partly from their not sufficiently honoring the Holy Spirit, by frequently exhibiting him in his various offices of the Convincer of sin, the Enlightener of the mind, the Comforter, the Rememberancer, the Helper of our prayers; in short as that Person in the blessed Trinity who is to work all our works in us, as the Lord Jesus has done all for us. We ought never to lose sight of this, that the conversion of sinners is a work which none but an Almighty Power can effect. We do not so often as we ought hear ministers declaring their own utter insufficiency, except as instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and hence carnestly entreating their congregations to pray for his Divine influence that their labors may be blessed. Connected with the defect just noticed, is a failure in fully exhibiting the Lord Jesus Christ;making him, as it were, the chief figure in the picture, and connecting the whole circle of doctrines, precepts, promises, and exhortations with him as a centre. If we lose sight of our blessed Redeemer, we shall find some obscurity in every doctrine. Exclude him as a motive, or as an example, and the precepts will not be followed with the same delight, nor appear with such beauty as in his perfect character. Omit him in the promises, and there will be no rock upon which you may stand; while to him they are all yea and amen. Unless this point be kept in view, the influence of the Holy Spirit will be very confined: for it is his special office to honor Christ; as our Lord says, "He shall glorify me, for he shall reVOL. V. New Series.

ceive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

Another ministerial defect, is the not setting forth the whole counsel of God. Some confine themselves mostly to doctrines; others almost exclusively to practice; without attending to the proportion or harmony of truth. So that some congregations acquire a doctrinal turn, while others hear little of those cheering truths which are the grand motives to practice. Ministers also should preach more frequently and pointedly upon conversion; plainly declaring to their people, that there are but two grand divisions of men, those who are dead in trespasses and sins," and those who are "alive" to God; shewing how far natural sweetness and amiableness of disposition fall short of the graces of the Spirit; laying open the holy law of God as the ministration of condemnation, and alarming the impenitent by the clear exhibition of the Judgment and its consequences. Unless this plain and practical mode of preaching is adopted, it will be in vain to rest upon general statements of human depravity. The sinner must be convinced of the sins of his own heart, and of his own life, and of his consequent danger, before he can be led to feel that he must indeed be born again before he can enter into heaven.

From the feeble manner in which these important truths are often treated it happens, that any immediate or powerful impression from hearing the word of God, so as from that day to be turned unto the Lord, is not only not expected, but is considered

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as mere enthusiasm. And yet in point of fact it was frequentlythus in the apostolic times. The three thousand baptised on the day of Pentecost were converted by a single sermon; Lydia's heart was opened under one discourse; and Dionysius, Damaris, and others, became believers under St. Paul's preaching to the Athenians. What took place then has frequently happened since; and there are even at this day many plain, practical, excellent Chris

tians, who can recollect, equally with the first Christians, the sermon which first affected their minds with a sense of the weight and importance of eternal things. But when the hope is almost exploded, it cannot be surprising if the thing itself should rarely follow. If ministers do not look to the Lord to give an immediate blessing to his word, can they often expect to receive it?

(To be continued.)

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MASSACHUSETTS MISSIONARY SOCI

ETY.

THE MASSACHUSETTS MISSIONARY SOCIETY held in Boston its THIR TEENTH ANNUAL MEETING, on the 26th and 27th days of May last. At the opening of the meeting, the throne of Divine grace was addressed in a prayer by the Rev. Dr. SPRING, and an appropriate Psalm was devoutly sung. The Society then attended to the following

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.

WITH lively sensibility, and with grateful acknowledgements to the Father of mercies, the Trustees of this Society meet their Brethren on this pleasing anniversary, and make their annual Report.

The Board, at the commencement of the year, appointed eight missionaries: the Rev. JOTHAM SEWALL, to be employed the whole year, nine months in the District of Maine, and three months in the destitute parts of the state of Rhode Island; the Rev. JOSEPH BADGER, to be employed half the time during six months, in the region about Lake Erie; Mr. JACOB BURBANK. for four months, on the western side of Lake Champlain; Mr. Champla SAMUEL PARKER, for six months

about the head waters of the Susque. hannah and Gennessee rivers; the Rev. URBANE HITCHCOCk, for four months in the north west part of Vermont; the Rev. JOHN LAWTON, for three months in the state of Vermont, on the east side of the mountain; the Rev. JOHN SAWYER, for three months in the District of Maine, at Greenland and other places at his discretion; and the Rev. CALEB BURGE, for six months in the District of Maine, in concurrence with the Church in Bethel.

The Rev. Mr. Sewall, agreeably to his appointment, spent the year in the service of the Society; divided his time, in the proportions prescribed, between the District of Maine, and the state of Rhode Island; and, as ap. pears from his journal, fulfilled his mission with his wonted diligence, fidelity and zeal. "I rode," says he, "nearly 3000 miles-delivered 379 sermons-attended 24 conferences, and 19 prayer meetings-visited 618 families, and 38 schoolscatechised children 21 times-admitted 10 persons to church fellowshipbaptised 4 adults and 49 childrenand administered the Lord's Supper 20 times."-"People in general appeared ready to attend my ministrations, and to be thankful for mission. ary services." "Divine influences

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have been graciously shed down on some parts of Maine, the year past: particularly at Machias, under the labors of the Rev. Mr. Steele, and at Chesterville; on which account I have made return of more labors perform ed at the latter place, than otherwise I should have felt myself justified in performing there. Also at Providence and Scituate, in the state of Rhode Island, there is some special attention to religion."-"I hope, from all I can gather, that God has graciously made my labors, during the year, useful in the conversion of some souls from the power of Satan to God, in watering the destitute churches, and edifying the children of God; and in some instances in softening the prejudices of those who are opposed to truth and Gospel order," "On the whole the prospect bright. ens. There have been several good ministers settled in the District of Maine in the course of the year; and there is a prospect of some other vacancies being filled. If exertions be continued, there is ground for the hope that good effects will still fol.

low."

The Rev. Mr. Badger accepted, and has executed his mission. He speaks of being gratefully and seriously received in most places; but gives a most affeeting account of the deplorable necessities of the people for the the means of religious instruction, Though in several of the places which he visited, churches are formed; yet they are without a pastor, many of them almost without the Bible, and without any considerable number of other religious books. Preaching at Worcester: "All the people," he says, "came together. I found some persons disposed to make serious inquiries after truth; though they were destitute of a Bible, and of other re. ligious books, excepting a Testa. ment." At Aurora:- "The last season there was a pretty general attention to religion in this place, and a church has been gathered of about 30 members. Most of these people were from Hampshire and Berkshire counties, (Mass.) and among them there is a precious number to whom Gospel truths are refreshing."--In other pla

ces Mr. Badger found a remarkable ardor to hear the word preached. In Lebanon, a small settlement of eleven families, the most of whom had heard no preaching on the Sabbath since they left New England, though the day was stormy with rain and snow, most of the people came together, as they did also from Rome, a neighboring place. Mr. B. mentions a neighborhood in Salem, where the people were not only the most of them poor, but so far as he could learn, did not possess a single Bible, or other religious book. "They abound," says he, in that sort of morals which generally prevails where the word of God is not read." He also observes, that in general, where people are destitute of Bibles, they are also destitute of all other religious books. Their children of course are growing up in most deplorable ignorance. "I often," says Mr. B. "find children eight, ten, and twelve years of age, and ask them, 'My child, who made vou? 'I don't know.' - "What is the chief end of man?' 'I don't know." 'Can you read?" No." " -These people are in a remote region, in a new country; and have really no means of obtaining books. They are to be remembered with compassion.

The Rev. Mr. Burbank found it necessary to relinquish his mission before he had completed the term of his appointment. He was in the service of the Society only seven weeks and four days: During that time, “I travelled," he says, "457 miles, preached 56 times, visited 48 families, administered the Lord's Supper twice, baptised two children, visited the sick, and attended to the other usual duties of a missionary-'I had not the satisfaction of seeing any special attention to religion where I travelled; but the people were quite as attentive to my appointments, as I have ever found them on missionary ground."--"The people in the region where I labored are generally poor. Their morals are poor. They stand in great need of missionary labors. For about seven thousand square miles, in the north east part of New York, there are but three or four set. tled ministers."

Mr. Parker accepted his appoint ment, and performed the duties of his mission, we believe, with fidelity. In his journal he says: "Though in most places, where my labors have been employed, the ways of Zion moura, and iniquity abounds. yet I hope I have not labored altogether in vain. In two places which I visited, God in mercy has done great things. In Warsaw, between thirty and forty persons, during the winter past, have obtained hope of salvation through the Redeemer. At Athens, also, in the northern part of Pennsylvania, a considerable number have been hope. fully brought to the knowledge of Christ, and the good work continues." "Large districts in this region are destitute of the Gospel ministry, and have never been visited by missionaries."

The Rev. Mr. Hitchcock labored in the service of the Society, agreeably to his appointment, 17 weeks, in the Counties of Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Jefferson, and Orieans in the state of Vermont; preached 70 sermons, made 143 family visits, baptised ten children and one adult, and assiduously employed himself in the various duties of a Christian mission. ary. "Respecting my success," be says, "I can give no information which will be very interesting. In almost every place which I visited, religion appeared to be on the decline." "In this northern region, there are many deistical characters-many professed deists. I should judge that more than half the youth are growing up in the principles of infidelity! In almost ev. ery town which I visited, however, there are a few warm friends to the Gospel; a precious few, who shine as lights in a dark place." "Though many will not attend the preaching of a missionary, yet those who came to hear generally gave solemn attention. I met with some who, I have reason to think, had recently become subjects of renewing grace; and others who appeared to be seriously inquiring the way to Zion."

The Rev. Mr. Lawton had the hap. piness to be employed in a more pleas. ant field. His labors were in the vi. cinity of Windham, in the southern

part of Vermont, and they were abundant and successful. "I have the pleasure to inform you," he says, "that a work of Divine grace has been manifest in three of the towns where I have labored, Windham, Jamaica, and Stratton. In these three towns more than 150 have been brought out of darkness into light. The work still continues in Stratton where it last begun, and is very general through the town." At large, however, his field presented various aspects. "Some places," he says, "especially where they have experienced awakenings, the people make great exertions to supply themselves with preaching part of the time. Others seem to be contented in a total neglect of the means of grace. Where there has been no special attention, there appears to remain a great degree of stupidity respecting spiritual things."

The Rev. Mr. Sawyer fulfilled his appointment. His labors were chiefly performed in Garland, (where he re. sides,) and the vicinity; and his journal affords pleasing evidence of fidel. ity and usefulness. In a paper addressed to the Board of Trustees, dated at Garland, and signed by a Committee, it is said: "We gratefully acknowledge your benevolent attention to our best interest, in affording the kind aid, without which we could not have been privileged with the Gospel preached in any constant way. We think there are very evident manifestations of a Divine blessing upon the missionary labors amongst us. and while we acknowledge the peculiar favor received, knowing your desire to promote the kingdom of the Redeemer, we would humbly ask a continuance of attention. It is but little that we can do, in these new settlements, to support the Gospel."

From the Rev. Mr. Burge, no return has been received.

Such, Brethren, is the view which we are able to give you of our arrangements for the furtherance of your great and good design, of the labors and success of your missionaries, and of the moral aspects of various portions of our beloved country. Considerable has been done; but much, very much remains to be done. The harvest truly is plenteous, and holds out every inducement to persevering exertion. From extensive regions of our country, from thousands of our brethren ready to perish, with their children, for lack of the word of life, the cry is heard, loud, impressive, and affecting, "Come-and help us!" This cry will not be heard in vain. We believe, brethren, that to send the Gospel to the poor is the work of God-a work which he prompts, and on which he will smile; and we bless his name in the confidence, that this work, proceeding, or commencing, with so much ardor in the different parts of the Christian world, will proceed, till our glorious Redeemer shall be known for salvation

to the ends of the earth, and all peo. ple shall call him blessed. While we gratefully rejoice that devoted ser. vants of the Lord Jesus, burning as we trust, with apostolic zeal, have gone from our shores to carry the Gospel of unbounded grace to far distant heathen, we devoutly hope that their exemplary devotedness, and the uncommon spirit of exertion and liberality which has appeared in favor of their mission, will provoke a holy emulation in favor of missions to the destitute of our own country. The silver and gold, men and their talents are the Lord's, and he will employ them to build his house. May this Society ever be found forward in his cause, and successful in his service.

The business of the meeting was conducted with great harmony and Christian affection. The Sermon, by the Rev. Dr. Woods, was from Luke x, 2, "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labor ers are few: pray ye, therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest." It was a seasonable, able, and impressive discourse. The Officers of the Society for the present year are,

Rev. DANIEL HOPKINS, D. D.

President.

Ox Wednesday, June 3, 1812, the New Hampshire Bible Society was organized at Concord. The Constitution of the Society is as follows, viz.

1. The Society shall be called THE

NEW HAMPSHIRE BIBLE SOCIETY.

The sole object of the Society is to promote the more extensive distribution of the Holy Bible. This ob ject is to be invariably pursued by procuring and distributing, gratuitously, among the destitute and needy, or selling at reduced prices, according to the discretion of the Board of Directors, Bibles or Testaments, in the English language, of the present received version, without note or comment; and by aiding, in case the funds of the Society shall admit, in translating and printing the Holy Scriptures, in other languages, for charitable distribution.

2. Every person, who advances forty dollars, shall be a member of the Society for life: and every person, who gives his name to the Secretary, and annually pays either two or three dollars, shall be a member, until he signify to some officer of the Society his desire to withdraw. So long as persons pay their annual subscription, a member who pays two dollars shall be entitled to one Bible annually; and every other member shall be entitled to two Bibles annually: Provided that these Bibles are