the miraculous gift of tongues in the primitive church of Corinth there may still be numerous and sound conversions of sinners unto God: and "what is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord?" There remain in our land, and in our beloved church, many congregations, in which formality and a Laodicean spirit are mournfully prevalent. Little reason have they to felicitate themselves, that they are free from all the extravagancies which they censure in others, and which it is not denied do exist in certain places, and to a limited extent. Let them rather remember, that a congregation in which many souls are born into the kingdom of God, although some false pretensions to piety and some censurable practices appear, is, on the whole, in a state infinitely preferable to that of a congregation in which hundreds are going quietly down to eternal perdition, and in which the wise virgins are slumbering and sleeping with the foolish. Let congregations of this latter description be exhorted to rouse themselves from their spiritual lethargy, make use of the means and efforts which God is wont to bless, and cry mightily to him, that they may partake in those gracious visitations with which others are so remarkably blessed and distinguished partake of them, purified from all that is justly offensive either to God or man.

Having thus endeavoured to guard against a misconstruction of our purpose, we desire, with parental solicitude and affection, to caution and warn the ministers and churches of our communion, against some of the most common errors and improprieties, to which revivals of religion are exposed, and from which, we grieve to say, some of the congregations within our bounds cannot plead an entire exemption.

1. In a time of the revival of re

ligion let it be remembered, that while all proper means are to be used to deepen and cherish serious impressions, and to awaken and alarm the sinfully secure, an undue excitement should be carefully avoided. Here is the fruitful source to which may be traced nearly all the abuses which so often mar, and deform, and bring into disrepute, the work of God, when sinners are awakened in clusters, and led to inquire with great anxiety what they must do to be saved. If instead of distinguishing between deep, and genuine, and salutary convictions of sin, and the mere effusions of animal passions and nervous sensibility, the latter are encouraged and stimulated, as leading to a desirable issue, the most baneful effects are likely to ensue-effects, multiform in appearance and character, but in all, deplorable and pernicious. Therefore,

2. We advise, that with tenderness, but yet with unshaken firmness, all bodily agitations and noisy outcries, especially in worshipping assemblies, be discouraged, and as far as possible prevented. Inculcate the truth that every appearance of this description is a weakness, or an error, which, so far from promising any thing beneficial, is likely to lead to the most disastrous results -so far from deserving to be cherished and applauded, is to be discountenanced and deprecated, and as speedily as may consist with Christian kindness and forbearance, entirely suppressed.

3. Guard against every species of indecorum in social worshipsuch, particularly, as is manifestly apparent, when several individuals pray, or exhort, or converse, at the same time. This is an irregularity pointedly rebuked and forbidden by the apostle Paul, in the xiv. chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians; and his summary and repeated injunction is, "Let all things be done to edi

fying-Let all things be done decently and in order." But besides the particular irregularity specified, we would dissuade our brethren in the ministry and the eldership of our churches, from introducing or countenancing any practice in their publick religious assemblies which savours of ostentation, or which may have a tendency to ulterior evils, that they would themselves deprecate and seek to avoid. We designedly leave this as a general but important monition; the application of which to particular instances or cases, our brethen must judge of for themselves.

4. There may be, in a revival of religion, an excess of social meetings and exercises. That such meetings should be frequent in the time of a revival, we not only admit but recommend. Yet it ought not to be forgotten, that they may be carried to a hurtful extreme; and such an extreme they certainly reach, when they encroach, to any considerable extent, on the ordinary duties of life; or when they leave very little time to the thoughtful and inquiring for private meditation, self reflection and examination, secret prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures, and other books of instruction, direction, and serious exhortation, which, as they have opportunity, they ought to peruse.

5. Meetings of pious women by themselves, for conversation and prayer, whenever they can conveniently be held, we entirely approve. But let not the inspired prohibitions of the great apostle of the Gentiles, as found in his epistles to the Corinthians and to Timothy, be violated. To teach and exhort, or to lead in prayer, in public and promiscuous assemblies, is clearly forbidden to women in the Holy Oracles.

6. Let not the settled order of churches be disturbed. Let official elders be respected, and in the

absence of pastors or other authorized ministers of the gospel, let the elders, or deacons, or other Christians of standing and experience, rather than young converts, take the lead in the social exercises of religion.

7. Listen to no self-sent or irregular preachers, whatever may be their pretensions to knowledge, piety, and zeal.

8. Let no doctrine, inconsistent with the sacred scriptures as explained and summarily taught in the doctrinal standards of our church, be promulged and favoured in any of our churches. That the word of God, contained in the Old and New Testaments, is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, is a sacred principle which we steadfastly maintain. But when almost every description of persons who profess any regard to Christianity, are ready to declare their adherence to the same principle, it becomes indispensable for Christians who would walk together in the peace, and order, and comfort of the gospel, to state in what manner they understand the great truths of Divine revelation. This has been done by our church, in our Confession of Faith and Catechisms; and he who teaches any doctrine plainly and palpably inconsistent with the evident meaning of these excellent formularies, should be regarded by Presbyterians as an errorist, whom they ought not to encourage, but to discountenance, reject, and avoid.

9. Let not apparent converts be hurried into the church, and brought to the table of the Lord, without a careful examination, nor ordinarily without a suitable period of probation, by which the reality of their religion may be better judged of than it can be by any sudden indications, however plausible.

Nothing is more directly calculated to injure ultimately the cause of God and the credit of our holy

religion, than urging or permitting individuals to make a publick profession of religion, as soon as they have experienced some serious impressions, and flatter themselves that they have been renewed in the temper of their minds. All experience shows that such persons often and speedily dishonour their profession, and not unfrequently become open apostates, and sometimes avowed infidels. We know and admit, that after all possible care which the churches can take, instances of deception will occur; for it is the prerogative of God only to search the heart. But to use all proper means to preserve the purity of the church, and save religion from reproach, is a sacred duty, incumbent on all church officers; and it is a duty which, when faithfully performed, will, to a great extent, secure its object-the church will rarely be disgraced by self-deceived hypocrites, and eventual apostates. As well might men pretend that no care should be taken to preserve their health, because disease cannot always and certainly be avoided, as that no care should be taken to preserve a sound state of the visible church, because its members and its ministers do in some instances, and in despite of all precaution, become profligates and a publick scandal. Let the church do its duty, and leave the event to God.

10. Finally-let no measures for the promotion of religious revivals be adopted, which are not sanctioned by some example, or precept, or fair and sober inference, drawn from the word of God. This is a safe general rule, applicable to numerous particular cases, which we have neither time nor inclination to specify. Some variety of opinion will exist, and may lawfully and properly be indulged, in regard to the measures which are best calculated to produce revivals, and to conduct them, where they exist, to a happy result.

But we earnestly counsel, that for every measure contemplated, a warrant be carefully and impartially sought in God's unerring word. If such a warrant can be fairly made out, let the measure be adopted; but otherwise, let it be promptly abandoned; for it must be remembered that the Bible contains not only a safe, but a complete rule of duty.

Thus, beloved brethren, we have raised our warning voice, to caution you against certain things, by which those displays of God's special grace which we denominate revivals of religion, may be clouded and counteracted; and the incalculable benefits which might otherwise be derived from them, may be finally and irretrievably lost. Let us receive instruction from past times-let us for a moment turn away our attention from all that is now passing in our country, to what was witnessed in the days of the celebrated evangelist Whitefield, and at a still later period, in the southwestern parts of our land.

In both these instances, there was certainly a most powerful and promising religious awakening; and for a time the happiest effects were experienced. Numerous conversions of a solid and lasting character took place, and many and most desirable additions were made to the church of Christ. But through the subtility of Satan, and the inflamed and misguided passions of men, doctrines were at length taught and measures adopted-with a view, as it was loudly proclaimed, to promote and extend the revivals-which were speedily followed by the most disastrous consequences. The Holy Spirit was grieved away; excesses which shocked all sober minds succeeded; every form of fanatacism and religious error appeared; soon the passions, which had been raised to their highest tone, subsided into apathy, and carelessness in regard to all religion; a season of the most lamentable

spiritual declension and deadness followed; infidels multiplied, and infidelity proclaimed its triumphs; revivals of religion were reproached and ridiculed, and a deep prejudice against them was excited and fostered, which, in some places and in many minds, has not yet been removed.

It is, dear brethren, to prevent the recurrence of such evils as these, that with great solicitude for your welfare, we entreat you to be. on your guard. Think not that vigilance, caution, and prayer, in relation to the abuse of revivals, is superfluous. Hear, on this subject, the eminent and justly venerated President Edwards. He remarks, that in a time of revival, the chief exertions of the great adversary will be likely to be made with the friends and promoters of the work, to drive them into such excesses and extravagances as shall ruin its credit, and ultimately bring all religion into disgrace. And in this his success will be rendered the more probable, if he can first persuade such persons, that they are in no danger on that side. It was "while men slept," that the enemy came and "sowed tares:" not while they were in a state of indifference, but while they were not watching against his devices. It is not while men are in a state of indifference, that the false conversions, represented by the tares, are brought in; but while men are asleep in a far different sense-while their passions are in such a state of excitement as blinds their minds to the danger. Then the great deceiver can work to the best advantage, both in promoting false conversions, and in leading into dangerous extremes those who are zealous promoters of the work.

Such is the monitory language, of at once the most powerful defender of revivals of religion, and the ablest corrector of their abuses, which our country has ever seen.

Let us hear and regard his voice, uttered as it is in concert with the voices of men the most distinguished for wisdom, piety, and prudence, from the period of the protestant reformation to the present hour. Doing thus, and looking earnestly to our covenant-keeping God to crown our endeavours with success, it is scarcely too much to hope, that revivals of religion will spread throughout our whole land; and that their heavenly influence and lustre will continue and increase, till they mingle with the noon-tide splendour of the millenial day.

Signed by order of the Assem

bly,

JAMES HOGE, Moderator.

June 1, 1832.

For the Christian Advocate. MEANS OF CONFIRMING A WEAK FAITH.

Having in a preceding number contemplated some of the evidences of a weak faith, we will now consider some of the means by which such a faith may be confirmed.

Meditation on God-on what he is in himself, and on what he is to us, is fitted to produce this effect. He is Almighty; the Being who weighs the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance; who taketh up the isles as a very little thing; who sustains by his Almighty arm, the whole burden of creation. He is all wise: looks with an intuitive survey through all the works of his hands, always has his eye intent upon the best purposes, and is able with infinite ease to devise the best means for their accomplishment. He is all gracious; spreads the tokens of his bounty through the whole creation, and delights to pour joy and blessing into the bosoms of his creatures, and has compassion even for the wretched and unthankful, and perishing. And

what is he to the Christian? He is a Creator, having given him his existence, and with it all his powers of action and enjoyment. He is a Preserver; upholding him from day to day by his beneficial hand, and crowning him with goodness, and causing his cup to run over with blessings. More than all, he is a Redeemer! has undertaken the benevolent work of ransoming him from all the miseries of the second death, and conducting him to glory, and honour, and immortality. And is there nothing in all this, Christian, to strengthen your languid faith? Can you hesitate to confide in a Being who is all this in himself, and all this to you? Rather are you not ashamed, are you not distressed, that with so much in the character and relations of God, to inspire you with a strong and vigorous faith, you should even for a moment, have yielded to distrust.

The same effect will be likely to be produced by suitable meditations on the providence of God. For that providence, Christian, is nothing less than his continual, allwise, and benevolent agency; an agency which extends to all your interests for time and eternity. It is not that general and partial oversight of his works, which some would denominate providence, but which really reflects upon the character of God, and even disrobes him of his perfection; but it is an agency in the highest degree particular-that reaches you in all exigences and all circumstances; and that reaches with the same minute regard, the case of every being in the universe. Are you asleep at midnight on your pillow? The providence of God reaches you there. Are you journeying in a land of strangers? The same proviThe same providence reaches you there. Are you in circumstances of danger and difficulty? or are you pressed down with a weight of affliction on the

bed of illness, or at the grave of a friend, or in the agony of death? In all these various circumstances, the providence of God still reaches you, and if you are a Christian, as we here take for granted that you are, it is in the best sense a merciful providence; a providence which is employed, and which is pledged to bring you safe through every scene of trial, to a world of glory. Think of this, Christian, and let it serve to invigorate your faith. God governs the world. He governs it in wisdom, and goodness, and mercy. Say then-"All my interests for time and eternity, are subject to his control, and are safe in his keeping. I will trust him therefore; yea, I will trust him though he slay me."

Meditation on the promises of God-is fitted to lead to the same happy result. True, indeed, God has not promised to any Christian, that he shall share largely in the riches, or honours, or emoluments of the world: he has not ever given him a pledge that the fires of martyrdom shall not kindle around him, or that he shall not bow his head to the block, and take his departure for heaven, while he is bathed in his own blood. But he has promised what is far better, that all things shall work together for his good; that though he may lead him by a path which he knows not, yet he will conduct him safely and certainly to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And the perfection of his nature is pledged for the accomplishment of these promises: though heaven and earth should pass away, his faithfulness can never fail. And may not the Christian rely with confidence on such promises as these? Is there not every thing to strengthen his faith in the consideration that whatever his present circumstances may be, the richest blessings in the universe, the blessings of a complete and eternal redemp