is not without a remedy; that man, though fallen, depraved, guilty, and wretched, is not utterly undone; that, obnoxious as he is to divine wrath, and amenable to punishment, there is a way provided for his restoration to favour, and for his escape from the fearful consequences of his disobedience. It announces a Redeemer, one who is willing and mighty to save; and through him proclaims a remedy for guilt, a sure and certain way of return from our wanderings, an effectual antidote to all our misery. It preaches to us the doctrine of peace, and tells us of One, who, when there was no eye to pity, no hand to help, nor any to bring salvation, became the propitiation for our sins, and the Author of everlasting life to all that obey him. It reveals to us the interesting fact of the descent of " the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth," to bear the chastisement for our peace, and to reconcile us to God by the sacrifice of himself. It tells us that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing unto them their trespasses." Joyful, indeed, brethren, are these tidings, and satisfactory to the soul, perplexed with doubtful conjectures on its natural condition, its present sensibilities, and its future destiny. This is that "hidden wisdom" which was kept secret since the world began, until brought to light by the gospel; this the mystery which was concealed from ages, and from generations; this

"the joyful sound, "Which kings and prophets waited for, "And sought, but never found." This the transcendent, "heavenly light, "Which kings and prophets long desired, "But died without the sight."

"Blessed are our eyes,” my brethren, "for they see; and our ears, for mystery of godliness" is fully disclosed. That revelation of mercy and truth, which, dispersing the clouds of error and of wrath from the moral firmament, hath brought life and immortality to light, is our's; and in its instruction, its privileges, and its blessings, we are enabled to rejoice.

they hear." To us, this "

But to multitudes the gospel is still "the hidden wisdom;" and its offers of

pardon, and reconciliation, and peace, its instructive doctrines, and its consoling truths, are unknown. Clouds and darkness still rest upon very many of earth's inhabitants, and envelop in gloomy ignorance their mental vision, and their spiritual prospect. Numbers still bow the knee of adoration to "dumb idols," and seek from "stocks and stones, the work of their own hands," a refuge from that wrath which they are conscious they deserve, and the gift of that mercy which they are sensible they need. This spiritual destitution is not confined, however, to the heathen world. In Christian lands it is known and felt. In our own country there is a lamentable dearth of the bread of life; and, within the circle of our immediate observation, thousands are groaning under the destructive bondage of sin and Satan, and perishing for lack of knowledge. Do you doubt the truth of this assertion? do you hesitate to admit the extent of that moral desolation which overspreads so large a portion of this highly favoured country? Peruse the annual reports of those heralds of the cross, who, leaving the comforts of more refined life, have gone forth to preach the gospel of reconciliation in our new settlements. Contemplate, with serious attention, the mournful picture which they draw of the spiritual condition of the inhabitants of those remote districts. See how many there are excluded from the privileges and ordinances of our holy religion; with no hand to guide them into the paths of righteousness and peace; with no sanctuary to frequent for the offering up of their prayers and praises to the Most High, and the hearing of that word which "maketh wise unto salvation;" with no Bible to supply the place of other instruction; with no approved formulary of devotion to aid them in rendering rational and acceptable worship; with no messenger of grace "to reprove, rebuke, exhort" them, to warn them of their danger, to convince them of sin, to lead them now in wisdom's ways, and, in a dying hour, to infuse into their souls "a hope full of immortality." But you need not contemplate this scene of spiritual want and ignorance at such a distance.--

the age, every friend of the Redeemer must rejoice. Hope contemplates the sublime spectacle with ardent, delight ful emotion. Faith looks forward with eager anticipation to the fulfilment of prophecy, and hails with rapture the period, as not far distant, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of Christ, and "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Such, brethren, is the enlivening spectacle which every where meets our eyes, and animates our hearts. And shall our lethargy detract from the glory, and obscure the brightness of this prospect? Sensible as we must be of the value of salvation, and the benefits of the gospel; and knowing, as we do, the obligation imposed on us to disseminate the knowledge of a crucified Saviour, and the wonders of redeeming love; shall we remain inactive Spectators of this busy scene of benevolence? Shall the lamp of Christian zeal burn with a bright and holy flame in every heart but our's? God forbid! Such apathy would argue but a very imperfect conception of our religious obligations, a very feeble sense of gratitude for the mercies we receive, and the exalted privileges we enjoy. Surely you will not permit it to become an in mate of your bosoms, nor suffer it to influence your conduct. Surely your hearts will not refuse to respond with good will towards any plan, which has for its object the building up of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the promotion of the present and eternal welfare of your fellow-men. In this trust, suffer me to direct you at this time to a specific application of your charity, and solicit your patronage and support for an institution which, in the great work of moral renovation, holds out a prospect, not of remote, but of immediate, and certain, and extensive benefit. This institution is the Auxiliary Bible and Common Prayer Book Society of this city; an association which, while it refuses its gifts to none who ask, directs its charitable efforts principally to the relief of the destitute of our own communion. In the execution of this charitable design, it has engaged with a zeal and ardour which does it honour;

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and the effects which have already been produced by its work of faith, and labour of love, are numerous and beneficial. We have good reason to believe, that, through its instrumentality, many a benighted wanderer has been rescued from that gloomy path which leadeth down to the chambers of death, and been brought to offer upon the consecrated altars of the Christian church " free-will offering with an holy worship." We have good reason to think, that many a child of sorrow, and of sin, hath been comforted by its benevolence; and many a broken heart healed, and taught to look up with the confidence of faith, and the assurance of hope to a reconciled God; that many, who never knew a Saviour's name, have been made acquainted with his saving grace, and interested in that great covenant of mercy, whose blessings are better than life itself. But we will not detain you, brethren, by descanting on the beneficial influence this society has exerted, and the good it has done. We turn to what constitutes a more important topic of consideration now-its present prospects. These, alas! are marked with a character of hopelessness, which, was it not for the expectation of your generous aid, would almost induce an abandonment of its efforts. Holding forth the word of life in intimate connexion with the church of God; the organization of this society was hailed with rapture by the friends of religion and the church, as affording an animating promise of extensive benefit. Calling forth the pious zeal of the younger members of our communion, and engaging them in deeds of noble achievement in the best of causes, it formed a new era in the history of our exertions for the amelioration of the spiritual condition of our destitute brethren. And this anticipation has been more than realized. The efforts of its indefatigable managers, in the distribution of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, have given rise to other efficient measures; and the zeal of our young men, thus called into action, has been directed to other objects of primary importance to the church in this diocess, which have been productive of, and still promise the happiest results.

Out of this active participation in the work of Christian benevolence, has arisen the Missionary Society, with its several auxiliary associations, which now afford not a little aid to the ecclesiastical authority, in meeting the demands which are constantly made for ministerial services, by our destitute congregations. Thus useful in its own peculiar sphere of operation, and elicit ing other means of doing good, the society for a time had no reason to complain of a want of encouragement or support. It grew up like a well watered plant, shot deep its roots, rose high, and bade fair for fruitfulness. But just as it began to tower in increasing luxuriance and strength, and to promise, ere long, to become the pride of the forest, and the prince among the neighbouring trees-the axe is laid at its root-a fatal blow threatened and all its branching honours about to be prostrated in the dust. A melancholy reverse has taken place in its means and prospects of usefulness; and instead of the gratulatory accents with which it has heretofore greeted your ears, of good done, and of greater good in anticipation, it comes to you now with a tale of destitution, of neglect, of blighted prospects, and paralized exertions. With an increasing demand on its bounty, and an extended field of usefulness, the society, for the past year, has been obliged to remain comparatively idle, for the want of pecuniary means to carry on its operations; and a diminished subscription list, and an exhausted treasury, afford but little encouragement for future exertion. "Until the last month," says the very able and eloquent annual report, "not a single Bible nor Prayer Book had issued from our depository during the whole of the past year. And unless churchmen feel it their duty to renew and extend their aid, the board of managers must yield to the prevailing apathy; they must close their ears to the calls for aid, and shut the doors of their depository against the demand for that knowledge which maketh 'wise unto salvation." "

And shall these things be so? Shall a zeal so holy, so well directed, be suffered to expend itself in fruitless wishes, for want of means to carry its design

into effect? Shall this society be suffered to languish and die for want of patronage? Will you, as churchmen, as Christians, permit an institution, so eminently useful in doing good, so well calculated to disseminate the glad tidings of salvation, and shed on the minds of the ignorant and destitute the cheering radiance of pure and undefiled religion, to suspend its efforts? In the language of a former appeal—" Shall this society in vain address to you their supplications for relief for those who are treading the thorny ways of wretchedness, and the dark valley of the shadow of death? Shall the beacon which your former bounty has erected to light the traveller on his way, and guide the wan derer to a haven of rest-be extinguished-now, when the solitary places have been made glad by its rays, and its beams have begun to shed a light of glory on the ocean and the wilderness?" We will not willingly believe, my brethren, that your support has been, or will continue to be withheld from this very deserving institution, because, in comparison with some other plans which now engage the public attention, it is exclusive in its object; and that you deem it a violation of Christian charity to contribute your aid to the furtherance of its philanthropic designs, We hope you are not afraid of the imputation of bigotry, in consecrating your bounty to subserve the interests of your own church, and to supply the crying and urgent wants of the destitute of your own household. Christian charity is not necessarily of that diffusive nature which some would represent it to be. Such was not the light in which it was viewed and practised by holy men of old. An inspired apostle expressly teaches us, that while we " do good unto all men," we should do good especially unto them who are of the household of faith." And though it is now the custom of some, in the exuberance of their charity, to reverse the order of the admonition, we trust you will not jeopardize the spiritual welfare of your brethren of the same family, for the sake of a little ephemeral popularity with other denominations; nor be induced by the prevalent flattery of the day, of being liberal in your senti

ments, and catholic in your efforts, to refrain from directing a part at least of these efforts, and giving a portion of your bounty to objects connected with your own communion, and, therefore, justly exhibiting strong and peculiar claims to your regard and your patronage. It cannot be that you will so determine. No; you will enable these zealous individuals by your generous bounty to resume their active and beneficent labours, and to continue to hold forth the "word of life." You will en able them to persevere in their "work of faith and labour of love;" to continue to cheer the hearts of the "mourn ers in Zion;" to give light to them who "sit in the darkness and shadow of death;" to reclaim the sinner from the error of his ways; and to shed the radiance of evangelical truth, and the purity of Christian worship, on the remotest districts of our land.-Are we mistaken in this charitable conjecture? Is there no Christian feeling in this assembly? no sympathy for spiritual misery and destitution; no concern for God's glory, the prosperity of his church, and the good of men? Shall immortal souls be jeopardized through your indifference? Walking in the fulness of heavenly light, and enjoying those inestimable privileges of which so many of your fellow-creatures are deprived, and which their poverty at least prevents them from obtaining, will you refuse to impart of your abundance to their necessities?-Brethren, we wait your answer! O, let it be favourable! Withhold not your boon of charity from this deserving institution; but let your present bounty be abundant, for it is much needed, and will be faithfully applied; and let your names be again inscribed on the society's list of contributors, your best wishes follow their praiseworthy efforts, and your fervent prayers ascend to the mercy-seat of God for a blessing on their pious undertaking. Amen.

Although our readers in the city have probably seen the following report in a pamphlet, we trust they will excuse us for inserting so interesting a document for the perusal of our more distant patrons; and in pursuance

of our wish to make the Christian Journal a general register of the proceedings of the

church, and the several societies in its conímunion.

The Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Manugers of the New-York Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society, made on Easter Tuesday, April 1st, 1823.

Ir gives the board of managers of the New-York Protestant Episcopal Sun day School Society much pleasure to be able to commence this their sixth annual report, by stating the accession to their union, during the past year, of two schools. The first is that of St. Luke's church. It was organized in June last, soon after the consecration of the church. It consists of a male and a female de partment, and, as will appear in the proper place, is in a very flourishing condition.

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We have also had recently added to the number of our schools that attached to the old and respectable parish of Christ church, consisting of a male and a female department. It was among the first Sunday schools in this city, having been organized in the year 1816 before the institution of our society. has heretofore been connected with the New-York Sunday School Union, composed of various denominations of Christians. "Those engaged in its management," however, have, der a sense of duty," dissolved its connexion with that establishment, and united with the similar institutions which are placed under the sole superintendence of their own church.

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Great, then, as is our satisfaction at having our field of usefulness enlarged by the acquisition of this school, it is increased by the particular circumstances of the case.

The managers are thoroughly convinced of the propriety, because of its evangelical and primitive character, of the principle, that as God has been pleased to establish a church, distinguished by its ministry, sacraments, worship, and doctrine, as the guardian and dispenser of true religion; all efforts for the diffusion of that religion should recognize this church, and all institutions for the purpose, be so or ganized and conducted, as to be, in form and spirit, auxiliary to the church.