THE penman of this pſalm is unknown. He was, probably, ſome holy prophet, prieſt, or Levite, who penned it during his own and his brethren's captivity in Babylon. It has ever been juſtly admired; and attempts have been made by ſome of the firſt poets to render it into Engliſh verſe. We regret that he who excelled all others in ſacred poeſy, and who has given an admirable tranſlation of this pſalm, in its Jewiſh form," ſhould have aſſerted, that it could not well be converted into Chriſtianity; Dr. Watts's Miſcellaneous Thoughts. and has, conſequently, omitted it in his ſyſtem for divine worſhip. It appears to admit of an eaſy and uſeful application.

AS Jeruſalem was a type of the Chriſtian church on earth, and of the general aſſembly of the firſt-born on high, ſo the captive ſtate of the Jews, the ſcoffs which they endured from their enemies, the affectionate remembrance of their former privileges, and their proſpects of a glorious reſtoration, well repreſent the afflictions of the Church, and her final triumph; together with the exerciſes of the pious under theſe conſiderations. The words which have been read are beautifully and forcibly expreſſive. To manifeſt the moſt tender concern for the diſtreſs of Jeruſalem, and anxiety for her deliverance, the form of an imprecation is adopted. If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy. Rather than ſtring their harps for the purpoſe of mirth, they wiſh that they might loſe their ſkill in playing; rather than ceaſe to mourn their deſolate condition, and look forward to the return of proſperity, they wiſh to be deprived of the uſe of their faculties.

THESE words teach us, my brethren, what ought to be our ſentiment and conduct with reſpect to the extenſion of the goſpel of Chriſt; and they afford a proper ſubject of diſcourſe on this occaſion. They have been preferred, becauſe Chriſtians appear more to need excitement than information as to their duty. There is not one of us who does not believe that a time will come when the Chriſtian religion will prevail over the whole earth, and that we are under obligation to promote this; but we are too ſeldom aware of the means in our power, and too diſinclined to uſe them. In one word, while we aſſent to the neceſſity and benefit of miſſions, they are either not undertaken, or not ſupported, for want of a miſſionary ſpirit.

THE deſign then is, ſimply, to deſcribe the temper and practice of thoſe who can ſincerely ſpeak the language of the text.

IN the firſt place, The enlargement of the Church is to ſuch, an object of their higheſt deſire. If I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy. To this, riches, honors, and pleaſures yield in eſtimation, and with the greateſt reaſon. The glory of God, and the welfare of mankind are the leading principles which govern the Chriſtian's heart; and theſe are advanced in proportion to the ſucceſs of the goſpel. Every ſentiment of gratitude, and every benevolent feeling unite in diffuſing the knowledge of the love of God to our loſt world.

THIS contributes to the temporal happineſs of men, by enlightening their minds, ſubduing their evil paſſions, and directing them in the diſcharge of the duties which they owe to the great Author of all, and to one another. That ſo much miſery is found on this earth ariſes from the partial and imperfect prevalence of the Chriſtian religion. Even where it is profeſſed, it is either miſunderſtood, or corrupted, or the power of it is not felt. Its real tendency is to produce righteouſneſs and peace; and we are aſſured that this will be the effect when the nations generally embrace it; that nation ſhall not lift up ſword againſt nation, neither ſhall they learn war any more.

THE mere politician conſiders a nation happy when her commerce is extenſive and ſecure; when ſhe is tranquil at home, and commands reſpect abroad; he ſees in the revolutions of empires only the workings of human paſſions, and he fondly anticipates a time when civil rights being well underſtood, and free governments eſtabliſhed, a melioration ſhall take place. But he who prefers Jeruſalem above his chief joy, calls that people happy whoſe God is the Lord; he views every revolution as connected with and ſubſervient to Meſſiah's reign, and that on this ultimately depends the happineſs of the great family of mankind. The fault lies in the innate corruption of our nature. That only which can and will effectually regenerate the world is the religion of Jeſus Chriſt.

BUT when we conſider that the redemption of Chriſt is the way which God hath provided for the recovery of fallen men to holineſs and happineſs; that without the knowledge of this they muſt ſuffer endleſs miſery in a future ſtate, how awfully important to publiſh the tidings of ſalvation! The reflection that the greater part of our race are living in ignorance of the true God, in ſuſpenſe as to what awaits them after death, or in anticipation of divine wrath, and muſt finally ſink under everlaſting deſpair, will excite the moſt lively emotions in the pious heart.

By the beſt calculations, Millions.   Europe contains 153   According to Zimmerman,   144,130,000 Aſia, 500   Africa, 150   America, 150     Total 953   The number of Roman Catholics Millions.   is computed to be about 90   Proteſtants, 24     114  

If we deduct this number from the other there remain 839 millions who do not profeſs the Chriſtian religion, beſides the inhabitants of the newly diſcovered countries.

Is he, my brethren, eſteemed a benefactor of mankind who breaks the yoke of tyrants, and ſecures to a people civil freedom? Much more ought he who delivers them from the captivity of ſin and ſatan. Is he entitled to reward who introduces the arts of civilization? Much more is he who teaches the heavenly art of living to God, and prepares citizens for the New Jeruſalem. Is he the friend of the poor and miſerable who viſits, and cheers by his bounty, their gloomy abodes? Much more is he who directs the laboring conſcience where to find peace, and points to life and immortality through the Saviour. The progreſs of the goſpel is an object of the higheſt importance to the temporal and eternal welfare of our race, and it is an object of the higheſt deſire to all who feel the ſpirit of the text.

IN the ſecond place, Such will encourage and ſtrengthen one another in this glorious work. While they are not unapprehenſive of the difficulties which they muſt neceſſarily encounter, they will not be diſpoſed to magnify theſe, and to dwell upon them ſo as to diſcourage themſelves and others. Every enterpriſe is attended with difficulties. The Chriſtian has nothing to do with theſe, when the path of duty is evident, but to foreſee and prepare to meet them; leaving the event to God who doeth according to his will, and before whom the mountains often become a plain.

IT has been ſaid, by way of diſcouraging the attempt to ſend the goſpel to the Heathen, that now is not the time which God hath fixed for their converſion. Whence has this information been obtained? Who has releaſed Chriſtians from the obligation to make conſtant and unwearied exertions? Are not the means and the end connected? And when the former are faithfully uſed, have we not reaſon to believe that the latter will follow? Yea, when the proper methods are vigorouſly purſued, may it not be ſaid, that the time is come?

IT has been objected that it is in vain to ſend the goſpel to a people, until they are civilized? But how are they to be civilized? Will not the perſon who teaches them the things which belong to their everlaſting peace, teach them alſo the arts of civilization, and inculcate the duties of ſobriety and induſtry? Will their meeting together for divine worſhip, and the inſtruction of their children have no effect? Will not theſe gradually check their roving diſpoſition, and ſoften their ferocious nature? So far from waiting until a ſtate of civilization precede the preaching of the goſpel, that theſe muſt go together; or rather, the reception of the Chriſtian religion will naturally produce the other.

AGAIN, It has been objected that multitudes on the frontiers, and even in the interior places of our country, are deſtitute of religious inſtruction; and that theſe firſt demand our attention. It cannot be juſtly ſaid that they are ſo deſtitute as the ſavages in the wilderneſs. Many of them once lived under the goſpel; and they either have, or might have now the means of ſalvation. The holy ſcriptures, which teſtify of Chriſt, are acceſſible to them. Beſides miſſionaries are ſent among them by moſt of the Chriſtian denominations. Granting their condition to be pitiable, is not the condition of others more to be deplored? Should we not fly to ſave thoſe firſt who are in the greateſt danger of deſtruction? Who have the beſt claim to our benevolence? Thoſe who are deprived of every way of relief, or thoſe who will not uſe it when in their reach?

IT has been farther ſtarted as a difficulty that proper miſſionaries cannot be procured. Such perſons ſeem to forget that "the Lord of the harveſt" hath promiſed, and that he will ſend forth labourers into his harveſt.

THESE objections will not deter thoſe who are intent on the work. They are anſwered by referring to the grace of the Redeemer, and by an appeal to repeated experience. Had the Apoſtles been affrighted by dangers of this ſort, they had never gone forth into all the world. Had Paul conſulted with fleſh and blood, he had not been debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; he had never preached the goſpel from Jeruſalem and round about unto Illyricum. Let any miſſionary to the iſlands of the South-Sea, to Africa, or to the Indians on our borders, produce ſuch a catalogue of hardſhips as this; Of the Jews five times received I forty ſtripes ſave one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I ſtoned, thrice I ſuffered ſhipwreck; a night and a day have I been in the deep: In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderneſs, in perils in the ſea, in perils among falſe brethren; In wearineſs and painfulneſs, in watchings often, in hunger and thirſt, in faſtings often, in cold and nakedneſs. 2 Cor. xi. 24—27.—What a holy zeal actuated this great Apoſtle! Theſe various and numerous ſufferings, enough to appal the ſtouteſt heart, did not check his career. He has left them on record, as if to ſhame the indolence and timidity of thoſe who complain, or to ſhow what can be endured for the croſs of Chriſt.

THE inſtitution of ſuch ſocieties as of late years have taken place, embracing the different denominations, has a happy tendency to encourage, to animate, and to give efficacy to their efforts. The influence of a ſingle man is often great; the influence of a number ſtriving together for the ſame cauſe is ſtill greater, and renders ſucceſs almoſt certain. The expreſſion uſed in the addreſs of one of the Miſſionary Societies in Britain,Edinburgh. conveys a noble and affecting idea; a general movement of the Church upon earth. When this army marches to battle under Jeſus the Captain of ſalvation, their victories will be irreſiſtible, rapid, and univerſal. Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O moſt mighty, with thy glory and thy majeſty. And in thy majeſty ride proſperouſly, becauſe of truth, and meekneſs, and righteouſneſs: And thy right hand ſhall teach thee terrible things. Pſalm xlv. 3, 4.

IN the third place, Thoſe who feel the ſpirit expreſſed by the Jewiſh captives in the text, will make the cauſe of the Church matter of earneſt and repeated ſupplications to the throne of grace. As the ſucceſs of the goſpel is uppermoſt in their thoughts and what they moſt fervently deſire, ſo they will plead with God that every obſtacle may be removed, and that "all fleſh may ſee his ſalvation." "Ye that make mention of the Lord," ſays the prophet, keep not ſilence; and give him no reſt, till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth. Iſaiah lxii. 6, 7.

HOW conſolatory to Chriſtians to know that though ſome of them may be deprived of other means of affording aſſiſtance, yet they can all help by their prayers! And what encouragement to Miſſionaries ſtruggling with difficulties, that they have acceſs to Him who heareth prayer, and are aſſured that they are continually remembered by the faithful in every part of the world!

BESIDES the ſecret addreſſes to God, thoſe who are truly engaged for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom, will meet together, and unite in their ſupplications. To this exerciſe a bleſſing is promiſed. Hear the words of our Lord! I ſay unto you, That if two of you ſhall agree on earth as touching any thing that they ſhall aſk, it ſhall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midſt of them. Matt. xviii. 19, 20. This is what makes the concerts of prayer ſo neceſſary and uſeful. They originated in Britain immediately upon the inſtitution of the Miſſionary Societies, and the example in both was followed here. The ſame ſpirit which leads to the one will lead to the other.

THESE ſocieties for miſſionary efforts, and for prayer, are the more pleaſing, and promiſe to be attended with the greater advantage, becauſe they conſiſt of thoſe of various denominations. Differing in things ſmall and uneſſential, they agree as touching one thing that they ſhall aſk. Our Father who art in heaven, bring thy people more and more to one mind in extending the goſpel of thy Son, and in anſwer to their joint requeſts, let the work be done for them!

ONCE MORE, Let me mention that thoſe who manifeſt the temper which has been deſcribed, will cheerfully contribute of their worldly ſubſtance. Without this, our deſires are inſincere, we do but diſhearten and weaken one another, and our prayers are unacceptable. The Apoſtle, in commending the liberality of the Churches of Macedonia, ſays, they firſt gave their own ſelves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. All who truly devote themſelves to God, will devote the means with which they are favored to the promotion of his cauſe. They will conſider themſelves not as proprietors, but as ſtewards; that wealth is given them not to live in eaſe, and roll in ſplendor, but that they may employ it in the ſervice of Him who is Lord of all.

"Lo, I dwell," ſaid David, in an houſe of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains. 1 Chron. xvii. 1. How ſimilar his words in another place to thoſe in the text! Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my houſe, nor go up into my bed; I will not give ſleep to mine eyes, nor ſlumber to mine eye-lids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Pſalm cxxxii. 3, 4, 5. I feel criminal," as though he had ſaid, in poſſeſſing, and cannot enjoy this coſtly manſion, nor any of the luxuries with which I am ſurrounded, until proviſion be made for the ark of God. The prophet Haggai, when he reproved the people for their neglect of building the Lord's houſe, ſaid, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houſes, and this houſe lie waſte. Ah, how differently do ſome who call themſelves Chriſtians act! While they live in ſplendid houſes, ride in chariots, and fare ſumptuouſly every day, they hardly beſtow a thought on the millions who periſh for lack of knowledge. Even the crumbs which fall from their tables, the ſuperfluities of fortune, are refuſed.

THE objection has been ſometimes made, that were there an opportunity of eſtabliſhing miſſions in this country, Chriſtians are not ſufficiently numerous and wealthy for the purpoſe. A little conſideration will teach us, that the only danger is in the want of union and zeal. If united, they can accompliſh more than they are aware of; and if zealous, abundant means can be produced. Do we not find individuals and companies purchaſing immenſe tracts of land, eſtabliſhing banks, building palaces, and freighting veſſels with the richeſt treaſures? Whence all theſe things? Whence do men derive the means for theſe enterpriſes, and yet when ſolicited to give for religious uſes their right hands forget their cunning? They are withered and cannot be ſtretched forth? Is it not becauſe they forget Jeruſalem, and ſet her proſperity below their chief joy? Infidels may ſneer, and carnal profeſſors ſtart alarmed as though they feared to be robbed of their gods, but let them know that accurſed is every thing which is not ſubſervient to the croſs of Chriſt; and that whoſoever ſacrilegiouſly withholds from God, his money ſhall periſh with him, the ruſt of it ſhall witneſs againſt him, and ſhall eat his fleſh as it were fire.

BUT there is no neceſſity for ſuch demands upon Chriſtians as would deprive them of a ſingle convenience or even comfort in life. There is an abundance for the work, of what the poſſeſſors cannot poſſibly enjoy; yea, of what is a burden to them, and may be a real injury to their poſterity. None will underſtand me as inveighing againſt induſtry and enterpriſe in the concerns of this world, or againſt a liberal proviſion for our houſeholds. Suffer me, however, to ſay, and to aſk every one in this aſſembly to mark it, that the honor and advantage of wealth lie ſingly in its proper uſe. It makes eminent when it is made the inſtrument of eminent good.

WHEN God requires our ſouls, whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which we have provided? When at death, O man, thy right hand ſhall forget her cunning, and thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, will it be a pleaſure to reflect that thou never uſedſt either for the glory of God? Hadſt thou remembered Jeruſalem, and preferred her above thy chief joy, thou wouldſt have had a place there; but now thou art ſhut out, and thy ſhort-lived joys are followed by endleſs torments!

ADMITTING that the rich worldling ſhould ſtill withhold his gifts, there is no occaſion for deſpair. All who are impreſſed with the importance of the deſign will contribute time after time, according to their ability; and God will graciouſly accept and proſper the willing mind. He knows the deſolations of our Zion, he will fulfil the deſires of the mourners, and he will do good, in his good pleaſure unto Zion, and will build the walls of Jeruſalem.

AFTER this brief diſcuſſion of the ſubject, bear with me a little longer, my brethren, while I endeavour to apply it more particularly to the buſineſs for which we are aſſembled this evening.

WHEN ſo many parts of the earth are buried in darkneſs, the light which we enjoy ſhould raiſe our gratitude to God who hath thus diſtinguiſhed us. Our privileges call alſo for a ſuitable improvement of them. More is expected from us than from the unenlightened heathen; and if we continue in impenitence, our condemnation will be more highly aggravated. Let us remember theſe words of our Lord; This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkneſs rather than light, becauſe their deeds were evil. John iii. 19. Let us tremble at the woes he denounced againſt Chorazin, Bethſaida, and Capernaum, on account of their unbelief, after all the mighty works which had been done among them. O ſinners, the goſpel which we wiſh to publiſh abroad, has been often publiſhed to you. What reception have you given it? Are you ſtill ſtrangers to faith in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt to juſtify you before God, and to the influences of the holy Spirit to renew and ſanctify your nature? Be alarmed at your condition, and be entreated to embrace without delay the ſalvation which is offered to you. Unleſs we have been brought to feel our own ſin and miſery, and to flee for refuge to that plan of recovery which God hath revealed, it is not to be expected that we will be ſolicitous to proclaim the glad tidings to others. Only the love of God ſhed abroad in the heart will cauſe bowels of compaſſion. Only this will excite a real concern that the Lord may gather together the outcaſts of Iſrael.

WITH the inſtitution of a Miſſionary Society in this city, the principal object of which is to ſend the goſpel to the Indian tribes, you are well acquainted. The tranſactions of the Society have been publiſhed annually; and the progreſs which has been made will appear from the report of the Directors at this meeting. It is neceſſary, at preſent, only to ſay, that the miſſionary who was ſent to the Chickaſaw Indians The Chickaſaws are ſettled on the head branches of the Tombeckbe, Mobile, and Yozoo rivers, in the northweſt corner of Georgia. Though they are not numerous, yet their peaceable diſpoſition and unvaried friendſhip for the United States; the mildneſs and healthineſs of the climate; there being no Miſſionaries among them, and their neighbourhood to ſeveral powerful nations; have induced the ſociety to prefer them as the object of their firſt efforts. Should ſucceſs be granted, acceſs will be obtained to the Creeks, Cherokees, and Chacktaws who are now favorably diſpoſed for the reception of Miſſionaries. has been formally and kindly received; that he returned laſt fall, with the approbation of the chiefs, in order to remove his family; that the Directors employed, during the winter, an additional perſon as a catechiſt, and who is alſo a mechanic; and that both theſe perſons with their wives and twelve children began their journey, in the ſtate of Vermont, on the 13th day of laſt month, and are now on their way to the Chickaſaw country. The whole company conſiſts of ſeventeen ſouls.One of the Miſſionaries, by conſent of the Directors, has taken with him as a member of his family, a young man ſkilled in huſbandry. They have been furniſhed with paſſports, and every neceſſary document. O Shepherd of Iſrael, lead the flock in ſafety to the place of their deſtination!

HAVING thus effected a permanent reſidence for perſons who carry with them the joyful found of the goſpel, and the arts of civilized life, we believe that temporal and eternal bleſſings are about to be extended to theſe poor heathen. The ſupport of theſe miſſionaries and of others who may be employed, as the proſpect brightens, will require conſtant donations from all who prefer Jeruſalem above their chief joy. At firſt it ſeemed matter of experiment, and ſome doubted; but every encouragement which can be rationally expected is now given. If we contributed formerly, when there was neither Miſſionary, nor certain object of his labours in view, how much more when God hath directed to both, and granted ſucceſs!

FREQUENTLY has been pled before you the cauſe of poor children, and your works praiſed you. On a late occaſion, you committed to us the ſacred truſt of expreſſing your griefs for the loſs of the man whom you delighted to honor, and we received your indulgence.The orations delivered Feb. 22d, 1800, on the death of General Waſhington. Fain would we, this evening, clear ourſelves of the blood of men. Terrible are the yells of the ſavage when he darts from his ambuſh on his foe; but infinitely more terrible his ſcreams of agony in a future ſtate, to thoſe who ſuffer him to periſh through neglect. You white people knew the will of the Great Spirit, but you would not come and tell us. You came indeed into our woods, and took away our hunting grounds. You brought us rum, and exchanged it for our furs. You taught us to lie, and to cheat, and to ſwear; but you ſent us none to teach us how we might be happy when we were gathered to our fathers. How ſevere ſuch reproaches! and alas, how juſtly merited by ſome who bear the Chriſtian name!

THE collections made on the evenings of prayer are ſmall. It is at the annual meetings the Society ſolicits, and places conſiderable dependence for aid. A ſermon is preached as a mean of engaging our own hearts in the duties of religion, of animating one another in our noble undertaking, and of affording an opportunity to all who love Jeruſalem to contribute their gifts. Peace be within thy walls, and proſperity within thy palaces. If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy.

I CANNOT better conclude this diſcourſe than by directing your attention, my Chriſtian brethren, to the encouraging proſpects which appear for the Church from the miſſionary ſpirit which has gone forth, and the glorious promiſes in the word of God. Encouragement may be drawn from the very calamities which are come upon the earth, and that flood of impiety which has threatened to overwhelm us. Theſe latter days have been foretold, and are a ſign of the coming of the Son of man. The Lord, in his own time, and we truſt ſoon, will "turn again the captivity of Zion." The harps will be ſnatched from the willows, and highly ſtrung to his praiſe.

BUT whatever proſperity we expect to attend the Church, at certain periods, in this world, ſhe may be ſaid to be in captivity until the whole plan of redemption is completed; until the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour. Look forward to that joyful time. Then, O ye redeemed, will your afflictions be remembered only to increaſe your delight. Then will the rivers of Babylon be exchanged for the pure river of the water of life; the willows for the tree of life; and you will aſk for the harps of angels to ſound the praiſes of your God and Redeemer.

IN their report of November 14th, 1799, the Directors ſtated, in general, the arrival of the Miſſionary, the Rev. Joſeph Bullen, among the Chickaſaw Indians, and their favourable diſpoſitions towards him, although he had not been formally acknowledged by the nation. They have it now in their power to communicate to the Society, the very pleaſing intelligence, that his reception has been friendly and flattering even beyond expectation. The Indians appear to have vied with each other in their kindneſſes to him, and his ſon who accompanied him; and to have liſtened with reſpect and reverence to his religious inſtructions. It will readily occur that during Mr. Bullen's ſhort reſidence in the Indian country, viz. from the 20th May till the 4th of September 1799, no great progreſs in the work of his miſſion could reaſonably be expected. The difference of language and of manners, the impoſſibility of procuring proper interpreters, and the difficulty of procuring any worthy of confidence; the ſtate of Indian ſociety, and the jealouſy of the Indian temper, are obſtacles which time, patience, and perſeverance are neceſſary to remove. Yet, under all theſe diſcouragements, added to the affliction of broken health, and the ſevere ſickneſs of his ſon, Mr. Bullen appears to have laboured with fidelity, and not without effect. One of the Chickaſaw chiefs has been prevailed upon to ſet up the worſhip of God in his family: Others are cheerful in promoting the introduction of the goſpel into the nation; and the negroes, of whom it poſſeſſes conſiderable numbers, have diſcovered much anxiety to learn the things which belong to their peace. Several of them came miles to hear Mr. Bullen preach and catechiſe, and ſome of them ſeemed ſo to embrace the word of life, that he thought himſelf warranted to adminiſter baptiſm to one family, viz. a father and four children.

The Indian diet and mode of living in general diſagreeing with his conſtitution, ſo as gradually to impair his health and ſtrength ſo far as to incapacitate him for the comfortable diſcharge of miſſionary duties, and his ſon having been brought, by diſeaſe, to the brink of the grave, Mr. Bullen thought it requiſite to leave the country for a while and return home. He took his departure accordingly on the 4th of September, with the regrets of the chiefs and nation. He was eſcorted a conſiderable diſtance on his journey, and parted with them after receiving their earneſt ſolicitations to come back as ſpeedily as poſſible. Two addreſſes to the board of Directors, one from Wolf's friend, the head man of the nation, and another from General William Colbert and Major George Colbert, both chiefs of influence, officially requeſted that Mr. Bullen might return without delay, and bring his family to ſettle among them They alſo requeſted that the board would ſend ſome other perſons who could teach them ſome of the arts of civilized life, and promiſed lands during their continuance in the country, and ſuch other ſuccours as it ſhould be in their power to give.

In conſequence of this application, the Directors thought it their duty, and of high importance to the objects of this Society, to attempt the formation of a ſmall religious ſettlement in the Chickaſaw country. For this purpoſe they have connected in the miſſion with Mr. Bullen and his family, Deacon Ebenezer Rice and his family. With Mr. Rice, both from reſpectable information, and perſonal interview, they have every reaſon to be ſatisfied, as a man of evangelical principles and experimental godlineſs, and one well qualified to aſſiſt Mr. Bullen as a catechiſt. Beſides his uſefulneſs in catechiſing, Mr. Rice, from his mechanical ſkill, will be able to aſſiſt the Indians in the conſtruction of houſes, mills and looms. From his family and that of Mr. Bullen's jointly, they will learn agriculture and ſeveral of the domeſtic arts. While the females will be of eminent ſervice in inſtructing the Indian women. A number of perſons of other occupations were willing to accompany the million. But the Directors, having adopted, as a fundamental principle, the reſolution of not employing any who ſhould not be primarily devoted to the propagation of the glorious goſpel, and with whom improvements, merely civil, ſhould not be a ſecondary object, and having nothing to convince them that the applicants are of this deſcription, were obliged to decline the offer.

Mr. Bullen, therefore, and Mr. Rice, with their families, agreed to go, by themſelves, on the noble and generous enterpriſe. They ſet off on the 13th inſtant, and are now proſecuting their journey.

The number of perſons belonging to the Miſſion is as follows: Mr. Bullen, his wife, five children, and a young man named Harris, whom he was permitted to take as a member of his family, 8 Mr. Rice, his wife, and ſeven children, 9 Making in the whole, 17

The Directors were deſirous of ſending a blackſmith, but have not yet been able to obtain ſuch a one as they would deem ſuitable. As ſoon as they can accompliſh this, the eſtabliſhment will be ſufficient, in their judgment, at leaſt for ſome time.

They have alſo authorized Mr. Bullen to employ as a teacher under him for one year, a perſon of piety and ſoundneſs in the faith, and have voted a compenſation of 100 dollars.

The expenſes of the miſſion are as follows: Allowance to Mr. Bullen for his firſt journey, in addition to the firſt appropriation, Dls. 76 Allowance for ſervices rendered by his ſon, 50 Do. outfit and journey to the Chickaſaws, 300 Do. for advance on ſalary, 275 Do. to Deacon Rice for outfit and removal, 200 Do. do. in advance of one half year's ſalary, 100   1001

The annual expenſe of the miſſion, excluſively of incidental charges, and including the coſt of the ſchoolmaſter, is   Dls. Mr. Bullen's ſalary, 375 Mr. Rice's do. 200 Schoolmaſter's do. 100   675 Making in the whole a ſum of ſix hundred and ſeventy-five dollars.

The Directors enjoy particular ſatisfaction in repreſenting to the Society that their reſources are fully adequate to this expenſe; The income of their productive capital is eſtimated at Dls. 350 The annual contributions amount to 250 The monthly and annual collections, on an average to about 400   1000

The preſent ſtate of their funds is ſubjoined.   Dls. Cts. 35 Inſurance ſhares coſt 1993 76 Deduction for Balance due the Treaſurer 123 32   1870 44 Probable amount due by members, 229 56   2100 00

Hitherto, it is evident, the Lord hath helped. And it would be ungrateful to omit, in the record of his mercies, the prompt and cheerful aſſiſtance which has been afforded to the miſſion by the government of the United States.

After ſo pleaſing a commencement, it would be inexcuſable in the Directors not to contemplate the extenſion of their plans. In this delightful labour, they will gladly exert themſelves, and confidently expect the ſupport not only of the Society, but of thoſe who pray for the peace of Jeruſalem.

☞ Donations to the Society will be thankfully received by Mr. DIVIE BETHUNE, Treaſurer, or by any other of the Directors.