Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

and cried bitterly, "O my poor soul!--my poor soul will be lost !"After speaking some time, she appeared comforted; - was all ears, and took the books eagerly. I wish much to see her again, but have not been able.

"A very acute infidel, who fills an important station in society, to whom I presented a Catechism, read it all through, and could scarce find terms to express his approbation in. He requested another for his son, and expressed his determination, that he should never be educated in his own, but in the Protestant principles."

AMERICA.

We have repeatedly mentioned the late Revivals of Religion in America, attended with many peculiar and uncommon circumstances. By a publication just received from the United States, it appears that a like extraordinary work has appeared in both Carolinas; concerning which we give the following short Extracts from a Letter from the Rev. S. McCorkle, of North Carolina, dated Jan. 8, 1802, leaving our Readers to form their own reflexions.

"I Now sit down to give you a narrative of the transactions at Randolph; commencing on Friday January 1, 1802, and continuing until the ensuing Tuesday.

"On Thursday, the last day of the last year, I set out from home for Randolph; and lodged in Lexington, with some preachers and a number of people, mostly from Iredel, going on to the same place. The evening was spent in prayer and exhortation, without any visible effect. Next day the preachers arrived at the Randolph meetinghouse; but the Iredel company lodged five miles behind.

"On Saturday, in the interval of two sermons, the congregation (near 2000) were informed, that the Iredel company were religiously exercised, in a sudden and surprizing matter at evening-prayer, in the family or house where they lodged.

"This struck with seriousness every reflecting mind; because the effect did not appear to arise from oratory or sympathy, the causes commonly assigned for this work.

--

"The second sermon was delivered, and the benediction pronounced as usual; but the people, paused, as if they wished not to part, nor go either to their homes or encampments.

"Just then rose a speaker, to give a short parting exhortation; But, wonderful to tell, as if by an electric shock, a large number, in

every direction, men, women, child. ren, white and black, fell and cried for mercy while others appeared, in every quarter, either praying for the fallen, or exhorting bye-standers to repent and believe.

"This, to me, perfectly new and sudden sight, I viewed with horror; and, in spite of all my previous reasoning on revivals, with some degree of disgust.. Is it possible, said I, that this scene of seeming confusion can come from the Spirit of God? or can he who called light from darkness, and order from confusion, educe light and order from such a dark mental or inoral chaos as this? Lord God, thou knowest }

"The first particular object that arrested my attention, was a poor black man, with his hands raised over the heads of the crowd,`and shouting, "Glory, glory to God on high !" I hasted towards him from the preaching-ten; but was stopped to see another black man prostrate on the ground, and his aged mother on her knees at his feet, in all the agony of prayer for her son. Near him was a black woman, grasping her mistress hand, and crying, O mistress, you prayed for me when I wanted a heart to pray for myself! Now, thank God, he has given ine 2 heart to pray for you and everybody else!

"I then passed to a little white girl, about seven years old. She was reclining, with her eyes closed

[blocks in formation]

a

"I asked her several questions relative to her views of sin, Saviour, happiness and Heaven; and she answered with propriety; and, as I thought, rather from proper present feelings, than from past doctrinal or educational information for when I was afterwards called to examine her, in order to communion, I found her defective in this kind of knowledge; and dissuaded her from communicating at that time, though she much desired it. This I have since regretted; for I do believe, on cool reflexion, that she possessed that experimental knowledge of salvation, which is infinitely preferable to all the doctrinal or systematic knowledge in the world without it."

The following Letter relates to the

Meeting at Nery Providence. "At this meeting has been demolished an infidel objection, That only weak nerves and minds are affected in this work. Here I saw prostrate, a young man, remarkable for the robustness of his body and energy of his mind; and for opposition, resolute and determined."

"O God! (were his very words) and must I shrink now? Must I lie here a humble spectacle to the gazing crowd?" After a pause, "O God have mercy!" but after another, "Did I ever ask it before? No; but often for curses.”

"But the most remarkable of all was, a gentleman of a strong constitution, and a mind enlightened and enlarged by science and knowledge of the world, and, in the school of infidelity, a master.

"This gentleman I saw soon after he was struck. He passed a night in horrors indescribable. I heard him declare the next morning, that he believed this to be a su pernatural work; and urged in proof the first of the above young men, "whom I knew (said he) to have both strength of nerves and energy of mind, and yet he fell.”

Society for propagating the Gospel at home, in Scotland.

IN the Society's report for last year, the public were informed, that twenty-eight young men, edu. cated for the ministry, were put under their charge. Three of these were sent to Ireland. The reception they have met with is highly encouraging; and the Society have the satisfaction to state, on the testimony of much respected characters in that country, that their labours have been abundant and successful. The remaining twentyfive were stationed in various parts of Scotland. One of them, having the Gaelic language, was appointed, at the Society's expence, to itinerate in Kintyre. Many of the people there discover an ardent thirst for the gospel; and some appear to have been brought to the knowledge of the truth, Two others, acquainted with Gaelic, were fixed in situations where preaching in that language is needed, and the reft in various quarters, where English alone is understood. Besides their stated labours on the Lord's Day, they preach in the neighbour ing villages during the week, and are directed to visit the sick, and to instruct children. Evident tokens of the divine blessing have açcompanied their labours, especially in some places, of which members of the Society, as well as others, have been witnesses. Villages, not long ago remarkable for open wickedness, are now greatly reformed;

and many pleasing inftances have occurred of hopeful conversion. A very interesting account of the work of God in one of these villages, is subjoined to this report.

Three Missionaries, long in the service of the Society, continue to labour, solely at their expence, one in a southern district, and two in different parts of the Highlands. The Society have the best reason to believe, that their labours also have been acceptable and useful. And they were much gratified in receiv. ing, a few weeks ago, a very de. cided testimony respecting one of them from a much-esteemed minister of the established church.

Beside the labours of those in the stated service of the Society, they have enjoyed, as usual, the occasional assistance of ministers from England, and this year, of two from Ireland, who have itinerated, as far as their stated labours on the Lord's Day admitted, The expences of several ministers in different parts of the country, itinerating in their neighbourhoods, have also been defrayed by the Society. This is one very powerful means of diffusing the knowledge of the gospel; and, according to the plan of the Society, they pay the travelling charges of Evangelical Ministers of various denominations, who engage in this labour of love.

The Society continue to distribute gratis, large quantities of Catechisms and Tracts, in Gaelic and English.

Such are the outlines of their exertions during the past year. But they have the satisfaction to inform their friends, that every year the Lord is graciously pleased to extend the sphere of their usefulness, They have the prospect, by the beginning of March next, of engag ing a very considerable number of

additional labourers. Of these it is intended to send a good many to Ireland. Above thirty new appli cations for Preachers have been received from various parts of Scotland, which the Society intend to answer. It is their wish, however, to employ as many as possible as general itinerants, whom they mean to send, at their own expence, to the most destitute parts of Scotland. One of these has already been sent to Shetland, another to Örkney, and a third to Banffshire.

it

London Itinerant Society.

By a late report of this Society, exertions, schools have been estaappears that, by their laudable blished, and interests raised, in Bromley, where the Society has a small chapel, Dulwich, Ealing, Enfield Highway, Garrat, Lew isham, where the Society has a chapel and school-room; Merton, Mortlake, where the Society are and school-room; Norwood, Southerecting a small place of worship end, Streatham, Sydenham, Scotland-green, Wimbledon. In this generous service, about fifty persons, who have given themselves up to labour for the Society, are employed on the Lord's Day as teachers or preachers. About 600 children now learn to read, and are receiving religious instruction.

In visiting the sick, such cases as have fallen under the notice of the Society, have been attended to, and stered where real distress was ap temporal relief has been adininiparent. Considerable presents of religious tracts have been received from different individuals, and distributed in the villages, James Neal, Esq. is Treasurer to this Society; and the Rev. W. F. Platt, Secretary.

MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS.

Mr. J. Holt, Whitby (Oct. 1802)
The Rev. G. Lawson, Selkirk

Kelso Missionary Society (1802)

[ocr errors]

-

[blocks in formation]

Agnes Brown, Miss Jacobs, and Mr. Roxburgh

12 12

2 12

6690

ASSOCIATIONS.

THE EAST KENT Association held their half-yearly Meeting at Dover, Oct. 6, 1802. Mr. Gurteen, of Canterbury, preached in the morning, from 1 Cor. i. 30.; Mr. Atkinson, of Margate, in the evening, from 1 Phil. i. 21.; Mr. Vincent, of Deal, the evening before, from 2 Cor. ii, 15, 16. The services were truly pleasant and profitable, through the presence of the King of Zion. At noon, the sacramental banquet was administered. Mr. G. Townsend prayed, and broke bread; and the Independent brethren distributed the elements. This also was a season of divine refreshment.

The next Meeting is appointed to be held at Mr. Atkinson's, at Margate, April 27, 1803. Mr. Mather, of Dover, to preach in the morning; and Mr. Atwood, of Folkstone, in the evening. In case of

failure, Mr. Gore, of Sandwich. and Mr. Giles, of Eyethorne. The preceding night, Mr. Young, of Canterbury; or Mr. Drew, of Folk

stone.

Ara Meeting of the WARWICKSHIRE Association, held at Coventry, Jan. 25th, the Lord's Supper was administered in the evening, to the members of various churches; some of whom, notwithstanding the severity of the season, came many iniles. Ten or twelve ministers engaged in exhortation, prayer, and distributing the elements., A solemn attention prevailed among a numerous auditory, -and both communicants and spectators expressed the highest degree of satisfaction; so that a repetition of this agreeable service is looked forward to, on future occasions, with no small expectation.

CHAPELS OPENED.

AUG. 20, a new chapel was opened at Laxton, Nottinghamshire, in the late Countess of Huntingdon's connexion. In the morning, Mr. Rowlands, of Gainsborough, preached from Deut. xii. 5. In the afternoon, Mr. Start, of Newark, preached from Matt. xvi. 18.; and Mr. Griffiths, of Lincoln, from Exod. x. 34. In the evening, Mr. Rowlands, from Gen. xix. 18. This chapel was erected at the sole expence of Mr. Hazard, a gentleman of that place.

Nov. 11, was opened a neat and convenient place of worship at Marshfield, Gloucestershire. Rev. Mr. Hey, of Bristol, preached from Rev. xxi. 3, in the morning; and Mr. Jay, of Bath, from Matt. vi. 33. Mess. Sibree, Maud, Dun, Muston, Lowell, Honeywell, and Porter, engaged in other parts of the service. Mr. Hey introduced the gospel in this place about eleven years ago, and was followed by

various ministers till 1799, when Mr. G. Bourne was chosen pastor of the united churches of Marshfield and Colerne.

Nov. 2), was opened a place of worship at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. In the morning, Mr. Styles began the service with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Grif fin, of Portsea; and Mr. Potticary likewise engaged in prayer; and Mr. Winter, of London, preached from Rev. iii. 20. In the evening,

Mr. Davies (a student at Gosport) and Mr. G. Clayton, of Southamp ton, prayed; Mr. Bogue preached from Luke x. 2.; and Mr. Frey (a converted Jew, under the care of the Missionary Society) concluded the service with an affecting Address to Jehovah, in behalf of Jews and Gentiles. The place was crowded, and the audience attentive and serions.

The place owes its origin to an unknown gentleman, of London;

who, by being at Ryde in the course of business, some years since, was struck with the necessity of preaching the gospel there; and who has generously contributed to the keeping up of public worship, and towards the building of the place. Commendations are likewise due to the generous and active exertions of J. Kirkpatrick, Esq. of Newport.

DEC. 11, in the afternoon, was opened a small chapel at Wistanwigg, about four miles from Market Drayton, by the Rev. John Wilson, minister of the Calvinistic chapel at that town; at whose sole expence the above chapel was

[blocks in formation]

Widows.

W.

DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS.

January 10, 1803. At a Meeting of the Trustees, the following Cases being properly recommended, were accordingl y relieved:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Ditto.

[blocks in formation]

Ditto.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ZurückWeiter »