fatter part of the year 1798. The minifter of one of thofe focieties | preached here, the laft fabbath in January, 1799, and gave fome account of the work of God in those towns, which confiderably engaged the attention of the hearers, and appeared to affect the minds of fome individuals.

A conference being appointed on this and the next fucceeding week, the people affembled in greater numbers, and heard with more apparent attention than was expected; confidering what had been the general appearance for fome time paft. The friends of religion were therefore agreeably difappointed to fee fo many prefent on fuch an occafion.

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one part of the fociety, I converfed with three young perfons who appeared to be feelingly convinced of their fin and danger; who were the firft that had any conversation with me refpecting their eternal concerns. But within a week from this lecture, perhaps fifty appeared to be under a deep conviction of guilt and danger; and ten twelve entertained a hope, that they were reconciled to God. Thus the divine fpirit, in its quickening influences, feemed to defcend like a shower in the different parts of the fociety. Almost all appeared to be fo far affected, that the genral enquiry and conversation were about the things of religion. At firft it was in fome, perhaps an affection of the paffions, but as this fubfided, it was in many inftances fucceeded by a deep and rational conviction of their guilt, danger, and need of the Saviour and the renewing influences of his fpirit. Forfeveral months the work of con viction continued to extend, though with lefs rapidity than at first, and there were frequent inftances of hopeful converfions; till by fome difagreeable occurrences the work appeared to be greatly retarded in the month of June. At that time a fectarian controverfy about certain fentiments, little connected with the effential truths of religion, unhappily arofe, and for a time engaged much of the attention and converfation. This produced difputes and ill feeling, and feemed greatly to divert from that anxious concern for the falvation of the foul, which had before prevailed. And altho in a few week this difpute in a great measure subsided, yet the revival never recovered its former life and power. And there has appeared to be very few new inftances of conviction or converThe next day, being on a visit infion fince that time. This fhews VOL. I. No. 2.

On the second fabbath in Feb. information was given, that a lecture would be preached at the meeting-house on Wednesday, and that several ministers were expected. The people generally affembled, and three neighboring minifters were prefent. The exercifes were introduced with fome obfervations on the peculiar attention to religion which had began in places around, and two fermons were delivered on the occafion. An unusual attention and folemnity were foon very apparent in the congregation, and numbers appeared deeply affected and in tears. A conference being appointed in the evening, a large school-houfe was thronged; and divine influences appeared more powerful than in the afternoon. The affembly was folemn as the grave. All feemed deeply impreffed with a fenfe of the importance of their eternal concerns, and to hear with the most eager and anx ious attention. The exercifes continued till 9 o'clock, and yet the hearers appeared as if unwilling to leave the houfe.

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the pernicious tendency of fuch controverfies to check religious awakenings, and quench and grieve away the spirit of God. How cautious then fhould all be of introducing fuch disputes in times of peculiar attention to divine things, left they be the means of retarding the work of the Lord and preventing the falvation of fouls Thofe, who will do it, to promote a private party intereft, manifeft, that they are more influenced by felfifh party feelings, than by a real difinterefted regard for the caufe of religion and the good of fouls.

after a while thofe, who remained unawakened, or had worn off the flight impreffions, with which they had been at first affected, generally neglected the religious meetings, and grew more hardened and opposed than ever. Their fituation appears very dangerous and deplora ble, and all, who have a benevo lent regard for the fouls of their fellow creatures must be difpofed to pity and pray for them, however lightly they may treat fuch things. For to them these affecting words of the prophet are in fome degree applicable, "The harvest is paft, the fummer is ended, and they are not faved."

There has appeared among thofe, ferionfly affected, a peculiar difpofition to hear, and get divine inftruction, and an unwillingness to leave religious meetings after the public exercises were conclu

But to proceed in narration, it may be obferved, that the most, who have had a thorough conviction of their entire depravity, great guilt and danger; entertain a hope, that they have become reconciled to God. A few yet remain under ferious impreffions, who do not Suppose they have embraced the Saded, as long as they could hear reviour; while fome, it is to be feared, who have been in fome meafure awakened to a fenfe of their fin and danger, have worn off their

conviction.

How affecting is it to confider, that there is reafon to fear, that all the folemn calls, warnings and ferious impreflions, with which with which they have been favored, will by being thus abufed harden them in fin, and dreadfully encreafe their final condemnation ?

ligious converfation. It was pleafing to fee, with what folemn attention and apparent fatisfaction, many of the youth liftened to divine inftruction, who a few weeks before were thoughtless of the important concerns of religion, and took their greatest pleasure in balls, vain company, and amufements, But the ball-chambers and card-tables were now forfaken. And thofe, who were ferious, were deeply inpreffed with a fenfe of the hurtful tendency of fuch things to divert the attention from divine things, quench the strivings of God's fpirit, and barden in fin.

Religious conferences or lectures have been attended almoft every week fince the revival began, and fome times feveral in a week in different parts of the fociety. For One hundred have made a proa number of months, people flock-feffion of religion, and been reed to them in crowds, and liftened ceived into this church fince the rewith a moft eager attention, to vival began, of whom 61 are fewhat was delivered. Thefe meet-males, and 39 males. About 60 ings, were attended with order and are under 30 years of age, and regularity, and appeared to be great there may be perhaps 12, who Jy bleffed as means of promoting are nearly 50, or upwards. This convictions and converfions. But fhows the great importance of cor

ger. They generally fet out with a refolution and expectation to do fomething to make themselves better-commend themselves to God, and procure his favor, having no just fense of their entire depravity of heart, or moral inability. But the more they attended to the duties of religion, and endeavored to make themselves better; the more fenfible they became of their exceeding depravity and guilt.Like the woman, who spent all he had to be healed of the phyficians, they were fenfible, that they were nothing bettered, but rather grew worfe.

dially engaging in religion in the feafon of youth, and the dangerous and critical fituation of thofe, who have continued impenitert till on the decline of life; fince fo few appear to be renewed or bro't to repentence in this latter period. The most who have made a public profeffion fuppofe, that they have become reconciled during this peculiar effution of the holy fpirit; but fome, who date their converfion feveral years back, have now been more quickened, and confirmed in their hopes. Others have been fhaken from their old hopes, been brought to fee that they were building on the fand, and have now hopefully embraced the Saviour, and thus built on the rock of ages. There are perhaps 20 who entertain a hope of hav-thefe declarations of fcripture coning made their peace with God, and who have yet made no public profeffion.

It may be remarked, that the converts are chiefly from families where one or both the parents were profeffors or hopefully friendly to religion, and where fome ferious regard had been paid to divine things. This confideration affords parents a very powerful motive to engage in religion, and bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. By neglecting these things, parents are destroying both themfelves, and their children.

Having given this general sketch of the beginning and progrefs of the revival, I fhall proceed to fome obfervations to illuftrate in a more particular manner the nature of the work.

They were foon brought to fee, that their hearts were full of fin and oppofition against God; and thus were feelingly convinced of the truth of

cerning finners-that they are dead in trefpaffes and fins-are enemies to God-that every imagination of the thought of their heart is only evil continually, and that none can go to Chrift, unless drawn by the Father. When underthor ough conviction, they would read. ily acknowledge, that they were fenfible, that they were greatly oppofed to God's character, laws, and government-that they had always acted from a wicked, selfisa heart, and therefore had never done any thing right in the fight of God. They would obferve, that they formerly had no idea, that they were opposed to God, but used to fuppofe, that they had fome love to him, and did many things which were right and acceptable in his view, and that it therefore appeared as if it would be hard and unjuft in God to doom them to def

It has been remarkably free from all irregularity and enthufi-truction: but that they were now afm. The convictions have been rational, but deep and powerful. When firft awakened, perfons were generally moved by a fenfe of dan

fenfible, they had always been in oppofition against God-had always acted from a finful temper, and fo had been finning against him in all

Thefe were generally the views and feelings of thofe, who now hope they are reconciled, while they were under conviction, although there might be fome circumftantial differences. The convictions of fome were more sharp and

Some experienced them for a longer, fome for a shorter term. But when they were very powerful, the fubjects of them commonly found relief the fooner. A certain perfon, who is among the hopeful converts, was not under real conviction more than half a day, before her mind was filled with comfort. She lived in a remote part of the fociety, which rendered it difficult for her to attend public worship and fo had not been at any religious meetings, fince the uncommon attention began. But hearing of it, and of the converfation of fome youth, who appear ed to be converts, it ftruck her mind, that it must be something great and powerful to produce fuch a

their moral conduct, and that he | dered them fenfible of their need might justly caft them off forever. of the Lord Jefus as their Saviour In this ftage of their convictions to deliver them both from the pow they did not feel, as if their greater and punishment of fin, and fo finfulness confifted in any particu- prepared them to trust in him alone lar finful mifconduct or immorali- for falvation. ties, but in their hearts, that great fountain and fource of all wickednefs, and in the general temper, which actuated them in all their conduct. They were feelingly convinced, that they never could enjoy any real peace or happiness, or participate in the holy enjoy-powerful than thofe of others. ments of heaven, unless their hearts were renewed by the divine fpirit, They were alfo fully fenfible, that fuch was their depravity and oppofition to God and holiness, that they never should repent, and cordially embrace the gofpel, unless influenced by the fpirit of God; and that he might, in juftice leave them to go on and perish in their fins. Thus they felt, that they lay at mere, fovereign and uncovenanted mercy that their only ground of hope was, that God through Chrift could have mercy, on whom he would have mercy. In this fit uation they were fenfible, that the doctrine of divine fovereignty or election, which mankind naturally oppofe and deny with fuch bitternefs, was their only ground of hope. change in their feelings and conFor if God were not to have mer- verfation; and that therefore concy upon them, till they had done verfion must be a great and impor fomething to recommend themselves tant change. Soon after this he to his mercy, or to procure his attended a meeting one evening, grace, they felt that their cafe and thought fhe never before heard would be hopelefs. Neither did fuch truths and exhortations, as they feel, as if their hearts being were delivered by the fpeaker. As wholly depraved or oppofed to he endeavoured to fhew the imporGod would afford them any just tance of religion for fupport on a excufe for remaining impenitent; dying bed, and preparation to meet but they were feelingly convinced our judge in peace, he was affecthat should they perish, the blame ted with a fenfe of the dreadfuinefs would fall upon themselves. This of being called to meet death, while view of their character and fituation in a state of fin and oppofition ftripped them of their felf-right- against the Almighty. coufness and felf-dependance, ren-thoughts lay with weight on her

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