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no secret of their sentiments, soon spread them among others, both Hindoos and Mussulmans; thus they are increased to a considerable number. Moorad told me they reckoned near two hundred there and in adjacent villages, who associate with them, and whom they called brethren. They

clear himself. In this he acquiesced; and I afterwards learnt that he had started this objection only for the sake of having it answered in the hearing of the Mussulmans present. We then adjourned to the veranda, where we spent a most pleasing eve-are not idle in disseminating their opinions, and sometimes meet with ning together; they sitting a- much opposition from the Brahround, and asking questions about mans." (p. 343, 344.) Christ, the resurrection, the death of sin, a future state, and heavenly happiness. We talked of these things till our hearts seemed to grow warm. About nine, I left them, astonished and thankful on account of what I had seen and heard among them." (p. 339, 340.)

Aug. 16. After a long debate between the Missionary and a Brahman on the comparative merits of Christianity and Hindooism, "an old man, who seems the chief among them, took me aside for private conversation. He asked me whether God was absent or present? I told him he was present every where, but dwelt in a peculiar manner in them who loved him. He then asked me a variety of questions about the gospel, a future judgment, and the destruction of idolatry; and finally, whether we were sent to destroy maya or delusion, by which he meant hindooism and mahometanism. I told him we were. He then entreated us to do it quickly, and by no means to be idle in the work.

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"He is a pleasant, grave Hindoo, nearly sixty. In his mind first arose doubts about idolatry; he now jects all their poojahs and casts; and says there is one God, whom he calls Father. He hears the gospel with apparent pleasure, and recommends it to others. I find that about fourteen years ago, some of his neighbors began to dislike idolatry too, and to associate with him. These, making

POETRY.

COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL.

An Ordination Hymn.

THOU! who reign'st exalted
high,
Almighty Lord of earth and sky,
Thy wond'rous love, ere time began,
A Saviour chose for rebel man.
He in due time on earth appear'd,
His voice this world of sorrow cheer'd;
His messengers, a glorious band,
Spread truth divine thro' ev'ry land.
Thy gracious promise, Lord, fulfil,
Thy servants form with heav'nly skill,
Let them with all their power unite,
And make their duty their delight.
May Sinai's awful thunders roll,
In terror to the guilty soul;
While HE, the LAMB, that once was
slain,

Charms a lost world from endless
pain.

Let unborn ages catch the sound,

And waft it to creation's bound:
Let grace divine from realms above,
Melt the proud heart with sov'reign
love.

O glorious day! O bliss supreme!
ONE GOD-the universal theme!
And every realm with rapture own,
Their faith and hope in CHRIST THE

SON.

Then let the last dread trumpet roar,
Let time itself exist no more,
Wrapt like a scroll in purging fire,
Let stars, and suns, and worlds expire

Donations to the Missionary Society of Connecticut.

Feb. 9. Contributed in new settlements to Rev. S. Williston, 29 36
Received for Magazines sold in new settlement,

14. A Friend of Missions,

12 00

D. C.

00 75-42 13

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On the Promise of the Holy Ghost. from this prophet, in which he

BEFORE the

speaks with rapture on the bles

also told, by the apostle Peter, that the prophecy of Joel respected this event, when he said,

terward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions and also upon the servants and upon the handmaidens in those days, will I pour out my Spirit." But Christ himself promised most expressly,

our blessed Lord, there were a number of predictions and promises given, that the Holy Ghost should be poured out up-"And it shall come to pass afon believers in an eminent measure. Isaiah was sent to comfort the saints with this promise, and said in the name of the Lord, "Hear now, O Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee, Fear not, O Jacob my servant, and thou Jesurun whom I" He that believeth an me, as have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the God of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel." Many other passages might be copied VOL. V. No. 10.

the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." On another occasion he foretold the gift of the Spirit to his disciples, saying, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth." The most particular promise which W w

and to have an happy effect upon the world. By these descriptions we are led to expect, that the promises would be fulfilled in

Christ gave, concerning the office of the Holy Spirit is recorded, John xvi. 7-11," Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go a-something which would essenway; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and before his ascension, he renewed this promise to his disciples, and said that they should receive the Holy Ghost in a very short time. "He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, Hot many days hence.”

tially affect the state of the world, and that it would be a most desirable change of things; that it would not, like the ancient dispensation, be confined to the Jews; but that other nations should share in its blessings.The promises also lead us to conclude, that it would be of a religious nature; for it was declared that it should lead them into all truth, and that the Spirit should glorify Christ, and take of his things, and shew them unto his people. Besides, the things foretold concerning this great event, must have led the disciples to expect a blessing, which would be permanent; for it was predicted, that the Spirit should remain with them for ever, and not leave the world, as Christ was about to do. What these promises meant is best known by their accomplishment, and by other prophecies which inform us what things of this kind remain to be accomplished. To this then we must now attend.

Our Lord gave his disciples the promise of the Holy Ghost a few days before his crucifixion, that he might prepare them for that most trying event, and show The promise of the Comfortthem that it was expedient heer, which is the Holy Ghost, beshould go away. It is evident gan to be fulfilled on the Pentefrom the promises, that the dis- cost which immediately succeedciples were to receive a great ed our Lord's resurrection. That blessing, even greater than to was indeed a most memorable have enjoyed the presence of day, such as the world had never Christ with them here in the before seen; not only on account flesh and that some wonderful of the things which then took event was to take place, superior place; but because this was the to any thing of the kind, which commencement of a train of simhad ever come to pass in our ilar events, which continued till world."For the Holy Ghost was after the apostolic age, and of not yet given, because that Jesus some important things which was not yet glorified." It was to abide until the present day, and be a rich blessing to the apostles, I will remain to the end of the

world, and be attended with blessed consequences to eternity.

Another effect of the Holy Ghost was an ability which was given them, to address any man, of any nation with whom they met, in his own language; and this they could do, though they had been educated in private

When on the day of Pentecost the disciples were together with one accord in prayer, the Comforter came down upon them with various influences, and such as tended to give them unspeak-life, and had been taught no lanable support and comfort. One guage but what was common in effect was the wonderful remov- their own country. A remarkaal of the fear of men, which till ble instance of this took place at then oppressed them. Though the Pentecost; where were Parthey abode at Jerusalem, as they thians, Medes, Elamites, men of were commanded, yet they used Mesopotamia, Judea, Capadocia, from fear of the Jews, to meet Asia, Phrygia, Pamphilia, Ein secret with closed doors; lest gypt, Lybia, Cyrene, strangers their malice against Christ, of Rome, Jews and proselytes. should lead them to abuse or de- All heard the apostles, each in stroy his followers. But now of his own language, declare the a sudden they were relieved marvellous things of God. Thus from all their apprehensions, and the Holy Spirit furnished them were endued with such Christian with the gift of tongues, to go courage, that they went forth un- into all the world, and preach daunted, and preached Christ the gospel to every creature, tespublicly, and testified to all, whe-tifying the gospel of the grace of ther natives, or strangers who had assembled at the feast, to common people, or their rulers, and in the face of the Jewish sanhedrim, or great ecclesiastical council, which had collected against them, that Jesus was the Christ; that they with wicked hands had put him to death, and that God had raised him from Working miracles indeed was the dead. They came forth from not a new thing. Moses, Elijah their secret retirements into the and others had before been emtemple, the streets and public powered to perform them, and places, and warned people to Christ, who was full of the Holy believe on the Lord Jesus Christ Ghost, had wrought them; but that they might be saved. Nei- this power was now renewed or ther threatenings, stripes, im- continued to the disciples; so prisonments, nor persecutions, that they raised the dead, and could ever awe their spirits. wrought all kinds of cures, and They suffered death with more gave great signs and wonders in than heroism-with Christian the name of Christ, and in testitriumph, sealing their testimony mony to him and his gospel.with their blood. Such fortitude, This was evidently the power of from this time forth, was impart-God attending them, for they ed to others, and became very had no wisdom or power of general among Christians. themselves to do those things,

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God to Gentiles as well as Jews. This was a great and singular event, such as had never before taken place in the world, and it was very necessary at that time for the extension of the gospel, and the building up of the kingdom of Christ among the nations.

idols, and the church of Chirist at once rose up in all places. All these works of the Spirit were wrought openly and pub

any more than other men. It was not they who did them, but God himself. He made them his messengers to declare his truth, and attended them with his pow-licly in the face of the world. er, in testimony of the gospel which he employed them to publish.

The Holy Spirit also, in an extraordinary manner, taught them what to say he guided them into all truth, opened to them the scriptures of the Old Testament, and revealed by his immediate inspiration such things as were necessary to be done, taught and predicted. And if they were brought before kings and rulers, they were directed never to premeditate their defence, and were assured, that it should be given them from above what they should say; which accordingly took place.

Another thing accomplished by the divine Spirit, was the raising up the church of Christ in one age, nursing and extending it through the whole Roman empire, and far eastward into Asia, and southward into Africa. All this was done without any earthly inducements, without human power, authority or influence, contrary to the will of the kings and magistrates of the earth, and the long established customs, prejudices and education of all people, Jews and Gentiles, and to all the inclinations and passions of the depraved hearts of men. In a short time Jesus, who had been crucified as a malefactor, was adored in almost every city, town and settlement, of any considerable magnitude, through immense regions of the earth. The Jews in great numbers laid aside their ritual solemnities, the Gentiles abandoned the altars of their

The world stood, gazed and wondered, and saw all these" things taking place. And tho' no means were neglected, either of force or art, to suppress this work, yet it withstood all opposition, and grew and spread and prospered.

Here we might notice how the apostles and other eminent ministers of the gospel, being led on and filled with the Holy Ghost, labored and journeyed; how they were comforted and rejoiced; how the Holy Ghost fell on thousands in his miraculous influences; so that they could speak with tongues, prophesy, interpret and work miracles. But for further particulars, let me refer the reader to the Acts of the apostles, and to many places in their epistles, where these things are incidentally noticed. The gifts of the Spirit were various, and all to profit withal.

Nor ought the awakening, renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to remain unnoticed in this place. These were the end and design of all the extraordinary operations of the Spirit, and they are continued to the present day. How many cried," What shall we do to be saved?" How many trembled and turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God! And how many-what multitudes, within these more than seventeen hundred years since that time, have been the subjects of the sav ing and comforting influences of the Spirit!

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