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'them by death: but that it would 'be much more folemn and awful, if when they fhould again meet at the day of judgment, they • must be feparated for a long eternity." Then fhe addressed each one perfonally with great propriety and folemnity, accompanying her words with fighs more expref

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ftrained by the perfuafions of lukewarm friends, or open enemies to Chrift's kingdom. She was very humble, and maintained fuch am deep fenfe of her unworthiness, that the feldom if ever complained, either of the conduct of her friends, or of the providence of God; but was abundant in giving of thanks. This conduct endear-five than language. When fhe had ed her to the ferious and godly, ended her addreffes to them, fhe and they were ready to hope for prayed for them with great fitness much comfort, and counfel from and fervency, and at the clofe, her. But these fond hopes it pleaf- with compofure, made a moft foed the fovereign of life and death, lemn dedication of herself to God to disappoint. About the middle through Chrift-Recovering a litof February last, it pleafed God tle from this firft most diftreffing to lay her on a bed of fickness and paroxifm of her diforder, fhe was great diftrefs. From the firft of calm, and her mind feemed deeply her fickness, he was refigned as and folemnly imprefs'd, with the to the event of her condition. things of eternity. From this time, Her greatest fear was, that fhe fhe appeared not like an inhabitant fhould be impatient, and her uni- of this world, and would often form requeft, that God would intreat her friends, "to be willing grant her the light of his counte- ' and refigned to let her go; that nance, and give her patience, that 'this was not her home."' "" Her fhe might not complain, under the greatest pain of body he should be pleafed to exercife her with.When her Chriftian friends came to vifit her, fhe would call on them to give thanks to God for his good. nefs, in preparing her for this bed of diftrefs, and granting her fo comfortable a state of mind.

defire to depart grew very strong,
and she would afk- her friends to
pray, that the time might foon
come. In her greatest pain fhe
would fay, "O death where is thy
fting."

"Jefus can make a dying bed,
Feel foft as downy pillars are," &c.

"A little before her death, fhe defired to fing an Hymn to the praife of God, and faid to her friends, "O how I long to depart

"She expreffed great concern for the famlly, of which fhe was a member; when he was afked by her Minister what he fhould pray for, fhe faid "her defire was, and be with Christ. Why are his that this providence might being." But in thefe profpects of 'chariot wheels fo long in comfanctified to the family, that fhe was willing to be fick if God might be glorified, and others benefitted by it." A few days before her death, fhe called the family to her bedfide, and told them "the felt, that fhe muft 'foon close her eyes on the things ' of time, and that it was indeed

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heaven, fhe was fubmiffive, and would fay fhe was willing to live God's will, and fhe might do good. longer in this world, if it was Yet the tho't of remaining in a finful state, would damp her fpi

rits.

"After the had been continued

folemn event, to be parted from in this state of mind, about five

or fix days, it pleafed the Lord, I ural abilities, put himself under the inftruction of an able Phyfician, with a view to the practice of phyfic. Not long before his preparatory ftudies were compleat

ble of her unworthinefs to the laft, and found the blessedness of that man to whom the Lord imputes righteousness without works.

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as we hope, to take her to himself to behold his glory. When the perceived that he was dying, the was filled with joy and peace in believing She was deeply fenfi-ed, he waited on the Clergyman, who lived at a small diftance, and requested an hour or two with him, in his study. He foon began to open his mind, to the minifter, on religious fubjects; and told him, that he found that, on examination, he did not believe the scriptures. Confiderable converfation paffed, and a number of obfervations were made in support of the

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Never did a bed of fickness and death appear to me like this, these words feemed to be fulfilled: “If go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you | to myself." I do not wonder that Balaam faid (when he had a prof-truth of divine revelation. The pect of a faint's death in view) "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

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young Gentleman appearing very fober, the Minister entertained a hope, that his unbelief was no other than what unregenerate men commonly find in their hearts, as foon as their confciences areawake. Accordingly, from that time forward, he took frequent occafions of converfing, privately, with the young man.

But it foon appear

ed, that he had imbibed the principles of infidelity; and, was too much confirmed in them, to be fhaken by any arguments, that were used with him. He requefted the Minifter, however, that it might be kept an entire secret-obferving that, fhould it get abroad, it would ruin him as to the bufinefs, which he meant to pursue in life.

Soon after this, it was faid that he had formed a connection with á young Lady, both whofe parents were profeffors of religion. The Minifter, fenfible of the importance it was of, that the parents fhould know the character of the man, to whom their daughter was about to be given, was, yet, for fometime at a lofs what meafures he ought to take. Finally he con

NOT many years paft, a young cluded to apply to the young Gen

Gentleman, of fuperior nat- tleman himself: And, according

ly, freely asked him, if fuch a Gentleman appeared, at firft, rathconnexion was formed, as report | er out of temper ; and afked the

Minifter why he need trouble himfelf with the concerns of young people? He was referred to what had before paft between them on the fubject. This calmed him| But, he faid he was undone. He was told, he mult not faint yetthefe were but the beginnings of his trouble-The God, whom he had difregarded, had begun with him; and when, and where, would be the end, was known only to him, in whofe hand his breath was

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ftated at the fame time obferving, that he would presently fee the reafon why fuch freedom was ufed with him. He answered the queftion in the affirmative, with as much franknefs, as it was put. He was then afked if he had ever let the young Lady's parents know what his principles were refpecting religion? He replied, he had not.-Whether he did not think it would be very grievous to the parents, to marry their daughter to a man who difregarded all that he must gird himfelf, and religion? He thought probably it prepare for ftill heavier thingsmight and faid he fhould be that nothing but evil was before forry for them. Whether it could him that, on his own principles, be confiftent with the friendship he had not the least authority for and faithfulnefs, which the Min- | expecting any good. He was enifter owed to all the members of treated to fee and confider his danthe church, to neglect giving them ger, before it was eternally too information?-He did not know late. He feemed to be affectedthat it would. The Minifter then He foon became rather gloomy requefted him to take the matter and melancholy-So much fo, into ferious confideration, for a that the family, in which he lived, few days : And then, if he could, noticed it ; though they were iggive him a reafon, which would be norant of the cause. From thence fufficient to excufe him from the forward, inftead of manifefting redifagreeable task of informing the fentment, he evidently fought opparents. portunities of falling, as it were by accident, into the company of the Minifter. Thefe opportunities were improved in endeavors to fhow him the evil cafe he was in, the weaknefs, the folly and unreafonablenefs of the principles he had imbibed, and the awful fate, which awaited him, if he perfifted in them.

After, feveral days had paffed, the Minifter called on him to | know the refult. He confeffed he did not fee, but that friendship and faithfulness required, that the parents fhould be informed. He was requested to give the information himself. He faid he could not. He was told that if the informa- | tion were given, it would occafion His health foon began to be im. him trouble. He replied, perhaps paired: And in a few weeks he it would, and perhaps not-feeming fell into a fever. For fome time, to feel pretty indifferent as to any the fymptoms were not threatening; trouble, which might refult to him. but, at length, increafed to fo aThe parents were informed. Soon larming a degree, as to take away after this, the Minifter, walking. | all hope of his recovery. found him, fitting by the fide of Minifter vifited him, and found the road, very penfive. He afk- | him diffreffed, both in body and ed him the occafion. The young | mind. He feit himfelf upon the

The

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will do fo, 'till the lat great day reveal it. But we may fee the utter infufficiency of infidel principles to afford fupport and comfort, in that war, in which there is no discharge.

MESSES. EDITORS,

I HAVE fent you fome remarks on the importance of doctrinal preaching; which you are at liberty to publifh in your Magazine if you think proper.

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CCORDING to the accounts which have been publifhed refpecting the late revival of religion, in different places, we find that no fuch wild diforderly things have attended the work, as prevailed in the feason of the religious awakening, near 60 years ago.

And to what must this be imputed? Is it not owing to the increase of doctrinal light among us? Without any difparagement to our venerable ancestors, may we not conclude that the doctrines of

very verge of eternity; but wholly unprepared for the awful fcene. Oh," he would cry out, " that I was a Christian-All the world would I give, if I had it, that I were a Chriftian." He was reminded of the fullness and fufficiency of Christ, the richness of divine mercy, and the freenefs of divine grace. "Yes," would he reply, but all is out of my reach I have no heart to accept. O! Sir, do pray, pray for me- -do pray with me, and for me." He was told, that it was hoped he would pray for himfelf. "Oh ! he could not-God would not hear fuch prayers as his-he wifhed that all good people would pray for him." Soon, on this, he became delirious; and fell into a phrenzy. His horrors, in this fituation, appeared to exceed defcription. The moft dreadful terrors feemed to have taken hold of him. His affrighted imagination feemed haunted, fometimes with awful fpectres-fometimes with terrible wild beafts, juft ready to devour him. He would cry out, and beg for help-that fome one would come and deliver him. Horror, distress and anguifh were strikingly painted in every feature of his face. A pious and very fenfible woman, who was with him, the last night of his life, obferved that his terrors appeared far to exceed any thing fhe had ever witneffed-portance of the minifters of the That he could not have imagined, that it was in the power of human nature to endure the diftrefs and bitter anguish, which he feemed to fuffer. But, a little before he expired, it was observed, his countenance altered, and became placid. He put on a fmile, and a fmile, and talked of pleasant meads, and delightful fields. Very foon on this he expired. What is beyond, lies concealed behind the veil: And,

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the gofpcl are more diftinguishingly taught and better understood, than they were in general in this country, a little above a half century paft? I think this inference may be fairly drawn from the different manner in which religious awakenings are now conducted and treated, from what they then were. And this evinces the great im

gofpel being faithful in explaining and inculcating the fundamental and leading fentiments of Chrif tianity, upon their hearers. Nor ought their apparent inattention to be the leaft objection against doctrinal preaching. Because in the dulleft feafons, people will get and retain fome ideas of what they are taught and especially will the truths they have repeatedly heard come afreth to their minds, when

their attention is duly excited to
the great things of another world.
Some are advocates for practical
preaching only; tho' this is very
neceffary in its proper place, yet
all who are well killed in the
fcriptures of truth, will readily
own, that a right doctrinal know-
ledge is effential to lay a founda-
tion for a right faith, right exer-
cifes and a right practice. It muft
be granted that the knowledge
which people gain of fcripture doc-
trines while unregenerate, is as
ful to them when they are brought
to love religion, as that which
they afterwards acquire. And
where perfons who have been but
poorly indoctrinated are made the
fubjects of conviction and conver-
fion, they frequently run into ma-
ny wild and erroneous opinions,
which not only tend greatly to
cramp their minds, and to deftroy
their peace, but prove prejudicial
to the interests of religion.

ufe

difcourfes, their preaching will foon become trite, and void of fentiment. JETHRO.

Connecticut, Sept. 16, 1800.

Religious Intelligence.

N the Magazine for September

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was an extract of a letter containing fome information concerning a revival of religion in the counties of Otfego and Delaware. The following more particular intelligence has lately been received.

Extract of a letter from one of the
Connecticut Miffionaries, dated
Otfego County, August 19, 1800.

"YOU will recollect, in my
last letter, I mentioned fome reli-
gious attention in this county, at
a place called Otfego Creek. Soon
after I wrote, the attention increaf-
ed; numbers were hopefully brought
to accept of Chrift. Viewing thefe
profpects, I thought it proper to
tarry fome longer in this county.
I ftaid and preached more exten-
fively in it than I had done before.
The bleffed work appeared to
fpread in a very glorious manner.
The people upon Otfego Creek ap-
peared exceedingly awakened.
foon fpread over the hills between
the Otfego and the Susquehannah,"
to a place called the Hardwick fet-
tlement; then into Metcalf-hill
fettlement; foon after the work
began powerfully in Springfield,
and extended confiderably into
Worcester. While the work was

It may be further obferved, that no preaching has a more direct tendency to strike the minds of finners with a deep conviction of their loft, guilty and ruined ftate, than that which points out their total depravity; the nature of their impotency; the character of God; and his fovereignty in the difpenfations of his bleffings; or that which brings into view the character and offices of Jefus Chrift; or the doctrine of regeneration, of juftification by faith alone. The great doctrines which bring to view the refurrection, the laft judgment, heaven and hell are peculiarly cal-making progrefs in this county, I culated to strike carelefs minds with awe, and to lead them to think on their ways, and to look out for a way of efcape from the

wrath to come.

It may be further remarked that where preachers confine themselves chiefly or altogether to practical

received information from Delaware county, that there was a fhower of divine grace in those parts. In confequence of this information, I went to Delhi, the capital of Delaware county, and found the revival much greater than I expected. Where there ap

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