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Religious Antelligence.

Ex'ract of a letter from a Son, in one of the Southern States, to his Father, a

native of Maine, dated Sept. 8, 1823.

impressions, by diverting my mind. I fancied myself quite happy as to things of this life, and did not see but that the worldling was as happy as the man who called himself a Christian. Why then should I perplex my mind on such subjects? But all

ner. I returned home with my thoughts still on the subject, not suspecting any thing further.-It "I have a hope, that I have appeared more clear and consisfound the pearl of great price t tent the more I reflected upon it. nay, that it has been given me by The ability of the sinner was so the Lord himself. To be more connected with the subject, that I particular-some time in April found myself thinking on the natlast, I was induced to go to hear a ure and extent of that, and so was clergyman (his name I have for- led on, step by step, until I found gotten) a stranger, passing through myself deeply engrossed in the this country, who was to preach thought, what shall I do to be savnear this. I went more from curi-ed? I tried now to get rid of such osity than otherwise. The words of his text were, "Hath not the potter power over the clay-to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" In the outset, I suspected I should not stay to hear him long; for I never liked to hear the subject of elec-(horrid conclusion!) tion preached. But I soon found that every word brought force with it-I felt rivetted to my seatevery point was clearly and satisfactorily settled in my mind-I became completely convinced as to the whole nature and justice of the case-it all appeared reasonable and consistent. [What is a little remarkable, I had been reflecting upon the same subject that very morning-why and wherefore I cannot tell, but so it was-the subject of the decrees of God came up in my mind. I felt much opposed to such a view of the Divine administration, and was not willing to admit any such idea; and said aloud, although walking by myself It is a hard case, that part should be saved and part lost] I was not a little surprised to find (for I was on the road from it so plain and easily to be under- home)-every thing manifested his stood-so much reason and con- glory. I saw with new eyes-I sistency in the whole doctrine. I beheld with wonder-I said to myhad formed, as I saw, very wrong self, what can these things be?notions about the decrees-the was perfectly composed, collectwrong was on the part of the sin-ed and tranquil. My mind became

would not do. The more I tried to extricate this arrow, the deeper it penetrated my soul! I saw and felt, that I had offended a holy God; that I was a great sinnera wretched, undone sinner—exposed to the wrath of Almighty God. Oh! the indescribable weight I felt I attempted prayer-it seemed like adding fuel to the fire of divine wrath. I could not sleep. Thus it continued with me for two or three days.-When, all at once, light burst in upon my mind. I had new ideas. I now felt perfectly willing that God should do with me as it seemed pleasing in his sight. My load of guilt was removed. The Saviour appeared beautiful--lovely--inexpressibly interesting! The woods, the fields,

very passive-I was wrapped up in the glory of God and the Redeemer's kingdom. The world appeared very insignificant in comparison. I was, for a time, alnost afraid to encourage such feelings, lest they might be a charm to lull me in the lap of careless security. But every day's experience taught me to hope I had passed from death unto life.

And my dear father, if we should never be permitted to meet again on earth, I have a hope that we shall meet in heaven, at the feet of Him who has atoned for the believing sinner, there to unite in songs of purest harmony forever and ever. Pray for me. I pray for you all. Oh that my dear sisters and brother may be induced to ponder and consider for a moment. Time is short-this earthly ball is soon to be dissolved-the soul is quickly to be separated from its tabernacle of clay!-But the work is thine, O Lord, my Redeemer! They are in thy hands, and thou canst do all things.

From your very affectionate and dutiful son,"

Christ. Mir.

London Church Missionary Society. Its receipts during the first thirteen years, amounted to £12,000 only. During the last year, they amounted to £32,000, or more than $140,000. In the tenth year of the Society's operations, it employed nine Missionaries. During the last year, ninety. Nineteen new Missionaries were selected, and sent to their respective places of destination, during the last year; and twenty-two students are now preparing, at the Society's expense, for future service. Two hundred and thirty-nine labourers, of various descriptions, are now employed by the Society, and twenty African youths are preparing to become instructers of their

countrymen. The West African Mission has collected at Sierra Leone, 27,000 inhabitants, of whom 15,000 are negroes, and 10,000 liberated slaves. Twenty-eight European labourers, assisted by many native teachers, are devoted to the colony. Capt. Sabine, of the Royal Engineers, after spending six weeks in the colony, states, that he is persuaded, there is not to be seen in the world a community so large and so irreproachable. In Ceylon, the Society has eleven European teachers, and 23 native assistants, and a school of 500 children.

At the end of the first ten years, the Society had only 200 scholarsit has now 11,000. It had not a single convert-it has now more than 100 communicants. ibid.

CAUSE OF SEANEN.

The number of sailors on the globe is stated to be about one million; of whom nearly 100,000 are American. The number of Bethel Unions, in different parts of the world, is 67; of Marine Bible Societies, 33; of Churches and Floating Chapels, 15. There is not more than one Mariner's Chapel to every sixty thousand seamen. ibid.

The Russian Bible Society has in press at St. Petersburg, a first edition of the New Testament, of 10,000 copies, in the vernacular Russ, the common language of the country. A second edition of 10,000 will soon be commenced at St. P. and an edition of 5000 is going on at Moscow; so that 25,000 copies will soon be ready for circulation. The Slavonic version has been the only translation in use in the Russian church for upwards of nine centuries, and is highly venerated. The substitution of the Russ is a strong evidence of the favourable progress of knowledge and liberality. ib.

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The 5th No. upon Hopkinsianism, came too late for the present month; it shall have a place in our next.

B-C NI is received, and under consideration.

Those, who may have extra copies of the first Number of this work, are request, ed to return them to the Publishers.

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Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.

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it in his conversation, will, hereafter, be placed in a state of perpetual holiness and happiness.

If these comments exhibit the meaning of the words of the text, they naturally lead to the consideration of this serious and important truth: Mankind, during the present life, are in a state of probation.

This truth will be explained and confirmed, if it can be shown, I. What is implied in a state of probation.

II. That mankind are in such a state, during the present life. And,

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Do not vainly imagine, that God does not observe, or will not remember and deal with you for your present conduct. He is not thus to be viewed with contempt and treated with scorn, by his rational, accountable creatures. His eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good; and He searcheth the hearts of the children of men, in order to give unto every one of them according to his works. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." As the husbandman reaps the same kind of grain which he sows; if he sows wheat, he reaps wheat, and if he sows tares, he reaps tares; so mankind will be treated in the future world, according to their conduct in this. "For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh, reap corruption." He that possesses and acts from a carnal mind, or sinful heart, through life, will, hereafter, be placed in a state of perpetual sin and misery. "But, he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting." He that shall, before the close of the present life, possess a First. A state of probation imspiritual mind, or holy heart, and plies moral action. Unless creaso bring forth the fruits of the spir-tures possess such mental faculties,

III. What good ends God may answer, by placing mankind, here, in a state of probation.

I am to show,

1. What is implied in a state of probation.

A state of probation is a state of trial. Creatures may be said to be in such a state, when their future condition is suspended upon their present conduct. Hence, two things are implied in a state of probation, moral action and retribution.

A state of probation implies, that men are put upon trial, for a limited time, be it longer or short

as render them capable of acting voluntarily, and of distinguishing between right and wrong, they are not proper subjects of moral gov-er; at the close of which, they are

to be fixed in a state of holiness or happiness, or of sin and misery, according to their probationary conduct. And though the misery inflicted, at the close of one's pro

than he deserves; yet the happiness bestowed upon him, may be

ernment, and can neither be rewarded nor punished. Though God may, and does, connect certain consequences with the actions of brutes; yet, as they have no faculty, which enables them to dis-bationary state, cannot be greater tinguish between moral good and evil; so they can never feel a sense of moral obligation, or be deserv-much greater than he has merited. ing of praise or blame. What they enjoy, in consequence of their actions, cannot be viewed as a reward; nor can what they suffer, in consequence of their actions, be viewed as a punishment. Brutes are not qualified to be in a state of probation.

To be qualified for a state of probation, creatures must possess such faculties as enable them to act either virtuously or viciously, in a holy or sinful manner, and thus to become deserving of praise or blame for their voluntary actions. None, but accountable creatures, are fitted to be placed in a state of probation. Hence, so far as we can learn from sacred scripture, the only creatures, in the universe, capable of being put upon probation, are men and angels. We have no account in the scriptures, of any other creatures, who are endued with such faculties, as render them accountable for their actions.

Secondly. A state of probation implies restriction. By this is meant, the treatment of creatures, who have been upon probation, according to their conduct, during their probationary state. Though this implies rewards and punishments; yet it is not precisely the same thing. God would have rewarded and punished his rational creatures, if he had never seen fit to place any of them upon proba

tion.

Indeed, as creatures receive all things from God, it is impossible that they should ever merit any thing, even by perfect obedience to the Divine law.

It is inferred, from some things mentioned in scripture, that the angels were originally placed in a state of probation; at the close of which, such of them, as had persevered in their obedience, were confirmed in holiness and happiness; and those of them, who had transgressed, were fixed in an unalterable state of sin and misery.

The first man was placed in a state of probation. If he had persevered in holiness for a certain time, he would have been confirmed in a state of holiness and happiness. By his transgression, he became exposed to an endless state of sin and misery. And if his probationary state had ended with his first transgression, he must have shared the fate of the fallen angels. But God was pleased, in his sovreignty, to give Adam a further season of trial, in pursuance of his purpose of mercy in Christ Jesus. As Adam, before his fall, was on trial, to see whether he would transgress; so, since his fall, he and his posterity have been put on trial, to see whether they would repent and turn to God. Those, who exercise repentance in this life, will be pardoned through the atonement of Christ and fixed in an endless state of holiness and

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