in fupplicating the outpouring of JONATHAN BELDEN. Sketches of the character, life and LONG-ISLAND. preached abundantly by the Doctor himself, aud many other minifters, from various parts of the country, was attended with the moft furprising effects-and multitudes were hopefully converted. There were added to the Church, at one time, no lefs than ninety nine perfons, all credibly profefling faving grace; befides many, who afterwards and before joined themfelves to the Lord And fuch were the bleffed fruits of this revival that the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and as it were, had all things common. [Continued from page 151.] The two other feasons were less extraordinary, but ftill remarkable. REAT and diftinguifhed as The convictions of multitudes were were the fidelity, diligence ftrong and powerful; and many and zeal of Doctor Buell, his fuc- hopeful fubjects of falvation were cefs was still more extraordinary. added to the church. Thefe times To difplay his adorable fovereign- of refrething from the presence of ty, and exclude all glorying in the Lord took place, the one in men or means, it pleafed God to 1785, and the other in 1791, and fufpend, in a great meafure, the fpe- in both there was great fpiritual joy, cial influences of his Spirit from thro the town. Before and behis people, for a number of the tween thefe remarkable periods, firft years of his miniftry. His his miniftry was not without effect; labors, which elfewhere had pro- but, from time to time, finners were ved fo fignally efficacious for bro't home to God and faints were the conviction of finners and their greatly refreshed, strengthened and converfion, feemed here to be animated in the divine life. So without effect. But he was after-that to a very large proportion of his wards more fignally owned as a minifter of fpiritual good, to his own people, than he had ever been G to others. congregation he was a fpiritual father After what has been faid, it will be prefumed that Doctor BuUnder his miniftry, there were ell was happy in his people. This was indeed the cafe. He poffefthree particular feafons of the great fed their confidence in a high deand remarkable effufion of the fpir-gree. They were at peace among it of God. The firft, which was themfelves, and he was among the most fignal, took place in the them without fear. year 1764. This revival of reli- In the revolutionary war, when gion, accompanied with great pow- the Inland fell into the hands of the er, extended thro all parts of the enemy, (1776) and many were congregation. The whole town flying from it, he tho't it his duty was deeply impreffed; and the to continue with his people; and the attention of all was, in a moft his prudent and vigorous exertions to fairs of their falvation. The word them, but the neighboring towns He faithfully improved his utmost influence in favor of the oppreffed, and often with fuccefs. By his inftrumentality many impoffible demands of the enemy were recalled, and many rigorous ones abated. Such was his activity, in thefe refpects, as often fubjected him to the refentment of the inferior officers and foldiers; and more than once imminently endangered his life. In no period was he, perhaps, more ufeful, than the prefent. In temporal as well as fpiritual things, he was the father of his people, and the care of all the churches lay upon him, as there was but one minifter, within forty miles of him, able to do fervice, and he, thro the infirmities of age, was confined to his own congregation. Doctor Buell's attention to the cause of Zion was not confined to his own people. He had a tender concern for the interefts of the church, at large. He deeply felt the importance of maintaining union among the churches. He was a Prefbyterian, and punctual in attending prefbyterial meetings, even in his advanced age; and in this, as well as other refpects, was highly useful. The mildnefs of his temper, the ftrength of his judgment, and his high reputation for uprightness and piety, rendered him of eminent ufe in accommodating differences in the churches. He was known and refpected abroad. His publications were fourteen fermons, preached upon particular important fubjects and occafions, and a narrative, of the work of God, among his own people, in 1764. They are an expreffion of a trong mind, and ardent piety; and have been read, with pleasure and advantage, by the lovers of experimental religion. As a mark of the public effeem he received, in the year 1791, the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Dartmouth College. As to Doctor Buell's more private character, he poffeffed a very happy natural difpofition. His genius was uncommonly sprightly, and he was eminently formed for activity in his day and generation. This appears thro his whole life, and conftitutes a prominent feature, in his character. "Whatever his hand found to do he did it with his might." Thefe qualities were highly improved, and happily directed by the laws of Christianity. Of Chriftian graces and duties he was a pattern to the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him overfeer. His heart being enlarged by divine grace, he was diftinguished for public spirit. His ears were open to the cries of the poor, and the demands of the public good, in church and state- Of this, as well as his love to science, Clinton Academy, in Eaft-Hampton, is a monument. Of that inftitution he was the father and patron. He was no lefs diftinguished for Christian moderation, and felfgovernment. His appetites and paffions were happily fubjected to the laws of reafon, and the gospel of Chrift. Of his having excelled in this refpect, were there no other evidence, the candor, ferene cheerfulness and equanimity, which he eminently retained to the last of his days, would be a decided proof. He was much of the Gentleman as well as Chriftian-poffeffed a large fund of improving and entertaining anecdotes, and his company was inftructive and pleafing to perfons of every age. In his various relations, as husband, parent, mafter, friend and neighbour, he was peculiarly affectionate and happy. His houfe was a mansion of hofpitality, and no man received and enjoyed his and pleasure. friends with greater cheerfulness | much diftinguished for the manner in which he fuffered, as for the manner in which he did the will of God. As the joys, fo the forrows, of his life, were great and peculiar--He was the fubject of many fore bereavements. În addition to the lofs of two wives, in both of whom he was very happy, he was called to bury eight children, which, in connexion with four fervants, made the deaths in his family no less than fourteen. Under thefe bereavements, fome of which were in the highest degree affecting, he difplayed the moft exemplary Chriftian fortitude. By faith he eyed the hand of God and was fubmiffive. His perfonał forrows did not interrupt the duties of his public miniftry. It appears to have been his practice to preach upon the occafion of the deaths, which took place in his family, laboring to improve them for the benefit of his people. Two of his fermons, on these occafions, he published, in which may be seen the fweet compofure of mind and refignation of spirit, which were common with him, in fuch feafons.* But in no refpect was Doctor Buell more diftinguished, than for a fpirit of devotion. He always entertained a high opinion of the power and efficacy of prayer. As he was abundant in exciting others to abound in this rational, profitable and delightful exercife, fo he abounded in it himself. He entertained a deep habitual fenfe of his dependence upon God for every bleffing; and was difpofed to acknowledge and truft in him, under all the changing circumftances of life. Thus, in the manufcript fermon, preached upon the death of his first wife, after enumerating the changes in his family, he adds " I hope your candor will not deem it oftentation for me to fay, that my comforts were received with prayer, praife, and the joy of trembling, and have been parted with (however nature might oppofe) with prayer, fubmiffion, and, at laft, praife." A praying frame he always confidered as a very neceffary part of preparation for the finctuary, without which, the exercifes of the pulpit, which were commonly his delight and life, were burdenfome. at He was favored with uncom Soon after his fettlement Eaft-Hampton he married Miss * The one upon the death of his Jerufha Meacham daughter of the daughter, Mrs. Conkling, a woman of Rev. Jofeph Meacham, of Cov- diftinguished accomplishments, and ementry; with whom he lived about inent piety, who died Feb. 1782. Some twelve years. After her death account of her character, life and death is annexed to the fermon. The other he contracted a fecond marriage upon the death of an only fon named with Mifs Mary Mulford, daugh- Samuel, who died of the fmall pox ter of Mr. Elifha Mulford of Feb. 1787, aged 16 years. He was a Eaft-Hampton; with whom he youth of excellent parts, and true pilived twenty-two years. And af-ety-had made confiderable advances ter her death, he still contracted a third marriage with Mifs Mary Miller, daughter of Mr. Jeremiah Miller of Eaft-Hampton, who furvives him. Doctor Buell was, perhaps, as in his claffical education, and the Doctor juftly indulged raised hopes of him not only as to the fupport of his name and family, but as his fucceffor in the miniftry. Memoirs of his life and death are to be feen at the end of the fermon. mon health of body, and found- | afked, at one time, concerning the ftate of his mind, he requested his friends, in order to obtain it, to read the 17th chapter of John, repeating feveral times the 24th ver. "Father I will that they also whom thou haft given me be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou haft given me." Toward the last, he repeatedly obferved that he felt all earthly connexions to be diffolved; and his foul appeared to be drawn with fuch strength and pleafure, to the glorious world of light, that he could not bear to be interrupted by the affiduities of his friends, who were feeking to administer to his perifhing duft-frequently putting them afide with one hand, whilft the other was raised to heaven, where his eyes and his foul were fixed. And in this happy frame he continued, till the progrefs of his disorder wholly depri ved him of the power of speech." On Thursday, July 19, 1798, he obtained his release from the cares and forrows of mortality, and entered, as we have the fullest reason to believe, into the joys of his Lord. nefs of mind, to the laft of his day. To this the strict rules of temperance, which he always obferved, without doubt, very much contributed. The day he was eighty years old, he rode fourteen miles, preached, and returned home at evening. It was his prayer that he might not outlive his usefulness; and it was fignally anfwered. He preached the fabbath but one before his death. His laft illness was short, and tho' fevere, left him in the full poffeffion of his reafon. This was manifested in the juftnefs and propriety, of the exhortations and advices, which he administered to thofe who were about him. In his "laft hours he was favored with the fenfible fupports and confolations of that gofpel which he had fo long and with fuch glorious fuccefs preached to others. The more particular state of his mind, in this folemn extremity, may be feen in the following extract of the fermon preached upon the occafion of his death. "He faid that his mind was in perfect peace, and feemed never to have enjoyed a more triumphant faith. He appeared to have impreffions upon his mind concerning the glory of the Church as haftening on, which he wifhed to communicate, but could not for want of strength. He defired alfo to fpeak much to those about him, upon the fubject of having an intereft in Chrift, the importance of which, as it then appeared to him, he said, was unutterable. He had no defires to recover, but to depart, and be with Chrift. He viewed himself, he faid, as now paffing Jordan's flood, and within a step, as it were, of the promifed land; and the tho't of returning again into the wildernefs, was painful to him. When His funeral was attended, the next day, by the neighboring minifters, his own congregation, and a numerous concourse of people from the adjacent towns, with the most folemn decency and refpect. Thus lived, and thus died, this eminent fervant of Chrift. May the wide breach made upon Zion, in his removal, be mercifully repaired, others be raised up in his excellent Spirit; and the church to the latest generation be bleft with a fucceffion of minifters, thus faithful and diligent, powerful and fuccefsful. Letter from a refpectable Phyfician | in Connecticut, to his fifter in a diflant State. I T has often been the cafe, that after I have had an interview with my friends, I have exceedingly regretted that the great things of religion have made little or no part of our converfation. And although I have often refolved that I would better improve future opportunities, yet have too generally found that a multiplicity of other concerns, together with a criminal backwardness to introduce those glorious fubjects, have made fubfequent vifits as unprofitable as the former. As it is very uncertain whether we fhall ever again meet in this ho world, and even if we fhould, it is to be feared that things of little importance might as heretofore too much fuperfede religious converfation; I now embrace a favorable opportunity to write to you, ping it may be a means of stirring up both our minds to more diligence, watchfulness and prayer, efpecially at this time; in thefe days of the deception of the unclean Spirits, which have evidently gone forth into the whole earth, to gather the nations to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. I believe that all understanding Chriftians are agreed, that the prefent is the time of which God has fo abundantly warned his church in his word; the time in which he has told us there fhould be fcoffers, murmurers and complainers walking after their own lufts; thofe perilous times, or perhaps the beginning of them, when there fhall be proud blafphemers, defpifers of thofe that are good; when men will not endure found doctrines, but will privily bring in damnable herefies; and although they may have a form of Godlinefs, will deny the power; and when artful and powerful deceive ers fhall arife, fo that if it were poffible, they would deceive the very Elect. And how important is it, that all who profefs friendship to Christ should be on their guard; that they fhould watch and keep their garments, left they also be found naked; that they fhould not believe every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they be of God; that they fhould beware of dogs, of wolves in fheeps cloathing; that they should mark the men that make divifions, and avoid botly their corrupt fentiments and practi ces. And efpecially how infinitely important does this appear, when we reflect that there is no neutral ftation; but all who are not found among the followers of the Lamb, clothed in fine linen, white and clean; all who are not called, and chofen, and faithful, will be found him. among those that make war with Happy indeed would it be if none but profeffed enemies to the in arms against heaven. Instead Christian religion were to be found of this, it appears that fome of the most hurtful adverfaries to found among those that make high Chrift and his church, are to be profeffions of friendship. ceive will not be controverted; There is one pofition that I confriend to God, and at the fame and that is, a man cannot be a time difapprove of his law or govChrift while we oppose the doc ernment; we cannot be friendly to trines and precepts of the gospel. But that thefe doctrines are oppofed, and God's univerfal governmultitudes, and even by many pro ment difputed and objected to, by |