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"But while all the efficiency of the gospel, in renewing the hearts of men, is to be humbly ascribed to the glory of divine grace, we cannot fail to record the signal success with which it has pleased our gracious Lord to honour those judicious and appropriate means and instruments which he has appointed. Whereever ministers and professing Christians have been doubtful, heartless, and prayerless, in regard to the reality or importance of a special effusion of the Holy Spirit, they have remained unblessed by reviving grace, under the blighting, deadening influence of a cold formality. But where an opposite spirit has prevailed, the spirit of Christ and his apostles, and Christians have been engaged in earnest, importunate prayer; where pastors or missionaries have made the calling of sinners to repentance, their one great object in preaching publicly, and from house to house, the Lord has usually appeared to build up Zion, and his Spirit has descended like dew upon the mown grass, or like showers that water the earth.

"While we thus recount to you, dear brethren, the gracious manifestations of divine mercy towards our churches, our hearts are gladdened by the tidings we hear from various sources, that the camp of your Israel is moving triumphantly onward, and that brightening prospects open before you. Most heartily do we rejoice and bless God that a spirit of fervent prayer seems to be awakened in British Christians, for more glorious and efficient displays of converting grace than they have ever yet witnessed. In communities so highly favoured, as those among which you minister, possessing such an influence of Christian privileges, and placed in circumstances of such peculiar danger and responsibility, and whose spiritual character must send a withering curse, or a redeeming influence, through every quarter of the globe, a general and mighty work of grace is inexpressibly important.

"We are in the habit of looking, with indescribable interest, on the progress of religion in the land of our fathers. Intelligence upon this subject is eagerly sought, and rapidly disseminated.

You

would be surprised at the accurate knowledge which Christians in this country possess of your circumstances, prospects, and operations. It cannot be otherwise. Every heart, in which the love of Christ dwells, must throb with strong emotion, in reflecting npon the glorious career which lies open to British Christians, in avangelizing the world.

"We rejoice with you, Christian brethren, in the extension of enlarged and liberal views in regard to toleration. The question seems to us to be thoroughly settled, by the experience of this country, that the Church of Christ flourishes more, without any connexion with the state, than it could do, if it were made a part of our civil polity. At this late age of the world, when all the people must be taught to read and to think, and when God has shown himself willing to impart his own energy in aid of truth, we are not afraid to rely upon free discussion, without the supports of human law, to sustain our ecclesiastical privileges.

"It affords us a lively pleasure to hear from you, of the continued prosperity and success of those benevolent institutions, which so gloriously adorn and bless the present age, and are evidently preparing the way for the universal reign of the Prince of Peace. These institutions we prize among our richest treasures. They are diffusing incalculable blessings through our wide-extended borders. They are the very nerves and sinews of all our enterprises of benevolence. And while we see half a million or our children gathered weekly at the feet of the Good Shepherd, and receive, from those interesting nurseries of early piety, several thousands, annually, into our communion; while in the living heralds and silent messengers of salvation, we mark the flight of the angel bearing the everlasting gospel, and while we exult in the full persuasion that within two years the word of God will have been carried to the last destitute family in our nation; we would never forget that we are indebted to you for these noble systems of doing good:-that these streams of mercy, which are now gladdening the desert places of the earth, flowed from fountains opened by your charity; and that these lights of truth and love, before which the thick darkness of ignorance and guilt is vanishing, were kindled at your altars. This confers upon your nation a substantial and imperishable glory, far surpassing the lights of science, the wonders of art, and the triumphs of arms.

"Feelingly can we sympathize with you, beloved brethren, in a most humbling conviction of our lack of ardour and fidelity in the cause which we profess to love. We have cause to deplore our lukewarmness, and the sad minglings of imperfection in our holiest efforts. We lament our want of strong, unwavering faith; of habitual self-denial; and an entire devotedness to Him who loved us and gave himself for us. We earnestly

solicit your special intercessions at the throne of grace for us, our brethren, and churches; that we may all be roused from sloth and worldliness, and heartless formality, and girded for the mighty work which is committed to our hands. The destinies of unborn generations, intrusted to our guardianship, impose on us a fearful responsibility. The vast regions of our interior, where villages, cities, and states, are springing up in quick succession, and where population increases with a rapidity wholly unexampled, open to us a field of labour of indescribable importance. The very elements of society are just forming. Institutions which are to diffuse blessings or curses among hundreds of millions of our race, are now receiving their form and character. The momentous question as to the moral destinies of these unnumbered multitudes, will soon be decided. The foundations of piety and happiness, or of vice, ignorance, and wretchedness, will soon be immoveably fixed. The bulwarks of popular habits and opinions are rising into indestructible strength. The rushing tide of prejudice and depravity, unless it be rolled back by the mighty power of the gospel, will soon form to itself a channel deep and wide, in which it will flow for ever. It is indeed the seed-time of this western world. If those who labour for God are slothful and inactive, the enemy who never slumbers will pre-occupy the ground, tares will be thickly sown, and in the harvest there will be lamentation, mourning, and wo. From such a scene of action, where dangers and difficulties cluster round us on every side, and where failure will produce results immeasurably dreadful, we address to you our intreaties, that you may pray for us, that we may have grace and wisdom, zeal and self-denial, so faithfully to fill our difficult and responsible stations, as to secure and perpetuate the inestimable treasures of Christian institutions to future ages, and receive upon our work the seal of divine approbation.

"Though we are not disposed to cultivate national pride, or the pride of ancestry, or pride in any form; and though we rejoice in the progress of religion on the continent of Europe, yet it is evident that God expects great things from Great Britain and America. Such, beyond all controversy, are the situation and character of these two nations, that on them is devolved the great work of converting the world. So rich are the spiritual treasures intrusted to you, and so peculiar are your avenues of success to all quarters of the globe, and consequent moral influence over the whole human

family, that your allotted part in extending Messiah's kingdom, is inconceivably important. Every benevolent eye on earth and in heaven is fixed with deep interest on the movements of British Christians, and every heart devoted to the Saviour is filled with high expectations of the glorious things which are to be accomplished through your instrumentality. God forbid, therefore, that we should cease to pray for you, dear brethren, that your devotedness and success in spreading the triumphs of the cross, may correspond with the advantages you enjoy, and the wide field of evangelical labour which lies before you. Indeed, all the principles of the gospel, and the sympathies arising from common dangers and responsibilities, strongly urge Christians of both countries mutually to provoke to love and good works; to cheer each other on to nobler efforts; and to unite in mutual intercession at the mercy seat. And how delightful is the reflection, that in the monthly concert, a thousand churches of the Redeemer assembled with one accord in Britain and America, are prostrate together at the Saviour's feet, sending up strong, united, importunate cries for a perishing world, and mutually imploring the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit upon each other. Let us cultivate this spirit with a livelier zeal and a holier communion of Christian love. Our interests, our objects are the same. ferent detachments of one great army, we march under the same banners, and are engaged in a common conflict under the same great Captain of our salvation. While we would faithfully occupy our appropriate sphere of action, we affectionately greet you as co-workers in the same blessed cause. In your success we rejoice as in our own; and in your trials and difficulties we sympathize as members of the same body.

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Again we tender to you our cordial thanks for your gratifying and fraternal letter. We solicit the continuance of this correspondence. We trust it will prove a blessed instrument of enlarging our charity, and exciting us to more fervent prayers for each other; of the mutual communication of interesting intelligence; and of drawing the hearts of those who love Christ in England and America into a closer union. We hope the time is not far distant, when an interchange of delegates in our respective bodies may strengthen the bonds of Christian fellowship and benevolent cooperation.

"With sentiments of affectionate regard, we are, reverend and beloved

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REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN WALES.

Forty years ago the Rock Chapel, Trelech, Carmarthenshire, was the only Indedent Society in that neighbourhood. In 1790, the Rev. M. Jones was ordained pastor over that people, and members were united to the church belonging to Llwyn'n hurdd, Blaencoed, Flynnon bedr, and Chapeluan. In a few years these so much increased, that for their accommodation chapels were built at three of these places, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper was successively introduced amongst them. The work of God having prospered in the church at Trelech and its branches, by successive revivals, (1792, 1793,) and especially in 1822, when 300 members were added to the church, it became necessary to have further ministerial assistance. The Rev. E. Jones, son of the pastor, was therefore chosen to the co-pastorate, and in 1824 was ordained at Trelech accordingly.

This Society has been cordially engaged in instructing the young in Sabbath Schools, not only to read, but also in the great truths of the Gospel, and so numerous has the attendance been for years, that few can be found in that neighbour

hood unable to read.

In the beginning of the present year, a religious concern began to pervade a branch Sunday School, in the parish of Clyden, belonging to the church at Trelech. About one half of the school had previously professed religion, but now a concern for their souls became the one thing needful with persons of all ages in the school, so that, in a short time, all who were in the school came forward to propose themselves for church fellowship, except two, and one of these, who had been a scoffer, and was deeply afflicted afterwards, joined himself to the people of God.

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the hearts of some, and wrought in the minds of many. These solemn services were again renewed on the 17th of April, (Good Friday.)

Meetings of inquiry were publicly held with those who were under religious concern, and these exercises were highly beneficial. Some who presented themselves had been under convictions for many years, others had received them during the preceding year, but most within a few months.

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The work of conversion extended through the Sunday Schools at Trelech, Lanrhyd, Lanwinio, and Crugiwan. At the latter place there was also preaching, but the meetings were so thinly attended, that an old disciple said, are too cold, we shall have no revivals here." But shortly after there was an evident impression on the minds of those who assembled, accompanied with weeping and confession of their coldness. the next service the house was crowded'; much weeping prevailed; there was scarcely an individual present unaffected. The old disciple referred to, remarked the next day, "last night was wonderful-generally we hear the people talking in every direction, and at great distances as they go home, but last night all was silence, sadness was felt by all" Although this work has greatly prospered in the Sunday Schools, yet it has not been confined to them, for many, of all ages, in these and neighbouring places, were impressed, attended the inquiry meetings, and at length proposed themselves for church fellowship.

At Chapeluan numbers have professed their faith in Jesus, and numbers more are coming forward.

Before Llwyn'r hurdd felt the blessed influence of revival, many of the young people met together in the evenings, for trifling mirth and idle conversation, but these meetings were entirely abandoned, through a religious concern, which was generally diffused, and many were added to the church.

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Peterwell, or Ffynnonbedr, was left unvisited by the revival of 1822, and the branch of the church there was consequently feeble, and fears were entertained lest the present revival should not extend thither; but soon after the prayermeetings for the outpouring of the Spirit was held, a feeling was apparent in the meetings at the chapel and in the neighbourhood; members from the Sunday Schools, and many householders were united to the church, and are remarkable for their delight in religious conversation, and for their diligence and zeal in the cause of Jesus.

That the reader may judge of the re

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On this happy visitation, the Rev. M. Jones, the senior pastor, has favoured us with the following remarks:

"1. In this revival I have observed great solemnity possessing the minds of the hearers in general, especially amongst those who proposed themselves for church fellowship.

"2. It followed a day set apart for prayer, that the Holy Spirit might be shed forth, and which was kept at each of our places; we also observed Good Friday, and have since held similar meetings monthly.

"3. It has been with great power, for some who had been impressed with the importance of religion, at times, for many years, and have shifted their convictions, could withstand no longer, and backsliders, who have been long separated, one ten years, and another thirty-five years, were restored to the church.

"4. This revival has, in a great degree, changed the face of things in our neighbourhood, in a moral point of

view.

"5. Although this revival has occurred amongst the Welsh, who are said to be proverbially impassioned, yet it is not the result of any excitation produced by awful providences, strange ministers, or even by meetings of ministers; but it is the effect of an instrumentality, which the people have possessed for years, and which for years had not produced any visible effects upon their minds !"

What encouragement/ does this afford to every pastor, to gird up the loins of his mind with renewed energy, and to seek, by prayer and labour, similar blessings.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY RESPECTING DISSENTERS.

At the close of the last Session of Parliament, a return of the numbers of the Dissenting places of worship of dif ferent denominations, and of their attendants, &c. was ordered by the House of Commons.

The circulars requiring returns have, therefore, been issued, we understand, from the office of the Secretary of State

for the Home Department, and have been variously addressed to County, Municipal and Parish Officers, most of whom, we imagine, know but little, and care less, about the actual circumstances of the Dissenters in their particular neighbourhoods. We expect, therefore, that many places in each denomination will be altogether omitted, and that the most unsatisfactory returns will be obtained.

We find, that where dissenting ministers have been applied to by these functionaries, the nature of the inquiry has been frequently misunderstood. Thus some have only given the number of communicants, and others the number of actual subscribers, while others have returned the average number of attendants at public worship. The greatest confusion is also likely to result from the vague use of denominational terms, and from some specimens of county returns we have seen, it is evident to us, that members of the same denomination are described under different titles. As the returns, however, have not yet been generally made, we beg to suggest to our brethren who have yet to obey the order of the House of Commons, uniformly to describe themselves as Congregational or Independent Dissenters, and to give the average number of the Congregations which attend their ministry.

ORDINATIONS.

On Wednesday, May 6, 1829, John Wild, of the Blackburn Theological Academy, was ordained pastor of the Independent church, at Burton-uponTrent, Staffordshire. The Rev. W. Rhead, of Rugeley, commenced the services by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. Sibree, of Coventry, delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the necessary questions; the Rev. B. Brook, of Tutbury, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Gawthorn, of Derby, gave the charge; the Rev. J. Gilbert, of Nottingham, preached to the people; the Rev. R. Davis, of Tamworth, concluded with prayer. The services were interesting and impressive.

On Thursday, May 7, 1829, the Rev. John West was publicly recognized as pastor of the congregational church at Thetford, Norfolk. The Rev. O. Atkins, of Wymondham, commenced the services of the day with reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. B. Innes, of Norwich, explained the nature of a Christian church, in an introductory discourse, which was liberal in spirit, yet firm in principle, and asked the usual questions; the ordination prayer was

offered up by the Rev. W. Garthwaite, of Wattisfield; a solemn and affectionate charge to the minister was given by the Rev. C. Dewhirst, of Bury St. Edmunds, which was followed by an excellent address from the Rev. J. Alexander, of Norwich, to the church and congregation, on the duties arising out of the connection then ratified. Mr. Atkins, of Wymondham, closed the above interesting services by a sermon in the evening.

On Wednesday, June 17, the Rev. John Vine, late student in the Theological Seminary, Hackney, was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Bushey, Herts. The Rev. J. E. Richards, of Wandsworth, commenced the service by reading appropriate portions of Scripture, and prayer; Rev. W. S. Palmer, of London, gave a lucid statement of congregational principles, in an address

founded on 1 Tim. iii. 15, and received the confession of faith, &c.; Rev. W. F. Platt offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. George Collison, Tutor, then delivered to the minister an impressive charge from 1 Tim. iv. 6.; and the Rev. A. Tidman, of London, preached a solemn and instructive sermon to the people, from the words of Cornelius to Peter, Acts x. 33.

On Thursday, June 18, the Rev. G. H. Hewlings was ordained pastor of the congregational church at Spalding, Lincolnshire. The morning service was commenced by the Rev. Mr. Porter, of Staines, who read the Scriptures and prayed; the Rev. Thomas Haines, of Boston, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. George Wright, of Stampford, asked the questions, and received Mr. Hewlings' confession of faith; the Rev. John Blackburn, of London, Mr. H.'s late pastor, offered the ordination prayer, and the Rev. Walter Scott, of Rowell, delivered the charge. In the evening, the congregation assembled again, when the Rev. J. Blackburn preached to the people. The Rev. Messrs. Everitt, Robinson, and others took part in the devotional services of the day.

On Wednesday, 22d July, the Rev.

James Buckfitt, was ordained to the pastoral office over the Independent church at Burwell, Cambridgeshire. The Rev. Thomas Mays, of Fordham, commenced the solemnities of the day by reading an appropriate portion of Scripture and prayer; the Rev. Charles Dewhirst, of Bury St. Edmunds, delivered the introductory discourse on the principles of dissent, and, received Mr. B's profession of faith; the Rev. John Reynolds, of Isleham, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. George Collison, of Hackney, Mr. B.'s tutor, gave the charge the Rev. Wm. Clayton, of Saffron Walden, preached to the people; and the Rev. Philip Cater, of Newmarket, concluded by prayer: the Rev. Messrs. Heafford, of Shelford, (Baptist); Harris, of Ely, (Countess of Huntingdon's connection); and Compton, of Isleham, (Baptist) also took part in the services. In the afternoon, a meeting was held in the chapel, for conversation on important subjects connected with the religious aspect of the present times. The Rev. J. Harris opened the meeting by solemn prayer. Suitable addresses, involving much important and deeply affecting information, were delivered by the chairman, the Rev. George Collison, and most of the gentlemen who took part in the previous services of the morning. business of the day was closed by the Rev. C. Hickman imploring the divine benediction. Throughout the day, the chapel was crowded by a highly respectable and attentive congregation. services were of the most impressive description, and are remembered with feelings of no common interest. May the impressions produced upon the mind of both minister and people, be as permanant as they were delightful.

NOTICE.

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The Rev. T. James's Chapel, Woolwich, will be re-opened, after considerable enlargement, on Wednesday, September 23d, on which occasion the Rev. J. Clayton, Jun. and the Rev. W. Orme, are expected to preach.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the past month from the Reve rend D. Rees- E. Morgan--R. Burls--J. Buckfitt--W. Wheeler--J. Vine--J. Bounsall--C. J. Hyatt.

Also from Messrs. Henry Dunn--Thomas Taylor--W. F. Lloyd--Roystoniensis.

We must request our Correspondents not to imagine that their esteemed communications are rejected because they do not obtain immediate insertion. Our solicitude to present our readers with an agreeable diversity of papers, often compels us to defer the insertion of an article for several months.

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