want, an insatiable desire of some good which he has never yet obtained; and when he sees multitudes around him who have found that good, where he knows it can alone exist, in the favor of God, how strong is the appeal to one of the deepest principles of our nature, especially in the case of those who are already somewhat convinced of sin, and of the unsatisfying nature of all worldly enjoyment! It is the very appeal so beautifully set forth in the parable of the prodigal son. It was the reflection that there was bread enough and to spare in his father's house, while he perished with hunger, that made him exclaim, "I will arise and go unto my father." Some years ago, two young ladies, under deep conviction of sin, went, after an evening meeting, to the house of their pastor for further instruction. As the preacher conversed with them much at large, and was urging them, by motives drawn from the love of Christ, instantly to accept the offered salvation, one of them was observed to rest her head upon her hand, as in deep abstraction, till her face sank at last on the table, in solemn and overpowering emotion. After a few moments of entire silence, she looked up with a countenance of serene joy, dropped upon one knee before her companion, and said, with the simplicity of a child, "Julia, do love Christ. He is so beautiful. Do come with me and love Him!" This led Julia to the reflection, "She has entered in while I remain out." "One shall be taken and another left." It was this which seemed to be the means (under God) of bringing her also to Christ before she laid her head that night upon the pillow.

9. The last of these principles to which I shall advert is, the solemnity and awe inspired by a sense of the peculiar presence of God, the sanctifying Spirit.

The feeling of the supernatural is one of the strongest and most subduing emotions of the human heart. It has been used by the adversary of souls to convert unnumbered millions into bond-slaves of the most degrading superstition; and it is worthy of being employed by the Spirit of all grace, as an instrument of bringing the chosen of God to that liberty wherewith Christ shall make them free. It is the great distinctive sentiment of a revival of religion. "How dreadful is this place it is none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven." Such is the feeling with which those who believe in the reality of Divine influence move amid the scenes which are hallowed by the especial presence of the sanctifying Spirit. In the children of God, as they are employed in bearing forward the triumphs of His grace, it awakens that mingled awe and delight which we may imagine filled the breasts of those who bore before the armies of Israel the ark of the covenant, on which rested the Shechinah of the Most

High. To the enemies of God it comes with a solemnity second only to that of the bed of death and the scenes of ing judgment, as they see around them the striking mani of His presence who "will have mercy on whom He will ha and whom He will He hardeneth." "Grieve not the Spir admonition continually impressed upon them by the mess the Most High. "Grieve not the Spirit," is the argume especially by those who have recently tasted the sweetne renovating grace. "Grieve not the Spirit," is the admoniti comes to them at times from those who feel that they hav their day of grace. A striking instance of this kind occurr my own knowledge. A lady who had passed unsubdued more than one of these seasons of visitation from on high, had deliberately stifled her convictions and delayed repent lying on the bed of death when another revival commenced entreated to avail herself of this last period (to her) of the S fluences, she replied that it was utterly in vain; that she ha ately resisted His grace, and now felt that the curse of abar was upon her. Nothing could change her views. She w to the grave with the admonition continually upon her lips who stood around her bedside, "Grieve not the Spirit." T the last words she uttered as she entered the eternal world.

Thus have I given a brief sketch of the rise and progre revivals; of the mode of presenting Divine truth which found most effectual at such periods; and of those princip mental constitution which are appealed to with peculiar these seasons of concentrated religious interest. As the signed me have already been exceeded, I must here leave th commending the very imperfect exhibition which has now b to the candor and prayers of the Christian reader.

CHAPTER VIII.

SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS ON REVIVALS OF RELIGI

I WILL add but a few words to the full discussion of the Religious Revivals contained in the preceding chapter.

That chapter, as the reader will have perceived, treats på of the revivals that have taken place in New England, that part of the United States with which its author is most inti quainted. But as it has fallen to my lot to be conversant

different evangelical denominations of all parts of the country, during several years devoted to religious and philanthropic enterprises, it may not be amiss that I should give the result of that experience.

I should say, then, that the same blessed influences so signally manifested in the churches and many of the literary institutions of New England, have been experienced, perhaps in no less measure, among the evangelical churches of all denominations throughout the United States. I have been witness to these blessed movements in a large number of those States, and have ever found their effects to be, in all essential respects, the same.

It may be fairly remarked that under a permanent, well-instructed minister, revivals are usually less alloyed with unnecessary, and, on the whole, injurious accompaniments, such as great physical excitement, manifesting itself in sobbing, or crying, or other forms of violent agitation. Still, it is not the case that a preacher has it in his power to repress all such indications. Much depends on the kind of people with whom he has to do. Among the rude and uneducated, who are accustomed to boisterous expressions of feeling, there will always be found more visible and irrepressible excitement than in other cases.

It is not very wonderful, however, that when a considerable number of persons who have been spending all their lives in rebellion against God, and in the neglect of their souls, become, as it were, suddenly awakened out of a profound sleep, they should be ready, in the distress into which they are thrown by a view of the jeopardy in which they stand, like Saul of Tarsus, to exclaim, "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" I have seen times when under the preaching of the Gospel, such pungent distress has been produced by pressing the truth on plain and comparatively ignorant minds, that it was impossible to maintain the calmness to be found in a congregation of educated and refined persons, among whom, nevertheless, there might be quite as much real contrition of heart for sin.

That some excellent men, who have been eminently useful in the ministry, are not sufficiently careful in repressing unnecessary manifestations of feeling is certain, and they are to be found in all denominations. Some, even, are so much wanting in prudence as rather to encourage such outbursts of feeling. But among so many ministers, widely different from each other in education, intellectual acquirements, and modes of thinking on almost every subject, entire agreement as to the best ways of conducting a revival, so far as human agency is concerned, is not to be expected.

It is delightful to think that revivals of religion have really occurred, and do every year occur, to a greater or less extent, in all our

States, and among all the evangelical denominations. And they may not always be so quietly and judiciously cond might be desired, in the newer parts of the country, and w population is somewhat rude, yet they have certainly e happy influence upon the churches and upon society, where have occurred.

CHAPTER IX.

ALLEGED ABUSES IN REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

Ir was my first intention not to add any thing to what said in the chapter on revivals respecting the abuses allege been connected with them; but, on further reflection, I con a few words more on that point will not be amiss.

No man, certainly, who is at all acquainted with huma should be surprised to hear that the greatest blessings bes mankind are liable to be abused, and even the purest an qualities to be counterfeited. Where, then, is there any m astonishment should we find that abuses mingle with rel vivals, through man's imprudence and the malignity of the versary, or even should we discover some revivals which be called spurious?

Whatever abuses, notwithstanding, may at any time h place in the revivals in America, or whatever spurious ones occurred, it can not be disputed that our truly zealous, i and devoted Christians believe firmly in the reality of rev consider that, when wisely promoted, they are the greates desirable blessings that can be bestowed upon the church are, I admit, persons among us who oppose religious revi would be sad evidence against them if there were not. the openly wicked, the profane, Sabbath-breakers, enemies ligion in every form, and avowed or secret infidels. The first category, and it is not a very small one. They may our cities and large towns, and sometimes in our villag the very persons whom strangers are most likely to meet hotels and taverns. Next, there are Roman Catholics, Universalists, and others whose Christianity is greatly m errors and heresies. These, too, almost without exceptio vivals, nor can we wonder that they should. A third cl of those members of our evangelical churches who conform

to the opinions and practices of the world; are so much afraid of what they call enthusiasm and fanaticism as to do nothing, or nothing worthy of mention, for the promotion of the Gospel; and would never be known to be Christians, either by the world or by their fellow-Christians, were they not occasionally seen to take their places at the communion-table. Some such there are in all our evangelical churches, and in one or two of those whose discipline is more lax than it should be, they constitute a considerable party.

Now it is natural that European travelers in the United States, when not decidedly religious themselves, should chiefly associate with one or all of these three classes; and that, taking up their notions from them, they should have their note-books and journals filled with all sorts of misrepresentations with respect to our religious revivals. Hence many, who have never visited America, owe all their ideas on that subject to writers whose own information was partial and incorrect, and who, as their very books show, know nothing of true religion, and would never have touched upon the subject, but that they wished to give piquancy to their pages by working up for the wonder and amusement of their readers every false and exaggerated statement, and foolish anecdote, which had been poured into their ears.

But serious and worthy people in Europe, and particularly in Great Britain, have been prejudiced against revivals in another way. There have been excellent men among us, who, apprehending much danger to the cause of revivals from certain measures taken to promote them by zealous, but injudicious persons, and perceiving the mischievous results of such measures, have faithfully exposed them, and warned the churches to be upon their guard. This they have done in the columns of our religious journals, in pamphlets, and in books. Their endeavors have met with much success against the enemy, who, failing to prevent, had been seeking to pervert these blessed manifestations of Divine mercy. But, as was natural, the strong language in which they were prompted to indulge by the actual view of some evils, and the apprehension of worse, have impressed foreigners with very exaggerated ideas of those evils. This result was perhaps unavoidable, yet it is much to be deplored; for injury has thus been done to the cause abroad by men who would be the last to intend it.

It is an infelicity to which all endeavors for good are subject in this evil world, that they are liable to be marred by proffered aid from men who, notwithstanding the fairest professions, prove, at length, to have been more actuated by their own miserable ambition than by a true zeal for God's glory and man's salvation. Such false friends did no small injury to the great revival of religion in 1740-43,