178 The deftruction of the Jewish flate and temple. not fent to the Gentiles but to the houfe of Ifrael. The higheft and moft convincing light was fet before them. The strongeft means were used to excite their belief in him; but all was to little purpofe; as a nation they rejected him, which caufed him, when he faw the evil that muft come upon them, to weep over Jerufalem faying, "O Jerufalem, Jerufalem thou that killeft the prophets and ftoneft them which are fent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as an hen gathereth her brood under her wings and ye would not." When the divine Redeemer had finished his work, arifen from the dead and afcended to heaven ;— When the holy spirit was fent on the day of pentecoft, in fuch a miraculous manner, and the apoftles endowed with power from on high to work miracles in the name of Jefus, and had gone through the land of Ifrael preaching the gofpel and that people ftill continued to reject it -When all the defigns of that typical difpenfation and temple worship were anfwered, the antitype or fubftance to which they pointed having come, it became improper, in the nature of the cafe, they fhould be continued longer under the divine protection and approbation. The Meffiah having come and plainly taught the way of truth and life, a new and glorious light arofe and fhone in full fplendor on the church, before which all the fhadows of the Jewish ftate and temple worship muft of courfe pafs away. But the Jews, continuing in unbelief and endeavoring till to fupport the temple fervice, what could even human reafon expect from the head of the church in fuch a cafe ? [Nov. Should he own and fupport them by his providence in this ceremonial worship; it would be in effect to deny himself as the true Meffiah, as the great antitype to which all that shadowy difpenfation pointed. Could divine benevolence to the church and to the world of mankind fay, that the temple and Jewifh ftate fhould continue longer than such a space as infinite wifdom, faw best, to give them opportunity to repent and believe? Would it not be prefering a lefs to a greater good, the fhadows and darkness of that difpenfation, to the clear light of the gofpel, bring much darkness on the church and thus greatly injure the world of mankind in the all important concerns of falvation? what has been done in the deftrucDoth it not then appear, that tion of that nation and temple, though in itself dreadful, was a work of great benevolence to the church and to the world of man kind; and neceffary to be done tion that the Meffiah has actually to give a clear and full demonftracome; that he reigns king in Zion and in the midit of his ene mies having all power in heaven and earth? There arifes likewife from these events a very strong evidence that the Jewish and Chriftian fcriptures are true; and this evidence has been a growing one from the deftruction of the temple to the prefent day. We are likewife taught, how dreadful are the confequences of rejecting the light and evidence of divine truth, which fo clearly fhine in the gofpel difpenfation; either from the prejudices of our own hearts, or from any pre-conceived opinions. Our light is greater, in many refpects than the Jews could have, and yet how dreadful, and how long have divine judgments been upon that nation for rejecting the light they had! Through the family of Abraham God has inftructed mankind from the early ages of the world, to the prefent day. He has made vifible and temporal things, as they refpected that nation and church, typically inftruct the world in events to come, and in the great concerns of eternity. He gave them laws with dreadful penalties which fhould take place even in this world if they broke them. They have broken them, and the awful fulfilment of divine threatenings to that people, ftands as a certain pledge and earnest before our eyes, that God is unalterably true to his word, and will, from the perfection of his nature, fulfil all his threatenings on the finally impenitent through eternity. ZETA. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- GAZINE. GENTLEMEN, A BOUT the year 1785, as I am informed, there was fome fpecial attention to religion among this people, and about ten or twelve perfons, in confequence of it were received into the church. I do not learn that there has been any other feafon of special attention, till of late, in this place fince its fettlement. In the year 1795 I became connected with this people. The church was then fmall, and after that time it decreased in numbers by reafon of deaths and other removals. Sometimes an inftance of hopeful converfion took place, but in general, a very great degree of careleffnefs, as to eternity, prevailed among the people. among the people. Very few were found difpofed to appear profeffedly on the Lord's fide. The riches, honors and pleasures of the world feemed to be the great objects of pursuit, while the concerns of the foul were very much forgotten. Errors and immorality gained ground. To many who profeffed to believe the fcriptures to be the word of God, the fundamental doctrines of religion were difguitful. Family prayer was very unfashionable. The houfe of God was much forfaken on the fabbath, especially if the weather was unpleasant, and when a lecture was preached on another day the preacher faw little elfe but empty pews and the walls of the houfe. The youth spent much precious time at balls, which were encouraged by many of the old. The members of the church, althe' they, in general, appeared to be lovers of Christ's caufe, yet became too remifs as, to church difcipline and watchfulness over each other. TO hear of the fovereign grace of God, difplayed in caufing the numerous revivals of religion in our land and in other parts of the world, affords joy to every benevolent heart. It is a pleafing confideration that there is fuch a monthly publication as the Evangelical Magazine, in which narratives of religious revivals, as well as other useful matter, may be recorded for the benefit of prefent and future generations. I now prefent you the following narrative of a late work of God in this place, and if you fhould think proper to publish it, may God grant that none may read it in vain.ing towns, of which we often In the year 1799 revivals of religion took place in fome neighbor | extirpation of even the form of need. The revival, evidently be- heard and concerning which, mention was sometimes made in public. But every thing folemn and important feemed to have no lafting effect. At this time, the minds of a great part of the people were much agitated with the fear of lofing the title of their lands, they being claimed by certain patentees. Their property appeared to engrofs the attention, and many feemed to fear the lofs of a little earth, more than the lofs of eternal glory. Religious conferences were appointed, and it was hoped by the friends of Zion, that the cloud of divine influence would fpread from neighboring towns over us, and that we might fhare in the bleffings of the fpirit. But all means were found to be ineffectual and God's children were left in mourning, and furrounded with difcouragements. They realized the truth of thefe words in the prophecy of Amos, "I caufed it to rain upon one city and caufed it not to rain upon another city one piece was rained upon and the piece whereupon it rained not withered." At length, the controverfy refpecting the lands was brought to a termination, but not fo favorably as the people hoped. They felt the ftroke; but, it is to be feared, viewed not the hand of providence. Still temporal things were the principal fubjects of converfation, and nothing fpecial, of a religious nature, appeared. The church continued to decrease in numbers, fo that in September 1801, but eleven male members remained. Our profpect was exceedingly dark. It There was no uncommon profeemed, that unlefs God fhould vidence, nor any new means made interpofe by his Spirit, the love ufe of in the beginning of the reviof the bleffed Jefus would, very val; but the fame kind of provifoon, cease to be publicly com.dences with which the people memorated, and that the enemies were before vifited, and the fame of God would foon rejoice in the truths which they before heard | | Christians were animated with the thought; but they faid little concerning their expectations. Another conference was appoint. • ed: At this the numbers were still greater, and the appearance of many gave evidence of fomething uncommon upon their minds. Conferences were continued, and the numbers and folemnity gradually increafed, until the folemnity became general and until the awakening arofe to a great height. great and manifold fins, and to A female, between made a very different impreffion. I None can, therefore, rationally attribute the awakening to any thing fhort of the power of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. At a crowded conference, January 28th 1802, one who is a head of a family, voluntarily arofe and acknowledged, that although he had formerly obtained a hope that he had religion, he had been very unfaithful in regard to family pray-markable. er, inftructing and warning his fa- eleven and twelve years of age, mily and other duties. He faid when he was on the road, became he had tried to quiet confcience fuddenly poffeffed of the thought by excufes; but ftill fomething that the muft die, and then was within would often tell him thefe led to reflect on her fins. She excufes would not answer his pur- was in great diftrefs of mind, and pofe, and he could not remain at continued fo for fome weeks. The eafe. He faid he was convinced reft of the school witnessed it and that it was in vain to plead any became folemnized. Great ferexcufe, that he felt condemned, vice was rendered thefe fchools by and that he had wounded his own the religious inftructions of their foul; but that he begged God's teachers, who were much engaged forgiveness, and was determined to promote the spiritual welfare to go forward in the ftrength of of their pupils. One of thefe the Lord, and to endeavor to live teachers hoped he had formerly devoted to the service of God. He embraced religion; the other obwarned others not to follow his tained a hope after he took the finful example if they regarded fchool. The month of February their own peace, or the honor of was a remarkable month. Christ's caufe. He was followed gion appeared indeed to be the by feveral others to the like im- principal bufinefs to which people port. Some of thefe perforts attended, and it was almoft the were leading characters in the only fubject of converfation. Altown, who have fince made a public most every day, new inftances of profeffion of religion and continue conviction and hopeful converfion engaged in the cause of God. At took place. The Lord then the conference laft mentioned, eve- made a fhort work of it. It was ry perfon appeared folemnized, then more common that convicand many were exceedingly affect- tion was fudden, diftrefs extreme, ed. From that time, the work and relief foon given. Such increased. Conferences were more numbers came to our religious crowded, although there were fe conferences, that when we met veral in a week, and in different near the center of the fociety, the parts of the fociety. In Februa- people could not be accommodary, two of our schools were great- ted in any dwelling houfe or fchool ly folemnized. It was very af- houfe. We therefore were oblifecting to fee children almoft rea-ged to meet in the meeting houfe dy to fink under a fenfe of their in cold evenings, for a confidera Reli fiect on his manifold fins, until his fins appeared to him a burden infinity greater than that of the traveller, He found no relief until, as he hopes, his heart was changed by the irresistible influ ble time: In one instance we ad | journed thither after we had begun exercises in a dwelling houfe, finding it impoffible for the people to be accommodated. It was fuppofed that five hundred perfons affembled at fome eveningence of the holy fpirit. His wife meetings. At a dwelling houfe alfo, about the fame time, became nearly two miles from the meeting- convicted and hopefully converthouse, where we often met, it was ed.. To hear thefe perfons confuppofed that between four and verfe was peculiarly affecting. five hundred fometimes affembled Another than who was not only in the evening. On fabbath days very carelefs about religion, but our houfe of worship was filled, had declared he would never enter and there was fuch folemnity and our houfe of public worship, and fuch fixed and univerfal attention, had kept his word as to this for as cannot be defcribed; and fuch many years, was ftruck under fudas perhaps, never was conceived den conviction. His wife having by any who have not witneffed before obtained a hope, proposed like fcenes. About this time, joining the church. He was then fundry remarkable inftances of led to reflect on his own ftate and hopeful converfion took place, fituation. The idea of being left which not only rejoiced the hearts to go down to hell, while numof Zion's friends, but aftonished bers of his neighbors and even his oppofers. wife had fet out for heaven, caufed him to tremble. His fins arofe before him like mountains, and his diftrefs of mind was very great. At length he obtained a humble hope in the mercy of a fovereign God. Since that time one of his children has been a fub Two or three of which I will now relate. A man about fifty four years of age, who, not only had lived a very carelefs life, but was openly much oppofed to the gofpel plan of falvation, and to the work of God in the revival, was brought under deep convic.ject of the work. tion in a fudden manner. There came into his houfe a traveller with a burden upon his back: the family were about to fet down at the table the stranger was invited to eat when they arofe from table and were withdrawing, the ftranger faid, "don't let us forget to give God thanks :" he then gave thanks and departed. The man of the house felt reproved and confounded. The words of the ftranger were faftened upon his mind by the power of God. He was led to reflect on his wickednefs in being unmindful of God, in neglecting prayer and thankfgiving. He was alfo led to re Another perfon was much op pofed to the fovereignty of God and other doctrines connected with it. He did not believe them, but in cafe they were true, he believed they were very cruel and unreasonable. He determin-, ed never to bow to them, and thought that if he should ever become a Chriftian, he could never join a church that believed them. He was however brought under conviction. He then faw thofe doctrines to be true, but hated them. He obferves, that he often wifhed himself annihilated, and that he had fuch oppofition of heart to the fovereignty of God, that |