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the highest enmity and rage, and caufed others under a fenfe of guilt and danger, to cry out with anxious concern, "what fhat we do to be faved?" If therefore any doctrine be advanced, fupported by ever fo many labored arguments and learned criticifms, which has not this tendency--but on the contrary, is acceptable and pleafing to wicked men, it must be eafy to every one to decide that it is not the light of truth-but darkness. Hence,

3. It clearly follows, that the character given of God, and the fcheme of fentiment held up by thofe who fay it will be "well with the wicked," are falfe and unfcriptural. If the doctrine that God is determined to make all men finally happy, whatever may be their character and conduct in this life, be the light, or any effential part of the light which has come into the world-i. e. of the true gofpel fcheme, or truth of God as taught by Chrift-then certainly men do not hate the light, but rejoice in it. The confcience of every man therefore, who will attend one moment to the fubject, will bear witness that if the dec. Jaration of the Saviour in the text be divine truth, then the doctrine of univerfal falvation is falfe. Becaufe it is a doctrine perfectly calculated to pleafe wicked men-en courage them in fin-render them carel.fs, and will excite in them no oppofition. Why should they be oppofed, and alarmed at the dotrine, that God is determined to make them eternally happy, even though they indulge their lufts and wallow in fin, all their lives? Or, that he means, if they die in their fins, to give them immediately another flate of probation, in which the kindest and most effectual means fhall be used to bring them

to repentance, and which fhall foon be effectual? To be consistent, therefore we muft difcard it as a falfe fcheme, or reject the fcriptures. There is no confiftent mediam. Surely that gofpel which has fo contrary an effect, and which from the carnal heart, meets with fo different a reception from that poined out in the text, and produced by the preaching of Chrift and the apoftles, muft furely be another gofpel, refpecting which the apoftle faid, "Though I or an Angel from heaven preach it, let him be accurfed."

4. We infer from this fubject the neceffity of a renovation of heart, in order to a reception and love of the truth, or light which bas come into the world. Many have fuppofed that nothing is neceffary to bring men to love the true character of God, but to give them a juft doctrinal understanding of it-and that regeneration is effected by doctrinal light being let into the understanding. But Chrift teaches us that men reject the light because they do not love it-i. e. because their hearts are evil or depraved. They hate the light, and confequently the more light they have, the higher will the oppofition of their hearts arife. To fuppofe that the only realon why men do not love the light and follow it, is that they do not fee, or underfland it—is to fuppofe, contrary to the declaration of Chrift, that men's hearts are not really oppofed, but that they in reality love the truth, fo far as it is dif covered. And that were the light to be fet clearly before them, they would cordially receive it, and rejoice in it-whereas Chrift declares that light is come into the world, and fhines clearly before men, but that they do not love it. It is painful and odious to them,

and they chofe darkness. It is evident therefore, that the heart muft be regenerated in order to men's receiving the love of the truth. When that is renewed by the fupernatural influence of the spirit of God, the truth will be relifhed, and the light loved, and not beened who were dead in trejpaffes and fore. "For every one that doth fins. For by grace are ye fared evil bateth the light, neither cometh thro' faith and that not of yours to the light, left bis deeds fhould be felves it is the gift of God. reproved But be that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made maniff, that they are wrought in God."

of the fame hand, which wrough among the Ephefians. The apol the attributes the work among then to the exceeding greatness of the power which wrought in Chrit when he was raised from the dead and adds, You bath be quick

PHILOS.

An Account of a work of Divine grace in a Revival of Religion, in a number of Congregations in New England, in the years 1798 and 1799, in a series of Letters to the Editors.

[Continued from page 431.]

LETTER XIX.

From the Rev. JOSHUA WILLIAMS of Haravinton.

I

I propofe to give you a general account of this work in the firft place and then a few particular cafes.

In the fummer of 1798-af. ter a long and awful state of ftu pidity, the congregation, under me charge, began to exhibit fymptons of increafing attention to ferios things. An unufual fpirit of prayer, appeared among Chriflians, and fome private concerts of pray. er were begun. Two or three perfons were under confiderable diftrefs for their fouls. In Novem

ber, information was given of the extraordinary work of God in neighboring towns which produced an uncommon effect upon feveral and the profpect became very agreeable. However fome of them being engaged before this to attend a ball, knew not how to avoid it, without giving offence or appearing fingular; they were warned of the danger of lofing their impreffions, but it was generally thought, that fo "innocent an amufement" could have no ill effect. They went therefore, with a full refolu tion to retain their folemn impreffions; and entered the ball room with uncommon ferioufnefs. But in lefs than an hour, all their anxiety was gone, and levity took its place, nor could any reprefentations that were made to them pro

GENTLEMEN, FEEL happy that the goodnefs of God has permitted me to fee a remarkable feafon of his power and grace in this town. In it I think there is occafion for the exclamation of the apolle. Eph. i. 3-6. Blaffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chriflwho baih bleffed us with all fpiritual blefings in heavenly places in Chrift. According as he bath chofen us in him before the foundation of the world; that we fould be holy and without blame before him in Love having predeflinated us unto the adoption of children by Jejus Chrift unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the prafe of the Glory of his Grareduce the fame feelings again. la It appears to me that in this this fituation they remained more work there is abundant evidence than two months. In the mea

zime, there was an encreafing folemnity in the congregation at large.

In the latter part of January and beginning of February 1799, Our meetings for public worship were very full and more folemn than I had ever feen upon any occafion before. Our lectures alfo were crouded. In the fecond week of February, I attended feveral meetings in neighbouring focieties, in company with a number of minifters. The Lord appeared to be prefent in a remarkable manner. On Friday I returned home, with two or three of my brethren. A lecture had been previously appointed; the congregation was very large, and the effects of the word were very visible. In the evening another fermon was preached and fome exhortations given, the effects were ftill more vifible. Tho the exerciles were of confiderable length and it was very cold weather, yet the people in general feemed to be loth to depart. It is believed that on this and the two fucceeding days, more than an hundred perfons received deep impreffions of their miferable state; and many of them were feelingly convicted of their total depravity of heart and abfolute helplessness.

In the two following weeks, the folemnity, concern and conviction evidently increased. Many were brought to fee that a felfish religion, fuch as theirs was, was unfafe; and that they must have a principle, higher than the fear of hell or defire of happiness to prompt them in the path of life. It was ap parent that difcourfes on the abfolute fovereignty of divine grace, had the greateft effects. They not only produced great anxiety in thofe who carefully attended to them but removed many of the errors

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and prejudices of their minds and levelled a destructive blow at their pride. In a powerful manner they fhewed the need of Jefus Chrift and the operation of God's fpirit on the heart, and took away many of their refuges of lies.

The fabjects of this work were very folicitous to hear the truth they felt as tho' they could not be too much engaged; they were fully convinced of the awful fanations of the divine law; they knew that they had broken it and were fearfully expofed, and yet were unwilling to fubmit to God. Is is not in my power to defcribe the anxiety which appeared in many : they found themfelve tranfgreffors in every thing; that their hearts were full of hatred against the true God; that the carnal mind was enmity to God, and was not fubject to his law. The more they faw of themfelves the more they were convinced of their defert of endless mifery. This again encreafed their anxiety, fo that in a general way, fleep almost fled from their eyes; and when they went about the neceffary concerns of life their fpirits were loaded with forrow and diftrefs.

This anxiety continued with fome longer than with others, before they found relief. A conviction of their felfifh regards in all their attemps to pray, led them to reflect that their prayer was fin. It added to their apprehenfions, that God might refufe to hear. A holy fin-hating fovereign, might ftrike them dead in the attempt. And to refrain from prayer was ftill more dangerous. Danger appeared on all fides, and what must I do? was a conftant and earnest enquiry. At this time, the impòrtance of divine truth was fo generally fixed upon the mind, that I could fcarcely go into a house

without difcovering evidences of
great attention to the Bible; it
was read with carnet nefs and as
the word of life. Several confering was eafy indeed; but to dust
ence meetings were now establish-
ed in various parts of the town and
frequented by great numbers.

on any principle but the foverag
power and mercy of God.
At this time the laber of preac

the falfe hope, to which many wen
prone, like drowning men, wis
catch hold of any thing that com
in their way, was a difficult and
critical bufinefs. Never did I feel
the importance of the miniftry
or my own infufficiency equal to
this period. On the one hand,
not to wound the lambs of Chrift's
flock, and on the other not to e-
courage the unfounded hope of the
felf-deceiver, required the utmo
caution and diligence. My ufed
practice was, if upon examination
I difcovered marks of a falfe hope
to tell the matter plainly. Butif
there were fymptoms of a well
founded hope, and they applied to
me, or indulged a hope, I told
them, that they must prove their

At the end of three weeks, this work appeared to be at a fland.It was a moment of great apprehenfion. At the facramental table, as well as elfewhere, God's people were earnestly exhorted to pray that the work might not ceafe. The exhortation was made fuccefsful. God thed abroad a most fervent fpirit of prayer among Christians, and the answer was immediately returned. Surprifing effects appeared; thofe who were ready to loofe their impreffions found them renewed and increafed; new inftances of impreffions occurred almost every day, and many were brought to a hopeful refig-hope to be genuine by their future nation to God and enjoyed peace. holy conduct, always remembering that the heart is deceitful above all things.

Many who were ftrong oppofers at the beginning now fell under the power of the work themselves. Some of almost every age from twelve to fixty or feventy were impreffed. Several who had indulged the hope of their interest an Chrift for a long time, were now convinced of its falfehood and brought to new views and feelings. One of thefe had been a member of the church 25 years and another about 40.

It is frequently found that thefe who become real converts do, in the time of their anxiety, rell for a fhort period in a false hope, to which there are many temptations, but they are mercifully brought of from it. This was the cafe with as many as 50 among us; and ye: it is to be feared that many fill ret there, and notwithstanding every effort to shake them from it, will cling to it, till they plunge into

Some were wrought upon very fuddenly and in fuch circumftan-remedilefs ruin. The way in ces as made it evident that it was which the diftreffed found relief not of themselves or of any man, generally was, by fubmitting them. but of God. From the 14th to felves into the hands of a powerful, the 20th of April there were eigh-fin-hating God and accepting the teen inftances of hopeful conver-punishment of their inquiries. fion. Several were brought under The work among us is remarks forrowful and diftreffing convic-ble in this respect, that it is piltion at midnight on their beds. cipally confined to heads of fans. And many in fuch circumftances lies. A few young men and toas that it could not be accounted for men have been wrought upon but

the gite mumber are between | pear to hold out, yet the perfeve 28ad4y ars of age; and about

rance of the others, especially of
thofe who have made a profeffion,
bids me ftill hope that the greateft
part will continue ftedfaft to the
end. Many of them have obtain-
ed a precious degree of knowl-
edge and love, and appear till to
be growing in the graces of the
Chriftian.

I may remark that a disposition
to pray, has been one conftant at-
tendant on this work. The con-
verts who had not attended family
prayer before, immediately intro-

the fales to two males.
About the first of May, the
fmallpox broke out in the houfe
neareft to the meeting-houfe and
in fuch circumstances as rendered
a removal impracticable. Hence
the meeting-houfe was clofed for
three fabbaths. The patient who
was vifited with this terrible disease,
was the firt that obtained a hope
of being interested in Chrift after
this work began. She was won
derfully fupported under all her
pains, giving an example of refig-duced it, and this has been the
nation and rejoicing in God, de-
firing nothing but that his will
fhould take place--and in this frame
of mind refigned her breath. Then
the Lord fhewed his power to fa-
vor in the most trying cafes, and at
the fame time threatened the incor-
rigible with an exclufion from heay-

en.

From this time there was no great increase of the work; a few that were awakened before were hopefully brought into light in the courfe of the fummer, and there were nine or ten new inftan ces of awakening. The harvest appeared now to be almoft over.

cafe in more than thirty inflances.
They now fee that they had no
excufe for their former neglect,
and that if people only had a heart
for this duty, they could readily
find time.

In the month of October, there was a partial revival; several were awakened and hopefully converted, but this fhower was of no long continuance. However, the Lord has not yet wholly left us; now and then we find a new instance of his power; and several have remained in fome measure anxious from the first part of the season to this time, fupported by infinite In the month of May, four were goodnefs-yet fearfully halting beadded to the Church, in July, fif.tween two opinions To clofe ty-fix were added in one day, the this letter, I would remark that in folemnities of which were bleft to all this and in the constant stupidithe awakening of fome others. Inty of many under all this light and September, twenty-four more were the means that have been used, as added, and feveral others at differ-well as in the prevalence of the ent times, fo that the whole num-world and vanity over others, God ber added to the church, is one is exhibiting ample demonftration, hundred, all of whom except two that it was his power and grace were hopefully wrought upon in this which at firft began and still carries wonderful time. Several more, it on the work. It was not one paris probable, will foon join with ticular clafs of people that was imthem. The whole number for preffed: Some of the most unlikewhom I have entertained a hopely, to human appearance, have been of their real regeneration is more the fubjects of this work. The than 100. And tho with grief high and the low, the weak and I may add, that a few do not ap- the ftrong, the rich and the poor, VOL. I. No. 12. LII

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