founds miraculous influences with gracious influences stand corrected by the bible? For though the bible illustrates the mighty power of God in regeneration by his mighty power in raising the dead to life, yet the scripture does not style regeneration nor sanétification a miracle. Regeneration we grant is as great a display of divine power as resurrection to life; but this does not authorise us to denominate gracious influence a miracle. Miracles and graces are different effects of the divine agency, and must not by a heedless use of words be confounded. As figures stand for pecuniary sums; so words stand for religious sentiments; and both must be used according to their real, proper acceptations. The obligations we are under, never to use the name of God in a careless manner, teach us to use the word Providence and other names and titles of Deity with judgment and veneras tion.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAGAZINĖ. Should the following paper, in your opinion, be calculated to promote that laudable zeal, for a reformation in morals, which has of late made its appearance in different parts of our country, you are at liberty to make it public.

GOOD morals are so inseparably connected with the Christian religion, that no person who is a friend to the latter, can be an enemy to the former. Nor, if we consider that vice is the parent of misery, and that "the wages of sint is death," can we look with indifference upon the benevolent efforts, which some of the most respectable men in this and several other States in the Union, are now making to suppress vice. Have not the friends of order too long remained inactive?"The floods of ungodly men," it is true, have made them afraid." And they have long been lamenting the degeneracy of the times, and wishing most sincerely for a reformation; but it seems never to have occurred to them, that they must wrestle for the blessing. In the mean time, iniquity has been uniformly pursuing its purposes and gaining ground. "When men slept the enemy came and sowed tares."

By those open acts of wickedness which are daily perpetrated among us with impunity, the Holy One of Israel is provoked; and our distressed country is now experiencing the effects of his righteous displeasure. Come then, men and brethren of all denominations, let us combine together, let us act in concert, let us make a united effort. "Vice is a cowardly thing, it will soon shrink before those who boldly

oppose it." Let us make a bold attack upon a monster that is preying upon the vitals of society; a monster that has robbed many a man, who once had fair prospects of health, property, respectability and usefulness; a monster that is doing more mischief in this country than the pestilence and sword both together; a monster that will never discontinue his ravages until the friends of good order come forward with one consent to arrest his progress. Shall we then remain at ease? Shall we say with the sluggard, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding the hands to sleep? How many unhappy sufferers are calling for such relief as we have it in our power to afford! And shall we be unconcerned speetators of their distresses? Behold in yonder cottage an unfortunate mother; though bred in ease and prosperity, she is now destitute of almost every earthly comfort. Her eyes, that once sparkled with beauty, have lost their brightness; her countenance, that once was fair as the moon, is now dejected and forlorn. A victim of accumulated sorrow, she sits with her children around her, shivering with the cold. A few sticks, which they gathered in their arms while the storm was approaching, is all the fuel they have provided. If any of them are indisposed, they have not the means of procuring those cordials which people in better circumstances are in the habit of using to alleviate their pains and recover their strength. Nor is the unhappy mother always able to supply her children's wants when they cry for bread. But this is not all. Yonder comes the father, whom Providence has placed as a guardian over this suffering family. But in vain do they look to him for supplies. Empty-handed he returns to his halfstarved children. With a countenance like that of a demon of darkness, he alarms their fears, and aggravates their woes, by a torrent of profane and abusive language. Let none pronounce this mere painting, nor idle preaching. The truth is, there are many wretched mothers, who, with their offspring, know by sad experience, that such scenes, as have here been described, are realities.

Let men of reflection and sobriety, then, ask themselves, if there is not something which they can do to alleviate the distresses of such unhappy sufferers. Is there no way to reclaim the authors of this mischief? Can they not be prevailed on to abandon those habits of intemperance and idleness from which it originates? If not, let us turn our attention to the rising generation. For them it is presumed something may be done. There is every reason to believe that our earnest solicitations and friendly remonstrances will save some at least from falling victims to those destructive vices, which have already re

duced thousand to poverty, infamy and wretchedness. That the torrent of immorality, which threatens to deluge our country, may, by well-conducted and benevolent efforts, be checked, no one, it is presumed, will deny. That the evils which have come upon us are so inveterate as to exclude all hope of reformation, cannot yet be admitted. It will be soon enough to admit that mortifying conclusion, when every remedy, which human wisdom can devise, has been tried, and found ineffectual.

To bear a descided testimony against the moral evils that are prevalent among us at the present day, it is proposed that all honest, sober men associate together, as they may thus accomplish incomparibly more than they can in their individual capacity.

Should any objection be started against the above proposal, my only reply is,

Si quid novisti rectius istis

Candidus imperti; si non, his utere mecum.

"If you know of any better plan, be candid enough to mention it: if not, join me in this." MELANCTHON.

EVIDENCE OF THE DIVINE EXISTENCE.

"How abundant is the evidence of the divine existence. Every object which we see on the earth; each of those shining wonders, which the night reveals to our eyes, is a witness for God. Though silent, yet they are eloquent preachers, whose instructions extend to every nation, tribe, family, and individual on the earth. The formation of the human body -the construction and location of the several parts, are sufficient to convince every mind, which ever inhabited such a curiously organized body, that it is a piece of divine workmanship. Many anatomists have held, that an examination of the eye was a complete cure for atheism. The inspired author of the 94th Psalm. addresses this argument to infidels in his day, who said, “The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?"Every sense you possess every nerve, and fibre which gives motion and sensibility to your frame-every pulsation of your heart, by which the crimson current is circulated through your veins, is an evidence of the Divine existence; and not only so, but of his presence and agency with you.-On what part

-on what object in creation, can you cast your eyes, where the name of God is not written? And written so legibly, and in such capitals, that you can read it in the distant star, as well as on your own frame.

1

"This subject gives us a general view of the blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Amidst all this light-under these heavens which declare the glory of God, there are some of the human race-some, not in the deserts of Africa -not in the trackless forests of America, but in the civilized, highly cultivated, and even Christian portions of the earth, who deny the being of God! Could you suppose this possible, when the sun shines, and the heavens move round? Yes, they tell us, they see no evidence of a God. And what is still more wonderful, some have told us this, while they were measuring the heavens, or calculating an eclipse. Think not this impossible, nor let it confound you, Do you not know, that a wicked, proud heart can shut the moral eye on all this light? Do you not know, that it is a very undesirable thing to a wicked heart, that there should be a holy sovereign God on the throne of the universe? When such a character is denied, and in the sinner's mind displaced, will he not feel more at ease in sin? Do you not know, that men readily believe what they wish to be true?—Indeed when the fool -the wicked man, once begins fondly to whisper in his heart "There is no God," that wish will soon grow into a persuasion, and this persuasion into evidence, and then his lips will publish, as a truth, the lie of his heart.-Do you not know that the man who loves darkness rather than light” is the blindest of all creatures? Suppose both the eyes of a man to be extinguished, yet with an humble, pious mind, he would find in his own sensations more evidence of a God, than the proud philosopher would find, looking with both his eyes, and all his glasses, into the remote regions of the universe, and bringing home intelligence from the most distant star. Of so much importance is a teachable, humble heart."

66

CHRISTIANITY AMIABLE.

"WHAT is it that Christianity enjoins us? To contemplate that which is most perfect; to admire that which is most lovely; to imitate that which is most excellent; to cultivate feelings and affections which are essentially amiable, suited to our nature, and the sources, even in this world, of almost all the happiness we can enjoy or bestow; to be matured for everlasting bliss; and, by the perfect sanctification of our souls, become meet for that kingdom, where faith shall be lost in knowledge, and hope in possession; but where charity, unextinguished and unextinguishable, shall reign and triumph forever."

From the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF GOOD MORALS.

(On the 19th of May 1813, in pursuance of previous public notice, a number of respectable gentlemen from various parts of the State, met at the Court. room, in Hartford. Considering the alarming increase of sundry immoralities which threaten the public happiness, they associated, as will be seen in the following Constitution.-We ardently wish success to the design; believing that no man, who is governed by the principles of patriotism or virtue, will deny his influence to suppress vices that are forbidden by the law of God, impair the civil state, destroy the souls of men, and reduce a multitude of families to abject wretchedness. Orthodox faith and good morals; are equally necessary for the supreme happiness of mankind.-We are happy in offering this Magazine as the vehicle of communication on so interesting a subject.]

Constitution of the Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Good Morals.

THE preservation and improvement of morals, in a community, have ever formed an object of high moment in the estimation of wise and good men. For the accomplishment of this object, the subscribers have agreed to unite in an association, and to regulate their endeavors to attain it according to the following Constitution:

ARTICLE I. This association shall be called and known by the name of the Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Good Morals.

Art. II. The object of the association shall be to promote good morals, and to discountenance vice universally; particularly, to discourage profaneness, gross breaches of the Sabbath, idleness, and intemperance; and especially to discourage intemperance.

Art. III. Any person, sustaining a fair moral character, shall, on subscribing this Constitution become a member. Art. IV. Fifteen members, present in any meeting regularly assembled all constitute a quorum to do business.

Art. V. The stated meetings of the Society shall be semiannual, on the Wednesday next following the meeting of the General Assembly; and at the city or place where said Assembly is holden, and in the court room, with the power of adjournment.

Art. VI. At the annual meeting of the Society in May, shall be belected a president, three vice-presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Recording Secretary; and also, a committee consisting of seven persons to receive and communicate information, to arrange business for the consideration of the