period I was frequently astonished that any accessions at all took place. During the month of November, an uncommon attention and seriousness of the congregation at public and social worship, together with special engagedness in prayer and exhortation on the part of some of the brethren, indicated the approaching bless ing. At this time it seemed, indeed, only as the little cloud seen by the prophet's servant, like a man's hand; but it continued to advance and increase, until like a cloud overcasting the whole heavens and gathering fulness, it began to distil its spiritual moisture, and the sound of abundance of approaching rain soon gladdened every heart. The Preparatory Conference, and some other social meetings in the early part of December, were particularly characterised by free and mutual confessions of neglects of duty, especially that of exhorting sinners to repentance. Toward the close of that month a general meeting was held by one of the Presbyterian churches, 4 days in succession, which without doubt, resulted in imparting an unexpected and powerful impulse to the work. Christians were suddenly aroused from their spiritual torpor, and the whole city from inattention and carelessness, by successive reports of the conviction and conversion of men of the first standing in this community,among whom were several of deistical sentiments. Shortly, however, these reports were less frequent, and many began to fear the work would subside. It was a fear that induced Christians to pray; and their prayers were such as a covenant keeping God could answer. Cases of conviction soon multiplied, and the inquiry, "What shall I do to be saved?" commenced and continued on the lips of successive anxious souls during the whole winter. In reflecting upon the interesting period I have mentioned, I have sometimes thought it bore striking resemblance to a tremendous whirlwind, exhausting its first and most violent shock in overturning the sturdiest oaks of a forest, and then passing on with weakened impetus prostrating every smaller tree and plant in its progress.

A thorough conviction of the présence and special operation of God's holy Spirit among us, induced Christians to inquire, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do," and led to the

adoption of various co-operating

measures.

Meetings for prayer, commencing at six o'clock in the morning, were established, and notwithstanding the darkness of the hour, and cold weather of the season, great numbers were found regularly every morning at the appointed place of prayer, in the humble posture most becoming sup pliants at the throne of grace. The anxiety of crowds became so great, within a. short time, it was thought necessary to suspend the regular Sunday school teacher's meeting and some others, and appropriate every evening in the week to meetings for preaching, exhortation and prayer; and even then, the earnest desires of the people could not be satisfied without numerous meetings of groups of neighbors who assembled for inquiry and prayer, at private dwelling houses, during the day. Anxious meetings were held statedly; and very often after the exercises of an evening meeting were closed, many awakened sinners were ready to manifest in different ways, a desire for special prayer in their behalf. On such occasions I have often seen more than fifty persons rise at one time. During the progress of the work, several brethren, impelled by the urgent calls for attention from the penitent, and their personal desires to be instrumental of good to the souls of others, devoted whole days in visiting from house to house, praying, and exhorting sinners to repentance. With such means in operation, the Lord working wonderously by his Holy Spirit on the hearts of the people, the revival progressed and spread.

The subjects of the work were of all classes and ages. People of wealth and those of humble circumstances; men of influence and others in obscurity; those of loose morals and infidel sentiments, and such as had long enjoyed a reputation for morality; were all disposed to humble themselves before God, against whom they felt that they had sinned, and earnestly seek a Saviour. Heads that had been made venerable by the frosts of more than threescore winters, were bowed down like bulrushes; and hearts that had never swelled with any other passion than those which half a score of years could generate, were made to feel the bitterness of repentance for soul destroying sin.

One man sixty years old, who had been an Universalist nearly forty years, was awakened through the instrumentality of a little girl of eight years, whose conversation, prayers, and general change of conduct, were conclusive evidence to him of the reality of her regeneration and the necessity of his own. They were baptized at the same time.

Among the subjects of the work was a young woman, who, very early in life, was visited with a distressing illness, which was followed by an unconquerable stammering that prevented her from learning to read. On being visited during her conviction, an attempt was made to explain the instruction given by our Saviour to Nicodemus respecting the brazen serpent. The moment the subject was applied to Christ, and she was assured that if she believed in him she would be saved, her eyes kindled with a sort of fury, and with gesticulations like one possessed with devils, she seemed ready to fall upon, and destroy those about her. She was soothed, however, and in a few days found peace in believing in that Saviour whose precious name had once aroused her enmity. The great change in her deportment and improvement of mind since her conversion, have astonished all who knew her, especially her family connections.

The Bible class and Sunday school connected with the church, have shared largely in the blessing. The latter was re-organized about one year since, at which time several of the teachers" were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world;" but now I hope, they are all "made nigh by the blood of Christ, and are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God." A very considerable number of the children also indulge hope in Christ, some of whom have been admitted as members of the church; and, thus far, they adorn their profession by a well order ed life and godly conversation. Indeed so much can be said of all who have been admitted into the church; and in some, encouraging indications appear of such an influence from on high, as, I trust, will lead them into paths of eminent usefulness.

Often, as I review the scenes of

the past winter, and contemplate the character and onward course of the young converts around me, I am constrained to exclaim, “What hath God wrought!" and my reflection on the glorious victory of grace and truth, already achieved over the powers of darkness, and the anticipations which I think I can reasonably indulge concerning the future effects of this work of God, often induce me to say with the Psalmist; "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

Our baptismal occasions during the revival have been very precious. Of course they occurred in the most inclement season of the year; but other circumstances connected with them imparted to them a peculiar interest. The grave where many of the happy converts were "buried with Christ in baptism," was cut through the thick ice of the Hudson; which furnished safe and convenient accommodations for the many hundred persons who encircled us during the adminis tration of the ordinance. In the midst of these large groups, many were always seen, whose eyes suffused with tears, indicated the intense earnestness with which they gazed upon the scene before them, and the agony of soul with which they reflected on their own need of a Saviour.

Among the candidates were found parents accompanied by their children, husbands by their wives, and brothers by their sisters and on one occasion, after a man and woman,each sixty one years of age, had been emblematically buried and raised again to newness of life, it was delightful to witness their example followed by two little children, one of whom was ten, the other only eight years old; children who had only just entered upon a natural life, professing to live with Christ. On two occasions twenty candidates were baptized and on two other occasions twenty two submitted to the ordinance; and there are now several candidates ready to obey their Lord in the same manner.

I cannot forbear mentioning, in this place one fact which was particularly noticed by some of the spectators, and ought to silence forever the oftrepeated objections to the scriptural assertion of the immersion of three thousand persons on the day of Pentecost. The first administration of the ordinance to twenty persons occupied nine minutes, including the

time

necessary for the administrator to ascertain the state of the shore. At another time twenty-two were baptized in eight minutes and thirty seconds and at another time the ordinance was administered to twentytwo candidates in only seven minuites and twenty-one seconds. At each time it was administered decently and in order. The number added to the Baptist church by baptism is one hundred and two, which with others baptized previous to the revival makes one hundred and twenty-five, since my residence in Troy. The Methodist and two Presbyterian churches in this city shared in the revival, and have each received about the same number as ourselves. The

work extended also to the Baptist church in West-Troy under the pastoral care of brother Ashly Vaughn, who has baptized about fifty persons; but I will not anticipate him, as 1 hope he will shortly forward you a particular account of the work in that place.

Although, Mr. Editor, the cloud which shed this abundant rain of grace upon us has passed over, it is not exhausted of the blessing. It is evidently watering in its course other portions of the vineyard of the Lord. O may it still continue to shed down its blissful influence, till every dry and parched place becomes watered and refreshed by the Holy Spirit of God.

It is with sincere gratitude I acknowledge the assistance afforded me by several ministering brethren, among whom I feel that I have special reason to mention Rev. William Bently. He performed a journey of more than one hundred miles in the depth of winter, and labored incessantly in the temple, and from house to house, about six weeks. I am yours with Christian affection,

BENJAMIN M. HILL.

Extract of a letter, dated Salem,

Mass. July 12, 1831.

"The state of religion is truly interesting in this place; probably as many as thirty have obtained peace in the Lord, in the first and second Baptist congregations, and many more inquiring the way to Zion.

I passed the last sabbath in Beverly, and enjoyed a refreshing day. About

forty, almost all of whom are young, were at the inquiry meeting in the evening. "Truly, God is good to Israel!"

A pleasing revival of religion is entional churches in Boston. A blessjoyed in the Baptist and Congregaing attended the four days meetings, commenced by the Baptist churches March 9, and by the Congregational churches, April 11. A very considerable number of young persons profess to have experienced religion; many have been baptized, and others are inquiring the way to Zion.

Every mail bears us gratifying intelligence of the work of grace meetings, and the morning seasons through our land. The protracted of prayer, are especially blessed as means in promoting the extension of truth.

INTERESTING INCIDENT.

The conclusion of the anniversary of the alumni of the Hamilton Institution, May 31, was rendered deeply affecting by the following circumstance. William Brown, son of Br. P. P. Brown, appeared before the Society, and related his experience, and the conviction of his mind that God had required him to labor in Burmah. He is now 15 years old; his exercises on the subject commenced immediately on his becoming interested in the Saviour, which is four years since, and now he is fully determined to live and die (if God will,) in Burmah. The pecuniary circumtances of his father not allowing him to give the lad such an education as was necessary, he, after his son had ceased speaking, “ gave him up to God, his cause, and his people."-At

this moment Dea. Jonathan Olmsted came forward in the fervor of Chris

The Christian Church has been suddenly deprived of the labors of a faithful and able minister of the New Testament, in the decease of Mr. Weston, late pastor of the Baptist church at East Cambridge. July 2d, he left Lynn to proceed to Dunstable, N. H. where he was engaged to preach on the Lord's day. In Wilmington, stopping at a watering place, and advancing some distance into the pond, the chaise sunk in deep water, and being unable to swim, he failed of reaching the shore, and was thus instantly removed from the sphere of his labors. The body

was found in a short time, and conveyed to Lynn for interment.

Mr. Weston had made great person. al sacrifices to obtain an education for the Christian ministry, and possessed talents for the service of no ordinary character. The providence which removed him from earth in the meridian of life, having reached only his thirtyfifth year, is truly mysterious, and leaves us to exclaim, "How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." We hope to present, in a future Number, a Memoir of our departed brother.

May 26, Mr. R. W. Vining was ordained at Elicotville, N. Ý.

June 8, Mr. Reuben P. Lamb was ordained, by request of the second Baptist church in Milo, N. Y. June 9, Mr. James H. Linsley was ordained at New Haven. Sermon by Rev. D. Wildman.

June 9, Mr. John L. Moore, late a graduate from Hamilton Theological Institution, received ordination at the sitting of the Black River Baptist Association.

June 9, Mr. Evan J. Williams was ordained at Steuben, N. Y. Sermon by Rev. Daniel Mor

ris.

June 16, Mr. Daniel Dye was ordained. Sermon by Rev. John Smitner.

June 25, Mr. Clark Sibley was ordained pastor of the Baptist church in Dublin, N. H. Sermon by Rev. A. Fisher, West Boylston, Mass.

June 28, Mr. Amos Snell was ordained at Ashford, Con. Sermon by Rev. Alvin Bennett.

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275,00

100,00

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Miss Harriet Pelton, of same, for do.

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Mr. Moses White, of Cleaveland, Ohio,

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