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Rev. WILLIAM WILLIAMS,

President.

Vice-President.

Mr. LORING S. WILLIAMS,

Secretary and Treasurer.

breeze, and quietly entered on her!
course, followed by the gaze of many
deeply interested spectators. The con- Rev. CALEB TODD,
tinual fair winds that prevailed for seve-
ral days afterwards, accompanied by
clear weather, bore her pleasantly, we
doubt not, far on her destined way.-
We commend the little company and
their floating mansion, to the guidance
and protection of the Head of the
Church, whose providence extends even
to the sparrow and lily, who maketh
the clouds his chariot and walketh upon
the wings of the wind.

William Griswold, Esq.
Mr. Ezra Maynard,
William D. Ford, Esq.
Dr. Isaac Sears,

Dea. Cyrus M. Johnson,
Mr. Amos Brockel,
Mr. Reuben Kelsey,

Committee.

The Rev. WILLIAM WILLIAMS is appointed to deliver an Address at the next meeting of the Society.

RETARY OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.

Malta, Valletta, Sept. 3, 1814.
My Dear Sir,

Christians, friends of missions, they go as almoners of your bounty. They have left fathers and mothers, houses and lands for the service of Christ, and LETTER FROM DR. NAUDI TO THE SECto bear your offering of love to the Gentiles. They go as your méssengers, to say among the benighted heathen, that God reigneth on a throne of grace, reconcilable to the guilty. Let the breath of prayer, then, speed them on their voyage. Let them share, while on their embassy of love, an affectionate remembrance in your intercessions and your alms. God grant that they may be faithful in delivering their message, that many Asiatics may welcome it with faith, and come at last with them to the heavenly Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. PAN.

The Salisbury Society for the

tion of Good Morals.

REFERRING to a letter which I wrote lately to you, I shall not repeat what I said about the young man, Jerome Pana, already prepared to leave Malta, and to be engaged under your Society, as one of those young persons whom you commissioned me to send out to be educated for the future benefit of North Africa.

I had lately much conversation with a gentleman from, Derna, an important place in the neighborhood of Tripoli.He had been in almost every corner of Promo-that territory, and had travelled much about the Deserts of Barca. That part of the ancient world, which once gave A number of the inhabitants of the birth to such great Christian men, and towns of Salisbury, Manheim and Fairwhere the Church of Christ greatly field, convened on the 25th of November last, agreeably to previous appoint-and is reduced to a state, very little difflourished, is now the most neglected, ment, The Rev. Caleb Todd, was cal-ferent from that of the Hottentots and led to preside as Moderator, and Loring other savages of Africa. A well dispoS. Williams appointed Secretary. Af ter an appropriate prayer by the Moderator, and an address by the Secretary, they unanimously agreed to form quisite for the purpose, would effect a themselves into a Society for the supent tribes. There are among them a great deal of good among those differpression of vice and the encouragement multitude of Jews; and in the late of virtue. A Constitution was then presented, read, discussed and adopted.-people migrated from Europe to Cairo, troubles, a very great number of this The meeting was then adjourned to the people migrated from Europe to Cairo, and other parts of Egypt, and to Jerusafirst Thursday in January, when the folJem. It is very singular to observe, lowing gentlemen were elected officers that, in the short period of two years, of the Society for the present year. many unexpected conversions from the

sed man, endowed with such individual and Christian qualifications as are re

Jewish to the blessed religion of Jesus red, who were lost to us in the fatal have taken place all round the Mediter-year 1813.

ranean.

I had the other day a second letter from the Bishop of Nicotia in Cyprus, in answer to one sent to him from one of my friends here, John Suappottolo, who is much interested in promoting the knowledge of the Gospel. He took upon himself to procure for us two good persons from Arabia, in order to be sent for better education to your benevolent Society for the ultimate benefit of North Africa. Fully persuaded of the essential good which will follow from your exertions in that part of the world, he promised to send to us shortly these || two young men from Alexandria, well educated according to the custom of their country, and of good characters; and it will be all at his own expense till they arrive in Malta.

Since the beginning of this month I have been in mourning for my sister Rosi, who was ill when I wrote to you last. She ended her life on the last day of July. Every thing possible was attempted to prolong her life, but in vain. I passed three mouths with her in the country, at a spot which is considered the best for consumptive diseases. We are very much distressed by this loss, and my mother is almost inconsolable. But let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! Her last words, just a minute before she died, were : "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ! Father, I commend it into thy hands." I continue that work which I began when I was with you, about the present state of Christianity round the Mediterranean and in the Islands. But I want We are always lamenting here the a great deal of information for rendergood persons lost by the plague lasting it complete. year. Before my coming to England The case of the Jews must be consiwe bad, as you know, a new Society, dered as mysterious, in respect to their well adapted for religious purposes, in present conduct. Notwithstanding they this island, which was called the "So-are at this time tolerated in Turkey ciety of Francisco," after the Founder. more than before, and in a great measThis good man died by the plague; and ure protected in all the Levant and the with him died a great part of our bene- || islands by that falling empire of the Mavolent people. These perished, because, hometans, yet their conversions to the more than others, they exposed them-Christian Religion were never so freselves to the contagion. All those mem-quent as they have been in these latter bers of the Society who took an active part in visiting the sick, and giving the Lord's supper to the dying, lost their lives. Their zeal was a great blessing to the dying; but all of thein failed, and are lamented.

The other young man whom I mentioned to you, and whom I meant to send to the Society, lost his father and sister by the contagion: in consequence of which he is obliged to support the business of his father, and to decline, with great regret, accepting your proposal. He desires me to give you this statement, and begs to be considered always as an intimate friend of the Society. We have lost about twenty-four Priests, who were, for the most part, eminent persons for character and piety. At the burial ground, near town, about 6000 of our inhabitants are inter

times. I have received various accounts relative to this important subject. I greatly desire now to go to Syria, to Palestine, and particularly to Damascus, in order to examine into the present condition of that people, and their true situation. Perhaps I shall do it when Mr. Jowet arrives.

Remember me when together to the respectable members of your Society. I never fail to commend them to the Omnipotent, that their zeal and their means for spreading the Gospel may increase, and their plans for promoting the grand object may have vigor and success; till, at last, the true religion of our blessed Savior shall cover the earth all over. I remain with true respect, Yours, &c.

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to do what God in his providence has rendered impossible.

But, although no invariable rule can

The Sanctification of the Sabbath. In my last number, after briefly showing what is implied by remember-||be given, it is certain, that reading, or ing the Sabbath day, and what is meant by keeping it holy, I proceeded to specify some of the appropriate duties and services of holy time; viz. serious medilation, prayer, and self-examination. I now proceed to remark,

hearing the Scriptures read, should employ some part of every person's time upon the Sabbath. Sickness, unless if be extreme, furnishes no exception. Every sick person has friends, or attendants, who can read to him; and 4. That some portion of every his being sick is an additional reason Lord's day ought to be spent in read-why he should turn his most serious ing the Scriptures and other religious || attention to that blessed volume, in books. Whether the time devoted to which life and immortality are brought this object shall be one hour, or two, to light. If the lively oracles may not or five, or more, in any particular case, be neglected on any other day, withit is obvious, that no general rule of du-out incurring the Divine displeasure, ty can be laid down with exactness. much less may they be neglected upon The rule must necessarily vary accor- the Lord's day. ding to circumstances. Those persons, How glorious, how precious, is the who have the whole day to themselves, light of revelation! See how bright it can read more than the heads of young shines upon this fallen and benighted families, who are bound to devote a world! It is the Bible, that reveals to very considerable portion of the Sab-us the perfections of its infinite Author. bath, to the care and instruction of It is the Bible, and no other book, that their children. The healthy can read more than the weak and infirm, and those who live near the house of God, more than others who live at a consid-|| erable distance, if, in each case, they regularly attend public worship.

It

informs us how a sinner can be justified before God. It is that holy volume, which points us to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world-that speaks to the trembling believer, son, daughter, be of good The same person, also, has much cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee-that more time for reading on some Sab- contains a balm for every spiritual baths, than on others. On one Sab-wound, a cordial for every sorrow. bath, it may be his plain duty to spend is the Bible, that guides the steps of more time than usual in prayer; the the weary pilgrim, through the wildernext in religious conversation; and theness of this world, and sheds the light third in attending public worship; in of heaven upon the darkness of the each of which cases, he will have less grave; a light which pierces the thick time for reading. Nor have sickness gloom of the valley of the shadow of and health, whether personal or among death, and directs the eyes of the befriends, less influence in varying the liever to realms of eternal day. rule of duty. If I am confined to my|| Animated by the hopes which the Bibed with a fever, or if my family is ble authorizes, supported by its consosick, it is plain that I am not required lations and promises, thousands have

A a

triumphed in their last cold agonies, good, is a dictate of natural religion,

and begun their eternal song before their flesh and heart entirely failed.

It is well known, that the heathen, almost every where, have, from the earAnd shall such a book,-shall the liest times, had their appointed seasons most precious gift of God to men, next of meeting to worship their gods. But to that of his Son, ever be laid out of not to insist on the example of pagans, sight for one day? Shall such a treas- though it might well shame multitudes ure be lightly esteemed by fallen man? who call themselves Christians, we How worthy to be kept every hour at have a more sure word of prophecy, to his right hand! How much more pre-which let us diligently take heed. The cious than all the gems that ever glit-law was appointed of old to be read in tered in the crown of royalty! It is the synagogues, every Sabbath day. said, that Alexander the great, falsely And surely, if the priests were bound so called, took the works of Homer to read it, it was the duty of the peoalong with him in all his wars, and ev-ple to assemble and hear. Indeed, an ery night laid them with his sword un-express command of God to the Jews, der his pillow. How much more wor-was, Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and thy are the Scriptures to be near our reverence my sanctuary. To do this, hearts. Let the Bible, then, be our his people have in all ages accounted most intimate companion. Especially one of their highest privileges. I was let the perusal of it always find a place glad, saith David, when they said unto in our early preparations for the Sab-me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. bath. Let all the time, on Saturday Our feet shall stand within thy gates, evening, which is not employed in O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as other religious duties, be spent in read-||a city that is compact together, whither ing it. Let it be read in the morning, the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, before public worship, then during the unto the testimony of Israel, to give intermission, and again after the pub-thanks unto the name of the Lord. In lic services of the day are concluded. what plaintive strains does the same Let the texts selected by the preacher holy man lament his exclusion from be carefully examined. Let all truth the sanctuary. How amiable are thy be treasured up in the memory. Let tabernacles, O Lord of hosts; my soul the fruits of righteousness abundantly longeth, yea even fainteth, for the courts testify, that the good seed has taken of the Lord. My heart and my flesh deep root in good ground. crieth out for the living God. Blessed

sand.

It would be very easy to specify a|| are they that dwell in thy house: they great number of religious books, with-will be still praising thee. For a day in almost every person's reach, which spent in thy courts is better than a thou may undoubtedly be read upon the Lord's day, provided they do not en- It would be easy to show, did time croach upon the time which belongs to permit, that the apostles, and other the Bible. The Bible must ever have|| primitive Christians, assembled statedthe pre-eminence. It must be read ly for religious worship, upon the first first, and read more than any other day of the week, which has been provbook or books. It is only when weed to be the Christian Sabbath. have time to spare from the Scriptures, John xx, 19, 26; Acts xx, 7; and that we may attend to the writings of 1 Cor. xvi, 1, 2. Nor must I omit to pious uninspired men, upon the Sab-refer the reader to Luke iv, 17, where bath. the Evangelist informs us that our Di

See

5. The Lord's day is to be sancti-vine Lord, as his custom was, went infied by a regular and devout attend to the synagogue, on the Sabbath day. ance upon public worship. That fre- Strictly accordant with the requisiquent and solemn public acknowledg-tions of the law, the custom of the piments are due to the Author of allous Jews, and the practice of Christ

and his apostles, is the following ex-of a scriptural justification. God cerhortation of the inspired writer to the tainly no where requires of his creatures Hebrews. Let us consider one another according to what they have not.to provoke unto love and good works; When a person is confined to his room not forsaking the assembling of our-with a broken bone, or to his bed with selves together, as the manner of some is. a consumption, he plainly is not requiI will not spend time in proving, what red to go out. Nor if he is so seriousthe history of the church puts beyond ly indisposed, that he would be in all controversy, that the most eminent great danger of increasing or prolongservants of God have, from that daying his distemper. But some people down to the present, highly valued the are visited with a sort of intermittent blessings of public worship.

or periodical disease, which comes on If, then, we regard his authority, who almost every Sabbath, and goes off by instituted the Sabbath; if our feelings Monday morning. We see and hear and desires are akin to those of the of them, every where six days, but on sweet Psalmist of Israel; if we regard the seventh they are confined. Now, the example of Christ; if we desire to it ought to be solemnly remembered, walk in the steps, and participate in the that it is not every slight complaint, bliss, of those pious men and women, which can excuse us from waiting upwho have gone to their heavenly rest, on God in his house. If we should we shall reverence the Lord's sanctuary, feel able to expose ourselves as much, by a conscientious and solemn attend-on a week day, and for a worldly purance on public worship. Nay, unless pose, the excuse is vain. If we are some should choose to be more hea- not so ill that we should be obliged, thenish than the heathen themselves, for that cause alone, to decline an inthey will not fail to unite, regularly, invitation to dinner, or a tea-party, the public acknowledgments for the mer-excuse is vain. cies which they daily and hourly re- Again; I shall readily admit, that

ceive.

drenching rains in summer, and drifting snows in winter, may sometimes render it hazardous for persons in health, especially females, to go out on the Lord's day. But it is not every threatening cloud, or fog, nor even every considerable fall of rain, or snow, that can be pleaded as a sufficient ex

But, alas, how many such heathens are there in this land! How many, who have been baptised into the name of the adorable Trinity, live and die, in sight of the Lord's house, where they are never seen, unless it be used for a secular purpose, and then only to mingle in the strife of party polities!cuse. If our souls long for the house How many more have taught us not to expect them in our solemn assemblies, except when summoned by the voice of death, in the removal of some near friend, or excited by curiosity to hear a new preacher, or an occasional ser-and upbraideth not. mon. How many saunter and sleep The excuse which some people away half the Sabbath at home, and make, for not attending public worship, then bless themselves for obliging us that they have not decent clothes with their presence a part of the day.is, I believe, in nine instances out of How many sit down to eat and drink, after the morning service, and rise up to play.

Surely no candid reader will infer, from the preceding observations, that, in the opinion of the writer, absence from public worship can never admit

of the Lord, it is certain we shall not be detained from public worship by trifles. When any doubts arise, in regard to what is duty, let us look to God for direction. He giveth liberally

ten, invalid. This excuse is not unfrequently the offspring of pride. If those who make it had the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit, they would be contented with and thankful for such apparel as they have. As for those who are really destitute, it is certain,

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