RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. IN the Magazine for laft December we informed our Readers that the fingle Miffionaries embarked for Gravefend the 27th of November, where they arrived on board the Duff on the morning of the 29th. This being the day of National Thanksgiving, the Millionaries, who had been nurtured in the bofom of this highly privileged country, thought it their duty on leaving it, to mingle their grateful acknowledgements with thofe of the thousands of our British Ifrael. Soon after the thip was brought to an anchor, public service was held upon the quarter deck, in which many of the Friends at Gravefend were happy to unite. Mr. Peter Levefque, delivered a short discourse from 1 Cor. xv. 57. "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory." In the evening Mr. Wilks preached at the Meeting-house in that town, from 1 Sam. vii. 12. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." The next day (Friday) the Duff weighed anchor and arrived in the Downs about Sunday noon. A fhort fervice immediately commenced, and in the evening, Mr. Bentom preached, and the Sacrament was afterwards administered, it being the first Sabbath in the month. Monday evening, Dec. 3. the ufual time of the Monthly Miffionary Prayer Meeting, was observed on board the ship: feveral of the Miffionaries engaged in Prayer, and an appropriate exhortation was delivered. On Wednesday, the 5th. the married Miffionaries left town to proceed to Portsmouth, and next morning, the wind becoming fair, the Duff, in company with about 70 other fhips, proceeded from the Downs to Spithead, where the arrived on Saturday. On their paffage they were interrupted by a thick fog, wherein feveral fhips ran aground, among which was the Henry Addington East Indiaman, fince gone to pieces. Next day, being Sunday, Mr. Bogue of Golport, and Mr. Edwards, one of the African Miffionaries, came on board and delivered two difcourfes; in the afternoon, feveral of the Miffionaries went over to the Iíle of Wight, where one of them preached. From Sunday to Thursday the communication with land was interrupted by the weather. On Friday morning, fignal being made for failing, the married Miffionaries went on board with their families: but on Saturday, the wind proving again unfavourable, they were detained over another Sabbath. The morning being very fine, fervice was again performed upon the quarter deck, when two other Captains in the fleet, with their ladies, and part of their crews united in the worship. During the time the vessel anchored off Portsmouth, fome alterations were made in the hip for the accommodation of the married Miffionaries, much to their fatisfaction. On Wednesday a favourable breeze fpringing up, fignal was made for failing, and early next morning the fleet weighed again under convoy of the Amphion frigate, and was out of fight before noon. With the fame convoy failed the Hillsborough, a Government Transport hip, for Botany Bay, on board of which are four other Miffionaries, who purpofe to difembark at the Cape of Good Hope, and from thence proceed to Cafraria, fome hundred miles fouth-east of the Cape Town. The Caf fres fres are faid to be a brave, active, and ingenious people; but their fitua tion very difficult of access. These Miffionaries are furnished with Bibles and Religious Tracts for about 300 convicts on board this ship, and will be permitted to preach two fermons every funday, one to the hip's company, and the other to the convicts; to the latter of whom they will have free accefs for the purposes of religious conversation and instruction. On Saturday, the 21st, the wind veering to the south-weft, the fleet was obliged to put into Portland Roads, from whence letters have been received from on board the Duff, by which we learn that most of the Miffionaries were indifpofed with the fea fickness, and received particular attention both from the Captain and his officers: But as the wind has fince become fair, we hope they have proceeded on their voyage, under the Lord's protection, and followed by the prayers of many thoufands of his people. MISSIONARIES ON BOARD THE DUFF. John Beattie, his wife and one child, Rev. Clark Bentom, from Edinburgh. from Rotherham. from London. from Ditto. from Ditto. from Perth. from Edinburgh. from Ditto. from Ditto. from Ditto. from Ditto. from Gofport, Thomas Watters, ! James Wilfon, Rev. Jof. Lambert Vardy and wife, John Youl, from London. from Ditto. from Bury St. Edmond's, from London. Rev. WILLIAM HOWELL, of Knaresborough, SUPERINTENDANT of the Miffion. Seven of the above Miffionaries poffefs fome degree of Medical Knowledge; and fome of them have been Pupils at the Lock Hospital, in order to qualify them to be useful to the afflicted Natives of the Southern Isles. MISSIONARIES ON BOARD THE HILLSBOROUGH. from Holland. Rev. J. F. Vanderkemp, M. D. James Edmonds, J. J. Kecherer, William Edwards, G2 from Ditto. from Manchester. We We cannot here forbear expreffing the gratitude of the Miffionaries, and all on board the Duff, for the Chriftian affection and benevolence difplayed by the friends of the Milhonary Caufe on this occafion. As the fhip paffed by Greenwich and Woolwich, the Chriftian Brethren came on board, and none of them empty-handed. At Gravefend a collection was previously made, and the amount laid out in the purchase of fuitable prefents. The zealous friends to the caule at Sheerness, having procured live tock, and other neceffary articles, were not a little difappointed in being prevented the pleature of prefenting thefe tokens of their affection to Chrift and his dear fervants, by the hip's paffing that port at night. Like them, the congregations of the Rev. W. Prieftley at Deal, and the Rev. G. Townfend at Ramigate, were upon the look-out, and no fooner. did they difcover the Blue Flag with three Doves from the Mizen top, in paffing the North Foreland, than they haftened on board to teftify their warni attachment; and during her stay in the Downs poured in their valuable prefents with a cheerfulaefs which rendered their favours doubly acceptable. The fame fpirit actuated the numerous friends in the Towns adjacent to Spithead. The day after the arrival of the ship at this Port, a collection was made at the Rev. Mr. Griffin's, Portfea, which amounted to about 401. notwithtanding a like fum had been recently collected by the Rev. Mr. Bogue of Golport. The friends on both fides the water united alfo in procuring comfortable lodgings for the married Miffionaries, and in rendering them every atftance which could make them comfortable during their stay on thore. An individual at Portfmouth gave a large quantity of wearing apparel fuited to the climate of the Pacific Ocean. From Southampton a floop was freighted by the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury's people with live stock, provifions, cloathes, medicines, and ftores. of Nor were the friends in the inland parts of the Country less liberal or active. At a fhort notice, articles of Birmingham Manufacture to a very confiderable amount were furnished from that Town, by the friends of the Rev. Mr. Burn of the Eftablished Church, by the congregation of Kingftreet Chapel, (in the connection of the late Lady Huntingdon,) and by liberal individuals of other congregations. At Sheffield the congregations of the Rev. Mir. Boden, the Rev. Mr. Rees, and the Rev. Mr. the establishment, procured between one and two tons of the manufactures of their town; and the congregations of the Rev. Mr. Kirby and the Rev. Mr. Hale of Heckmondwike, fhewed the like benevolence and zeal. Indeed it would fwell this account beyond all bounds to enumerate the various inftances of liberality of Churches and individuals, both in Town and Country. Several of the friends of the Society having, however, expreffed a defire to have the Collections made on its behalf acknowledged in this Magazine, we shall endeavour to oblige them in future, except in cafes where a wish to the contrary may be expreffed. COLLECTIONS and DONATIONS to the MISSIONARY SOCIETY fince our laft, exclufive of the above, Buckingham New Meeting, Rev. Mr. Hilliar Lutterworth, Rev. Mr. Grundy Stretton, Warwickshire, Rev. T. Chipperfield £.29 о O 16 2 O 15 12 8 I о Wooller, Wooller, Affociated Congregation, Rev. G. Bell Jof. Walker, Efq. Rotherham The Editor of the Miffionary Magazine, published in Scotland, has also remitted one-fifth of the profits of last year, amounting to 20 38 11 But we must not conclude this account without acknowledging alfo the kindness of Divine Providence in several circumstances in favour of the above Miffions: fuch as enkindling and cherishing the Miffionary zeal, which has rather encreased than otherwise, both in Ministers and People; in providing Missionaries of talents so fuitable and fo various; and particularly in giving this caufe fo great favour in the eyes of Governinent, which not only appointed a convoy without delay, but generously remitted the Exportation Duty; and even the Clerks in the Public Offices handfomely declined their ufual fees. Our Readers will doubtlefs unite with us in following thefe Miffions with their Prayers for the Divine Blefling in their progress, not doubting but that in every attempt for the Glory of God and the Salvation of our Fellow-finners," we fhall in due time reap if we faint not." THE MISSIONARY JOURNAL is in fuch forwardness that the Public may expect it by the 1ft of March. The Friends of the Society who have received Subcriptions in the Country, are requested immediately to remit them to the Treasurer, Secretary, or Publifher, as no future Subfcriptions can be received under Two Guineas, agreeable to a hint in our December Magazine. MISSIONARY PRAYER MEETING: THE first Meeting in the prefent Year will be on the 7th instant, at Charlotte-street Chapel, Wapping. CHAPELS OPENED. RICHMANSWORTH. ON Friday, September 7, 1798, a small neat Chapel was opened for public worship at Mill End, a village attached to Rickmanfworth Herts. The congregation had been for fome time united to a neighbouring one, but a feparation taking place for the greater conveniency of each, and the leafe of a large room, in which the Society at Mill End had met for fome years, being expired, a few wellwifhers of the Gofpel erected this place, The fervice was conducted in the following order. The Rev. Mr. Morris of Ammertham preached in the morning, from Mark vii. 34. Mr. Surman of Chefham, and Mr. Lidden of Hemel Hampstead, delivered a double Lecture in the afternoon: the former from Gal. iii. 28. and the latter from a portion of the 102d. Pfalm. There is fome oppofition in this place, but it appears that the fupporters of Christ have not found their la. bour in vain in the Lord. LANGLEY GREEN. MONDAY, O&. 29, a fmall Chapel was opened at Langley Green, Shropshire, about fix miles from Birmingham. Two fermons were preached preached by the Rev. W. Cooper, in the morning and afternoon-the name of the chapel is "Zion," and the minifter, Mr. Cottrell, of Hanfworth. It was opened on the independant plan, and is capable of containing 150 people. READING. THE new Chapel created at Reading, by the voluntary contribution of the late Mr. Cadogan's congregation was opened on Sunday, December 16th, Mr. Eyre, of Hackney, preached in the morning; Mr. Green, minifter of the chapel in the afternoon, and the Rev. Rowland Hill in the evening. The collections on this occafion, amounted to 1281. which, with the previous fubfcription of 1650l. and fome other promifed donations, will nearly defray the whole expence of this neat, fpacious, and commodious building. Notwithstanding, the place is calculated to feat conveniently a 1000 perfons, with confiderable spaces in the aifles and under the galleries, it was crowded with ferious and attentive hearers, who appeared to receive the word of God with much affection. The fight was truly encouraging, and brought to recollection, the words of our Lord, "The fields are white already unto the harvest." NEW CHAPEL, AT PLYMPton. ON Thursday, the 29th of November, 1798, was opened, a place of worship at Plympton, a borough town in Devonshire, about five miles from Plymouth. The Rev. C. Sloper, of the New Tabernacle in Plymouth, began the fervice by prayer and reading the Scriptures. And the Rev. Herb. Mends preached on Exodus xvii. 15. Jehovah-Niffi. The houfe was crowded with a serious and attentive audience. There are fome circumftances attending the hiftory of this place, that may not be altogether unacceptable to the ferious Reader. This town was once favoured with the Gospel of Chrift. Ecclefiaftical hiftory informs us, that the Rev. Mr. Williams, and the Rev. Mr. Pitts, preached the word of life in the established church at Plympton, about the middle of the last century. And in 1660, the Rev. John Serle, a pious man and a gospel preacher, was prefented to the living of Plympton, St. Mary, an adjoining parifh, where he continued to labour, until the fatal Bartholomew Act in 1662, by which he was ejected from the church, together with Mr. Williams and Mr. Pitts. Thus, was this town at once deprived of the labours of three faithful minifters. Soon after this event, a congregation of ferious perfons was formed; and about the time of the Revolution in 1688, the Rev. John Serle, was chosen as their pastor, with whom he continued until his death. But from a variety of circumstances, the Gospel has been removed, the congregation fcattered, and the house fold. This ftate of the inhabitants, influenced the Minifters of the Gospel in Plymouth to compaffionate the multitude, who had no opportunity (for the space of fifty years) of hearing that preaching, which is calculated to lead finners to the knowledge of themfelves and of Jefus Chrift, whom to know is life eternal. Having rented a private house, and obtained a licence, they have preached there every Lord's Day, fince November 1797, and fo general and fervent is the defire of hearing the Golpel, that the room was far too fmall to contain those who were willing to attend the worship of God. POETRY. |