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cording to the orders given them, are the Honorable JONATHAN BRACE, and the Rev. Meffrs. Nathan Williams, D. D. Cyprian Strong, Nathan Strong and Abel Flint.

Mr. BACKUS' account of the Religious Revival in Somers, in Connecticut, in the year 1797.

IN

This awakening was not, in a fingle inftance, attended with outcry, or noife. The fubjects of it appeared very folemn while attending public worship, and conferences. In converfation they complained of their ignorance and ftupidity-they wondered that they

had not before feen themfelves on

the brink of everlasting ruin; and expreffed a strong defire to be inftructed in the doctrines of the gofpel, and to be dealt with in the plaineft manner. In fome the alarm was but momentary-they foon returned to their former ftate of carnal peace. In those who appeared to become the fubjects of faving grace, their first alarm was followed with a more full discove

N the latter part of February, 1797, a ferious attention to religion began in this town, in the congregation under my ministry. It followed a season of awful fecurity; and was not immediately preceded by any unusual difpenfation of Providence, either in the town or neighborhood. There was not at that time, any uncommon feri-ry of their moral pollution. They ous thoughtfulness within fifty miles of us.

This revival was not rapid in its progrefs; and never became general in the town. Here and there one, in different parts of the place, were feriously impreffed, within two or three months from the beginning of the work. It continued to increase for almost a year. It then began to decline. A few new cafes of ferious thoughtfulness have occurred from the commencement of the late revival, at fhort intervals, to the prefent time.

confeffed that they felt themselves to be enemies to God, and wholly opposed to the plan of falvation revealed in the gofpel. They were diftreffed because they had no preper conviction of their fins; and obferved that while their confciences told them that they should receive no wrong if they were fent to hell, their hearts rose against the juftice and fovereignty of God.

The hopeful converts, in general observed that when divine truth first appeared in a new and pleafing light, they fcarcely thought of their perfonal fafety; or, whether they were, or were not, converted. They difcovered a relish for the doctrines of the Bible; and de

This awakening began with the youth, and afterwards extended to the middle aged, and to a few who had paffed the meridian of life. The greater part of the fub-clared that the truths with which jects of this work were heads of families. More than half of the whole were under 35 years of age. Fifty-two perfons united themfelves with the Church within two years from the beginning of this religious appearance; the mot of whom profeffed to have experienced a faving change in the courfe of this revival.

they had been contending, were the objects of their prefent enjoyment. They were abundantinacknowledging, that if gospel grace were not free and fovereign, there could be no hope for fuch great finners as they were. They confeffed that they had not made any advances, of themselves, towards fubmiffion to the will of God; and

that if they were his children, he had, in fovereign mercy, fubdued their hearts by his fpirit. None manifefted high confidence of their converfion. They felt themfelves bound to confefs Chrift before

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children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When they dedicated themselves and their houfeholds to God, " in the af fembly of the faints, there were vifible tokens of his gracious pref

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men; but were afraid left they | ence. They carried religion into fhould be deluded by a falfe hope, their houfes, and called upon and fhould not live agreeable to God's name, morning and evencovenant bonds. It was common ing, in a focial manner. for them to fay, when converfing The hopeful converts were re. about joining the church, “We | formed in their lives, and appear"know not how to refrain from ed defirous to know and practice publicly appearing on the Lord's all the duties both of the first and "fide; but we tremble at the fecond table of the law.-Amidst thought of reflecting dishonor on the declenfions which have taken ،، his name, in the eyes of a fcof- place, there is reafon to hope, that “ fing world. Yet, unworthy as a number will to eternity look 66 we are, we defire to give up our- back with joy on the late happy "felves to God, and to attend on feafon, as the day in which they “ all the ordinances of his ap- | were efpoufed to Chrift. "pointment. We know that he It is to be expected in the most can enable us to live to his glory, promifing religious appearances, ، and we pray that we may al86 ways feel our dependence on "his grace."

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It was animating to meet at the Lord's table, in this feafon of refrefhing. Old Chriftians were enlivened, from the beginning of this work. It rejoiced their hearts to | behold fouls flocking unto Chrift, and coming to his table. The old and the young appeared to feel the worth, and to taste the sweetness of the Saviour's dying love. The fpectators were more numerous than they had ever been; and not a few of them were in tears. In feveral inftances, perfons had their doubts removed, and were emboldened to join the church, by what they faw and heard at the adminif tration of the Lord's fupper.

The heads of families who were the fubjects of this work expreffed aftonishment, that they had lived fo long without any juft fenfe of the duty which they owed to their offspring. They refolved, by divine afliftance, to train up their

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that there will be tares with the wheat. Falfe brethren have mingled with the true, ever fince there was a church on the earth.-If any profeffing Chriftians reft in paff attainments, and become habitually indifferent to holy diligence and watchfulnefs, they make it manifeft that their hope is the hope of the hypocrite. It ought not to furprife us, if we fee perfons of this defcription become more loofe in their lives than ever before. Perfons may hear the word, and receive it with joy, from a belief that they are faved from the wrath to come, without any relish for the holy beauty of divine truth. These "have no root in themfelves;" and hence "endure but for a time." They have nothing to fe cure them against stumbling at the doctrines of the cross, and fhrinking from the trials of the Chriftian life. They are prepared to fall away; and to imbibe fome damnable herefy, or to indulge their vicious propenfities without

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restraint, when affaulted by temptations. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall." Chrift's fheep will hear his voice and follow him. They will increase in the knowledge of God, and in the knowledge of the wickedness of their hearts. They will watch and pray; and according to their abilities will labor to promote the interest of pure and undefiled religion. True Chriftians do not think highly of their attainments : Forgetting thofe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, they prefs toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus." They are attentive to duty; and in this way give diligence to make their calling and election fure. The first warmth of young converts is but of fhort continuance. It is foon exchanged for the conflicts of the Chrif tian warfare. The followers of Christ are conducted towards heaven, in a way which teaches them their perfect dependence on the riches of divine grace. In every ftage of their journey, they are made to feel that believers are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto falvation.

Somers, May 1, 1800.

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England, and various other parts of our country, is undoubtedly worthy to be left on record. It is a divine teftimony to thofe facred truths and instructions, which God has given us in his werd, and a part of that difpenfation of grace towards this finful world, by which the Most High greatly enriches his kingdom with the knowledge of himself. The gospel makes an unfpeakable advance upon all former manifeftations of God to his creatures: It merits the fixed attention of all intelligent beings, and really does very greatly engage the admiration of the holy angels, who defire to look into these things. All power in heaven and on earth is given unto Christ, and he is made head over all things to the church, that in this work, he may declare the Father's glory. All events in this world, of every kind are under his government, and have an ultimate relation to the glory of God, in the advancement of Zion, and are fubordinate to this caufe. But, when God revives his religion, this great intereft is directly promoted, and every circumftance of it claims the mo ferious regard. Such feafons anfwer many important ends; they have a powerful tendency to convince the felf righteous, and fuch as depend on their inoffenfive morals, of the truth and neceffity of experimental religion-give weighty evidence of the impenitent finner's entire depravity of heart-of divine fovereignty in the difpenfations of grace, and of the ration by the power of the Holy reality and importance of regene

Ghoft, and are remarkable feafons

of general inftruction. At fuch times, more religious knowledge is acquired in a few months, than in many years of fuch indifference as too commonly prevails. The

friends by glorious manifestations of his power and grace.

The unufual attention to religion in this fmall parish, became visible, little before the middle of February 1799; though for feveral fabbaths before that time, fome greater degree of folemnity appeared on the congregation, than had been common, and a few religious conferences were attended. The people had been informed of the revival of religion in fome neighboring towns, and generally confidered it a bleffing, and defirable that it fhould take place among us. There were however fome, who made light of the religious concern and anxiety of the people, where the awakening had taken place. But the people of God among us defired, and I doubt not fervently prayed, that the Lord would make us a gracious vifit, in pouring out upon us his holy fpirit. While things were in this ftate, the people were notified, that two of the neighboring minifters would preach with us, on a particular afternoon, one of whom had the charge of a congregation, at that time vifited with the fenfible prefence of God, and the influences of his fpirit. The peo

public mind becomes impreffed with the importance of real religion, the people of God are animated to greater exertions for pro. ficiency in holiness, and usefulness to their fellow-men, and many fouls are renewed, and become the trophies of divine grace. Thefe confiderations perfuade me to approve the propofal, which has been made, to publifh fome account of the glorious work of God among us, and to believe that it may be extenfively useful; and I am willing to contribute what I am able, by giving a brief narrative of it, in the congregation committed to my charge. Before the prefent unusual attention to religion began among us, the church was few in number, and moft of its members confiderably advanced in life, few additions had been made to it for many years, the people in general were fo unaffected with the things of religion, that they made but fmall impreffion upon them, and there were thofe, who zealously propagated fome of the most dangerous errors, particularly Univerfalism, and with fuch effect, that it very much quieted the apprehenfions, even of thofe who did not profefs to embrace thofe fentiments, it led many fecret-ple collected, and expected fomely to hope that though they continued in fin, they might poffibly efcape the wrath of God, and it rendered the awful threatenings of endlefs punishment in their view, in fome degree queftionable, and fo gave them relief, and encouraged them to neglect religion. Indeed the profpects which concerned the interefts of religion among us, wore a gloomy afpect, and the people of God were affected with them, and fpoke of them with grief. But at this time, it pleafed the great Head of the church to appear among us in his own caufe, and revive the drooping hearts of his

thing unufual, for there had been no very vifible revival among us, fince the year 1783, and at that time the work was fmall, compared with the prefent. Several young people from another town were prefent, who were very much awakened, and as it happened were feated in fight of the greatest part of the congregation. Two fermons were delivered, both well adapted to the occafion." preachers appeared fervent in their prayers and animated in their difcourfes. The people were ferious, and fome of the ftrangers vifiblÿ affected.

The

This was noticed by

ferious meetings, and the concerns of eternity have above all other things, engaged the attention of a large proportion of the people; fo that it would be very ungrateful in us, to be unwilling to acknowledge, that God has been with us in very deed, and ftill continues many pleafing tokens of his gracious prefence.

many, and contributed to produce a fenfible effect on their feelings, and to lead them to ferious reflections on their own condition. The appearance was encouraging, and it was thought the people would willingly attend a meeting in the evening; it was appointed, and generally attended by those who had been prefent in the day time. In this meeting it appeared that the power of God was indeed with us. Many were made fenfible that they were expofed to the wrath of God, and were furprised with their state, as if it had never before been told them, that they were in danger of endless punishment, and needed the falvation of Christ. From that time until the present, (a term of one year,) we have had a general attention to the things of religion, and many ferious meetings and full affemblies on the fabbaths and on other days and evenings and after the religious exercifes which had been intended were clofed, the people have frequently manifefted an unwillingness to retire, and have kept their places, and by their countenances folicited further inftructions. And after making another prayer, or giving fome further exhortations, I have often beened to God, and to rejoice in his the first who has left the meeting, upon which the people have retired to their houses.

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In the whole feafon, nothing noify or tumultuous has been difcovered, no outcries or fwoonings, and none who have been difpofed to relate their own experiences in conferences and public meetings; nor have the evening exercises ever been prolonged to unfeafonable hours; but a filent and earneft attention to religious inftruction has prevailed. Levity, balls and other fimilar diverfions have been laid afide, the ball room has been converted into a place for prayer and

Undoubtedly in the beginning of the work, numbers were moved, with little more than a sympathetic affection, arifing from the novelty and ferioufnefs of the impreflive fcene. But this was not in vain, for the Lord made ufe of it, to open their ears to inftruction, and as that fubfided, it was in many inftances followed, with the most rational conviction of gospel truths, and a realizing fenfe of their importance, which have apparently produced the happieft effects. Numbers who were unmoved at first, have fince been made to enquire with earneftnefs, what they fhall do to be faved. And convictions, I think, gradually increased, thro' the following fpring and fummer. I have converfed with between forty and fifty, who have received comfort, and appear to be reconcil

government, and in their glorious Redeemer; many others are yet attentive, while there is reafon to fear, that the ferioufnefs of fome is on the decline, if not altogether at an end. This indeed is an affecting confideration, and fills the pious mind with fearful apprehenfions concerning their future definy. Alas they know not what they do, when they thus oppofe the convictive influences of God upon their confciences!!! Although there has been a great variety, in the dealings of God, with different individuals, who now give reafon to hope, that they are heartily recon

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