I >- 
 
 reTort l , 
 
 or 
 
 THE TRUSTEES £2^ 
 
 OF TUB 
 
 HAMPSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 MADE AT THEIR 
 
 ANNUAL MEETING 
 
 IN 
 
 NORTHAMPTON, 
 
 THE LAST THURSDAY IN AUGUST, 1806. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY. 
 
 By Rev. JONATHAN L. POMEROY 
 
 OF WORTHINGTON. 
 
 NORTHAMPTON : 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM BUTLER, 
 1 806. 
 
REPORT, &c. 
 
 JT HE TRUSTEES would inform the Society, 
 that the Miflionaries, employed the laft year, completed 
 their refpeflive Millions without any fpecial inconven- 
 ience and with honor to themfelves, and with advantage 
 and fuccefs to the common caufe. 
 
 Rev. Meflrs. Payfon Willifton and Thomas H. Wood, 
 labored in the counties of Onondago and Chenango ; 
 each of them fifteen weeks. Mr. Wood rode 1400 
 miles, preached 70 fermons, adminiltered the Lord’s fup- 
 per once, baptifm 15 times, vifited 11 Schools and 
 about 300 families, attended feveral conferences and 
 diftributed the Society’s books as he had opportunity 
 and found there w’as need. 
 
 Mr. Willifton was not lefs aftive, laborious and 
 faithful in performing the feveral parts of his Million. 
 
 Rev. Royal Phelps performed a Million to the well- 
 ward of only 8 weeks. From his journal it appears that 
 he had a truly millionary fpirit and labored without 
 ceafing, and to much effedl. Thefe miflionaries, wffio 
 have entirely approved themfelves to the Trullets, allure 
 you of the refpecl with which they were commonly 
 treated ; of the readinefs (hewn to hear the word preach- 
 ed ; to receive more private infiru&ion and attend confer- 
 ences for religious converfation. Their fervices were 
 gratefully acknowledged. A repetition of fimilar ones 
 earnefily requelled, millionary intlitutions highly efiimated 
 and their benevolent exertions almolt every wherelthank- 
 fully owned. Often it was difficult for the people to utter 
 all which they wilhed and experienced. In divers places 
 an hearing ear was granted. The hearers hung on the 
 lios of the animated fpeaker ; eager to hear, defirous to 
 
[ 4 3 
 
 improve, flow to depart and ready to return. Impreffions 
 were made by the truth, faithfully and powerfully preach- 
 ed, which, it is hoped, will be permanent. The Holy 
 Spirit working effe&ually with the word ; renewing the 
 heart and reforming the life. They ftate that fuch is the 
 deftituteand helplefs condition of many of the new fetlle- 
 ments that they hill greatly and probably will long need 
 all which the funds of this fociety, and other focieties 
 will be able to do for their relief. Many of the infant- 
 plantations are fmall and fcattered : fome of them are 
 divided in their religious opinions, and fome are broken by 
 fharp and unchriflian contentions. Meffrs. Williflon and 
 Wood had a friendly interview with the New-Stockbridge 
 Indians, under the iinmediate care of the Rev. John 
 Sergeant. Something was faid relative to a million 
 among fome remote tribes of Indians ; particularly the 
 Miami and Delaware. Tho’ at prefem your funds are 
 fmall and tho’ few are qualified and inclined to under- 
 take fuch a million and tho’ yet little is doing, the friends 
 of fouls are earneflly looking for the time when a wider 
 door rnay be opened to preach to the natives the ever- 
 lafting gofpel of the blefied God and our Saviour. 
 
 Rev. Meffrs. Jofeph Field, Samuel Sewall and John 
 Dutton fulfilled a million in the whole of fifty-four weeks, 
 in the counties of Oxford and Kennebec in the diftrift 
 of Maine. Mr. Field preached 83 times; 35 on the 
 Lord’s day and 48 on other days ; adnriniltered the 
 Lord’s fupper four times and feven baptifms, infpe&ed 
 fchools and attended funerals- Mr. Sewall rode nearly 
 i40omiles, preached 133 fermons, vilired private fam- 
 ilies, attended conferences, and performed other miflion- 
 ary labors. 
 
 Mr. Dutton was equally difpofed and enabled to dif- 
 charge the important trull committed to him. They 
 rendered ufeful fervices to the fociety ; their labors were 
 gratefully received and crowned with fuccefs. All your 
 millionaries agree in the utility and neccffity of continuing 
 
C 5 3 
 
 ihefc millions, of increaCng the number of laborers and 
 pontra&ing the field of labor. 
 
 The laborers being few and theik harved plenteous, 
 and defirous of doing more good, the field of labor may 
 be improperly extended and the propofed efleCt diminilli- 
 ed. Every thing cannot be effected and fliould not be 
 attempted by a few perfons in a fliort time, embracing a 
 large extent of territory in their commiffion. Fearing 
 led they fhould not do what is expe&ed and allotted 
 them ; they are induced to pafs rapidly from place to 
 place, and leflen their miniderial fervices. They cannot 
 do what they would. Could three obje&s be gained ; 
 an increafe of miflionaries, a contraction of their limits 
 and a lengthning of their millions much greater good 
 would be effected. At prefent neceflity rediains your 
 operations. Providence may in time remove thefe diffi- 
 culties, brighten your profpeCts, and enlarge your funds 
 and furnifii fufficient numbers to preach in remote parts 
 the unfearchable riches of Christ, to the indruCtion, 
 converlion and falvation of many thoufands of precious 
 and immortal fouls. Larger contributions have been 
 made to the funds in the new fettlements the lad year, 
 than before. 
 
 The Trudees at their lad annual meeting appropriated 
 for the prefent year, for millions a fum not exceeding 900 
 dolls, and for books the fum of 400 dollars. You have 
 now five miflionaries in your employment — Rev. Melds. 
 Jofeph Blodget, David H. Willidou, John Dutton, Roy- 
 al Phelps and Nathaniel Dutton. Melds. Blodget, 
 Willidon and John Dutton, are employed in Oxford and 
 Kennebec counties, for fifty weeks in the whole. Melds. 
 Phelps and Nathaniel Dutton, are employed in Ononda- 
 go and Chenango counties and on the Black-river for 
 fifty-two weeks, making in the whole 102 weeks fervice 
 lor 856 dollars. 
 
 As yet but a few communications have been received 
 from the miflionaries. Thofe which have been are of an 
 ~ encouraging and plealing nature. As in former years the 
 
i 
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 Truftees in this, have attended to the diftribunon o t 
 books. They conceive that this objeft claims juft and 
 much attention and muft claim it in future. In this 
 way continual and rich inftru&ion is eafily, cheaply, 
 and extenfively diffufed. The books which have been 
 fent this year to be diftributed will appear by document 
 (A) as will thofe which are now on hand. 
 
 Availing themfelves of a large impreffion of Vincent’s 
 Explanation, of the Afflmbly’s Calechifm , a very valuable 
 work, made at the defire of feveral Affociations, the 
 Truftees have taken for the Society’s benefit 700 copies 
 at a very reafonable price ; one hundred and fixty of 
 which have been exchanged for 2,000 Iheets of Trafts 
 and other works proper for diftribution. Bound with 
 Vincent, is a well written addrefs on the fubje£t of prayer 
 and family religion, by Rev. Dr. Trumbull. The neat 
 profits of a good work, called the Panoplijl , arifing 
 from the fales in this county, have been offered by the 
 Editors for your benefit ; and will add between 70 and 
 100 dollars to your funds. The Truftees ftate that fev- 
 eral donations have been made by individuals, well wifh- 
 ers to the caufe. flon. William Phillips, Efq. of Bof- 
 ton, has made one of fifty dollars $ which has been ac- 
 knowledged in a letter of thanks addreffed to him. — 
 Liberal fums have been received this year from the Fe- 
 male Affociation : as document (B) fliews. It is 
 believed tha^ many ftreams will yet flow from that fource 
 into your treafury which will benefit and rejoice thofe 
 who need and defire pious inftruftion. The charitable 
 contributions made at different times fiuce the laft meet- 
 ing have increafed the funds. The annuities have been 
 generally tho’ not wholly paid. Various reafons may 
 have produced a temporary delay. Seafonable pay> 
 ments areufeful and enriching to the funds : as monies, 
 not loon needed, are loaned. The monies which have 
 been received for the funds, will appear from document 
 (B& C) being 1303 dolls. 3+ 1-2 cts. The expenditures 
 from document (D) amounting to 1 142 dolls. 53 1-2 cts. 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 The prefent flare of the Treafury with tho report of 
 the Auditing Committee from document (E.) 
 
 The Truftees hope they can fay, Hitherto hath the 
 Lord owned and profpered the inflitution. Many have 
 been difpofed to advance this great and good work. — 
 While fome have readily honored the Lord with their 
 fubftance, and repeatedly confecrated a part ot their 
 earthly treafures to charitable ufes ; others have been 
 found and inclined to carry into full effeft, the benevo- 
 lent deGgns of the Society. The liberal aid afforded 
 by numerous female affociations for the purchafe of Bi- 
 bles and other fuitable books, fhould not be forgotten 
 and fuppreffed. No fmall praife is due to God for 
 this very thing. It is what might have been looked for 
 from the readinefs of pious and charitable women to do 
 good ; from their compaffion for fotils and their earnefl 
 defire to fpread the truth. 
 
 The prefent flate of the funds will not let us doubt of 
 being able to furnifh future fupplies for our diflant fet- 
 tlements. But, fince continued efforts require continued 
 fupplies, the friends of Christ and humanity will not 
 difeontinue them. Having begun well, they will go on 
 and further the important defign. Many confiderations 
 will powerfully refill fainting and wearinefs in this accept- 
 able fervice of chriflian Love. It will be ufeful frequent- 
 ly to recoiled how many focieties of chriflians are en- 
 gaged in this work. With what views, in what ways 
 and to what glorious purpofes they purfue it : How their 
 love and zeal, their faith and hope grow exceedingly. 
 Plans are ripened, means provided and inftruments fur- 
 nifhed to undertake very laborious, difficult and hazar- 
 dous enterprizes in the caufe of the dear Immanuel. In 
 Europe this work is purfued with unremitted afliduity 
 and unabated zeal, with fanguine expe&ation and ever 
 memorable fuccefs. In this country too, the fame fpirit, 
 kindled from above, glows, fpreads and flrengthens. 
 Almofl throughout the United States fimilar focieties are 
 formed, meafures adopted, monies collected and perfons 
 
C 8 j 
 
 Employed to fpread the favor of divine truth far afic! 
 wide. The gofpel of Christ is thus preached to mul- 
 titudes who, without fuch benevolent aid, would live 
 deflitute of the means of grace, plunge deep into ig- 
 norance and error and probably tranfmit a dreadful and 
 odious inheritance of ignorance, error and corruption to 
 their poflerity. It is not eafy for thofe, who have been 
 always favored with a fulnefs of religious advantages, 
 duly to eflimate their own mercies or keenly feel 
 for their brethren famifliing for wUnt of the bread 
 of life. 
 
 It is refrefhing and animating to dwell upon the 
 good already produced. The folitary place hath been 
 made glad and in the defert they have fung the fongs of 
 Zion. Churches have been planted, mmiilers fettled 
 and the word and inflitutions of Christ have proved 
 the power of God and the wifdom ol God unto the 
 fpiritual good of perifhing finners. The eyes of the blind 
 have been opened, and the ears of the deaf have been 
 unflopped ; the lame have leaped, and the dumb have 
 fung the praifes of redeeming love. Chriflians have been 
 edifyed, quickened, comforted and fanttifyed by the truth, 
 ordinances, and grace of Chrifl. This is the work of 
 God ; wondrous and joyous to our minds and hearts. 
 
 It is an high honor to be workers together with God 
 in forwarding the work of redemption, in building up 
 Zion, in bringing finners to the knowledge and obedience 
 of the faith, and preparing them for immortal bleflednefs. 
 
 It is well to reflett that much remains to be done ; that 
 much may be done by good people ; that much is ex- 
 petted of them ; that for this purpofe God bellows his 
 bounties ; that all which they and others call their own 
 is the Lord’s ; that he demands a portion of what he 
 gives, for his more immediate ufe. Such an application 
 is acceptable ; an odour of a fweet fuelling favor unto 
 God. He can abundantly blefs you for your labors of 
 love in his caufe. He can conflantly fatisfy liberal and 
 holy fouls from his own all-fulhciency and the inexhaufli- 
 
[ 9 1 
 
 • ? , , * i . 
 
 ble fallncfs of Jefus Chrift. Animated by fuch powerful 
 considerations ; impelled by fuch weighty motives will 
 not the friends of Chrifl and of mankind perfevere ii; 
 their prayers and liberalities, their fervices and efforts un- 
 till, by the grace of God, the wilderriefs (hall univerfally 
 become like Eden and the defert like the garden of the 
 Lord ? 
 
 The Truflees fuggeft to the Society the expediency of 
 recommending t® the feverai congregational and prefby- 
 terian Societies in the county, a contribution to aid the 
 funds of the Society, to be made on the annual Thanks- 
 giving, or on fome Lord’s day near, as fhall be judged 
 mod eligible ; and that this Report fhould be publifhed, 
 Circulated and previoufly read in public. While doing 
 good to others you may humbly hope that God, who both 
 minifters feed to the Sower and bread to the eater, will not 
 let you lack any good thing ; and that he will increafe the 
 fruits of your righteoufnefs ; that you may be enriched 
 unto all bountifulnefs ; for which liberality of yours ma- 
 ny thanksgivings will be rendered unto God through our 
 T-ord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 In the name of the Truflees , 
 
 SAMUEL HOPKINS, Vice P reft dent. 
 
 At a meeting of the Society, Northampton, Augufl 28, 
 1806, read, accepted and voted to be printed, diftributed 
 and publicly read, as reported by the Truftees to the So- 
 ciety. 
 
 Aitejl, PAYSON WILLISTON, Rec’g. Sccr’y, 
 
 B 
 

 ' 
 
 .. : .V- ll.-IM w.ijqS; . M 
 
 * 
 
 V 1 '— - a*J 
 
 ■ 
 
 - Vi *. 'I v. vyw .. I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ‘ 
 
 
C ” ] 
 
 
 DOCUMENT A. 
 
 
 Books Cent for di/lribution into the neivfettlements , 1806. 
 
 
 No. 
 
 BIBLES, 
 
 72 
 
 SeleCt Sermons, 
 
 15 
 
 Doddridge’s Rife. 
 
 45 
 
 Addrefs to the Matter, 
 
 124 
 
 Lathrop’s 6 Seimons, 
 
 30 
 
 on the Chrittian Sabbath, 
 
 11 2 
 
 on the Church, 
 
 1 
 
 Religious Tradefman 
 
 3 
 
 Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, 
 
 120 
 
 Hem. dif. to children, 
 
 
 Addrefs to a Stranger, 
 
 6r 
 
 Beft way to defend the Bible, 
 
 88 
 
 Watts’ divine Songs, 
 
 100 
 
 Advice to a young man, 
 
 21 
 
 Coleman’s Incomprehenfiblcnefs, 
 
 10 
 
 Catechifms, 
 
 24 
 
 Davidfon’s real Chrittian, 
 
 2 + 
 
 All's for the bett, 
 
 25 
 
 Emerfon's Ordination Sermon, 
 
 3° 
 
 Hale’s Sermon, 
 
 65 
 
 Report for 1802, 
 
 8 
 
 for 1803, 
 
 40 
 
 for 1804, 
 
 50 
 
 for 1805, 
 
 60 
 
 Inftruftions & Addrefs, 
 
 40 
 
 Plain Truths, 
 
 r 
 
 Porteus, 
 
 1 
 
 Jofeph’s difcovering himfelf, 
 
 1 
 
 Vivian’s dialogues, 
 
 
 Whitaker’s Addrefs, 
 
 2 
 
 Bowie’s laft Illnefs, 
 
 3 
 
 Life of Faith, 
 
 23 
 
 Drop of Honey, 
 
 1 
 
 Vincent, 
 
 / 
 
 Whole, 
 
 *392 
 
 Lijl of Books on hand , 
 
 I 806 
 
 
 No. 
 
 SeleCl Sermons, 
 
 16 
 
 Doddridge’s Rife & 
 
 276 
 
 do. on the care of the Soul, 
 
 39° 
 
 do. Addrefs to the matter 
 
 627 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 Latlirop’s 6 Sermons, 1 20 
 
 do.' on the Cliriftian Sabbath, 458 
 
 Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, 360 
 
 Hemmenway’s Difcourfe to Children, 61 
 
 Beft way to defend the Bible, 178 
 
 Watts’ Divine Song$, 570 
 
 Coleman’s Incomprehenfiblenefs, 40 
 
 Davidfon’s real Chriftian, 25 
 
 Hale’s Sermon, 65 
 
 Report for 1802, j$ 
 
 for 1803, . 78 
 
 for 1804, 150 
 
 for 1805, 210 
 
 InftruCtions and addrefs 241 
 
 Vincent, • 468 
 
 Whole " 4331 
 
 DOCUMENT B. & C. 
 
 Increafe of the funds of the Hampfhire Miffionary Society, from 
 Auguji 29, 1805, to Augujl 28, 1806. 
 
 Donations of the Female Charitable Aflociation. 
 
 Dots. Cts. 
 
 Xn Amherft, firft parifh, 6 74-5 
 
 Athfield, 8 25 
 
 Chefter, 6 62 ^ 
 
 Gofhen, 10 25 
 
 Hadley, 27 68 
 
 Hatfield, 19 00 
 
 Hawley*- 8 00 
 
 Longmeadow, £9 1 6 
 
 Northampton,- 18 77 
 
 Southampton, 34 57! 
 
 Springfield, 22 00 
 
 Weftampton, 15 00 
 
 Weft-Springfield, firft parifii, 26 76 
 
 Wiftiamlburgh, 1 14 37$ 
 
 Deerfield, 2 50 
 
 Total Female Aflociation, 289 69 
 
 Balance in the Treafury laft year, 234 45! 
 
 Intereft on the fame, 16 65 i 
 
 Total of the fund of the female aflocialion, 540 80 
 
 Expended of this fund for 
 72 Bibles, 48 75 
 
 25 SeleCt Sermons, 21 87! 
 
[ >3 3 
 
 200 Truftees’ Report, 1805, for 
 
 dillribution, S ct> 
 
 700 Vincent’s Catechifm, 266 00 
 
 Boxes, carriage, &c. of books, j2 434- 
 
 Balance in the Treafury, *83 74 
 
 540 80 
 
 Donations in towns and parijhes. 
 
 dolls, cts. f Donation! made out of the county. 
 31 944 Hon. William Phillips, 
 
 Amherft jft parifli, 
 iVtoherft 2d parilh, 13 05 
 
 Aftifield, 21 32 
 
 Belchertown, 7 53 
 
 Buckland, 5 00 
 
 Charlemont, 1 50 
 
 Chefterfield, 10 37 
 
 Colrain, 9 00 
 
 Conway, 3 1 80 
 
 Cummington, 5 00 
 
 Deerfield, 6 00 
 
 Eaftampton, 16 474 
 
 Granby, 11 25 
 
 Granville micf par. 19 00 
 
 Hadley, $4 77 
 
 Hatfield, 46 20 
 
 Hawley, 20 80 
 
 Heath, 12 25 
 
 Longmcadow, *68 97-.- 
 
 Northampton/ 71 66 
 
 Norwich, 2 co 
 
 Palmer, ^ a i 3 63 
 
 Plainfield, 29 80 
 
 Shelburne, 5 00 
 
 Southampton. 61 75 
 
 South -Hadley, 2c co 
 
 Springfield, 1 1 00 
 
 Sunderland, 54 30 
 
 Weftfield, 20 75 
 
 Weftampton, 39 21 
 
 W. Springfield id par. 25 56 
 
 Whateley, 12 59 
 
 Williamfburgh, 56 47 
 
 Worthington, 24 50 
 
 851 954 
 
 * 10 dolls, omitted by miflake laft 
 ye^rare added to this. 
 
 Bofton, yp 00 
 
 Rev. John Dutton Hart- 
 ford, Ver. 2 00 
 
 Ladies in Brookfield 
 
 weft. par. 10 50 
 
 lyev. Thomas H. Wood, 
 
 Halifax, Ver. 2 00 
 
 Jedediah Stark, Efq. Hal- 
 ifax, Ver. z 00 
 
 66 50 
 
 From Doddridge’s Rife 
 St c. of Religion, 28 71 
 
 Donations made in the new-fettlc- 
 merits. 
 
 In Maine , 
 
 Hebron, Gid’n, Cufliman, r 00 
 Noridgewalk, 4 10 
 
 Sumner & Hartford, 7 25 
 Poland, 1 6 00 
 
 Waterville, 12 00 
 
 In New-Tork, 
 Camden Mrs. Bloomfield, 2 00 
 Camden, No. 8 3 37 
 
 Camden, No. 7 2 00 
 
 Several others, 1 17 
 
 Florence, No. 4 1 5° 
 
 Sempronius,Efq. Stoyell, o 25 
 Mifs Sarah Stoyell, 1 co 
 Camillus, Jacob Sheldon, 1 00 
 Marcellus Ell, 12 25 
 
 Scipio, Luke Taylor, 1 to 
 De Ruyter, Mrs. Catlin, o 50 
 
 65 ^.9 
 
[ 14 ] 
 SUMMART. 
 
 dolls. 
 
 cts. 
 
 Female Charitable Aflociations, 
 
 289 
 
 69 
 
 Towns in the county, 
 
 851 
 
 95i 
 
 Out of the county, 
 
 66 
 
 50 
 
 New-fettlements, 
 
 66 
 
 49 
 
 Profits of Doddridge’s Rife, 
 
 28 
 
 7 i 
 
 J 3°3 34 t 
 
 DOCUMENT D. 
 
 Expenditures of the Ha?npjhire Mifionary Society between Phtgujl, 
 1805 and /lugujl, 1806. 
 
 Balance paid to Miffionaries employed, 1805. 
 
 dolls, cts. 
 
 72 14 
 
 60 00 
 
 80 00 
 
 80 00 
 
 72 00 
 
 31 00 
 
 395 H 
 
 72 00 
 
 72 00 
 
 100 00 
 
 72 00 
 
 ■ 316 00 
 
 71 1 14 
 
 +* 75 
 21 87I 
 
 28 04 
 
 16 00 
 26 6 00 
 
 380 66! 
 
 For the education of two Indian youths 10 00 
 
 For boxes, carriage, &c. of Books 1 2 43-J 
 
 Portages of letters See. 5 90-t- 
 
 Entertaining Committees, 1 1 06 
 
 Stationary, 2 25 
 
 Advertifing, 4 08 
 
 A counterfeit bill, 5 00 
 
 Rev. Payfon Willifton, 
 
 Rev. Thomas H. Wood, 
 
 Rev. Jofeph Field, 
 
 Rev. John Dutton, 
 
 Mr. Samuel Sewall, 
 
 Mr. Royal Phelps, 
 
 In advance , 1806 . 
 Rev. Royal Phelps, 
 
 Rev. Nathaniel Dutton, 
 
 Rev. Jofeph Blodget, 
 
 Rev. David H. Willirton, 
 
 Total for Miflionary fervice 
 For Books 
 72 Bibles, 
 
 25 Select Sermons, 
 
 670 Watts’ Divine Songs, 
 
 400 Truftees Report, 1805, 
 
 750 Vincent’s Catechifm. 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 l 
 
 73 
 
[ *5 J 
 
 Summary of Expenditures. 
 
 Miffionaries, 
 
 7 " 
 
 *4 
 
 Books, 
 
 380 
 
 68' 
 
 Indian Youths 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 Contingent, 
 
 40 
 
 73 
 
 
 1 142 
 
 53 i 
 
 DOCUMENT E. 
 
 THE Committee appointed by the Hamplhire Miffionary 
 Society at their meeting in Auguft 1805, to examine and report 
 the (late of the Treafury, afk leave to report : 
 
 That they have examined the Treafurer’s accounts and find 
 them regularly charged, well vouched and rightly caft, that there 
 is now in the hands of the Treafurer in cafh the fum of 
 
 dolls. 26 65 
 
 In promiflory notes, with good fureties on In- 
 tcreft, the fum of 2056 yji 
 
 Amounting to the fum of 2083 20I 
 
 Which is Humbly fubmitted. 
 
 ASA WHITE, 
 
 JONATHAN WOODBRIDGE, 
 NATHANIEL ELY, 
 
 Northampton, Auguft 26, 1806. 
 
 Auditing 
 
 Committee. 
 
 Officers of the Hampfhire Mijfionary Society , appointed at their annual 
 meeting the laft T/mrfday in Aug. 1 806. 
 
 His Excellency CALEB STRONG, Esq^ Preftdent. 
 
 Rev. SAMUEL HOPKINS, D. D. Vice- Preftdent. 
 TRUSTEES, 
 
 Hon. JOHN HASTINGS, Efq. 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH LATHROP, D. D. 
 
 Hon. EBENEZER HUNT, Efq. 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. 
 
 JUSTIN ELY, Efq. 
 
 Rev. SOLOMON WILLIAMS, 
 
 WILLIAM BILLINGS, Efq. 
 
 Rev. DAVID PARSONS, D. D. 
 
 CHARLES PHELPS, Efq. 
 
 Rev. RICHARD S. STORRS, 
 
 RUGGLES WOODBRIDGE, Efq. Treafturer, 
 
 Rev. ENOCH HALE, Correfponding Secretary, 
 
 Rev. PAYSON WILLISTON, Recording Secretary. 
 
 Standing Committee of the Truftees. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Lyman, d. d. Rev. Solomon Williams, 
 William Billings, Efq, Charles Phelps, Efq. 
 Rev. Enoch Hale. 
 
At a meting if the Hampfhire Miffionary Society, in North- 
 ampton, Voted. 
 
 THAT Rev. Doflor Parfons and Rev. R. Williams return 
 the thanks of this Society to Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, for his Ser- 
 mon, delivered before them to day, and requeft a Copy of him 
 for the Prcfs. 
 
 Attejl. PAYSON WILLISTON, Reef Sec’ry. 
 
THE LORD’S VINEYARD THE PLACE OF MAN'S 
 EMPLOYMENT. 
 
 A SERMON, &c. 
 
 In the 2\Ji Chap, and 28 th Verfg of Matthew you may read, 
 
 SON, GO WORK. TO DAY, IN MY VINEYARD. 
 
 J“IoW eafily did Jcfus Chrift, in all inftances, 
 confound thofc who undertook to enfnare him ! His 
 enemies were wholly wound up by the parable from 
 which the text is taken, and neceffitated to pafs fentencc 
 upon themfelvcs. 
 
 The chief- priefts, and elders of the people, demanded 
 of Chrift that he ftiould tell them by what authority he 
 afted. He promifed to give them fatisfa£lion, upon con- 
 dition that they ftiould anfwer a plain queftion which he 
 would put ; or give their opinion with refpeft to the 
 baptifm of John. They durft not fay that John’s bap- 
 tifm was from Heaven, becaufe in fo doing, they would 
 have condemned themfelves, for not believing in him ; 
 and John was fo in favor with the people, that they 
 were afraid to deny his prophetic chara&er, left they 
 ihould bring down the vengeance of the populace upon 
 their own heads. In this dilemma they chofe to give no 
 anfwer. 
 
 What could now more fuitably come in than the para- 
 ble of the two fons, who were commanded to work in 
 the vineyard ? The cafe was fo plain, that when the 
 queftion was pur, whether of them twain did the will of 
 his father, they could find noexcufe for faying, as they 
 
[ >8 ] 
 
 did with refpeft to John, we cannot tell. Pride was 
 mortified upon this occafion. Thofe who made the law 
 their ftudy, and were formal and pun&ilious, in ob- 
 ferving fome of its external requirements, thought 
 therafelves pofiefled of an exclufive title to the kingdom 
 of God ; and held in contempt both the heathen world, 
 and the lower order of their own countrymen. The Jew- 
 ifti commonalty, however, and even the publicans and har- 
 lots, a number of them, who fet up no fuch claim, gave 
 more evidence that they were the heirs of the kingdom, 
 by obeying the orders of the king, as they were deliv- 
 ered by the baptift, and in the preaching of Chrift. — 
 Chrift applied the parable ; and, no doubt, its application 
 was anticipated by thofe to whom it was delivered. 
 
 God is intended by the father in the parable, who di- 
 rected his Tons to go into the vineyard. Leaving the 
 original defign of the words chofen For the theme of this 
 difeourfe, they may be fo interpreted as to convey gener- 
 al inftru&ion, and fo turned as to fuit this occafion. 
 
 Let us then confider the perfon addrefled, fon ; the 
 thing commanded, work ; the place where, the vine- 
 yard ; the time when, to day. 
 
 Firft. Son is a term denoting that relation which one 
 perfon fuftains to another, who is his father. This term, 
 m common ufe among men, is employed by God with as 
 little variation of meaning, as the nature of the cafe 
 will allow. 
 
 From the conftru&ion of the parable, we are led to 
 view God as applying the term to mankind, generally, 
 and to his chofen people, peculiarly. The perfon who 
 reprefents the proud, and felf-fuflkient Jews, is in the par- 
 able, called fon, as well as the other, by whom we 
 are to underftand the humble publicans, and other 
 broken hearted finners. 
 
 That all perfons, penitent and impenitent, may fee 
 why it is that God calls each one of mankind fon, it is 
 important that the particular reafons fhould be under- 
 flood, and recollected. 
 
[ *9 3 
 
 Gcd as the creator of us all, is the father of us all ; 
 and we are, by our very being, his offspring $ as one 
 perfcn is the fon of another, b<?caufe he owes to him his 
 natural exillence ; and as one perfon is the father of 
 another, becaufe he is the author of natural exiftence t6 
 him. God is more truly, and emphatically, our natural 
 father, than any e rth'y parent can be, and we are more 
 really his fons, than we can be the fons of thofe, 
 who were only inflrumental of giving us life. The human 
 machine is the work of God, with all its curious or- 
 ganisation ; and the immortal mind, (till more wonder- 
 ful in its ftrutture, is to be attributed to the fame infi- 
 nite fcmfe. 
 
 We will now view the term fon as more definitely 
 ufed by God. Before the deluge, the fons of God were 
 diftinguifhed from the reft of mankind, for we find them 
 mentioned together with the daughters of men. While 
 all men are the fons of God, being his creatures, thofe are 
 his fons peculiarly, upon whom a work of religion his beeft 
 wrought. The unbeliever may attribute the difference 
 among men to the difference of moral cultivation. Bdl 
 the facred feriptures fpeak, abundantly, of being begot- 
 ten of God ; of being boru of the Spirit ; and of being 
 created in Chrft Jefus. 
 
 The Sabbath which was firft obferved in the world, 
 was to celebrate the creation of the World : or the reft- 
 ing of God from his labors of creation. The prefeht 
 Sabbath comes in place of the ancient one ; and is a 
 day of reft confequent upon greater labors, the work of 
 redemption, the new creation of man. Since the day 
 for the Sabbath is changed, the event which occafioned 
 the change muft be more important than that which fix- 
 ed the day at firft. The work of redemption therefore, 
 and ccnfequently religion, muft be a work of creation ; 
 and a greater work than the creation <?f the Heavens 
 and the Earth. 
 
 As is the work of redemption generally, confidered, fo 
 is the application of it in each inftance to the human 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 heart. The child of God has no new corporeal powers 
 given him, nor any mental faculties which he did not pof- 
 fefs while in a ftate of nature. If any man be in Chrift, 
 however, he is anew creature. The mind meditates on 
 new themes ; the heart exercifes itfelf in a way en- 
 tirely different from its former courfe, things unex- 
 pected come into view : fome to be admired, and fome 
 to be detefted : and love and hatred, entirely change 
 their obje&s. The fun, the moon, and the flars to na- 
 ture’s dim eyes, are but ordinary fires or lights. How 
 differently they appear to the chriftian, may be feen in 
 his language concerning them. The heavens declare 
 tne glory of God, and the firmament fheweth his 
 handy work. The man of nature fees the lights ; 
 but the chriftian fees the glory of God in them. To 
 him therefore they are new things, and fo he muft be 
 new with refpeft to them. To mankind, as fuel: , this 
 world appears a home, and the affections are firmly fet 
 upon it. The chriftian regards it as the inn in which the 
 traveller lodges ; as the tent in which the foldier fleeps ; 
 as the ftage on which the aCtor performs his part ; as 
 the place in which the probationer makes his election 
 between good and evil, and fixes his character forever. 
 To all, but the chriftian, the law is an encumbrance, and 
 forbidden pleafure the only pleafure, while to him the 
 .cafe is direCtly the reverfe. Nature knows no 
 fpring of aCtion but what is felfifh ; the chriftian grounds 
 his fatisfaCtion on his benevolence, and on his labors of 
 love. The natural man would choofe never to die j the 
 renewed man would not live always. 
 
 The more the difference between religious inclinations 
 and natural propenfities is examined, the more apparent 
 will it be, that where religion is, there is a ne\v creation ; 
 and that the man of religion is the fon of God, in a two- 
 fold fenfe. 
 
 Now it may be afked, why this parable is not fpok- 
 en to chriftians, only, ftnee they are the perfons who 
 acknowledge the law of God, and feel the weight of 
 
r 2i ] 
 
 his commands. But has not a parent as good a light to 
 command a difobedient child, as one who is ready to.com- 
 ply with all his orders ; and is it wrong for the parent to 
 call his child his fon, becaufe the child is fo froward that 
 he will not call his parent father ? All are under obliga- 
 tion to obey God, and God lays his commands upon al|. 
 When therefore he calls any perfon fon, who does not, 
 by grace, fuftain this relation, and dire&s him to do 
 any thing, he points out how the work is to be done, 
 by the appellation with which he addrefles him. The 
 manner is very important, and is as neceflarv to be poin: - 
 ed out as the workitfelf. If God calls me his fon, lie 
 reminds me that I am his offspring, naturally, and that 
 I ought fpirituafly, and refigioufly to be fo. 
 
 Sec. The fon is commanded, in the parable, to work. 
 God then requires of us all feme kind of work. That 
 man ought not to be idle, is evident from comparing 
 him with other beings and things ; and from viewing the 
 capacity, and means with which he is furnifned. The 
 univerfe is full of labor. The planets never ceafe their 
 motion ; the comets are always on their way. The fun 
 arifeth, as it is exprefled inferipture, and the fun gocth 
 down, and hafteth to the place where he arofe. The 
 moon continually changes her pofition, and to our view, 
 varies her form. The rivers are every moment running 
 into the fea ; and the fea is ever ebbing, and flowing, 
 with waves that never fleep, nor reft. The air, now 
 circulates in breezes ; and now moves fwifter than a poft. 
 Fires burn is the entrails of the earth, without blowing ; 
 and the coals keep alive, without the care of anyone to 
 cover them. The fillies plow the deep ; and the fowls 
 divide the air above us. The ant-hill is alive with the 
 labors of its inhabitants ; and the dwelling place of the 
 bees echoes the fong of induftry and of regular produc- 
 tive exertion. 
 
 The devil goes about like a roaring lion, feeking whom 
 he may devour. Whatever is the number of thofe fallen 
 fpirits who once had a place in Heaven, they fpend no 
 
C 22 2 
 
 time in ileep, but walk their rounds, perpetually, for 
 ifiifchief. 
 
 Angels of light, and glory, and the fpirits of the 
 juft made perfect, reft not day, nor night. They fmg the 
 fong of Mofes the fervant of God, and the fong of the 
 Lamb, around the throne, or they go as miniftering 
 fpirits, a$ the ambafladors of God to perform his fervice. 
 
 God who is the creator of the ends of the earth 
 faintfeth not, neither is weary. The univerfe would re- 
 turn to non-exiftence without his unremitted vigilance 
 and care. Vaft are his works, above, infinitely above 
 our ability to trace. In his relation to this world, he 
 ftands in the three-fold capacity of, the Father, the Son, 
 and the Holy Spirit. 
 
 No father fo fteadily employs himfelf to provide -for his 
 family, as God does, though it requires no exertion in 
 him, to fupport his numberlefs dependant creatures. 
 
 No fon is fo attentive to his father’s bufinefs, as the 
 Son of God. Witnefs his words while he was here on 
 earth : My meat is to do the will of him who fent me, 
 and to finifti his work. This fhews us what he was when 
 incarnate : and what he now is, we learn from the decla- 
 ration that he ever lives to make interceflion. He is the 
 only advocate of mankind : and how many have com- 
 mitted their caufe to his management f Not a prayer 
 reaches the throne of grace, but through him. No fin- 
 ner is favorably noticed by God, whom he docs not re- 
 commend. 
 
 The fpirit is equally engaged. Who can doubt it who 
 Hears him fay. Behold I ftand at the door and knock ? 
 When the foul firft turns to God, he turns it ; and it 
 would not continue to revolve around the fun of rightc- 
 oufnefs, as its centre of attraftion, were it not for his 
 repeated impulfes and influences. 
 
 Thus, whether we look to things inanimate, to ani- 
 mated nature, or to rational being ; whether we look 
 to the earth, to hell, orlo heaven, we find motion ; we 
 dil'cover a work going on. 
 
[ 2 3 1 
 
 Now, when wc confider man, his ftrufture appears to 
 be fuch, and fuch his circumflances, that we arc led to 
 conclude that he is made for fome important end. Wc 
 mud all have bufinels to attend to, upon a large 
 fcale, and very interdting. Society is made up of 
 different clalfes. Our work is to be done in different 
 ways, according as we are differently fituated. Like the 
 members of the body we have each one his office. 
 
 Some have bodily ftrength in an uncommon meafure 
 imparted to them, and this feems to be their prominent 
 advantage. If this ftrength do not find fome object to 
 exhauft itfelf upon is it not mifapplied by the poffdlor ? 
 The beflowment indicates the purpofe of providence. The 
 ground, the curfe being upon it, requires tilling, and calls 
 for the exercife of the iron finews of labor. The peculiar 
 ftru&ure of fome men fits them, in an efpecial manner, 
 to be cultivators of the field. This clafs of men muff 
 always be large in the community, becaufe that the com- 
 munity depends for fupport, in a great meafure, upon 
 this clafs of men ; and wholly upon the laborious, in one 
 way, and another, employed. 
 
 But there are others, who are, in body, more feebly 
 conftrucfed, and whole fphere of a&ivity appears to be 
 that of the mind, rather than that of the body. Wherever 
 there is a preponderance of intelle&ual ftrength, there 
 fome intellectual occupation is pointed at in nature. The 
 field for the mind to labor in is boundlefs. The calls from 
 fociety upon men of capacity, and information are nu- 
 merous and loud. Children in vafl: multitudes are daily 
 growing up, who will prove as weeds in the garden, or 
 as briars on the farm, unlefs their minds be tutored. — 
 Such, Iikewife, has ever been the ftate of the world., 
 that information in this thing or that, has been generally 
 needed by perfons in years, a very confiderable pro- 
 portion of the community being ignorant. 
 
 He who thinks the labors of the fludent unneceffary, 
 and ufelefs, is as certainly in an error as he who looks 
 down with contempt upon the toils of hufbandry. The 
 
[ 24 ] 
 
 mind and the foil of the earth, are alike as to their need 
 of culture. 
 
 There are thofe, too, who are outwardly, and in- 
 wardly, furnifhed for much fcrvice, and there are oth- 
 ers to whom fome finall portion only, of ftrength, bodily, 
 and mental, belongs. In fuch cafes, the body and the 
 mind, have each, a part to bear in the work of life. 
 
 To fome, uncommon influence is given, ariftng from 
 their peculiar circumftaoces. This influence mufl be fet 
 to work. Some are influential by rcafon of the virtu- 
 ous life which they lead, who hold no confpicuous 
 place on account of any bodily or mental faculties. — 
 Much may grow out of this influence, properly exerted. 
 Parents, and rulers, have influence attached to their 
 Rations, which is very great. We are thrown into our 
 parents’ arms when we come into the world. Of courfe, 
 they have the befl opportunity to gain, and continue 
 their afcendency over us. If in confequence of early 
 pliancy, they can k^ep our limbs ftraight, or crook them, 
 at their pleafure, fo they may greatly bias our minds, to 
 good, or evil, by means of the confidence which we re- 
 pofe in them, Parental example is the highefl fanftion 
 with a child. Arguments againft it, avail nothing. — 
 Power is, therefore, put into the hands of parents, 
 to accomplifli much. Their means are multiplied, as 
 their influence is increafed. Rulers are in a fituation 
 fomewhat fimilar. Sometimes fuch confidence is placed 
 in them, as renders their circ'c of labor almoft immeaf- 
 urable : and when this is not the cafe, they occupy fuch 
 an eminence that all which they can look down upon, 
 may be called, in one fenfe, their work. They turn the 
 crank which fets the preat machine in motion. By 
 
 U t < J 
 
 enafting laws, and by puting them into operation, they 
 regulate fociety. Some men have fo large a fhare of 
 properly, that independantly of all other circumltances, 
 they have means to ufe which are very extenfive, and 
 their work fhould be in proportion to their means. 
 
 Third. The place where this work is to be performed 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 is the next tiling which requires our attention. The Ton 
 was directed to work in his father’s vineyard ; confe- 
 quently, the vineyard of the Lord is a place where we 
 all ought to employ ourfelves. 
 
 Now, the vineyard of the Lord of hofls, is the houfc 
 of Ifrael, and the men of Judah his pleafant plant. — 
 God condefcended to ufe fuch language when he fpokc 
 of his ancient people. The fame language is, univerfal- 
 ly, applicable to his church. 
 
 Let it not be thought too much of a digreflion, if wc 
 confider in this place, why the term vineyard has this ufe 
 in the feriptures. 
 
 Wine is the produce of the vineyard, and on ac- 
 count of its color, and other properties, it is made to 
 reprefent the blood of Chrifl. With his own blood he 
 purchafed a people for himfelf ; with this blood the foun- 
 dation of the church is cemented. Since, without the 
 fhedding of the blood of Chrifl, there could be no re- 
 million of fin, the very exigence of the church, is to be 
 traced to this caufe. What then, fo flrikingly pictures 
 out the church as a vineyard ? 
 
 Vineyard is a proper term alfo, thus employed, be- 
 cause grapes grow in cluflers, and hang upon the vine, 
 fupported by it, and nourifhed by it. The people of 
 God, who conllitute the true church, are united togeth- 
 er, by that divine love which forms them into one body ; 
 neither can they any more live without Chrifl, than a 
 clufter of grapes can live, broken off from the parent 
 flock. Thefe two things are, abundantly taught in the 
 difeourfes of our Savior, and in the writings of his in- 
 fpired lervants.. Chriftians who are acquainted, meet 
 together, and fpeak often one to another ; and there is 
 a ftrange attraction in love, drawing the foul to unknown 
 objetts of defire. To; all his people, Chrifl is as much 
 the finifher, as the author of faith. Yeflerday’s meals 
 fatisfy not the cravings of the flomach, to day ; nor is 
 the fpiritual appetite, more eafily contented, with the 
 repafl of former times. Among the many marks with 
 
 D 
 
[ 26 ] 
 
 which, we are furnifhed, to try ourfelves by, there is 
 Ho one more plain, and important, than thofe we are 
 now confidering. 
 
 It is a peculiar attachment, which the child of God 
 feels towards God’s children. Other attachments pro- 
 ceed from quite other caufes. The ties of nature arc 
 common, and ftrong ; and he rauft be, utrufually, deprav- 
 ed, who is a ftranger to their force. The ties of intereft, 
 Iikewife, have great influence in fattening the members 
 of fociety together. But he who loves the brethren, 
 has no reafon to give for it, but that they are 
 the brethren of the one common Lord. To him the 
 cafe is much the fame, whether they be his kindred, or 
 not j whether they have, at any time, done him a favor, 
 or an injury ; whether they live in the city, or the wil- 
 dernefs ; whether thev be perfons of polite education, or 
 ignorant j whether of diftinttion, or unknown ; wheth- 
 er of his own complexion, or of a different hue. The 
 image of God is what fixes this affection. 
 
 Where fuch a love to the brethren, is abfolute depend- 
 ance on Chrift is found in connexion with it,- Natural 
 men feel ftrong in themfelves. Many of them, proba- 
 bly, fuppofe that their defert mud be the highefl feat in 
 the kingdom of Heaven. Good works may ftand to the 
 credit of the chriftian, in the books of the Judge j 
 but he will make no calculation upon them, for accept- 
 ance, nor once bring them into view, as a ground of 
 hope. Real comfort is to be found, only, in the divine 
 mercy ; in : the grace of Chrifl; ; in the efficacy of the 
 atonement ; in the evidence, that the blood of l'prinkling 
 has been applied to the foul. The humble language of 
 true religion is, I know that my Redeemer liveth ; and, 
 becaufe he liveth, I (hall live alfo. Thus, this fpiritual 
 clufter hangs together, and on the fpiritual vine. 
 
 Vineyard is a proper term alfo, to reprefent believers, 
 or the true church, becaufe of the value which has ever 
 been fet upon wine. Mention is frequently made of it in 
 the fcripturcs. The vine, in Jotham’s parable, is repre* 
 
[ ®7 ] 
 
 lentcd as faying to the trees : Should I leave my wine 
 which cheereth God, and man, and go to be promoted 
 over the trees ! Chriftians are alfo called the light of the 
 world, to denote the importance of their character. No 
 light have they of their own, but like the moon they re- 
 fled! the light of that fun which fhines upon them — 
 Chrift farther termed his difciples the fait of the earth, 
 becaufe that fociety would have no feafoning without 
 them, but muft corrupt, and go to definition. 
 
 One other reafon for calling the church a vineyard is, 
 that like a vineyard it has a cultivator. He who plants a 
 vineyard does not leave it to its own fpontaneous produc- 
 tion, but lops off all encumbering vegetation, and by 
 foflering the flock, aids in the growth of the fruit. 
 God, the father, is the hufbandman of his own fpiritua! 
 vineyard. In that day, we read in Ilaiah, fing ye unto 
 her vineyard of red wine ; I the Lord do keep it ; I 
 will water it every moment, left any hurt it ; I will keep 
 it night and day. A garden enclofed, fays Chrift re- 
 fpedling his church, is my fifler, my fpoufe, a fpring ftiut 
 up, a fountain fealed. All thefe figures fhew that the 
 Lord doe6 not leave his vineyard expofed to encroach- 
 ment, nor neglet the plants which he himfelf has fet 
 out. He is the wall around his vineyard ; he is the fua 
 to fhine upon it ; and his grace is the all refrefhing, and 
 reviving rain. Beyond all this, the Lord prunes, with a 
 tender though faithful hand, his vineyard, that it may 
 bear more fruit. 1 his may be feen in the many correc- 
 tions, and trials, which he fends upon his people. 
 
 Though we are dire&ed to work in the Lord’s vine- 
 yard, « e are not located as to our bufinefs, and though 
 the vineyard reprefents the church ; our labors are not 
 to be confined to the exifting church ; to the perfons who 
 are at prefent, believers. Spiiitual things are to be com- 
 pared together. For an illuftration here, we will take 
 two paffages from our Savior’s prayer for his difciples, 
 recorded in the feventeenth chapter of John’s gofpel. 
 I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them 
 
r 28 ] 
 
 • which thou haft given me, for they are thine. Thefe 
 words wholly exclude the world from the prayers of the 
 Savior. Yet let us turn to another place. Neither pray 
 I for thefe alone, but for them alfo, who {hall believe on 
 me through their word. It would have been inconfiftent 
 for Chrift, to pray for the porfperity of the world, or 
 for worldly porfperity, to any perfons, becaufe the -world, 
 and his kingdom have no refemblance. His concern is 
 with believers. He does does not limit his regard, how- 
 ever, to thofe who at any particular time, are believers. 
 So our bufinefs is in the vineyard. Still, we are not 
 circumfcribed. We are to cultivate as many plants 
 as we find in the vineyard, and to labor to be inftrumental 
 in collecting as many more as poflible. Religion Ihould 
 be the work of life, with us all. When the glory of 
 God is our olj^eCt, and when we are aiming to pro- 
 mote it, by obeying his directions, we are at work in 
 the vineyard ; and when this is not the cafe, we are 
 not where we are ordered to employ ourfelves. The 
 prophet had quitted his proper ground, when it was laid 
 to him, What doft thou here Elijah ? 
 
 Let no one think that this rule of conduCt interferes 
 with the ordinary occupations of mankind. We all know 
 from what high authority we learn, that the work of God is, 
 that we Ihould believe on him whom he hath fent. Wemuft 
 be fenfible too, that our divine mafter, who has given us 
 this information, was more induftrious than any other per- 
 fon ever was, in doing good, to the bodies, as well as to the 
 fouls of men, and that his apoftles, whom he commiffion- 
 ed, and fent out, were paterns of induftry no lefs than of 
 found doCtrine. Paul’s hands miniftered to his neceflities. 
 
 One great excellency of religion is that it allows every 
 man to abide in the calling in which he is called ; and 
 not only allows this, but enjoins it. If our objeCt caq 
 be right, our labor cannot be wrpng. Though the riv- 
 ers are running in very various directions, their courfes 
 are fuch as they fliould be, becaufe they are asl running 
 into the fea. Thus whether we till the land ; traffic in 
 
[2 9 ] 
 
 purple ; fpread our net in the waters ; fpend our time in 
 committing our thoughts to paper ; occupy the place of 
 a ruler ; or wield the fword of the gofpel ; live in af- 
 fluence, or live in poverty ; our work is the fame. The 
 glory of God is always difplayed, when the real good of 
 mankind is advanced. 
 
 We are prone, enough, to induflry. The difficulty is, 
 that our endeavors are mifdire&ed. Ifrael was called an 
 empty vine, not becaufe, he did nothing ; but, becaufe, 
 he brought forth fruit unto himfelf. The reafons why 
 we fliould work in the vineyard, or obferve this flraight 
 path of condutt, we can eafily find if wefeekfor them. 
 
 God is engaged in the fame work which he requires of 
 men, the work of holinefs. This may be viewed as all 
 his work, fince it is all his aim. If I be a hufband- 
 man, my bufinefs need not take me off from holinefs for 
 God does far more in my hufbandry, than myfelf, and 
 yet he is not in the Ieaft, diverted from holinefs. All 
 the lawful concerns in which men are engaged, God is 
 engaged in ; becaufe, without him, there could be no 
 fuccefs. Except the Lord build the houfe, they labor in 
 vain that build it ; except the Lord keep the city, the 
 w r atchman waketh but in vain. 
 
 Let us think, farther, what we can gain if we loofe 
 lalvation ; what reward we can have for our fervice if 
 we do not work in the vineyard ; and what we can con- 
 fer upon our fellow men, which will be fo important, as 
 to benefit their fouls. Place eternity by the fide of 
 time ; compare the immortal foul with the perifhable 
 body ; weigh peace of mind againfl every earthly good ; 
 and form your eflimate. 
 
 The wicked worketh a deceitful work. If you employ 
 a laborer, you judge of his fervice not by the quicknefs 
 of his motions ; not by the hurry in which he appears to 
 be ; but by what he accompliffies in the courfe of the 
 day. What if a perfon has been very bufy through 
 life ; acquired a great eftate ; brought ,up a numerous 
 family ; and is able to fettle each one cf his children in 
 
[ 3 ° ] 
 
 a fplendid houfe, and upon an ample fortune ! This, tc 
 fuperficial obfervers, looks like doing much. But let us 
 examine before we decide. What is the lituation of the 
 perfon who has done all this ? Is he happy himfelf ? Is 
 he any more contented, than he was when he commenced 
 his career ? It may be that he is farther from enjoyment, 
 than he was half a century a ago ; and, that, in a few 
 days he is to be arrefled by the hand of Juftice, 
 to anfwer for the mifimprovement of his time. Arc 
 his children benefitted, by the eftate put into their pof- 
 feffion ? In mod inftances, probably, the cafe is direfrly 
 the reverfe. The toils of the parent are, often, forgot- 
 ten by the child, or requited with ingratitude, and 
 fhameful abufe. Thofe are not, generally, the bell 
 members of fociety, who begin life with a great eftate j 
 nor are they, generally, the moft likely to be happy, 
 here, or in another world. If this man of wealth has 
 not done good to himfelf, nor his family, to whom 
 has he been ferviceable ? Who will rife up and call him 
 bleffed ? May there not be many, who are, daily, load- 
 ing him with imprecations, for having unfairly, if not 
 difhoneftly, difpoffeffed them of their property ; for hav- 
 ing taken the bed from under them, the clothes from off 
 their backs, and the fcanty morfel from their children’s 
 mouths ? 
 
 Now view the chriftian in the doling period of his life. 
 See, firft, what his circumftar.ces have been. He has 
 ever been more contented, with his meals, his clothing, 
 his lodging, and his labors, than the worldling j and, 
 perhaps, he has converted more to his own ufe, than 
 even the worldling himfelf At the approach of death, 
 he feels like the foldier, whole long term of ’fatiguing 
 fervice is about to expire ; or like the apprentice, who 
 has groaned under the tyranny of a hard mafter ; or 
 like the captive, whofe ranfom has been paid ; or like 
 the lover, who is fpeeding to the objeffc of all his tho’ts, 
 and affefrions. Whateverproperty he may leave his fam- 
 ily’, he leaves his bleftmg, which is far better than prop- 
 
C 3 < 1 
 
 erty. He will leave his children, perhaps, the fub- 
 jetts of religion ; or if not, he will leave them with his 
 many pious counfels, and with his holy example to me- 
 ditate upon, and thefe may be feed, which at a future 
 day will fpring np, and bear a plentiful harveft. To 
 the world, he makes not a boafling, but a humble ap- 
 peal ; I have coveted no man’s fiver, or gold or ap- 
 parel ; I have wronged no man, I have corrupted no 
 man, I have defrauded no man. If any of thefe things 
 have, at any time, occurred, they have been followed 
 with fuch confeflion, and reftitution, as muft be fatis- 
 fa&ory to any candid mind. Indeed as one finner def- 
 troys much good, fo the chriflian is not merely inoffen- 
 five to the fociety of which he is a member, but his 
 work of faith, and labor of love, will be feen, when 
 he is numbered with the great congregation of the deed. 
 
 hourth- To day is the time, when the work in the 
 vineyard, is to be done. Thofe who are converfant with 
 the feriptures, are fenfible that all the commands of God, 
 require our immediate attention, and compliance. We, 
 ourfelves have many plans for to-morrow ; but we are 
 no where directed by God, to do any thing to-morrow r . 
 Indeed how' could laws be framed with no other date 
 than to-morrow' for their operation ! 
 
 * To-morrow ! 
 
 It is a period, no where to be found 
 
 In all the hoary regifters of Time ; 
 
 Unlefs, perchance in the fool’s calendar !’ 
 
 God has effentially the fame w-ork for us to do every 
 day, the Sabbath’s peculiar fervices excepted j therefore, 
 to-day is the time for him to call upon us. 
 
 Will any thing in life be negle&ed, if we do to-day, 
 what to-day fhould be done ? We, needlefsly, encum- 
 ber ourfelves, when we undertake the work of many 
 days at once. Sufficient for every day, is the evil, the 
 burden of it. What has the hufbandraan, for inflance, 
 ‘o' do with to-morrow ? Plowing, fowing, and reaping 
 
[ 3 ^ ] 
 
 are different labors, and may be bis talk for feveral days; 
 But that part of this connected bufinefs, which belongs* 
 to what we call to-morrow, is not his duty, until, what 
 we call to-morrow, becomes to-day. 
 
 How fimple, and eafy, is the bufinefs of life, if we 
 purfue it according to the dire&ion of our Maker, and 
 Law-giver ! 
 
 Some perfons, however, may fuppofe, that common 
 concerns and religion, are totally different thicgs ; and 
 muff be made to conform to rules not at all alike. But, 
 our common concerns are not managed as they fhould 
 be, when religion is not the principle from which we 
 attend to them. The plowing of the wicked is fin. — 
 The w'ork to be done in the Lord’s vineyard, is perform- 
 ed by every clafs of men, and by each individual, fo far 
 as the objefr is the glory of God, the good of Zion, the 
 peace of the foul. Religion is of fuch a nature, that it 
 caiily incorporates itfelf with all our affairs, fo far as they 
 are lawful. The text could not contain a general 
 command, were not all the members of fociety allow- 
 ed to be, like the members of the body, differently em- 
 ployed. 
 
 It is then a ferious queffion wfith us all, whether we 
 are to-day working in the vineyard, or are ready to 
 obey the orders which are given us upon this fubjefr. — 
 It is our duty to cultivate our own hearts, and to be 
 ourfelves religious. And, if we have religion, we Ihall 
 wilh and endeavor tofpread its bleffings far anJ wide. 
 
 The remainder of this difeourfe will be more particu- . 
 larly devoted to the main objefr of our meeting. A fo- 
 ciety, inffituted for the exprefs purpofe of propogating 
 the gofpel, muff be viewed as w'orking in the vineyard of 
 the Lord, and all thofe perfons whom the fo iety ad- 
 dreffes for aid, are to be confidered as called upon to be 
 fellow-workers in this which fhould be the labor of all. 
 Though religion upon a fmall fcale, and upon a great 
 fcale, has ever been, to each perfon, the duty of the 
 pafdng day yet, the peculiar circumffances of this period 
 
t 33 3 
 
 of time, prefent motives uncommon, in number, and 
 weight. For the time is come, thatjudgment mud be- 
 gin at the houfe of God ; and if it firft begin at us, 
 what (hall the end be of them that obey not the gofpel 
 of God ! It feems to be required of us to know, in 
 fomc meafure, the figns of the times, that we may, as 
 far as poffible, render our conduft conformable. 
 
 All circumftances concur to make it certain, thdt thefe 
 are the latter days of the world. The perilous times, of 
 which Paul gives fo particular a defeription, in one of 
 his letters to Timothy, are furely the times upon which 
 we are fallen. I fay furely, becaufc though all the evils 
 of which that defeription is compofed, have ever been in 
 the world, fince fin has prevailed, yet, they never have 
 appeared, in fuch a degree, as to diftinguilh one age, or 
 portion of time, from all others, until now. A paffage 
 in the revelation of St. John ought not to be paffed un- 
 noticed. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the 
 lea ; for the devil is come down unto you, having great 
 wrath, becaufe he knoweth that he hath but a Ihort 
 time. Thefe words certainly, refer to the latter days ; 
 for they reprefent the devil as having but a fhort time 
 to reign on the earth. Popery and Mahometilm, or the 
 man of fin, and the falfe prophet, are furely going, ra- 
 pidly, to deftruttion j and their ruin is to be followed by 
 the profperity of the church. Daniel faw the prefent 
 time, and faid there fhould be a time of trouble, fuch 
 as never was fince there was a nation. Our Saviour has 
 Unformed us, that previoufiy to his fecond coming, there 
 {hall be great tribulation, fbch as was not fince the be- 
 ginning of the world. 
 
 A time of very unufual calamity isfpoken of by Zeph- 
 aniah, which is to precede, a little, the gathering in of 
 the Jews. The paflage is worthy the attention of every 
 one, and it may be found in the laft chapter, beginning at 
 the eighth verfe. Therefore, wait ye upon me, faith the 
 Lord, until the day that I rife up to the prey j for my de- 
 termination is to gather the nations, that I may affemble 
 
L 34 } 
 
 the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, ever, 
 all my fierce anger ; for all the earth lhall be devoured 
 with the fire of my jealoufy. We are to underffand this 
 paffage as pointing, not to the definition of the globe on 
 which we live, but to the general diftrefs and very great 
 definition of its inhabitants. Wars have from early days 
 been carried on, but they have, hitherto, been confined to 
 particular parts of the earth. They are to fpread, how- 
 ever, greatly, perhaps univerfally, at fome future time. 
 
 To prove that this paffage cannot be applied to any 
 pafi period, let fome tilings which follow in the chapter 
 be confidered. Then will I turn to the people a pure lan- 
 guage ; that they may all call upon the name of the Lord 
 to ferve him with one conlent from beyond the rivers of 
 Ethiopia, my fuppliants, even the daughter of my difperf- 
 ed fhall bring mine offering. In that day, {halt thou not 
 be afhamed for all thy doings, wherein thou luff tranf- 
 greffed againft me ? for then I will take away out of the 
 midff of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou (halt 
 no more be haughty bccaufe of my holy mountain. — 
 When the earth fliall be devoured with the fire of divine 
 jealoufy, then, or at that time, the events to which the 
 words now cited apply, are to have their exiffence. 
 
 Let us notice the events with their connexion. The 
 people are to have a pure language, that they may all 
 unite in worshipping, the Lord. Whether by the people 
 is intended the Jews, or the people of the world at large. 
 Is not the expreffion quite intelligible ? Language is pure 
 when it has no vulgar phrafes, nor improper terms incor- 
 porated with it, and it is corrupt when it has thofe append- 
 ages. To apply this definition to religion is eafy. 
 
 All nations have fome divinity, or divinities, whom they 
 profefs to adore and l'erve. There are many falie gods, 
 though but one true God. The falfe gods are the fun, 
 the moon, the ox, the fnake, men departed, and other cre- 
 ated obje<ffs. In all inftances in which the objeft of 
 worfhip is a miffaken one, the language ufed by the wor- 
 jQiipper muff be confidered as corrupt language. The 
 
[ 35 ] 
 
 true God being fo totally unlike falfe gods, every addrefs 
 made to a falfe gcd mud be compofed of improper terms ; 
 for if it was applied to the true God, as every devotional 
 addrefs ought to be, its want of pertinence, and confequent- 
 ly its impiety would be vifible. If the ox, for indance, 
 were wordlipped, words fuited to the character of the ox, 
 mud be employed. But fuch words would not fuit the 
 chara&cr of the real Divinity, confequently the language, 
 in its religious ufe, would be corrupt. The cafe would be 
 the fame with refpeft to any other idol. There is not only a 
 wide difference between idolaters and thofe who profefsto 
 worfhip the God of heaven, but there is alfo between per* 
 for.s]of the lad mentioned defeription a great want of agree- 
 ment. Mahometans and Papids do not entertain the fame 
 fentiments with Lutherans, and the followers of Calvin. 
 So great is the difference among men, that one who calls 
 himfelf a worfhipper of God, would be totally unwilling to 
 join fome other perfon in his worfhip, who profeffes to be 
 a worfhipper of God likewife. Since this paffage, there- 
 fore, gives an account of a harmony among worfhippers, 
 it refers us to the approaching general reformation fpoken 
 of in prophecy. 
 
 To what has been here advanced, it may be added, that 
 the prophet fpcaks of the converfion of the Ethiopians.— 
 This is an event not yet accomplifhed. Some of the Ethi. 
 opeans are denominated chridians, but the great body of 
 them are dill Pagans, and appear as unlikely as any peo- 
 ple upon earth to adopt a confident fcheme of religion. 
 
 The Jews claim our attention next. Thou (halt no 
 more be haughty becaufe of my holy mountain. This ex- 
 prelTion denotes that the Jews fhall be diveded of their 
 national pride, and no longer efteem themfelves the only 
 people of God, nor Jerufalem the only place in which men 
 ought to worfhip. Their pride, their unbelief, is dill 
 drong ; and the prophecy mud, of courfe, be referred to 
 a future time. 
 
 But fhould it be fuppofed, becaufe the perfons fpoken 
 
 as bringing the offering of God from beyond the rivers 
 
[ 3 ^ ] 
 
 of Ethiopia are called by God the daughter of his difperf- 
 ed, that the Jews, only, who are fcattered among the Ethh 
 opeans, are intended, it might be replied, that this fuppo- 
 fition,if admitted, would not alterthe cafe. The prophecy 
 mud refer to the fame period. Attend to a paffage of Paul. 
 Blindnefs, in part, is happened to Ifrael until the fulnefs 
 of the Gentiles be come in, and fo all Ifrael (hall be faved. 
 If the Gentiles are to be gathered in before the Jews, as 
 the Apoftle feems to fugged:, then the converfion of the 
 Jews is to be the lafl event previous to thegeneral reform- 
 ation among mankind. Whether Jews and Gentiles 
 therefore araboth implied in the prophecy, or Jews only, 
 the prophecy is, certainly, applicable to no period except 
 the glorious reign of Chrift on earth, and that time in 
 which fome immediate, and mighty preparations fhall be 
 made for its eftablifhment. 
 
 Though it is not for us to know the times, and the fea- 
 fons, which the Father hath put in his own power, it does 
 appear, from various circumftances, that the world is fall 
 approaching to a date of readinefs for the fulfilment of 
 this prophecy. To the wickednefs of the prefent age let 
 the improvement of a few years be added, and what fober 
 mind would not expeft God to vifit the world in his heav- 
 ier judgments. War jsfpreading- — infidelity grows more 
 and more barefaced. Formerly, thofe who attacked the 
 chriftian religion, put on a fhow' of modefty, and endeav- 
 ored by fophiflical reafoningto undermine its foundations. 
 But now impudence is the chief weapon, and fcoffing the 
 itrong argument. You may find perfons in our own coun- 
 try, and probably in every town, who have fcarcely advanc- 
 ed beyond their non-age, and who in childhood, liltened 
 to the fober and found inflru&ion of their parents, now r 
 entering as champions into the field ol infidelity, and en- 
 deavoring to put on the armor of the lull grown combat- 
 ant. SoYuccefsfnl is fatan in the employment of his enimif- 
 faries, that their derifion profelytes, many by whom rea- 
 soning would not be read, or it read, would not be un- 
 derllood. To lofe all good habits, and to forget ail thg 
 
C 37 ] 
 
 ferious inftru&ion of early life, is one dTential branch of 
 modern refinement. 
 
 The events of latter years have baffled all human cab 
 culation, and the only clue we have to go by is the word 
 of God, which fpeaks of thefe things and helps us to trace 
 their general and fiual iffuc. 
 
 Now, who that has any benevolence, who that has 
 tailed the good w'ord of God, would not wifti to counter* 
 aft thefe wide fpreading calamities of the world ! Read 
 Daniel’s lalt chapter, in which he mentions the calami- 
 ties, the time of trouble, fuch as, then, never had been, 
 and you will find a promife, that the people of God, in 
 the midlt of all prevailing evils, are to be Itirred up to 
 unufual zeal, and activity, in the caufe of religion ; and 
 that great fuccefs fliall attend their efforts. Many £hali 
 run to and fro, and knowledge fhall be increafed. Many 
 fliall be purified, and made white, and tried. To run to 
 and fro, is a phrafe which ftrikingly points to that clafs of 
 men, now, called mifiionaries. Of thefe there were to 
 be many! If to purify men’s minds, and increafe then- 
 knowledge in the moll important things, is an objefr of 
 rational defire, the mifiionary bufinefs ought to be held 
 in high eftimation. 
 
 Do human records inform us of any thing of this kind, 
 which derferves to be compared with what is now to be 
 feen ? Will any, but the ignorant, or the wilful, look 
 for the like, in the deep laid policy of Jefuitical impofi- 
 tion ? Every one, who reads the fcriptures, and gives 
 credit to them, mult acknowlege, that God has fpoken 
 of a time, in which men, in great numbers, are to be, 
 iincerely, engaged in circulating the knowledge of the 
 truth. From the complexion of the whole affair, this 
 looks like the time, and fince other predictions will ap- 
 ply to no other time, this mull be the one intended. 
 
 Three things, here, deferve to be brought into view 
 with reference to the affair now under confideration. 
 
 One is the number of perfons, who-prefent themlelves 
 io go on the arduous, and felf-denying mifiionary work. 
 
[ 3 § ] 
 
 We are all, by nature, difpofed to feek the bed accom- 
 modations j and efpecially when nothing is to be gained 
 by putting up with inconveniences. The new fettlements 
 of our country, with their thatched cottages, and homely 
 diet, prefent formidable obdacles to the fluggifh mind. 
 How much more difcouraging is the wildernefs, where 
 wigwams are the only flielter, and where po human crea- 
 tures are to be feen, but bloody favages ! 
 
 Another thing to be remembered is the generous fup- 
 port which has been afforded, to carry op this work. God 
 has here proved, that the filver, and the gold, are his own. 
 Is any Miffionary Society cramped, by means of (lender 
 contributions ? Twelve perfons, have contributed to 
 another fociety in this date, I think, more than feventeen 
 thoufand and an half of dollars. That the lovers of relig- 
 ion fliould contribute, according to their ability, to for- 
 ward fuch an undertaking, would not be thought drange j 
 but the probability is, that perfons pf a different character, 
 aid largely, by their pecuniary means. Property, of a 
 wordly kind, is peculiarly dear to thofe who have nothing 
 elfe. What power but that of God could prevail upon 
 the poffeffors to part with it, to be employed in ways in 
 which their fouls take no delight ! 
 
 The lad thing to be here adverted to is, the fpiritnal 
 encouragement which the laborers have had. Solicit at- 
 tention upon political fubjedls ; ply the mind with argu- 
 ments ; Ihew the error of prevailing opinions, and the 
 evil tendency of current practices, and prejudice , meets 
 you impregnable as a bulwark ! Yet the triumphant 
 crofs makes its way through the thickeft obdacles, quell- 
 ing the rage of party rancor. Thofe who have gone with 
 the Savior’s meffages have, generally, had a welcome 
 reception, as may be feen in their own reports. The 
 preachers of the gofpel, who have been fent out, have 
 commended themfelves to every man’s confcience j or, to 
 fpeak dri<dly, have been favorably received, by molt of 
 thofe whom they have addreffed. Mud not the mouths 
 of even cavillers be dopped, when the herald of the 
 
[ 39 } 
 
 truth proclaims : I tender you my Cervices, alkrng no xc- 
 ward of you; anJ if you are in want of biblcs, or 
 other religious books, for yourfelves, or your families, I 
 have them for you, and you are welcome to them ! 
 
 We will now draw this difeourfe to a dole with a few 
 words of refteftion. Let us endeavor to have more re- 
 gard and affedion for God ! Behold what manner of 
 love the father hath bellowed upon us, that we fhould be 
 called the fons of God. This name is offered to us all. 
 Since God has done, and is doing fo much for us, can we 
 deny him any fervices of which we are capable ! Who 
 might not (pare, without injury to himfelf, fome- 
 thing from his (lore ? Let perfons, of both fexes, look at 
 their tables, their furniture, and their drefs, and fee- 
 whether extravagance is fo ornamental, or fo comfortable 
 to them, as alms would be, beftowed on the needy ; 
 whether the mercies of God trailed in the dirt, or nfed in 
 any ftinilar way, are fo employed as to anl'wer the delign 
 of the original donor ! 
 
 Let us all confider that we ought to work in the vine- 
 yard, that as rational, dying, and accountable creatures, 
 we can have nothing of fo much importance to attend to, 
 as religion, the only real, and enduring good, for our- 
 felves, and our fellow-men. 
 
 * To-day is the time alfo for our labors. Let us remem- 
 ber it. The propofal is now made to us, to join in the 
 dignified, the animating, the joyful, bufinefs of carrying, 
 or fending the gofpel to others. If we rejeft the propo- 
 fal, other hands will do the work, for the earth {hall be 
 full of the knowledge of the Lord. The Man of fm fhali 
 perifh, the falfe Prophet {hall be covered with confufion * 
 and all the abominations of the world {hall ceafe. The 
 wildernefs (hall become the garden of God. Where ti* 
 gers now growl, the fabbath-bell {hall ring. Where fa- 
 vages more unfeeling than tigers, now dance around the 
 expiring viftim, religious aflemblies {hall meet, and bring 
 the facrifice of a broken heart to the altar. 
 
 Our charity may find fuflicient exercife, for the prefent* 
 
t 40 J 
 
 perhaps, in the new-fettlements of our own country. 
 However, let us look for opportunities to do good, and 
 improve fuch, as in the courfe of providence are prefented. 
 
 Glorious things are fpoken of thee, O City of God ! 
 The chriftian exults in the promifes refpe&ing the church, 
 and it is in vain for any one to oppofe their fufillment. Let 
 us all join in the labors of the vineyard, for the owner will 
 come at the appointed time, and when he comes he will 
 reward every man according to his works. Let us l'o 
 employ ourfelves, that we {hall be difpofed to fay ; Even 
 fo come Lord Jefus ! and not ; Art thou come to torment 
 us before the time ! Let us rejoice as though we rejoic- 
 ed not, let us buy as though we poflefled not, let us ufe 
 this world as cot abufing it ! 
 
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