The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, July 04, 1821, Image 1

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No. 5.—V01. 111. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY NATHAN S. S. BE JUAN <$- CO. vw% wv*, The Terms of “The Missionary” are Three Dollars a year if paid in advance, or within sixty days froio the time of subscribing; or Three Dol lars and Fifty Cents at the end of the year. No Subscription will be received fora short er time than one yesjr, and no papei discontinued until all arrearages are paid. Advertisements will be inserted, by the r square, a); 62 1-2 cents for the first insertion ; and for every subsequent insertion 43 3-4 cents. Those who furnish standing advertisements for the year, shall be entitled to a deduction of one quarter of the amount from the above rates. All Communications and Letters relating to the Ojlice, will be directed to N. 3. S. Beman & Cos. and whether enclosing money or not, must come POST P_AID: Should any neglect to do this they will be rharged with the postage. Printing for Bublick (Metro and others will be done on the most liberal terms. AGENTS FOR THIS PAPER. AUGUSTA , J. & H. Ely. COLUMBIA, J .By nom,Esq.PM.Columbia C.H. SAUNDERSVILLE, Robeit S. Degrove. GREENESBOROUGH , A. H. Scott. SPARTA, Cyprian Wilcox. IRWINTON, Wilkinson Th. Sherrer, Esq. PM. HARTFORD, f-‘uhn/.T ) G.B.Gardiner Esq.PM. POIVELTON. , S. Duggar, Esq. P M q CLINTON, Jones Cos, J. W. Carrington. SAVANNAH, S.C. & J. Schenck. MONTICELLO , FI. C. Hutchinson, Esq. EA PONTON, C. Pendleton, Esq. P JVJ. ALFORD'S P.O. Greene, C. Alford, Esc. PM ABBEVILLE, (£’. C. j Rev. H. Reid. SANtoOVEK, Abbeville, S. C Mai. U. Hill. MARION, Twiggs, S. Williams, Esq. PM. JEEFERSON, Jackson, Rev.'E. Pharr- IBBERTY HALL, Morgan, ,C. Allen, Esq. WATKINSVILLE,CIark,W.Wright, Esq. PM. fiICEBORO', Liberty, Win. Baker, Esq. P M. G RANTSVITiLE, Grtent, Samuel Finley. PENDLETON, S.C. Joseph Grcsh am, Esq. PM DANIEJ.SVILLE, Madison, J.l.ong, Esq. PM. ‘ERI INSVILLE, Rutherford, N. C. Rev. Hugh Quiu. ATHENS, Clarke , B. B. Peck. MA MS ON, Morgan, Milus Nesfcit. 1 ANCftLNTON,Liner, /n.Peter Lamar,Esq. PM. SBAR TANBURGH, S. C. J. Brannon. K?q. PM. MIL LEDGE FILL E, Leonard Perkins. EI,BERTON, George Inskeep, Esq. P M. DUBLIN, Laurens, W. B. Coleman, Esq. P M. LUfTJISFILLE, Jeff'n, John Bostw'ick,Esq.PM. MALLOR YSFILLE, Wakes, Asa Dearing, Esq. P M. JVAYNESBORO', Semuel Sturges, Esq. P M. LAURENS, S. C. Archibald Young, Esq. -II RIGHTSBOhO ’, Q. L. C. Franklin, Esq. NOTICE. The subscribers, former proprielors of “ Thf. Missionary,” having sold out fhejr interest to N. ri. B. Btman & Cos. do this day, by mutual con shut, dissolve their copartnership. Benjamin tiijjderslecve ‘and Issac M. Wales are to settle all the business relative to the paper during the first two years of its publication. Demands of money due from the office, may be made of lsa&c !YI. Whies, at Mount Zion, and mo nies due to the otiice may be paid to him or to *he several agents heretofore appointed. NATHAN S. S. BF.MAN, BENJ. GII.DERSLEEVE, ISAAC M. WALES. May 29th, 1821. NOTICE, A Copartnership for continuing the publication | of “ Tiie Missionary,” is this day formed between ’ ” the Subscribers, under the firm of N. S. S. Re man.& Cos. They have purchased the Printing Establishment, and will conduct (he paper as heretofore. Desirous of supporting the existence am! reputation of “ Thu Missionary,” they look to a liberal pnblick for patronage. Adveflising mid Job fVork will be executed on r.s reasonable terms as at any press in the State. NATHAN 5..5. BEMAN, 3 VCOB P. NORTON, EBENEZER cooper. May ‘29, 1831. A NARRATIVE Os (lie Statu of Rr.r.iciq.v within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Ciiufeh ; and of the General Associations of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New-Hamp ■f hire, .during the last year* Tug General Assembly have now under theifc'are sixty-two Presbyteries; fifty of which have sent up annual reports of thir teen .hundred churches within their respec tive bounds. With the subjects of those re ports our churches are already familiar. The interest, therefore which these sub jects will excite, cat) 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 begot ten, the beloved and co-equal Son of God, h"as, itr every age, had a church upon earth. The existence of that church commenced with the promise that the w seed ofthe wo man should bruise the serpent’s head.” It has since subsisted amid the rage and per secution of surrounding enemies; and, in spile of the power and policy of hell, will 4 subsist till the end of time ; when its visible arid militant state will be succeeded by a triumphant slate iu glory. That Church has not indeed, in every age, been alike visible'not] prosperous Sometimes it has been confined to a particular family, and at others to a particular nation. Som-time* it hi)- been bid like a.grain of mustard seed ’ in the earth ; and at others, it has been com paratively a'gruat tree, under whose shad- THE MISSIONARY. ow 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 bor ders 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 re ceived for the past year; a summary ac count 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 errours in doctrine and morals ; neglect of the duties of family and social prayer; coldness and indifference on the part of pro fessing Christians; and the want of labourers in the gospel vineyard. In some of our bounds, exertions are ma king, with a zeal worthy of a better cause, to propagate a modification of infidelity, under the name of Unitarianism or Socin ianism : and a* there is an aptitude of the human heart to entertain the grossest er rours, we regard it as an imperious duty to warn our congregations against every at tempt 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 errour in doctrine. The intemperate use of ardent liquors, and the profanation of the Lord’s day,.'are particularly mentioned as too prev alent 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, utter ly 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 lay fury upon—the families that call not on thy namp,” Ihey have omitted to bend be fore tiie family altar, and offer their mor ning and evening sacrifices ; and as if they questioned the justness of the requisition, “For all these things I will he inquired of by the house of Israel lo do it for them,” they have kept aloof from the meeting* of social prayer, and neglected to present their united supplications for a blessing on (hem selves, and on the whole Israel of God. The complaints of several of the Pres byteries, 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 repre sented 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 administrations of the word and ordi nances ; in another consisting of nearly forty churches, there are only eleven min isters; ahd in another, out of twenty-eight, sixteen are vacant. Their lamentation is, “the harvest is great, but the labourers are few ; aud their cry to their Christian breth ren is, “ come over and help us.” While on these accounts the Assembly have cause for lamentation, and call upon their churches to sympathise with, and pray for, those among whom the above-mention ed evil* 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 underourcare. And we have only to regret, that the limits of this Narra tive 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 in creased. Many new congregations have been organized, and new place? of worship erected. Biblical and catechetical instruc tions have been generally attended to. The children and youth, have been led to the fountain, and instructed in the first prin ciples of the truth, as one of the best pre ventives against errour 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 re minded of their obligations to be the Lotri’s. The system of Sabbath school instruction has been pursued with great and increased success. Thousands, who, but for these in stitutions, would have grown up in igno rance and vice,been the griefof 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 in stances 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 bless ing of God has attended this mode of instruc tion, to the hopeful conversion of the teach ers and the taught. )V The monthly concert of prayer is gener ally attended through the Presbyterian church and the other churches connected with the General Assembly; end it is found GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL EVERY CREATURE.-} esvs Christ. MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CO. GA.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1821. that this extensive union of prayer for the influences of the Holy Spirit upon the church of Christ, and the gospel of Salvation, ap pears to be attended with the special bless ing of God. Additions have been made during the last year, to the churches from which reports have been received , of seven thousand one hun dred and eighty-six souls. To many of these the Lord manifested himself, not 11 in the great and strong wind, which rent the moun tains, and brake in pieces the rocks,” but in “ the still small voice.” They were the fruits of the ordinary operations of the Spir it 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 out-pourings of the Spirit of God during the past year, as the Assembly has never be fore had the opportunity to record. These have been experienced in the Presbyteries of Rochester, Ontario, Cayuga, Onondaga, Otsego, Oneida, Troy, Albany, Columbia, Hudson, New-Vnrk, Jersey, Newton, Phil adelphia, Grand River, Portage, Lexington, and Lancaster, ancl in the States of Connec ticut, Massachusetts, and New-Hampshire. In the Presbytery of Rochester, the con gregations 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 up wards of 160. In the Presbytery of On tario, a work of revival is progressing in the congregationsof Lima and West Bloomfield, which promises favourable results. In the Presbytery of Cayuga, the towns of Brutus and Auburn have shared extensively the ef fusions of the Spirit. Nearly 200 have been hopefully converted, and many more in both these towns are under serious im pressions. The work has extended into adjacent (owbs ; and Skaneateles and El bridge begin to share the effusions of the Spirit. In the Presbytery of Onondaga , the con gregations of Homer, Truxton, Smithfield, Virgil, Preble, De Kuyter, the second con gregation in Lenox, Cazenovia, the second congregation in Onondaga, 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 ofa season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in the. congregations of Mount Vernon, Union, Westmoreland, Vernon, Uti ca, Holland, Patent, Trenton, Litchfield, and New Hartford. In the Presbytery of Otsego, the congre gation of Cherry Valley has had an exten sive revival, during which 129 have been added to the church ; about 50 hopeful converts have not yet united themselves with the church, and 60 more are still un der 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 progressing. The Presbytery of Troy, reports an in stance of special refreshing in the congre galional church in Bennington, Vermont, which, though not in their connexion, is undpr Ihe pastoral care of one of their members. In that place from 25 to 30 persons have, in the course of a few months, given hopeful evidence of a saving change. Avery respectable accession has also been made to the church in Lansingburgh, and 88 persons have been added to the visible church iu Nassau, as the fruit ofa work of grace. The Presbytery of Albany have present ed a most interesting and animating report to the Assembly. This report is priuted ; and the Assembly regret that its length is too great to admit its- incorporation with this Narrative. They however recom mend its perusal to all the churches which can obtain a copy ; confident that it will gladden every Christian heart. The addi tions 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 tve are glad. In Ihe Presbytery of Columbia , an out pouring ofthe Holy Spirit has been experi enced in New Lebanon and Chatham ; and in Catskill, Cairo, and the city of Hudson, a good work has begun, which is still pro gressing : and we hope we shall not he considered officious, when we gratefully mention, that the Dutch Reformed congre gations of Coxsackie, Kinderbook, and Claverark, which tire 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 co piously watered with showers of Divine grace during the past year: nnd that the fruit has been the addition of 23 members to the Deerpark, 41 to that of Scotchtovvn, 110 to the church of Hopewell, 76 at Go shen, 199 at Blootninggrove, 57 at Ridge bury, 140 at Chester, 40 at Bethlehem, 196 at Westtown, 69 at Hamstead, 69 at Greenbush, and 17 at Forrestburgh, a con gregation recently formed : making a total of one thousand and thirty-seven. In the Presbytery of N'em 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 sixty 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 80 give evidence of hopeful Conversion. The revival yet progresses. The Presbytery of Newton, report, that during the past year, one hundred and eigh ty-five persons, who before were strangers from the “ covenant of promise,” and ene mies in their hearts, have been visited with the renewing and consoling influences of grace, and received into the communion of the church ; and they particularly menlion the church at Newton, as having been vis ited with the special influences of the Hoi- 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 ihe former, 60 have offered as candidates for an approach ing communion; and in the latter, 73 com municants have been received during ihe year, 48 of whom are the fruits of a revi val 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 Jo several others the Lord has vouchsafed anion- than usual -lut-rtsm-v of his Spirit ; and 253 soul? have been ad ded to the communion of the church, and the work is still progressing in several oth er 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 congrega tions there is special attention. The Presbytery of Lexington , state, that in the missionary field within their bounds, there has 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 assem blies to be bathed in tears during the deliv ery of a discourse. The Presbytery of Lancaster state, that amidst the moral desolations within their bounds, a few favoured spots have received the coltivalion 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 sincp been extending to other towns; and that about 70 congrega tions, out ofa 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 congre gations has bem from 200 to 300. This is stated to be thp greatest work of Divine grace enjoyed bv the churches of Connec ticut, since its first settlement, except the revival, in 1740—41. From the repoit of the General Associa tion of Massachusetts, presented to the As sembly by their delegates, it appears that, in many churches in their several associa tions, there has been a time of refreshing from Ihe presence of the Lord, which re sulted in the addition of many hundreds to their communion. From thp 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 congrega tions. It also appears that in the town of Bath, a time of refreshing from the pre sence 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 reli gion, and earnestly pray for still more rich manifestations of Divine grace to all the churches, thev are convinced that the prin cipal hopes ofthe church of God must rest on the ordinary operations of Ihe Divine Spirit accompanying the appointed means of grace. The Lord has promised, that the humble, the faithful, and prayerful exer tions of his ministers and people shall never be without bis blessing ; yet he has reserv ed 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 Jhe.mselves —professed hopes of forgiveness only through Ihe atoning blood of the Lord Je sus Christ—and dispositions to walk in all the commandments of the Lord, have mark ed the .exsreiiss of their respective sub ject*. Price S $3.56 pr. ann. or, > 1 t $3,00 in advance. \ These subjects have been of all ages and classes from eighty down to ten years of age. The obi and stubborn oak, and the young and tender plant have alike bent before the vvjnd 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 Universalisls have been humbled by the droctrines of the cross, and warned their neighbours of the dangerous and soul-destroying errours 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 grow ing liberality towards the/support of the gospel and benevolent institutions throughout our land. In addition to these wonderful and heart cheering 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 in form the churches, that the state of reli gion, in the different colleges within our bounds and the bounds of thpse who are connected with ns, is most encouraging. There are about 40 hopefully pious youth in Union College, Schenectady; in the Col lege at Princeton there are 25; in Dart mouth College, New Hampshire; there are about 70 ; in Jefferson College, Penn sylvania, and the University of North Caro lina, there are several more; in Yale Col lege, at New Haven, there about 90; and in Hamilton College 48, professors of reli- ~ The hope (hat most of these will proba bly devote themselves to the service of God, in the gospel of Lis Son, affords a mosi pleasing prospect to the American Churches. The Theological Seminary at v 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 w hom are hopeful ly pious. The Theological Seminary at Princeton, under the care cf the General Assembly, continues to enjoy the smiles of Divine Providence. It contains at present 73 students, among whom the spirit of missions is encreasing. Frt m 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 con gregations within our bounds, and from othei destitute parts of our couutry, 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 1 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 cl ,,a e our Narrative of the State of Religion within our bounds :—hoping that those <■ vils 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 endea vours for the advancement of the interests and the exten-ion of the limits of tfie Re deemer’s kingdom. We have, Christian Brethren, the great est 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 seas, and its branches to the river; that it shall spread itself like a goodly cedar, and be a dwelling place for 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 herdesert like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found there in ; thanksgiving and the voice of melody. I the Lord will hasten it in his time. Ani mated by these precious and faithful prom ises of God, continue your prayers and ex ertions ; and then we may confidently hope, that igncrance and vice and delusion will he banished from our borders, and that, these and other clogs being removed from its wheels, the Redeemer’s chariot ivill soon ride in majesty and triumph over this western world. “Amen: even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Published by order of the General As sembly ; Attest, Wju.iam Neiu-, Staled Cleric Philadelphia , May, A8? 1. THE CALVINIST. A person who suspected that a minister of his acquaintance was not truly a Calvi nist, went to him and said, ‘ Sir,! am told that you are'against the perseverance of the saints.’ “ Not 1,” answered he, “It is the perseverance of sinners that l rip pose.” But that is not a satisfactory an swer, Sir. Do you thiuls that a child of God cannot fall very low and yet be restor ed?’ He replied, “ I think it will be very dangerous to make tbe experiment.”