as had been propofed, and fpent | School-houses, in theextreme parts of the Society. The firft was at the Meeting-houfe. Two neighbouring Minifters were prefent; one of whom delivered a fermon, and the other a folemn addrefs and exhortation. The congregation, which was unexpectedly fall, ap peared folemn and attentive. In the evening another meeting was attended, equally full, and apparently ftill more folemn and deeply attentive: And it afterwards appeared that the minds of many were then, and even before, great. ly exercifed refpecting religion, though they had not divulged it. From this time we had frequent meetings, which were attended by great numbers. Even when the weather was exceedingly ftormy and tedious, as was feveral times the cafe upon the days appointed for lectures, it had very little effect, if any, upon the fulness of the congregation. Perfons of both fexes, and of almost every age, and many from the distance of 4 or 5 miles, and fome ftill further, were to be feen preffing thro' ftorms, and every obftacle, to attend the meetings-fuch was their anxiety to hear the word, and to know what they muft do to be faved. Nor was it an attention to conferences and lectures-or a difpofition to prefer their own times of worship, to God's time and inflitutions.Thofe who were difpofed to attend lectures and conferences, appeared equally careful to attend public worfhip upon the fabbath. the evening in prayer, and in converfation upon the divine power difplayed in neighbouring places, and the expediency of our fetting apart times for fervent focial prayer that God would not país us by. Many difcouragements prefented them felves to our minds, and unbelief fuggefted evil things. A little before, we had been favored with the dew of divine influences, quickening finners, and reviving God's children, while the towns around, were in a manner dry. Now, we were left to parch and dry, while a cloud, in full view, had paffed almost quite round us, to revive and refresh them, with copious fhowers. Thus fituated, the divine fovereignty was evident. Our circumftances answered to the fign which God gave to Gideon of the fleece which was at one time wet with the dew, while the ground around was dry; and at another time, perfectly dry, while the dew had diftilled copioufly on every fide. It was however the unanimous opinion of the brethren prefent, that it was for us to pray, and for God, who is merciful and gracious, to difpofe of events according to his own good pleasure. It was there fore agreed that there should be a mecting, at least once a fortnight, for members of the church, not excluding others who might wish to attend, for the purpofe of fpecial united prayer for a revival of religion in this place, and for the profperity of Zion at large. Soon after this, numbers, in different My houfe was alfo the almoft parts of the Society, began to en- daily refort of youth, and others, quire refpecting the meetings, and earnestly enquiring refpecting the expreffed a wish to attend. This things of their peace. The fcenes was confidered as an omen for good; were frequently very affecting.and upon the encouragement which Perfons from 12 or 15 up to 30 or now began to appear, it was deter-40 years of age, had juft difcovermined to open lectures at the Meet-ed, as to any realizing fenfe, that ing house, and at fome of the they were finners. They felt, and in tears, acknowledged, that they and children in the art of dancing; were under the condemnation of and which, though with much difGod's righteous law-that they ficulty, at length fucceeded-had had, all their lives, neglected and a happy effect upon the minds of defpifed a kind Saviour and trodden fome of the ferious youth, tendunder foot his blood. As fome ing to increase their impreffions, expreffed themfelves, it feemed that in a time of fuch uncommon that they had been all their lives attention to religion in the neighwalking upon a molt dangerous bouring towns, and fuch a hopeprecipice, conftantly expofed to ful beginning among ourselves, deftruction, and yet ignorant of any fhould attend, or encourage their fituation. They feemed to the youth and children to attend awake as from a dream. Some upon a school the tendency, and wondered that parents and Minif- ufual effect of which is to banish ters had not before informed them fericufnefs, and render the mind of their fituation. The things frivolous and vain-greatly shockwhich they now heard, they tho'ted their minds. The open opponew; tho' they had been thou-fition, alfo, which was made by fands of times, ftated in their hear-fome, in exprefs and pointed laning, and inculcated upon them by parents and minifters. They now confidered religion as the one thing needful; and were aftonished at their former ftupidity and folly in difregarding it; and that they had entertained fuch loofe and erroneous ideas refpecting the nature of religion, and the doctrines and requifitions of the golpel. Thofe of the youth who were feriously impreffed, now reflected on their former gaiety, vanity and finful amufements, with bitterness and entire difapprobation. guage, moft bitterly, and profanely fcoffing at thofe Minifters and Chriftians, who appeared engaged in promoting the work, had a fimilar effect. It convinced them more and more that "madness is in the heart of man ;" and that God is juft in condemning finners and cafting them off forever, and led them to admire that they should be in any measure awakened to a fenfe of their danger, and not left to the fame blindness and ftupidity which they faw in others. Thus was manifefted the wifdom and power of God, to carry on his own work by what means he pleafes, or even by the oppofition of enemies. Being brought by the power of God, and an awakened confcience, to view things in the light of fcripture and of eternity, they confidered the cuftoms and prac- It appeared however to be the tices commonly followed by youth, will of God to fuffer various hinas very dangerous and pernicious drances to the work, that it was -tending to exclude the thoughts not fo great, nor extenfive in this, of God and eternity-cherish vi- as in many of the neighbouring cious propenfities-render the mind places. A great many in the Solight and vain-and inconfiftent ciety have not been apparently with doing all things to the glory moved by all which has taken of God. An attempt which was place, and the divine power difmade foon after the awakening played here, and in the vicinity. commenced, to introduce a dan-Numbers have, through the whole cing mafter, and fet up a school time, given great evidence of befor the inftruction of the youth ing in a ftate of awful delufion, with refpect to themfelves, and the things of God and religion. Many who would not be thought to oppofe, and even who fpeculatively believe in the reality and necef fity of experimental religion, and of the agency of the holy fpirit, in renewing finners, have been left by a juft and holy God, in a very careless and secure state. Several, who have not yet made a profeffion of religion, have it in contemplation, and it is to be hoped that there are some others, among thofe who have been under ferious impreffions, who have become truly reconciled to God, though they may not have divul ged their feelings, or profeffed to entertain a hope. Among thofe who have been the fubjects of this work of God, there are fome who had been peculiarly vain, careless and opposed to the doctrines and practice of religion, and whofe minds had been wholly abforbed by the follies and vanities of youth-in the purfuit of which their ardor had been exceeded by but few. In relation therefore to their former companions, and all who feel themselves reproved by their example, it might be expected that their prefent fituation would render the words of the Apostle, 1 Pet. iv. 4. very applicable. Doubtless many, however, have been arraigned at the bar of confcience, and experienced the ftrivings of God's fpirit, who have wholly concealed their feelings, and perhaps have fallen into their former eafe, and carnal vain peace. Many have, by a folemn and conftant attendance on means, manifefted a concern with refpect to their fpiritual ftate and profpects, who, fo far as I know, have never opened their minds in converfation on the subject with any per. fon. About one hundred have been fo far impreffed, as to enquire ferioufly and anxiously, refpecting the way of life by a Saviour; and to converfe freely upon the ftate of their fouls. Of thefe, about feventy have appeared to be under deep conviction of fin, and in great diftrefs of mind-though fome, to a far greater degree than others; and in a few inftances, attended with very uncommon marks and expreffions of the ob-religion is profeffed and carefully ftinacy and enmity of the carnal heart. Sixty-one have been admitted into the church within one year, viz. from Auguft 1799, to With refpect to the external apAuguft 1800. A few of thefe pearance of this work, it has been date their hope from the revival remarkably free from noife, and in this place in 1795, mentioned enthufiafm, and every kind of irin the beginning of this letter, regularity. In all the meetings and fome ftill earlier: But by the there was the utmost order, and prefent refreshing from the divine decorum; and at the clofe, whethprefence, have been hopefully er in the day-time, or evening, all quickened, and ftrengthened, and who attended, difperfed immedifreed from thofe doubts and fears ately, and filently, to their places which had kept them from duty.of refidence, fo that the enemies I would add, with refpect to the fubjects of this work, that about two thirds of them are in youth, and the reft in middle life, and a little rifing. And I think it is worthy of remark, that there are many more, in proportion to the number of families in this Society, who are from families where inculcated by one or both of the parents, than from thofe of a different defcription. of the work were never gratified, | of this the converfation in families, or furnished, with an objection and neighbourhoods, where the against it from any enthufiaftic, or work moftly prevailed, was chiefirregular conduct appearing, either ly upon the character and work of at the meetings, or in returning from God-the wonders of redeeming them. Perhaps this might be, in love and fanctifying grace-intelfome measure, owing to the means ligence refpecting the goings of ufed with thofe under impreffions, the all-conquering Lamb, in fuband the manner of conducting the duing his enemies to his feet, and meetings. making them his willing fubjects in the day of his powerand, in general, the nature and importance of the truths and doctrines of the word of God. The great and important object, in addreffing finners, was, to fet the most effential and important truths in a fimple and plain manner, before the mind, without making any violent affault upon the paffions; or attempting to frighten and terrify without communicating inftruction. It was thought undefirable that the mind fhould be greatly affected and diftreffed, except in view, and by means of the truth. But whatever trembling anxiety and folicitude of mind was in this way excited, was fuppofed not to be irrational, or in any way dangerous, but highly favorable and promifing. In conducting the meetings, no invitation was given, to those under impreffions, nor to any who were confidered hopeful converts, to relate their perfonal experiences, or address themfelves to others, by way of exhortation, or inftruction. Nor has there been a fingle inftance, fo far as is known, of any one's manifefting an inclination to do this. For the moft part they have appeared to think themselves fo ignorant, and fo unworthy, that, instead of exhorting or teaching others it became them to fit at the feet of the meanest to receive instruction. Nor was it much practifed in private converfation, to relate to each other their own perfonal religious experiences-much lefs were they difpofed to relate them to every one, or from houfe to house. Instead After this general account of the progrefs and extent of the work, and of the order and decorum which have characterized it; a more particular statement of the nature of the perfonal views and exercises of thofe who have been the fubjects either of conviction, or hopeful converfion, will be neceffary. This is a principal thing to which an inquifitive and judicious reader will look, in a narrative of a fuppofed revival of religion, in order to judge whether it be indeed a work of God, or a mere delufion. And here I would obferve that the views and exercifes of those under conviction, were effentially the fame tho' very various as to the means and manner of their begin ning-and of their degree, and continuance. The greater part were for fometime in a state of thoughtfulness and confideration, before they were the fubjects of much distress or conviction of fin. Several were awakened and experienced great concern of mind, before they knew of any others in the Society being in a fimilar fituation-and before any thing unusual had been done to call up their attention. Some would point out what they fuppofed the means of exciting their attention and concern. Others could recollect noth themselves to the divine favor; and thus refufed to " fubmit themselves to the righteoufnefs of God"-the way of acceptance and peace by Jefus Chrift. As the work of conviction proceeded, they were driven from their various falfe refuges, and ob al nature and extent of the divine law, and a more realizing fenfe of the corruption of their hearts-the fountain of iniquity and pollution within, from which all actual fins flow. ing, in particular, as having been the means of this. Yet, fo it was, that religion now appeared of infinite importance to them; and those things which a little before they could not fix their attention upon, they were now unable to banish from, their minds. Some were fuddenly alarmed, and affec-tained a clearer view of the fpiriteted, chiefly from fympathy; or the impreffive fcene of the meetings and the folemn things they heard, and in this way were excited to an examination which iffued apparently in a genuine conviction of fin. And fome few, after having been proof against the power of fympathy, and paffed, unaffected, thro' the most likely time, in a human view, were afterwards arrefted, and caufed to tremble at the bar of confcience. The commandment came-fin revived, and they found themfelves in a loft and wretched ftate. In the first stages of concern, the fubjects were generally most affected with particular fins; and not fo deeply fenfible of the plague of their hearts. They confidered themselves tranfgreffors and condemned by the divine law. Innumerable fins of omiffion and commiffion, would rife to the view of their mind with the aggravations of having neglected the divine calls and warnings and abufed great mercy-and a fenfe of danger, and fear of divine wrath greatly affec ted them. While in this fituation, and be ing yet "ignorant of God's rightcoufnefs," or the perfect purity of his nature-the extent and fpirituality of his law-and the impoffibility of falvation by their own doings, they have "gone about to eftablish their own righteoufnefs"fled to external duties-to prayer --to refolutions of amendment, and various fchemes to recommend It was the cafe with some, while in this ftate that their paffions were lefs moved and affected than be fore. While in the first stages of conviction, in thinking, or fpeaking of their guilt and danger, it was common for them to weep, freely.-But now they were unable to weep. They went about bowed down with a kind of aftonifhment, and horror, in view of their dreadful guilt and hardness of heart. They now confidered themfelves more ftupid and hardened than ever. They fuppofed their convictions had left them, and that they were about to be given up to a reprobate mind. And they confidered their being unable to fhed a tear, as an evidence of this, when at the fame time, they were in fuch diftrefs in view of their fituation, that they were almost incapacitated for labor or bufinefs-and in a great measure deprived of fleep and ap petite for food. It was generally the cafe with thofe under deep conviction that they in a greater or lefs degree. experienced fenfible enmity, and oppofition of heart against the character of God-particularly his fovereignty in having mercy on whom he will have mercy, and hardening whom he will. There were feveral inftances in particular |