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munications from all denominations of Christians who believe in the peculiar principles of Christianity; but if written upon the diftinguishing tenets of their respective fects, they will be excluded. The profits arifing from the fale of this publication will be appropriated to the fupport of Miffionaries to the Heathen or among the inhabitants of the new fettlements.

The utility of fuch a work, if judiciously conducted, must be obvious to every well-wifher to the caufe of religion and morality.The Editors therefore flatter themfelves, that the public will patronize a design whose object is to convey religious knowledge; to promote experimental piety and that practical godliness and true morality which are fo immediately conducive not only to the happiness of individuals, but to the welfare of fociety at large; to evince the pernicious tendency of modern irreligion; and to raise an annual fum to gladden the hearts of our brethren in the wilderness with the preaching of the gospel and the adminiftration of Chriftian ordinances, and to fpread the favor of the Redeemer's name among thofe who are perifhing for lack of knowledge.

The Editors are induced to hope that their brethren in the miniftry, and other literary characters, in this and the adjoining states, will forward the above defign by communicating original pieces.

Hartford, April 9th, 1800.

N. B. As the profits of this work are to be appropriated to charitable purposes, it is particularly requested that all communications may come poft free, addreffed to the Editors, to the care of Meffrs. Hudfon & Goodwin.

CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION.

1. The Magazine will be published monthly to be printed with a new type and on paper fimilar to that on which these propofals are iffued.

2. Each number will contain at leaft 40 pages; the price to fubfcribers twelve cents and a half, to non-fubfcribers fourteen cents. 3. At the end of every year an in

dex to the preceding twelve numbers will be given gratis. 4. Payment to be made on delivery of the books; but if any perfon of known ability will become refponfible for 12 or more copies, three months time will be given him to collect the money and make payment; the evidence of which refponfibility must be the perfon's acknowledging it by writing on the bill returned.

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***Thofe who receive fubfcripthem to Meffrs. Hudfon & Goodtion papers are requested to return win, the intended publishers. Subfcribers out of the ftate are requested to direct where their Magazines fhall be fent to fome principal town, either by water or the flages.

THE usefulness of periodical religious publications hath been long experienced, in the Chriftian churches of Europe. That fo few attempts, of this kind, have been made in the American church hath arifen, neither from a deficiency of zeal and abilities, nor

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from a want of valuable matter in |
this country to form a monthly
publication, which would be inter-
efting to pious minds.

The religious as well as civil po-
licy of this country, before the
independence of the United States,
drew all important communications
to a central point across the Atlan-
tic; and a confiderable period of
time was neceffary to change the
current of intercourfe, and bring
the churches and clergy of the dif-
ferent ftates, to that mutual and
extenfive acquaintance, whereby
proper matter for an Evangelical
Magazine, may be regularly fur-
nifhed. This difficulty is continu-
ally becoming lefs, by a free and
friendly intercourfe between the
northern and fouthern churches.

There is also in the public mind a growing confidence in the abilities of American writers and divines to equal their European brethren in evangelical difcuffion.

It

have been seen by the king of Zion, and he appears, in many ways, to be raising a ftandard against his enemies while they attempt to come in like a flood. He hath arifen and come forth from his place, and is bathing the fword of his justice in the blood of thofe who have moft openly denied him, or idolatroufly departed from the purity of the gofpel. He hath given them. up to hardnefs of heart and blindnefs of mind, and, by the rage of their own paffions, mutually to execute on themselves the vengeance of an injured Lord. In all this the enemies of pure religion mean not fo, neither do they think fo, but it is in their heart to deftroy the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and bring his people every where to fhame.

While there appears, in multitudes, this fixed oppofition to the cause of Chrift, it is very manifest that his true friends are more animated and perfevering than former

is become more eafy to make a col-
lection of fuch facts in the divinely; and, perhaps, there are no
government of the church and in
the experience of pious people, as
will inftruct the understanding and

warm the heart.

better means for increafing the flame of Chriftian love ftill higher, than fuch a periodical history of the ftate of religion, in our own churches, and through the world as will be attempted in this work. It is a natural means, for warning the hearts of Christians; to see the love of their brethren in the cause of Chrift, and their humble zeal for the falvation of fouls. It is hoped that, by these endeavours, the fervor and communional zeal of Chriftian piety may be increaf

The wonderful fpirit of religious miflions to heathen people, and to our new and scattered fettlements on the borders of the wilderness, which, within five years, hath awoke both in Europe and America, furnishes much new and interesting matter. This fpirit of love, to our distant and perifhing fellow men, appears to have been the means of exciting a greater de-ed-that the miffionary interefts, gree of brotherly love and more fervent communion among thofe, who have long believed and rejoiced in our common Lord.

The abounding corruption of the prefent age in fentiment and practice, and the united efforts of those who hate pure Chriftianity,

among new and fcattered fettlements of those born from Chrif tian parents, and among the Heathen, may be promoted-and that a monthly hiftory of the American church and of the victories of divine grace in this land, may increafe the love and comfort of our

Christian fathers and brethren in Europe. The time is near approaching when Chrift will visibly reign through the earth, and it becomes his fervants, in every part of the world, to strengthen and encourage each other's hands and hearts, that they may be prepared to meet this bleffed coming of the Lord.

for the purpose of awakening the fecure. Great revivals of religion have been fo rare for the last half century, that multitudes began to believe, the accounts received from the lips of their parents to have been fabulous. Indeed it was time for God to work marvelously, to fet evidence before a fleeping generation of his mighty power in awakening and fanctifying finners, and convince them of the truth of Chrift's words, Except a man be born again, he cannot fee the kingof God.

The late wonderful out-pouring of the Holy Spirit and revival of experimental religion, in large diftricts of the American Church, will furnish much matter for pub-dom lication to delight the hearts and fatisfy the benevolence of the children of God. There hath not been fo great and extenfive a work of divine grace in this land fince the years 1742 and 1744, and although the awakening and fanctifying influences of the fpirit have generally been local in the western and northwestern parts of the country, we ftill hope thefe fhowers may foon increase to a univerfal rain of divine grace, on all the churches of our Lord Chrift thro' this land and the world.

Many narratives of this revival in particular churches are already prepared, and will be inferted in their place, and when the whole fhall be before the public eye, the Editors trust they will furnifh means to difcriminate experimental godlinefs, both from the fancies of fanaticifm and the coldnefs of formality. It is devoutly wished that a hiftory of this work of grace, which commenced at an unexpected moment, and when there was an appearance that the gates of hell would vifibly prevail against the pure religion of Chrift, may be the bleffed means of awakening thofe churches which are yet in a lukewarm flate. Such difplays of divine power and grace ought to be faithfully narrated to the world,

Those who live in this day of revival, where the spirit of God hath been remarkably poured out, without coming to repentance and a holy life, have reafon to fear they will be left to an aggravated condemnation. To all fuch the faithful fervants of Chrift ought to teftify, that the kingdom of God hath come nigh unto them and they have put it away.

It cannot be expected, that in a publication of this nature, the Editors will make themselves refponfible for the truth of prudence of every thing which may be published. There is a variety of natural tafte in good people. The experience of real Chriftians is not in all refpects fimilar, and men are prone to judge of piety from their own experience; also that which is prudent in one place may be imprudent in another. Were every communication to be fubmitted to the rigid cenfure and correction, of any fet of Editors which can be procured, it is probable that many beauties would be destroyed, and fome truth fuppreffed. The best men have their fingularities in opin ion.

The Editors will ftill endeavor to fupprefs, whatever may, in their opinion, be directly fubverfive of the peculiar doctrines and holy

practice enjoined in the gofpel of, our Lord Jefus Chrift. They hope the charity of their brethren will cover their frailties, and ask their affiftance in the execution of this difficult work.

LONDON MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

in

As one defign of the CONNECTICUT EVAN-
GELICAL MAGAZINE is to convey
telligence refpecting missions to Heathen
nations, the Editors prefent to their rea-
ders the following abftract of the infti-
tution of the Miffionary Society of Lon-
don, and of its fubfequent proceedings,
to the commencement of the prefent year.
Further information respecting this and
other Miffionary Societies in Europe will
be publifbed from time to time in this
Magazine, as often as fuch information
fball arrive from Europe.*

Fainment of the Miffionary So-
OR fome years previous to the ef-

ciety of London, the attention of ma-
ny ferious Clergymen and other pious
people had been turned to the fubject
of diffufing the gofpel among Heathen
nations. Several paffages in the proph-
ecies of the holy fcriptures, togeth-
er with the fingular revolutions which
were taking place among Chriftian na-
tions-revolutions in fentiment as well
as manners and government, induced
ferious, reflecting people to believe

own want of exertions as reproached by the fuccefs which had attended the efforts of the Moravian brethren in various parts of the world. They were roused from their torpor, and animated with a strong defire to do fomething towards diffufing the light of the gospel among the dark and benighted parts of the earth.

In the year 1792, the particular Baptifts in Great-Britain formed a Miffionary Society, and in Jnne 1793, fent two Miffionaries to the Eaft-Indies.

About the fame time a fettlement was formed and a colony established at Sierra Leone, on the western coaft of Africa, one object of which was to chriftianize the natives.t

The various confiderations mentioned above, excited the general attention of the friends of Zion in Great-Britain ; and after much converfation and many letters on the fubject, a number of minifters of differ

ent denominations convened at London, November 4, 1794, with a view of forming a Miffionary Society. In January 1795, they met again, and prepared an addrefs to be difperfed through the kingdom, calling the attention of the pious and benevolent to the fubject of a miffion to the Heathen. The address was fpirited, pious and animated, enforcing with energy the duty of Christians towards the Heathen, and answering popular objections against attempting to spread the gofpel among them. The refult of these and fimilar meafures was a general meeting of the friends of the defign, at London, September 1795, at which time the Society was regularly instituted, and its object declared to be, "to fpread the knowledge of Chrift among Heathen and other unenlightened nations."

that Divine Providence was about to introduce fome great change in the religious ftate of the world; and particularly that the time was approaching when "the fulness of the Gentile nations was to be gathered in." Various publications appeared on the fubject, and much converfation took place among the evangelical ministers of England and Scotland, at their meetings, relative to the duty devolvAt the appointed place of meeting ed upon thofe who enjoyed the gof-there appeared a very numerous and pel, to diffufe its bleffings as extenfively as poffible. They felt their former negligence in this refpect and their

* The Editors are fenfible that much bas been published in this country concerning

refpectable affembly of Ministers and private Chriftians, an affembly whofe afpect indicated feriousness, ardor and

† In fome future numbers there will be given a brief biftory of the Moravian this Society, and many of their readers are Brethren, and alfo of the Baptift Miffionary perhaps acquainted with its hiftory; but as Society and of the Sierra Leone Colony the future proceedings of the Society are to be inferted in this work, it is thought beft that this first number should contain a general biflary of the inflitution.

The Baptif denomination, as they have a Society inflituted by them, are not associ ated with other denominations in the Lon don Missionary Society,

1

harmony, worthy of so great an occafion." Many prayers were unitedly made for a divine bleffing on the undertaking, and feveral appropriate difcourfes delivered. "In the intervals between the more folemn fervices, meetings were held for tranfacting the bufinefs and bringing into form the affairs of the infant Society. In these meetings, amidst the difficulties of an indigested state of things, and the neceffary ardor of vigorous difcuffion, the fpirit of ferioufnefs and harmonious benevolence predominated, fubduing all into order and coalition.

At this first meeting it was unanimously refolved, that the first attempt of the Society fhould be to fend Miffionaries to Otaheite, or fome other of the Ilands in the South Sea; and the board of Directors, chofen to manage the concerns of the Society during their recefs, were inftructed to take measures for carrying this refolution into effect, as fpeedily as poffible. From the liberal contributions which were made to the Society fo large a fund was foon raised as to induce the Directors to think it advifeable to purchase a fhip to tranfport Miffionaries to various parts of the Heathen world. The directors frequently met and adopted various meafures towards carrying into effect the defigns of the inftitution. Peculiar interpofitions of divine Providence feemed to promife fuccefs to their labors. One circumftance they mention as worthy of peculiar notice. Captain Wilfon, a gentleman who had retired to affluence and eafe from the Eaft-India fervice, hearing of the benevolent defign, voluntarily offered his fervice to command any veffel which might be employed in fending Millionaries, to the place of their deftination.

At the next general meeting of the Society, May 1796, a report was made by the Directors, flating that the contributions had been liberal beyond their most fanguine expectations; that they had already engaged a number of Miffionaries, and that they were about to purchase a fhip to tranfport them to Otaheite and other iflands in the South Sea

The following extracts from the report of the Directors to the Society, at their annual meeting, May 1797,

will fhow the further progress of this important business.

At our laft annual meeting you refolved, that, if poffible, thirty perfons befides women and children, fhould be fent to the islands of the South Sea, in a fhip of our own, navigated by Captain Wilfon. In order to the accomplishment of your views, our first object was to obtain a sufficient number of wife and godly perfons, for the work of the miffion; and our next object was to procure a proper veffel to conduct them to the fcene of operation. Both thefe objects were foon happily accomplished. We were able to complete the miffion before the proper feafon for failing expired; and the fhip Duff was purchafed by us, for your fervice for 5000 pounds. How munificently the liberality of many individuals tributed towards our ftores and equipments we would detail to you with pleasure, if we were not afraid of offending their modefty, and unwilling, where the number of gifts were fo many, to omit the least more than the greateft. Our fhip being ftored and equipped, her clearances obtained, and the Miffionaries folemnly confe crated to their important work, directions were given them to embark early on the 10th of August 1796.”

con

From various unexpected hindrances the Duff did not fail till late in September. She arrived at Otaheite March 4, 1797, after a very short and very pleafant paffage. He who ruleth the fea and rideth upon the wind was fingularly prefent with these his fervants, to protect them in danger and to comfort and cheer their hearts. Eighteen Miffionaries were left at Otaheite, and when the fhip failed from that Ifland every thing wore a favorable afpect. The Miffionaries were received with kindness, and there was a pleafing profpect of their being made useful to the natives in teaching them the arts of life, and the far more important knowledge of the way of falvation. Having failed from Otaheite, Capt. Wilson proceed ed to Tongataboo, one of the Friendly Iflands, where nine Miffionaries were left. These alfo were received by the natives in a friendly manner. One Miffionary was left upon one of the Marquefas Islands, and the Duff then proceeded on her voyage to Canton,

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