are done away, where sin can never enter, every vessel is full. The language of every heart is, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God!" unspeakable joy in Christ which supported her weak and decay. ing frame. She appeared many times almost absorbed in immortal glory. One evening, a few weeks before her death, she had been able to converse but little for several days, her brother coming into the room, she desired him to sit down. She appeared enraptured with Emanuel's bleeding love. It seemed At another time, "last night being more unwell than usual, could get but little rest for this frail body; however, my mind was fixed on yonder world. I thought I could see by faith the unspeakable happiness of saints in glory. O the wonder-to exhaust her but little to speak ful, wonderful mercy of that God of it, which she did in the most who hath conducted them safely solemn manner. She also adthrough all difficulties and dan- dressed the whole family. Magers to complete felicity! There ny pious connections and friends we behold them all circled in often resorted, (of whom there the arms of redeeming love, were many in the neighborclothed with the blessed Re-hood.) to hear her dying deemer's righteousness. How words. One serious friend bright they shine! Where is came whom she told," you have the soul that has drank at the come too late; but let the blesfountain of the waters of life, sed Jesus be our theme while that does not pant, and thirst, and we live." When she could speak, long to be made more holy?" the rose of Sharon was her theme. On a certain time she exclaimed, "O the glory of God! The glory of God! How soon would the soul that had a full view of it, leave this mortal frame!" At another time, when she could scarcely speak, she uttered, "a glimmer,a glimpse !" When asked how death appear In another place, "I can see the unspeakable happiness, joy and pleasure every believer hath, that can drink at the fountain of the waters of life! How clearly do I see that Christ is the bread and water of life! Every thing here below vanishes and is gone when the soul is swallowed up in God. But, alas!ed to her, she replied, "Death these views are generally short. Many times before the setting sun, I lose sight of the blessed God. O my heart, my treacherous heart! Happy is the soul that is kept in the path of duty, that may daily come and lean on the bosom of its Lord and mas-ling to die, she replied yes, I ter, and breathe out its desires." After being entirely confined, as her distresses, sufferings and weakness increased; so her consolation abounded through Christ. It seemed to be her appears a solemn thing, but if I have the presence of a Saviour, I can die." When the pangs of death evidently came, being asked if she thought herself dying, she replied, yes. Being then asked if she was wil am willing. A few hours before her last moments, she opened her eyes, and looked around. One asked her, can you tell what you want? she replied no, "I cannot tell you what I want, but I want you should all taste what I can't tell you of." Soon after this she bid adieu to every mortal object. "O, could we die with those who "And place us in their stead; "And converse with the dead. 46 Then should we see the saints "In their own glorious forms, "To dwell with mortal worms!" EXTRACTED. to restrain and counteract every temptation to be proud, and high-minded, and to dispute the right of his Maker to dispose of him, and to act toward him as he pleases; it has also a happy tendency to render him less affected by the applause or censure of mortals, and less liable to be hurt by either. He knows he is nothing in himself but imperfection: and this is a reason why he should submit to God, and be patient towards men: a reason which enters into his feelings, and is interwoven with all his religious sentiments: a reason which he can no more divest An Estimate of the Christian himself of than he can cease to To think. His principles must inspire him with thankfulness; for they originate in the knowledge of that mercy of God toward him which has passed by others, and of which he deems himself the most undeserving, and the most unpromising sub by grace; taken into favour with God by the righteousness and death of an exalted surety, provided and accepted for him. He knows he is delivered from wrath through him; that the blood of his Prince was the purchase of his ransom; and that by virtue of this grace towards him, nothing shall be allowed to befal him which his reconci Character. ascertain the value of of characters, we should be able to make out the principles, and their influence, by which such characters are formed their principles, as they relate to the divine will; their influence, as they affect so-ject. He is sensible he is saved ciety; or in other words, their sentiments and views in the relation they bear to God, and the effects of those sentiments and views in the relation they bear to men. With respect to the former, we are certain it is the will and command of God that we should be humble, thankful, and holy and these tempers of mind the principles of a Christian.beget, nourish, and perfect.led Father will not render subBy the knowledge of himself and of his God, he is able to discern something affecting, and abidingly impressive of the vast disparity there is, in every point of view, between a sinful worm of earth and the adorable Jehovah. This makes him feel little and worthless in his own account. And, while it serves servient to his good. His Sav iour loved him and gave himself for him; and declares, in consequence thereof, he shall never perish. Every believing consideration of this surprising grace is a pure spring of grati tude that must exist as long as he is able so to reflect. The Christian's love, holi ness and obedience, must be traced to the same cause, and flow from the same source. The knowledge of the Lord's love to him, prompts and disposes him to love again. The author of this grace being holy, is a cogent reason why he should be like him; and a conviction of his character, in this view, as supremely excellent and amiable, supplies the desire of being like him, and instigates to prayer for the same end. But he receives the spirit of love and holiness in the grace that extricates him from ignorance, bondage, and death. his life. To honor and please. him is indeed the native, unequivocal language of the Christian's principles, and the ardent breathing of his heart. A creature thus related to the Lord in the way he has appointed, from the principle he has implanted, and for the end he has purposed, must be a character infinitely valuable in his account. It is a character formed by himself, for himself, and after the image of himself; and cannot therefore, be less than his pleasure and delight. The happy effects of these principles, &c. for the good of society may be naturally expected, and easily determined. It may, indeed, be supposed that the workmanship of divine grace. should be designed to answer some good and valuable purpose to the bulk of mankind: and their being called the light of His obedience springs from a sense of obligation, founded in this very principle; and will be preserved and regulated by it; and, were it to meet with no opposition from his sinful nature, would be as perfect in degree as it is in kind. He loves his Saviour with his whole heart.the world, the salt of the earth His subjection, therefore, to him is voluntary and of choice; and every failure therein will be his punishment and his grief. He was bought for the service of Christ. This he has been taught and he must prefer this service to every other, because only in it he can be easy, comfortable, satisfied, and secure. His mind is enlightened to discern its propriety and beauty, and his heart is formed to relish its sweetness. It is in this service, in a word, his freedom consists, and in it alone his The love of Christ cannot live best pleasures can live; and as in the heart without the love of obedience to his Lord and Mas-our neighbor for Christ's sake. ter thus corresponds with the leading desires of his mind, growing attainments therein will constitute the principal views, wishes, and pursuits of &c. are testimonies in favor of the beauty and usefulness of their characters, which their tempers and practice may be supposed to justify and confirm. Their holy dispositions and examples must emit, like the sun, a sacred brightness, excellent and glorious and by another similitude, must serve to counteract that tendency to putrefaction and destruction, which is universally visible in the principles and manners of men about us. This is the noble and valuable characteristic of grace. It is that which can do all things, and bear all things for the good of another; and that which makes the righteous more excellent tenderness will make him ready than other men. It seeketh not to forgive. He has had much her own, thinketh no evil, and forgiven himself, and it would means and wishes none. The be criminal in him to be backChristian, therefore, inspired ward to show the same kindness therewith,is above serving himself to others. But a good man will at the expense of another's good, guide his affairs with discretion; or on the terms of another's inju- he is ever merciful and lendeth. ry. The cunning and art usually Hence the Christian will be inemployed for this purpose, en-dustrious and frugal, temperate ter not into his composition, and and prudent, that he may be able are denied by his principles and to give to all their due, and be calling. His rejoicing is in ac-generous and charitable therequisitions of a very different with; to owe no man any thing, kind, to wit, in those of simpli- but to love. In a civil capacity, city, uprightness, and love. He his obedience to the powers that need not seek to profit himself be, is what he owes to that God by circumvention, fraud, or over-who hath ordained them to reaching; for his heavenly Fa-rule: and the same reasons ther hath promised him every thing needful without; and his faith supersedes the use of such practices, and his conscience and peace would be violated thereby. That frame of mind which constitutes him upright with God, will render him the same towards men. But love inspires pity, and pity, under the government and influence of truth and grace, will be directed toward every case of known distress, whether of an enemy or friend. Hence a Christian is set for the defence of the injured, and the relief of the aflict-acter of a master he is concer ed. His Saviour commiserated and helped him in trouble, and has set him an example that he should follow his steps. He considers the exigent and needy as having a legal claim upon him for some use of what the Lord his God has lent him with that view, whether it be little or more and to withhold from the poor and afflicted, he is taught, is to rob and to deny his Maker. The same principle which inspires compassion and which induce him to fear the ned to be just and faithful, rule, the word of God, and has | but think it worthy of notice, that a principle correspondent thereto, in his heart, to act from; by which such a rule becomes more or less attainable and pleasant. The law of uprightness and love is in his heart, and his concern is to incorporate it with his life. To this he is called, and for this is more or less capacitated and qualified, by having Christ in him the hope of glory, and the source of strength and sufficiency. though there have been one or two usual attention to religion, yet there instances, in this town of some unnever has been known from its first settlement, any thing like a general awakening; nothing like what we have now seen. In the years 1740 and 41, when most the whole of New-England, there was a revival, throughout althis was one of the places it did not reach. Those, who were then inhabitants of the town, and memtion of a few individuals, were bitbers of the church, with the excepand were united in determining to terly prejudiced against the work, keep it out of their borders.So violent were the majority of the The Christian's principles and character, therefore, when truly exemplified, are calculated to diffuse lustre and happiness in ev-church, in their feelings, toward ery direction. He is in favor with God, and the native influence of that state is to be a blessing, and nothing but a blessing to men. Contemplated in this view, his value is beyond estimate, and his worth above the power of calculation to ascertain. May grace only enable every disciple of Christ to act in character, and his price, to true wisdom and discernment, will appear above rubies. Н. К. [Phil. Mag. those of their brethren, who went into the neighboring places, to see what was passing, and to hear preachers of the day, that they publicly censured them. Let the awakening go where else it would," not come. The effect was, it did here, they seemed to say, it should not come here. And from that time, until within about a year since, though the towns around, have been often visited with refreshing showers comparatively, like the barren heath of divine grace, this has remained in the desert. But what is particularly worthy of notice is, that God never appeared again to visit this place, by his Spirit, in any thing like a general awakening, until the whole of that generation, which virtually forbade TO THE EDITOR OF THE CON- him to come, were in their graves. NECTICUT MAGAZINE. Litchfield, July 8th, 1808. REV. AND DEAR SIR, And in speaking of facts, as they stand connected with this work, will it be thought improper to mention one, which, however remote it may appear in its aspect to some, AGREEABLY to promise, II cannot, however but consider one, proceed to give you some further particulars of what God has been doing for us here, in the revival of his work. This I should have done before, only as I have been prevented, by ill health, absence from home, and the necessary calls of parochial duty. In speaking of the commencement of this work, and a few facts that stand connected with it, I cannot VOL. I. No. 8. of real importance, the uncommon liberality, of the people of this place, in supporting the institutions of the gospel. This is well known, by all, who know any thing of their history, for the last ten years, and has often been spoken of as remarkable. Not only have they been liberal, in providing themselves with the means of grace, but have been as a people very exemplary, in their at ૨૧ |