CHAPTER IX.

HIS LABORS IN REVIVALS AMONG HIS PEOPLE-HIS TRIALS

NEAR THE CLOSE OF HIS MINISTRY-HIS

THE LABORS OF EVANGELISTS.

VIEWS OF

BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS. "Feb. 2, 1827. Having seen the close of another year, and witnessed its changes and trials, I would now record as a memento for myself, the goodness and forbearance of God in continuing me a prisoner of hope. I have again been put into the furnace, but he has kept me from being consumed. He has enabled me to stand in my lot, as a minister, and to do something to promote his cause. Several of my people have been hopefully renewed, and have taken the vows of the most high God upon them. I have witnessed an increasing attention to the concerns of the soul for some months past; and now, while I am writing, the dews of divine grace are falling upon my people. Indeed I may say there is an appearance which, as to the effects, resembles a rushing mighty wind.' The people assemble in crowds whenever there is a religious meeting, eager to hear every word that is spoken. It has become a solemn and critical time. As there are now, in this land, and especially in some churches in the western part of the State of New York, many novel measures adopted to

promote revivals, and many errors prevailing, I rejoice with trembling. I feel that I need much wisdom, much grace, and not a little bodily strength. My rejoicing is, that the Lord can carry on his own work-that he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and that he can bless the weakest means. To him I again commit myself, my family and my people."

"My dear Brother,

"March 28, 1827.

"I have received three letters from you, since I have written. My time has been so completely occupied for three months past, that I have been obliged to neglect my correspondents, though I love you and the rest of them as much as ever. The attention among my people began with the commencement of the year, and for two months has been the most powerful I ever witnessed, and resulted in more conversions than I have ever known here, or in any other place. We seemingly have had one continued Sabbath. The members of the church, male and female, have devoted themselves to the work, and I have attended two and three meetings, in some part of the town, every day during two months, and have been in a meeting every evening excepting Saturday, and yet I am alive. Deacon of —, labored with me nearly three weeks, and wrote the account of the work which you saw in the Observer. Mr. was here longer, and it was more difficult to guide him than all the others. I am now alone, and the work as powerful as ever. I never performed so much labor in three months, and never felt so much solicitude for my people; but hitherto the Lord has sustained me. I have sometimes felt that I should sink under the weight of labors, cares and anxieties. More than two hundred express a hope of having passed from death unto life. I have had an inquiring meeting every

week since January, at which there are generally not less than one hundred souls. There has been so much excitement, that it has been exceedingly difficult to guide. I do not expect that all who have expressed a hope will endure. It will be strange if they should. Some appear remarkably well. In many instances whole families are rejoicing in the Lord, and the number of new praying families is increased beyond any thing I have ever known.

"Mrs. Hyde unites with me in Christian salutations to you and your wife.”

"Dear Friends,

*

*

"July 26, 1827.

"I have heard nothing from you for several months, and am ignorant of your joys and sorrows. Having children abroad, I suppose your time for letter-writing is principally devoted to them. My own time has been so occupied among my people for six months past, that I have written but few letters to distant friends. The labors I have performed, and the anxieties I have endured, have much impaired my health, and rendered me incapable of any extra service. I am now gathering into the fold the hopeful subjects of divine grace, during the great revival in this town the present year. On the first Sabbath of this month, we received fifty-two into the church, thirty of whom were heads of families. Seventeen more have been examined and propounded. We expect another large accession the next communion. Our meetings are still frequent and solemn, though there is an abatement of that engagedness which we have witnessed in months past. The Lord hath done great things for us, and our obligations to praise him for his sovereign mercy, are immense.

"When I think of S., my heart is deeply affected.

There my once beloved daughter Lucy finished her mortal course; there lie her once active limbs mingling with their native dust; and there are the kind friends who ministered to her in her last struggles. May the Lord bless you all.

"Sometimes I wish to visit the place where she drew her last breath, and the grave-yard where her emaciated body was deposited; at other times, I feel as though the scene would overwhelm me. You, my friends, have hitherto been preserved from drinking of such bitter cups as have been presented to us. I hope you will be

thankful.

"Write soon, and gratify your affectionate friend."

"Dear Sir,

"Dec. 17, 1827.

"It is a long time since I have seen you. Why did you not come to my help during the season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, which we enjoyed last winter and spring? I know you saw some obstacles in the way; but I thought you would not be unmindful of my age and infirmities, and that I should see you and have your assistance. My labors and anxieties during the whole year, have been very great. We have been gathering into the fold the subjects of this work, and have received to our communion one hundred and seven. All these I have visited, in person, and some of them repeatedly, before I introduced them to the church. It has been a laborious task, though interesting and pleasant. Rarely have I been out of this town for a year. My health has become considerably impaired; though I have stood in my lot, and attended several meetings every week. The present number of this church is three hundred and fifty. When I think of having all these under my pastoral care

and watch, I am ready to exclaim, as the apostle did, Who is sufficient for these things?' Hitherto, the Lord has sustained me under my labors and trials, and I desire to bless his holy name.

"I have noticed with pain the dismission of ministers in your vicinity and in other parts of the country. The Head of the church is frowning upon us. Are you aware that errors and delusions are creeping into the church? What work men are making of the religion of Jesus Christ? I greatly fear the consequences of the new measures to promote revivals of religion in the western part of the State of New York. The division has begun among ministers, and among those who are called evangelical ministers. The evil is incalculable. Some very popular ministers, called orthodox, in your State and in this, are rapidly verging towards Pelagianism. Never did I see the church in greater danger, though it is an age of revivals, and of unparalleled missionary efforts. May the Lord preserve us from going with the current. must watch and pray.”

We

Birthday reflections. "Feb. 2, 1828. The patience and forbearance of God have been exercised towards me, threescore years, notwithstanding all my ingratitude and abuse of his goodness. I am now classed by my juniors, and must class myself, among the aged; though it seems but yesterday that I was a youth. I desire to record the goodness and mercy of God, and to praise his holy name, that during another year of my pilgrimage I have been favored with so much health and strength. I have been permitted to witness another wonderful work of divine grace among the people of my charge. This has greatly increased my labors and anxieties; and though I have had many trials to encounter, and some which have arisen