time are fully occupied, with the stated duties of my office and situation, during the absence of my colleague, I have not found leisure for digesting a plan, which might be best suited to our circumstances here, and which it might be most expedient for us to adopt, in pursuit of this great and benevolent design. Something, I think, ought to be done; and something, I trust, will ere long be done, in the way of making an attempt, at least, at this good work, by the friends of Zion in our church; and I would hope, by others of different denominations. One of our worthy deacons, Mr. Charles Snowden, in the course of conversation this week, introduced this subject with a warm interest in it, before I had spoken a word to him on the subject. We ought, I think, to have made earlier advances in this business, and now we ought to redeem the time, and double our diligence, for helping it forward, in one way or another. Yet there is room for our co-operation, and for the desirable fruits of our labours of love, and of our liberality, to be diffused far and wide through the land; especially among our frontier inhabitants, if not among the savage tribes. "Mercy shall be built up for ever." The glorious things spoken of Zion, shall be fulfilled in their appointed time. The fulness of Jews and Gentiles shall be brought into the church of Christ. The world seems to be now groaning and travailing in pain, with great events, favourable in their ultimate tendency, to the extension, peace and prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom. Let us pray, and hope, let us bestow, and labour, for its advancement, in the spirit of those devout, catholic, elegant and nervous lines of Watts; From all that dwell below the skies, Let the Redeemer's name be sung, Through every land, by every tongue." A few days ago, Mr. Josiah Smith, read me a part of a letter which he had lately received from Mr. Snowden of Philadelphia, informing that Mr. Boudinot, director of the mint, had lately presented to the corporation of the general Assembly of the Presbyterian church, for the purposes of promoting the interests of the gospel among our frontier inhabitants, the negroes, and the Indian tribes, ten thousand acres of land, worth one dollar and an half per acre, equal to 15,000 Dolls. with four hundred Dollars, of 8 per cent stock, designed for payment of taxes, hereafter arising. And further, that a gentleman, a minister, who had been authorized to make collections for the missionary purposes, had received three thousand dollars. These are surely noble benefactions, and encouraging beginnings. May all that love Zion, and seek her good, prosper more and more, for time and eternity! And with them, may your lot and mine be found! Your's affectionately, DEAR SIR, TO ISAAC S. KEITH. OCTOBER 27, 1801. Accept now my sincerely grateful acknowledgements, for both your friendly communications; which on several accounts, have afforded me much satisfaction; and especially as the first more largely, and the latter more concisely, furnish pleasing indications, of your being under the influence of the christian temper, and an hopeful learner in the school of Christ. The complaints against yourself, which you so feelingly express, are no bad evidences of your having obtained, through a Divine teaching, some just knowledge of yourself; and their effects will be highly salutary and beneficial, if they are improved, as I trust they will be by you, according to their proper tendency, to the purposes of rendering, the Saviour of sinners, the Physician of sin sick souls, more and more precious to you; and of engaging you to prize more highly, his gospel, as the warrant of your hope, and the instrument of your consolation. Let it be remembered, that humility is the first lesson, which we are required to learn, when we are called to take upon us the yoke of the meek, and lowly Jesus; that humility is an essential, distinguishing, and most amiable feature in the christian character; and that in the course of the life, which, as christians, we are to lead, by faith in the Son of God, we may ever estimate the degree to which we have attained in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, by the measure of real humility which we possess. And to lay us low in humility, and at the same time, to exalt our Redeemer in our esteem, how needful and desirable are those discoveries of our depravity, our weaknesses, our failures, our follies, our offences, which are occasioned by the business, the enjoyments, the temptations, of every day; and those views of the compassion, the love, the wisdom, the power, the righteousness, the intercession of Christ, to which the spirit of God, by the instrumentality of his word, most sensibly raises the minds of believers, when they would otherwise be more ready to sink in despondence, or to yield to discouragement! All the paths of the Lord, towards his people, the genuine followers of Christ, are mercy and truth though in these, they are often led, like the blind, as in a way which they understand not, till they find, as they surely will, in due time, that all the things which appeared to be most against them, were working most certainly and effectually for their good. May the only wise God, our Saviour, and the God of all grace, teach and dispose us, to be more and more satisfied, that his wisdom should guide us, and that our best interests should be promoted, by the means which he may choose; though the most mortifying to our natural vanity, and self-sufficiency, and the most painful, to our vicious self-love. In a word, may the Lord increase our faith; then we shall certainly have increase in every grace; in those humiliations for our deficiences and transgressions, and in those fruits of love, and of holiness, by which he will be most glorified, and ourselves most benefitted! As to the Society, &c. it was not our expectation, that contributions towards the formation, and support of it, would be obtained at present, to any considerable extent; or from any but those who felt themselves disposed or interested, on some principle or other, in promoting the great cause of religion; and who cherished at the same time, sentiments friendly to the Independent or Congregational churches. That the idea of emancipation being connected with our design, should be entertained by any, and be suggested as an objection, is indeed surprising. With as good ground might we be suspected of aiming at that object, in the stated exercise of our gospel ministry in this city. It should be re membered, that every member of the Association is interested, as an owner, in that species of property, against which emancipation would operate, and ought, therefore, to be in the judgement of charity, considered as believing that their conduct in holding that property, is justifiable; and that in consistency with this, they may employ their endeavours, and use their influence, for promoting, as extensively as possible, and in all practicable and promising ways, the knowledge of that blessed gospel, which, while it proves the power of God, to the eternal salvation of every believer, has the most direct tendency, and powerful efficacy, towards making men better, and more faithful in every relation, and more contented and happy in every situation in which they are placed by the wise and good providence of God. a In the commencment of this Society, we thought it most expedient, that the members of it, should belong to the Congregational churches, in order to secure that harmony of sentiment, which appeared to be very important in the first measures, that should be attempted to be pursued, with a view to the accomplishment of a great object; while our resources were not expected to be very ample. Should it hereafter appear to be advisable to admit persons of other denominations, as members of the Society, I trust that the first members of it will be found possessed of a sufficient degree of liberality and zeal, readily and cordially to receive such to co-operate with them in so good a work. In this city, donations are already engaged by subscription, to the amount of about $700, and also about sixteen members, for the payment of 5 dollars annually. And a considerable addition, both of donations and members, is yet expected. Your affectionate friend, |