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of the human frame, and is expref- [ fed by this animated figure in various paffages of the writings of David. "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth." (Pfalm xvi. 9.) that is, my tongue declares my joy in God. "To the end that my glory, (that is my tongue) may fing praife to thee and not be filent." (Pfalm xxx. 12.) "Awake up my glory, awake pfaltery and harp." (Pfalm lvii. 8.) and in Pfalm cviii. 1. "O God, my heart is fixed, I will fing and give praife, even with my glory." ASAPH.

(To be continued.)

FOR THE CNNECTICUT EVAN-
GELICAL MAGAZINE.

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of renewing grace, yet, charity will conclude, that among all who have come out, and openly acknowledged Chrift, there must be many, who are become the real fubjects of it.

This cannot fail, of infpiring the minds of all the true lovers of Zion and the happiness of the fouls of men, with joy and confolation. It is an unfpeakably higher evidence of the goodness and mercy of God, and of his gracious pref ence, than the increase of corn and wine and oil. Although fuch influences are local, and though this confideration may caft a gloom on the circumstances of fuch places as are left in fecurity, yet, as the well-wishers of Zion do not confine their wishes to any particuHE publication of the vari- lar place or people, they do reous narratives of the reli- joice and will rejoice, that God's gious attention, which has prevail-work is proceeding in any place. ed, in many towns in this ftate, appears to me to be of excellent tendency; and calculated to afford important inftruction relative to many moft interefting things, as well as to imprefs the reflecting mind with many important confiderations. In perufing them, my mind has been led to make many reflections. I have endeavored, in as concife a manner as I am able, to ftate the use and improvement which may be made of these extraordinary operations.

1. I think they are eminently calculated, to afford pleafure and joy to the minds of all well-wishers to Zion and the welfare of the fouls of men.-If credit is to be given to those narratives, we must confider fuch operations as terminating in the enlargement of the Church of Chrift and in multiply. ing witneffes for him. And, however inadequate men are, as to determining, with abfolute certainty, how many are become the fubjects

2. The hiftory of the late a wakenings, is calculated to impress the mind, with a view and sense of the fovereignty of God, in the beftowment of the influences of his Spirit.

In the late effufions of the divine Spirit, although many places have been vifited, yet it has been far from being univerfal or general. It has rained upon one place and not upon another. While the people in one place have been attentive, to a high degree, to fpiritual and eternal concerns, those of another, and perhaps, of an adjoining place, have been left in fecurity, and to dofe over the most important things. Now, why is one place vifited and another not! It cannot be fatisfactorily accounted for, from the external means which have been enjoyed; nor from any previous appearances, or predifpofing circumstances. All that can be faid in fuch a cafe is, what our Saviour obferved on a fim

was an ardent defire to hear the word, to have fermons multiplied, and frequent religious conferences inftituted. People, at such a time, will inquire, and will attend on means. At fuch a time, a word faid, importing a doubt, whether it be the duty of unregenerate men to attend on means of grace, is in direct oppofition to the feelings of fuch as are awakened. However deficient they may be, as to the state of their minds, yet their minds are ftrongly impelled to an attendance on means. This is found to be an effect which univerfally attends the outpouring of the divine fpirit.-Purfue fuch operations in every place where they exift, and this effect will be obferved. We must first banish such

ilar occafion, "Even fo, Father, for appears from the progrefs of the fo it hath feemed good in thy work of God, in the various plafight."-And, the fovereignty of ces which are refpected in the narGod in fuch operations appears ratives. As foon as these wore not only, in diftinguishing fome any appearances of the effufion of places from others, in the bestow. the Spirit, there was a proportionment of them, but in the diftinc-able engagedness to attend on tions which are made among indi-means. Public affemblies became viduals, in the fame place. Al-proportionably crowded; and there though the attention, in many places, has been general, yet it has not been univerfal. Many individuals have been left in fecurity and inattention. And, among those who were awakened, it does not ap. pear, that it has been confined to fuch as human views would have fingled out as the favored objects, but fuch have been arrefted, in ma- | ny inftances, who were at the greatest remove from all ferious attention-fuch as have burlesqued and even wholly rejected Chriftianity; and have confidered fuch awakenings, as the effect of enthufalm and a distempered imagination. In thefe refpects it appears, from the various narratives which have been given, that awakenings are at the fovereign difpofal of God. Although there are, doubt-influences from a people, or they lefs, fufficiently ftrong reafons in will attend on means. This the divine mind for doing as he may lead then to a remark, which does; yet we have no other way ought to make the most painful to acount for it, than by refolving and humiliating impreffions on the it into the fovereignty of God. minds of fuch people and individ uals as live in the neglect of the means of grace. It is a fure evidence, that God does pafs by them-that they are not even the fubjects of the common, awakening influence of the divine fpirit

3. Another truth, which we can hardly fail of remarking, in the narratives of the late work of God, in different places, is this, that the awakening influences of the divine spirit will excite the attention of mankind, to the means of falvation. However ftupid people were, antecedently, yet, they are no fooner awakened, or their minds impreffed with a sense of 4. Another important confidtheir danger, and of the impor-eration, which the narratives and tance of falvation, than they begin to read and pray and inquire on the fubject of falvation. This

They have the evidence in themfelves, and carry it with them, through the whole of their negligence and inattention.

hiftories of the work of God, in different places, is calculated to inforce and illuftrate is, that, or

uals have, who can continue > live in the neglect of the meat, of grace. They have no profpect, no reafon to expect to be the fubjects of renewing influence in that ftate.

dinarily, it is neceffary to regeneration and converfion, that finners fhould be awakened to attend to the means of grace. Although it is not pretended, that means, on account of any innate energy in them, do regenerate men, or beget 5. Another truth which the nargrace in the hearts of finners; and, ratives under confideration tend to although regeneration is the work enforce is, that however neceffary of God, and the immediate effect it is to regeneration, that finners of his power, yet, it does appear, are awakened to attend to means; from fact and obfervation, that it yet there is no established connectis ordinarily neceffary to regenera-ion, between their attending on tion, that finners fhould be awaken-means, as they do attend, and reed to attend on means. This ap-generation.--In the bestowment of pears, from the revivals narrated, regenerating grace on those who in the various numbers in the Magare awakenened, God exercifes azine. Previously to the awaken the fame fovereignty, as he does in ings which have taken place, there giving the awakening influence of were no greater appearances of con- his spirit to different people. God verfions than in other places: but, vifits fome places with the effufions in confequence of fuch awakenings of his fpirit, and paffes by others. and attention, the inftances have So it is among finners who are abeen multiplied. And thofe in-wakened to concern, and to atftances have been confined, to fuch tend on means of grace and falvaas were awakened and excited to tion. Although it appears, that attend on means. Not an inftance awakening and attention are, orhas occurred among the inattentive. dinarily, neceffary to regeneraAnd this has been found to be tion; yet there is no certain contrue, generally, refpecting both pub- nection, between their attendance lic and private inftances of regen- on means and regeneration. God, eration. I do not say, that God in his fovereignty, diftinguithes cannot regenerate without firft fome, by giving them renewing awakening finners to attend on grace. This appears to be true, means; or that all are awakened from facts, as they are stated in to the fame degree, or for the the various narratives. Many there fame length of time; but it does are, who, after being awakened appear, as if a degree of awake. to attend on means, gradually rening and a diligent attendance on turn to their former cafe, and carmeans were, ordinarily, neceffary ry not the leaft evidence of their to God's giving renewing grace to being the fubjects of grace. But, finners. It appears from fact, that as the apostle James expreffes it. this is the ordinary way and fo," It is happened to them, according that there is ordinarily, no reafon- to the true proverb, The dog is turnable profpect that a work of grace ed to his own vomit again; and, will be begun in the hearts of fin- the fow that was washed, to her ners, 'till they are awakened to wallowing in the mire." We are concern, and a diligent attendance not, therefore, to suppose, any to the means of grace. This leads certain connection between finners us to fee, what dark and difmal being awakened to attend on means profpects, fuch people and individ. and regeneration; while, on the

other hand, it is, ordinarily, neceffary that finners fhould be awa. kened to attend, in that manner to means, in order to their being the fubje&ts of renewing grace.

and plead his own cause ;; that his fpirit may be poured out upon them, and his bleffing on their offspring.

On the whole, it appears from the hiftory given us of the late work of God, in various places in this

which is ordinarily neceffary to the exercife of the mighty power of God, in their regeneration and converfion; altho❞ not certainly

connected with it.

But, it may here be asked, whether the account of the fuccefs of attending on means, as exemplifi

6. The narratives, in the foregoing view of them, are eminent-ftate, that it is a matter of the ly calculated to excite fome ferious highest importance for a people, reflections and confiderations, in that they are made the subjects of the minds of fuch people, as have the awakening influences of God's not been the fubjects of fuch a- fpirit; and that fuch influences, will wakening influences. Although certainly awaken finners to a dilthe fpirit of God has been remark-igent attention to means of grace, ably poured out, on many places, and converfions have been hopefully multiplied; yet it is equally true, that in many other places, there has been nothing of that na ture. They have been left to pine away in their iniquity-to continue fecure and inattentive-to neg. lect the means of grace. Infteaded in the hiftory given of the awaof defiring, that religious exercifes kenings, in different places, be fuch fhould be increased, they can hard- as is given in the facred fcripures? ly attend on the stated religious ex- Do not the facred fcriptures not onercifes of the fabbath. Inftead ly teach us the neceffity of attendof wifhing, that conferences and ing on means, but actually connect fpecial feafons for improvement in an attendance on means with rereligion fhould be appointed, they generation? Answer. The fcrip can hardly be perfuaded to attend tures do teach, that there is a cer on the most common religious fer- tain connection between attending vices. Now, what ferious and fo- on means of grace, in a certain lemn reflections are incumbent on qualified sense, and salvation. But fuch a people! Is it not certain, there is no where to be found in that God has paffed by them! Is the fcriptures, any fuch doctrine as it not evident, that being left as a connection between attending on they are, they and the rifing gene-means, as the unholy and unregenration among them muft perish!erate attend on them, and regeneIs it neceffary, that finners be a- ration. Attending on means, in wakened and excited to attend on the fcripture fenfe of the words, means to their having hope, that a includes in it, the exercife of howork of grace will be carried onlinefs-of faith-humility, trust in Then fuch people as are left with God and obedience. Such an at out any special operation of the tendance on means never precedes fpirit of God among them, have, regeneration; and confequently, under prefent appearances, noth- promifes are not extended to any ing to expect but ruin and deftruc- of the exercifes of the unregenetion. There is the utmost reafon, rate. Regeneration, therefore, is and the loudest call on the friends always given as an unpromised merof Zion, to awake and cry might- cy. How can it then be said, that ily unto God, that he would arife attending on means is connected VOL. I. No. 8, NA

pofition of divine power on their behalf! Do we derive fach views of the regenerate, from the word of God! No; the scriptures speak of the mighty power of God in them that do believe. And be

with promises of falvation; if regeneration, which is falvation begun, takes place as an unpromifed favor; or is not connected with any promife? Anfwer. Admitting that regeneration is, according to divine conftitution, the believers are faid to be "kept by the ginning of falvation, yet it is not power of God, through faith, unto the whole of falvation; and com- falvation.” The regenerate are plete and final falvation is depend- conftantly and neceffarily depending on the conftant influence and ent on divine interpofitions, or the exercife of divine power. Were exercife of the mighty power of it not for fuch conftant excrcifes of God, to preferve and meeten them power, the regenerate would back for heaven, or complete falvation. flide, apoftatize and perish forever. It is, therefore perfectly unreafonAnd fuch influence is connected able to infer, from the fcriptures, with a proper attendance on means. that regenerating grace is connecAn intereft in the promises of fuch ted with any exercises of the uninterpofitions commences, when regenerate, from their connecting perfons attend on means in the ex- the bestowment of grace, or the ercife of faith and holiness. exercife of the mighty power of God, with an attendance on means of grace or falvation. And that for two reasons. First, because the unregenerate are always effentially deficient in the manner of their attending on means. And, fecondly, because the state of the regenerate, who do alone truly and properly attend on means, is fuch, as eminently needs the beftowment of grace and the exercise of divine, almighty power, to keep and train them up for complete falvation. If the unregenerate did, in fact, attend on means as the fcriptures do direct men to attend on them; or if unregenerate men only needed grace and the exerciAnswer. If the regenerate fes of divine power, to being fahave become independent, if they ved, then, indeed we might condo not need grace, nor the exer- clude, that in the fcriptures, the cife of divine power to train them doings of the unregenerate and up for falvation, we muft, indeed, regeneration are connected. But, admit that promifes of grace and who that confiders the state of beof the exercife of divine power, lievers or the regenerate, can think, do refpect the regeneration of fin- that they have got beyond the need ners. But, are we to view the state of grace and the exercife of diof the regenerate to be a state of vine power, on their behalf! And independence! That they are be- how unjust and unwarrantable to yond the neceffity of the the inter-view the facred fcriptures, as prom

But, an objector may ftill enquire and urge; that altho' it does appear, that attending on means of grace according to the fcripture account of it, does feem to imply fomething which the unregenerate do never exercife; yet, in other reprefentations, is it not implied, that the promises do extend to them? The fcriptures do certainly connect grace and divine interpofitions, with an attendance on means. Does not this imply, that there are promises of regenerating grace made to the doings of the unregenerate? The regenerate have grace; and divine power has already been exercifed in them.

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