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WILLIAM WILLIAMS, ESQ., M. P., seconded the Resolution, and said, he too had the honour to belong to the Church of England; but, happily for the world, all classes of Christians were now engaged in promoting the establishment of the kingdom of their REDEEMER. He had always considered the Bible Society an honour to the country which gave it birth; and a blessing to the world at large. Its members united upon the simple but important principle, that the sacred volume was the standard of their belief; they acted upon the princi ples which that book revealed; and they wished to send the Gospel to every part of the world where man was found.

How encouraging were the accounts received from all parts. Go to the East and West Indies; go to Southern and Western Africa; go to America; to Labrador; to the Esquimaux: and in all these places were pleasing effects of Missionary labours. Great success had attended the efforts which had been made at Otaheite, by the London Missionary Society. A few years ago, the people there were sunk into the worst state of degradation. A moral renovation had taken place in Ceylon, by the Missionaries of the Wesleyan Society; there were chapels erected for Christian Worship, and in the Singhalese language Te Deum had been sung. He congratulated the Meeting on what had been done in the West Indies. A wide field was now open to their exertions, and civilization and Christianity would go hand in hand.

He most cordially approved of the object which had called them together; and be thanked them for their kind attention.

The REV. ROBERT NEWTON, of Manchester, who moved the Fourth Resolation on the subject of prayer for the outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT, observed, that most of the preceding speakers were members of the venerable Established Church. To see them come forward on this day was delightful indeed. Those distinguished individuals might have spoken of what their own Church Missionary Society had done in various parts; they could have told them what had been done in Africa and the East; but, with the most amiable candour and liberality, not one of them had referred to their own Missionary Society, while they had been advocating theirs. He felt it a pleasure indeed, to listen to those sentiments which they had expressed on that day. Never had they seen more candour or more kindness, than in the spirit of these Christian friends, which they had that day witnessed. Their religious feelings were not partial and restrictive, but liberal and diffusive.

The religion which inculcated love to God, enjoined love to their neighbour; and, in answer to the question, "Who is my neighbour," he would mention, that not twelve months ago, at a Bible Society Meeting, a person from the Principality had said, the Welsh word for neighbour signified, not man in the same vicinity; not man in the same street; not man in the same country; but, MAN IN THE SAME WORLD! It meant man in every country; in Asia; in Africa; in New-Zealand; at the Antipodes itself; man in the same world. He needs their help, and they should do him all the good they could. When he spoke of the conversion of a lost world to CHRIST, it was a vast project; when Christianity should be exemplified among people of all climes, colours, and languages. They might be told, that all this was rather to be wished than expected, and that these anticipations were the rovings of an intoxicated intellect. He would, however, appeal to the sure word of prophecy. The sacred Scriptures speak of a new creation, more glorious than that which took place when "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." The inspired writers were illuminated by the HOLY GHOST; they spoke, therefore, under the guidance of Him, who "sees the end from the beginning;" and He could not be mistaken. That man must be blind indeed, who does not see the moral world hastening to a glorious consummation. Christianity is going forth to the distant parts of the world. The clouds of darkness are scattering; they flee away before the light of divine truth. The prophetic word will be verified; when "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed," and when "all flesh shall see the salvation of our God." These views faintly dawned on our first parents shortly after the fall; they were displayed in the writings of the Hebrew Seers; and "the dayspring from on high" had visited them, in all the fulness of truth, and grace, and righteousness. The full radiance of its splendour would beam upon the heathen world; when the MESSIAH should have the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession."

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He had read a sentence which that excellent Missionary MR. ELLIOT wrote, on completing his grammar of the rude language of the American Indians; "Prayer and pains, through faith in CHRIST, will do any thing." Let them adopt these words as their own motto; let prayer and pains be united, and all the rest would follow.

He would not forget to mention, that they had recently had a gratifying meeting at Manchester, at which they raised £530 for the Missionary cause. After all was over, a letter was handed to him, containing a sovereign, a shilling, a sixpence, and a penny. The writer had emptied her pockets at the meeting, but on returning home she asked herself, "Have I done all that I could ?" She found that she possessed the sum just specified, which was all she had in the world. This person was unknown to him. He had taken some pains to find out the individual, but could not succeed. There was, therefore, no vanity in this; nothing to be talked about in society. He knew not who was the donor, but she was known to the God of Missions, who recorded the fact in his book for a memorial. He was struck with the time of doing this. It was not at the Meeting, after she had been listening to an energetic and powerful address; but, when she had retired from the crowd. Such was her Christian sympathy, that she gave all she had in the world. They should venerate and respect such an instance of faith in God. She did what she could, and her offering was, no doubt, acceptable to him, who commended the conduct of her who threw into the treasury two mites, which make a farthing, when he said, "Verily, this poor woman did cast in all she had, even all her living."

The REV. DR. CLARKE, in moving thanks to the Treasurers, thought it might be said, that all the speakers, in proposing and seconding resolutions, could not have done better. Some motions dignified the mover; but the one which he held in his hand recommended both itself and him. He wished, however, to call the attention of the Meeting to poor Ireland, his native country; where this Society had eleven Missionaries, who spoke to the people in their own native tongue, in fields, in the streets, and in Market-places. They sometimes addressed the people on their horses; and hence they were called "Cavalry Preachers;" from which glorious effects had resulted. He read an interesting letter from a Liverpool merchant, describing the importance of Missionary labours, in a mercantile point of view. He observed that the debt of the Society had been considerably reduced: but several persons had given much more than money; they had given their time, their talents, their influence, to this important business; and to them they were most indebted, next to the blessing of God on their labours. After various other observations, he concluded by energetically calling upon the Meeting, while they were careful not to neglect any part of the domestic vineyard, to give a vigorous support to the Foreign Missions

CEYLON MISSION.

Extract of a Letter from MR. M'KENNY, dated August 13th, 1822.

I feel happy to notice a circumstance which gives interest to our work at Pantura. In a village called Wakada, not an English mile distant from our new chapel, a respectable native of the fisher-caste has been long in the habit of teaching a number of children of his own class in his dwelling-house, but finding the inconvenience of not having a place, either amongst the institutions of Government or those of our Mission, he came to me and explained the nature of his situation, and begged that I would place him and his children under the protection and care of the Mission, upon the terms of his building a good school, and teaching without any salary, as he had been given to understand that I could not increase the school-expenditure of the station, and that on the Sabbath he and his boys would attend the chapel in Pantura. This appeared to me an opportunity of doing good not to be neglected: I therefore readily consented to his proposal; when evidently delighted with his success he took his leave, and without loss of time set about the work of erecting the new school, which he was able soon to accomplish, having the whole interest of the village in his favour. Having completed his purpose he made his report that all was ready, and Monday the 24th of June, was fixed on for the opening. I repaired to the place early in the morning of that day, to have an opportunity of minutely observing all the

circumstances of the case, and was greatly pleased to find the new school built with good materials, and in the neatest possible manner. I visited some of the families of the village, and found many things calculated to excite pleasing expectations of future usefulness amongst them. About eleven o'clock, a. m., the people assembled from all quarters of the village to attend preaching, and place their children in the school; but the place was not found large enough to contain one-third of the congregation: I therefore took my stand under a large tree, and the people seated themselves before me on a piece of open ground well shaded; and male and female, young and old, heard the word of God with quietness and attention while I enlarged on John vi. 27, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life." Afterwards the children repaired to the School, and their names were entered on class-papers to the number of fifty-eight,-sixteen of whom are girls. I found I could not consider it just to require the master's attention to the discipline of our schools without some remuneration, and have been able to make an arrangement that will enable me to allow him five rix dollars monthly, without increasing the school-expenditure. The school continues promising, and on Sunday evening last Brother CLOUGH and Professor RASK, who kindly accompanied us to the Pantura opening, and who has manifested great interest in the welfare of our Mission from his first arrival in the colony, went with me to this place to hear Brother ANTHONIEZ preach, when a large congregation was assembled, most of whom were obliged to remain outside: however, as the place has only half walls they could all hear the sermon.-Wesleyan Missionary Notice.

Numbers in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

From the Minutes of the Several Annual Conferences for the year ending July 15, 1823, it appears,

That there are,

effective travelling preachers,
Supernumerary do.

Superannuated do.

Total number of preachers belonging to the Conferences,

Number last year,

1120

47

59

1226

1106

Increase of Preachers this year,

120

44 have located, 1 has been expelled, 2 have withrawn, and 9 have died in the field.

Total number of Church members,

Whites.
267618

Col. 44922

Total.

312540

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O THOU stupendous Name! whom Gabriel's To think,-to speak of God!--I only feel!

tongue

Can ne'er explain, nor harp in heaven strung
In loftiest numbers reach!

Shall I, a clod, late out of nothing brought,
Presume to make Thee subject of my thought,
Or subject of my speech!

Words here are lost; or seem but to reveal

A portion of the awe

Which fills my soul, and leads me to adore!
Thought views th' amazing height, afraid to svar,
And yields to finite law.

What though I knew to count the solar rays,
Or could, with eyes undazzled by the blaze,
Approach yon flaming Sun;

His vast circumference measure with a span;
His centre find; his deepest fountains scan,
Whence seas of light still run?

My mind, full fraught, with wonders new might swell,

My tongue essay the wondrous things to tell,
And sages to illume;

Proud Science, rais'd, immortalize my name;
Galileo sink, forgot; and Newton's fame

Be buried in his tomb:

But, O! of Him who made the Sun, what more Should I have learn'd than mortals knew before; Than peasant-children know?

What, which the Son alone has not declar'd; What, of the heavenly things for men prepar'd, God's highest Name to show?

Could I with lightning's speed myself convey.
Beyond creation's bounds, and thence away,
Through trackless depths of space,
Creation's breadth by countless fold repeat,
Remoter still would lie Jehovah's seat,
And darkness hide the place!

But, lo! a scene of solemn, sweet surprise,
Of glory full, salutes th' astonish'd eyes
Of seraph-hosts, and man!—
'Tis God, the Unknown, in human flesh
enshrin'd!-

A Transcript fair of the Eternal Mind!-
Immensity a span!

'Tis Justice, Mercy, Majesty, and Grace,
Peace, Truth,-display'd in a Redeemer's face:
Who dwells all height above,

He stoops to earth to raise us to his throne;
To make to worms the perfect Godhead known,
And show that He is Love.

For the Methodist Magazine.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, Ephesians i. 7.

There is a note by mortals sung,
Which never dropp'd from Angel tongue,

The note of sins forgiv❜n:

A joy that seraphs never knew,
Though they the glorious Godhead view,
Within the courts of Heav'n.

Gabriel, who stands before the throne,
Has never this true rapture known,
Deriv'd from sins forgiv❜n;
That ecstacy which moves the soul,
When tears of deep contrition roll,

And sighs are breath'd for Heav'n.
No angel's harp nor seraph's lyre,
Can such a sacred joy inspire,

Like this from sins forgiv❜n;
When pardon on the soul is brought,
And upward flies the ravish'd thought,
To gaze on light from Heav'n.
Ah! who has felt this sacred flame,
That could not with my muse exclaim,
Oh! 'tis a taste of Heav'n!

Who could not fall at Jesus' feet
And there the grateful song repeat,
O'erjoy'd at sins forgiv❜n.

Oh! 'tis a strain my soul has caught, Which rose from that inspiring thought,

Of sins that were forgiv'n;

When breath'd those sacred airs sublime, Perfum❜d by Jesus' blood divine,

Whose fragrance flies to Heav'n. How sweetly flows the grateful tear, When clouds of darkness disappear,

And pardoning grace is giv❜nWhen peace, that holy Dove descends, Whose balmy wings the soul defends,

That's born and bound for Heav'n.

The heart renew'd, a rapture feels,
Which silent o'er the spirit steals,
Like odours breath'd from Heav'n,
Devotion then begins to wear,
An aspect most benignly fair,

Which ne'er on earth was giv'n.

Blooming her lovely face appears,
More beauteous than the radiant spheres
Which deck the arch of Heav'n;
When hope within the bosom glows,
To show the stream of life which flows,
Through Christ for sins forgiv'n.

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297,

read Mendon instead of Munden.
read loving instead of viewing.

6 from bottom, read dwell instead of drink.

19

top, read and be served, lest by this means others as she thought, instead of and

he seemed lost by this means, as others

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11 from top, read from the belief in which instead of in the belief of which

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Methodist Magazine,

FOR OCTOBER, 1823.

Divinity.

FUTURE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS:

The substance of a Discourse delivered before the New-England Con ference of Methodist Ministers, Providence, June 17th, 1823. BY REV. WILBUR FISK, A. M.

Ps. LXII. 12. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy for thou renderest to every man, according to his work.

THE Bible is the history of God, as the Creator and moral Governor of the world. It teaches man the relation he stands in to God, and the obligations he is under to Him. It also holds out to man motives to obedience. These motives, none can doubt, are designed to have an influence on those to whom they are addressed. And as they make up a considerable part, in the volume of revelation, and are every where in the scriptures represented in an important light, it is very evident that the influence they are designed to have, in the divine administration, is very essential. It is necessary therefore that they should be rightly understood, or their designed influence will be counteracted. For in the same proportion as our views of these motives are erroneous, will their effects upon our minds be erroneous or destroyed.

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Now these spurs to duty, these incitements to obedience, are principally the rewards and penalties annexed to God's law.They are summarily contained, and comprehensively expressed in that declaration, "Jehovah renders to every man according to his work." With the certainty, import and extent of this truth, therefore, we should be well acquainted. And it is also becoming that we should feel and acknowledge that these sanctions to the divine authority, are suited to the nature of man and the character of God. That, therefore, for the very reason that he has fixed and will enforce these sanctions, he is to be acknowledged as a God of mercy.

VOL. VI.

46

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