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employ of Mr. B., knowing the little attention given to this portion of the field, but being ignorant of the design, assisted in digging the potatoes; when he came to this part of the field, he remarked that these potatoes were much larger than those in the other part of the field, and in the simplicity of his heart he said to Mr. B. "Don't you wish you had called them all Missionaries ?"

MY DEAR SIR,

APPLICATION OF THE LOCAL SYSTEM.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

Sunday night, March 24.

I CANNOT refrain from informing you of the interesting report that was made this evening by one of the sub-committees of our Local Association, as I know you take a lively interest in the operations of the district visiters. For more than three mouths, a prayer meeting has been held every Sunday afternoon, in a district abounding with those unhappy women, who seem to be cut off from the benefit of any exertion for their reformation, and may be said, to be nearly “out of humanity's reach." Several of them attended the meetings very regularly; subscribed for, and received Bibles; read with avidity the Tracts we gave them, and conversed very freely with some of the female committee, on the misery of their degraded condition. Among them one was noticed as appearing very solemn during the time of worship frequently we saw her endeavouring to conceal the tears that flowed down her cheeks. One Sunday afternoon, while singing a hymn particularly adapted to such characters, when we read the words,

"When man but flatter'd to betray,

And lur'd thee from thy home away;"

she touched another who sat by her, as if to call her attention to lines so descriptive of their own state. Many were the interesting interviews we had with this woman; at last she expressed great sorrow for her past guilt, and an ardent desire to obtain the means for procuring an honest livelihood. What was then to be done?—relief must be afforded. We applied to the late managers of the Magdalen Society for the means of providing support for her; we, to our mortification, found the funds (about $3000) had been distributed among charitable societies in the city, three or four months before our application was made. After that the young woman was very well for several weeks; our female committee visited her, and always found her solemnly impressed with the importance of eternal things. This afternoon she was able to attend the prayer meeting, and gave a note to the committee from the physician who had attended her, and in which they were requested to call at Dr.We went, and found the benevolent physician anxious to draw our attention to the situation of the very woman who had engrossed so many of our thoughts. He saw a Bible on her table when called to visit her in a very low state. Astonished at perceiving God's holy word in such a house, he asked her, whence it came, and why she had that book in her possession, which spoke nothing but perdition to ungodly sinners-She burst into tears, and told him all her misery.

I called to see her this evening, and was much affected by her simple tale of wo. She said her mother was a very old woman, who grieved much for her child's disgrace; the poor thing said, "It seems to be so hard that I am the only one of the family picked off." I thought directly of the rifle that picks off the flower of the army in the day of battle, and I wept over the ruin that had been caused by Satan's deadly aim. We shall place her to board in a retired situation with an elderly, devout, pious woman, supply her with work, and should her profession of sorrow for past guilt arise from genuine repentance, we hope to restore her to her aged mother's house, and to the family from which a fiend infernal in the form of man so cruelly seduced her.

Should this be a brand plucked from the burning, who will not bless the Lord for having put the plan of district visiting into the heart of "Chalmers." Our visits are continued with increasing interest. But, we want WORK for multitudes. complete the plan, we must have a House of Industry in every ward.

Your's respectfully,

A VISITER.

Το

**

REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

Wilmington, (Del.) March 4th, 1822. "I will take up a theme which has caused joy amongst the angels in heaven, and endeavour to tell you a little more of the blessed work now going on in our Church. Our dear *****'s letter has given you the commencement and progress of the work up to the last week: since that time no abatement, but rather an increased attention is manifested. At the anxious meeting held on Friday evening, numbers appeared deeply convinced of their guilt and danger, and when those who had obtained a hope, arose to come out and sing that sweet hymu, “Loving kindness," &c. it seemed like the final separation, when the ransomed of the Lord shall lift up their heads and sing, for their redemption draweth nigh. But weeping and wailing filled the hearts of those who had not submitted to Christ, and given themselves up to his free salvation.

"These anxious meetings are peculiarly solemn, and are only attended by anxious sinners and young converts. At these meetings, an instantaneous submission is much insisted on, and inquiring souls are directed in the language of the Bible to repent and be converted.' They are warned against trusting to their prayers, tears, or any other self-righteous means, and come to Jesus just as they are. Many have come to the anxious meetings in deep distress, who, before they left the place, have had their feet taken from the horrible pit and miry clay, and a new song put into their mouths, even praise to Him who hath loved them and given himself for them.' One young female last Saturday night week attended, in a state of mind painfully oppressive. She was seated beside a friend, who was rejoicing; and when the young converts arose to sing, she clung to her friend, and begged her not to leave her. She replied, she must, and passed on. She said, at that moment, it appeared as if the final judgment were come, when the righteous were separated from the wicked; and, in an agony of mind, she abandoned all her former refuges, and as she was, as she thought, sinking to hell, she fell upon the Rock Jesus Christ, -felt herself upon a sure foundation; and immediately rushing among the happy group, she called upon them to rejoice with her, for she had found her Saviour.' Oh! could you see the joy of these young converts-could you listen to their prayers-could you behold them following Jesus in the way,' crying, Hosannah blessed is he that cometh!' your heart would leap with joy, and with holy David you would exclaim, Great is the work! To behold their anxiety for their impenitent friends :-to hear sisters pleading with sisters-brothers with brothers -parents with children-children with parents, and friends with friends, would cause the burning blush of shame, (yea, has done it,) in the face of old professors, who have, for years, been negligent of the souls of those around them.

"I called not long since to see a young person under deep concern, and found her without hope, and of course wretched; soon after we entered, she threw her arms around a careless friend sitting next her, and in the most importunate manner entreated ber no longer to delay coming to a Saviour. Oh!' she exclaimed, 'come! do come! no longer delay; if my poor soul is lost, O, try and save yours: O, come, come to Jesus!' They are both now rejoicing, and no doubt will love each other the more tenderly for this proof of faithful affection.

"One interesting feature in this revival, is its blessed effects on the minds of our Sabbath School scholars. Several who have left school for about a year, are the happy subjects of grace; and their language in prayer is a heart-cheering evidence of the value of that blessed word, which our adorable Jehovah hath said shall not return unto him void.' Many of the children, both male and female, now attending in the school, are deeply serious, hold frequent prayer meetings, attend every means of grace with great diligence, assemble in little groups to talk about the things which make for their peace, and give every reason to hope that a gracious change has taken place. Do any Sabbath School Teachers want encouragement to faithful perseverance? Let them come here, and behold these little children whom the blessed Jesus himself invites, and says moreover to all who would forbid or hinder them, suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'

"Another feature worthy of notice in this revival, is the great engagedness of God's people. Like those mentioned in Scripture who slumbered and slept,' too many have been dozing, and their light faintly glimmering. The faithful cry of Watchman, what of the night?' has roused them, and coming out from the foolish ones who had no oil,' they have arisen and trimmed their lamps, and gone forth to meet the Bridegroom, whose coming had been attendes by a triumphant train,

Civil Retrospect.

who now shine gloriously even in this lower sanctuary. Meetings for prayer have been very frequent; three times a day the children of God meet in spirit at the throne of grace. During the anxious meetings, professors hold prayer meetings at each others houses, to beseech the Lord still to continue the out-pouring of his Holy Spirit; and such has been the earnestness manifested, that sometimes these have continued all night; and they have wrestled with the angel of the covenant until the break of day. Yes, like Jacob they have wrestled, and like Israel prevailed: for the more prayer there has ascended, the more power has descended; and, in proportion to the engagedness of Christians has been the anxiety of sinners, bearing full demonstration to that sacred truth, Prove me now, said the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.' I would not have you infer that there has been any thing contrary to what the most rigid propriety would sanction in these meetings held at night. They have been almost always small, in private houses, and the females in one house and the males in another. Should any object to them as unnecessary, we have the example of our blessed Lord, who went apart in the desert, and continued all night in prayer. And, oh! could Christians but enjoy what has been enjoyed at these seasons, they could not give sleep to their eyes, nor slumber to their eye-lids, when Zion was arising to shine, and the glory of our God was beaming brightness all around us.

"The number of anxious souls appears to be upwards of fifty; and fifty more are rejoicing in hope. The work appears as powerful now as when it first commenced; and last night our church was filled to overflowing.

"In New Castle also the work is continuing with increased power. At an anxious meeting held there last Thursday evening, upwards of 40 attended. Christians there are much engaged, and their prayer meetings are awfully solemn. Fourteen young men have formed themselves into an association for prayer, and great anxiety is manifested for their careless friends. In that place, the work at first appeared more general amongst the males; but many females are now pressing into the kingdom, and seeking to touch the hem of the garment of that Jesus, who is now, by his Word and Spirit, passing by.' I do not know exactly how many profess to have found hope there, but have reason to believe the Lord will bring many into the liberty of his dear children, and the song of redeeming love be heard throughout that place. There, as well as with us, the grand adversary of souls, and the enemy of the Church, is beginning to roar; and no wonder, for his kingdom is falling like lightning, though its baneful scath only strikes the guilty heads of the children of the father of lies.' This enemy has no power to prevail, for He who led captivity captive,' holds in chains the roaring lion; and his frightful noises only serve to keep the lambs of the flock closer to the Shepherd of Israel, whose rod and staff defends the sheep of his pasture.

"O, that all our churches-all our ministers-all professors of religion, would unite in supplicating for a general revival of religion; then would the heritage of God bloom like the myrtle, and plants of righteousness spring up like the cedars of Lebanon. Will you not, my dear brother, meet us at our hours of consecrated union, when our hearts send forth united supplications for that Zion whose prosperity is dearer to us than life? At sunrise, at twelve o'clock, and at sunset, will you bend the knee and lift up your voice, and for Zion's sake plead that her dust and ruins may be precious, her walls rebuilt, and converts be seen crowding her gates, entering her courts with joy; whilst songs of everlasting praise swell the full chorus of that never-ending Hallelujah, which saints on earth and saints above are continually chanting? Blessing and honour, power and glory, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever."-Rel. Rem.

CIVIL RETROSPECT,
March, 1822.

FOREIGN.

DURING the last two months we have been receiving news of importance from South America, the sum of which is this, that the provinces of the Columbian Republic, lying along the Carribean Sea, have expelled the Spanish European forces from all but two fortresses: the Province of Peru, in the west, has been wholly reduced by the revolutionary forces of Chili; the Brazils and Portuguese dominions are in a state of qualified independence, and Mexico has cast off with little difficulty, the yoke of its subjection to Europe; and Chili and Buenos Ayres have long been free from it: So that almost the whole of that entire continent has 88 VOL. VIH.

thrown off the dominion of foreign government-a government which, if honestly administered, offers occasions for great abuses, and if corruptly, produces the most intolerable evils. In addition to these circumstances, we have now to add, that the President of the United States has recommended to the National Legislature the acknowledgment of the independence of the different provinces, and the measure appears to have received the assent of Congress, and the general approbation of the people of our country.

The situation of South America calls up, in the mind of a rational observer, reflections of the deepest interest and anxiety.

When we recollect the origin of these colonies, settled through avarice and conquered for the sake of mere plunder, their government ever since administered not so much for the benefit of the people of the provinces as for the aggrandizement of the favourites of a corrupt court in the mother country, and to the grievous oppression of the aborigines, and all their institutions for education, civil, moral, or religious, formed on the most bigoted models of popery, their manners corrupted, as well from the tempting facility afforded by their fertility of indulging in idleness and luxury, as from the example of the forerigners who came among them mostly because they had become unfit for the society of the mother country--when we consider these things, we confess we seem to have little reason to hope good consequences from their efforts at self-government. To the happy circumstances of our own country the condition of these provinces bears no analogy. The United States were chiefly settled by religious men, who, through a love of religious liberty, preferred the horrors of an untried wilderness to the ease and comforts of a polished country: when advanced in growth, although they felt the evils of a foreign government, yet that government was the best in the world for promoting the liberty of its subjects, and their advancement in those principles on which rational liberty can alone be based; and when finally emancipated, they had been used to self-government, were thoroughly instructed in the elements of a political and religious education, and provided with men, of great talents, moderation, and firmness, guided by disinterested love of country, and governed by a deep sense of religious obligation. In all these particulars, we fear that our South American brethren have not the same prospects of success, as had the United States at the declaration of their independence.

But we would be far from indulging mournful apprehensions, at the eventual result of the South American struggles for liberty. It is true, they are as yet far from settled in their domestic government, and filled with the workings of the leaven of their old institutions. Yet, we would remark as favourable circumstances, from which we may cherish hope (and we own, for ourselves, we do it sanguinely,) that the yoke of foreign government being thrown off, their affairs will now be managed with a view to the interests of the people of the country, and not to those of an European nation: that as commerce, which will now probably be permitted to pass freely between their provinces and the enlightened nations of Europe and North America, will, as it has almost ever done, carry in its train the blessing of liberty, and advancement of the useful arts of life; and that by the freedom of inquiry which a revolution of the kind which has taken place almost always excites, the superstition, ignorance, and bigotry, which have cast so deadly a shade over these vast regions, will be driven away. Besides, we know that all these great revolutions are the work of an Almighty Ruler, whose wisdom and goodness are alike infinite; and from the instances which have already occurred in the earth, we have reason to believe that these great overturnings, especially in the liberation of nations from foreign bondage, are the attendants of good, and are but steps in the advancement of his great and wise purposes. We also notice as an omen of great good, that among the earliest acts of the Congress of the Columbian republic, an interest is manifested for the establishment of a good system of education. These countries having now become independent, it will be practicable for foreign governments by negotiations, to do away the systematic piracies which have so long been practised under the flag of these countries, to the pollution of their own subjects and the injury of the world at large.

May we not also add, that the free intercourse with foreigners which will now take place with the people of these countries, the emigration perhaps of numbers from the United States and Great Britain, and free access for missionary enterprize, will tend to seed these vast countries with correct religious principles.

Some news of a vague character, and little to be depended on, have been received, that the war between Persia and Turkey had ceased, and that war between Russia and Turkey was still doubtful.

The Seaman's Magazine.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.-They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

THE PRESS GANG,

OR, WAR PROCLAIMED BY THE PRINCE OF PEACE AGAINST THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

By the Rev. G. C. Smith.

It is generally known that from Wapping to Blackwall, the streets, lanes, roads, and courts, are very numerously paraded by sailors. In this neighbourhood the London and the East and West India Docks are situated. The seamen returned to England in the immense number of ships that fills those docks, or preparing to leave their country in vessels outward bound, chiefly reside in those parts. All the alleys and low places are therefore plentifully supplied with depraved females, and other wretched creatures, who fatten upon the spoil of the poor thoughtless sailor. Every Sabbath day the sailors fill the streets and roads by the river side, and are easily allured to the snares of sin that are so numerously spread for them: hence the daily journals are frequently filled with accounts of sailors decoyed and plundered of all their hard earned store. It is not likely that many seamen of this description will seek for religious instruction, or that they will enter places of divine worship, when they are immediately before them. There are happily some few instances of this nature, and if accommodation were more generally provided for them in churches and chapels, and notice given to that effect, such instances would be more general. Some friends to religious exertions have long deplored the sad state of seamen who are crowding backwards and forward from Shadwell to Blackwall, and seeing them wander as sheep having no shepherd, they have determined on adopting some most decisive method of exciting attention and producing concern among the most abandoned seamen for their eternal interests.

With this view, they have entered on the most efficient plans for arresting the course and fixing the mind of the guilty sailor, and they have succeeded to an extent beyond their most sanguine expectations.

A brief view of these plans will enable any person to comprehend the nature of exertions which God has so eminently blessed. A few friends of seamen have thought the command of Christ, to go forth and kindly compel sinners to enter a place of religious worship, is still a duty imperative on his followers. They have also considered, that no persons are more capable of attracting the notice and prevailing on the minds of seamen than seamen themselves; and as there are now a goodly number of pious sailors always in the river ready to every good work, it has been deemed necessary to find out a way in which they can be most usefully employed.

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