whole force from a previous er- thousand times asked, and as ofror of the heart. If this were ten answered in the oracles of not the case, there would be no God. Two or three testimonies power in the means of seduction. will answer my present purpose: You ought to be sensible, that if" He that believeth on the Son the grace of God doth not pity, hath everlasting life." "For and the almighty power of the with the heart man believeth Holy Ghost, help, you will ne- unto righteousness." The faith ver again have a suitable con- or believing unto eternal life, is cern for salvation. You did not one which accords with the hoat first, nor have you at any suc-liness of God and his law, the ceeding time awakened yourself principles of his government, to a sense of danger and wretch- and the doctrines of the gospel, edness. It was the Holy Spirit and this must be with the heart, who did this, it was him you that it may entitle us to the begrieved, it is he who must re-nefit of Christ's righteousness. new these views of truth; and And what did Paul, the apostle, if he doth not, your case is with- say on this point? He testified out remedy. Therefore, fix it" repentance towards God and in your own mind as an unalte-faith towards our Lord Jesus rable truth, that you never will Christ." When it was enquirof yourself, without divine aid, ed of him, or of the other saeither obtain or preserve a suita-cred writers, what shall I do for ble concern for your own salvation. If you begin, as you may think you do, to work out your own salvation, without the assistance of the Spirit of God, you will end in death. But is not this hard doctrine? Yes. To be a sinner is a state of slavery, which is always hard; and to suffer the consequences, in the apprehensions of those who endure them, will be more hard.

the salvation of my soul? They gave no other answer, in the first instance than this or what amounted to it," repent and believe and thou shalt be saved." The words of their Lord, his doctrines and precepts gave them no authority to do otherwise. And what shall the present ministers of religion do, when similar questions are proposed for their solution? Can they do otherwise? Can they 2d. How shall I preserve a depart from the maxims of their proper concern for the salvation master? It is true they may of my soul? It is presumed that try to do it, but they will be by the question, as altered, is involved in innumerable difmeant what shall I do for the ficulties, which can be resolvsalvation of my soul? If the let-ed neither by experience, reater writer doth not mean this, son, the divine law, the docthe is requested to explain him-rines of the gospel; nor by all self more minutely in a succeeding communication.

Behold, reader, the important question as now stated What shall I do for the salvation of my soul? It hath been a VOL. II. No. 6.

the descriptions which we find of the fruits of the spirit and of the heavenly life. In all these, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are either directly or implicitly reDd

quired. And why should we cruelly call the attention of a sinner from what we know must be his only relief?

ance do comprise in the first instance, all the direction, which can be given to an enquiring sinner, why should any person wish to stop short of these.

Here, perhaps, another enquiry may arise, which shall be proposed in the form of a ques

read the scriptures, and attend all the means of instruction. If these are neglected, you must fail of eternal life; the spirit of God, whom you have often rieved, will depart; you will lose all feeling that you are a sin ner; and what you accuse as the cares of the world, will over whelm you in utter thoughtless ness and perdition. If you ne

Here a cloud of doubting minds will arise around us, and their first demand will be, shail we direct a sinner to nothing more than faith and repentance?tion. Let A. Z. attend. Shall It is answered: Can you direct I not pray, read the scriptures, sinners to any moral or evange- and observe what are commonly lical duty, which is not compris-called the means of religion, ed in faith and repentance? that I may preserve alive a conDoth not repentance imply, incern for my salvation? To this its very nature, turning from all question, every man, in every sin? or what is that repentance grade of orthodoxy, will an which doth not amount to refor-swer, yes. You must pray, mation? Can there be a saving faith which doth not imply the exercise of love and the practice of good works? Can there be a true faith, which doth not comprise all moral and evangelical duties? If this be the case, what better, what more proper direction can be given to an enquiring sinner, than to repent and believe? Further; after all, the direc-glect these, we shall hear you tions given to an enquiring sinner, to issue successfully, must terminate in repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ? Doth not every enquirer, wish to be instructed in the whole truth? Repentance and the obedience of faith are duties commanded by God. When the young man came to our Saviour and said "good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said, keep the commandments. That our blessed Lord did not mean the commandment of faith, repentence, and weanedness from the world should be excluded, appears from his succeeding answers to the young and anxious enquirer. If faith and repent

no farther enquiring, how to preserve a suitable concern for the salvation of your soul. All those who have a right understanding of the scriptures, will direct to those religious services which instruct men concerning God, his law.ourselves, and the way of salvation, and the character of a Christian. But for what end the direction is given, is of great importance to ascertain. Is it given that men may thereby be instructed in their duty, and preserve a proper sense of the importance of religion, and that the Christian graces may be quickened in their exercise? If it be given for this purpose, the advice is strictly canonical, according to the prophets, the divine Lord

t

for sinners and Christians on the same account. They instruct in the most important truths; they affect our minds; they fix our attention: Therefore they

and teacher of men, and his a- | in our power are necessary both postles. But supposing it to be given on the following principle; that men do thereby make them selves better, and more worthy of salvation: That by their prayers, reading the scriptures are called means and not power, and other services, they are be-in the language of common coming worthy subjects of mer- sense. But are not those who

?

cy so that God would be unjust use means the most probable to deny his grace: If the direc-subjects of sovereign mercy tion be given with this intent, it No man will deny this: For alis unscriptural. To direct any though they neither new creto the discharge of duties, or ate a sinner's heart, nor, withsupposed duties on these princi- out the aids of the Holy Spirit, ples, is a gross deviation from increase the sanctification of a the word of God. Let it be Christian, nor have power to freely spoken, for it is a gross awaken any secure sinner; yet, deviation, and although such re- as our natures are constituted, presentations may by some be they have a tendency to bring made, they neither change any our minds into that state, con-. heart, nor bind up any wound-cerning which, a sovereign God ed conscience in lasting peace. may say, if he pleases to do it, While a trembling sinner thinks" I will, be thou saved; not for any of his own performances wil thy works sake. but for my own save from misery, he will not glory, and through the merits Lord save us, we perish." of my beloved Son." No ChrisWhile his dependence is on him-tian indeed will wish to be saself, it cannot be on the free ved in any other way. Let A. grace and merits of Christ. Be-Z. use the appointed means, fore men have a right to hope in especially, let him repent and the grace of God, they must believe, lest he sin away the day despair in themselves. As the of grace. writer conceives, the means with

cry,

P. X.

CONNECTICUT BIBLE SOCIETY.

Communication to the Public, by the Directing Committee of the Connecticut Bible Society.

A

Ta meeting in Hartford May 11th, 1809, for the purpose of forming a Connecticut Bible Society, the Rev. Nathan Perkins, D. D. was appointed Chairman, and the Rev. Abel Flint, Scribe. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Samuel Nott.

Articles of a Constitution, for the regulation of a Bible Society in Connecticut, had been previously composed and printed, in connection with an address and subscription proposal presented

to the well disposed, of every denomination. This measure had been taken, merely for the purposes of accuracy and dispatch in the formation of the Society.

Those articles were read, distinctly examined, and passed by the meeting, with the following alterations. Instead of one Vice President there shall be four, the Directing Committee shall consist, of nine instead of seven. The annual meeting shall be hol den at eight o'clock in the morning instead of nine. Such other verbal alterations were also made as those already mentioned rendered necessary. An article, providing for the filling of vacan cies made in office, by resignation or removal, was likewise added to the printed Constitution. The meeting then proceeded, according to the Constitution thus adopted, to the organization of the Connecticut Bible Society, the sole object of which is the cir culation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment. The following persons were then elected to the offices mentioned against their respective names, viz.

The Hon. John Cotton Smith, of Sharon, President,
The Hon. Jedidiah Huntington, of New-London,
The Rev. Samuel Nott, of Franklin,

The Rev. Azel Backus, of Bethlem,

The Rev. Samuel Merwin, of New-Haven,
Mr. Joseph Rogers, of Hartford, Treasurer,
Mr. Henry Hudson, of Hartford, Secretary,
The Hon. Chauncey Goodrich, of Hartford,
Samuel Pitkin, Esq. of East Hartford,
The Rev. Amos Bassett, of Hebron,
The Rev. Abel Flint, of Hartford,

The Rev. Henry A. Rowland, of Windsor,
The Rev. Calvin Chapin, of Wethersfield,
The Rev. Andrew Yates, of East Hartford,
The Rev. Menzies Rayner,* of Hartford,
The Rev. Henry Grew, of Hartford.

Vice Presidents

Directing Committee.

At 4 o'clock P. M. of the same day, was the first meeting of the Directing Committee; when the Honorable Chauncey Goodrich, was chosen Moderator, and the Rev. Abel Flint, Clerk, of the Committee for the year ensuing. The Committee then adjourned, to the 22d instant, for the purpose of making arrangements ef fectually to accomplish the benevolent and pious object of the Society.

May 22d. The Directing Committee met according to adjourn ment and agreed on the following arrangements.

1st. As the Constitution adopted by the Society is essentially the same with the printed form previously prepared, and now in general circulation through Connecticut, so the object of the Society will be accomplished, if those who desire to join in this di vine charity, place their subscriptions on the proposal annexed to the printed form and address.

The Rev. Mr. Rayner having declined accepting the appointment Ichabod Lord Skinner, Esq. of Hartford, has been chosen in his room.

2d. Ministers of every denomination, are hereby invited and requested to be agents for the Society, each among the people of his own charge to obtain subscriptions to the proposal already in circulation; or in any other way which shall, to them seem most expedient.

3d. Any person friendly to this cause and willing to be active in promoting its prosperity, in each society destitute of a minister, is also hereby requested to take upon himself an agency in obtaining and remitting subscriptions.

4th. Every agent is desired to transmit annually to the Treasurer of the Society the sums which shall have been paid to him, together with the names of subscribers and a statement of the sums subscribed by them respectively.

5th. Subscriptions and payments will be received at any time in which they shall be procured and forwarded to the Treasurer, but as the Constitution of the Society provides that every member shall be entitled to receive two Bibles annually, if application be made for the same within six months from the time of the annual meeting, it is desirable that as many payments as possible be made before the expiration of that time.

6th. The editors of Newspapers, and of other periodical works, who are friendly to the cause in which the Society is engaged, are requested to publish the foregoing statements, that the organization of the Society, and the plan of its operation may be correctly and extensively understood.

Test,

ABEL FLINT,

Clerk of the Directing Committee.

Field for Missionary Exertion.

THE harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. Mat. ix. 37, 38.

|plications and vigorous exertion. The subsequent statement, it is believed, is so far from being extravagant, that, if error exist, it will be found in its deficiency and not in its excess.

Heathen or Pagans, For the most part worshippers of idols, of priests, of the heavenly bodies, &c. In Asia.

Places.

Such as are but little acquainted with geography, or who have not attended particularly to the population of our globe, can form but an incompetent idea of Samocida, the evils sin has produced and Kamtschatka, of the loud call for fervent sup- Japan,

Inhabitants.

1,900,000

906,000 10,000,000