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pose Hymns to be compared with the Psalms of God. I want a name for that man, who should pretend that he could make better Hymns than the Holy Ghost. His collection in large enough: it wants no addition. It is perfect, as its author, and not capable of any improvement. Why in such a case would any man in the world take it into his head to sit down to write Hymns for the use of the church? It is just the same as if he was to write a new Bible, not only better than the old, but so much better, that the old may be thrown aside. What a blasphemous attempt! And yet our Hymn-mongers, inadvertently I hope, have come very near to this blasphemy: for they shut out the Psalms, introduce their own verses into the church, sing them with great delight, and as they fancy with great profit; although the whole practice be in direct opposition to the command of God, and therefore cannot possibly be accompanied with the blessing of God.

If any one be offended at my freedom of speech, I am sorry for it. I thought I had liberty to give mine opinion, especially in a matter, wherein the honour of God, and of his word required me to speak openly. Let this be mine apology. If you are not convinced, if you will sing human compositions in preference to divine; pray do not quarrel with me. I am a man of peace. Go on your way, and let me go on mine. Let me sing God's Psalms, and you may sing any body's Hymns. I have borne my testimony. Forgive me this once, and after I have closed up the evidence with a very good witness, against whom the admirers of Hymns can have no objection, I promise herein to offend you no more. He is no less a person than the great Dr. Watts himself. He speaks full to the point, and gives his testimony very distinctly. He never intended, he says, to thrust the Psalms of God out of the church. His words in the preface to his Hymns are these— "Far be it from my thoughts to lay aside the book of Psalms in public worship: few can pretend so great a value for them as myself: it is the most artful, most devotional, and divine collection of poesy; and nothing can be supposed more proper to raise a pious soul to heaven, than some parts of that book; never was a piece of experimental divinity so nobly written, and so justly reverenced and admired." Happy would it have been for the Christian world, if his followers had stopped just where he did. He declares it was far from his thoughts to do what they have done. It never came into his head to lay aside the book of Psalms in public worship. Think of this, and weigh it carefully, ye that idolize Dr. Watts, and prefer his poems to the infallible word of God. It would be well for you, if you valued Psalms as

much as he did: for he says none valued them more. Then you would have looked upon them in his light: for having already in your hands the most devotional and the most divine collection, you would not have thought of any other, knowing it was impossible to have a better, but you would have used this, and would have found it too, as Dr. Watts did, the most proper to raise the soul to heaven. Blessed sentiments! I honour the memory of Dr. Watts for this glorious testimony. I can say nothing that can bear harder upon those persons, who, contrary to his opinion, have entirely left off singing the Psalms of God in the church. He never intended to countenance such a practice. He declares it was far from his thoughts, yea, he abhorred the very thought, and in so saying he has upon record condemned it. Here I rest the matter. If the admirers of Dr. Watts will not be determined by his authority, I am sure they will not by mine: and therefore I take my leave of them. Farewell. May the Lord guide you into all truth.

Select Religious Entelligence.

MR. ADAMS' REPORT

Of his Missionary labours in the States of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri; made to the Associate Synod at their late Meeting in May.

The appointment given me by Synod was, to itinerate four months in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. The most prominent design of this appointment being to answer the petition for supplies from Pike and Lincoln counties. Missouri, and these places, being in your Missionary's estimation, an important station, and one that would help to facilitate the extension of the cause throughout those States; he deemed it his duty to appropriate a large portion of the time to that section of country, while the remainder should be spent in exploring other regions, encouraging those who wished well to the cause, and collecting facts which might aid the Synod in future appointments and Missionaries in fulfilling them. The three first Sabbaths of October then were spent in the Presbytery's vacancies in Indiana, before the engagements of Presbytery would permit me to leave their bounds. The next Sabbath was spent at Springfield, Sangimond county, Illinois, and the nine following Sabbaths in Pike and Lincoln counties, Missouri. In returning by a different route, the first Sabbath was spent at Kaskaskia, and the next at Carmi, Illinois; one more near Princeton, one at Freedonia, and one in Decatur county, Indiana. Besides this, I preached on week days and nights, at the request of individuals, more than once a week on an average, and in some cases, three or four times in the week.

These meetings were often well attended. Three public examinations were held in Pike and Lincoln counties, and some private, for the trial and instruction of applicants. The people adhering to our cause in this place, I thought proper to organize as a congregation. Three elders have been elected, who had already been ordained, two of them being formerly members of Mr. Dixon's charge, in South-Carolina; and the other applying for membership upon certificate from another denomination of Presbyterians. The places of worship in this congregation will be three, but are not yet defined by any appropriate names. A number of children have been acknowledged by baptism, their parents having been previously admitted,either upon certificate or examination. A strong desire was evinced by many for a purer dispensation of ordinances, than has been usual in that section of country. The number of families including adherents, is eighteen. Some of them have been destitute for eight and some for sixteen years. Want of time prohibited me from penetrating farther into the interior of Missouri, although this would for ma ny reasons have been very desirable. Some families or persons were discovered in different parts of the tour, few of whom received more than one sermon, and that frequently on a week night. This was received however with evidence of lively gratitude to God, received perhaps, as the unexpected answer to prayers long since and repeatedly offered, but at last given over, as in a manner hopeless and rejected. Instances of this kind occurring in different parts of the tour, without any foresight or anticipation on the part of your missionary, induced in his mind the belief, that this was the finger of God, who "gathered them when they wandered in the wilderness, in the solitary way."From all these circumstances, it will be seen by Synod, that the prospect for missionary usefulness in the extensive region of the west, is encouraging. The following additional reasons for prosecuting the work begun, are humbly submitted.

1. An opportunity is offered of preaching Christ's gospel to many that have seldom or never heard it. In the western regions of Indiana, and throughout the state of Missouri, there are but few ministers, either stationary or itinerant, who deserve the Presbyterian name. And in the whole state of Illinois, there was, so late as last winter, but one settled minister, who lives near Kaskaskia. Arminianism, as propagated by the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians, and by some of the looser sects of the Baptists, and Arianism, as held by individuals of different names, and especially by the whole sect denominated New-Lights, (which is numerous,) generally prevail. Universalism, is not unfrequent; and the grossest infidelity and open profanation of God's name, day, and ordinances, every where stare the christian traveller in the face. Yet many persons of all these descriptions, show a willingness to hear, and some, it is hoped, may through the divine blessing be led to believe the things spoken, so far at least, as to confide in Christ alone for salvation.

2. A call is presented to go and "seek that which was lost." Not a few of Christ's sheep, both of our own and other denominations, having in a venturous manner emigrated to these new countries, are in imminent danger from the above mentioned her

1

esies, some of them already beginning to fall and their children still more liable, owing to a want of instruction even from books, to become a prey to error, delusion, and prevailing vice. That religion which is improperly termed Calvanisin, needs, in that country, to be presented in its boldest and most consistent aspect, in order to meet the effrontery and force of the erroneous systems pre-occupying the field.'

3. The propensity of many of our people in the middle and southern states to emigrate, though not checked, might be happily regulated, by the establishment of vacancies to which they could remove with advantage to themselves and the cause.

4. The securing of any advantage already gained, is an object not to be totally disregarded, that your past labours may not be in vain in the Lord. From the moment that the enemy finds himself disturbed in some of his strong holds, violent opposition must in such cases be encountered; and so much the more difficult to resist the longer the combat is delayed. Nothing has been drawn from the Synod's fund to defray the expences of travelling, and such has been the liberality of the people of Missouri, and others by the way, that a surplus of donations received above the necessary expences, has been transmitted to the funds.

A few copies of the Testimony, and of Muckersie's Catechism, which I carried with me, I found to be of excellent use, and would beg leave to recommend the carrying of them or similar pamphlets, by future missionaries.

Permit me the liberty of remarking, in conclusion, two facts, attested indeed in scripture, but strongly confirmed in my own mind, by the state of religious society in the western country.First, the early instruction of youth in sound principles, may extend the rich paternal blessing to future generations and distant climes. Secondly, the commencement of apostacy, often leads either the present or future generation, into the most fearful con sequences.

Yours submissively in the Lord.

JAMES ADAMS.

An account of donations received during the Mission, with the sum total expended, is subjoined.

Received from Clark congregation,

$11.00

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Walnut Ridge,

4.31

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Peter Galloway, (Lincoln co. Missouri,) 10.00

John Law,

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William Galloway, do

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Jno. Galloway,

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Samuel Gladney,

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Samuel O. Tomb, Pike co. Missouri,

2.00

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Samuel Johnson,

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David Tomb, sen. do

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John January,

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Joseph Carroll,

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James Watson,

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Received from John Mackey, Pike co. Missouri.

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Alex. Alison,

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Travelling expences,

Balance transmitted to Synod's Fund,

$44.56

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$55.75 43.75

$12.00

AN ACT FOR A FAST.

The following Act for a Fast was passed at the last meeting of the Associate Synod in May, but omitted in the Minutes.

There are in the present day many things favourable in the situation of different nations and churches. No one, who feels interested in the present happiness of men, or the salvation of souls, can view without pleasure, nations emerging from the darkness and degradation of oppression to freedom and refinement, and the light of the gospel arising upon those who have long sat in the region and shadow of death. All christian lands are simultaneously aroused to the most active exertions in spreading the knowledge of the truth; multitudes contribute of their substance, and not a few are compassing sea and land in these laudable exertions. Yet, it is to be feared, that many trust in their labours as their justifying righteousness, and seek by outward show, to cover their neglect of the more painful, secret and internal duties of religion. There is too much pride of merit, too much vain display, too much flattery of others, too much self-applause, too much overstrained description of labours and success, too much disregard of purity and truth attending these exertions, which call us to mingle tones of lamentation with the song of praise.

It is to be lamented, that in the religious instruction of their children, parents are exceedingly negligent; and instead of being excited by the helps so abundantly furnished, and the interest so generally felt, they take occasion from these things to cast off that burden which the word of God, and their vows impose, To train up their little ones in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Parents are the divinely appointed teachers of their children whom no assistance from others, can exempt from this duty, and without whose co-operation by precept and example, there is but a faint prospect of other means being successful. Many show no concern either to teach by themselves or by others, those who are soon to fill their places in the state and church, who are to be the legislators and judges of the nations, the members, the rulers and teachers of the church. Many, very many are training up their children in those ways which lead down to destruction, and few, very few, are careful to secure to their children the principal thing, by teaching them daily and diligently in the ways of the Lord, by praying, labouring and watching for their souls as those that must give an account. Through this neglect our youth are left to grow up in ignorance and disregard of the truth, a ready prey to the delusions of error and the fascinations of vice.

Christians in different societies are becoming more harmonious in their feelings; and many once divided, are united in visible communion; yet the

VOL. III.

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