"would perish, yet it seemeth man shall see the Lord-We "to me now that I could not "must be born again." It im"willingly quit the service of "mediately occured to my mind "God, nor the company of" that I was one of that descrip"Christians; but my unfaith66 tion. ❝fulness often makes me fear "I had made a profession of "my sincerity, and should I at" religion but was conscious I "last be raised to glory, all the" had never felt it. This lay "praise will be to God for the" with great weight upon my "exhibition of his sovereign" mind. As I was walking a "grace." "few evenings after this anxiety 46 66 66 Another person, nearly forty" began, the first thing I recolyears of age, at a private lec-"lect, after I left the house, ture, attended April 22d, 1801," where I had been, I was standwas so wrought upon by the "ing still, more than half a mile word being set home upon his "distant from the place I had heart, that he instantly became "left, reasoning with myself, in so overcome with a sense of his this manner, What, must danger, that he was scarcely able" man be born again? Is this a to stand, and looked, as he saith," work of the Holy Spirit? Is "Round about for something to" God sovereign having mercy "stay myself with. Fearing on whom he will have mercy? "lest some one should ask, what "Are not these doctrines in the "aileth thee? I endeavored to "bible? Yes I know they are "bear up under the pressure, as "for I have often read them. "much as possible, and so con- "Why then should we not hear ❝cealed the matter. This, how-"them, for all that God hath ever, put me upon enquiring" taught is good and nothing to "what I should do to be saved," be refused? Surely we ought. "for previously I had little or "Oh, what shall I do! I will "no anxiety about my future"not open my mouth against "state. Soon after this I set up" them. Thus I was weary and “family prayer, which I had "heavy laden, and continued unnever attempted before. In "til Thanksgiving day, when I "the beginning it was hard, but "began more sensibly to fear "I felt it my duty and was una"that I should be of all men the "ble to rest without it. Having "most miserable. In the evemany serious thoughts, and "ning I went again to one of my "loving, as I imagined, the ser- neighbors in order to divert "vice of God, I went forward "my awakened mind, but in "and made a public profession" vain. The chearly conversa"of religion, and believed all" of my neighbor increased my "was well until the 22d of No-" sorrow. I wondered how "vember following, when upon❝ any could laugh or smile. "the Lord's day it was observed" When I returned and attempt"in the sermon, that persons"ed to commend my house in "might be strict in all the out- prayer to God, I was more dis"ward forms and duties of reli- "tressed than ever, for I began "gion and still be in the gall of" to feel my spiritual blindness, "bitterness and bonds of iniqui- " especially in prayer, for my ty, "For without holiness no "form was gone, and I could 66 66 "not recall it. I experienced | forded relief, and afterwards fill"the same again the next "morning. When I took my "Bible in my hands, I had such 66 a tremor that I could not read "and could scarcely speak, so "that I went out, ashamed and confounded. I endeavored to pursue my secular business, "but it was with great indifference, for my soul was full of "anguish till by sovereign grace "it was brought home to God. "About the middle of the day "on Friday after, I had such "manifestations of God's love, "and such admiring thoughts of "his holy character, and of all "the precepts of the gospel "which my soul so much de"tested before, that I could no longer hold my peace. Iim"mediately left all, repaired to "my dwelling and called upon my dear companion to help" me praise the Lord. Praise "the Lord, Oh, sing praises to our God, was the incessant "language of my soul thro' the "day. Now I wanted all around me to taste the loving kind❝ness of our God and to bless "his holy name. ed that soul with peculiar joy.- "my mind says he that I 66 Since that grant my request, was as evi"dent as if it had been by a voice. "This was a precious season, "and I felt astonished at my "stupidity, that I had never be"fore tho't of looking to God for "assistance. When it was morn ing I took my Bible and re"time I have had a variety of "my devotions, asking God to "tired to my closet, and began "feelings and hours of darkness," meet with me-and such sen"but I cannot give up my hope "in Christ." There are two other persons of different ages, one is in early life, who have been remarkably tempted and buffeted of Satan, as they fully believed. One of them seemed to be forced, as it were, by an irresistible power to take life, so that a number of days the person feared to take a knife in his hand, or any other sharp tool, for it seemed as tho' it must necessarily be put to the throat, even without its being desired; but God in due time af "sible and sweet communion "with God I never thought of "enjoying before. I proceeded "renewedly to enter into covenant "with my maker, which as it appears to me I did with all C6 66 my heart, dedicating myself to "his service, both soul and body, "now truly say, Lord, it is good ❝for time and eternity. I could "for me to be here. One hour spent in thy service is better "than ten thousand spent else"where. "resting awhile, I awoke and The night following after "felt as if I was actually encircled | been no instance of any one pro"in the arms of my dear Re-fessing Godliness, that has turn"deemer. No tongue can de-ed back, or dishonored his pro"scribe the bliss I felt. I con- fession. The tares we know ❝ceived it to be what Peter ex- will grow among the wheat, but "presseth in this manner-we have not yet discovered them. "Whom having not seen ye love Since the date of the last letter, “in whom tho' now ye see him five have been duly examined 66 not, yet believing ye rejoice with and propounded for admission "joy unspeakable and full of glory. unto the Church; which, to"Again, these words made a gether with several more, who "deep impression upon my have probably as good a hope as "mind, They that know thy any we have named, but parti"name will put their trust in cular circumstances have kept "thee." them out of the Church, will make the number of hopeful converts, in the late awakening, to surpass 100; and we hope the glorious work has not yet ended, for there have been two or three instances of awakenings since the communication of our last; but God only knoweth what is in the womb of futurity; and to us it belongeth to bow with reverence before him, giving thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. "For eight or ten days, suc"cessively, I had an hour or two " each morning, before light, of "enjoying the sweetest com"munion with my Saviour, that "it is possible for finite crea❝tures to enjoy, in this imper"fect state. The spirit did not "leave me until it had, seem❝ingly, led my mind to a com"prehensive view of the whole "character of God, and of all "his precepts. Lastly, I had a " most realising view of the odi❝ous nature of sin, and the won"derful patience of God, in bear"ing so long with impenitent "sinners. From that time my "greatest anxiety has been to "cease from sin, and no temp"tation has overtaken me but "such as is common to men." The CONSTITUTION of the NewHampshire Missionary Society, with an address to all Christian people. To all who wish well to the cause of Zion. CHRISTIAN BRETHREN, The persons referred to in this narrative, have all of them been hopefully in the school of Christ more than three years, and some of them much longer; which must have been some trial of their faith, and afford a comfortable hope that the things which they have experienced, are not the result of a heated imagination, nor the wild effu-a consideration of the deplorasions of a disordered brain, but the genuine effects of God's holy spirit. There has, as yet, VISHING you prosperity and peace, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; we beg liberty to inform you, that, from ble condition of millions of our fellow-men, who are perishing through lack of knowledge of the transactions of the Society, and to perform all the usual duties of said office. V. The duty of the Treasurer shall be, to receive, and be accountable for, all the property of the Society, in whatever way it may arise; to answer the orders of the Trustees; and to exhibit a fair account of all his proceedings to the Society, annually, and oftener to the Trustees, if required. the way of salvation by Christ; from a sense of our solemn and voluntary obligations to promote the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom, in all possible, proper ways; and from the pious example of many of our Christian brethren, both in Europe and American: WE, a number of ministers and servants of Christ, convened in Hopkinton, on Wednesday, September 2d, 1801, for the purpose of consulting upon the most suitable means for promoting a cause so important and desirable, have considered it an indispensible duty to form into a SOCIETY, in order to unite our exertions for spreading abroad the glad tidings of salvation a-cessary; and, in a word, to sumong the Heathen, and others, perintend the affairs of the Sein our frontier and infant settle-ciety, between their annual meetments, who are destitute of the ings, when, it will be expected, precious privileges which we en- that they make report of their joy. proceedings, and also of the services and success of their Missionaries. To inform you of the motive and design of our Society, we take the liberty to lay before you its CONSTITUTION, which is as follows: Art. I. The Society shall be known by the name of the NewHampshire Missionary Society; the sole object of which, is, the propagation of the gospel among those who are destitute of its precious privileges. II. The Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Secretary, a Treasurer, and six Trustees, to be chosen annually, by ballot. III. The duty of the President shall be, to regulate the meetings of the Society; to act, ex officio, as one of the Trustees and their Moderator, any four of whom shall constitute a quo rum. IV. The duty of the Secretary shall be, to keep records of VI. The duty of the Trustees shall be, to examine candidates for Missions; to employ and direct Missionaries; furnish them with proper credentials ; recall, or dismiss them, if ne VII. That the Society may reap the benefit of the united exertions of their Board of Trustees, it will be expected of the latter that they hold, statedly, semi-annual meetings; and that they meet oftener, if necessary. VIII. The Society shall meet, annually, on the Tuesday preceding the General Election of the State, at ten o'clock, A. M. at the place appointed for the General Election, unless, for special reasons, they shall agree at one meeting to have their next holden at a different time and place; on which day of their meeting, a Sermon shall be delivered at four o'clock, P. M.-And at each meeting, the preacher, a first and second, shall be chosen for the next. IX. All questions before the Society, shall be determined by a majority of the members present, excepting amendments in the Constitution; these shall require the concurrence of two thirds of the members present, and shall be proposed one year beforehand, for consideration. pointing some Sabbath or season for the purpose And the deacons of his church are desired, by the Society, to deliver to him the avails of such contributions, to take his receipt for the same, or transmit the receipt to the Treasurer, to whom the money shall be sent; and the minister or person, shall also transmit a statement of the sum thus received, to the Secretary, to be recorded. X. Any person may become a member of the Society, by subscribing the Constitution, and advancing Two Dollars for the promotion of the object of the Society; which sum shall be advanced at every annual meeting; and every person thus united, shall be considered as retaining his membership, unless he shall present to the Se-Treasurer, President or one of cretary a written request to withdraw; in which case, the Secretary shall enter his name on the records as dismissed. XIII. When any one shall be disposed to make donations to the Society, for the propagation of the gospel, he shall receive a receipt for the same, from the the Trustees, to whom the donation may be committed; and the Donor is requested to transmit said receipt to the Secretary, who shall keep records of all such donations, and shall present such receipts to the Society, at their annual meeting:And if any one should wish to make private donations, his name, in the receipt, may be concealed, provided the person, by whom they are conveyed, be recognized therein. XI. Every settled minister belonging to the Society, and other suitable persons, shall have a copy of the Constitution, for the purpose of admitting members, and shall take pains to afford opportunity to all, who may be disposed, to become members, who shall subscribe the Constitution, advance their entrance money to him, and shall receive his receipt for the same, which they shall convey to the Treasurer, to whom the money is to be conveyed as soon as convenient; and the names of all, thus uniting, shall be trans-ty, as well as of good abilities and mitted, by the minister or person who receives them, to the Secretary, for enrolment. XII. It is recommended, that every settled minister in the Society, lead his people, at least once in a year, to the consideration of the duty of contributing for the propagation of the gospel, and to afford them opportunity for doing the same, by ap XIV. It will be expected, that the Trustees use great precaution in the appointment of Mis. sionaries; that none be employed, but persons of good report, of known prudence and integri information, and who, in a judg ment of charity, are subjects of regenerating grace, and possess true zeal and fortitude in the cause of our Lord. The Officers for the current year, are as follow: Rev. ELIHU THAYER, President. |