NECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG AZINE. GENTLEMEN, WHEN the Lord fhall build : appeared to be at reft, in a formal attendance upon the external dyties of religion, and abstaining world. About four or five in a from the groffer pollutions of the year, upon an average, had come forward, and by an open profeffion of christianity, joined the church. In the two years next preceding the awakening, there were but three that vifibly entered into cov enant with God. Thus were the wife and the foolish apparently flum HEN the Lord fhall build up Zion, he fhall appear in his glory and perhaps, in none of God's works, are feveral of his perfections, more glorioufly difplayed than in revivals of religion; particularly, his wifdom, power, Sovereignty and goodnefs; his wifdom in choofing the time when and the means by which, to effect his purpose; his power in awaken- it pleafed God to revive his work his purpofe; his power in awaken-bering and fleeping together, when ing the moft fecure and ftupid, and fubduing to himself the most per- tations of his favorable prefence among us and give visible manifefverfe and obftinate finner; his good- with us. nefs in plucking finners as brands Towards the end of the year from the burning, and faving their 1798 there was an appearance of fouls from eternal death; and his more attention to religion than had fovereignty, in taking fome and been common among us; although leaving others to perish in their it was not generally noticed at that fins. No reafon can be affigned time; our affemblies upon the fabfor that difcrimination which is bath were more full, and the attenmade between one town and anoth- tion of the congregation to the word er, when the fpirit is poured out preached, and other parts of focial more copiously upon the one than worship, more fixed than had been upon the other, or why one finner ufual. Nothing farther very efpeis the fubject of regenerating grace, cially appeared, until in the month and not another, but only this, of February 1799, when the fpirit ❝even fo father, for fo it feemeth came like a mighty rushing wind, good in thy fight." Before the and feemed to breathe on many at late revival of religion in this town, one and the fame time. The fitft the people in general were in a very vifible indication of this, was on a languid ftate as to any vifible ap- lecture-day, previous to the adminpearance of the power of godlinefs iftration of the facramental fupper. among them.; nor can I find up- Thefe lectures had heretofore ufuon enquiry, that there ever hath ally been attended but by few, bebeen, until this time, a general fpir-fides profeffors, and too many of it of ferioufnefs and attention to re- thefe were negligent in their attendance. But at this time, there were probably thee if not four times the number which had ordinarily attended on fuch occafions, efpecially of young people: and the countenances of many indicated faduefe of heart. Indeed the whole congregation ap cared folenin; but fome in different parts of the house, by their tears which they could an active part in any religious exercife, except finging, that it was difficult to get one publicly to propofe or ask a queftion. Many were fwift to hear, but all flow to fpeak. not conceal, manifefted that their been almost every week, from two minds were tenderly impressed; at to five and fometimes fix religious the clofe of this meeting in the day-meetings, befide the two upon the time an evening lecture was appoint- fabbath; and as I have invariably ed, which it is believed, was the attended them myself, can witnefs firftevening religious meeting which to the order and decency, the fihad ever been publicly notified or lence and folemnity, with which, attended, in the town; at this and the numbers by which thefe meeting in the evening, a much meetings have been attended. greater number attended than did The filence obfervable among thofe in the day-time. A brother in who were going to or returning the miniftry being prefent preached from thefe meetings, was very from thefe words, He flattereth impreffive, and frequently nobimfelf in his own eyes, until his ini- ticed with furprize and pleasure. quity be found to be hateful. The Little or no tumult or noife, and affembly was folemn, the hearers the appearance of most, much as attentive, and the word preached if they had been going to, or were feemed to be accompanied with a returning from the funeral of fome divine power: A religious meet- near relative or friend. And, ing was nowappointed on the Wed- while in the house, nothing was nefday evening of the next week; faid but by the minifter; for fo and although the feafon and trav-little difpofed were people to take elling were both uncomfortable, many came from almoft every quarter; and it feemed as if God was prefent of a truth, fpeaking to finners in a still small voice, and faying, what have you been doing? And where are you going? Confider what you do, and what your end is like to be. After prayer and finging, the people affembled, were addreffed from thefe words, Efcape for thy life; look not behind thee; neither fay thou in all the plain; efcape to the mountain left thou be confumed. A folemn filence reigned among the hearers, who appeared to hear as for their lives; and many were to be feen in various parts of the houfe, weeping and trembling under a fenfe of their guilt and danger; and faying to themselves, what fhall I do to be faved! For at this time, but few fpoke out the feelings and exercifes of their hearts; but at the clofe of the meeting, filently returned to their respective homes, in penfive fadnefs. From that time to the prefent, there have VOL. II. No. 1. D During this time of awakening,, the people in general, were much more difpofed, to hear the word preached, and other religious inftructions, than heretofore; and attended to receive inftruction, in a manner, to outward appearance, very different from what is common in moft worshipping affemblies. Our affemblies upon the fabbath were full, and for many fabbaths fucceffively, it is believed not one of adult years, was feen to turn his face from the preacher, or to rife from his feat, from the time the fermon began, until it was finifhed, nor yet to fleep or dose; nor could an attentive obferver, discover a fmile, upon any occafion in the countenance of any one, arrived to the years of understanding, during the time of religious wor fhip or after they came into the place of worship, until they left it. When people came up to the house of the Lord to worship, it feemed as if each one faid to himself, furely the Lord is here. How dreadful is this place! And frequently, when the religious exercifes, have been clofed and the affembly difmiffed, many by their countenançes and other figns, manifefted a kind of unwillingness to leave the place, as if they faid, it is good to be here. Upon feveral communion-days, the whole or nearly the whole of the congregation, attended as fpectators, the adminiftration of the facramental fupper; and a large proportion of them, as well as of the communicants, were in tears during the folemn scene. In this time of God's pouring out his fpirit, and reviving his work among us, fixty-one, have been added to the church, and baptifm administered to about one hundred. Among the baptized, are fixteen households or families. At one time a number of households, containing about twenty fouls, were baptized. Those who have in this time of awakening, joined the church, are moft, if not all of them, between fourteen and forty years of age. The greateft number have been from the clafs of married people; of the unmarried, twenty-one are females. How folemn and affecting, to behold heads of families who had all their life time, restrained prayer and lived without God in the world, praying with their families, morning and evening, day by day continually, and in a public man ner devoting thercfelves and their households to the Lord? and how impreffive and animating to the friends of Zion, to fee thofe in the bloom and gaieties of youth, become fober-minded; and volunta rily enrolling their names among the followers of the Lamb? Efpecially, what inexpreffible joy muft it afford pious parents, whe are travelling in birth, that Chrift may be formed in their children, to fee them in a ferious manner, take upon themselves the bonds of their baptifmal covenant, and confefs a crucified Saviour, before a fcoffing world? Sundry parents have feen feveral of their children, unitedly devoting themselves to God. In one inftance, four fifters came forward together and renouncing the vanities of youth, profeffed godlinefs. Such views muft lead every contemplative and pious mind, to meditate with raptures of joy, upon fuch divine promifes and predictions, as that in the 44th Chapter of Ifaiah, at the beginning "Thus faith the Lord-I will pour my fpirit upon. thy feed and my bleffing upon thine offspring, and they shall spring up as among the grafs, as willows by the water-courfes. One fhall fay, I am the Lords: and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another fhall fubfcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and furname himfelf by the name of Ifrael." All of thofe, who have in this time of awakening made an open profeffion of chriftianity, have appeared as yet to adorn their profeffion by a converfation, in a meafure becoming the gospel of Chrift, one only excepted; and fhould there be reafons for other exceptions, a few years hence, it ought not to be thought strange, as if fome new and ftrange thing had happened in the world. That which hath been, is that which fhall be; but tares have always been in fields of wheat, and in a great houfe, there are not only veffels of gold and of filver, but alfo of wood and of earth, fome ferving which, fome of the friends of the work, have been reminded of what Daniel in the lions den, faid to Darius, my God hath fent his angel and hath fhut the lions mouths, that they have not hurt me. The manner in which the goings of God have been among us (to allude to the Lord's appearing to the prophet Elijah at Horeb) hath not been in a great and strong wind, nor in an earthquake, nor in a fire; but in a still small voice, faying to one and to another, what doft thou covered any appearance of a fpirit of enthufiafm or delufion, or of fpiritual pride and oftentation ; në of cenforioufnefs and rafh judging of others; but on the contrary, a fpirit of humility and meeknefs, of fear and a found mind; arifing from a rational conviction of fin, and principle of gofpel benevolence; each one appearing to ef te difhonor as well as fome to honor. Among the twelve, whom Christ himself chofe to be with him and whom he stiled Apoftles, there was a Judas; and at a certain time many of Chrift's difciples forfook him and walked no more with him. Apoftacies among profeffors of chriftianity, and the falling away of fuch as appear to receive the word with joy, and endure for a while, are to be expected. To fee fuch apoftacies and falling away, of thofe who appear for a time to run well, will grieve the generation of real Chrif-hear? There hath not been dif tians, and be matter of joy and triumph to fcoffing infidels. An among the many who have profeffed chriftianity during the time of the late refreshing fhower of divine influence, it is to be expected fome will return to their wallowing in the mire; but we are perfuaded better things of many, and things which accompany falvation; and doubt not but God hath granted repent-teem others better than himself, ance unto life, to a goodly number, and to work out his own falvation whofe light will fhine before men, with fear and trembling; and at while life continues; and whom the fame time to express an ardent God will keep by his mighty pow-defire that others might tafte and er through faith unto falvation. fee the goodness of the Lord. But fhould God take only one from a neighbourhood, and two from a town, and bring them to Zion, glory will redound to him, through the thanksgivings of many; for there is joy in heaven over one finner that repenteth. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity; and let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall. When the attention firft began in this town, it was feared there would be great oppofition; but fuch hath been the manner in which the work hath been carried on, that oppofers have been, very much confounded and filenced. On ob Gentlemen, if the preceding narrative meets your approbation, you may expect fomething further from yours most affectionately. SIMON WATERMAN. Plymouth, (Con.) Jan. 1, 1801. (To be continued.) The confeffion and converfion of e SOVEREIGN and long A forbearing God, in his holy providence, has feen fit to open the eyes of one, who was ripening faft for judgment and deftruction. I cannot therefore but feel it my duty, to make known certain circumftances of my life to this congregation. It is written, "He that corereth his fins, fhall not profper, but he that confeffeth and forfaketh them fhall find mercy.” And not knowing but that others may be meetening, for the fame dreadful calamity that I was, I am the more defirous to reprefent my fituation, not knowing but yet it may call up the confideration of fome in this place, to attend to their immortal concerns before it be forever too late. and many were brought to fee their fituation as finners, and turn unto God. Seeing fuch an attention, my mind became impreffed, I was brought to realize my fad state and condition as a finner. Heaven and hell feemed realities, my fears arose and my apprehenfions were very terrible. In this fituation how much did I fuffer from a fear, that my affociates would fufpect my concern and laugh at my credulity. This no doubt is emphatically the cafe at the prefent time, young people are afraid of being laughed at, and discountenanced if they attend to religion, and fhun the places, where prayers are made and ferious converfation entered upon; in this ftruction. In this fituation I continued fometime, but throwing off my convictions, I became again, more ftupid, than ever, more hard, and unfufceptible. Then going on in a state of impiety and rebellion against God, I began to feel that I had become free from the fhackels, of what the world calls religion. It was no more with me an object of concern and little did I eftimate it. From day to day I became more attached to the vanities of time and fenfe. Serioufnefs was foon abandoned, and eternity was kept out of my mind. The tender warnings of my fath In my infancy, I had the happinefs of being in the charge of parents who were fedulously anxious for my well-being. In the morning of my life, much care was taken by my tender father, to implant within my mind, fenti-way how many fouls go on to de ments of piety. He was eager to have me a child of virtue and godlinefs; and often warned me to efcape from the finful conversation, and examples of the prophane and unfteady. My prefent and eternal enjoyment, he often reminded me, was wholly dependant on the conduct of my life. He often converfed with me upon Religion. Told me the unhappy confequence of finning against God. He alJedged that finners must go to mifery and be always in hell. Such was his care to train me up in wifdom's ways, that I was fearful of going away from the path of rectitude. When I was about four-er began to be forgotten and lofe teen years old, my father died, and now I was no longer to be guided by his daily example. However, being young, the impreffion he had raade upon my mind in fome meafure reftrained me from indulging very freely in the fashionable follies of thofe of my age. At the age of fixteen it pleafed God, to fend the convictive influences of the 'Holy Spirit, and revive his caufe in the place in which I lived. An attention to religion commenced, their efficacy on my behaviour. Little did the idea of death, judgment and eternity, at any time affect me. Thus, although visibly moral in my conduct, I entertained very difrefpectful fentiments of religion. It appcared to me little elfe than prieftcraft, as I was proudly pleafed to file it. Thus I entered into family life, and acted in the capacity of a father. My little offspring came around me, they looked upon me their |