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refpects than the Jews could have, and yet how dreadful, and how long have divine judgments been upon that nation for rejecting the light they had!

Through the family of Abraham God has inftructed mankind from the early ages of the world, to the present day. He has made vifible and temporal things, as they respected that nation and church, typically inftruct the world in events to come, and in the great concerns of eternity. He gave them laws with dreadful penalties which fhould take place even in this world if they broke them, They have broken them, and the awful fulfilment of divine threatenings to that people, ftands as a certain pledge and earnest before our eyes, that God is unalterably true to his word, and will, from the perfection of his nature, fulfil all his threatenings on the finally impenitent through eternity.

ZETA.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON-
NECTICUT EVANGELICAL MA.

GAZINE.

GENTLEMEN,

AB

BOUT the year 1785, as I am informed, there was fome fpecial attention to religion among this people, and about ten or twelve perfons, in confequence of it were received into the church, I do not learn that there has been any other season of special attention, till of late, in this place fince its fettlement. In the year 1795 I became connected with this people.

The church was

then fmall, and after that time it decreased in numbers by reason of deaths and other removals. Sometimes an inftance of hopeful converfion took place, but in general, a very great degree of careleffnefs, as to eternity, prevailed among the people. Very few were found difpofed to appear profeffedly on the Lord's fide, The riches, honors and pleasures of the world feemed to be the great objects of pursuit, while the concerns of the foul were very much forgotten. Errors and immorality gained ground. To many who profeffed to believe the fcriptures to be the word of God,

the fundamental doctrines of religion were difguftful. Family prayer was very unfashionable, The houfe of God was much for

the weather was unpleasant, and when a lecture was preached on another day the preacher faw little elfe but empty pews and the walls of the houfe. The youth fpent

TO hear of the fovereign grace of God, displayed in caufing the nu-faken on the fabbath, especially if merous revivals of religion in our land and in other parts of the world, affords joy to every benevolent heart. It is a pleafing confideration that there is fuch a monthly publication as the Evan-much precious time at balls, which gelical Magazine, in which narratives of religious revivals, as well as other useful matter, may be recorded for the benefit of prefent and future generations. I now prefent you the following narrative of a late work of God in this place, and if you should think proper to publish it, may God grant that none may read itin vain,

were encouraged by many of the old. The members of the church, althe' they, in general, appeared to be lovers of Christ's cause, yet became too remifs as to church difcipline and watchfulness over each other.

In the year 1799 revivals of religion took place in fome neighboring towns, of which we often

heard and concerning which, mention was fometimes made in public. But every thing folemn and important feemed to have no lafting effect. At this time, the minds of a great part of the people were much agitated with the fear of lofing the title of their lands, they being claimed by certain patentees. Their property appeared to engrofs the attention, and many feemed to fear the lofs of a little earth, more than the lofs of eternal glory. Religious conferences were appointed, and it was hoped by the friends of Zion, that the cloud of divine influence would fpread from neighboring towns over us, and that we might fhare in the bleffings of the fpirit. But all means were found to be ineffectual and God's children were left in mourning, and furrounded with difcouragements. They re alized the truth of thefe words in the prophecy of Amos, "I caufed it to rain upon one city and caufed it not to rain upon another city one piece was rained upon and the piece whereupon it rained not withered." At length, the controverfy refpecting the lands was brought to a termination, but not fo favorably as the people hoped. They felt the ftroke; but, it is to be feared, viewed not the hand of providence. Still temporal things were the principal fubjects of converfation, and nothing fpecial, of a religious nature, appeared. The church continued to decrease in numbers, fo that in September 1801, but eleven male members remained. Our profpect was exceedingly dark. It feemed, that uniefs God 'fhould interpofe by his Spirit, the love of the bleffed Jefus would, very foon, ceafe to be publicly commemorated, and that the enemies of God would foon rejoice in the

| extirpation of even the form of religion. Chriftians were sensible that it was with us a time of extremity, and doubtlefs were often telling Jefus of their forrows. And glory be to the riches of fovereign grace, the Lord appeared for us in a time of great need. The revival, evidently began among Chriftians. They were anxious concerning the state of religion and doubtlefs were endowed with an uncommon fpirit of fervent prayer for the advancement of Chrift's caufe. On the firft fabbath in October, two dif courfes were preached on the miferies of hell, and by what has fince tranfpired, it appears that the minds of feveral perfons were on that day much impreffed. I appointed a conference to be at my house in the evening, in hopes people might be difpofed to attend; and to the great joy of God's friends, a much larger number appeared than was expected. This was a folemn meeting, and gave fome encouragement to hope that God was about to caufe a fhaking among the dry bones of this valley.

Chriftians were animated with the thought; but they said little concerning their expectations. Another conference was appointed; At this the numbers were ftill greater, and the appearance of many gave evidence of fomething uncommon upon their minds. Conferences were continued, and the numbers and folemnity gradually increafed, until the folemnity became general and until the awakening arose to a great height.

There was no uncommon providence, nor any new means made ufe of in the beginning of the revi val; but the fame kind of provi dences with which the people were before visited, and the fame truths which they before heard

great and manifold fins, and to think at the fame time that thoufands live to old age in fin, as ftu pid almost as beafts. Although not many who were members of | these schools, have made a public profeffion as yet, ftill it is to be hoped that numbers of them have been made the adopted children of God. The manner in which the awakening was introduced into one of the schools, was very re

A female, between

made a very different impreffion. I None can, therefore, rationally attribute the awakening to any thing fhort of the power of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. At a crowded conference, January 28th 1802, one who is a head of a family, voluntarily arofe and acknowledged, that although he had formerly obtained a hope that he had religion, he had been very unfaithful in regard to family pray-markable. er, inftructing and warning his family and other duties. He said he had tried to quiet confcience by excufes; but ftill fomething within would often tell him thefe excufes would not answer his purpofe, and he could not remain at eafe. He faid he was convinced that it was in vain to plead any excufe, that he felt condemned, and that he had wounded his own foul; but that he begged God's forgiveness, and was determined to go forward in the ftrength of the Lord, and to endeavor to live devoted to the fervice of God. He warned others not to follow his finful example if they regarded their own peace, or the honor of Chrift's caufe. He was followed by feveral others to the like import. Some of these perfons were leading characters in the town, who have fince made a public profeffion of religion and continue engaged in the caufe of God. At the conference last mentioned, every perfon appeared folemnized, and many were exceedingly affected. From that time, the work increased. Conferences were more crowded, although there were fe veral in a week, and in different parts of the fociety. In February, two of our schools were great-ted in any dwelling house or school ly folemnized. It was very af- houfe. We therefore were oblifecting to fee children almoft rea- ged to meet in the meeting houfe dy to link under a fenfe of their in cold evenings, for a confidera

eleven and twelve years of age,
when she was on the road, became
fuddenly poffeffed of the thought
that fhe muft die, and then was
led to reflect on her fins. She
was in great diftrefs of mind, and
continued fo for fome weeks. The
reft of the school witneffed it and
became folemnized. Great fer-
vice was rendered thefe fchools by
the religious inftructions of their
teachers, who were much engaged
to promote the fpiritual welfare
of their pupils. One of thefe
teachers hoped he had formerly
embraced religion; the other ob-
tained a hope after he took the
fchool. The month of February
was a remarkable month. Reli-
gion appeared indeed to be the
principal bufinefs to which people
attended, and it was almoft the
only fubject of converfation. Al-
moft every day, new inftances of
conviction and hopeful converfion
took place. The Lord then
made a fhort work of it.
It was
then more common that convic-
tion was fudden, diftrefs extreme,
and relief foon given. Such
numbers came to our religious
conferences, that when we met
near the center of the fociety, the
people could not be accommoda-

ble time: In one inftance we ad- | flect on his manifold fins, until his

fins appeared to him a burden infinitely greater than that of the traveller. He found no relief until, as he hopes, his heart was changed by the irrefiftible influenee of the holy fpirit. His wife alfo, about the fame time, became

journed thither after we had begun exercises in a dwelling houfe, finding it impoffible for the people to be accommodated. It was fuppofed that five hundred perfons affembled at fome evening meetings. At a dwelling houfe nearly two miles from the meeting-convicted and hopefully convert. houfe, where we often met, it was fuppofed that between four and five hundred fometimes affembled in the evening. On fabbath days our houfe of worfhip was filled, and there was fuch folemnity and fuch fixed and univerfal attention, as cannot be described; and fuch as perhaps, never was conceived by any who have not witneffed like fcenes. About this time, fundry remarkable inftances of hopeful converfion took place, which not only rejoiced the hearts of Zion's friends, but aftonished oppofers.

There

ed. To hear thefe perfons converfe was peculiarly affecting, Another man who was not only very carelefs about religion, but had declared he would never enter our house of public worship, and had kept his word as to this for many years, was ftruck under fud den conviction. His wife having before obtained a hope, proposed joining the church. He was then led to reflect on his own state and fituation. The idea of being left to go down to hell, while num. bers of his neighbors and even his wife had fet out for heaven, cauf- · ed him to tremble. His fins arofe before him like mountains, and his diftrefs of mind was very great. At length he obtained a humble hope in the mercy of a fovereign God. Since that time one of his children has been a fub

Two or three of which I will now relate. A man about fifty four years of age, who, not only had lived a very carelefs life, but was openly much oppofed to the gofpel plan of falvation, and to the work of God in the revival, was brought under deep convic-ject of the work. tion in a fudden manner. came into his houfe a traveller with a burden upon his back: the family were about to fet down at the table: the stranger was invited to eat when they arofe from table and were withdrawing, the ftranger faid, "don't let us forget to give God thanks :" he then gave thanks and departed.

Another perfon was much op posed to the fovereignty of God and other doctrines connected with it. He did not believe them, but in case they were true, he believed they were very cruel and unreasonable. He determined never to bow to them, and thought that if he should ever be come a Chriftian, he could never join a church that believed them. He was however brought under conviction. He then faw thofe doctrines to be true, but hated

The inan of the house felt reproved and confounded. The words of the ftranger were faftened upon his mind by the power of God. He was led to reflect on his wicked-them. nefs in being unmindful of God, in neglecting prayer and thankfgiving. He was alfo led to re

He obferves, that he of ten wished himself annihilated, and that he had fuch oppofition of heart to the fovereignty of God, that

lowing manner. "O! wretched finner that I am! I have liv

fometimes he hadtoexert himself in order to keep his lips clofed, left he fhould blafpheme God and fealed in fin all my life. I have re

fifted the holy spirit and crucified the Lord Jefus Chrift by my fins. Chrift has called me, but I have refufed he has ftretched out his

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his own damnation. At length his heart became hopefully changed, and then he realized thofe doctrines which he had oppofed, to be not only reasonable, but inex-hand, but I have difregarded, and preffibly amiable and precious. now too late, I fee my error: my He now is convinced that if they probationary ftate is ended: the were not true no man could haye door of heaven is shut against me: any profpect of being faved. I know it is juft in God to fentence me to eternal mifery; but Oh! how I tremble to think of seeing an angry God: I feel hell already begun in my foul." She was told that although she was a great finner, and it was neceffary for her to realize it, yet Chrift is able to fave great finners, and whofoever cometh to him he will in no wife caft out. She replied, "It is true Chrift is able to fave great finners; but he will fave none but those who accept him on his own terms: and I have never accepted him, I have defpifed

Another who was openly oppofed to the doctrines of grace, would fometimes abfent himself from public worship in the afternoon, because they were dwelt on in the forenoon. Still, as he fince acknowledges, he knew they were contained in the bible, and when he found them there, his heart would rife against them, and he would turn to another place in order to find fome thing more agreeable. At length, he alfo became hopefully reconciled to God; and thofe doctrines which he hated, are exceedingly delight-him and now muft be damned." ful.

I mention thefe inftances, not with an idea that the exercises of their hearts were effentially different from the exercises of the other fubjects of the work, but because they were among thofe, which were rather more ftriking on account of fome external circumstances, and which feemed to have a convincing effect on the minds of many.

On the first of March, an inftance of mortality took place, the circumstances of which were as follow. The perfon was a female of about middle age. Her fickness was fhort and violent. She had formerly a hope that the poffeffed religion, but in her ficknefs fhe gave up her hope, and was filled with great horror of mind. She expreffed herself in the fol

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It was proposed to join in prayer. She confented; but in time of prayer, fhe broke out in agony, faying, "I am dying and there is no mercy for me. I am now going and have no God to go to. In the utmost distrefs of mind fhe would cry out, "Lord have mercy, Jefus have mercy, thoufands of worlds would I give, could I have one fmile from Jefus ; I afk not for life but only for one fmile from Jefus; bút I must die and go directly to hell." She warned thofe around her of the danger of living without God in the world, and intreated them to efcape for their lives to Jefus before it fhould be too late. She doubtlefs was in great pain of body, but her diftrefs of mind was fo great that her bodily pains feemed to be nothing in comparison. She

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