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respecting which he thus writes in his journal. "Here we have been permitted to witness signal displays of divine power in the conversion of sinners. It may emphatically be said, that God took the work into his own hands and carried it on in his own way. The language of Moses often seemed very appropriate; "stand still and see the salvation of God." At the commence. ment of the revival, Jerusalem was searched as with candles. Some of the old professors were left to weep day after day, and to suppose their former coldness and indifference, were a conclusive proof that they were yet in their sins. The attention first appeared in the centre of the town. The work became more and more powerful, in that district, until every family seemed to feel the shock. Opposition gave way, and infidels were made to tremble. In one house might be heard the groans of the wounded, and in the next, perhaps the songs of ransomed souls. A female who heard a sermon one evening was much affected. She returned home and retired to rest; but her distress became so great, that all in the house were called up. She now appeared to be in the keenest agony and cried out "O! this tormenting sin, this tormenting sin. -O Lord Jesus help me to surrender my soul into thy hands.” She caught hold of a female friend, claiming, "O! pray for me, I am sliding into hell!" Her friends were alarmed and thought she could not survive such distress. At twelve o'clock your missionary was awaked from his slumbers and requested to go immediately and visit her. A message was returned to this perishing sinner, that she must apply to a greater Physician. At one o'clock she exclaimed, "Here I am Lord, here I am Lord!" which seemed to be the language of submission.

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"The cloud which had been hanging a number of weeks over the centre district, now extended to the northeast part of the town. Here the work was interesting, and a number of very striking cases of conviction, and hopeful conversion occurred. A number of children who were seriously impressed made an appointment to meet in a grove for religious conversation and prayer. A rude young man went and secreted himself near the place, for the purpose of making sport. children assembled, prayed, read in the Bible, and sang hymns. They became so engaged and solemn, that the young man was deeply affected. His sins were set in order before him with such overwhelming power, that it was with difficulty he returned to his place of residence. He has since indulged hope. During these powerful operations of the Spirit in the centre and northeast part of the town, the attention of the people in the southwest was almost entirely diverted from the concerns of the soul by a public exhibition. But they were not to be passed by: the cloud now moved in that direction, and the shower was copious. A few individuals seemed to possess in an eminent degree an agonizing spirit of prayer. A peculiar blessing rested upon the meeting of inquiry. In about four days there were seventeen instances of hopeful conversion in that neighbourhood. Between seventy and eighty have expressed hopes during this revival. A

congregational church has been organized consisting of forty-four members. More will probably be added soon."

While the work was yet going on in Monkton, according to his universal practice of being absent, at times, a few days from the scene of labour, Mr. Baldwin, began his system of means for a revival in Starksboro'. He considered it useful to commence by degrees his

efforts in one town, before he entirely left another; and thus neither bis entering in, nor his departure was abrupt. Here too it may be proper to make a remark respecting his mode of life on missionary ground. He always had a home; seldom ate or lodged in different houses from those which he considered his homes. Somtimes he hired his board, and in several instances bought single meals in taverns where he said nothing on the subject of religion, though in the same town where he laboured, and was known only as the passing traveller. Thus was he very careful not to be burdensome to his friends, or for the sake of saving his money, to lessen the effect of his evangelical labours among poor people who sometimes feel that a missionary wants nothing but a living out of their hard-earned pittance.

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Respecting Starksboro' the Jour nal says: a little shower of grace has fallen here. The congregational church in this town had for a number of years been dwindling away. The only active member that remained, was a man about eighty years of age. This venerable father in Israel had moved steadily forward, and appears to have been instrumental in preserving the little remains of life in this languishing vine. The number of hopeful converts in this revival is about ten, and the work appears to be still advancing. Among them are a number of influential men.'

his return found his brethren in a critical and alarming situation. After visiting them individually, he appointed a meeting for the purpose of settling their difficulties: but the effort only widened the breach. He then resorted to more earnest and special prayer. Another meeting was appointed. The church again assembled, and the Spirit of God came down upon them.

Their stubborn hearts now gave way and they mutually confessed their faults. The next Sabbath the whole church made a public confession, before the assembly. This made a powerful impression. Sinners were alarmed and began to inquire what they must do to be saved. Between twenty and thirty have obtained hopes, and the work appears to be spreading into all parts of the town."

It is worthy of remark that a minister has since been settled over this church and people, and another for half the time over the church in Starksboro'. Ministers were also settled in Cambridge and Underhill, soon after Mr. Baldwin's services were closed among them. In carrying forward his operations, it was his practice to call in all the aid that was possible, especially from his brethren in the ministry. He did not account it lost labour, to ride ten or fifteen, or even twenty miles, to ensure religious exercises in a particular place for a single day, or evening, when he thought his duty called him to attend in some other quarter, or when he supposed the preaching of some other man would have a better effect than his own, though he were himself present. In view of the signal blessings attending his exertions at Monkton and Ferrisburg, the people in those towns made arrangements to support him and enjoy his ministrations alternately during one year. As he had been instrumental in preparing the way for the settlement of others, it

was fondly hoped by his brethren in the neighbourhood that he had now prepared a place for himself. But it was ordered otherwise. He had already introduced a young man, then a member of college to whom he looked and exhorted the people to look, as their future pastor. His expectations on this point were realized, after he had fulfilled the year for which he was engaged. To another, a great and difficult enterprise, his mind had been providentially directed, and his heart was fixed upon it. The writer of this article, having been almost literally pressed into the service of supplying the then, lately organized American Presbyterian Church in Montreal, L. C. for three Sabbaths, in the spring of 1825, had opportunity, during that short residence, to receive an indelible impression of the spiritual necessities of the French population, as well as of our own countrymen there. It was very natural on returning home to communicate this to clerical friends, and among others, to Mr. Baldwin; and probably the question was asked in a tone of despondency "who is there, that careth for their souls," and how long shall this state of things be? This was enough for his ardent and adventurous soul to seize hold of, so far as to resolve on exploring the field himself. Accordingly in the middle of the summer, when, with the least detriment to his work, and the best advantage to his health, which from time to time he found it necessary to recruit by relaxation from his missionary toil, he made an excursion to Montreal, and from thence to Quebec. In both these cities he found some Christian friends whom he highly valued. In Quebec he climbed the heights of the upper town, walked over the plains of Abraham, and with curious eye searched out the stone which designates the spot where General Wolfe expired, and in the lower

town, the narrow pass where the gallant Montgomery fell. Though it was not his intention to be known in the character of a minister on this excursion, yet his heart was moved within him, and he could not refrain from preaching the gospel of Christ. We admire the courage or skill of the warrior who accomplishes his object at a blow, or fails forever. His operations are chiefly with matter, and but a few days and perhaps only a few hours, does he operate on mind. What is it to conquer a country, compared with Christianizing it? What was the late enterprise of the British general in the empire of Burmah, compared with that of our benevolent countrymen, who suffered so terribly in consequence, and within the range of his operations, though at length rescued by him! If there was moral dignity in the attempts of Wolfe and Montgomery to take an impregnable fortress, at the risk and with the loss of life,much more, on Christian principles, was the attempt of Baldwin glorious, though it should ultimately fail, with the loss of his life. It was not from the sudden impulse of the moment, that he was induced to set his face toward Canada, for the subject was under consideration a full year, till all his previous engagements were fulfilled; it was not from the advice of friends, for with one voice they discouraged it, by saying he was useful in Vermont; and if he would still labour in the missionary field, the Society which he had served would be glad to employ him still; it was not because he had become indifferent to the welfare of his own countrymen, or disaffected with his reception, or reward, or success among them, as the address delivered at the last anniversary which he attended abundantly shows: but it was because he had seen the desolation, and the sight of it affected his heart; besides, he knew of no other one

interested in the enterprise that could go, and this was the ground on which he decided it was his duty to try. Not that he supposed himself possessed of qualifications peculiarly adapted to that work, but the Lord had blessed him elsewhere, and why not here? He felt pressed in spirit, and so continually did the object rest upon his mind, that he took measures deliberately to shape all the prospective arrangements of his life, in accommodation to it. He had indeed formed the outline of his plan of operations, and was willing to take into view, the dark, as well as the bright side, to see the obstacles, as well as the encouragements to his work. He had determined to commence the enterprise at his own charges, and on his own responsibility. This he chose the rather to do, because if it should fail, it would involve no public loss, nor would it divert any of the public charities from objects of apparently greater promise. When embarking upon what was considered by his brethren in the ministry "a forlorn hope," one of them remarked to him, though not with that realizing sense of the subject which the event occasions, "You will die in the attempt. Your constitution is not adapted to the course of life that will be necessary. Confinement in a city or village, and the study of necessary books, and want of exercise, will destroy you." He felt the force of the remarks, and proposed to be cautious on those points. But prudence in regard to the exposure of his health was a virtue which he knew not how to exercise.

A solemn view of the condition of a people upon the very borders of our country which had been for more than a century with scarcely a step in improvement, and the appalling prospect of no change for the better in time to come, had led to the affecting inquiry, Must VOL I-No. IX.

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the chains of this superstition bind them forever? Baldwin was the first man to say, no!-and to begin himself, not to break, but to unrivet them. Perhaps it was necessary for him, in the providence of God, to fall a martyr in this cause, to arouse the energies of some youth, who may hereafter devote himself to the same work of benevolence, and labour of love.

The last scenes of his life cannot

be better described, than in the language of the Rev. Joseph S. Christmas in a letter to a friend on the announcement of his death. The extract is as follows:

Montreal, July 17, 1826.

"The Rev. Abraham Baldwin arrived in this city, about the 1st of June, and immediately came to reside in my family. You are doubtless acquainted with his intentions in coming to this country, in which he was the more confirmed on a further inspection of the field of labour.

"The first Sabbath that he was with me, he supplied my pulpit in the evening. Soon after he commenced studying French; and was accustomed almost every day to ride on horseback. The second Sabbath, he preached at the Cross, a village about three miles from Montreal, to a small protestant assembly which met in a schoolhouse. About this time he became somewhat indisposed with a diarrhoea, to which strangers from the United States are much exposed on their arrival here, from the peculiar nature of the water. About this time Mrs. Christmas was indisposed, and as our physician called twice a day, and sometimes oftener, he generally went to Mr. Baldwin's room, and gave such prescriptions as he thought necessary. The complaint is by no means dangerous, and did not confine him a day; but as he felt considerably debilitated, he did not

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think it expedient to preach on the next Sabbath. The Sabbath after, he preached for me again in the afternoon, but said he felt considerably unwell during the sermon. By this time he was relieved of the diarrhoea, his appetite was keen, and he thought his general health would be improved for his late illness. On Wednesday the 29th June, he rose from the tea-table before it was dismissed, retired to his room, and shortly after, we heard him vomiting. He took some medicine, and vomited some during the night. In the morning I went after the physician, who pronounced his case to be the cholera morbus, which is very prevalent here. For the space of two or three days his stomach was irritable, that scarcely any thing would lie upon it, and his vomiting, which returned occasionally, was .very violent. By means of laudanum introduced into the system through the medium of the skin, he was gradually relieved, and began to take some nourishment in small quantities. From the commencement of this attack, he had watchers with him every night, and was faithfully nursed by a pious coloured woman, to whom Mr. Baldwin expressed much gratitude. By Wednesday the 5th of July, he was so much better, that the Dr. thought of dropping his attendance. On that day, he came down stairs for a little while. On Thursday he wrote a letter to Mr. Beckwith of Monkton, Vermont, and spoke of setting out on the following Monday to obtain the collections of individuals in the States, favorable to his object, to support him, while prosecuting his labours here.-In the evening he was rather feverish. The next day I went into the country very early in the morning and did not return till sun-down. In the afternoon of that day, he had a sudden spasmodic affection, and seemed to be in the agonies of

death. The attendants were frightened, and sent for physicians in all directions. Shortly three arrived, and his ill turn passed over.-He expressed great anxiety to see me. When I returned, he told me that he should die, expressed his thanks for our kindness, begged we would forgive, whatever we had seen amiss in him, directed me to write to his father, and gave instructions respecting some business. He then said, he had that day been favored with extraordinary views of the Saviour; that he seemed to stand between God and his guilty soul making peace for him. At inter vals he repeated, "Oh, the joys of going!" Christ is all !" Christ is all!"

After this he became delirious at intervals. On the Sabbath, July 9th while I was preaching the second time, his senses returned, and he became anxious to see me. On my return I conversed and prayed with him, when I finished he said he could assent to every word of the prayer-he would not allow me to petition for his recovery. He said it seemed strange to him, after he had finished his work in Vermont, that he should come as far as it would have been to have gone home in another direction, to die in a land of strangers. He told me his age and some of his past history. To a friend who called upon him before he became delirious, he said, I may be deprived of my reason, and if I am, I wish you to bear testimony to my friends, that I feel happy in my mind, and am willing to leave the world. If I should tell you the views and feelings I have had this day, you would think me an enthu