some other places in the county of Hampshire, many additions have been made to the churches since the last meeting of the General Association.

Accounts from other Associations, in the limits of which no special awaken. ing has occurred the last year, are in a good measure favorable. From other parts of the Commonwealth, not represented in this body, very pleasing information has been received of revivals of religion. In Uxbridge, Franklin, Hanover, Falmouth, and Nantucket, the Lord hath appeared in his glory in building up Zion.

Such information cannot fail to awaken the liveliest gratitude to God, to impress a deep sense of our increasing obligation, and to rejoice the hearts of all, who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

Confiding in the faithful promise of God, they will be excited to pray for the peace, enlargement, and purity of the church. When Zion travaileth, she bringeth forth children.

This Association learn also with peculiar satisfaction, that in those places within their limits, in which there have been special displays of divine grace in preceding years, but few instances of apostasy or backsliding have occurred; and that an increasing union of sentiment and affection among the friends of Zion is apparent.

They also feel it to be their duty to acknowledge the great goodness of God in the flourishing state of the Theological Seminary, and in the increasing utility and success of the Missionary Societies. Nor must they omit to mention the prosperous religious state of some of the Colleges in New Eng land, particularly Yale College, and the animatiug hopes, which are thereby excited in the churches.

From the delegates of the General Associations in Connecticut and New Hampshire it appears, that in some places there have been astonishing displays of divine grace in the conversion of sinners; that particularly in Connecticut, and within the limits of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian churches, Zion has arisen from the dust, and the fruits of the Spirit have abounded to the praise and glory of God; that in general infidelity and error are becoming less bold and formidable, and the attention of the people to public worship more constant and serious.

While, then, we lament the general insensibility to the things of religion, which has appeared in some places; let us adore the God of all grace for the favourable signs of the present day, especially for the power and sovereignty of his grace in calling such multitudes into the kingdom of his Son."

Voted, that the report of the Committee respecting the state of religion be committed to the disposal of the Committee of publications.

Voted the thanks of this Association to the Secretary for his faithful servi ces during the three years past.

The Association united in singing a psalm; and the meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. Aaron Bascom."

From the foregoing statement it will manifestly appear, what are the principles and objects of the General Association, and in what transactions they were engaged at their last meeting. Can any man suppose, that their design will be abandoned? Can it enter into the imagination of a single individual, that an Association commencing with such pious views, proceeding thus far with such happy union and such encouraging success, and attendod at the present time with such propitious circumstances, will be suddenly forsaken? Its principles abjured? Its objects renounced? Past success and present prospects overlooked? And all the good, attained and expected, rashly lost? In such a cause, and with such animating motives to persever ance, surely no association or individual can be in danger of putting his hand to the plough and looking back.

Before we can be reasonably expected to relinquish our purpose we must be satisfied, that the principles of our union are unsound and dangerous. By conclusive arguments it must be proved, that the social bond, as soon as it unites together a considerable number of gospel ministers, loses all its force, or at least ceases to be of any advantage; that the character of Christians, or

the nature of their religion is so unsocial, that union among them becomes mischievous, in proportion as it becomes extensive; that although a few of them in the same neighborhood may, without hazard, associate themselves together, and frequently meet to consult the interests of the church; an attempt to go beyond the limits of neighborhood, and associate a larger number, is hostile to the cause of Zion. Some satisfactory argument must be offered to make it appear, that we are chargeable with a direct or indirect interference with some other body of men; that we have transgressed the bounds of the liberty, with which Christ hath made us free, and which is confirmed to us by our civil constitutions; or that we have, in some way, violated the equal rights of our brethren or fellow citizens. And something must be done to evince, that the religious doctrines, which we unitedly embrace, are unscriptural and false. Until these things are made evident, it will be no mark of candor or justice for men to cry out against our Association, as founded on narrow, party principles, and tending to ecclesiastical domination and oppression. All that we would ask of those who differ from us is, that they would leave us without restraint to exercise our own rights and pursue the objects, which our consciences approve. In our serious apprehension, no ends can be more momentous than those, at which we aim; viz. to banish mutual prejudice and alienation from the family of the faithful; to promote among them the peace of God; to strengthen each other's hands and encourage each other's hearts; reciprocally to communicate all useful information respecting the state of religion in our churches and societies, and thus to awaken serious and tender solicitude and unceasing prayer for the general welfare. In short, to co-operate in every eligible measure for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. The cause, which we wish to promote has engaged the love and counsels of God, and the labors of angels and saints. It is the cause of those, for whom Christ died. It is the cause of the church, which God has chosen, as the place of his glory, and his rest. Will not every friend of the Redeemer say, "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 Jerusalem above my chief joy."

Exertions similar to ours have recently been made both in Europe and America. The ministers and disciples of Christ, grieved and distressed with their long divisions, have sighed for union and peace. Alarmed by the boldness and triumph of their enemies, they have found it necessary to lay aside their trivial disputes, and combine their strength for the safety of their common cause. Extensive and happy has been the influence of these united exertions both in Christian countries and among the heathen. The success, which has attended them, invites us to harmony, and strongly urges us to resolution and zeal. When others have done so much for the cause of truth and love; shall we, with equal or superior advantages, do nothing? Shall the ministers of Christ in Massachusetts sleep, when his ministers in every other part are awake? Shall we be content in a disjointed, broken condition, when the Christian world in general is yielding to the benign influence of the love of Christ, and tasting the joys of mutual affection and confidence? When so much is to be done; when such astonishing things are to be accomplished, before the millenial glory; shall we indulge in indolence? Sinners are to be converted, and all the great events of divine providence are to take place, through the instrumentality of creatures. It is indeed the power of God which carries into effect his benevolent designs. But he confers on his people the honor and happiness of being active in their accomplishment. Parents who are diligent in the religious instruction of their children; churches laboring for their own and each other's order, holiness, and peace; pastors, who faithfully preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to their beloved flocks; missionaries, who are moved with compassion to proclaim salvation to the ignorant and perishing heathen; ministers, who unite their counsels and endeavors for the suppression of error and vice, the gen. eral interest of religion and the spread of the gospel; and trembling believ

ers, who, feeling that they can do little in any other way, daily prostrate themselves in secret devotion before the throne of grace, and with fervent love, pray for the out-pouring of the Spirit and the prosperity of Zion; these, and all others, who are obedient and prayerful, may have the satisfaction to know, that they are promoting the cause of infinite wisdom and goodness, and helping forward the illustrious and blessed period, when the knowledge of God shall fill the earth.

This is a day of great events, both in the civil and religious world. The King of kings is fast preparing the way for the final consummation. The scene is coming to its close. From the prophecies of scripture and the motions of divine providence, we are led to expect that the day of Zion's enlargement, beauty, and joy draws near. Ministers and churches ought to arise from the dust; to shake off the sloth and slumber of past ages; to be filled with spiritual life, and clothed with the garment of salvation. Let us be resolute, active, and constant in advancing the kingdom of grace; and lift up our heads with rejoicing in prospect of the kingdom of glory. hold, I come quickly." Confiding in everlasting strength, and fearless of remaining danger, let us go forth, in one holy band, to meet our approaching Redeemer. "Even so, come, LORD JESUS."

AN ACCOUNT OF A WORK OF DIVINE GRACE, IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, IN NORTHBRIDGE, (MASS.) IN THE YEAR 1808. SOMETIME in the month of Feb. ruary, 1808, there appeared, in this place, more than usual seriousness upon the minds of a few individuals. Previous to this period, for years, there had prevailed among us, great stupidity, in the concerns of a future state. Our church had been decreasing for seven or eight years, during which time we had lost by death, by removals, by apostasy and by excommunication, about thirty members. Religion was rapidly declining, and our prospects were, every day, grow ing more and more discouraging. In this unpromising state of things, it pleased God to arrest the attention of à small number of persons, and bring them to see and feel themselves to be in a lost perishing state. Religious conferences were now revived. Before this season began, it would have been difficult, to have collected together for religious exercise, ten persons on any day, except the sab. bath; but now, we had the pleasure to see convened, more than one hundred, at almost every weekly confer. ence. In this collection many of our youths appeared, and some of them seemed to be deeply affected with the concerns of their souls. This good work gradually progressed, and from time to time new cases of serious

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impressions were found. It continued without much visible abatement, till the following September, when we began to discern marks of its decline. During this season twentyfive persons made public profession of religion. These were generally able to give some satisfactory evidence of a work of grace on their hearts. They all seemed to be convinced of their great sinfulness, and complained of their wicked hearts. They professed to hope, that they had passed from death to life. There was no uncommon means used, at this time, nor was there any singular providence of God, which called up the attention of our people,at this particular season.

All those who were the subjects of this work had usually attended the stated worship of God, on the sabbath. Some of them, however, were not careful to give constant attendance in the house of God. Among the number who were hopefully converted, were some, who had been in the practice of profaning the sabbath in the pursuit of vain amusements and unsuitable recreations ; there were others, who had been much opposed to the doctrines of divine grace, and had used their influence in giving encouragement to sentiments hostile to christianity. These were brought to feel, that they had been enemies to Christ, and had acted from wrong motives, in this opposition to the interest of his king

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LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.