in reference to communications from our brethren which states, that the committee of publication "will hold themselves answerable for the sentiments expressed in the same (any communication), unless it is subscribed by the author's name in full." This notice contains no pledge that every communication that may be signed by the author's name shall be inserted, but only a piece of information that for such productions, when published, the writer alone is to be considered as responsible. To prevent any misconception of the meaning of that part of the notice, it was obliterated from the fourth number of the Magazine.

We can assure brother Willson, that he is entirely mistaken in regard to the motives which he supposes influenced the committee in refusing to insert his review. They had no apprehension of offending either Arians or Hopkinsians; for they are in the constant practice of holding up to the view of their congregations the doctrine of the Trinity and of total depravity.

The simple story is this: When they had read as far as discovered to them the design of the writer to make an attack on Dr. Watts, they were able to conjecture from his known hostility to the use of Watts' Psalms and Hymns in the worship of God, what was about to follow; and therefore, without reading any farther, they laid it aside as inadmissible. In this determination the committee were unanimous.

We can assure brother Willson too, that while his communication was undergoing examination, the pen was in the hand of that member of the committee whom he wishes to exculpate from the blame that he attaches to the other two. The crosses drawn over a part of his review, were made from no such motive as he ascribes to the committee, but only with a view to shorten his communication, so as to bring it within the limits required by the Magazine.

Keligious Intelligence.

A Narrative of the State of Religion, within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church; and of the General Associations of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, during the last year.

The General Assembly have now under their care, sixty-two Presbyteries; fifty of which have sent up annual reports of thirteen hundred churches within their respective bounds. With the subjects of those reports our churches are already familiar. The interest, therefore, which these subjects will excite, can be derived only from the charms which the providence and the grace of God may from time to time throw around them.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten," the beloved and co-equal Son of God, has, in every age, had a church upon earth. The existence of that church commenced with the promise that "the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head." It has since subsisted amid the rage and persecution of surrounding enemies; and, in spite of the power and policy of hell, will subsist till the end of time; when its visible and militant state will be succeeded by a triumphant state in glory. That church has not indeed, in every age, been alike visible and prosperous. Sometimes it has been confined to a particular family, and at others to a particular nation. Sometimes it has been hid like a grain of mustard seed in the earth; and at others, it has been comparatively a great tree, under whose shadow immortal souls have found security and peace. But amidst all the vicissitudes it has experienced, it has increased, and will increase until its borders shall be the borders of the earth: it has shone, and will shine more and more, unto the perfect day.. These remarks are illustrated and verified in the reports which the Assembly have received for the past year; a summary account of which they hereby transmit to the

churches under their care. We have much to lament, but more to present as subjects of congratulation and praise.

The sources of lamentation to which some of the Presbyterial reports direct us, are errors in doctrine and morals; neglect of the duties of family and social prayer; coldness and indifference on the part of professing Christians; and the want of labourers in the gospel vineyard.

In some of our bounds, exertions are making, with a zeal worthy of a better cause, to propagate a modification of infidelity under the name of Unitarianism or Socinianism; and as there is an aptitude of the human heart to entertain the grossest errors, we regard it as an imperious duty to warn our congregations against every attempt to bring to their notice such doctrines as deny the Lord who bought them.

Immoralities in practice, have naturally, and in many places, flowed from error in doctrine. The intemperate use of ardent liquors, and the profanation of the Lord's day, are particularly mentioned, as too prevalent among those whom the "grace of God teaches, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly."

Professing Christians have, in too many instances, manifested a lukewarmness, utterly inconsistent with their profession, and the obligations they are under to Him who has loved them and given himself for them. Regardless of the awful imprecation, "Pour thy fury upon-the families that call not on thy name," they have omitted to bend before the family altar, and offer their morning and evening sacrifices; and as if they questioned the justness of the requisition, "For all these things I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them," they have kept aloof from the meetings of social prayer, and neglected to present their united supplications for a blessing on themselves, and on the whole Israel of God.

The complaints of several of the Presbyteries, of the want of a sufficient number of labourers in the gospel vineyard, have been truly affecting. Entire districts of country to the south and west, comprising a population of thousands of souls, are represented as destitute of ministrations of the word, from any denomination of Christians. In one Presbytery, in which there are twenty-eight regularly organized churches, eighteen are destitute of the regular administration of the word and ordinances; in another, consisting of nearly forty churches, there are only eleven ministers; and, in another, out of twenty-eight, sixteen are vacant. Their lamentation is, "the harvest is great, but the labourers are few;" and their cry to their Christian brethren is, "Come over, and help us."

While on these accounts the Assembly have cause for lamentation, and call upon

their churches to sympathize with, and pray for, those among whom the above mentioned evils exist; they also call upon their churches to unite with them, in sentiments and expressions of gratitude and praise to God, for his great, his unmerited, and his continued goodness. We have probably never heard so much, nor had so much to tell of the wonderful works of God amidst the churches under our care. And we have only to regret, that the limits of this narrative will not allow a detailed account of what has taken place in this portion of the heritage of God.

Outward attention to the means of grace has, with few exceptions, every where increased. Many new congregations have been organized, and new places of worship erected. Biblical and catechetical instructions have been generally attended to. The children and youth, have been led to the fountain, and instructed in the first principles of the truth, as one of the best preventives against error and vice, in their more advanced years. Baptized children have in many congregations been convened with the parents who dedicated them to God, and been solemnly and affectionately reminded of their obligations to be the Lord's. The system of Sabbath school instruction has been pursued with great and increased success. Thousands, who, but for these institutions, would have grown up in ignorance and vice, been the grief of the church, and the curse of the community, are now taught their obligations to God, and fitted to be useful members of society. Great zeal and regularity is generally manifested by the pupils in their attendance: several instances were mentioned of young persons who frequently walked ten miles on the Sabbath, for the purpose of attending the school: and, in several instances, the blessing of God has attended this mode of instruction, to the hopeful conversion of the teachers and the taught.

The monthly concert of prayer is generally attended through the Presbyterian church, and the other churches connected with the General Assembly; and it is found that this extensive union of prayer for the influences of the Holy Spirit upon the church of Christ, and the gospel of salvation, appears to be attended with the special blessing of God.

Additions have been made during the last year, to the churches from which reports have been received, of seven thousand one hundred and eighty-six souls. To many of these the Lord manifested himself, not "in the great and strong wind, which rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks," but in "the still small voice." They were the fruits of the ordinary operations of the Spirit in the word; which, though not called revivals, afford a gradual accession to the church, of such as we

trust shall be saved, and for which we owe to God our gratitude. But the most of that number, are the fruits of such numerous, extensive, and blessed outpourings of the Spirit of God during the past year, as the Assembly has never before had the opportunity to record. These have been experienced in the Presbyteries of Rochester, Ontario, Cayuga, Onandaga, Otsego, Oneida, Troy, Albany, Columbia, Hudson, New York, Jersey, Newton, Philadelphia, Grand River, Portage, Lexington, and Lancaster, and in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

In the Presbytery of Rochester, the congregations of East Riga, Ogden, Rochester, Ridgway and Shelby, have received special communications of Divine grace; the fruits of which are seen in the conversion of upwards of 160 souls. In the Presbytery of Ontario, a work of revival is progressing in the congregations of Lima and WestBloomfield, which promises favourable results. In the Presbytery of Cayuga, the towns of Brutus and Auburn have shared extensively the effusions of the Spirit. Nearly 200 have been hopefully converted, and many more in both these towns are under serious impressions. The work has extended into adjacent towns; and Skaneateles and Elbridge begin to share the effusions of the Spirit.

In the Presbytery of Onandaga, the congregations of Homer, Truxton, Smithfield, Virgil, Preble, De Ruyter, the second congregation in Lenox, Cazenovia, the second congregation in Onandaga, and the third in Manlius, have been visited by refreshing showers of Divine grace; and more than 360 have been added to the communion of the church.

In the Presbytery of Oneida, 283 have made a profession of religion, as the result of a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in the congregations of Mount Vernon, Union, Westmoreland, Vernon, Utica, Holland Patent, Trenton, Litchfield, and New Hartford.

In the Presbytery of Otsego, the congregation of Cherry Valley has had an extensive revival, during which 129 have been added to the church; about 50 hopeful converts have not yet united themselves with the church, and 50 more are still under deep convictions. In Cooperstown 25 have obtained hopes of an interest in Christ, and many others are under deep religious impressions; and in Springfield a work of grace has begun, which is still progress

given hopeful evidence of a saving change. A very respectable accession has also been made to the church in Lansingburg, and 88 persons have been added to the visible church in Nassau, as the fruit of a work of grace.

The Presbytery of Albany have presented a most interesting and animating report to the Assembly. This report is printed: and the Assembly regret that its length is too great to admit its incorporation with this narrative. They however recommend its perusal to all the churches which can obtain a copy; confident that it will gladden every Christian heart. The additions to the churches, during the year 1820, as reported to that Presbytery, amount to nearly one thousand four hundred! Surely the Lord hath done great things for them, whereof we are glad.

In the Presbytery of Columbia, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been ex. perienced in New Lebanon and Chatham; and in Catskill, Cairo, and the city of Hudson, a good work has begun, which is still progressing: and we hope we shall not be considered officious, when we gratefully mention, that the Dutch Reformed congregations of Coxsackie, Kinderhook, and Claverack, which are in the vicinity of that Presbytery, have been also blessed with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The Presbytery of Hudson state, that most of their congregations have been copiously watered with showers of Divine grace during the past year: and that the fruit has been the addition of 23 members to the church of Deerpark, 41 to that of Scotchtown, 110 to the church of Hopewell, 76 at Goshen, 199 at Blooming-grove, 57 at Ridgebury, 140 at Chester, 40 at Bethlehem, 196 at Westtown, 69 at Hampstead, 69 at Greenbush, and 17 at Forrestburgh, a congregation recently formed: making a total of one thousand and thirty

seven.

In the Presbytery of New York, the Brick church has had a revival, which has resulted in the hopeful conversion of about eighty souls.

In the Presbytery of Jersey, the church of Elizabethtown have added about 60 as the fruits of the revival of the preceding year, and in Orange, and particularly Bloomfield, a good work seems to have commenced. One hundred and fifty at least appear to have been awakened; and of these about eighty give evidence of hopeful conversion. The revival yet progresses.

The Presbytery of Newton report, that during the past year, one hundred and eighty-five persons, who before were "strangers from the covenant of promise," and enemies in their hearts, have been visited with the renewing and consoling influences of grace, and received into the

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communion of the church; and they particularly mention the church at Newton, as having been visited with the special influences of the Holy Spirit: and that 64 persons of different ages and conditions, have already become the hopeful subjects

of this work.

In the Presbytery of Philadelphia, the church in the Northern Liberties, and the 3d Presbyterian church in the city, have been favoured with special manifestations of the Divine presence. In the former, 60 have offered as candidates for an approaching communion; and in the latter, 73 communicants have been received during the year, 48 of whom are the fruits of a revival which is still progressing.

The Presbytery of Grand River report, that 15 townships, comprising 11 churches, have been visited with special revivals of religion; that to several others the Lord has vouchsafed a more than usual measure of his Spirit; and 253 souls have been added to the communion of the church, and the work is still progressing in several other towns.

In the Presbytery of Portage the church of Euclid has been favoured with a revival, and about 100 are mentioned as the sub

jects, and in six or seven other congregations there is special attention.

The Presbytery of Lexington state, that in the missionary field within their bounds, there has been a general awakening; that in many instances convictions have been of the most deep and pungent kind; and that it has not been unusual for whole assemblies to be bathed in tears during the delivery of a discourse.

The Presbytery of Lancaster state, that amidst the moral desolations within their bounds, a few favoured spots have received the cultivation of the Holy Spirit: that on Marietta, Waterford, Belfre, Adams, and Wooster, the dews of heavenly grace have descended, and resulted, in their charitable belief, in the saving conversion of many souls.

From the report of the delegates from the General Association of Connecticut, it appears, that a work of grace has begun in the course of the last year in New Haven, which has ever since been extending to other towns; and that about 70 congregations, out of a little more than 200, are now sharers in the mighty operations of the Divine Spirit. The number of hopeful subjects of grace in the respective congregations has been from 20 to 300. This is stated to be the greatest work of Divine grace enjoyed by the churches of Connecticut, since its first settlement, except the revival, in 1740-41.

From the report of the General Association of Massachusetts, presented to the Assembly by their delegates, it appears that, in many churches in their several associa

tions, there has been a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, which resulted in the addition of many hundreds to their communion.

From the report of the delegate from the General Association of New Hampshire, it appears, that a glorious work of grace has been carried on in Boscawen-extending to both the parishes in that town, and also into some of the neighbouring congregations. It also appears, that in the town of Bath, a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord had been enjoyed, the result of which is, the addition of 103 to the communion of the church.

While the Assembly unfeignedly rejoice in these and other signal revivals of religion, and earnestly pray for still more rich manifestations of Divine grace to all the churches, they are convinced that the principal hopes of the church of God must rest on the ordinary operations of the Divine Spirit accompanying the appointed means of grace. The Lord has promised, that the humble, the faithful, and prayerful exertions of his ministers and people, shall never be without his blessing; yet he has reserved to himself the prerogative of watering his churches with copious showers, as he in his wisdom sees fit.

The character of these widely extended and wonderful works of God, has been much the same with those which have formerly been reported to the Assembly. Deep and pungent sense of guilt, thorough convictions of inability to help themselves -professed hopes of forgiveness only through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ-and dispositions to walk in all the commandments of the Lord, have marked the exercises of their respective subjects.

These subjects have been of all ages and classes, from eighty down to ten years of age. The old and stubborn oak, and the young and tender plant, have alike bent before the wind that "bloweth where it listeth." Scoffers, drunkards, and others of most profligate lives, have been made to bow at the feet of Jesus, and to own him as their Lord and Redeemer: and Infidels and Universalists have been humbled by the doctrines of the Cross, and warned their neighbours of the dangerous and soul-destroying errors of their respective schemes.

The blessed effects of these outpourings of the Spirit have been seen in giving a new aspect to the moral state of society: the multiplication of and regular attendance upon meetings for social prayer; and a growing liberality towards the support of the gospel and benevolent institutions throughout our land.

In addition to these wonderful and heartcheering events, for which the Assembly offer unto the one God, Father, Son and

Holy Spirit, their united and hearty thanks, they rejoice that they are also able to inform the churches, that the state of religion, in the different colleges within our bounds, and the bounds of those who are connected with us, is most encouraging. There are about 40 hopefully pious youth in Union college, Schenectady; in the college at Princeton, there are 25; in Dartmouth college, New Hampshire, there are about 70; in Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, and the University of North Carolina, there are several more; in Yale college, at New Haven, there are about 90; and in Hamilton college 48, professors of religion.

The hope that most of these will probably devote themselves to the service of God, in the gospel of his Son, affords a most pleasing prospect to the American churches.

The Theological Seminary at Andover, contains 112 students, and is in a flourishing condition. The Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, in Connecticut, contains more than 30 pupils, who speak eleven different languages, a number of whom are hopefully pious.

The Theological Seminary at Princeton, under the care of the General Assembly, continues to enjoy the smiles of Divine Providence. It contains at present 73 students, among whom the spirit of missions is increasing. From these fountains of sacred learning, we trust many streams will soon issue to gladden the city of our God; and that when the cry of the vacant oongregations within our bounds, and from other destitute parts of our country and of the world, for help, shall reach the ears of these pious youth; and especially when they hear the interrogation of their Lord and Master, "saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" they may all answer in the spirit of Isaiah, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

With this retrospect of the past, and these animating prospects of the future, we close our narrative of the state of religion within our bounds:-hoping that those evils which exist, either among professing Christians or others, may excite suitable humiliation before God; that Christians, and Christian ministers, will be found more engaged at a throne of grace, and follow their prayers with corresponding endeavours, for the advancement of the interests and the extension of the limits of the Redeemer's kingdom.

We have, Christian brethren, the greatest cause for gratitude, and the greatest encouragement to persevere. We have the promise that in the latter day Israel shall blossom and bud; that its boughs shall be sent out to the sea, and its branches to the river; that it shall spread itself like a

goodly cedar, and be a dwelling place to the fowl of every wing. The Lord shall build up Zion; and comfort all her waste places. He will make the wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein; thanksgiving and the voice of melody. I the Lord will hasten it in his time. Animated by these precious and faithful promises of God, continue your prayers and exertions; and then may we confidently hope, that ignorance and vice and delusion will be banished from our borders, and that these, and other clogs being removed from its wheels, the Redeemer's chariot will soon ride in majesty, and triumph over this western world.

"Amen: even so, come Lord Jesus: come, quickly."

Published by order of the General Assembly. Attest,

WILLIAM NEILL, Stated Clerk. Philadelphia, May, 1821.

Address of the Board of Managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society, to each Minister connected with the General Assembly, with the Reformed Dutch, and the Associate Reformed Churches.

Beloved Brother, and Fellow Labourer in the Vineyard of our common Lord,

You probably recollect that, in the month of May, 1817, Commissioners, appointed by the General Assembly, and the Synods of the Reformed Dutch and Associate Reformed Churches, convened in the city of Philadelphia, and agreed on a general plan of co-operation for giving to the Aborigines of our country the gospel of peace. Agreeably to the appointment of the highest judicatories of their respective churches, the same Commissioners met in the city of New York, in August of the same year, a period memorable in the history of the American churches, and organized a society denominated the "United Foreign Missionary Society." It would be ungrateful in the extreme, on the part of the managers, not to acknowledge that this institution has hitherto enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the smiles of that Master under whose authority it was formed. Harmony has marked their deliberations in private; and success, as far as can be expected in a work in the accomplishment of which, so many obstacles must be surmounted, has crowned their operations. They have already two missionary stations in the northwestern part of the state of New York; one among the Tuscarora, the other among the Seneca Indians;