tide would set in upon them. After praying to God they got upon the mast, and hung there for ten hours, when the boy, overcome by cold and exhaustion, fell off and was drowned! The tide. having turned, Crow proposed to take down the masts, and float upon them, and at ten at night they were borne away at the mercy of the waves. Crow's companion died in the night through fatigue and hunger. Being left alone, he earnestly called upon God for succour. At length, he was taken up by a Capt. Morse, bound to Antwerp, who, taking him at first for some fisherman's buoy, had almost steered away. As soon as Crow was safe on board, he put his hand in his bosom, and with joy drew out his beloved Testament, which, although wet, was not otherwise injur ed. Crow was well received at Antwerp, and the money he had lost more than made up to him.”

DISINTERESTEDNESS.

It was a law among the Romans, that none should come near the emperor's tent in the night, upon pain of death: one night, however, a certain soldier was apprehended standing near the tent of one of the emperors, with a petition to present to him; the soldier was therefore, according to the law, immediately ordered to be executed; but the emperor hearing the noise from within his pavilion, and being told that the soldier had brought a petition to present, called out, saying, "If it be for himself, let him die; if for another spare his life." On examination, it was found that his petition was for two of his fellow soldiers, that were taken asleep on the watch; he was accordingly pardoned and escaped the sentence of the law. Thus, according to the gospel, charity hideth a multitude of sins, for God has declared himself well pleased with the intercession of his people in behalf of others, since, while it reminds them that it is only through the Great Intercessor, Christ Jesus, that they are themselves accepted; it enables them to show their affection and devotedness to His cause when they do not seek their own good, regardless of their fellow creatures' welfare.

Intelligence,

UNITED STATES.

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, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Proper; and of the Gene ral Convention of Vermont, during the last year.

(Concluded from p. 114)

We now turn to a subject which awakes the liveliest emotion. in every Christian bosom; the subject of religious revivals. If religion be, as it doubtless is, the highest interest, and best happi»

VOL. VII.

S

ness of man, the extension of its influence, and the augmentation of its power, must constitute the most invaluable of all human blessings. The enemy of genuine revivals of religion, cannot be the friend of man, and has little reason to account himself the child of God. It is with gratitude and heartfelt joy, the Assembly are enabled to declare, that, on this subject, the past has been a year of signal, and almost unprecedented mercy. So extensive indeed, is the general religion, and so multiplied the peculiar spots in it, which have felt this blessing, that we are at a loss to particularize. Between seventy and eighty churches are mentioned individually, in the reports of their respective Presbyteries, as having been visited with special seasons of refreshing from the presence of God. The most copious of these effusions of the Spirit, have been experienced within the bounds of the Presbyteries of Onondaga, Oneida, Otsego, Albany, North River, Hudson, Jersey, and Grand River. Of the congregations within these portions of the church, those which appear to have been the most eminently blessed, are those of Homer and Smithfield, in the Presbytery of Onondaga; Geneva, in the Presbytery of Geneva; Utica, Whitesboro, New Hartford and Clinton, in the Presbytery of Oneida; Cooperstown, Sherburne and Pleasant Valley, in the Presbytery of Otsego; Stillwater, Malta, Ballston, Galway, Schenectady and Amsterdam, in that of Albany; Pleasant Valley and Marlboro, in the Presbytery of North River; Hopewell, in the Presbytery of Hudson; Elizabethtown, in Jersey Presbytery; and Jamestown and Ellicott, in the Presbytery of Erie. While in the Presbytery of Grand River, no less than fifteen contiguous towns have felt these quickening visitations of the Spirit of God. In some of the congregations enumerated, above one hundred members have been added at a single communion.

The general characteristics which seem to have marked these revivals of religion, are a deep and solemn stillness-pungent and humbling conviction of sin-an insatiable thirst for social religious exercises-a spirit of importunate and persevering prayer -an ardent concern for the welfare of others and a general zeal for the cause of truth, and the interests of religion. The blessing has fallen on persons of all ages, and of all conditions; nor has it been confined to those of any one religious denomina. tion. The advocates of error, as well as the slaves of vice, have felt its power, and demonstrated its effects: the Universalist has abandoned his fallacious dependence; the Socinian has owned the divinity of Jesus; the Deist has bowed to the inspiration of the Bible; and even the avowed and hardened Atheist has followed before the throne of God. Strifes and animosities have suddenly disappeared; drunkards and gamblers have been effectually reformed; and many of the abandoned and profane, converted into blessings and ornaments of society. These glo

rious displays of grace and power, have, for the most part, had this general impress of Jehovah's work, that their beginnings have been small and seemingly insignificant. An obscure prayermeeting, thinly attended by some of the humblest and poorest of the Lord's people, or a small and forgotten country school, has often been chosen as the theatre on which the operations of his Spirit have been first perceived; while, in other cases, the meeting of parents with their baptized children, has been honoured of God for the pouring out of his richest blessing upon both. In some of the churches, days of fasting and prayer have been observed for the express purpose of seeking a revival; and in many instances, such seasons of ardent and united supplication have at length received an evident answer from on high.

The spirit of active and inventive benevolence, a benevolence which seems to seek and to watch for new forms of human want, of suffering, only that it may meet them with new forms of pity and of aid, continues to mark the period in which we live, and, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, in a very honourable degree to characterize our beloved and happy land. Female hearts and hands, take, as heretofore, a prominent share in all these works of love. So many indeed are the associations throughout our country, for humane and pious purposes of every form, that charity, where it has but a solitary offering, is almost bewildered in its choice. Among the institutions of this kind, to which the past year has given birth, the Assembly notice with pleasure, the establishment of a school lately formed in Philadelphia, and which is now the third in our country, for the education of the Deaf and Dumb.

The Bible cause is flourishing. The late annual meeting of the American Bible Society, presented a report which is calculated to gladden the heart of every believer. That noble institution continues increasingly to unite the affections, and concentrate the efforts of Christians of every name, and to evince the same spirit of enlarged philanthropy, and of vigorous enterprise which so gloriously distinguish the parent society in Britain. May its means become as great as its plans are extensive, and its efforts like its wishes, know no bound but the limits of the world.

From communications made by delegates from the General Association of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New-Hampshire, and the General Convention of Vermont, the Assembly are happy to learn that the Redeemer's cause continues to flourish among our eastern brethren. Many of the churches in their respective connexions have been visited with the special influences of the Holy Spirit. The Theological Seminary, at Andover, is represented as in a flourishing condition, and the spirit of Christian benevolence as increasing.

In closing this report, the Assembly congratulate the churches on the increasing proofs of the divine goodness which have been

experienced through the last year; they are not indeed without many reasons for humiliation, especially in the prevalence of intemperance in some of the districts of our country, and the prevalence of lukewarmness in others; but though human sinfulness be but too conspicuous, divine mercy is paramount throughout the scene. Yet, while they cannot but turn an eye of serene satisfaction on the growing strength, and spiritual prosperity of that religious society over which they preside, they earnestly deprecate that strength should tempt us to presumption, or prosperity to pride. The extent of our communion, while it necessarily increases our influence as a body, exposes us to many countervailing evils. If the demon of party should ever haunt our councils; if sectional jealousies should hereafter arise to divide our strength; if, in wordy contests about what the gospel is, we should forget the charity, and lose the influence of the gospel itself; or if, in seeking charity we sacrifice truth, this church, great, and wide, and flourishing as it is, may become a great and wide desolation, a spiritual ruin; wasted by error, and dilapidated by decay, our children may have to lift up their hands over its departed glory and exclaim, "Alas, that great city!" That this melancholy fate (a fate which has already passed on many a church, as confident of perpetuity as we can be) shall never be the lot of the Presbyterian church in these United States, the Assembly confidently hope; but their hope rests not on man but on God. The period of the world, the voice of prophecy, the aspects of providence, the relative situation of our country, all seem unitedly to point to a future glory of Zion upon our shores; yet, in the soul-cheering prospect, let us not forget present duty, nor lose sight of our absolute dependence upon God; but with meek hope, and chastened joy, let us watch, let us labour, but above all let us pray.

Published by order of the General Assembly.

Attest,

Philadelphia, May, 1820.

WILLIAM NEIL, Stated Clerk.

HUMILIATION, THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, to the Churches under their care.

Whereas it is the duty of all men to acknowledge God in all the dispensations of his providence, and it is peculiarly incumbent on Christians to observe the ways of divine goodness, and the dealings of God to his church: Whereas, in the present mixed state of things, wherein mercies and judgments are mysteriously mingled in the administrations of Providence, there is in the most afflictive circumstances, much cause for thanksgiving and praise; and in the highest prosperity much reason for humiliation

and mourning: And, Whereas, in the present day there are many remarkable traits in the character of Divine Providence calling for particular observation, and many events in the church that may well engage the most serious attention of every Christian; especially as it has pleased God to visit our country with great and unexampled pecuniary embarrassments, deeply affecting the condition of all classes of persons, and the interests of the various institutions of pious benevolence among us; and at the same time to fill our land with abundance of food for man and beast; as it has also pleased him to pour out his Holy Spirit on many parts of Zion, and to cause, as we hope, a great ingathering of souls, and yet to leave many parts unvisited, to allow divisions and jealousies still to prevail among the professed disciples of the Lord.

Therefore it is recommended to all the churches under our care, to set apart the last Thursday in August next, as a day of humiliation, thanksgiving, and prayer, particularly to observe the ways of Providence and the dispensations of grace; to abstain from all unnecessary labour and worldly care on that day; to assemble in their places of worship, and with united heart and voice to render thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings of his providence, and for the effusion of his Holy Spirit. And, also, to humble themselves before him for their sins; to beseech him to overrule the dispensation of his Providence for his own glory, the good of the church, and the prosperity of our common country; and to plead with him that he may visit his church in the fulness of his mercy, may heal all divisions, remove every cause of offence, banish all error, and so give efficacy to the word of truth, that every where Christians may be edified and strengthened, may walk together in love, and in all things adorn the doctrine of our Saviour; and that those who are afar off may be brought nigh by the blood of Christ, and the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of God.

Signed by order of the General Assembly,

Philadelphia, June 1, 1820.

JOHN M'DOWELL, Moderator.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, to the Churches and Congregations under their care, send Christian salutation, and wish all grace and peace in the Lord. BELOVED BRETHREN,

We are called to address you on a matter of immediate and vital concern to us all. The Assembly trust, that among the friends of the Presbyterian church, there prevails but one sentiment respecting the importance and necessity of ministerial education, and but one feeling, a feeling of deep and anxious regard for those schools of sacred learning, which the goodness of God has