home, one of a business firm that opposed the meeting; followed soon after by the most thrilling scenes of the death-bed of the wife, kneeling on her bed and begging for prayer and for mercy. Thus judgment followed blessing, the usual order of God's providence among men.

CHAPTER IX.

The Old Colony. The Church of the Pilgrimage. The Winter and Spring of 1862. Facts and incidents. Lewiston, Maine. The cloud like a man's hand. The mighty outpouring. Letters of experience. Farewell meeting. Brunswick. The College. and cases of striking convérsion.

Scenes

In the providence of God, the writer seeking health, went to Plymouth, Mass., in the Autumn of 1861. With all descendants of the Pilgrims in natural or spiritual lineage, he felt a deep interest in the Old Colony, with its beautiful bay, where the Mayflower rocked, -Burying Hill where their ashes lie, and the church they planted, with sacrifice and suffering without a parallel since the days of the apostles. The Congregational Society there, during the first 180 years, had only seven pastors, including Brewster, who would never consent to be ordained, although in labors of love, the shepherd of the flock in the wilderness. Since the exodus from Arminianism in 1800, with the loss of all material possessions as a parish, a period of sixty years, there have been, also, seven pastors; showing that a sad change has gone over Puritan New England since the days of the fathers. Precious revivals of re

ligion have been the repeated benediction of the Lord upon his heritage. But the enemy of all righteousness' seems to have had a peculiar hostility toward this Jerusalem of the new world, and every possible form of attack has been made upon the faith and peace of the church.

Errors were rife in the community, and too often the Zion, which should beat them back, had slept, while her adversary sowed the tares. For three months before the date at the beginning of this chapter, the sanctuary of God had been closed, from reasons material, and conditions of feeling; and "the ways of Zion mourned." When invited to supply the pulpit, and afterwards to remain, the conviction, which laid aside all other plans, was, that the time to favor her had come with God. The parish was visited, church fasts appointed, and the necessity of a revival kept before the people on all occasions. The aspect of the congregation gradually changed to a marked seriousness, and indications of unusual interest apparent among the impenitent. But health not yet confirmed, forbidding extra meetings, and the exciting war news, between the Sabbaths, kept back the outbreak of feeling, the outgushing of the waters of the sanctuary. At this crisis, attention was turned for help to Mr. Hammond. The church invited him to come; and he held the first services on Sabbath-day the last of March.

The work in a brief time, assumed a decided

form and power. Although he remained less than three weeks, the house of God was opened nightly for almost nine weeks; - during which were witnessed scenes of stirring interest. In the town between two and three hundred expressed hope in Christ, many of whom, at least, have continued to walk according to the gospel. The assistance of Rev. A. B. Earle, Rev. Dr. Kirk, and the former pastor, Rev. Mr. Porter, was of great value in the progress of the work; especially the earnest and abundant labors of Rev. Mr. Earle.

At the close of a sermon, during the course of the evening meetings, from the mass that filled the sanctuary, rose a stalwart man of about 60 years, and with trembling frame, cried out; "My friends, it is twenty-six years since I have been in the house of God, till last evening. I have been the vilest of the vile; and now I feel that Jesus Christ is working on me, and he is working fast. If any of you can pray I want you to do it." He soon bowed in the dust, and begged for pardon, while a daughter on each side, who had found the Saviour, wept aloud.

for me,

Upon another occasion, a member of the Church, who had found fault with the severity of the gospel message, with a flood of tears and broken utterance, declared that he had been a boarder in God's family, and sought an interest in believing prayer. Scenes like these were common for many weeks.

The following incident appeared in the columns of the Congregationalist :

"It was on the lovely morning of May 25th, that we were sitting in the chapel of the Church of the Pilgrimage,' at the very base of Burying Hill,' the Holy Spirit filling the place, when suddenly a call at the door summoned a young man to the vestibule, who had recently found Jesus. In a moment he returned, and in a flood of tears broke the hallowed stillness by saying: 'My friends, the 'Standish Guards,' to which I belong, are ordered to leave at 2 o'clock to-day. And now I want you to pray for me, that I may be a faithful soldier of the cross; and, if I fall, may die happy in Christ. Pray for my comrades.'

“He sat down amid the audible sobs of many; for this was the first intimation of the additional contribution to the ranks of the army from the young men of the Old Colony. Then one and another begged the prayers of God's people for the brothers and friends also called away; and hearts and lips did pray.

"The meeting closed, and there was hurrying to and fro to obey the summons. A little later the armory was thronged, and the streets lined with all classes. As I spoke to the young men who had recently been converted, with a smile they said, 'We are ready to go.' Those who had been inquiring the way of life for days past, wept. Soon to the stirring music of the drum, whose roll was thunder to sad hearts, telling of the withering stroke to the affections, the Guards, attended with an immense concourse, reached the depot. Stepping forth from the ranks, a young man leaned upon his gun, and weeping said, 'Had I not been converted, I should not want to go, but now am glad to be here.' Next came to my side a fine youth with whom we had often conversed about his soul, but who had no hope, and weeping, desired to be remembered at the throne of grace. I said, go to the Bible for light, while you pray for it,