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Bazar, 60 miles from Chittagong, on the 4th of July last.
He died of the jungle fever.

Mrs. Colman was ill of the same fever at the date of our last accounts.

The Burman mission has been recruited the last year, by the arrival of Dr. Price and family, and by the return of Mr. Hough and his family from Serampore to Rangoon. Our long tried and faithful Missionary, Mr. Judson, remains in health and firm at his post. May God preserve him for a long time to come, and crown his ardu. ous labours with abundant success. Mrs. Judson is now on a visit in this country on account of her health. We offer our sincere prayers to Almighty God, that her visit may not only be conducive to her health, but be happily in. strumental in promoting a deeper interest in the Burman mission.

It gives us pleasure to lay before you from time to time, the most interesting articles of intelligence from the missions established among the Indians of this country. It is de. voutly hoped that these several missions may excite a more lively interest in the minds of christians than they have hitherto done. While the cause of religion generally, ard that of missions in particular, will ever claim preeminence in our columns, it is not our design to exclude such communications as relate to the ii terests of literature, and the social order and happiness of society.

Well written essays on doctrinal or practical subjects of
religion, on the advantages of literature to the rising gene.
ration, such in particular as may have a tendency to do away
the prejudices that still oppose its progress; and generally
whatever may tend to promote knowledge, and purity, and
brotherly affection among christians, will be gratefully re-
ceived by the Editors. It is our sincere aim to avoid giv-

It
ing offence; but we consider it a duty which we owe to
ourselves as well as to our readers, to select from the mass
of matter before us, what we deem the most useful.

To our old correspondents we te der our grateful ac-
knowledgments, and solicit the continuance of their favours,
hoping that new ones will arise to enrich our pages.

As the profits of this Magazine are sacredly appropriated to missionary purposes, we hope our readers will derive both pleasure and advantage from the work, and that they will continue to use their influence to extend its circula. tion.

EDITORS.

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THE

American Baptist Magazine,

AND

Missionary Intelligencer.

NEW SERIES.

No. 1.

JANUARY, 1823.

REFLECTIONS OCCASIONED BY THE NEW YEAR.

THE TIME IS SHORT. 1 Cor. vii. 29.

THE commencement of a new year is justly considered an occasion of universal congratulation, To have escaped, for so long a time, the ravages of death, to find ourselves still in a state of probation, to have been favoured with additional opportunities of glorifying God and of preparing for heaven, are subjects not only ́for mutual rejoicing, but also for deep and devout thanksgiving. We would, therefore, unite with our readers in offering up unto the Giver of every good and perfect gift, our humble tribute of praise for that unwearied care with which he has watched over us since the period of our last Annual Address.

From the multitude of subjects suggested by this interesting occasion, we select the brevity of time, as the theme for a few reflections. On a topic to which the moralist has so frequently adverted, we can scarcely hope to offer any thing new. We, however, recollect, that the frequency with which it has been urged upon the attention of mankind, evinces the general conviction of its importance; and that truth of universal importance can rarely be too frequently inculcated.

By time, is generally understood that portion of duration

VOL. IV.

which is measured by the existence of our world. We date its commencement from the moment when the Creator said, "let there be light;" we look for its termination when the Son of Man shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and all his holy angels with him. Now considered of itself, this is but a brief period of duration In a few hours we can bring to mind all the empires which have risen, declined, and failen, and we can review all the dynasties which have flourished and have faded since this world commenced. It is not a difficult task to recall to our recollection all the mighty deeds with which the page of history has been emblazoned from the time that the second man lifted up his hand against his brother. Passing along over the record of our spe cies, we soon leave behind us those kingdoms which for a few years were considered universal, we converse with David, the Psalmist of Israel, with Abraham the father of the faithful, with Noah, our second great progenitor, with Enoch who walked with God, with Adam in the garden of Eden, until our inquiries are arrested by beholding the earth without form, and void, and

darkness upon the face of the illimitable space from the g abyss. And if we look forward, luminary of day. our anticipations are as speedily But short as is the whole checked. A few more em- time, we are personally inter pires will rise and fall, a few ed in a very small part of it. more battles will be fought, is divided into an intinite ne the earth will perform a few ber of lesser portions, of wh more revolutions in her orbit, each generation occupies o and then the angel will stand The generations which ha upon the sea and upon the earth, preceded us have each occup and lifting his hand to heaven, iheir portion, and have pas will swear, by Him that liveth away like the shadow of a su forever and ever, that created mer's cloud; we are now oce heaven, and the things that are pying ours, and shall in like ma therein, and the earth, and the ner quickly pass away. We lo things that are therein, and the back upon them as upon t sea and the things that are there- leaves of the forest, which in, that there shall be time no summer flourished, in autun longer.

faded, and have long since moi But if time be thus brief, when dered into forgetfulness. considered of itself, it diminishes now are flourishing, we as quic almost to a point when compared ly shall fade, and the plac with that endless duration of which now know us shall kn which it forms so infinitely small us no more forever. For we ar a part. Carry your conceptions carried away as with a flood backward before the morning We are as a sleep. In the morn stars sang together, or ever ing we are like grass wbic the sons of God shouted for groweth up. In the morning joy, before the mountains were flourisheth and groweth up, ir brought forth, or ever He had the evening it is cut down an formed the earth or the world, withereth. The days of our when from everlasting to ever- years are threescore years and Jasting Jehovah was God. Nay, ten, and if by reason of strength carry your conceptions still far- they be four score years, yet i ther back, before seraphim or their strength labour and sorrow cherubim were created, when for it is soon cut off, and we fly from eternity God reigned alone; away. Behold thou hast made and, having wearied yourself in our age as an hand-breadth and endeavours to comprehend an e- our years are as nothing before ternity that is past, stretch every thee. Surely every man in his saculty of your soul to the utmost best estate is altogether vanity. to comprehend an eternity to Or we may bring the subject

Think of a duration, more immediately to our own which, as it never had a begin- experience. What is our life? ning, can never have an end. Let those of us answer, whose And having done this, ask what, heads have been frosted by the in comparison with it, are those snows of many winters. In a few moments which we denomi- few minutes can you not recall nate time. They are as a sand all that ever you have seen or to the sea-shore. They are as a

known? But few events have drop to the ocean. They are as transpired since your existence a single ray of light to that ex- commenced.

The sun has perhaustless flood of brightness formed but few revolutions since which from the first morning of you began to be. The clock has creation has been poured upon told but few hours since its first

come.

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stroke fell upon your ear. And every succeeding year seems shorter than its predecessor. The events of the past year seem but as the transactions of a fortnight. It seems but as yesterday since we exchanged our annual congratulations, and called to mind those friends whom the last twelve months had consigned to darkness and the shadow of death.

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But brief as is our probationary existence, the consideration of its brevity is still more phatically impressed upon us, when we consider that a large portion of it has already consumed To some of us only a year, a month, a day; nay, there may be some to whom only a few moments remain. And this remainder is all that can be improved. The past is forever beyond our control. Whatever has been done is already sealed up for eternity. It is recorded in that book which shall not be opened until the day of judgment. Neither prayers, nor tears, nor penitence, can alter one article which is already recorded. Nothing is within our power, but the few fleeting, lessening moments which remain.

Here let us add one more consideration. This fleeting transitory existence is all the probation that will ever be granted to us. The few moments we spend on earth will decide our destiny for eternity. All beyond the grave is fixed and unalterable as the throne of God. The character which we acquire on earth will be the basis of the character which will attach to us through interminable ages. The only alteration of which it will be susceptible, will be a change from glory to glory, or from shame to shame through the illimitable range of an endless existence. Beyond the confines of time it will be said, "He that is holy,

let him be holy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still." If consequences so infinite depend upon our present ephemeral duration, how important is it that every moment of it be rightly improved! How aggravated is the folly of him who squanders so inestimable a treasure! If wealth be squandered, it may be regained; if influence be alienated, it may be recalled; but "time once past, never returns; the moment that is lost, is lost forever."

Let us each, then, at the commencement of a new year ask himself, am I accomplishing the great purposes of my existence ? Am I living for eternity? or are my designs all bounded by the narrow limits of three score years and ten? Am I, by patient continuance in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality? Or am I treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath? Am I, by a life of holiness, preparing to unite in the anthems of cherubim ? Or by a continuance in sin am I adding force to those principles of evil which will only render me meet for the wailings of the damned?

Or suppose we have a cheering hope that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life; that, sprinkled with the blood of the atonement, we shall stand accepted in that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest,—still much remains for us to do. We are bound to exhibit in our lives the effect of the principles we profess. By a steady cultivation. of the grace that is within us we are to add to our "faith, knowledge, to, our knowledge temperance, to our temperance patience, to our patience godliness, to our godliness brotherly kindness, and to our brotherly

kindness charity." And we should recollect that it is only by so doing that an entrance will be abundantly administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Are we actively engaged in promoting the cause of the Redeemer on earth? This short life is all the time that is allotted to us, in which we may manifest our love to the souls for whom he poured out his soul unto the death. Is it the great end of our existence that this world shall be the better for our having lived in it? Are we actively engaged in promoting the great plans of benevolence which in the present age solicit our assistance ? Viewed simply in this light, are we wilJanuary 1, 1823.

ling to meet the history of the past year at the day of judgment?

'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, And ask them what report they bore to heaven, And how they might have borne more welcome news.

Let us then commence a new year with more serious resolutions to live for eternity. May God grant that the year eighteen hundred and twenty three may by every one of us be devoted unreservedly to God. It will then be a matter of small importance whether the commencement of the next year find us in the visible or invisible world; for if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we shall have taken possession of a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heav

ens.

Biography.

MEMOIR OF REV. SAMUEL NELSON.

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A great and glorious work of the Lord spread through Middleborough and vicinity in 1780, and Mr. Nelson and his wife were made the subjects of the work. They were both brought to taste the joys of pardoned sin, and to rejoice in the Lord within an hour of each other, on the 9th of June. They shortly after made a public profession of their faith. in Christ, and were added to the second Baptist Church in said town.

Mr. Nelson soon began to exercise his gifts by speaking in conferences and other religious meetings, much to the satisfaction of the hearers. It does not appear at what time he was licensed by the church; but about two years after, we find him preaching statedly a part of the time to a little society in Raynham. These with some other

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