NECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG- | appeared to be at rest, in a formal AZINE. GENTLEMEN, W HEN the Lord shall build up Zion, heshall appear in his glory: and perhaps, in none of God's works, are several of his perfections, more glorioufly difplayed than in revivals of religion; particularly, his wisdom, power, sovereignty and goodness; his wifdom in choofing the time when and the means by which, to effect his purpose; his power in awaken ing the most secure and stupid, and fubduing to himself the most perverse and obstinate sinner; his good ness in plucking finners as brands from the burning, and saving their fouls from eternal death; and his sovereignty, in taking some and leaving others to perish in their fins. No reafon can be affigned for that difcrimination which is made between one town and another, when the spirit is poured out more copioufly upon the one than upon the other, why one finner is the subject of regenerating grace, and not another, but only this, or "even fo father, for so it seemeth good in thy fight." Before the late revival of religion in this town, the people in general were in a very languid state as to any visible appearance of the power of godliness among them; nor can I find upon enquiry, that there ever hath been, until this time, a general spir it of feriousness and attention to religion among them from their first incorporation, which is more than fixty years ago. Since I have had the paftoral charge of this people, which is more than thirteen years, there have been, fo far as I know, but very few instances of perfons under apparent conviction of fin and deep concern about their future state. The people in general attendance upon the external duties of religion, and abstaining from the groffer pollutions of the world. About four or five in a year, upon an average, had come forward, and by an open profeffion of chriftianity, joined the church. In the two years next preceding the awakening, there were but three that visibly entered into cov enant with God. Thus were the wife and the foolish apparently flum bering and fleeping together, when pleased God to revive his work among us and give visible manifeftations of his favorable prefence with us. Towards the end of the year 1798 there was an appearance of more attention to religion than had been common among us; although it was not generally noticed at that time; our affemblies upon the fab bath were more full, and the attention of the congregation to the word preached, and other parts of focial worship, more fixed than had been ufual. Nothing farther very efpecially appeared, until in the month of February 1799, when the fpirit came like a mighty rushing wind, and feemed to breathe on many at one and the fame time. The first visible indication of this, was on a lecture-day, previous to the adminiftration of the facramental fupper. These lectures had heretofore ufually been attended but by few, befides profeffors, and too many of these were negligent in their attendance. But at this time, there were probably three if not four times the number which had ordinarily attended on fuch occafions, efpecially of young people and the countenances of many indicated fadness of heart. Indeed the whole congregation appeared folemn; but fome in different parts of the house, by their tears which they could : not conceal, manifested that their | been almost every week, from two minds were tenderly impressed; at the close of this meeting in the daytime an evening lecture wasappointed, which it is believed, was the firstevening religious meeting which had ever been publicly notified or attended, in the town; at this meeting in the evening, a much greater number attended than did in the day-time. A brother in the ministry being present preached from these words, He flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The assembly was folemn, the hearers attentive, and the word preached seemed to be accompanied with a divine power: A religious meeting was now appointed on the Wednesday evening of the next week; and although the season and travelling were both uncomfortable, many came from almost every quarter; and it seemed as if God was present of a truth, fpeaking to finners in a still small voice, and say ing, what have you been doing? And where are you going? Confider what you do, and what your end is like to be. After prayer and finging, the people assembled, were addressed from these words, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee; neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain left thou be confumed. A folemn filence reigned among the hearers, who appeared to hear as for their lives; and many were to be seen in various parts of the house, weeping and trembling under a fenfe of their guilt and danger; and faying to themselves, what shall I do to be saved! For at this time, but few spoke out the feelings and exercises of their hearts; but at the close of the meeting, filently returned to their respective homes, in pensive sadness. From that time to the present, there have VOL. II. No. 1. D to five and sometimes fix religious meetings, beside the two upon the fabbath; and as I have invariably attended them myself, can witness to the order and decency, the fi lence and folemnity, with which, and the numbers by which these meetings have been attended. The filence obfervable among those who were going to or returning from these meetings, was very impressive, and frequently noticed with furprize and pleasure. Little or no tumult or noise, and the appearance of most, much as if they had been going to, or were returning from the funeral of fome near relative or friend. And while in the house, nothing was faid but by the minifter; for fo little disposed were people to take an active part in any religious exercife, except finging, that it was difficult to get one publicly to propose or ask a question. Many were swift to hear, but all flow to fpeak. During this time of awakening, the people in general, were much more difpofed, to hear the word preached, and other religious instructions, than heretofore; and attended to receive instruction, in a manner, to outward appearance, very different from what is common in most worshipping afsemblies. Our assemblies upon the fabbath were full, and for many fabbaths successively, it is believed not one of adult years, was feen to turn his face from the preacher, or to rise from his feat, from the time the fermon began, until it was fin-ished, nor yet to fleep or dose; nor could an attentive observer, discover a smile, upon any occafion in the countenance of any one, arrived to the years of understanding, during the time of religious worship or after they came into the place of worship, until they left it. When people came up to the house of the Lord to worship, it seemed as if each one faid to himself, surely the Lord is here. How dreadful is this place! And frequently, when the religious exercises, have been closed and the assembly difmissed, many by their countenances and other figns, manifested a kind of unwillingness to leave the place, as if they said, it is good to be here. Upon several commun- | ion-days, the whole or nearly the whole of the congregation, attended as spectators, the adminiftration of the facramental fupper; and a large proportion of them, as well as of the communicants, were in tears during the folemn scene. In this time of God's pouring out his fpirit, and reviving his work among us, fixty-one, have been added to the church, and baptifm administered to about one hundred. Among the baptized, are fixteen households or families. At one timea number of households, containing about twenty fouls, were baptized. Those who have in this time of awakening, joined the church, are most, if not all of them, between fourteen and forty years of age. The greatest number have been from the clafs of married people; of the unmarried, twenty-one are females. How folemn and affecting, to behold heads of families who had all their life time, restrained prayer and lived without God in the world, praying with their families, morning and evening, day by day continually, and in a public manner devoting themselves and their households to the Lord? and how impreffive and animating to the friends of Zion, to fee those in the bloom and gaieties of youth, become fober-minded; and volunta rily enrolling their names among the followers of the Lamb? Efpecially, what inexpressible joy must it afford pious parents, who are travelling in birth, that Chrift may be formed in their children, to fee them in a ferious manner, take upon themselves the bonds of their baptifmal covenant, and con fess a crucified Saviour, before a scoffing world? Sundry parents have seen several of their children, unitedly devoting themselves to God. In one instance, four fifters came forward together and renouncing the vanities of youth, professed godliness. Such views must lead every contemplative and pious mind, to meditate with raptures of joy, upon fuch divine promises and predictions, as that in the 44th Chapter of Ifaiah, at the beginning "Thus faith the Lord-I will pour my spirit upon thy feed and my blessing upon thine offspring, and they shall spring up as among the grafs, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lords: and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall fubfcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and furname himselfby the name of Ifrael." All of those, who have in this time of awakening made an open profeffion of chriftianity, have appeared as yet to adorn their profeffion by a converfation, in a measure becoming the gospel of Christ, one only excepted; and should there be reasons for other exceptions, a few years hence, it ought not to be thought strange, as if fome new and strange thing had happened in the world. That which hath been, is that which shall be; but tares have always been in fields of wheat, and in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of filver, but also of wood and of earth, fome to dishonor as well as some to hon-serving which, some of the friends or. Among the twelve, whom Christ himself chose to be with him and whom he stiled Apostles, there was a Judas; and at a certain time many of Christ's disciples forsook him and walked no more with him. Apostaciesamong profeffors of christianity, and the falling away of fuch as appear to receive the word with joy, and endure for a while, are to be expected. To see such apostacies and falling away, of those who ap- ❘ pear for a time to run well, will grieve the generation of real Chrif tians, and be matter of joy and triumph to scoffing infidels. And among the many who have profefsed chriftianity during the time of the late refreshing shower of divine influence, it is to be expected some will return to their wallowing in the mire; but we are perfuaded better things of many, and things which accompany falvation; and doubt not but God hath granted repentance unto life, to a goodly number, whose light will shine before men, while life continues; and whom God will keep by his mighty power through faith unto falvation. But should Godtake only one from a neighbourhood, and two from a town, and bring them to Zion, glory will redound to him, through the thanksgivings of many; for there is joy in heaven over one finner that repenteth. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity; and let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. When the attention first began in this town, it was feared there would be great oppofition; but such hath been the manner in which the work hath been carried on, that opposers have been, very much confounded and filenced. On ob of the work, have been reminded of what Daniel in the lions den, said to Darius, my God hath fent his angel and hath shut the lions mouths, that they have not hurt me. The manner in which the goings of God have been among us (to allude to the Lord's appearing to the prophet Elijah at Horeb) hath not been in a great andstrongwind, nor in an earthquake, nor in a fire; but in a still small voice, saying to one and to another, what doft thou hear? There hath not been difcovered any appearance of a fpirit of enthusiasm or delufion, or of spiritual pride and oftentation; nor of cenforiousness and rash judging of others; but on the contrary, a spirit of humility and meekness, of fear and a found mind; arifing from a rational conviction of fin, and principle of gospel benevolence; each one appearing to efteem others better than himself, and to work out his own falvation with fear and trembling; and at the fame time to exprefs an ardent defire that others might taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Gentlemen, if the preceding narrative meets your approbation, you may expect something further from yours most affectionately. SIMON WATERMAN. Plymouth, (Con.) Jan. 1, 1801. (To be continued.) The confeffion and conversion of a SOVEREIGN and long A forbearing God, in de hong providence, has seen fit to open the eyes of one, who was ripen. ing faft for judgment and destruc. tion. I cannot therefore but feel it my duty, to make known certain circumftances of my life to this congregation. It is written, "He ❘ and many were brought to see their that covereth his sins, shall not situation as finners, and turn unto profper, but he that confefseth and God. Seeing such an attention, forsaketh them shall find mercy." my mind became impressed, I was And not knowing but that others brought to realize my fad state and may be meetening, for the same condition as a sinner. Heaven and dreadful calamity that I was, I hell seemed realities, my fears arofe am the more defirous to represent and my apprehenfions were very my fituation, not knowing but yet terrible. In this situation how it may call up the confideration of much did I suffer from a fear, that some in this place, to attend to their my associates would suspect my conimmortal concerns before it be for- cern and laugh at my credulity.ever too late. This no doubt is emphatically the cafe at the present time, young people are afraid of being laughed at, and In my infancy, I had the happiness of being in the charge of parents who were fedulously anxious for my well-being. In the morning of my life, much care was taken by my tender father, to implant within my mind, sentiments of piety. He was eager to have me a child of virtue and godliness; and often warned me to escape from the finful conversation, and examples of the prophane and unsteady. My present and eternal enjoyment, he often reminded me, was wholly dependant on the conduct of my life. He often conversed with me upon Religion. Told me the unhappy consequence of finning against God. He alledged that sinners must go to mifery and be always in hell. Such was his care to train me up in wifdom's ways, that I was fearful of going away from the path of rectitude. When I was about fourteen years old, my father died, and now I wasno longer to be guided by his daily example. However, being young, the impression he had made upon my mind in some meafure restrained me from indulging very freely in the fashionable follies of those of my age. At the age of fix een it pleased God, to send, the convictive influences of the Holy Spirit, and revive his causeted in the capacity of a father. in the place in which I lived. An | My little offspring came around attention to religion commenced, me, they looked upon me their discountenanced if they attend toreligion, and shuntheplaces, where prayers are made and serious con. versation entered upon; in this way how many fouls go on to de. struction. In this situation I continued sometime, but throwing off my convictions, I became again, more stupid, than ever, more hard, and unfufceptible. Then going on in a state of impiety and rebellion against God, I began to feel that I had become free from the shackels, of what the world. calls religion. It was no more with me an object of concern and little did I estimate it. From day to day I became more attach ed to the vanities of time and sense. Seriousness was soon abandoned, and eternity was keptoutofmy mind. The tender warnings of my father began to be forgotten and lose their efficacy on my behaviour. Little did the idea of death, judgment and eternity, at any time affect me. Thus, although visibly moral in my conduct, I entertained very disrespectful sentiments of religion. It appeared to me little elfe than prieftcraft, as I was proudly pleased to stile it. Thus I entered into family life, and ac |