Extracts from the Report of the Managers of the Female Domestic Missionary Society.

Five years have elapsed since the Female Domestic Missionary Society was first instituted. The proceedings have been regularly handed down by the Report of each year. Its existence to the present period has been contrary to the expectation of many persons, and cause of gratitude to all those who are interested in the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. By being so highly favoured, we have been taught to trust in the Lord and not be afraid. He will not disappoint in that which he has engaged to perform. To Him we look for a blessing. A steady zeal and unwearied exertions, on the part of the missionary and the managers, are essentially necessary; for which, we are not only accountable to our Heavenly Master, but also to those who have patronized the society by affording pecuniary aid. O, that many more would come out to the help of the Lord! O, that they would consider those among whom sanctuary privileges are but scantily diffused! what a pleasure they might enjoy in adding to the little store which would keep in employ the faithful missionary, who feels that it is meat and drink indeed, to do the will of his Heavenly Master; who shrinks not from his arduous undertaking, but willingly foregoes many social enjoyments, and many religious privileges, in order to accomplish his round of duties. In all these he is strengthened and refreshed by a firm reliance on the promise of the Lord Jesus" Lo, I am with you always." Hence, he is enabled to foster a hope of future good resulting from his visits to the hovel of poverty, the bed of languishment, and the house where affliction has become a guest.

Feeling assured that some extracts from the journal of the missionary will afford more real satisfaction to the society than general

proceedings, we with pleasure present them, in preference to a regular Report.

Sabbath, Nov. 19, 1820.-Preaching, as usual, in the mission house. In one of the exercises I was assisted by Mr. Scott. The house was well filled and the audience attentive.

Nov. 21.-Called to see Mrs. B. who is just recovering from a severe indisposition. Previous to her illness, affliction of another kind had led her to a serious consideration of her ways; but not till she found herself drawing near to the gates of death, had she such a view of her sins as to compel her to fly for refuge to the Saviour of sinners. She then felt herself guilty and deserving of death, and was convinced that she must perish without hope, unless Jesus extended his kind hand to save. In her distress she called upon the Lord, and he was graciously pleased to bring her back from the borders of the grave, and to permit her to hope for mercy. She was asked, if she believed that Jesus was able and willing to save sinners? She replied that she did, and that he would save all that came unto him in the right way.

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But," says she, "I do not know what is the right way to come unto him." Repentance and faith were then explained to her, as the way in which a sinner comes unto Christ and is made a partaker of his salvation. After solemnly exhorting her to remember and fulfil the vows made unto the Lord in the hour of distress, I prayed with her and departed.

In the evening I attended the Bible class. They manifest an increasing desire to become well acquainted with gospel truths, which encourages me to hope that much good will be done. O, that the King of Zion would hear, and answer the ardent prayer-" that the seed sown may bring forth fruit to everlasting life, and that every member of this class may become an heir of glory."

Nov. 27.-In the course of my visits I met with a young man who appears anxiously concerned for the salvation of his soul. In a late voyage, whilst in a sickly climate, he was attacked with the fever, and brought to the verge of dissolution. The guilt of his past life oppressed his soul. He had departed far from those principles of truth and holiness in which he had been educated, and had plunged into dissipation and vice of various kinds. The recollection of these things filled him with terror and dismay. He believed that he must die, and knew that he deserved to suffer the pains of the second death. No pious friend-no Christian minister was near to exhibit to his view the truths of that gospel which he had so much neglected-to explain unto him once more the plan of salvation through a crucified Saviour. All was darkness, and despair. With strong cries and tears he besought the Lord to spare his life, and restore him once more to the land of his nativity, where the means of grace are so abundantly enjoyed, and vowed that the remainder of his life should be consecrated to God.

Whilst many of our countrymen, who despise the privileges of the gospel at home, but are made sensible of its value abroad, and die without consolation and without hope in some distant region, this youth was mercifully spared. His prayer was heard and answered, and now he remembers and endeavours to fulfil his vow. His health is still delicate, but whenever he is able, he statedly attends the worship of God at the Mariners' church, and bears decided testimony to the happy effects produced by the labours of the venerable Mr. Eastburn among the seamen. I explained unto this youth the mode of a sinner's reconciliation to God; endeavoured to invigorate his resolutions to persevere in the way of life; and pointed out to him the aggravated guilt which would most

assuredly accompany a return to the ways of sin.

Tuesday, Nov. 28.-Visited four or five families accompanied by one of the managers. We found persons of a great variety of character. Some were careless and indifferent, others inquiring. Of the members of the church at Moyamensing, some were lukewarm, some were desponding, others rejoicing in the hope of salvation. We endeavoured to adapt our remarks, as much as possible, to their peculiar state. The immense importance of religion, the danger of self deception, the encouragements and consolations of the gospel, were exhibited to their view, as the nature of the case seemed to demand.

Wednesday, Nov. 29.-Reconrmenced preaching and visiting in the Alms-House, which had for some time past been discontinued on account of the prevalent sick

ness.

This receptacle of poverty and distress usually contains, during the winter season, more than a thousand inhabitants. Some of these once moved in the first circles, and enjoyed, of the good things of this world, all that heart could desire. Now they are destitute and forsaken, and compelled to retreat to this asylum to obtain a support for their wretched existence. This reverse of circumstances has deprived some individuals of their reason. the greater portion of the inhabitants of this house have drudged on through life, between a comfortable and scanty subsistence, till, being at last reduced to absolute want, they have become totally dependant on public charity. Misfortune, indolence, intemperance, and iniquity in its endless variety of form, are the causes which send such numbers to this abode of the destitute.

But

I preached in one of the wards, from Ecc. vii. 14: "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider." The audience was attentive and solemn.

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Some were dissolved in tears. ter sermon I had some conversation with several of my hearers. Mr. G., who, during my former labours appeared truly penitent, is in a desponding state of mind, and fears, that, notwithstanding his repentance and reformation, the Lord will cast him off. The sins of his past life appear so great, that he knows not how they can be forgiven. He was directed to the Saviour whose "blood cleanseth from all sin." Instances were then adduced from scripture, in which the greatest sinners had been forgiven, and texts quoted to prove that the Lord would not cast off the repenting and returning sinner.

I then proceeded to the female sick ward. Here thirty or forty are lying on their sick beds. Many are evidently near their end, and but very few prepared for that dreadful event. I spent the remainder of the day among them, endeavouring to bring them to a sense of their condition as sinners, and of their consequent exposure to the wrath of God, and instructing them in the way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, that, by repentance and faith, they might be prepared for another world.

My attention was at length directed to one whose pale emaciated countenance indicated, that her final change was near at hand, and whose frequent deep drawn sobs betrayed the distress of her mind. A short time before she had refused, with no small degree of rage and malignity, to converse on the subject of religion with a person who had visited her, vainly endeavouring to exclude the thoughts of death and eternity from her mind. To avoid giving unnecessary pain, and prevent, if possible, her being again excited by any thing undesirable or abrupt, in this season of feebleness and distress, one of the ladies who accompanied me was requested to inquire whether she was desirous of conversing with the missionary.

"Oh! my sins! my sins! They are so great, they never can, they never will be forgiven !"

"But Jesus is able to save even to the uttermost, all who come unto God by him."

O, yes! he is able to save, and he will save others, but he will never save me. Did you know, sir, what a sinner I am, you would think so too. I have led a profligate life. Good people have tried to reclaim me. They took me, placed me out of the way of temptation, and provided for me. I was instructed in the truths of religion. I once hoped that Jesus would save me. Yet, after all, I made my escape from them and went back again to my wicked way of living. I threw myself beyond the reach of mercy. The just judgments of God have overtaken me. I must die without hope. I must be miserable for ever!"

Whilst she uttered these things such horror and despair were visible in her countenance as cannot be described. She had exerted all her remaining strength to make this declaration. She sunk down exhausted, and lay, for a moment, almost motionless. At length fresh floods of tears gushed from her

eyes. She clasped her hands and looked up toward heaven. Then, as though confounded and terrified, she hastily hid her face in the bed clothes, and lay in an agony that convulsed her whole frame.

My own feelings were so powerfully excited, that for several moments I could not utter a word. The awful declaration of God, Prov. i. 24-28, occurred to my mind. I trembled when I thought, that, probably, upon this very person his threatening would be executed. But secret things belong unto God. His revealed will is the rule of conduct. It was my duty to declare unto her the truths of the gospel, and leave the event in the hands of the Sovereign Disposer of all things. I therefore mentioned the invitations of the gospel, noticed the description of persons to whom they were addressed, the "weary and heavy laden," the "thirsty," the "humble and contrite." I stated the promises of forgiveness and acceptance, and told her that the experience of thousands in every age bore testimony to their fulfilment, and that Jesus himself had said, " Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." She heard me with tears and groans, but made no reply. Having committed her to the hands of a just and merciful God,by prayer, I departed.

Wednesday, Dec. 6.-Attended at the Alms-House,called immediately to see the wretched Emeline. She continues in the same state. No ray of hope cheers her soul. She says but little. I endeavoured once more to direct her to the "Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world."

I then preached in the married ward. The audience was attentive. After sermon I conversed with a

poor old woman who is rapidly sinking into the grave. She is rejoicing in the full assurance of a blessed immortality.

Dec. 20.-Found Emeline still living. She conversed freely to

day, but utterly despairs of mercy. I was much surprised and grieved to find that she retains a spirit of enmity towards one of her best benefactors, who had endeavoured to reclaim her from her wicked

ways. This is truly alarming. Whether her repentance is of that kind which is required in the word of God, none but the Searcher of hearts can determine. Her distress is, indeed, great, but it appears to arise, not so much from a sense of the odious nature of sin, as from a dread of impending wrath. If it arises from the latter source alone, we have no reason to conclude that her repentance is genuine. They who are already in the world of wo experience the same kind of repentance, but it does not relieve them from the pressure of wrath, it is of no avail. It is distressing beyond expression to see her standing on the verge of eternity, unable to lay hold of the promises of the gospel-it is appalling to hear her declaration that her everlasting destruction is certain. But a false hope would be of no real advantage. It might alleviate present distress, but must fail the moment she passes the threshold of eternity, and the shock which her soul must then sustain would be rendered still more tremendous. The only relief which can be obtained when meditating on this painful subject, is derived from the truth, that she is in the hands of the "Judge of the whole earth, who will do right."

Dec. 24.-Preached in the female sick ward, from Jer. viii. 22. After sermon I conversed with E. who is lying in this ward. Her life has been prolonged beyond all expectation, but now it is evidently on the eve of extinction. She was so low that her voice could scarcely be heard; she informed me that she was dying without hope. She had forsaken the Lord, and he had now utterly forsaken her and refused to hear her prayers. As it appeared probable that this would be the last

time that I should see her in the land of the living, I addressed to her once more the invitations and promises of the gospel, and told her of the ability and willingness of Jesus to save even the chief of sinners, but she replied only with sobs and tears. It did not alleviate, it seemed to increase her distress. How shall I comfort those whom the Lord refuses to comfort? How shall I say peace unto them for whom there is no peace? May the Lord ever prevent me from being instrumental in deceiving souls. The darkness of death is fast gathering around this unhappy creature. The darkness of despair has already settled upon her, and she is completely subjected to its horrors. She acknowledges the justice of God in casting her off, and fearfully awaits her doom. O, what folly! what madness to forsake the Lord, to plunge into sin, and defer repentance till laid on a dying bed, when there is scarcely a possibility of salvation.

Jan. 3. On my return to the Alms-House this day,I was informed that the unhappy Emeline is no more, Her spirit has entered upon the realities of the eternal world, and her everlasting destiny is fixed! During the first part of her illness, continually expecting to die, and being without hope of salvation, her agony was dreadful. But as the thread of life was lengthened out, she sunk into a state of fixed and stupid despair. I am informed that the near approach of death once more aroused her to a sense of her real condition. Her agony was revived with redoubled force, and her horror was indescribable. Nearly the last words she uttered were "Hell is opening to receive me!" Fearful, indeed, is the end of the ungodly. "The wicked are driven away in wrath, but the righteous hath hope in his death."

Jan. 13. Was requested to visit M. A. a sick woman in the AlmsHouse, in the female sick ward. She was very ill, but in a happy frame

of mind. From her statement to me, and from the testimony of others, I learned that she had lived a dissolute life, and experienced the bitter fruits of sin. Destitute, forsaken, and plunged into the deepest distress, conscience commenced its operations; but after the pressure of affliction had continued for some time, her convictions gradually subsided, and she sunk into a state of stupid indifference as to the fate that awaited her. In this state about three weeks ago, she was taken to the Alms-House. Here she lay stupid, indifferent, and almost lifeless, till the day of preaching in this ward. Jesus was then announced to her as the physician of souls. She was aroused from her lethargy. Feeling her need and inspired with hope, she determined without delay to seek his healing power. She sought earnestly, and a short time ago, she obtained an assurance that her sins were forgiven. She now employs the little strength she possesses in praising the Lord for redeeming love. I spent some time in conversing with her, and exhorted her to examine well the foundation of her hope, and mentioned several scriptural tests to aid her in the examination. She does not appear to have experienced such deep convictions as we might reasonably expect to find in one of her description of character, yet she feels herself a ruined sinner, justly condemned to die, whose hopes of salvation are founded on Christ alone. The accuracy of her knowledge of the plan of salvation is, indeed, surprising, considering her ignorance and stupidity on other subjects, and the small opportunities for religious instruction she has ever enjoyed, and cannot easily be accounted for but by the supposition that she has been instructed by the spirit of God. If indeed he has changed her heart the good work which is now begun will be completed.*

* I have had an opportunity of ascertaining the manner of her walk and conduct