Rev. Eli F. Cooley and Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, to attend the next meeting of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper. Rev. William A. M'Dowell, to attend the next meeting of the General Association of New Hampshire, and the next meeting of the General Convention of Vermont. Resolved, That the Assembly, and such persons as may choose to unite with them, will spend a part of next wednesday evening, in this church, in special prayer and other religious exercises; and that Drs. Wilson, Neill and Rodgers, be a committee to make arrangements for the occasion, and to designate persons to lead in the exercises. The concert of prayer was held accordingly, and the audience was solemn and unusually large. Resolved, That a free conversation on the state of religion be the order of the day for next Monday. A connected Narrative of the state of Religion was read; and, being amended, was adopted, and is as follows: The General Assembly in giving to the churches under their care a detailed account of the state and prosperity of Zion, find themselves affected by mingled emotions, in which joy and gratitude have the ascendency. A view of the operations of Divine grace in our churches during the past year, clearly demonstrates, not only that God is "ever mindful of his covenant with his people, that he will not forever hide his face from the children of his love, but also, that "the time,even the set time to favour many parts of the American Zion has Now come." If, when receiving a particular account of God's dealings with his people, we find, in some instances, that " iniquity abounds, and the love of some who have professed to serve the Lord, has waxed cold; that stupidity, luke-warmness, deadness, or vice, have paralyzed the arm of religious exertion, or stopped the pulse of religious feeling ;" the General Assembly feel thankful to the great head of the church, that they are soon relieved from dwelling on these dark and depressing scenes. A brighter and more animating state of affairs soon rises to notice. Instances, in which "the arm of the Lord has been signally revealed ". to 'ma' ny, who had been long" sitting in the darkness of spiritual death," or benumbed by a death-like lethargy and indifference to spiritual concerns, gild the prospects, inspire with hope, encourage and animate us to wait for the Divine blessing in the way of God's appointment, and in the use of those means which he has designated. In noticing the events which have transpired during the past year, the General Assembly, cannot but regard them as characteristic of a new and highly interesting æra of the church of Christ. They can state, from information received from different sections of the church, that infidelity stalks abroad with a less confident and unblushing aspect, than in times past; that “ intemperance and profanity have become less frequent, and that a decent and respectful attention is generally paid to the external duties of piety. True it is, that this state of things does not every where prevail. In some sections of the church the people of God are mourning and in tears, because the SABBATH of the Lord is not hallowed, and because, instead of "remembering to keep it holy," some continue to do their own pleasure, and attend to secular pursuits on this holy day! TRAVELLING ON THE LORD'S DAY is not uniformly, nor carefully, avoided; and, though, in SOME parts of our land, this sin is reprobated and punished, (and the General Assembly mention this fact in the language of commendation, and in hopes that it will receive notice and imitation,) yet, in OTHERS, it is regarded as of a venial character, and committed with but little compunction! The General Assembly advert to this, for the purpose of expressing the sense which they entertain of it, as a flagrant violation of express and commanded duty; as calculated to provoke the Divine indignation and to bring down the heaviest judgments! It is with pleasure, however, that the General Assembly can report the harmony, the union, and the peace of the church; the fidelity of its ministers; and the instances of exemplary piety, of fervent zeal, and of generous and devoted attachment to the cause of the Redeemer, which are presented to their notice. "The Garden of God" has been copiously watered with showers of Divine grace: many trees planted in it, have attained the strength and beauty of the "Cedars of Lebanon," and brought forth fruit abundantly. Amongst the MEANS which God has especially blessed to the conversion of sinners, and to the edification and increase of his church-Catechetical Instruction, Sunday Schools, and Bible Classes, deserve a special notice. In most congregations, the youthful mind has been directed to that" form of sound words" contained in the Catechisms of our church, and thus supplied with materials to comfort and protect them in riper years, as well as to guide them in the morning of life. If the testimony of EXPERIENCE will be listened to on this head, it will pronounce loudly in favour of communicating instruction by means of Catechisms; for IT proclaims that God has hitherto greatly blessed THIS mode of imparting religious knowledge. Sunday Schools also occupy a prominent situation in the details of the occurrences of the past year. In several portions of our land these schools have been constituted for the instruction of the poor and ignorant. The moments of holy domestic leisure which occur on the Lord's Day, are appropriated to this laudable undertaking.Multitudes of the ignorant and the young, having been led to the fountains of human knowledge, and taught to read the word of life, have been conducted, by their benevolent instructors, to the Temple of the living God, to seek for that knowledge by which they may "become wise unto salvation." In the city of Philadelphia, more than five thousand CHILDREN, as well as many aged persons, are instructed in this manner. In New York, the youthful pupils exceed four thousand.-And, when noticing and approving this laudable, and (in our country) novel mode of instructing those "who were ready to perish, and had none to help them," it would be ungenerous and unjust not to award the meed of applause where it has been so richly merited, to declare, that" the DAUGHTERS of Zion" have done nobly in this undertaking. They have certainly performed a conspicuous and important part, and deserve well of the friends of humanity and religion. They have thus been the - honoured instruments of " plucking many of our race, as brands out of the everlasting burning," and rendering them useful and ornamental members of civil society, and blessings to the church of God! May the prayers of the widow, and the blessings of the fatherless, attend and stimulate them to farther exertions! "Bible Classes" have been formed in different sections of the church; and the object of their formation has been to render the young and ignorant familiar with the volume of Holy Writ: and so great has been the aptitude which has been manifested, that some of the children have been able to repeat to their instructors, at a single recitation, several hundred verses of the sacred. volume. Bible and Tract Societies have greatly multiplied in our country, during the last year. From Georgia to Main, endeavors have been made to convey the Word of Life, the consolations and support of the Gospel, to the remotest cottage on our borders. They who have been long sitting in the darkness of the shadow of death -without the light of revelation,-ignorant of what the Gospel of Christ has done, and what it can do, are no longer in this distressing situation! The lamp of revelation now shines in many a hitherto gloomy mansion; and illuminates, and directs, and cheers many a hitherto darkened soul! In the distribution of religious Tracts, (in which the reality and power of Godliness have appeared, as manifested in the lives and death of eminent Christians) a Divine blessing has been evident, and encouragement communicated not to become weary in this species of "well doing." The General Assembly record with gratification, and heartfelt pleasure, the information they have received of the formation of an "American Bible Society," a few days since in the city of New York; and from the unanimity manifested by all denominations of Christians on that occasion, the fervour of zeal displayed, and eagerness manifested by the numerous and highly respectable delegation, which attended to combine their exertions in promoting the best interests of their fellow men, by furnishing them with the word of life-they cannot but be lieve that it is the "work of God," that it will stand, and prove a rich blessing to those who may enjoy the fruits of its exertions. the Of the benefits resulting from MORAL SOCIETIES, Assembly are fully sensible, and willingly testify their approbation of the OBJECT to effect which their exertions are directed: and when it is stated that these societies have been instrumental, with the Divine blessing, in repressing and discountenancing prophanity, intemperance, sabbath-breaking, and other notorious vices, farther inducements need not be mentioned to those who study the peace and prosperity of the church, and good order of society, to impel them to promote their formation, and to effect their object. Missionary exertions, during the last year, have been numerous, and efficacious. The hearts of many have been opened to "devise liberal things in behalf of those who are perishing for lack of knowledge." In addition to the missionary societies existing at the time of our last report, several new societies have been formed, and new labourers sent into the "whitened fields." The reports received on this subject, are of an encouraging complexion, and calculated to excite to more vigorous exertions in the Gospel vineyard. By the last General Assembly, it was recommended to the churches to join in "monthly concerts of prayer," to unite in earnest supplication for the speedy coming of the kingdom of the Redeemer, and for the extension of the triumphs of the Gospel of Christ. This recommendation has met with a very general attention. Christians of other denominations than our own, have cordially united with us in this interesting service. God has been entreated of by his people-he has heard their prayers;-he has answered their petitions, and blessed their souls. Several conversions to God, in individual cases, and several revivals of religion in societies, may be traced to these seasons of social prayer. In many places "devout and pious FEMALES" have formed themselves into praying societies, and obtained in the discharge of dutycomfort to themselves, and light, and direction for others. |