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RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

[Circular Letten.]

To Societies formed for the Extenfion of the Knowledge of the Gofpel; The Committee of the Religious Tract Society send Chriftian Salutation.

BELOVED BRETHREN,

We feel ourtelves exceedingly happy to fee your numbers increafing, your exertions enlarging, and your profpects of fuccefs brightening on every fide. The grand object which you endeavour to keep in view, is the fame with ours. We claim the honour of being your fellow-labourers in a very extensive vineyard. We request your cordial co-operation. While the various Miffienary Societies are laudably aiming to promote the falvation of the Heathen abroad, our particular object is to watch for the fouls of our fellow finners at home. Alas! what multitudes in the towns and villages of our own country are even now perifhing for lack of knowledge! Hundreds and thoufands of the inhabitants of Great Britain are still immerfed in ignorance, wickedness, and mifery. Do not our bowels yearn over them? Rivers of waters might run down our eyes-they keep not God's law-they fee not the beauty, nor talte the fweetnels, nor feel the power of the glorious Golpel of Chrift. Should we not be willing to impart unto them the Gospel of God, because they are dear unto unto us? Is it not daily our heart's defire and prayer for them, that they may be faved in the Lord, with an everlasting falvation? O may the Spirit be poured out from on high-then thall every wilderness become a fruitful field!

When your Preachers enter a dark village, they find the people, in many inftances, frangers even to the language of the Bible. And are they not fometimes almoft at a lofs for words fimple and plain enough to convey to the uncultivated mind neceffary inftruction? Would it not facilitate their labour, to have with them a variety of finall, cheap, plain, Religious Tracts, which the cottagers may read at their leifure, or hear their children read? It has appeared to us, that the object of our Society may be greatly affited by your local knowledge, your active zeal, your diligent and prudent care. A copious flood is poured out-but we wish to have the streams regularly flowing in the channels which you have cut ---that fome little rills, at leaft, may beautify, and refresh, and fructify, every part of the land. The kind Providence of God has hitherto fimild up n our Plan. Pleafing intelligence has reached us of the ufefulness of our little publications in the converfion of finners, and our friends in

crease.

But notwithstanding the first Addrefs, and many fubfequent advertisements---notwithstanding the pains we have taken to circulate No. I. of Qur Tracts, in which our object is fully explained and forcibly urged, we have reafon to think, that in many parts of the country it is yet utterly unknown. Our efteemed brother, Mr. Bogue, has just published, at our request a fermon, preached in London before the Society, May 18, 1800, intituled, "THE DIFFUSION OF DIVINE TRUTH. We indulge an affured hope that his Sermon will be generally read by the friends of Chrift.

The prefent Addrefs was occafioned by an application from fome of the Country Affociations, who fuggefted the propriety of a correfpondence and co-operation with our Society, as they rightly judged we could furnish them with Tracts on eafier terms than they could print themfelves with this view we have adopted "The Warning Voice," a va

luable

luable Tract recommended by the Effex Affociation; and though we dare not pledge ourselves to publish all we receive from different quarters, if you can fupply us with a good Tract, old or new, written on the princi ples fpecified in our No. I. it will always be acceptable.

Our earnest defire to fee this whole country as a well-watered garden.--If that can be effected, the great fun of mifery will be dininifhed---the fmall tum of happiness will be enlarged: trade, manufactures, and coinmerce---dometic union---public order---the comforts of the poor-the nation's welfare---all will flourish. Satan will be bruifed under our feet--infidelity will hide its head good men of every name will unite their fongs of praife--new joy will arite in Heaven, and God will be more abun dantly glorified throngh our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Signed by order of the Committee,

Batterfea,

J. HUGHES, SEC.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF YOUTH.

A fo

THE very great advantages already gained to the intereft of religion and good order, by the Introduction of Sunday Schools, has been admitted among all defcriptions of people. Ufeful and excellent, however, as these inftitutions have proved, fo far as the poor of the land are taught to read; yet while the public have gained fo confiderable an advantage by them, it is thought, that further fteps may be taken of a still fuperior kind. Many of the youth who attend the Schools have already fufficiently accomplifhed that humble part of their néceffary education, and feem to pant for further knowledge, that they may "underftand what they read." ciety therefore engrafted on the general idea of Sunday Schools has been a matter of ferious prayer and confideration. The perfons engaged in this defign have already prefented their views to the public in an Addrefs on the Inftruction of the Rifing Generation in the principles of the Chriftian Religion, which has been circulated through many parts of the king. dom. To that publication we beg leave to refer our readers and religious friends, for thofe arguments, which produced upon our minds the neceffity of propofing to the patronage of the public the fubfequent Plan.

1. That this Society be called " The Society for promoting the Religious Inftruction of Youth."

2. That this Society be establishel on the moft Catholic basis of general religious inftruction among all denominations of Chriftians, leaving each to adopt whatever Catechifms, or other books, they may esteem moft conducive to the purpolls of Edification.

3. That his Society will occafionally furnifh schools with fuch catechifms and finall Religious Tracts as the neceffities of the fchools may require, and the funds of the Society may admit.

4. That this Society do recommend that, at all times focial and relative duties fhall be ferioufly impreffed upon the minds of youth, as alfo all due obedience to the laws and government of this country.

*This excellent Tract has been adopted by the Religious Tract Sciety. See No. 34

6. That

6. That R. Cowie, Efq. be the Treasurer, and the Rev. Rowland Hill Secretary to this Society, who will receive fubfcriptions and donations.

ORDINATIONS,

ON Wednesday September 17, 1800, the Rev. SAMUEL BRADLEY, latè Audent at the Rotherham academy, was fet apart to the paftoral office of the independent church at Doncafter. Mr. Boden of Sheffield, began the fervice with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Phillips, claffical tutor at the above feminary, and paftor of the church at Attercliffe, delivered an introductory difcourfe, on the nature of a Chriftian church," propofed the questions, and received the confeilion of faith, &c. Mr. Boden offered up the ordination prayer, with the laying on of hands; Dr. WilIrams gave the charge, on "confideration, and divine teaching," from 2 Tim. ii. 7; Mr. Parfons, of Leeds, addrefled the people, on "the nature and prefent effects of a regular and carelefs walk, in profeffors of religion," from Ephef. v. 15.

In the evening Mr. Taylor, of Offset, preached from Ephef. v. i. It was a day, that will be long remembered. The extraordinary circumftances of the unexpected rife and progrefs of this infant caufe, rendered it peculiarly interesting. Doncafter and its neighbourhood were not favoured with evangelical preaching, before the year 1798; yet already the chapel is much too finall to contain all who would attend, which prevents an increase of hearers.

We understand, the ordination service, containing an account of the origin and progress of this Society, is just published.

On Tuesday, November27, 1800, the Rev. IOHN THORNTON, late Student in Hoxton Academy, was fet apart to the Paftoral office of the independent Church at Billericay, Effex. Mr. Strachan, of Rumford, began the fervice, with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Douglas, of Chelmsford, fpoke of the nature of a Gofpel Church, and afked the queftions; Mr. Stevenfon, of Caftle Hedingham, prayed the ordination prayer; Mr. Simplon, of London, gave the charge from 2 Tim, ii, 15. Study to fhew thyfelf, &c." Mr. Newton, of Witham, preached to the people from Phil. i. 9. 10. 11. Mr. Cooper, of Chelmsford, concluded with prayer.

Mr. Fofter, of Malden, preached in the evening to a full Congregation from Deut xxxii. 31. "Their Rock is not like our Rock &c." The Services were well attended, and with apparent evidence of great pleasure, both among Ministers and People.

The account given in our laft, of the Minifters engaged at the Ordination of the late venerable Mr. Winter, of New-Court, Cary-Street, not being corres-the Rev. Mr. Maurice has fent us the following exact par

ticulars.

Order of the Service of Mr. Winter's Ordination, June 14, 1759.

The Introductory Difcourfe, by the Rev. T. Hall;

A Difcourfe on Impofition of hands," by the Rev. T. Bradberry. The Sermon to the Church, by the Rev. John Olding; and the Exhortation (or charge) to Mr. Winter, by the Rev. John Conder,

POETRY,

POETRY.

HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. ARISE, my foul, thy tribute bring,

With joy addrefs thine infant King ;
He makes his entrance here to day,
Arife, and now thy homage pay.
No worldly pomp thy King affumes;
In great humility He comes;
A manger for his cradle ftands,
Tho' worlds were fashion'd by his hands.
Fall proftate at his facred feet,

And there thy Lord, thy Saviour greet;
Say "Thou art worthy all renown,

Thy head to wear the richest crown. "How great that pity and that love "Which brought thee from thy feat above! "Thy condeicenfion did not fcorn

Of a poor virgin to be born. "What fall I render, Lord, to thee, For all thy love and grace to me? "O draw my heart from felf and fir, "And arew life in me begin.. "Born of thy Sp rit may I grow "In thy dear likeness here below; "May all my thoughts, and all my ways, "From day to day befpeak thy praise.

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REFLECTIONS ON THE CLOSE OF | Through ev'ry age thy church doth prove

THE CENTURY.

A CENTURY-how great appears

The circle of an hundred years

To mortals' fcanty view!

But with eternity in fight,
Tis flecting as a dream of night,

And ah as empty too."

As waters track the mountain's fide,
And rivers fwiftly onward glide

To mingle with the fea;

So hours, and days, and months are gone, And years and centuries roll on

To vaft eternity.

Where are the men of deeds renown'd,
The faces where for beauty crown'd,

When firft the century rofe?
All thrust from their once envied place,
Succeeded by another race,

And thefe fhall follow those.

Yet fwift as time or life proceeds,
Man fills the fpaee with dreadful deeds,

And threaten'd Juftice dares;
Oh wond'rous patience! boundless skill !
That holds and guides all nature ftill,
And guilty rebels fpares!

Thro' ages paft, great God, we trace
Thy power, thy wisdom, and thy grace,
..Unwearied and the fame ;
And ev'ry age alike doth how
Sad fcenes of human guilt and woe,

Of mingled pride and shame.

Vain boaft of wifdom, deep and new,
Beyond what our forefathers knew,
The age of reason this!
Ah! when did Atheists more blafpheme,
Or fcience more bewilder'd dream,

With mora's more amifs?

Ah! when did luxury more abound Midt fqualid wretchednef's around,

Mad pomp, and pale defpair? When did pretence, for homage afk, With bolder face, or broader mask,

Than hypocrites now wear? When did ftern war more cruel rage Than in this civilized age,

Or urge its victims more To quit in bitter pangs their breath, Aud glut the greedy jaws of death,

And drench the earth with gore?

Oh God, in Thee alone we find
A folace for the anxious mind;

Thy people's conftant friend!

Thy watchful care, thy tender love,

And fhall till time shall end.

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LINES TO A FRIEND.

If o'er our vifionary day

S.

The Sun of Righteoufnefs should rise, And cheer us on our weary way, Toward our manfions in the fkies; How thould our grateful voices found, And praifes dwell upon our tongue; Whilft all the fons of earth around

Do weep, with fin and forrow wrung! And farther on the embattled plain,

What mis'ries reach the little cot, And pale and fad, their fouls retain

The memory of their happier lot! Ah, now of ev'ry hope devoid,

No Saviour's name confoles their heart; O! might his name fpread far and wide, And grace, and love, and peace impart! Whilft we adore the gen'rous hand

Which bids our cup with bounty flow, And leads us finging thro' the land, Fill'd with impiety and woe!

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LINES

SERENA.

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Then Truth fhall stand by God's own hand impreft,

In lafting characters upon thy breast.

Printed by f. Gillet salitbury Squares

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