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 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 
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7 
 
 /■- 
 
 Glad Tidings, 
 
 OR 
 
 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 STATE OF RELIGION, 
 
 WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE 
 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLT 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 
 
 IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. 
 
 AKKN FROM TtriC RFPORTS OF THEIR MEMBF.RS, AND THEIR 
 COMMITTEE OF MISSIONS; PUBLISHED BY THE SAID 
 COMMITTEE, WITH THE APPROBATION OF THE 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE INFORMA- 
 TION OF THE PEOPLE UNDER 
 THEIR CARE. 
 
 Gu ye into all the ivorld and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature. Mark xvi 15. 
 
 I.o ! I am tvith you aliuays, even unto the end of the ivorld.. 
 Amen, Matt, xxviii. 20. 
 
 Pkiladelpliia : 
 
 TROM THE PRESS OF THE LATE R. AITKEN, 
 
 PKIMTEn BY JANE AITKEN, No. 20, NORTH THIRD 
 STREET. 
 
 "mi'. 
 
The General Assembly appointed a committee to draw 
 up a Summary of Information received in a free 
 Conversation on the State of Religion, tvJio made 
 t lie following Report, wJiieJi was adopted by the 
 Assembly. 
 
 ALTHOUGH every fincere chriftian muft lament that 
 inattention to the ordinances of religion, and the fmali impreflion 
 which its facred truths make on the hearts of men, which are vi- 
 fible in many and extenfive portions of our country; yet, the As- 
 fembly have heard, with the highefl: fatisfadlion, of the prevalence? 
 and increafing influence of vital and practical godlinefs throughouc 
 the greater part of the Prefbyteries which compofe our body. With- 
 in thofe wide diftridts, towards the fouth and weft, from which the 
 laft AfTembly heard, with fo much pleafure, the glad tidings of the 
 great falvation manifefted there, the power of religion appears ftiil 
 to prevail, with little abatement. And although through the fubtilty 
 of the adverfary of fouls, and the influence of human frailty, feme 
 errors, extravagancies, and inftances of reproachful behaviour, have 
 taken place, which the Aflembly do fincerely regret, and moft un- 
 equivocally difapprove and condemn; yet are they happy to learn, 
 and it is a facred duty which they owe to the churches, to announce, 
 that, notwithftanding the malignity with which the enemies of reli- 
 gion have ftudied to mifreprefent, and rejoiced to exaggerate thefe 
 undefirable events, they are chiefly confined to one diftridt of no great 
 extent; and they are certainly very rare, confidering the immenfe 
 region, through which this work has prevailed, and the vaft variety of 
 charafters who have been its fubjeds. 
 
 The Aflembly, moreover, have the unfpeakable fatisfadion to 
 announce, that the extraordinary influences of the Divine Spirit 
 have, fince the laft year, been fpread over new and veiy extenfive 
 countries, ftill farther to the fouth and weft. To the north-weft 
 and north, from the river Ohio to the Lakes, (a vaft region wiiich, 
 a few years ago, was an uninhabited wildernefs,) new churches are 
 forming with aitonifliing rapidity: and the Spirit of God feems 
 to be remarkably poured out, and to accompany the word, and or- 
 dinances of the gofpel, with the nioft folemn and affeding impreflions. 
 
 The fame fpirit appears to prevail through a large portion of the 
 Synod of New York and Ncv/ Jerfey, and the Synod of Albany. 
 Its effecls though more filent, feem to be not lefs deep, nor confo- 
 Jing to the friends of true religion. Sinners are convinced, and 
 fi,ncere believers comforted, and eftabllflied in the faith and hope 
 
of the gofpcl. Trophies are continually raifcd to the grace of the 
 Redeemer; and numbers are almoft daily added to the church of 
 fuch, we truft, as fhall be faved. In the churches in which thefe 
 extraordinary influences of the Divine Spirit are not fo confpicuous, 
 the power, and the falutary effefls of the ordinances of the gofpel, 
 feem, notwithftanding, to be vifibly progrefHng. That inattention 
 to the things of religion ; that neglect of its institutions; that tenden- 
 cy to infidelity, or to fcepticifm in principle, and to diffolutenefs of 
 manners, which, a few years fince, the truly pious had fo much reafon 
 to deplore, are, in moft places, evidently arretted; and the tide of 
 public fentiment has happily begun to flow in a contrary dircclion. 
 Places of divine worfhip are, in general, more frequented ; the in- 
 flitutions of religion are held in higher honor, and attended with 
 greater folemnity, and apparent demotion. — The like agreeable tf- 
 dings have been received from our aflbciated brethren of the eaftern 
 churches, who are dwelling together in peace, and in the unity and 
 faith of tlie blefled gofpel. 
 
 The AfTerably have likewife heard, with uncommon fatisfaflion, 
 of the increafing number of focieties for the purpofes of prayer, 
 and for the promotion of piety and good morals. It is the ordinary 
 courfe of divine providence, that, when God defigns to pour out 
 his Spirit in a remarkable manner on his churches; and to increafe 
 and extend the influence of true religion; he firft awakens among 
 his own people a fpirit of prayer, and of fervent fupplication at the 
 throne of grace, for this bleiling. And the AfTembly do earneftly 
 recommend it to all who love the appearing of the great God, even 
 our Saviour Jefus Chrift, to meet often together; tojiir one another 
 tip to love and good ivorls, and to wrefUe in prayer wiih God, like 
 the faints of old, for the profperity of Zion, //'// the r'lghteoufnefs 
 thereof go forth as bnghlmj's, and the fahat'ton thereof as a lamp 
 that biirneth. 
 
 It is, moreover, no fmall ground of confolation, to obferve the 
 pious difpofition manifefted, and the increaCng efforts which are 
 made, more effeflually to extend the knowledge of the way of 
 falvation to the unhappy and enflaved blacks in our country; and 
 to fend the ineftimable blelangs of the gofpel. along with the im- 
 provements of civilization, to the heathen and favage tribes in our 
 vicinity; to fave thefe wretched people from utter extermination; 
 and to raife up from the remnants of fo many deflrucffivc wars, the 
 feeds of future and great nations, who Ihall enlarge the kingdom 
 of the Redeemer. The reports of the AfTembly's miiTionaries in 
 the Cherokee, and Catawba nations, have rendered the profpeds, 
 of introducing among thern, letters & civilization, the arts of peace, 
 and the precious lights of the gofpel, more promifing than, at any 
 period, they have ever been. 
 
Finally, the Aflembly, rejoicing themfelves in the grace of the 
 Great Head ot the Church, have again the happincls to offer to 
 the churches under their care, increafing caufe of thanksgiving, 
 and praife, to the God of all mercy and truth. And, they intreat 
 the co-operation of their prayers, and their charity, for the promo- 
 tion of the Redeemer's glory, and the falvation of precious and 
 immortal fouls. — And now, to God Almighty, Father, Son, and 
 Holy-Spirit, who hath given us this rcafon to rejoice, be glory and 
 Ijonor, world without end! AmcnJ 
 
COMMITTEE OF MISSIONS, 
 
 COMPLIANCE WITH 
 
 The lleqimition of the General Assembly, 
 
 NOW REPORT- 
 IT is with pleafure that the committee are enabled to begin 
 this information with notice of a new Miflionary Society, having been 
 eftabliflied in New-Hampflaire, the latter end of the Jafl: year, or the 
 beginning of theprefent — By their Conftitution it appears that they 
 are zealoufly engaged in the fame common caufe with the General 
 Aflembly, having explicitly declared their defign of aflbciating to- 
 gether, to be " for the increafe of knowledge and evangelical piety; 
 for the promotion of the prefent well being, and eternal falvation of 
 men, from a confideration of the great number ofthofe who are in 
 danger of perifhing through lack of vifion, among whom the divine 
 word and ordinances cannot be ftatediy enjoyed : from a defire that 
 grace, mercy, and peace, may be multiplied to them, through the 
 knowledge of God and of Jefus Chrift our Lord." — This Society 
 is denominated, "the F'lscataiuay MiJJionary Society." In the in- 
 fancy of this Inditution, four miffionaries were employed for part of 
 the firft year, who in Auguft laft reported," That their fervices in 
 the new fettlemcnts both in the diftricfl: of Main and in New-York, 
 were gratefully acknowledged. In fome inftances ferious impreffi- 
 ons were made, convidions produced, reformations effected, diffi- 
 culties removed, order and peace reftored, fchools were vifited, 
 examined and inftrudcd. Churches formed, and the ordinances ad- 
 minidered, people crowded to attend ledures and conferences, and 
 to hear the word of life. They are not eafily fatisfied with hearing, 
 but noticed with wonder and pleafure. the meafurcs which were ta- 
 ken for their beft interefts by thofe v.'ho lived fo remote from them. 
 Frequently different religious fefts attended with decency upon their 
 public labors, and appeared pleafed and profited. They often aflem- 
 bled even in uncomfortable places and inconvenient buildings. The 
 niif;ion:irics penetrated through difficult and rugged ways into places 
 v.'here none had been fent before, and were unexpeded. They did 
 
not fpare themfelves, but labored much in the Lord ; and it is chari- 
 tably hoped that the bleflings of fouls ready to pcrifh reft upan them. 
 One ofthefe Gentlemen gives it as his opinion, that the miffio nary 
 bufinefs isof great importance if judicioufly managed. That fpecial 
 regard fhould be had to the charader and experience of thofe who 
 are employed. He ftates feveral of the advantages as they prefented 
 themfelves to him, arifing from a difcreet and fteady management of 
 millions. Among which are the following. They ferve to counter- 
 aft the powerful inclination of people in a new country wholly to 
 negleft the concern of their fouls, and regard nothing but procuring 
 a comfortable fubfiflence. — They check the pernicious influence of 
 the immoral and unprincipled. They encourage and ftrengthen 
 the few pious charaflers which are to be met with, in their duty. 
 They ferve to fecure the youth from the dangers to which they are 
 expofed, and incline them to hear and regard the truth. To 
 convince of the utility of civil order, good neighbourhood and 
 friendly intercourfe. To imprefs a deep convidtion of the im- 
 portance of religious inftitutions and public worfliip, and the regu- 
 lar difpenfation of the word, as relating both to the prefent and fu- 
 t«re life. — To work fincere regret for the precious privileges 
 which they had lofl by their removal, and an ardent defire to regain 
 them. 
 
 The Societi/ for propagating the Gospel among the 
 Indians and others : instituted at Bosto??., 
 
 HAVE eftablifhed a fund for the regular and conftant 
 progrefling in the one common caufe. The income of a part of 
 their funds, is appropriated to ameliorate the civil, moral, and re- 
 ligious condition of the Indians. They aflift in the fupport of 
 three Miffionaries, and a number of fmall fchools for the benefit 
 of thofe deftitute people, and as many more among the poor 
 inhabitants, principally of Maine and the Ifle of Shoals. — They 
 have alfo alTifted in building School-Houfes, and a houfe for a 
 Minifter, and have defrayed the expence of printing a catechifm 
 in the Indian language, and have diflributed a number of religious 
 Books among them. — The Society have not forgotten their own 
 poor, but thofe of the dillrift of Maine have experienced their li- 
 berality, by which children have had the means of inflruftion, and 
 perfons in more advanced life, have had the ferious imprefTions, 
 early made upon their minds, revived and flrengthened, which they 
 would otherwife have been in great danger of lofing, in places 
 •where they cannot enjoy the advantage of attending upon the ordt- 
 
8 
 
 nances of the gofpel. — They further report, that the people have 
 attended upon their miniftrations, with great readinefs and apparent 
 fatisfaftion. They have adminiftered the ordinance of the Lord's 
 Supper, and baptized great numbers of children and many adults. — 
 In feveral places they have gathered Churches, and in more, have 
 eftabiiflied habits of regard to the duties and offices of religion, 
 which were before formed — Their difcourfes and their converfation, 
 have tended to check the progrefs of error and vice, and to confirm 
 the wavering. — Full and grateful teftimonials have been received 
 from many places on thefe fubjefts, and earnefl: requefts that the 
 Society would continue attentions of this kind. 
 
 The Massachusetts Missionaiy Societi/. 
 
 HAVE alfo greatly exerted themfelvcs in the caufe of their 
 Lord and Mafler. — They have given the public an account of an 
 awakening at Holies. The number of particular cafes, mentioned 
 by their correfpondent, fhows that the plentiful fhowers of divine 
 grace have reached them alfo. He concludes the recital of par- 
 ticulars in the following words; " To the above I might add 
 one hundred relations, which I now have on hand, in which 
 tlie diftinguilhing grace of God is as clearly difplayed, as in 
 any of thofe particularly related." They were not felecfted be- 
 caufe they are more noticeable than others ; but becaufe they 
 are of the firlT; chara<5lers in the town. — So that it may not be 
 faid, that none but ignorant, fuperftitious people are the apparent 
 fubjedts of fpecial grace. Two of the perfons whcfe cafes have 
 been mentioned, have received a public education, and feveral 
 others are of the moft diftinguifhed abilities, and the moil: in- 
 fluential among us." 
 
 By a report of one of their MiiTionaries, dated Nov. 1803, it 
 appears, that in the Society of New-Canaan there has been ex- 
 perienced a confiderable degree of the fpecial inlluence of divine 
 grace. The inftances of converts from fin to holinefs, were very 
 numerous — " Fifty-four have been added to our Church; of 
 thefe, thirty were young, unmarried people. Some families ap- 
 pear to be almoft wholly taken, and others altogether left. In 
 fome cafes, only one inclivid.t il was taken from a neighbour- 
 Ijood. One family in which there were three young men, was re- 
 markably vifited; at firft the mind of one ot the young men was ar- 
 rt;iled, v/hich appeared to diireminate through the family, till each 
 of the three, and both the parents, were hopeful fubje*!ls of regene- 
 rating grace. In another family, there are five young people, four 
 fillers and a brother, all of whom have hopefully become pious." 
 
i) 
 
 A letter from a rcfpedable charader in Aufliinburgh dated 29th 
 Nov. 1803, alfo confirms the pleafing intelligence that the divine 
 goodnefs and mercy are vifiting them alfo. After the writer had at- 
 tended a facramental occafion, with threeof his children and eight or 
 ten others, at about fixty miles diilance, and returned home, the com- 
 pany feemed defirous that there might be an evening meeting. " And 
 notwithstanding the ftiortnefs of the notice, God fo ftirred up the 
 liearts of the people, that more than fixty attended and were much 
 imprefled. — The night was fpent in prayer. — None went from the 
 place — A folemn night! Some loit their bodily ftrength. The 
 next fabbath Mr. B. preached for us. — The people were all very 
 folemn — As the afl'embly was difmifled and began to go out, be- 
 hold, three young men, each about fixteen years of age, were fallen 
 down together near the door. They were in fuch agony of mind, 
 that every beholder was ftruck with aftonifhment. Mr. B. imme- 
 diately went to prayer, in a manner peculiarly adapted to the occa- 
 fion. — Few could refrain from weeping. — A number of young men 
 who had begun to boaft of infidel principles, were ftruck, and one 
 perfon fell. Three little girls walking from the place of meeting 
 with locked arms, fell on the ground and loft their bodily ftrength; 
 one of whom did not recover till after midnight; which night was 
 fpent in prayer. At times, the number of eight loft their bodily 
 ftrength. But little was heard from them but deep fighs. — At a 
 meeting of our youth laft evening, I am informed that thirteen were 
 imprefled in this extraordinary manner, which are more than ever 
 happened at one time before. — Thefe marks of power are not limit- 
 ed to awakened finners — Many chriftians, where the work has pre- 
 vailed, have alfo been thus affected under a fenfe of divine truth." — 
 
 By late accounts from new Conne(5ticut it appears, that there is a 
 very general revival there: that it has extended to moft of the fet- 
 tlements, and its elTecfts are fimilar to thofe of the revival in Ken- 
 tucky and other Southern States. The harveft there is truly great, 
 and the labourers few — It is hoped therefore, that the pious people 
 will pray earneftly to God to raife up and qualify fuitablc labourers 
 for that extenfive field, and that they will cheerfully contribute of 
 their earthly fubftance to enable the Truftees to fupport a compe- 
 tent number of MifTionaries there, and in other places, where they 
 are wanted. 
 
 The Berkshire Missionary Society 
 
 HAVE alfo been very adlive: they have had three mifliona- 
 ries among the new fettlements 40 weeks in the whole. — In which 
 time they travelled near three thoufand miles, preached two hundred 
 
l'«5 
 
 itid feventy-fc^cn fcrmims, attended 53 religious conferences, bap-- 
 tized 43 perfons, and vifited 186 families &c. &c. The Miflionaries 
 bring back accounts of their reception and encouragement in their 
 tvork, which muft be animating to all who love the profperity of 
 Zion. They uniformly teftify, that the people are generally dif- 
 [X)fed to attend upon the preached word ; and in many inftanccs, 
 through the infinite mercy of a fovereign God, their hearts art 
 opened to receive in the love of it, the truth as it is in Jefus. 
 
 Tfic Connecticut Missionary Socicli/ 
 
 HAVE had reafon to blefs God for their fuccefs during the 
 part year. They have had thirteen Miffionaries in the field of 
 labor; fonie through the year; others for a fhorter time. The golpef 
 has been thus preached over a vaft extent of Country. The gofpel 
 ordinances have been adminiftered to fuch as would otherwife have 
 been deftitute of them. Some have &en awakened out of fecurity, 
 and feveral new churches have been formed in the wildernefs. Some 
 they have reafon to hope have been turned from fin unto God; and 
 the hearts of many chriftians have beeil made to rejoice. 
 
 " There is great reafon to believe, that although the efforts which 
 have been made, have not borne down every obftacle, yet that feeds 
 have been difleminated, which will gradually fpring up, and for years 
 to come, will augment the harvcft of fouls," A letter froirl a Mifli- 
 onary in Vermont fays, "rcfpedling the ftate of Zion in this Country 
 in general, I have good news to write. There has been much re- 
 ligious attention in the country within a year, and is much now in 
 many places. You doubtlefs have heard of the glorious revivals in 
 Pittsford, Rutland and Bennington; the attention began in thofe 
 towns, and has been very great. Since, it has been great in Dorfet, 
 and of late, very great in Benfon, probably more powerful than in 
 any part of our land. It feerried to overpower the town at once, 
 and a number of bold enemies have been cut down, and bowed to 
 almighty grace. I have feen many glorious awakenings, but hare 
 rtever feen a more povvcrful work, than in fome towns in this State. 
 It has extended to the following towns, Hubberton, Caftleton, Or- 
 wcl, Shoreham, Weybridge, Bridford, Addifon, Hynefburgh, 
 Sudbury, Brandon, Duxbury, and Jericho, and I have heard of 
 late, that there is fome attention in Tinmouth, Rupert, and Sand- 
 gate. A holy fprinkling appears in all thefe places, and in fome of 
 tliem, fliowers. It is therefore a time of the moft gracious vifitatio» 
 among us. Oh ! that we had a heart to give God the glory !" 
 
Another Gentleman writes to his father thus, concerning the awa- 
 kening in thefe towns, "My lafl: informed you of the good work ir. 
 Pittsford, AVcd Rutland, and fome other places, and the hopeful prof- 
 peL*t here (Hubberton ) At Pittsford, the number hopefully born 
 into the kingdom of grace is 200 and upwards. At Weft Rutland, 
 100 or more. About one month fince, there was the found of abun- 
 dance of rain in Benfon, which ftiil continues to pour down, and it is 
 emphatically a time of refrefhing from the prcfence of the Lord. 
 'Converts fpring up from every quarter. The wildernefs and folitary 
 places are glad for them ; and this northern defert is made to bloC- 
 fom as the Rofe. Saints feed on hidden manna, and join in the joy 
 of angels. I have heard fome grey headed Chriftians, exclaim in 
 cxtacy, "Zwv/ tioiv let thy fewant depart in peace, for mine eyes 
 have feen thy fahation." The good Lord, is now by his'fpirit, in 
 this finful town. A greater fhaking, I never faw among dry 
 bones. O! pray for the enlargement and peace of Zion. May 
 her borders be as extenfive as the globe — her children, numerous as 
 -the human family, her peace as a river, and her righteoufncfs as 
 the waters of the Sea." 
 
 A perfon of intelligence, who lately came from Benfon fays, 
 •there does not appear to be a carelefs perfon in the town. It is faid 
 ■**■ that laft fpring the people had a town meeting, and appointed a com- 
 mittee to defire their minifter to leave the town. Very foon after 
 this, the Lord's hand was vifible amongft them. At Caftleton there 
 is a promifing beginning. Numbers are under deep impreffions, 
 and fome have obtained hopes." — A private letter from Dorfet fays, 
 " It is now about eighteen months fince there £rft appeared an un- 
 ufual attention to things of religion. But nothing very extraordi- 
 nary took place till lalt fpring, when a folemnity awftd as judgment, 
 feized the minds of almoft all ' cla/Tes of people in the fociety.— 7 
 Since that time, we have witnefled a fccne truly aftonifhing and glo- 
 rious! The mighty Redeemer has rode forth conquering and to 
 conquer. Almighty power and grace have been glorioufly trium- 
 phant. — Such a day I have never before witnefled. The friends of 
 Jefus have been all life and engagedncfs. 
 
 Their hcartsand their mouths have been full. To them indeed 
 it has been a remarkably refrefhuig time. The work has been dif- 
 tinguifhingly ftill and regular., — Nothing that an enemy could calj 
 enthufiaftic has -appeared. Perfons of almoft every age have been 
 the fubjeds of the work ; but the principal harveft has been among 
 the youths. In one family, fix young perfons have been hopefully 
 fnatched from the power of Satan, and united to Chrift. — Forty- 
 three have been added to our communion. Twenty-fix are pro- 
 pounded ; and there r^re not lefsthan fixty, who have manifeftcd hope?» 
 but have not come forward. — There is a marvellous work at Bea- 
 
12 
 
 fon forty miles north of this ; and in feveral towns in that vicinity. 
 Alfo in Sandgate, and fome hopeful beginnings in Rupert, Manches- 
 ter, Wenhall &c. Thefe things will no doubt gladden your heart. — 
 We much need your prayers that God would not take from us 
 his holy Spirit. 
 
 Another v/ho attended a facramental meeting, writes from New 
 Conneflicut December 1803. " The facramental occafion was 
 the moft folemn fcene I ever witnefTed. I fhall not attempt the de- 
 fcription. But could you Sir, be prefent at fuch a fcene as I there 
 faw, however much you have heard, I doubt not you would have 
 fuch feelings and impreflions as you never had before. The folem- 
 rity, the imprefhons, the evidence of the divine prefence were fuch, 
 as are not to be told. I never conceived any thing which appeared fo 
 much, as fome parts of the folemnities, like the judgment day. 
 The number of communicants was about 300. The evening meeting 
 was peculiarly folemn : a great deal of that kind of falling, which 
 has been common in the revival in this country. 
 
 The meeting continued till 4 o'clock in the morning. You once 
 obferved to me, that you wiflicd to have an account of the work in 
 the weficrn country, from one who had been an eye witnefs, and 
 who was acquainted with Connedlcut ideas, modes of thinking 
 and expreffions. — This you have had in a letter from Mr. B. But 
 from that, and all which I had heard, I had got a very inadequate 
 conception. — Accounts of things at fuch a diftance commonly are 
 general; but it is from particulars that we ufually obtain accurate 
 ideas. — I have not much knowledge of the prefent ftate of this 
 work, except in Pennfylvania. — Of all the Congregations under 
 the care of the Synod of Pittfourgh, amounting to 80 or 90, there 
 are not more than ij or 6, which have not been vifited with divine 
 grace. — I conceive this work in many refpefts to refem.ble the great 
 revival of religion in New England in 1740 and 1742. — In extent 
 of territory it exceeds that.— In moll or all of the Societies which 
 are viiited, I trufl: there is a good number delivered from the reign 
 of fin, who will adore the riches of lovereign grace forever. The 
 minifters appear to condu6t with great moderation and propriety. 
 People at a diftance may fay what they will, but when they come to 
 be eye witnefies, every reafonable man is effedlually reftrained from 
 declaring it to be any thing, but the mighty power of God. Ft is 
 proper to remark, that this work is in many refpefls myfterious and 
 extraordinary. And after the moft careful obfervation, long ex- 
 perience and enquiry, there are fome things which cannot be un- 
 derftood. 
 
 Is this an evidence that it is not the work of God ? It is, if the 
 creation of matter from nothing, which is a myftery, be an evi- 
 dence that God did not make the world. But there are things to be 
 
13 
 
 feen which cannot be defcribed. After all that could be told or 
 ■written, your conceptions would be far fhort of the reality; or of 
 what they would be, if you could be an eye witnefs. With regard 
 to the numbers who fall, my ideas are very incorrcift. By far the 
 greater part of thofe who are fubjcds of this work, fall. Of thofe 
 who have been made the fubjecls of grace, or who have had real 
 genuine convidion, fo far as J have leen, at leaf! two thirds or three 
 quarters fall. But there are many, who are evidently made rubjects 
 of the work of the fpirit, and have deep and powerful convictions, 
 who do not fall, and are not at all afTcded that way. They gene- 
 rally, firft fall under aconvidion of fin. And they fometimes ob- 
 tain comfort the fir(l: time they fall, but not generally. 1 have ne- 
 ver heard of any falling once only. It is commonly repeated many 
 times. If they obtain a hope, and give good evidence of a recon- 
 ciliation to God, they dill continue to fall. Good people fall in 
 many inftances. Several minifters have, who appear to be men of 
 piety. Many people who have been profefibrs of religion for years 
 and who have given good evidence of a chriftian life and charader, 
 have fallen. Elders of the Churches, ferious men, have fallen, 
 and in fome inftances in the exercife of public prayer. 
 
 Perfons fall on all occafions, at public worfhip and at their So- 
 cieties. Frequently at family prayer, fometimes alone, fometimes 
 in merry company, being fuddenly ftruck by the truth. Sometimes 
 they fall when they are in their ordinary biifinefs. — Perhaps if private 
 religious meetings in Conneflicut were conduced there, as they are 
 in this part of the country, and lefs for fpeculation, they would 
 find more evidence of the divine prefence. In the places where 
 the work is, there is fcarcely a time of public worfliip without fome 
 perfons falling. — I ufe the word fa/I indifcriminately. — I know of 
 no other word fo proper. But the degrees of bodily affeftion are 
 indefinitely various. — From the leaft nervous agitation, every grade 
 to the moft violent 3'^ou can ccr.ceive; or to a death-like weaknefs 
 and ina(5tion. Some can fit who cannot ftand. — Some muft.be 
 held as much as infants; fome as much as perfons in high convul- 
 fions. — The duration of the afFedion is very dlvcrfe. In fome ca- 
 fes it is but a few minutes. In others an hour or two; and fome- 
 times twenty-four hours, or fcvera! days. Though they continue this 
 time without fuftenancc, they feel no inconvenience afterwards; 
 and on their recovery are able to attend to any bufinefs. — In their 
 affedions, though they ap]iear to a beholder to be in the grcateft bodi- 
 ly dlftrefs, they are not fenfible of any pain, or any other than niental 
 diftrcfs. There is very rarely an inftance of any one being fenfible, at 
 the time or afterwards of any injury from the fall, however fevere. 
 And when they are fo agitated, that two or three pci foil s have to make 
 the greateft exertions to hold one, and of courfe are held by violence. 
 
14 
 
 they feci no foreneTs or inconvenience whatever aftervvards. The 
 Philofopher and cold profeffor may fay what tliey will, thefe things 
 are fafls. And thefe are fome of the fa(5ts, which render this work 
 a niyftery. Perfons of all ages are fubjedls of this work. Old, 
 middle aged, youth and children. Some children quite young. 
 Infidels, Philofophers, Phyficians, many remarkable inftances of 
 iifelcfs profefTors, the ftupid, the though tlefs, and the gay. The 
 great inquiry in New-England is, why do they fall? For five 
 weeks that I was in that quarter, I took great pains to enable my- 
 ielf to anfwer this enquiry. Unrenewed Jinners , when they fall, 
 generally are imprelTcd merely with a fenfe of their fin and danger. 
 A fenfe of the weight of fin, the wrath of God, the certainty of 
 his vengeance, and the pains of hell, when brought feelingly to their 
 'view, come upon them with a load too great to be borne. They 
 ihrink and fink under its weight. Is this a matter of furprife? Is 
 it not rather to be wondered at, that awakened finners can ever 
 "Tupport themfelves? Sometimes, however, they are (truck down, 
 as with a ftroke of divine power, without much previous reflec- 
 tion. Chrijl'ians, when they are led to a feeling fenfe of the 
 
 goodnefs and mercy of God; of his long fuffering patience; of 
 t'nclr extreme ingratitude; their great abufe of privileges; the dan- 
 ger of their being deceived in their hope; the folemn account v/hich 
 they mud render to an omnifcient Judge; and their juPc expofure to 
 eternal death ; they find themfelves unable to fuftain the prefltire of 
 truth; bur muft yield to its weigiit. Sometimes a view of the glo- 
 ■lies of the divine charader; the wonders of fovercign grace; the 
 riches of the Saviour's love; and the glorious work of man's redemp- 
 tion, opens to them with fuch clearnefs, that they can no more bear 
 it, than Mofes could a fight of God's g!cry. Sometimes a confide- 
 ration of t!ic danger of finners, tJicir infinite hardnefs and ftupidity, 
 ■and the certainty of their being brought into Judgment, is more 
 than their natures can bear. Sometimes they fall inftantaneoufly. 
 S^i'jvv^ever thofe who fall may be affected, they never lofe their fen- 
 tics. Their minds appear to be more adive than ever, and all their 
 powers feem intent upon the things of religion and the interefts of 
 fternity. They are never in fo good a fituation to receive inftruc- 
 tioj). Their minds are fixed, and their memories uncommonly re- 
 tentive. Many of them fpeak in broken accents and half exprefli- 
 ons in their affciflion, begging for mercy, deprecating wrath, groan- 
 ing under fin, calling upon periflnng finners, or giving glory to God. 
 The impulfe feems to be irrefiftable. 
 
 The Minifters uniformly inculcate the idea, that there is no re- 
 ligion in merely falling down. Indeed it appears to be nothing more 
 fir lefs, than the effet't of the affedlions of the mind. Divine Pro- 
 vidence feems to have fingularly ordered events in fuch a manner as 
 
15 
 
 to confound and efTeiSually to difappolnt all attempts •vvhich have been 
 made to account for this work from natural caules. Many who have 
 made the attempt, have thcmfelves fallen and become fubjeds of 
 what they before termed a delufion. I firmly belie%'c this to be a con- 
 fpicuous and glorious work of divine grace ; and that thoufands of 
 immortal fouls, the fubjefts of it, will adore the riches of divinft 
 mercy to eternity. May the Lord of all grace, carry on his work 
 glorioufly to the honor of his great name and the enlargement of 
 Zion. 
 
 The truftces of the Society, " unite with the pious of all deno- 
 minations, in devout afcriptions of praife to the God of all mercies* 
 and fountain of divine influences, for his wonderful operations on 
 the hearts of chriftians, in the various parts of Chriftendom, in 
 difpofing them, in a manner which rarely, if ever, was exemplified 
 in any age of the world, to drive together for the falvation of their 
 fellow men." — The miflionary labors appear to be arduous, but ufe- 
 ful, fermons are preached to dellitute congregations, and in places 
 where no religious denominations whatever have yet been formed. 
 
 Conferences are attended, many perfons young and old baptized, 
 and communicants received into the church, children have been 
 catechifed and infl:ru<5ledy families vifited, the fick comforted and 
 divifions healed. The inhabitants of the frontier town? have 
 been attentive to improve every opportunity of public worfliip 
 afforded them, and treat the mifiionaries with hofpitality; many 
 exprefs a high fenfe of gratitude to the MifTionary Society and the 
 people of Conne(5ticut, for the exertions they have made for their 
 future well being. — In every town there has been occafion to thank 
 God and take courage. 
 
 T/ie N'cw-Yor/i Missionmy Sock ft/ 
 
 HAVE greatly added to the zeal and faithful fervices of the 
 fleady labourers in the Lord's vineyard. They have been en- 
 gaged in forming a plan for the introduflion of the gofpel among 
 the Chickafaw Indians. — They have had an able MifTionary in 
 that nation, he arrived there fometime in the year 1800. — His 
 reception was very cordial, and he has preached to confiderable 
 numbers of white, red, and black people. Decent attention and 
 a difpofition to become acquainted with the things which be- 
 long to their peace appeared to mark thcfe mixed alTemblies 
 
 •* The committee fu]?pofed much had been gained by the peace- 
 ful admifiion of this meffenger of grace, by fcattering on Pagan 
 foil, however thinly, the feed of the living word; and by exciting the 
 curiofity and conciliating the confidence of the heathen." — As in- 
 cidental to their principal objeft, they deemed the anxiety of the Irj- 
 
16 
 
 dhns to acquire the improvements of civilized life, worthy of" 
 attention, and ominous of good. — Several of the women frequented 
 the miffionary's family to learn from the females, reading, fewing, 
 knitting, fpmning, and other domeftic arts." Yet later experience 
 has rendered it neceffary to difcontinue the million, as the fuccefs 
 has not been equal to the expenfe. 
 
 However, being encouraged by their firft undertaking, having 
 been thus far countenanced by the Lord of the harveft, the directors 
 felt it their duty to turn their eyes to fome other quarter, which 
 might invite a new miflion : an event v/hich they cannot but ac- 
 count providential, pointed out the North-weftern Indians, efpe- 
 cially the Tufcororas and Senecas, as the mod proper objedls ©f their 
 next attempt. Having found a gentleman in every refpedl well 
 fitted for the fervice, they engaged him in it. *' All the accounts 
 which have been received from him, and of him, are Angularly 
 gratifying, his reception by the Indians has been refpedful and 
 affe^ionate. As an evidence of their temper, the following extra(ft 
 from a letter, from a principal chief, didated by himfeif and writ- 
 ten by his fon to the miOionary, will be very fatisfaftory. — " Dear 
 Brother, I am glad that the Lord our God has put it into the hearts 
 of the Americans to fend Miflionaries amongft the Indians. I am 
 likewlfe very thankful that the affociation at New- York thinks of U3 
 yet, in this town. Dear Brother I beg of you, that you would in- 
 form the Miflion Society, that I give them a thoufand thanks that 
 they have taken up fuch honorable work, in fending a miffionary 
 among my poor benighted brethren in the wildernefs. — As they now 
 begin, i hope they will keep on that good work. — I fay good work? 
 yes, I believe it is honorable and commendable, I hope and pray 
 that their endeavours to fpread the gofpel of Chrift among my hea- 
 then brethren will be bleft, therefore Dear Brother, I bid you God 
 fpeed, both in your fpiritual and temporal journey." 
 
 The Tufcororas after the arrival of the miffionary, wrote to the 
 directors in New-York; an ejitract of their letter follows. — " Fa- 
 thers and Brothers — we (houid be very glad to have our Father 
 Holmes ( the miffionary ) to live among us, or fome other good 
 man that you would fend, to teach us the meaning of the beloved 
 fpeech in the good book called the Bible, for we are in darknefs, we 
 are very ignorant, we are poor, now Fathers and Brothers, you 
 have much light you are wife and rich, we feel much forrow for 
 cur children. — We afk you Fathers and Brothers, will you not 
 pity us and our poor children, and fend a fchool-mafter to teach 
 our children to read and write; if you will, we will rejoice, we will 
 love him, and we will do all we can to make him happy, we are 
 poor; we cannot pay him in money, or any thing elfe. Fathers and 
 Brothers hearken! we cry to you from the vvildernefs, our hearts 
 
17 
 
 ache while we fp'^-.ik to your ears, if any Indians fhould not open 
 their ears but go in the way of the evi! fpirit, we pray you not to be 
 difcoiiraoed. — Do not ftop, think poor Indians muli die as well as 
 white men, we pray you therefore never to give over and leave poor 
 Indium-, but follow them in dark times, and let our children find 
 you to be their fathers and friends when we are dead and no more." 
 We and our forefathers have been long under dark clouds, no 
 friends to help us to know the will of the good fjrirlt, we will now 
 believe you to be our friends, we will open our ears to any good man 
 yo!i may fend among us, we will ufe him kindly." 
 
 From 8au'Ji Carolina your committee are alfo informed, that the 
 work of divine grace is prevailing there, by a letter from Beaufort, 
 dated the z i ft. O^^ober, \ 803. The v/riter fays " I cannot conceal 
 from you the pleafing intelligence of a revival of religion in this 
 place, and what makes it more remarkable is, that moft of the fub- 
 jefls ot it are perfons in the high^ clalTes of life, and many of them 
 of education and talents. 
 
 Many of our accomplifhed young ladies have given fuch proofs 
 of the genuinenefs of their change of heait, that they are admitted to 
 our communion table. This revival is unaccompanied by any ex- 
 travagance of manner. — It ftiewsitfelfby a rational conviction of fin, 
 alenfe of hardnefsof heart, an entire renunciation of felf, either as 
 to righieoufnefs or dependance, and a willing fubjedtion to Chrift 
 Jefus as a prophet, prieft and king : hitherto the work has been ac- 
 companied with correfpondent fruits, as to change of manner and. 
 dcfires after more grace and fanifiification. — It feems however at 
 this time to advance flowly, tlio' I think furely. It is the more 
 remarkable in this place, becaufe for a number of years, there has 
 been a great negligence and coldnefs in religion, and mere formali- 
 ty at bell:, except in fome few cafes. God is thus working a great 
 work in this our land. 
 
 It is with great plcafjre that the committee can turn their eyes from 
 their own country and behold the faithful labours of others in the 
 one common caufe. In Great Britain chriftians are not idle, they 
 are daily (landing between the porch and the altar, crying Lord fave 
 thy people. In every part of that rich and populous ifland, are 
 MilTionary Societies, as well as various other religious and charitable 
 inditutions daily arifing. Prayer meetings are held, congregations are 
 gathered — churches built, and multitudes eager to embrace the gof- 
 pel. Their periodical religious publications give many accounts of 
 the prevalence of a true fpirit of piety and unanimity among all 
 denominations of protefhiHts in advancing their common faith.— 
 The labors of the society in Scotland have been of late mucli 
 bleflcd in the North of Ireland, Shetland, Orkney, and the western 
 Jilandsj and in many places where the uncorrumed £ofpeI has not 
 
 C 
 
13 
 
 been heard for m;iny years, the people in general received the vifit* 
 of the itinerating minifters with thankfulnefs, and eagerly folicited 
 a renewal of them. There has been a confiderable work in Dunk- 
 field, where it is hoped that 145 perfons have experienced the 
 power of divine grace. At Aberfeldie 57 perfons profefs to have 
 experienced the fume. In the dlftridt of Kentyre, v/hich is repre- 
 fented as having been in a deplorable fituation, the labours of the 
 nuflionary, though much oppofed; have been greatly owned. In 
 Garadil upwards of 50 have given fatisfying evidence of their con- 
 verfion to God. Public dances are generally given up, and public 
 houfes alnioft forfaken. Here fome of the profeffors were feverely 
 tried, being required to leave their farms, or renounce their new 
 connedion — they readily gave up their farms, rather than their paf- 
 tor, and Providence foon appeared in their behalf: near 100 per- 
 fons became members of the church. In Dumbartonlhire, the 
 miniiler who fpeaks Gselic, has been heard with great attention and 
 apparent advantage by crowds of people. The report from which 
 this account is taken addreffes their members, " Brethren the pre- 
 fect times are favourable to Chriftian exertions beyond any former 
 period. Civilization and Commerce have opened, enlightened and 
 connefted the world In a very remarkable manner. " Say ye not 
 that there are yet four months, and then cometh harvelt ? Behold 
 I fay unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for they 
 are white already to harveft !" Nov/ there is an opportunity of reap- 
 ing a fpiritual harvell ; and he that reapeth, receiveth wages and ga- 
 thereth fruit unto eternal life. " What aftonilliing motives do the 
 Scriptures of truth every v/here exhibit to lead us to humble confi- 
 dence, to holy diligence and unremitted adwity, in the work of 
 the Lord." 
 
 By the printed account of the CorrefponJing Board in London^ 
 connedted with the Society for propagating chriftian knowledge in 
 the Highlands in Scotland it appears that they have nearly fixteer» 
 thoufand children under inflrudion; and that they are engaged in 
 publilhlng an edition of looco copies of the old Teftament in 
 GaeHc. 
 
 The London Missio?ia?y Societi/ 
 
 WAS formed in 1795, by a number of Minifters of all de- 
 nominations, who at their firit meeting fubfcribed, themfelves, 
 _;^'750 Sterling as donations, and ^^'50 per annum. The fole ob- 
 jedt of this inftitution was " to il^read the knowledge of Chrifl: 
 among the heathen, and other unenlightened nations." After 
 holding a conference, at which a very great number of both Clergy 
 
19 
 
 and Laity attended, they obferve, " thus concluded the folema 
 fcrvices of the conference, long, very long to be remembered by 
 thoufands; all appearing to unite in this fentiment, it luas never fo 
 feen in our Ifrae/.'' — Some of the miniflers finding fo large an 
 AfTembly pafs a refolution with cheerful unanimity, /hat a Mis- 
 sionary Society tvas desirable, could not for a time proceed, for 
 tears of joy. — The grandeft objedl that ever occupied the human 
 mind, the falvation of fouls, was prefented in fuch a variety of views, 
 .and in fo ftriking a manner, by the preachers, that every ferious per- 
 -fon awoke as from a dream, filled with furprife that lo noble a de- 
 (ign had never before been attempted by them, and longing, by fu- 
 -ture exertions, to redeem loll: opportunities — Many Minifters, who 
 before doubted v/hether the Lord's time for fuch an attempt were 
 come, are now completely fatisfied, and join with equal ardor in a 
 caufe, fo glorious- The great numbers who attended as delegates 
 from various parts of the Kingdom ; the multitudes who thronged 
 the largeft places of worlhip in London; the countenance and libe- 
 ral donations of the wealthy; the appearance of fo many Minifters 
 in one place, and in fo confpicuousafituation; were grand and plea- 
 ling; the fuitablenefs of the Hymns, and the fervor with which 
 they were fung; and above all the moft evident and uncommon out 
 pouring of the fpirit on the Minifters in their fermons and prayers, 
 impreffed the whole congregation, with a folemnity and pleafure 
 jiot ufiial even in religious aflemblies, and conftrained them all to 
 fay. This is a new Pentecojl ; nor was it a doubt with any, whether 
 the Lord was among them or not. 
 
 Another confideration, that rendered thefe feafons unlj^eakably 
 delightful, was a vifible union of minifters and chriftians of all de- 
 nominations; who for the firlt time forgetting their party prejudices 
 and partialities, aflembled in the fame place; fung the fame hymns; 
 united in the fame prayers, and felt themfelves one in Chrift. — Such 
 a fcene was, perhaps, never before beheld in our world, and afford- 
 ed a glorious earneft of that nobler aflembly, where we fliall meet 
 all the redeemed, and in the prefence, and before the^ throne of the 
 Lamb, fhall fing as in the beft hymn of the fervice ; crown him, 
 crown him, crown him Lord of all! 
 
 Thus commenced this important fociety, and their fruits have 
 jDcen in fome meafure agreeable to fo fair a beginning. — They have 
 fince been deeply imprefted with the affecfting obfervations of the 
 converted among the heathen, upon their attempts to carry the gof- 
 pel among them. A Hottentot woman who had been effeiftually 
 called to the falvation of Jefus, obfevved to the Milfionary " that it 
 was a great pity and a great Cn, that they who fo long enjoyed great 
 plenty of the bread of life, did not give one crumb to the poor hea- 
 then ; but that God was very good, who had forgiven tliis great iin< 
 
20 
 
 and had blefTed the little bit they had lately given, fo much; and 
 notv ilie hoped that chriftians would fin no longer againfl: God, in 
 withholding the bread of life, but would abound in giving it more and 
 more." The Society therefore confidered themfelves as they did 
 every chrilHan, called upon to aft their part ; and that they could not 
 witi^out criminality, withhold their exertions towards procuring obe- 
 dience to the command of Chrift, who fays "go ye into all the 
 world and preacli the gofpc! to every creature." In i 799 they ob- 
 tained the aid of three MilTionarics — who arrived at the Cape of Good 
 Hope, juft as a dep\itation ot three bofchemen, the moll favage and fe- 
 rocious of the heathen of that country, arrived, earneftly requeuing 
 that fome goud men migl)t be fent to inftruft them. The Miffion- 
 ary confidered this as a call of God to vifit the poor Hottentots, 
 and, furpriiing to tell, tv/c of them travelled 5".o Miles North Eaft 
 of the Cape into the wildernefs, to Zaak river, paffing mountnins that 
 appeared almoft inacceflible, and being fometimes 7 days without fee- 
 ing a human face but their own company, and expofed to Lions 
 and Tigers which infeil: the woods of that country, from whofe de- 
 vouring Jaws they were feveral times mofl: providentially preferved. 
 Suffice it to fav, that they were received by thefe v/retched heathen 
 v/ith joy. They found them living among the rocks, where they dig 
 a fmall round den, about 3 feet deep, which they cover with reeds. 
 Here they fleep away their time till roufed by hunger, when they 
 fally forth to hunt wild beafts, and when unfuccefsful, they fubfift oti 
 fnakes, mice and wild onions. The Miffion^fry, at firi'l, was obliged 
 to tc. ptthe people, at large, to attend him by giving them tobacco 
 which they are very fond of. He began by preaching fyftematicaily 
 to them, but he found it in vain. He then followed the example 
 of the Moravians, finiply preaching the love, and death of Jefus 
 Chrid, and inviting them to come to him tha*- they might have life. 
 His labors were foon blefTed. His firft fruit was a moft notorious 
 offender This man was convifted of fin, convinced of his loft 
 ftate and found mercy. He lived but 6 months after, but his 
 experience was wonderful. His heart Vi'as wholly taken up with 
 the love of Chrifi, fo that he could fcarcely bear to fpeak of 
 worldly tilings, and he died rejoicing in the Lord, fiiying to 
 his teacher, " I die; depending on the blood and righteous- 
 nefs of Chrifc: I go to heaven, and there I will wait for you." His 
 fon who came a great dillance to fee his dying father, was alfo con 
 verted, and became a fchoolmafter. The Miflionary foon after be- 
 gan to have his fpirits much elated when he would walk in the fields, 
 and find, fcattered here and there proffrate on the ground, feveral 
 of his congregation; and fome with a child in each hand, pouring 
 out their fouls to God in the mofl lively and copious drains. — When 
 he had been with them about four years, he vifited his friends in 
 
Europe ; at which time, "he had baptized about 34. adult perfbns 
 and 50 children. He had a ftated congregation of about 600 per- 
 fons, in a great mcafure civilized and dwelling together. The peo- 
 ple are univerlally changed and liave become, literally as well as fpi- 
 ritually. new creatures. They who were lb filthy that a civilized 
 perfon could fcarcely approach them, are now clean; inftead of be- 
 ing naked, or only covered with a dirty flicepflcin, they are now de- 
 cently cloathed; and thofe who knew not there was a God, are be- 
 come devout worfhippers of God, and fervent lovers of Jefus Chrift; 
 induftrious and obligin;?, bringing up their children in the fear of 
 the Lord." 
 
 Three of this congregation went to London with the Mifiionary, 
 and on a careful examination, gave great fatisfadion to the fociety. 
 They fang a Hymn before a large congregation, the literal tranflation 
 of which in prcfe follows. " O Zion's king! Thou fon of God, 
 exalted on the father's throne! I cad myfelf down before thee, and 
 pray for fpirit and for life, for thy, church and dear bride, living 
 here on earrh, at a diftance from her divine lover, her head, het" 
 comfort, tlie prince of life; for whom {he ever and forever longs. 
 Oh ! that I now might find thee. 
 
 Mod of ail, O king of Zion! I implore thee for fo many dead 
 fouly! Oh! make thy people to fall down before thee by thy fpirit. 
 By thy ])ower draw all tfiofe unto thee, for whom thou didft fay, 
 "it is linifhed!" make the deaf ear to hear the voice of thy power 
 and of thy glory, that it may be faid of Zion " this and that man 
 was born there.'' 
 
 Fountain of life ! almighty God ! it is the fjnrit's influence we crave! 
 Oh ! exert the power of thy love upon the hearts of many men ! 
 Bring Tyrians, Phililtines, and Moors by the word and the fpirit 
 into the right way, and let hell tremble at thy work! Refcue by 
 thy divine power the velfels of grace from fatan's might, and bid the 
 dead to live!" 
 
 It is eafier to conceive than to defcribe the facred pleafurc which 
 filled the minds of a large affembly of Chriftians, when they thus 
 beheld " Ethiopia ftretching forth her hands to God," and 
 heard fome of Afric's tawny race finging the praifes of our common 
 Lord." 
 
 The following is an extrai^ of a letter from a Eofchcman woman, 
 to the MilTionary in London ; " moreover I take the liberty of telling 
 you that the Lord converts many people atRodezand ; which proves 
 the greateft comfort and fupport, as it feems here, that the time is now- 
 come when the Lord {hall pour out his blelling over the whole world 
 and draw all poor finners unto himfelf." 
 
 Through the in{lrumentality of the London Miffionary Society 
 niany thoufands of the heathen in Africa are now liltening to the 
 
22 
 
 ioyful found of the gofpel ; and more than a few who were 
 afar off, arc brought near by the blood of Chrlft. On a full view of 
 vhat this Society has done, it appears, that they have fent out 
 about 100 preachers, 98 of whom have received education for the 
 minillry, by whom the glad tidings of falvation are announced in 
 many places, where the being of a God was not known, or even 
 Jieard of. 
 
 Even France has not been forgotten. During two years the Lon- 
 don Miflionary Society have been endeavouring to build on the ru- 
 ins of the papacy there, the divine edifice of pure chridianity; and 
 as the molt powerful meaos for that purpofe within their reach was 
 the circulation of t!ie holy fcriptures, they determined to confecrate 
 a part of their funds to this objed. — JR.efle(5ting alfo on the awful ef- 
 fefts of infidelity, they judged it might be of great ufe, to conned 
 with the fcriptures, a vindication of their divine authority. This im- 
 portant fcrvice has been atchieved in the moil: fatisfaftory manner 
 by one of their highly refpeded members. The Society went far- 
 ther, and fent a deputation to France, to difperfe thefe books, and 
 to know the real fituation of that numerous i>eop!e. The impor- 
 tance of this bufinefs was manifeft, from the deputation having found 
 it difficult to procure a fingle copy of the French Bible in Paris ; 
 and they wer-e informed, this was equally the cale in Italy, Great 
 effeds throughout France are likely to arife from having a protes- 
 tant miniftry there. At Befancon in the fouth, and at Arras in the 
 North, where, till lately, no protellants were to be found, applica- 
 tions for proteftant miniflers and churches have been made and figa- 
 ed by 12,000 perfons at the former place, and near as many at the 
 latter. And although many churches have already been given to 
 theproteftants, 900 congregations are ftill deftitute, both of church- 
 es and pallors. Even in Belgium, the fame difpofition appears. 
 
 On o|>ening a Protcftant chapel at Abbey Ardennis in Normandy, 
 previous to the publication of the concordat between the Pope and 
 Buonaparte, a very refpedable congregation attended. The increafe 
 fince, has exceeded the moll fanguine expectations. And no fooner 
 was the Concordat publifhed, than the chapel was fo much over 
 crowded, that more than 200 perfons were obliged to (land dur- 
 ing the fervice, the feats being all filled. In many parts of the re- 
 public, and particularly in the fouth, large bodies of the Inhabitants 
 have publicly demanded of the prefers of their refpedive depart- 
 ruents, to be provided with a church and Proteilant miniilers. 
 Thefe are good figns of the times, and may tend to oblige all de- 
 nominations of chrilHans to greater purity ofcondud, and more at- 
 tention CO the eflential principles of tlie gofpel. Our informant adds, 
 *'Grcat and marvellous are the events of our days. A believer in the 
 prophecies cannot but feel himfelf more and more interefted in tlje 
 
great fcenes, which are evidently introducing that new era, we arc 
 taught to expedt fliall immediately commence — all concur in afford- 
 ing delightful animation to the mind, that with an eye of faith, con- 
 templates the wifdoni and goodnefs of the divine being, who is con- 
 ducting the univerfal family of mankind to improvement and happi- 
 nefs; and fitting them for everlafting glory hereafter." 
 
 " There is nothing, it is faid, which more furprifes a (Irangcr at 
 the prefent moment in France, than the rage for religious publica- 
 tions of every defcription. The prefs literally groans with books of 
 devotion. The Scepticifm of the revolution has loit its charms, 
 and even the pcth mailre is fighing for the pleafure of devotion." 
 
 The report above mentioned concludes thus: " with fincere fatif- 
 faflion, they recognize the zeal and fuccefs of other Societies aiming 
 at the fame ftupendous objedt, earneftly uniting their common fup- 
 plications with the chriftian world at large, that the blefllng of hea- 
 ven may attend them all. They chcrifh the hope that thefe are all 
 effeifls of a divine impulfc on the mind, and part of the arrangements 
 of an infinitely wife and unerring plan, which has determined the 
 ultimate renovation of the world after a long feafon of darknefs, de- 
 pravity and diforder, and is now introducing the dawn of that glo- 
 rious period which is the favourite theme of prophecy and the grand 
 confolation of the chriftian church. While they endeavour to pro- 
 mote the approach of this defirable feafon by every means in their 
 power, we chearfully refer the event to him who has referved the 
 times and the feafons in his own hands; who prefides over the vaft 
 concerns of the univerfe, and who can command all its powers, in- 
 telledtual or material, to accomplilh his pleafure, and fulfil his word." 
 
 Among other inftances of joyful converfion of finners to God in 
 London, the Committee muft mention that of Mr. Frey, a Jev/, now 
 preparing for Miffionary labours. He preached a fermon to the 
 Jews, on 1 8 May 1803, at Sion chapel, from Gen. xiii. 8. "And 
 Abraham faid unto Lot, let there be no ftrife I pray thee, between 
 me and thee:" and a prodigious congregation were colleded, among 
 whom were about 200 of the children of Abraham according to the 
 flefh. They feemed well pleafed. 
 
 The Baptist AssociatioJi, or Mlssionaiy Society, 
 
 HAVE been alfo very fuccefsful in their labors of love, ef- 
 pecially in India; where they have united with other denominations 
 in carrying the gofpel to that numerous, fuperftitious, and idolatrous 
 people. — To give foma idea of the work of God carrying on t/.-ert; 
 by their means, the following extra(51s of letters received by a wor- 
 thy gentleman of this City, and fome others in Europe, from that 
 country, the' lengthy, are inferted. 
 
24 
 
 Dinagcpore March Ijth, i8c,^, 
 
 « The Rev. Mr. Gerickc, a Miflionary upon the coaft of Ma- 
 labar, writes to a friend in Calcutta, that he has lately baptized 2700 
 perfons on the coaft. This is indeed the Lord's doings, and it is 
 marvellous in our eyes. The Iviiffion at Seramoore is not without 
 fuccels, for our little Church is by the divin^i bleffing increafing. 
 Mr. Carey has lately baptized two Hindoos, one of them a Brah- 
 min, the lirft of that calt that has embraced the gofpel. 
 
 Calcutta Aug. 37, l8o2. 
 From Mr. Carey a prhuipal Mijjionary in India. 
 
 A moft encouraging circumftance has lately occurred, and which 
 has much ftrengthened our hands. About 3 months ago, three 
 mufTulmen came from a diftance to hear the gofpel, and requefted 
 that one of us wouJQ pav them a vifit; ^\hich we promifed them to 
 do after the rainy fealon, when the paflages by water would be open. 
 About fix weeks fince, one of them deputed by the reft, came 
 again, to conduft any of us who would go. Brother Marfhman was 
 the only one who could undertake fo long a journey, and a better 
 could noc have been chofen for the purpofe. 
 
 The place where they live, is in the diftrift of Jefibre near the 
 river Jsamuty. On his arrival he found about 100 perfons who 
 have forfeveral years rejected their caft. They are MufTulmen and 
 Hindoos, formerly of various cafts. They were convinced ot the 
 folly and wickednefs of both the Hindoo and MuiTulman faith, but 
 confefled that they were ignorant of what was right; and hearing of 
 us, they v/ere very defiroas of knowing the gofpel. Brother Marfh- 
 man's reception among tliem exceeded all expctftation. Many were 
 gathered together, ready to hear the woid when he arrived, having 
 had previous notice ; and they did it with a kind of pleafure and 
 eagernefs feldom feen in this country. Tiiey dcfired us to write to 
 them and to vifit them — promifing to vifit us when they can. In 
 fliort a hopeful profpe^t prefents itfelf. In returning home. Brother 
 Marfhman got intelligence of another body of Hindoo diffenters 
 whom he determined to villt. He did fo; and found that at another 
 place about a day s journey nearer home, there are at leaft 20CO per- 
 fons who have publicly renounced their caft. They received him 
 with great pleafure, and were defirous of feeing him again. 
 
 The late opening in the Eaftern part of the country more than 
 balanctfs all our diftreffes. They have a Society of upwards of 200 
 perfons, who have rejed:ed all worfiiip of Idols, and all honor to 
 M'lhomet; and what is more, they rejedt many of the vices which 
 
^5 
 
 finet natives practice with an unblufhing countenance. Since they 
 have known us, the whole body of this people have received the 
 Bible as the word of God: They meet together to read it and to 
 ptay ; and intend to ered a place for themlelves where they can nieet 
 for worfiiip. They now alfo call themfeivcs chriftians and cfteem 
 us as their brethren. We really hope that fome of them are t.uly 
 converted; and all of them whom I have feeo, appear to be feri- 
 oufly inclined. I trufi: that e'er long they will have a gofpel church 
 formed among them. I was furprifed to fee with what facility t!iey 
 could turn to any place ot fcripture: they did not feem to be more 
 Ht a lofs to find a pafr.i^c, than a perfon would, who had been ac- 
 cuftomed to the Bible all his days. The dodlrine of the Trinity is 
 peculiarly abhorred by the MufTulmen ; and thefe p'?opIe held a coun- 
 cil, which lalled three days, to confider whether this doftrlne could 
 be admitted or not. It ended with an univerfal acknowledgment 
 of it; yet leaving it as a myftery, in the fame manner as chriftians 
 do in generali" 
 
 jinother from the same. 
 
 Calcutta, October 6, 1803. 
 The number of our church members is now 39, and v/e are in 
 hopes of receiving another native by baplifm before long. Of this 
 number 25 are natives. — The fure promifes of the word, the all 
 fufficiency of the divine power, the energetic zeal of the Lord of 
 Hofts, and his ufual way in providence feem to encourage our hopes, 
 and excite us to perfevere in the work. — This country is extremely 
 populous, the vaft numbers of perfons in Calcutta alone, mufl: ex- 
 ceed your ideas. I fuppofe that few ftreets in Loadon are fi Her, 
 if fo full of people, as the ftreets of this town ; yet in all this place, 
 and indeed m the country, I fear the number of truly converted 
 perfons will fear cely exceed 100 It is truly a melancholy thing, 
 to go along the llreetsand meet thoufands of people, without being 
 able to indulge the hope that fome '.'f them maybe converted peo- 
 ple. Here the harveft is great and the labourers are few indeed. 
 O may the Lord of the harveft fpecdily fend labourers into this 
 harveft. — Surely it is not too much to hope that God will raife up 
 gifts among the converted natives, and among the youths who are 
 educated under us, and who are likely to Ipend their days .n this 
 country. We hope in, and bend our attention to, this def::.! ob- 
 ]tS.; but muft wait till the all wife God give the bleffing. We 
 have a fecond edition of the Bengalee New Teftament in the Prefs. 
 The firft edition will, in all probability, be difpofed of before this 
 is pr inted off. I think we have given away about 40 copies a month 
 ever fince it has been publifhed. — The accounts from America have 
 
 n 
 
26 
 
 gladdened our hearts; and not only encouraged us, but other Evaii- 
 gelical MiniHicrs in this country; and we have fome times hoped 
 that the fpi: it may thus be poured out upon India, or rather this part 
 of India, for a work fome what fimilar was carried on upon the coafl: 
 (of Malabar) laft year, under the miniftry of the Rev. Mr. Gerike 
 and fome native laborers in thofe parts. — Some thoufands rejected 
 heathenifm, broke and deftroyed their Idols, fitted up the old Tem- 
 ples for chridian worfhip, and were formed into gofpel Churches. 
 They have fince had great perfecution; but the Lord has preferved 
 them faithful to himfelf." 
 
 Aljo from Mr. Carey. 
 
 Calcutta, Oflober 25 1803, 
 
 " Yefterday I had the pleafure to baptize a Brahman who is from 
 Aflam, and is the firft fruits of that country to the Lord. This 
 is the 26th perfon whom we have baptized from among the heathen; 
 and we have reafon to fay, that with the exception of two perfons, 
 all of them give us pleafure in a greater or lefs degree ; and are ac- 
 counted by us as the excellent ones of Bengal. Of thefe perfons 
 two have been removed by death. The firft was murdered, fuppo- 
 fed by thieves — but the other, left a fweet favour behind him : I 
 never recoiled to have feen more of the chiiltian exhibited on a death 
 bed, than in the cafe of this man — his fteady hope in Chrift — the 
 chearfulnefs of his mind till the laft, and the favour of evangelical 
 truth, which he conftantly difcovered in his talk, through an illnefs 
 of near three months, have left a deep imprefllon upon the minds of 
 all thofe who furvived him. His name was Gokool.* 
 
 It is time now to be up and doing. The time is fiiort. Souls 
 are precious — opportunities multiply, and. every opportunity of doing 
 good to others, either by fpeaking or writing, or by any other me- 
 
 * By another letter dated 17 OiStober Mr. Carey fays. Gokool died of a 
 ling;ering dileafe, a hectic fever, and vvc hid many opportunities to fee his 
 whole carriage during his afflidlion, and in tlie article of death, which was 
 highly fatisfaiftory, and beautifully marked with a calm and firm reliance on 
 Chrift. Gokool was by nature a man of the moft violent paflions and noted 
 for turbulence and every thing hntcfuK before b.is converfion. If any thing 
 couldniark the efncacy of divine grace, I think the latter part of his life did, 
 and efpecially his deatli. We had purchafed a burying ground, but a few days 
 before, hi which he was interred. A vaft num'jer oi" people attended, and 
 we have reafon to hope that the iniprefTion made on them was not unfavoura- 
 ble to the jj;ol'pil. There are two more Hindoos, concerning whom we hope 
 well. 1 expecfl to baptize one of them next Lords day, who is a Brahman 
 fioni the extreme part of Bengal, or rather belonging to an independant Rajah 
 on the North Eafl of Bengal, 
 
27 
 
 thod, Tias a loud voice to us all. May we be enabled to make ufc 
 pf thefe feafons, tp the honor and glory of our God.'' 
 
 Serampore, November i"], iSojc 
 
 " God, I believe will carry on his work in this country ; the lea- 
 yen is already at work. Many are thinking and feme are convert- 
 ed. Succefs indeed at prefent is not greatly apparent, but we truft 
 that Jehovah will arife fpeedily and build up Zion, and appear in his 
 jglory." 
 
 The following is an ExtraS of a Letter, from Mr. Gertie himself, 
 dated Voparry, Jan. l8th, 1 803. 
 
 I wrote to you laft from Seringapatam ; fince that time 1 have 
 experienced great hardfhips, and alfo fingular mercies. When ia 
 my journey, I came near to the extremity of the peninfulas, I found 
 whole villages waiting anxioufly for my coming, to be further inftrudt- 
 ed and baptized. They had got acquainted whith our native prieft: 
 in that country, and the catechifts and chriftians ; and had learned, 
 from them, the catechifm, which thofe who could wiite copied, to 
 learn it thenifelves, at their leifure. 
 
 When they heard of my coming, they broke their Idols to pieces, 
 and converted their temples into chriftian churches; in v/hich I in- 
 fl:ru(fled and baptized them ; in fo me about 200, in others near c;oo; 
 formed them into chriftian congregations; procured for them Cate- 
 chifts and fchool-mafters; and made them choofe, in each place, 
 four elders. Thefe examples awakened the whole country; and 
 -when I was about to leave it the inhabitants of many more villages 
 fent raeflages to me, begging me to remain a couple of months longer 
 in their country ; and to do in their villages, the good work I had 
 done in thofe of their neighbours. Since that, there have been in- 
 ftrudted and baptized 27CO people more, and 18 congregations 
 more have been formed. Among thefe new converts, are feveral 
 Chiefs, all very zealous ; and one of them travels about, preaching 
 the gofpel. — Since my return, fome of the heathen of that country, 
 old enemies, have ftirred up aperfecution againft them. By a let- 
 ter fince, from that country, I am informed of the good news, that 
 the perfecution had abated in feveral places; and that the chriftians 
 «/ho had been confined, had been honorably acquitted." 
 
28 
 
 Scrampore Cfl. ii. iSc.v 
 "There has not been any great work apparent here, but yet ic 
 has been evidently progrefling. Since our arrival 1 1 natives have 
 made a profeflion of chridianity by baptifm. Among whom are three 
 BrThmans. Thefe have been colleifted not by our er.deavours; but 
 evidently by the gracious providence of God. Some have heard 
 from others — others have obtained information from papers; and 
 others have accidentally called, as they pafled by and heard the 
 words of life from our brethren ; and thus have been led to enquiry, 
 which we hope has ended in their thorough converfionto God. It 
 mud be remarked that not one of thefe people belonged to Scrampore, 
 but all came from a diftance, and lorie widely a part from each 
 Other. From the Eart: and from the Weft — and from the North 
 and from the South will God gather in his elecft, and (hew that it 
 is not by might nor by power, nor by an arm of flefh, but by his 
 own fpirjt, that his work is to be accomplilhed. Brother Kriflino is 
 perhaps the mofc ufeful in this way. Inquirers are entertained at 
 his houfe and he fpends much of his time in converfing with them, 
 for which he is eminently qualified. He is an experienced chrifti- 
 an, and a very valuable and ufeful man. He is the fir/!: Brahman 
 who was baptized. He is gone v^ith brother W — to Dinagepore. 
 Brother W — writes fome very pleafmg things concernmg him — one 
 is, his proficiency in fpeaking and difputing with the natives. God 
 has been pleafed to remove our brother Gokool by death, from the 
 church militant, to the church triumphant; of this he gave abundant 
 teftimony both during a lingering illnefs and in the article of death. 
 His hope was wholly in Chriii: and fupported by tl'.is he pnfTed 
 through the valley of the fliadow of death and feared no evil. We 
 have been vifited by fome people from a place about 500 miles dis- 
 tant called Lockfeel, who have given us great hope. They had been 
 here before ; and our brethren have at different times vifited them. 
 They are intelligent people, much above the common rank. They 
 read well and try to underlhmd all they read, are devoted enemies to 
 Hindooifm and Mahometanifm, and very great adepts in difputation 
 on thefe points. They fay that their niinds arc made up refpedin-r 
 chrilHanity — they are fure that it is the true and right way ; and 
 in it alone, they exped pardon, and depend wholly on the death of 
 Chrift for lalvation. Some thing of a worldly nature hinders them 
 from making a public profeffion by baptifm, which gives us forrow 
 and damps our rifing expedations. ' 
 
 Schools are inftituting in many parts of the country for Engllfh, 
 Portuguese and Hindoo children, and the Bible, with many other pi- 
 ous Books, is printed in the Bengalee, Hindoftanee, Perfian and 
 ^aharata languages. 
 
29 
 
 In Ceylon, an Ifland containing more tlian lOOjOCO Inhabitants, 
 a great work is alfo carrying on. Hit; britifli pcfTefFions are divi- 
 ded into 4 difhidts— thele are divided into counties, which are fub- 
 dividedinto pariflies. In every parifli is a piuteflant fchool, where 
 the youth arc initrudled in reading and writing their own language, 
 and in the principles of chiiiHanitv. Over every lo fchools is ap- 
 pointed one catechift, whofe bufmefa it is to perfoim a villtation once 
 a month to enc^uire into the condiKft of the teachers ; to examine 
 the progrefs made by the fcholars, and to exhort them to induftry 
 and diligence. In each of the lefTer diftricfts is eftabiifhed a native 
 officiating pieacher, who has been examined, and performs divine 
 fervice in one of the churches or fchools every Sunday &c. In 
 each of the principal diftric^s are one, two or three clergymen who 
 have been ordained in Europe. Each, has the fuperintending charge 
 of a certain number of fchools, to which he performs a vifitation 
 once a year, and adminifters the holy communion. Some of the na- 
 tive preachers and catcchifts ;;re really men of principle and abilities, 
 and are extremely ufeful. By the lalt returns, there were nearly 
 17c fchools and upwards of 42C00 prufeffing proteflant chriftians. 
 The number of chridians profefTing the religion of the church of 
 Rome was very great. There are 15 priefis on the Ifland, who 
 are indefatigable in their labors, and are daily making profelytes. 
 The dodrines of thofe who have been educated by the Dutch are 
 purely calviniflic and tlieir fermons evangelical. 
 
 A Britilh MiiEonary has alfo, in a great meafure, fucceeded In 
 eftabliHiing a mifiion in Aftracan in Pcrfia. He writes from Corafs 
 Bedmaw near Geotghieufl; under date of 27 Jc-muary 1 803. "I 
 have met with a degree of prufperity in my undertaking, that makes 
 me afraid — Providence has enabled me to do more than ever I me- 
 ditated. V/e have fixed ourfelves in a village, which leparates the 
 Tartars from the Cabordians who inhabit a great part of Caucafus. 
 This place in which we are fettled, is on the frontier of the Ruffian 
 empire, but properly in the Circaffian country. We travelled, un- 
 der the favour of an open letter from the emperor of Ruffia to his go- 
 vernors &c. by the way of Mofcow, SarcjJta Adracan &c. about 3000 
 Verfts to the place where we now are. It is within a few days 
 journey of Perfia and Bokkaria and within 5 o miles of Turkey. 
 Although 1 doubt not the Society for Millions to Africa and the 
 Eaft, have already fulHcient engagements, yet may I not venture to 
 afk, whether they might not ranfom a few Tartar youths ? fhould 
 any of them prove pious, they might afterwards do much in propa- 
 gating the gofpel — you cannot conceive the refpeft and attention a 
 Tartar or Circaffian would meet with, who underftood the Arabic, 
 Turkilh, Perfian and Tartar languages •well." 
 
The Cliurck of the United Bretlireny 
 
 Commonly called Moravians, have alfo fhewn a zeal and ac- 
 tivity in their mafter's fervice, that deferves well of every friend to 
 the falvation of men. They have had greater fuccefs among the 
 heathen of various denominations, and particularly among the 
 Northern Indians, tiian any other proteftant fed of Chriftians what- 
 ever. 
 
 The number of perfons employed by them in miflions to various 
 parts of the world, flood thus in 1802, 
 
 In the Danifli Weft India Settlements. Miffionariesc 
 
 Iflands, they have 6 32 
 
 In Antigua 3 17 
 
 In St- Kitts I 4 
 
 In Jamaica ,3 8 
 
 In Barbadoes i 2 
 
 In Tobago i 2 
 
 In Greenland 3 16 
 
 In Labrador 3 23; 
 
 In Quebec and Newfoundland. . . 3 3 
 
 Among the Indians in North America. 3 19 
 
 In South America 4 24 
 
 Among the Hottentots, at the 1 
 
 Cape of Good Hope. S ' ' ^ '° 
 
 In the Rufiian part of Afia. . . . i 2 
 
 Near TranqueBar in the Eaft Indies. . i 2 
 
 37 166 
 
 At the clofe of the year 1800, the Congregation of native Indi- 
 ans at Hoop in Surinam, in South America, confifted of 208 per- 
 fons, 169 baptized, 84 communicants, 39 not yet baptized; alfo 
 at New Bombay in tlie fame country 49 free Negroes, i 7 of whom 
 are communicants. 
 
 The laft letters from Surinam fay, " The work of God proceeds, 
 though not rapidly, yet with a manifeft bieffing upon the labors of 
 our brethren. In all the four fettlements they are earneftly and di- 
 ligently engaged in inviting poor loft finners, to hear and believe the 
 gofpel of their redeemer. At Paramaribo 16 adult negro flaves had 
 been baptized from January to the end of September 1802. This 
 year the believing negroes in the three Iflands of St. Thomas, St. 
 Croix and St. Jan coniiftcd of 10,276 fouls. One of the brethren 
 
31 
 
 Xvrites from Jamaica under date of January 1 803. " I went to brotJiet' 
 Lefter to Iflatid^ where on the laft day of the year, I had the plea- 
 fure in the evening to meet about 40 negroes, who were ranged in 
 great order on the floor of the Hall, and liltened very attentively to 
 my difcourfe. May our Lord grant that this new year may prove a 
 period of renewed grace and mercy both for us and our negroes, that 
 a true hunger and thirfl after him and his word m:ty be excited in 
 their hearts. 
 
 The Committee are forry to fay, that fince the mofl promifing ap- 
 pearances in favour of the people of colour in this liiand, laws have 
 been made, making it highly criminal for any but minillcrs licenced 
 according to law to preach to the blacks, and as much fo, for the blacks 
 to hear; which has put a ll'op to this glorious work for theprefent-'' 
 
 The brethren in their account of Millions fay, " that their fimple 
 motive in fending Miffionaries to diftant nations was, and remains, an 
 ardent defire to promote the falvation of their fellow men, by making 
 known to them the gofpel of our faviour Jefus Chrlft. They were 
 grieved to hear of lo many thoufands and millions of the human race 
 fitting in darknefs and groaning beneath the yoke of fin and the tyran- 
 ny of fatan ; and believing the glorious promifes in the word of God, 
 that the heathen (hould become the reward of the fufferings and death 
 of Jefus; they confidered his commandments to go into all the world 
 and preach the gofpel to every creature, as given to all his followers ; 
 they were filled with confident hopes, that if they alfo went forth in 
 obedience unto, and believing in his word, their labor would not be 
 in vain in the Lord. They accordingly went forth in the ftrength of 
 their God, and he has wrought wondeis in their behalf. From 
 very fmall beginnings, the miffions of the brethren have encreafed to 
 above thirty fettlemenis in different parts "of the earth, in which 
 about 160 Miflionarics are employed, who have the care of upwards 
 of 24000 converts from among the heathen." 
 
 The Milfion among the Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope, 
 was begun by a man remarkable for his zeal and courage, who labored- 
 fuccefsfully, till he had formed a fmall congregation of believers. 
 When the Miflionarics firft arrived in the country, at the place called 
 Bavians Kloof in 1792, it was a barren uninhabited place. There 
 were in the year 1 800, five married Mifllionaries refiding there, and 
 1300 Hottentots of the congregation. 
 
 At Cape Town the number of the converted heathens is confi- 
 derable, who manifclt the power of the fpirit. not only in the pub- 
 lic worfliip but in their intercourfe among themfelves ; fo that while 
 the declenfion of zeal for the caufe of Jefus among many profeflx)rs 
 is lamented, his holy name is daily more and more adored among 
 the Heathen. 
 
32 
 
 At Stillcnbock about 2n miles from cape Town, feveral poor hcd^ 
 then have joyfully embraced the Saviour of finners, and manifclkd in 
 their experience the genuine marks of a divine work ; and one of 
 them on the near expeflation of her departure into the eternal ftate, 
 cxprefled the mod comfortable perfuafion of her perfonal intereft in 
 the love of Jefus, and the redemption procured by his death. The 
 Miffionary hiis alfo opened a fchool here for the children of the Hot- 
 tentots, in which he has about 30 children. 
 
 At another fhition in Waggonmakers valley, after much oppofi- 
 tion from perfons calling themfelves chridians, by the aid of Gov. 
 Dundas, who greatly countenanced the undertaking, a fettlement 
 has been effeLtcd, and the Miffionary exprefles his hope that he be- 
 gins to fee the work of the holy fpirit. He fays " that at their 
 monthly prayer meetings, when we bow our knees before the throne 
 of grace, the Hottentots cry out, we thank Cjod that you are come 
 to us. Many of the Haves exprefs a great reverence for the gofpel, 
 and rejoice that they hear of a crucified Saviour, Twenty of them 
 are now learning the alphabet. Thirty can fpell, and five can read, 
 and are learning the catechifm. There are feveral other ftations 
 occupied by Millionaries. One of them is atZaak River, which is about 
 19 days journey (or gno miles) from the Cape, where the golpc«I 
 is attended with confiderable effeifl. Another is at Graff Reinet 
 near the limits of the Colony towards CafFraria, where a confiderable 
 number of heathen are hearing the word of life* About three j^eara 
 ago a MilTionary arrived in Africa, when a deputation from a people 
 called the Corannas, who live about five weeks journey on the 
 great Orange River, arrived at Cape Town, earneftly defiring that 
 fome good man might be fent to infl:ru(5t them. This the Miffion- 
 aries confidered as a plain call to vifit the poor wild Hottentots. — - 
 They accordingly let off, and with incredible labor and fatigue 
 reached the place, having travelled feven davs, through a country 
 almofl: without a blade of grafs, living on Oftrich eggs, and with- 
 out feeing a human creature. 
 
 Here they began, among the Hottentots, Corannas and Briquasj 
 but afterwards, on the Invitation of a confiderable number of Hot- 
 tentots, they removed eight days journey lower down the River. 
 They were met half way by the heathen, to their mutual joy, and 
 found among them a general defire for inftrudion. The Miiilonary 
 has about 800 under his care, and has been gratuitoufly fupplied 
 with as much provifions as were neceflary. He has been but about 
 fix months with them, yet 20 of them had began to read, fome 
 could fpell and others were learning the alphabet. Spiritual impres- 
 fions feem to have been alfo made on fome of them ; and great hopes 
 are entertained, that thefe meafures will prove the moft powerful 
 means of civilizing the natives and tranquillizing the Colony. 
 
53 
 
 Anotlier Miffionary, who is a native of Mozambique, and had 
 been fold as a flave and carried into the Cape, had been awakened 
 by the preaching of the gofpel by one of our Miflionaries, fo as to 
 render it etfedual to his falvation. This young man, already free 
 in the Lord Jefus, the Society redeemed from civil bondage, and is 
 preparing to be fent to the extenfive region of Mozambique. Thi 
 Society has the ftrongeft reafon to believe that many tiioufand hea- 
 thens in Africa are now hearing the gofpel of falvation fiom the lips 
 of thofe Miflionaries who have been fent out by the Society. 
 Among many of the chriftians, they obferve an energy unknown and 
 unexerted before; a time of refrefhing from the prefence of the Lord, 
 the effefls of which are felt to the extremities of the Colony. 
 
 Sarepta near Czarina on the Wolga in Ruflian Afia, was built 
 chiefly with a view to bring the gofpel to the Calmuck Tartars and 
 other heathen tribes in thofe vaft regions. Hitherto little or no fuc- 
 cefs has attended the brethrens labors, though their exertions have 
 been great and perfevering ; and equal to thofe of any of our Mis- 
 fionaries in other countries. Some brethren even refided with them, 
 conforming to their manner of living in tents, and accompanying 
 them wherever they moved their camps. They omitted no opportu- 
 nity of preaching unto them Jefus, and dired:ing them from their 
 numberlefs Idols and wretched fuperftition, to the only true God, 
 and the way of life and happinefs ; but though they were heard and 
 treated with civility, no impreflion could be made upon the hearts 
 of thefe heathen : but the German Colonifts on the Wolga received 
 them; they formed Societies amongfl: them, and fo anfwered a very 
 beneficial purpofe. 
 
 The Society alfo have a Miflion in Newfoundland, of which a 
 Miffionary fays, " The Lord has blefled his efforts in a degree that 
 has feldom been heard of in a fimilar fituation. Twenty-eight per- 
 fons have been formed into a church of Chrift — fourteen others, 
 chiefly young men, joined ftatedly in public prayer together, and at 
 lead half that number of young women are apparently under fpiri- 
 tual concern. 
 
 Two Miflions have been alfo eftabliflied at Quebec and the Bay 
 Chaleur. Much oppofition has been met with here from thofe who 
 bear the chrillian name, and yet both Miflions feem to be attended 
 with beneficial efleds. Theprincipal Miflionary writes "that there are 
 fome precious fouls, whom charity and their pious condudl and devout 
 breathings, oblige him to believe that they have been brought out 
 of nature's darknefs, into the marvellous light of the gofpel — and 
 that he has great hopes a good work is going forward among them. 
 
 The moft flourifliing Miflions, at prefent, are thofe in Greenland, 
 Antigua, Saint Kitts, the Danifli Weft India Iflands, and the Cape 
 of good Hope. A new awakening has appeared of late among the 
 
 £ 
 
34 
 
 Arrowwacks and free negroes in South America. The Efquimaux 
 on the coaft of Labrador, and in Barbadoes — and the lateft accounts 
 give the moft pleafing hopes in thofe parts. Several attempts to 
 carry the gofpel into other parts of the earth, made by the brethren, 
 have not fucceeded — as to the Laplanders and Samojedes — on 
 the coaft of Guinea — to the flaves in Algiers — to Perfia — to Egypt. 
 Indeed in upper Egypt there was a profped of being ufeful among 
 the Copts, who have been vifited for feme years. 
 
 The brethrens' general pradtice is to preach the gofpel to all 
 heathen to whom they have accefs, and every foul is invited to be 
 reconciled to God through the atonement made by Jefus Chrift. 
 Befides the public teftimony of the gofpel, the Miffionaries are di- 
 ligently employed in vifiting and converfing with the heathen in their 
 dwellings. If they are awakened to a fenfe of their undone ftate 
 by nature, and of their want ©f a Saviour, and apply for further in- 
 ftrudtion, giving us their names, they are called Neiv People^ and 
 fpecial attention is paid to them. If they continue in their earneft 
 defire to be faved from the power of fin, and to be initiated into 
 the chriftian churches by holy baptifm, they are confidered as can- 
 didates for baptifm ; and after previous inltrudtion, and a conveni- 
 ent time of probation, they are baptized. If they then prove by 
 their walk and converfati^n that they have not received the grace of 
 God in vain, and defire to be admitted to the holy communion, 
 they are firR admitted to be present as fpe(5tators, and then confi- 
 dered as candidates for the communion, and after fome time become 
 communicants. A free man or flave who afts contrary to the mo- 
 ral precepts contained in the Bible, is excluded either from the 
 Lord's supper or the meetings of the baptized, or even, in certain 
 cafes, from all fellowfhip with the congregation ; for no fituation, 
 or prevalency of cuflom, can fandtion a pretext fur any kind of dis- 
 obedience to the rule of Chrift. Such are not readmitted until 
 they have given fatisfaflory proofs of true repentance. Millions of 
 late have been uncommonly expenfive, from feveral concurring cau- 
 fes, and their funds reduced, but as God, whofe work it is, has 
 never failed to fupport it, a grateful fenfe of his favour produces 
 faith and confidence in him. As to the manner of preaching the 
 gofpel to the heathen, the brethren have by long experience found, 
 tnat tlie word of the crofs is the power of God unto falvation, to 
 all men that believe. They therefore immediately preach Jefus and 
 him crucified ; fowing the word in tears, with patience and cou- 
 rage, knowing that they (lull hereafter reap with joy. 
 
 The Committee are indebted to the various perodical publica- 
 tions of the different Inftitutions, for thefe accounts ; on whofe 
 veracity, and chiefly in whofe words, they have made this ftiort 
 abftraft. 
 
35 
 
 An affefling account of the fuccefs of the united brethren among 
 the fable children of Africa, is clofed by the authors of the evange- 
 lical magazine, with tliis addrefs, which is thought worthy of repeti- 
 tion. " What chridian can pv^rufe this afFeding narrative without 
 blefling God, who to our black brethren hath vouchfafed this abun- 
 dant grace? And who can refrain from blefling God who excited 
 the Moravian church to thefe labours of love; and who hath fo won- 
 derfully fucceeded their apoftolic efforts? Who that hath tailed 
 that the Lord is gracious, will refufe the aid of his heart, his hand 
 and his purfe in promoting mifliionary exertions, fo honored of our 
 God and Saviour? 
 
 £xtraBs Jrom two letters from the Revd. Gideon Blackburn, 
 fading under the authority of the General AJfemhly of the Presbyte- 
 rian church in the United States, as a Mijfionary to the Chero- 
 kee Indians,) to the Revd. Dr. Alhbel Green, Chairman of the 
 •Committee of Mifftons. 
 
 Maryviili, Nov. 2, 1803, 
 
 Revd. Sir, 
 
 YOU have no doubt been waiting with confiderable anxiety 
 to hear from me on the fubjedt of my miflion. I did not wilh to 
 •write until I fliould have it in my power to fay fomething decifive 
 on the fubjed. Immediately on my return to TennefTee I took every 
 opportunity of converfation with the leading characters of the nation 
 on their vifits to our fettlement, and Itated to them my wifhes. 
 Some, I could not fee, I addrefled by letter, in order to prepare their 
 minds for giving the propofals publicity. By information from Col. 
 Meigs I found there was to be a general meeting of the nation on 
 the 15th Sept. near fouth weft point, about forty miles from this 
 place. I attended, but the Indians had poftponed the meeting to 
 the 1 5th 0<5t. Finding it would give dignity and refpeift to the in- 
 flitution to have the fenfe of the nation on the fubjeft, I wrote a 
 circular letter, requefHng an anfwer on that head at their meeting. 
 At the time propofcd I again attended, and met a general affem- 
 bly of the chiefs, and a confiderable number of the people, in all 
 near 2000. The council v/as held in a grove, on the Indians land, 
 on the fouth of Tenneflee river. 1 made my propofal in an ad- 
 drefs: on the 20th the Indians took it into ferious confideration 
 that evening and night, and in full council the next day rendered 
 their anfwer in the following words, viz. " We approve of a fchool 
 being eftabhlhed in our nation under the fuperintendance of the Revd. 
 
36 
 
 Mr- Blackburn, and hope much good will be done by it to our peo- 
 ple: two years are allowed in the firft place, that we may have an 
 opportunity to fee what progrefs our children make under the in- 
 ftrudtion of the teachers, and we will fend fome of our children to 
 the fchool." 
 
 THE GLASS. 
 
 Speaker for the Nation. 
 Atteft, 
 
 RETURN J. MEIGS. 
 
 A place was agreed on. The place chofen by the chiefs as moft 
 fuitable to their convenience, is near a town called HighwafTee, 
 near forty-five miles in the Nation. I have procured a teacher, of 
 refpeflable charafter, approved morals, and ftridt piety. 
 
 The diftance of the fchool from the fettlement made it neceflary 
 for the teacher to live in the Nation : I therefore preferred one with 
 a family : — one is obtained, who has a decent companion, and one 
 child : — he has entered into bond, and given fufficient fecurity for 
 his performance. 
 
 The fchool will be attended with confiderable expence, and im- 
 menfe trouble and labor ; but 1 hope God will dired to refources, and 
 enable to bear the fatigue. The advantage to the Nation, and the 
 caufe of God, will, 1 trufl, fully repay every exertion to promote 
 the inftitution. To fee thoufands of immortals, capable, by improve- 
 ment, to vie with a Boy!:', a Bacon, and a Netuton, buried in the 
 fhades of favage ignorance, and delUtute of the means of enlighten- 
 ing, would infpire the molt rtoical mind (if religious) with apofto- 
 lic defires to refciie them from their native ignorance and favage wild- 
 nefs. However I am fully p^rfuaded there is not a Nation of In- 
 dians on the Continent, which promifes fairer to reward the pious 
 exertions of generoas benefaftors, than the Cherokee Nation. 
 
 Before Chriftmafs, I flatter myfelf, every thing will be ready to 
 begin the fchool. One of the great obftacles to be furmounted will 
 be, the wild and diftant difpolition of the young Indians : this muft 
 be engaged by ajlurements: perhaj)s a few fmall books, to be given 
 to them, mi^htbe of ufe. — Should this defideratum be fupplied, and 
 a fev/ others fuited to the undertaking be forwarded, it would evident- 
 ly materially ferve the MifTion. 
 
 I rcfl aflured we have your moft ardent prayers, and thofe of your 
 Society for our fucceis and will expect your friendly communications 
 toafiift in the difcharge of the inportant truft. 
 
 The Pfefident, the Agent, and all the officers of government are 
 much pleafed with the delign, and engaged to promote the underta- 
 king by every kind office in their power, — but unlefs God build the 
 houfe the workmen will ftrivein vain May God grant his aid, af- 
 ford his afTiftance, ^nd receive entirely the praife!" 
 
37 
 
 •' Marvville, April 11, 1804.'* 
 
 " After immenfe labour and fatigue I got all things ready for open- 
 ing the Indian fchool on the 2ifl February. The mafter had been 
 under pay from December; and had been at the place, making ne- 
 celfary arrangements — obtaining an acquaintance with the language, 
 and familiarizing himfelf with the children. On the firft day there 
 came eleven fcholars; on the 8th of March there •w&xtfixteen; on 
 the -iyth there were twenty; and feveral more are expe^ed in a few 
 days, — as foon as I can get clothing ready for them. 
 
 The children behave part expedtacion ; and I am perfuaded that 
 by a difcipline well balanced by inducements and well timed autho- 
 rity, they can be kept in as good order as any fchool on the conti- 
 nent. 
 
 Their proficiency is very remarkable: the firft day feveral of them 
 could diflindly pronounce half of the alphabet; by the 8th of March 
 all of them could fay their letters, backward and forward and could 
 eafily know them wherever they could fee them; and three could 
 fay their ab. They continue their progrefs; and 1 flatter myfelf 
 that their proficiency will exceed the mofl fanguine expeftations. 
 Two boys who have been taught in the fettlement, are now at fchool, 
 and are beginning to write. 
 
 The adivity, attention, and care of the mader deferve the high- 
 eft notice. 
 
 I have fpent three months in clofe fervice to the inftitution, be- 
 fides numberlefs attentions I am obliged to pay to it at home. 
 The intereft I feel in carrying this bufinefs into eifcd would fecure 
 my exertions, fliould I receive no pecuniary returns from any perfon 
 on earth. I have pledged myfelf to the nation, and my property is 
 at ftake on the iflue of the undertaking. 
 
 I found it neceffary to engage in the bufinefs on a large fcale, 
 which involves confiderably more expence than at firft I had calcu- 
 lated : — the cloathing and boarding I found unavoidable: without 
 this they could not eafily be weaned from favage, and introduced 
 into civilized habits; nor could they have been continued at fchool, 
 had they been boarded in Indian families. The Indians were not 
 fufficiently fenfible of the advantages, to fubmit to the expences of 
 the inftitution. I have therefore raifed a tolerable large houfe with 
 two fires, in which they are both boarded and taught, and thus are 
 conftantly under the e}'e of the mafter. 
 
 Enclofed are the moft material direflions which I have given to 
 the teacher.* 
 
 In every converfation I have had with the chiefs, I have inculcated 
 the ideas of fettling in farms and cultivating the foil: I think .1 very 
 ihort period will bring this about. 
 
 • Thefe immediately follow this letter, 
 
38 
 
 The exigence o^nfupreme being is almofl univerfally acknowledg- 
 ed, and they admit his agency in matters of importance. 
 
 They are remakably fond of hiHorical (Icetches ; and in this way 
 might eafily be inftrufted in the hiftory of the Bible. Should a num- 
 ber of gentlemen of talents and leifure publifh a work in the form 
 of a magazine to anfwer this end, and devote it to the ufe of the 
 fchool, I am perfuaded it would ferve the caufe of God. 
 
 The chiefs of the Nation are pleafed with the thought, that their 
 children fliould be taught to do bufinefs like the white people. 
 
 A few days ago I received a very earneft requeft from the princi- 
 pal chiefs of the lower diftrift of the Nation for a fchool to be eftablifli- 
 ed among them. This would be attended with lefs expence, as a 
 few refpedable white men live near that place who would board the 
 fcholars free, and contribute confiderably for fchooling their own chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Shall it be faid by future writers of the hlfliory of America, that 
 once there exifled a Nation of Indians, confiding of upwards of eight 
 thoufand fouls; but they are funk to ruin for want of information, 
 though begging for the means of civilization from a rich, an enlight- 
 ened, and a chriflianized republic. Shall not the fame ardor fire 
 our breafts, which adtuates the merchant, while, in the purfuit of 
 wealth, he traverfes the globe, or faces death upon the mighty waters! 
 He is not daunted by the horror of the tempefb, or the changes of 
 climate, until he arrives in Nootka found in queft of a few Otterjiins; 
 and ftiall the falvation of fouls be of lefs confequence in our view, or 
 (hall we be apathetic in our exertions to refcue them from favage ig- 
 norance and barbarity. 
 
 I wifh to be fully informed of the wifiies and defigns of the com- 
 mittee on this fubjedt, and how far they will carry the attempt to ci- 
 vilize this Nation ; alfo v/hat funds they will appropriate to that end. 
 Should the funds be inadequate, rather than the defign fliould mifcar- 
 ry, I would chearfully commit the care of my family and congrega- 
 tions to divine providence, and, pleading the caufe of my poor red 
 neighbours and brethren, I would endeavor, by reprefenting their 
 cries for relief, to excite a generous public to contribution. 
 
 Were the ftate of the fchool and its wants known to the Merchants 
 and Bookfellers of Philadelphia, I am perfuaded that blankets, cloth- 
 ing, and books, together with an abundance of fmall articles which 
 would ferve as prefents, and inducements to the children might ea- 
 fily be obtained. Thefe v/ould be of great fervice ; and indeed with- 
 out them the fchool cannot go on. All (he prefents I have yet given 
 them are at my own expence, as I was very defirous to make the 
 bed I could of the funds on hand, 
 
 I need not fpecify the kinds of books which will be wanted ; you. 
 are all judges of thofe things, and, having it in your power to feleS 
 from a great variety, you can do it to the beft advantage. 
 
39 
 
 Oh, fir, if I had the wealth of a Crcefus, the ambltibn of an Alcx- 
 ^andcr, and the wifdom of Solomon, aided by the zeal of a Paul, or 
 an Elliot, they fliould all be employed to carry on this defign. 
 
 I hope this earth never makes one revolution on its axis without 
 finding you with your hands fpread, and your hearts raifed to the di- 
 vine throne for my affiftance. — May your prayers be fuccefsful, and 
 you reap a rich harvefl: to your own fouls ! 
 
 '1 he Nations are fhaking, the temple is filling with the glory of 
 the Lord, and the poor heathen will foon rejoice in the light of the 
 fun of righteoufnefs. May we who already enjoy the light of the 
 gofpcl be indeed the fait of the earth !" 
 
 Instructions given by the Rev. C'uleon Blackburn, Mif- 
 fionary to the Cherokees, to the mafter of the fchool inftituted for 
 the education of their children. 
 
 1. The teacher will always keep in view that the objecfV of the 
 Inftitution is to moralize and civilize the Indians, as well as to 
 teach them the Rudiments of the Englifh Language ; and there- 
 fore his conducft in all cafes will be fuch as will tend to thofe ends. 
 
 2. Each morning, in the prefence of the fcholars, he will begin 
 the exercifes of the day, by finging a few verfes of an hymn, and 
 by addrefling a prayer to the Deity ; and in the evening will clofe 
 the fchool in the fame manner: — taking opportunities, at as early a 
 period as poflible, to teach the pupils the defign of this condud, and 
 of impreffing their minds with the propriety of filence, folemnity, 
 and compofure, during the exercifes. 
 
 3. The fabbath will always be carefully fpent in religious duties; 
 and as foon as the fcholars can underftand the nature of the cafe, 
 they muft be catechifed on the firft principles of religion ; and as their 
 capacity encreafes, advanced towards the knowledge of religion in 
 general. 
 
 On thofe days, fliould any o/"/Z»f A^<3//o« vifit the teacher, he will 
 carefully avoid converfations on worldly topics, and in a family way 
 introduce things relative to God &c. and the firit principles of re- 
 ligion and morality ; always retaining a grave and folemn manner 
 during fuch converfuion, in order to imprefs the hearers with the 
 importance of thofe fubjeds. 
 
 4. In all interviews with the Indians, the teacher will take care to 
 fliew a refpedtful attention to them, that they may fee, that as men, 
 they are viewed as his equals ; and that fuperiorinflrudion docs not 
 make men proud, but more humble and polite. 
 
 5. He will carefully avoid adopting their manners and habits, 
 and ftudioufly keep up the charadteriftic of fupcrior civilization. 
 Thus he will lead them into our cufloms. 
 
40 
 
 6. In the government of the fchool all feverity will be avoided, 
 atleafl: until the fcholars are brought to love their new enploy ; but 
 ingenious penalties and well chofen inducements muft be adopted. 
 In the whole bufinefs care v/ill be taken alwayj^ to fhew diiapproba- 
 tion of vice. 
 
 7. In the hours of amufement, the mafter v/ill do well to direct 
 them to fuch exercifes and plays, as are pradlifed among the white 
 people ; thereby eventually tochang- the diverfions of the nation. 
 
 8. The teacher will, in all cafes, avoid entering into the difputes 
 of the nation, or becoming a party in their politics ; and thus main- 
 tain his influence with the whole. 
 
 9. He rnufl: ufe his belt endeavors to form a vocabulary of the lan- 
 guage of the nation. 
 
 10. CoHeft as much as pofTible, from the bed attefted facts, an 
 hiftory of the nation. 
 
 11. Keep a record of the fcholars names; exhibiting carefully, 
 every month, the progrefs of each, and marking thofe who efpecial- 
 ]y excel. 
 
 THE HYMN TO JESUS. 
 
 Tranjlated from the Hottentot Language and verjijied in Englijh. — It 
 luas fung by the three Hottentots. — Vide page ai. 
 
 O Zion's king ! Thou Son of God, 
 Exalted on thy Father's throne! 
 Behold the purchafe of thy blood, 
 On thy dear bride look gently down. 
 
 Far from thyfelf, her head, her Lord, 
 Her life, her love, for thee (he longs ! 
 Oh, come and fpeak fome cheering word ; 
 And foon her fighs fliall turn to fongs! 
 
 Forget not fouls ftill dead in fin, 
 
 For whom thy precious blood was fixed : 
 
 Oh, let them feel a life divine. 
 
 Thy mighty power can raife the dead ! 
 
 Now let thy glory be difplay'd. 
 
 Now caufe the deaf thy voice to hear ; 
 
 That it of Zion may be faid, 
 
 *' This and that man was born in her." 
 
41 
 
 Fountain of life! Almighty God ! 
 Thy fplrit's influence impart! 
 Oh fhed thy precious love abroad. 
 And let it foften ev'ry heart. 
 
 Bring Tyrlans, Phlliftlnes and Moors, 
 In the right way thy fa^e to feek ; 
 Let Satan fall, while heav'n adores, 
 And the whole earth thy praife fhall fpeak ! 
 
 The Hottentots in London. 
 
 Ev. Mag. January 1804. 
 
 The Gentiles Jhall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, isfc. 
 
 Jer. xvi. 19. 
 Jehovah fpake, and truth attends his word, 
 " The Gentile nations fliall confefs tlieir Lord ; 
 " Mefliah's reign fliall o'er the world extend ; 
 " And his firm throne endure till time fliall end !'■* 
 Each pafling age the promife bleft reveals; 
 Each diftant clime the fpreading conqueft feels ; 
 Each diff'rent tribe fliall by the crofs be won; 
 And all the Kingdoms be in Jefus one! 
 
 Europe, once pagan, barbarous, and blind. 
 Now civilized, enlightened, and refin'd, 
 Avows the chriftian faith ; while thoufands fliarc 
 Its bleffings, who difgrace the name they oear ! 
 Yet Europe hath its righteous fouls, who aim 
 To fpread around the world a faviour's name; 
 O'er Seas and ddfarts, bold they perfevere ; 
 And Lo ! at length, the firfl ripe fruits appear ! 
 
 Who are thefe of olive hue, 
 Varied forms of human race, 
 Uttering language harfli and new, 
 Strangers from fome diftant place ? 
 Children thefe of nature rude, 
 In a land of darknefs born ; 
 By oppreflion's rod fubdu'd, 
 Europe's ridicule and fcorn. 
 F 
 
42 
 
 Knowing not their maker's name ; 
 Having not the means to know ; 
 Void of decency or fhame, 
 And unconfcious of their woe, — 
 Xiife with them was but a ftate, 
 To be wretched, and to die ; 
 And their everlafHng fate 
 Waken d not an anxious Cgh ! 
 
 N 
 
 What a change in thefe is wrought ! 
 Trophies rich of grace divine ; 
 From death's gloomy iliadows brought, 
 Humb'e hghts for God, to fliine ! 
 What could break old habits force, 
 Stem the hold of fin, fecure, 
 Turn corrupted nature's courfe. 
 Into channels clean and pure ? 
 
 Mark them ! — Savage once, and wildj 
 Now adorn'd, with fmiles ferene, 
 Gentle, teachable and mild, 
 Decent look and pious mien. 
 Hark ! religion joy doth bring. 
 Tuning grateful, cheerful praife ; 
 Sweetly Jefus love they Cng 
 In their native fimple lays! 
 
 Hail thou bleffed gofpel hail ! 
 Where thy faithful heralds run. 
 Peace and love, and joy prevail, — 
 Glory is on earth begun ! 
 Slaves of fin releas'd by thee, 
 Jefu's friends and fervanta are. 
 Form on eartli his family, 
 And bis heavenly kingdom fhare !-^ 
 
 Say boarting infidel, can all your fcbemcs. 
 To civilize the world, fuch converts find ! 
 Could vain philofophy's delufive dreams. 
 Or reafon's morals thus renew the mind ? 
 Would your phllanthrophy the work defign,<— 
 To feek the wretched of the human race ; 
 * Mid Iceland's fnows, or Afric's burning line. 
 To fpread tlie knowledge of a faviour's grace I 
 
43 
 
 God work's by means that prove his fov'relgn hand j 
 Infpircs the humble to confound the wife ; 
 EfFeds by fimple agents, movements grand ; 
 Marks out the track, and ready ftrength fuppHes I 
 Nor weahh nor fame attend the arduous deed ; 
 But toils and dangers {trew the rugged way ; 
 Unbought they labor, and unarm'd fucceed ;— 
 Their fword is truth, and fouls renew'd their pay ! 
 
 O ye, who mourn a world in error dead, 
 Whofe fpirits cry," Lord let thy kingdom come 1— 
 Who long to lee the glorious gofpel fpread, 
 And pant to welcome wand'ring finners home, — 
 Rejoice! your pray'rs have reached the throne above !' 
 Go on ; the word hath reach'd remoteft lands ! 
 Your work of faith, and labor fweet of love. 
 Shall profper in the great redeemer's hands! 
 
 ANY Perfon furnishing the committee of Millions, or either of 
 them, with 33 dollars 33, cents, will be the means of fupplying a 
 Miflionary to preach the glad tidings of falvation to fome deftitute 
 part of the country for one month. 
 
 Blankets, coarfe woollens, cottons, books, or any other com- 
 modity proper for the cloathing or inftruftion of the Indian boys 
 at the fchool in the Cherokee Nation of Indians, will be thankfully 
 received by the committee, or either of them, and forwarded ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 The form of a devise or bequest for Missionary purposes. 
 I A. B. Do give, devife and bequepth to the truftees of the 
 General Aflembly of the Prefbyterian Church in the United States 
 
 of America and their fucccfTors for ever. — All that, &c for 
 
 the ufes of their Incorporation. 
 
 The names of the Committee of Miflions for the prelent year. 
 ASHBEL GREEN, Chairman. 
 The Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair, Elias Boudinot, 
 
 Philip Milledoler, Ebenezer Hazard, 
 Jacob Janeway, Robert Smith. 
 
44 
 
 The edUor has taken the liberty to add to this colleS'ion the foUoiv'ing co- 
 py ^if ^ letter received from the •wejlern country, Jlatc of Tennejfcy 
 <wrUten by a Rev. gentleman ivell known, and on ivhoft knoivledge 
 andjlt'iii veracity great reliance may be placed. 
 
 Marvville, January ao, 1804. 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 The wonderful appearances attendant on the revival in the ftate 
 of Tenneffee has arreted the attention of both the friends and ene- 
 mies of religion. The bodily exercife has aifumed fuch a variety of 
 fliapes as to render it a truly herculian tafli to give in intelligent Ltate- 
 ment of it to any perfon who has never feen it. However, I do not 
 heiitate to fay that it is evidently the Lord's work though marvellous 
 in our eyes. 
 
 Since my return to the ftate of Tennellee I have attended eight fa- 
 craments, and thefe in different parts of the country. From 1000 to 
 S500 have been aflembled together — of courfe, collected from conll- 
 dcrable diftances. I have converfed particularly with upwards of 800 
 perfons on their exercifes, views, feelings &c. and I am conftrain- 
 ed to fay, that 1 have difcovered far lefs extravagance, diforder and 
 irregularity, than could have poffibly been expeded in fo extraordina- 
 ry an awakening, efpecially when part of it took place among perfons 
 fettled in the back parts and entirely deftitute of the means of grace. 
 If crouded audiences, earneft praying — pradical preaching — and ani- 
 mated finging, may be confidered irregular, there is a great deal of ir- 
 regularity. If crying out for mercy. If fhouting glory to God for 
 falvation, are diforderly ? then there is forae diforder, but I prefume 
 not more than there was at the day of Pentecofi. 
 
 The only thing with us which can be conftrued into diforder or 
 extravagance, is the motions of the body under the exercife. Thefe 
 I V ill aiteru))t to defcribe. In a number of inftances, the firfl fynip- 
 tora-fit, is a violent trembling throughout the fy (fern — a difficulty of 
 breathing and a prelfure about the heart as if the diflblution of nature 
 was faft approaching; and often the perfon (in facft) believes that it 
 is juft at hapd. Sometimes they fall and lye motionlefs for fome 
 time — the length of the time is very irregular. Some do not fall, 
 but a jerking takes place in the nerves, which has every fymptomof 
 the ftrongelt convulfion and produces motions precifely of the fame 
 kind. — The head will be foraetimes jerked forv/ard and fometimes 
 backwards, with fuch violence you would fuppofe it would fly off" 
 tlie Ihouldcrs. At other times the arms will be projeded— the lifts 
 clinched and the fmews fo ftrong, that it is impoflible to bend them 
 and fo of every other part of the body, on which the influence lights. 
 'I he mufcles, about the brain and jaws fometimes become afFefted — 
 then the perfon will laugh in the moft extraordinary manner, though 
 
45 
 
 it is altogether involuntary, as indeed all the bodily exercifes are; 
 I have frequently feen perfons who would forely lament, after it was 
 over, faying they felt more difpofed to cry, than laugh, but they 
 could not avoid it. In a few minutes the fame perfon will break 
 into a flood of tears and be in the utmofl; diftrefs, but it is only when 
 afFefled in this way, they can Hied tears while in the bodily exercife, 
 which appears evidently to take the pla£e of and fupercede them al- 
 together. If at any time tears break forth in an afl'embly, the bodi- 
 ly exercife ceafes, at times, almoft entirely. Sometimes the tongue 
 will be fo affefled that though the j^erfon is walking about in perfedt 
 health and quite fenfible, yet he cannot fpeak a word for hours. 
 The eyes will alfo be frequently afFcfted in the fame way. The whole 
 fyftem is often fo influenced, that in whatever pollurc the perfon is, 
 whether landing or fetting, when taken, he will remain motionlefs 
 and as ftiflfas if dead for feveral hours; during v/hlch period you can 
 fcarcely difcern the motion of the pulfe, and the extremities will 
 grow completely cold. In this ftate they are ufually infenfible to 
 any thing paifrng around them, but the mind is in full employ, and 
 they can clearly rccoilecfl their meditations. — Frequently the effedt 
 falls on the nerves of the thighs and legs, and then the perfons will 
 be fo difpofed to run, that if you hold them (v/hich has been 
 attempted) it nearly takes their life. If let alone, they will run 
 from 20 to ICO yards through the thickeft woods, with their eyes 
 fhut, with a mod aftoniihing velocity, and then drop motionlefs as 
 if fliot ; and what is very remarkable, few cafes have ever happened, 
 where the fubjedt of any exercife has done themfelves any injury. 
 In mod of the cales, when the paro.xifm begins to go off, the fub- 
 jedt feels the ftrongeft defire for prayer, and frequently exprefles him- 
 felf in the mod pathetic, fluent and pertinent manner I ever heard. 
 Children of 5 or 6 and perfons who before appeared grofsly ignorant 
 exprefs themfelves in fu.ch a manner — form their petitions fojudici- 
 oufly and introduce fcripturc fo pertinently, that I queflion, if the 
 greatell: Dodlor of divinity in America would not blufh in the view 
 of his own inferiority. A number of the bodily exercifes immitate 
 pieces of condu(5l, which are known by common names, and from 
 that circumdance are denominated; and thus, with thofe who are 
 not eye witnefl'es, has all the odium of the praiflicein common ufe, 
 attached to it — but a perfon who candidly views the whole affair, 
 will fee fuch a difference, that though, from hcarfay, he has imbi- 
 bed prejudices, he Vv-ill change his opinion, and admire the power 
 of God. Of this kind, are thofe motions call dancing, pointhig, fiTht- 
 ing &c. Under the exercife, fometimes the feet and hands will 
 move fomething like dancing and if they are fo confined that they 
 cannot rife, the motion will continue; and if you hold the particu- 
 lar part, fuch convulfions will feizc the whole frame as you would 
 
46 
 
 fiippofe would tear it in pieces — yet in all the convulfions and exer- 
 cifes, there is no pain, but the mod pleafing fenfations, except when 
 {nil feized, or v/hat rifes from the diftrefs of mind. The dancing 
 (as it is called) is one of the moft folenin appearances I ever have" 
 j'cen. The eyes are fhut. The ccurtenance brightened with joy 
 and the motions of the body, a kind of leaping or dancing very expref- 
 five of their feelings. This exercife is iifuaily attended with a tune, 
 which is uniformly the fame, in thofe who fing at all, and is very 
 melodious. Some ufe words which are defcriptive of their train of 
 thought — fuch as " come Lord Jefus — Oh come lovely Jefus" — • 
 or Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord of Hofts! See. &c" I have feen 
 children, who I am fure never danced a ftep in their lives, nor ever 
 Hiw any body dancing, rife and have the fame motions with thofe, 
 who might be fuppofed to have done it from pradice, or from immi- 
 tation ! Old men of 6c, who have fupported an vmblemifhed cha- 
 racter for religion, for 30 years and who held dancing in the m.oft 
 perfefl abhorrence, have notwithlhinding been brought to the exer- 
 cife ffo called) though the moit again ft their inclination. It has fer- 
 ved as an effeflual check to carnal dancing in this part of the world 
 — fuch a thing can fcarcely be heard of in the circle of an acquain- 
 tance. When the arm is ftrung, and railed horizontally with the 
 forefinger projeded, it is called pointing; this often takes place, 
 though the eye:, are fliut, and they haVe no defign in the cafe — alfo 
 when the fil't is clinclied in one of thofe convulfions, the perfon will 
 ftrike any thing indifcrimin.itely, as well a tree, or a (lump, as a man ; 
 this however is called /Jg/jting. And tiie fame obfervations, arc ap- 
 plicable to all the bodily exercifes which appear. The fubjects of 
 thofe exercifcs are found in all claflcs, ranks and degrees. The per- 
 fon of ^o and the child of 4 — the mafter in affluence and the flave 
 in bondage. The clergy in the pulpit and the laity in the pews. 
 The man of long rehgious (landing, thofe of a recent date and many 
 v/ho have no religion at all. It is univerfally agreed that there is no 
 religion in the bodily exercife; yet it is tiiought to be a very folemn, 
 external call — is well calculated to imprefs the mind, and ought to be 
 improved. It never can be accounted for, ixomfympathy^ nor is it 
 always increafed by thinking — numbers have taken it when a fleep, 
 or at their work, or in thoughtlefs mirth; tho' having never attended 
 to any means of grace for years paft, and after they felt it, they 
 fought againft it for feveral days, and attempted to banilh it by drink- 
 ing or divcrfions, till .it lail conquered, they were forced to acknow- 
 ledge it was the hand of God. 
 
 Should the folution be attempted on the ground of fympathy, 
 we muft not only fuppofe a {\\9i pretender to bring it into motion, but 
 .alfo fuch to be regularly ading in concert in every v/orfliipping af- 
 fembly to carry on the fuvce ; and how we fliould account for th« 
 
47 
 
 individuals in the woods taking of it, I know not, feeing that they 
 have it more violent in private devotion, than in company. In Tnort, 
 I have not only heard of it, and fccn it, hut have felt it, and am 
 perfuaded that it is only to be efFcded by the immediate Tinger of 
 God. There are fome impoftors — there are fome extravagancies, 
 but thefe make no charaderidic feature of the v ork, and are held 
 in abfolute aborrence by the fimple and pious. The belt evidence 
 of a revival is the fruit produced. — To this v/c fliall attend — a full 
 enumeration of this Vvould Iwell my long letter to a volume. The 
 infidel of many years ftanding, is often feen kyinj^j down his wea- 
 pons at the foot of the crofs ; and heard crjing caw, " There is a 
 Jefus — I enjoy more fweetnefs in a moment, than I have done for 
 years, &c." Thefe things I have fen and heard. They have alfo 
 declared, that men and books could never have fo effedually con- 
 vinced them of the truth, as the bodily exercifc has done. Thofe 
 of the fame clafs, v/ho are not convinced, are completely filenced, 
 and have obtained their ne plus idira. The Ball Rocm, tipiing 
 {hops, and taverns, have, in a number of inftances, been thrown 
 open to the pious, and converted into places of prayer and praifc 
 in focial exercife. The mod loofe and profane fettlements, where 
 religion was not known, or the name of God mentioned, only ia 
 blafphemy, are reguL.rly formed into focieties, and meet weekly 
 for focial prayer. The very caves of the mountains where a few of 
 the more indifferent had crowded, are now founding with praife to 
 God. Praying focieties may be attended every day or every night 
 in the week, by a ride of a few miles. — In thefe, boys of 12 or 15 
 will chearfulh' take their part, when called upon. In all thefe fo- 
 cieties, there is one appointed to prefide, who reads the Scriptures — 
 choofes and points out the hymns, and calls on perfons to pray as 
 he choofes, and thus all is conduced with decency and order. — It 
 is not uncommon on Sabbath evenings and frequently in the week, 
 to find 20 or more children- aflbciated in a filent grove, none of 
 them more than 12 years old, and engaged in the moil folemn 
 prayer. 
 
 1 have under covert, drawn near them, and feen and heard won- 
 ders indifcribable. Some crying to Jefus for mercy — fome fliout- 
 ing," glory to God for falvation." Others, praying for their owii 
 fouls — their brothers, fillers, fathers, mothers, friends, miniders — 
 praying for the church — the heathen — yea for the world at large. O I 
 fir nothing but the Hofanna's of the children on the entry ofChrill 
 into Jerufalem, could equal the praifes of thofe infants. Nor is this 
 a hafly flafh, but continues, while theyare cridcntly become both more 
 dutiful and docile. Their dcfirc, as foon as they take the bodily ex- 
 ercife, for in(lru(ftion and for the means of grace, is pall conception. 
 The poor black flaves, are much refoimcd — they are mere duiifuJ, 
 
48 
 
 faithful and upright; and many of their nights, after days of fatigue/ 
 are fpcnt in focial prayer. In a word the chriftian is animated — the 
 hypocrite alarmed and finners tremble. The dodrines of the crofs are 
 thirfted after and more fully underftood, than they would have been, 
 in a common way, in lo years regular attention — total depravity — 
 free grace -inexcufable rebellion, and infinite mercy, are favourite 
 topics — The great objedl appears to be, to defpife felf, and exalt the 
 redeemer. The (inner ceafes to make terms with his creator, and 
 furrenders in entire, unconditional fubmiilion. The love of chris- 
 tians for each other, has increafed at leaft tenfold, efpecially with 
 thofe who have been the fubjefts of the bodily exercifes (for it is to 
 be remarked, that all chriflians are not the fubjedts of it) and the 
 zeai for the intercii; of Zion has had a proportionate increafe. Pray- 
 er, praife and religious converfaiion, are clearly the order of the day; 
 and this pradice, paJmg through the common circles of fociety, has 
 bettered their ftate and fweetened the relations oHife. 
 
 Thefe are feme of the effedts produced, and while fuch is the 
 fruit of the moral tree, I fhall confider the root good, and the 
 caufe producing it divine. I ought to have remarked, that the 
 bodily exercife, is not the effad of the weaknefs of the nervous 
 fyftem, for the weak hyderical female, will often remain unmoved, 
 while the ftout and fturdy veteran, will fink and fall by her fide — 
 As foon as any perfon who has been the fubjedl of the exercifes has 
 been attacked by ficknefs, the exercife leaves him entirely, until he 
 again recovers flrength, when it returns with force, proportionate 
 to his returning (Irength. After all I have faid, you will not be 
 able to form an accurate judgment of the thing without being a fpec- 
 tator yourfelf, nor can it be fully defcribed by any man on earth. 1 
 have iimply ftated f;i(5ts fo far as I have gone, not any by hearfay, 
 but what I have fecn myfclf. — Should the bodily exercife produce 
 as good fruits in Philadelphia, as it has done here, I fhould fincerely 
 wifh to hear of it making its appearance in that city. When per- 
 fdns are under the bodily exercile, they can think and exprefs them- 
 felves beyond their common level very confiderably, and of this I 
 am convinced by experience. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
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