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Maine is favoured comparatively with but few ministers of the gos pel. Hence the necessity of continuing our missions and employ ing men of the most approved qualifications to check the influence of error and support the truth in the most able manner. The most ignorant and destitute need the best teachers and the most faithful guides, Babes are not qualified to teach babes. Our missionaries, whose journals are pleasing testimonies of their abilities as well as of their modesty, are united in urging the high importance of employing the most able characters. The Inhabitants of the wil derness, like thriving nurseries, need an improved hand to givę the first direction. The old tree is inflexible, but the young one is flexible and pliant. But we shall add nothing farther of this nature. For, where is the faithful and able minister who does not impatiently wait for his missionary turn?

The magnitude of the object will induce the best characters to engage their service. If the apostles were present, we believe they would be attached to the employment of missionaries as well as to that of resident ministers; for they were inspired and zealous Missionaries.

Several things are peculiarly worthy of notice in Mr. AVERY'S Journal relative to the natives.

"Dec. 20, 1801. Sabbath. Preached at Brotherton to Indians & Eph. ii, 1, 2, 3-And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein, in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the chil dren of disobedience : among whom also we all had our con. versation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the chil, dren of wrath, even as others. P, M. Eph. ii, 8-For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, About fifty hearers; a few appeared to be disposed to hear, but most of the audience appeared to be heedless. They thanked the Massachusetts Missionary Society for their love, Re turned to Clinton and attended conference at Capt. Bristol's. There I had the joy to meet my dear brother, the Rev. Joseph Badger, on his return from the Connecticut Reservation on Lake Erie, where

he has been on a mission thirteen months. He is recovering of a dangerous fit of sickness, which seized him near Lake Erie.

"Dec. 21. Monday. Good, it is to be hoped, is about to come to the poor Indians, George Bluejacket, son of Bluejacket, chief warrior of the Shawanese tribe, an elevated genius, 22 years of age, was, a year ago last October, brought by the Rev. Thomas Hughs to Littlebeaver, on the Ohio, in order to be educated in the English language and English way of husbandry, He can now speak, read and write English pretty well, He was hopefully brought to the knowledge of Christ last summer; in August he was baptized, and gives comfortable evidence of his reconciliation to God, and that he is in heart and life devoted to the interest of Christ. He is now studying divinity with a view to preach to his nation. In September last he went with the Rev. Messrs. Badger and Hughs, as interpreter, on a special mission to the Shawanese near Fort Wayne on the Miami, west of Lake Erie, from Littlebeaver above four hundred miles. He interpreted, prayed and exhorted, with great feelings, and with great advantage. Mr. Badger mentions that the Indians expressed a strong desire that Missionaries might be sent to them next spring."

Mr. AVERY closes his Journal. "May 24. Monday. I have been every where kindly received, and treated with many marks of respect by the people, Donation books have been distributed among the of Bern and Worcester. Letters of thanks are ad, dressed to the Female Society in Boston. I have received monies, given to the Massachusetts Missionary Society, of

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The Rev. Mr. WINES, who has furnished a minute Journal of bis labours in the Eastern District, among other interesting occur. vences, presents the following narrative of a poor miserable man.

We publish it without attempting any comment or decision, hoping that it may impress the minds of all who read it with a sense of their entire dependance on the grace of God, and of the great importance of resisting the first temptations of the Adversary.

"This day," says Mr. WINES, "after the exercises of the Sanctuary I called to visit a man, who was the reputed subject of despair. He is about 45 years of age. Many years since he attempted to terminate his life in a very singular manner. He chose a Saw-mill for the place of his wretched end. Having fixed the iron dogs, which confine the log to the carriage, in such a manner as to confine his neck before the saw, he hoisted the gate, and placed his neck before the irresistable instrument. The consequence was that his neck was at once exceedingly torn. As Providence or dered it, he was thrown by the motion of the saw from his awful position, and though the saw tore away two thirds of his neck to the bone, yet the main arteries were preserved. In this situation his brother found him covered with blood but not lifeless., By the blessing of God the means used to restore and heal the poor creature were effectual. But he has repeatedly wished he had been killed by the saw. To escape horror of mind was the design of

the miserable agent.

When I approached the house, he removed from the window, ascended the stairs and went into his chamber. Upon entering the house, after a short interval, I requested his brother to desire him to come down. But he refused to leave the chamber. I then went up stairs into his chamber, and soon introduced conversation on the fulness of Christ's atonement, and his willingness to save sinners. He replied, "I know it all. But there is no mercy for me. For I have committed the unpardonable sin."

I then explained the nature of that sin: Observed that it consisted in speaking blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. I asked him if he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. He replied, "I have harboured direct enmity against God." I enquired again whether he had expressed this enmity against the Holy Ghost by calling

He replied, "I know the time was in my youth, and the I have felt none of his strive in more or less horror. There

him an evil spirit, or any thing like it? He replied, “ No matter what I have said; I have committed the unpardonable sin, and that is enough. There is no mercy for me, and I know it. What does it avail for others to tell me there is, when I know there is not.'* I then asked him how he knew. when I committed this sin; it Divine Spirit immediately left me. ings since, but have been ever since is no mercy for me. I certainly know it." This he spake with a peculiar tone of voice. But said I, would you not be glad to have God change your heart and admit you into heaven?" No, said he, hell is my place. I had much rather be annihilated than go to heaven. To be annihilated is all I want." Do you wish to get out of God's hand? said I. To this he replied, " I know I canNo mortal knows what I endure." He expressed himself in the most vigorous manner expressive of his distress. To be burnt to ashes and ground to powder were desirable objects compared with his inexpressible horror.

not.

After some farther conversation I asked him if he did not wish me to pray with him. At hearing this he manifested resentment, and said, "By no means; nothing makes me feel worse than to hear people talk of such things. I wish they would let me alone and not torment me," I farther asked whether he did not sometimes cry for mercy: he replied, "No : I do not want mercy." Do you not sometimes read the bible?" The bible, said he; I do not want to concern myself with such things; but to keep them out of mind. I wish to labour and divert my thoughts from religious subjects. This is all I can expect. For I know I must go to hell. I must be damned or God must suffer." He spoke of feeling much enmity against God, and of being under the power of the Devil. On being directed to strive against this enmity, "Strive against it," replied he, "I am full of blasphemy against God. I have no power to strive against it nor do I want any." I again introduced the subject of prayer with great tenderness, which immediately excited his anger. I then told him since he refused to have me pray with him, I should pray for him in secret. To which he answered with horrid emphasis, "John forbids you, and I forbid you, and charge

you not to pray God forbids you and will be angry with you if you attempt it." I then rose up to leave the room, and as I passed by told him I should pray God if consistent with his will to shew him mercy. At this his countenance changed, and vengeance sparkled in his eyes while he sprung up to seek a weapon, saying, I swear I. will kill you. He snatched a wool-card that lay in his way, and with great rage threw it at me. I dodged, the card missed me and struck his aged father and wounded his head. After I left the room he told his brother if people did not refrain talking with him about such things that he would certainly kill them.

Though this poor wretch would not inform me what he had done which he supposed was unpardonable, yet he has told others and particularly his brother, that when young he felt direct enmi ty against God, which after being urged several days to express, he at length expressed. His brother, a serious man, supposed him possessed with the Devil. Though averse from all religious books, he yet used to amuse himself with the mathematics. I was struck with astonishment at the conversation and appearance of this awful, miserable, wretch. I have seen several persons who supposed they had committed the unpardonable sin, but never did I see one who seemed to approach so near the dreadful character. That he certainly has I pretend not to say. God knows. This however I must confess, that I never before felt such backwardness to mention the case of any one at the throne of grace. I was afraid to pray for him, except with peculiar submission to God's fovereign will, relating to the unpardonable sin.

It is an alarming instance, a solemn warning to all, and especially to youth, not to continue in sin lest they seal their own damnation.” The preceding narrative is published because we find it in the instructive and impressive page of Providence.

Mr. Wines informs us that he visited the Penobscot Indians. The tribe contains about four hundred souls. They are extremely poor and ignorant. They have been furnished "with a Roman Catholic priest by the General Court Mr. Wines queries whether the Missionary Society ought not to send them a preacher of the gospel.

Mr. Wines terminates his journal by remarking: "I have

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