our visible conduct, that we will not have this man to rule over us? Nay, more! Do we not daily by our conduct, “Crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame?" Is not the gracious Redeemer wound who profess to be his friends? Is there not something most astonishing in the behaviour of sinful men toward their Redeemer? View his condescension; see his goodness; see him, during the whole of his life which was devoted to his public ministry; going about to do good; all his labours and all his sufferings were for the good and happiness of others, while this divine Redeemer had not where to lay his head-notwithstaning all this, how was he treated by the Jews! How is he treated by the present generation !!-Be astonished Oh ye heavens at this; and be horribly afraid! bled himself unto death, yea even the cruel and ignominious death of the cross; he resigned himself into the hands of his implacable enemies; he suffered them to seize him as a malefactor; to force and drag him away before a corrupt, a heathened and dishonored even by those tribunal; where, horrible to relate! his sacred body was scourged with whips! Who canI had almost said-who can be lieve the tragic story! His sacred, his beloved face was defiled by being spit upon by the filthy mouths of a brutal soldiery, while his cheeks were bruised by the buffetings of their impious hands; a crown of piercing thorns was wrapped about his head; that sacred head, which, on the mount of transfiguration, a little before, shone with celestial splendor. They also clad him in a purple robe, for the purpose of exciting the mockery and revilings of the rabble which surrounded him. Thus was HE treated, who was the messenger of peace and love; who came on the most benevolent design which ever entered into the heart of the most benevolent being; yea! thus was HE treated by those very creatures who were the immediate objects of this divine, superlative benevolence. Let all enquire, let all examine themselves whether they are not acting the same ungrateful part, which the betrayer and the crucifiers of the divine Redeemer acted, though not in the same Ito and in your truly Evanway? Do we not discover the same temper? Are we not forget-gelical Magazine, so frequently, ful of him? Are we not un- accounts from many parts of our thankful to him? Do we cheer- highly favored land, of the blessfully and thankfully accept the ed work of the spirit of a mercioffers of mercy and salvation ful God, in awakening poor sinwhich he makes us? So far So far ners-softening hard and rocky from this, do we not declare by hearts-arousing the stupid SENEX. State of Connecticut, Religious Intelligence. The Church of Christ in Chester, the fourth Parish in Saybrook, to the Rev. EDITORS of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, sendeth Greeting. BELOVED, IT hath given great pleasure convincing gainsayers and infidels-enlightening the ignorant, and bringing many hopefully into the glorious liberty of the children of God; as well as refreshing those who have long travelled in the way to Zion, with enlivening influences of the divine spirit. This monthly messenger has mostly brought an olive branch to the children of God. It is earnestly desired, and humbly hoped, that this religious Intelligencer may never want for such precious and exhiliatory food that those who have had the soul-satisfying view of a particular work of God's grace in their vicinities may always be ready to publish the joyful tidings-thereby to give glory to Immanuel-spiritual joy to his followers, and lead unbelieving sinners to enquire. And as we hope and trust, that this Parish, with many others, has been remarkably and blessedly visited by the great Head of the Church, we think it our duty to give you information, that you may, if it is tho't for the honor of Christ's kingdom, give it publicity, that the sister churches may rejoice with great joy; though we at first had no conception of the great good a sin pardoning God designed for us, a sinful people.Immediately, lectures and conferences were proposed and attended. The meetings on Lord's days and week days continued increasing, until scarcely any person was to be found, but was more or less impressed. The meetings in the week time were made up of every age and class and sectary of professing Christians among us, and party spirit disappeared. Persons who appeared far from the kingdom of God, and some who might by their own profession be denominated Deists, were among the first subjects of the work. The impression upon children from nine to fifteen years of age was wonderful. Besides meeting frequently with the mixed assemblies, they for a considerable time met two or three times in a week by them| selves, and in a serious and solemn manner prayed, sung God's praises and exhorted one another to attend to the business of religion. And it is supposed that a number of them became truly friends to Christ, and many received such impressions as will be abiding. The doctrines of total depravity, sovereign grace, and the necessity of regeneration by the spirit of God, were preached to us by various ministers of the gospel; and these were the doctrines most acceptable to penitents. On the 20th of February, 1803, two persons, a mother and her daughter, joined in full communion with this church, being the first who offered themselves after the awakening be gan; from which time few Lord's days passed, in which some were not added, until in the course of less than seven months, viz. September 4th, when the number added amounted to forty seven, eighteen males and tweenty-nine females, and the number baptized, adults and infants, sixty-one. And we expect that as great or greater numbers of our Baptist neighbours, in proportion to their population in this Parish, joined to Baptist Churches. A few of those persons who joined this church were in covenant before the present pastor was settled here; but the greater part had never before made any public profession of Christ. A number were quite advanced in age. One woman aged eighty-five. A number young heads of families. A number of single youths the youngest about fourteen years were of age. It may be proper to note here, that the congregational society here consits at most of about sixty-five families-that at the ordination of the present pastor, October 25th, A. D. 1786, the church consisted of twenty-one members, seven males and fourteen females-from the time of his settlement, for sixteen years, viz. to A. D. 1802, only nineteen persons had joined in full communion by which it appears, that the number added in the course of seven months in 1803, was more than double the number that had been added in six teen years. We trust it is the prevailing sentiment in this Church and Society, that regeneration is necessary to render a person a true member of Christ's Church. We hope we may truly say, that this awakening has produced a blessed and happy reformation in this place. It appears to be crowned with the blessings of peace, love, friendship and industry. The Lord's day is honored-the house of our God is frequented; family devotion is set up-many heads of families are saying, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord"-profane language is very much laid aside-much of that leisure. time that used to be spent in vain conversation, jesting and calumny, is now improved in that which tends to acquire and communicate instruction. A Our conferences are still kept up, though not so often. Those in general who have made a profession, we hope are determined never to turn back. number who have made no profession, we hope are, some of them, true friends, and others attentive. This Church would wish, in a humble manner, to communicate this intelligence to the churches; and would express our gratitude most sincerely to the neighboring Ministers of Christ, and others who came from a distance to help, to instruct and guide us in the day of the Lord's power. But above all we desire we may with broken hearts, offer humble praise and thanksgiving to the Great Head of the Church, for visiting us a sinful rebellious people, that he has not passed us by as he might justly have done, and left us to perish in our sins, but has been pleased to cause a precious shower of divine grace to fall upon us. And we request the prayers of ali the friends of Zion for this little flock; that the glorious Redeem- | attended was very small, some er, who, we trust, has begun a S. MILLS, Pastor. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MA GAZINE. PR RESUMING that news of the prosperity of Zion in any part of the Redeemer's kingdom, will be grateful to your feelings, I cannot forego the present favorable opportunity of transmitting to you a concise account of a late and remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit on the people in this place. I have been settled in the ministry here between six and seven years, and till within a few months past, have habitually had the feelings that my labours were all in vain, and that my strength was spent for nought. From year to year, religion appeared declining, the church decreasing in numbers and graces, and iniquity abounding. A little more than one year ago the darkness which intercepted my prospects of usefulness, and even continuance here, arose to its height, and appeared scarcely to admit the smallest gleam of hope. It now appeared a reality, that there could be no help but from God. In this hour of extremity, a small number of the few remaining professors of religion amongst us, agreed to meet once a week for social prayer. For several weeks the number which times not more than two or three. But these appearedstrong in the faith and fervent in their prayer, the "spirit helping their infirmities with groanings which could not be uttered." The number of attendants soon began to increase, and their meetings became increasingly solemn; so that in September, the number of religious conferences or rather praying meetings, in different parts of the Society, were multiplied to four in a week.Religious assemblies on the Sabbath now became much more full, attentive and solemn than usual. A day of public fasting and prayer about this time was observed by the church and some others, and attended with a special degree of solemnity. A few instances of serious impression had already appeared amongst us; but nothing very special occured till some time in November, when on a sudden, the spirit of the Lord appeared to come down upon us, "like a rushing, mighty wind." Almost the whole Society appeared to be shaken at once. Scarce a family could be found in which there were not some earnestly inquiring what they should do to be saved. And scarce a countenance could be discovered, without evident marks of solemnity. Our praying meetings were soon multiplied to seven in a week, and in every neighbourhood were crowded and solemn to an amazing degree. No emotions, however, more violent than shedding of tears, and no appearance of wildness or disorder occured. Nothing was heard but the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. Nothing appeared, but a silent, fixed attention and pro found solemnity; the most re. sembling my idea of the day of judgment, of any scene I ever witnessed. My house became crowded from time to time with earnest inquirers after the way of life. Infidelity retired or was overcome by the bright manifestations of divine power and grace. Several who had been hardened in loose principles were truly made to believe and tremble. One, that for a number of years had been securely settled on the delusive scheme of Universalism, was constrain. ed to say, "I know that there is one sinner who deserves eternal punishment. No man can ever have that sight of his sins and sense of his guilt, which God has given me and remain a Universalist." It is impossible fully to describe the amazing change of appearances that took place amongst us within a few weeks, and even within a few days. It was truly glorious to stand and see the salvation of God. How evident it is that the Lord is a prayer-hearing God! And how true, that "When Zion travaileth she shall bring forth children!" When Christians are enabled to open their eyes, and their hearts are enlarged in prayer, how soon the Lord cures their sore complaints and fills their souls with good! us around the table of the Lord. How overpowering the sight! Several of these are quite young, and I think none of them more than two and twenty years old. A number more of the same class we hope have been brought to remember their Creator. Several children, under fourteen years of age, give great evidence that their hearts have been renewed. But this work has not been confined to the youth.Some of the aged, and a number of the middle aged, have hopefully been brought into the kingdom. The whole number of additions to the Church, since the work of the Lord begun with us, is 84. Some now stand propounded, and a considerable number more, for whom we have hope, it is expected will come forward. Since about the middle of March, there has appeared some abatement of those peculiarly powerful manifestations of the divine presence in our religious assemblies. But still we believe that the Holy Spirit is not withdrawn from us. Our pray ing meetings are continued, and are attended by goodly numbers, and with a great degree of fervency and solemnity. And there are numbers amongst us now, that are evidently subjects of the awakening influences of the spirit of God. Since the awakening began, we have observed not less than six days of public fasting and prayer. This I mention not by way of boast This solemnity continued and increased among us till about the middle of February; within which period a great number were hopefully born again. The youth have hopefully sharing, but as a mean which the ed very largely in the blessings that have fallen upon us. Thirty-five young men and women, the most of whom, but one year ago, were wholly devoted to sinful amusements, now sit with VOL. V. No. 3. Lord has manifestly crowned with great success, in carrying on his work amongst us. They have truly been days of great solemnity. Last week a general meeting was holden in this P |