of God seemed to be silently oper- As ever, I am, dear Sir, Rev. Daniel Sharp, Sec'ry of The communication of Elder George Evans was read before the Trustees of the Baptist Missionary Society in Massachusetts with great pleasure. They cordially approve of his zeal ous endeavours in promoting the cause of Foreign and Domestic Missions, and rejoice in his success. It is hoped that all the Missionaries employed by this Society will read the following extract of his letter published at the sugges tion of the Board; and that they will go and do likewise. [Ed. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. preach publickly and from house I met the Muskingum Association, August 19, 20, 21, presented the constitution, which was approved, and the plan recommended to the churches. In the Miami Association there is a Domestic Missionary Society in operation. They have about $200,00 in their treasury. They design to send a Missionary towards the lake within the Indian boundary. At the close of a missionary sermon which I delivered before this Association, for the Board of Foreign Misa collection was made of $47,20 sions. This was the first collection ever made in this Association for the above object. The Mad River Association Chilicothe, Oct. 2, 1818. approved of the constitution before mentioned, and recommended it to the churches. Dear Brother, SINCE I received a second appointment from the Board, I have spent 10 weeks in their service. The Scioto Association was held 20 miles from this place on Deer Creek last Saturday, Lord's-day, and Monday. This Association has done little for the cause of missions at home Four of these weeks were occupied in visiting the Muskingum, Little Miami, Mad River and Scioto Associations, and attempt or abroad. I understood the ing in my feeble manner to largest sum that was ever raised at their annual meeting was $8,00 for the Foreign Mission. But I am happy to state that last Lord's-day the contribution for the Board of Foreign Missions amounted to $25,00. From these statements you will perceive that the Missionary fire is kindling O! that, by the wind of the Spirit, the sacred flame may rapidly increase. This Association took the subject of forming Auxiliary Societies into consideration; and every church received a copy of the constitution. Should these Societies become general, it is obvious that the sums raised for missionary purposes will be greatly augmented. I had the pleasure of delivering Missionary discourses to four of the Associations, and there was collected for the Board of For. Missions $141,00. The number added to the different Associations was from 40 to 75. There are many destitute places in this State. There is not an instance to my knowledge of one Baptist minister in this State who lives of the gospel. Some of them are men of superior natural abilities; but they eat their scanty bread by the sweat of their brow. The probable advantage that would arise from the labours of 5 prudent, faithful, Missionaries is immense. In the 10 weeks which I have spent in the service of the Society, I have received more than $50, and expended less than $4,00. Blessed be God, I have enjoyed many precious seasons both in public and private. It is the desire of my heart to spend my life in preaching "Christ crucified," to people who would otherwise be destitute. I am, and hope ever to remain, G. EVANS. Rev. Daniel Sharp, Sec'ry of Extracts from the Rev. E. Andrews Journal, addressed to the Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Hinsdale, N. H. Sept. 7, 1818. Rev. and dear Brother, This I commenced my missionary services, on Saturday, the 6th day of June, rode to Athol, and found the Baptist church met in conference preparatory to communion. church is small in number; but they are desirous of religious instruction, and are willing to contribute to its support as far as they are able. They are sound in the doctrines of the gospel, and manifest a very laudable respert to practical godliness. Although in consequence of their poverty, they can obtain but little preaching, yet they do not, like too many societies in the country, employ that kind of preaching, because it is cheap, which consists in noise only, and conveys no instruction. On Lord's-day, 7th inst. I preached twice to this church, and administered the Lord's-supper; and if I may judge of my own exercises, and what seemed manifest in the countenances and expressions of my brethren, I must pronounce it one of the most happy seasons 1 have enjoyA delightful glow ed for some time. of animated and animating devotion seemned to spread from heart to heart, raising our affections to God; and cementing our union to each other; truly we sat down under the shadow of our Belovedwith great delight, and his fruit was sweet to our taste; and we all sung sentimentally, "My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, To everlasting bliss." At 5 o'clock I addressed a crowded assembly at the house of a Brother Haywood, near the boundary of Orange. Although I cannot say, that I enjoyed all that comfort I had in the former meeting; yet it was not altogether a barren season: the truth I believe was declared plainly, and attended to, as far as I could judge, candidly. The town of Orange, although nearly in the centre of Massachusetts Proper, and is a considerably rich and populous farming town ; yet has for many years been destitute of stated preaching of any kind. Notwithstanding this melancholy state of things, within a few years past a small number of pious persons have found their way into this place; evangelical preaching has been occasion. ally introduced; some few instances of conversion have occurred, and on the whole the prospect brightens Monday 8th, after visiting and pray.. ing with a sick woman, whom I baptized about a year ago, I rode to the house of Mr. Lyman Lord, in Ervin's Grant, a tract of unimproved land, on Miller's river. The country here is broken, the settlements are scatter ed, and being distant from any place of worship, they pay little attention to the forms of religion. At 4 o'clock, in a tavern hall, I addressed an attentive and apparently much impressed assembly. On account of the rain, the assembly was not so large as it would probably have otherwise been. One year ago, there was a very considerable appearance of a revival of religion in this place; but, I fear, that satan's empire is recovering its lost ground. I could do no more than raise my voice in favour of the cause of Immanuel. I find it important, that preachers should be very particular and clear in urging the necessity of practical holiness. An Antinomian spirit, wherever it gains footing, is sure to inflict a stigma, and cast an odium on gospel doctrine. Tuesday, 9th, after commending my friends to God in prayer, I proceeded to the house of a brother Piper Still, on Ervin's Grant; here I preached with considerable comfort, and I hope, not without effect I found here some pious people, of the Baptist and Pedobaptist denominations. They are sighing in secret for the abominations of the land. I endeavoured to persuade them to unfurl the banner of the cross; form a rallying point, and come out openly and boldly in the cause of Jesus-I told them they should appoint and attend conference and prayer-meetings, and obtain preaching when practicable, and in this way they might confidently hope for a blessing. Wednesday, 10th, I crossed the country to Pelham, East Parish. This is another of those unhappy places, infested with the torpid influence of universalism; an infallible sign of the destitution of genuine religion. I preached in the meeting house, being invited by a gentleman who is him self said to be a Universalist; but if he expected that I was about to flat ter him, or spare his principles, he was disappointed. I did not, indeed, mean to speak in offensive language; but, to bear a plain, faithful and scriptural testimony against falsehood. Nothing occurred worthy of notice, until Friday, 12th, when I arrived at Hinsdale, in Berkshire County. In this town are a number of my friends, several of whom I baptized some years ago. Nothing could be more agreeable than an interview with them; and it was rendered still more delightful, by a very powerful revival of religion among the youth. Brother John Hubbard, one of my particular friends, has several children who are sharers in this work. Almost immediately after my arrival in this town, I went to a conference meeting. To find in an obscure, woody place, a house crowded with ardent worshippers; fervently praying, singing and exhorting with singular pertinency and zeal, was truly refreshing to my heart. I spoke at some length upon the history of Bartimeus; and afterwards horted the young converts to great caution in examining the ground of their hope, pointed out to them the fatal consequences of false hopes, and laid before them the scriptural marks, by which they were to try themselves. I was earnestly requested to stay over the Sabbath. I was much at a loss what was duty. I could not call it properly missionary ground, and yet it seemed almost impossible to get away. At length Elder Jackson agreed to go on to Pittsfield, and preach to a destitute church there; of course, I concluded to stay, and appointed to preach at Eld. Jackson's the next day. Saturday, 13th, at 4 o'clock preached to a crowded and much impressed assembly. Lord's-day, 14th. The morning proved very wet, and brother Jackson thought it would be useless for him to go to Pittsfield. We however went to the meeting-house, and found a considerable assembly. I preached in the morning with some freedom, and Elder Hubbard who providentially came in, preached in the afternoon, a very sound, pertinent dis. course. At 4 o'clock, I again addressed the people. The reformation in this place appears at present, to be one of the right stamp. Although it is principally among the youth; yet I observed no enthusiastic flights; they prayed, exhorted, and conversed with a deliberation and pertinency, which I thought extraordinary; and yet, 1 with a solemnity which plainly indicated that their hearts were much impressed I observed but one thing which presented an unfavorable as pect; and that was a kind of distance and jealousy between the two denominations. I know that truth and error cannot unite; neither have I the least wish to form such an unnatural connexion; yet, I have lamented and do lament, that Christians who in the main are agreed in the fundamentals of religion, should not be more willing to treat each other with a becoming urbanity, and unite their energies in the propagation of those truths, in which they are agreed. I have often observed, that when two churches, however evangelical in doctrine, and correct in discipline, begin a strife who shall draw the greatest number of converts, within their respective pales, or enrol the longest list of names on their church records, a reformation generally comes to a speedy termination. Tuesday, 16th, I preached in Austerlitz, in the State of New-York, and Wednesday 17th, in the Baptist meeting house in West Stockbridge. When a man quits all the pleasures of domestick life, to embark on the stormy ocean; or leaves the fragrant flowers and delicious fruits of a culti vated garden, to traverse a wild and barren desert, he must be destitute of feeling, not to be sensible of the change. This was my case; for leaving the delightful scene at Hinsdale, I found myself in a regionwhere scarce. ly a vestige of vital religion was to he met with. This perhaps may not he the exact picture of all the churches in this region; but I have reason to fear, from what I saw and heard of them, that a great part of them are in a very low state. I have endeavoured to satisfy myself what is the cause of this sad decline in many of our churches, which formerly ap. peared to prosper. God is doubtless a sovereign, and dispenses his favours when, where and to whom he pleases; yet he has in the exercise of his sov. reignty so connected our duty and happiness, that he never withdraws from us, until we sinfully depart from him. May it not be, that neglect of discipline, or partial and improper exercise of it, has been one cause? And perhaps the want of extensive and systematic views of gospel truth, and gospel obligations, may contribute greatly to increase the evil. It is to be feared that preachers have dwelt too much, (that is, too exclusively) upon the privileges of christians, and have not sufficiently urged their duties; for as there is a strong propensity in men to love to be soothed and flattered; even christians, when too much indulged, become a kind of religious epicures, and will relish nothing which does not suit their depraved taste. Hence those warnings, admonitions, reproofs and exhortations, which so much abound in the holy scriptures, are rejected as legal; and nothing but promises and encouragements are received as gospel. Porfessors of this class will be zealous enough during the fervours of a reformation; but when that subsides, and their help is most needed, it is almost impossible to stimulate them to any exertion in the cause of relig. ion. Saturday 20th, I found myself in Johnstown, and was reflecting where I could spend the sabbath profitably; after inquiring for sometime, a Mr. Hosmer, who was formerly my pupil, recognized me, and gave me an invitation to keep sabbath with him, and I consented. Kingsborough, where my friend resides, is a pleasant village four miles northerly of Johnstown. They have a handsome meeting house; and Mr. Yale, their minister, is a man warmly engaged in the cause of evangelical religion; and is, I believe, a sound divine-I preached in the morning, and at evening addressed a collection of young people who met for the purpose of reading and reciting scripture. These christians believe as firmly as any of us in the eternal purposes of God; and the sovreign efficacy of divine grace in the salvation of sinners. They as fully admit the total depravity of human nature as we do; and place no more dependance for justification on human works: Yet they are indefatigable in giving their children a religious education; and inculcating upon their minds the great things of the kingdom of God. This example is worthy of imitation, and it is my sincere wish, that our brethren generally, would go and do likewise. Monday, I preached in a village in Salisbury, called Nicholsville, and on Tuesday in Stratford. The professors in this region are principally Baptists and Methodists, in rather a low state; yet, I believe, the Baptists are in a good degree regular in doctrine and practice. An extensive tract of country lies north of this place, and stretches a considerable distance east and west, in which a missionary might, I think, be very profitably employed. Thursday, 25th, I preached at Floyd. In this town, and in several adjacent towns, are Baptist churches. No inconsiderable number of the brethren are in affluent circumstances for farmers; yet I am apprehensive they are negligent about procuring and supporting the gospel ministry. They solicited me to stay longer, but I declined, and told them I did not consider this to be missionary ground. It is unreasonable that the Society should be put to the expense of supporting missionaries, to preach to churches, which are abundantly able to support a minister of their own. Saturday, 27th, I arrived at Liverpool, a village on the Onondago lake, and preached at 6 o'clock. Lord's day, I preached two discourses, besides attending a prayer meeting in the morning. Here is a very considerable revival of religion. The serious people are in general Methodists; but of a very different cast from those I have been accustomed to find in New England. They listened to the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, with as much candor and affection as any people I ever met with; they could even bear election, efficacious grace, and perseverance, without the least shew of dislike. I heard the preacher who visits them deliver one discourse, in which I did not detect a single sentence which I could condemn. One observation I thought extraordinary for one of that order "I consider him, said he, to be the best preacher of the gospel, who declares the eternal purposes of God, so as not to destroy the agency and accountability of man; and at the same time explains the agency of man, so as not in the least to militate against the eternal determinations of Jehovah." My visit at this place was very agree able; there was a heavenly sweetness run through every meeting; and I can. not but hope a blessing will follow my feeble exertions in this place. If a prudent minister could visit them occasionally, I think there is a great prospect that permanent good might be done. From July 3d, when I preached my first sermon in the county of Steuben, to the 13th, when I left it, I preached once, twice, and three times every day; and the number and attention of auditors constantly increased. It was really astonishing to see what crowds of people would collect in a wilderness, where one would think that twenty could hardly be collected together. This is really a missionary field; and I would, if circumstances had permitted,have remained here with pleasure three months. All denominations of Christians were equally friendly, desirous of hearing, and willing to contribute to aid the funds of the Society. They expressed much gratitude to me for coming among them; and to the Board for sending me. Monday, 13th, I preached in the village of Pen-yan.-15th, at Phelps, and the 17th, at Aurelius. In this region and further south, as I was told, a warm dispute is agitated among the Baptists, about what is cafed Particular and General atonement. The Particulars seem to represent the atonement of Jesus Christ as being like a specified sum of money, paid for a certain commodity, the value of which is ascertained; and there can be neither more nor less of it. The Generals assert, that the atonement is not to be compared to a matter of trade or commutation, but was designed for the purpose, and in fact did so vindicate the rights of the divine government, that God could, consistently with his justice, bestow mercy on men; and that Christ, must have done and suffered the same, if one sinner only were ultimately saved, as if all men were saved-yet they assert, that God has reserved to himself the right of bestowing his grace according to his sovereign pleasure. For my part, being satisfi ed that my commission authorised me to preach the gospel to every creature, without troubling myself about the dispute, I did so as I had opportunity, and left it to my brethren to call me by what name they conceived most proper. Lord's-day, 19th, I preached three times with very great freedom and comfort, in Manilus; it was indeed a heavenly season. This is a destitute region. Baptist preaching would be very acceptable here, but it is hard to be obtained, as there is none nearer than fifteen or twenty miles. Lord's-day, 26th, I preached three times in the meeting-house at Sand Lake. It was a pleasant season. On my return I visited Hinsdale, preached once, and found the work still going on; thirteen had been baptized, and more were expected soon to come forward. Saturday, August 1st, I arrived at home, having spent eight weeks in my tour, travelled seven hundred and |