it pleafed the great Head of the Church in a very peculiar manner, to fhow forth his prefence, and power in the midst of the people. So extraordinary a feafon, for weeks, and we may fay, for months we never witneffed. An anfwer to the enquiry, Whether the Lord was indeed among us, or not, was now attended with no difficulty. The minds of many were greatly agitated, and unufual attention was paid to means of inftruction. In the time of this extraordinary vifitation, a goodly number of the people, obtained hope of their reconciliation to God. Having made this general ftatement, I shall now defcend to fome particular obfervations. I. It is worthy of particular notice, that the work has been car ried on with remarkable regularity. Little or nothing has been difcovered, of wild enthufiafm, or diforder. The fubjects of the work, have been as able, and ready in any ftage of it, to inform of the ground of their diftrefs, as a patient to tell what part of his body was in pain. This perhaps, may account for it, (in measure,) that there has been fo little open oppofition to the work. Such as wished to cenfure and reproach it, were confounded. It may be obferved, II. As to the nature of the work, that it has been fuch, in the courfe and iffue of it, as wonderfully to difplay divine power, and grace, and to bring out to view the human heart. The fubjects of it in the first stages of their concern, have generally been filled with furprife and aftonishment at themfelves, and their past lives. And feeing themfelves in danger, have formed refolutions, and entered on measures to amend their fituation. Whey led to a more full difcovery, of their own hearts, and to an increas ing conviction, of the impoffibility of ever obtaining relief, in their own way, they have felt very fenfibly difluibed. They have been ready to plead in their own defence, while they dared to do it, that they could do no more than they could-that they never made their own hearts-and that it was out of their power to change them they have contended alfo again!t God, for fhowing mercy to others, while they were left-and even for giving them exiftence. But as their convictions increased, they became fentible of the dreadful obflinacy of their own hearts, and found themfelves growing worfe and worfe, till finally all hope difappeared, except what arofe from the fovereign grace of God-from the confideration that he could, and that he would have mercy, on whom he would have mercy. They found their hearts fo much oppofed to God, to his law, and to the gofpel, as to fee that nothing fhort of divine power could ever fubdue them. In the midst of all this, their proud and obftinate spirits would rise against that very lovereign grace, which fecured them from utter defpair, and contained their only remaining hope, of efcaping divine wrath. But no fooner were they led to a difcovery of the juftice of God in their condemnation-to fee and to feel that the law was right and holy, and hell their proper place, than they found their mouths fhut, and their complaints at an end. They have readily acknowledged, that God would be glorious in executing fentence against them. Thus have they been brought to refign themfelves cheerfully, without any referve into the hands of God, to be difpofed of as may be most for his glory-rejoicing that they were, | the extreme finfulness, and corruption of their own hearts, as to be ready to conclude it to be utterly impoffible, that they should have any grace. This may account for a remark frequently made by themfelves, and circu and might be, in the hands of fuch an holy, just and wife God, let their future fituation be what it might There have been among them fuch like expreffions as thefe, The character of God has ap'peared inexpreffibly beautiful, even in the view of his pronoun-lated by others, that they had 'cing fentence against me.' 'I given up their hope. with that others might praife God, though I fhould perish.' In confequence of becoming reconciled to the divine character, It has been no uncommon thing law and fovereignty, to which befor the fubjects of the work, whofe fore they were fo much oppofed ; chief distress and anxiety antece- the character and work of Chrift, dently arose from a fenfe of their have been wont to appear unspeakabeing in the hands of God, unex- bly glorious, and beautiful, as pectedly to find themselves rejoic. magnifying the divine law, and ing in that very confideration-con-opening a way for the acceptance templating the glory, and happi- of finners in fuch a manner, as nefs of God, as an object of high-glorifies God and exalts the grace er confequence, and more precious and work of Chrift, and lays them than their own perfonal falvation, proftrate at his feet. and all this, while as yet, they have had no idea of having experi enced any faving change of heart. They have in various inftances apparently rejoiced in God's fupremacy, and in being at his difpofal, calmly leaving their cafe to his wife and holy decifion, and have conversed in a language to which they never before were accuftomed, and have gained the favorable opin ion of others, while they have had no fuch thought refpecting themselves. Instead of this, jeal oufies have often been excited in their minds, (on finding themselves fo calm and peaceful,) that God had left them that their concern was over, and have wifhed it to re turn again. And when at length reflecting on their views and feelings, or by converfing with others, they have ventured to entertain fome feeble hope about themfelves, it has been in various instan. ces, of fhort continuance. Within the courfe of a few days, or perhaps a fhorter period, they have had fuch an overwhelming fenfe of The great and effential difference, between their former and prefent views and feelings, has very fenfibly affected their own minds, as well as the minds of others; efpecially, in thofe inftances in which they had antecedently diftinguifhed themselves, by their oppofition to the doctrine of decrees, divine fovereignty, the abfolute dependence of the creature on God, and his univerfal providence, and the duties of unconditional fubmiffion, and difinterefted affection. To find themselves now attached to those very doctrines and duties, and lamenting their former blindness, has ferved to excite peculiar admiration and gratitude. III. It may perhaps be proper to notice, that the great Head of the Church, has by no means confined himself in the difplay of his grace to perfons of any particular rank or age. Children and young people, of both fexes, and heads of families, of different ages, and in one or two instances, fuch as were far advanced in life, | each other. The obfervations al are among the number who hope though once they were blind, that now they fee. The impreffions were such on the minds of the children, in different fchools, as led them to lay afide their cuftomary diverfions and fometimes to pass their intermiffions in prayer, reading, or religious converfation, among themselves. Such as were capable, requested it as a privilege, that they might be allow ed at fchool to read in their bibles. Several of the scholars obtained hope refpecting themfelves, fome under 12 years of age, but the greatest number between 12 and 18. ready made refpecting the nature of VI. It is conceived, and it is thought no more than proper to acknowledge it, that the measures which have been adopted by the ftate, for the fpread of the gospel; the addrefs from the General Affembly, recommending a more careful obfervation of the Sabbath the regulations refpecting schools together with various late publi IV. The uniformity every where obfervable, as to the views, and exercises of the fubjects of the work, is a circumftance particularly to be noticed, both antecedent to their obtaining relief, as well as afterwards. Molt generally, let any perfon become informed in refpect to a fingle inftance, of the views and feelings of a finner, under concern, and of his confequent exercifes, and different views, and apprchenfions, and he would for fubitance learn what others could fay. The fame excufes, pleas, cavils and objections, against the doctrines and precepts of the gof-cations, have been employed under pel, while under conviction, and the fame kind of fubmiflion, when brought to a cheerful furrendery of themfelves to God which were found in one cafe were to be looked for in another. To find perfons who never converfed, one with the other, communicating the fame ideas, has been very striking to many. And it ought to be particnlarly obferved here, that this is not the cafe, merely in neighbourhoods or focieties; but in diflant and different quarters, wherever the work has spread, amongft thofe who never faw or heard of Providence, to promote and fpread this great and glorious work, which God hath already wrought and is ftill accomplishing. Your's SAMUEL J. MILLS. (To be continued.) Letter from the Rev. Dr. HAWEIS, T THE kind mention you make of me in your letter affe&s Tho' unknown, we often meet as brethren before him who hath the refidue of the fpirit, and me. go not empty away. I wish to have a memorial in the hearts of my brethren, unworthy as I am, and lefs than the least of all the mercies I am receiving from him. I: esteem it among those especially to be acknowleded that he hath affociated me among a body of the moft faithful and zealous of this land, where if I fill the lowest place I should think I had not lived in vain. My heart is indeed in their work, and I only regret that my ability to ferve the glorious caufe is fo difproportionate to my defires. Hitherto the Lord in deed hath been gracioufly pleafed to profper our efforts beyond our moft fanguine expectations, and to demonftrate, to the reproof of our fears and unbelief, that the excellency of the power is of him and not of us, and that he can out of the mouths of thofe as feeble as babes and fucklings ftill perfect his praise. dulations of the pool till it fhall reach from the welt to the east and from the east to the west. You have ere this feen our Miffionary Journal, and our Magazines have informed you of the great and unexpected impreffion made thro'out all Proteftant kingdoms, and you will be refreshed as we.. have been by their correfpondence. The increafing vigorous exertions to fpread the gofpelin England & Scotland are no lefs remarkable. You will have heard how foon the Lord furnifhed us for the equipment of the Duff, and with the faithful who have we hope ere this reached the place of their deftination in the Southern ocean,* as well as the second body gone to attempt the Caffre nation, and penetrate, if the Lord opens the way further into Africa. We would not let the present year pafs without further exertions, and are now deeply employed in preparing a large miffion of thirty perfons or upwards for the Sandwich Iflands and Marquefas, whom Mr. Crook and the Marquefa youth who came with him, and is now under inoculation will, if the Lord pleafes accompany, he having acquired a perfect knowledge of the language. It is with wonder and adoration we have to acknowledge how the general favor of the faithful hath fupported us, as you will fee by our annual account; and every favor we have asked from our ru It revives our inmoft fouls to fee the spreading of the facred flame in America, and the bleffed hope, that roufed from the torpor of apathy, we are all beginning to feel the value of thofe fouls that the fon of God came down to fave by his own molt precious blood. The Lord increase you more and more, and enable you to lengthen the cords and ftrengthen the flakes of the true tabernacle, in which all that love our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity may meet to worship himling powers has been granted with in fpirit and in truth, and with united efforts go forth to feek the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his poffeffion. Between, the Allegany mountains and the Columbia river, which we hope ere long to vifit, there will be a glorious fpace to traverfe, till we meet, in what point who can tell! But I truft the found will spread like the un We the most perfect readiness. N From the history of the London Millionary Socicty, contained in the preceding pages it will be feen that the Duff was captured by a Erench privateer, news of which was not received at the time this letter was write ten. buried while the feed of the ferpent remains, but we have the greatest reafon to praife the good hand of our God over us for good, who has fo profpered our poor endeavours, that those are now filent who fuppofed if a fox went up it would throw down the wall we built. Now few refufe to acknowledge that the thing is of the Lord, and thofe of the evangelical clergy who refused to affociate with us have affociated among themfelves to confine their efforts to Africa and Alia. God fpeed the plough! If the work be but done they that love him will rejoice in it. It will give me, dear fir, unfeigned delight to communicate to my brethren fome tidings from you that you are individually exerting yourfelves to fpread the gofpel around you, and as a Miffionary body making fome vigorous efforts to fend out chofen men, whofe zeal and patience may enable them to furmount all the difcouragements which they may meet among the Heathen. The children of God are all one household. The Atlantic flowing between prevents not our united hands and hearts from cordially meeting in this work of faith and labor of love. Will you make my humble falutations to all that among you labor in word and doctrine, and are willing to spend and be 1pcnt in the fervice of immortal fouls. Shall I intreat a kind remembrance in your prayers for a poor finner that is feeking the falvation of his own foul and longing for that of others without partiality to the color of their fkin or the place of their abode, and your affectionate brother in Chrift, T. HAWEIS. P. S. We wish a more frequent correfpondence with your fociety, that we may hear oftener of your Very dear and worthy Paflor, According to your requcft I will now attempt to give you fome particular account of myself. But where fhall I begin? Shall I defcribe to you the different exercifes of mind that I paffed through? that would be impoffible. For more than three months I almoft defpaired of ever feeing the face of God in peace; and was often led to think I was made for the very purpose of being miserable, and that it was decreed from all eternity that I fhould perish forever. I thought myfelf to be perfectly ftupid and hardened, left entirely to myfelf. I faw that I could do nothing to help myself in the leaft degree-that I was in the hands of a fovereign God, and that he would do just as he pleased with me. This I could not endure. Itgrieved me to think that I could do nothing to fave myself, and I often thought that I was dealt hardly by, that God required more of me than I was able to perform. I felt oppofed to God and holiness. My heart rofe against the Bible. I could find nothing in it but what was against me, and for that reafoa I dreaded to read it. Altho' I was fenfible I never could be happy with fuch a heart as mine, yet my averfion to holiness was fo great that I rather chose annihilation. I found that inftead of growing better I grew worfe; that my heart was altogether vile, and that I did nothing but fin. I thought that the longer I lived the more |