and the service commenced with the prayers, which were read by Mr. Hockwell, as officiating Curate. Mr. Bradley, of Brighton, prayed in the pulpit. Mr. Mason of New York, preached on Heb. i. 8. " But unto the Son he saith, thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." After sermon, Mr. Belfrage of Falkirk, concluded with prayer. Mr. Tyerman, Mr. Kyle, and Mr. Degrange, gave out the hymns, "How On Friday morning, at St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Bermondsey, the prayers, with suitable lessons, were read by Mr. Mason, Minister of that Church. Dr. Hawker, of Plymouth, preached on Rom. x. 14, 15. then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed?" &c. The audience was very large, and deeply impressed. We forbear to express our approbation of these discourses; to those who attend, it is unnecessary; and others will soon have an opportunity of judging for themselves, as the Sermons are to be immediately printed, together with the Annual Report of the Society's Proceedings. The public religious exercises of the Anniversary were completed by the celebration of the Lord's Supper, at Sion Chapel, on Friday evening. Mr. Lambert, or Hull, presided. Exhortations on the nature of the Lord's Supper, on christian union, and to the spectators, were given by Mr. Steven, Mr Townsend, and Mr. Hyatt. Prayer was offered up by Dr. Coke and Mr. Lambert. Mr. Bogue, of Gosport, delivered a parting address, respecting the progress and prospects of the Society; which presented a very encouraging view of both. The hymns were read by Mr. Mosely, Mr. Tracey. Mr. Barker, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. J. A. Knight.The elements were delivered to the communicánts by the following ministers, viz. Messrs. Beaufoy, Steinkopf, Nicoll, Sloper, Is. Taylor, Bickerdike; G. Burder, Buck, Hopkins, Waddell, and Noyland. The whole of this service was peculiarly solemn and delightful, and was thought to exceed any former opportunity of a similar kind at these meetings. Mr. Frey, the Jew before mentioned, holding the sacramental cup in one hand, and the Bible in the other, spoke a few words to the au dience with singular effect. The Meetings of the Society for business, were held as usual at Mr. Brooksbank's, Staining-lane. At the first of these, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Hardcastle in the chair, Mr. Lambert, of Hull, began by imploring the gracious presence of our Divine Lord; after which, the Annual Report of the Proceedings of the Directors during the past year, was read by Mr. Eyre, and approved by the Society at large. On Thursday morning, the Society met again; when they proceeded, as usual, to the choice of new Directors, in the room of those who went out by rotation. The last meeting of the Society was, for the sake of convenience, held on Friday afternoon, at the vestry of Zion Chapel, when the annual busi ness was concluded. The following London Directors went out, by rotation, this year, and were replaced by the Names opposite. Ballotted out. Mr. John Allday. Rev. William Winckworth. The Religious Tract Society held their fourth annual meeting at St. Paul's Coffee-house, on Thursday morning at seven o'clock, when there was a numerous attendance, and an encouraging account given of the state of the Society. This cheap and easy method of diffusing Evangelical Truth, recommends itself more and more to the minds of zealous christians. Several gentlemen related very pleasing accounts of the good that has been done by the distribution of Tracts in England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, &c. and among the sailors on board several of his Ma, jesty's ships. New channels had been opened for their distribution during the last year; and there was reason to hope that this institution will prove an increasing blessing to the world. In connection with the proposed object of this annual Missionary Meeting, a Prospectus was circulated of a new and much-needed work— A General History of Missions, now compiling by the joint labours of Mr. Greatheed and Mr. Burder, to be comprised in three or four octavo yolumes *. In the retrospect of this anniversary, the friends of the Missionary Society have abundant cause for satisfaction and thankfulness. The flame of sacred ardor for the salvation of souls seems to increase, and to spread itself over a great part of Christendom. This institution has already oc casioned the formation of several Societies in the different parts of the world. There are four of this kind in America. There is one at Rotter, dam, which has already sent out several Missionaries, and is about to send out five more. Another in East Friesland has been very active, and has diligently circulated Missionary Addresses through different parts of Germany. At Berlin there is a Missionary Seminary, from which several promising Missionaries are already received, and more may be expected. In short, we have seen, in less than seven years, a general impulse given to the cause of Christ at home and abroad; such as may justly excite the most ardent thankfulness to God, and the most lively hopes that the institution will prove, by the energy of his Holy Spirit, an extensive and lasting blessing to the ruined race of Adam. + See the Cover of this Magazine. Letter from the BASIL SOCIETY. Addressed to the Missionary Society! in London. You had the goodness, dear Brethren, to request a list being sent yon of the towns and provinces through which our Society extends; as also a plan of our proceedings; and from one to three copies of our Periodical Bublications from the beginning of our activity as a body. We are happy to gratify this wish, as far as in our power; and, in return for your very acceptable present of the Evangelical Magazine, send you a complete copy of our Extracts and Collections, printed from 1783 to 1798. To the first volume you will find some pamphlets stitched, containing a full account of the views and the organization of our Society; which, in the main, continues unaltered to this day, except what improvements have been suggested by experience, or the circumstances of the times. As a specimen of our communications, which circulate in manuscript only, we subjoin those of the nineteenth year of the Society; and in case you should think it worth your while, we would order those of the preceding eighteen years to be copied likewise; which, however, would be attended with considerable expence. We should have been been glad to send you, at least, two copies of our publications; but those of 1793 and 94 are quite out of print; nor is it in our power to produce a second edition, as the complicated calamities of war, murrain, and scarcity, have rendered the contributions of our poor friends rather less than what they used to be; whilst the expences or printing have risen, and, in general, our Society has to meet prater wants.-7 he nature of our plan is best to be learnt from or publications. Here, we beg leave to draw just a few outlines, begin ng with our leading views: 1. The basis of our agreement is our obligation to edify one another in our most holy faith, according to the unerring word of God and the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; in whose footsteps to tread, and to encourage one another in the blessed practice of walking after him faithfully, is our duty and desire. Nor wili we suffer ourselves to be diverted from this pur pose by any objections whatever, raised by the adherents of the new philosophy, or the votaries of infidelity, as millions, and, God be praised! we ourselves have experienced the efficacy of that faith, which is the victory over sin, the world, Satan, and Hell, and which alone is able to form men of God, ready to serve him in this world, and fit to meet him in the next. To preserve this faith of our ancestors, which alone can make us good, holy, and happy in life and death, shail be our final aim. 2 We wish, agreeably to our duty, to direct the attention of Christendom to the signs of our times, which are so very extraordinary, whether we consider them with a view to the church of Christ, or in reference to the kingdoms of this world. We will comfort, advise, and strengthen one another, in order to hold fast the patience and faith of the saints, lest when the Lord cometh, we be found in the number of the foolish virgins. 3. In a particular manner we will make it our concern, to strengthen the ties of brotherly love between ourselves, by means of mutual communication and participation in temporals and spirituals, lest the adversary should disturb our bond of union. At the same time, be it far from us to overlook the good that is to be perceived in any other Christian denomination; but more especially in those lesser flocks of grace that aim at being children of God in reality. 4. We consider it as a principal concern of ours to co-operate, as much as we are enabled to do towards realizing the hope of Zion, viz, the conversion of the Gentiles and whilst we rejoice at all that has been done, in this respect, since the beginning of the last century, we cannot help admiring the hand of the Lord inhoend phenomena in which you, dearest Brethren of England, have bts je so considerable a share, considering them as the dawning of the approaching kingdom of God, and comforting ourselves with these things, as with sweet and powerful cordials against the benumbing influence of the spirit of our awful times. To take an active and praying share in all Missionary exertions, is our sacred delight; and, we trust, the seed, which is now sprinkled with our tears, will rise in an harvest of everlasting joy, though we should not witness its maturity in this world. 5. As there is always, but more especially in our day, an enor mous mass of misery in the world, under which believers, no less than unbelievers, groan (the latter of whom we ought still to love as our neighbours, i. c. our ownselves) so we consider ourselves bound bound to alleviate the same to the utmost of our power, lightening the burden of our fellow-captives in this world, seeing we too are in the same state of imprisonment. 6. The dispersing of religious tracts, by means of a printingoffice at Nurenberg, is also amongst our views; but we are sorry to state, that, through the scantiness of our means, this method has not been so productive of fruit as otherwise it might have been. 7. We finally think it our duty to stand ready as servants of the Lord, to improve every intimation of his will he may be pleased to give us; and, we trust, we are willing to become any thing for the honour of his name. How far we have been successful in obtaining a part of what we have stated to be our views, the Lord alone is able to decide. If we look upon our own performance, we are forced to cry out, "Lord be merciful to us unprofitable servants!" but whenever we contemplate what the Lord has done for us, in the course of twenty years, we have great reason to exult in his mercies, and to ascribe honour to his name. He has not only protected and preserved us, but increased and blessed us abundantly. Since the beginning of the revolution, now ten years ago, and still more since the beginning of the war, eight years ago, our Society as a body, and many individuals belonging to the same, came fre. quently into great distress and danger. Last year, but especially this year, our centre, the town of Basil, has been threatened with destruction: however, hitherto the Lord has helped us; nor will he lay any burden on our shoulders, but what he will enable us to bear; therefore, praising him for the past, and trusting for the rest, we surrender ourselves wholly up to him. You, dear Brethren, will join us in supplicating his compassion, as long as this time of trouble shall continue to affect us; nor at any time refuse us an interest in your prayers. We now beg leave to submit to your inspection a list of the places where we have formed connections. The main body of our Society resides in Switzerland and Germany, and, as has been mentioned, Basil constitutes our centre, whence a committee of seven members, and a secretary, direct the whole concern. The secretary receives all the letters, accounts, and materials for our publications, Twice a month we meet, when the session always lasts three hours; during which, extracts of letters are read, queries discussed, and all that refers in anywise to the welfare of our Society or the accomplishment of our views, is settled. Every session is opened and concluded with prayer; and we can say in truth, that we never separate without having enjoyed a blessing for our hearts, or received a piece of information highly interesting for the kingdom of God. Occurrences of con sequence often occasion an extraordinary meeting of the committee Every member has his own department assigned to him; those among us that belong to the clergy, care for that part of our affairs which requires learning and Theological knowledge; whilst the rest, chiefly merchants, manage the external concerns. The Secretary's business is to carry on the correspondence, and to prepare manuscripts for the press, or to forward our publications, according to direction; but so that he constantly acts under the controul of the members of the committee. Of these we beg leave to name one; namely, our venerable friend Henry Brenner, a person eighty years old, and who for upwards of forty years has consecrated his time and his property to the service of our adorable Lord; who keeps an open purse and house for all real children of God; and still continues to promote the interests of our Society, as well as the welfare of his fellow-creatures at large, without relaxation. Besides the members of our committee, there are in and about Basil upwards of one hundred associates and friends; and among them eight ministers, all of whom can produce from their congregations living proofs of their ministry; and who preach redemption, through the blood of Jesus. In and about Basil, as also in other cantons, there are also flourishing branches of the church of Christ, that stand in a blessed connection with the United Brethren; and are cared for by Brethren from the larger congregations in Ger many. To the central Society at Basil, are attached subordinate flocks and individuals at Bern, Zurich, Schaffhousen, St. Gall, Winterthur, Arau, Zofingen, Wiedlisbach, and other inferior places in Switzerland. We also are acquainted with a good man at Lucerne (a Romish canton) where, it seems, there remains a quiet but living seed of Christians, from the time when, in the beginning of the last century, the rage of Popish priests brought a witness of the Lord to the stake. We are also connected with an excellent servant of Christ in the country of the Grisons, though we are sorry to have been deprived of late of the blessings to be derived from our fel lowship with him, by the troubles of the war. So much we know, that for the last fifty years past, there has been a considerable number of truly evangelical souls in the Grisons; and a part of their ministers unite cordially with the annual Ministers' Conference at Herrnhut. In Germany there have been formed several provincial Societies, much on the same plan as our central. One of the most considerable, is at Stutgard, the capital of the dukedom of Wurtemberg; upwards of fifty places being connected with it. In general, it may be said, that there is a great work of God in that country, where, ever since the reformation by Luther, able instruments have been raised up by the Lord, to maintain the truth of the Gospel; and to this very day, there are upwards of 100 Gospel-preachers scattered over that neighbourhood: some of whom spread the truth, not merely in their own parishes, but influence the public at large, by the productions of their very able pens. In consequence of this happy constellation of faithful witnesses, there are yet many thousands in those parts who can put their seal to the truth, and actually confess that Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In some parishes there are little flocks of 100, 200, and 300 united souls, that meet with a view to encourage each other to proceed in the paths of peace and eternal glory; and much might be said on this head, if we durst indulge in what might seem prolixity. D. Urlsperger, formerly of Ausburg, now of Oettingen, whom twenty years ago the Lord called to be a peculiar instrument in his hands, and who is to be considered as the founder of our Society, for the good of which, he undertook even a journey to London, is still alive, and blessedly employed in the work of the Lord. On his journey to London, he formed in your metropolis a society headed by the Rev. Mr. Lampert, minister of the German chapel at the Savoy; which, however, by the early death of the latter, seems to have lost its consistency. Another |