concerning the Articles of Faith, adopted by this church, that the first time they heard them after this change, it appeared to them, that they had been greatly altered from what they were before. For they used to appear very hard and unreasonable and as if none could really believe or approve of them ; but that they now contained noth the youth have obferved, that they formerly fuppofed religion to be gloomy, difagreeable, and that it would deftroy all their pleafure and comfort, fhould they embrace it. Therefore they could not think of engaging in it, and were really afraid they should have it. But they now fay "they never knew what real peace or happinefs was before-that at times theying, which did not appear rational find a joy and fatisfaction in God and to which they could not fully and divine things, which far ex- and cordially affent. ceeds all the pleasures that the world can afford, and that they have experienced more real hap-markable difplay of the fovereign pincfs in attending one religious meeting than in all their vain finful amusements." The peculiar doctrines of the gofpel, fuch as the entire deprav ity of the natural heart, regeneration by the efficacious influences of the holy fpirit, juftification by faith alone, God's fovereignty and univerfal government, or his de crees and election-these doctrines, which are fo croffing to the depraved feelings of the natural heart, and fo bitterly oppofed and denied by many, appear to be very fully and cordially embraced by thofe who are hopefully renewed. Altho many of them once difliked thefe doctrines, and thought them very hard and unreafonable, as impenitent finners generally do; yet they appeared to be led immediate. ly into them by the convictions of the divine fpirit, as being the only doctrines, which afforded any ground of hope to finners. Some of them have observed, that it appears to them, that every one who has been brought to a juft fenfe of his ruined fituation, through the renewing influences of the fpirit, and become reconciled to God, must be convinced of the truth of thefe doctrines, and cordially embrace them. Several have told me, It may be useful here to give fome particular account of a re power and mercy of God in awakening a certain perfon. He was a young married man, who was inclining to infidelity, and made very light of the revival when it began, calling it delution, enthufiafm, and pricftcraft. As his wife was among the first who appeared feriously impreffed; he endeavored to divert and hinder her attention, and to ridicule her out of her ferioufnefs. He was highly dif pleafed, because fhe was affected, and fhed tears at hearing a fermon, and faid, he was afhamed of her folly, and that no preaching or minifter could ever fetch a tear from him. Sometime after his wife was apparently reconciled to God, he was about to go with a number of others to be examined for admiffion into the church. He endeavored to diffuade her from it, faying, that was unneceffary, and that the could as well live religion, without making a public profeffion, as with. But as fhe, thinking it to be her duty, went to be examined; he was greatly difpleafed-would hardly fpeak to her, and fcarcely take his food for feveral days. He told her brother, that he defigned to go fea, and fwore that he never would go into the meeting-houfe with her again. But that very day there was a lecture appointed at the meeting-house, and as the family were getting ready to go, her father, with whom he lived, propofed that he fhould go with them in the waggon. Forgetting his promife he accordingly went, and as he entered the meeting-houfe, he was first of all powerfully ftruck with the recollection, that he had fworn never to go there with his wife again. He was greatly fhocked at the thought of his rafh and wicked oath. The fermons, which were delivered, made a powerful and deep impreffion on his mind. It feemed, he obferved, as if the difcourfes were addreffed directly to him; and he was greatly affected and in tears during a confiderable part of the religious exercifes. He was apparently in great diftrefs of mind for fome time, and feemed deeply fenfible of the madness and wickedness of his former conduct, in oppofing and making light of divine things. After a while he was relieved from his distress of mind, and obtained a hope, that he was reconciled to God. He has fince with his wife, made a public profeffion of that religion, which he once oppofed and defpifed. It is to be hoped, that his life may be fuch as to adorn his Chriftian profeffion, and be evidential of a real change of heart. But whether it fhould be fo, or not; ftill it appears to have been a remarkable display of the power of God in favor of divine truth. Such remarkable revivals of religion afford strong evidence that the fcriptures are from God, fince the truths contained in them, are attended with fuch a divine power in awakening, reforming, and renewing finners. No other doctrines or schemes of religion have fuch powerful effects. The bible informs us, that the preaching of the gofpel produced fuch happy and glorious effects, where it was firft propagated by the apoftles, Great multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles were then awakened, turned from fin to holiness called out of darknefs into marvellous light, and added to the church of Chrift. When therefore we fee the gofpel now producing fuch effects, they greatly confirm its truth and divine origin. Such feafons of peculiar attention to divine things plainly manifeft, that the power which renders the gofpel fuccefsful, is of God, and not of man; and that agreeably to the declaration of the apoftle: "Paul planted, Apollos watered: But God gave the increase." For we fee from fact, that at one time the preaching of the gospel, for years, has little or no effectfew or none are awakened and renewed. At another time these fame truths, which have been heard year after year with no apparent effect, are clothed with power, arreft the attention of numbers, and are the means of producing a wonderful change in their feelings and fentiments; fo that many now cordially believe and embrace thofe truths, which a few weeks before they bitterly oppofed and denied; and now take pleafure in prayer, reading the fcriptures, ferious.converfation, & the other duties of religion, which but a thort time fince they perhaps ridiculed & defpifed, or at leaft neglected and confidered as very tedious and irkfome. Such facts fully evince, that the power, which produces thefe remarkable effects, is not of man, nor in the gofpel itfelf, but of God; who giveth fuccefs to the preaching of the gofpel, when and how he pleases. The fovereignty of God in the "Take heed, brethren left there. be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the liv difpenfations of grace is clearly difplayed in fuch revivals; for it is there evident from facts, that God has mercy on whom he willing God." As they regard the have mercy-awakens and renews honor of religion, and their own one, & not another, as he in infinite eternal fafety, it behoveth them to wifdom fees fit. Altho as before give all diligence to grow in grace noticed, the hopeful converts are and make their calling and election chiefly from families, where the fure. And we pray God, that fabbath, public worship, and divine they may in all things adorn the things have been regarded and rev- doctrine of God their Saviour by a erenced; yet fome have been un- holy life and converfation-be der powerful impreffions and con- found faithful in the cause of God victions, who to human appearance until death, and then receive a were as unlikely to be impreff- crown of life. ed, as almost any in the fociety. From the fame family fome have been taken, others left. Perfons, who oppofe, and make light of fuch peculiar revivals of religion, give the strongest evidence, that they have never experienced the renewing influences of the divine spirit. GILES H. COWLES. FROM THE LONDON EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. Letters on the exemplary behaviour of minifters. By the late Rev. JOHN BROWN, of Haddington. T LETTER I. DEAR SIR, HOUGH I hope that you are not a novice, lifted up with pride, and ready to fall into the condemnation of the devil, yet this is not fufficient to warrant your entrance into the work of the miniftry. You must not thrust your Finally, in fuch seasons of uncommon attention to divine things, and among fuch a number of apparent converts, it is to be feared and expected, that fome are deceived, and will prove ftony ground hearers, whofe religion will endure but for a time; and that after a while they will fall away, and manifeft by their conduct, that they were building upon a founda-felf into it, but be thrust into it tion of fand. Should this be the by the Lord of the harvest.* cafe; altho it would be very pain- Without a call from Jefus Chrift, ful to the friends of religion, yet it in your coming forward as a preachwould be no more than what, from er or minifter, be your learning and fcripture and paft experience, we piety ever fo eminent, you but have reafon to fear; and therefore treacherously counterfeit his comwould afford no juft objection a- miffion, and employ yourself as a gainst its being in general the work of the Lord. Since there is danger, that fome may turn back and fall fhort of falvation, the apoftolic directions, appear very neceffary and applicable to thofe who now hope, that they are the heirs of falvation. "Let him that thinketh he itandeth take heed left he fall." * Matt. ix. 38. Heb. v. 4 N. B. It is earnestly requested of the Reader of thefe Letters, that he will, as he proceeds, turn up and mufe on the paffages of Scripture, cited in them, as the means of hedding light on the reafoning, and of imparting divine force to the exhortations contained in them. Contract no familiarity with those whofe imprudence hath rendered themfelves contemptible.. Never fport or jeft, but in proper company; and never with your inferiors, if you do not wish to lofe your authority. Never fpeak of your fermons as cafily ftudied, or of any religious difcourfes in a light unimpreffive manner. Beware of rendering yourself dependant on others for loans, or even for prefents, if they have any tendency to beget or nourish a fervile spirit in you. Let unaffected gravity mark, not your words and deeds only, but even your gestures, countenance, and the whole of your deport robber of facred honors and rev. Your perfonal character is of no lefs importance. Unless it correfpond with your station and work, no eloquence, order, or even apparent earnestnefs and diligence, will long make your miniftrations to be duly refpected.§ In order that none may defpife you, and that fuch as are in company with you, may duly revere and ftand in awe of you.-1. Avoid all levity, and study a conftant but not forbidding gravity. Shun all unneceffary intimacies with obftinately atheistical and fcornful men. 2 Cor. v. 18-20. Eph. iv. 11. and iii. 8. 19, 20. Rom. xx. 15. Ezek. xxxiv. 1-7. Num. xviii. 6. Phil. i 20, 21. If. vi. 5 -8. I Theff. ii. 8. Phil. ii. 17. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. Jer. iii. 15. Acts i. 21-23, and vi. 1-6. § 1 Sam. ii. 30. Zeph. iii. 4. Matt. ii. 8, 9. Prov. ix. 6, 7. and xvii. 12. and xxii 9. Matt. vii. 6. VOL. I. No. 2. Jo. xx. 21. 2. While you prudently provide neceffaries for yourself and family; and expend your income in the most frugal manner, that you may owe no man any thing, and have to give to him that needeth;† never manifeft, or even be in anxious care, about worldly things, arifing from diftruft of God's, providence, or from the defire of living fumptuously in regard to good clothing, furniture, or from the inordinate and covetous love of riches. Such anxious care decoys a minifter from his infinitely more important work. It renders his mind earthly and grovelling; difgraces his character; and brings him into contempt. Never indulge in the love of money, by ardent affection, and by unlawful means tending to dishonor your reputation, or your God and his religion, or to injure your neighbour. Beware of being tenacious of retaining it, when God • Prov. vi. 12, 13. Job xxix. 8. 14, 22. I Tim. iv. 12. fr Tim. v. 8. Rom. xiii. 8. Eph. iv. 28, Matt. vi. 25-34 $ Matt. x. 9. and vi. 24. Acts vi. 2, 3. 2 Cor. ii. 16. 1 Tim. ii. 3. and vi. 9, 10, 1 Jo. ii. 15, 16. Jam. iv. 4. I in his providence, calls to expend | enemy to him.* It is the ordinary mark of falfe teachers.† Never hunt after vain glory and applaufe from men; efpecially, in feeking it on account of what is not truly praife worthy, as language, external appearance, and other trivial objects, on which little and vain minds are intemperately fet ; or in feeking it from what you really have not ; or by improper and unfeafonable manifestation of your real excellencies or even by af fecting to difparage and difcommend yourfelf and your works. This temper of mind is contrary to the temper of Chrift, of his Prophets and Apoftles. It will lead you to rob God of his due honour. It will deprive you of a gracious reward from God for your labors; or even provoke him to render you contemptible before men, and an example of his deftructive vengeance. It will rob you of the joy of a good confcience, when men fpeak evil of it on the poor and fimilar purpo- * If. xxxii. 7, 8. ↑ Job xxxi. 24, 25. Jer. ix. 23, 24. Ezek. xiii. 19. 2 Pet. ii. 3. § 2 Tim. iv. 1o. Num. xvi. 15. 1 Sam. xii. 3. Acts xx. 33. 2 Cor. xii. 14. 1 Tim. vi. 9. ¶ 3 Jo. 9. 2 Pet. ii. 16, with Num. 22. Phil. ii. 21. Eel. . 5-7. you. ** I am yours, &c. [THE Editors on reviewing the following piece think it not improper to be communicated to the people to whom it is directed.] An addrefs to thofe Congregations which have been visited with the Special influences of the Spirit. YOU OU have received a favor, of infinite value, from the God of all mercies. Think not that you have merited that vifitation of 1 Jo. ii. 15, 16. Ja. iv. 4. Jer. xiv. 5. Luke xxii. 25, 26, and xiv. 7-11. Matt. xxiii. 5-8. If. lxv. 5. 1 Cor. ii. 1, 4, 13. 2 Sam. xiv. 25, 26. § Prov. xxv. 14. Jo. viii. 5o, and vii. 18. 1 Theff. ii. 6. Matt. v. 16. 1 Pet. iv. 11. Phil. iv. 8. ¶ Matt. vi. 2, 16. Mal. ii. 9. Acts xii. 22, 23. 2 Cor. i. x. |