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September,

A donation from Rev. Gideon Hawley,
A contribution from South Parish in New-
Marlborough,

21. A contribution from Sheffield,

1 10

8 69

22 71

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A contribution from Middlefield,

A donation from Deacon Wm. Williams,

A donation from Mr. Nathaniel Spalding,
Annual dues from sundry members,
From Rev. Samuel Leonard, collected on
a mission,

December 7. A contribution from Cornwall, (Vt.)
From Rev. Benjamin Wooster, collected

on a mission,

Jan. 13, 1803. Annual dues from two members,
A contribution from Washington,

14,

A donation from Mrs. Austin, (Becket)
A donation from C. Butler,

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March 1.
April 12.

A contribution from Pittsfield,

18 04

Annual due from one member,

1 00

19.

A contribution from Stockbridge,

83 32

From Rev. Joseph Avery, collected on a
mission,

12 94

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Aug. 26, 1803. From Rev. Jabez Chadwick, collected on

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Monies paid by order of the Trustees, since September, 1801.

October 1801. Paid Rev. Aaron Bascom for 12 weeks

December.

mission to the western new settlements,
his pulpit being supplied by neighboring
ministers,

Paid Mr. Abiel Jones the balance for 8

weeks mission to the western new
settlements,

Paid for printing Addresses,

Sept. 22, 1802. Paid Rev. Samuel Leonard for 8 weeks

mission to Vermont,

Paid Rev. Samuel Leonard for 8 weeks

mission to the state of New-York, Paid Rev. D. Porter for 12 weeks mission to the states of New-York and Pennsylvania,

$40 00

24 00

9.00

48 00

48.00

72 00

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Paid Rev Jabez Chadwick for 16 weeks
mission to the county of Luzerne and
its vicinity,

96 00

Feb. 28, 1804. Paid Rev. Benjamin Wooster for 16 weeks mission to the western parts of the state of Vermont, ·

July 9.

96 00

46 86

Paid the Rev. Benjamin Wooster in ad-
vance of another mission,
Paid Mr. Asaph Morgan in advance of a
mission he has undertaken to perform, 48 00
Paid Mr. Samuel P. Robbins in advance of
a mission he has undertaken to per-
form,

48 00

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of them, who has been dead some years, pursued the humble and

To the Editor of the Christian laborious occupation of a flax

SIR,

Observer.

I TAKE the liberty of transmitting herewith some extracts of letters, which have appeared to me not unworthy of a place in your Miscellany. The writer

dresser, in an obscure and remote part of the kingdom, and his opportunities of acquiring knowledge must, therefore, have been very limited. He seems, however, to have improved them to great advantage, and of this,

were it really believed in and ex

even a cursory perusal of these extracts, will furnish considera-pected, sink the spirit of any

man who knew himself a stranger to religion! What is the reason that men trifle so much with religion? It is because they

ble proof. They, doubtless, dis-" cover much depth of thought, and accuteness of remark, especially as it is to be remembered that they were familiar commu-have not believed heartily what nications to a friend, and were never intended for the public eye. But that to which I wish principally to call the reader's attention, is the strain of rational, yet animated piety, which pervades them, and which evidently flowed from a mind deeply imbued with Christian principles. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, M.

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you how very little time I can command. I hope, however, we shall have more time shortly, when death shall have closed our eyes on all things under the sun. There is a glorious prospect before us! an incorruptible and eternal inheritance! to which we have ready access through the blood of Christ. We shall then rest from all our labours, and join that_honourable company which now surrounds the throne. There we shail serve him, and see his face, and be fixed as pillars in his Temple, to go out no more. O glorious day! when he shall rend these blue heavens above us, and put an eternal stop to the wheels of time. Eternity is a solemn, yet pleasing word, though it is also a dreadful one to those who have reason to conclude that they shall dwell for ever with devouring fire. How would the thought of eternity,

the Scriptures reveal to us about an eternal state. Heaven and hellseem to be words of small import with many, but they are the most momentous words which ever. sounded in the ears of man. What is it, that makes, many Christians so exceedingly warm, I would also ask, when you touch the least pin of that hedge of distinction they have set up between themselves and others, while you can easily observe the weightier matters of the law are neglected, but that the Gospel of the Grace of God is not heartily believed, and neither the hope of salvation nor the fear of God's anger, has properly affected their consciences?

If men's consciences were thoroughly alive to these things, they would find much of their zeal about externals had been mere trifling, while they agreed with their opponents in the worst error of any estrangement from the power and life of Christianity in their experience and practice. I have a great veneration for our worthy forefathers, who contended not only for the forms and doctrines, but for the power and practice of Christianity, which seem to be too much lost sight of by most of their degenerate sons. How often do we hear orthodox sermons, very well adjusted according to the received system of doctrines, which are very little calculated to awaken the sleeping conscience, or otherwise to edify the Church of Christ! With many there is to be found a form of the Gospel, as St. Paul

speaks of a form of godliness, | sisteth not in the abundance of whereby they discuss some head the things which he possesseth, of divinity. This is proyed and so neither doth a Christian's hapillustrated, and the opposite er-piness consist in his moving in rors are detected and condemned, a higher sphere, but it consists in and then a few inferences drawn his serving God singly, humbly, from the subject, distant from and contentedly, in the station he the people's consciences a thous-is placed in, though it should be and miles; just as if preaching the Gospel were teaching men a science, which had little or no concern with their consciences at all. How different this from the manner of the Apostles! who always addressed their audience, applied the doctrines to their consciences, and let them know of what import such things were to them. See Acts ii. 14, 22, 29, 36, 38, 39, and Acts xiii. 16, 38 to 41, &c.

me.

Jan. 13, 1795.

I AM sensible of your kindness, in offering me your assistance to enable me to move in a higher sphere; but, for my own part, I see no ether way pointed out by Providence in which I should serve our blessed Lord and Master, than by occupying in that lower sphere, wherein his infinite wisdom has seen fit to place | I feel myself exceedingly defective in a small circle, and perhaps I should be much more so, if my sphere were enlarged; and whatever you may think of me, I know and feel myself to labour under so many moral and mental weaknesses and infirmities, as makes me well satisfied with my present private and comparatively hidden situation. As to differences of rank, place, or station, farther than as a Christian's usefulness is thereby diminished or enlarged, I see nothing in them' that needs either to excite our ambition or dissatisfaction. For as a man's life con

.

no higher than that of a servant or a bond slave. These things are but mere temporary differences, which God has designed to serve a purpose, but from which Christians shall be altogether freed and disencumbered, when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. I feel, it is true," something of the embarrassment of a low and comparatively dependent station; but then I seem to experience interpositions of Divine Providence, in answer to my prayers, and the accomplishment of God's promises, in a way which I might not, were I in a more independent line of life. Besides, what a satisfaction is it, in any station to think that we are placed there by our Heavenly Father, and enjoined to occupy therein till Christ come. certainly is the best judge of every one's talents and in what way he can best serve his own ends by them. If God has given us hearts to wish well to his cause, so that we should rejoice to be instrumental in promoting it through the whole creation, may we not leave it to his wisdom to determine how far, or in what station, he will employ us, while he has ten thousand thousand fitter instruments at command ? If he hath given us an inclination to his service, it is an unspeakable mercy, though he should not afford us such opportunities of extensive usefulness, as those he has seen meet to employ in another line. Alas! that we should

He

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