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rously appropriated to this purpofe. The intereft of the permanent fund will not, for a long time, be fufficient to fuperfede the neceffity of an annual contribution. And as the field of miffions is continually growing wider, owing to the spread of new fettlements on our borders, it is hoped the people of the State will proportionably increase their generous donations to the advancement of the important objects of the Society.

Notwithstanding the many unfavourable reports which are circulated refpecting the feelings of the inhabitants of the new settlements towards Miffionaries, the Trustees affure the public, that they have received letters from many towns in the States of New-York and Vermont, written on behalf of the inhabitants, expreffing a high fenfe of obligation to the Miffionary Society and to the people of Connecticut, for their past charitable endeavours to promote their best interests, and requesting that they may be again vifited by Miffionaries. The General Convention of Ministers, in the State of Vermont, have alfo paffed a vote of thanks to the General Affociation of Connecticut, for their exertions to send the gospel to their new and scattered fettlements. That evil minded perfons, who are unfriendly to religion, should not wish to have the gospel preached among them, is not to be wondered at; that they fhould exert themselves to prevent the fpread of truth, is to be expected; and that they should revile and cenfure the Miffionary Society, notwithstanding its object is fo benevolent, is no more than a probable event, though an event which must be deeply deplored by all who with well to the happiness of mankind as individuals or as united in fociety. The calumnies and afperfions of fuch people will not, it is prefumed, have any in fluence in preventing the pjous and benevolent inhabitants of this State, who know the worth of religious inftitutions, from contributing, as far as in them lies, towards beftowing bleffings, fimilar to thofe which they enjoy, on their brethren and friends, whom Providence is calling to form new fettlements in the wildernefs, and who must neceffarily for a time be deftitute of the ftated preaching of the gofpel.

The civil and political welfare of focieties, no lefs thart the present and future happiness of individuals, depends much on religious inftitutions. The experience of ages has demonstrated the truth of that inspired obfervation, "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but fin is a reproach to

any people ;" and that righteoufnefs will be encouraged; and fin discountenanced among a people who neglect all religious inftitutions, will not be believed by those who reflect on the nature of man, who believe the divine infpiration of the fcriptures, or who attentively examine the conduct of mankind. In every view, therefore, the Trustees conceive the Miffionary Society to be an important inftitution; and that to fend zealous, faithful, and enlightened Miffionaries to the new fettlements will, under the bleffing of Heaven, be a moft likely means of advancing their profperity and happiness as individuals and as focieties. Impreffed with fuch ideas, they again folicit, on the behalf of thofe fettlements, the charitable contributions of the inhabitants of this highly favoured State.

They would alfo remind them that the leaft profpect of diffufing the gofpel among the poor Pagans on our borders, fhould excite their fervent prayers for the furtherance of fo defirable an object; and induce them to contribute generously towards bringing those who are perifhing for lack of vifion, to a knowledge of thofe divine and heavenly truths which are calculated to make man wife unto falvation. "God hath made of one blood all na<tions that dwell upon the earth." Though favage in their manners, and unacquainted with the arts of civilized life, the American Indians are ftill men, formed for immortality, capable of knowing, ferving, and loving God, and of an endless progreffion in improvement and happiness. And he who has any realizing fenfe of the worth of an immortal foul, will with that they may be brought to a knowledge of that great Redeemer through whom alone falvation is to be obtained. All who love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity will wish to fee his kingdom univerfally prevail; and all who "know VOL. II. No. 5.

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the grace of him who, though he was rich, for their "fakes became poor, that they, through his poverty, "might be made rich," will feel it their duty to lay up in ftore, that, whenever Providence gives them an opportunity, they may have fomething to contribute towards the falvation of immortal fouls, and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom." The liberal foul fhall be "made fat, and he that watereth fhall be watered alfo "himfelf."

JOHN TREADWELL, Chairman Paffed by the Board of Trustees, December 31, 1800.

Atteft,

ABEL FLINT, Secretary.

Treafurer's Account Current.

1107 I

239 88

Balance due the So

Dr. {

The Missionary Society of Connecticut in Account Current
with Andrew Kingsbury as their Treasurer.

To Amount of disbursements by "or-" der of the Trustees, To cash stolen from the Treasury Office on the night after May 25th, 1800,

D.

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c. By balance due as per
settlement January

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20th.

By amount of con-
tributions in May,
1800,

2224 22

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the Society, Permanent Fund, For support of Missionaries,

NOTE. By a late vote of the Trustees, the sum of 80 dollars, which was paid into the Treasury in January last by the Editors of the Hartford Selection of Hymns, is to go to the permanent fund, which will make said fund 690 dollars 75 cents; and the other balance 3139 dollars 63 cents.

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610 75

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3219 63.

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ON THE EVIL OF SIN.

[Continued from page 281, and concluded.]

F it be true that the evil or demerit of fin is in pro portion to the hurt it actually doth, and is to be efti, mated by the injury to the community, or fyftem in general, which, according to the natural and common courfe of things, will actually follow from it, it may, perhaps, from hence appear, that, with strict propriety, it may be termed infinite. For fin, being in its very nature active and voluntary oppofition to the general intereft, neceffarily tends to render it infecure. When ever a fin is committed, as far as it is known, the gene ral fafety is felt to be endangered; and according to a natural courfe of things, the knowledge of an enemy to the fyftem being rifen up, will continue to be diffufed until it extend through the whole. The genuine ten, dency, therefore, of every fin, is to injure the enjoy ments of the whole moral fyftem, and actually give pain to all. And nothing short of the exertions of fome extrinsic and foreign power, in laying the finner under effectual restraint, and, thereby giving the fyftem to feel an abfolute fecurity against any future injury, could prevent the perpetual continuance, and even increase of the pain.

If this be the genuine tendency of fin, and the effect which, in a common courfe of things, will naturally and neceffarily flow from it, it is then infinitely burtful. If it diminish the happiness of the whole fyftem, and that too in perpetuum, and not only this, but actually produce pofitive pain and diftrefs in every moral creature, and fuch pain and diftrefs as muft neceffarily continue for ever, unlefs omnipotence be exerted to prevent and over-rule its ill and hurtful effects, it cannot deferve lefs than infinite punishment.

That thefe will be natural, and, according to the com mon courfe of things, neceffary effects of fin, cannot, A think, be denied. It is exceedingly manifeft, that if

fin take place, infinite mifchiefs will follow, unless prevented by the exertions of infinite wifdom and power. If one finner arife in the fyftem, another may alfo: and where the mischief in this refpect may ftop, none can tell, unless God interpofe. The more the evil confequences of fin are contemplated, the more extensive and dreadful they will appear. In a common course of things, therefore, the happiness of the whole fyftem cannot fail being disturbed, upon the appearance of even one finner; nor concern and pain being univerfally diffused through all hearts.

If it be not believed, that there are both power and a will in God to reftrain the wrath of man, and cause it to praise him, the fyftem of created beings can have no confidence in him: confequently can have nothing to counterbalance the fears, and alleviate the diftrefs, which will naturally and neceffarily arife from the knowledge that a rebellion is begun. But that there are both power and will in God, thus to reftrain and over-rule fin when it has actually taken place, cannot be believed, unless they be put into actual exertion. Should it, therefore, be, that upon the taking place of fin, the wifdom and power of God should not be actually exerted to prevent the evils which would otherwife neceffarily flow from it, all confidence in him as a protector and governor, yea, even as a being of goodness-of a good moral character, would immediately and neceffarily ceafe. And fhould it be that there is not a power in God to fupprefs fin, and over-rule it to the real and general intereft, upon even the leaft rebellion taking place in the fyftem, government will be of courfe neceffarily diffolved, and ruin, abfolutely univerfal, inevitably follow.

The only fecurity there in fact is, or in the nature of things can be, againft all these woeful and dreadful effects of fin, is the power, wifdom, and goodness of God; yea, nothing else can ever prevent their actually taking place. It is therefore to be afcribed only to the power and goodnefs of God, that all this mifchief has not taken place already.

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