Letter from the Rev. Mr. Blatchford, a Clergyman of Connecticut, to his Friend in England.

[From the CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE, for August, 1799.]

Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Jan. 3, 1799.
DEAR SIR,

YEST

ESTERDAY I was favoured with the receipt of your letter of Auguft 17, 1798, and this morning with the packet to which it refers. My heart has gone with my pious friends in England, in every step they have taken to render fuccefsful a plan so sublime and glorious, as that of communicating the light of the glorious gofpel of Jefus to the uttermoft ends of the earth. They were undoubtedly under a divine afflatus when they undertook it, and the hand of God has been defcribed as plainly in this, as in any of his gracious difpenfations to mankind.

By the Rev. Mr., lately from, and who is now fettled, at least for the prefent, ať a parish within fix miles of this place, we were favoured with a copy of a letter, written by Captain Wilfon, giving an account of the arrival of the Miffionaries at the refpective places of their deftination. It was a pleafing account indeed, as it relieved us from a thousand anxieties, and appeared to be a direct answer to thofe many prayers with which the people of God have preffed the throne of divine grace. We shall now wait in humble confidence to learn what thefe benighted, but now highly honoured Heathen will think of Chrift; how, fuprémély rich will they be, when carrying in their hearts the pearl of great price! and how tranfported when made experimentally acquainted with the lovelinefs of our precious Redeemer, every trait of whofe character is irresistible and attractive, effectually exhibited by the Holy Spirit!

"The brightest, sweetest, fairest One,

"That eyes have seen, or angels known."

Perhaps you will be pleafed by the following account, handed to me a few days fince. written by my friend Dr. Trumbull. It will ferve that the Lord has not withdrawn his prefence f is country, and that we have to rejoice in the profpect of a bleffed revival of religion amongst us. "Let us rejoice that our gracious God is vifiting many parts of our Zion with his falvation." In the churches at Milford, a glorious work has been going on for about a year; about ninety perfons have been admitted to full communion, and numbers who were churchmen before, are fuppofed to have experienced the new birth; the town is full of love, joy, and praife; the ferioufness is spread into Weft-Haven, and there are the fame glorious appearances of the goings of God in his fanctuary. There are feveral other places in Connecticut, in which there is more ferioufnefs than ufual. In Williamfburgh, Gofhen, Plainfield, Lemington, Afhfield, and Rutland, are the fame happy appearances, and more than two hundred perfons are fupposed to have received regeneration in thefe several places, and have publicly given up their names to God; alfo at Mansfield, in both parishes at Hampton and Alford; in feveral of thefe places, fifty, and in others, thirty, have been added to the church. In Hawley, Worthington, Chefterfield, and Granville, there are happy beginnings of the fame work; thofe towns are in the county of Hampshire, in Maffachufetts. I have had information, by letters, that at Stoneham, and its vicinity, there are the fame appearances of the Divine power and goodness. At Hardwich, the work is beginning. At feveral places in Vermont, I have been informed, that there is the fame glorious work. It appears to be genuine, and free from all enthusiasm and diforder. O how fhould we rejoice in the falvation of God, that new fubjects are born, and new honours given to our glorious Immanuel! O that we loved Chrift more, were more emptied of felf, and filled with the Spirit; that we might preach better, live better, rejoice more in God, in his univerfal dominion and govern

ment, and in all the increafe and profperity of Zion!"Thus far Dr. Trumbull.

The General Affociation of Connecticut, at their Seffion in Hebron, the third Tuesday in June laft, formed themselves into a Miffionary Society, for the purpose of fending preachers to their brethren in the new fettlements; and also, if fufficient funds can be procured, of fending Miffionaries to the Indian tribes within the limits of the United States. The following gentlemen were appointed a Board of Trustees, to manage the concerns of the Society, viz. The Hon. John Treadwell, Lieut. Governor, the Hon. Roger Newbury, the Hon. Heman Swift, the Hon. Jonathan Brace, John Davenport, jun. Efq. Dr. Joshua Lathorp, the Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, D. D. Jonathan Edwards, D. D. Levi Hart, Nathan Strong, Charles Backus, and Cyprian Strong. Andrew Kingfbury, Efq. was chofen Treafurer, and John Porter, Auditor of Accounts. The Trustees, according to their appointment, met at Hartford, on the first Wednesday of September laft, and elected the Hon. John Treadwell their Chairman, and Abel Flint, Secretary. For the procurement of neceffary funds, the General Affociation propofed, that fubfcription papers fhould be circulated among the people of the State; and alfo, that there fhould be public contributions in the churches, if their defign fhould meet the patronage of the Legiflature. Application, confequently, being made to the General Affembly of Connecticut, at their Seffion holden at New-Haven, on the fecond Thursday of October, 1798, the following aft was obtained: "An act for the fupport of Miffionaries to preach the gofpel in the northern and the western parts of the United States, and among the Indian tribes.'

Refolved by this Affembly, that there may be contributions in the feveral religious focieties and congregations in this State, on the firft Sabbath in the month of May annually, for the term of three years; and the minifters or clerks of fuch focieties and congregations, hall receive and pay over fuch contributions to the

Treasurer of the Miffionary Society of this State; and the monies fo paid over fhall be appropriated by the Trustees of faid Miffionary Society, for the fupport of fuch Miffionaries as they fhall, from time to time, employ in preaching the gospel in those settlements in the northern and western parts of the United States, where the ordinances of the gospel are not established, and among the Indian tribes; and fhall annually exhibit to this Affembly, and to faid Miffionary Society, an account of the receipt and expenditures of fuch contributions; and his Excellency the Governor is requested annually to iffue his proclamation accordingly. A true copy of record, examined by Samuel Wyllis, Secretary." I remain, dear Sir, with fentiments of efteem, Your fincere friend and fervant,

S. BLATCHFORD.

Miffion from the General Affociate Synod of Scotland, to the State of Kentucky, in North-America.

ON

N Thurfday the 15th of June, 1797, the Rev. Mr. Robert Armstrong was ordained to the office of the holy ministry, at Midholm, by the Affociate Prefbytery of Kelfo, preparatory to his fetting out on a miffion to Kentucky, in North-America. The Rev. Mr. Arnot, of Midholm, preached and prefided on the occafion. Mr. Arnot chofe for his text Luke xix. 13. "He called his ten fervants, and delivered unto them. "ten pounds, and faid unto them, occupy till I come." Mr. Armstrong having fatisfied the Prefbytery refpecting his foundness in the faith, by answering the queftions of the formula, was fet apart by prayer, and the laying on of the hands of the Prefbytery. An exhortation, fuited to the occafion, was then given to Mr. Armstrong, by the Moderator. In the afternoon, the ▶ Rev. Dr. Young preached from Mark xvi. 15. "Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel unto "every creature." Although the day was unfavour able, a large audience attended.

'

On Wednesday, June 28th, at Craigend, near Perth, the Rev. Mr. Andrew Fulton, the other Miffionary to Kentucky, was fet apart to the minifterial office, by the Affociate Prefbytery of Perth. The Rev. Mr. Alexander Pringle, of Perth, who prefided on the occafion, preached from Mark xvi. 15, 20. "Go ye unto "all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature. And they went forth, and preached every "where, the Lord working with them, and confirming "the word with figns following. Amen." The fame order being obferved as in the former inftance, Mr. Fulton was fet apart to the office of the miniftry, by prayer, and the laying on of the hands of the Prefbytery. Mr. Pringle delivered an address suited to the defign of the miffion. The Rev. Mr. Alexander Allan, of CuparAngus, preached in the afternoon, from Acts xxviii. 28.

known therefore unto you, that the falvation of "God is fent unto the Gentiles, and that they will "hear it." Seventeen minifters were prefent. The affembly was fo large, that the meeting-houfe could not contain the fourth part of their number. The whole work was gone about in the open air, with the most becoming decency and reverence.

On Thursday the 8th of Auguft, the Rev. Meffrs. Fulton and Armstrong, Miffionaries from the General Affociate Synod to the State of Kentucky, in NorthAmerica, failed from Leith for New-York, with a fair wind, on board the Edinburgh Packet, of New-York. Mr. Alexander Pringle, a young man of a very refpectable character, has gone out along with them. He has attended three winters at the univerfity of Edinburgh, and defigns profecuting his theological studies, either under the immediate infpection of the Prefbytery of Kentucky, or under the Rev. Mr. Anderfon, near Pittsburgh, who is appointed by the Prefbytery of Pennfylvania, to train up ftudents for the office of the miniftry. In the mean time he will be employed in teaching, as opportunities are afforded.