The influence of religion upon life and happiness is impressively exhibited. Not as exciting us to gloomy reflexions, to melancholy views of every thing around us; not as if it were to be exhausted in solitude and in silence, or in unmeaning sentiments, heaped crudely together in the mind, but as affording a motive to go through life, unrepining, and making the best of it in spite of its temptations and privations, teaching us to submit cheerfully to personal self-denial, to practice personal forbearance, when virtue requires the sacrifice to be made. We are presented with pictures, true to nature, of individuals, supported only by religion, contentedly submitting to reproach, poverty, and suffering; denying themselves not merely the unnecessary comforts of life, but many of its most rational enjoyments, merely from a sense of duty, founded on a regard to the existence and government of God.

In short, these tracts seem peculiarly calculated for the purposes to which they are devoted; to make men moral, religious, and happy here, and more perfectly so in another life. We know of few works, intended for the perusal of the uninstructed, which are so unexceptionable in a religious point of view. We are happy, that they are re-publishing among us; and trust, they will be widely and freely circulated. It is the duty of every one, who has the cause of Christianity at heart, to do something in such a way, as he is able, to promote its practical effect upon mankind. Many of us might contribute our mite in disseminating instruction among our poorer brethren by the distribution of Tracts, who would otherwise be unprofitable servants in this great work. The seed may be scattered by the way-side; it may fall among rocks; it may be choked by thorns; but some of it will fall upon good ground, will spring up and flourish, and blossom, and yield to us, as well as to others, the blessed fruits of virtue.

INTELLIGENCE.

Conversion of the Jews.-A few months since we copied from a British publication some statements on this subject, which were unsatisfactory to the friends of the Jews' Society. The following short history of the operations of that Society, prepared for us by a distinguished individual, who has taken a principal interest in the subject here, we insert with pleasure, as we are desirous of avoiding all partial representations, and have no object but to make known the simple and exact truth.

The London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews was formed in 1809. The Institution consisted of Episcopalians and Dissenters of various denominations. For some time their efforts to ameliorate the temporal and spiritual situation of the Jews seemed to have the desired effect. The Society, which was small in its commencement, increased in numbers and respectability. A chapel for the converted Jews was in 1813 erected at Bethnal Green, and in the course of one year, attended, by one hundred Jews; in the building of which, the Dissenters cordially united with the Established church. The following year their prospects were clouded; the pecuniary affairs of the Society became embarrassed, and other inconveniences were foreseen. It was therefore agreed, in the year 1815, that their affairs should be entrusted to a committee of the established church. The Dissenters still, however, continued their contributions. Mr. Lewis Way, who is eminently rich, as well as pious and charitable, cleared the debts of the institution. But his disinterested benevolence was abused by a pretended convert named Josephson, who was found guilty of stealing from him various articles of silver, and robbing his church of the communion plate and surplices, and likewise detected in a forgery on his banker to the amount of six hundred pounds. He is since banished to Botany Bay.

Several other pretended converts were detected in immoral practices and dismissed from the Society. Much odium was cast on the Institution by their conduct. Yet may not candour require some allowances to be made for a new society, in which the managers were at first too sanguine and wanted experience to direct them? Ought we not to consider that the society ever inculcated the purest principles of morality? One of the members of the Institution observes, "It was never in contemplation with a single individual in this society, merely to proselyte to a system of religious opinions. I am persuaded I speak the sentiments of the whole committee, when I say, that not one of them would go over the threshold of his door to make a Jewish convert, unless he could thereby make him a better member of society, and lead him in the way of everlasting life."* One of the authors of the Jewish Expositor observes, "Where had been the present most venerated church of England, if St. Paul had desisted from his labours amongst the Gentiles, because Demas departed from the faith, having loved this present world ?"

The London Society considered those painful events as a trial of their faith and patience; and for a time left it to their conduct

*Jewish Repository, May 1813.

The Rev. Mr. Way has, however, lately published an answer to the British Critic, which does not appear to have reached this country.

and future events to answer the objections of their enemies. Instead of giving up the object of their Institution, they were solicitous to improve the lesson of prudence and circumspection, which adversity had taught them. This solicitude gave rise to new and judicious regulations. The plan of giving temporal relief to the Jews has been altogether abandoned, from long experience of its evil effects. It has also been determined, that Jewish converts, when appointed as missionaries, shall be accompanied by Christians of tried and established fidelity to the cause. Miss Hannah More, in a letter, dated June 1818, observes, that since the London Society has purified itself of its corrupt members, I trust with God's blessing it will make renewed progress." This appears to be the case, particularly abroad, and it ought ever to be remembered, in estimating what the London Society has done, that its proceedings have not been confined to Great Britain, but extend to all parts of the world, where there are Jews. The two large editions of the Hebrew New Testament which they have published, have had an extensive circulation in Europe, and a considerable number been sent to Asia and America. This measure has been approved by all denominations of Christians; the Society of Friends, in particular, have been zealous in promoting this object. A respectable member of this Society observes, that "the proceedings of the London Institution in translating and circulating the Hebrew New Testament appears to me wholly and unexceptionably pure."*

The London Society have appointed the Rev. Mr. Solomon, as a missionary to the Jews of Russian Poland. This gentleman accompanied Mr. Way in a journey undertaken by him at his private expense, for the purpose of ascertaining, by personal observation, the religious state and disposition of the Jews inhabiting the northern provinces of Europe. The favourable disposition of the Jews in Poland towards Christianity, is related by Mr. Way, and also by Dr. Pinkerton, who has recently made a second tour through that country, and has communicated the following remarks on the religious state of its Jewish inhabitants. "During my late tour through Poland, I no where found the Jews un-, willing to converse with me on the subject of Christianity. I distributed about seventy copies of the Hebrew Testament among them, which were always well received. I repeatedly entered their synagogues and schools, and with the utmost possible freedom argued the points at issue between them and us; and I never found the smallest interruption, but, on the contrary, a great desire in many people to hear and to read. Nor is there scarcely a town in Poland, where frequent instances of Jews entering Christian communions are not to be met with.

*Letter from Rev. Mr. Hawtrey, November 1819. .

The London Society conduct their operations in Poland under the auspices of the Emperor Alexander, who, in 1818, published three Ukases in favour of the Jews. The number of the Jews in Russia is reckoned to exceed two millions. The London Society, therefore, to use the words of the Rev. Mr. Hawtrey, their Secretary, "considered the Emperor as their warm and decided friend, and most powerful human coadjutor."

The London Society are now about to print a Jewish German New Testament; but it would swell this article to too great a length to mention their numerous exertions in various parts of the globe. To conclude with a remark of the Right Hon. Lord Erskine, when addressing the Society, "I wish with all sobriety to consider this subject; but I own to you, it is my opinion still, (supposing it not to happen to any of the generations of men for ages to come, to see the deliverance and restoration of the Jews,) that this Society stands its ground upon the grand principle of Christian benevolence, in spreading the advantages of the Christian system to all people of all descriptions; and as we have been told, they, that are sick have need of a physician, and not they that are whole,' the Jews of all other persons in the world, are best entitled to stand first in being restored to that situation, which has been foretold from the beginning to close the grand scene of prophecy, even the binding up of the whole human race, in one fold, under one Shepherd."

6

Evangelical Missionary Society.-This interesting Society still continues to labour in its appropriate field of christian benevolence, and, in proportion to the extent of its funds, its success has not been inconsiderable. Founded as it is, on truly Catholic, evangelical principles, it is eminently entitled to the patronage and support of those, who wish to diffuse the blessings of christianity without the alloy of bigotry and sectarianism. In the selection of its missionaries, it has had reference rather to the temper and life, than to the peculiar mode of faith; and, in consequence, has exhibited the delightful spectacle, (and, with one exception* perhaps, no other society has done it) of fellow labourers of different views, deriving their support from a common

source.

There is another circumstance, which gives this Society a preeminence over most others, whose objects are similar. It does not send its missionary over an extensive tract of country, to scatter abroad a few seeds to be "scorched by the sun," or 'gathered by the fowls of heaven," but stations him in one place, to

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* We refer to the "Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North America."

till the ground he has broken up, and to water and nurture the seeds he has sown. Hence, whilst probably few, if any, would have derived permanent advantage from a transient visit, by the persevering labours of the missionary, a church has been formed, and a religious society collected, or a broken, disjointed church has been reunited, and the divided, wandering members of a parish gathered, and thus enabled without further assistance from abroad, to support their own minister.

Another feature in the character of this society is worthy of notice. Its missionaries are instructers of children and youth, as well as preachers of the gospel, and their exertions in this way have been highly beneficial. Young persons, of both sexes, have been qualified for the office of instruction, have gone out into other places, and have diffused abroad the knowledge they had themselves received.

In addition to the employment of missionaries, the Society distributes religious tracts, and will receive and faithfully appropriate, any monies that may be entrusted to it, for the support of foreign missionaries, or translating the scriptures into foreign languages.

The claims on this Society are numerous, and continually increasing. Its funds are by no means adequate to meet them. It remains with the christian public to decide, whether a denial shall any longer be given to them, who, in the most pressing manner are calling, as in the language of the Macedonian to Paul, Come over and help us.

We earnestly recommend this object to the attention of the pious and liberal, and we know not that we can present them with a more worthy object of their patronage. Those are justly commended, who labour to alleviate the bodily sufferings, and to promote the temporal comfort of their fellow creatures. How much nobler the attempt, to raise them from a state of spiritual darkness and degradation, to impart to them the blessed light, the cheering consolations, the sustaining, animating hopes of heavenly truth, to feed them with the bread that came down from heaven.

Christians, freely you have received, you should freely give. Remember that you are stewards. Remember how much you owe for the inestimable gift of the gospel, and that great is the reward of those who are instrumental in turning many to right

eousness.

Church at Eastport.-We are happy in receiving very favourable accounts of the state and prospects of the Congregational Society at Eastport, Washington county, state of Maine. This society is composed at present of between fifty and sixty families,