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according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time: wherein ye greatly rejoice, tho' now for a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials,)" &c.

To be a little more particular, -The perfect and infinite atonement of Jesus Christ by his death on the cross, fully proved by his resurrection from the dead, is the great foundation and chief support of my hope. He has told us, "that none cometh to the Father but by him." He is the only, and a sufficient mediator between God and men; and has declared, by his inspired apostle-"That he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for us”—and “that of all the Father has given Him He will lose none. The gospel is full of declarations of the sufficiency, and expressions of the grace of Jesus Christ. It is full also of divine promises proper to ground the faith and hope of God's people. To recite these particularly, would be to copy a considerable portion of the bible. One only the Saviour has given us, "him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out"-must afford ample support and consolation to an assured believer.

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I can boast of no extraordinary divine discoveries, no rapturous views or feelings as the support of my hope. I have ever viewed the religion of Christ,

since it has engaged my serious attention, as a display of divine wisdom, and perfectly consistent and rational. To one possessed of such views of it, extacies must be altogether unexpected and could rationally afford no great support to hope. The best and most solid evidence a Christian can have of his good estate, is obedience. I may say many good things for God, and obtain a character for piety among men ; but if I should not at the same time feel in my heart a supreme regard to his will, and find in fact that it had a commanding influence upon my actions, or, in other words, that it produced sincere obedience, I should find no support for my hope. The professed Christian who feels an indifference and unconcern whether he pleases God or not, can have no substantial evidence that he loves him, for "This is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and they are not grievous."-The will of God is the necessary result of his unalterable and infinite perfections; whoever opposes it is an infinite offender-and no man or woman who deliberately and knowingly disobeys God, especially when it is an habitual thing, can feel comfort and support. On the contrary, a conscience void of offence affords both. There is not, at the same time, a man on earth that doth good and sinneth not. I pretend to no such perfection as some boast of. I daily offend, and all the day more or less; nevertheless can say, I trust with a degree of sincerity, that it is my pleasure to serve God-and say with David (perhaps not with equal sincerity)

I delight to do thy will, my

God." At the same time, so many and aggravated are my offences, so many and frequent the defects of my best performances, that if the bible had not informed us that God has forgiven the great sins of his servants on repentance, and looks on his children with a compassionate eye, notwithstanding their many infirmities and failings, I could find no ground for hope. To find pleasure in religious exercises will afford further ground for comfort; for whatever habit may do, in this as well as other cases, it is not in fallen human nature to choose religion. Nature is so opposed to God and religion that the esteem and practice of it must be from Him; and he only can preserve and continue its existence in the heart. I cannot go further, at present. Before I close, let me add one caution, which I wish may be useful to us both; it is this, that the transports produced by self-love may never be permitted to become substitutes for the love of God; rather let obedience be made the measure of it. I wish you all the best of heaven's blessings, and am

Your affectionate father.

Remarks on the uses of the definitive Article in the Greek Text

of the New Testament, extracted from a publication of Granville Sharp, Esq.

R. Sharp proposes the

MR

following rule," When the copulative xa connects two nouns of the same case, (viz., nouns, either substantive or adjective, or participles, of personal description, respecting office, dignity, affinity, or connection, and attributes, properties, or qualities, good or ill) if the arti cle , or any of its cases, precedes the first of the said nouns or participles, and is not repeat. ed before the second noun of participle, the latter always re lates to the same person that i expressed or described by th first noun or participle; i. e. i denotes a further description q the first named person; excep the nouns be proper names, o in the plural number in whic cases there are many excep tions."

This rule is valuable n merely in a philological vie but because it enables us to co rect the translation of sever passages in the New Testame, which, properly understood, ford many striking proofs cocerning the divinity of our La and Saviour Jesus Christ. Se particularly Eph. v. 5. 2 Ths. i. 12. 1 Tim. v. 21. Titusi. 13. 2 Peter i. 1. Jude 4.

200 Officers of the Missionary Society of Conn.-Donations. [Nov. Officers of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, from the first Wednesday of September, 1805, to the first Wednesday of September, 1806.

TRUSTEES. His Honor JOHN TREADWELL, Esq. The Honorable Messrs. OLIVER ELLSWORTH, ROGER NEWBERRY, AARON AUSTIN, JONATHAN BRACE, and JOHN DAVENPORT, Esqrs. and the Rev. Messrs. Cyprian Strong, D. D. Elijah Parsons, Nathan Strong, D. D. Nathan Perkins, D. D. Samuel Nott, and Calvin Chapin.

ANDREW KINGSBURY, Esq. Treasurer.

JOHN PORTER, Esq. Auditor.

His Honor JOHN TREADWELL, Esq. Chairman; and the Rev. Abel Flint, Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

The Honorable JONATHAN BRACE, Esq. the Rev. Nathan Strong, and JOHN PORTER, Esq. Committee of Accounts.

The Honorable JONATHAN BRACE, Esq. and the Rev. Messrs. Cyprian Strong, Nathan Strong, Nathan Perkins, Samuel Nott, and Abel Flint, Committee of Missions.

The Honorable JONATHAN BRACE, Esq. and the Rev. Messrs. Nathan Strong and Abel Flint, Book Committee.

Donations to the Missionary Society of Connecticut.

October. Rev. Calvin Ingals, contributed in new

settlements,

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16 3

$38 24 1-2

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The number of praying Indians in the colony of New-Plimouth, A. D 1685-Continuation of the account of Mr. Eliot's missionary services-The conclusion of them--His character, as briefly drawn by two gentlemen of distinction in civil life, who were cotemporary, and well acquainted with him Appendix, containing a Letter from Hon. Robert Boyle to the Commissioners of the united Colonies, and their answer.

IN

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and girls, under 12 years old,
which were supposed to be more
than three times that number.

these Indians then lived were,
The particular places where

At Pawmet, Billingsgate,

and Eastham or Nauset, 264 At Manamoyet,

At Sackatucket and Nob

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scusset,
At Matakeesee,
At Skarnton, or Scanton,
At Mashpee,
At Suckanesset,
At Monamet,

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At Salt Water Pond,
At Namasket, and Titicut, 70
At Namatakeeset,
At Moxisset,
At Cooxit,
At Seconet,*

85

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120

90

1439

In a former Number it was briefly hinted, that Mr. Eliot, at an early period, set up the practice of catechising the Indians, who attended his lectures. He, with many other judicious

N the year 1685, Mr. Hinkley, Governor of Plimouth, sent the corporation in England an account of the praying Indians then in that colony. They amounted to 1439, besides boys Hutchinson's History, vol. i. p. VOL. VI. No. 6.

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Divines, and, I presume, with the generality, was of opinion, that the catechetical mode of instruction would be very useful, both to children and adults.

Accordingly he composed two catechisms in the Indian language, containing the principles of the Christian religion; a shorter for children, and a longer for older persons, which were published some years before the New Testament, which he translated into the Indian tongue, was printed; and doubtless as early as circumstances would allow.

At his lectures he catechised, first the children, then the adults. He made use of the influence he had with his hearers, of various ages, to induce them to learn the catechisms he had prepared for them.

He took particular pains, in suitable ways, to ingratiate himself with the children, in order to promote their best good; and he had the satisfaction to find, that his endeavors produced an happy effect. The children, partly at least from their affection to him, were stimulated to apply their minds with diligence, to the study of those little books

"I bless God I have seen the happy effects of this exercise, both in the places where I was educated, whilst a child, and in those where I was formerly fixed. I will not, at large, insist on the advantages which may attend this mode of instruction. You easily see, that it will be an engagement to the children to learn

* Dr. C. Mather observes, " Catechising is a noble exercise: It will insensibly bring a Minister into a way to do good that surpasses all expression. His Sermons will be very much Fost upon an uncatechised people. Nor will people mind so much what he speaks to them in the pulpit, as what he speaks to them in the more familiar way of applying the answers of the catechism. Never any Minister, who was a great catechiser, did repent of it. Thousands have blessed God with wonders and praises, for the good success of it." Bonifa-manner, may much improve their cius, p. 95, 96.

In the advertisement prefixed to Dr. Watts' Catechisms, there are these observable words; More knowledge is commonly diffused, especially among the young and unlearned, by the exercise of one hour, in the way of cateshism, than by the continued discourses of many. This mode of instruction excites attention, and helps the understanding. For this reason it is recommended to all parents and masters of families,""&c.

those excellent summaries of divine truth, when their progress in them is so often examined: By repeating it themselves, and hearing it rehearsed by others, it will be more deeply fixed upon their memories: The exposition of it in a plain and familiar

understandings in the doctrines and duties of religion.-We may hope that by the blessing of God, some good impressions may be made upon the minds of children." Ser. iii. on Education, page 71, 72. 3d edition.

"I cannot but take occasion to say, Catechising, though it be now so much neglected, has been found to be of excellent use, by laying a restraint upon every vicious passion, and nourishing children up in the words of faith and of good doctrine." Fam. Expos. on Eph. vi. 4. Note.

+ That Minister, who by a pleas

Dr. Doddridge, in an address to parents upon the religious education of children, gives them the following advice, supported by important rea-ing, but yet dignified behavior, can sons: Let your children attend upon our catechetical lectures, which are peculiarly intended for their service."

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gain the affections and respect of the children of the congregation, may entertain comfortable hopes, that his labors with them will not be in vain.

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