and irreligion. The opportunity for performing this duty, we may believe, is at hand, and we should be prepared to improve it. The cession of the Floridas must soon open a way for the diffusion of religious tracts in that territory; and the intercourse naturally kept up between the inhabitants of these provinces and those of the neighbouring islands, and of the southern shores of the Gulf of Mexico, will open for us an access to the minds, and peradventure to the hearts, of the citizens of New Spain.

"The circulation of religious tracts forms an almost indispensable link in that chain of Christian instruction, so happily introduced by our Sunday schools, our Bible societies, and our institutions for the preaching of the gospel. Sunday schools afford to the ignorant poor the ability to read the Scriptures, and Bible societies furnish them with the sacred writings. It is the part of religious tract societies to prompt them to the improvement of these advantages. Some tracts may be designed only to persuade to the performance of certain moral duties; others are intended to assist the understanding of particular doctrines: but the peculiar office of a religious tract is, to rouse the attention of the reader to a proper consideration of his eternal interests. As an instrument of the Holy Spirit, it is intended to convince of sin, of righte ousness and of judgment;-to make the impenitent sensible of his guilt, that he may be led, with the contrite publican, to exclaim, God be merciful to me a sinner;"-to prove to the careless, and to those who are trusting in a vain security, how much they are deficient in that righteousness, which a Being of infinite holiness requires; and to impress upon the minds of all, the reality of that awful moment, when they must appear in judgment before the living God, that they may be led to the great inquiry, What shall I do to be saved? Here the religious tract replies, Your Bible will answer the question-READ, BELIEVE, and live.

"If you are a patron of Sunday schools, you will lend your aid in the diffusion of religious tracts; for, by these, your pupils are brought to a just improvement of the privileges you have procured them. If you are friendly to the circulation of the Bible, you will advocate the cause of religious tract societies; for, by their instrumentality, thousands are brought to receive, and to read the Bible. If you are desirous to promote the public wor ship of your God and Saviour-if you are the friend of Missionsif you wish that all should hear the glad tidings of that redemption in which you yourselves rejoice, you will not decline assisting in the dissemination of religious tracts, for these are amongst the most distinguished means of attaining the important objects which you have so much at heart.

"In closing their Report, the Managers cannot pass over in silence the loss which their Board has sustained the past year, in the death of two of its members, JOHN P. MUMFORD, Esq. second Vice-President, and Mr. CHARLES RICHARDS, a Manager. VOL. VII. 5 D

The characters of these excellent men need no eulogium from this Board; but the dispensation which has deprived us of their services, carries with it a solemn admonition that we are bound to improve.

"The last annual Report contained a similar record of public and of private loss, in the death of Mr. CALDWELL. How can we forbear the inquiry, Who of this small number is to be called to render his account ere another year be closed? Surely it becomes us to work while it is day; and your Managers may be permitted, amidst these repeated warnings, to urge you to lend that aid to the operations of the society, which you have it now in your power to grant. Another year, and, perhaps with some of you, the opportunity may be no longer yours!"

REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

The following summary account of revivals in various places, was read at the last United General Prayer Meeting held in the Mariners' Church, for which we had not room in our last number.

In Jones' County, Georgia, the work of the Lord, that commenced in the Baptist Churches in 1819, continues to prosper. A letter from that quarter says, "Many were cut to the heart, and were groaning under the weight of sin, and crying in the extreme anguish of soul, what shall we do to be saved? whilst others were singing hosannas to the Son of David." 102 had been baptized. Of the persons received into the church, one, a black man, gave the following relation :-"One day hearing my young master talking about Noah's flood, and after making several remarks with respect to it, he observed that the world would be destroyed next time by fire. This was the first time that ever I had thought on my latter end, which brought me into such distress as I had never before experienced, and from which I could get no respite. I thought if I could read the Scriptures that would relieve me. I then proceeded to try, and succeeded in learning to read a little; but that made me no better. I often tried to pray, but seemed to grow worse. I thought if I had a fellow Christian to pray for me, that would relieve me; but I had none to apply to. At length, in the most extreme distress, the words of the Lord Jesus, Believe in me and you shall be saved,' relieved me."

6

Extract of a letter from Forestburgh, Pa. dated Feb. 22, 1821. Some circumstances have occurred since my last which have, and will, prevent my intended journey to New-York and Philadelphia. The principal cause is a most glorious one-no less than a revival of religion among us. I can evidently perceive the good providence of God in my removal to Philadelphia, into a congregation where a revival of religion soon after commenced,

and where I became an elder in the church, and had an opportunity to learn much of the dealings of God with his children, while calling them out of darkness into his marvellous light in a time of revival, and as I trust qualifying me for usefulness in this revival in the wilderness. Previous to my arrival here there were but two male and two female professors of religion, and only one that took a public part in worship. Most of the inhabitants were careless, and many of them profligate. About six weeks since Mr. S. (who occasionally preaches here,) and a gentleman who came here on a visit, agreed to call on every family in this neighbourhood, converse with each individual on the concerns of their soul, and pray with them. They were generally well received, and surprised to find many talk freely, to manifest a desire to forsake their sins, and seek an interest in Christ. From this time our place of meeting became crowded, although a very busy season, and many were deeply exercised, their minds solemn, and some in great distress, so as to be unable to attend their ordinary business. We found it necessary to hold meetings every evening, which we have continued, with one or two exceptions, ever since. There is scarcely a family in this settlement but have been subjects of this revival; and in some, every individual. I am happy to say this is the case with my family; every individual of it have comfortable hopes of their acceptance with God through Christ; are rejoicing in Divine mercy, and are actively engaged in recommending to all around them to persevere in seeking the same blessing.

Last sabbath we shall not cease to remember-it was the happiest day of my life. In my house we sat down to the table of the Lord, having been previously formed into a church. We had two ministers present. Eighteen persons were admitted into the church, as the first fruits of this revival, and many more, I have great reason to hope, will shortly follow. Your friend Mr. D. is seriously impressed, and has commenced the worship of God in his family, making the eighth family that has recently set up the worship of God. Our young people have commenced a prayer meeting, and wherever we meet with two or three of them, we hear them either singing hymns or conversing on the subject of religion; and when we meet for worship, the love that seems to pervade every heart is truly animating; it may be said of them, as of the disciples of old, "see how these Christians love one another." The work is still progressing, and we continue to hold meetings every evening, either for prayer, preaching, or to converse with those under exercise of mind. The Rev. Mr. Grier, who organized our church, resides at Westown; there is a revival in his congregation: he admitted 100 persons in one day, a short time since, and altogether, since November, about 200. The Lord is doing great things for this region.

There has prevailed for some time past a powerful revival in Cherry Valley, N. Y. Between 100 and 200 have hopefully been converted to God: it has spread into Plainfield, Middlefield, and Springfield. It is said that two of the most influential men in Otsego County have been brought into the church of Christ, and have openly appeared on the Lord's side. The work still continues powerfully in Kinderhook, Coxsackie, and Catskill, and is extending. There are several other places in that region where there are hopeful appearances.

A letter from a correspondent in Auburn, in this state, relates, that in a village not far from that place, the people assembled to dismiss their minister; but that at the meeting many of them were so deeply impressed with a sense of their sins, they were obliged to separate without accomplishing their business-a general awakening took place, and they have cheerfully supported him since.

It were well if every people who wish to be released from supporting the gospel, were made sensible of their criminality in desiring to rob their children of a spiritual instructor.

In many places we are constantly hearing, that people, through self-will and avarice, are selling the privileges of the gospel for a paltry sum.

In the town of Minesink, more than 200 have been subjects of the work in the Presbyterian church and congregation, and the work is still progressing. In Ridgeway, also, a great work is going on. There is a most wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Brutus, in Hudson, and Kinderhook Landing: a work of grace is going on.

To these towns we may add Marcellus, Genoa, Scipio, Caroline, Peru, and East Groton. The church in Berkshire is nearly doubled in number. The sacred flame has extended to Skeneatles, and Eldridge, and Candor.

REV. W. WARD.-SERAMPORE COLLEGE.

The religious exercises which took place on the departure of Mr. Ward from the United States, were attended by a large number of persons in the Baptist Meeting-house in Fayette-street. On this occasion he plead for the cause of the mission to the Burman Empire, from Eph. ii. 12, "without God in the world." After an able and ingenious exposition of the text, he made a powerful appeal to the minds and consciences of his attentive audience, in behalf of forty millions of professed atheists, which Burmah is estimated to contain. After the sermon a collection was taken up for the Foreign and Domestic Baptist Missionary Society, whose labours are now directed to the propagation of the gospel in the Burman Empire.

After the collection, Mr. Ward made a short, affecting farewell address to the audience, as representing the whole body of his Christian friends in the U. States, for whose kind attentions he expressed the liveliest gratitude, as well as for the liberal contributions they had made to the object of his mission. The audience were deeply affected, and the silent tear stood in almost every eye. Mr. Ward, accompanied by a number of his friends, proceeded to the boat, and took his departure from Ame

rica.

After he had retired, the following parting hymn, prepared for the occasion, was sung by the choir.

Farewell to Mr. Ward, the Missionary from Serampore, from kis
Christian brethren in America. *

The time approaches, when the Hindoo's friend
To England's shore his course again must bend;
From thence he goes "to lands more eastern still,"
His Saviour's last injunction to fulfil.

We hail the Grace that fired thy heart with love,
And to the heathen made thy pity move:
May India's millions to thy prayers be given,
And living jewels gem thy crown in heaven.
And while o'er scorching deserts thou shalt roam,
Yet journeying onwards to thy Father's home,
May His blest word, which thou shalt spread abroad,
Lead future Bramhins to thy Saviour God.
Thy face, beloved brother, we no more
Shall see, till gather'd on the heavenly shore
From earth's extremities, we meet again,
To join our elder brother's glorious train.
Thy western brethren bear thee on their heart,
In all their prayers thou still shalt have thy part;
And while affection makes each bosom swell,
We bid our BROTHER, DEARLy loved, farewell!

ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW-YORK MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY.

The fifth anniversary meeting of this society was celebrated on Wednesday evening, the 11th inst. in the Mariners' Church. At half past 7 o'clock, JONATHAN LITTLE, Esq. President of the society, took the chair, and the meeting was opened by the Rev. Mr. Chace. The annual report was then read by the Rev. Mr. Nott, and, on motion of the Rev. Mr. Mathews, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Stafford, the report was accepted and ordered to be printed. On motion of Mr. Wilson, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Spring, the thanks of the society were voted to the shipmasters and seamen who have given their aid to the institution. A like vote of thanks to the American Bible Society, for the liberal do