Sept. 15. Aug. 26, 1803. From Rev. Jabez Chadwick, collected on a mission, From a friend of missions, $ 42 38 6 00 Monies paid by order of the Trustees, since September, 1801. October 1801. Paid Rev. Aaron Bascom for 12 weeks mission to the western new settlements, Paid Mr. Abiel Jones the balance for 8 weeks missio; to the western new $40 00 24 00 December. Paid for printing Addresses, 9 00 Sept. 22, 1802. Paid Rev. Samuel Leonard for 8 weeks mission to Vermont, 48 00 December. April, 1803. June. August. Faid Rev. David Harrower for 9 weeks Paid Rev. Benjamin Wcoster for 12 weeks Paid Rev. Joseph Avery for 12 weeks mis sion to the western counties of the state Paid Rev. J. Avery his expense in for- Feb. 28, 1804. Paid Rey. Benjamin Wooster for 16 weeks July 9. 54.00 40 00 72.00 45 34 1.00 72.00 96 00 96 00 46 86 Faid the Rev. Benjamin Wooster in ad- 48 00 even a cursory perusal of these extracts, will furnish considerable proof. They, doubtless, discover much depth of thought, and accuteness of remark, especially as it is to be remembered that they were familiar communications to a friend, and were neverintended for the public eye. But that to which I wish principally to call the reader's attention, is the strain of rational, yet animated piety, which pervades them, and which evidently flowed from a mind deeply imbued with Christian principles. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, M. were it really believed in and expected, sink the spirit of any man who knew himself a stranger to religion! What is the reason that men trifle so much with religion? It is because they have not believed heartily what the Scriptures reveal to us about an eternal state. Heaven and hell seem to be words of small import with many, but they are the most momentous words which ever sounded in the ears of man. What is it, that makes many Christians so exceedingly warm, I would also ask, when you touch the least pin of that hedge of distinction they have set up between themselves and others, while you can easily observe the weightier matters of the law are neglected, but that the Gospel of the Grace of God is not heartily believed, and neither the hope of salvation nor the fear of God's anger, has properly affected their consciences? If men's consciences were thoroughly alive to these things, they would find much of their zeal about externals had been mere trifling, while they agreed with their opponents in the worst error ofany estrangement from the power and life of Christianity in their experience and practice. I have a great veneration for our worthy forefathers, who contended not only for the forms and doctrines, but for the power and practice of Christianity, which seem to be too much lost sight of by most of their degenerate sons. How often do we hear orthodox sermons, very well ad I received yours, of the 21st of March, which I read with pleasure, and I hope with profit. I confess I have been too long in acknowledging your kindness, but our friend will inform you how very little time I can command. I hope, however, we shall have more time shortly, when death shall have closed our eyes on all things under the sun. There is a glorious prospect before us! an incorruptible and eternal inheritance! to which we have ready access through the blood of Christ. We shall then rest from all our labours, and join that_honourable company which now surrounds the throne. There we shall serve him, and see his face, and be fixed as pillars in his Temple, to go out no more. O glorious day! when he shall rend these blue heavens above us, and put an eternal stop to the wheels of time. Eternityjusted according to the received is a solemn, yet pleasing word, though it is also a dreadful one to those who have reason to conclude that they shall dwell for ever with devouring fire. How would the thought of eternity, system of doctrines, which are very little calculated to awaken the sleeping conscience, or otherwisetocdify the Church of Christ! With mony there is to be found a form of the Cospel, as St. Paul sisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth, so neither doth a Christian's hap speaks of a form of godliness, whereby they discuss some head of divinity. This is proved and illustrated, and the opposite er-piness consist in his moving in a higher sphere, but it consists in his serving God singly, humbly, and contentedly, in the station he is placed in, though it should be no higher than that of a servant or a bond slave. These things are but mere temporary differences, which God has designed to serve a purpose, but from which Christians shall be alto rors are detected and condemned, and then a few inferences drawn from the subject, distant from tite people's consciences a thousand miles; just as if preaching the Gospel were teaching men a science, which had little or no concern with their consciences at all. How different this from the manner of the Apostles! who always addressed their audi-gether freed and disencumbered, ence, applied the doctrines to their consciences, and let them know of what import such things were to them. See Acta ii. 14, 22, 29, 36, 38, 39, and Acts xiii. 16, 38 to 41, &c. Jan. 13, 1795. I AM sensible of your kindness, in offering me your assistance to enable me to move in a higher sphere; but, for my own part, I see no other way pointed out by Providence in which I should serve our blessed Lord and Master, than by occupying in that lower sphere, wherein his infinite wisdom has seen fit to place me. I feel myself exceedingly defective in a small circle, and perhaps I should be much more so, if my sphere were enlarged; and whatever you may think of me, I know and feel myself to labour under so many moral and mental weaknesses and infirmities, as makes me well satisfied with my present private and comparatively hidden situation. As to differences of rank, place, or station, farther than as a Christian's usefulness is thereby diminished or enlarged, I see nothing in them that needs either to excite our ambition or dissatisfaction. For as a man's life con when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. I feel, it is true, something of the embarrassment of a low and comparatively dependent station; but then I seem to experience interpositions of Divine Providence, in answer to my prayers, and the accomplishnient of God's promises, in a way which I might not, were I in a more independent line of life. Besides, what a satisfaction is it, in any station to think that we are placed there by our Heavenly Father, and enjoined to occupy. therein till Christ come. He certainly is the best judge of every one's talents and in what way he can best serve his own ends by them. If God has given us hearts to wish well to his cause, so that we should rejoice to be instrumental in promoting it through the whole creation, may we not leave it to his wisdom to determine how far, or in what station, he will employ us, while he has ten thousand thousand fitter instruments at command ? If he hath given us an inclination to his service, it is an unspeakable mercy, though he should not afford us such opportunities of extensive usefulness, as those he has seen meet to employ in another line. Alas! that we should be so unprofitable in the line wherein he has placed us, and that we should do so much less than we might, without other op portunity than he has been pleased to give. We cannot say that we have done what we might have done, nor that we have done any thing as we ought, when all is done. But blessed forever be our Heavenly Father, who hath made us to know that Christ died for the ungodly, and that there is eternal life given through him. We hope, through the belief of this, and of all the promises of God, at length to overcome every hindrance to our salvation, and to join in the triumph and eternal praises of the Heavenly train of saints and martyrs, who came up out of great tribulation, and now behold the face of their heavenly Father, and of the Lamb in the midst ofthe throne; and the forethought of this eternal glory makes us even now anticipate the work of heaven, and begin the songs of Zion in a strange land. May 19, 1795. YOUR favor was indeed refreshing. To hear of the propagation of the gospel in is litterally "good news from a far country." It yields another sort of relish to the mind of the Christian than to hear of sieges and battles crowned with success, and of the great extension of commerce, riches and territory. These things, though, when lawfully acquired and well employed, they are not without their use, are but lying vanities compared with the true riches. The great men of this world carry on what they reckon their grand and masterly projects, in order to secure unto themselves their earthly glory, splendor and dignity; and the pulse of their soul beats high or low, irregular or uniform, accordingly as the aspect of these things varies.Could we look into the hearts of worldly men, and observe the various vicissitudes of their minds, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, we should perceive that these beat time to the vicissitudes which take place in their worldly attachments. Give them a state of things on earth suited to their inclinations, and you put life and spirit into them. Cross and disappoint them here, and the success of religion, or the extension of our Redeemer's kingdom, will yield them no consolation. Men seem to be so much of a piece with this earth, that as a certain writer observes, "they partake in all its pangs and paroxysms and tremulous motions. By the beating of their pulse you may know the state of things in this lower world, as if they had but one soul with it." And as the same author observes, in another place, were men's belief of what they were sent into the world for, to be judged of by their practice, and this belief written in their foreheads, then might one read, "Such an one born to put others in mind of his predecessor's name, and lest such a father should want an heir-Such an one to consume such an estate, and to devour the provenue of so many farms and manors-Such an one to fill so many bags and coffers, to sustain the riot of him that succeeds-Some created to see, and make sport, to run after hawks and dogs, or to spend the time |