nds doubts arising in his mina, concerning the doctrines and duties of religion, let him carefully examine, whether they do not proceed from a disaffection of heart to the truth; and if he finds this to be in any degree the cause, let him be assured they will not mitigate his sin in the sight of the glorious Judge before whom all must soon appear. M. To the Editors of the Connecticut GENTLEMEN, THE following narrative render this display of his marvellous grace beneficial to others. I was born on Lord's day morning, July 14, 1754, and on the ensuing Lord's day publicly dedicated by my parents to the holy Trinity in baptism. I have very little remembrance of what passed in the earlier part of my childhood, but am informed, I was the subject of much sickness and bodily distress. When about four years of age was brought nigh unto death, but through divine mercy, was restored to a tolerable state of health. At nine years of age I left my parents and went to live with a relation, at the distance of seventy miles, with whom I continued near twelve years. While I remained with was handed me, some time since, my parents I received frequent at my request, for publication, good instructions from my moif it should be thought proper.ther, who, I trust, was a pious I have abbreviated it in some parts, and made some small alteration in the language. It is submitted to your perusal; and if you judge it may be useful, you will please to give it a place in your entertaining and instructive miscellany. I have made enquiry concerning the subject, and do not learn but that he conducts agreeable to the character of a new creature. RESPECTED AND DEAR SIR, woman, and believe my mind at that time had a serious turn. But after leaving my parent I had very little religious instruction. When about 18 years of age, through much solicitation, my kinsman took me to sea with him. Having for years past been allured by what I thought the charms of a sea-faring life, all my thoughts were now employed in becoming a complete seaman. I even looked down on all other characters with indiffer IN compliance with your re-ence. Through the influence of Ν quest, I send you some sketch- bad company on a heart naturales of God's merciful dealings ly depraved, I now thought of with one of the chief of sinners. little else but how to fulfil the I have looked up to the Father of desires of the flesh, following lights, that he would enable me the example of those who were to give a faithful narrative and older in the school of vice than write what may be for his de- myself. I was guilty of casting clarative glory. In this way I off all fear and restraint, of living would humbly acknowledge the without God in the world, in a infinite debt I owe to divine mer-continual abuse of his mercies, cy, and pray that God would and despising his gracious offers call to the rocks and mountains to fall on them, to hide them from the face of Him who sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," were very forcibly impressed on my mind. A little after sunset I retired to rest under the most distressing apprehensions that I should nev of life and salvation through his Son. So totally was I sunk in ignorance, deadness and infidelity as to be wholly regardless of his distinguishing goodness and kind providential care of me, which had been displayed in multiplied instances of sickness, distress and danger. Such was the state of my mind till it pleas-er see another morning-believe ed God to open my eyes to see I slept very little, but was the my baseness and ingratitude, whole night under distracting which covered my face with fears, lest the just vengeance of such shame and confusion that the Almighty should fall upon it seemed to me I never should me. I got up in the morning be permitted to look up again. ashamed to see the light, or any It seemed that my eyes would human being. I seemed to mybe everlastingly fixed in that self more vile than the beasts gulf of misery, so justly fitted to that perish, and even envied a the demerits of those who des- dog, whose situation appeared to pise the mercies of God. This me preferable to mine. was by a light from heaven, which surely was above the brightness of the sun, shining into the deepest recesses of my heart, and discovering to my view its exceeding sinfulness. This day and the following days, the Spirit of the Lord convinced me of particular sins, causing me to look back on my past life, showing me that the whole had been one continued object of God's goodness and care; and that one continued series of transgressions, iniquities, and sins had been the only returns I had made. From this view of things I considered myself justly condemned by God's holy law, and by my own conscience, which was now awakened to witness against me. So long had I abused mercy that it seemed impossible it should ever This was on the 23d of June, 1789. Having been for near three years laboring under severe bodily sickness, and for some weeks past given over by my physician, my disorder baffling the power of medicine administered by the hand of man; it pleased God on this day to open my eyes, to see myself in all my blood and sins, in all the depravity of my nature, in all the horrors of poverty, wretch-be extended to me. I was inedness, misery, blindness, and deed on the borders of despair. nakedness! Finding myself in this situation, I would if possible have got away from myself. But the more I strove to get rid of these distressing feelings the stronger they grew, and I found myself holden by the cords of my sins. I then began to think the bible was indeed the word of God. These words " They shall In this situation of horror and distress, I continued near ten days. Much of the time I was exceedingly hungry, but afraid to ask for food, and when I had it before me, was sometimes afraid to eat; for I saw that every thing came from the hand of God and that I was utterly unworthy the smallest favor. Af but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God;) was brought to my mind in the same manner. And immediately Eph. i. 13, 14, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the words of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that yeliveredst him up to be crucified believed, ye were sealed with that and slain, that we rebels should holy spirit of promise, which is live for ever. Lord, give them the earnest of our inheritance, un-hearts susceptible of light and til the redemption of the purchased truth; and do thou, who compossession unto the praise of his mandedst the light to shine out of glory. darkness, shine into their souls, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; to whom with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, be rendered ascriptions of glory and honor, and majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. are still going on in trespasses and sins. O God of boundless love and compassion, have pity on such as are so far sunk in ignorance, blindness, and infidelity, as not to discover the infinite obligations they lie under to thee, as their continual preserver and benefactor, and who hast not withheld thine only Son, but de I stood no longer wondering what it should mean, but seemed convinced, by an intuitive knowledge, that it was none other than the Holy Spirit, sealing me to the day of redemption, and filling me with that peace and joy in believing, which passeth all understanding. And lest some should think this was only a sudden flight of imagination, let me tell them this frame and temper continued most of the week in a very great degree, causing me frequently to shed floods of tears for joy, and being | overcome with such astonishing grace! Thus I have endeavored, thro' divine assistance, to give, though in a poor, weak, and incoherent manner, a few.instances of the divine compassion towards the chief of sinners. And I do now beseech the Father of mercies, that he would be graciously pleased to cause his blessing to rest upon this attempt to show forth his praise, and proclaim the riches of free grace in Christ Jesus: That he would cause it to be made subservient to the comfort of his children, and the awakening of some of those who April 15, 1794: F. A. From the Christian Observer. Remarks on the Nature of Minis terial Faithfulness, drawn from the example of John the Baptist. and the ministers of the THRISTIANS in general, gospel in particular, may derive whence it may be inferred, that | sect preferred, and the doctrines the doctrine of repentance ought always to accompany the publication of the glad tidings of salvation. on which they already dwelt confirmed by the prophet. "Is this, then, all that you have to say to us? Have we been at the pains of travelling thus far into the wilderness, in order merely to be told to part with one of our coats and with half of our meat to our poor neighbors? Is this the gospel? Can such an ordinary teacher be John the true prophet, the forerunner of him who is to be the Saviour of the world?" "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you." The publicans were the tax-gatherers of those days, and they were notorious for extortion. Repentance is not a popular topic. Nevertheless, a large congregation comes even into the wilderness to listen to John, and to be baptized of him. Does he proceed to flatter those who are there gathered round him? Does he intimate that the duty of repentance, though neglected by others, may be presumed to have been already sufficiently fulfilled by the generality of his audience? Does he inveigh against the absent, and spare his own hearers? "O generation of vipers," said he, "who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ;"-" say not within yourselves we have Abraham to our father;" boast not of your privileges as Jews; bring forth fruits meet for repentance"" for now is the axe laid to the root of the tree. Every tree, therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." The people after this awfulation. A few of them were placed warning draw near, and ask, in each of the conquered provinwhat shall we do then? How ces, where they committed perdoes the Baptist reply? What petual acts of violence; and, in doctrine of the gospel does he order to justify their rapacity, urge? Which of its essential they raised many false accusatruths does he unfold? His an- tions against the poor natives, swer is, "He that hath two whom it was their duty to protect. coats let him impart to him that The prophet shewed remarkahath none, and he that hath meat|ble courage in this last reply. let him do likewise." I have no doubt that the multude were much disappointed by this reply. Probably many of them came to see some striking exhibition, and to hear some wonderful revelation; many, no doubt, hoped to have their pres-ent character approved, their VOL. VI. No. 3. "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages." The Roman soldiers were remarkable for their insubordin Cæsar would not have dared to administer the same rebuke to a party of soldiers. It would have endangered his throne. But the unarmed Baptist feared the face of no man; and with the same boldness with which he told king Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his broth Ο er's wife (a saying for which he was beheaded,) he uttered before the ferocious Roman soldiery those truths which, though every one knew, no one except himself ventured to declare to their face. Zeal It is cannot make good. And, in- The diversity of these answers is a proof that John had considered the several vices of his hearers. Many a rebuke is misplaced, perhaps many a sermon is without effect, on account of its being ill-accommodated to the case of the auditors. There are some who think it is sufficient to preach the gospel in general, or if they touch on repentance, to treat of it in general, without pointing out the particular sins to be repented of. If a certain number of general truths are delivered, God, as they assume, will bless his own word as far as he sees fit; and should no good be done, the failure is accounted for by God's not having been pleased to add his blessing. This may be partly admitted, but it may also hap-view of doctrines, than to direct pen that care has not been ta- our observations to the precise ken rightly to divide the word case of the auditors before us. of truth. The preacher may not It is more easy to give one anhave assailed his hearers on that swer to all men, than a separate side, on which they might have reply to the several individuals been attacked with most advan- who make their application to tage. He may have been gen- us. In the one instance a large eral, when he should have been acquaintance with human naparticular; or he may have beenture, a deep knowledge of our timid, when boldness would have own hearts, a great superiority become him; or possibly he may to prejudice, and a careful attenhave been bold even to rudeness:tion to the case before us, are he may have been too unmea- requisite; in the other, it is onsured in his words; he may, ly necessary to be furnished with in his heat, have charged some a few general truths, to have at sin on the conscience more ve- hand a certain stock of sayings hemently than the case admit-which may be learnt almost even ted; and thus instead of condemning others, he may have stood condemned himself as a man who utters that which he by rote. The true preacher of the gospel will, especially, direct his aim against the reigning preju |