Fathers. During a period of four or five years, commencing with 1798, not less than one hundred and fifty churches in New England were favoured with the special effusions of the Holy Spirit, and thousands of souls, in the judgment of charity, were translated from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son." The distress of Nettleton's soul for a time was great. Every sermon condemned him. Hard views of God troubled him. "At one time he really supposed himself to be dying, and sinking into hell." He then gave up scenes of gaiety, of which he had been fond, and strove with great assiduity to become religious. But his course was "in the spirit of the law, rather than the gospel.” often quarrelled with the divine scheme, and even questioned the very being of God. His soul was not at ease, and his countenance betrayed signs of inward despondency. For ten months a severe conflict continued within. But light and love came through the believing view and acceptance of Christ, and he at length rejoiced as a new-born soul.

He

It was not for some time after this that the thought occurred to him that he was born again. He had such a deep sense of the deceitfulness of the human heart, that he never spoke much of his own religious feelings, and ever entertained the humblest views of his own spiritual attainments. "The utmost that he was willing to say concerning himself was, that he thought it possible he might get to heaven."

After his great change, Mr. Nettleton was desirous to enter the ministry. Poverty was a great obstacle to his getting books, or education, or support; but by patient continuance in pursuit of his object, he passed through

college and was licensed to preach. The death of his father in 1801 devolved upon him the management of the farm, and this hindered for some time his purpose to study. But while busy in the fields, he nursed his holy ambition; and, during his leisure moments, devoted himself to acquire the elementary knowledge requisite to secure his admission to an academic course.

He entered Yale College in 1805. While there, he was decided in his testimony for Christ, and earnest for the souls of his fellow students. And he had the unspeakable joy of seeing a revival among then in 1807-8, when many passed from death to life. Mr. Nettleton was licensed to preach in 1811, and was early honoured in the work of his affection and his faith. But he had no desire to settle in any sphere. He longed to be a missionary. He and other venerated names first conceived of American missions, and did much to prepare the way. But instead of going abroad, as did others, Asahel Nettleton was led by providences unmistakeably clear, to become an evangelist at large among the churches of America. In this he had the sanction of his brethren, and was solemnly ordained to that special office in 1817.

His first success was an earnest of his career. His preaching was "with power, and with the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." He so preached that many believed. This was not because of gifted genius, or glowing oratory, but because of the Spirit's blessing on a thoroughly devoted man, who burned to win souls. "He held no protracted meetings," says one who knew him, "nor did he adopt any new measures apparently for effect. His labours consisted principally in preaching the Word. He sometimes appointed what was called an

....

inquiry meeting. . . . . He was, I believe, eminently a man of prayer. That he entered the pulpit or the inquiry meeting directly from the 'mount of communion' with his Maker, no one could readily doubt who was witness of the holy calm, the indescribable, the almost unearthly solemnity and earnestness of his manner. countenance was peculiarly expressive, his demeanour was dignified, and his voice was at times very melodious. The joy with which his heart seemed to be filled by a contemplation of the love of Jesus, in giving His life a ransom for sinners, marked his preaching, and imparted an unction and uncommon energy to his eloquence. When he spoke of the glories of heaven, it was almost as if he had been there himself. When he made his appeals to the sinner, he made them with a directness which placed before him, as in a mirror, his utterly lost state. It seemed, at times, as if he were about to uncover the bottomless pit, and to invite the ungodly to come and listen to the groans of the dammed; and then, drinking deeply of the spirit of his Master, when He wept over Jerusalem, to urge them to flee from the wrath to come, with an expression of countenance which it is not in my power to describe.”

We cannot wonder that such an earnest gospel ministry, applied with point to the consciences of men, should be abundantly owned. The effects were solemn, convicting, sometimes very alarming. Individuals often required to be removed from the meetings, so great was their distress. On such occasions he would say to the audience, "It may, perhaps, be new to some of you that there should be such distress for sin. But there was great distress on the day of Pentecost, when thousands were pricked in the heart,

and cried out, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Some of you may, perhaps, be ready to say, 'If this is religion, we wish to have nothing to do with it.' My friends, this is not religion. Religion does not cause its These individuals are thus

subjects to feel and act thus. distressed, not because they have religion, but because they have no religion, and have found this out. It was so on the day of Pentecost. The thousands who were pricked in their hearts had found that they had no religion, and were unprepared to meet their God. They had made the discovery that they were lost sinners, and that their souls were in jeopardy every hour." Has the reader made this discovery? Has he yet cried out for mercy?

After solemn impressions by the sermons of Mr. Nettleton, prayer-meetings and inquiry-meetings abounded, where he was a skilled practitioner.

He encouraged prayer-meetings, and wished the people among whom he laboured, to pray specially for a revival of religion. In one place where he had been requested to labour he made the suggestion, and added, “Whether you do or not, it is possible there may be one; for Christians in other places have agreed to pray for you." These words struck deep into the hearts of the people, and many were solemnized. Prayer increased, and inquirers were numerous. There is no doubt that when the people of God are anxious to obtain the outpouring of the Spirit on the preaching of the Word, and unite to seek it, the blessing is likely to come in an intensity of spiritual zeal, and the conversion of many of the ungodly. Let the reader pray for this almighty agency. Let him unite with another in the intercession. Remember the words of the

Lord Jesus, how He said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

Dr. Nettleton had great tact in treating anxious inquirers. "He discouraged everything like confusion and disorder in religious meetings. Whenever he saw any tendency to wild enthusiasm and extravagance, he exerted

This was much. It did

He

all his influence to check it." not repress serious impressions, as some are apt to imagine. He had no fear of the work of God, but he used every plan that was wise to encourage its healthful progress. "While none leant more than he on divine sovereignty, none more carefully used the best means, philosophically adapted to gain his end," is the testimony of a stranger who witnessed his manner. The following remarks are also full of suggestion, "He never adopted the anxious seat, nor any of its kindred measures. never requested persons to rise in the assembly to be prayed for, or to signify that they had given their hearts to God, or that they had made up their minds to attend to the subject of religion. He never encouraged females to pray and exhort in promiscuous assemblies. He never held his meetings to a late hour in the night; nor did he encourage loud praying and exhorting. He did not encourage young converts and others who had more zeal than discretion, to take the charge of religious meetings, or to go forth as public exhorters. He was never personal in his prayers and exhortations, nor did he countenance this practice in others. He did not allow himself to denounce ministers and professors of religion as cold and dead, and as the enemies of revivals."

In dealing with the inquiring, after earnest prayer he