Supper, and to instil into them a clear knowledge of the nature, intention, and inestimable blessings of that divine ordinance,

"The country, priests, and native teachers had faithfully assisted in preaching the word of God, and in instructing and admonishing Christians in private. They had also visited the congregations in the country, and exhorted the heathens to turn from their idols unto the living God, and to accept the blessing of salvation purchased by Jesus Christ. They had also made it their business to visit the sick, belonging to the English and the Tamul congregations, and the invalids of the military; and they had experienced much satisfaction, and seen the prospect of great good, in the discharge of this branch of duty.

"They had lost by death one of their most respectable and exemplary Christians, Sandhôshee Pully, post writer. He had not only been an assiduous attendant at church and sacrament, but likewise very exact in his family devotions twice a day, and the power of godliness had shone very conspicuously in him to the very last.

...Their native mission-doctor Shinnappen, was constantly employed at Tanjore, and at the mission school at Kanandhacudhee, (about fourteen miles distant,) the season being very sickly, and the people anxious to have their children inoculated with the cow pox.

"A school, which had been opened some years ago, in the little Fort, for the benefit of soldiers' children, and which had been generously supported by the liberality of General Macdowal, whilst he was commandant of Tanjore, had been likely to be dissolved, in consequence of the failure of that support, after the Gene ral's departure. To prevent so great a misfortune, the Lady of General Blackburne, the Hon. Company's resident at Tanjore, and several other persons, had resolved upon a monthly subscription for the benefit of the school, in consequence of which, two European invalids had been appointed schoolmasters, and ample provision had been made for furnishing every thing necessary for the school. The missionaries had also made it their business to visit this school frequently, to superintend

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the schoolmasters, and examine the progress of the children.

"Several of the country congregations had been visited by Mr. Kolhoff, in the course of the last year, and he had exhorted and animated them to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." The faithful adherence of these congregations to Christianity, notwithstanding the many temptations they were exposed to from without and from within, gave inexpressible joy; and the more so, as almost all of them had been, before their conversion, daring robbers and murderers by profession. Three families amongst them had indeed violated their Christian engagements, by forming marriage connexions with heathens; in consequence of which they had been censured. The head of one of these families had expressed great remorse for his conduct, but the others were still hardened."

The Rev. Mr. Pohle, in a letter dated at Trichinapally, the 17th of February, 1808, states, that in the course of the preceding year, there had been in that mission twenty baptisms, amongst which five were of adult heathens, eleven converts from popery, and two hundred and eighty communicants. The congregation at the end of the year, amounted to 412 souls; viz. Portuguese 108, Malabars 304; and 25 at Dindegal.

Mr. Horst is mentioned as in full occupation at Tanjore, and as being a very great help to Mr. Kolhoff, who otherwise would be likely to sink under his burden. This mission having no funds for the poor belonging to it, Mr. Pohle had begun to raise one for their benefit;" and with the assistance and contributions of the charitably disposed in the congregation, and other persons, he had recently lent to Government five hundred star pagodas upon interest, which is the smallest sum they accept. His fellow-labourers in the mission, were as he had reported last year, and their labours also were the same; and his own occupations at Trinchinapally were so great, that he could do little more, with respect to distant natives, than give instructions and directions to the catechists, how properly to address them. He concludes with recommending himself to the prayers, love, and protection of the Society."

!

C

DOMESTIC.

A NARRATIVE

OF

THE STATE OF RELIGION

Within the bounds of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Presbyterian church, in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; During the period of time intervening between May, 1809, and May, 1810.

The Committee appointed to collect and digest into a connect-. ed narrative, the information received in the free conversation concerning the state of Religion, submit the following report....

THE General Assembly having heard a narrative of the state of religion within their bounds, are happy in having the opportunity of publishing an abstract of it, for the information of the churches under their care. And we begin with thanksgiving to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that" grace with which it has pleased him to visit a goodly number of our churches. In many instances the arm of the Lord has been made bare; the prince of peace has displayed the power and glory of his grace, in the edification of his people, and the conversion of sinners. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be the glory."

The state of the church upon the whole is favourable; and in particular parts, the Spirit of God has been poured out in copious effusions. In many towns within the bounds of our sister churches in Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New-Hampshire, the Gospel of Christ is seen to be the power of God, and the wisdom of God to salvation. Zion is there putting on her beautiful garments; there, is flowing with a full stream that river which makes glad the city of our God; and the great shepherd is leading his flock to the green pastures, by the living waters.

Advancing towards the south, we see the foot-steps of our glorious Redeemer, within the bounds of the Presbyteries of Long-Island, Hudson, and New-York. Jesus shows that he is able to save, even to the uttermost, by the conversion of old . and hardened sinners, of open, avowed unbelievers, and of abandoned profligates. The slaves of Satan are delivered from their bondage, and admitted into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. In the western parts of the state of New-York, Vol. III.-No. VI.

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particularly in the newly settled regions, the progress of religion has been great; that desert buds and blossoms as the rose, and promises, under the auspices of grace, to become as the garden of the Lord. It is mentioned as a proof of this, that in the space of eleven years, the number of ministers of Jesus, in that country, has increased from two to nearly fifty.>

Although the revival in New-Jersey, of which the Assembly made report to the churches last year, has, in some degree, declined, yet we are delighted to hear that the precious fruits of it remain; that apostacies are very rare; that they who name the name of Christ, appear generally to walk worthy of their vocation; and that, although the harvest seems for the present to be past, yet still, in many places, the gleanings are considerable.

In the Presbytery of Philadelphia the work of the Lord goes on, in the congregations of Cape-May, and Fairfield. Many souls are there brought from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God.

There are tidings also from some parts of the Presbytery of Baltimore, which make glad the hearts of the friends of Zion.

The Assembly are happy to learn that the fruits of the great revival in some of the Southern States, which took place several years ago, still remain; that there, also, apostacies are very rare, and professors of religion appear to have their conversation in Heaven. In some instances professional characters, formerly notorious for their adherence to the principles of inĥdelity, and for inattention to the duties of religion and morality, are now found publicly manifesting their attachment to the friends and the doctrines of christianity.

With pleasure we have received the information, that several Seminaries of learning have been favoured with the special grace of God; and some of those youth who are expected hereafter to influence public opinion and sentiment, have become disciples of a crucified Redeemer.

In addition to this general view of the good things which God has done for us, it is remarked, that the Missionaries employed by the General Assembly, and by other Missionary bodies within their bounds, have performed their services with fidelity, and, in several instances, with considerable success. The gospel has been carried to destitute places, and the sun of righteousness has risen, with healing under his wings, upon some of the dark and benighted regions of our wilderness. A goodly number of churches have been organized during the year past; and now in several places there is an carnest cry

for, the stated preaching of the gospel, where ten years ago there were none who cared for these things. The Missions to the poor blacks in our country, have also been, in some degree, blest by the head of the church, and even the heart of the savage has been melted by the all-subduing grace of God.

It is pleasing also to remark, that in some places, were infidelity appeared to have built her strong holds, the doctrine of Christ crucified has triumphed. The impious heresy of socinianism which reduces to the level of a mere man our blessed Lord and Saviour, has been also in some instances, considerably diminished.

The Assembly cannot forbear mentioning here, with great satisfaction, the institution of several Bible Societies, in addition to the one established nearly two years ago, in Philadelphia. We thank God that he has put it into the hearts of the pious and benevolent of various denominations, to devise and furnish the means of sending the scriptures, which alone are able to make men wise unto salvation, to the poor and needy. And we anticipate with joy, the happy effects which it is hoped will result from these institutions. It is our most ardent prayer that they may be encreased, until all who dwell upon the earth, shall be favoured with the word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice,

The Assembly also acknowledge, with joy, the goodness of God in checking the progress of the errors, and healing the divisions which have prevailed for some years, in a few of the western churches.......

In producing the happy effects which have been just detailed, God has done honour to his word and ordinances. As the Assembly cannot recognize as genuine any work in the hearts of men, bearing the name of religion, but that which is produced by the instrumentality of truth, acknowledges and honours that truth, so they observe as usual, a confirmation of this great principle in the reports concerning the state of religion, at the present sessions. In those parts of the church, without exception, in which vital religion has flourished, in the course of the last year, the fundamental doctrines of the gospel; viz. the total depravity of human nature, the divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ, justification by his imputed righteousness, the sovereignty and freeness of divine grace, and the special influiences of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration and sanctification of sinners, have been decidedly received and honoured.

> The means, in addition to the preaching of the word, which God has owned and blessed, are, catechising and prayer meetings. And the Assembly hail it as an auspicious omen, that,