every meeting was attended with some visible effect, until there were some instances of special attention, in almost every part of the parish. Lectures and conferences were frequent, and

and in the fore part of 1799. In this time the drooping church was not a little quickened, and comforted, and between seventy and eighty were added to it, an account of which was published in the first volume of your Maga-public religious meetings were full and serious. And this

zine.

That day can never be for-spiritual work appeared gradualgotten by the church in this ly to rise, for more than three place; and to the praise of God months. The attention has been be it spoken, the lapse of seven most among young people. It years, has not weakened the faith seemed as if God had fixed his of the candid beholder, in the eyes on the youth; though work of that day. From this numbers of children, have been time three conferences have seriously impressed; and there been generally attended in a have also been some instances week, and a concert for prayer, from thirty, to sixty. once in a fortnight, and some whole days have been set apart, and observed by the church and society, in fasting and prayer.

But by reason of deaths and removals, the church became considerably reduced, and inattention to divine things prevailed, and was increasing, especially among the youth, so that the things of religion began to wear a very gloomy appearance.

But in the fore part of last June, one of the youth, was visibly under serious impressions. This was soon attended with a solemn effect, on the young people. It was not long before several others were awakened in the same neighborhood, where the above mentioned youth lived. And from this time, the attention increased.

It seemed to operate like leaven hid in three measures of meal; new instances of awakening often occurred.

The neighboring ministers, as well as some more remote, were very kind to visit and preach for

us.

Indeed it seemed, as if the Lord sent them. And almost

The present attention has been most among females. Towards thirty have obtained hopes. Fifteen of the hopeful new converts have joined the church, and others it is expected will come forward, and subscribe with their hands to the Lord. As when the cry was made "behold the bridegroom cometh," the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, this has been a day of alarm to the church. They ap peared to be aroused in some measure from their formal state into which even the wise are so apt to fall while the bridegroom tarries. Some were ready to cry, our lamps are gone out.

Having noticed these things concerning the beginning and progress of this attention, it may be well to add a few words respecting the moral features,and nature of it. This like the awakening among us seven years past has not appeared to be so much addressed to the passions as to the understanding, and conscience; although it was not uncommon for some to weep. It is indeed marvellous to behold, how the Holy Spirit will lead un

taught youth, and others into the sentiments, and things of the word. Both the word, and the spirit are truth, and they admirably correspond with each other. It was common for the first impression to be a sense of their sinfulness, especially of the depravity of the heart. This would be attended with a realizing sense of the spirituality, and extensiveness of the divine law; and with a conviction of the reality and dreadfulness of the wrath to come; and of the impossibility of their escape, while under the dominion of such impenitent, unbelieving opposing hearts.The awakened were likewise generally led to view the holy government of God, as sovereign, irresistible, and extending to all events.

The world with all it wealth, pleasures and honors, appeared as vanity, unable to afford the least relief, and unworthy of attention, for its own sake.

all the things of the gospel.Christ in his fulness became most precious. And those very doctrines of the gospel, which were so stumbling, discourage, ing, and painful, were received, as the food and life of the soul, and God in Christ delighted in as its portion. Though many are wont to be prejudiced against revivals, and the religion of the gospel, as gloomy and unhappifying to the mind, in this world at least, yet it was usual for the hopeful converts to testify, that they found more happiness in one hour than in all their life before; yea, that they never enjoyed any thing before which deserved the name of happiness, compared to their present peace. Many particulars might be mentioned. But as the experiences, hopes, and joys of the partakers in the present work, seem to be one in nature and kind, I shall here add, as a specimen, the relation of two youth, as written by themselves to a friend. The first writes thus :

"Dear sir, The following lines are a short sketch, of what I hope the great sovereign of the universe has been pleased to

Though the subjects of this work, at first, earnestly sought to recommend themselves to God by their prayers and reformation, and to find relief from creatures, yet all these utterly failed. What generally marred their pray-do for me, an unworthy sinner. ers, reading, and the like in their own sight, was a sense of their total selfishness. Therefore, they found themselves shut up to the faith, and necessarily dependent on sovereign mercy to renew their hearts. And when brought to this it was like the "mighty famine," known only by experience.

-Time has wafted me through the days of childhood, perhaps as thoughtless of God, and insensible of eternity as any one could be. Whenever I was aroused to think on death and judgment, I would silence the voice of conscience, and say I could not cherish such gloomy thoughts when I was in health and prosperity; little thinking my soul was out of health. There

The change did not appear to consist so much in a new doctrinal knowledge, but in differ-fore I abandoned these thoughts, ent affections of the heart, toward the character of God, his law, works, and ways, and to

which ought to have been most dear to me. But blessed be God, he has spared my life until now:

and as I hope, made me a living monument to adore his glorious

name.

"The first my mind began to be impressed, was last July, at the funeral of Mrs. D. C. I followed the breathless body to the silent mansions of the dead, lit tle thinking it was a lesson for me to read, but considered my self an uninterested beholder. But when I saw the corpse laid in the grave, the thought struck my mind, will this suffice? Will the grave now shut its mouth, and say enough? The answer was ready, no it will not, but it will soon claim me in spite of all my efforts. But when I looked beyond the grave, eternity appeard still more awful. These words seemed to be directed to me, "What meanest thou O sleeper? Arise call upon thy

God."

"This led me to look into my polluted heart, where I found nothing but sin and guilt, which were pressing me down into the pit of of woe and misery. And my days, that were passed, were irrecoverably gone for ever.But a thousand hurrying tho'ts of the world, seemed to bear me away from these feelings; and many times, did I put on the veil of cheerfulness, when I had an aching heart within, for fear of the ridicule of the thoughtless part of mankind, who have got to stand at the tribunal of God, as well as myself.

ing, " vengeance is mine, and I
will repay." In vain I sought
relief from the Bible; every line
seemed to condemn me. I tho't
I was doing all I could to pur-
chase happiness, and my read-
ing, praying, sighs and moans,
were in such earnest, I thought
I should move heaven to pity
me. But all was in vain, it was
in such a selfish manner. And
I thought I was unjustly bound
with the cords of disquietude,
and doomed to eat the bread of
sorrow, while many of my young
companions could triumph over
death and the grave, and sing,
"Thy love, O Jesus, is the
theme;" but I was unheard and
unanswered, and left to wear out
This
my hours in grief alone.
I thought was unjust, and my
heart rose in dreadful opposition
against God. Oh, how hard is
the human heart! if in its power
it would dethrone the Almighty.
But blessed be God, the power
is in his own hands.

"I remained in this sorrowful situation several days, seeking relief, but refusing the precious balm of Gilead. A certain most trying day to me, I spent Monday in this month, was a most of the day in the field, out of the sight and out of the eyes of the world, but still the all searching eye of God was upon me. And it seemed as if the whole universe gazed, with an eye of contempt, on its sinful wretched inhabitant. But O the following Wednesday! May "Thus my days were spent, that precious day never be erasuntil about the middle of Sep-ed from my memory: the day tember, when the horrors of hell (as I hope) God appointed to appeared before me unavoida- meet my poor perishing soul. ble! I felt myself to be a sin- Having taken up Hartford sener, and exposed to the wrath of lection of Hymns, I began to God, who was continually say- read the 274th.

Cheer up my soul there is a mercy | through my own negligence,

own.

"It seemed as though nature | meetings, but they only served to would some times sink under augment my distresses, and if the pressure; but he who thus possible to increase my opposi laid his hand upon me was still tion. For several weeks, I almost my support. In July, (when entirely relinquished business, the attention to religion became and spent my time principally considerable) I began to find, in walking in my chamber.that I had not only a wicked Whenever I heard of any perheart, but that it was entirely son's having obtained a hope, it selfish, and filled with the most was like adding fuel to the fire. dreadful, and daring opposition My heart rose against it, and to God; and that selfishness, accused God, of exercising par had been and still was, the great tiality with his creatures, not moving principle of all my considering, that he had a right actions. This put me at a great to do what he would with his stand my enquiry now was with more anxiety than ever, "what shall I do to be saved?" I now saw, and was fully convinced, that the prayers, of the wicked were an abomination to the Lord. Yet I was told that prayer was a duty incumbent upon me notwithstanding, my own sinfulness, and that I ought to pray with a penitent heart. This was what I could not bear, and found myself actually at war with God Almighty. It appeared to me that annihilation would be far preferable to the situation, in which I then was; I would gladly have changed conditions, with the very stones in the street, and frequently looked with envy, on the meanest reptiles of the earth.

"These exercises continued until August, when the terrors of hell seemed to compass me about. From Tuesday the 6th to Wednesday the 14th, it ap peared to me, that I stood on the very confines of destruc tion, and was permitted to look into the eternal world. Death and judgment were now most solemn realities and they so overwhelmed me, that I was many times ready to sink into despair, and give up all hope of ever obtaining mercy.

Then oh, how vain appear'd All things beneath the sky, "Like visions past, like flowers that

"blow,

"When wintery storms are nigh;" But it pleased a great and merciful God, not to keep me long in this painful situation. On Wednesday the 14th of August, I attended a lecture, when a sermon was preached, from John iv. 49." The nobleman saith unto him, sir, come down ere my child die." Upon hearing these words and their explanawith the most ardent love totion, I found my heart glowing ward the Saviour. He appeared to be the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely,