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of having passed from death unto life. These were of all ages, from twelve to four-score years. Out of this number, upwards of seventy have recently made a public profession of religion, and been received into the Church; and there are numbers more who will join the people of God, at our next communion.

This work was remarkably still and solemn. It was entirely free from that noise and confusion, from those sallies of enthusiasm, which have sometimes been witnessed in a season of a revival. The work of conviction, was in general very deep and solemn. Its continuance was in most cases from one to three weeks, before the subjects of it received divine light and comfort. The veil of sin and darkness which covers the heart, was in many instances taken away in a moment, and the light of the Sun of Righteousness, like a flood, poured in upon the benighted mind; while in other instances, the day-spring from on high was but just seen to glimmer, and the night of the soul to be gradually chased away as the shadows of the morning. All expressed great astonishment at their former stupidity and danger. They were overwhelmed to think that God had not long since cut them down, as cumberers of the ground, and sent them to everlasting misery. The way of salvation by Christ, was viewed as the only door of hope for a perishing world. They were filled with great solicitude for the welfare of secure sinners, and frequently exhorted them to press into the Kingdom. Little associations for prayer, in different parts of the congregation, were formed by the young converts. These meetings, while they excited those who attended them to search the scriptures, had a happy influence in binding them to each other, and in cherishing that love which God had shed abroad in their hearts. Those who have been made the hopeful subjects of divine grace, continue to walk as becometh the Gospel.

There has not appeared the least opposition to this work of the Spirit. It carried such unequivocal marks of supernatural power, as to astonish the hearts and stop the mouths of all. The effects of the revival have been the most salutary. The whole face of the congregation is changed in a religious and moral point of view. Intemperance, profaneness, and Sabbath-breaking, have greatly diminished. The tide of iniquity, which swelled high, has begun to roll back, and continues to ebb still. Numbers, who have been long habituated to the most disgraceful vices, have entirely abandoned them, and become correct members of society. "It is the Lord's doings, and marvellous in our eyes."

It may be proper to observe, that it was my practice, during the revival, to preach two or three times a week in the remote parts of the congregation. On my way to one of these meetings, I stopped in a house for a draught of water. Having received it, I conversed a moment with the mother of the family, on the subject of religion.-As I turned from her to leave the house, I met her eldest daughter, of twenty-three years, at the threshold of the door. As I did not know her name, I said, My friend, I am glad to see you; and as I am on my Master's business, permit me to inquire how it stands between God and your soul. She seemed confounded, and made no reply. I then said, If you have no interest in Christ, seek it now, and "prepare to meet thy God," and immediately left her. It proved a word in season: it was set home by the Spirit; like a barbed arrow, it fastened on the conscience. In the beginning of the evening, about three hours after this interview, her mind became greatly distressed for sin. It was noticed by the family. It constantly increased, and in a short time was so great, that she begged Mr. N. might be sent for to pray with her, as she should die and sink to hell before morning. Mr N. with a number of neighbours, came. He prayed with her, and then exhorted her to come to Christ without delay. He endeavoured to compose her, but in vain. She slept very little that night. The morning came-but it did not chase away the darkness of her soul. The burden of guilt still pressed her down. She continued in this distressing state of mind, for about a week; when the Lord in mercy appeared for her deliverance, and spoke peace to her troubled heart. This event awakened several of her young companions from their sinful security, to attend "to the things that belong to their peace."

I would also mention the conversion of Mr. C. a man eighty years of age. I approached him one day, after preaching a lecture in his neighbourhood, took him by the hand, and said to him, "My dear Sir, you are, I perceive, an old man, standing on the borders of eternity. According to the course of nature, death will soon overtake you. It is of the highest importance that you be prepared to receive the summons, whenever it may come. You cannot stay here long. Your glass is almost run: your head is clothed with grey hair; your limbs tremble with age.—Have you made your peace with God? Have you ever repented of sin, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?" He shook his head: the tear started from his eye, and stole down his withered face, while his whole countenance bespoke the agitation of his heart. He had no more peace, until about two weeks after this, he found it through faith in the Redeemer. He was brought in at the eleventh hour, and is now praising God for the riches of his distinguishing grace. He has since been baptized, and made a public profession of religion.

Another man, upwards of seventy, and another about sixty years of age, nearly by the same means, have been hopefully converted to God. Several of the subjects of this work, are between forty and fifty; though the greater part are young people.

I would add further, an extract from Mrs. G*****'s diary, kept last winter; which, it is hoped, will not be unedifying to your readers. It is as fol

lows:

“Mr. G. and Mr. S. returned from visiting the people; an unusual degree of solemnity was upon them. They sat down and immediately observed, they had witnessed such a scene as they never saw before, in beholding a soul surrender itself to God. Mr. G. stated, that he called this afternoon at Mr. E.'s, and found Mrs. E. under very deep conviction-prayed with her-and after having stated to her briefly the way of salvation by Christ, and the importance of surrendering up her soul to him; he urged her to this duty by various motives, and as he pressed the duty of immediately surrendering her soul and body, and all she had into the hands of the Lord, her distress increased every moment; until overwhelmed, she fell down upon her knees and poured out her soul to God for more than two hours. During her prayer, among other things she said, as far as they could recollect," Oh, Lord, I am a great sinner; the worst sinner in the world, I have sinned against great light for thirty years. Gracious Father, I pray that thou wouldst be pleased to pardon my sins, through the blood of Jesus. I am growing worse every moment: Lord take me as I am; I shall never be any better. O Lord, take me now, this moment; I shall never be more willing, unless thou make me willing, to give myself to Christ. Hast thou not promised to receive the soul that submits to thee? O Lord, why am I so unwilling to give up? Oh blessed Jesus! if thou dost not receive my soul now, it will perish justly. I know I deserve to be destroyed for ever: let thy face shine, and dispel this night that hangs on my poor soul. Precious Saviour! take possession of my heart; give me the light of thy countenance: Lord Jesus, take me as I am this moment; I am willing to give up: I give all to thee: and oh that thou wouldst be all in all to my poor soul: Oh may I believe: I do believe: O Lord, I can do no more: Oh, Jesus! thou art precious; make me a heart Christian; make me, Lord Jesus, all that a Christian can be: 1 want to be such a Christian, oh Lord, if I am any: I hope, Oh Lord, I have given up to thee. Search me and try me; search my soul, as thou didst Jerusalem, with candles: take from me every thing which is offensive to thee. Shed abroad thy love now in my heart; it is sweeter than honey. O give me words to praise thee: thou hast done a great work for me, as I humbly hope: I would give thee glory." She paused for a moment, and then said, "If there is any idol left, O help me to give it up to thee. Lord, I give up my husband, my child, my brother, my sisters, into thy hands: do with them as seemeth good in thy sight. Bless all their souls: and may I and they live to God." 1

Mrs. E. has since made a public profession of religion.

It may be proper further to observe that the Spirit of the Lord has been poured out in a signal manner among the people of East-Hampton and Shel ter Island. In the former place, which has so often been a threatre of divine wonders, about one hundred persons have obtained hope, of whom between 70 and 80, have recently been added to the Church; in the latter, about 40 have obtained hope, and 15 or 20 joined the Church.

In Oysterponds, and Sterling, an adjoining village, there have been a considerable number of awakenings: God's people have been greatly comforted, and 50 or 60 hopefully made the subjects of Divine grace. In Bridge-Hampton, there have been, and are still, very encouraging appearances of a revival. The cloud of Divine influence hangs over them; and during the winter there has been a continual dropping. Yours in sincerity, Sag-Harbour, June 1, 1816.

JOHN D. GARDINER.

Report of the Executive Committee of the Bible Society of Massachusetts, prepared for the Anniversary of the Sociely, June 6, 1816.

THE Executive Committee of the Bible Society of Massachusetts, respectfully report, that their operations during the last year, have been as extensive as the funds of the Society will permit. A larger number of Bibles has been distributed than in any preceding year; and as a proof that this charity is needed, your Committee would observe, that they have not been compelled to seek opportunities of distribution, but have continually received application in behalf of the destitute from individuals whose characters afford every se curity of a faithful and judicious attention to the objects of the Society. Your Committee have distributed during the last year,

186 large Bibles, 2475 Common Bibles, 556 Testaments.

3217 whole number.

Of this number seven hundred have been committed by special order of the Trustees, to Messrs. Daniel Smith and Cyrus Kingsbury, Missionaries, to be distributed in the western States, where a deplorable want of Bibles still exists. There is reason to hope, that the benevolent concern which has been expressed for the destitute condition of these extensive and newly settled regions, is awakening in the inhabitants a solicitude and zeal for the supply of their own spiritual necessities; and a more animating reward cannot be desired.

The remainder of the Bibles have been distributed chiefly within the limits of this Commonwealth, and generally by the agency of the ministers of religion. Your Committee have every reason for believing, that proper objects have been selected for your bounty. They have understood, however, that in some instances poor families, by making application to different individuals, have received a greater number of Bibles than they needed; and this inconvenience has been particularly experienced in this metropolis, where the distribution is necessarily made by numerous hands. Whilst it is earnestly desired that liberal principles may be adopted in communicating the Word of God to the poor, it is also hoped that this charity may not be brought into discredit by any abuses which a proper care may prevent.

In some towns of the District of Maine, associations have been formed for the purpose of ascertaining the number of families destitute of the Scriptures, and of making joint application for their relief. A similar method might usefully be extended to other parts of the Commonwealth. Christians should every where remember, that their Master preached his Gospel to the poor, and has particularly committed this suffering class of fellow-beings to their kindness and care.

The members of this Society will expect no recital of any sudden or astonishing effects produced by the Bibles which they have distributed. The influence of the Scriptures is seen among the poor as among the rich, not in a miraculous transformation, but in a silent and gradual improvement of the character. It is enough to know that a Bible has been thankfully received by a destitute family. The precious gift can hardly be unavailing. In hours of leisure, and especially on the Christian sabbath, its pages will be opened. It will be a resource in trouble, and in declining life. It will attract the attention of the child; and we trust that, though often disregarded, it will plead successfully, with some who read it, the cause of God and eternity.

We continue to receive assurances of the very grateful acceptance of the Bible by the poor. In a letter from the District of Maine, it is observed, "The Massachusetts Bible Society has added much to the triumphs of the Gospel, carrying the word of life to the dwellings of the poor. Some who had lived for years without a Bible in their families, have become, as I have reason to believe, fond of reading it, and make it a book for family use. A number of aged people have been peculiarly benefited by the large octavo Bibles. Many in this part of the country have expressed to me their gratitude to heaven for your bounty." In another letter from Plymouth county, it is observed, "The large Bibles were given to the aged poor, whose hearts appeared to be made glad, on receiving the invaluable treasure. It has been gratifying to convey the Bible, containing divine consolation, to a number of poor afflicted widows, left with a number of fatherless children. The consideration that others have had new Bibles, has induced some who were able, but had neglected it, to purchase a large family Bible." Thus the benefits of our institution extend to those who are not the immediate objects of its bounty. A deeper sense of the importance of the Scriptures is communicated to many by whom our efforts are observed. It should be a subject of sincere gratitude, that we are permitted to contribute to the noblest and most benevolent purposes of God, to participate in the work of enlightening the world, and of carrying to the obscure retreats of want and wo the glad tidings of forgiveness and immortality.

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The Fourth Annual Report of the New-York Religious Tract Society.

(Continued from page 95.)

SINCE the last Annual Meeting, the Managers have been furnished with much important information on the progress and usefulness of Religious Tract Societies in Europe. Of this information, a brief sketch only can here be given.

From the Religious Tract Society in London, we have lately received a letter, accompanied with a copy of their last Annual Report, and a duplicate set of all the Tracts they have yet published. By this Report, we learn, with much satisfaction, that during the last year, the active and liberal conductors of that Institution have greatly extended their operations, both at home and abroad. They have contributed, by their pecuniary munificence, and their unwearied personal efforts, to the establishment of many new Societies in various parts of the Continent. Aided by the funds of their Auxiliary Societies, of which there are now in England one hundred and twenty-four, they have printed Tracts in most of the languages, and distributed them extensively in most of the nations of Europe. They have also conveyed their Tracts to the Cape of Good Hope, to various parts of the East Indies, to the Isles of France and Bourbon, to the convicts in New South Wales, to Madeira, to the Cape de Verd Islands, to South America, to the West Indies, Nova-Scotia, and the Canadas. In addition to these extensive operations, they have gene, rously appropriated four hundred pounds sterling to the purpose of printing Tracts in the Chinese language, to be distributed primarily among the Chi

nese settlers at Java and the adjacent Islands, under the British government. In this interesting and important object, they have enlisted the services of the Rev. Mr. ROBERT MORRISON, and the Rev. WM. MILNE, at Canton; and they indulge a sanguine hope, that through the instrumentality of these Tracts, they will be enabled, eventually, to convey religious instruction to every part of the Chinese Empire. On this new and interesting topic, we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of presenting the following passage from their Annual Report:

The manner in which the Tracts were received by the Chinese, and read, not only in families, but in schools, was gratifying beyond expectation; and encourages a degree of confidence, that the blessing of the Most High will render them effectual to the conversion of some, at least, of these poor ignorant idolaters, to the faith of Christ, to whom, in due time, the heathen shall be given for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his pos

session.

"Your Committee here beg leave to refer to the Rev. Mr. Milne's letter in the Appendix to this Report, the perusal of which must at once impress the mind with the conviction, that if the foreign objects of the Society had failed in respect to every other part of the world, the circumstance of having been enabled to penetrate into any of the Chinese colonies, and from which there is perpetual and free intercourse with China itself, would alone amply compensate for all the laborious toil and expense which have been bestowed in forming and carrying on this Institution.

"On no former Anniversary, have your Committee had to offer their congratulations on a prospect so vast as that which opens before them, when they turn their eyes to the population of China. The practice which has long obtained there, of circulating Tracts, (adapted of course to the views prevalent in that country,) will, it is hoped, supply facilities for the accomplishment of your object.

Thus has Divine Providence led the Religious Tract Society into a field of operation, far more extensive than could ever have been contemplated by the most sanguine Members of the Institution."

From the Tract Society at Glasgow, in Scotland, we have also received a letter, requesting a stated correspondence with us, and transmitting a copy of their last Annual Report, together with an assorted package of their Tracts. This Society has been in operation twelve years; and, during the last year, has printed 116,000 Tracts, and distributed 118,000. In the distribution of their Tracts, the Managing Committee have directed their attention particularly to the destitute parts of Ireland; and, in their last Report, they express the hope, that "the bright and Morning Star is beginning to rise upon the benighted Provinces of that Island, and that in them the Redeemer, ere long, will see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied."

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The Twelfth Annual Report of the Bristol Tract Society, published in March last, has also been received. Seventy-nine thousand Tracts," says this Report, "have been printed during the past year. It is impossible to calculate the beneficial consequences of so large a distribution: neither can the particulars be reported till that day, when the history of every individual Tract shall be fully known. The Committee, however, have reason to believe, that many sinners have, by the instrumentality of the Tracts of this Society, been turned from the power of satan unto God; and that many saints have been comforted, and built up upon the corner-stone of their salvationJesus Christ." To this Report, the Committee have added an Appendix, detailing a number of cases which have occurred in Bristol, and which exhibit, in a striking light, the utility of distributing Religious Tracts. From the number, the following recent and interesting case is selected :

"A Lady of rank, returning from a route at a very unseasonable hour, found her waiting maid dosing with a Tract before her. The eye of the Lady caught the title, and she became greatly agitated. The maid, while undressing her, ventured to inquire the cause of her trepidation. "Oh! exclaimed

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