Windsor, shared in these revivals; of which place the President says, that, "in times past, it had been favoured with mercies of this nature above any on this western side of New England, except Northampton; there having been four or five seasons of the pouring out of the Spirit to the general awakening there, "since my father's settlement amongst them." The people thus roused to a sense of religion, flocked to the table of the Lord, and, of course, by the constitution of the church, were all admitted to its communion; hence it was quickly enlarged to the number of 620, which included almost all the adult persons of the town. As in former instances, a subsequent declension we may suppose occurred; for we find that, in about seven years from the period of the former revival, there was another of the same remarkable kind as the ceding. In the year 1744, however, i, e. three years after this second revival, Mr. Edwards was informed that some young persons in the town, who were members of the church, had books in their possession which they employed to promote lascivious and obscene discourse among their companions. Upon inquiry, a number of persons testified, that they had heard one and another, from time to time, talk obscenely, as what they were led to by reading a book, or books, which they had among them." Upon proposing to the church an investigation, there was, at first, a great readiness manifested to enter upon it; and a meeting was held at the minister's house for this purpose. "When the names were announced, it appeared that there were but few of the considerable pre families in the town to which some of the persons mentioned did not belong, or were not nearly related. Before the day appointed for investigation arrived, a great number of heads of families changed their minds, and declared, that they did not think proper to proceed as they had done; that their children should not be called to an account in such a way, &c. The town was suddenly all in a blaze. This strengthened the hands of the accused; some refused to appear, and others who did appear behaved with a great degree of insolence and contempt of the authority of the church; and little or nothing could be done further in the affair." Dr. Hopkins, from whom we quote, adds: “ this was the occasion of weakening Mr. Edwards's hands in the work of the ministry, especially among the young people, with whom, by this means, he greatly lost his influence. This seemed, in a great measure, to put an end to his usefulness at Northampton. He certainly had no great visible success after this; the influences of God's Holy Spirit were greatly withheld, but security and carnality much increased among them. That singular degree of visible religion and good order which had been among them, soon began gradually to decay, and the youth have since been more wanton and dissolute." Dr. Hopkins thus wrote of the state of Northampton in 1764, fourteen years after the dismissal of Mr. Edwards, which event followed from the steps which he felt compelled to take. The revival of these lewd practices in members of the church, and the countenance given by parents to their children in such things, awakened some further doubts in the mind of Mr. Edrespecting the propriety principle on which the was constituted; and, in wards of the church pursuing the inquiry, he was, at length, convinced that it was indefensible and wrong. "When his sentiments were known, (in the spring of the year 1744,) it gave great offence, and the town was put into a great ferment; and, before he was heard in his own defence, or it was understood by many what his principles were, the general cry was to have him dismissed, as what alone would satisfy them." After much bickering and animosity, and a useless attempt to settle the matter by reference to neighbouring ministers and churches, Mr. Edwards was dismissed by a vote of the church, the majority consisting of two hundred against twenty. 1 Thus we perceive that, in about fourteen or fifteen years from the commencement of the revivals at Northampton, under Mr. Edwards, this good and great man had the inexpressible anguish of seeing all his sanguine expectatious vanish as the phantoms of the night his heartfelt rejoicings at these apparent effusions of the Spirit on his church, were turned into the most bitter disappointment. We can readily assent to the reflection of his biographer, when, after recounting his worthy labours on behalf of his people, he says:-"Now to have this people turn against him, and force him out from among them, stopping their ears, and running upon him with furious zeal, not allowing him to defend himself, by giving him a fair hearing, and even refusing so much as to hear him preach, many of them surmising, and publicly speaking, many evil things as to his ends and designs. Surely this must have deeply affected him, and strongly tried his spirit!" With this deplorable issue of the revivals at Northampton before us, let us wait, at least, the a In his reflections on the life and experience of Brainerd, he triumphs over "the Arminians," and challenges them after this manner: "Now where is there to be found an Arminian conversion or repentance consisting in SO great and admirable a change? Can the Arminians produce an instance within this age, and so plainly within our reach and view, of such a reformation, such transformation of a man to scriptural devotion, heavenly mindedness, and true Christian morality, in one that before lived without these things, on the foot of their principles, and through the inAluence of their doctrines?" Since this challenge was thrown out, many such pretensions have been asserted by "the Arminians;" many "revivals" have been experienced by that Christian body; and "sudden conversions," have been quite as common among them, as formerly at Northampton or elsewhere. In his writings, President Edwards lays much stress on the suddenness of conversion, and the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit. The ordinary means of grace, and the ordinary influences of the Spirit, are by him reckoned doubtful as us, we would earnestly caution all to efficiency. In his "Treatise with whom our statements might concerning Religious Affections," have any weight, to preach and to he says, "These religious affec- act in such a way, as shall, by tions may be carried to a great the blessing of God, be productive height, and may cause abundance of a happier result. With such a of tears, yea, may overcome the history in the midst of them, our nature of those who are the sub- American brethren also, would do jects of them, and may make well to be extremely cautious: them affectionate, and fervent, they have not yet come to the and fluent in speaking of the extent of that term of probation things of God, and dispose them at Northampton, which concluded to be abundant in it, and may so mournfully; and it will be best be attended with many sweet texts to" rejoice with trembling." of Scripture, and precious promises, brought with great impression on their minds, and may dispose them with their mouths to praise and glorify God, and may, moreover, dispose them to abound in the external duties of religion; and these things may be attended with a great resemblance of Christian assurance We arrive, therefore, again at the old-fashioned and well-esta-' blished principle, that, in the diligent use of all lawful and scriptural means, we are entitled, by the grace of God, to expect his effectual blessing. If we confine those means to humiliation, fasting, and prayer, we shall be like who in its greatest the husbandman, height, and yet there be nothing more than the common influences of the Spirit of God, joined with the delusions of Satan, and a wicked and deceitful heart."Strange combination of good and evil in the production of hypocrisy! If the President preached as he wrote, what was more likely to produce the effects he deprecated? Many must have been pushed to the extremes of enjoyment or dejection, of presumption or despair. We might expect from such a doctrine, that there would be periodical transports in the auditory and correspondent declensions- times of goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed-but not sowing it; walking over his furrows painfully, and with many sorrowful and anxious emotions," travailing in birth" for the harvest, and concluding the day's toil by returning home with the seed not sown. Doubtless it will be nothing less than a miracle, wrought to establish the doctrine, that God can cause "the earth to yield her increase," without the use of suitable means of his own appointment, if the prayers and tears of such a husbandman shall be followed by the abundant sheaves of harvest. We have withheld the attention of our readers from the excellent works now before us on this subject, longer than we should have done, in treating of one less important. Religion, we rejoice to perceive, is becoming more and more the great and absorbing topic of general attention, and, in proportion to the grandeur and supreme importance of the subject, should be our endeavour to arrive at such solid principles, as will establish the mind amidst all the fluctuations of human opinions and feelings, and the artifice and malignity of infernal designs. The works before us, on the subject of revival, are all de serving of perusal: not one can be read without spiritual advantage. From the identity of the subject, there will, of necessity, be in them a considerable assimilation. We have read them all with deep interest, delight, and profit;-certainly some with more gratification than others; as taking, in our apprehension, a wider and more scriptural view of the great subject. Christians, but especially among the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists. the latter during the present year. One Very large additions have been made to association in Kentucky in the year ending in August, has received an accession One minister in of upwards of 2600. Georgia has baptized above 300 this year. The number of regular Calvinistic Baptists in the United States is about 275,000, the number of churches 3900, We have under and of ministers 280. our direction three colleges, one at Waterville, State of Maine, another at Providence, Rhode Island, and a third at Washington City, the seat of the general government, and two theological seminaries--one at Hamilton, N. Y., and the other at Newton, near Boston, M. S. These are nearly all new institutions, and are of course small; but their importance and strength are increasing. Our missionary board receives about 14,000 dollars per annum, and will much increase. We have also a general tract society, of which I am the agent. In the year 1827, we received in our trea We begin with Mr. Ivimey's sermon, preached at "the Baptist monthly meeting." This discourse, as might be expected, is ad-sury 317,531, and published 297,250 dressed exclusively to the members of that communion, and recommends the following remedies for the present spiritual evils deplored : 1st. United prayer. 2d. A steady adherence to the faith of the Gospel, and a consistent profession of it. 3d. Mutual affection: and 4th. Constant attendance upon the public means of grace. The discourse concludes with a statistical document, which will be read with much interest. "I feel great pleasure in having to remark, that our sister churches in the principality of Wales, have, during the past year, been visited with a plentiful shower of divine mercy, and very considerable additions have been made to their number. This has been the case also among the Calvinistic Baptist Churches in the United States of America. The Rev. Dr. Rippon has lent me a letter for another purpose, lately received, from which I will read a short extract: "It will perhaps afford you satisfaction to hear something of religion generally in our country. There are great revivals in various parts among almost all Evangelical denominations of N. S. No. 53. tracts. I calculate our receipts this year will be near 5000, and our issues 500,000 tracts. Our publications are gaining an increasing circulation, and we trust, are doing much in directing souls to the Saviour of sinners." "-- pp. 27, 28. Mr. Neave's discourse" before the Southern Association of Baptist churches" is very catholic, sensible, and well-composed. His intention is to produce a deep conviction of the necessity of a revival, and to point out the means by which it may be attained." He admits, however, very properly, that religion is advancing and says: among us, "Far be it from us, to take up the tone of those who are ever dwelling with a malicious pleasure on the defects of others, and blind to the pleasing advances of Christian zeal and charity, which distinguish our day, are ever representing religion as on the decline, because the shibboleth of their party is not pronounced by Christians generally, and the light, and zeal, and liberality of the present time, have overpassed the boundaries of their narrow and selfish views. Such men are objects of pity and not of imitation. This is a day, we must admit, of general and strong ex citement among Christians of all denominations. Their sympathies, which had lain dormant for ages, are now roused and directed towards the misery of countless myriads, whose moral and spiritual state presents to the awakened mind a picture of deepest sadness. "For men of every clime and every colour their prayers are poured forth and their exertions made. This zeal for the salvation of the heathen world has also had a considerable re-action. It cannot burn purely and fervently in the breast of any man, without producing an increase of personal religion; and it has already in its operation tended to unite Christians in the bonds of real affection, who formerly stood aloof from each other. We hail, I trust, with heartfelt joy, these signs of the times, as indications of the near approach of that day of millennial glory, when the knowledge of the Lord shall be as widely diffused as the light of heaven."pp. 10, 11. In showing the necessity of a revival, he 1. Laments the small degree of success attending the preaching of the Gospel. 2. Considers the spirit and attainments of the members of the churches in knowledge, holiness, and zeal to need a revival. In regard to deficiency in knowledge, he observes, "Knowledge is essential to acceptable obedience. Before we can keep the commandments of God, we must become acquainted with his will; and that will is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. There the Divine Head of the church has not only given us commandments, which we are to obey, but he has in general condescended to show us the fitness and beneficial tendency of what he has enjoined. The acquiescence of the heart, so essentially requisite to acceptable obedience, can result only from knowing what he has in mercy condescended to teach us. We may, on the bare authority of man, adopt a form of worship, and attend to a round of public and private duties; but in this case, our obedience will fluctuate with the authority on which it rests, and we ourselves, far from Christian stability, shall be tossed about with every wind of doctrine. "Is it not to be feared, that the people of God, notwithstanding the attainments of the present day, are lamentably deficient in this species of knowledge. Whence else could arise among real Christians that difference of opinion which exists upon some of the plainest commandments of God? Whence else that laxity of attendance on public ordinances? Whence else that ease with which some seem to abandon even fundamental principles? To give a single example, we as members of congregational churches have dissented from all national establishments, because we profess to believe, that no body of men can be a church of Christ, unless visibly composed of believers. We profess further to believe, that this spirituality of communion is essential to our own growth in grace, as well as to forwarding the cause of God in this world; yet we see many, under a change of circumstances, abandoning their professed principles, and uniting themselves with national churches: thus plainly indicating, that they had never understood the real grounds of dissent. I instance this, because it is obvious, that a great proportion of the members of congregational churches are but little acquainted with the fundamental principles on which they are united. Many other instances might be produced, to show deficiency of knowledge amongst us. Many go mourning all their days, because they have attained but little acquaintance with the consolations of the Gospel. Many fall an easy prey to the seductions of error, because they are not thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of the lead ing doctrines of the word of God. If such be the attainments of our churches in knowledge, should we not earnestly seek a revival?"--pp. 16--18. The means for attaining the desired object, he states to be, "1. An adherence to the primitive purity and discipline of Apostolic churches. "In the congregational churches with which we are connected, the principle of spiritual communion is recognised, and I hope generally acted upon; yet it is to be feared, that there are cases in which it is too little regarded, and perhaps in all, there is too slight an impression of its essential connexion with the prosperity of a church. No church can be prosperous which is not founded upon the spiritual principles of the kingdom of Christ. These principles require, that its members should be spiritual men; for except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Purity of communion is enforced in the New Testament, by the most awful sanctions and the strictest modes of discipline. In rearing the church of God, every mini |