and might be, in the hands of fuch an holy, juft and wife God, let their future fituation be what it might. There have been among them fuch like expreffions as thefe, The character of God has ap'peared inexpreffibly beautiful, • even in the view of his pronouncing fentence against me.' 'I wish that others might praise God, though I should perifh.' the extreme finfulness, and corruption of their own hearts, as to be ready to conclude it to be utterly impoffible, that they fhould have any grace. This may account for a remark frequently made by themfelves, and circulated by others, that they had given up their hope. The great and effential differ In confequence of becoming reconciled to the divine character, It has been no uncommon thing law and fovereignty, to which befor the fubjects of the work, whofe fore they were fo much opposed; chief distress and anxiety antece- the character and work of Christ, dently arofe from a fenfe of their have been wont to appear unspeakabeing in the hands of God, unex bly glorious and beautiful, as pectedly to find themselves rejoic- magnifying the divine law, and ing in that very confideration-con- opening a way for the acceptance templating the glory, and happi- of finners in fuch a manner, as nefs of God, as an object of high-glorifies God and exalts the grace er confequence, and more precious and work of Christ, and lays then than their own perfonal falvation, proftrate at his feet. and all this, while as yet, they have had no idea of having experience, enced any faving change of heart. They have in various inftances apparently rejoiced in God's fuprèmacy, and in being at his difpofal, calmly leaving their cafe to his wife and holy decifion, and have converfed in a language to which they never before were accustomed, and have gained the favorable opinion of others, while they have had no fuch thought refpecting themselves. Inftead of this, jealoufies have often been excited in their minds, (on finding themselves fo calm and peaceful,) that God had left them-that their concern was over, and have wifhed it to return again. And when at length reflecting on their views and feelings, or by converfing with others, they have ventured to entertain fome feeble hope about themfelves, it has been in various inftances, of fhort continuance. Within the course of a few days, or perhaps a fhorter period, they have had fuch an overwhelming fenfe of between their former and prefent views and feelings, has very fenfibly affected their own minds, as well as the minds of others; efpecially, in thofe inftances in which they had antecedently diftinguished themselves, by their oppofition to the doctrine of decrees, divine fovereignty, the abfolute dependence of the creature on God, and his univerfal providence, and the duties of unconditional fubmiffion, and difinterested affection. To find themselves now. attached to thofe very doctrines and duties, and lamenting their former blindnefs, has ferved to excite peculiar admiration and gratitude. III. It may perhaps be proper to notice, that the great Head of the Church, has by no means confined himself in the difplay of his grace to perfons of any particular rank or age. Children and young people, of both fexes, and heads of families, of different ages, and, in one or two inftances, fuch as were far advanced in life, are among the number who hope though once they were blind, that now they fee. The impreffions were fuch on the minds of the children, in different schools, as led them to lay afide their customary diverfions and fometimes to pass their intermiffions in prayer, reading, or religious converfation, among themselves. Such as were capable, requested it as a privilege, that they might be allowed at fchool to read in their bibles. Several of the scholars obtained hope refpecting themselves, fome under 12 years of age, but the greatest number between 12 and 18. IV. The uniformity every where obfervable, as to the views, and exercises of the fubjects of the work, is a circumftance particularly to be noticed, both antecedent to their obtaining relief, as well as afterwards. Moft generally, let any perfon become informed in refpect to a fingle inftance, of the views and feelings of a finner, under concern, and of his confequent exercises, and different views, and apprehenfions, and he would for fubftance learn what others could fay. The fame excufes, pleas, cavils and objections, against the doctrines and precepts of the gofpel, while under conviction, and the fame kind of fubmiffion, when brought to a cheerful furrendery of themfelves to God which were found in one cafe were to be looked for in another. To find perfons who never converfed, one with the other, communicating the fame ideas, has been very striking to many. And it ought to be particularly obferved here, that this is not the cafe, merely in neighbor. hoods or focieties; but in diftant and different quarters, wherever the work has fpread, amongst those who never faw or heard of each other. The obfervations already made refpecting the nature of the work in this fociety, apply with equal truth to other focieties, fo far as can be known, both far and near. All are made to drink into one fpirit, and to speak one language. After all, V. It is by no means pretended that the wheat is wholly free from a mixture of tares, or that all who entertain hope of themselves, are really friends to Chrift. The parable of the fower may doubtlefs be applied, in a greater or lefs degree; and it is to be feared, that more or lefs will finally wither away. Sufficient to fuch a day is the evil thereof. It is very gratifying to the friends of Zion, that there are fo few inftances of this nature, where apparent evidence of a change of heart has been exhibited. One obfervation farther. VI. It is conceived, and it is thought no more than proper to acknowledge it, that the measures which have been adopted by the ftate, for the fpread of the gospel; the addrefs from the General Affembly, recommending a more careful obfervation of the fabbath the regulations refpecting schools together with various late publications, have been employed under providence, to promote and spread this great and glorious work, which God hath already wrought, and is ftill accomplishing. Yours, SAMUEL J. MILLS. (To be continued.) Letter from the Rev. Dr. HAWEIS of London, to bis Correfpondent in Connecticut. go not empty away. I wish to have a memorial in the hearts of my brethren, unworthy as I am, and lefs than the leaft of all the mercies I am receiving from him. I esteem it among those especially to be acknowledged that he hath affociated me among a body of the most faithful and zealous of this land, where if I fill the loweft place I fhould think I had not lived in vain. My heart is indeed in their work, and I only regret that my ability to ferve the glorious caufe is fo difproportionate to my defires, Hitherto the Lord indeed hath been graciously pleafed to profper our efforts beyond our moft fanguine expectations, and to demonftrate, to the reproof of our fears and unbelief, that the excellency of the power is of him and not of us, and that he can out of the mouths of thofe as feeble as babes and fucklings ftill perfect his praise. dulations of the pool till it shall reach from the weft to the east and from the eaft to the west. You have ere this feen our Miffionary Journal, and our Magazines have informed you of the great and unexpected impreffion made thro'out all Proteftant kingdoms, and you will be refreshed as we have been by their correfpondence. The increafing vigorous exertions to fpread the gofpel in England & Scotland areno lefs remarkable. You will have heard how foon the Lord furnifhed us for the equipment of the Duff, and with the faithful who have we hope ere this reached the place of their deftination in the Southern ocean,* as well as the fecond body gone to attempt the Caffre nation, and penetrate, if the Lord opens the way further into Africa. We would not let the prefent year pafs without further exertions, and are now deeply employed in preparing a large miffion of thirty perfons or upwards for the Sandwich Islands and Marquefas, whom Mr. Crook and the Marquefa youth who came with him, and is now under inoculation will, if the Lord pleafes accompany, he having acquired a perfect knowledge of the language. It is with wonder and adoration we have to acknowledge how the general favor of the faithful hath fupported us, as you will fee by our annual account; and every favor we have afked from our ru It revives our inmost fouls to fee the fpreading of the facred flame in America, and the bleffed hope, that roufed from the torpor of apathy, we are all beginning to feel the value of those fouls that the fon of God came down to fave by his own most precious blood. The Lord increase you more and more, and enable you to lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes of the true tabernacle, in which all that love our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity may meet to worship himling powers has been granted with in fpirit and in truth, and with united efforts go forth to feek the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the carth for his poffeffion. Between the Allegany mountains and the Columbia river, which we hope ere long to vifit, there will be a glorious fpace to traverfe, till we meet, in what point who can tell! But I truft the found will spread like the un We the most perfect readiness. *From the hiftory of the London Millionary Society, contained in the preceding pages it will be feen that privateer, news of which was not received at the time this letter was writ the Duff was captured by a French ten. buried while the feed of the ferpent remains, but we have the greateft reafon to praise the good hand of our God over us for good, who has fo profpered our poor endeavours, that thofe are now filent who fuppofed if a fox went up it would throw down the wall we built. Now few refufe to acknowledge that the thing is of the Lord, and thofe of the evangelical clergy whe refufed to affociate with us have affociated among themfelves to confine their efforts to Africa and Afia. God fpced the plough! If the work be but done they that love him will rejoice in it. It will give me, dear fir, unfeigned delight to communicate to my brethren fome tidings from you that you are individually exerting yourselves to fpread the gofpel around you, and as a Miffionary body making fome vigorous efforts to fend out chofen men, whofe zeal and patience may enable them to furmount all the difcouragements which they may meet among the Heathen. The children of God are all one household. The Atlantic flowing between prevents not our united hands and hearts from cordially meeting in this work of faith and labor of love. Will you make my humble falutations to all that among you labor in word and doctrine, and are willing to fpend and be spent in the fervice of immortal fouls. Shall I intreat a kind remembrance in your prayers, for a poor finner that is feeking the falvation of his own foul and longing for that of others without partiality to the color of their fkin or the place of their abode, and your affectionate brother in Chrift, T. HAWEIS. P. S. We with a more frequent correfpondence with your fociety, that we may hear oftener of your progrefs and be animated by your exertions. London, June 26, 1799. A letter from a Young Woman to her Paftor, giving fome account of the exercifes of her mind. March 1, 1800. Very dear and worthy Paftor, I Ccording to your request I will now attempt to give you fome particular account of myself. But where fhall I begin? Shall I defcribe to you the different exercifes of mind that I paffed through? that would be impoffible. For more than three months I almoft defpaired of ever seeing the face of God in peace; and was often led to think I was made for the very purpose of being miferable,and that it was decreed from all eternity that I fhould perish forever. thought myself to be perfectly ftupid and hardened, left entirely to myfelf. I faw that I could do nothing to help myfelf in the leaft degree that I was in the hands of a fovereign God, and that he would do juft as he pleafed with me. This I could not endure. It grieved me to think that I could do nothing to fave myself, and I often thought that I was dealt hardly by, that God required more of me than I was able to perform. I felt oppofed to God and holiness. My heart rofe against the bible. I could find nothing in it but what was against me, and for that reafon I dreaded to read it. Altho' I was fenfible I never could be happy with fuch a heart as mine, yet my averfion to holinefs was fo great that I rather chofe annihilation. I found that inftead of growing better I grew worfe; that my heart was altogether vile, and that I did nothing but fin. I thought that the longer I lived the more infenfible and unconcerned. What could I do? What could I do? I would gladly have exchanged myfelf for any creature in the world however wretched. But that was impoffible. I wished to die before another morning; and I entreated my maker to call me into eternity that very night. During feveral days a fovereign God permitted me to meet temptations too fhocking to relate; but his power mercifully preferved me. And I began to fay to myself, how do I know but God may change my heart on purpose to display his fin I fhould commit, and confe- tormentor. pow Thus I continued from Wednefday until the Monday following, in the greatest tumult of mind, imagining myfelf to be the moft wretched and miferable object in the world. On Monday evening I felt an unusual calm in my mind, for which I could not account. Opening my bible I thought there was fomething in it fweet and engaging that I never faw before. It feemed as tho' I could forever read it with pleafure.-Not that I faw glorious in itfelf. After reading for fome time I fhut my bible and began to ponder upon my own vilenefs. Then it was that thofe bleffed words broke in upon my mind, O can I ever forget the evening of Wednesday Feb. 5, 1800! Then it was that I bid adieu to all hopes of mercy, and looked for nothing but an eternity of woe and defpair. I faw my heart to be completely full of pride and all manner of wickednefs. As I was going to a religious meeting, I afked myself, For what am I go-any thing for myself, but fomething ing to meeting? And I could think of nothing but only to gratify pride and curiofity. I thought myself to be the worst, the vileft of creatures. I was confident that there never was fuch a mon-Worthy is the Lamb that was flain. fter on the earth before, and never would be again ;-that I was made for no other purpose but to glorify the juftice of God. I thought that I had grieved the Holy Spirit, and was given over to blindness of mind and hardnefs of heart, and that for me there remained no more facrifice for fin, but fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, that would foon devour me. I faw others who appeared to have fome fenfe of eternal things, but I was like a ftone, VOL. I. No. I. E Although I felt that I was the moft unworthy of beings, I did not fee that to ftand in the way as Chrift had fatisfied divine juftice and "made reconciliation for the "fins of the people." I faw that he had done enough for me, and for every finner; that he was able and willing to fave all who were willing to be faved on his terms; that if I fhould perish it would be for rejecting an offered Saviour. Chrift appeared to me to be the chief among ten thousands and al |