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operation of benevolent Institutions prospering Seminaries of learning, and rearing up some very remarkable monuments of sovereign grace, in that favoured

state.

From the General Conference of the State of Maine, whose Delegates have entered with the present Assembly into articles of friendly correspondence, the accounts are animating. They complain indeed of prevailing vices, and the want of gospel labourers; but they rejoice in great revivals, in the increase of religious exertion, and in the literary, moral and religious improvement of the State.

To the Reformed Dutch Church God is granting a happy state of feeling in her churches, prosperity to her Missionary Society, and Theological Seminary, and the copious outpourings of his Holy Spirit upon many of her congregations; for all which gifts and blessings, to our dear brethren of that communion, we render thanks to God.

From our German Reformed brethren we learn that, though the want of ministers of the Gospel is deeply felt in their Synod, and in many places vital piety is deplorably wanting, yet on the whole their progress in improvement is rapid, and their prospects encouraging. The people of their communion are awaking to the importance of Missionary effort, and taking active measures to promote the formation of Education Societies. The Lord bless them with an abundant share of whatever is great and good, in the benevolent spirit and operations of the Christian world.

On the whole, the Assembly can assure their brethren in the Lord, that the review of the past year presents nothing to dishearten, but much to encourage, and much to excite our gratitude to the King of Zion. The kindness of God to his church at large, as well as to our part of it, appears in those brighter accessions of strength and beauty, and those larger measures of majesty and efficiency and power, by which he is signalizing her as cending march upward to the mount of promise.

This cause then, should command our best affections and our most strenuous endeavours. We should be awake to every duty, improve every talent, and grow in every heavenly virtue, remembering that the time is short. Seed-time and harvest revisit and renew the face of nature, but to man the days and the years of active duty return not again forever. For unpardoned sinners there are no warnings in the grave; for negligent professors there will be no season for active duty when the night cometh; and for the ministers of the Gospel, it has not been told

how soon the heart that throbs with the

pulsations of benevolence, and the voice that utters the message of God, shall be cold and silent in the grave. How impressively are the General Assembly reminded of this solemn thought, as they number with the dead thirty-one of their fellow-servants in the gospel ministry, removed from earth, and taken we trust to heaven, during the past year. We record their names

Rev. John Bascom, of the Presbytery of Cayuga; Rev. Daniel Banks, of the Presbytery of St. Lawrence; Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D. D. do. of Troy; Rev. John Younglove, do.; Rev. Caleb Alexander, D. D. do. of Onondaga; Rev. Ebenezer Lazell, do. of Bath; Rev. Wm. Pennington, do. of Newark; Rev. Robert Russell, do. of Newton; Rev. Joseph Moulton, do. of Susquehannah; Rev. Joseph Eastburn, do. of Philadelphia; Rev. John Glocester, do. of Philadelphia; Rev. Thomas Kennedy, do. of Lewes; Rev. Wm. Moffit, do. District of Columbia; Rev. Thomas L. Birch, do. of Baltimore; Rev. Wm. Swain, do. of Redstone; Rev. Thomas Marquis, do. of Washington; Rev. Lyman Potter, do. Stubenville; Rev. John Field, do. of Portage; Rev. Salmon Giddings, do. of Missouri; Rev. Samuel J. Scott, do. of Wabash; Rev. Wm. Henderson, do. of Transylvania; Rev. Samuel H. Nelson, do. of Transylva nia; Rev. Joseph P. Howe, do. Ebenezer; Rev. James Turner, do. Hanover; Rev. Titus J. Barton, do. of Shiloh; Rev. Joseph D. Logan, do. of Lexington; Rev. Ard Hoyt, do. Union; Rev. Andrew K. Davis, do. of North Alabama; Rev. A. H. Webster, do. of Hopewell; Rev. T. Charlton Henry, D. D. do. of Charleston Union; Rev. Reynolds Bascom, Charleston Union; with several licentiate preachers of the Gospel.

On this list, containing names dear to their hearts, they recognise some who once occupied the seats, and whose coun. tenances diffused delight in the room where they are now sitting, and whose presence imparted wisdom and instruction to their counsels; but they will return to animate and commune with their brethren no more; and all that remains for the Assembly, is to offer unto their God and ours, sincere and fervent thanks that on some of them at least, he was pleased, in the near approach of death, to shed, in a remarkable manner, the unclouded light and the cheering smiles of his approving countenance. Blessed be the Lord who alone doth marvellous things, and blessed be his holy name, who though his creatures die, liveth and reigneth, the same yester day, to-day and forever. Let the moun tain of Zion rejoice, for her night is far spent, and her day is at hand. Death in its relentless march may cut down her

watchmen, but nothing can arrest her majestick progress onward, to universal enlargement and triumph. The conflict by which she wins the day may be with every kind, and every measure of iniquity, and it may be fierce, and bold, and obstinate; but through every intervening cloud that darkens her pathway, the sun of righteousness shall break forth; and beyond these scenes of error, corruption, and crime, lie the green pastures, untainted with vice, unstained with blood, and unmarred by divisions-where the church of God shall rest in the latter day. Brethren, in this great conflict between light and darkness, be decided, be active, pray much, give much, and do much; stand in your lot, and let every power of thought and of action be devoted to this great cause, forasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA.

The April number of the "Monthly Extracts from the Correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society" reached us, just as we were finishing our selections of Religious Intelligence for the present month. We know that our readers, as well as ourselves, take a deep and special interest in the success of the endeavours now in use to disseminate the holy scriptures throughout the southern part of our continent-as preparatory to the sending of evangelical missions into that region. The perusal of the following letter, therefore, which contains the most recent information relative to the distribution of the Bible there, will, we are sure, be highly gratifying.

From Mr. Luke Matthews.

Chuquisaca, Sept. 23, 1827. It is now a very considerable time since I had the pleasure of writing to you, There has been no regular correspondence between Buenos Ayres and the interior for the last eight or nine months: but I have embraced every incidental opportunity of writing; and if my Letters have reached you, you are in possession of my proceedings as far as Salta, the capital city of the most northern of the Argentine Provinces. From that place I wrote to you at length, and informed you that I

was on the point of passing into Peru. After writing, I sold a few copies of the Scriptures, in addition to the number reported: the whole number sold at Salta was thirty-two Bibles. Leaving Salta, I proceeded to Jujuy, the frontier town of the Argentine dominions; and here my success very much exceeded my expectations. During the few days I was detained for want of mules, I sold 56 copies of the Bible. Jujuy is a small town, and its inhabitants generally very poor. I left it with the satisfaction that there was scarcely a decent family who were not in possession of the Scriptures: and it was still more gratifying to have perceived that many were engaged in their diligent perusal.

The road from Jujuy to Potosi is a dreary cold ravine; a perfect contrast, in its barrenness, to the green and fertile provinces of Salta and Tucaman, from which it leads. It contains, however, a considerable number of inhabitants, principally Indians, a most wretched and oppressed race. I availed myself of every opportunity, in this as well as in my other mission. For the purpose of doing so journeys, to forward the object of my most effectually, I generally rode two or three days a-head of the principal part of my baggage: by this means I gained time. A day or two after leaving Jujuy, perceiving a small village about half a league from the road, I made up a small parcel of five Bibles, and rode into it; supposing it possible that there might be a few there who could read, and would be willing and might properly present them. On enter able to purchase, or, at least, to whom I ing the village, I found it was of a lower description than I had anticipated: there was, however, a small chapel; and not being willing to return without making I was shown his residence; and, introsome effort, I inquired for the Clergyman. ducing myself to him, I explained the object of my visit to the village. He received me very kindly; and, inquiring the number of Bibles I had brought with me, said he would very gladly purchase the whole, as he could readily distribute them. Had I brought more, I could have parted with them.

At another village, about twenty leagues onward, of a very mean appearance, there were two Clergymen in the post-house at which I alighted. After a short conversation, I told them I had a few Bibles with me; and that, if they were not already in possession of copies, I should be glad to furnish them. They replied, they had the Bible in Latin and Spanish; and treated the subject with the utmost indifference. Grieved, but not disheartened, I walked into the village, while the

postmaster was preparing the mules, in search of an opportunity to make a similar offer to others. While thus engaged, I saw upon the counter of a little shop a book that seemed to me to be a Bible. I entered, and accosted the owner; whom I found to be a person far superior in ap. pearance and intelligence to what I had expected. I asked him, after having as certained that the book was the Bible, whether it was his? he replied that it was not; that it had been lent him by a friend. I then inquired if he would like to purchase a copy (showing him, at the same time, one which I had in my pocket): he instantly replied, that he should; and wished to know if I had any more. I told him I had: and we immediately proceeded to the post-house, where I opened my trunk, and sold him four copies; being as many as I judged I could spare. I told him, however, that I had a larger stock behind; and gave him a note to my ser vant, from whom I afterwards learned that he purchased six, in addition. This person had been informed by an English Medical Gentleman, a short time before, of the existence and character of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and was not a little surprised and delighted at meeting with its Agent.

At Tupira, a small town on the frontier of Bolivia, I sold eight copies; and left a small parcel in the possession of the gentleman with whom I lodged, to be forwarded to Tariga, a town of some consideration, thirty leagues distant, and which I regretted I could not visit. I hope soon to hear a good account of the Bibles forwarded there by my friend.

At Cotajaita, after having sold three or four copies of the Scriptures, an elderly Clergyman came to the house where I was staying, and eagerly inquired if the person, whom he heard had brought books, had left the town. He examined, and purchased half-a-dozen (all that I had of the large print), with the utmost joy and reiterated thanks, for distribution among his friends. With this gentleman I passed a considerable part of the ensu ing day, Sunday, in edifying conversation. He treated me with the utmost kindness; and, early on the Monday, sent his servant to bring me to his house; where, although he himself was absent on clerical duty, I found the provision of a bounteous breakfast; and as soon as the service of the church concluded, he came to my quar. ters, and bade me a most affectionate farewell.

At Caiza, a village about fourteen leagues from Potosi, I sold four copies of the Bible to a shopkeeper of the place; giving him information respecting the means of a further supply, if it should be

required. On the arrival of my luggage at Caiza, this man purchased twelve copies, in addition to those which I sold to him.

In a former letter I informed you that I had shipped seven cases of Bibles from Valparaiso for Peru, and had given direc tions to the consignee to forward them immediately to Potosi. As they were sent to the address of an individual m the employ of a particular friend of mine, a merchant in Santiago de Chile, and as my letter was accompanied by one from this gentleman requesting particular attention to its instructions, I of course felt per fectly satisfied that my cases would be awaiting my arrival at Potosi You will easily imagine, therefore, what must have been my surprise and anxiety, when, upon inquiry at the Custom-house, I learned that no such articles had been received. In an extreme perplexity of mind, unable to form a single conjecture as to what could have happened, I determined to proceed at once to the coast;-the gen tleman to whom I had a letter of recom mendation at Potosi having kindly pro-1 mised to assist and direct my servant in the disposal of such copies as he should have, on his arrival at Potosi. And thei courier being on the point of starting, 1: did not await my baggage, but left Potosi a few hours after my entrance.

My departure from Potosi was so sudden, that I had no time to ascertain whether my ideas respecting the journey then before me were correct or not. I soon found, to my cost, that they were egregiously erroneous. I well knew that, from the great height of Potosi, 12,000 feet above the level of the sea, the cold of its nights and mornings must be severe; but I had always conceived that the road onward was a safe declivity into genial temperatures. I had also been informed that the whole of Peru was well populated, and that travellers would every where find ample accommodation. I left Potosi, therefore, without the least suitable preparation. My fellow-traveller, the courier, had delayed his departure some hours beyond the usual time; and, in conse quence of this, was under the necessity of travelling the greater part of two successive nights. The whole road to Oruro, from whence I had to cross the great chain of the Andes in order to reach the coast, lay over the summits of mountains whose elevations were not considerably less than that of Potosi. We arrived the third day after leaving that city; but of the last forty-eight hours of our journey we were on the backs of our animals thirtyone. From the fatigue of this, and the extreme cold of the nights, and the bruises I received from the bad animals

they gave us at some of the posts, I arrived at Oruro seriously ill. I had here to await an opportunity to cross the mountains. In three or four days, a returning troop of mules presented itself: I was, indeed, very unfit to accompany it, but felt it my duty to make the attempt. We were ten days on our journey; and, altogether contrary to my expectations, notwithstanding its privations and severity, before its termination I had perfectly recovered my health. I then felt indeed the value of the blessing; and with a heart warm with grateful remembrance of the multitude of tender mercies which its gracious Author has vouchsafed me, would I now record its bestowment.

On my arrival at Arica, (the place where, a short time since, you will recollect, the Bible was publickly burnt by order of the Ecclesiastical Authorities,) I ascertained that the gentleman to whom the Bibles were consigned from Valparaiso had left Peru, and that the Bibles were in charge of a merchant of Tacua, fourteen leagues from Arica, to whom he had given no directions concerning them, further than that he should retain them until he heard from me. The gentleman, immediately upon my application to him, furnished me with every facility for passing them through the custom-house. Af. ter I had accomplished this, and put into circulation as many as I could dispose of in Arica, (and I regret to say, I did not sell more than four,) I immediately despatched the cases on their way to the interior. Arica is a small, poor, and insignificant place, excepting that it is the residence of several British merchants. Many Bibles are in the possession of the inhabitants: I do not, however, think they are much read: and this circumstance, as well as the small number of copies I was able to dispose of, is owing to a practice which some persons of excellent intentions and zealous to do good have adopted, but which cannot be too much depre. cated-I mean an indiscriminate gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures. Its evil influence has extended all along the coast; and has penetrated, to a considerable extent, into the interior. The practice is most injurious to the cause of the Bible Society. Any number of copies may be thus distributed; but a readier method of limiting a beneficial circulation cannot be devised. On my arrival at Tacua, I found mules on the point of starting for Peru; and, as there was an opportunity of my proceeding with them, and taking with me a part of the stock of Bibles, I thought it my duty to accompany them, after having engaged a gentleman of Tacua to interest himself in the sale of the Scriptures in that town, and to

VOL. VI. Ch. Ad.

forward the remaining part. I recrossed the mountains in safety; and again took up my quarters in Oruro, once a town of some consideration, on account of the mines in its neighbourhood, but now fallen into obscurity. The population is principally composed of Half-Indians, a poor but industrious race of people.

As the troop of mules with which I travelled brought a considerable consignment of goods from the coast, a curiosity was excited in the town, and a number of persons gathered together in the court of the custom-house, in order to see the cases opened. This ceremony, with regard to the goods belonging to the owner of the troop, was, however, put off, and my cases of Bibles alone were opened. I had no sooner removed the lid of one, than several persons seized a book; and having ascertained its nature, one after another asked me the price; and in the course of a few minutes I sold nine copies. A clergyman entering at this juncture, and seeing so many persons eagerly engaged in reading (for the greater part who had purchased were thus occupied), inquired what work it was; and upon being informed, scoffingly asked them what they wanted with so many Bibles, and made several other remarks of an adverse nature, but without any injurious effect.

It was then the evening of Saturday. A few persons came immediately to my lodgings and purchased Bibles: in particular, a clergyman, who arrived almost breathless, saying he had seen a person in the street with a Spanish Bible, who had informed him there were others on sale, and wished to know if it were true. í sold him a Bible, and gave him one of the brief notices. He visited me the next day in the most friendly manner.

On the ensuing Monday, to my surprise, I disposed of upward of fifty copies; and having sold as many as I judged could be spared, I left the town without having fully satisfied the desires of the people for the Scriptures. I was particularly pleased to observe among the purchasers a considerable number of Half-Indians. The clergy made a strong opposition; some because the notes of the church were wanting, and some because of the suppression of the Apocrypha.

At one of the post-houses, while the mules were feeding, having observed an Indian to be a very superior man of his class, I asked him if he would like to see a book I had with me, and presented him with a small Bible. He continued reading very attentively the whole time the mules were feeding, and returned it when they were ready. I asked if he would not like to purchase it: he said he should extremely, but had no money. The hire of 2 N

the mule coming to a real or two less than the price I was accustomed to ask, I told him, if he were willing, I would give it him for the price of the post. He agreed most joyfully; and, on parting, pressed my hand to his breast with the liveliest expressions of thankfulness. I feel assured that the Bible I sold him has fallen into excellent hands.

On my return to Potosi, I learned that seventy-six copies of the Scriptures had been sold during my absence, and that there was a probability that many more would have been disposed of, but for the active opposition made by the clergyavailing themselves, principally, of the absence of the Apocrypha; and preventing those over whom they possessed an influence, principally the lower or HalfIndians, a very interesting and numerous class, from purchasing. On my arrival, I sold but a very few copies in addition.

OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.

The growing profanation of the Sabbath has, for some years past, been the cause of much grief and alarm to all the real friends of religion in our land; and we may also add, to every enlightened patriot. After several previous meetings, to consider the subject, a Society was formed in the city of New York on the 11th ult., denominated— "THE GENERAL UNION FOR PROMOTING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE

CHRISTIAN SABBATH." Of this Society we publish the Constitution, and the names of the officers, in our present number-for the animated address with which the Constitution is accompanied we cannot make room. But we desire to call, in the most earnest and solemn manner, on every reader of our pages, to countenance and aid this great and necessary work-a work connected, as we deliberately and seriously believe, with the cause of God, and the continuance of free government, in our beloved country. We call especially on the inhabitants of Philadelphia to come forward at once, and with zeal, in aid of their brethren in New York. An awful responsibility, we verily

think, will rest upon us, if we do the two largest cities in the Amerinot. But if we do, the example of can union, will, we doubt not, be followed in every part of our land, and, under the blessing of God, the great object in view will be obtained.

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. This Society shall be deno-
minated "THE GENERAL UNION, FOR
CHRISTIAN SABBATH."
THE OBSERVANCE OF THE

PROMOTING

nately, of the friends of morality and reArticle 2. It shall consist, indiscrimiligion, of all denominations, who may choose to combine their influence for the promotion of this interesting object.

Article 3. As the weapons of the Christian warfare are not carnal, but spi ritual, the means employed by this Society for effecting their design, shall be exclusively the influence of personal example and persuasion, with arguments existing laws of our country, and appeals drawn from the oracles of God, from the to the consciences and hearts of men.

Article 4. The Union shall annually

elect a Board of Directors, consisting of ponding Secretary, a Recording Secrea President, Vice-Presidents, a Corres

tary, a Treasurer, and at least twenty-four Managers, eight of whom shall constitute a quorum.

Article 5. The Board of Directors shal elect an Executive Committee, to consist of not less than five, nor more than nine of the Society, and make an annual Remembers, who shall conduct the business port to the Society of their proceedings. The Board shall have power to fill vacancies which may occur in the list of Offi

cers, or in the Executive Committee.

member of this Union by subscribing the Article 6. Any person may become a Constitution and signing the following pledge, viz:

"We, whose names are undersigned, keep the Sabbath according to the Scripdo hereby acknowledge our obligation to tures; and we pledge ourselves to each other and to the Christian publick to refrain from all secular employments on that day; from travelling in steam-boats, stages, canal-boats, or otherwise, except in cases of necessity or mercy, and to aim at discharging the duties of that sacred day; and also that we will, as circumstances admit, encourage and give a pre. whose owners do not employ them on the ference to those lines of conveyance Sabbath."

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