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will be found insufficient to screen them from the just displeasure of a holy God. His vengeance will assuredly be poured upon them who depend upon their own vile works, and thus shut ont the blessed Jesus. This fallacious doctrine will deceive many: but we will say, "God be merciful to us sinners;" and will plead the righteousness which our beloved Saviour hath wrought out in our stead. We are weak, vile, frail, and miserable creatures; and without constant supplies of free grace, are unable to attain the prize set before us, or to conform to that righteousness which God requires of us; but renouncing all dependence on ourselves, we will rely on Jesus; He is all-sufficient! We are weak, but lie is strong ; and his blood, which satisfied divine justice, cleanseth us from all sin.

"We are persuaded we did not take up this doctrine as a mere notion; but that we have been taught it by the good Spirit of God. He hath made us willing, and given us every good desire. Comparing our present knowledge of Christ, our leaning after him, and preference of him as our chief good with our past life, when we were without God in the world, we have a satisfactory evidence that we are born again in Christ Jesus; for "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God; and if he dwell in us, even in this barren land, all is well ! The remembrance also of what we once were, teaches us that Ciod ، hath mercy on whom he will have mercy;" and that it is to grace that we owe all our hopes of salvation.

"Our dwelling is, as it were, among wolves; but we will look to Jesus for defence. If God be for us, who shall be against us?

"Salute, on our behalf, the many that would wish to hear of our welfare in Christ Jesus. May the peace of God remain with you always! We are, and ever wish to be, your affectionate brethren, J. D.-W. R. -T. W. J. S. R. W. H." The above, dear Sir, will, I am pernaded, be acceptable both to you and to your readers, as it has been to yours, respectfully, GAIUS.

SWITZERLAND.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. C. 6. Blumhardt, Secretary to the Basil Society, dated Sept. 20, 1806.

WITH much pleasure we have received your description of the last Ge

neral Meeting of the London Missionary Society, together with several Numbers of the Evangelical Magazine; for the continuation of which we shall be highly obliged to you; as also for Mr. Bogue's Essay on the Evidences of the New Testament, which I have begun to translate into the German, from the French edition; but wish to revise it from the English original, in order to print it, if circumstances should per mit.

Thus

In our Society nothing material has 'occurred. We walk by faith, and not by sight, and do in simplicity what is be fore us, knowing that God is with us. We feel our great defects and wants, and daily pray for new grace. one month after the other passes, with cut signalizing ourselves by any thing particular ; but still we are not entirely inactive. The transactions of the different Missionary Societies continue to excite a peculiar interest among the readers of our periodical publications; and I make it a point to give as much as I can. In our city the work of the Lord proceeds silently. Still the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is abundantly preached; yet without much visible effect.

Our private religious meetings neither diminish nor increase; but, thanks be to God, we live in mutual peace and union, and build one another up in our most holy faith: but in Liestall, a small neighbouring town, the Lord has kindled a great flame. The truly pious minister there, a man full of apostolical_zeal, informed us, that a general awakening had taken place in the town; which had so softened the hearts and reformed the lives of many, that the change was visible even in the streets. It had been such a wild place, that the people used to say, “What good can come from this Nazareth?" Now we might answer,' Come and see.' Besides this, we hear nothing of particular revivals of religion in Switzerland; but this we hear, that God him-, self preaches repentance by the fall of high mountains: an awful instance of this kind happened on the 8th of Sept. about nine miles from the city of Lucern, when, by the fall of a part of the Rigiberg mountain, four villages, with above fooo people, were in a few mi nutes overwhelmed, and buried more than 200 feet deep !

May our Lord grant that thig dreadful judgment may be productive of the most salutary effects for all the survivors!

IRELAND.

Hibernian Society.

IN the Evangelical Magazine for Dec. last, a Report from the Committee of the Hibernian Society was inserted; in which it was stated, That a definite, and very small number of Ministers are known to preach the gospel in the provinces of Connaught and Munster. Since that period, however, information of a more agreeable nature has been communicated by some respectable friends, whereby it appears that a much greater number of evangelical ministers are actually employed in those parts of Ireland. The Committee rejoice to find that their first information was incomplete; and they most ardently wish for the co-operation of all denominations in their endeavours to improve the religious state of Ireland." Signed

(by Order of the Committee)
S. MILLS. Treasurer;
J. CAMPBELL, Secretary.

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"I HAVE been going about from town to town, and village to village, disposing of Bibles and Testaments; and I am happy to tell you that the call for them is very great. Many of the Catholics have got them, both by donation and purchase; and although the priests have obliged many to give them up, yet they are no sooner returned than others get them; and many poor people are very desirons to read them, and hear them read. Indeed, the opposition of the priests makes many individuals more anxious to obtain them. If the Lord spare me, I mean to continue this work, until I have spread the word of life through most parts of this benighted country. I cannot so well dispose of Tracts. There has been a Tract written by a priest, dissuading the people from reading our Tracts; and saying, that the Irish are not to be cheated out of their religion. But He, whose church is his glory, will do his own pleasure, and establish his own kingdom in opposition to all the powers of AntiChrist!"

SCOTLAND.

A Sunday School has been conducted for two years past, under the patronage of Messrs. Findlay and Co. of the Catrine Cotton - Works; and 1 hoje that the seed which has been so humbly sown in that place, will, under the

enlivening influence of the Holy Spirit, one day eminently display its fruit to the honour of Jesus. To the daily duties, an evening meeting has recently been added. One of the Village

Sermons is read; and the service is begun and concluded with prayer and praise. Nearly 400 persons attend, and much good appears to be going on.

Upon the 15th of March last, mention having previously been made of the laudable exertions of "The Bri tish and Foreign Bible Society," the young persons who attend, collected among themselves rl. 2s. 6d.; which was contributed with the greatest zeal and cheerfulness.

JEWS.

Paris, Dec. 15. The grand Sanhedrim, which was to have been opened on the 10th of Otober, but which was postponed, will doubtless commence its proceedings in a few days. Most of the Rabbis, chosen for the different departments of France, are now at Paris. The Jews of Amsterdam have also elected deputies to this assembly.

Dec. 18. The Hebrew Assembly, it is said, has passed a Decree, consisting of 27 articles; according to which there is to be a Consistorial Synagogue in each department, which contains 2000 individuals, professing the religion of Moses. A Grand Rabbi is to be elected by the Consistorial Synagogue, whose salary is to be 3000 francs.

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Sept. 24. The Gloucester Independent Association was held at Mr. Thomas's, Cam. Three sermons were preached, by Mr. Winter, of Painswick, Mr. Richardson, of Frampton, and Mr. W. Williams. In the afternoon was held the Annual Meeting of the Benevolent Society for the Support of Necessitous Ministers, their Widows and Orphans; when the members present congratulated each other on the rising prosperity of the institution.

Oct. 2. The Wareham and Poole passage-boat, in returning to the former place, sunk suddenly, in consequence of its being too deeply laden,

Of fifteen persons on board, two only survived, who providentially reached the shore after struggling for a long period with the waves; the horror of their situation having been greatly increased by the extreme darkness of the night The melancholy providence was improved on Sabbath evening, Oct. 12, by Mr. Banister, of Wareham, in a discourse from Eccl. ix. 12. Funeral discourses for several of the deceased were delivered at the other places of worship in the town.

Oct. 22. The Half-yearly Meeting of the Dorset Independent Association was held at Shaftsbury. Three Sernions were preached on the occasion, by Mess. Weston, Jones, and Wheaton; and Mess. Banister, Field, Cracknell, Gould, Page, Higgs, and Keynes ongaged in prayer. The next Meeting will be held at Wareham, ou Wednesday in Easter Week.

Nov. 2. The Baptist Meeting at Melkshamn, Wilts, having been considerably enlarged, was re-opened for worship. Dr. Ryland preached in the morning, from Ps. exviii. 25; and in the afternoon, from Heb. iii. 15. Mr. Stennet preached in the evening, from Isa. xi. ic.

The

Nov. 18. The Rev. T. Denny was erdained at Merton Hampstead. Ministers engaged were Mess. Rooker, Cope, Allen, and Garret, of Buckfastleigh. Mr. Cope preached in the evening.

December 2. The Rev. J. Ingle was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church, at Ramsey, in Huntingdoushire. Mr. Knight, of Staughton, began the service; Mr. Cove Feary delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Tall, of Swavecey, offered up the ordination-prayer; Mr. Upton, of London, delivered a charge from Acts xx. 28; Mr. Cox, of Cambridge, addressed the people from 1 Thes. i. 8; and Mr. Oates, of Sutton, concluded with prayer. In the evening, Mr. Nichols, of Kimbolton, preached; and Mess. Manuing and Norman engaged in prayer.

Dec. 23. ordained pastor of the Independent church at Kingswood, near Wotton under Edge. Mr, Pain, of Forest Circen, prayed, &c; Mr. Bishop, of Gloucester, delivered the introductory discourse; Me. Thomas, of Cam, offered up the ordination prayer; Mr. Winter, of Painswick (Mr. Daniell's tutor) gave the important charge from * Cor. xvi. 10, "For he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do :" Mr. Jones, of Chalford, preached to the

The Rev. C. Daniell was

people, from Deut. iii. 28," Encou rage him;" and Mr. Lewis, of Wotton under Edge, concluded with prayer. Mr. Lewis has for many years preached a Sabbath-evening Lecture there once a fortnight. A sermon was preached in the evening by Mr. Lowell, of Bristol, from Isa. xxvi. 13. Notwithstanding the unfavourable season of the year, the house was well filled. This Meeting carries its origin almost as far back as the age of Nonconformity. Mr. Davies had been the minister for fortyeight years; but his age and infirmities having unfitted him for the duties of his station, he has voluntarily resigned the charge. In a small but populous manufacturing town, Mr. Daniell has established a Sunday School, to which he cheerfully devotes his Sabbath afternoons; and it is hoped he will realize the prospect of an increasing congregation.

Dec. 25. A neat commodious place of worship was opened at Poole, Dorsetshire, in the connection of the Particular Baptists. Three Sermons were preached on the occasion: Mr. Saffery preached from 1 Kings ix. 3; Mr. Price, of Yeovil, from Acts ix. 18, and by Mr. Smith, of Batts, from John xii. 26. Messrs. Mansel, Reed, and Miel, engaged in other parts of the

service.

LONDON

CONVOCATION.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.

Queen's Palace. Dec. 31.

The following Address of the Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, in Convocation assembled, was this day presented to his Majesty, by the Archbishop of Canterbury:

"To the King's Most Excellent
Majesty.

"Most gracious Sovereign,

"We, your Majesty's dutiful subjects, the Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, in Convocation assembled, beg leave to approach your Majesty's person with sentiments of attachment, loyalty, and veneration.

"It is not, Sir, without singular satisfaction, that we avail ourselves of the opportunity that the present occasion holds out to us, to proffer to your Majesty, in our provincial character, and with all humility, our thankfulness for the solicitude your Majesty hath

niformly expressed for the welfare and security of the Church, as by law established; and more especially, Sir, to acknowledge in plainest terms our gratitude for the effectual protection that during the whole of your Majesty's reign (which we pray God to continue and to prosper) your Majesty hath as uniformly afforded it.

"With this impression upon our minds, it is a small thing to assure your Majesty, that every exertion of which we are capable shall be directed to promote the great and important ends your Majesty hath in view, to cultivate a devout and unaffected regard to our holy religion; to oppose every danger. ous error, and to teach every needful truth; to maintain among your people that preference to the pure and simple worship of the Reformed Church, which hath hitherto so eminently distinguished them; to recommend, in all matters of conscience, mutual forbearance and forgiveness; to watch with prudent vigilance, and so far as we are able, to put down, or to mitigate with tempered zeal, those religious excesses and wild extravagances, to which the mildness of our laws, and the lenity of their execu tion, may occasionally give rise. In the diligent discharge of these duties, without which we have nothing to hope, and every thing to fear, we shall look with confidence to a continuance of your Majesty's favour and support.

"We bless God for the numberless advantages we derive from your Majesty's Government and example! We devoutly implore him to grant such success to your arms as may secure to us a safe and honourable peace; to vouchsafe to your Majesty a long and a prosperous reign over a people striving to deserve it; to shed down upon you every happiness in this world, and to crown you with eternal joy here

after."

To which Address his Majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious Answer:

My Lords and the rest of the Clergy,

'I thank you for this dutiful and loyal Address. The expressions of your attachment to my Person and Government are highly acceptable to me. You may rely on the coutinuance of my favour and protection to the Church of England as by law established, and on my unshaken determination to give everycncouragement and support to your exertions in maintaining among my people that pure and simple worship, and that mutual forbearance and forgivepess which so peculiarly belong to the

spirit and character of the Reformed Church, and which are so eminently calculated to promote the great and important objects of our holy religion.'

LONDON FEMALE PENITENTIARY.

Ar a very numerous and respectable Meeting, held at the New London Tavern, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 807,1 Mr. Alderman LEA in the Chair,

It was resolved unanimously, That an Institution be now formie, which shall be denominated The London Female Penitentiary; the object of which shall be to afford an asylum to females, who, having deviated from the paths of virtue, are desirous to be restored, by means of Christian instruction and the formation of moral and industrious habits, to a reputable station in society.

That each Subscriber of One Guinea annually shall be a Governor :

That each subscriber of Ten Guincas shall be a Governor for Life:

That the management of the exteraal affairs of the Institution, shall be entrusted to Thirty-six Gentlemen, together with a Treasurer, a Secretary, &c.

That to a Committee of Twenty-four Ladies shall be exclusively confided the internal economy of the Establish

ment.

A prompt admission of applicants into a temporary ward, will form a very important feature in this Institution, while no encouragement is to be given to those who seek in it an asylum from the pressure of want, rather than from any virtuous or moral choice. Each female is to sleep in a separate bed; she is to be employed in some work of manual industry, to receive one third proportion of the profits of her labour, ad to be encouraged to good conduct by suitable incitements and rewards. To instruct the penitent in the principles, obligations, and duties of Christianity, and to direct her to the Saviour, "whose blood cleanseth from all sin," are main objects of this charity.

Such generally are the nature and design of the "London Female Penitentiary;" and, it is presumed, that from an insti.ution of this character, no real Christian can voluntarily withhold his approbation and support. For what moral principle is there that can influence the judgment, what moral motive that can affect the heart and move the hand of Benevolence, which will not here find its appropriate object

and gratification? Who can describe the

numerous important advantages that must result from such an institution, to domestic comfort, to social happiness, to civil order, to national reputation, to the honour of Christjanity, to the perishing body, to the immortal spirit? What mind can estimate the value and extent of that good which is implied in the complete reformation of a single unfortunate female? To snatch the seduced from the brink, and the more depraved from the gulph of prostitution, and to place them under the mild discipline and salutary influence of such an establishment, is to connect every sort of charity together, and to include almost every good in one. To do this, is at once to "deliver the tempted," to rescue the ensnared, and to defend the persecuted. It is to save the perishing from ruin, to supply the destitute, to shelter the exposed, to give an asylum to the outcast, to instruct the uninformed, perhaps to reclaim the wicked, and to restore her who is covered with ignominy and contempt, to a condition in which she may respect herself and be respected by others.

We hear that about 700l. was immediately subscribed.

The names of the Gentlemen who compose the Committee, with a further account of this commendable undertaking, may be expected in our next.

Subscriptions are received by the following bankers: Messrs. Hankey and Co. Fenchurch Street; Messrs. Down, Thornton, and Co. Bartholo mew Lane; Messrs. Forster, Lubbock, and Co. Mansion House Street; Messrs. Fuller, Chatteris, and Co. Lombard Street; Messrs Hoares, Fleet Street; Messrs. Smith and Holt, Broad Street Messrs. Ransom, Morland, and Co. Rail-Mall; or by the Treasurer, W. Alers, Esq. (Hankey and Co.'s); and by the Secretary, Thomas Pellat, Esq. Fenchurch Street.

We learn from Holland, That Nine Answers to the following Prize Question of the Amsterdam Society for the Increase of Religious Knowledge, have been received; "How comes it, that in our dark and sorrowful Times, Jusensibility is so great, and a sufficient Attention to the Dispensatious and Judgments of God is so little observable?--and, What are the best Means and most applicable, to counteract the spreading of that Insensibility ?" The answer of M. C. A. Vanderbroeck, preacher, at Oud-Beizerland, has obited the prize.

Dec. 18. The Rev. J. Atkinson, one of the tutors of Hoxton Academy, was set apart to the pastoral office over the church and congregation assembling in the chapel belonging to that institution, Mr. Buck introduced the service; Mr. R. Winter delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Ford prayed; Mr. Clayton preached from Col. i. 7; and Mr. Stollery concluded. The congregation has in a few years increased from 200 to 1200; and three considerable enlargements of the chapel have been found necessary. It is intended in future to invite the assistance of country ministers, more especially of such as have received their education in this seminary, as it is found by experience, that while their diversified gifts are called forth in preaching to a numerous congregation, their zeal for the welfare of the Academy is kept alive. and their attachment to the tutors is strengthened and perpetuated. The students preach every Thursday evening. Twelve ministers have been sent out from the above Academy in the course of the last year.

Jan. 1, 1807. The Annual Collection made at Surry Chapel, for the Benevolent Society for Visiting the Sick and Afflicted at their own Habitations, amounted to 159 1. rés. At this meeting, among other remarkable relations, an account was read of a man who had been one of Colonel Despard's confederates; but who became a remarkable monument of Divine Grace; and which shall be laid before our readers in our next Magazine.

From the Methodist Magazine for November last, we learn, That the total number of persons in the Societies of Methodists, in various parts of America, according to the last Annual Report of the Seven Conferences in that country, is 139570; - the number. of Itinerant Preachers is 500; - and of Local Preachers 2000.

The public papers state, that the new French Government in Naples has already suppressed several of the convents; and will probably abolish them all: also that the ecclesiastical estates, to the amount of ten millions, are ordered to be sold.

His Grace the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland visited the House of Industry in Dublin, on the 10th ult.; and laid the first stone of a building for the reception of 1000 poor children of every religious denomination. It is to be called "The Bedford Asylum."

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