"Much has been written to ascertain, with some precifion, the folid and fatisfying evidences of a genuine work of grace on the heart, and to diftinguish it from the fpecious, but fpurious profeffions of hypocrites. You will find in almost every practical book fomething more to the purpofe on this head than any thing I can fend you. But if I must fay fomething, you may expect to hear from me by next conveyance.

"You have no occafion to tell me your affection to your children. I know it. Because they are yours I love them dearly. To be helpful to their temporal or fpiritual intereft, would yield me fincere and lafting joy. Your concern about their fpiritual intereft is laudable. No duty is plainer or more strictly enjoined than to train up a child in the way he should go. Having been rather more converfant in books than you, fhould all other things be omitted, in my next I fhall point out a fhort and eafy course of reading, which, through the Lord's bleffing, may be of fingular ufe to them. As foon as poffible they thould be acquainted with their natural state, the leading doctrines of the gospel, their privileges and duties, and the fnares to which they are expofed. Remember, however, that all inftructions should be seconded with fervent fupplications to Him who can teach to profit, and who has promised the new and docile heart. Sent to any other but yourself, fuch a lengthy letter would require an apology along with it. To you the quantity will be a recommendation. Write foon; and let your anfwer exceed this in other refpects, and equal it in length.

I am, my dear brother, yours, &c.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PRISONERS AT LIVERPOOL.

HE friends of humanity and of religion will be

TH pleased to hear, that the Miffionary Society in

London are extending their influence even to foreigners and prifons.

The Rev. Mr. P, who was fent to Liverpool by the Society in the latter end of November last, to dif tribute religious tracts among the French prisoners, met with a good reception.. Lieutenant F. walked with him to the prifon, and ordered him to be admitted whenever he came. The phyfician alfo was pleased to find that the Society had noticed thefe miferable and pitiable creatures; he politely informed the better fort of perfons among them of the intentions of this stranger, defiring them to regard what he had to say.

The Rev. Mr. D. one of the minifters of the town, accompanied Mr. P. They went all over the prison, and, in feveral apartments, good attention was given. A few tracts were diftributed among the prifoners, of which they approved. Two of them faid they were proteftants, of the fentiments contained in thefe pieces, and were glad to see any person on such an errand. He then appointed to meet them, and others, the next day at eleven o'clock; Mr. Lieutenant F. ordered a room for them to meet in, which he fays fhall be Mr. P.'s chapel.

Mr. P. now vifits the prifon every day. It is a filthy place. The greater part of the prifoners are dirty and miferable, yet many are of a decent appearance and look well. His proteftant hearers are, moft of them, as clean as their fituation will admit of; there are about twenty-four of that profeffion, who feem very defirous of inftruction-and this they as much need as fome of our English proteftants; for three or four came into the room one day, and asked Mr. P. to make them Chriftians, agreeing that the tracts were good, but that they couldnot understand them.

As Mr. P. found that the propounding and anfwering queftions met their approbation more than any other method, with the affiftance of another minifter, who understands French, he is making out a catechifm, for the printing of which the Liverpool friends, who very much approve of the plan, will cheerfully pay. The prisoners are pleased in profpect of it, and intend to an

fwer a few queftions every day. What the iffue of this infant fcheme may be, it is not for us to predict. But the good people on the fpot, of different congregations, fay, that appearances are defirable. It is pleafing to add, that there is a young man, an inferior officer, among the prifoners, who fpeaks English pretty well, is a proteftant, and always accompanies Mr. P. and interprets whenever it is needful. Mr. P. wishes himself better qualified for this great work, and would, no doubt, be glad of an intereft in the prayers of his Chriftian friends.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Dr. Haweis, of Aldwinkle (Great-Britain), to the Rev. Dr. Rogers, of Philadelphia, dated in May laft.

"I am just going up to London to meet our brethren in our annual affembly for miffionary purposes, and have the pleasure of informing you, that our work at the Cape of Good Hope is very profperous and promifing. The firft fruits to Chriftianity among the Hottentots have written to us their grateful acknowledgments, for the truth as it is in Jefus preached unto them, and embraced in the love of it by them. A large fociety at the Cape, of two hundred and twenty-nine members, vigorously purfue the fame objects with us, and about two thoufand heathen are under their tuition.

"From our affiliated fociety in Friefland, we have received the moft cordial co-operation, and several German brethren have been propofed to us, and accepted by Three of them are immediately to be added as a reinforcement to the Cape miffions.

us.

"Among ourselves the work continues to fpread greatly; the sheet anchor of hope for our country. If the Lord meant to destroy us, he would not have fhewed us fuch and fuch things-I look more to the gofpel for our deliverance and prefervation from the devouring fcourge, than to any of our victories in the Baltic, Egypt, or ellewhere."

THE

New-York Miffionary Magazine,

AND

Repofitory of Religious Intelligence.

At the laft Annual Meeting of the New-York Miffionary Society the following Report was made by the Board of Directors, agreeably to the Conftitution.

TH

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.

HE Society has already been informed of the meafures taken by the Directors for accomplishing the defirable purpose of introducing the gofpel, and eftablishing a Chriftian fettlement, among the Chickafaw Indians. At the date of the last annual report, the Rev. Jofeph Bullen, and Deacon Ebenezer Rice, the Miffionaries, with their families, were on their way to the Chickafaw country. Having parted, probably for their better accommodation in travelling, they proceeded by different routes to Pittsburgh; and Mr. Rice, who arrived first, embarking with his family, the young man Harris, and a blacksmith who had joined them on the road, reached the houfe of Wolf's Friend, the Head-man of the Chickafaw nation, on the 7th of July, 1800. His cordial reception by that chief, and the audience yielded to him by other Indians in his attempts to fhew unto them the way of falvation, according with previous expectation, doubtlefs had their proper influence in reconciling him to the expenfe, fatigue, ficknefs, and other difficulties which he and his family had encountered.

To Mr. Bullen, the providence of God allotted feverer trial. Arrefted by ficknefs, which attacked himVOL. II. No. 6. A

felf, his wife, and feveral of his children, he was detained at Bedford in Pennfylvania, from fome time in May till the 8th of July. During this period of affliction, it pleafed God to remove his youngest daughter by death. But if trouble abounded, confolations abounded also: and the Directors defire to acknowledge, with thankfulnefs, the goodness of the Lord, in raifing up for their Miffionary, when a ftranger in a ftrange land, friends whofe fympathy and fuccour greatly alleviated his diftreffes, and refreshed his heart. As foon as circumstances would permit, he purfued his journey, and arrived fafely at the Chickafaw Bluff. Here his family, being again detained by the impaired health of Mrs. Bullen, experienced every attention from the commanding officer and furgeon of the garrifon, who furnished them with houfe-room, fuel, provisions, and medical aid. After three weeks they were enabled to remove to the Indian

towns.

Welcomed again by the Indians, Mr. Bullen applied himfelf to the purposes of his miffion. The Directors are happy to ftate that he has conftantly preached every Lord's day but one, to confiderable numbers of white, red, and black people. Decent attention, and a difpofition to become acquainted with the things which belong to their peace, appear to mark thefe mixed affemblies. When the Miffionaries fhall have made fuch proficiency in the Indian tongue, as to dispense with the aid of an interpreter, their labour will be abridged, and the hope of their usefulness ftrengthened. While this difficulty continues, it would be indifcreet to reckon upon immediate and extenfive fuccefs. Adjufting their views not to miraculous interpofition, but to a bleffing upon the use of inftituted means, they muft wait for the Lord in patient and perfevering diligence. Much is gained by the peaceful admiffion of the meffenger of grace; by fcattering on Pagan foil, however thinly, the feed of the living word; by exciting the curiofity, and conciliating the confidence of the heathen. This has already been effected by the Southern Mission: it de