vince them, and to bring them to humility and true repentance. That they so often fail of producing this desirable effect, is ever owing to their hatred of truth and a holiness, and enmity against God. The more numerous and powerful, therefore, the means which they resist, the greater stupidity and hardness of heart they display. The desperate wickedness and inveterate depravity of Chorazin and Bethsaida, would not have been made manifest, had not Christ came and spoken to them and done among them his mighty works. 2. The greatest sinners are found, where the means of salvation are most richly enjoyed.Where the light of the gospel most clearly shines, those, who receive and obey the truth, grow in knowledge and grace, and become the best of saints: while, on the other hand, those, who reject the counsel of God against themselves, increase rapidly in wickedness, and treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath. The best means of light and grace, always fit men the fastest, either for heaven or for hell. Hence said the apostle, "We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life." 3. Whenever the means of salvation are successful, the happy effect is to be ascribed to the special and irresistible influence of the Holy Spirit. The best and most powerful means may be resisted. Such means were resisted by Chorazin and Bethsaida. They ever are resisted by all sinners, till they are born of the Spirit. What was said to the unbelieving Jews, may be said, with equal truth, to all sinners under the light of the gospel, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." And what was said to the Ephesian converts, may be said, with equal truth, to all saints, "You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." 4. There is all desirable encouragement to use means with sinners. God has appointed them to be used. He is graciously pleased to work by them, and not without them. He is ever able to give effect to the menns of his appointment, and he always will render them as effectual, as is consistent with his own glory and the greatest good of his moral kingdom, PAIDENTES. Religious Autelligence. REVIVALS IN OHIO. f the state of religion within its The following letter from a clergyman bounds, the Presbytery have reain Ashtabula county, gives some further particulars respecting the reviv son to believe that there is a lightals in that section of the country. ing up in the churches and tho* To the Editor of the Western Recorder. the places are but few where the SIR-The Grand River Presby-work has been general, yet a large tery held their annual session on the 1st inst. at Mesopotamia.The season was more than usually interesting. There was much good feeling manifest among the members, and from the report on proportion of the churches are more or less enjoying some special token of the divine presence. It is hoped that God is about to water abundantly this part of his thirsty Zion. The rising glory of the kingdom of our Lord is becoming more and more manifest in this section of country. And though there are sectarian divisions, and an unhallowed spirit manifested in maintaining them-and there are also, the more fatal errors, which are supported by a zeal worthy of a better cause-yet the benign influence of that religion which warmed the bosom of God's equal Son, animates his friends in their work of love-and the light of truth shines more resplendent, as it rises above the narrow bigotry of sect, or the more dark and cheerless gloom of error. The friends of religion in this region are not inactive-and tho' there are many difficulties to surmount, yet they are by no means disheartened. Literature and vital piety, connected with a correct theory of our holy religion, are subjects which interest the attention of many, and which are now distinctly before the public as the objects of enterprise. The Presbyteries of Grand River, Portage, and Huron, have, by their commissioners recently located an institution at Hudson-near the centre of the reserve-to be known by the name of the Western Reserve College, with the expectation that in a few years, a Theological department will be connected with it. Measures are now taking to rear the edifice as soon as possible. In haste, yours affectionately, AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. The Eighth Annual Report of this Society has been published. It gives an encouraging view of the condition and prospects of the Colony in Africa; and affords reason to believe that the benevolent efforts which have been made in its behalf, will be ultimately successful. Indeed, they have succeeded already to a much greater extent than could have been rationally anticipated, considering the nature of the undertaking, and the difficulties it must necessarily encounter at the commencement. Mr. Gurley, who visited Africa the last summer, found much in the circumstances of the Colony, which was highly gratifying The eligible location of the town, the fertility of the soil, the adequate defences, the improvements, the intelligence, health and morality of the Colonists, the Sabbath Schools, and many other things, seemed to promise permanent prosperity to the Colony. One Sabbath School is composed of native children. The cause in which the Society is engaged, appears to be rapidly gaining ground in our own country. Popular sentiment is changing in its favour. Of this fact the Agents of the Society have received abundant evidence. An Association of Clergymen in New-Hampshire has passed a resolution, that each member of their body shall preach once, at least every year, on this subject. State Associations, auxiliary to the general Society, exist in Vermont, New-Hampshire and New-Jersey. In various places, the last anniversary of Independence was celebrated by some religious service, at the close of which contributions were made in aid of the Colonization Society. Resolutions in its favour have been passed by the Legislatures of Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and New-Jersey. The first-mentioned State has made an appropriation for its benefit, from various useful articles in the Penitentiary, to the amount of $500. The Society have it in contemplation, as soon as practicable, to establish an Institution, after the plan of the School at Cornwall, in which young men of colour may be prepared, by suitable instruction in agriculture, the arts, literature and religion, for extensive usefulness in the Colony. They have recently sent out sixty-eight emigrants; and have secured to the Colony the services of a very able and respectable physician, who is expected to sail for Africa in a few days. The receipts of the Society during the year ending March 23, 1825, amounted to 84662. It is exceedingly desirable that still greater funds should be placed at the disposal of the Directors for the year to come. Rec. and Tel. REVIVALS. A correspondent in New-Jersey 1 informs us that there about 70 persons in Springfield, and 70 more in Westfield, who express a hope that they have been born again since the commencement of the revival in those places, Of those in Westfield, he says, "they are of all ages, from 10 to 64, and =20 are heads of families. The following case is worthy of par- ticular notice. At one meeting for enquiry, were found seated, a grand parent, his two sons, and a little grandson. The little grandson submitted to God, and indulged a hope first; mark his footsteps. He went and set up family worship in his father's house. Next, the father was rejoicing, and he went and erected the family altar in the grandfather's house. Soon after the grandfather was born again. Was not this literally "from the least to the greatest." The meetings have been unusually solemn and interesting. At one evening meeting, seven professed to obtain hope, and in several others, two or three. Hardly a house has been passed by. In addition to the above, we learn from the Newark Eagle, "that the glorious work of divine grace, is, at this moment, proceeding in a most encouraging manner, in Newark, Bloomfield, Orange, Elizabethtown, Connecticut Farms, and New-Providence. The good work also continues without abatement in several churches in Morris county." N. Y. Observer. BURMAN MISSION. A letter from a gentleman in Calcutta, received by Dr. Staughton, President of the Columbian College, at Washington, and communicated in the Baptist Magazine, says, "there is every reason to believe that Dr. Price and Dr. and Mrs. Judson are imprisoned." It will be recollected that these missionaries are stationed at Ava. Mr. and Mrs. Wade, at Rangoon, and others connected with the mission, have suffered much from famine, and "for six days were obliged to live on food of any kind which their servants could obtain." Things look dark for the Burman Mission at present, and none can tell what will be the result; yet it becomes all who love the Lord Jesus, to remember, with peculiar interest, those who suffer for his sake, knowing where alone deliverance is to be found. THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY Ibid. MISSIONARY Held its annual meeting for business on Tuesday the 24th ult. at the Vestry of Park-street Church. The Report of the Trustees was read by the Secretary; it stated that 25 Missionaries had been employed in the course of the last year, the term of whose labours amounted to more than 300 weeks, or six years; that several revivals of religion had taken place under their labours; that more than 70 had been admitted T. Warren, Esq. Rev. O.Thomp son, Rev. S. Walker, Rev. B Emerson, Rev. W. Fay, Rev. J. Edwards, Rev. R. S. Storrs, John Punchard, Esq. Rev. S. Holmes, and Rev. Jacob Ide, Trustees. to the churches, and more than | and individuals, who had contrib100 hopefully brought to the know-uted to their funds. The followledge of the truth. The expendi- ing are the officers of the Society tures of the Society amounted to for the ensuing year: more than $2400; its income from Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D, Prɛɛ. every source, over $2000, leaving | Rev. Samuel Walker, Sec'ry. the Society in debt for the ser- John Punchard, Esq. Treas. vices performed the last year, about $300. The communications of the Missionaries were of a very encouraging nature, and some of them quite animating to the friends of domestic missions. It is earnestly hoped that the Society will In the evening a very appropri receive such addition to their in- ate and powerful sermon was decome as shall enable them to go livered before the Society in the forward with augmented strength | Old South, by Rev. R. S. Storrs, in their labours of love. from Psalm Iviii. 34—“Ascribe ye strength unto God," and a collection of $158 taken up. Thanks were voted to all female associations, congregations Erratum.-Page 402, third line from bottom, for adopted, read adapted. same error occurs two or three other times in the same piece. The Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. spoken!" Had the disciples been disposed to attend to the language of scripture prophecy concerning Christ, they could not have been left in doubt respecting either his dom. The language of scripture was so plain, that they must have been highly criminal for not discerning the signs of the times. But mankind seldom understand those subjects to which they are not disposed to attend; and moral depravity had this unhappy effect upon the disciples. Their hearts turned away their eyes from the true light, and rendered them morally blind to the most important truths of Divine Revelation. THE miracles and preaching of our Lord Jesus Christ excited, in his disciples, a strong confidence that he was the long-expected and promised Messiah. But not being altogether acquainted with the na-person, or the nature of his kingture of his kingdom, nor having closely attended to "the signs of the times," their faith began to fail, when they saw their Lord put to death and laid in the sepulchre. Hence, when our Saviour drew near and went with the two brethren, who were going to Emmaus, they, supposing him to be a stran ger, related the sad tale of his crucifixion, and declared how they "trusted that it had been he who should have redeemed Israel.” "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses It is owing to the state of the and all the prophets, he expound-heart that mankind do not readily ed unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself." This was a pointed reproof for their unbelief; and more than intimated, that their incredulity was owing to the state of their hearts. "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have The truths contained in our text may safely be applied to the natural state of the whole human famly. Hence, we are led to consider the following sentiment: receive the truths of the Bible. In order to set the subject in its proper light, I shall endeavour to show, I. That mankind do not readily receive the truths of the Bible. Aud, II. That this is owing to the state of their hearts. |