you can bring it about that the boys write their letters to their parents, neatly and sensibly, it will give them great pleasure. Many of them are not judges how far they profit in Latin and Greek; but if they write their letters well, they will perceive their improvement: and, on the contrary, if they write nothing home but blotted, ill-spelled nonsense, they will suppose they have learned nothing, though you take ever so much pains.

"A Philadelphie, le 3me d'Octobre, 1776. "MON CHER FILS-J'ai recu votre lettre ecrite en Francois, laquelle me donna le plus grand plaisir. Je vous avoue franchement que j'avois oublié ma promesse de vous ecrire en Francois, et j'espere d'obtenir votre pardon. Votre Frere Smith par la lettre, et Mr. Jean Smith par la conversation, m'ont rendu tout a fait heureux, en m'assurant de votre diligence et bonne conduite. Ils m'ont dit que vous enseignez dans lécole avec prudence et assiduité, et que vous ne vous melez point avec les folies & badinages des jeunes gens; enfin que vous etes respecté & aimé des ecoliers, et vous appliquez aussi a vos autres Etudes.

"Your two letters which are now before me, please me better than any you have written. If you take pains, you will write a good band. There are, however, some few oversights in point of spelling, which I hope you will guard against for the future. I think you will write better than either of your brothers. John is in the Hospital at New York, where they expect an attack every day. Some of the English troops are landed on Long Island: there has been a small scuffle with their advanced guard, in which we have had the better. I had also a letter from James lately, by which it appears probable that he will be at Princeton soon. The northern army at Ticonderoga, is now in a much more promising situation than heretofore. A treaty has been just concluded with the Indians at Fort Stanwix, which was read in Congress to-day, and by which they have promised a strict neutrality. I am glad to hear that John Smith is studying divinity. His brother William has just passed his trials in New Castle Presbytery, and I hear has given great satisfaction. Mr. Smith, his father, is now gone to the camp at "Il me donna un grand plaisir de Amboy, and has carried Mrs. Smith voir que vous ecrivez bien. Vous with him to Princeton. I expect to ecrivez deja beaucoup mieux qu'ausee them both there at the end of this cun de vos freres. Soyez diligent; week. I was at Pequea, and preach- ecrivez souvent et avec tout le soin ed there about a fortnight ago. * * et precaution possible, afin que vous "The Philadelphia Associators, who soyez perfectionné dans cet art. went to the camp, have many of them Souvenez vous des regles que je behaved very badly. They were muvous donnai avant que vous partites tinous and disorderly; many went de Philadelphie. Ayez toujours pres away without leave, and I believe de vous du papier, de l'encre, et des they are now mostly dismissed. * * plumes, et ecrivez beaucoup. Comme Remember, my dear boy, to fear God, vous etes parmis les etrangers, traitez

"Continuez, mon cher fils, d'etre sage et diligent. C'est le tems dans votre jeunesse de cultiver vos talents, d'acquerir des connoissances, et de vous rendre capable des plus hauts et honorables emplois. Vous savez bien avec quel ardeur je souhaitte votre progres dans les arts, et votre bonheur pour toute la vie. Vous avez beaucoup de douceur et de tendresse dans votre naturel, et j'espere que vous augmenterez ma felicité par des semblables nouvelles de tems en tems.

66

les tous avec complaisance, avec humanité, & la plus sincere amitié. Mons. Jean Smith m'a dit souvent qu'il a eté parfaitement heureux dans votre societé. Faites vous aimé de tous.

"Votre lettre Francoise est bien ecrite. Elle n'a que deux ou trois fautes dans la construction, que ne meritent presque d'etre nommées. Vous apprendrez bientot a parler quand vous aurez opportunité et occasion. Pour cet effet lisez souvent les phrases familieres dans la grammaire. Je souhaitte aussi que vous lisiez beaucoup en Latin, afin que vous pouviez lire les livrez classiques avec plaisir. Sitot que vous enten diez fort bien Horace & Virgile, vous les lirez & repeterez avec le meme plaisir qu'une poeme Angloise. Je voudrois que vous m'ecririez quelquefois en Francois, quelquefois en Latin, et quelquefois en Anglois, & toujours avec attention et nettete.

dire. Scribantur literæ, Latine, Gallice, Anglice, ut vis. Valeas. J. W. Octr. 25, 1776.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

The following paper is from the pen of the late venerable Doctor ELIAS BOUDINOT, and is now before us in his own hand writing. It was intended for "The Assembly's Missionary Magazine, or Evangelical Intelligencer," published in the years 1805-6-7; but we cannot find that it was inserted in that Miscel lany, and we believe it has never till now been made publick. It contains a short account of the origin of one of the first Presbyterian churches in the United States; and some notice of the successful ministry of the Rev. Messrs.JOHN and WILLIAM TENNENT, men whose memory ought ever to be "Je n'oublierai pas ma promesse precious in the Presbyterian Church. que je vous donnerois vingt-cinque But our principal inducement to pub ou trente livres par an, et je vous lish the paper is the statement which envoye les depenses de Messrs. it gives of a great revival of religion Mayo, que leur pere vous payera commenced in the year 1739, by the sans doubte pour votre salaire de instrumentality of the Rev. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, and continued for several years afterwards--as it appeared in the congregations of Freehold and Hopewell, under the ministrations of the Messrs. Tennents and Mr. Rose. The nature of the exercises then expe rienced, by those who were hopefully "renewed in the spirit of their mind," will not, we think, be without intepious readers. It may be gratifying rest, and we hope edification, to our to compare them with what has been witnessed in recent revivals. There ment, which appears to be made alis an artless simplicity in the statemost wholly in the language of Mr. William Tennent's letter, to which the writer refers.

six mois.

"Pour les nouvelles de Princeton & les affaires publiques je vous renvoye a votre sœur & je suis.

"Mon cher fils, votre pere tres affectioné,

"J. WITHERSPOON."

J. W. DAVIDI SUO.

SALUTEM,

Scripsi ad te, fili mi carissime, gallico sermone, per sororem; & nunc latine brevissime, ut tempus postulat, scribere volo. Gaudio quam maximo

affectus fui, per fratris literas & per amicum vestrum Joannem Smith, audire te esse modestum, diligentem, & studiis deditum. Optime dixit Soloman, "sapiens filius Patrem lætum efficit." Perge obsecro, mi fili; amato libros, incumbito studiis, ut sis doctus, & ideo carus amicis, amabilis omnibus. Mitto ad te unum par calceorum; quanquam incertus sum an sint Some time about the year 1740pedibus tuis apti & idonei. Cupio a very remarkable revival of religion plurimum, quam sæpissime a te au- took place in New Jersey and other

An Account of a Remarkable Revi val of Religion in Freehold, New Jersey.

parts of the neighbouring provinces. the preachers of this doctrine were
At the request of a particular friend, nicknamed New lights and New
Mr. Tennent gave him an account born men; and generally considered
of what had come to his knowledge, as holders forth of new and strange
of this kind providence of God to doctrines. The practices of many
his American Zion. A rough draught were even worse than their principles
of this letter, dated in October, 1744, loose and profane.
has enabled the writer of this to give
some sketches of it.

Mr. Tennent begins by mention-
ing that Freehold, in the county of
Monmouth, where he then lived, was
the first place in East Jersey, on the
south side of Rariton river, which
was settled with a gospel ministry.
That this was owing, under God, to
the agency of some Scotch people,
who first settled in that part of the
country. Among them there were
none more laborious in the establish-
ment of the gospel than one WAL-
TER KER, a man of great attainments
in the Christian life. In the month
of August, 1685, he was apprehended
in Scotland, and banished for his
faithful adherence to God and his
truth, as professed by the church of
Scotland. He came to America and
settled in Freehold. Here he became
more eminently serviceable to the
church of Christ and the interests of
his kingdom, than it was possible for
him ever to have been in his own
country; whereby the emissaries of
the devil lost their aim in their at-
tempts to punish and afflict one who,
they supposed, was marring their
plans of iniquity. Mr. Tennent ob-
serves, that this servant of God was
then alive, and adds "blessed be God,
flourishing in his old age, being now
in his 88th year." The love of many
had waxen cold, and a worldly spirit
and careless temper had taken pos-
session of the congregation at large.
The savour of religion was lost, and
the major part of the congregation
could not be said to have so much
as a name to live. Family prayer
was scarcely known. Ignorance so
overshadowed their minds, that the
doctrine of a new birth, or regenera-
tion, when clearly explained and
powerfully pressed home on the con-
science as necessary to salvation,
made a
common jest: and
VOL. II-Ch. Adv.

was

In the year 1729 their minister left them, and they became so grievously divided among themselves, that it appeared very improbable they would ever again unite in the settlement of another minister. In this miserable, helpless, and almost hopeless state, they continued some time, few among them having either eyes to see, or hearts to bewail their woful and wretched circumstances. Thus they seemed "to be cast out" as in Ezek. xvi. 5. But the Lord, "who is rich in mercy," of his unmerited goodness, "passed by them lying in their blood, and said unto many of them, live," and live they will, to all eternity.

About this time, Mr. John Ten-nent, younger brother to William Tennent, was licensed as a candidate for the ministry-a young man. whom the Author of every good gift had uncommonly furnished for the exalted trust. To him some of the congregation applied, entreating him to supply them for a season; which, with the consent of the Presbytery, he reluctantly did. But, as he himself said, when he went to Freehold, he became heartily sorry that he had engaged in the business: as they seemed to be a people given up of God, for their abuse of former gospel privileges. But "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways." He had not preached more than four or five sabbaths, when the Lord so blessed his labours, that many were solemnly engaged to attend to the fervent exhortations of the preacher, and "to search the scriptures to know if these things were so." This gave him such great encouragement, that he was enabled to preach with such uncommon fervour and zeal, that he told his brother, he was fully persuaded, Christ Jesus had a large harvest to be 3 E

brought home; so that, notwithstanding they were a poor broken people, he determined, if they should agree to call him as their stated pastor, he would accept their call, though he should beg his bread. In the spring of 1730, the congregation unanimously gave him a call, and he was ordained the 19th of November following. He continued their pastor till the 23d April, 1732, and was then translated to glory.

should do to be saved; and others to tell the great things the Lord had done for them. His labours were greatly blessed to the conviction and conversion of many, who bad as yet opposed this day of grace. Indeed, the effect of Mr. John Tennent's preaching, seemed more discernible a few months after his death, than at any time before. Almost in every neighbourhood, and it may be said, with few exceptions, in every house, there were some found longing and seeking after the divine physician Jesus Christ. Many of these,afterwards, savingly closed in with him, and shouted, glory, glory to his holy name.

During his short life, his labours were greatly blessed, so that the place of publick worship became crowded by people of all ranks and orders, as well as professions, in the neighbourhood. They appeared to Some time after the death of his hear as for their lives-many were brother, Mr. William Tennent was taken in the gospel net.-A solemn called to the pastoral charge of the awe of God's majesty seemed to pre- congregation, and was ordained on vail in a remarkable manner at pub- the 25th October, 1735. Thus, he lick worship, and sometimes the body observes, that his Lord had sent him of the congregation would be moved, to reap that on which he had bestowso that both minister and people ed no labour, and he earnestly praywould be overwhelmed with tears.ed that he might be made thankful Let the Lord alone have all the glory. It was no uncommon thing to see persons in time of sermon, sobbing as if their hearts would break, but without any crying out; and some have been so overcome, that they were carried out as if they had been dead.

Religion was the general subject of discourse, though some did not approve it. The Holy Bible was searched by all parties, and know ledge was surprisingly increased.

The terrors of the Lord fell generally on the inhabitants; so that wickedness, as astonished, in a great measure hid itself. Frolicking, dancing, horse racing, and other idle amusements, were broken up and discontinued. The gay people of both sexes, felt themselves bound in conscience to meet in private societies, each sex by themselves, for the purpose of confessing their abominations before God, and praying for a pardon of their sins.

Before Mr. John Tennent's death, and while he was declining, Mr. William Tennent supplied his pulpit for about six months. Many applied to him, inquiring what they

for this as long as he lived. He adds, "that he must declare to the honour of Almighty God, that he had continued his grace to them, ever since the more particular and remarkable outpouring of his spirit; and especially had blessed his own ordinances to the conviction, conversion, and consolation of many precious souls, so that every year, some more, some less, have been, in a judgment of charity, added to his mystical body. To his holy name be all the glory."

The number of those who had tasted the sweet fruits of the Redeemer's purchase in a saving manner, in the congregation, he could not tell, having never kept any account of numbers. It was his great comfort that the Lord knew who was his. Many, he remarks, both old and young, have been renewed by divine grace, though none so young, as have been reported in other places. Some Negro slaves were made free in Christ; and more appeared to be unfeignedly seeking after him. But, after all the Lord had done, he was persuaded that many were yet "in