degree of assurance and self-confidence. Almost all were alarmed more or less lest their wicked hearts should deceive them; and they should be found to have walked in the light of their own fire and in the sparks which they had kindled. They were modest and retiring-esteeming others better than themselves; apparently of a meek and humble spirit; searching the scriptures for light and for the trial of their faith, and seeking counsel and instruction from age and experience. Often have I heard the remark made, "It is a wonder that God should have mercy on such a sinner as I am. It seems, if I am saved, that it must be a miracle." Never have I heard it said, "How easy a thing it is to be a Christian-It is strange that I could not see it before— Why it is just as easy to love God as to love the world, or to love our parents or our brothers." Never in a single instance have I known the young and inexperienced convert to denounce hoary headed and experienced Christians-because they could not feel and talk and pray as he did-as cold or dead, or as backsliders. They felt that to glorify and enjoy God would be their reasonable service and chief delight; and that although he should cast them off and leave them to be miserable forever, it would still be their duty to adore him, and that his name would be magnified in their destruction. Comparatively but a small number of those who were believed to be converts, furnished serious grounds for apprehension by their future lives, that they had been deceived themselves and had deceived others. A vast majority gave satisfactory evidence that God had begun a good work in their hearts; and ground for hope that it would be carried on, till finally through his grace abounding in Christ Jesus, it would be made perfect in glory.

In general, those who at first manifested most confidence in themselves, who were the least troubled with doubts and fears, did not furnish by the manner of their subsequent lives, the best evidence to others for hopes of their good estate. Of this class were much the greater proportion of those who entirely abandoned their hopes, and (speaking after the manner of men) were farther from God and heaven than before. While those who began to hope with trembling, who were most distrustful of themselves, most jealous of their deceitful hearts, and seemed hardly to presume that God would condescend to bestow pardoning mercy on such rebels as they had been, were found, in general, most steadily to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God, and to become the most consistent, stable, and devoted Christians.

The means used in the progress of the revivals with which I have

formerly been conversant, were such as have long been practised in our churches, and have received the approbation of the greatest and best men in generations that are past as well as in our own; and to which the Great Head of the church has unequivocally given his sanction in their propitious results. Means which are directly prescribed in the Gospel, or are believed to be in strict conformity with its spirit. I mean, preaching the truths of God's word with plainness and discrimination; setting forth the perfections of God, the reasonableness of his requirements, the dependance of man, his relations and obligations to God, his ruined condition by nature and the way of his recovery—meetings for conference, exhortation, and prayer; and visiting from room to room, and privately conversing with the students-both with the anxious and others. The latter is a practice which may be adopted with peculiar convenience in a college. And any man acquainted with the circumstances of a college, and with the character and situation of its inmates, must be persuaded that there is hardly any one means besides, from which consequences more happy, could rationally be anticipated.

Other revivals of religion have I witnessed formerly in our churches; but I will not enumerate nor describe them. But all which have fallen within my observation till recently, though generally attended with much power, were yet characterized by a good degree of order and stillness. And their genuineness has been attested by their results.

You may expect from me some account of the religious excitements which have lately fallen within my notice in the region in which I reside. I will only say that the measures which have been adopted, and to a great extent the results which have been witnessed, have formed a melancholy contrast to those which have characterized the revivals with which I have been conversant in former days; though it gives me pleasure to state my conviction that the extravagances which have prevailed among us are gradually subsiding, and that our churches generally are becoming more deeply impressed with the importance of adhering to the great principles of gospel order.

That God may give you strength, and prosper all your judicious efforts for the protection and advancement of the interests of his church, is the sincere wish and prayer of

Your friend and brother,

HENRY DAVIS.

LETTER XXI.

FROM THE REVEREND THOMAS DE WITT, D.D. Associate Pastor of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Churches in the city of New York.

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

New York, June 10, 1833.

No topic is of more vital importance and transcendant interest, than the promotion of the work of the Spirit in the midst of the church, and by her instrumentality. The proper character of that work, and the best means by which it may be increased and extended, deserve the most careful investigation, and should be held in prominence before the church, so as to excite and regulate her zeal and efforts. Just in proportion to the incalculable value of true revivals, is the importance of guarding and promoting their purity, fruitfulness, and permanence. The church has always more to fear from the enemy within the camp, in the subtlety of a corrupting and perverting process, than from the enemy without, in the boldness of direct opposition ;--more when he appears in the form of an angel of light, than when he goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And in no way will he more successfully operate, than by perverting in their use those very means, which, when rightly used, prove most efficient for promoting the work of the Spirit in genuine revivals, or by connecting with them unscriptural, insidious, or injurious means and measures. This may be poisoned the fountain which should prove the source of the prosperity and peace of the church.

No principle can be plainer in its proof, or more important in its application, than this, that whatever deviates from and opposes the purity of the truth and the order of the church, in her divinely appointed institutions, must prove (whatever may be the transient excitements, and the present appearances of good,) the source of great and extensive evil. No true Christian can ever feel indifference in relation to a revival, or exercise any cold distrust at the indications of the commencement or extension of one; but on the contrary, he will always with glowing sympathy, and active co-operation, greet these tokens. But

in the ardor of his spirit, and the zeal of his efforts, he should be solicitous that the means employed should always exhibit and guard divine truth in its simplicity and purity, consist with the order of the church, and promise to confer the greatest amount of benefit upon the church permanently. The history of the church in every age, shows that the seasons of her spiritual prosperity have not been unaccompanied with danger, and exhibits the process by which her order has been disturbed, truth has been corrupted, and a train laid for desolating evils in time to come. Such was the case in the primitive Christian church, when the word greatly prevailed, and great grace was upon the people; even then disorder and error sought to gain prevalence. Such has been the case in various parts of the protestant church, at various times, since the Reformation. A monitory lesson is thus furnished which should not be disregarded or unimproved. The American churches have been favored at several periods with seasons of revival, bearing much precious fruit, and exerting a most salutary influence, yet not unattended with dangers and evils. The extensive revivals in the northern and middle states about the middle of the last century, gave rise to some of the most valuable of President Edwards' words, in which he delineates the nature and tests of true religion, explains the means by which the work of the Spirit of God in the revival of religion may be most effectually promoted, and exposes the evils and dangers incident to it, and the best way of guarding against and removing them. His treatises on the affections and on revivals, possess a permanent interest and value, and cannot be too carefully weighed and applied by private Christians and by churches. The period of the present century which has elapsed, has been characterized by the kindling of a new spirit within the church, which is evidenced by the successful and growing operations of the various benevolent religious institutions of the day, and in the energies which are exerted for the promotion of true religion at home and abroad. The revivals of religion which of late have become so multiplied and extended, have exerted, and are exerting, a most beneficent influence, which is found and felt in many forms, and bearing upon the interests of religion in all its departments. Who does not rejoice that he is permitted to live in this "day of the Son of Man," when the call to the church is "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee;" when such avenues are opening, such facilities furnished, and such means multiplied for efficient effort in promoting the kingdom of Christ? Who does not rejoice at the dence of enlightened zeal and devoted effort spreading in our church

and at the gathering of multitudes of sinners unto Christ? Who does not hope, that by the healthful action of the church, and under the abundant outpouring of the Divine Spirit, a series and increase of scriptural, pure, and permanent revivals will ensue, which will rapidly advance the kingdom of Christ, until "the whole earth shall be filled with his glory"? But who has not at the same time with pain marked the evils which have been spreading, of a nature very similar to those delineated by President Edwards, and which threaten to impair the purity of truth, and the order and harmony of the church, and in their consequences to produce a reaction most prejudicial to the blessed cause of true revivals?

The work on Revivals which you have furnished to the Christian public, appears to me to be most opportune, and in its spirit and matter, well calculated to produce a happy effect, both in awaking Christians and churches from slumber, cold speculation, and orderly formality, to cordial and active exertions in promoting the work of God, and at the same time in exposing and counteracting the evils springing up. Such a work was needed, and it is to be hoped will, under the divine blessing, tend to unite the friends of evangelical truth in promoting true revivals, and in guarding against evils in their first rise and resisting their inroads. I had intended to have presented very briefly some views on the measures employed for the promotion of revivals; but considering that the subject is fully and satisfactorily discussed in your work, and ably alluded to in the letters appended to it, I have on further reflection deemed it most proper to withhold them.

The portion of the church of Christ with which I am connected, (the Reformed Dutch Church in America) has at different times in several parts, been favored with gracious seasons of revival. At the time of Whitfield's first labors in America, there was already existing a powerful, extended, and well marked work of grace, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Frelinghuysen, in the neighborhood of Somerville and New Brunswick, N. J. The blessed fruits of this work were widely spread in those parts, endured through the following generations, and may yet be clearly traced at the present time. Subsequently, the ministries of Dr. Laidlie at New York, and Dr. Westerlo at Albany, tended greatly to elevate the tone of evangelical sentiment and piety in our churches, and were greatly blessed in the conversion of sinners. The ministry of the late Dr. Livingston is well remembered as most richly evangelical, and clothed with a holy unction, while the dew of heaven was upon it in success. At one