Their views and feelings, while under convictions, were as follows: They encouraged themfelves that by a few weeks' ferioufnefs and diligence in duties, they fhould prepare themfelves for regeneration. After perfevering for a while in these external duties, they thought their prayers and cries had been fufficient to prevail with God to fhow mercy. They fecretly found fault with God for with-holding his grace. The heart arofe against divine fovereignty. Some tho't to be "the chief among ten thoufand, and altogether lovely." Others were firft led to fee the excellency of the gofpel plan and its fitnefs for finners. Others felt a happy and joyful fubmiffion to God as a fovereign, and were willing to be entirely in his hands. When God's time had come to show mercy, their oppofition was fubdued. They felt willing to be wholly in the hands of that God who "hath mercy on whom he will have mercy." They had new views of God, of the Saviour, of the bible and of Chriftian people. "Old things were paffed away, behold all things were become new." They felt a fweet calmnefs of mind, but in most inftances, had not a thought at the time of it, that what they experi enced was regeneration. It was fometimes feveral days, before they dared to hope, they were hard of God for giving comfort to others, while he denied it to them. The enmity of the heart rofe up, like a venomous ferpent, against the Almighty. Such exercises as thefe difcovered to them the total depravity of their hearts. They felt convinced that the garment of felf-righteoufnefs, which was fo pleafing to them, covered a heart full of oppofition to God's character. They were before con- new creatures." They rejoiced vinced that they had been guilty with fear. In many instances, a of many outward acts of fin, but hope was obtained, and gradually now they faw fomething of the confirmed, by comparing them. fountain of pollution within. felves with the word, and finding They were convinced that they had a degree of that fubmiflion and never prayed, read, or cried as difinterefted love, which characterGod required. They ftill perfe-ize thofe who are born again." vered in duties, but feemed, as The work of the Spirit in this place they expreffed it, “ to grow worfe has been remarkably free from enand worfe." They difcovered thufiafm and confufion. There that God's law juftly condemned have been no inftances of very them, and that they must be ref- great diftrefs, or outcries under cued by, fovereign mercy, or fuf- convictions, nor of enthusiastic fer its awful fanction. rants of joy, after receiving comfort. The work was mild. The views and exercifes of thofe who obtained a hope, were, in general, as follows : This revival of religion has been productive of these happy effects: The bible has been ftudied-fami There was a great variety as to the manner in which divine lightly prayer revived-the inftruction was let into the mind, and at the of children promoted—the fanctu fame time a wonderful fimilarity ary crowded-and the diftinguithin their feelings after the admiffioning doctrines of the gospel more of true light. Some obtained relief by a view of the glory and excellency of Chrift. He appeared thoroughly ftudied and understood. Zion's God has difcovered his fovereignty as well as his mercy But thofe who have made a profeffion of religion, and a number of others who have not profeffed publicly, appear to be ftedfast and immoveable: And their converfation is in a good measure agreeable to the gospel. There may be "tares among the wheat," and "let him that thinketh he standeth, 'take heed left he fall." Nearly one half who have lately become profeffors are in youth. They have among us. Some of the moft gay and thoughtlefs have become hopeful converts, whilft others, who were more fober and moral, were paffed by. Some have been hopefully new born, who were educated in irreligious, prayerlefs families, while others were paffed by, who enjoyed a pious education. But it must be confeffed that those who had been religiously educated, were more generally the fubjects of special grace. Within one year after the begin-cheerfully relinquifhed their forning of the awakening, upwards of 50 united with the church. Others have been fince added. And about 20 more, moftly young people, have obtained a hope in this season of refreshment," and by a fober life they give evidence of a real change, but through prevailing doubts and diffidence have not dared to make a public profeffion. In fome inftances almost whole families fled to the ark of fafety. In one family I found feven or eight, and in others five or fix, who thought they could rejoice in God. We had the pleafing fight of four fifters offering themselves to receive Christian baptifm, and unite with the church. It is now above three years fince the beginning of this glorious work, and I can give a more ample teftimony to its genuinenefs, than I could have done in months past. "By their fruits ye fhall know them." Many who received flight impreffions have become like the "feed which fell upon ftony places." And to fome for whom we entertained a hope that they were renewed, "it hath happened according to the true proverb," 2 Pet. ii. 22. And with great concern we may conclude that "Their last state is worse than the first, feeing they crucify to themselves the fon of God afresh and put him to open fhame." VOL. II. No. 7. mer finful amufements; and have often declared, that they have enjoyed more real happiness in one religious meeting, than in all their past follies and finful mirth. They in general appear to be ornaments to their profeffion, and by their prefence at our facramental table, render the communion a very delightful duty. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The repentance of a numiber of Chriftlefs finners in this place, has doubtless given joy to angels and faints above. And we truft that a hopeful number will praise God to eternity, for what they have experienced in this revival of religion. "The Lord hath brought them up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and fet their feet upon a rock; and he hath put a new fong into their mouth even praise to the living God." I am Gentlemen, yours, Granville, Eaft-Society, } Further thoughts on I Corinth. xv. 19. by another writer. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- L 1 AZINE. There readily appear. Doubtlefs his meaning is this: If the body dies, no more to live, and if the foul separate from the body ceafes to exift; then we can hope for no benefit from Chrift, but in the prefent life: And if fo, we, his followers, are of all men in the world the moft miferable. There are none fo wretched; fo much to be pitied. Allowing this to be the fenfe of the apostle, how does the truth of his declaration appear? It has been generally anfwered to this enquiry, "Chriftianity found fo many, and fuch violent oppofers, amongst all claffes of people, efpecially in the days of the apoftle, that thofe who embraced it hazarded their honor, their property, the comforts of life and even life itself. They had the trial of cruel mockings and fcourgings, of bonds and imprisonment. They were ftoned and flain with the fword, were deftitute, afflicted and tormented. Thefe great facrifices they muft make and thefe great evils endure, in order to be Chriftians in profeffion and practice. The world have not to facrifice thefe enjoyments, nor to fubject themselves to these evils. And if Chriftians have no good to expect from Chrift hereafter as a compenfation for their lofs here, if death be an eternal fleep, they are of all men the most miferable." It is true that the apoftles and primitive Chriftians fuffered great evils on account of their religion. It is alfo true, that if there be no fu ture ftate of exiftence Chriftians cannot derive benefit from Chrift beyond this life. But then, are good men, even the apostles and primitive Chriftians in the midst of their hardfhips, more miferable than the wicked? Does religion when most unpopular make us more wretched on earth, all things confidered? Have we not a full compenfation in the comforts of religion for all the facrifices we make in becoming and acting like good men? If we have, then the right meaning of the text has not been given. And that we have, is capable of full proof. I may appeal to the teftimony of good men. We often hear them fay, that they have far greater enjoyment and more folid fatisfaction in the duties and doctrines of religion than they could derive from any thing in this world. And haft not thou, my Chriftian reader, had that comfort and pleasure in the contemplation of divine things which furpaffed all worldly enjoyments? Haft thou not had peace and refreshment of foul, which nothing elfe could yield but religion? Not what arofe from hopes of future happinefs, but from what was then feen and felt? That the good man is happier than the wicked is capable of fcripture proof. We hear the Pfalmift, the wife man and the apoftle uniting their teftimony in fupport of this truth. Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing fhall offend them.-the ways of wifdom are ways of pleafantnefs-The 'peace of God paffeth all understanding there is great joy in believing. tian. His character comprizes all that is morally excellent, being the brightness of the Father's glory and the exprefs image of his perfon. He is confidered as the Our Saviour faith to his difciples, | Verily I fay unto you, there is no man that hath left houfe, or brethren, or fifters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my fake and the gof-way, the truth and the life. The pel's, but he shall receive an hun- believer can fay of him, Whom dred fold, now in this time, hou-having not feen, I love; in whom, fes, and brethren, and fifters, and though now I fee him not, yet bemothers, and children, and lands lieving, I rejoice with joy unfpeakwith perfecutions. That is, His able, and full of glory. Chrift, happiness fhall be an hundred times in his perfon and offices and in his greater, in this life with all his fuf- relation to the believer is accounted ferings, than if he still poffeffed precious and altogether amiable. thefe fources of enjoyment free The good man loves the fervice from perfecution, and remained a of his Maker, He afpires after finner. Since the comforts of re- no greater felicity than to enjoy, ligion make amends for all worldly ferve and glorify God without infacrifices, and the good, tho' poor, terruption and the hindrance of defpifed, afflicted and perfecuted finful imperfections. By fome man is happier than the wicked, foretaftes of heaven, he has learnt though he be rich, wife and great; what fublime enjoyment and treafI fay, fince this is the cafe, it ap- ures of good remain for the Chrifpears that we have not put the tian. No object can he fo highly right conftruction upon the text. prize as God, no employment can I fhall, therefore, venture to give be fo pleafing as his fervice, no foa different meaning. ciety fo agreeable as the fociety of heaven and no fubjects fo delightful as divine fubjects. All these will continue forever, yielding him confummate & unfailing happiness. Allowing thefe to be the feelings and views of the good man, which I prefume no one will question, what must be the ftate of his mind were death to close his exiftence? Imagine the faint, fully impreffed with the idea, that he fhould foon ceafe to be, and yet having lively views of the glory of God's character, of the loveliness and worth of Chrift and the beauties of holiness and how wretched muft he be ! Here is his treasure, fomething he prizes above every thing elfe, fomething on which he cannot place a value equal to its worth, which can make him completely and forever happy; but he must relinquif all hopes of enjoying it. Wha: thought more unwelcome! Who In order for this, we will confider the feelings of the good man towards God, Chrift and the holy fociety of heaven. The Chriftian loves God. He derives pleasure from the contemplation of his adorable and lovely perfections. The words of the Pfalmift he can make his own: Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth I defire befides thee. All God's attributes appear to him harmonious, and fuch is their glory as to ravifh his foul. These attributes as exhibited in the divine law, afford him matter of delightful meditation. O, how love I thy law. Great fatisfaction accrues to the faint from contemplating the government of God in which all his perfections are employed. The fon of God largely -hares in the affection of the Chrif can tell his lofs! How could he endure the wounding reflection of being forever denied a participation of that fublime happinefs of which he has tafted? Such reflections must make him of all men moft miferable He could not endure the thought of parting with God, of being feparated from his beloved Savior and never to think of their perfections-never more toto nothing but that kind providence love, ferve and enjoy them. "O wretched man that I am! if this be true-if I must ceafe to think, ceafe to love and cease to enjoy by ceafing to exist! How can I be separated from the object of my love-from the only fatisfying good in the universe ! Painful thought, that I must ceafe to be and lofe fuch a treasure as God! The belief of this, kills all my comforts, overwhelms my foul with grief and renders me of all men moft miferable." perience of old age, and the reftraining hand of a kind providence, to avoid all the ways that lead down to difgrace and ruin. When I look back on my own life, and the period when I began to act for myself was not ftigmatized with the error and diffipation the prefent is, I think it almost mirac ulous, and it certainly was owing Sinners! Think not religion to be a gloomy and unprofitable thing. Saints! Be thankful for that gofpel, which has brought "life and immortality" to light. G SHAPHAN. Letter from a Father to his Son, which has always protected me, that I escaped those ways which are ruinous to our usefulness and comfort here, and our happiness hereafter. Having been young myfelf, and experienced all the feelings incident to your age, my obfervations will have the greater weight on your mind, especially they will be received as a kind effort of an anxious and affectionate Father. I might write you fome profitable thoughts refpecting the choice and management of your worldly affairs, refpecting the company you should keep, and what general deportment you should obferve, to render yourself agreeable to the fteady, fober, virtuous part of mankind. Thefe are important objects and fhould fuitably interest your attention. But I feel, my dear Son, more interested in your future and eternal good. And I am happy, that while you are removed from my verbal inftruction, I can communicate to you by letter, my ideas, on the important fubjects which I think very much tend to this. It is of the first importance that your heart be renewed by the fpirit of God. Until this is your ftate, you will not enjoy those pleasures fuitable for rational creatures, you will not ferve your maker acceptably, nor anfwer the end of living, and you will be all the time unfafe, expofed conftantly by the brittle |