the greatness of which will surpass all finite comprehension.

About 40 years ago, a poor, but pious young man undertook, by his own efforts, and the aid of friends, to obtain an education for the ministry. While he was at college, there was an extensive revival of religion; and it was greatly promoted through his instrumentality. Numbers, at that time, became hopefully pious; and are now ministers of the gospel. When prepared, he too became a minister; and his labors have been eminently blessed. The church, which, at his settlement, consisted of only about 20 members, has now nearly 300. Most of them look to him as their spiritual father. And many of his spiritual children, now sleep in Jesus. He has been greatly blessed also in his occasional labors. Numbers, through an extensive region around him, have, by his means, been brought to the saving knowledge of the truth.

And several of

More than 30 he has assisted, in their edu. cation, for the ministry. them are now laboring, with distinguished success, in the churches. Suppose that each of these 30 ministers, should be instrumental, in the conversion of 100 souls; and that 75 out of 100 should become heads of families. Suppose that each minister should also be instrumental, in the course of his life, in raising up three other ministers. Here then are 90 ministers of the gospel; 750 single persons, of hopeful piety; and 2250 pious heads of families. Trace their influence upon the next generation; and their influence upon the generations which shall follow down to the Millennium; and onward till the final consummation. Go up with them, till you reach the summit of the heavenly Zion; and, from the infinite glory, look round upon the greatness of what God accomplishes, by a parish minister. Thirty such ministers may, with the divine blessing, be raised up in 20 years, by this Society.

REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

WE have recently been favored with a little work entitled, "A Narrative of the Revival of eReligion within the bounds of the Presbytery

of Albany, in the year 1820." The narrative was drawn up and published in compliance with the vote of the Presbytery, and is of a character, which cannot fail to interest. It describes, first, the origin and extent of the revival. Secondly, its progress and present state. Thirdly, things favorable. And lastly, things unfavorable.-At the close of the statements under the second head, is this paragraph:

There are 24 churches under your care; and the Spirit of the Lord has been poured out upon 12 of those, and upon the College The additions to the churches, during the year 1820, as reported to the Presbytery, amount to nearly 1,400. Of these there have been 324 adults baptized.

We propose to give the substance of what is said under the two last heads; inserting a few remarks of our own, and using the language of the narrative, or not, as shall be most convenient. We shall also adopt a differferent arrangement of topics.

Things favorable to the Revival.

1. The plain exhibition of truth. That is, an exhibition of the Gospel in its plain, obvious, unsophisticated meaning; presenting it just as it is, with all its rigid precepts, and severe threatenings, and encouraging invitations and promises. This clear exhibition,-being brought to bear upon the hearers, with all its native energy, and with all the additional force which the preacher's head, and heart, and conscience, could give it,-was found to have great efficacy.

2. The Gospel was thus preached, not only church, but in the lecture room, the conferin season, but out of season; not only in the ence, and the prayer-meeting. These meetings were held with considerable frequency, and with excellent effect. Very many were awakened at them.

3. There was a meeting so peculiar, and moreover so useful, that it deserves a distinct specification. The object of it was, to bring together into one place those, and those only, whose age, circumstances, moral condition, habits of mind, and attainments, were much alike. Sometimes the married men were assembled; at other times the married women; at other times, the young men; at other times, the young women; and at other times, the colored people. At these meetings, professors of religion were not expected to attend.It is easy to see, that these meetings had some peculiar excellencies. They greatly promoted the revival.

4. When the number of persons, who were anxiously inquiring, "What shall we do to be saved?" had become considerable, a meeting was appointed expressly for them. These meetings were denominated "conversation meetings,"-"inquiry meetings,' "anxious meetings." It was the design of these meetings, by means of particular conversation with each individual, carried on usually in a low tone of voice, to answer questions; to resolve doubts; to give directions; to strengthen resolutions; and, in general, to enlighten the understanding, as to the nature and necessity of repentance and faith; to alarm the conscience, by exhibitions of the precepts and penalties of the divine law; to affect the heart, by representations of whatever is good and lovely and desirable, on the one hand, and of whatever should be hated and shunned, on the other; and, indeed, by every reasonable and scriptural motive and direction, to bring the sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the object of supreme regard, affectionate confidence, and willing obedience. These meetings, when properly conducted, stood in the very first rank of means for promoting the revival.

5. As a means of awakening sinners, family visitation may next be mentioned: and also, personal addresses to the careless. The at

tention of not a few persons was, in these ways directed to the importance of a speedy reconciliation with God. The imparting of relig ious intelligence, moreover, was useful to the pious, to the awakened, and to those who were comparatively thoughtless. It was the voice of divine providence. It always animated the first class; frequently stimulated the second; and sometimes roused the third to thought and action. To these means may be added, the reading of the Scriptures; the singing of hymns; and prayer.

Things unfavorable to the Revival.

1. Ceasing to press on sinners the great duties of repentance and faith It was found, that awakened sinners must be followed up; that they must not be let alone; that the understanding, and conscience, and heart, must be constantly assailed.

2. Doctrinal disputations; and cold, speculative discussions of doctrines and duties. These diverted the attention, diminished the ardor, and weakened the efforts, of all parties

3. Attempts to proselyte to the views of a sect or party. Such attempts have been known to bring a speedy termination to a revival.

4 Calming the fears of the awakened, by telling them that all will be well, if they only hold on as they have begun. There is a wide difference between conviction and conver sion. The convictions of sin, and guilt, and desert of wrath, may be strong; and yet the sin, and guilt, and desert of wrath, be increasing every hour!

5. Encouraging the sinner to linger, by advising him "to wait God's time."

This takes for granted, that the sinner has nothing farther to do, that he has done all he ought to do, and all he can do. It destroys the force of the command to repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and there is not a corrupt propensity in the unregenerate heart, that will not say "amen" to it,

6. In addition to these, the following may be mentioned:-Interruptions of the stated means of grace;-badly conducted meetings; -the continuance of meetings, which are not well attended;-reporting that the revival is at an end;-putting a stop to the meetings for inquirers while there are such, who wish to attend;-visits of ceremony, or friendship, made by awakened persons, or made to them; the ungodly lives of professors of religion; &c.

The following testimony, near the close of the narrative, is remarkable:-"Out of a number not much less than 2,000, who have been hopefully converted to God, of whom near 1,400 have united themselves to the communion of your church, not more than four or five are known to have shewn conclusive signs of apostasy, now at the distance of almost a year!"

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Seventh Anniversary. ON Thursday, May 8, was held, at the City Hotel, New-York, the seventh anniversary of the American Bible Society.

The Hon. JOHN JAY, President of the Society, by reason of his advanced age and infir mity, not being able to be present, the Chair was taken by Gen. MATTHEW CLARKSON, Senior Vice President, who was supported by the Hon. DE WIT CLINTON, and RICHARD VARICK, Esq. Vice Presidents.

Among the persons convened, the Society had the satisfaction of seeing the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of New-York, a large number of clergymen of different denominations, and other gentlemen of distinction, from various parts of the Union.

The meeting was opened by reading the 62d chapter of Isaiah, by the Rev. Mr. Southerland, of New-Hampshire.

After an Address from the President had been read by the Rev. Dr. MILNOR, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, WM. W. WOOLSEY, Esq. the Treasurer, read the report of the Committee who audited his accounts, by which it appeared that,

The net receipts for the year, (including the monies received to aid in building the new Depository,) have been

.......

$45,131 25 The expenditures for the Year.. 47,360 26 Parts of the Annual Report were then read by the Rev. Dr. S. S. WOODHULL, Secretary for Domestic Correspondence, from which it appeared that the issues of Bibles and Testaments within the year, though the removal from the old to the new Depository, and the prevalence of epidemic fever in New York, caused a suspension of the business for more than two months of the past year,) were 28, 448 Bibles and 26,537 Testaments, making, with those issued in former years, 248,623 copies of the Scriptures.

Resolutions were then made and seconded by the Rev. Dr. John Woodhull,of New-Jersey,of the Presbyterian Church, and the Rev Wm. Ross, of New York, of the Methodist Episcopal Church-the Rev. Dr. Philip Milledoler, of New York, of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the Hon. Chauncey Langdon, of Vermont -Hon. De Wit Clinton, late Governor of the State of New York, and Thomas Eddy of the Society of Friends, moving the thanks of the Society to the President for his address; to which a reply was made by Peter A. Jay, Esq son of the President-Wm. W. Woolsey, Esq. Treasurer of the Society, and Samuel Boyd, Esq. of New York-the Rev. John P. K. Henshaw, of Baltimore, Maryland, of the Episcopal Church, and Joseph C. Hornblower, Esq. of New Jersey, tendering thanks to the Secretaries and Treasurer, to which the Rev.

Dr. Milnor replied-the Rev. John Finley, of Baltimore, of the Baptish Church, and Mr. John Griscom, of the Society of Friends-the Rev. Benjamin Mortimer, of the Moravian Church, and the Rev. Dr. Alexander McLeod of New York, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church-Theodore Dwight, Esq. of NewYork, and the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of LongIsland, of the Episcopal Church, respecting the circulation of the Scriptures in South America; after which Dr. Milnor introduced Senor Vicente Rocafuerte, a native of Peru, who made an address.

We shall give extracts from several of the addresses.

That of the President contains the following passage:

Since the Reformation, artifice and error have been losing their influence on ignorance and credulity, and the Gospel has been resuming its purity. We now see Christians, in different countries, and of different denomin. ations, spontaneously and cordially engaged in conveying the Scriptures, and the knowledge of salvation, to the heathen inhabitants of distant regions. So singular, impressive, and efficient, is the impulse which actuates them, that without the least prospect of earthly retribution, they cheerfully submit to such pecuniary contributions, such appropri ations of time and industry, and, in many instances, to such hazards and privations, and such derelictions of personal comfort and con. venience, as are in direct opposition to the propensities of human nature.

Can such extraordinary and unexampled undertakings, possibly belong to that class of enterprizes, which we are at liberty to adopt or decline as we please: enterprizes which no duty either commands or forbids? This is more than a mere speculative question; and therefore the evidence respecting the character and origin of these undertakings, cannot be too carefully examined, and maturely weighed; especially as this evidence is accumulating, and thereby acquiring additional claims to serious attention.

The Rev. Dr. Milledoler.

We are convened to-day to encourage each other's hearts, and to strengthen each other's hands, in circulating far and wide, God's precious, unadulterated, everlasting Bible.

I call it His Bible, because in it, holy men of God have spoken as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

His precious Bible, because it is so replete with blessedness.

His unadulterated Bible, because we circulate it without note or comment. And the everlasting Bible, because it is God's truth, and like its divine Author, unchangeable and eternal.

The idea of God speaking to man, at any time, or in any form, is full of interest. VOL. XIX.

Observe its unity, and its purity, its history, its chronology, its doctrines, its miracles, its witnesses, and its propagation.

Compare it with other theological systems, so called, with profane history, with ancient monuments of the arts, with natural phenomena, such, for instance, as prove an universal deluge, and with astronomical calculations.

Compare the annals of the nations with the account it gives of their descent from one common progenitor, of their fall, and consequent degradation. Notice it in the accomplishment, in human experience, of all its predictions. In its effect upon the mind, to enlighten it-upon the conscience, to controul it -upon the heart, to make it burn as if Hea ven's fire had fallen directly out of Heaven upon it.

View it on a large scale, in its influence on civilization, on human manners, on benevolent institutions, on the peace of the world, on its civil and religious liberties; in a word, on the general comfort and glory of mankind, and who does not see that it claims a divine origin? God has reared with his own hand, and has long sustained, two great, detached, living, and national monuments of its truth.

First, the Arabians, with all that is singular in their persons, history, unchanged residence and character. Secondly, the Jews, with all that is marked in their dispersion, preserva. tion, character, and history.

But independent of these considerations, and of these monuments, is it in any wise credible, that that God who has given law to every atom in creation, has formed such a being as man, without law, without comfort, with no sure hope, and with no certain intimation, either of his present duty, or of his future destiny? And if all this could be, is it credible that a mere fiction, not to say forgery, has been the greatest engine the world ever knew to prevent crime, and to promote virtue? That a countless multitude of intelligent beings, in all ages, have clung to it as the anchor of their souls-have prayed over it, and wept over it-and habitually framed their lives by its precepts--and felt it to be heaven's influence-the power of God, and the wisdom of God-and met life's sufferings, and death's agonies in the faith of it, and yet have been deceived?

No, it cannot be; the supposition carries with it its own death warrant; it is unnatural, it is impossible.

And if this Bible be, indeed, what it is represented to be, the Word of the living God; if it be so essential to human happiness; and if men are charged with its dissemination, then it ought to be done without delay,

Mr. President-I have lately read, in the printed address of the Louisiana Bible Society

25

of March, 1822, a most heart-rendering account of the religious state of the population of our world, and of the annual ravages of death.

The calculations made in that address, are appalling, and so much the more, as there is reason to apprehend that they rather fall short of, than exaggerate, the truth.

I wish that account was more generally diffused, for, in small compass, it speaks volumes for exertion in the Bible cause.

What criminality Heaven has attached to nations now destitute of the oracles of God for their ancient or more recent rejection of the truth; or to the Church slumbering for so many centuries over this moral waste, I know not.

But one thing we all know, that whole armies of immortal beings, who never saw the Bible, are annually passing over the verge of this life:

Is it not high time then, for Christendom, and for the world to awake? In disseminating the Bible, there is labor for the scholar, for the civilian, for the Christian-for all ranks of men, from the imperial throne, down to the cottage; and that labor connected with unutterable interest, with imperishable glory.

From engaging in it, no plea can excuse

any man.

Can we love God, and not desire that he should be known?

Can we regard truth, and not wish that it should be heard?

Can we love the souls of men, and not labor that they may be saved? Or, can we even regard their temporal interests, and not be willing to promote them? No, it cannot be, for it involves absolute contradiction. Behold, then, millions of our race, degraded, benighted, ruined, moving forward with ourselves for life or death eternal to the judgment bar of God. Behold them, for they are your own flesh, who are thus moving forward, and there is yet hope of their recovery, "Under the stainless sky of their unbroken night," said a late feeling advocate in their behalf, "lie buried the elements of all that is great and exalted in our common nature-the materials whence the Divine Illuminator can elicit, sparks of heavenly fire-the instruments which he can harmonize to the touch of holy love-the souls which he can form anew into heirs of God and immortality.

"Oh, when once his Holy Spirit shall begin to move upon the face of those dark chaotic waters, how shall order spring out of confusion, and rays of light and glory return to us from the regions of darkness, and the shadow of death."

Mr. President-When a great national Society was first projected in this country, I was one of those who believed that consider. ing the extent of our Territory, and the local circumstances of the nation, the object contemplated could be best attained by sectional or state societies.

But when I saw in the Convention that formed its constitution, an assemblage of almost all denominations of Christians, met with one consent,--and acting as if animated by one soul,--when I saw party feeling and sectarian distinctions absorbed in one common

interest, and feelings of the highes 1grade, wrought up to the highest tone of strength and refinement, expressed in one common language of glory to God in the highest--good will to men--I thought I saw, and subsequent events have convinced me, that I was not mistaken, the finger of God.

The whole operation of the American Bible Society, since that auspicious period, like the mighty operations of the heart upon the human system, receiving and transmitting life's warm blood to every part of that system, has served to transmit life and energy to our most distant kindred institutions.

The greatest skeptic may now be convinced, if he will, that the thing is of God and must prevail. I have no doubt, Mr. President, but that the whole American family will soon take an interest in this truly Catholic establishment, proportioned to its unutterable importance. May He who has the silver and the gold, and the heart of every human being under his control, greatly increase its resources. May he give new impulse to its movements, and hasten the time when, through the instrumentality of this and its sister associations, heavenly truth shall pervade all nations, and all people shall hear, every one in his own tongue, the wonderful works of God.

Hon. De Witt Clinton.

I believe that it is now generally understood, that human reason cannot in itself furnish certain demonstrations of a future state. The aspirations of the soul after immortality

the general impressions of mankind-the constitution of the human mind-and the benign attributes of the Deity render it highly probable, that our existence is not bounded by the narrow limits of this world. But it is well known that every link in this concatenation of reasoning, every circumstance in this enumeration of considerations, has been as sailed with no inconsiderable force. And it must be admitted that the highest efforts of the human mind, have been unable to afford suitable and distinct views of our mode of ex. istence in a future state. Even the end of our creation has been the subject of doubt and debate: and the power of philosophy, the fictions of mythology, and the subtleties of met aphysics, have been unsuccessfully employed in dispelling the clouds and darkness that rested for ages over the destinies of mankind. Some have supposed, that this world was created to punish man for the sins committed in a pre-existent state. Others have imagined, that it sprung from a fortuitous concourse of atoms, or an infinite series of causes, and that man is the creature of chance, has no fixed destination, and will experience the fate of other organic matter. Some have considered him as created to afford amusement to superior beings, and to be "the standing jest of heaven;" while others have contended that his existence is essential to complete the series of created substances, and to supply a necessary link in the chain of being.

If the end and aim of our being in this world have appeared so obscure to the be nighted vision of human reason, what may we

not expect from its views of a future state? The most sublime flights of poetry, and the most profound elaborations of philosophy, have altogether failed in furnishing luminous, distinct, and cheering prospects of immortality. The most alluring views of heaven were entirely derived from the earth; and the final allotment of the virtuous, was only a transit from this world to a material paradise:

Some safer world in depth of woods embrac'd, Some happier island in the wat❜ry waste.

In the bowers of bliss; in the gardens of delight; in the fields of Elysium; in the seats of the illustrious and beatified dead, there was always a retrospective longing, lingering look, at the superior fascinations of this world. The great epic bard of Rome, after he had ex. hausted the powers of his creative mind. in describing the delights of the Elysian Fields, asserts the return of the souls of the departed to this world, in order to reanimate other bodies. And the father of heroic poetry, "whose mag. ic muse soared to the topmost heaven of grandeur," describes his heroes as dissatisfied with their portion in the regions of blessed

ness.

When Ulysses congratulates Achilles on his supremacy over the mighty dead, the latter indignantly exclaims, that he would rather be a servile hind, and eat the bread of poverty on earth, than exercise imperial authority over all the Shades.

Whole nations were ignorant of a future state; and others had but feeble glimmerings of light on this subject. The ancient philosophers were divided in their views. Many of them utterly discredited, and some openly ridiculed an hereafter. The consequences of this state of things were in every respect 'most deplorable: they were felt in every vein and artery of social combination; and in every aspect and conformation of conduct and character. The ancients, who disbelieved n a future state, were utterly unable to account for the moral phenomena of this world. When they considered the events and vicissitudes of life-when they beheld the accumulation of laurels on the brow of the tyrant, the oppressor rolling in affluence, and the murderer defying punishment---When they perceived the wise and the virtuous shrouded in obscurity and overwhelmed with calamity: When they saw Cato driven to suicide, Socrates to hemlock, an Aristides in exile; and heard the dying Brutus exclaim, that virtue was an empty name--in what a dreadful position did they stand? A knowledge of a future world would have elucidated all incongruities, solved all doubts, dispelled all darkness. They sometimes, indeed, endeavored to vindicate the ways of God to man, by alleging that in this sublunary state virtue was its own reward; that vice was attended by an appropriate punishment, and that a man's enormities were at least visited on his posterity; and when forced from the full extent of their positions by the testimony of daily experience, they took refuge in atheism, or inculcated that the Deity had no agency in the concerns of this world, or adopted the system of polytheism, and believed in

Gods partial, changeful, passionate, unjust, Whose attributes were rage, revenge, or lust.

In this state of moral darkness, Jesus Christ appeared, pointing out the way to heaven, and shedding light over the world. What was before uncertain he rendered certain: for to adopt the words of the great apostle, "he hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." And herein consists a characteristic feature, and a peculiar excellence, of the Christian dispensation. It lifted the vail which concealed futurity from view, and that separated time from eternity; and it afforded clear demonstrations of the life to come. All doubts on this subject have vanished, for a belief in the Christian religion is utterly incompatible with a disbelief of a future state. Christianity not only ascertains its existence, but points out our destinies in it. Instead of the sensual enjoyments of a Mahometan Paradiseinstead of the Elysian Fields of Pagan super. stition, or the transmigrations of the Metempsychosis, "our minds are lifted up from the dungeon of the body to the enjoyment of the divine essence of the Almighty," and we are endowed with

Perfections absolute, grace divine,

And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds.

Christianity may be contemplated in two important aspects. First, in reference to its influence on this world-and secondly, in reference to our destiny in the world to come. And whatever may be intimated to the contrary by the sneers of infidelity, or the cavils of skepticism, it may be asserted boldly, and can be demonstrated conclusively, that to its celestial influence we are indebted for the blessings of civilization-the elevation of the female character-the enjoyment of domestic life-the successful cultivation of knowledge--the establishment of free government, and the dominion of good order and peace, wherever they prevail in the great communities of mankind.

Had I the time and the talent, I would proceed with pleasure to establish these positions, but restricted as I am in both respects, I can only glance at some of the leading topics.

We are governed by our hopes and our fears-by the desire of happiness and the dread of misery. The laws which regulate our conduct, are the laws of man, and the laws of God. To which may be added, as exercising a strong influence, and, in many instances, a controlling power over our actions, an anxious desire to acquire the good will, and to avoid the contempt of our fellow creatures, by a conformity to the general sense of right and wrong. This is denominated by Mr. Locke, the law of opinion. The sanc tions of laws in order to be complete, ought to comprise rewards, as well as punishments. The inefficacy of human laws, for their intended objects, is palpable from the daily operations of society, and the accumulated experience of ages. Secret crimes are of course unpunished; and how many of the guilty escape from the want of testimony--from casualties and from the imperfect or perverse dispensation of justice and mercy, and there