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coaft of Africa. We wert on hore there to purchase live-stock, the ship's fteward for the ship, and myfelt as tev ard for the Miffionaries, who had many things to dispote of by way of Larter for the fruits, and the product of their fland. I believe you would have fmiled had you feen me furrounded by fifty or fixty blacks, with their plantains, bananas, oranges, lemons, &c. to have obferved our mode of traffic and exchange, with fcarce understanding one word we fpoke. This fand lays 14 degrees

North latitude, and is very hot.-18th, Spoke a fhip called the Jack Park, from Liverpool, bound to Guinea, for flaves. She was a letter of marque, gave chace to us, fufpecting we were French: we had many fears for fome hours, till we lay to and spoke to her.-Nov. 7. Met together at four o'clock, correfponds ig with your time at half past fix in England, the time of the Monthly Prayer Meeting for us, and our's for you.-1oth, Saw land from the top-matt-head, and it was the coaft of South America; failed very swiftly, at the rate of nine miles an hour. The tops of the mountains were hid in the clouds, and the hills near the fhore were covered to the top with fruit-trees.-12th, Spoke a boat of Rio; a pilot came on board, and we came to an anchor off Rio Janeiro, in South America. We had a boat of soldiers came off, and watched us night and day alongfide. A party of the first rank came off, examined the Log-book and Journal, fent the Firit and Second Mate on fhore in a boat, and the Captain in company, with them, and examined them feparately; we expected to have been interrupted in our worthip, as the account we read of them from Captain Cook and others, defcribed them as the moft rigid and most dangerous to deal with; but I have been this day on fhore, and to our aftonishment found their treatment contrary to what we had heard; uncommon civility was fhewn us. M. Cover, myfelf, with fix or feven more were put in charge of an officer of rank, and fhewn all over this great and populcus town; and even introduced into the houfe of the Commandante, the perfon next the Vice Roy, where he, and his lady, fhewed us in the most polite manner all they thought worthy our notice. While I am writing in the coffee house, this moment paffes by me a moft affecting fcene: many flaves, chained together, coming to the fountain for water, from which the town is fupplied. I fuppofe they have committed fome crime.-Neceflity obliges me to leave off; and my dear friends I am fure will pardon me, when I tell them I have defifted writing till now on account of the unfavourable account we read of this country: we were very doubtful whether every letter would not be opened, and may be not fent, after they found out what was our intended expedition to the South Seas. And now writing in hafte, have not time to copy it; I fhall therefore make no farther apology, as I rank you among my dearest friends. Pray give my love to Attwood, and Neddy, and all your little ones, and Mr. Lockwood.-God fparing life and health you fhall have every account when I arrive at the island, at the return of the thip.-I hope you are well. Be fo kind as to remember me to all my friends that afk after me-there are very many whom I love in the Lord, and are not forgotten by Your affectionate Friend,

T. HARRIS.

AN ADDRESS

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE GOSPEL IN GENERAL, AND TO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN PARTICULAR.

WHEN we confider how early the Gospel was introduced into thefe kingdoms, and the wonderful appearances of Divine Providence to pre

ferve it in its purity to our time, it is very painful to reflect on the deplorable ignorance, infidelity, atheism, impiety, and wickedness which still prevail in inany parts of our dear native country, and in most of its villages. Whole eyes muft not weep? Whofe heart does not bleed over the miferies of our fellow immortals, whilft we feel a moft ardent defire of refcuing them from the error of their ways, and faving their fouls from death?

The language of our fupplications to Almighty God has long been, "Thy kingdom come;" and we ftill wait on him for his direction and bleffing epon the appointed means. Confcious that we and our Chriftian Brethren in general have been too remifs in this important concern, we now wish to excite one another with diligence and zeal to promote the caufe of our infinitely amiable and adorable Redeemer.

Many laudable attempts have been made for fpreading the Gofpel, which have been attended with confiderable fuccefs. And we rejoice in the late generous and vigorous efforts to propagate it in heathen lands; yet we cannot but fament that no provifion hath hitherto been made for its diffufion in our own country, adequate to the wishes and expectations of men, whofe hearts are warmly interested in fo great a cause.

It is doubtlefs highly incumbent on all who love the Lord Jefus Christ, to endeas our to promote his kingdom and intereft among their fellow men. What! Has he revealed his love and glory in the Holy Scriptures? Has he vifited us with his falvation, and given us the hope of eternal life? Surely then our obligations to him are unfpeakably great, and we ought to exert ourselves to spread the favour of his knowledge among our brethren of mankind, for the glory of his name, and the falvation of their fouls.

By a ferious review of the Divine prophecies and precious promifes, we are encouraged to conclude, that the knowledge of the Lord fhall cover the earth as the waters cover the fea, and that the kingdoms of this world fhall become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.

In this affurance, and in a chearful dependence on the Divine bleffing, a SOCIETY has been formed, with a view to introduce the Gospel into thofe villages near London, and other parts of the kingdom, where it is feared the people are fitting in the fhadow of death.

But as it must be obvious, that to carry fuch a very extenfive design into effect will be attended with confiderable expence; this Society earnestly folicits, not only the prayers, but also the pecuniary aid of all, who love our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity.

The SOCIETY has agreed to the following Refolutions:

I. That this Society be denominated, THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY FOR SPREADING THE GOSPEL IN ENGLAND.

II. That the affairs of this Society be tranfacted by a Committee, which fhall be chosen annually, and confift of feven Minifters, and seven other Gentlemen.

III. That the Rev. Daniel Fisher, D. D. John Stafford, D. D. Jofeph Barber, John Clayton, John Humphrys, William Wall, and Jofeph Brookfbank, together with Meffrs. Nathaniel Child, John Fenn, Thomas Reid, Jofeph Stonard, Thomas Stiff, Jofeph Wilfon, and Ebenezer Maitland, be the Committee for the prefent year.

IV. That a Treafurer and Secretary be chofen annually, and that Ebenezer Maitland, Efq. be Treasurer, and the Rev. Jofeph Brooksbank Secretary, for the present year,

V. That

V. That the Committee fhall meet Monthly, or oftener, if neceffary, at the Rev. Dr. Stafford's Meeting Houfe, in New Broad-street; and that five Members fhall be competent to tranfact business.

VI. That there fhall be two General Meetings in the year.

VII. That the Committee do inform all the Congregational Minifters in London, and its vicinity, of the inftitution of this Society, and request them and their Friends to unite in forwarding its views.

VIII. That the Committee correfpond with Minifters in the country, with whose principles they are perfectly fatisfied, and request them to preach in adjacent villages, as they have opportunity.

IX. That the expences incurred by the occafional labours of Minsters in town and country, be defrayed by direction of the Committee.

X. That an annual fubfcription of One Guinea, or more, fhall conftitute a perfon a Member of this Society, fo long as fuch annual subscription is continued; and that a payment of Ten Guineas within twelve months fhall conftitute a Member for Life.

N. B. All contributions will be thankfully received, from thofe who are not inclined to become stated Subfcribers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THIS SOCIETY ARE

RECEIVED BY

EBENEZER MAITLAND, Esq. No. 13, King's Arms Yard, Coleman-ftreet, Treafuier.

The Rev. JOSEPH BROOKSBANK, Newington Green, Secretary. And by the rest of the Committee for the prefent Year, viz.

The Rev. Dr. FISHER, Hackney.

Dr. STAFFORD, Chifwell-street.

JOSEPH BARBER, Artillery-court.

JOHN CLAYTON, Highbury place, Iflington.
JOHN HUMPHRYS, Canterbury-row, Newington Butts.
WILLIAM WALL, Hexton-iquare.

And Meff. NATHANIEL CHILD, Bishopigate.

JOHN FENN, Cornhill.

JOSEPH STONARD, Tower-hill.

THOMAS STIFF, New. ftreet, Covent-Garden.

THOMAS REID, Minones.

JOSEPH WILSON, Milk-street.

FORM OF A TESTAMENTARY DONATION.

"I A. B. give and bequeath unto the Treasurer, for the time being, of The Congregational Society in London, for spreading the Gospel in England, established in 1797, the fum of

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to be paid out of my perfonal eftate, to be applied towards carrying on the good purposes of the faid Society."

ORDINATIONS.

ON Wednesday, May 3, 1797, the Rev. Samuel Burder, to the pastoral office of an Independant Church, in St. Alban's. The Rev. J. Goode, of London, opened the bufinefs with prayer and reading the fcriptures. The Rev. J. Humphreys, of the Borough, delivered an in

troductory

troductory discourse, and propofed the ufual queftions. The ordination prayer by the Rev. J. Reynolds, of London. The Rev. G. Burder, of Coventry, then delivered a charge from 2 Tim. ii. 4. "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good foldier of Jefus Chrift." The Sermon by the Rev. J. Clayton, of London, from 2 Peter iii. 17. "Ye therefore beloved, feeing ye know these things before, beware left ye alfo, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own ftedfaftnefs." The Rev. J. Barber, of London, concluded the fervice with prayer. The hymns were given out by the Rev. W. Wall, of London.

It may not be amifs to hint, that this interest has very recently been established. Mr. Burder is the firft Minifter ordained over the infant fociety. May he live to nourish it in the word of life, and may the church increase with all the increases of God.

ON June 7, Mr. Jofeph Batley was ordained pastor of the Independent Congregation at Marple Bridge in Derbyshire. The fervice was conducted in a manner very fuitable to the folemn occafion by the following Reverend Gentlemen: Mr. Hudfon, of Tintwistle, introduced the bufinefs in the usual form with prayer and reading the fuitable Scriptures; and after a discourfe on the nature of a Gofpel church, and her right to chufe her own Minifters, he addreffed himself to the young Minifter before him in a few pertinent interrogations, which were answered with equal propriety. We then heard the confeffion, which, in the infpired language of the Apostle, was a good one, and witneffed before many witnesses. The church recognized their call, which was answered in the affirmative. Mr. Suttcliffe, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, prayed over him with imposition of hands. Mr. Parfons, of Leeds, delivered the charge from Mark, vi. 346 Mr. Whitehead, of Charlefworth, addreffed the people from I Thef. v. 12. Mr. Roby, of Manchester, concluded the work in a fhort prayer.

A fine day, and a new fcene in the country, drew together a large congregation, which manifefted a very ready attention to the word; and we fervently hope the effect of the whole will be seen after many days.

TUESDAY, June 13. Five perfons were ordained at Zion Chapel, in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection: Mr. Lewis, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Mather, Mr. Horne (who had finifhed his ftudies at the College at Chefhunt), and Mr. Cooper. Mr. Williams, of Stepney, opened the fervice with prayer. Mr. Young, of Canterbury, addreffed the congregation, and called on the Candidates for an account of their experience and call to the Miniftry. Mr. Cooper read the articles of faith. The Rev. Mr. Nicholson, Prefident of the College, prayed; and with the Rev. Mr. Young, Mr. Kirkman, Mr. Mr. Rowland, ordained them by impofition of hands. Mr. Nicholson then gave the charge; and Mr. Rowland closed with prayer. The vast chapel was unable to contain the crowd, which filled it the moment the doors were open, and preffed on each other. About feven thoufand were within, and hundreds forced to depart without being able to penetrate the door-way.

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VOL. V.

Τι

OBITUARY.

OBITUARY.

MRS. COOK.

ON the 25th of April, 1797, died Mrs. Cook, of Coventry, aged

thirty.

Mrs. Cook's diforders were asthma and confumption, which had for a confiderable time preyed on her vitals, and warned her of approaching dif folution; but he knew, experimentally, the Gospel of falvation, and found its rich confolations when flesh and heart began to fail. Indeed the was peculiarly favoured during many of the laft weeks of her life; and numbers of her religious friends reforted to her apartment, to pray and praise with her, finding their hearts warmed by her animating exhort

ations.

On the day before her death she was extremely weak, and laboured fo hard for breath, that her voice could fcarcely be heard at all; yet she was often perceived to whisper-"O that the Lord would be pleased to give me the fealing teftimony, and then take me to himself." "You have had it," faid a friend," repeatedly." "I have," the replied, "but once more, I pray for it once more." In the afternoon her weak nefs was ftill more extreme, and it was expected that every moment would prove her laft, and thus she continued till after fix o'clock; when, fuddenly turning her head, the exclaimed to her fifter, in a louder voice than had been heard from her for many days, "Chrift is precious indeed! He is come, yes, he is come indeed! O what a gracious answer to prayer! This once more I have prayed for." A friend coming into the room, fhe, in a transport of joy, took her hand, faying in a loud voice, "Chrift is come; I fhall foon be delivered from this body of in." Her friend obferved, "That has been your prayer, more than that you may be delivered from fuffering." She replied, I truft it has indeed. O, Ifhall foon be with him in glory." She then repeated these lines:

O, if my Lord would come and meet,
My foul would ftretch her wings in haste,
Fly fearless through Death's iron-gate,
Nor feel the terrors as the paffed.

Jefus can make a dying-bed
Feel foft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out gently there.

"Farewell, my dear friend, farewell; we shall meet in glory, never more to part." The perfon added, "I hope fo, yet I fear." She quickly replied, "Look to Jefus, look to him conftantly: He is all-fufficient; remember what he has done for me, and take encouragement. May the Lord ftrengthen, fupport, and comfort you! May the bleffed Jefus be your's, and you have a true friend! I cannot with you a better bleffing; if I could I would. O how precious is Chrift! The world is nothing to me now Ten thousand worlds could do me no good. And my friends, what are they to me now? 'Tis true, 'tis true, they are dearer to me than ever; but they can do nothing for me. None but Chrift can do me any good; and he is here "O

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