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tendance upon them. For a num-¡ devotion, were uncommonly anber of years past, there has been imated. Indeed the spirit, which observable, a growing regard to the fired their bosoms, became continupublic worship of God, and an in- ally more and more visible, in an creasing attention to the instructions uncommon engagedness, in every of his house. thing relating to the Redeemer's kingdom, though no one was then thinking of it, as a token for good.

The public catechizing of the children, also, which in the summer season, has for a number of years been attended to, in the interval of public worship on the sabbath, seems, in the judgment of serious people, to have been greatly blessed. Many of the rising generation, who are now hopefully the subjects of the awakening here, are among the number of those who were formerly present at those seasons, and who could not only repeat the shorter catechism, but who, it is presumed, understood something of those important truths, contained in this excellent summary of Christian doctrines and duties.

Some time in April or May, a sermon was preached from Rom. xi. 7. But the election hath obtainedit, and the rest were blinded: and though there was nothing, either in the matter, or in the manner of handling it, different from multitudes of other sermons, which the people had heard upon the same subject; and though no peculiar effects were at the time expected by the preacher, yet I now recollect, that this sermon was soon after observed, to call up the feelings of opposition to the character of God, more generally through the congregation, than almost any that had ever been preached here: and it was spoken of as a very favorable

And among the facts more immediately connected with this revival, I would mention, that for a number of months preceding its appear-omen, that the naked truth, plainly ance, the church had been gradually dispensed, should now for the first awakening from a state of slumber, time almost, excite so much attenand Laodicean lukewarmness, to tion and interest. some degree of Christian zeal in duty. An uncommon union of sentiment was found to prevail, among the members, with regard to the importance of discipline. Several cases of disorderly walk were attended to, with hopeful success in producing a reformation. Others remaining incorrigible, after being tenderly dealt with, were promptly cut off from the communion of the church. From this, brotherly love appeared more and more to increase. Those that loved Zion, were found oftener speaking one to another of her interests, and an uncommon spirit of prayer began to prevail.

From this time, there was evidently an uncommon solemnity, and deep attention to the great truths of religion among sinners; and a ve ry uncommon engagedness among Christians, for several weeks before there was any other appearance of an awakening. As yet, however, there had been no special seasons, either for social prayer, or conference. At length it seemed to be a pretty general impression, on the minds of praying people, that something must be done. Accordingly it was agreed upon, to hold meetings for special prayer, in the different districts of the society, successively. Several evenings in the week were Although in times of the greatest devoted to the business; the doors. stupidity, there have been those were opened for all; and the meet(a goodly number I trust) who have ings wherever they were held, were been pleading with Zion's God, in crowded. Scarcely had these praylonging desires, that his goings er meetings travelled the circuit of might be seen in the midst of the different districts in the society, us, in a general out-pouring of his before it was evident that God was Spirit; yet in the winter and spring visibly present among us. Like an about a year since, I find from en-electric shock, the heavenly influ quiry, that the number had greatly ence seemed to be felt at once, in alincreased, and that their seasons of most all the different parts of the

town. One here, and another thing acceptable: and I do not bethere, deeply convicted of sin, over-lieve, in a single instance, by all borne with a sense of their undone that has been said, that any one incondition were known by those, who dividual was ever beat off from this were observing the signs of the notion, till he had tried it out and times to be crying out together, thoroughly spent the whole stock What shall we do to be saved? of strength, that he had thought sufficient for his purpose. And this is probably one of the ways, which God takes, to convince the awakened sinner, that his own strength is weakness, and to prepare him to resign himself up, to the disposal of sovereign grace.

You will probably expect some account of the appearance of those, who have been the subjects of this work, in the different stages of their exercises. In giving it, I might relate many particulars, interesting to the serious mind; yet as it would be speaking of living characters, it is, in my opinion, a subject of extreme delicacy. I can only observe, then that the general features of this work, have been such as is common, at such times.

That opposition, which naturally exists in the human heart, to God, his law and government, has never failed, that I recollect, in a single instance (where I have had opportunity to observe persons under conviction among us,) somehow to manifest itself. It has been, however, much more apparent, bold and obstinate in some than in others.

It has been very common, to arraign the rectitude and wisdom of the divine dealings with creatures; and especially as to what is revealed concerning God's purposes, to save some, while others are left in their sins to perish. In view of this and other bible truths connected with it, so humbling to the pride of man, I have been amazed while I have often heard them exclaim, "It cannot be just. If God is what he claims to be, why does he not save us all, since he could do it by a single word?""Why should he leave us, in this torment, through a hopeless eternity?"

The commandment, brought home with power to the conscience, by the Spirit of God, seems to have been the principal instrument, in his hand, in first awakening the sinner to a sense of his danger; and then, in slaying his hope of self righteousness. His first impressions, have been observed to arise from a deep and affecting sense of the purity and extent of the divine law; its awful penalty; the full conviction that this penalty will be executed; and that he must be the unhappy subject of it. It has been common to hear persons in this situation, with the sentence of condemnation in themselves, crying out in bitter anguish," I am undone.” “I am gone." "There is no hope for me." "I am the enemy of Almigh- If such feelings of opposition, ty God." "I have been all my life when comparatively dormant, opposing God with all my heart, and make every natural man, like the I now see it, and I see how unavail- troubled sea, when it cannot rest, ing it is to contend with the Almigh-whose waters cast up mire and dirt; ty." "I can see nothing before me but destruction uncovered, and as I now am, I am fast hastening toit: Tell me what I shall do to be saved?" "Will it be enough, if I pray so many times in a day?" Or" If I will devote myself wholly to my bible and to my closet, how long will it probably be before I shall find comfort?" The first stages of conviction in sinners have generally been marked with very strong desires to do something to recommend themselves to the favor of God; and with the full persuasion that they could do some

how must he appear, when those feelings are roused into more lively exercise? The case of the convicted sinner, as it has been generally exhibited here, will answer the question. Excepting that for the living man there is always hope, it is truly hell begun. It is a state of existence made up almost entirely of a deep conviction of wrong conduct and at the same time of a love of sin; a pride of heart and obstinacy of character which forbid him to repent: an opposition to, and hatred of God and all good; and a certain

fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

knowing any particular time of a change, can only say, Whereas I was once blind, to the beauty of divine things, now I see. More generally, the subjects of this work, seem not to have thought of entertaining a hope for themselves, until some time after their Christian friends have, in their own minds, obtained a charity for them. In conversation you would hear them complaining that they had lost their convictions; that they could not get that frighal sense of future punishment, and of the wrath of God, due to sin, which they had been accustomed to have; that their hearts were growing hard and stupid, because they could not weep as formerly; that they saw themselves to be greater sinners than ever, and every day discovered some secret lurking place of iniquity, that they never had found before; not know

when found in connection with other views and exercises, which are the more common fruits of the Spirit, are among the best evidences of sound conversion from sin to ho

When we contemplate what the distress and anguish of any soul, thoroughly awakened to a sense of its danger by nature must be, I need not describe more particularly what it has been here. I will only say, that in many instances it seems to have been too big for utterance, expressing itself in deep solemnity, or rather a kind of sullen gloom on the countenance; and in others venting itself, in tears and sighs and groans. But as to the time of its continuance, it has pleased God to cut short his work, in mercy: though in this there has been nothing uniform. In some the hopeful change has been preceded, by very lengthy, painful and trying convictions: in others by those that are shorter, and perhaps more severe in others by shorter still, and yet more tender and gentle:ing, or not considering, that these, and others have scarcely been apprized of any conflict or controversy, before they have found themselves in the comfortable enjoyment of a hope of acceptance with God; and apparently in the lively exer-liness. And when they have found cise of submission, humility, and love. peace, it has been in a way, which The period of conviction, that has they had least expected, and propreceded a hope, I believe has not bably never before thought of. They usually been more than three or have often expressed their astonishfour weeks. And yet there are ment, to find how easy a thing it is some, (and their situation claims the to believe in Christ, and have the prayers of all God's people, who comfort of it, whereas they had beremember their own affliction, the fore thought it, of all things the wormwood and the gall,) who were most diflicuit. In several instances among the first that were awa- I have noticed, that they have had kened here, that are yet wandering the first tokens of their acceptance in darkness, and see none of that with God, in finding an entire change cheering light that has been gra- in some wrong disposition of the ciously imparted to others. God is a heart, which had been a source of Sovereign, and as such he will be the greatest trouble to themselves; known. As such let us acknow- and which had been most noticed to ledge him, and wait with reverence, their disadvantage by others. Upon his disposal of us and of ours-Of looking back, and comparing the those who hope they have become views and feelings, which they now new creatures in Christ Jesus, some have, with those that before actuated have been brought out of darkness them, they perceive their hearts to and distress, into the light and liber-be fixed entirely upon new objects. ty of the gospel, with a song of fraise in their mouths. They can tell all the several steps, by which their eyes were opened, and by which they were led on to the discoveries which they have of God and themselves. Some again 1.0t

If they had been sufremely devoted to the world and its guilty pursuits, they are now brought to understand the apostle's meaning, where he says in view of the Lord Jesus Christ, By whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. If they had al

lowed themselves to be peevish and fretful, upon common occasions, with little or no provocation, they are now brought to be still, and to remember that the hand of an overruling and an all-controling God, is in every thing.

ces, in which there have been objections to these doctrines, as stated by those, who hate them; but never have I known any where they have been fairly stated, and clearly explained in the light of the gospel. It has been already mentioned, If they had been of a jealous dis- that the awakening made its apposition, suspicious that their neigh-pearance, in almost all parts of the bors were not friendly, and thus Society, nearly at once. This is an sour and morose toward them, and important fact, as it shows that it rather inclined to render evil for did not operate at all by sympaevil, they now find it difficult to be- thy or fashion, as the enemies of relieve that they have any enemies, vivals often alledge: as does the and impossible not to love them, fact, that the work has not been conand to seek their best good. fined to rank, character, age, colour, sect, party or any condition in life whatever, but has gone just where it has been sent by a most gracious and wonder-working God.

If they have been accustomed to think that their lot was hard in the world, and that because they were not in affluent circumstances, they were very poor, and to complain God has taken occasion to manithat the ways of God, were not fest, by what he has been doing equal, they now feel content with a here, not only that he would work, competency, and in the enjoyment and that none should let it; but of God and his blessing, speak of that he would work, and that no one the fulness in which they share, besides should have the glory of it. and of being dealt with infinitely Ministers have had little else to do, better than they deserve. These but to look on and see the Lord display things, I know are common evi- himself. Though he has sent many dences of Christian experience, yet I faithful laborers into this his vinecannot give you an idea of the char-yard, and though doubtless he has, acter of the work here, without just in some way though remote, blessed mentioning them, from particular his own means, yet it has been sininstances now in my mind. gular to observe, in how few instanAnd with great gratitude would Ices, the preaching of the word, has mention, that though there are more appeared to be the immediate cause, than two hundred who have expres- either of first calling up the attensed a hope for themselves, that they tion of sinners, or of afterwards givhave within a year past been brought ing them comfort. It has more comout of the bondage of sin, into the monly been some providence which glorious liberty of the children of we should call accidental or trivial, God, yet in no one instance among that has proved to be the barbed arthem do I recollect, that there is any row of conviction. Sometimes it has reason to apprehend, a want of sin- been a word only, dropped by a cerity-God grant that there never friend or a neighbor in an ear premay be. pared to receive it. Sometimes it has been only a look of compassion. Sometimes it has been merely the reflection of one's own mind; and sometimes perhaps a dream.

The testimony of the Spirit of God, in this work, has uniformly been, in favor of those peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, which while they prostrate the creature in the dust, exalt, and give the throne to Jehovah; such as the depraved and totally undone condition of man; his entire dependence on divine grace, reigning through righteousness in Jesus Christ; the unlimited sovereignty of God; his unchangeable decrees and the like. There may have been instan

I have been forcibly struck during the awakening, with peculiar and manifest interpositions of the dread majesty of heaven and earth in a way of displeasure against vain and trivial assemblies, or pleasure parties. Two instances of this, are perfectly fresh in my recollection. One was, at a pretty early period, in the revival. A number or young

misses, at á school here, had a sta-, and so evidently illustrated by fact, ted exercise of this kind. Some that the eternal and unchangeable of them, deeply impressed, refused God, is a prayer-hearing God.to join in it, as usual, and were se-This precious season of refreshing verely frowned upon, by their mates, from the presence of the Lord, who declared, at the same time, that seems to have commenced, as has nothing would keep them from at- been mentioned, in answer to prayer. tending, the evening, that was ap- After God had shown himself merproaching. But before the evening ciful, in calling a number into his came, the solemnity became so gen- kingdom, the work seemed to cease, eral through the school, that very about the beginning of September few, if any one had the hardihood, last. How reluctant God's people if they had the least disposition, to were to let him go, without furjoin in the amusement. ther displays of his grace among us, can be better conceived than described. It was recollected, in the midst of our anxiety, though there were many private praying meet

yet come together, as a church, particularly to solicit the further continuance of the Holy Spirit among us. It was no sooner mentioned, than adopted. The first was a general, and a very solemn meeting. In less than a week, there were a large number of new instances of awakening. These prayermeetings of the church, have from that time, till the present, been kept up weekly, and are attended with great zeal and interest. And blessed be God, the showers of divine influence continue to descend. His work, I must say, appears to have run parallel with the disposition there is observable in Christians to call upon him; and thus I believe it ever will be,

The other instance, in my mind, was some time the fore part of December last. Several young men, who had felt themselves greatly restrained by the prevailing serious-ings, that the church had never as ness, determined that it should be so no longer. Accordingly they fixed on the then approaching Christmas for a ball; and gave out that if it could not be accomplished otherwise, they would go abroad for company; for a bal they would have, in spite of all the superstition of the young people here; and were all engaged in making their arrangements for it. In the midst of their folly, a number of the most active of these young men were deeply impressed; relinquished their favorite object; and before the day arrived, were prepared to spend it with the people of God, in prayer and praise, to which it had been previously set apart, by this, in concert with the neighboring churches. I know of no other attempts of the kind that have been made during the revival, and am happy to add, should they now be made, they would prove unsuccessful. The hearts of by far the greater part, who have been the principal advocates for worldly amusements, are now, I trust, on a better good.

I cannot conclude, without giving my testimony to the truth, so abundantly taught in the word of God,

“Ye humble souls, in every strait, "On God with sacred courage wait, "His hand shall life and strength

aford,

"Oh, ever wait upon the Lord."

With fraternal respect, in the

labors of the gospel ministry,
I am, dear Sir,
affectionately Yours,
D. HUNTINGTON.

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