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any thing which might lead to noise, túmult, or levity, have been observable, than the writer ever witnessed in the same number of other promiscuous meetings, not excepting assemblies for public worship on the Sabbath. And it is worthy of remark, that the learned and the unlearned, the man accustomed to public speaking and the plain farmer, or mechanic, are much nearer on an equality, as to understanding the great truths of the Bible, than would be supposed by one who had never seen the comparison fully made. These meetings have not only been thus orderly, decent, and regular; but they have been greatly instrumental in awaken ing zeal, in promoting brotherly love, in healing divisions, in uniting churches, in strengthening the hands of ministers, and in converting sinners.

ture, as well as most concerned for the glory of God, and most sedulous to promote the welfare of man. Was Baxter, think you, ignorant of the nature and tendency of such meetings? Did any latent mischief in them escape the penetrating mind of Edwards? But I conclude by referring to higher authority:

6. The Scriptures authorize and require just such meetings as we designate by the word conferences. The apostle Paul, writing to the mass of believers, the common Christians, at Rome, says: And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Rom. xv, 14. Admonish is a word of pretty broad signification, and means, in this place, to instruct, advise, and remind, each other, in reference to the great truths of reli gion. The apostle not only acknowledges the ability of the brethren to perform this duty, but apologizes for writing to them so fully, and states, that he did it to bring well-known truths to their remembrance, and in consequence of his being commissioned, as the servant of Christ in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. Now, if it is the duty of Christians thus to admon

Conferences may be abused; they doubtless have been: But what blessing is not obnoxious to abuse? The worship of God on the Sabbath is abused by the indolent, the stupid, the lightminded. Even the Sabbath itself is most shamefully and extensively abused among us, at the present time. The mercy of God, and the love of Christ, are most wickedly abused by countless multitudes. The Bi-ish one another, in what way can ble is abused. I am deliberately of opinion, that no blessing has been less abused in this country, so far as my own knowledge extends, than the religious meetings here discussed.

5. Conferences have been approved by the most eminent ministers of the Gospel; those best endowed with talents, learning, and a knowledge of human na

it be done so effectually as in the
meetings above described? In-
deed, wherever it has not been
done in this manner, it has
scarcely been done at all. The
same apostle addresses the Co-
lossians thus: iii, 16.
Let the
word of Christ dwell in you rich-
ly; in all wisdom teaching and ad-
monishing one another; in psalma.
and hymns and spiritual songe,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. I have pointed the passage differently from our version; partly on the authority of Griesbach, and partly from my own view of its scope and meaning. As pointed in our Bibles, however, the same truth is taught, though less forcibly and clearly. Again; Heb. iii, 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. In these three passages, it is clearly implied, that Christians have the knowledge, and the ability requisite to assist each other in the way toward heaven. Each of these passages, not only authorizes but requires, as it appears to me, that kind of brotherly intercourse, which is almost peculiar to religious conferences. In a future paper, I intend to specify some of the evils to which 'conferences are exposed, and to state what I conceive to be the best manner of conducting them. A. B.

For the Panoplist.

ON DRINKING HEALTHS.

A Querist, in the last number of the Panoplist, (p. 29,) proposes several inquiries on the subject of the convivial custom of drinking healths. I am certainly disposed to indulge him in these inquiries, recollecting that many excellent men have been conscientiously opposed to the custom in question. The great Sir Matthew Hale made a solemn resolution never to drink a health; a resolution which he faithfully observed. His objection was not, if I remember right,

any religious scruple; but he was convinced, that drinking healths led to excessive drinking, and he would not sanction a practice the tendency of which was bad. It is to be remembered, however, that, in the days of Sir Matthew Hale, the custom was to drink a full glass at every health; a most barbarous and foolish custom, to say nothing of its wickedness. But, in these more unconstrained times, a man may drink fifty toasts without expending a single glass of wine. In answer to the querist, I observe,

of

1. The common form drinking healths is not a prayer. 1 once knew a man who, when urged to pray, said he prayed as much as any body, for every wish was a prayer; and as his mind was continually full of wishes, he inferred that he was a very prayerful man, though he never prayed as other people do. This was sufficiently absurd. A wish is not a prayer; and there is no need of confounding the meaning of words, the use of which is perfectly familiar. A prayer is an address to God; but wishing a man's health is not, either in form or substance, and is never understood to be, an address to that glorious Being.

2. Drinking a man's healthi is not necessarily an unmeaning compliment. It is simply an expression of good will. The person who offers the expression may be insincere; but it is by not means certain that he is more likely to be so, than if he expresses his good will on any other occasion.

It is asked, 'why we should not eat healths as well as drink them?' This question was intended, perhaps, to make the subject

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Ir is well known that Robespierre was one of the most bloody and ferocious of the French revolutionists. The manner of his death may not be so well known. The following paragraph is taken from an interesting article in the Quarterly Review for June 1812, styled Lives of the French Revolutionists. We may hereafter select other paragraphs from the same article, in order to show the wickedness of man when freed from all moral restraints, and the justice and vengeance of God in making wicked men the ministers of his wrath upon each other.

ED.

"THE fall of Robespierre was the triumph of fear rather than of justice, and the satisfaction with which it must be contemplated is incomplete, because a few monsters even worse than himself were among the fore most in sending him to the scaffold. His punishment, however, was as signal as his crimes. His under jaw was shattered with a pistol shot, either by himself in an ineffectual attempt at sui-, cide, or by a gendarme in the struggle; it was bound up with a slight dressing, as he lay in the lobby of the Convention. He

wished to wipe away the blood which filled his mouth. They gave him a bloody cloth, and as he pushed it from him, they said to him-It is blood-it is what thou likest!' There he lay on one of the benches; and, in his agony of mind and body, clenched one of his thighs through his torn clothes with such force that his nails entered his own flesh, and were rimmed round with blood. He was carried to the same dungeon which Hebert, and Chaumette, and Danton, had successively occupied. The gaoler knocked him about without ceremony, and when he made signs to one of them, (for he could not speak) to bring him pen and ink, the man made answer-What dost thou want with it? Is it to write to thy Maker? Thou wilt see him pres-> ently.' He was placed in a cart between Henriot and Couthon; the shops, and the windows, and the house-tops were crowded with rejoicing spectators to see' him pass; and as the cart proceeded, shouts of exultation went before it, and surrounded it, and followed its way. His head was wrapt in a bloody cloth which bound up his shattered jaw, so that his pale and livid countenance was but half seen. The horsemen who escorted him, shewed him to the spectators with the point of their sabres. The mob stopped him before the house in which he lived; some women danced before the cart, and one of them cried out, 'Descend to hell with the curses of all wives and all mothers!' The executioner, when preparing for the performance of his. office, tore off the bandage from his wound. Robespierre they

uttered a dreadful cry; his under jaw fell from the upper; and the head while he was yet living exhibited as ghastly a spectacle, as

when a few minutes afterwards Sampson, holding it by the hair, exhibited it to the multitude." p. 431.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND THE GENERAL CONVENTION IN VERMONT, MAY 2818.

The cause of Zion lies near the heart of every sincere follower of the Redeemer. He deserves not the name of a disciple, who cannot join the Psalmist in saying, If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusa Tem above my chief joy. In the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, the honor of God, and the everlasting welfare of the souls of men are involved. That benevolence which distinguishes our religion, incessantly utters the prayer, thy kingdom come; and when the news reach the truly religious man, from any quarter of the earth, that the interests of the truth as it is in Jesus, are advanced, and that the followers of the Redeemer are multiplied, be experiences a joy, similar in kind, to that which swells the bosoms of the angels of light, when sinners are brought to repentance.

To those who are thus tenderly concerned for the prosperity of Zion, and who are waiting, and praying, and striv ing for the peace of Jerusalem, we have the happiness to state, that though we find many things within our bounds to deplore, yet, on the whole, we have abundant cause to thank God, and take courage. Amidst much coldness, and declension, and iniquity, we discern evident tokens, that God has not forgotten to be gracious. In some places within our bounds, during the past year, the Spirit has descended like a gentle dew, and in others in copious showers, making the parched heath as a fruitful field.

The state of religion among a people, may be judged of with tolerable correctness, from that attention which the ordinances of religion, and the means of grace receive, and from those exertions and

those sacrifices, which are made, to extend the Redeemer's kingdom. By their fruite shall ye know them, is a rule of judging, prescribed by the Savior himself. We view it then as an evidence that God, by the precious influences of his Spirit, is in the midst of our churches, when we learn, that there is, within our bounds, a respectful and general attendance on a preached Gospel; that children and youth, and in some places the aged, are instructed by catechising, in the great truths and duties of religion; that missionary and Bible, and religious tract societies exist, are numerous and extensively patronized, and are successfully exerting themselves, in spreading a knowledge of divine truth; that young men of hopeful piety, and of promising talents, are taken from those occupations, to which their poverty had confined them, and are educated for more extensive usefulness in the church, as Gospel ministers; that associations of young people are formed, for the laudable purpose of sending the Gospel to those, who enjoy not its stated ministrations; that the heathen in distant lands are remembered, with tender solicitude, and contributions are cheerfully and liberally made, to send the Gospel to them; that praying societies are extensively instituted, and devoutly attended, and a hope is thus warranted, that the windows of heaven will be opened, and the richest blessings descend on this guilty world.

The number of churches within our bounds, has during the past year, consid erably increased; and destitute congregations, through the faithfulness of our ministers in their neighborhood, have been extensively supplied with the administration of Gospel ordinances. We hope that those who have thus been favored, will not forget the solemn obligation which they are under to establish, as speedily as possible, the Gospel ministry permanently among themselves. We state with pleasure, that great harmony prevails in our churches, and that ministers and people appear to be walking together, in the charity, and faith, and order of the Gospel. Infidelity and other ruinous errors, conscions of deformity, seem to court conceal

ment; while truth goes forth in her native loveliness, and meets with extensive approbation.

But we have still more encouraging things than these to make known. In a number of places within our bounds, during the past year, there have been extensive revivals of religion. Scenes resembling those of Pentecost have been witnessed, in which solemnity has pervaded a people, sinners have been brought to inquire with solicitude, and with trembling, what they must do to be saved, and have at length been brought to rejoice in that glorious liberty, wherewith Christ makes free. Fresh evidence has thus been afforded, of the reality of the religion of Jesus, and of the power and grace of God. We have seen the Ethiopian change his skin, and the leopard his spots, and have been forced to exclaim, in view of such miradles of mercy, this truly is the finger of God. The presbyteries, in which such revivals have principally taken place, are Jersey, Hudson, Onondaga, and Albany; and the places which have been most extensively visited, are Homer, Newark, Elizabethtown, and Connecticut Farms.

In many places, also, where no special revivals have existed, the cause of religion presents a pleasing aspect; and the church looks green and flourishing, under the gentle dews of divine grace, distilling upon it. Numbers are, from time to time, added to the Lord, of such, we trust, as shall be saved. The religious instruction of children, has been blessed, and that watchful care, which has been exercised over these lambs of the flock, has been often made a mean, by the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, of bringing them into his fold. A strong incitement has thus been afforded to parental and ministerial fidelity, and the pleasing hope is excited, that a generation shall rise up to praise God, when their fathers shall have fallen asleep. We have also seen, in the events of the past year, viewed in connexion with their circumstances, fresh and impressive evidence, that God is a prayer hearing God, and that it is generally in answer to the earnest supplications of his people, that he appears in his glory to build up Zion.

But while we thus rejoice in the Divine goodness, we have reason, also, to depreeate the Divine displeasure. In too many places, within our bounds, a lukewarmness, and a neglect of religious ordinances prevail, and the vices of profane swearing, drunkenness and sabbath breaking exist, to an alarming degree. In other places, things temporal, trifling in their nature, and momentary in their duration, engross the chief attention, to the neglect of those things, of whose importance and duration, VOL. IX,

we cannot at present, adequately conceive. While the prince of darkness is thus striving to maintain an unhallowed dominion over the souls of men, let those who are clothed with the Christian armor labor, under the direction of the great Captain of their salvation, to deliver them from this cruel bondage, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

We learn that an awful mortality has prevailed, in many places, within our bounds, and within the bounds of those sister churches, with which we are connected; and we are sorry to be compelled to add, that this dreadful visitation of the Almighty does not seem to have been extensively a mean of producing repentance and reformation. A sleep like that of death, must surely have fallen upon those, who can thus stand unmoved in their impenitency, while the arrows of death are flying thick around them

From the General Association of Connecticut, we learn, that though there have been fewer revivals of religion, within their bounds, during the past year, than in some years which have preceded it, yet, on the whole, religion is not in a less prosperous state, than it has hitherto been. An entire harmony there prevails, among the ministers and churches.

In the county of Litchfield, a number of places have been refreshed, by an outpouring of the spirit of God.

In Yale College, appearances, in a religious point of view, are in a high degree hopeful. Many of the youth of that seminary, are anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved.

The souls of all mankind are equally precious; but we cannot but feel, that it is a subject of uncommon rejoicing, when, by reviving religion in our most respectable seminaries of learning, God is preparing for an increased number of able and faithful ministers of the Gospel.

Missionary, and Bible, and religious tract societies, are liberally supported, and the people of this state, have extensively contributed to the missions in the east. They are also, with their brethren, in Massachusetts, making great exertions to arrest the progress of intemperance, that angel of darkness, and of death, who with a giant step, has passed through our land, and slain his thousands, and his tens of thousands, and who is still continuing his awful work of destruction.

From the General Association of Massachusetts proper, we have received encouraging intelligence. Religion there, not only maintains its ground, but gains new conquests. The cause of error, to say the least, is stationary; while the cause of truth and righteousness, is steadily advancing. In some parts of that state, 11

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