time, Antigua has added one to the number, and your Committee take'pleasure in again repeating, "Antigua has done herself credit;". but this very circumstance has a tendency to create an anxiety for the continuance of her good name: they therefore again call the attention of your Society to the great contending powers: to the nature and object of the warfare; to the unabated fury of the arch-rebel against God; to the dreadful case of your fellow-mortals enlisted on his side; to the high honours to which you are invited, as engaging on the side of the rightful King of heaven and earth; and to the certainty of victory, a certainty grounded upon our own experience, which, encouraged by the voice of prophecy, exulting ly exclaims under every discouragement, "The best of all is, God is with us." Antigua, in the establishment and support of Bible, Religious Tract, and Missionary Societies, has engaged herself in the face of the world on the side of her lawful King; and shall she turn back, or deal with a slack hand? No! she will do her part, until every inch of ground occupied by Satan and his emissaries shall be subjected to the God of heaven, and that kingdom be established which shall stand for ever; and until she shall unite her strains with the victorious band in singing, Hallelujah; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!" "The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

LABRADOR. The labours and sacrifices of the United Brethren, for the spread of the Gospel, have for a long period excited the attention of the Christian world. Their exertions, in Labrador, particularly, have been almost without a parallel, and in reflecting upon missionary trials there is no place to which the mind more readily turns, than to this inhospitable country, where the Moravians have been labouring for more than fifty years. Shut out in a great measure from intercourse with the world, they depend for their supplies upon a vessel sent them once a year, and which through the goodness of God has never disappointed their hopes, although the navigation of that northern ocean is peculiarly hazardous. There are sixteen missionaries at three different stations: one of which is Nain, formed in 1771; Okkak, 1776; Hopedale, 1782.

On the 9th of August of last year, 1821, the Jubilee of this Mission was celebrated with much gratitude and joy. The Brethren's ship, the Harmony, came to anchor at Nain, on that day which was the very day of the month, when, half a century before, in the year 1771, the first ship arrived at Nain, with Fourteen Brethren and Sisters, to begin the Settlement at that place. This Jubilee was observed at each Settlement, with thankful adoration of the good Providence of God, that the ship annually sent to the Mission, had sailed to and fro in safety, during this whole period, though exposed to peculiar dangers in those dreary regions, from storms and ice, and amidst rocks and dreadful fogs. Of the spiritual blessings bestowed on the Mission, the Brethren write

"Surely we have the greatest encouragement, by the consideration of what our Lord has effected by it during these fifty years of the existence of the Mission in this country, where formerly darkness and death reigned. Truly it might be said of the Esquimaux Nation, that they sat in the shadow of death, under the cruel bondage of Satan; but God our Saviour has wrought deliverance, and brought many of them into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many are already among the saints in bliss, praising Him with eternal songs for their redemption by His blood."

This celebration of the Mission Jubilee was enlivened by the unexpected visit of His Majesty's Sloop, the Clinker, Capt. W. Martin, sent by the Governor of Newfoundland to survey the coast, and expressly to visit the Settlements of the Brethren. Captain Martin manifested the utmost kindness to all; and entered, with feeling, into the concerns of the Mission. To the great delight of the Esquimaux, he decorated the Sloop with fifty flags of different nations, in celebration of the Mission Jubilee. This visit has given confidence to the Brethren; and has silenced a malicious report, spread among the Southern Esquimaux, that the Governor of Newfoundland meant to destroy the Mission.

The Esquimaux are manifestly profiting by the Gospels and Epistles, which have been lately, one portion after another, put into their hands. Their minds are much enlightened thereby, and they are evidently growing in the knowledge and grace of Christ The Schools are more diligently attended; and the Children read the Scriptures to such of the adults as cannot read themselves. In gratitude

for so great a benefit, they have made contributions of seals' blubber-some a whole seal, others half a seal, and others such pieces as they could afford—which yielded thirty gallons of oil, the value of which has been presented to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

The State of the different Settlements, in August, was as follows:

At Nain, in the last year, 5 Adults and 6 Children had been baptized-4 received into the Congregation-3 admitted Candidates for baptism-and 6 made partakers of the Lord s Supper. The Congregation consists of 172 persons.

At Okkak, a new building was finished on the 30th of May, 82 feet by 30, and 30 high; half fitted up as a Church, and the other half a Dwelling-house-13 Adults had been baptized, and 10 admitted candidates for Baptism-12 had been made partakers of the Lord's Supper, and 8 admitted as Candidates for participation-8 Children had been born 4 persons departed this life in the faith-5 removed to the Settlement from among the Heathen-and one Young Woman had returned to her heathenish connections.

At Hopedale, on the 25th of March, a day of distinguished blessing, 5 Adults were baptized, 2 admitted to the Holy Communion, 4 received among the Candidates for Baptism, 1 Youth received into the Congregation, and 4 who had been excluded were re-admitted. In the year, 7 Children had been born, and 5 persons died. The Congregation consists of 151 persons-being 73 baptized Adults, of whom 51 are Communicants; 60 baptized Children, 9 Candidates, and 9 yet unbaptized.-Religious Intelligencer.

PALESTINE MISSION.-Two additional Missionaries, the Rev. WILLIAM GOODELL and the Rev. ISAAC BIRD, under the care of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, set sail on the 9th of December last, for Palestine. The following is an extract from the address of the Rev. Mr. Cox, which he delivered at a meeting held for the benefit of this Mission, previous to the departure of the Missionaries from this city.

"The cause of missions is undoubtedly the cause of God, and it is our duty to promote it by all properly practicable means. This single sentence epitomizes the whole theory of missionary operations, and has for its basis the unambiguous testimony of God. From the doctrine results the duty; and who can question that God is the inspirer and the patron of that blessed cause whose progress is most auspicious among the present signs of the times, and will brighten the pages of their future history? Is it so? what says philosophy-the love of ages-the speculations of statesmen-the dogmas of enthusiasm-or the policies of avarice? nothing-nothing authoritatively--nothing to the purpose. It is beyond the sagacity of man to determine the pleasure of God, in any specific question of this sort, by anticipation. The Bible-the Bible alone is the interpreter of his will and the arbiter of this controversy. As soon as I open its leaves I see Jesus the sent of God, the Prince of missionaries, who left his native skies on a voluntary mission of mercy to this earth, not to be ministered unto, but to minister; and to give his life a ransom for many.' I see him risen from the dead and upon the summit of Mount Olivet, just before he brightened for his ascension-flight, giving his formal and final command to the apostles, and to successive preachers to the end of time, abrogating the old and the shadowy dispensation of Moses, and authoritatively introducing the new and the substantial economy of the gospel, in these ever memorable words, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'

"Now of these words the true meaning is ascertained by deeds and facts-by apostolic usage and example. The apostles and primitive preachers of christianity were all missionaries. Such was Peter-after a miracle had broke the enchantment of his Jewish prejudices. Such was Paul, the apostle of the nations: his heart was expanded with that philanthropy which originates in the love of God, and his feet were winged in the paths of missionary obedience. He tells the church of Rome, whom he had then never visited, that he had come as near to them in his evangelical toils, as he could come, without actually standing in their city, or upon the peninsula: So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to

preach the gospel, not where it was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: but as it is written, to whom he was not spoken of, they shall see and they that have not heard shall understand.'

"Thus we are engaged in no fanciful affair. Invisible, indeed, are its ends and its author; but firm its support, divine its patronage, blessed its progress, and certain its success. Unlike the vain, earthly enterprise of the crusaders, to which reference has been made, that monstrous offspring of chivalry and superstition, which erst emptied the population of Europe upon the plains of Palestine, it appeals to the testimonies of God for its high vindication-it points to the social and civil, the temporal and eternal blessedness of man for its immediate and beneficent object; it draws from eternity the incentive and the sanction of its efforts.

"The prophecies indicate not uncertainly the ultimate and the universal triumph of christianity. Soon shall the truth as it is in Jesus,' be published to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people:' and soon shall a mighty angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand; and lay hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bind him a thousand years; and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years be fulfilled.' Soon shall the kingdom of light be extended, and the truth of the gospel be ascendant in the earth soon shall the grace of the Redeemer baptize the spirits of this globe's population, and, (in the animated, halfpoetic, and wholly phophetic language of the late president Dwight,) from Nova Zembla to Cape Horn, and from California to Japan, the spires of Chrisțian temples shall gladden the eye of the traveller, and the notes of salvation vibrate on his ear.'

The groans of nature in this nether world,

Which heav'n has heard for ages, have an end.
Foretold by prophets, and by poets sung,
Whose fire was kindled at the prophet's lamp;
The time of rest, the promis'd Sabbath, comes.
Six thousand years of sorrow have well nigh
Fulfill'd their tardy and disastrous course
Over a sinful world; and what remains
Of this tempestuous state of human things
Is merely as the working of a sea

Before a calm, that rocks itself to rest;

For He, whose car the winds are, and the clouds,
The dust that waits upon his sultry march,
When sin hath mov'd him and his wrath is hot
Shall visit earth in mercy; shall descend,
Propitious, in his chariot, pav'd with love;
And with his storms have blasted and defac'd,
For man's revolt, shall with a smile repair."

American Missionary Register.

NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.-The second anniversary of this institution was celebrated on New-Year's eve, in the Murray-street church. DIVIE BETHUNE, Esq. President, took the chair about half past 6 o'clock, and the Rev. ROBERT M'CARTEE gave out the 100th Psalm, and offered the introductory prayer. After the President had opened the business of the meeting with a short address, HORACE HOLDEN, Esq. Secretary, read the annual report. Resolutions were then offered and supported by JACOB OSTRAM, M. D. the Rev. JAMES M. MATHEWS, the Rev. JOHN TRUAIR, and the Rev. GARDINER SPRING, D. D. The report and addresses gave much highly pleasing and encouraging information, which will be found in our future pages. A collection of $71 25 was taken up, and the meeting concluded with singing an appropriate hymn: the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. M'Cartee.

A convenient stage was erected in front of the pulpit, for the accommodation of the officers and managers, and the managers of other institutions engaged in promoting the best interests of seamen, also the Rev. Clergy, and many other citizens who were invited to attend. The audience was highly respectable; amongst whom we were pleased to see a number of shipmasters and sailors.-Seamen's Magazine.

BROOKLYN AUXILIARY MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-A communication from Mr. Robert Snow, Corresponding Secretary, announces the formation of an Auxiliary Society in that Village. "Referring" says he, "to the date of the formation of

the Parent Society, we confess that we feel in some measure, as one born out of due time; but the auspices under which we have commenced, give us very flattering assurances, that we shall be able to shew to that Institution, that we are not wanting in our full share of ardent zeal for the cause of true religion, nor in affectionate attachment to that branch of the Christian church of which we are members: We humbly hope our heavenly Father will hear and accept of our fervent prayers for the success of our efforts, and especially for those of the parent Institution." Jan. 9, 1823.

TENNESEE CONFERENCE.-A letter, dated Nashville, Dec. 2, 1822, from the Rev. Thomas L. Douglass, states, that the "blessed work of reformation which signalized the year 1820, has extended its influence, more or less, into almost every part of the state. Some parts of East-Tennesee have been graciously visited the past year. At the last Tennesee Conference, held in October, we had an increase of 3,533 in the membership, and thirty-nine preachers admitted on trial in the travelling ministry. I send you the following account of

"NASHVILLE DISTRICT.-At the District Conference held at Windrows Meetinghouse, October 19th, 1821, the characters of thirteen Elders and thirty-two Deacons were examined and found blameless; the licence of thirty-three Licentiates were renewed, one Licentiate was expelled for immorality. Twenty-six Exhorters were recommended from their respective Quarterly Meeting Conferences and licensed to Preach, and sixteen of the Licentiates were recommended to the Annual Conference and admitted on trial in the travelling connection.

"At the District Conference held in Columbia, August 1st, 1822, the characters of eighteen Elders, and twenty-two Deacons were examined and found blameless; one Deacon was expelled for improper conduct, the licence of forty-eight Licentiates were renewed, thirty-two Exhorters were recommended from their respective Quarterly Meeting Conferences, and licensed to preach, and twenty-two of the Licentiates were recommended to the Annual Conference, twenty of whom were admitted on trial in the travelling connection.

"At this time, there are one hundred and eighteen preachers included in this district, eighteen travelling, and one hundred local, including Licentiates, Deacons and Elders. Would to God all the Lord's people were prophets,' provided they were such as most of these."

Poetry.

From the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

GETHSEMANE.

THE night was still; no sound was heard,
Save Cedron's waters' gentle flow;
And pale the evening-star appear'd,
Spectatress of the Saviour's woe.
Gethsemane that hour beheld
A scene, that mocks the tales of eld.

Their shadowy arms the cedars spread,
As if, in sympathy profound,

They screen'd their Lord's devoted head.

But where are his disciples found?
Alas! that they alone should sleep,
When things inanimate could weep!
See, from their bright pavilions press
Angels, their solace to afford,
Peopling the shades of loneliness,
To succour their forsaken Lord;
Self-exil'd from those smiles of love,
Which animate the hosts above.

Shrouded in deep eclipse, the sun
His smiles may from creation hide;
But 'tis the God of nature's frown

He feels; and who may that abide?
What wonder, from their thrones were bent
All heaven, in mute astonishment?

And whose the crime and whose the wrong,
For which this agony he bore;

And, spite of the angelic throng,

Why dropp'd his quivering limbs with gore?
To shield us from offending God,
He stoop'd to bear th' Avenger's rod.
But his were woes ineffable!-

'Tis ours to wonder and adore;
And, glowing with devotion, feel

Redeeming love's o'erwhelming power.
Thus shall our pilgrimage of woe
Bright interludes of rapture know.
Errata.

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THE

Methodist Magazine,

FOR MARCH, 1823.

Divinity.

From the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

THE TRIAL OF ABRAHAM ILLUSTRATED AND IMPROVED :

A SERMON,

BY THE REV. JOSEPH BURGESS, SEN.

HEBREWS XI. 17-19.

(Concluded from page 47.)

2. To the example which the sacred volume sets before us in recording this act of obedience on the part of Abraham, our attention is further required by an inspired Apostle, whose object was to banish from the world an inoperative and antinomian faith. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." To contrast the obedient, persevering, and triumphant faith of this good man with the faith of many religious professors, excites in the mind an awful apprehension, that in the day when God shall reward every man according to the deeds done in the body, they will be found wanting. And if there is cause to fear with regard to many who have the form of godliness, what will the end be of those who live in the habitual neglect of the divine ordinances, and in the habitual violation of the divine precepts?

God is rich in mercy towards us. His commandments are not grievous. He does not demand the immolation of our children. His language is, "My son, give me thy heart." Love and obedience, joy ineffable, and confidence unbounded, are the requirements of the Gospel. Seeing, then, that through the Saviour's interposition our privileges are so greatly exalted, and our duties VOL. VI.

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