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YOUR letters of the 12th of July and of the 22d of August, 1803, we have received; and you will be pleased to accept of our warmest acknowledgments for them. have been inade, by our own happy experience, to know the truth of that ancient Proverb, "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Is it not in the exercise of love, that divine principle, that our hearts mutually exult at the gathering of the people unto the standard set up from the root of Jesse in Europe and America, in Caffraria, and in the Islands of the South Sea; that our prayers, on each side of the Atlantic, are incessantly ascending to the throne of Heaven, that Zion may lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes; that she might break forth on the right hand and on the

left; her seed inherit the Gentiles, and cause the desolate places to be inhabited? Is it not this which calls forth our exertions to gather the perishing sons of Adam to the Divine Jesus! We hope, through the mercy of God, that it is; and, thro' the growth of it, we shall rejoice and exert ourselves more and more for those glorious purposes.

We truly rejoice in the increase of Christian knowledge in Great Britain; and that you are multiplying the number of Bibles, and making exertions that all the fami

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lies on the islands of Great Britain and Ireland should enjoy this most precious of all books. We judge that our charity, that it may appear consistent, ought especially to be

exercised towards our own fellow. subjects; that the souls of white men are not less precious than those of the savages, and that we are under more immediate obligations to those of our own nation and states than to others; though we ought, as far as possible, to preach the gospel to every creature.

With respect to this state, the laws have provided, even from the first settlement of it, that every family should be furnished with a sufficient number of Bibles. The law, at present, provides, that in all our schools the master should catechize the children weekly, and hear them read daily in the Bible; and we believe that families in general, throughout New England, are furnished with Bibles; but we have great occasion of humility and lamentation, that, notwithstanding, there are many with us, as well as with you, who too much contemn or disregard this blessed book. With you we lament that the flames of war are again kindled in Europe; and that the pleasing prospects of spreading the Protestant Religion through the extensive countries of France and Italy, which seemed to be opening the last year, are so soon clouded, by reason of the recom mencement of the horrors of war. We sympathize with all our bre thren in Christ in Europe, who are distressed with the present calamities; and especially with those in the land of our forefathers' sepulchres. We are not insensible that we are united by blood; and, we hope, in those bonds of fraternal

other ages the religion of Jesus Christ, with the great virtues which it alone inspires, and with the abounding heavenly consolations which religion alone gives and affords? The deplorable times will then soon come, when the night of ignorance, superstition, profana tion, and all the shocking vices,, their attendants, will cover the church of France! Her churches will stand; but no priest will be found to officiate at their altars, to sing with the people the praise of the Almighty, to explain to them their duty, and to shew them the way to eternal happiness! All charity will be extinguished! Orphans, widows, and the children of the poor, will, in vain, stretch out their hands for a morsel of bread; - all hearts are shut to pity. The afflicted will in vain look for consolation; they will find none. They seek, in their sufferings and agonies, the old man near to breathe his last, the repentant agonizing sinners, all in vain will call for the consolation and support of religion! Fathers and mothers, if you have any tenderness for your offspring, if a desire to preserve them from the worst of wretchedness in this world, and of misery in the next, inspires your generous humane sentiments; if you do not see with indifference the extinction of the Christian faith, the total cessation of instruction in the evangelical religion in your families, and in France; if you tremble in thinking on that fatal hour, on that disastrous moment, when Religion descends into the tomb with the last of its ministers, -remain not insensible to our prayers: do not refuse a small donation to our pressing solicitations which the preservation of the most invaluable of all things, and your own great interest, claim imperiously,"

Journal des Debats.

Extracts from a Journal of a recent. Tour through Part of France, Switzerland, &c.

[Continued from page 184] After a very agreeable journey, we arrived at Strasbourg on Sunday

the 22d of May. Though it was but six o'clock in the morning, a dear Christian friend was waiting for us at the post-house, and received us with such a cordial bro. therly love, as fills my heart with gratitude to this day. Every thing was prepared for our reception in his house; whatever could contribute to our refreshment and comfort was at hand. It being Sunday, we went, both before and after noon, to different Protestant churches; and I was rejoiced not only to see them pretty well filled, but still more to hear sermons agreeable to sound doctrine. I was particularly edified by a sermon of the Rev Mr. Rautenstrauch, who spoke about seeking the things that are above, and about that true rest for the soul, to be found in Jesus alone, with such energy, that I left his church filled with praise to God. I visited likewise the meetings of two small religious societies, where I felt quite at home. May the Lord Jesus bless all these precious souls!

Among the acquaintances which I either made or renewed at Stras bourgh, the following were the most interesting:

1. Mr. Hebusen, a venerable old man, who was formerly very active in promoting the cause of Christ; and as long as he was in good circumstances, spent the greatest part of his income in printing and dispersing many thousands of religious books; but, through the calamities of the Revolution, he lost nearly all his property, and has only a bare subsistence left. For these last six years he has laboured under a linger. ing and painful complaint: but I was greatly edified by beholding his humility, resignation, and unshaken confidence in Christ in the midst of these severe afflictions.

1. A Christian lady, who for a long time has been greatly afflicted both in mind and body: The sufferings of her earthly tabernacle often press upon her spirit, so that, sometimes her faith fails, and her hope vanishes. She said to me, “Often, when I am utterly at a loss what to do, a single text of Scripture, or the simplest verse of an

hymn occurring to my mind, proves a cordial to me.

3. Another Christian lady, who for years has laboured under a dropsy, and has been tapped forty seven times -She looks forward with a cheerful confidence to her dissolution.

4. An aged widow, who has suffered much for many years, both from poverty and from the ill usage of her husband, who persecuted her in the most cruel manner, on ac. count of her piety: but she always returned good for evil, continuing to shew him every mark of conjugal affection, and to wrestle with God in his behalf, till she had the great pleasure to see her prayers answered, by the conversion of her husband about a year before his death. She reminded me of the description which St. Paul gives of a true widow: 66 She, that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God, and continneth in supplications and prayers night and day." Words cannot express how much I was edified by this visit: her conversation, prayers, and deportment, altogether served both to humble and encourage me.

5. A whole family, who for many years has passed thro' a variety of tribulations. No sooner did the sun of prosperity appear to dawn upon them, than a new storm overtook them. They were often obliged to wander trom place to place, and frequently had no resource left: still they were not forsaken. How salutary is affliction! How many have been constrained thereby to seek God! and how many more are by the same means preserved in his communion, and unit. ed more closely to him!

The 24th left Strasbourgh for Basle; and had only left the town a few hours, when a French police officer entered the house of my friend, in order to arrest me and my companion, supposing us to be Englishmen, in consequence of the war which had just broken out be tween France and England. But we were gone; and both of us, on separate routes, passed the boun daries without any molestation; and shall long remember, with gra

titude, the, gracious guidance and protection of Divine Providence in this and similar cases.

After a pleasant journey of two days, I had the pleasure to arrive in the city of Basle, so dear to me from my former six years abode. Several of my particular friends came beyond the Swiss boundaries to meet me; we fell upon each other's necks; and, in midst the kindest expressions of friendship, they convoyed me to my former lodgings. My heart and my lips overflowed with thanks. Here I stayed a fortnight; during which time I received so many convincing proofs of the sincerest friendship and Christian affection, that the remembrance of it, to this day, causes tears of joy and gratitude.

As it would lead me too far to relate all the occurrences during my stay, let it suffice to mention the following:.

1. I had the favour to preach thrice in three different churches. The sight of the people flocking to the churches, in order to hear the word of God, humbled and encou raged me; and I was excited to adoration, when I afterwards heard that the word preached was made instrumental to the awakening of sundry persons.

2. Besides the public preachings, I either kept or attended several private meetings for edification. These were likewise very numerously attended; and I can say of a truth, "The Lord was in the inidst of us," blessed his word, warmed our hearts, enlivened our zeal, confirmed our faith, enkindled brotherly love, and renewed in all our hearts the resolution to devote both soul and body to him and his service. The accounts which I gave them of the numbers of zealous and active Christians in England, and the salutations which I had to deliver from many of them to their brethren in Switzerland and Ger. many, caused universal joy, and stirred up a spirit of emulation. In like manner my heart rejoiced to see and hear that so much of real and vital Christianity is to be met wir in he city and neighbourhood of Basle among persons of all ranks.

It is a great blessing for this city that there are so many worthy and truly pious ministers in it. There are likewise several hundreds of true followers of the Lord Jesus, most of whom are in connection with the United Brethren, and the rest with the "German Society." - Others again, either form smaller separate societies, or go on their Christian course without joining any particu. lar society. A spirit of mutual forbearance and affection prevails among the greater part of these different societies; yet I could not help wishing and praying that brotherly love might still increase; all remains of a party spirit be to tally subdued, and Christ become all in all. There are likewise in the canton of Basle, many ministers and laymenpossessed of true piety. May the Lord keep, increase, strengthen, and bless them, out of the fulness of his grace! Amen.

3. I had likewise the pleasure frequently to meet a select number of friends; or to converse with single individuals upon spiritual subjects, and to join them in singing hymns of prayer and praise. In particular, it afforded me a great joy to meet companies of children and young people, who delighted to sing their Hosannas to the Son of David, and to walk in the ways of peace and righteousness.

4. Among other sick persons whom I visited, I was particularly struck with the case of a woman be

tween thirty and forty years of age, who, ever since her thirteenth year, has been afflicted with a complica. tion of very painful complaints, which have confined her almost the whole of that time to her bed. It is impossible for me to give an ade. quate idea of her sufferings by day and night, being sometimes totally deprived of sleep for a week toge. ther; at other times being unable to speak for ten mouths, and once on the point of losing her sight. Be. sides this, she is in constant pain, and can take scarcely any nourish ment, as her stomach loaths all food, so that it is next to inconceivable how her life is supported, But the grace of God triumphs over all her sufferings; and I scarce.

ly knew what to admire most, her unshaken faith, her exemplary patience, or her humble resignation to the will of God. During my former abode at Basle, I visited her frequently for four years together, and found her now just in the same happy frame of mind, full of serenity and even cheerfulness, earnestly longing to depart and to be with Christ; yet waiting, with childlike resignation, for the appointed hour. Not a single expression of murmuring or impatience escapes her lips. Whenever she finds herself assailed by extracrdinary pains or by inward temptations, she takes her immediate refuge in the Great Friend and reliever of sinners, and finds a ready help in every time of need. She frequently follows our Saviour, in spirit, from the manger to the grave; and dwells with particular delight upon the different scenes of his suffering unto death, which afford her an inexhaustible source of consolation. Often when I went to her, to encourage her by a word of comfort, I found her speaking more comfortably to my own soul than I could to hers; and I could not help wishing that some of our modern philosophers night be present at such a bed of sickness, in order to be convinced that all their boasted philosophy is not able to produce such a triumph over human misery, as is really effected by faith in Christ.

She is entirely maintained by the charity of Christian friends, and has been often reduced to the greatest extremity; but crying to the Lord, she has experienced many remark. able instances of a particular divine Providence in her behalf, supply. ing herwants in the time of greatest need. A true spirit of prayer and supplication rests upon her; and it is highly edifying to hear her mak. ing intercession at the throne of grace, not only in behalf of her fa. mily, friends, and benefactors, but also for her country, all the chil dren of God, and the whole human race. Her very countenance bespeaks the inward peace of her heart, and there are moments when she appears already half transformed into an angel of God.