learned their language and translated into it the Holy Bible; Shepherd, Mayhew, and others, exerted themselves with an ardent zeal, at once to civilize and convert those fierce and unruly nations. The attention of the public was soon drawn to these important objects; and in the year 1647, the English Parliament committed the care of then to a Society consisting of persons eminent for their rank and influence. The execution of their religious projects was suspended amidst the heat and hurry of intestine commotion. But when the civil wars were ended, the Society was established upon a firmer footing under Charles II. in the year 1661. King William III. conferred upon it many marks of royal favour, and succeeding Princes, as well as multitudes of private individuals, have enriched it with additional donations and legacies. The United Provinces have not been deficient in the duty of en lightening Pagan nations with the Gospel, where they have acquired. settlements, particularly in the East-Indies, in the islands of Amboyna, Java, Ceylon, and Formosa, and upon the coasts of Malabar. In Scotland, a Society was constituted for propagating Christian Knowledge, in May, 1709-who have extended their pious cares abroad, particularly in America, for the conversion of the Indian tribes. - In 1705, Frederick, king of Denmark, set on the design of propagating the Gospel in foreign parts. It was immediately carried into. execution, and missionaries were sent to Tranguebar, on the coast of Coromandel. They have been very zealous, active and faithful, in spreading the light of Christianity in the East-Indies. Visb York CART BLISHER le the night in which it was said, there is a man child conceived." His hope of final acceptance with God, is next destroyed, so that he cried out, "Where now is my hope ?-a3 for my hope, who shall see it?He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone-My hope hath be removed as a trec. He hath kindied his wrath upon me-Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?" Thus destroyed, in his own view, for time and eternity, in full expectation soon to take up his final abode in endless burnings, he cries out, before the doors of the second death close upon him: "Let come on me what will-Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." "The same unconditional submission David expressed, when flée, ing from the usurpation of Absalom, his son. To Zadock, the priest, he said, "Carry back the ark of God into the city: If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show both it and its habitation. But if he thus say, 'I have no delight in thee:' Behold, here am 1; let him do to me as seemeth good to him." "When Simuel informed Eli, that God had determined to cut off his sons by death, and in their sins; and that the iniquity of his house should not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever; he said, "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good." "Every reservation in subinission, is a calling into question the sovereignty and goodness of God: and all, who thus submit, will fall away in the hour of adversity. But the submission of the friends of God, is unconditional. To the sovereign disposal of God they cheerfully submit the life of their friends and their own lives, their temporal and their eternal all. Their submission is as unconditional, as his goodness is unbounded. MARTIN LUTHER. "Martin Luther was born at Aisleben, a town in Saxony, on the 10th November, 1483. He spent some time in the study of Law; but afterwards became a Monk of the Augustine Order. He was ordained Priest in the year 1507, and was sent to Rome, the following year, by the Convents, that had fallen into some contest with their General; which difference was accommodated under his direction. Upon his return, he was made Professor of Divinity in the Academy of Wittemberg, where he taught both theclogy and philosophy with the highest. reputation. He was a man of towering genius and extensive learning, possessing a solid understanding and a tenacious memory-singular for pa tience, application, and a certain magnanimity of soul, which superior to danger and difficulty. These great qualities were brought forth to light and uncommon advantage, by his vigorous opposition to imposition."Nisbet. PERSECUTION UNDER DIOCLESIAN. "Dioclesian was declared Emperor, in the year 284.—Of all the horrid persecutions raised against the Christians, the one under Dioclesian may be justly reckoned the most severe and formidable. It raged for ten long years, and even reached to Greit-Britain. The most ancient British his tarian (Gildas) says, that the churches were demolished, all the books of holy Scriptures burnt, wherever they could be found, and great numbers both of the priests and people, were slaughtered as sheep. Monsieur Godeau affirms, that in this persecution, there were sometimes no less than 17,000 martyrs killed, in the space of one month. And he rackons, that during the continuance of it, there were in the province of Egypt, 144,000 persons, who died by the violence of their inhuman perse cutors; besides throughout the hardships of banishment, and being con demned as slaves to the public works." ORDINATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS. 1828, July 10th, Installed Rev. HERVEY SMITH, as Pastor of the Con gregational Church in Jerico, Vt. Sermon by Rev. Josiah Hopkins. 1828, July 16th, Ordained Rev. DARWIN ADAMS, as Pastor of the Cong. Church in Camden, Me. Sermon by Rev. David M. Mitchel. 1828, July 22th, Ordained as an Evangelist, at New-Haven, Ct. Rev. GEORGE GOODYEAR. Sermon by Rev. Prest. Daggett. 1828, July 26th, Ordained Rev. AMASA A. HAYES, as Pastor of the Presb. Church in Londonderry, N. II. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Woods. From the Atlantic Souvenir for 1828. SABBATH EVENING. LIST! there is the music in the air: It is the eve of rest: the light Bright flow're upon the graves are laid, And sad tears shed unseen the while, The last sweet gift affection brings, To deck the earth to which it clings. How beautiful those simple flow'rs Strewn o'er that silent spot still sleep, Still lingers on the moss grown Still wet with sumuner's gentle ! tow'r, While to the drowsy ear of night, showers, As if they too could feel and weep! They fade and die; the wint'ry wind Shall leave no trace of them behind! The bright new moon hath set: the light Slowly it marks the evening hour. 'Tis hush'd! and all is silent there, Save the low fervent voice of prayer. And now far down the quiet vale, Sweet hymnings on the air float by; "Tis fading on the far blue hills; Hushing the whip-poor-will's sad wailAnd on the passing breeze of night, With its own plaintive melody. The music of their thousand rills They breathe of peace like the sweet Comes echoing through the twilight strains grey, That swept at night o'er Bethlem's Save the lone watch dog's distant plains. Steels thro' that gray and timeworn pile, bay. crowd hath pass'd away; the pray'r And low breath'd evening hymn are gone; cold mist only lingers there, O'er the dark moss and mould'ring stone, And the altar lights burn faint and dim,The smile; the stars shine brightly o'er the glen, FREDERICK MELLEN, EPHESIANS, 1. 4.-According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. "All The Apostle Paul, in his second Epistle to Timothy, says, scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. But many, at the present day differ in opinion from the Apostle. They think, that some revealed truths are very unprofitable. Though the doctrine of election is fully and clearly taught in the text; yet too many think and say, that, if this be a revealed truth, it ought not to be preached. But upon sober reflection, is not this charging God foolishly? Why should he plainly reveal a truth, which ministers ought not to preach? And why should any people call a minister to preach the gospel to them, and at the same time wish him to conceal some of the truths contained in the gospel? But further inquiries of this kind will be suspended, and we shall, I. Inquire into the doctrine of election, as contained in the holy Scriptures: and II. Offer a number of reasons, why this doctrine should be preached. I. We are to inquire into the doctrine of election, as contained in the holy Scriptures. 1. The election of the saints was from eternity. If we believe that God is immutable, we must believe that all his purposes have existed In his mind from everlasting. His electing some of the human race to everlasting life is clearly taught in the covenant of redemption. We often read of an elect number, who were given to Christ, in the covenant of redemption; who were promised as a reward for his voluntary sufferings, and whom he has engaged effectually to save. To this purpose we read in the 53d chapter of Isaiah. "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death." Our Lord himself speaks of this chosen number, in his ever memorable prayer recorded in the 17th chapter of John. "Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world. I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me; for they are thine." That this number were chosen in eternity, is expressly declared in our text, and the preceding verse. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." The apostle expresses the same truth, in his 2d epistle to Timothy. "Be not thou, therefore, asham ed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." It heкce appears from plain passages of scripture, that a certain number of the human race were chosen to salvation before the world began, and given to Christ, in the covenant of redemption, as a reward for his sufferings. This was before time began. They were, therefore, chosen in eternity. 2. The Bible informs us, that the elect were chosen before their characters were formed. This is a natural and unavoidable inference from their being chosen before the foundation of the world. This choice being made before creation, it must of necessity be made before the persons chosen had formed their moral characters. That this is a truth, we are plainly taught. It is written of Esau and Jacob, "The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." From this particular instance, and from what God said to Moses, that he would have mercy on whom he would have mercy, the apostle draws this general inference, "So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." From these, and many passages of like import, it is certain that the elect were chosen to salvation before their characters were formed. 3. The Bible informs us, that God acted as a wise and holy sovereign, in choosing some to eternal life. He chose not only some of |