154 cept those who shall be found It is not a tormenting fear, but washed in the blood of the Lamb, one that will fit you for the sowill stand there. If you pre-ciety of the saints and angels in Perhaps you somepare for a blessed immortality, heaven. you will comply with the advice times fear the fire of hell, but of one whose face you may not you ought to dread the thought Unless of being banished from the presee until the last day. you have the one thing needful sence of the Lord, and of be you cannot be happy-It is this ing for ever in that place where that I wish you to possess-Ibis great name is blasphemed.It is said of Job, that he feared desire your souls' salvation. God and eschewed evil. May the same be said of you, at the To fear him final judgment. is your happiness and duty.Can you refuse to do it? Oh, you will not. say that 3. I advise you to be zealous for the worship of God. Attend the public worship of the sabbath when health will permit, and be solemn and devout. Let no little matter induce you to stay at home. Trifle not with holy things. Let your closet be a witness to your secret 1. I advise you to love God. God is love, and worthy to be loved by you. The love which you ought to exercise towards him is holy. You cannot love him too much, either for his glory or your own benefit. True love to him, was never désigned to make your joys less, but to inThe more you crease them. love him the more happiness you will enjoy. You can show no reason, which God will accept, why you should not love him with all the heart and soul and strength. Do this immediate-prayers, and your bible testify ly, for ought you not to love him for the favors which he has conferred upon you, since you began to exist unto the present moment? Recollect that God now beholds you, and knows what are your thoughts. Will you, or will you not love him? Answer this question, I beseech you, before you read another sentence-If you have answered it, and are determined to love him the remainder of your days, and should do it, he will set his Jove on you, and you shall be for ever happy. your daily devotion. A prayerless saint cannot be found. All those youths that are beloved of Christ, and called to 'the marriage supper of the Lamb, employ some part of every day in fervent prayer, and in reading the holy Scriptures. Prayer is the life of the pious soul. Prayer will make you grow in grace, and a constant and devout atattendance on the services of the sanctuary will be a feast to your soul. But if you neglect the worship of the Lord, or if you think your own thoughts, and own pleasure on the 2. I advise you to fear your do your Creator. It is a godly fear that Lord's day, and lead a prayerless I mean: a fear that worketh un-life, you will not merely go away to life. It is that kind of fear sorrowful from Christ, but you which the prophets and apostles shall lie down in everlasting sorBut it is possible that had, and is found in all who have row. an interest in the Son of God. some of your companions ridi cule religion. Shall the scoffing | Haven, and hope before another jest of a companion, deter you from praying unto him who hath all blessings to give? Is it wiser or better to fear man than God? Had you rather have the applause of a sinner than the approbation of the Saviour? What will be your thoughts of prayer and public worship at the hour of death? If you do not repent of sin, and believe in Christ in the days of your youth and health, it is probable that your cries for mercy will not be heard, when you lie on the bed of death. NEOS. Religious Intelligence. THE revivals of religion which have been, in many places the year past, are evidence that the King of Zion is still in the midst of his church. While many of our churches and places have been left to deep slumber and a state of backsliding dishonourable to a Christian profession; in others there have been great refreshings from on high. The promise" Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power" is not lost, nor have the praises of converts failed from our land. number of this magazine is published, to receive a particular account of its beginning and progress. In many other congregations there is an increasing attention to the means of religious instruction, which is an omen of good yet in store for the church, and for those who have aforetime lived in the security of sin. These things furnish encouragement for the people of God to pray without ceasing for an effusion of divine influences on whole land. If we fear the Lord, and obey his commandments he will not forsake us. our A concise account of distinguishing revivals of religion is earnestly requested for publication in this Magazine. Extract of a Letter from Rev. REV. AND DEAR SIR, IN compliance with your request, I will now undertake to transmit you, some particulars of a glorious work of divine grace, which for some time past has been, and is still prevailing in this place. This I should have done sooner, had I not supposed, calculating from the usual conGuil-tinuance of awakenings, that I should have been able by this time, to give you a narrative complete of the work. That I cannot now give you such a narrative, I am thankful to him, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, who is both able and willing in answer to prayer, to give us still further displays of his victorious grace. In Litchfield, Goshen, ford, and many other towns in this state there have been revivals of religion which rejoice the people of God, and will be for ever remembered by such sinners as have been brought out of darkness into marvellous light. We are informed on credible testimony of an uncommon attention to religion in New And here, let me not forget, in behalf of this church and people, to ask of you, and of all who love the work of the Lord, to unite with us, at the throne of his grace, in imploring that the good work, which he has begun among us, and thus far mercifully carried on, may not languish till his salvation shall reach every house, and every soul. May we not hope also, that in answer to prayer, it may spread not only from heart to heart here, but from place to place, till our land and the world shall be filled with the glory of God? My object now, is to give you a brief statement of this work, in the present stage and appearance of it, leaving its origin and progress to some future communication. The work is very general through the society. In every neighborhood, it is nearly equally visible, and among all denominations and descriptions of people. Zion may hear of something new, to animate them. The meetings, which are numerous, are still kept up and attended with unabated zeal as they have been through the winter season; though the weather has often been severe and the roads bad. The church, as a body, appear to be alive and greatly engaged. They have a weekly prayer meeting, which is very generally attended, and there are many who know them to be eminently precious seasons of refreshing, from the presence of the Lord. We have statedly two and often four public lectures, at the meeting house, in the week, besides the usual services of the sabbath. The conferences, which are held every evening when there is no public lecture, and there are often four and five the same evening, in different parts of the society, are generally full; and what I would wish to notice with gratitude is, that these meetings have usually, if not universally, been singular for their regularity and order. My health, during most of the winter, has been such, that I have not been permitted to bear that part in this glorious work, which to me seemed desirable; but we have been greatly favored with the labors of able and faithful ministers, who in great num There have been added to our communion, within the four months last past, ninety seven, most of whom have a hope that they have found favor with God, during the present awakening Probably there are as many more, who are in the enjoyment of the same hope, who have as yet made no profession. The number of those who are awakened, and in great distress un-bers have been sent to us, from der a sense of danger, is greater now, than it ever has been before, at any one period. How many there are of this description, it is impossible for me precisely to ascertain. And blessed be God, the work still goes on. Almost every day the friends of different parts of the Lord's vineyard, and who I hope and trust, will find among this dear people, many souls who will be seals of their ministry, and crowns of their rejoicing, in the day of the Lord Jesus. Would to God that they might all have the satisfaction of seeing a revi val of religion among their own people. Ö! that every minister of Christ might know how pleasant it is to labor, where God is at work by his Holy Spirit; how pleasant it is to direct enquiring minds; and to feed those who are hungering and thirsting for the bread and waters of life. It has often been noticed that great revivals of religion have found among the men of this world, great opposition. But it is not so here, to any extent that is felt, or is worthy of notice. If bitter opposition exist, in the minds of any, we are happy in not having it show itself. So far as I observe, there seems to be a universal awe and reverence upon the minds of all classes of people, that bespeak the sense they have of a present God; and the ameliorating influence of this divine work is evidently perceptible throughout society. But a short time since, and I could look around upon the congregation, to which I minister, and could see not one among the young people of my charge who I had any reason to suppose had any relish for the truth as it is in Jesus. Now I hope the number is great among them of those who understand, receive and love the truth, The work however is by no means confined to youth.Among its happy fruits are to be found those of all ages from thirteen to eighty, A grand parent, parents and children, may from their own experience, conditions in life; and of different nations coming forward together upon the same floor, publicly to profess their faith in Christ, and to signify to a surrounding world, that they mean to be considered as his disciples and friends. These seasons have been greatly animating to all true believers; and have been blessed, we have reason to think in many instances to the awakening of others. O! Let us pray, that they may be more frequent in all our Churches. A Hymn, sung upon one of these occasions, justly descriptive of the scene, and of the feelings of those who could take an interest in it, I will transcribe, "All hail, incarnate God! The wond'rous things foretold Of thee in sacred writ, With joy our eyes behold : Still does thine arm new trophies wear, And monuments of glory rear. To thee the hoary head Its silver honors pays, To thee the blooming youth Devotes his brightest days: And every age their tribute bring, And bow to thee, all-conquering king. Oh, haste, victorious prince, That happy, glorious day, When souls, like drops of dew, Shall own thy gentle sway: Oh, may it bless our longing eyes, And bear our shouts beyond the skies. All hail, triumphant Lord, in one instance, sing together of When earth and time are known no more; its power and glory. In seve- Thy throne shall stand for ever ral instances, we have seen those of almost all ages; of all sure." [Rippon's Collection. Extract of a letter, dated Newark, | Chapman in the counties of Ot N. J. March 12, 1808. sego and Delaware, New York; Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth in the Black river country; Mr. Joel Byington in the northwestern part of Vermont; the Rev. Aaron Cleveland in the western part of Vermont; and the Rev. Holland Weeks on and near the mountains in Vermont. The Rev. David Harrower has been recently appointed a Missionary to labor in the northern counties of Pennsylvania; and the Rev. Calvin Ingals will soon enter on a mission to some part of the new settlements. "LAST sabbath was a great day in our Israel. Ninety-eight persons were received into the church. The morning was very fine and there were many strangers in town, who came from New York and other places to witness the solemnity. The house was full. I never saw a more solemn and attentive audience. Several were newly awakened. I do not know the number that are now impressed, but those who are entertaining hopes since the revival began are 215, including those who have made a profession. The persons who have received impressions are from the age of WEDNESDAY March 16, twelve to seventy three. Most 1808, ordained over the second of the congregations in our church and society in Milford neighborhood are visited in a the Rev. CALEB PITKIN. The wonderful manner. At Or- Rev. Ira Hart of Middlebury ange, the sabbath before last, made the introductory prayer; seventy two persons joined the the Rev. Asahel Hooker of Gochurch. Among the num-shen preached the sermon from ber were ten men and their 1 Cor. iii. 5-7; the Rev. wives. The prospect is that another communion will add a good number more, both here and there, to the visible church." Missionaries from the Missionary Society of Connecticut. ORDINATION. Benjamin Trumbull, D. D. of North Haven, who was moderator, made the consecrating prayer; the Rev. Bezaleel Pinneo of Milford gave the charge; the Rev. Erastus Scranton of North Milford, who was Scribe,gave the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Oliver Hitchcock of Columbia (Chesire,) made the concluding prayer. MESSRS. Abraham Scott and Jonathan Leslie in New Con- A recollection that the Rev. necticut; the Rev. John Spen- Sherman Johnson the late pascer in the western part of Newtor of the church, lived to preach York, in the vicinity of lake but a few sabbaths after his orErie, the Rev. Seth Williston dination, and the excellencies of in the western counties of New all the performances of the day, York and northern counties of rendered the ordination of Mr. Pennsylvania; the Rev. Mess. Pitkin uncommonly solemn, afIsrael Brainerd and Henry fecting and entertaining. |
