the Spirit every where be shed down! May Zion's waste places be built up. Believe me to be your friend, &c.

A NARRATIVE of the state of Religion within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and of the General Association of Connecticut, of New-Hampshire, of Massachusetts, and of the General Convention of Vermont, during the last year.

THE cause of Zion lies near the heart of every sincere follower of the Redeemer. He deserves not the name of a disciple, who can. not join the Psalmist in saying, if I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. In the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, the honor of God, and the everlasting welfare of the souls of men are involved. That benevolence which distinguishes our religion, incessantly utters the prayer, thy kingdom come; and when the news reaches the truly religious man, from any quarter of the earth, that the interests of the truth as it is in Jesus, are advanced, and that the followers of the Redeemer are multiplied, he experiences a joy, similar in kind, to that which swells the bosoms of the angels of light, when sinners are brought to repentance.

To those who are thus tenderly concerned for the prosperity of Zion, and who are waiting, and praying, and striving, for the peace of Jerusalem, we have the happiness to state, that though we find many things within our bounds to deplore, yet, on the whole, we have abundant cause to thank God, and take courage. Amidst much coldness, and declension, and iniquity, we discern evident tokens, that God has not forgotten to be gracious. In some places within our bounds, during the past year, the Spirit has descended like a gentle dew, and in others in copious showers, making the parched heath as a fruitful field.

The state of religion among a people, may be judged of with tolerable correctness, from that attention which the ordinances of religion, and the means of grace receive, and from those exertions and those sacrifices, which are made, to extend the Redeemer's kingdom. By their fruits shall ye know them, is a rule of judging, prescribed by the Saviour himself. We view it then as an evidence that God, by the precious influences of his spirit, is in the midst of our churches, when we learn, that there is, within our bounds, a respectful and general attendance on a preached gospel; that children and youth, and in some places the aged, are instructed, by catechising, in the great truths and duties of religion; that missionary and bible, and religious tract societies exist, are numerous and extensively patronized, and are successfully exerting themselves, in spreading a knowledge of divine truth; that young men of hopeful piety, and of promising talents, are taken from those occupations, to which their poverty had confined them, and are educated for more extensive usefulness in the church, as gospel ministers; that associations of young people are formed, for the laudable purpose of sending the gospel to those, who

enjoy not its stated ministrations; that the heathen in distant lands are remembered, with tender solicitude, and contributions are cheerfully and liberally made, to send the gospel to them; that praying societies are extensively instituted, and devoutly attended, and a hope is thus warranted, that the windows of heaven will be opened, and the richest blessings descend on this guilty world.

The number of churches within our bounds, has during the past year, considerably increased; and destitute congregations, through the faithfulness of our ministers in their neighborhood, have been extensively supplied with the administration of gospel ordinances. hope that those, who have thus been favored, will not forget the solemn obligation which they are under to establish as speedily as possible, the gospel ministry permanently among themselves. We state with pleasure, that great harmony prevails in our churches, and that ministers and people appear to be walking together, in the charity, and faith, and order of the gospel. Infidelity and other ruinous errors, conscious of deformity, seem to court concealment; while truth goes forth in her native loveliness, and meets with extensive approbation.

But we have still more encouraging things than these to make known. In a number of places within our bounds, during the past year, there have been extensive revivals of religion. Scenes resembling those of Pentecost, have been witnessed, in which, solemnity has pervaded a people, sinners have been brought to inquire with solicitude, and with trembling, what they must do to be saved, and have at length been brought to rejoice in that glorious liberty, wherewith Christ makes free. Fresh evidence has thus been afforded, of the reality of the religion of Jesus, and of the power and grace of God. We have seen the Ethiopean change his skin, and the leopard his spots, and have been forced to exclaim, in view of such miracles of mercy, this truly is the finger of God. The presbyteries, in which such revivals have principally taken place are Jersey, Hudson, Onondaga, and Albany; and the places which have been most extensively visited, are Homer, Newark, Elizabethtown, and Connecticut Farms.

In many places, also, where no special revivals have existed, the cause of religion presents a pleasing aspect; and the church looks green and flourishing, under the gentle dews of divine grace, distilling upon it. Numbers are, from time to time, added to the Lord, of such, we trust, as shall be saved. The religious instruction of children, has been blessed, and that watchful care, which has been exercised over these lambs of the flock, has been often made a mean, by the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, of bringing them into his fold. A strong incitement has thus been afforded to parental and ministerial fidelity, and the pleasing hope is excited, that a generation shall rise up to praise God, when their fathers shall have fallen asleep. We have also seen, in the events of the past year, viewed in connection with their circumstances, fresh and impressive evidence, that God is a prayer hearing God, and that it is generally in answer to the earnest supplications of his people, that he appears in his glory to build up Zion. But while we thus rejoice in the divine goodness, we have reason, also, to deprecate the divine displeasure. In too many places, within our bounds, a lukewarmness, and a neglect of religious ordinances

prevail, and the vices of profane swearing, drunkenness and sabbath breaking exist, to an alarming degree. In other places, things temporal, trifling in their nature, and momentary in their duration, engross the chief attention, to the neglect of those things, of whose importance and duration, we cannot at present, adequately conceive. While the prince of darkness is thus striving to maintain an unhallowed dominion over the souls of men, let those who are clothed with the christian armour labour, under the direction of the great Captain of their salvation, to deliver them from this cruel bondage, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

We learn that an awful mortality has prevailed, in many places, within our bounds, and within the bounds of those sister churches, with which we are connected; we are sorry to be compelled to add, that this dreadful visitation of the Almighty, does not seem to have been extensively a mean of producing repentance and reformation. A sleep like that of death, must surely have fallen upon those, who can thus stand unmoved in their impenitency, while the arrows of death are flying thick around them.

From the General Association of Connecticut, we learn, that though there have been fewer revivals of religion, within their bounds, during the past year, than in some years which have preceded it, yet, on the whole, religion is not in a less prosperous state, than it has hitherto been. An entire harmony there prevails, among the ministers and churches.

In the county of Litchfield, a number of places have been refreshed, by an outpouring of the spirit of God.

In Yale College, appearances, in a religious point of view, are in a high degree hopeful. Many of the youth of that seminary, are anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved.

The souls of all mankind are equally precious; but we cannot but feel, that it is a subject of uncommon rejoicing, when, by reviving religion in our most respectable seminaries of learning, God is preparing for an increased number of able and faithful ministers of the gospel.

Missionary, and bible, and religious tract societies, are liberally supported, and the people of this state, have extensively contributed to the missions in the east. They are also, with their brethren, in Massachusetts, making great exertions to arrest the progress of intemperance, that angel of darkness, and of death, wno with a giant step, has passed through our land, and slain his thousands, and his tens of thousands, and who is still continuing his awful work of destruction.

From the General Association of Massachusetts proper, we have received encouraging intelligence. Religion there, not only maintains its ground, but gains new conquests. The cause of error, to say the least, is stationary; while the cause of truth and righteousness, is steadily advancing. In some parts of that state, pleasing revivals of religion have taken place. A great and general, and promising ef fort is making, to suppress intemperance, and its kindred vices. In no other part of our country, has such liberality been manifested, in founding and supporting benevolent religious institutions, having for their object the education of young men for the gospel ministry, with

out expense to themselves; the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures in our own language, and the preaching of the gospel, in destitute parts of our own country; the translation of the scriptures into the languages of the east, and the diffusion of the light of divine truth among those, who are sitting in the region and shadow of death. When christians, in other sections of our country, are informed, that the inhabitants of Massachusetts have contributed, during the six years last past, for the above purposes, a sum probably not less than half a million of dollars, will they not be provoked to go and do likewise?

From the General Association of Newhampshire we learn, that though many of their towns are destitute of churches, and of the regular administration of gospel institutions, and there vice lamentably prevails, yet where religious ordinances are established, they are not enjoyed in vain. Ministers are faithful and zealous, in inculcating truth, and in opposing error; and are labouring to strengthen the hands, and encourage the hearts of each other, in their great and good work, and the churches, walking in the faith and order of the gospel, are edified and increased. The serious people of this state are combining their efforts, with their brethren in Massachusetts and Connecticut, to suppress the growing evil of intemperance.

From the General Convention of Vermont we learn, that religion is, on the whole, progressive among them; that some new churches have, during the past year, been formed; and that numbers of those which have, in time past, been destitute of the stated ordinances of religion, have settled gospel ministers among them. Benevolent institutions, for the promotion of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, are increasing in number, and are respectably supported. The ministers and churches are happily united, in the faith and order of the gospel. Revivals of religion have existed in several places, and in Middlebury College, an unusual degree of seriousness has prevailed. On the whole the Assembly think, that religion has lost nothing, but on the contrary has gained much, during the past year; and we would record the fact, to the honor of Him, whose is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

We exult in this consideration, though the nations of the earth are convulsed, and our own beloved country is at length involved in the wide spread flame of war; and is solemnly called to humble itself before a righteous and holy God, while it feels the infliction of one of his sorest judgments. But recollecting, notwithstanding, that it was long since the divine prediction, that Jerusalem should be built in troublous times, and observing that in our day, amidst all the falls and revolutions of empire which have afflicted and changed the face of the world, that greater efforts have been made to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, and with greater success, than for many centuries before; we even derive encouragement from circumstances and events, which, viewed in themselves, seem hostile to Zion, but which, in the hand of her Almighty king, and to demonstrate that her cause is his own, are overruled for her prosperity and triumph.

The prospect of victory animates the soldier to daring exploits; and surely a heroic fortitude becomes every soldier of the cross, when the assurance is given, in the word of God, and when this assurance

is confirmed by the dispensations of Divine Providence, that his labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. The events of the past year admonish and encourage us to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Glorious things are spoken of Zion, the city of our God. Her boundaries must be enlarged, until they shall embrace the whole family of man. And we behold in the events which are now taking place, comfortable evidence, that the night is far spent, and that the day is at hand. A noble spirit animates the protestant world, to spread the triumphs of the cross; and in the exertions which are now making, and which have recently been made, and in the success which has crowned them, we think we perceive, the dawning of that day, when the great Sun of Righteousness shall arise, on all the world, with healing under his wings.

But the prince of darkness will not be dispossessed of his dominion, without a struggle. It is to be expected, that before millennial glory shall irradiate the earth, he will muster his hosts unto battle, and that he will dispute for his territory, at every step, with the champions of the cross. The circumstances of the church and of the world demand great sacrifices from christians, and afford every encouragement to

make them.

Let all then who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and who are waiting for the consolation of Israel, being strong in their Lord alone, rise in the majesty of their strength, and resolve, and let their piety, their prayers, and their exertions, testify to the sincerity of their resolution, that for Zion's sake they will not hold their peace, and for Jerusalem's sake, they will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

By order of the General Assembly.

ATTEST,

Philadelphia, May, 1813.

JACOB J. JANEWAY, Stated Clerk.

A Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer; Appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churck.

WHEN in the righteous government of God, he is pleased to visit any people with the tokens of his displeasure, it is the duty of all, and especially of his Church, to acknowledge his holy Providence ; to humble themselves under his mighty hand ;—and to implore that grace which they need, both for their deliverance, and for the sanctified improvement of his dispensations.

AND WHEREAS, in the course of the past year, it has pleased Almighty God to visit our beloved country with the calamity of War, by which many extensive districts within our bounds, have been greatly distressed and desolated; and in the progress of which the moral and spiritual interests of those districts have sustained the most evident and lamentable injury: Whereas there has been, during the same period, an unusual prevalence of wasting Pestilence :Whereas, while we have much reason to bless the God of all grace, for the favorable aspect of our Church in general, there is ground to