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plead, "Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy loving kindnefs: according unto the multi tude of thy tender mercies blot out our tranfgreffions. Wafh us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanfe us from our fin."

Some perfons, when they have come to converfe upon entering into covenant, and joining with the church, have faid, they did not think, in time patt, they fhould ever have any defire to join with the church, and partake of the Lord's fupper they did not think they should defire to have fo much concern with religion: but now they wished to be joined to the vifible family of God; and had earnest longings of mind, to commemorate the dying love of the dear Redeemer.

The work of God in this parish, I conceive has not been fo great as in fome other places; yet confidering the fmallnefs of the fociety, which consists of but little more than one hundred families, it must be confeffed, the work is truly glorious. There is reafon to hope and believe, many perfons will remember this happy day, with joy and praife, not only whilft they live, but through eternity.

Through the whole awakening, it has been moft apparently evident, that the work was the effect of the divine fpirit. It has been pecularly free from noify, blind zeal, and frenzy. The convictions of finners have been regular, folemn, and pungent. And there is reafon to hope, a confiderable number have been born of the fpirit.

Since the awakening began among my people, between forty and fifty have made a profeffion of religion, and joined the church.-Thofe who have long been in Chrift, appear to have had fresh anointings of the divine fpirit, and

to have been stirred up, to pray more fervently than ufual, for themfelves, and for the prosperity of Zion. Thofe, who were in Chrift before; and likewise those, who have lately profeffed faith in him, have, in general, exhibited a good degree of evidence, that they are joined to the Lord, and have his fpirit. They delight in the duties of religion. The service of God is now fweet and pleasant to them, in all its branches. They love to read God's word. Many have faid, the bible is entirely a new book to them. The perufal of it, which afforded them no fatisfac tion before, now yields them the highest delight. Now they search the fcriptures daily, and fay with the Pfalmift, O how love I thy me law it is daily my delight.-are Those that rarely came to the houfe of God, are conftant and diligent attendants. They love the fanctuary of God, the place where his honor dwells and delight in the ordinances of the gofpel. And their foul is fatisfied as with marrow and fatnefs. And they praise God with joyful lips.

But we fear that fome, who profess to hope that they have now made their peace with God, will fo apoftatize from their profeffion, that it will appear, that their religion is like the morning cloud, and the early dew, which foon goeth away. Though we are ready to hope better things of them, and things that accompany falvation. And notwithstanding the profpects have been fo promifing and the minds of nearly all the people, were turned upon religious fubjects yet at prefent we have reafon to fear, that the attention of many has declined, and that many are dead in trefpaffes and fins. We fear they will finally perish, and their condemnation in that cafe will

be awfully aggravated, by the uncommon and powerful means which God has now been using with them. How dreadful, after having been exalted to heaven, to be thruft down to hell! Yours,

RUFUS HAWLEY. (To be Continued.)

On difference of opinions among Chriftians.

HE great variety of fenti

those who profeffedly hold to the Chriftian religion, is by many made an excufe for disbelieving and neglecting it altogether. They plead that no dependence can be placed upon the bible; fince thofe who profefs to believe it, even men of great learning and abilities, are fo divided in their opinions refpecting its doctrines. Such confiderations undoubtedly have great influence in quieting the confciences of many and encouraging them in their neglect of the important concerns of religion: which is the broad road to destruction. For the truths, duties, and restraints of the Chriftian religion being offenfive and irkfome to the depraved tafte and defires of the wicked, they are pleafed with a plaufible excufe for neglecting or rejecting it and thus ridding themselves of its painful duties, fears and reftraints.

But

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is no truth in the Chriftian religion, or that it may be fafely neglected, because there may be different fentiments about its doctrines. Yea, it is much more unreasonable and dangerous to neglect religion on this account, as it is a concern of infinite moment, and by neglecting it we rifk eternal confequences.

If the difference of opinions among Chriftians is an evidence against Christianity; then the great variety of fentiments, with refpect to religion and morality among infidels, muft afford equal evidence against infidelity, or deifm and atheifm. Thus upon this principle we can believe nothing at all. Befides, it may be obferved, that Chriftianity comprehends a great variety of truths and duties, fome more and fome lefs important; fome more and fome lefs plainly revealed. And many of the dif ferences among Chriftians refpect thofe truths and duties which are lefs important, or lefs plainly revealed. Therefore many of the fects, tho' differing in fome things, yet agree in the most effential truths of the Chriftian religion. Confequently there is not fo much difference in opinion among Chriftians, as at firft view might be imagined from the various names and fects, into which the Chriftian world is divided.

Further, it is exprefsly foretold

have been overruled for good, and rendered in various ways fubfervient to the caufe of truth and re

in fcripture, that many errors and falfe fentiments fhould fpring up among Chriftians. It is declared, that "falfe Chrifts and falfe proph-ligion. They have lead to a more ets fhall arife-that many fhall fol- diligent ftudy of the fcriptures and low their pernicious ways-that to a more critical examination of there must be herefies among you the doctrines of the gofpel. Thus that they which are approved may the evidence or foundation of the be made manifeft-that the time truths of religion has been more will come, when they will not en- thoroughly fcanned and understood, dure found doctrine; but after their and religious light and knowledge own lufts fhall heapup to themfelves increafed. Thefe differences in teachers, having itching ears, and opinion have alfo moft effectually that they fhall turn away their ears fecured the fcriptures from being from the truth, and fhall be turned corrupted or altered; as the differunto fables." The fcriptures alfo ent Chriftian fects, which have plainly teach the caufe of thefe exifted ever fince the days of the errors and falfe fentiments among apoftles, have carefully watched thofe, who are favored with the over one another in this refpect. gofpel that they originate from For the Bible being spread among the native depravity and oppofition all the different fects, if any one of the human heart against God fect had made any material alterand divine truth. For it is declaration, the others would immedied, that "the carnal mind is en-ately have detected, and exclaimmity against God; that men hate the light, and love darknefs rather than light, because their deeds are evil--that their understanding is darkened, because of the blindnefs or hardness of their heart-and that God fhall fend them ftrong delufions to believe a lie; becaufe they received not the love of the truth." Thefe confiderations eafily and fully account for the many errors and different fentiments, prevalent in the Chriftian world-ing Yea, thefe errors and differing opinions are fo far from being any evidence against the Bible or Chriftianity, that they fulfil its predictions, confirm its truths or doctrines, and thus greatly increafe the proof in favor of it.

ed against it. And none can ra-
tionally fuppofe, that all the vari-
ous fects, who were at variance
with each other, were fcattered in
many diftant countries, and who all
efteemed the fcriptures to be given
by divine infpiration, would uni-
verfally agree in corrupting all the
copies of the Bible by additions or
alteration. This is an event mo-
rally impoffible. There is there-
fore the moft convincing, fatisfy-

evidence from this, as well as
from other confiderations, that we
have the bible pure and authentic,
as it was left by the apoftles. Thus
the unhappy divifions and diffen-
tions, which through the pride,
felfifhnefs, and depravity of man-
kind and the devices of Satan have
arifen in the Chriftian church, have
been the means of greatly confirm-
ing the truth, and fecuring the

Altho' these differences in religious fentiments among Chriftians, are in many refpects unhappy and injurious to the caufe of Chrift-purity of the fcriptures. originate from depravity, and im

It is evident from thefe various

ply criminality in the erroneous; confiderations, that the difference yet thro' the wifdom of God they of opinions among thofe called

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Christians, affords no proof againft tainly reject the truth, fall into fathe truth of the fcriptures, but in tal errors, and ruin ourfelves forvarious ways confirms them. Con- ever. As many errors are prevfequently it must be exceedingly alent, our danger is the greater, unreasonable and dangerous to dif- and therefore there is more need of believe the bible, or neglect reli- care and watchfulness, that we be gion on this account. It is a moft not led aftray, and fo fall fhort of fatal delufion of Satan to render heaven. Hence the Lord Jefus finners eafy in their neglect of di- directs us to "firive (or agonize) vine things, and in the road to de- to enter into the ftrait gate" from ftruction. On the contrary, this the confideration, that " many diverfity of fentiments ought to fhall feek to enter in and not be excite us to a most ferious, dili- able." Since there is the most gent, and prayerful attention, that fatisfactory evidence of the truth we may efcape dangerous and fatal of the fcriptures, nothing can be errors, and find and embrace the more unreasonable and stupid than truth, neceffary to falvation. to quiet ourselves, as many do, in When we confider the importance a careless neglect of divine things, of divine truth, as it concerns our because there is a great variety of everlasting happiness and mifery, religious fentiments, or many erand how liable we are to fall into rors, among thefe, called Chrifhurtful and fatal errors through tians. This in fact is faying, beour depravity and oppofition to the caufe our danger is great, theretruth; it ought to excite us anx- fore we will take no care to efcape ioufly and candidly to feek after di- it. Can any thing be more irravine knowledge as filver, and tional, efpecially when we confidfearch for it as for hidden treafer, that our eternal all is at stake? We should seek divine truth Is it not acting directly contrary with a difpofition to receive and to the dictates of common prupractife it, and daily look to God dence? For in temporal concerns the great Father of lights, by fer- when our danger is great, we are vent prayer to illuminate our minds, the more anxious and careful to sekeep us from error, and lead us in cure ourselves against it. Thofe the way everlafting. We fhould therefore who flatter themfelves, be exceedingly cautious of giving that there is little or nothing in reway to our finful and felfish preju- ligion, or make themfelves eafy in dices, and of disbelieving or neg the neglect of it, on account of the lecting truth and duty, becaufe different religious opinions among they are contrary to our depraved our depraved Chriftians, are guilty of great folly feelings, left we reject the counfel and ftupidity-are in the fnare of of God against ourselves. Since, the devil, and unless they can be as our Saviour declares, "Men awakened to a fenfe of their wickhate the light, and love darknefs ednefs and danger, they will cerrather than light;" it is certain, tainly perish. that our natural feelings will be op But if we will carefully and pofed to the great truths of the candidly feek the truth with a difgofpel. This fhows, that our difpofition cordially to receive and liking any particular doctrine is no practife it, daily looking to God evidence against its truth, and that for light and direction, we fhall if we give way to our natural feel certainly be led into the truth fo far ings and prejudices, we shall cer- as is neceffary to falvation. For

ure.

Chrift declares, "If any man will do the will of my Father, he fhall know of my doctrine, whether it be of God." It is alfo faid, "The meek will he guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his way." "In a concern of fuch infinite confequence, and where the danger is fo great, we cannot be too careful and diligent. But to be careless and negligent, when our eternal happiness and mifery thus lie at ftake, is the highest madness.

To Mifs N

LETTER I.

MA'AM,

H.

YOU have been informed, that

You

pofe or hope, that you are reconciled to God?" In answering this queftion, they were defired to give an history of such exercises of their minds, as they might think proper and fuitable, and efpecially fuch, as might tend to bring into view the dealings of God with them, and the effects produced on their own minds, from the time that they were at first awakened, until that day. Each gave the relation requested. They were fol emn, and none of the fpectators were unaffected. Had you been prefent, I am confident it would have produced a paufe in your habitual mirth.-After hearing the relation of one, it was natural to conclude, that I had, in effect, heard them all. But it was far otherwife. Each had his own peculiar trials. There was a won

it has pleafed God to pour out his fpirit, on the people in this town. A goodly number, of different ages, and of both fexes, en-derful variety in the accounts, they tertain a perfuafion, that they are reconciled to God; and many have joined the church. Our Minifter has adopted a method, which certainly affords fuch as attend, much fatisfaction and inftruction. When one, or more, apply to him for admiffion into the church, he publicly calls on a committee, appointed by the church, to affift him in the examination of the candidates. All the members of the church, who defire it, attend. I was lately prefent myself, when about a dozen, feveral of them young people, were examined. It was one of the most affecting and inftructive feafons I ever faw. I fall attempt fome defcription of it. But one must have been prefent, to have an adequate idea of the pleafure it infpired.-After fome introductory obfervations, the Rev. Mr. -, put to each of the candidates, fucceffively, a queftion to this purpose, "What are the reafons, which have led you to fup

gave of God's dealings with them, and of their own exercifes. Some were fuddenly furprifed with a fenfe of their danger, and made acquainted with their guilt; with others, convictions came on more gradually. One received his first impreffions at the fanctuary, another, by reading the bible, a third, at his work by himself, and anoth-. cr, by hearing of the fuppofed converfion of a neighbour. There was the fame diverfity thro' their whole relations. They were bro't by different means, to a knowledge of the utter depravity of their own hearts. Some acknowledged, that they had had dreadful heart-rifings against the doctrines of the gofpel. One, on pretence of a vifit, had left her father's houfe for feveral days, because the fuppofed that God had bestowed faving mercy on one of her fifters, and had left her in a state of condemnation, which fo exafperated her heart againft both God, and the fubject

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