Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

AFRICAN MISSION.

On the 9th of March advice was received of the fafe arrival at Sierra

Leone, of the Miffionaries, who failed in October laft, after a paffage of feven weeks, in perfect health, which they continued to enjoy when the Calypfo left Africa. The Miffionaries fpeak in handfome terms of the great attention paid to them by Captain Cole during the whole of the voyage, and of the very kind reception they met with from Governor Macauley, the Rev, Mr. Clarke, the Chaplain, and other chriftian friends at the colony. The most interefting letter received is one from the governor to the treasurer, in which the particulars of the voyage, and the various circumftances which occurred after their arrival at Freetown are minutely detailed. The above letter is too copious to be given by us, and is the lefs necessary as we understand the tranfactions relative to this Miffion will be inferted at large in the report of the Directors of the Miffionary Society at the annual meeting in May.

We are forry to introduce this account with faying that the Calypfo had not long departed from Gravefend, before a misunderstanding arofe among fome of the Miffionaries, which continued to fubfift till they arrived at Sierra Leone; but, by the good offices of the governor, harmony was in a great measure reftored, and the Miffionaries were stedfaftly determined to proceed in their work.

It is well known that the views of the Society in relation to the African Miffion, referred principally to the Foulah Country; fubject however to any alteration which should appear expedient after their arrival at Sierra Leone. The unhappy war which bad broken out among the Foulahs, in which their king was massacred, had not fo far fubfided as to open a free communication between the Foulah Country and the colony; and it was thought moft adviseable to employ the Miffionaries in the countries adjacent to Sierra Leone. This propofition meeting with their concurrence they were feparated into three divifions agreeably to the manner in which they were originally claffed.We have therefore now to state the following plan of their deftination.

Meffrs. Brunton and Greig, from the Edinburgh Society, are at Freeport Factory in the Rio ponges, which belongs to the Sierra Leone Company, and is fituate about fixty miles from Freetown.

Meflrs. Fergulon and Graham, from Glasgow, are at the Bananas, which are three fmall islands about 40 miles diftant from Sierra Leone, and about 4 from the coaft.

Meffrs. Ruffell and Cappe are at prefent on the Bullam fhore, but it is' probable some other arrangement will be made respecting them, Thefe fituations afford to the Miffionaries the opportunity of acquiring the knowledge of three different languages, each of which prevails over an extenfive territory, and a numerous population, and thus opens an enlarged scope for their future exertions. The inhabitants of these countries are heathens, whereas the Foulah people are principally Mahometans, whose prejudice against the admission of christian teachers would probably have been more difficult to furmount. We have indeed the fatisfaction to mention that fome of the chiets who refide in the towns adjacent to Freeport Factory, have already expreffed to Mr. Greig an earnest desire to recrave infìruction; and Mr. Cleveland, who is the proprietor of the Banaña flands, as well as of an extenfive diftrict on the continent, bas invited

Mel s.

[ocr errors]

Meffrs. Ferguson and Graham to fettle among his people, and has engaged to protect them. May we not, therefore, hope thath e who leads the blind by a way which they know not, has over-ruled their destination, for one of more extenfive usefulness?

We would recommend it to the friends of this Society to pray earnestly that the great Head of the Church would, by his fuperintending grace, preferve his fervants, that, amidst all their difficulties and dangers, their minds may be kept in a due equilibrium; and their labours fucceeded to bring the heathen to the knowledge of his Son.

WE are happy to hear the Miffionary flame begins to difcover itself among fome of the ftudents under the care of the Rev. Dr. Williams, of Rotherham, in Yorkshire; several of whom have offered themselves to be employed in that honourable work.

The Netherland Miffionary Society have received applications from several of their countrymen, two of whom have been accepted and tendered by that Society to the Missionary Society in London.

The following Minifters are appointed to preach at the next Annual Meeting of the Miffionary Society, on the fecond Wednesday and two following days in May.

The Rev. ROBERT BALFOUR, of Glasgow.

The Rev. JEHOIDA BREWER, of Birmingham.

The Rev. JOSEPH COCKIN, of Halifax.

The Rev. J. WEST, Re&or of Stoke, near Guildford, Surrey. Notice of the places, and other particulars relative to the Annual Meeting, will be given in our next Number.

WESTERN MISSION.

THE public having been informed, through the medium of our Magazine, of the inftitution of "A Society for extending the Gofpel through the unenlightened villages of Devon and Cornwall," we are favoured with the following particulars of its encouragement and process.

The General Committee met at Ashburton, Jan. 2, 1798; a confiderable number of ministers and laymen were prefent, who pledged themselves to vigorous exertions, by every proper mean, to forward the object of the inftitution. Mr. Richards, who has lately laboured in the fame capacity in Shropshire, was chosen an Itinerant for six months, the three firit to be fpent in the fouthern district of Devon. He has already preached in the towns of Cawfand, Plympton, and Brent, and in the village of Buckfastleigh, with the greatett encouragement, and the most promifing appearances of fuccefs.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

MR. ROBERT GALE, of London, has been engaged by the Association of the County of Somerset, to itinerate in that county, especially in the neighbourhood of Somerset.

WELCH CHARITY SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.
REV. SIR,

PERMIT me, through the channel of your useful Mifcellany, to acknowledge my obligations to an unknown Ġentleman, who figns himself

G.

G. T. G. for his very liberal donation of Fifty Pounds towards the fupport and extenfion of the circulating Welch Charity Schools. I feel much obliged by the confidence he has placed in me. In the great day of account I hope he will find me to have been faithful to the truft. With every other effort let all the followers of Jefus unite fervent prayers for the removal of every thing that opposes, and the speedy haftening of his blessed kingdom. Among other attempts towards promoting that glorious caufe, I trust our little Seminaries will not be forgotten in the prayers of the faithtul. The Lord has done much for us; but we want, and earnestly pray for a continued bleffing. I am, Sir, your humble servant, Bala, March 22, 1798. THOMAS CHARLES.

LONDON.

DR. BEILBY PORTEUS, the Bishop of London, has been during this Lent, preaching a courfe of fermons at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, on the Life of Chrift and the Evidences of Chriftianity. The church has been uncommonly crouded on this occafion, by nobility, gentry and divines of all denominations. His Lordship acquitted himfelt with honour to his great talents and piety, and much to the fatisfaction of his auditory. Great numbers have been obliged to return under the mortification of being unable to get into the church. We hope, in these times of spread ng infidelity, his Lordflip will prefent thefe Difcourfes to the public through the medium of the prefs; and that his example will excite a laudable emulation among the inferior orders of the establishment.

On Sunday evening laft, the Rev. Dr. Hunter, concluded his courfe of Sermons (being a continuation of the late Rev. Mr. Fell's) on the Evidences of Chriftianity. We understand that thefe Difcourfes will be printed.

On Sunday, March 25, two Sermons were preached at the late Rev. J. Wefley's Chapel, in the City Road, for the benefit of the Proteftant Dif fenters Charity School, Wood Street, Spital Fields; that in the morning by the Rev. John Eyre, M. A. of Homerton, from Galatians i. 8, 9. “But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other Golpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. As we faid before, fo fay I now again, If any man preach any other Gofpel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed.”—The evening difcourfe was preached by the Rev. Rowland Hill, A. M. of Surrey Chapel, from Pet. i. 22. "Seeing ye have purified your fouls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren; fee that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently."

Mr. Eyre's Sermon is now in the prefs, and will be published in a few days, by T. Chapman, Fleet-Street. The Public are therefore cautioned against any other Edition.

WEEKLY REGISTER.

We are happy to inform our Readers that a Weekly News-Paper is announced for publication under the above title, particularly adapted for RELIGIOUS FAMILIES, ACADAMIES, &c. (the Prospectus of which is fewed in the front of this Magazine.)

If this work be executed according to the Profpectus, we flatter ourselves it may have a falutary effect upon the morals of the ring generation, and be ufeful to the caufe of true Religion, which will give it a decided preference to other papers.

VOL. VI.

[ocr errors]

OPENING

OPENING OF CHAPELS.

WHITCHURCH.

ON Sunday, Feb. 18, 1798, a neat place of worship was opened at Whitchurch, in Shropshire. In this populous town there has been hitherto no ftated evangelical preaching, excepting in a fociety of Mr. Welley's connection. Several neighbouring minifters have of late preached occafionally in the town; and a lady, who has been excited to promote the cause of God, built and fitted up the prefent meeting-house at her own expence.

In the morning the Rev. Mr. Little, of Hanley, preached from 1 Tim. iii. 16. with a view to illuftrate and confirm thofe doctrines of Scripture, which appear infeparably connected with the usefulness of preaching. Mr. Ball, of Westbury in Wiltshire, preached in the afternoon on Matt. ix. 37, 38. The neceffity of a laborious ministry, and prayer, the best means to produce fuch. In the evening Mr. Palmer, of Shrewsbury, preached from Acts xxviii. 30, 31. The attendance all day was remarkably crowded, and many could not get into the place. May these beginnings be fucceeded with an abundant increase!

NEWCASTLE.

ON Sunday, Feb. 18, 1798, a chapel, built by the particular Baptifts in Newcastle upon Tyne, was opened, the foundation of which was laid on the 17th of July last.

Mr. Haffell, minifter of the congregation, began the service with prayer and reading, and Mr. Hague, of Scarborough, preached from Ifaiah xlv, In the afternoon Mr. Haffell preached from 1 Cor. xv. 1. and Mr. Whitfield administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. In the even, ing Mr. Lyons, of Hull, preached from 1 Kings viii, 18,

22.

ORDINATIONS,

THE REV. T. HASSELL

WAS ordained, Feb. 19, 1798, at Newcastle upon Tyne,

In the morning the Rev. Mr. Lyons introduced the fervice with reading the Scriptures, and prayer. Mr. Whitfield proposed the neceffary questions, received the confeffion, and offered up the ordination prayer. Mr. Hague delivered the charge from from John xxi. 17. "Feed my fheep."

In the afternoon Mr. Whitfield introduced the worship as ufual, and preached from 1 Theff. v. 25. "Brethren pray for us." In the evening Mr. Lyons preached from Pialm xxvii. 4.

MR. WILLIAM BIGGS,

A MEMBER of a little Baptist church at Sunderland, was fet apart to the pastoral office on Wedneiday evening, Feb. 21, 1798. The Rev. Mr. Lyons introduced the worthip with hymns and prayer. Mr. Hague delivered the charge, and Mr. Hassell concluded the fervice in the ufual manner.

REV. JAMES LYONS

HAVING accepted the invitation of the Baptift church, in George Street, Huil, he was publicly fet apart to the pastoral office on Wednesday March 7.

Mr.

Mr. Greenwood, of Barton upon Humber, began by reading fuitable portions of Scripture, and offered up the firft prayer. The farther bufinefs of the day was then introduced by Mr. Beatfon, by making fome remarks on the conftitution and order of a christian church, and on the na.. ture of ordination fervices, and afterwards propofed the ufual queftions. Mr. Lyons then delivered a confeffion of his faith, after which Mr. Kinghorn, of Bishop Burton, prayed the ordination prayer, and delivered a charge to the minifter from Tim. iv. 16. Mr. Haffell, of Newcastle upon Tyne, preached to the people from Genesis xlv. 22, and concluded the fervice with prayer.

OBITUARY.

MISS SUSAN HINSON.

MISS H. had a defire from childhood to attend upon the means of grace,

and ufed to walk from Potton to Everton on a Lord's day, when fhe could get out, to hear the late Mr. Berridge, though often without her dinner, to prevent her being too late. She ufed alfo to attend the prayer meetings in the barn at Potton, and if any minifter preached, the friends would contrive to let her know that the might flip out to hear him. Three years before he died, Providence removed her from Potton to Kimbolton, into a serious family, which kindness the often acknowledged with tears of gratitude, as it placed her under the means where he could hear the pure gofpel, and it was bleffed to her foul in a very peculiar manner. The Lord brought her off from all forms, and caused her to depend upon Chrift alone for falvation, and gave her an understanding to difcern between legal preaching and found doctrine, in which laft fhe much delighted. When the attended the means the often regretted her own ftupidity, and faid "Now I have more opportunities I think lefs of them; when I get home again I shall know the want of them. Oh! if I could but make better use of them, and remember what I hear, and bring more away; but I cannot retain it." After fhe had been here a year, he was encouraged to give in her experience and join the church, which fhe did in October 1795, and was baptized by Mr. Nichols the paftor of it, and for fome time went on her way rejoicing, hoping the fhould doubt no more. But the foon found the was not always to be fo comfortable; the enemy began to tell her that she had no right to fuch privileges, which made her low and dejected, often in the dark, and fearful left her heart fhould not be found right with God. In general the enjoyed very bad health, and par ticularly laft fummer, when the ufed to fay fhe thought the should not be here long, as fhe was inwardly difordered.

About a month before the expiration of the time for her leaving Kimbolton fhe was took worse, and on Saturday, Sept. 16, the expreffed a wish to go home to her friends at Potton. On Monday following her friend took her there in a chaife, where for a few days he was better; but on Saturday, Sept. 30, death feemed to be rapidly advancing. On Monday the expreffed a wish to fee her friend at Kimbolton once more; accordingly the next day fhe was fent for to take her leave of one whofe affections were knit to her's like David's to Jonathan's. Having staid two or three hours, the faid to her friend, "Now you are here, my dear,

ረ.

I should

« PreviousContinue »