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er from Rev. William cutta, July 30, 1807.

r of baptisms among wer this year than it

several have come r Fernandez at —, mberlain at Cutwa, ns to the churches A new church has district of Jessone, ur native brethren, rmerly a Brahmin, to the work of the pect to baptise two l's day, one at Serat Calcutta. This n in Calcutta ; may by many more. given us leave to Calcutta, and the of them put on. I opened by the end

on and Chater went ort in the Burman hether the gospel ed there: The enmet with far extation. They reheir families some in brother Mordon

declined the undertaking. A few weeks ago we had a meeting to choose one to accompany brother Chater, in the place of brother Mordon. We then agreed that every one should make it a matter of prayer for fifteen days, that the heart of him might be stirred up to offer himself, whom God would employ in this work. At the expiration of this time my eldest son (Felix) offered himself: his knowledge of Bengalee, Hindoosthonee, and Sanschrit, added to an acquaintance with medicine and surgery, to which he has diligently applied himself, with the advantage of attending the practice at the general hospital, will make his loss severely felt here. Brother Ward and myself thought that he ought not to go. But the evident answer to prayer, the affection which subsists between him and brother Chater, and between their wives, silenced our opposition. They have sent some necessaries in a ship now on its passage to Rongoon, and will go as soon as possible. May the Lord grant prosperity."

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directed by Providence; and by the 26th of August, I had a second school in operation, consisting of from 20 to 30 scholars.

During the continuance of the treaty a circumstance occurred, which, as it tends to display the sensibility of a savage conscience, and exhibit their ideas of the justice of God, deserves to be remembered. One day, while sitting at dinner, a cloud arose and portended a considerable storm. The vivid lightnings flashed furiously around, and the thunders roared at a distance. A white man by the name of Rodgers, who had long been a resident in the nation, and abandoned to every wickedness, used very profane and blasphemous expressions respecting the thunder. At length a flash of lightning struck a tree near the bower in which all were seated, and passed off without any remarkable injury, except giving all a very severe shock. Silence reigned in the whole assembly about the space of a minute, when Enotta, i. e. the black Fox, the king of the nation, broke silence by saying, "The Great Spirit is mad at Rodgers."

The introduction of such unprincipled men into the nation is the most formidable barrier in the way of their civilization. But God, in his own time, will bring light out of darkness, and spread the knowledge of himself throughout the heathen lands, and set up his standard in the deserts of America. I am, &c.

GIDEON BLACKBURN.

MASSACHUSETTS.

HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

WHILE events in divine providence, at the present day, wear a gloomy and threatening aspect, and fill the minds of the virtuous and relig ious with foreboding apprehensions of the evils which may be coming upon the world, and which may deeply affect the safety and enlargement of that church which the Lord Jesus hath purchased and redeemed by his blood: it cannot fail of administering comfort and animation to the hearts of God's children, when they notice the zeal and attachment of many to that holy

religion, which is taught in the sacred scriptures, and which was the solace and joy of the founders of our nation. When they see the love of Christ's children kindling into an ardent zeal for the promotion of his cause, and their fidelity to his kingdom wit nessed by liberal contributions to aid the propagation of his gospel among the indigent and suffering, it must confirm the faith of his people in his gracious promise; "That the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church, but that he will be with it always, even unto the end of the world. To confirm the wavering in the infallibility of the divine promise, and to stir up the pure minds of all, who love the religion of our forefathers and the gospel of God the Saviour, the following commu nications are presented to the public; hoping that they may prove grateful to the readers, and influence many to an imitation of an example so laudable in itself, so reputable to the liberal donors, and so worthy of that sex on whose virtue and piety the happiness and prosperity of every age and country do absolutely depend. The puri. ty, enlargement and glory of the church of God, which is the defence and safeguard of civil communities, are in all ages dependent upon the virtuous and religious lives and examples of those devout women, who belong to our Redeemer's family. As a tribute of gratitude to Christ for the efficacy of his grace on the hearts of his children and friends, the following extracts of Letters written by the Treasurer of the Female Charitable Society of Whitestown, N. Y. to one of the Trustees of the Hampshire Missionary Society, are now presented to the public in a humble hope that the hearts of God's people will be made glad in that he hath not forsaken our land, and that the set time to favour Zion will soon

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I have therefore to request your committee to draw on me for the money, which awaits their order. Our society, since the last year, has received a considerable accession of members. The sum therefore which we shall now have the happiness of transmitting to you, will somewhat exceed our former donation. (N. B. The last year's donation was 119 dols.) We have now in the treasury, 130 dollars: Something more remains due on subscription, which we hope will be collected in the course of a few weeks.

"It is, as heretofore, the earnest desire of our Society, that this our mite may be improved to the important purpose of spreading the knowledge of the blessed Immanuel: And in committing it to the care of the Hampshire Society, we confidently trust that our object will be attained. "Wishing that the blessing of Heaven may attend you, Sir, and the missionary institution of which you are a member,

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"Your letter of the 9th inst, which came to hand yesterday, I read with much satisfaction. It will afford sincere joy to the members of our society, to be informed of the prosperity of your Missionary institution, and of their in creasing ability to do good. The friends of religion must necessarily rejoice in that missionary spirit which seems in some good degree to pervade our land, when they consider that the Supreme Being, who excites it, and who directs all things, has, no doubt, great and benevolent purposes to be answered by it. I do indeed believe, that this is the work of God, and God can carry on his own work just as extensively as he pleases. He can open the hearts of public bodies and of individuals, of friends, and even of foes to furnish funds. He can procure missionaries, and he can give them success. How animating to Christians is the idea, that they may become workers together with God in sending the word of life and salvation to perishing souls! And oh ! how devoutly it is to be wished, that all who contribute to this good work, may themselves be interested in that Sa

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Extract of a Letter from President Dwight, dated New-Haven, Feb. 2, 1808, to one of the Editors.

AN attention to religion is prevailing here, which gives much pleasure to all its friends, and which exceeds any thing known in this town for many years. Eleven persons were admitted into Mr. Stewart's church last Sabbath.

A Letter from another hand of the 16th

says,

I AM exceedingly rejoiced to inform you, that there is great reason to hope for a general revival of relig ion here. Not less than forty persons in Mr. Stewart's congregation are more or less concerned about relig ion; some of them deeply; and some have obtained a hope. These are exclusive of eleven, who entered the. church three Sabbaths ago. You will rejoice with us.

At the request of a respectable Correspondent, we publish the following Aecount of a Society, lately established in the western parts of the State of New York. However we may dif fer in opinion from the members of this Society, concerning the pure "Gospel Doctrine," and what they denominate "fanaticism and enthusiasm," we are ready to make a common cause with them, in opposing the spread of "demoralizing infidelity," by "promoting the knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures."

2

"AT a meeting on September 20th 1806, of the Society for promoting the Knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and the Practice of the Gospel

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Doctrine Resolved to make the following publication:

The members of the Society for promoting the Knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and the Practice of the Gospel Doctrine, informed by extracts, lately published from the minutes of the general synod of the Reformed Dutch Churches in this state, of the laudable endeavours of that high reverend body, to promote the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom, think it becoming their character and Christian profession, to cooperate with these endeavours, according to their ability, and in view of the situa tion allotted them by divine Providence. The limited circumstances of the people of these western parts do not enable them at present, to afford

pecuniary aid to their more wealthy brethren in the mercantile cities, for the particular purpose specified in the printed extracts of the general synod on the contrary, from the known generosity and affluence of our brethren, we might hope for pecuniary assistance from them, were they duly apprised of the various and increasing enemies of our Lord, by whom we are surrounded. Notwithstanding the eminent blessings of a spiritual nature enjoyed at the hand of a merciful Providence, our situa tion is rendered truly disagreeable by a growing fanaticism and enthusiasm, which degrade the pure and excellent faith of our divine Master, and by a demoralizing infidelity, which, while it successfully triumpha against

the absurd inventions of men, sacrilegiously attached to the religion of Jesus of Nazareth, proudly boasting of victory over Christianity herself. Having deliberated on the radical causes of the prevailing evil, and candidly discussed the subject among ourselves, we are apprehensive that a shameful ignorance on the one hand, and a disposition for licentiousness on the other, combine to give it birth, and that its remedy only lies in the diffusion of useful knowledge, and in a more exemplary deportment among the professed friends of the Christian cause. Aware, however, of the difficulty of comprising in a single view the various causes, direct and remote, which contribute to the sad

phenomenon; at the same time sen

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sible, that the true causes must be apparent before our exertions to remove them can be directed in such a manner as to furnish a well grounded hope of success, the Society propose to their enlightened Christian brethren, the following questions, upon which the answers are expected be fore the 1st day of December, 1808, in a fair, legible hand, copied by another, with a Symbolum, as usual, the author's name written in a sepa rate scaled paper, superscribed with the Symbolum of his dissertation, and forwarded with the dissertation, free of postage, to the Rev. John Sherman, Secretary of the Society.

Question 1st. What degree of knowledge in Oriental and Greek literature, Jewish antiquities, and ec. clesiastical history is requisite to qualify a minister of the gospel to silence the cavils, and successfully to modern infidels against the Jewish refute the objections of ancient and and Christian revelations ?

Question 2d. What qualifications are requisite for a successful Christian missionary among the Indians of North America? What obstacles must he expect to meet? And how shall he best overcome them?

The crowned dissertation upon these questions shall be published, and the author shall receive a premium of fifty dollars. The second shall be noticed with an Accesset.

FOREIGN.

EAST INDIES.

PROGRESS OF THE BAPTIST MIS

SIONARIES.

THE Baptist Missionaries in Bengal are making some progress in their conversion of the natives. Accounts have been received from them, dated March and April, which state, that the number of proselytes since the commencement of the year had increased from 34 to 70 per month; and that three of the Hindoos were

preaching the gospel. The Missionaries are about to publish translations of the Bible and New Testament in all the languages of the East. They have already been printed in four or five dialects.

Extract of a Letter from Rev. William Carey, dated Calcutta, July 30, 1807.

"THE number of baptisms among us have been fewer this year than it was the last, yet several have come forward. Brother Fernandez at —, and Brother Chamberlain at Cutwa, have had additions to the churches in those places. A new church has been formed in the district of Jessone, and one more of our native brethren, Rom Mohim, formerly a Brahmin, has been called to the work of the ministry. We expect to baptise two persons next Lord's day, one at Serampore, and one at Calcutta. This is the first baptism in Calcutta ; may it be followed by many more. Government has given us leave to erect a chapel in Calcutta, and the timbers are most of them put on. I expect it will be opened by the end of the year.

Brothers Mordon and Chater went to Rongoon, a port in the Burman empire, to try whether the gospel could be introduced there: The encouragement they met with far exceeded our expectation. They returned to take their families some months ago, when brother Mordon

declined the undertaking. A few weeks ago we had a meeting to choose one to accompany brother Chater, in the place of brother Mordon. We then agreed that every one should make it a matter of prayer for fifteen days, that the heart of him might be stirred up to offer himself, whom God would employ in this work.

:

At the expiration of this time my eldest son (Felix) offered himself his knowledge of Bengalee, Hindoosthonee, and Sanschrit, added to an acquaintance with medicine and surgery, to which he has diligently applied himself, with the advantage of attending the practice at the general hospital, will make his loss se

verely felt here. Brother Ward and myself thought that he ought not to go. But the evident answer to pray. er, the affection which subsists between him and brother Chater, and between their wives, silenced our opposition. They have sent some necessaries in a ship now on its passage to Rongoon, and will go as soon as possible. May the Lord grant prosperity."

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