"Let me entreat you to bestow all the pains on this endeavor which it may require. What equivalent can be found for good nature? Let the husband be sober and industrious; let the wife be chaste and frugal; by these virtues you may be preserved from some of the miseries which wait on profligacy and extravagance; but while you escape these, what will your house be without good nature? Not a home. By a home, we understand a place in which the mind can settle; where it is too much at ease to be inclined to rove; a refuge, to which we flee in the expectation of finding those calm pleasures, those soothing kindnesses, which are the emollients and sweeteners of life.

"All the admonitions, therefore, that I might detail on the article of temper, may be comprised in this short precept: Endeavor to make your house a home to each other. Absence from it will then be no gratification to either party. By the husband's attending to this precept, his return will be welcomed by those whom he left at home. It will not be expected with that sort of anxiety, which oppresses the family of an ill-tempered man; fearful that some error unobserved by them should meet him at his entrance, and apprehensive that thereby his arrival will be announced to all the family by an explosion of passion. By the wife's observance of this maxim, the husband will return with a pleasure equal to that with which he is received. "The heart of "her husband will safely trust in her;" as the wise man speaks. Over the door of his house he will see written, "SACRED TO PEACE;" and thither, in the assurance of enjoying that repose and consolation he cannot find in the world, he will hasten from its toils and vexations." pp. 29-36.

We recommend this little work to those for whom it was particularly designed, and to all others, who feel a desire to improve their tempers, and to qualify themselves for the greatest measure of conjugal and domestic happiness.

LXXXVI. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with Original Notes, and Practical Observations. By THOMAS SCOTT, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks, and Chaplain to the Lock Hospital. In six volumes, royal octavo. Vol. V. Boston; S. T. Armstrong. 1816. Price $3 a volume, in boards.

THIS is the fifth American edition of Mr. Scott's excellent family Bible. The merits of the work are very extensively known and duly appreciated. It has already conferred incalculable benefits on the world, and will doubtless continue its course of usefulness for many years to come.

The marginal references are omitted in this edition, and the room which is thus saved admits a larger type, both for the text and notes, than has usually been employed for similar works. It was thought by the publisher, that most persons, who make any considerable use of marginal references, prefer a single volume for this purpose; and that an immense majority of readers make little use of them, and would choose to have them omitted for the sake of a larger type and a more unbroken page.

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The execution of the work is the only thing, concerning which the public need to be informed; and, in regard to this, we believe the purchaser will rarely fail of being perfectly satisfied. The paper is fine, the type new and fair, and the printing, so far as we have been able to examine, uncommonly accurate.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

We cheerfully comply with the request of the Trustees of the Connecticut Missionary Society, as expressed in the following vote, which has been recently communicated by the Rev. Abel Flint, the Secretary of that very respectable institution.

"Voted, That the Editor of the Panoplist be requested to publish in that work the Narrative of Missions, &c. for the year 1815."

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL NARRATIVE OF MISSIONARY

LABORS,

PERFORMED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT.

THE situation of the new settlements, in the United States, early attracted the notice of the ministers in Connecticut; and the General Association of the state adopted measures to supply the destitute settlements with the means of religious instruction. In consequence of an application from that body, permission was granted, by the General Assembly, for an annual contribution, for the support of missions; and for several years, a number of Missionaries were sent, under the direction of a Committee appointed by the Association, to the newly settled parts of Vermont, New-Hampshire, New-York, and Pennsylvania.

In the year 1798, the General Association formed themselves into a Missionary Society, adopted a Constitution, and chose a Board of Trustees, consisting of six civilians and six clergymen, to manage the concerns of the Society. In 1802, the Institution was incorporated, by the Legislature of the state, by the name of the Trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, the Trustees to be annually elected by the General Association.

Since the establishment of the Society, the Trustees have sent Missionaries to the places mentioned above, and also to the state of Ohio, and the last year to Kentucky, and the Missouri territory. An account of missionary labors, of the funds of the Society, and of its various concerns, has been annually published, by the Trustees, pursuant to the Constitution under which they act. They now ask the attention of the ministers and people of the state to a Narrative of Missions for the year 1815, and a part of the preceding

year.

In the last Narrative, the Rev. Lemuel Haynes is mentioned as appointed to a mission in the north-western part of Vermont. His journal has not yet been received.

In the summer and fall of 1814, the Rev. James Parker labored 16 weeks in the north-western settlements in Vermont, and the northern part of New-York, west of Lake Champlain. He preached 110 sermons; administered the Lord's supper 4 times; baptised 4 adults and 20 children; received 11 persons into the church; visited 4 schools and many families. He observes, "My family visits, in general, have been peculiarly interesting. I have endeavored to imitate the great apostle to the Gentiles, who taught, not only publicly, but from house to house. I made it a point to improve all the time that could be spared from preaching, in visiting, conversing, and praying in families, and I seldom ft a house without receiving thanks, and a request to call again. May the Blessing of many souls ready to perish, in this northern region, come on the Missionary Society of Connecticut."

In Plymouth, and the adjacent towns in Vermont, the Rev. Justin Parsons performed a mission of 16 weeks; after which he was re-appointed to the same field, and is now, it is supposed, itinerating in that region.

Pursuant to an appointment made last January, the Rev. Samuel Sargeant labored 16 weeks, in the northern part of the same state.

The Rev. Holland Weeks was last year appointed to a mission in the mountain towns of Vermont. He, however, labored but one week_in_that service, having been called to take the pastoral charge of a church in Massachusetts.

In the last Narrative, Mr. Moses Elliott, a candidate for the ministry, is mentioned as laboring in the upper part of Vermont. He completed his mission in January, having itinerated 16 weeks, preaching, and performing other services, as he had opportunity.

Although this state is better supplied with the means of religious instruction than it was formerly, there are still many vacant settlements; and the Missionaries concur in representing it as highly important to continue to afford them aid. In most places, the people expressed their gratitude to the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and their wishes that Missionaries might be again sent to visit them.

In the year 1814, the Rev. Abner Benedict, Jun. labored 16 weeks, in the Counties of Chenango, Madison, and Cortland, in the state of New-York. He formed 2 churches; admitted 22 into the church; administered the ordinance of the Supper twice; baptised 10 adults, and 27 children; attended about 20 conferences; made about 120 family visits; visited a number of schools; and preached 103 sermons.

The Rev. Israel Brainerd, of Verona, New-York, was appointed, in January last, to labor as much of the time as he could be spared from the people of his stated charge, in the vacant settlements in that vicinity. No communication has been since received from him.

In the counties of Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, and Madison, the Rev. George Colton performed a mission of 16 weeks. He preached 89 sermons; visited about 160 families; baptised 10 children; and administered the Lord's supper twice.

In the end of the year 1814, and beginning of the year 1815, the Rev. William Williams itinerated six months, in the counties of Herkimer, Montgomery, and Saratoga, New York. He preached 183 sermons; attended 2 communions; baptised 12 children; attended 3 conferences; and visited 136 families. He says, at the close of his journal, "In this missionary tour, I have visited the most destitute parts of this section of country. I find it to be in a most deplorable state as to religious society. In almost all the extreme settlements, the people are pleased to see Missionaries. I have been most kindly entertained in general, and there has been, in many instances, a warm and cordial reception of the Gospel, and the soul-humbling truths of religion. God has brought hundreds into his kingdom, in this region, and he is still carrying on his work." Mr. Williams has been again appointed to the same field.

Last summer, the Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D. D. late president of Williams College, was appointed a Missionary, to visit the western counties in New York. After spending one week in this service, he was invited to preach statedly in West Bloomfield, where he has since been settled.

The Rev. John Spencer has labored, under the direction of the Trustees, for several years, in the Holland purchase. Four letters have been received from him, in the course of the year, from which it appears that he preached often; administered the Christian ordinances; visited the sick; attended funerals; visited schools and families; and performed all the duties of a faithful and laborious minister, as occasion called and opportunity presented. His labors were thankfully received, and, to appearance, attended with a divine blessing.

In the same field, the Rev. Marshfield Steele performed a mission of 6 months, from which he returned in December last. He preached 125 times; baptised 6 children; administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper 4 times; attended 3 funerals; and visited 29 schools. He remarks, "In visiting schools, it was my usual practice to remind the children of their obligation to abey their instructors and their parents; to read the Scriptures, and pray to God, if they had knowledge sufficient; to avoid profane language; always to speak the truth; to feel that they were sinners, and needed pardon from Christ; and to remember that they were born to die. After this I closed with prayer. I made family visits as usual, and endeavored to render them profitable. There is no particular attention in any town where I have been; though there are Christians in most if not all of them. I was universally well received. There is now no settled minister in the purchase, of the Congres VOL. XII.

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gational denomination, who officiates. There appears to be a prospect that, in a few years more, several towns will be under such regulations, as to wish for the settlement of faithful Gospel ministers. Yet the same evil applies to the purchase, that does to all newly settled parts of the country, víz, a great division among the people, owing to difference of sentiment and denomination."

Last summer, the Rev. Comfort Williams was appointed a Missionary to the western counties of New York, and the adjacent counties in Pennsylvania. The following is an extract of a letter from him, dated October 10, 1815. “I commenced my missionary tour on the 4th of July; passed through the northwestern towns in the county of Ontario, and through most of the towns in the county of Genessee. I labored in the service of your Society three weeks only; during which time, I preached 18 sermons, and delivered one address to a female charitable society; attended 4 funerals, and 2 prayer meetings; administered the sacrament once; baptised 2 adults, 6 youths and 7 infants; admitted 9 to church privileges; and visited schools and families as time permitted. The people with whom I was conversant, generally expressed a strong desire to have Missionaries labor with them; and appeared to be very thankful to Societies aiding the missionary cause. I found no special revival of religion, till I arrived at Parma, about 12 miles from Genessee river. There a hopeful work of grace seemed to have commenced. An unusual seriousness appeared to pervade the minds of the people. They listened to the words of eternal life, with all the anxiety their importance demands. Though in a very busy season of the year, lectures were fully attended; and business was no hindrance to the people in their attendance ou divine service. In my visits from house to house, I continued to find new instances of conviction and conversion. As near as I can judge, about 20 manifested a hope of interest in Christ."

In October, Mr. David M. Smith, a candidate for the ministry, was com missioned to labor 16 weeks, in the settlements on Black river and parts adjacent.

The Rev. John Bascom, who has a parochial charge in Smithfield, Pennsylvania, performed, in the course of the year, 16 weeks missionary service, in the northern counties of that commonwealth, and the adjacent parts of New York. At the close of his journal, he observes, "I preached 104 times; baptised one adult and 6 children; administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper 4 times; attended 9 prayer and conference meetings; visited as many families as I was able, and as many schools as I had opportunity and ability, I endeavored to do that which I thought would be the most useful to the people, wherever I went. I labored among the destitute where there appeared to be a prospect of doing good, and duty called me. The people generally attended where preached, and good attention was given to my discourses. Religious people received me with cordiality; and those who professed to have no religion generally treated me hospitably. I attended 2 Ecclesiastical councils, and 2 meetings of the Association, at one of which a Benevolent So-, ciety was formed for the education of pious indigent young men for the ministry."

From May 1814, to May 1815, the Rev. Oliver Hill, of Lawsville, Pennsyl vania, performed 11 weeks missionary labor, chiefly in the county of Susquehannah. He preached 63 times; attended S religious conferences; adminis tered the sacrament of the Lord's supper 3 times; attended one Ecclesiastical council; visited 6 schools; and made many family visits. He observes, "Where I travelled, I met with kind reception, was invited to visit the peo ple again, and noticed a very pleasing attention to the word preached. Many expressed thanks to me for my labors, and to the Society which sent me on a mission. The good people, in this region, confess they have been highly favored by the Missionary Society of Connecticut, still fresh claims seem to be laid on its benevolence for further assistance."

In a tour of 6 weeks, perforined by the Rev. Ard Hoyt, in the northern part of Pennsylvania, he preached 31 sermons; attended 3 funerals, and Jeligious conterences; administered the Lord's supper once; received ont

person to the church; baptised three children; visited one school, 37 families, Bibles. and several sick persons; and distributed about 600 Tracts, and many In another tour of 5 weeks in the same field, Mr. Hoyt preached 19 sermons; attended 3 conferences; visited 47 families and one school. Concerning that section of country he observes, "As to the missionary field, where I have labored, I do not know that I have any thing new to add. It is, unquestionably, a very important field, and, no doubt, much good might be done by a faithful Missionary. I have been uniformly received with great cordiality, and treated with the utmost kindness. Meetings have been, generally, well attended. The pious few, scattered up and down this wilderness, hope and pray that the Missionary Society will not forget nor forsake them."

On account of ill health, Mr. H. was unable to spend any more time in the missionary service.

The Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, who is settled in Harford, Pennsylvania, has labored a part of the time, for several years, under the direction of the Trus tees, in the northern counties of that commonwealth. The following is extracted from his last journal: "I have performed 28 weeks of missionary labor, in which time I preached 115 sermons; made 250 family visits; baptised 4 adults and 6 children; assisted in the ordination of 3 ministers; attended three councils; visited 2 schools; assisted in forming one church; admitted 4 into the church; and administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper 5 times. I have endeavored to visit those places, which I judged needed missionary labor the most. I can say, with sincerity, I have been received with as great cordiality, and treated with as much respect, as when I first labored in this region. The meetings, both on week days, and on the Sabbath, have been as full as could be expected; and in the latter part of my mission, more full than common. I have travelled through a large section of the country, but I find no special revival of religion. In some places, a few individuals are inquiring what they must do to be saved; and some have given evidence that they have passed from death unto life. In many places, have been expressions of thanks to the Missionary Society, and the good people of Connec tient for their kindness in sending Missionaries to them. In some instances I have been in company with people, who formerly removed from Connecticut, who made this remark, "When we lived in Connecticut, we used to contribute to the Missionary Society, but did not know whether it did any good; now we know the good it does, for we, and a great proportion of the country, must be wholly destitute of the means of grace, if it were not for the labors of Missionaries. We hope the good people of that state will continue in the good work." Many people, in this section of the country, are now reaping the benefit of their own contributions; and there is reason to believe that the Labors of Missionaries have been productive of great good to the souls of

men."

lu the general field last mentioned, the Rev. William Wisner of Athens itinerated, within the period embraced in this Narrative, 58 weeks. In a letter accompanying a journal of about 6 months labor, he observes, "I have reason to hope that my labors have not been entirely in vain. I have generally had the satisfaction to see a reformation in the external conduct of the Inhabitants where I have labored; and a few have been hopefully brought into the kingdom of our glorious Redeemer, in the different places where I have preached the word. There is scarce any settlement which I have visited, in the western region, where the good effects of the benevolence of Misnary Societies are not to be seen. To the blessing of God upon their laburs, it is to be attributed, that the Sabbath has been at all kept in remenbrance, and that moral and religious institutions have not been entirely forgotten. But though much has been done, much still remains to do. There are many places, in this region, which, for many years to come, must remain destitute of a preached Gospel, unless supplied by Missionary So taties."

At the end of this second journal of 13 weeks, Mr. Wisner remarks, "I have visited 12 settlements; preached 49 sermons; attended 3 conferences, 3 church meetings, and 3 prayer meetings; been at two councils, and attended