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Revivals of Religion.

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REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

Extract of a letter from a minister of the Gospel in Norfolk, Va. to his friend in Philadelphia, dated August 12, 1822.

We believe God has graciously revived the languishing graces of some of his people here, and is exciting very strong expectations of a general outpouring of his Spirit upon his churches here. That you may judge correctly of our present state, I will mention some recent occurrences. Last Friday week, at the urgent request of Rev. Benjamin Rice, I visited Petersburgh, where a glorious work of revival has been experienced for the last three weeks, in the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. To the former thirty-seven, and to the latter fifty new converts have been added since the work began, and it is rapidly progressing. Many are inquiring" What they should do to be saved ?" I staid. in Petersburgh six days and a half, during which time I attended twenty meetings, which were all crowded, solemn and attentive. The last Thursday before I left them we held three meetings. The first continued five hours; and during that time, three young ladies, and two young gentlemen, before under deep impressious, professed conversion, and rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. In the afternoon, one or two more obtained peace, and in the course of the afternoon a great number appeared to be deeply convicted. In this state I the next morning left them. Four or five of my people were in Petersburgh with me, and obtained from God rich spiritual blessings.

On my return last Saturday evening, I attended a revival prayer-meeting which has been established at my house a few weeks, and has been attended by about ten male members of the church. At the close of that meeting, in which all was cold and cheerless as the grave, I proposed a meeting at sunrise the next morning. About eight persons attended; and, in a short time after the meeting began, the Spirit seemed all at once to seize on every soul present, and not a single heart remained unmelted, and not a dry eye was seen in the room during the remainder of the meeting which lasted about two hours. We then separated till 9 o'clock, when we met again and were joined by a few more, and all seemed equally as much impressed as in the sunrise meeting. After the morning service in the church, another prayer-meeting was appointed at three o'clock; and at the hour, both the lower rooms, and passages and front pavement of my house were crowded. At night a still larger house was crowded. In both meetings very deep and solemn impressions seem to have been made on the hearts both of saints and sinners. At sunrise this morning, my house was again crowded with males and females, ardently praying for a reviv 1; most of them on their knees renewed their covenant with God, aud pledged themselves to attend these meetings every morning, until the Lord revives his work. Six convicted sinners stood up in the meeting this morning, and thus expressed their anxiety for the salvation of their souls, and their desire of a special interest in the prayers of God's people. Thus much the Lord has already done for us, and our hearts are glad. Dear friends, I beg an interest in your prayers that I may be sustained and have grace to be faithful. Rel. Remembrancer.

Extract of a letter from Rev. Cyrenius M. Fuller, dated

Dorset, Ver., March 18, 1822. Reverend and dear Brother.-While I have taken such peculiar de light in reading accounts of religious revivals, I have concluded it might not be uninteresting to the friends of Zion, to hear of the good work of God in this place.

In some instances, those who at the commencement of the work treated it with ridicule and disdain, were, before its close, brought to bow to the mild sceptre of Prince Emanuel, and to claim those whom they so recently disdained, as their nearest friends on earth.

Meetings were attended almost every day, and not unfrequently was some poor distressed soul liberated during the service. In one instance after attending a lecture at a school house, a number of young people retired to a neighbouring house, when it was soon ascertained, that one of the family had entertained a hope in Christ during the meeting, and began with songs of joy to praise the name of Jehovah, for her deliverance from such a deep sense of guilt. On discovery of her state of mind, those remaining under conviction seemed at once to despair of ever finding mercy; they exclaimed aloud, "we are left alone to perish in our sins." There were about 12 young persons present, five or six of whom belonged to the family where we were assembled. These were deeply affected, often asking, "what shall we do to be saved!" While some young converts were singing, one of them exclaimed, "how can they sing while we are sinking down to hell ?" often in their agony applying to me, to know what they should do to be saved. Each of the above persons have since given evidence of a well grounded hope in Christ.

In another instance, a youth in relating her experience to the church, compared her change to awaking out of sleep. Her first desire was for the conversion of an intimate friend in the assembly, (for it was in a meeting that she entertained a hope ;) from thence to the whole assembly, and to use her own language," in an instant to the whole world, that they might behold and rejoice in such a blessed Redeemer as she had found!" Another man being deprived, by an impediment in his speech, of addressing the assembly verbally in a religious conference, was so impressed with the situation of his neighbours, that he wrote, and presented to be read, an address, which seemed like the stones crying out, while the professed followers of Christ held their peace.

In a judgment of charity, it is believed that about fifty have been brought into the liberty of the Gospel. Twenty-two have followed their Master down into the liquid grave, and have been planted together in the likeness of his death, and united with the Church in this place; four have united with the Congregationalists. The remainder, mostly through doubts of their own state, have not as yet united with any church. We can say in view of the long depression which this Church has undergone, "The Lord hath heard her mourning voice, and comes to exalt his power."

Within the limits of the Vermont Association, there has been perhaps the most powerful work that has ever been witnessed in this region ; principally in those towns bordering on Lake Champlain. But I am

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not able to state particulars. In some towns, I learn that more than two hundred have been brought out into the liberty of the Gospel. While God is thus carrying on his gracious work, it cannot fail to swell the hearts of saints with gratitude, and bid them to look forward to that long expected era, when the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea; and one universal anthem of praise arise from all intelligent beings, to the once crucified, but now exalted Lamb of God, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

ORDINATION OF MISSIONARIES.--NEW-HAVEN.

On Wednesday evening the 11th inst. an ordaining council was convened in the Philosophical Chamber of Yale College, pursuant to a request from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, for purposes preparatory to the ordination of Messrs. William Goodell, William Richards, and Artemas Bishop, as ministers of the Gospel, and Evangelists, to labour among the heathen. The ordaining council was composed of the ministers and delegates from the following Church, viz. two Churches in Hartford, two in New-Haven, one in Yale College, one in New-London, one in Fairfield, the west Church in Greenwich, and the Church in Cornwall. The Rev. Dr. Flint was appointed Moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Mervin, Scribe. The members of the board of missions present were invited to sit as members of the council, and after prayer by the Moderator, they proceeded to the examination of the three missionaries, which was unanimously sustained.

On Thursday the ordination services commenced about 10 o'clock, A. M. in the Centre Church, the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of Greenwich, offered the introductory prayer; the sermon was preached by the Rev Dr. Miller, of Princeton, from Isaiah, Ixi. 4. "And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations." The Rev. Dr. Lyman, of Hatfield, offered the ordaining prayer; the Rev. Dr. Flint, of Hartford, gave the charge; the Rev. Mr. Hawes, of Hartford, expressed the fellowship of the Churches, and the Rev. Mr. McEwen, of New-London, offered the concluding prayer. The services were peculiarly solemn and highly appro priate, and a collection of about $240 was taken up for the purposes of the Board. After a recess of about half an hour, the Board of Commissioners, the ordaining council, a large number of clergymen, the mission family, the members of the Congregational churches in the city, many persons from the neighbouring, and some from distant towns, and several of the youths from the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, assembled in the North Church, and commemorated the death of our blessed Redeemer. The services were performed by the Rev. President Bates, and the Rev. Dr. Beecher.

Our limits oblige us to defer, to another number, a further account of the interesting services which we had the pleasure of witnessing at New Haven the last week.

THE FEVER.

Oh, Thou that wilt not break the bruised reed,

Nor heap fresh ashes on the mourner's brow,

Nor rend anew the wounds that inly bleed,

The only balm of our affliction Thou,

Teach us to bear thy chastening wrath, oh God:

To kiss with quivering lips-stil humbly kiss thy rod !

Ir is well known to our readers, that there has been, as yet, no abatement of the calamity with which our city is visited. Compared with the visitations of former years, and with those just fears which at an early period alarmed our community, we have reason to acknowledge the forbearance and kindness of God. And we think we perceive, that God has intended to warn and reclaim us, rather than to overwhelm and destroy us. We have been shown that we were in the hand of God; and wherever our citizens have fled, thither have they been follow ed, and one and another have fallen victims to the destroyer, as a warning to ALI VOL. IX. 36

-"Be ye therefore ready also; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Our readers might naturally expect that a visitation so awful in judgment, and yet so marked with merciful forbearance and warning, would have produced a perceptible benefit upon the morals and religion of the people. We fear, however, that instead of receiving the spiritual benefit which this mingled visitation has offered us, we are suffering an increase of stupidity and irreligion; that we are making our mercies and our judgments equally a curse to us, because we will not lay the divine visitations to heart. Different denominations of Christians have, indeed, set apart days of humiliation and prayer, and seasons of especial prayer; and God has seemed to be with them of a truth; and notwithstanding other unfavourable symptoms, we have hailed, and still do consider this fact as a token for good; and we believe that many prayers are offered up, which will not be forgotten. Yea, we are encouraged by them to greater urgency with our readers, that they should make the present a season of humble and earnest entreaty,―viz: that God would remove from us his present judgments; which he can remove in a day; but above all things, that he would convince the thoughtess thousands of our citizens that HE reigns, and that HE will call every man to answer for the deeds done in the body; and that He will condemn the sinner that believes not on the Lord Jesus Christ.

In urging our readers to this great duty of intercession, we refer them for a solemn and useful lesson, to the parable of the unfruitful fig-tree.-(See Luke, xiii. 6, 7, 8, 9.) They will perceive that their intercession should be accompanied with a promise of faithful labour; and that it brings upon the soul a heavy responsibility. Enter your closets and pray for the unfruitful sinners, whom God threatens to destroy. Go forth from your closet to the toil, and see if the fruits of righteousness will not appear to the glory of God, and the salvation of men.

We have not the privilege of bearing a part in the official councils of our city We hope, however, the suggestions of the CHRISTIAN Herald, will not be unwelcome at such a time as this. We beg leave to press upon the BOARD OF HEALTH, and the CORPORATION, the duty and importance of calling upon our citizens, to unite in humiliation and prayer. Some classes of our citizens have already united in this duty, but as an afflicted city we have not yet united. Nor can we unite, except by a call from the public authorities. We may some of us pray in private, and in public assemblies, but we cannot humble ourselves unitedly as a city, we cannot unitedly seek the deliverance which all hearts desire until we hear the call of the HEAD, and LEADERS of our city. For want of this call we present the spectacle of a city which for seventy days has been suffering one of the most awful visitations, without looking to the God of Heaven for forgiveness and deliverance. We mean not to speak evil of the rulers of our people-we mean not to suspect that the honourable individuals of our Corporation, have not been as remarkable for their private supplications to God, as they have been for their public prayerlessness, but we do mean to complain, that in the midst of a long continued and awful public calamity, and notwithstanding some urgent requests, and some public suggestions, that we have till now remained as prayerless a city, as if we believed not in the existence and providence of a God.

Nor is this a captious complaint. The occasion might soften and subdue the most irritated mind. But our regret and sorrow are daily deepened, while we see no public acknowledgment of the Divine Hand, and no public resort for deliver ance but to those second causes, whose instrumentality depends upon the mysterious guidance of the UNSEEN AND UNNOTICED GOD.

Seaman's Magazine.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they [sailors] glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Psalms.

FIRST FRUITS OF THE REV. W. H. ANGAS'S MISSION. Harwich, June 17, 1822.

MY DEAR SIR-I am on the eve of leaving this place for Ipswich. I received the supply of reports and magazines you sent me before I left London on my way to Colchester, first having to pay off by a few days' stay an old and frequent invitation to Rose Cottage, near Brentwood, the country residence of a relation there. Almost immediately on my arrival there, I proceeded to a place called the Hythe, where the shipping lay, which is about a mile and a half from the town. I went on board of the only brig lying there, as the rest were barges, and told the mate my errand, and asked if I might have the ship that evening for a sermon. He said the captain was on shore; and having a good deal of rigging about the deck, he thought I should not succeed. I then went in searh of the captain; and, on my way to his house, meeting with the master of a barge, I asked, did he know any thing of the "British and Foreign Seamen's Friend Society and Bethel Union?" He said he had heard of it." Can I have your barge's deck to preach upon?" "No; but I can bring you to a person who I think will do for you." This person was one of our praying Bethel friends; but when I came to the barge, he was uncertain, as his owner belonged to the Church Establishment, and such a thing had never been done in the place before. On telling him that if I failed in procuring a vessel I should take the quay side, he took me to the house of Mr. T, close by. To the son I opened my commission, he being the only one of the family at home; and stated farther particulars respecting my mission, pressing my request that he would grant me the deck of one of his barges. He highly approved of the object, and would rather encourage it than not. This I thought was sufficient ground for me to go to one of his barge-masters upon. I accordingly went, and soon arranged it for the next evening. He was fond of the idea, and said he would have a well-spread awning for the occasion. Meantime I obtained a seasonable supply of suitable Tracts from a Mr. KSecretary to the Religious Tract Society in C. With these I made again for my barge at the time appointed; numbers were waiting on the quay and on her decks. I began by first addressing the people on the subject of my being there, and what it was chiefly connected with, and then proceeded to worship. The deck of the vessel was crowded, as also the quay side all the way long; and the T

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