Page images
PDF
EPUB

sinners for Christ's sake, and I believe he will pardon my sins. I renounce all dependance in every thing else, and depend upon Christ alone, and believe he will receive me. I thought I was going to hell, but I think now I shall go to heaven." The next morning he was asked what views he had then. He said that he had clear views of the glory of God. He was asked whether he thought God would be glorious if he should send him to hell, and punish him for his sins. He replied, "O, yes. I feel that I deserve eternal punishment, but I believe that God, in infinite mer cy will save me."

This day his parents sent for me, in the expectation that he would live but a few hours, and with a desire, I suppose, that I might witness the alteration that had taken place in his mind, though no intimation of it was given to me. He took hold of my hand, when I came to his bedside, with a cordiality that he had never before expressed. His countenance and his whole manner indicated the existence of new affections. He could say but little from extreme weakness, but apparently felt much more than he could communicate, of, contrition for sin, reliance upon the Savior, joyful hope of acceptance in his name, and resignation to the will of God. He evidently put a restraint upon himself, lest, by giving vent to his feelings, he should be entirely overcome. Soon after this, there was a mitigation of his complaints, and he was in a good measure comfortable in his bodily state, and continued so for several days. Through this time, and to the close of life, he ap

peared dead to the world, ex pressing the sense he had of the vanity of every thing upon earth, and his astonishment that he could have been so eagerly engaged in worldly pursuits, as he had been. This, he said, was evidence of the total depravity of his heart. At times he was a subject of spiritual darkness, and had doubts of his covenant interest in the grace of God. He appeared, however, humble, and determined to lie at the feet of Jesus; and, as he expressed himself, if he perished, to perish there. This darkness was, at intervals, considerably dispelled, and his comfort and joy in God returned.

On the morning of the 20th of January, he requested to have the family called together, and told them he was going to leave them. He first addressed his parents, and urged them to con. tinue their endeavors to train up his brothers and sisters in the way they should go: and he wished them to do all in their power for the promotion of religion in the world. He then exhorted each one of his brothers and sisters to read the Bible, and to believe in Christ. He said, “I am going to heaven. I am sure of it. I have seen the glory of God, and the glory of the kingdom of God. I have seen the holy angels, and the spirits of the just.* They are all engag ed in praising God, and I long to join them." He said, "O that every person in this town may

• This is not to be taken as though he pretended to have seen them with the bodily eye, but that he had seen them with the eye or faith. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for. and the evidence of things not seen.'

come to Christ! O that Mr. A. may have great success here! O that every body would come to Christ!" He then took an affectionate leave of the family. I visited him on the day, in which he died. The moment he saw me enter the door, with a countenance, and an effort, strongly expressive of faith and affection, he reached out his hand towards me, and said, "I can now shake hands with a Christian." Being very low, however, he did not say much, but was attentive to all that was said to him, and manifested a fixed and comfort.

able reliance upon an all sufficient Redeemer. Thus he expired in the 23d year of his age. And it is the belief of the pious in this place, that his immortal spirit, being through sovereign mercy prepared for glory, has ascended to heaven.

May every young person who reads these sketches, be induced, in view of the infinite desirableness of enjoying the gracious presence of God on a death-bed, immediately to flee from the wrath to come, and to lay hold on the hope set before us.

SELECTION.

[blocks in formation]

Is your August Number, one of your Correspondents favored us with his sentiments upon the causes of the popularity of Evangelical Preaching. Without discussing the merits of that paper, we may consider it as connected with a question, of the greatest practical importance: What is the cause, that when there are so many preachers of the Gospel, and so many hearers attending them, the influence of the Gospel is so small? That such is the case appears clear, not only from the complaints of very many ministers, but from

If we

facts before our eyes. take the generality of churches, even where men of acknowledged piety officiate, we find but a Comparatively small number of communicants; often not one in ten of the congregation; and a still smaller number of persons, who, in any given time, exhibit decided proofs of their being real Christians. So much is this the case, that it has been said, that ministers of the present day might be called anglers, rather than fishers of men; now and then instrumental to a solitary conversion, but scarcely ever going beyond this. I need not mention that there have been seasons when it has been far otherwise. In the days of the Apostles, at the era of the Reformation, in the time of Mr. Edwards and some other good men in America, the Holy Spirit seemed to be remarkably afforded, and extensive effects followed. What is the cause,

then, that there are so few flourishing churches amongst ourselves; that whilst they abound with hearers, the word of God comes to so few "in power and demonstration of the Spirit?" The question is one of the first importance and demands the investigation of every friend to vital godliness. The object of this paper is to lead your readers to a consideration of the subject, while it points out a few of the probable causes of this Divine favor being withheld, and suggests some means which may be instrumental in procuring so great a blessing.

The first cause which may be assigned, is the prevalence of certain national sins-such as profaning the name of the Lord, by oaths of office, upon every trifling occasion; the public gambling in the lottery; and other offences, which are not only tolerated, but authorized, by the nation. But on these evils I will not dwell at present, but advert to others, which depend less on legislative provision for their removal.

Another cause has a particular reference to persons professing religion. How many of these may be considered as grieving the Spirit of God, by not acting up to their convictions of their duty? There are few persons of any seriousness who do not admit, for example, the duty of family prayer, the sinfulness of conformity to the world, and the absolute necessity of devotedness to God; and yet are there not very many who do in practice act agreeably to these admissions? Added to this, we might mention the dishonor done to God, in some congregations, by slighting

the prayers of the church; many either not coming into his house till this part of the service is nearly ended, or acting, when there, as if they forgot that the worship of the holy God was to be their employment. His language is, "Them that honor me, I will honor." But can we suppose, that, when a slight is put upon that part of the service which peculiarly teaches us our dependance upon God, he will bless such a people? If to these omissions we add a want of earnestness, in secret family and social prayer, for the influence of the Holy Spirit (for; alas! how few are continually and earnestly pleading with God for this blessing!) we shall see that it is on account of the lukewarmness of his people, God gives not his blessing to their assemblies.

But, as one who desires to bring the subject nearer to himself, and to benefit his brethren, I would mention another cause why there is not a more abundant spiritual influence at present; and that, one which connects itself with the more pious part of the clergy. I most freely admit, that they are in general men who are devoted to the work of the ministry, and desirous to use the best means of promoting the religion of the Scriptures; and that, so far are they from deserving the reproaches which have been cast upon them, that it may be justly said, they are men of firm religious principle, of sound doctrine, and of holy lives. The points in which they fall short arise partly from the peaceable state of the church, which induces them to be better pleased with the world as the world is better tempered towards them; and

partly from their not sufficiently honoring the Holy Spirit, by frequently exhibiting him in his various offices of the Convincer of sin, the Enlightener of the mind, the Comforter, the Rememberancer, the Helper cf our prayers; in short as that Person in the blessed Trinity who is to work all our works in us, as the Lord Jesus has done all for us. We ought never to lose sight of this, that the conversion of sinners is a work which none but an Almighty Power can effect. We do not so often as we ought hear ministers declaring their own utter insufficiency, except as instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and hence earnestly entreating their congregations to pray for his Divine influence that their labors may be blessed. Connected with the defect just noticed, is a failure in fully exhibiting the Lord Jesus Christ; making him, as it were, the chief figure in the picture, and connecting the whole circle of doctrines, precepts, promises, and exhortations with him as a centre. If we lose sight of our blessed Redeemer, we shall find some obscurity in every doctrine. Exclude him as a motive, or as an example, and the precepts will not be followed with the same delight, nor appear with such beauty as in his perfect character. Omit him in the promises, and there will be no rock upon which you may stand; while to him they are all yea and amen. Unless this point be kept in view, the influence of the Holy Spirit will be very confined: for it is his special office to honor Christ; as our Lord says, "He shall glorify me, for he shall reVOL. V. New Series.

ceive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

Another ministerial defect, is the not setting forth the whole counsel of God. Some confine themselves mostly to doctrines; others almost exclusively to practice; without attending to the proportion or harmony of truth. So that some congregations acquire a doctrinal turn, while others hear little of those cheering truths which are the grand motives to practice. Ministers also should preach more frequently and pointedly upon conversion; plainly declaring to their people, that there are but two grand divisions of men, those who "are dead in trespasses and sins," and those who are "alive" to God; shewing how far natural sweetness and amiableness of disposition fall short of the graces of the Spirit; laying open the holy law of God as the ministration of condemnation, and alarming the impenitent by the clear exhibition of the Judgment and its consequences. Unless this plain and practical mode of preaching is adopted, it will be in vain to rest upon general statements of human depravity. The sinner must be convinced of the sins of his own heart, and of his own life, and of his consequent danger, before he can be led to feel that he must indeed be born again before he can enter into heaven.

From the feeble manner in which these important truths are often treated it happens, that any immediate or powerful impression from hearing the word of God, so as from that day to be turned unto the Lord, is not only not expected, but is considered

5

as mere enthusiasm. And yet in point of fact it was frequentlythus in the apostolic times. The three thousand baptised on the day of Pentecost were converted by a single sermon; Lydia's heart was opened under one discourse; and Dionysius, Damaris, and others, became believers under St. Paul's preaching to the Athenians. What took place then has frequently happened since; and there are even at this day many plain, practical, excellent Chris

tians, who can recollect, equally with the first Christians, the sermon which first affected their minds with a sense of the weight and importance of eternal things. But when the hope is almost exploded, it cannot be surprising if the thing itself should rarely follow. If ministers do not look to the Lord to give an immediate blessing to his word, can they often expect to receive it?

(To be continued.)

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

[blocks in formation]

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.

WITH lively sensibility, and with grateful acknowledgements to the Father of mercies, the Trustees of this Society meet their Brethren on this pleasing anniversary, and make their annual Report.

The Board, at the commencement of the year, appointed eight missionaries: the Rev. JOTHAM SEWALL, to be employed the whole year, nine months in the District of Maine, and three months in the destitute parts of the state of Rhode Island; the Rev. JOSEPH BADGER, to be employed half the time during six months, in the region about Lake Erie; Mr. JACOB BURBANK, for four months, on the western side of Lake Champlain; Mr. SAMUEL PARKER, for six months

about the head waters of the Susque hannah and Gennessee rivers; the Rev. URBANE HITCHCOCK, for four months in the north west part of Ver. mont; the Rev. JOHN LAWTON, for three months in the state of Vermont, on the east side of the mountain; the Rev. JOHN SAWYER, for three months in the District of Maine, at Greenland and other places at his discretion; and the Rev. CALEB BURGE, for six months in the District of Maine, in concurrence with the Church in Bethel.

The Rev. Mr. Se wall, agreeably to his appointment, spent the year in the service of the Society; divided his time, in the proportions prescribed, between the District of Maine, and the state of Rhode Island; and, as ap. pears from his journal, fulfilled his mission with his wonted diligence, fidelity and zeal. "I rode," says he, "nearly 3000 miles-delivered 379 sermons-attended 24 conferences, and 19 prayer meetings-visited 618 families, and 38 schoolscatechised children 21 times-admitted 10 persons to church fellowshipbaptised 4 adults and 49 childrenand administered the Lord's Supper 20 times."-"People in general appeared ready to attend my ministrations, and to be thankful for mission. ary services." "Divine influences

« EelmineJätka »