he can brighten the funshine of prof perity, and perfume with fweet incenfe the facrifices made to virtue.

Report of the Trufices of the Mif fionary Society of Connecticut.: (Continued from p. 36.)

TH

HE Trustees congratulate the Society on the flourish ing fituation of their funds and the increafing liberality with which the people of the ftate contribute to the fupport of mifions. From the lift of the contributions in the fevral parishes in the state on the firft fabbath of May laft, herewith tranfmitted, the Society will ob ferve that they amount to a very confiderable fum more than in any preceding year. This is a mot pleafing circumftance as it fhows that the people of the ftate are difpofed to aid the Miffionary Society, in their exertions to advance the caufe of truth and piety. It is al fo a curcumftance which fhould call forth emotions of gratitude to that God, who has the hearts of all men at his difpofal, and from whose fpirit it proceeds that any are led to exercife pity and compaflion towards their fuffering fellow-men, and to contribute of their earthly fubftance to the relief of thofe lefs favored than themselves.

You wish to know, my dear young friend, if religion is not a melancholy fervice? Afk thofe who love their God, if they would exchange even the tears of repentance forall the noify mirth of fools? Afk them, when they approach his prefence with fweet and humble confidence, and are fenfible of near and intimate communion with him, if a world would not be bought too dear, if they fhould barter their joys for all it holds in eftimation? What are the feelings of a repenting finner, when viewing the love of God to a fallen world? Exactly fuited to every wish of an enlightened foul is an offered Saviour. It wants nothing elfe. Upon the bleffed terms of the gofpel it defires to receive him; and chiefly because the glory is all his own ; and, as it fecures the honor of the divine government; and humbles the creature, fweetly bends his stubborn will, and brings every power and faculty of the foul into fubmiffion to that will, on which hangs the bleffednefs of the univerfe. How fafe, how fecure is that happy foul, which renouncing every dependence on itself, on its own miferable attainments, can reft on the perfect, immaculate right-ment fubjoined to the narrative, it eoufnefs of God himself? For De- will be feen that within the past year ity became incarnate, and as the feveral donations have been made finner's fubftitute performed every to the Society, that a confiderable jot and tittle of the law, and even fum has been contributed in the rendered it more honorable. There- new fettlements and paid to the fore when confcience accufes, when Miffionaries, and that the permathat law denounces its curfes, the nent fund is increafing, having afinner may plead what Jefus has mounted to upwards of 1200 doldone and fuffered on earth, and lars. To this fund a large addiwhat he is now doing in heaven;tion is expected to be made within and may reft on that bleffed foun- a few months from the profits of dation, a foundation fecure as the the Connecticut Evangelical Magaperfections of an ever-living God. zine, the Trustees having been inMATILDA. formed by the Editors of faid Mag

From the Treasurer's account of receipts and expenditures fince the publication of the narrative laft winter, together with the flate

Legislature, at their last feffon, which was granted, and a refolve paffed authorizing contributions for three years.

With a view of further promoting the defigns of the Society, the Trustees have opened a correfpondence with feveral Miffionary Soci

azine that the profits for the first year, provided punctual payment is made, will probably exceed 1500 dollars. This fum added to that now on hand will make the permanent fund upwards of 2700 dollars. The Trutees are alfo informed that the Rev. Doctor Dwight propofes to give to the So-eties in Europe and America; one ciety, in aid to the establishment of particular object of which correfa permanent fund, twenty dollars pondence, as refpects the Socieon every thoufand copies of the ties in the United States, is to aPfalm-book, now publishing by dopt meafures in concurrence with him, which fhall be fold. The them to prevent a difproportionate money which may be expected to number of Miffionaries being fent arife from this fource, together with to the fame part of the country. the profits of the Connecticut Anfwers to their letters have not Evangelical Magazine, fhould the yet been received except from the work continue to be published with Society for propagating the gofpel, the prefent number of fubfcribers, established at Bolton. That Soci and other donations will, it is hoped, ety employs feveral Miffionaries, in a few years, increafe the fund among a few fmall tribes of Indians to a refpectable amount. ftill left in the State of Maffachufetts, and among the new fettlements in the Province of Maine. Their Miffionaries will not interfere with thofe fent out from this State.

With a view of further increafing the permanent fund the Truftees have directed that all donations which have been or may hereafter be made to the Society, exclufively of the annual contributions of The Trustees continue to rethe people of the State, be appro-ceive letters from various parts of priated to the establishment of a the States of New-York and Verpermanent fund, where not other-mont, expreffing the gratitude of wife efpecially appropriated by the the inhabitants to the Miffionary. donors; and that the intereft of Society and people of Connecticut, the permanent fund be added to for their generous exertions to fathe principal, until otherwife or- vour them with the preaching of dered by the Board. the gofpel and the daminiftration of Chriftian ordinances. They mention that their scattered fitua, tion and other curcumftances peculiar to new fettlements, will neceffarily render them unable for a confiderable time to fettle a competent number of ministers among them. They therefore folicit the further exertions of the fociety on their behalf. The Trustees have

The time having elapfed for which contributions were granted by a refolve of the General Affembly of the State paffed in the year 1798, the Truttees in compliance with the 5th article of the Conftitution of the Society, which directs them to "adopt fuch meafures, from time to time, for raifing funds, as they fhall judge to be expedient," thought it their duty to apply for a renewal of the grant. They accordingly prefented a memorial to the Honorable

thought it proper again to prefent an addrefs to the inhabitants of the new fettlements, in which they have called up their attention to

the fubject of affifting in the fupport of Miffionaries by contributions among themfelves fo far as their circumitances fhall permit.

Having given this detail of their proceedings, the Trustees clofe their report by commending the important concerns of the Society to Almighty God, praying that he would appear to build up Zion, and fill the earth with righteoufnefs and peace.

In the name of the Trustees,
ABEL FLINT, Secretary.
Hartford, June 10th, 1801.

T

of

MESS'RS. EDITORS, HE following is a narration of the hopeful converfion of a young perfon in the 24th year his age, in one of the late religious revivals, in New-England. It was written by himself, without any idea of its ever appearing in public. If it is thought it will be for the fpiritual edification of your readers, you are at liberty to put it into the Magazine, you have it in the original, unftudied fimplicity of the author's own words, as follows:

"I had fome ferious impref

endeavoured to build up a tightcoufnefs of my own; but was finally convinced that I could not recommend myfelf to the favor of God. This caufed me great diftrefs. But my convictions gradually decreafed, and I became fomewhat thoughtless concerning a future ftate, for about a year, when my eyes were in fome meafure opened to fee on what foundation I was standing. I again tried to do fomething to help myfelf. I was careful to attend religious meetings, and to read the bible and often retired in fecret to prayBut I found I was not fincere in my pretended duties; but that my heart was in oppofition to the very things I afleed for; that I had no any thing that was good, but that my heart was full of iniquity, that every thing that I did was all felf. It appeared to me that I was in the hand of a sovereign God, and that he would do

defire for

I was juftly condemned to hell. me as he pleafed. I faw that That it was nothing but the abufed patience of God, that kept me from deftruction. I faw that my own weight was more than enough to carry me down, as foon as God

fions, when I was about ten, or
twelve years old; but was in gene
ral careless, and thoughtlefs. My
attention was in fome measure, cal
led up again when I was about fif-
teen; but I foon grew ftupid, and
lived, for the most part, as the
world in general do, until I was
about twenty-two, when my at
tention was in a confiderable man-
ner called up to the important
things of eternity. I faw that I
was expofed to hell, that I had
been a finner, and that I had lived
a wicked life. I thought I mufting a guilty confcience and a stub-
try to mend my ways by breaking
off from all my evil conduct.
VOL. II. No. 2.

withdrew his fupporting hand
fhort. Eternity feemed to be at
Time appeared to me exceeding
the door. I tried every way to
do fomething towards preparing
for the fcenes that were before me,
but found that I lay at the mere
mercy of God; and all the curfes
of his word were out against me.
I was condemned by God, and -
man. It seemed to me that I was
a burden to all creation. I faw
my danger to be awful! I was at
times filled with great diftrefs, hav-

barred me from good; and that born will. I faw that my will it was fo ftubborn that nothing but K

It

Ijoice that the Lord reigned; that I was in his hand, as the clay was in the hand of the potter. seemed to me that the defire of my foul was that God might be glori fied, and his kingdom built up. I now faw great beauty in the way of falvation by Christ, as it was fo calculated to humble the creature, in the duft before God. I thought I could rejoice to be nothing, that God might be all. This world appeared like God's world, and every thing in it fpake forth his praife. I now thought I lov ed his word, and his image whereever I faw it; and rejoiced that God would bring me into judgement, and that I fhould be judged according to the deeds done in the body. I feel at times great pity, for thofe that are out of Chrift, to fee them going on to deftruction, many of them without concern. But I think it is a comfort that they are in the hands of God, and that I am in his hands, and at his difpofal who hath infinite wifdom, and cannot do other ways than right."

almighty power could bow it. fometimes thought that I had finned away the day of grace, and that there was no mercy for me. I had at times fuch a fenfe of the difmal condition of thofe, that fhould fall under the wrath of God, and the wrath of God appeared fo terrible, that it feemed as if I could not endure the fight. I had at times fuch a fenfe of the immediate prefence of God, that it would take away my ftrength. I felt that he faw my heart, and I could not get out of his prefence, but his all-feeingeye was upon me. I faw that the prefence of God would be hell to me. I could not bear the fight of his children: I hated the fight of all that loved God. I feldom faw a beaft, or any kind of creature, but that I longed to be in their place. I faw I ought immediately to repent, and believe the gofpel. It feemed to me that I ought to fuffer eternal punishment for not that moment accepting of offered mercy. I now faw and felt that all I had done was nothing, and worfe than nothing that I grew more stubborn and chofe the way to hell. And though I could not bear the thought of being in the hands of a fovereign God, yet it feemed to me that all the hope I had, was in the fovereignty of God, and election.

I faw I fhould never come of myfelf, my will was fuch, but if ever I was faved it must be of the mere mercy of God; yet I could not endure the thought of accepting of mercy as a free gift. I felt fo proud and ftubborn, that I could not be willing to come down at the feet of Jefus. But it pleafed God as I hope to bow this stubborn and rebellious will; and to give me fweet refignation to his divine will.

I thought then that I could re

S

QUESTIONS.

MESS'RS. EDITORS, INCE one important object of your ufeful Magazine is "expofitions of difficult or doubtful paffages of fcripture," one of your readers defires an answer to the following queftions, on the prophecy, Ifaiah xlix. 22, 23. "Thus faith the Lord God, behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and fet up my ftandard to the people: and they fhall bring thy fons in their arms, and thy daughters fhall be carried upon their fhoulders. And Kings fhall be thy nur fing fathers, and their Queens thy nuifing mothers: they fhall bow down to thee with their face to

wards the earth, and lick up the | all appearance, fincere and livley Chriftians.

Queft. ft. Does not this proph-ftate of vital piety. Revivals, of a ecy pointedly refpect the times of the moft pure ftate of the Chriftian Church, on earth?

2d. Does it not pointedly prom-church. In the northern and eafife, that, in thofe happy times, kings, or civil rulers and their queens fhall be nurfing parents of the Chriftian church, being them-gion; and its interefts appear evifelves examples of evangelical piety, and fought for, among other qualifications, on that account?