According to the documents to which we have had access at this time, the christian population stands thus: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, Others, 21,680 20,850 2,700 1,000 500 Total, 46,730 The number of whites, male and female, under ten years, about 166,100 The number of blacks, under ten years, about Total, From the whole population, take the number under ten, and there remain," From this number take the number of church members, 24,350 190,450 564,317 190,450 373,867 46,730 and there remains, 327,137 to be be brought under the influence of a christian pro. fession. 1 The preachers of different denominations, who are at present actually employed in different parts of the state, must be something about 200-that is, we have a preacher in some good degree devoted to his work for nearly every two thousand souls. It is believed that there is scarcely a county in the state where there are not several organized churches. And whatever may be the real state of the heart, infidelity is not now openly avowed by many. The great mass of the non-professing population may therefore be considered as well disposed to christianity. Suppose that there are two hundred preachers actually employed every Sabbath, and that each has an audience of 200, there will be only 40,000 worshippers in all. A number somewhat less than the number of church members. Yet taking all the circumstances connected with the arrangements of the different churches throughout the year into view, we are persuaded that the average number of regular Sabbath day worshippers does not exceed this number. Now take this forty thousand from five hundred thousand, the population of the state, and you have four hundred and sixty thousand every Sabbath who are not attending public worship any where. But suppose that the arrangements of all the churches were such that all the members of the different churches could attend public worship with their families every Sabbath, and suppose that on an average every communicant brought five of his children, or servants, or friends, with him, and you will have at least two hundred thousand regular worshippers every Sabbath-that is, by this single arrangement fully two thirds of the population of the state, from ten years old and upward, would be every Sabbath under the influence of gospel truth, Whatever may be the distinguishing difference be tween the denominations of christians in Kentucky, we apprehend they heartily agree in substantially maintaining and trying to inforce the following doctrines. 1. That the Bible is the word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and manners, to which nothing is to be added and from which nothing is to be taken under any pretext whatever. 2. That man in his present state is a sinner and depraved, and needs the regenerating and sanctifying influence of God's Spirit. 3. That the Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man, and is the only Saviour of a lost and perishing world. 4. That the public and official preaching of the gospel is the great ordinance which God hath appointed, and which he hath been pleased to bless extensively for the conviction, and conversion, and salvation of lost men. 5. That the Sabbath ought to be particularly devoted to the great and important concerns of eternity. 6. That whenever the gospel has its proper influence upon the heart, a great change will be visible in the life-men will be taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world. And, 7. We are persuaded that the great mass of the members of the churches which have been particularly named, know and believe that there is a mighty energy connected with sincerity and honesty in our professions of attachment to our Lord Jesus Christ, and that we cannot expect success in his cause but in the bumble, patient, and persevering use of the the means which he himself has appointed. In the words of a native of Kentucky, now in glory, "Deceit is the great weapon of the adversary of God and man. Deceit-cunning-the sly insinuating course is the common result of all who attempt improper objects. Let the sons of cunning learn that deceit will never prosper under the government of God. He is the defender of the right, he is the avenger of iniquity. "The shield of the stranger, the father of the fatherless, the husband of the widow, the champion of the oppressed." All this he has undertaken. Will he neglect his charge. Let no man then glory in the success of his craftiness. He must be artful indeed if he circumvent Omniscience; he must be mighty indeed if he break those toils which the hand of Omnipotence is pledged to cast around him. Like Satan he may triumph in a momentary success; like Satan he will discover that his triumph was premature. Let no good man cultivate a crafty plotting spirit. If his object be a good one, it needs no such dubious aid; if it be a bad one, he ought never to pursue it. Let no pious man fear the machinations of the cunning. God is the protector, he has pitched his infinite wisdom against the arts of the deceiver; you have only to stand still and see his great salvation. "Let no great and gallant spirit demean his lofty feelings to point plot against plot, or to answer wile with wile. Freeborn sincerity is the attribute of nobleness. If he must act on the defensive, let it be in the light of heaven. Innocence in the native and the strongest fort of courage. And one single effört made in the strength of innocence will do more solid execution than ten thousand policies. An arrow thus shot will designate its ' course like lightning through the skies; it will fly terrific and decisive to its aim, as the thunderbolt of heavOurs then be the prayer of the deep reflecting Psalmist, "remove far from me the way of lying:" and let all our conduct be modelled on that prayer." en. Maintaining and acting upon these principles, the christians of Kentucky, though the minority of the inhabitants, need not despair of being in God's time and way the instruments of bringing the whole mass of the population of their couutry under the regenerating influence of the gospel of God's Son. No. 26. CONCLUSION. THE above sketches and facts form only a very imper fect outline of the history and the state of the church in the state of Kentucky. The man whose lot it shall be to fill up this outline, and add another set of sketches forty years hence, will have it in his power to publish a more splendid production. But such as the work is, we trust that it shall not be without its interest or its use |