reign. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit upon the Jews that was in the days of John the Baptist; as appears by the great apostacy of that people so soon after so general an awakening, and the temporary religious comforts and joys of many: John v. 35, "Ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." So it was in those great commotions that were among the multitude, occasioned by the preaching of Jesus Christ; of the many that were then called, but few were chosen; of the multitude that were roused and affected by His preaching, and at one time or other appeared mightily engaged, full of admiration of Christ, and elevated with joy, but few were true disciples, that stood the shock of the great trials that came afterwards, and endured to the end. Many were like the stony ground or thorny ground, and but few comparatively like the good ground. Of the whole heap that was gathered great part was chaff, that the wind afterwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left was comparatively small, as appears abundantly by the history of the New Testament. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit that was in the apostles' days; as appears by Matt. xxiv. 10-13; Gal. iii. 1, and iv. 11, 15; Phil. ii. 21, and iii. 18, 19; and the two epistles to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament. And so it was in the great reformation from Popery. It appears plainly to have been in the visible church of God, in times of great reviving of religion, from time to time, as it is with the fruit-trees in the spring; there are a multitude of blossoms, all of which appear fair and beautiful, and there is a promising appearance of young fruits; but many of them are but of short continuance, they soon fall off, and never come to maturity. Not that it is to be supposed that it will always be so; for though there never will, in this world, be an entire purity, either in particular saints, in a perfect freedom from mixtures of corruption, or in the church of God, without any mixture of hypocrites with saints, and counterfeit religion and false appearances of grace with true religion and real holiness, yet it is evident that there will come a time of much greater purity in the church of God than has been in ages past; it is plain by these texts of Scripture: Isa. lii. 1; Ezek. xliv. 6, 7; Joel iii. 17; Zech. xiv. 21; Psa. lxix. 32, 35, 36; Isa. xxxv. 8, 10, and iv. 3, 4; Ezek. xx. 38; Psa. xxxvii. 9, 10, 21, 29. And one great reason of it will be that at that time God will give much greater light to His people, to distinguish between true religion and its counterfeits. Mal. iii. 3, "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.' With ver. 18, which is a continuation of the prophecy of the same happy times: "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not." It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ, all along hitherto. It is by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion that ever have been since the first founding of the Christian church. By this he hurt the cause of Christianity, in and after the apostolic age, much more than by all the persecutions of both Jews and heathens. The apostles, in all their epistles, show themselves much more concerned at the former mischief than the latter. By this Satan prevailed against the reformation began by Luther, Zuinglius, &c., to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace, ten times more than by all those bloody, cruel, and before unheard-of persecutions of the Church of Rome. By this, principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion that have been in our nation since the reformation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years ago. And I think I have had opportunity enough to see plainly that by this the devil has prevailed against the late great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning. Here, most evidently, has been the main advantage Satan has had against us; by this he has foiled us. It is by this means that the daughter of Zion in this land now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances as we now behold her, with her garments rent, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, and weltering in the blood of her own wounds, and in no wise able to arise; and this so quickly after her late great joys and hopes. Lam. i. 17: "Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries shall be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them." I have seen the devil prevail the same way against two great revivings of religion in this country. Satan goes on with mankind as he began with them. He prevailed against our first parents, and cast them out of Paradise, and suddenly brought all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their happy Paradisaic state, and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same cunning serpent, that beguiled Eve through his subtilty, by perverting us from the simplicity that is in Christ, hath suddenly prevailed to deprive us of that fair prospect we had a little while ago, of a kind of Paradisaic state of the church of God in New England. After religion has revived in the church of God, and enemies appear, people that are engaged to defend its cause are commonly most exposed where they are least sensible of danger. While they are wholly intent upon the opposition that appears openly before them, to make head against that, and do neglect carefully to look all around them, the devil comes behind them, and gives a fatal stab unseen; and has opportunity to give a more home stroke, and wound the deeper, because he strikes at his leisure, and according to his pleasure, being obstructed by no guard or resistance. And so it is ever likely to be in the church, whenever religion revives remarkably, till we have learned well to distinguish between true and false religion, between saving affections and experiences and those manifold fair shows and glistering appearances by which they are counterfeited; the consequences of which, when they are not distinguished, are often inexpressibly dreadful. By this means the devil gratifies himself, by bringing it to pass that that should be offered to God by multitudes, under a notion of a pleasing, acceptable service to Him, that is indeed above all things abominable to Him. By this means he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls, making them think they are something when they are nothing, and so eternally undoes them, and not only so, but establishes many in a strong confidence of their eminent holiness who are in God's sight some of the vilest of hypocrites. By this means he many ways damps and wounds religion in the hearts of the saints, obscures and deforms it by corrupt mixtures, causes their religious affections wofully to degenerate, and sometimes, for a considerable time, to be like the manna that bred worms and stank, and dreadfully ensnares and confounds the minds of others of the saints, and brings them into great difficulties and temptation, and entangles them in a wilderness, out of which they can by no means extricate themselves. By this means Satan mightily encourages the hearts of open enemies of religion, and strengthens their hands, and fills them with weapons, and makes strong their fortresses; when, at the same time, religion and the church of God lie exposed to them, as a city without walls. By this means he brings it to pass that men work wickedness under a notion of doing God service, and so sin without restraint, yea, with earnest forwardness and zeal, and with all their might. By this means he brings in even the friends of religion, insensibly to themselves, to do the work of enemies, by destroying religion in a far more effectual manner than open enemies can do, under a notion of advancing it. By this means the devil scatters the flock of Christ, and sets them one against another, and that with great heat of spirit, under a notion of zeal for God; and religion, by degrees, degenerates into vain jangling, and during the strife Satan leads both parties far out of the right way, driving each to great extremes, one on the right hand and the other on the left, according as he finds they are most inclined, or most easily moved and swayed, till the right path in the middle is almost wholly neglected. And in the midst of this confusion the devil has great opportunity to advance his own interest, and make it strong in ways innumerable, and get the government of all into his own hands, and work his own will. And by what is seen of the terrible consequences of this counterfeit religion, when not distinguished from true religion, God's people in general have their minds unhinged and unsettled in things of religion, and know not where to set their foot, or what to think or do; and many are brought into doubts whether there be anything in religion, and heresy, and infidelity, and atheism greatly prevail. Therefore it greatly concerns us to use our utmost endeavours clearly to discern, and have it well settled and established, wherein true religion does consist. Till this be done, it may be expected that great revivings of religion will be but of short continuance; till this be done, there is but little good to be expected of all our warm debates, in conversation and from the press, not knowing clearly and distinctly what we ought to contend for. REVIVALS IN BELFAST. BERRY-STREET CHURCH. THIS place of worship has been virtually the centre of the present religious movement, and of the excitement consequent upon it, in Belfast. On Wednesday evening a meeting was held by a number of gentlemen who had been deeply impressed by the spirit of the present awakening; and one of the brethren from Ballymena, who has been largely blessed by being made the instrument of the awakening of many souls in his own town and neighbourhood. At this meeting a very decided manifestation, such as that observed in other parts of the country, was visible. One female, unable to restrain her feelings, screamed out, and, shortly afterwards, several people, men and women, were similarly affected say, to the number of twenty. These people were all visited on the following day by many clergymen and others, all of whom speak of the decided change which has been wrought in their character and whole feelings. On Thursday evening, another meeting was held in Berry-street Church, which was so largely attended that many hundreds were unable to gain admittance; indeed, the doors had to be shut to prevent the enormous pressure from without the building. As on the previous evening, the meeting was conducted by a brother from Ballymena, with one of those, we believe, affected on the previous evening, one or two clergymen, and others. The manifestations at this meeting were somewhat the same as on Wednesday evening, except that the number of those awakened was much larger. At one time, the shrieks from both males and females were so great that the person offering up prayer had to cease, and give out à psalm, which, to some extent, allayed excitement. Several of those affected were taken home, while others were so enfeebled by their mental agony as to be unfit to be removed till a late hour of the night. We have heard of a number of females who had attended the Wednesday evening meeting having become affected on the next day during their working hours. Friday evening, the excitement, and the anxiety to be present during the religious exercises, were almost indescribable. Half-past seven was the hour appointed for the opening of the church, but long before that time the entire neighbourhood was so densely thronged, that the streets became almost impassable. The building would not have contained one-fifth of the number who sought admittance; and when it was completely filled, it was necessary, for purposes of safety alone, to close the doors. A strong body of the local police were stationed in the vicinity, to prevent disorder and annoyance, but very little occurred of this sort. Many of the persons who waited in the streets had come there without going home after leaving off work. On the shutting of the doors, the crowd divided into three sections, determined to hold meetings in other churches, which they were well satisfied in being able to do in those of May-street and Eglinton-street, and in the Wesleyan Chapel, Donegal-place. The religious services in Berry-street were conducted by the Rev. Hugh Hanna, Rev. James Wilson (Lecumpher), and several lay brethren. While they were proceeding, a large number were struck prostrate, while a great many others were manifestly labouring under a strong conviction of sin. It is worthy of special remark, that a majority of those who have been thus impressed since the commencement of these meetings have found hope and peace in Christ, and are now devoting themselves with extraordinary zeal to the exhortation of their friends and neighbours to flee to the Saviour; many of them depicting, in language remarkable for its appropriateness, the evil and danger of sin, as well as the preciousness of Christ, and the attractions and glory of heaven. On each evening the people manifested a strong desire to remain after the services had concluded, and could scarcely be got to separate even at a late hour. When the congregation had been dismissed, numbers of them still continued praying on the stairs and in the grounds. Not a few who attended the meetings were overtaken by conviction in their homes and their employments on the following day. Some of the persons who became affected in the church were carried into the sexton's house, and to the adjacent grounds, where parties affectionately prayed over them. After the termination of the meeting on Friday night, the Rev. Messrs. Hanna and Wilson proceeded to visit some of the cases at Ewart's-row and other localities. Mr. Hanna considers that a work, equal in importance to that of the sanctuary, remains to be done in the homes of the people; as an instance of which he mentions that, while he was praying for one, another was struck down. events have originated a general feeling of solemnity among the mass of the Protestant people of Belfast, and a belief that we are on the eve of a great outpouring of the Spirit. These In this place of worship the excitement and attraction continue to increase day after day. Were the building thrice as capacious as it is in its enlarged dimensions, it could not contain the crowds who present themselves for admission whenever its doors are opened. On Saturday evening there was an immense attendance of the working orders, who flocked to it from every quarter. Not one-half of them could be accommodated. The Rev. Mr. Hanna and two lay brethren conducted the services, during which, several of the auditors, both male and female, became so seriously affected, that it was necessary to assist them out of the church. A number who were present upon the occasion have since manifested at their own homes the full symptoms of the visitation of the quickening Spirit. On Sabbath forenoon there was again a most crowded meeting. Hundreds who could not gain admittance were obliged to seek it in other churches. The number of manifestations was fully as great as upon any previous occasion-probably upwards. of twenty. At the evening service a remarkable case of conviction occurred, and created a strong sensation. It was that of a seaman, who had been over half the globe, and encountered many perils, and yet, after having seen the wonders of God on the great waters, remained hardened in heart. When, however, on this evening, the conviction of sin came home to him, he publicly confessed that he had come there praying for a blessing, and had, happily, found one. Another striking case was that of a respectable young man who had, as he admitted, come to the place to scoff, but whose mind was brought to a very different state in the course of a prayer meeting which was held in the library after the regular service, and who afterwards returned home rejoicing. The cases of public manifestation were again numerous, and very serious in their character. So great was the mul titude at the doors, that it was necessary to shut them at seven o'clock. The work has not been manifested only in places of worship, but in factories and workshops it has produced the most marked results. THE CRUMLIN-ROAD. An intense and very general excitement has prevailed in the factory of Messrs. Ewart and Son, Crumlinroad, and the streets in its immediate vicinity, in which many of the workers reside, in consequence of a number of the females employed in the mill having exhibited sudden religious impressions, quite as strong and unequivocal as those manifested at any of the meetings where "awakenings" have occurred. We are informed, and have no reason to doubt, that more than twenty cases of this description-several of them of the most marked character-have already taken place. The particulars of some of these have been detailed to us, and are, in almost every respect, similar to those of other instances of deep and absorbing spiritual impression which we have witnessed, heard, or read of. On some occasions the persons affected have become utterly prostrated under the visitation, and so incapacitated for the slightest physical exertion, that they required to be conveyed to their homes, and placed under medical treatment. From this state most of them recovered within a few hours, but still retain a deep conviction of the urgent necessity of saving grace. Others have been enabled to rejoice in the presence of a revealed Saviour; and one prominent and general feature in the condition of these is their ardent affection for those impressed, or whom they desire to be impressed, in the same manner. This feeling is frequently expressed in the most impulsive manner, both by words and gestures-those affected rush into one another's arms with mutual ejaculations of endearment, and mutual aspirations for Divine mercy and guidance. For the conversion of their relatives and companions their prayers are fervent and incessant. Some of them now enjoy perfect peace of mind, and are indefatigable in their efforts to awaken or console others. An entire change seems to have taken place, not only in the hearts of many who are affected, but also in the enlargement of their intellectual powers, and their capacity for clothing their thoughts and wishes in language which surprises themselves as well as their hearers. We learn that the females who have been the subjects of this wonderful visitation have been treated with the kindest consideration by the proprietors and managers of the establishment in which they are employed, and that, when some of those who were most powerfully stricken were removed to their homes, others united in prayer for them. We learn that at least one case of decided and solemn awakening has oc curred in another mill on the Crumlinroad-that of Messrs. Johnston and Carlisle. At a late hour on Friday night, after the services in Berry-street were closed, the Rev. H. Hanna, and Rev. J. Wilson (Lecumpher), paid a visit to Ewart'srow. They entered at least twenty of the houses, and found that in each of a number of them, ten or twelve persons had been engaged in praise and prayer before their arrival. On an average, besides, two individuals in each were under the influence of deep religious impressions-one, in most cases, rejoicing in peace, and the other manifesting solemn conviction. The first case of almost immediate impression which occurred at last night's meeting in Berrystreet, was that of a young female from this quarter, whose contempt for religion had previously been notorious. The case of another young woman-a Roman Catholic-has come to our knowledge, which is not less striking. She was not in the habit of attending any place of worship; but having been induced to go to one of those meetings, she was so forcibly impressed with a sense of her spiritual condition, that she fell down almost in a fainting fit, and was removed. She is now, happily, in a very different frame of mind, and openly declares that her hope is not in the Virgin Mary, but in Christ alone, and that she will seek the truth, not in a prayer book, but in the Bible. In the quarter known as Ewart's-row, there are cases of spiritual enlighten |