other religious meetings, baptized 10 children, administered the Lord's fupper once, and received in contributions for the Society dollars 82 cents. 24 Rev. Mr. Chadwick, in performing his miffion, which he commenced the 28th of April laft, rode 1086 miles, preached 122 fermons, affifted in forming one church of 27 members, admitted 12 perfons to the communion of churches-baptized 4 adults and 21 children-adminiftered the Lord's fupper 4 times, vifited 2 schools and 80 families-attended 2 religious conferences and 6 church ́ meetings and received in contributions, for the Society, 42 dollars 38 cents. ver Ayer, Clerk.Rev. Jeffe Extract of a letter from a perfon in Hubberton, to his father in Connecticut, dated Sept, 20, 1803. "HONORED Sir, "MY laft informed you of the good work in Pitsford, WestRutland, and fome other places, and the hopeful profpect here. At Pittsford the number hopefully born into the kingdom of grace, By thefe three Miffionaries the Society has afforded to the new fettlements forty weeks of minif-is 200, or upwards. At Weftterial fervice, and 277 fermons, in the course of the last year. Rutland 100, or more. About. one month fince there was the found of abundance of rain in Benfon, which ftill continues to pour down, and it is emphatical The Miffionaries bring back accounts of their reception and encouragement in their work, which must be animating to all who lovely a time of refreshing from the the profperity of Zion. They prefence of the Lord. Converts uniformly testify, that the people fpring up as the grafs. The wilare generally difpofed to attend dernefs and folitary places are glad upon the preached word, are for them; and this northern defprompt and apparently fincere inert is made to blossom as the rofe. expreffing their thanks to the So-Saints feed on hidden manna, and ciety, and, in many inftances, through the infinite mercy of a fovereign God, their hearts are opened to receive, in the love of it, the truth as it is in Jefus. At the above mentioned meet ing, the Society, in conformity to their conftitution, proceeded to elect, by ballot, the officers for the enfuing year. The following were chofen; viz. Rev. Ephraim Judfon, Prefident; the Hon. Timothy Edwards, Efq. Vice Prefident; the Hon. William Walker, Efq. Treasurer; Rev. Alvan Hyde, Secretary, and Rev. Oli join in the joy of angels. I have heard fome grey headed Chrif tians exclaim in extacy, "Lord now let thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen of thy falvation." The good Lord is now by his fpirit in this finful town, and a greater fhaking I never faw amongft dry bones. Oh pray for the enlargement and peace of Zion. May her borders be as extenfive as the globe-her children numerous as the human family-her peace as a river-and her righteoufnefs as the waves of the fea !" ORDINATION. ON Thursday the 10th day of November 1803, the Rev. TIMOTHY STONE was ordained Paftor of the confociated church of Chrift in Cornwall. The Rev. Samuel J. Mills of Torringford, made the introductory prayer; the Rev. Bezaleel Pinneo of Milford, preached a fermon happily adapted to the occafion, from 2 Tim. ii. 15.; the Rev. Ammi R. Robbins of Norfolk, made the confecrating prayer; the Rev. Peter Starr of Warren, delivered the charge; the Rev. Afael Hooker of Gofhen, gave the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Alexander Gillet of Torrington, made the concluding prayer. Solemnity and order pervaded the affembly. An undivided heart! Ev'n in his presence, in his houfe, How often have my treach'rous tho'ts To countless follies flown! 9. How cold my zeal to praise his name 10. Lord, should't thou ftrictly mark my faults, And bring thy judgment near, Beneath thy fearching, holy eyes Oh, how muft I appear! II. But thou art LOVE; thy grace can cleanse And fanctify my foul; The precious blood of Chrift can make The wounded finner whole. 12. Lord, glorify thy boundless grace By faving me from fin: Caft out, my God, the hateful foe, ASPASIO Donation to the Miffionary Society of Conncdicut. D. C. December 21, 1803. Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, avails of his Sermon, 21 70 D after he commenced a preacher he ministered to the people in Somers, and received the paftoral charge of the church in that place, by ordination, on the 10th of Auguft 1774. He was twice elected Profeffor of Divinity, first at Dartmouth College, and afterwards at Yale College, both of which elections he declined to accept. The first attack of disease, which difabled him for public labor and hath terminated in his death, was on Auguft 31ft, 1801. R. BACKUS was born of reputable and Chriftian parents, in that part of Norwich which is now called Franklin, on Nov. 5th, 1749, and by the wife and righteous proyidence of God was left an orphan in his child--He departed this life, on Dec. hood, when his education fell un- 30th, 1803, after a faithful minder the direction of pious relatives. iftry of more than 29 years. Discovering an early love of fcience, although his patrimony was not fully competent for the purpofe, his friends determined to affift him in obtaining a liberal education. He was graduated at Yale College in the year 1769.In the year 1801, Williams College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. His theological education was under the Rev. Dr. Hart of Prefton; and he became a licentiate for preaching the gospel, in June 1773. On the fecond Sabbath VOL. IV. No. 8. In College, he made a distinguifhing proficiency in fcience, and his life was moral and amiable. His understanding which was naturally clear, and his judgment which was correct, were improved by a general acquaintance with literary fubjects and the best authors. In the latter part of his collegiate life, his mind was impreffed with divine truth, and a deep conviction of the fin of his nature. Thefe impreffions, after a variety of exercises, terminated in a comfortable Christian hops. M m In his private writings he speaks | life hath been spent, graciously remembered him to the end. In his laft fickness, which was long, he had much of the divine presence until he departed, and as we confidently believe flept in Jefus. of a feafon in May 1770, in which the natural obftinacy of his heart was humbled, and he was led to a knowledge of the glory of a precious Redeemer; and from this time he maintained a Chriftian hope. The laft words which he was heard to whisper, were "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, As a Chriftian, he was humble, exemplary and fubmiffive, efpecial-good will towards men.”—His re ly fo, under the death of his only child, Mr. Jabez Backus, who died March 16th, 1794, in the 17th year of his age, and while a member of Yale College. As a Chriftian minifter he was faithful, evangelical and indefatigable in his paftoral fervices, being filled with a love of the fouls of his people. Under his miniftry, which we hope hath been bleffed for the falvation of many, there have been four feafons of the fpecial revival of religion. He was evangelical in all his inftructions, and his preaching, being drawn from the oracles of truth, was not according to the wifdom of man, but in demonftration of the fpirit and in power. The people of his charge, and those who occafionally heard his ministration, are witneffes with what plainnefs he rebuked fin, and taught falvation thro' faith in Chrift, together with the neceffity of perfonal holinefs, as the only evidence of a good hope; and how he enforced thefe doctrines by a Christian example. mains were committed to the dust, the Tuesday following his death. In the funeral fervice, Doctor Williams first prayed. A fermon was delivered by Doctor Strong from Pfalm xxiii. 4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me."The concluding prayer was made by Doctor Perkins. The friends of Zion are fenfible that a light is extinguished in our churches, and they pray that much of the divine prefence may be granted to the bereaved widow, and to the church which is left without a paftor. [Sundry extras from the writings of Doctor Backus will be publifbed in the future numbers of this. work.] Dialogues on the Chriftian Doctrines, continued from page 257. DIALOGUE II. You James. OU obferved, my friend, in our laft interview, that the doctrine of total depravity was very alarming to every natural man-but it appears to me if finners are ever so much alarmed, it is to no purpose. If God, from all eternity, has elected a certain number to falvation, they will be faved, let them do what they will; and if he has determined a certain 'number fhall be damned, it will The Lord, in whofe fervice his be impoffible to avoid it, as their As a theologian he was eminent. His retired fituation which was favorable to ferious ftudies, and his eminence as an instructor, drew around him many who were defigned for the Chriftian minif try. Nearly fifty have been members of his theological fchool, the greater part of whom are now paftors in the churches. fate is fixed; and any exertion that the creature can make, will not fruftrate or difappoint omnip otence. would inquire who you expect will judge the world? James. The Lord Jefus Chrift will be judge of quick and dead. John. What is neceffary to qualify him to be an impartial John. Are you able by any means to determine whether you are one of the elect or not, admit-judge? ting the doctrine true? James. I am not. John. What are the terms of falvation? James. Repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift. John. Then if you repent of fin, and have faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift, you are fure of falvation. If you retain your faculties, fo as to be able to have faith and repentance, and can get no knowledge of God's decree as it refpects you, I can conceive no way wherein it can interfere with your falvation. If God has fixed yourftate, he has done it in full view of your conduct; being from all eternity perfectly acquainted with your character, he has determined your ftate agreeable to your works. If God from all eternity was not perfectly acquainted with the characters of his creatures, then he was not eternally perfect; his perfections you have fully agreed to, and it is impoffible he fhould know what the characters of his creatures will be, unless it is pofitively determined. James. I can fee no propriety in God's fixing the ftate of his creatures, previous to their exiftence. If he has left them moral agents, they choofe their own ftate, and not God; but if God determines their ftate, it follows they cannot; but must be entirely paffive. John. No creature will have any just reafon to complain, if God decides his character, agreeable to his own choice. But I James. It is neceffary he should poffefs infinite wifdom, and the knowledge of every event, with every attending circumftance, and perfect knowledge of every heart, and infinite goodnefs to incline him to do right, and almighty power to execute his righteous decifion. John. You fuppofe at the day of judgment, God will render to every one as his works fhall be; and the wicked fhall go away into everlafting punishment, but the righteous, into life eternal ? James. I do. John. Then you agree at the day of judgment God will elect the righteous to life eternal, and fend the wicked away to punishment? James. I agree, that he will then elect or appoint the righteous to eternal life, because by patience and well doing they will have inherited the promises; and he will fend the wicked away because they have been rebellious and impenitent. John. If God from all eternity poffeffed all the knowledge of his creatures that he poffibly can at the day of judgment, I inquire of you, and rational creature, every if he was not as well qualified from all eternity, to elect and appoint, as he poffibly can be at the day of judgment, if he poffeffed the fame power, knowledge, wifdom and goodnefs? If he would not decide as impartially, and give to every act of his creatures its full defert, and decide for the fame reasons, and elect on the fame account, and |