being the offspring of the totally depraved human heart, begotten by one of these kinds of faith. Which repentance, it leads to conceive, must be the ground of a sinner's pardon, and covenant title to the favor of God. Thus making void the law, and frustrating the grace of the gospel. According to it, all religion must originate in selflove, and consist in self-right

It need not be concluded, nevertheless, nor do I believe, that those who have made this transposition, or who have given the foregoing representations of regeneration and conversion, have generally been at all sensible of these necessary conse

as far as merit was requisite merely on account of a merit to which no sinner can have any just claim. See Rom. iii. 24-31. "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins, &c. that he might be just and the justifier of him which be-eousness. lieveth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law.-Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we es-quences, or would by any means tablish the law." adopt them. It is no uncomThus abundantly evident is mon thing for good and great it, from various scriptural argu- men to advance or abet opinions ments, that our Saviour him-subversive of some fundamental self, and the great apostle of the truth of Christianity, not apGentiles, preached repentance prehensive of their dangerous and faith in their proper order. and fatal tendencies. This was It also appears that our retain- done by the first Christians, in ing this order of them, is a mat- the days of the apostles; and ter of very great importance.- even by some of the apostles That transposing the order of themselves. An instance of it these graces, gives essentially is revealed, Gal. ii. 11-14. different ideas of the nature and "When Peter was come to Annecessity, both of the one and tioch, I withstood him to the of the other. That it represents face, because he was to be blamthe faith of God's elect, as be-ed. ing only either an assurance of their own election and salvation; or else the simple belief of the truth of the gospel report, supernaturally impressed on the carnal mind of the natural man, of which assurance, that it may not be groundless, or of this impression, that it is from God, there can be no evidence from scripture or reason. And it supposes repentance unto life, as

For before that certain came James, he did eat with the Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto

Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest not after the manner of the Gentiles, aud not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

Many of the Jewish Christians, through the prejudice of education, believed an observance of the abolished rites of their former cerimonial law, still so indispensibly required, that without it none could be saved.

and turns many to righteousness.

In this instance, however, we have powerful enforcement of our Saviour's caution, "Call no man upon earth your father."It may hence be seen, that implicit confidence may be placed only in the word of God.

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And others, who were not thus FOR THE CONNECTICUT Magaconscience-bound, even Peter

and Barnabas, seem to have looked upon this as a non-essential error, in which it was right to become all things to all men. Paul, however, was of a quite different opinion. He consider ed it as substituting ancient types and shadows, for the substance of the great atonement. Hence he says, in the last verse of the chapter, "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

T

ZINE.

HE missionary object is

the cause of Christ. The missionary labor, is, therefore, a branch of the best work in the best cause on earth. For more than twenty years, the people of Connecticut have been employed in the advancement of this

cause.

To as many as affectionately regard the well-being of mankind, and devoutly observe the operations of a divine hand in the enlargement of Zion, it must be pleasant, sometimes, to turn the eye back, and trace this work from the commencement of our present missionary system. It may likewise be useful.

The truly pious and benevolent often carry the matter too far, of giving offence to none, and seeking to please all. And in no case is there greater danger of this, perhaps, than is the one now before us; that is, in healing the heart of sinners slightly; saying, Peace, peace, In 1774, the cloud of the when there is no peace. Thus revolutionary war was manifestmultitudes may be superficiallyly gathering, and many hearts converted, very suddenly; without regeneration; without genuine conviction; without any just ideas of law or gospel, of God, or Christ, or of themselves. Thus a preacher may easily get the name of an extraordinary successful and good minister; and verily think himself, that he does God eminent service,

trembled in view of the tempest which it threatened to pour upon our land. That year, however, the duty of missions to the new settlements, arrested the attention of the public in this, then colony of Connecticut. The General Association, at their session in Mansfield, expressed their concern upon this subject, and pass

ed a resolution in the following, tions made, or that shall be words: hereafter made for this purpose, in said county-they to give their receipts to the person from whom they receive them.

"3. That a committee of three persons be appointed to receive these donations from the receivers in the several counties, and to give their receipts therefor; this committee to appoint the missionaries their support; to pay such sums to them as they may see proper to appoint, from the donations received by them; to direct the missiona

This Association, taking into consideration the state of the settlements now forming in the wilderness, to the westward and north westward of us, who are mostly destitute of a preached gospel; many of whom are of our brethren, emigrants from ts colony; think it adviseable that an attempt should be made to send missionaries among them: and, for obtaining a support for such missionaries, would recommend it to the several ministers in this colony to pro-ries in any thing they shall mote a subscription among their people for this purpose :

judge necessary, where not particularly directed by the Gene"Upon which it was voted. ral Association. They also That the preceding conclusion, may appoint other missionaries together with the form of a sub-in case of the failure of any ap scription, be printed and sent to pointed by this body. They the several ministers in this col- are to account to the general ony." association yearly, for the disposal of the monies received by them; to lay before this body the proceedings of the missionaries their success-the state of the places, wherein they may discharge their missions, &c.— This committee to continue, during the pleasure of the General Association,"

That General Association adjourned their session, to be resumed in the chapel of YaleCollege, the day after commencement. They met accordingly, and transacted as follows:

"The Association entered upon further consideration of the subject of sending missionaries to the scattered settlements in the wilderness, to the northwestward, and came into the following conclusions:

"1. The General Association find so much encouragement relative to the support of missionaries, to be sent into the back settlements that they think it adviseable to appoint two missionaries to go upon this business, the next spring.

2. That one person be appointed in each county to receive the subscriptions, or dona

Pursuant to these arrangements, a receiver of donations in every county, and a superintending committee, were appointed—as, also, were missionaries to be guided by the following specific directions:

These missionaries are directed to travel through the settlements in the wilderness, to the north westward of this colony; but not to proceed further northward than the northern boundary of the province of New-York; where they shall *Now Vermont.

judge their services most likely gentlemen above mentioned as to be beneficial; excepting so receivers in the several counties, far as they shall be more partic-taking their receipts for the moularly instructed by the com- ney delivered.” mittee. They are directed to. perform all parts of the ministerial office, as Providence shall open a door. They are direct ed to set out upon their mission, sometime next spring; to spend five or six months in their mission if the committee are able to provide for their support so long; to keep an exact journal of their proceedings; and to give as accurate an account as possible of the several places they pass through; that the General Association may be better able to determine where to send their missionaries in coming time.

Voted, That the following advertisement be published in the several newspapers of this colony:

Thus, nearly forty years ago, was a foundation very carefully and judiciously laid for missions to the settlements then forming in the wilderness. But the hopes of God's people were not extensively realized. The war was in a few months interposed, and little could be done in carrying on the heavenly enterprize. The objects of this pious zeal was driven back from their settlements in the wilderness; or they fell victims to the devastations inseparable from the contest.

The following extract from the doings of the General Association, in 1775, shows that though disappointed for a time, they were not wholly discouraged, and that the cause was still dear to their hearts.

66

At present, affairs are

eral association can give no particular directions to the committee for the management of the business; but would have them use their best discretion, having regard to what was done by the former General Association, as nearly as circumstances will permit; and, however dark present appearances are, they cannot but hope, God will yet give opportunity of executing the scheme proposed, to his own glory, and the spread and increase of the Redeemer's kingdom."

"The General Association of the colony of Connecticut, convened by adjournment at New-in such a situation, that the genHaven, Sept. 15th, 1774, have appointed the following gentlemen to receive the subscriptions made, or that may hereafter be made, for supporting missionaries to be sent to the settlements of the wilderness in the northwestward of this colony."[Here follows their names, not necessary to be inserted.""To be by them transmitted to the Rev. Messrs."[superintending committee]-who are appointed a committee for carrying this purpose into execution; and the several ministers in this colony, who have received, or may hereafter receive, subscriptions for his purpose, are desired to send whatever donations they shall collect to the

Such was the pressure of the war upon the people at large, and especially upon every part of the new settlements, that nothing further, in sending forth

missionaries, appears to have been done, till 1780; when two from the county of Hartford were appointed to labor in Vermont. Nor, for the next twelve years, were any systematic measures adopted, by which the efforts of the good people, through the State, could be concentrated and rendered efficient in favor of missions.

It was, indeed, the subject of frequent and serious conversation in smaller circles, and in the district associations. It was likewise repeatedly before the General Association. Small, however, was the number of missionaries that went; and these by the appointment of district associations, without any means of support. The services performed were, in amount, volunteered, and at the expense of the missionaries themselves.

Au

exertions of those who felt the importance of the work. thority was obtained for inviting an annual contribution through the state.

Numbers of mission

aries took the field, and the happiest effects soon cheered the people of God, The system which commenced that year, continues, in substance still.

No missionary society however, as yet, existed in the state. The General Association, partly, themselves conducted the work. They appointed missionaries and assigned them their compensation. But they managed priucipally, by their com mittees.

zation.

It was not till 1798, that a Constitution was formed, and a Society established in the state. In 1802, the Trustees were incorporated by an act of the Legislature. From that time the missionary system of ConnectiOn the subject of religious in-cut has proceeded under the adstitutions-the observance of vantages of a complete organi the Lord's day as enjoined in the Bible-and the regular But it is needless to prolong preaching and ordinances of the this statement. For a considergospel the war for Indepen-able number of years, an annual dence had greatly unsettled the public mind. Years, therefore must have passed, and many souls must have entered upon that night "when no man can work," before the general sentiment could again become so favorable to missions, as to provide for their support. upon a liberal scale. But discouragements gradually diminished and disappeared.

In 1792, the system of 1774 was, in part, revived. Improvements were made, adapted to the new circumstances of the congregations and churches. Such plans were adopted as united the

account has been published and extensively circulated, of receipts and expenditures-of missionaries employed of the fields in which they have labored-and of the salutary effects.

Doubtless, the people of Connecticut may look back with satisfaction, upon the work they have thus done by the missionaries they have sent forth.Doubtless, also, they may anticipate, with the joys of hope, the effects of what they are now doing, and will hereafter have opportunities of doing, in this "labor of love."

We know, that the kingdom