anxiety, we find much encouragement, to pray and not to faint; to labour and not be weary. To the people of our charge we can return, and to all our constituents we can look and say, be of good courage; hope in God; wait prayerfully upon Him; maintain the faith; search for wisdom as for hid treasure; ask, universally, and with an importunity not to be diverted, for the Holy Spirit; and in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not.

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.

Narrative of the state of Religion in the Congregations under the care of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church in the United States.

GENERAL Synod, convened under the smiles of a gracious Providence, have the pleasure of communicating to the churches under their care, an account of the dealings of the great Head of the Church with our Zion during the past year. They would praise him, that he has left us a name among his people, and continued to us the smiles of his favour. They rejoice that peace and harmony reign throughout our judicatories and churches; that the unity of the Spirit is maintained in the bonds of peace; that the truth, as it is in Jesus, continues to be preached in its purity; that the influences of the spirit of prayer have increased; and that the word and ordinances of God have been blessed to the comforting and strengthening of the people of our God, and the conviction and conversion of many sinners. They would bless Jehovah, that our churches have felt a portion of that liberality and activity for the promotion of the divine glory in the salvation of sinners, by which the present age is so remarkably characterized. They would also mention, with heart-felt gratitude, the continued existence and increasing respectability of our school of the prophets; the lives of our professors have been spared; they have been enabled to prosecute their arduous and important duties, with constancy and success; a greater number of pious and hopeful youth than usual have attended on their instructions, and have given satisfactory evidence of diligence and success in the prosecution of their studies, by which, under God, they are to be prepared for the work of the gospel ministry, thus inspiring a confident hope, that our churches, when the present race of ministers shall rest from their labours, shall not be destitute of able and faithful pastors, and men be found to bear the glad tidings of salvation to those who are now sitting in darkness.

The General Synod are happy in being enabled to inform you, that, within the bounds of the Classis of New-York, there are manifest indications of a more than ordinary work of divine grace in several of the congregations; that the ordinances are attended with solemnity; and that there have been considerable additions to their churches during the past year.

That, in the Classis of New-Brunswick, prayer-meetings are held, the means of grace are owned and blessed of the Lord, the interests

of the Church of Christ are prospering, and, in the congregation of Somerville, an extensive and powerful work of divine grace is progressing.

In the Classis of Paramus, the ordinances of religion are well attended, and, in some of the congregations, special revivals have taken place.

The Classis of Philadelphia find abundant reason to thank the great Head of the Church, for his continued care over their churches, and that he has been pleased to bless the labours of his servants during the past year.

Within the bounds of the Classis of Albany, there exists much to gladden the hearts of the friends of Zion, and to increase their confidence in her exalted King. During the last two years, several of their churches have been abundantly refreshed by the out-pourings of God's Spirit. This has been specially the case in the churches of Schenectady, Coxsackie, Rotterdam, Princeton, and Bethlehem.

The gradual increase of members in the churches in the Classis of Ulster, is encouraging.

In the Classis of Poughkeepsie, there have been observed signs of awakened attention to religion in the congregations of Kingston, Fishkill, and Fishkill Landing, and a powerful work of divine grace in the congregation of Hyde Park.

The season of refreshing, with which several of the congregations in the Classis of Rensselaer were visited during the last year, has continued. Claverack, Greenbush, and Kinderhook, have been specially favoured. Between five and six hundred members have been added to their churches within two years; by far the greater number of whom, it is hoped, are not only holding on their way, but becoming stronger and stronger. In the other congregations of this Classis, there appears to be an increased attention to religion, particularly to the public worship of God.

Such are the favourable accounts received by General Synod, and they communicate them to you with gratitude and praise. They hope there is much more, not in their power to communicate, of an equally gratifying nature, and calling for thanksgivings to the God of Zionmuch which will not be discovered by us till the day of Jesus Christ; enough, however, is known to lead us to take courage, and go on our way rejoicing--enough to animate our hearts, quicken us to prayer, and inflame our love and zeal.

General Synod cannot tell you that all the interests of our Zion are in the state which they desire them to be; there is much to excite our grief, and call us to redouble our exertions. If our ministers have laboured much and faithfully in the vineyard of our Lord, there remains much more to be done. If many souls have been brought out of darkness into his marvellous light, more remain in the valley of the shadow of death. If there be some purity and zeal, we have need of more of the cleansing efficacy of the waters of the sanctuary, and of the spirit which says, "Here am I ; send me." While, therefore, we would call upon you to unite with us in blessing the Lord for his great mercy and grace vouchsafed to us, we would most earnestly ex

hort and entreat you to redouble your diligence, and "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Gird yourselves for your warfare; "Be strong-quit you like men;" be fervent in spirit, and importunate in prayer; exert yourselves to promote the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, by cherishing your respective churches, and by upholding by your prayers, your labours, and your contributions, our school of the prophets, and the Bible, Missionary, and Tract Societies, and Sabbath Schools, by which God, in his holy and gracious providence, is watering and fertilizing our miserable and parched world. By so doing, it is confidently hoped you yourselves will be watered and refreshed. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

THE FEVER.

By some of the papers, published at a distance, we perceive that erroneous opinions are entertained, with respect to the extent of the calamity with which Providence has visited our city. The circulation of such misstatements tends greatly to increase the inconveniences we already sustain, by preventing that free intercourse which may be safely continued, and which the commercial character of our city requires. It is true, that the lower part of the city is almost deserted, and to this circumstance, may we impute, under the divine blessing, the comparatively small number of victims ; for had the population remained in the infected district, there, doubtless, would have been many more cases. But those parts of the city where the principal business is transacted, never were more healthy than at present. The weather has become cooler, the daily number of cases is diminished, and the disease puts on á milder form. Notwithstanding the obduracy of our hearts, mercy has been mingled in our cup of affliction; and if no other will, let this consideration humble us, increase our gratitude to God, and lead us anew to the Saviour, and to more perfect obedience to his will.

A suggestion was offered in our last number, on the duty and obligation of observing a day of general fasting, humiliation, and prayer, throughout our city On Monday last, a meeting of the Clergy was held, and a communication made to the Hon. Corporation on the subject, which will probably result in the appointment of a day for this appropriate service, at no distant period. Should such a season be set apart by our city councils, we hope all our citizens will, for the time, lay aside all worldly employments and vain amusements, and by prayer and fasting. humble themselves under the mighty hand of God.

CIVIL RETROSPECT.

FOREIGN.

MUCH news has been received since our last communication with our readers, but few events have occurred to vary the aspect of affairs since that which was then presented.

Russia and Turkey.In the East of Europe the balance between war and peace still hangs suspended, and the kings of France and England have both informed their parliaments that it was not likely that the peace of Europe would be disturbed, by any war between Russia and

Turkey. This seems to be a more stable ground of reliance for our opinions, than any other information we possess. At so great a distance from the scene of action, and deriving our information from sources entitled to little credit, our speculations on this subject can be little more than mere conjectures. We cannot, however, but remark the treatment which the Emperor of Russia receives at the hands of most of our brother politicians. While reports presented the probability of a war, he was the fierce tyrant, seeking to overrun Europe, on the purposes of ambition and fanaticism: the reports being now for peace, he is the dastardly deserter of the Greek and Christian cause, purchasing a paltry province with the sacrifice of a brave, oppressed Christian people. For our parts, and the parts of the few who think with us, we confide in the tried character of the Russian Emperor, in the wisdom, moderation, firmness, courage, and just and honourable principles, which he has uniformly exhibited, that the course he shall adopt will be one that shall consult the just rights of Greece, and her claims to his interference, as well those principles of national morality, which forbid war except

as the last of measures.

Greece. The Greek war continues with unabated cruelty, and, on both sides, with untiring energy. The Greeks are daily getting more and more the possession of their own country, and appear to be acquiring a superiority on the sea. This bloody war seems to give new experience of the depths of depravity to which human nature can descend when unrestrained by the power, of the Christian religion. The Island of Scio has been sacked by the Turks, and been made the scene of murder, pillage, and pollution, exceeding in cruelty all former history. Not very long after these atrocities, committed by the Turkish fleet, an attack upon this fleet was made by some Greek fireships, and a large part of it, including the admiral's ship, was destroyed, and the admiral himself, with a considerable number of his crew burnt to death. So swiftly did the righteous Ruler of the world call him to his dreadful account. Notwithstanding the character of this war, we have seen the report that a ship, or ships, were building in France for the Turks: of this, no nation would be reported to be guilty, were it not known to connive at, if not to encourage, the African slave trade.

France.-France remains a subject of some internal disturbances, sufficient to exhibit to its subjects a tyrannical government, and yet not sufficient to shake its peace. That country experiences, in the most striking manner, the evils of having had its institutions unsettled, and the principles of its population corrupted. The leaders of parties in that country, are governed by fear and ambition alone, and will, probably, start a new course of civil contention and discord, on the death of the present monarch, and the attendant difficulties of a new reign: while the people at large are sunk to so great an extent in the superstitions of Papacy, or the atheism of infidelity, as to present no restraining force to counteract the designs of its wicked politicians. Among the debates in the French house of commons, we observe a violent animosity on the subject of the Laucasterian System of education. The ministry, who are ultra royalist, and ultra catholic, oppose the system, on the ground that so many of the teachers of that system, in their country, are too liberal minded, and unfriendly to religion; while, on the other hand. VOL. IX.

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the opposition accuse the ministry of diminishing the machinery of education, and throwing it wholly into the hands of a Catholic priesthood. We have no doubt that there is truth in the complaints of both parties. Yet we hope that education will so generally commend itself to men of all parties, who have any decency of principle left, as to enforce itself upon the numerous, active, and intelligent population of France, and make it, at some future period, nearer than our fears would predict, a blessing as great as it has been a scourge to the world.

Spain.-Spain also continues a prey to alarming dissensions, evincing a state of things which will probably end in some catastrophe more bloody than it has yet witnessed. A violent hostility subsists between the constitutionalists and the friends of the ancient state of things. Revolts of the troops are daily taking place, and threatening the government for not appearing sufficiently attached to the constitution, while on the other hand, bodies of armed men are every now and then found fighting against the established authorities, under the title of the army of the faithful. Mean-while the king makes every concession to the popular demands, and thereby seeks to prevent the pretext for rebellion. How vain the endeavour to govern a people too much enlightened to endure a tyranny, too little to bear liberty!

England. England has lately lost, in Lord Londonderry, one of the greatest statesmen the world has ever beheld. Having aided, by the vigour and wisdom of his measures, to conduct England through the greatest struggle in which the nations of Europe were ever engaged; a struggle too in which the very existence of all that was desirable in her government and institutions was, in a degree, placed in hazard; being still in the prime of his days and vigour of life, arrived at the height of his glory, oppressed by no adverse fortune, threatened with no calamity, we see the hand of the Almighty laid on him, his mind impaired, and his life taken away by his own hand. What can more powerfully call us to put our trust in God, as the Ruler of Nations, as well as the judge of individuals, than events like this? What demonstrates more clearly the folly of all other dependence than upon the Almighty?

DOMESTIC.

No news of a domestic character has come to our knowledge since our last article, which we are now able to notice. Indeed the prevalence of the pestilence in our city, so absorbs our attention, and engrosses our anxiety, that it must be events of no common magnitude to withdraw us from our contemplation of its progress. May it be deeply pondered by every one of our readers, and may they consider that whether exposed to this calamity or not, they are no less in the hand of God, equally dependant on his care, and to be called by perhaps as swift and unexpected a messenger to his bar. As yet the threatening has far exceeded the stroke; the pestilence has been awfully malignant in its character, but so slow in its advances as to give sufficient warning to flee from its ravages: may its purpose be answered, without a full infliction of the evil which this pestilence as a cause, is evidently so adequate to produce.

September 30th, 1822.