which are binding upon believers in general, are doubly so upon us. But the point to which I would call your attention, is that of our public labors. Much wisdom is necessary to direct us faithfully on this subject. The complexion of our cause depends, in a good degree, upon the course we pursue in this respect. If we only act the part of assailants, and direct all our labors against the tottering system of endless misery, if we are perpetually dwelling upon doctrines, it is to be feared that we shall make our hearers petty disputants, rather than pious and practical Christians. That cause must be weak which requires its votaries to be always laboring in its defence. We have carried on our warfare against the common enemy, till his forces have been driven from the field, and disposed in the brush-wood. An offensive warfare, therefore, is no longer necessary. Instead of keeping our legions arrayed on our frontiers, which must, of course, exhaust our resources, instead of laboring exclusively to extend the bounds of our Israel, which will only render our empire unwieldy and enfeebled, let us, in the true policy of the day, turn our attention to internal improvements, and endeavor by all means to consolidate our republic. This is the most effectual manner of promoting the interest of our cause. dwell perpetually upon the promises of God, we go counter to the example of him, who was anointed to proclaim "the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of the vengeance of our God." If we make no other use of the threatenings in scripture, than to explain them away, and convert them into mere promises, we weaken the obligations of the religion we profess, and injure the cause we are laboring to support. Since virtue and happiness are inseparably connected, let us direct our labors to this one point, viz. to make men virtuous. In our public and private capacity, may this be our end and aim. In all our public labors, let us strive, not to exhibit wit and bitterness, but to display candor and charity; not to amuse the fancy, but to instruct the understanding; not to excite people to laughter, but move them to soberness; for the church is not a play-house, nor the bible a jest-book. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified."

By order,

If we

CHARLES HUDSON,

The following is a copy of an original letter from the venerable Franklin, to a minister of a church in the south part of New-Jersey, which has been recently discovered there, among some old family papers. It is a composition perfectly in the manner and spirit of that great and good man. Philadelphia, June 6, 1753.

"Dear Sir,

I received your kind letter of the 2d inst. and am glad to hear that you increase in strength-I hope you will continue mending until you recover your former health and firmness. Let me know whether you still use the cold bath, and what effect it has. As to the kindness you mention, I wish it could have been of more serious service to you; but if it had, the only thanks I should desire, are, that you would always be ready to serve any other person that may need your assistance; and so let good offices go round: for mankind are all of a family. For my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors, but as paying debts. In my travels and since my settlement, I have received much kindness from men to whom I shall never have an opportunity of making the least direct return; and numberless mercies from God, who is infinitely above being benefitted by our services. These kindnesses from men, I can, therefore, only return to their fellow men; and I can only show my gratitude to God by a readiness to help his other children, and my brethren, for I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less, to our Creator.

"You will see, in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven, we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such a reward. He that, for giving a draught of cold water to a thirsty person, should expect to be

paid with a good plantation, would be modest in his demands compared with those who think they deserve heaven for the little good they do on earth. Even the mixed imperfect pleasures we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit; how much more so the happiness of heaven? For my part, I have not the vanity to think I deserve it, the folly to expect it, or the ambition to desire it, but content myself in submitting to the disposal of that God who made me, who has hitherto preserved and blessed me, and in whose fatherly goodness I may well confide, that he never will make me miserable, and that the affliction I may at any time suffer, may tend to my benefit.

"The faith you mention has, doubtless, its use in the world. I do not desire to see it lessened in any man, but I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seeh it. I mean real good works of kindness, charity, mercy and public spirit ; not holy-day keeping, sermon hearing or reading; performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments, despised even by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity.

"The worship of God is a duty-the hearing and reading may be useful; but if men rest in hearing and praying as too many do, it is as if the tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produced any fruit.

"Your good master thought much less of these outward appearances than many of his modern disciples. He preferred the doers of the word to the hearers; the son that seemingly refused to obey his father and yet performed his commands, to him that professed his readiness, but neglected the work; the heretical but charitable Samaritan, to the uncharitable but orthodox priest and sanctified Levite, and those who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, and raiment

to the naked, entertainment to the stranger, and never heard of his name, he declares shall, in the last day, be accepted; when those who cry, Lord, Lord, who value themselves on their faith, though great enough to perform miracles, but have neglected good works, shall be rejected. He professes that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, which implied his modest opinion, that there were some in his time so good, that they need not hear him for improvement; but now-a-days we have scarcely a little parson that does not think it the duty of every man within his reach to sit under his petty ministration, and that whoever omits this, offends God.-I wish to such more humility, and to your health and firmness,-Being your friend and servant,—

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

MISCELLANEOUS.

General Convention.-The ministers and delegates constituting the General Convention of Universalists, will meet at Hartland, on the third Wednesday and Thursday of September next. Brethren and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

The Northern Association of Universalists will convene at Danville, Vt. on the first Wednesday and Thursday of October next.

Eastern Association of Universalists convened at Wayne, in the State of Maine, July 6, 1825, and organized their Council by choosing Br. Jabez Woodman, Moderator, and Brs. Sylvanus Cobb and Wm. Ą. Drew, Clerks. The ministers whose names follow, took parts in the religious services. Jabez Woodman, Sylvanus Cobb, Wm. A. Drew, Russel Streeter, Wm. Frost, Al

van Dinsmore, Massena B. Ballou, Henry Hawkins, Thomas Dolloff, Taylor Whittier, and George Bates. Brs. Alexander Hatch and Taylor Whittier received letters of fellowship, and George Bates, Thomas Dolloff, and Henry Hawkins were set apart to the gospel ministry by receiving ordination. This Association adjourned to meet at Union, on the last Wednesday and Thursday of June, 1826. Chris. Intel.

Southern Association. -The Southern Association convened according to adjournment, in South Wilbraham, Mass. Organized their council by choosing Br. Sebastian Streeter, Moderator, and John Bisbee, Clerk. The names of the ministers who were present and took parts in the public services, are as follows: Brs. Hosea Ballou, Sebastian Streeter, John Bisbee, Jun. Hubbard H. Winchester, Joshua Flagg, Hosea Ballou, 2d, Thomás Whittemore, J. P. Fuller, L. R. Page, and T. G. Farnsworth. Brs. L. R. Page and J. P. Fuller received ordination. Rel. Eng.

The request of Elias, in our first number, for some one to explain John v. 24, 29, will be attended to in our next.

INSTALLATION.

On Thursday, the 19th of July, the Rev. SETH STETSON Was installed over the Universalist Church and Society in Salem, Mass. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Paul Dean, of Boston, from 2 Cor. xii. 14. "I seek not but you." yours, ren Hubbard H. Winchester, S. Streeter, T. Jones, and H. Ballou, 2d, took parts in the services.

Breth