secured their lands to them, he || lemnity, with singular devotion, and with a sweet, yet powerful melting of their affections. During the administration of the sacrament, especially in the distribution of the bread, they were af fected in so lively a manner, that it seemed as if Christ Jesus had been set forth crucified among them." Mr. Brainerd afterwards walked from house to house to converse with the communicants; and he was happy to find that almost all of them had been refresh was anxious to excite and to cul- Apprehending that a number of the Indians were now qualified to become partakers of the Lord's Supper, Mr. Brainerd, after instructing them more particularly in the nature and design of that holy ordinance, resolved to administer it to them. Having observed a day of fasting and prayer, for the purpose of humbling themselves on account of the partial withdrawment of that spiritual influence which had of late been so prevalent among them, and on account of the appearance of carelessness, vanity, and vice, among some who not long before seemed impressed with a sense of their sinfulness and misery, as well as for imploring the presence and blessing of God in the sacred service which they had in prospect, twenty-three of the Indians sat down together at the Lord's table on the following Sabbath; and there were several absent, who would otherwise have been admitted along with them. The exercise was attended with great so Never did he witness such an appearance of Christian love among any people: It was so remarkable, that one might justly have exclaimed, "Behold how these Indians love one another!" Mr. Brainerd visited the Indians on the Susquehannah, but was prevented from staying with them, not only by his own extreme debility, but by the sickness which then prevailed in that part of the country, and the weakly state of his companions. After being absent upwards of a month, he again arrived among his own people, and though now very ill, resumed his labours among them, as far as his exhausted strength would permit, often discoursing to them from his bed. He once more administered the Lord's Supper to his beloved flock, and on this occasion the number of communicants amounted to near forty, besides some serious white people from the neighbourhood. After the service was over, he could scarcely walk home; but was supported by his friends, and laid on bed, where he lay in pain till the evening. His disorder now increased so rapidly, that he was obliged to leave his beloved Indian flock i the beginning of November. Before his departure the following day, he visited them all in their houses, weak as he was, and discoursed with each individual, as he thought was most suitable to their particular circumstances He scarcely left a family where there were not some in tears, not only on account of his being about to leave them, but with the solemn addresses he made to them. After spending most of the day in this manner, he left home and rode about two miles, happy that he had been so much assisted in taking farewell of his people. "My heaven is to please God, to There is nothing in the world worth living for, but doing good, living to God, pleasing him, and doing his whole will." After leaving his little flock, Mr. Brainerd's complaints made rapid and alarming progress. Sometimes he was so low, that his friends despaired of his life, and even thought he could scarcely survive a day. He afterwards, however, recovered in a considerable degree; and in the following spring, he once more visited his beloved Indians, but was obliged to leave them almost immediately, and to continue riding about for his health. The loss of time which this occasioned was a severe trial to him, and often contributed with other circumstances, to inspire him with the most gloomy reflections. As new symptoms of approaching dissolution made their Mr. Brainerd was now daily appearance, he became more ani- growing worse; but yet ill as he mated and cheerful. When he was, he eagerly employed the little spoke of the period of his death, strength which still remained, in he used to call it, that glorious some attempts to promote the gloday" nor was this because hery of the Redeemer and the salvashould then be delivered from sorrow and pain, and raised to dignity and honour, for he considered that as comparatively a low and ignoble consideration, but because he should then be able to glorify God with a pure and perfect heart. One night, when he was attempting to walk a little, he thought with himself, "How infinitely sweet is it, to love God, and to be all for him." Upon which it occurred to him : "You are not an angel, not lively and active." To this, his whole soul instantly replied: "I as sincerely desire to love and glorify God, as any angel in heaven." The same evening, he exclaimed: || 66 tion of souls. It greatly refreshed him amidst all his bodily sickness and pain, that he was enabled to contribute a little towards these important objects. Nature, how|| ever, was at length exhausted. He gradually sunk under the ravages of his disorder, and after a severe struggle, breathed his last, October 9, 1747, in the thirtieth year of his age. Thus died Mr. Brainerd, a young man whose extraordinary worth and piety entitle him to the warmest admiration and respect of the Christian world, and whose memo ry deserves to be embalmed to the latest generations. Brown's Hist. IMPORTANCE SYSTEMATIC RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT OF MISSIONS. AND IN THE We beg the particular attention of our readers to the following remarks, from an Agent of the Board of Foreign Missions who has been successfully labouring in the formation of Missionary Societies in the State of Maine. BELIEVING as we do, that the day of miracles is past, and that the heathen must be enlightened and instructed in the principles of our holy religion, or perish in their sins; we must know that the great change to be accomplished in their moral condition is not the work of a day, nor of a few hundreds of missionaries, nor of any feeble, dilatory, inefficient exertions. It is a work which requires the combined and vigorous efforts of all the churches for many years. Taken up by a few individuals it would be a wild and visionary scheme; but let all Christendom come forward to the work, and as stupendous as it is, it would be feasible and the burden would be light. Missionary enterprises are no new thing under the sun; they are as old as Christianity. By the world they have always been regarded as wild and chimerical. The mission of Christ into our world; that of the Apostles to the Jews and Gentiles; or that of the first missionaries to our forefathers, was no less wild and enthusiastic, than are modern missions to Burmah and Hindostan. Man is the same in all heathen countries. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day and forever. What is now wanting in miracles, is made up in numbers and increasing light. "But is it wild to have bowels of compassion for six hundred millions of our fellow men, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, who are dying in their sins and sinking into hell? Is it wild to obey the command of Christ, and go and preach the gospel to them for their salvation? Is it visionary to suppose that two hundred millions of Christians are able to contribute to spread the unsearchable riches of Christ over the whole world? Is it enthusiastic earnestly to desire that this work of saving a world of immortal beings from everlasting burnings should be done without any further delay? While some are wielding the weapons of opposition to the cause of missions and vainly contending with Omnipotence, others are prone to excuse themselves from taking any part in that cause in which the Saviour died upon the cross. What are these excuses? and what is their amount? In nineteen cases out of twenty it will be found, they are either the poisonous fruit of ignorance, prejudice and superstition; or, what is still worse, they are brought forward as a cover for a base, narrow-minded, covetous disposition, which is idolatry. Instead of magnifying difficulties and making excuses, Christians every where ought to be exhorting and stimulating each other to the work, and the common voice one to another should be, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are already white to harvest. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. O, ye disciples of Jesus, how can ye repay the debt of gratitude, which you owe to your Redeemer? He died for you on the cross. He called this should not prevent the attendance of as many others as possible. Two or three weeks before the Annual Meeting, the Secretaries of the Primary Societies should transmit their Reports to the Secretary of the Auxiliary, and from these, and other sources, a concise Report should be prepared by the officers of the larger Society. you by his grace, delivered you from sin and hell, restored you to God, and inspired you with the blessed hope of everlasting life. Now he calls you to his service, and requires that henceforth you should not live to yourselves, but to him, who loved you and gave himself for you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood. If it is important that the work of missions be taken up at all, it The Executive Committee of is no less important that it should the Auxiliary Society, as desigbe prosecuted with untiring and nated by the third Article of the increasing efficiency. To be car- Constitution, should have at least ried forward vigorously, it must one or two meetings in a year for be aided by publick spirit diffused the transaction of business. Exextensively in the community. cept this be done, how can they Many individuals must be brought discharge the duties required of to feel and act as though the cause them by the 5th Article of the Conwere their own; and as though stitution, but by deputing some of success were more dear to them their number to attend the meetthan any private interest. And ings of the several Primary SocieAndings what cause can be more worthy ties, and adopting the most enerof publick spirited exertions than getic measures in their power to the cause of Christ? What object accomplish the object of the Socan be more precious to the Chris-ciety P tian, than that which is dear to the heart of everlasting love? That these Primaries, which have been recently organized and brought into united form as Auxiliary Societies, may not decline, some leading men in the Auxiliary should feel that a paternal responsibility rests upon them in relation to the Branches composing their body. They should endeavour to give the institution importance and respectability in the view of the people, and to infuse new life and energy into the members, by rendering the Anniversaries as publick and interesting as possible. To this end, let notice be given of the Annual Meeting, both of the Auxiliary and of the several Primaries, two or three weeks previous. Let the minister do his utmost to excite an interest, and let him prepare himself with a sermon for the occasion Let each Primary Society choose a Delegation to attend the Annual Meetings of the Auxiliary; but In the present system of operations, much, very much is made to depend upon the Collectors. Unless they perform their duty, the Society dies. They should feel the high responsibilities of one who is engaged in the same good cause in which martyrs suffered, in which apostles laboured, and in which the Saviour himself bled and died. Being engaged in so good a cause, they should be bold in their applications, and always seasonable in their calls. Finally, let the collectors and all others who have a heart to do good, and who wish to excite a powerful interest in favour of the missionary cause, realize the importance of circulating missionary intelligence. This may be done through the medium of tracts, papers, and particularly the American Baptist Magazine. How easily night 3 or 4 families in a neighbourhood unite in taking the Magazine. And what signal blessings would result from this, not only to parents and children, but to soci- ||by not attending to this? Let us consider the subject. Suppose preaching be published for seven o'clock, and you go not in for five, ten, or fifteen minutes after-what can your congregation think of such a time, and you do not come in ety at large! What better reason can be assigned for the unprecedented zeal and exertions of the English Baptists and our Congregational brethren in the cause of missions, than the extensive circu-you? You publish preaching for lation of facts, and powerful appeals to the Christian publick, through the medium of tracts and periodical journals? How many hearts have been opened by the Memoirs of Harriet Newell and Catherine Brown! Who can read the story of the Little Osage Captive, or the Journals of the devoted Missionaries, and say it would be no privilege nor satis-God of truth? Surely you canfaction for him to contribute any not. I never knew a preacher thing for the extension of the Re- who acted in this way who did not deemer's kingdom? Let chris- lose the confidence of the people tians be made acquainted with to such a degree, as essentially to facts, let them read and hear and injure his publick usefulness. Add see what God is accomplishing by to this, that the congregations are the instrumentality of his mission-ever ruined by such conduct. aries, and they cannot but feel, and pray, and most heartily come forward with their tythes and offerings, the first fruits of all their increase. Be punctual in getting in proper time to the place where you are to dine and lodge. Do not make a whole family wait upon you. This is both injustice and insolence. While I readily grant, with our blessed Lord, that "the labourer is worthy of his meat," yet he should certainly come to receive it in due time : and he who habitually neglects this, disappointing and confusing the families wherever he comes, is not worthy of a I have known some, of more than common ministerial abilities, lose their importance, and ruin themselves in the opinion of the people, by their want of punctuality in this respect. NEVER disappoint a place: this would be contrary to your cove-morsel of bread. nant with God, your agreement with your brethren, and your engagements to the people. Keep your own watch always to true time, and begin precisely at the time appointed. Never be a ininute later than true time, except in the country, where there is no publick clock then five minutes may be allowed for the difference between clocks and watches. But these five minutes may be as well before as after common time in other places. Do not many preachers, of all denominations, sin against God and their own souls, Never leave any place you visit, without reading a portion of Scripture, and praying with the family and seize the most convenient time for family-prayer in the houses where you lodge. Just before they sit down to meat, is, in my opinion, the best time: then the several members of the family are generally present. But I have often observed, that one, and an |