Adjourned to Wednesday morning, half past eight o'clock. Prayer by Br. T. G. Farnsworth.

Wednesday morning, met according to adjournment. Br. H. Ballou 2d. opened by prayer.

The Committee appointed at the session of this Association, in June last, to labor with the Authors of the "Appeal and Declaration," reported, that they had attended to that duty, but without effect.-Voted to accept said Report, and to discharge the Committee from further service.

Order of Public Service on Wednesday Morning.
Introductory prayer, Br. C. Hudson.

Sermon by Br. B. Streeter, from 2 Tim. i. 10. "Who hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Concluding prayer by Br. B. Whittemore.

Afternoon Service.

Introductory prayer by Br. David Pickering.

Sermon by Br. Edward Turner-Text, 1 Cor. ii. 14. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." Concluding prayer by Br. H. Ballou 2d.

In Council, after divine service,-Chose Brs. Hosea Ballou, David Pickering, Jacob Frieze, Richard Carrique, and Hosea Ballou 2d. a Committee to draft proposals of reconciliation between those brethren, who are the Authors of the "Appeal and Declaration," and this Association. Adjourned to Thursday morning, at half past eight o'clock. Br. Adin Ballou closed by prayer.

Thursday morning met according to adjournment.
Prayer by Br. Edward Turner.

The Committee appointed, last evening, presented the following proposals, which were accepted by the Association. Here follows:

Whereas certain publications, called an Appeal to the Public and a Declaration to the World, have been construed to indicate a disfellowship, as expressed in a Resolve of the Southern Association, the undersigned, authors of the Declaration, being possessed of a fervent desire to restore the happy union and fellowship of our religious order, and to enjoy ourselves, desire to remove all difficulties above noted, by certifying that we do most cordially acknowledge and accept as christian ministers, and brethren, such as

differ from us on the subjects of doctrine, maintained in the above named publications. And we receive and consider the acceptance of this proposal by the Association, as an assurance on their part, that they reciprocate the sentiments and feelings of christian fellowship above mentioned, EDWARD TURNER.

BARZILLAI STREETER.
CHARLES HUDSON.

Voted, the same is fully satisfactory to this Association, in relation to the signers thereof, and that this body reciprocate the christian feeling and fellowship, therein expressed. Order of services on Thursday morning. Introductory prayer by T. G. Farnsworth.

Sermon by Br. D. Pickering, from Isaiah liii. 1. "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"

Concluding prayer by Br. A. Ballou.

In the afternoon, Br. Adin Ballou was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ordination. Order of Services.

Introductory prayer by Br. R. L. Killam.

Sermon by Br. H.Ballou,-text, 2 Tim. iv. 2. "Preach the word, be instant, in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Consecrating prayer by Br. J. Flagg.

Charge and delivery of the Scriptures, by Br. R. Carrique.

Right hand of Fellowship by Br. H. Ballou 2d.
Concluding prayer by Br. C. Hudson.

Granted Letters of Fellowship to Brs. Eliphalet Case, Jr. and Calvin Gardner.

Adjourned to meet again at the First Universalist Meeting House in Attleborough, Mass. on the 2d Wednesday and Thursday in June next.

Br. H. Ballou closed the Session by solemn and devout

prayer.

RICHARD CARRIQUE, Moderator.
JACOB FRIEZE, Clerk.