ligious duties of college; an increase both of the degree of seriousness, and of the number of those in whom it was visible. Every religious service, both on secular days and on the Sabbath, was attended with a solemnity which was sensible and impressive. In this manner the revival commenced, or rather became apparent, in the second week of January, without any unusual occurrence in providence; without any alarming event, without any extraordinary preaching, without any special instruction, or other means that might be supposed peculiarly adapted to interest the mind. The divine influence seemed to descend like the silent dew of heaven; and in about four weeks there were very few individuals in the college edifice, who were not deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of spiritual and eternal things. There was scarcely a room-perhaps not one-which was not a place of earnest secret devotion. For a time it appeared as if the whole of our charge was pressing into the kingdom of God; so that at length the inquiry, in regard to them, was, not who was engaged about religion? but who was not?-After this state of things had continued, without much variation, for about two months, it became manifest that a change was taking place. Some were becoming confirmed in the hopes and habits of evangelical piety; some were yet serious, thoughtful and prayerful, though perhaps not in so great a degree, or at least not so apparently, as once they had been; while some were plainly losing the impressions which they had lately felt. And such has continued to be the state of this interesting concern to the time of making this report. The result is, that there are somewhat more than forty students, in regard to whom, so far as the time elapsed will permit us to judge, favorable hopes may be entertained that they have been made the subjects of renewing grace. Perhaps there are twelve or fifteen more, who still retain such promising impressions of religion as to authorize a hope that the issue, in regard to most of them, may be favorable. And nearly the whole of the remainder show a great readiness to attend on all the social exercises of religion; not only on those which are stated and customary, but those which are occasional, and the attendance on which is entirely voluntary. Thus, of the students who are now in the college, a majority* may be viewed as hopefully pious; and a large proportion of the residue appear to pos

*The whole number of students in the classes of the college is one hundred and five; of whom twelve were professors of religion when the revival began

sess much tenderness of conscience, and show a very desirable regard to religious duties and obligations.

It has already been intimated that this revival of religion commenced without noise, and without any other means than those which had been a considerable time in use. But having thought it my duty to converse with my pupils, as often as they requested it, at the time when their minds were filled with anxious fears and inquiries; and also to examine them individually and carefully, since hope has, in some measure, succeeded to fear; I have had a favorable opportunity to inquire, and have attentively inquired, after the instrumental causes of this revival, as indicated by the views and feelings of the parties concerned. Four such causes appear to have had a manifest agency

1. And chiefly, the study of the Holy Scriptures;* accompanied with comments on the portion read, and a practical appli cation of the leading truths contained in it. God has remarkably honored and blessed his own word. Strange as it may seem, this study of the Bible has always been a favorite one among the youth of the college, hot excepting the most gay and dissipated. Pains have, indeed, been taken to render it interesting; but the degree in which it has been so, has been truly surprising. And, under the divine blessing, it has served to enlighten and instruct the youth in their duty; it has rendered their minds solemn and tender, beyond what they were themselves aware of at the time; it has given them a deep reverence for the truths of divine revelation; it has qualified them to hear preaching with ad

*For more than two years, the Holy Scriptures had been made the subject of as regular study and examination as the classics, the mathematics, or philosophy, The afternoon of the Lord's day was ap propriated uniformly to the recitation of a certain number of the students, taken promiscuously (for all were required to be prepared on five chapters of the Bible, assigned to them the preceding week. The recitation was always accompanied with expositions, critical remarks, and a practical application. The exercise was concluded with prayer and singing, and was considered as the afternoon religious service of the college. In the morning, public worship, in the usual form, was celebrated.

tin the month of February 1818, a Bible Society was instituted in the college, composed of the literary and theological students indiscriminately. It has been very active in distributing Bibles gratuitously, especially to the soldiers and sailors of our country.

vantage; and at length revealed truth, has, we trust, been powerfully and effectually applied to their consciences, by the Spirit by whom it was' endited.

2. The circumstances in which the students have lately attended on pubic worship have been peculiarly favorable to their religious improvement. They have worshipped, in consequence of the burning of the church in this place, in the prayer hall of the college, for more than two years past. For about eighteen months they have worshipped separately from the people of the town; and have, with the theological students, who joined them partially at first, and generally of late, formed an audience or congregation by themselves. This has given an opportunity, which has been carefully improved, to choose such subjects and adapt such a manner, in preaching to them, as appeared best calculated to arrest their attention. Appropriate addresses have trequently been made, and the service has in all respects been conducted with a special view to their advantage and religious edification. In these circumstances, they have felt an unusual interest in the solemnities of the sanctuary-they have felt that they were the parties directly and particularly concerned in these solemnities; and the good effects of this sentiment have been incalculably great, and were very apparent before the revival was visible. In a word, this mode of conducting public worship must be considered as having been a powerful instrumental cause, both in producing an awakened attention to religion at first, and in cherishing it through the whole of its progress.

3. The effect of moral discipline has been manifestly favorable to this revival. This discipline, vigorously and vigilantly maintained, has preserved the youth, generally, from those practices, habits and vicious indulgences, which counteract, dissipate, and destroy all serious and religious impressions. It has had an influence in preventing that hardness of heart and insensibility of conscience, which are the natural and usual effects of unrestrained vice. It has formed a practical testimony against the moral vileness of several things which youth are apt to consider, if not as entirely innocent, yet as evidences of manliness and spirit. After many efforts to resist these effects of discipline, by the least virtuous part of the college, the attempt was seen to be vain; and it was clearly perceived that the effects mentioned were sensibly felt by the great mass of the students, before the revival. It was also very noticeable that the revival made its appearance with an act of discipline. A student (one of three dismissed at the same time) was almost im

mediately seized with a remorse of conscience and anguish of mind that were very affecting-He has since become hopefully pious. But before any thing of this was known in the college, the remarks which were made when the dismission of the three students was announced, seemed to produce a powerful effect on a number; and during that week feelings and exercises which had, in a certain degree, long existed in secret, could no longer be concealed.-Nearly at the same time, an admonition, given in private, was remarkably blessed to the individual concerned.

4. The few pious youth who were members of college before the revival, were happily instrumental in promoting it. They had, for more than a year, been earnestly engaged in prayer for this event. When they perceived the general and increasing seriousness which has been noticed, several of them made an agreement to speak, privately and tenderly, to their particular friends and acquaintance, on the subject of religion. And what they said was, in almost every instance, not only well received, but those with whom they conversed became immediately and earnestly engaged in those exercises which, it is hoped, have issued in genuine piety. A public profession of religion, made by two of the students who had been a good while thoughtful, had also, at this time, much influence, apparently, both in producing and deepening impressions in many others.

The special means made use of to promote and cherish this revival, besides the circumstances already mentioned, were the following-A short address on the subject of religion was made, after prayers, on every Saturday evening. In preaching on the Lord's day morning, subjects were selected suited to the existing state of the college-in this particular we are deeply indebted to the Theologiical professors, who have generally conducted the morning service. A particular reference was often made to the religious attention which had been excited among the students, in the remarks which accompanied their Bible recitations. A weekly lecture, intended for the students exclusively, was given by myself, on every Tuesday evening. A social prayer meeting was held, on every Friday evening, at which one of the Theological professors commonly made an address. A family prayer meeting (as the students called it) was, every evening held among themselves, at which a large proportion of the whole college attended. Smaller and more select associations for prayer were also formed. The individuals, whose minds were anxious and laboring, were, as

Carried forward $100 008189 95

* This donation was accompanied by a note from which the following sentences are extracted: "From an aged woman of the church at Bridgeport, though but a young friend of the Gospel of Christ. I desire the small sum enclosed may be the means of procuring one prayer or one sermon among the poor heathen. God can bless the widow's mite. I have a willing heart; and pray that I may not spend my money for that which is not bread: and I hope to do more another year, if the Lord will. My daily prayer is, that the work may go on, and that all the elect may be brought into Christ's militant churchs peedily."

†The notes to these donations are necessarily omitted for want of room.

It is desirable that the Missionaries, who are expected to sail towards the close of next month, should be able to carry with them a respectable library, especially in the departments of Theology and Sacred Literature. Donations of books will be received with peculiar thankfulness; particularly of such books as are at present difficult to be procured. Any books, which would be useful in a general library, will be gladly accepted.

Buxtorf's Hebrew Concordance has been presented to the mission by the Rev. Mr. Bates of Dedham.

Donations of books may be left with the Rev. Dr. Spring, Newburyport, the Rev. Dr. Worcester, Salem, and at Mr. Armstrong's book-store, Boston.

WE are obliged to omit literary intelligence, and many other articles.

CHRISTIAN CONFLICTS.

For the illustration of the proposed subject, no instance from Scripture occurs, preferable to that of the apostle Paul, which he has related, 2 Cor. xii, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. I knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. And, lest I should be exaited above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thec. Upon this we may remark,

1. In this wonderful transport, the mind of the apostle was so absorbed with the objects, which presented themselves, that he Could not determine his situation. Whether he was in the body, or out of the body, he could not tell. In this rapture, he heard things which it was not VOL. XI.

lawful for a man to utter; which words were insufficient accurately to express, or which were not proper to be disclosed to human minds in their present state of darkness and infirmity.

2. This wonderful transport was succeeded by a severe and distressing conflict.

There was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him. What this thorn in the flesh was, it is unnecessary to inquire. It is sufficient, that it produced the effect. It mortified and humbled him. It taught him his infirmity and dependence.

3. The method adopted by the apostle to obtain relief from his agitation and distress. He applied himself to importunate prayer, and not obtaining imme. diate relief, he renewed his request. For this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

4. The answer which the apostle received. It was not immediate relief. The messenger of Satan would continue to buffet him. But he was promised support. My grace is sufficient for thee. This implied,

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