may have been more depraved in some respects than himself-not endeavouring to palliate his wickedness by urging the force of temptation, or the natural weakness of his resolution; but, on the other hand, suffering his conscience to do its work thoroughly, to probe to the bottom of the wounds which sin has made. Such was the Counsellor's case, and my first duty in consequence thereof, was to hold out to him the promises of the Gospel; to endeavour to convince him that the Christian religion is a system of grace and mercy; that its blessings are offered to all the sincerely penitent, to all those who are weary and heavy laden with sin; that God will in no case cast off those who humbly turn to him. Would to God that such were the course we might follow in the case of all those whom we are called to visit in their last moments. How different would be our situation from what it now is? How many do we find in that solemn season endeavouring to deceive themselves how often unwilling to confess the extent of their sins, or the greatness of their depravity-how frequently charging upon the imbecility of their minds what is only the effect of their own perverseness? How often is it necessary for us to bring to their view, and impress upon their minds, these important though humiliating truths, and therefore to withhold from them the consolations of the Gospel until they give evidence that they felt them. Not so the Counsellor: all with him was humility and sincerity. With great feeling he took up the language of David, and said, "I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." And that of Job, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." My first duty therefore, in his case, was to bring to his view the consoling promises of the Gospel. I told him that the blood of Christ was sufficient to cleanse us from all sin, and that the vilest of the vile, if they repented, would assuredly find mercy. I repeated to him the promise of God to the rebellious Jews, that if they would return to him, their "sins though as scarlet, should become white as snow, though red like crimson, they should become as wool." These comfort

ing assurances had not the effect of tranquillizing his mind at that time; his sense of guilt and ingratitude was so great, that the blessing of pardon appeared to him more than he had a right to expect. The load upon his heart was too great to be removed at once, and the reply he made to me was, "but I have been so abandoned, my sins have been so heinous, and so numerous.'

I visited my friend frequently during his illness, which lasted several months, and it was some time before his mind attained to peace and composure. Two erroneous impressions had taken possession of it, which gave him a good deal of uneasiness. He thought that when his sins should be forgiven, he would have a sensible assurance and communication thereof given, by the Spirit of God; he fancied a sudden light would burst upon his mind, which would leave no doubt that he was received among the chosen of the Almighty, would henceforth banish all fears, and fill his heart with the fulness of joy. Whence he acquired this notion I know not; but I think Į have observed it prevailing frequently among those who have plunged deep into the stream of sin, and suffered themselves to be borne far by its current. Having lost all self-command, they think that if they are ever redeemed from their captivity, it must be by a supernatural and extraordinary interposition of divine power. ing also the vast difference between themselves and the faithful disciples of the Saviour, they are inclined to think that these enjoy sensible communion with the Spirit of Truth, by which they are enabled to resist temptation and to persevere in the path of duty. Although this is a doctrine maintained by many Christians in our country, yet, there is scarcely any error more dangerous. It almost infallibly leads to the extreme either of despondency, or of spiritual pride. If the heart is honest and the mind sound, I know not what is to preserve the persons who adopt this sentiment from despair, for in this case they will assuredly never experience what they are seeking. If, on the other hand, the heart is dishonest or

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the mind weak, they may bring themselves to believe that they have seen the light, and felt the power of the spirit; and when this is the case, they fancy themselves at once of the number of God's faithful children, and look down upon all those who cannot relate experiences similar to their own.

Another source of trouble to the Counsellor was the doctrine of election. I cannot say that he had acquired any settled notions on this subject; but a confused idea was floating upon his mind concerning the doctrine which he had sometimes heard inculcated, that a fixed and certain portion of the human race is to be saved, and the other part to be lost. The first time I heard him express this sentiment was when a person of Calvinistic principles was present. He directed his discourse to him, and asked him his opinion concerning the doctrine. The Calvinist endeavoured to waive the subject, and observed, that a certain minister of considerable standing in his society, (mentioning his name,) when he was questioned by his congregation on the doctrine of election, used to say; "Prove to me your conversion, and I will prove to you your election." He appeared to be sensible that the doctrine was not calculated to comfort a person in the Counsellor's situation, but rather to plunge him into despair; because if he were convinced that mankind were divided into two great portions, that cannot be increased or diminished, the one elect, the other reprobate, he would conclude at once that he was among the latter. The

doctrine of unconditional, partial election is indeed cold, cheerless,and comfortless, and the maintainers of it generally endeavour to keep it out of the sight of persons in the Counsellor's situation, until they think the work of conversion is accomplished, when they will tell them that they are undoubtedly of the number of the elect. How appropriate and reviving to the awak ened and penitent sinner, on the other hand, the doctrine that Christ died for all men, that he has effected an universal redemption, and that those who mourn for their sins shall be comforted. Indeed, the general language of

Calvinists, when they visit the dying sinner, if he manifests any concern for his soul, is, "there is grace, rich grace, prepared for mankind;" or, "be not discouraged, for there is bread enough for us all, and to spare." They will not acknowledge the doctrine of universal redemption; but they are also very careful to keep out of sight that of partial election.

I need not say that I endeavoured to convince my friend of the erroneousness of both these ideas, and I have reason to believe that his mind ultimately was relieved from the uneasi ness occasioned by them. He never professed to have experienced that sudden and powerful transformation of soul, nor to have seen that supernatural light, which he first thought he ought to look for; but his mind attained to a considerable degree of peace and composure. He did not, it is true, enjoy those transporting anticipations of future happiness which are sometimes vouchsafed to the faithful at the hour of death; but he learned to trust with meekness and humility in the mercy of God, through the merits of our Saviour. A strong sense of his unworthiness continued to rest upon his mind, and he felt that if he should be accepted, the goodness of God to him would be unbounded. On that goodness he rested, and from so doing, acquired an humble hope that his future state would be blessed. To the last question I put to him, "whether his mind had become more composed, and whether he had learned to trust in the sacrifice made by the Saviour;" his reply was, "he hoped he had."

Thus was cut off in the prime of life, and before he had filled up half the measure of his days, a man, who, had he pursued the paths of industry and temperance, might have been an ornament to society, and a blessing to his country. In spite of all his foibles, I could not help feeling an attachment to him. He possessed a generous, a feeling, and a kind heart; he was warmly attached to his friends; and to me also, he perhaps was in the habit of making known the recesses of his heart more than to most others. On several occasions also, he shewed his regard

for me, not only in words, but in actions. There was likewise a strong presentiment in my mind, that unless he should be called suddenly from the world, he would become a sincere penitent before his death. The event has proved that my hope was well founded. He has gone, I trust, to that blessed home, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest; and it is my prayer to God, that when the trump of the Archangel shall summon us all to judgment, I may be permitted to join my friend in the mansions of eternal light and glory.

Reader, art thou in the youthful part of thy days, and dost thou feel a growing attachment to sinful pleasure? O let the Counsellor's fate deter thee from that dangerous course, before it is too late. Sinful pleasure is a syren that sings peace, peace, when there is no peace. She will lure thee to thy doom," before thou art aware-she will blast all thy worldly prospects-she will destroy both soul and body. Into the one, she will lodge the seeds of disease, that will bring forth their fruit with a fatal certainty; and from the other, she will erase the Divine image, and render it a fit companion only for the great enemy of man. Fly from her as from the fangs of the animal that would infuse a deadly poison through thy frame; for although her appearance may now be pleasing, and her charms fascinating, yet, when thou art most in want of aid, she will desert thee; and when thy soul, bereft of all help and hope, begins to feel the horrors of despair, she "will laugh at thy calamity, and mock when thy fear cometh.”

Dost thou also desire to enjoy peace in thy last moments, and to be enabled to triumph over death? put not off the work of repentance to a dying hour. If you would say with St. Paul at that solemn season, "I am now ready to be offered-henceforth there is laid up for ine a crown of righteousness;" you must also be enabled to say with him, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." You may, like the unhappy Counsellor, it is true, by God's blessing obtain a hope of happiness, when the awful trial comes; but if your heart is

honest, how many tears of remorse will you shed for an ill-spent life-how oppressive will be the reflection that you cannot undo your numerous sinful deeds, and that the effects of these deeds may be perpetuated to generations yet unborn! It is the holy life, the life which has been reared upon the foundation of faith in the Son of God alone, that can smooth the pillow of death, and enable us to meet our last enemy with perfect joy. The Country Clergyman.

The tenth Annual Report of the Trustees of the Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania. Read before the Society, January 7, 1822.

If during the tenth year of the existence of this Society the Trustees have apparently done less than at any former period for the advance. ment of the exalted interests of the kingdom of the Redeemer, they have the satisfaction of knowing that every demand upon the funds has been promptly met and paid, and that arrange. ments have been made not only for the per manent security of all life subscriptions, and donations, but likewise, as they trust, for the more rapid accumulation in future of those resources which are necessary to accomplish with vigour the objects we have so deeply at heart.

esting nature. And as men, and as Christians, These objects are indeed of the most inter. and particularly as members of the Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, we are loudly called upon to contribute a portion of our time, our talents, and our substance, towards the spread of the Gospel-the diffusion of its benign and holy influence into the hearts of those who are either ignorant of its consolations, or who once for their restoration. How dwelleth the love having enjoyed them are now intensely anxious of God in us if we refuse to impart to those who are in need! "He who loves God, loves his brother also." Fully believing in the sure word of prophecy, and knowing that the time will come when every knee shall bow to Jesus, how delighted should we be to enjoy the privilege, how eagerly should we avail ourselves of it, of aiding in that glorious cause for which the Redeemer died! Let us then continue not

only to support this institution, but to solicit for it the warm approbation and cordial zeal of our friends. Already it has done much good, already it has been instrumental in establishing the holy services of our Sanctuary in various places. Let us persevere; and the Church of our forefathers and of our choice will ac

quire that station, to which, by the purity of her doctrines, she is eminently entitled.

The alterations to the constitution which were adopted at the last annual meeting, were the following:

To Article IV. add, "all life subscriptions of members, and all donations, whether by will or otherwise, unless bestowed with a specific ap

propriation, shall be a permanent fund, and shall be vested in stock or ground rents, or other safe property. This provision shall extend to the stock now held by the Society. Collections in churches are not to be considered as of the donations here referred to, but shall be at the disposal of the trustees. Provided always nevertheless, that the clear yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands, and tenements, annuities, or other hereditaments and real estate of this corporation, and the interests of money lent, shall not exceed the sum of five hundred pounds.

In place of Article V. the following was sub. stituted:

"There shall be annually a meeting of the Society in Philadelphia, on the feast of the Epiphany, unless it shall fall on Sunday, and in that case on the next day. The rectors of the different churches within the state, shall be requested to have services performed and collections made for the benfit of the Institution, on the first Sunday after the Festival of the Epiphany, or on that Festival, if it be on Sunday; or on such other day or days as may be expedient, and in such manner as may be agreeable to the proper parochial authori ties."

These additions have been sanctioned by the proper authorities, and now form part of the charter.

Two young men pursuing the study of theology have received some aid-and the fostering care of the Society has been still continued to the Church at Easton. The other missions have necessarily ceased. New avenues of use. fulness have been opened; and new and earnest solicitations from various quarters for ministers are daily heard. What is to be done? We have arrested the attention of the Episcopalians who are scattered throughout the state. They have been visited by our Missionaries. Their hopes have revived. We have encour aged them to proceed. And we are pledged to use our best and most strenuous exertions to enable them to establish the church of the liv ing God in the wilderness. Grant us the power, and all that has been promised will be fulfilled. The glory of the Lord has arisen upon Zion. She is destined to be the joy of the whole earth. Let us hasten with gladness to repair her waste places. Let us contribute according to our means; and the blessing of thousands who were ready to perish will rest upon us.

APPENDIX.

Doubts having been expressed relative to the correctness of the following expressions in the report; "New avenues of usefulness have been opened; and new and earnest solicitations

that they were very desirous to have a Pastor. "The grand object" says Dr. J. "was to spread a knowledge of the church among the people where the church was not known, ex cept as it came in a debased state through the hands of unfaithful ministers. This has been effected; and there are now many in this neighbourhood, particularly among the people, who will ever remember the society that sent Mr. P. among them, with sincere gratitude, who will ever consider the church as the best and the saftest way to lead them whither he has gone." "Can you not," saya Mrs. P. in a letter, dated June 23,-"can you not send us some one in the course of the summer to break to us the bread of life, and join with us in pub lic worship in the house of God? We ask your prayers, that as the Almighty has seen fit to remove the shepherd, this little flock may not be scattered or devoured. You will hope pardon the liberty I have taken in writing you but I cannot admit the idea that this church in Northumberland, for the establishment of which my inestimable husband literally sacrificed his life, should now be left to perish. I cannot possibly live myself, or raise my little family. where I am deprived of the services of the church." 2. A letter was written last summer to the Bishop from the congregation at Pike, stating their belief that they could support a minister with a family, and earnestly requesting that one might be sent. 3. A letter from Mr. Sayres to the Bishop stated there were several small congregations in Lycoming coun ty, and that it was wished that the Rev. Mr. Hopkins might be appointed a missionary te two of them. 4. The church at Bristol is va cant, and deserves attention. 5. The churches at Marcus Hook and Chester are in the same situation. 6. Mr. Neale wrote to the Bishop from Kittanning, informing him that nearly 100 persons in that neighbourhood had not been bap tized, and that they wished some prayer books and the visits of a missionary. 7. Mr. Johnston wrote from Greensburgh, that between 3 and 400 dollars had been subscribed towards the support of a clergyman who would officiate half his time there. 8. The three congregations in Fayette county subscribed each 200 dollars towards the salary of a clergyman 9. The churches in Huntingdon and Mifflin coun

ties are vacant.

The Rev. Messrs. Keeler, Bulkeley, and Phinney, during the same period offered their services as missionaries.

The state of the funds did not permit the committee of missions to pay attention to either clerical or congregational applications. Truly yours,

JACKSON KEMPER. Monday, 7th Jan. 1822.

4.

Read, Cornelins Stevenson, Caleb P. Wayne, Tobias Wagner, George Bringhurst, Durden B. Carter, Hugh De Haven, Thomas Hale, John Markland, Austin Montgomery, Stephen North, James S. Smith, Charles Wheeler, Thomas H. White.

Clergymen residing within the City and County of Philadelphia, who are Trustees, ox officio Rev. Robert Blackwell, D.D. Rev. James Abercrombie, D. D. Rev. Frederick Beasley, D. D. Rev. James Wiltbank, Rev. George Boyd, Rev. James Montgomery, Rev. Charles M. Dupuy, Rev. Benjamin Allen.

The Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society. The Board of Managers of the Auxiliary NewYork Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, in presenting to their constituents the sixth an nual report of the transactions of the Society, regret to observe, that the pressure of the times, and the numerous and urgent demands upon Christian charity, have tended to restrict, in no ordinary degree, the labours and usefulness of our institution.

Immediately after the last anniversary, your Board of Managers printed an edition of one thousand copies of the Bible, from the new stereotype plates of the Society. Of these a large number was due to subscribers and members on account of their annual subscriptions; and one hundred and twenty copies were forwarded to the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina, in payment of one hundred dollars advanced by them to us in the year 1820, towards the completion of the stereotype plates. The receipt of these has been acknowledged by that Society, with an expression of their satisfaction in having aided us in the production of so beautiful and correct a copy of the Holy Scriptures. Of the residue of the edition, a proportion has been sold to Societies and individuals for gratuitous distribution, the finances of the Society not authorizing the Board to indulge their feelings by yielding to any of the many urgent applications for donations of the sacred volume.

One hundred and six Prayer Books have also been delivered from the Depository of the Society, to members and subscribers since the last anniversary; and, during the same period, sixteen hundred and seventy four copies have been sold to societies and charitable individuals for gratuitous distribution.

These, with the former sales and distributions of the Society, make an aggregate of three thousand and twenty-six Bibles, and sixteen thousand and nine hundred and twenty-five Prayer Books, which have issued from our depository since the formation of the institution, in the year 1816.

We still continue to sell the Prayer Book to those who purchase for gratuitous distribution, at thirty cents per copy; and we have fixed the Bible, bound in a durable and handsome manner, at eighty-five cents, which is considered to be cheaper than any other edition of the Bible ever published in this country.

At the last anniversary meeting of the Society, its Bye-Laws were so amended as to provide for the establishment of a permanent fund, By the appropriation of such sums as should be

thereafter received for life subscriptions to the Society. The sum required to constitute a member or subscriber for life, was fixed at twenty-five dollars, and the amount received from such subscriptions is directed to be invested in such a manner as to produce an annual income to the funds of the Society. Under this regulation the sum of two hundred dollars has been since subscribed, and, for the present, has been deposited in the Savings Bank. The Board of Managers fondly hope that many of the members and subscribers of the Society will be induced to add to this fund, so auspieiously commenced, and thus ensure the future usefulness and stability of our institution.

In addition to the above amount of life sub

scriptions, the receipts of the Society for the past year, together with the balance in the treasury at the last anniversary, amount to the sum of six hundred and sixty-five dollars and three cents. Of this sum, ninety-five dollars and fifty cents were collected in Trinity Church, on the evening of the 18th of February last, when the Anniversary Sermon, for the benefit of the Society, was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Feltus; thirty-two dollars and twelve cents, the balance of the proceeds of the Concert in Grace Church; and the sum of three hundred and thirty-eight dollars has been received from subscribers and members.

The payments of the treasurer for the same period amount to the sum of six hundred dollars and fifty-nine cents, chiefly for paper, printing, and binding; leaving a balance in the treasury of sixty-four dollars and forty-four

cents.

The Society is, at the sarae time, indebted to its printers in the sum of one hundred and seventy-eight dollars, and there are some small outstanding bills for contingent expenses, to the amount of twenty-five or thirty dollars.

Under these circumstances, with an exhausted treasury, and a diminished subscription list, your Board of Managers would almost despair of being enabled to resume those active and beneficent labours which have heretofore, with the blessing of Heaven, shed the light of the Gospel, and the purity of Christian worship, on the remotest borders of our land. But this despair in our hallowed cause is forbidden by the Master whom we serve; and animated by his promise of assistance, we will endea vour to arouse your minds to the importance of our cause, and stimulate you to renewed exertions.

We ask your support, brethren, not to an institution of doubtful importance, not to extend to the idle the means of continuance in idleness, nor to afford to the improvident that sup port which they have neglected to provide for themselves; but we appeal to you on behalf of those who are perishing for lack of knowledge,

for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,-and the boon we would extend to them is the light of salvation, and the bread of life. Shall we then ask in vain for the means of continuing our labours? Sball we in vain address to Christians our supplications for relief to those who are treading the thorny ways of wretchedness, and the dark valley of death, without a guide to their feet or a lamp to their paths? Shall the beacon which your bounty has erected to light the traveller on his way, and to guide the wanderer to a haven of rest, be extinguished-now