promised to go to Princeton. On his way, he lodged at the house of a young clergyman, and, on rising in the morning, he seemed greatly oppressed in spirit. On being asked what troubled him, he answered, with a heavy sigh, "I am going to do a thing for conscience sake, directly against my conscience." Soon after his return home, to the surprise of every body, the British quarters at Trenton were beaten up, and a British regiment taken at Princeton; the American army again advanced, and took a strong position at Morristown, by which the British in their turn, were obliged to retreat and contract their lines to Brunswick and Amboy. The Americans again got possession of the county of Monmouth, where the whigs returned in force. Mr. Tennent's mind was greatly oppressed with his untoward situation, and he severely blamed his untimely submission.

About the latter end of February, or beginning of March, 1777, Mr. Tennent was suddenly seized with a fever, attended by violent symptoms. He sent for his family physician, who was in the act of setting off for the legislature of the state, of which he was a member. He called on his patient on his way, but could spend but a few minutes with him. He, however, examined carefully into Mr. T.'s complaints, and the symptoms attending the disorder. With great candour the physician informed his patient, that the attack appeared unusually violent; that the case required the best medical aid, and that it was out of his power to attend him. He feared that, at his advanced age, there was not strength of nature sufficient to overcome so severe a shock, and that his symptoms scarcely admitted of a favourable prognostic. The good old man received this news with his usual submission to the divine will; for, as he had always considered himself as bound for eternity, he had endeavoured so to live, that when the summons should come, he would have nothing to do but to die. He calmly replied, "I am very sensible of the violence of my disorder, that it has racked my constitution to an uncommon degree, and beyond what I have ever before experienced, and that it is accompanied with symptoms of approaching dissolution; but, blessed be God, I have no wish to live, if it should be his will and pleasure to call me hence." After a moment's pause, he seemed to recollect himself, and varied the expression thus: "Blessed be God, I have no wish to live, if it should be his will and pleasure to call me hence, unless it should be to see a happy issue to the severe and arduous controversy my country is engaged in; but, even in this, the will of the Lord be done."

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and a man of war, and prudent in matters,” fitted to attend the king both in court and camp. Now how can it be supposed that Saul's servants should have this knowledge of David previous to his combat with Goliath? Saul, whose anger was subsided, agrees to their proposal, and sends for David, whose skill in music and humble deportment so won upon the king, that he loved him greatly, and desired that he might abide with him. There only remains to be considered the junction of the close of chapter sixteen with the tenth verse of the eighteenth chapter, “ And it came to pass on the morrow," which seems abrupt to the English reader; but the objection disappears on considering the word we render to-morrow, to be the same which occurs, Exod. xiii. 14. Josh. xxii. 24. and Deut. vi. 20. in all which places the sense requires an indefinite future time; and then it only implies, that though David's music was, through the favour of God, a means of relief to Saul, yet, that after a time, his jealousy returned, and he gave himself up to the deliberate purpose of taking the life of that man whom he fully believed God had chosen to fill the throne of Israel, (see chap. xx. 30, 31, where he calls Jonathan's attachment to David perverse rebellion, which would produce his own exclusion from the succession). It is no wonder that this impiety of Saul led him into the evils, and brought down upon himself and his house the calamities* recorded, which ended in the utter extirpation of his family except the line of Jonathan, which was preserved by David in Mephibosheth.

C. L.

ANECDOTE.

AFTER the signal victory off Trafalgar, one of the Spanish ships was taken possession of by the British; on board of which the Spanish captain addressed the Priest as follows: "Father, there has been a serious loss on our part: it appears that God fights for the Protestants!" To whom the Priest gravely replied, "Yes, he has fought for them indeed! and by this battle, it should seem that God himself is a Protestant!"

* By evils as distinguished from calamities I mean those great sins, the destruction of the priests, consequent neglect of God's worship, and, at length, seeking to devils for direction, into which Saul fell, and which awfully terminated in suicide: in the outline of his history (as David was a type of the Messiah,) Saul seems to have resembled Judas, both in his election and apostacy.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

A letter from the Directors of the Netherland Missionary Society.

To the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, chairman of the standing committee of missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America.

REV. SIR,

YOUR very acceptable letter dated Philadelphia, 28th April, 1804, came safe to our hands, and we acknowledge our obligation for the opening you have made for a brotherly correspondence with you. We have learned with pleasure, from the worthy brethren at New-York, with whom we have corresponded since the year 1800, that the missionary spirit increases in all parts of your country; we trust it has been excited by the same spirit which in these last days has, amidst all the commotions of the world, enkindled so much christian zeal for the conversion of the heathen, and for the instruction of destitute christians, especially of those on your own borders, who, in such a multitude, call for help.

We thank you particularly for your minute statement of the furtherance with which this important undertaking has been blessed; and we perceive also with gratitude the communion with our glorified Head, which is the only sure band that can produce brotherly co-operation; and that he has graciously pleased that so many different christians should herein, with one heart and one soul, wish to be the evidence that he will openly approve all who truly engage in this work for the enlargement of his kingdom. This also strengthens the hands of all here in Europe, of different religious societies, and of different ranks, who have united in this weighty undertaking; and it gives us boldness to request your help in mutual love and labour, and by your prayers.

You have the goodness to ask from us some particulars respecting our society about which you have had only some imperfect reports: we shall satisfactorily answer your questions, but it will not be necessary to be very particular, as we must especially refer to the printed pamphlets sent herewith, which we request you to accept in love.

You ask us,

1. How long has your society existed? Answer. Since the month of December, 1797.

2. What were the circumstances and motives which led to its institution? 4. A report from a then lately estaVOL. II.

blished missionary society in London was brought to us, and awoke, in the first place, the learned and pious Mr. I. F. Vanderkemp, who, upon particular information that it was to be sent throughout Christendom, was seized with an ardent desire to go and proclaim the tidings of salvation to the heathen; he made a voyage to London, to visit the English brethren; upon his return, he was stimulated by his zeal, to form a small society here, in Rotterdam, and in other parts of our country, from which our society originated. Then he went again to England, taking with him the pious young teacher, Mr. J. J. Kicherer, which brethren, in the year 1798, made the first voyage to Africa, on account of the London society, and some societies with us. Brother Vanderkemp was ordained a teacher in England.

3. What are your leading religious principles?

A. Our society have wished to establish themselves, simply, upon the Gospel of Grace for sinners, according to the instructions of the Saviour and his apostles, as will be explained to you in a small pamphlet which accompanies this.

4. What obstacles or difficulties have you had to surmount?

A. After the first mission to Africa on account of the English brethren, we also engaged some other missionaries, and sent them to those parts, to serve withinland: therein we had no great difficulty; and throughout the whole we have met with more encouragement and assistance than obstruction, both from the pious here and in that country.

5. Have any opposed you by writing, or by governmental influence?

A. Some small pamphlets were published, containing reflections on our undertaking; but none expressly in opposition to it: nevertheless, the government has always been friendly and helpful to us, although it was not necessary for them to countenance it by public authority, which indeed we never asked. Both the English and Dutch governments at the Cape of Good Hope have been very favourable to the brethren.

6. What are your funds?

A. Voluntary contributions, and gifts from devout people, have not been inconsiderable, and have hitherto been sufficient.

7. What is the number of your missionaries?

Bb

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