principles of human nature, or the influence of natural caufes; but fuch a diverfity, in the antecedent characters, habits and circumftances of the fubjects, renders this still farther impoffible. It is wholly unaccountable, that any caufe, unlefs abfolutely divine, and therefore poffeffed of infinite wisdom and power, as well as goodness, should

ing about, to establish their own|| rightcoufnefs, not regarding the neceffity of a new heart, and of being clothed with the righteouf nefs, which is of God, by faith. In a few inftances, thofe who had made public profeffion of religion, and thought themfelves heirs of heaven, were convinced, that they were still in the gall of bitterness, and in the event, hopefully eftab-unite fuch base and jarring materififhed, in holiness. Others had als, in the sweetest harmony of been for feveral years, if not al- fentiment, affection, interest, deways, in the habit of paying little fign and purfuit. Few things have refpect to religion, in any form. been more noticeable, among the A confiderable number were more happy effects of this work, than or lefs immoral, and irreligious, in its influence, for uniting many their vifible conduct. Several, hearts, in the bonds of mutual love. who were fcoffers at the ferious One can hardly fail of adopting, and univerfal ftrictness of true re- in this view, the exclamation of the ligion, and who made light of the Pfalmift, "Behold, how good, and attention, on its first appear- how pleafant it is, for brethren, to ance, were afterwards among the dwell together in unity." That hopeful fubjects of genuine convic- mutual love, fo much inculcated tion, and of faving mercy. A by St. John, and by which Chrift few, who had endeavoured to for- tells us, all men shall know his diftify themselves, against the fears ciples, is moft evidently characterof wrath to come, in a belief of iftic of thofe among us, who prouniverfal falvation, were convint fefs to have obtained mercy of the ced, that they had made lies their Lord. refuge. Several, on whom the work was productive of the most evident, and apparently, most falutary and abiding effects, had been fceptical and much inclined to infidelity.

5. It is not common, for thofe who manifeft an hope of themfelves, to be very confident of their title to falvation. There are few, if any, but feem, at times, in much doubt, whether their names are If we take for granted, that the written in heaven. One reafon of work which has been fo far defcri- this is plain; it is not ufual, for bed, is a work of the holy fpirit, thofe, who are hopeful fubjects of one remark, which naturally oc- mercy, to feem wife, in their own curs, is the evident defign of conceits; or to have high thoughts providence, to confound all at of their own experiences, and attempts, which should be made, tainments, in religion; but, by philofophy and human reafon, lowliness of mind, to fleem others at accounting for the effects better than themfelves." A reafon, wrought, without afcribing them which is naturally affigned for this, to God, as the marvellous work and which fairly accounts for the of his fpirit and grace. The ef fact, is, its being a uniform charfects were not only fuch, in them-acteristic of the work, that it has, felves, as made it impoffible to ac-fooner or later, led the fubjects of count for them, by any of the known it, to a deep and abiding fense of VOL. I. No. 9.

Uu

in

withered away. Thefe, faith the divine teacher, are they, who hear the word, and anon with joy receive it; but having no root in themfelves, endure for a while, but in time of temptation fall away.

their own unworthiness, and thence fprang up, but having no-depth of their fitness, to be clothed with hu-earth, when the fun was up, it mility. It is not uncommon, for fuch as are vifibly purified from their iniquities, to think themselves more vile than others; and that they have far lefs evidence of being fanctified, than is ufual with true faints. On this ground, numbers seem ready at times, to give up their hope, and conclude, that they have been deceived, and ought to despair of any prefent title to the promises of the gospel.

6. The fubjects of this work are apparently difpofed to perfevere; to run, with patience, the race fet before them, and to evidence their union to Chrift, by keeping his commandments.

It is important, however, for illuftrating this obfervation, fo as to avoid occafion of mistake, to remark the following things.-In the first place, the attention, which was excited, for a time, and in fome degree, was far more extenfive than the lafting effects. Multitudes were unufually attentive, and probably most of them under fome ferious thoughtfulness. But

Thefe

It is manifeft, however, so far as prefent evidence can go, in deciding it, that there are with us, a goodly number, represented by the feed, which fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit. give daily reafon to hope, that they will continue to let their light fhine before men, and to walk worthy of their high vocation. They discover little, if any abatement of their zeal, for attending on the public inftitutions of religion, and other opportunities and means of inftruction.

Thus, the evidence of their being renewed, after the image of Chrift, is exhibited, in part, by their engagedness, to grow in knowledge and holiness, and thence become meet for the inheritance of the faints in light. They appear indeed, to have been ordained of God, that they fhould go and bring forth fruit, and that their fruit should remain, unto the praise of the glory of his grace.

In giving the foregoing account, I may, in fome measure, have miftaken my own feelings, for facts, fo as thence to have represented the work, rather as what I wish to have it, than as what it would appear, to an impartial obferver. Of this however, I have no conscious nefs, and am more fure of noth

all this was temporary, in refpect to many. It must be understood, that these never gave evidence of being impreffed, with any great degree of conviction of their being finners. There were, however, a few inftances of perfons, who were, in appearance, very deeply impreffed, for a time, from whofe minds the impreffion feems, in a great measure effaced. In feveral inftances, perfons feemed to have felt confiderable alarm, through aping, than to have aimed at giving prehenfion of danger, rather than an impartial view of facts, fo far to have been convinced of fin, who as would confift with a general and now appear much as before. We brief ftatement. I might have find, in this view of the fubject, added a lengthy detail of particular an evident example of what Chrift cafes, which would doubtlefs have intended, by the feed, which fell afforded entertainment, to the into stoney places, and forthwith friends of experimental piety.

But there appeared to me fome difficulty, in giving fuch a statement of this fort, as would compass the most defirable objects of the attempt, without furnishing the probable occafion of fome evil. | Others may find a different method the most eligible.

uniting, in the worship of God,
are full of delight. When the
friends of the Redeemer attend the
memorial of his death, they find
themselves in the banqueting houfe,
and that his banner over them is love.
It is peculiarly animating and im-
preffive, to fee fuch numbers ad-
ded to the vifible family of the
Redeemer, and among them, fo
many promifing and dear young
people, hopefully redeemed from
fin and death, by his biood, and
approaching his table, to commem-
orate the wonders of his love, and
feal their engagements, to be his.
The idea is cherished, with anima-
ted hope, that they will be to his
praife, in the earth, and the hap-
py inftruments of extending his
kingdom among men.
Of him,
and thro' him, and to him are
all things, to whom be glory for.
ever. Amen.

How the things above stated will appear, when examined, by the light and evidence of future days, and whether the hopes of Chrif. tians will be fully realized, in the precious and abiding fruits of the wonderful things they have feen, and heard, must be left to future decifion. Whether all thofe, who appear to have fet out, and to run well, for the prefent, will hold on their way, and obtain the prize of their high calling, muft be finally known, by the event. If fome, of whom the best hopes have been conceived, should make fhipwreck of the faith, return again to folly, and thus evince, that they were never cleansed from their filthiness, it will determine no characters, but their own. Some may have deceived, both themselves, and others, and their laft ftate be worse than their first. So long, however, as numbers continue to exhibit, in their lives, the excellent fruits of the fpirit, the evidence will remain, that this is the Lord's doing, and ought, as fuch, to be marvellous in our eyes. It is certain, that great things have been done for us, whereof we are glad. Such as were in Chrift before, have really enjoyed a time of refreshing, from the prefence of the Lord. They feem to have greatly renewed their fpiritual ftrength, and to have feta forward, with enlivened steps, in the race fet before them. They are still glad, with exceeding joy, when it is faid unto them, "We will go into the boufe of the Lord." Sabbaths, and other feafons of

ASAHEL HOOKER. Gofhen, November 17, 1800. (To be continued.)

To THE EDITORS OF THE CON-
NECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG-

AZINE.

GENTLEMEN,

INSTANCES which have clearly fhewn the fallacy of infidel principles, and their infufficiency to fupport the anxious mind in the near view of death, whether they have fallen under our own ob. fervation, or have been fatisfactorily attested by others, to have re. cently happened, have a mighty tendency to imprefs our minds with fenfe of the value and importance of revealed truth.

If the following narrative, giv en at the request of one of your committee, fhall be thought worthy a place in your useful Magazine, you have liberty to publish it.

BOUT two years fince, a parishioner of mine died. His name I omit to mention. In the latter part of his life he had profeffed himself a Deift, though he had not been educated in that way. He was a perfon fond of company, addicted to ridicule and banter; and most of all delighted to deride the Christian religion and facred fcriptures. Being infirm and unable to labor, he employed more time than ufual in reading. His tafte, however, was vitiated; and his books were chofen according to his tafte. His reading ferved only to poifon his principles, and render his converfation more dan gerous to fociety. His favorite volumes were Allen's Oracles of reafon, Paines' Age of reafon, and others of the like kind. These he had fo attentively perufed, that he was able to repeat from his memory a great proportion of each. Whenever I occafionally called at his houfe, he was hofpitable and civil; but always ready to lavifh encomiums on the writings of Vol-wife fpoke; " Sir, faid fhe, I hope taire, Allen and Paine. He would fay that he thought their reafonings to be unanfwerable; that the Chrif. tian fyftem was well calculated for old women; that had he a family of children, he believed that heters which concerned him. I then fhould enjoin them to attend on Minifters, in public; but with no other view, than to educate them to order, and make them better members of fociety. After much converfation with him, on this fubject, I ventured to exprefs my opinion, that should I furvive him, Ifhould find him to entertain fentiments very different from thefe, in the clofing fcene of his life. To this he replied, "no fir, you hall find me die like a hero."

fhould make him a feemingly incidental vifit, I complied with her request, and went to his house. When I entered his chamber, and enquired refpecting his health, he held his eyes clofed, and told me that he was very ill; that he felt unhappy that he could have no converfation with me; but that it was a fact, that he could neither converfe himfelf, nor hear me converfe. I replied that I was equally unhappy on the fame account; for having known his fentiments on religious fubjects, for years paft, I was anxious to know whether the awful realities of the future world appeared to him now in the fame light, in which he had fancied they would appear, in fuch an hour as this ?*

After a few months, hearing that he was very fick, and that it was the request of his wife that I

After paufing for fome time, he faid, "I do not fee any reafon, as yet, for altering my opinion." Well fir, faid I, to your own mafter you ftand or fall. I then took leave, or was about to retire from the chamber: Upon which his

you will not leave us, till you fhall have prayed with my husband." He then opened his eyes for the first time; and reproved his wife for interefting herfelf in any mat

told his wife that her husband had faid that he was fo unwell, that he could not hear me converfe: Ifup pofed be must have the fame objec tion to hearing me pray. Begging her for that reafon, to excufe me, I

made a fecond attempt to retire. His daughter and only child, then ftood between me and the door; and with tears in her eyes, "intreated me not to leave the chamber, till I had prayed with her father." I made the fame objec

*It was thought by his friends that he would not live through the night.,

རྩྭ

tion to the daughter which I had before made to the mother. He then opened his eyes again, and after dropping fome tender expreflions refpecting his child, faid that fince it was her defire, that I fhould make a prayer, at that time, he would not object.

I prayed with him; and in the prayer, ufed fome expreffions which might naturally bring to his view thofe awful and interefting truths, which I had not the opportunity to exprefs in converfation. When I had prayed, I took leave, and retired.

'mountain was covered with fmall bufhes. I was propelled to af 'cend this mountain, by the riv'er's bank, as difficult and defperate as fuch an attempt appeared 'to be. With great fatigue and difficulty I afcended as far as I was aided by the bushes; though frequently, through weaknels, 'tremor and the frightful view of the hideous gulph below, my heart and ftrength nearly failed me; and I felt myself to be on the verge of deftruction. I thought with myfelf, what fhall I ' do now? It has been with great 5 difficulty and hazard that I have afcended fo far, with the feeble

On the next morning, or the fecond morning after, (I am uncertain which of the two) a meffenger was fent to me before fun-affiftance which I have had; but

how is it poffible that I can pro'ceed further? However, I must go forward. Cafting my eyes on one part of the mountain and another, I difcovered fome fmall bufhes growing out of the moun'tain at the northwest direction.

rifing, requesting me to vifit this fick man as fpeedily as poffible. The meffenger told me that the man was anxious to fee me before his death. Accordingly I went; and when I arrived, found him on his feet, fupported by two men. The muscles of his face were difI thought that if I could poffibly torted; death was depicted in his countenance; and his whole vifage exhibited a ghoftly appearance; yet his understanding was clear. Sir, faid he, "I am glad to fee you once more; I have had a fingular dream the night past, and am anxious to hear your interpreta, tion."

climb a fmooth place until I could feize the bushes, I could be fup ported by them till I could take breath, and be prepared for a further exertion. I fummoned up all my refolution; ftuck my feet into the earth, as far as I was able; took the advantage of an oblique direction, and at length reached the bushes; which I no fooner feized, than they immediately broke, and expofed me to inftant 'deftruction. My difficulties and hazards increasing every moment,

He then related the dream, which was in fubftance, as follows. "I had, in fleep," faid he, "an idea that I was upon the fide of a river oppofite to that on which I lived how I paffed the fame, II anxioufly fought for fomething 'do not remember. On the brink

of this river (which exhibited a 'fhocking profpect; was rapid,

6

to fupport me; for I could not remain in my then prefent fituation for more than a very fhort time.

rocky and black as hell) thereTo my great joy, I fpied a ftone

was an exceeding high mountain,
in the shape of a tea cup inverted,
and apparently of as fmooth a
furface, from about the middle
upwards; the lower part of the

fhooting out of the mountain, in a foutheast direction. I thought, If I could but afcend to that, I might be fecure enough. With caution Iturned, shifted my course,