Account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Baptist General Tract Society, from Nov. 6, to Dec. 6, 1827. From Wm. Roles, Wake Co: N. C. for Tracts, Charlotte Va. Depository, from Bethany Aux. Soc. per J. Mr. Anderson, Lyles' do. per James Fife, New Briton, Pa. Aux. Soc. Wm. Watts, Agt. 1-2 to Gen. Soc. Utica, New York, Dep. C. Bennet, do. Norfolk, Va. Dep. J. Hendren, do. do. do. Portland, Me. Female Tract Society, a donation, 20,00 5,00 3,00 6,50 4,25 6,00 19,50 9,00 8,33 5,00 22,50 20,00 Elder Jesse Mercer, Washington Co. Ga. 10,00 Richmond, Va. Dep. James B. Taylor, Agt. from Richmond Aux. Soc. $7; Miles Creek do. 4; Black Creek do. 5,75; Richmond Juvenile do. 2; for 22,00 Troy, N. Y. Dep. F. B. Stowits, Agt. for Tracis sold, 13,00 -Aux. Soc. Liberty Co. Ga. J. Wilson, Agt. Holland Purchase Ass. N. Y. Aux. Soc. E. B. Smith, Agent, Joshua Gilbert, Bethel Aux. Soc. Frederick Co. Va. W. F. Broadus, Agt. 1-2 to Gen, Soc. 25,00 do. C. L. Roberts, Treasurer, do. Charles G. Sommers, New York, life directorship, *60,00 3,00 5,00 11,00 50,00 25,00 James Wilson, Thomas Stokes, William Colgate, Theodore Clark, William Butler, do. (in part of 25) 10,00 John Smith, do. Ebenezer Caldwell, do. SAMUEL HUGGENS, Treas. *Of this sum $6,25 is a donation as follows: from Mrs. Mary Ann Turpin, 5,00, Mrs. Mary H. Cooke, 1,00, and Martha Hughes, 25 cents. Account of Monies received by the Treasurer of the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Society, from Dec. 16, 1826, to Nov. 20, 1827, viz. Fem. Bap. Ben. Soc. Newburyport, by A. M. Emerson, 2,00 Salem, Nov. 20, 1827. Account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the General Convention for the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, &c. from Nov. 26, to Dec. 22, 1827. By cash being the annual subscription of the children of Sabbath School, No. 13, city of New York, From Sally Vanderpool, Treasurer of the New- 11,89 25,00 "If wanted more than Foreign; if not, take off 50 dolls. and add to the Foreign." "If thought best, or any other wanting it most." 2 Comforters, 2,00 each, 4,00 3 pair sheets, 1,80 per pair 5,40 3 do. pillow cases,,40 per pair, 1,20 3 shirts, 4 shillings per shirt, 2,00 By cash from the Fredericksburg Female Foreign 2,50 25,00 12 pair stockings, 2 shillings per pair, 4,00 2 waistcoats, 1 shirt for a child, and pocket handkerchief, 1,00 $17,60 It is our desire to have these articles sent to that Station which most needs them; and as we are unacquainted with the particular state of the different Stations, it was resolved, that the disposal of them should be committed to the Board.* Done by order and in behalf of the Society. ELIZA SKINNER, Sec'ry. * We are satisfied that the course pursued by this Society of Ladies, will be duly appreciated by the Board. It is their anxious wish to make the best provision for each Station which their means will allow; but provided no discretion is left to them by the donors, there may be an excess for one Mission and little for another. They must be the best judges of the wants of the stations, from the correspondence they maintain with them. Ed. From J. Moriarty, Esq. Treas. of the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Society, 400,00 H. LINCOLN, Treas. The Treasurer takes occasion from the above expression of confidence in the Board of Managers respectfully to suggest to the numerous and liberal patrons of Foreign Missions, whether it would not be judicious for them generally to intrust the appropriation of their donations to the discretion of the Board. The Board, it is presumed, are always qualified to judge what Stations most need assistance, and will, if permitted, govern themselves accordingly. ABSTRACT OF REV. WM. YATES' SERMON, Delivered before the Board of the Baptist General Convention, at their last annual meeting, in Boston, April, 1827, and published by their request. ROMANS i. 28.. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." IDOLATRY is essentially the same in every age, and in every place. It is the same in its origin, the same in its nature, and the same in its effects. It arises from the moral depravity of the heart, from a desire not to retain the knowledge of God. This is evident from the manner in which it was produced. Men did not become exceedingly wicked and devoted to idols all on a sudden. They were once possessed of some true light, 'because that which may be known of God was manifest in them; for God showed it unto them:' and this light they had first to fly, before they could plunge into profound darkness. All idolaters both ancient and modern, have degraded themselves by extinguishing in their hearts the light of nature, for 'when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.' This was the origin of all the absurdities of FEB. 1828. heathen mythology; and this it was that led them to change the truth of God into a lie, and to worship and serve the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.' In viewing the false systems of worship into which a darkened imagination and a corrupt heart have led men, we perceive that they are in many respects dissimilar; yet how many soever may be the species and varieties, there is a generick likeness in them all. One man worships the God which his own imagination has formed, which is altogether such an one as himself, or such an one as he could wish the Deity to be; another will fix on some sensual object of honour, wealth, or mirth, and will prostrate his whole soul before that; and a third, sinking into still grosser darkness, will change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.' Still how much soever they may differ among || themselves, they all agree in this, that they do not worship the true God, but choose something else more suited to the inclinations of a depraved mind. First. They have a reprobate mind. The term reprobate signifies disapproved, and its meaning may perhaps, in the present instance, be best ascertained by considering what sort of a mind that When the Greeks and Romans is which is approved. When God rejected God, and liked not to re- created man, it was in own image, tain him in their knowledge, what and after his own likeness; and was the consequence? God reject- when men are created anew in ed them, and gave them over to a Christ Jesus, who is the image of reprobate mind, to do those things God, they are said to put on a new which are not convenient; and the nature, which is renewed in knowlnecessary result of such rejection edge after the image of him who was, that they became filled with created it: a mind, therefore, that all unrighteousness, fornication, is approved by God, must be one wickedness, covetousness, mali- that is renewed in knowledge: its ciousness, envy, murder, debate, views of the divine character must deceit, malignity;' they became be correct, and those views must 'whisperers, backbiters, haters of have a holy and transforming influGod, despiteful, proud, boasters, in-ence. In proportion as any one is ventors of evil things, disobedient possessed of a knowledge of the to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.' Such were the effects produced by idolatry among the ancients, and such we maintain to be the effects produced by it in modern times. We are blamed by some as describing the vices of the heathen in language too highly coloured; but what language can be stronger than that employed by the Apostle? We only say that the same in its full extent, is still applicable to them, and let those who object to it, first show that idolatry, by perpetuating its mischiefs and miseries for nearly two thousand years longer, has grown better in its influence, than it was in the days of the Apostle. The object of this discourse will be, To give a description of the state of the heathen-and to consider what effect this view of their state ought to have upon us. I. The state of the heathen is described by the Apostle under two heads. They are possessed of a reprobate mind; and they do the things that are not convenient: and under these may be included all the vices of their hearts and lives. only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, he will have an approved mind; and in proportion as he is destitute of this knowledge, he will have a reprobate mind. This being the standard by which we are to judge, it will be easy to show from the profound ignorance of the natives of India on all divine subjects, that they are given over to a reprobate mind. For the sake of illustration, we may notice their ignorance of the Divine Being, of the plan of salvation, and of an eternal world. 1. The notions of the heathen concerning God are various and discordant. Sometimes they profess that we can know no more about him, than the blind do about colours; and at other times, they discourse with as much boldness on the subject as though they were acquainted with it in its full extent. The supposition that qualities both vicious and virtuous reside in all their gods, makes sin appear very trifling in their estimation, and tends to confound all the distinctions between vice and virtue. When they look at the sins committed by them, they regard them as a piece of diversion, and this How truly may they be said to be given over to a reprobate mind, who are thus ignorant of God, of the plan of salvation, and of an eternal world. 2. Correct views of the divine character are at the foundation of all true religion, and an error in these must be attended with conse- Second. Our text states that in quent errors in the superstructure addition to having a reprobate mind, of which these are the basis. Hence they do those things which are not mistaken views of God lead to mis- convenient. Their practice correstaken views concerning the plan of ponds with the state of their knowlsalvation. This is strikingly ex-edge, and the state of their hearts: emplified in the ideas which the heathen entertain of salvation. They depend upon works of merit. The ceremonies performed with a view to acquiring merit are of various kinds, such as bathing in the Ganges, repeating the name of God, counting over a string of beads, making offerings of rice and flowers to the gods, building ghats and temples, and giving something to the poor by one or other of these means they all seek to lay up a stock of merit for another world, and on this they place all their hopes of salvation. They have no idea of the mercy of God without works, or of the forgiveness of sin unless expiated by their sufferings, or of the possession of heaven except as the reward of their merits. In all these things they evidence the most lamentable proofs of a reprobate mind. 3. Ignorance in the use of means implies ignorance of the end to be attained. When we consider the nature of that bliss after which the heathen aspire, we may cease to wonder at the plans which they have devised for its acquisition. Their highest devotees aim at absorption in the Deity. Those who seek salvation by their works expect such bliss as shall correspond with their merits; and the greatest and the total absence of holiness, and the unceasing commission of crime in their general deportment, are substantial proofs that their minds are reprobate. It would be impossible for us to dwell on all the particular things done by them which are not convenient, as that would require us to comment on all the vices enumerated by the Apostle in the context. Their lying and lust, their covetousness and cruelty, will furnish enough to illustrate the subject, and from these it will not be difficult to form an estimate of the rest. 1. The religion of a people must always affect their moral character, and it must not be accounted strange, if a people taught by their religion to believe as truth, the most glaring falsehoods, should themselves be adepts at lying. They are notorious for this vice. 2. The things inconvenient to which the text more particularly alludes, are those which arise from the unrestrained indulgence of vicious and sensual passions. illustration of this, in reference to [Mr. Yates exhibits a forcible the Hindoos, and says:— When reading on one occasion, in a large assembly, the moral law, thou shalt not commit adultery,' |