nal of God? O let them cast in "of their abundance," or their "two mites," into the treasury, by which they may be instrumental in gladdening a saint weeping in solitary places, in recovering many a poor sinner, taken captive by the great adversary, and in brightening the crown of glory which they hope to wear for ever.

Another subject which calls for gratitude to God, and is intimately connected with the state and interests of religion, is the prosperous state of our Literary and Theologi cal College. By the generosity of the members and friends of the church, the subscriptions for the support of the third Professor, are in great forwardness. The Literary Department is in full, and very prosperous operation, and offers the certain prospect of being an abundant fountain, whose streams shall supply our Theological Seminaries, and flowing abroad, will gladden many a waste and solitary place of Zion, and many a parched and barren spot in the destitute world.

We congratulate the Churches on the resolution of General Synod, recommending the formation of Education Societies in the several congregations belonging to our body. Undoubtedly, no measure could be more necessary in the present state of our School, nor more auspicious to the interests of our Institution. Perhaps the Societies are formed in all our congregations, and in successful operation; but your Committee have no knowledge of the fact, except so far as relates to the Classes of New-Brunswick, Albany, and Rensselaer, in each of which efforts have been made, funds raised, and three young gentlemen are now being assisted by them. It is hoped that, as far as it is practicable, this example may be imitated. Young men can be found of suitable qualifications, who will gratefully accept the aid of the pious in obtaining the education necessary to enter on the pastoral office.How soon would all our vacancies be supplied, and how rapidly might our boundaries be extended, if every Church having the ability, would support one candidate for the ministry. O that the time were come, when every Christian shall awake to the importance of this subject, and while they generously provide missionary means, they would also provide men to be employed by those means.-All which is respectfully submitted.

ISAAC N. WYKOFF, Chairman.

ty of New-York, on Monday, the 25th day of June, 1827

Richard Duryee, Esq. was called to the chair.

After which the meeting was constituted with prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Dubois, of the Franklin-street Church.

The Rev. Isaac A. Van Hook was appointed Secretary.

The object of the meeting was stated by the Rev. Dr. Jacob Brodhead, who submitted, at the close of his remarks, a Constitution for the consideration of the meeting; which, having been read by articles, was adopted.

The Constitution provides for the election of a President, six Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and twenty others, as a Board of Managers.

The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselear of Albany, was chosen President.

The sum of ten dollars constitutes a member for life of this Society; and two dollars per ann. a member.

We beg the attention of all our Churches to this Bible Society, and do earnestly recommend it to their patronage. Our want of room permits us only one remark; but that perhaps will be sufficient to call your attention to this important matter.

We were constrained to form such an institution. Since our Missionary Society has been in very successful operation, we have extended considerably the limits of our Reformed Zion; and it is enlarging annually.-Our Missionaries make frequent and urgent demands on us for Bibles, to supply the wants of many destitute portions of our country. We can not obtain Bibles from the American Bible Society. For by one of its wholesome regulations, it does not distribute Bibles to individuals, but only through its auxiliaries. We cannot obtain them from the New-York Bible Society. That institution distributes its favours only within the city, according to its constitution. Unless then we formed a Society of our own, auxiliary to the Parent Institution, it would have remained impossible ever to obtain a supply of Bibles for our Missionary stations. We simply state this fact, and rest our appeal with the heart of every good man, and friend of our Missionary Society.

Poetry.

A MOTHER'S REFLECTIONS ON LEAVING HER
HELPLESS INFANTS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ATTENDING AT THE SANCTUARY AND TABLE
OF THE LORD.

Farewell, my babes-I go-but not to be
Partaker of a rude festivity.

The King of kings his feast of love has spread,
And I must banquet with my conquering Head.
Messiah's triumph is declar'd to-day,

And ransom'd hosts will crowd the Victor's way,
His wounded side, his blood-stain'd robes to see,
And cry responsive, "Jesus bled for me!"

His banner waves in love-he whispers peace,
And pleads his agonies for man's release.
He waits to bless-Oh! let me seek the place
Where he displays the riches of his grace!
We'll tread his courts, we'll crowd his festive
board,

And sing the honours of our risen Lord.
I'll lay me low-I'll worship at his feet,
And for my little ones his love entreat.

For all their wand'rings-every time of need,
The guardian influence of His grace I'll plead.
His word is pledg'd, and he will ne'er despise
A mother's tears, a mother's wrestling cries.
A. R. of New-Jersey.

CAIN.

The ground rock'd not beneath his feet,
Nor lightning smote him from the sky;
Earth held not back her viands sweet,
His curse was, that he might not die.
From thickets forth the tiger glared,
But shrank, and let him pass unharm❜d,
And snakes the foot that crush'd them spar'd,
For God the venom'd fang disarm'd.

And man beheld his branded brow,
And shudd'ring turn'd away from strife;
Ev'n she that bore him shunn'd him now,
Yet none would rid the wretch of life.
And red as when he shed it first,
His hand was stain'd with Abel's blood;
And ever on his senses curs'd,
The thunder'd sentence rung aloud.
Long years the murd'rer bore his doom,
'Till God repealed his sternest ban,
And then the outcast sought his tomb,
And lonely slept, unmourn'd by man.

THE DUELLIST'S GOD.

BY W. E. TAPPAN.

Moloch had fallen, and Satan wept, To see his shrine alone;

His rites in dark oblivion slept,

And worshipless his throne; Around him throng'd the peers of hell, Intent on curs'd debate ; Yet nought could Satan's ire dispel, Or soothe th' monarch's hate,

Died in New-York, on the 21st, of June, greatly lamented by an extensive circle of relations and friends-Mrs. Cornelia Bogert, wife of James Bogert Jnr. Esq. This lovely and interesting woman died in the twentieth year of her age. She has been taken away in the bloom of youth; in the midst of the sweetest prospects which this world could afford-leaving her infant a little stranger, only a few days old, and her husband-who deplores her early departure -by which the tenderest ties which bind us on earth, have been ruptured. There is another and a better world! Into that our Heavenly Father is gathering us his children, one by one, through the grace of Jesus Christ. This life is only the dawn of our ever enduring existence. The christian dies, in order to leave the land of death, and to emerge from the sorrow and obscurities of the vale of tears; and to go home to the palace of God. This is the lessondeeply solemn and impressive, which this affecting death does teach you, her dear relatives, and early youthful associates!

When blooming youth is snatched away,
By death's resistless hand;
Our hearts the mournful tribute pay
Which pity must demand.
While pity prompts the rising sigh,
Oh! may this truth, imprest
With awful pow'r-" I too must die!"
Sink deep in ev'ry breast.
Oh! let us fly-to Jesus fly-
Whose pow'rful arm can save:
Then shall our hopes ascend on high,
And triumph o'er the grave!

VOL. II. }

Religious Communications.

AN OLD DISCIPLE.

By the late Rev. Dr. Abeel. "Mnason of Cyprus-an old Disciple."-ACTS xxi. 16.

It is to no purpose to inquire whether this character-Mnason-was incidentally introduced to us on the page of Holy Writ; or whether it was designedly presented, as an example of confirmed piety. The probability is, that had it not been necessary to a circumstantial history of the first propagation of the Gospel in Cyprus, we should have heard no more of Mnason, than of the great body of his cotemporaries. This is the only account we have of himshort, indeed, yet singularly beautiful and impressive. It suggests matter for our meditation, seasonable, interesting and instructive.

After having made some general remarks on the venerable man, we shall advert

FIRST-To the character of an old disciple.

SECOND-To the evils attendant on old age.

THIRD-To the influence of religion in preventing, alleviating, or overcoming these evils.

In the First you will have a standard by which you may ascertain your progress towards Heaven.

In the Second you will see a picture of human life.

And in the Third you will perceive a powerful motive presented to urge you to the right improvement of the time which God may yet add to your days.

Mnason was a native of Cyprus, the most fertile, and at the same time one of the most dissolute islands in VOL. II.-17.

[ NO. 5.

the Mediterranean. The goddess of pleasure had her temples here. And nowhere was her influence more extensive, or more fatal than in this island.

What had been his character in the early part of his life, we can not pretend to say. He might have been as abandoned as any of his nation. The grace of God is free and omnipotent. It has snatched its trophies from the temple of idols; from the abodes of the unrighteous and covetous; from the various haunts of guilty pursuits; and from the darkest retreats of human profligacy.

The Apostle illustrates this truth in a forcible mannner, in his first Epistle to the Corinthiaus. "Know

ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God; and such were some of you; but ye are washed; but ye are sanctified." 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, 11. And might I not add our own tribute to "For we the sovereignty of grace?

ourselves, also, were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts, living in malice, and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us," &c. Titus iii. 3, 7.

Whether this venerable disciple was brought to the profession of the truth, by Christ himself; or by his Apostles, on the day of Pentecost; or by Paul and Barnabas, when they first visited Cyprus, we cannot now determine with certainty. On the last

supposition, he could not have been a disciple for more than twelve or thirteen years. I should rather, therefore, adopt one of the former opinions, as they are more consistent with the belief that he was both an old man, and a disciple of long standing in the church.

CX

During the festival, it was tremely difficult to procure accommodations at Jerusalem. It appears from our translation, that the disciples had secured these while at Cæsarea, and brought with them from thence this old disciple, who had a house in Jerusalem.

A judicious critic has rendered the words thus:-"Some of the disciples also from Cæsarea, went along with us to one Mnason, a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge."

This is certainly more conformable to the original.

In either translation, he appears to have been a man of established character and reputation in the church; possessed of property, which was devoted to her interests; and of brotherly love, which embraced all her members. There is something in his hospitality which deserves our notice. Avarice is called the sin of old age. It shuts the heart against the cry of a brother, and bars the door against the stranger. But in his heart the love of Christ had prevented the natural progress of this passion, or had supplanted it. He had probably laid his wealth at the feet of the Apostles, and still continued to appropriate what he acquired to the same benevolent purpose. In this good cause he not only employed his estate, but hazarded his personal safety. For

none of the disciples in company with Paul were ignorant of the dangers which awaited him on this occasion; or could refuse to share in the obloquy, and assaults to which he was exposed. And none could be in more imminent danger than the person who entertained him.

whose example shines bright in the church; and one who is weaned from the world, and is waiting, with hope, the final summons.

Having made these observations, let us next contemplate the Character of an Old Disciple.

A sense of guilt, and exposure to the awful curse of disobedience; a deep and abiding conviction of our total helplessness, as it is described in the word of God; a tender and exclusive reliance on the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, for justification; and on the aid of his Spirit, for renovation; together with the unreserved subjection of ourselves to his providence, and to his precepts, form the very elements of a Christian's exercise and faith, and make up the character of every sincere disciple. But among those who have the essentials, there are different degrees of excellence; and it is quite reasonable to suppose that those who have been the longest in the service of their Master, will, in proportion to their endowments and privileges, reach to the greatest attainments. As, for instance

1. In the knowledge of their own hearts, of the ways of God, and of his revealed will; embracing soundness and stability in the fixed principles; fidelity in remembering and applying the promises; and an intimate acquaintance with the deep things of the Spirit of God. The unwearied application of very moderate talents to any one branch of science, will, in the course of a long life,

produce great acquisitions. And it may reasonably be supposed, that long attention to divine truth will be attended with a still greater success, since of all others, it is the most important subject of contemplation; and that in which all who have any right knowledge of it, feel the deepest in

terest.

The improvements of Christians may be as various in degree as their natural endowments, their employments, and their opportunities. Yet they who have grown old in the profession of religion, without making any considerable advances in knowledge, have been unfaithful to their talents, slothful in their work, and negligent in redeeming the time. The Apostle makes this the reproach of the Hebrews. "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God."-Heb. v. 12.

Wisdom has been always represented as the companion of age. "Days should speak; and multitude of years should teach wisdom." Job xxxii. 7. 2. Age brings with it experience. This might be included under knowledge; for it is practical knowledge. But as it is not always found even where there is a correct and extensive acquaintance with Scripture doctrines, I have mentioned it distinctly. It is the most useful kind of knowledge: and it can be obtained only by careful and long continued attention. In many respects, therefore, it is exclusively the blessing of the aged. Whatever may be the advantages of previous instruction, with which we enter the divine life, we have always much to learn from this source. Till the heart has often betrayed us, we know comparatively little of its deceitfulness; till temptations have excited its secret corruptions, we do not know so fully that it is desperately wicked. The Holy Scriptures do indeed give us ample instructions on this point; but we are long engaged in the spirit

ual warfare, before we have just conceptions of the number, the craft and the power of our enemies. And it is not before we have been often foiled and terrified by their assaults, that we learn to distrust ourselves, and rely upon the strength of our blessed Captain, who always causeth us to triumph.

In a word, there are evils in the heart; dangers in the world; and a malignity in the adversary; and a use of the Christian armour, which long experience alone can discover.

For the want of this, the young convert is often cast down, though he may have contended nobly; while in this same contest the aged disciple escapes unhurt, because, like an experienced captain, he makes a right estimate of his enemies' forces; and has learned to marshall his own. He knows when to advance, and when to retreat. He cautiously guards against surprise; and he siezes the favourable moment, and the best ground for the reception of the foe.

As experience affords such advantages in the warfare, so it gives us a deep sense of the goodness of God, and of his faithfulness to his promise; together with a discovery both of the infirmity of our nature, and of the improvement of our graces; fruits which nothing but repeated mercies, and repeated trials can yield us.

3. The natural result of long experience is steadfastness in our profession. A profession consists in a strenuous adherence to principles which have been carefully examined, and long tried, in an unyielding resistance to error and sin; a resolute perseverance under opposition, and discouragement; especially in the confirmed practice or habit of holiness.

These qualities rarely enter into the character of a young convert.Before he attain to them, there will be doubts and fears, which, at first, had not crossed his mind; unsteadiness of affection, which, in the ardour of his first love, he could never have anticipated; assaults, which were