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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

one of

MONDAY morning, Dec. 12th, Mr. Kicherer and the three converted Hottentots, took a very affectionate leave of the Directors, after Parting-Address from the Rev. Rowland Hill; and the same day proceeded to Gravesend, whence, on the 21st they embarked for Holland, on their return home. They were all highly sensible of their favourable reception in London, by Christians of every rank and denomination. The names of the strangers, of whom the Portraits prefixed to this Number are esteemed very striking likenesses, are as follow: - John Van Rooy ; Mary, his wife; and Martha Arendse. John is a pure Hottentot, without any mixture with another nation, and is a very sensible judicious Christian. Mary is a very sprightly woman, loquacious, and very lively in religion. She and Martha are called Bastard - Hottentots; their parents being Hottentot, and the other Malay. Mary formerly resided at a tobacco-plantation, 105 miles from Zak River. Mr. Kicherer having occasion to send thither for tobacco, Mary heard a report of his fame, and travelled that great distance to hear his preaching, which was greatly blessed to her soul. Martha, who is about fifty years of age, was servant to a farmer's wife, who, wishing to hear Mr. Kicherer, took her with her to the place; but forbade her to hear, as Christianity, she said, was not for Hottentots. Martha, however, used to go and listen to the singing; and greatly longed to understand the preaching. This her mistress so resented, that she beat her unmercifully with a large stick, till the blood flowed from her head. She then determined to leave her place when her year was expired, and continue at the settlement. Here she was called by grace, became a serious intelligent Christian, and was employed by Mr. Kicherer to keep his house.

The Letter subjoined, from Dr. Green, in America, will be found highly interesting, and very judicious. We have had it some time in hand; but its appearance was unavoidably delayed by the more pressing intelligence of the moment.

AMERICA.

An Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, of Philadelphia, to the Rev. John Saltern, of Bridport, dated July 23, 1803.

THERE has been, for four or five years past, a much greater attention to religion in this country than for half a century before. God has been pleased to pour out his Spirit, in a greater or less degree, on almost all parts of our country; or at least, on some places, in almost every quarter of it. I shall not give you any general detail on this subject, as you will

And much more than I have time to write, in the Extracts from the Minutes of our General Assembly, on which the fullest reliance is to be placed. But I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of informing you, that, even in this city, there is a much greater attention to religion, and many more who are hopefully brought to an effectual acquaintance with the gospel-plan of salvation, than at any former period since I have known the place. The revival, indeed, is not general; nor such as to make any great impression on the visible state of the city. Yet the number of individuals who are engaged about their souls, and who give satisfactory evidence that they have passed from death to lite, is fourfold as great as heretofore; and in one congregation, perhaps in the proportion of ten to one, on a comparison with former times. The friends of vital piety are, as you may suppose, greatly encouraged. Blessed be God who has thus visited us in mercy! May all that we yet have experienced, be only the first droppings of a plentiful shower of divine grace!”

The following is the Extract referred

to above:

THE Committee appointed to draw up a statement, as the result of the free conversation on the state of religion, beg leave to present the following:

The Assembly heard, at more than usual length, and with more than common satisfaction, the accounts received from their Members, of the State of Religion within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church. Since an enquiry of this nature has become a part of the annual business of the Assembly, it may be confidently asserted, that no result was ever presented to our body so favourable, and so gratifying to the friends of truth and piety.

There is scarcely a Presbytery under the care of the Assembly, from which some pleasing intelligence has not been announced; and from some of them communications have been made, which so illustriously display the triumphs of evangelic truth, and the power of sovereign grace, as cannot but fill with joy the hearts of all who love to hear of the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom.

In most of the northern and east ern Presbyteries, revivals of religion, of a more or less general na ture, have taken place. In these revivals, the work of divine grace has proceeded, with a few excep tions, in the usual way. Sinners have been convinced and converted by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit; and have been brought out of darkness into maryellous light,

and from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, without any remarkable bodily agitations, or extraTM ordinary affections. In this calm and ordinary manner, many hundreds

have been added to the church in the course of the last year; and multitudes of those who had before joined themselves to the Lord, have experienced times of refreshing and consolation from his presence.

In many of the southern and western Presbyteries, revivals, more extensive and of a more extraordinary nature, have taken place; while many, within the bounds of these Presbyteries, have been, as is hoped, effectually called, without any exercises other than those which have generally attended the progress of vital piety. There have been multitudes of instances in which great bodily agitations, and other circumstances out of the usual course of religious exercise, have attended the work. As these extraordinary appearances hive been before announced by the As sembly, and as the knowledge of them is generally diffused through out the American churches, it is not judged necessary to enter into minute details on the subject. The Assembly would only observe, that although they forbear to express any opinion as to the origin and nature of some of those circumstances, which have attended the southern and western revivals, and which have attracted so much of the attention of the religious world, yet they are constrained to acknow ledge, with thankfulness, that the last year, while it presented a comm

tinuance, and great extension of this extraordinary work, furnished also increasing evidence that it is indeed the work of God; for which the friends of piety are bound to praise his holy name!

The Assembly cannot believe that a dispensation, by means of which the ignorant are enlightened; the vicious reclaimed; the errone. ous made to acknowledge and obey the truth as it is in Jesus; the haughty infidel humbled, and brought to bow, penitent and believing, before the cross of Christ; and the general aspect of society changed, from dissoluteness and profanity, to sobriety, order, and comparative purity; can be any other than a dispensation of the grace of God and as there appears to be growing evidence that these are the happy fruits of the above mentioned remarkable work, the Assembly cannot hesitate to recognize in it the same divine power, which has, in every age appeared, in a greater or smaller degree, to build up Zion, to confound the wisdom of this world, and to show, that when the great Head of the Church will work, none can hinder him. It would be easy for the Assembly to select some very remarkable instances of the triumph of divine grace, which were exhibited before them in the course of the very interesting narratives presented in the free conversation. Instances of the most malignant opposers of vital piety being convinced and reconciled; of learned, active, and conspicuous infidels becoming the signal monu. ments of that grace which once they despised; and various circumstances which display the holy ef. ficacy of the gospel! But forbearing to enter into minute details on this subject, they would only, in general, declare, That, in the course of the last year, there is reason to believe, that several thousands, within the bounds of the Presbyterian church, have been brought to embrace the gospel of Christ; and large accessions of zeal and of strength, as well as of members, given to his people.

some

The Assembly were gratified to be formed, that even in those

parts of our church, where no re markable revivals have occurred, the word and ordinances of the gospel have been, in many places, more generally and more seriously attended upon, in the course of the last year, than for some time before; - that infidelity is less bold and active than formerly; - and that, on the whole, appearances have become more encouraging since the last conversation in the Assembly on this subject.

and

The Assembly consider it as worthy of particular attention, that most of the accounts of revivals communicated to them, stated, That the institution of praying-societies, or seasons of special prayer to God for the outpouring of the Spirit, generally preceded the remarkable displays of divine grace, with which our land has been recently favoured. In most cases, preparatory to signal effusions ci the Holy Ghost, the pious have been stirred up to cry, fervently importunately, That God would appear to vindicate his own Cause! The Assembly see in this a confirmation of the word of God, and an ample encouragement of the prayers and hopes of the pious for future and more extensive manifestations of divine power; and they trust, that the churches under their care, while they see cause of abundant thankfulness for this dispensation, will also perceive, that it presents new motives to zeal and fervour, in applications to that throne of grace from which every good and perfect gift cometh.

The Assembly also observed with great pleasure, that the desire for spreading the gospel among the destitute inhabitants on our fron tiers; among the blacks, and among the savage tribes, on our borders; has been rapidly increasing, during the last year, in various parts of our church. The Assembly take Rotice of this circumstance with the more satisfaction, as it not only affords the most pleasing presege of the spread of the gospel, but also furnishes agreeable evidence of the genuineness, and the benign tendency of that spirit, which God has been pleased to pour out upon his people.

The Assembly consider the prospects of our church in the frontiers as more favourable than at any former report. They are gratified to hear, from various quarters, that Lew churches are rapidly formning, - increasing in the number of their members, and in their punctual attendance on the means of grace: that many of these churches have been, within a short period, supplied with stated pastors; and that more missionary labourers are still called for.

Information of a very pleasing nature, was also communicated to the Assembly, by the delegates from the General Association of Connecticut, of a work of divine grace in the various parts of that state, especially in Yale-college; in which important institution, many of the youth have hopefully become pious. The probable influ ence of such an event, in so respectable a seminary of learning, on the church of Christ generally, and particularly in the state of Connecticut, cannot but make a pleasing impression on the friends of piety.

still in many places abound: but
they believe it would be ingratitude
to the gracious Head of the church,
as well as injustice to the friends of
religion, not to announce, that the
aspect of our American Zion is, in
general, unusually cheering: and
that those that feel interested in
the advancement of the Redeemer's
kingdom, while they are called
upon by new and additional motives
to implore the continuauce and ex-
tension of his mercy, have abund-
ant reason to be encouraged, and to
rejoice in the hope that God will
makes still more rich and glorious
displays of his power and grace,
"until he establishes Jerusalem,
and makes her a name and a praise
in the earth: until the righte
ousness thereof go forth as bright-
ness; and the salvation thereof
as a lamp that burneth,"

In a late Letter of Dr. Rogers, of Philadelphia, he says, I have baptized upwards of thirty in our cities and liberties, since the last day of March; and upwards of twenty more have been baptized by other ministers. Good George Bryan, of Savannah, Georgia, bap tized lately fifty-three persons of colour at one time; and a Mr. Putnam, in one of the southern states, ninety-three on the same day one hundred more were expected soon after. In Chester county a female Quaker, of respectable standing in that society, has lately embraced in full the doctrines of free and sove, reign grace." MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS.

On the whole, the Assembly cannot but declare, with joy, and with the most cordial congratulations to the churches under their care, that the state and prospect of vital religion in our country, are more favourable and encouraging than at any period within the last forty years. They see indeed much to lament, in the infidelity, the vice, the profaneness, the lukewariness, and formality, which

At Surry Chapel, Rev. Mr, Hill

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Orange Street, Mess. Townsend and Burder 108
Fetter Lane Chapel, Rev. Mr. Burder
Zion Chapel, by Mr. Emerson

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Hoxton Academy Chapel, by T. Wilson, Esq. 31 10

Holywell Mount, Rev. Mr. Platt

Stockwell, Rev. Mr. Jackson

Well's Street, Rev. Mr. Waugh

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Founders' Hall, (the Monthly Prayer-Meeting) 22 0 0
Swallow Street, Dr. Trotter and Mr. Nicol
Camomile Street, Rev. Mr. Buck
Cumberland Street, Rev. Mr. Brown
Stourbridge, Rev. Mr. Richards

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Subscriptions received by Messrs. Hardcastle and Reyner, No. 9, Old Swan Stairs, for the Use of the Rev J. T. Oberlin, in distributing the Scriptures •

(See Evan. Mag. for November last, page 501, 502.) David Dale, Esq. Glasgow 201. —A Worcestershire Friend, 2. J. W. St. Neot's 1.-Eliza Lymington, Haats, s. 5.

Several ministers and private Christians of the county of Sussex, held a meeting at Brighton on the 14th and 13th of April last. After solemn prayer to God, and two very suitable discourses, by Mr, Owen, of Shoreham, and Mr. Pryer, of Arundel (the first at Lady Huntingdon's Chapel, and the second at Mr. Hamilton's Meeting)

they agreed to form themselves into a Suciety for Spreading the Gospel in the Dark Towns and Villages of Sussex. Several openings appeared, and plans were formed for supplying them, before the Society separated. They met again at Chichester, Sept. 29 and 30, when Mr Hamilton, of Brigh ton, preached from 2 'I hes. iii. 1; and Mr. Chamberlayne, of New haven, on Ps, lxxxv. 8. Messrs. Owen. Pryer, &c, engaged in prayer. It appeared that attempts have been made at several places, and that there now is a prevailing de. sire to hear the joyful sound. More places offer than the settled ministers can supply. It was there fore resolved, To look out for a minister, as an itinerant, to whom the Society will engage that he shall be liberally supported. They propose meeting again at Alfriston, on the last Wesnesday and Thursday in March, 1804.

(late of Shaftsbury) was publicly set apart to the pastoral charge of the old Independent church at Westbury, Wilts. Mr. Stevenson, of Trowbridge, introduced the service; Mr. Dunn, of Bradford, de livered a discourse on the nature of a gospel-church, &c.; Mr. Honi, well, of Melksham, offered the ge neral prayer, Mr. Bowden, of Tooting, addressed minister and people, from Tim. i. 19; Mr. Muston, of Devizes, concluded with prayer. A double lecture followed in the evening, from Mr. Sibree and Mr. Hyatt, of Frome.

Nov. 17.

The Rev. D. Griffiths

(late student at Homerton) was ordained pastor of the Independent church at Long Buckby, Nor thamptonshire. Mr. Anthony, of Bedford, prayed; Mr. Horsey, of Northampton, delivered the introductory discourse, asked the questions, and received the confession; Mr. Denny (for many years sole pastor of the church, and afterwards Co-pastor with Mr. Moseley) offered up the ordination - prayer; Mr. Toller, of Kettering, gave the charge, from 1 Tim. iv. 12—16; and Mr. Gill, of Market - Harberough, addressed the people, from Deut. i. 38. Mr. Cox, of Clipstone, preached in the even Nov. 1. The Rev. T. Williams ing, from Mat. vi. 33.

Monthly Lectures at Manchester, in the Year 1804.

Evenings.

Jan. 4,

Feb. 1,

Subjects.

Places.

Preachers.

On the Importance of Right? Moseley Str. Rev. Mr. Roby
Principles in Religion,

On the Necessity of Divine
Influence, in order to the
Success of the Gospel.

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March 7,

On Faith,

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April 4, {

On the imputed Righteous-Moseley Str.

ness of Christ,

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Lloyd Street,

June 6,

On the Example of Christ,

St. George's,

On the Intercession of Christ, St. George's,

On Prayer,

July 4,

Aug. 1,

St. George's,

Sept. 5, the Danger of Lukewarm-Canon Street,

ness in Religion,

On Evil-Speaking,

Johnson
Roby
Bradley

Jack
Roby
Johnson

Oct. 3,

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On the Importance of attend

Nov. 7,

ing Public Worship,

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On the Mystery and Equity

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Dec. 5,

of Divine Providence,

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