is 100, whose annual subscriptions have amounted to 240 dollars.

Donations the past year have been 139 dollars 11 cents, for which sum the Board would respectfully acknowledge their obligations to the Cent Society of New Braintree for 39 dollars 61 Čents, the cent Society in the West Parish of Brookfield for 50 dollars, and the Charitable Society of New Braintree and North Brookfield for 26. Life subscription 30.

The balance in the Treasury last year was 226 dollars 25 cents. And interest of the fund the present has been 9. Total 644 dollars 36 cents.

There are yet unpaid subscriptions to the amount of 14 dollars.

Two hundred dollars have been appropriated to the establishment of a permanent fund.

The Board have expended 459 dollars 97 cents for Bibles. Contingent expenses have amounted to 3,30 and there now remains in the Treasury 109 dollars.

The influence of Divine Truth is commonly like the "still small voice" spoken of by the Prophet. We are not therefore to expect immediate and splendid effects from our exertions. It is sufficient for us, that the Bible has always proved the most effectual barrier against vice in every form, that it has always softened the rugged, and reformed the vicious heart of man, when its influence has not been perverted by the most persevering obstinacy. But the Christian must feel, that the Bible is a blessing, whose magnitude can never be estimated in this world-he must feel, (viewing the subject in its awful connexions with eternity,) that the value of that word which brings life and immortality to light-which teaches immortal man the way to Heaven, is great beyond conception.

Who that has seen the preciousness of Divine Truth-that has experienced its consolations when human comforts have been desolated by affliction, or has heard its unerring voice cry, "this is the way," when bewildered in the labyrinths of doubt and errorwho that has discovered the sweetness of its promises, the safety of its rest,

and the purity of the motives and rewards which it presents to man; can view without strong emotions the progress it is making in the world. A few years since, and to the savage of our western wilderness, and the stranger in our southern borders were alike inaccessible those waters of life, which are for the healing of the nations-now to both is opened that living fountain, of which if a man taste he shall live for

ever.

Nor is the prospect less animating when we cast our eyes abroad, and contemplate the wonders which have been effected by our Christian brethren on the other side of the Atlantic. We there behold those vast but inauspicious regions of Europe and India, which have so long experienced the inost deplorable moral, and intellectual degra dation, now gradually receiving the impress of humanity and of heaven, under the secretly operating and transforming influence of the Bible. We behold the superstitious Persian, and the sensual Mahommedan, the cheerless inhabitant of Siberia, and the cruel native of Hindostan, stretching out their hands to receive this best gift of Heaven. And do we believe that" the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; that the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes;" "do we think that this law is "more to be desired than gold, yea than much fine gold" and shall not our hearts glow with fervent desires, to contribute by our prayers, as well as in every other possible way, toward its universal diffusion and success? Ah! can we forget to remember before him, who alone can make even his own word effectual to salvation; our brethren of the human family, who are groping in the hopeless, helpless darkness of heathenism, annihilating the tenderest sympathies of our nature, and sacrificing even the babes of their bosoms to appease the anger of their imaginary deities? Forget them! where then is our zeal for human happiness! where our boasted compassion for the wretched! where our Christian sensibilities! But blessed be God! the spirit of supineness, which has for centuries cruelly abandoned the heathen, in their

own and other countries, to their miserable destiny, is fast hastening away. The christian world has awakened from that strange slumber, which so long closed its eyes to the situation, and wants of those, who were sitting in the region of darkness and shadow of death, and is wondering that it slept so long. The work of the Lord is rapidly going on. Who would sit idle, when all nature seems as it were to be travailing in birth and waiting for the redemption of Zion? Who would not esteem it a privilege of no ordinary importance, to be permitted to lend his assistance in that cause which is dear to God, the cause of virtue, the cause of Christ.

And let us never be weary in well doing: let us never be discouraged at not so soon beholding the fruits of our efforts as we had expected-that Bible we bestowed, that prayer we offered, may, even in a future day, be made the instrument of saving a soul, nay, many souls from death; and of accumulating an additional weight of bles. sedness for ourselves in the heavenly world. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." [Recorder.

THE CHINESE DECALOGUE.

I. Beware of lasciviousness. Not having seen, you should not think of.

When seeing, there should be no irregularity.

Having seen, there should be no remembrance.

With respect to virgins and widows, be particularly guarded.

11. Beware of wicked thoughts. Do not harbor a dangerous thought. Do not put forth an irregular thought. Do not remember resentment unallayed.

Do not look on gain and covet it.
Do not see ability and envy it.

III. Beware of the errors of the
mouth.

Do not speak of women.

Do not meddle with clandestine affairs.

Do not publish people's defects.
Do not change what you have said.
Do not make loose songs.
Do not revile the sages..
Be most cautious with respect to su-
periors, relations, and the dead.

IV. Beware of sloth.
Do not go to sleep early and rise late.
Do not neglect your own field and
plow your neighbour's.

Do not run too fast after gain. Do not learn to do that from which there is no advantage.

Be most on your guard against having the body present but mind absent.

V. Beware of throwing away characters. Do not with old books roll up parcels, nor paste the windows.

Do not with useless papers boil tea, or rub the table. Do not blot good books.

Do not write at random against the doors or walls.

Do not destroy a rough copy.

Do not throw away writing on the road.

VI. Pay due respect to the relations subsisting amongst Men. Kindness is the principal duty of a father.

Respect is the principal duty between a prince and his minister. Brothers should mutually love. A friend should speak the truth. A husband and wife should mutually agree-They should be particularly careful to shew respect.

VII. Cleanse the ground of the heart. Consider the doctrines of the ancients to regulate the heart.

Sit in a retired place and call home the heart.

Be sparing of wine or pleasure, and purify the heart.

Reject selfish desires and purify the heart. It is particularly requisite to understand the utmost reasons of things to illuminate the heart.

VIII. Establish a good manner. Be diligent in business, and attentive to your words.

Let your intentions be exalted, but your manners humble. (Literally, Let your mind be high, but your body low.")

roneous, and venerate the true, in order to defend my doctrines,

[Evan. Mag.

UTILITY OF RELIGIOUS TRACTS.

The following Anecdotes are from the reports of the London Tract Society.

Stockholm, April 15, 1808. My very dear Brother,

Last week the first Tract was printed, and between two and three thousand have already been dispersed and sent to different parts of the country. We thought it best to print the little Tract concerning James Covey first, It has made a very good impression on the minds of many already. I have just heard this morning that one of them has found its way to the Prince Royal; he was rather diverted with the first part of it; but when he came to Covey's conversion, he grew very serious, and at last burst into tears. Little did poor Covey think that his history would preach the gospel in king's houses!

Your's most respectfully,
J. P.

From a respectable Clergyman in the Isle of Man.

REV. SIR,

Kirk Lonan, Jan. 15, 1811.

I feel it a duty incumbent on me to inform you of an important change which a Tract, published by the religious Tract Society, has been instru mental in producing in one of my aged parishioners. The person in question has already numbered his three score years and ten, and is fast advancing to eternity. He has been through life a man of decent external deportment, "who trusted in himself that he was righteous," while he was an entire stranger to real religion, and utterly insensible of his need of a Savior. I some time ago presented him with a few Religious Tracts, made up into a small volume, and among the rest the Tract "to the aged." He appeared highly gratified, and promised to read them carefully. Having called on him

within these few days, I perceived an evident alteration in his manner and appearance. He was eagerly desir ous of conversing on his spiritual concerns, and began by saying, "I confess, before God and man, that I am a vile and miserable sinner;" and then taking up the little book of Tracts which lay in the window, with tears streaming from his eyes, and with the strongest marks of penitence, he spoke nearly in these words; "This Tract to the aged,' has opened my eyes to see myself a lost and ruined man-oh! it has made me very wretched; but then it has comforted too; for it tells me that Jesus Christ has saved sinners, as vile and miserable as I am, and has brought back wandering souls from the very gates of hell."

O further conversation with him, and from the reports of some of his neighbors, I find that deep, and I trust an effectual and abiding change has been wrought in him. His views of himself, and of the world, are entirely changed. He has begun to search the Scriptures with great ardor, and to accompany the reading of them with earnest prayer. I perceiv ed, on inspection, that the Tract to the aged had been so often thumbed and read, and probably wetted by the old man's tears, as to be scarcely legible.

There is reason to hope that the Divine blessing has, in many other instances, accompanied the visits of these little harbingers of salvation to the villages and cottages throughout the Isle of Man; but, should their introduction among us have been successful only in this one instance, I will be bold to say, that the Society may consider all their labor of love in dispersing of the Tracts as abundantly compensated.

H. S.

INAUGURATION.

ON Wednesday, April 17, the Hon. ISAAC PARKER, Chief Justice of Massachusetts, was inaugurated Professor of Law at Harvard University, Cambridge. The usual ceremonies were performed by the Rev. President Kirkland, and Dr. Ware.

The Professor, in an able, interesting, and highly appropriate address, explained the object of the Professorship, and gave a brief account of the early state and gradual advancement of jurisprudence. He shewed the importance of civil law to the existence of society, and enumerated some of the advantages which might be expected from a general knowledge of the principle of the science.

This professorship is founded upon a donation made for this specific pur. pose in 1773, by the Hon. Isaac Royal, of Medford; which fund has been gradually increasing, till it is now found adequate to the expense of a course of lectures annually to the undergraduates. The name of the founder is prefixed to the professorship till some more munificent benefactor shall appear.

Obituary.

DIED at Eastham Rev. Ephraim Briggs, in the 48th year of his age, and 20th of his ministry.

In Sutton, Mass. Rev. Daniel Bacheller, aged 43.

In England, the Dowager Lady Hamilton, at the very advanced age of 90. Also, Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam. He has bequeathed the British Cambridge University 100,000%. in stock, ten thousand proof plate prints, and a collection of highly esteemed pictures.

No. 6.

FENELON, Archbishop of Cambray, was born August 6th, 1651. It is said that "his early years were distinguished by many traits both of courage and moderation which were surprising in a child." While young he obtained an education by which he was prepared for usefulness and for eminence.

At 25 years of age he was ordained a priest in the Catholic form; after which he spent three years in a state of retirement. He

then came forward and delivered a course of familiar explanations of the scriptures which were highly esteemed. He possessed great fervour of mind in the cause of religion; and for a time he contemplated a voyage to Canada, that he might devote his life to the conversion of the savages; but on reflection he relinquished the object.

Fenelon lived in the age of Louis XIV. who revoked the edict of Nantz, and exposed the Hugonot dissenters to violence and persecution. This barbarous proceeding not only occasioned the death of multitudes, but the exile of a vast number of families. It is said that 200,000 families fled Vol. IV. No. 6.

Vol. IV.

from France and sought an asylum in protestant countries. But violence and persecution were contrary to the principles and spirit of Fenelon. In a letter to a duke he observed "That is not the true spirit of the gospel. The work of God is not effected in the heart by force."-An officer of the army consulted him to know what course he should adopt with such of his soldiers as were Hugonots. Fenelon answered-" Tormenting and teazing heretic soldiers into conversion will answer no end, it will not succeed, it will only produce hypocrites. The converts made by them will desert in crowds. If an officer or any other person can insinuate into their hearts, or excite in them a desire of instruction, it is well; but there should be no constraint, no indirect officiousness.”

He advised prince Charles, son of James II. never to use compulsion in matters of religion." No human power, said he, can force the impenetrable intrenchments of the freedom of the mind. When kings interfere in matters of religion, they do not protect it, they enslave it. Give civil liberty to