love of the truth in our hearts, and let our light shine before others. "From your much obliged son." "Jan. 7, 1798. "Dear and honored Father, "I have heard that you have had a second and violent attack of the pleurisy since I saw you. From Mr. P.'s information, who tells me he saw you, I am led to hope you may now be in good health again; but am not without great anxiety. Oh, my father, how true it is that we must all die, and how important that we be prepared! An interest in the Saviour is worth ten thousand worlds. He can bestow upon us that peace of soul which the world can neither give nor take away. I hope and trust your thoughts are much upon these things. * "From your son." "Honored Father, * 66 "May 8, 1799. The great Religion is in a low state. things of eternity do not lie with that concern upon our minds, which answers, in any measure, to their vast importance. I hope, sir, the things of religion have the most important place in the meditations of your heart. It is a great thing to live upon the mercies of God. It is a great thing to be prepared to exchange this world for an eternal state. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. O let us choose him for our portion, while the precious opportunity lasts. Wishing you the blessing of God, whose favor is life and whose loving kindness is better than life, I subscribe myself as ever, "Your affectionate son." 66 April 4, 1800. "Honored Father, "My family, through the great mercy of God to a sinner, has been favored with unusual health from the first beginning of it. I have often wondered it should be so; and I have reason to be very humble, that my improvement of the mercy has been no better. I have now the same number of children which my mother left when she died. I find there is great need of wisdom, prudence, and patience, to bring up children. When I look upon my children, I am led often to think of the trials of mind, which I may have occasioned you in my younger years. "This people are about to build a new meeting-house, and have already drawn the timber. I fear it may be a mean of breaking up the harmony of the town. We have been unusually happy in this town for a number of years; what is to be in future we know not." In a letter to another correspondent, an event not uncommon in a pastor's experience is thus described: "Dear Sir, 66 "June 15, 1800. Through the great mercy of God to a sinner, I found on my return from F. my own family in usual health; but all my neighbors, and I may say almost all the town, were pained on account of the distress and anguish of poor E. W. In a few moments after I entered my house, I went to see her. The house was thronged with people who had come to see her die. She knew me, but Dr. L., her attending physician, was very unwilling that she should attempt to speak, though she uttered a few words. The next morning I conversed with her fifteen or twenty minutes, and her language was most moving. She lamented her stupid, vain, and irreligious life-she was afraid to die, and had no heart to ask for mercy. She lived till about 4 o'clock, and expired. The scene was enough to melt the heart of a stone. In this event let us hear the voice of God's providence, and be excited to prepare to meet God." CHAPTER IV. SECOND REVIVAL-HIS LETTERS-DEATH OF HIS FATHER -LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO HIS LETTERS. MOTHER-OTHER Ar the close of the year 1800, the following sentences were inserted by him in his diary. "This year, I enjoyed with my people another season of refreshing from the Lord. It was indeed a precious season. It pleased the Lord to make this display of sovereign grace soon after the setting up of a weekly conference with particular reference to the young people, and it was noticed that the subjects of the work were confined almost wholly to those who attended this conference. God appeared to indicate in his providence that he owned and blessed this new effort for the salvation of souls. The great body of the people were not affected and solemnized as they were in the first awakening; but the convictions of the awakened were clear, rational, and pungent; and those who received comfort, appeared understandingly to embrace the soul-humbling doctrines of the cross, and exhibited satisfactory evidence of having passed from death unto life. This little revival occasioned an accession to the church, in the space of one year, of twenty one persons, the most of whom were between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four." "April 10, 1802. "Honored Parents, He gave me an "The last information I had from you was by a letter from my friend J. G., dated in February. affecting account of the death of J. B. certain world is this!-how important to be prepared for our great and last change! I find that if life be spared a few years longer, I shall be an old man-I shall be where you are now. I hope the great change which awaits you and all of us, lies with weight upon your minds. He that believeth, shall be saved. He that believeth not, is condemned already. "Wishing you the comforts of religion which consist in the holy enjoyment of God, I subscribe myself your affectionate son.” "Honored Sir, "April 26, 1802. "I have heard indirectly by way of Mr. W., that you have had another turn of the pleurisy, but have not had particulars. This intelligence has made me often think of you, and has increased my desire of seeing you. The measles are again spreading in these parts, and as I never had the disorder, it is probable I may now have to encounter it. We live in a dying world and have no abiding place on the earth. We are also sinful and sinning creatures, and must perish unless God is pleased to forgive We have no claims on him for the least favor. What a display of mercy will God make, if any of us are subjects of the gospel salvation!" us. |