Christian observer

              /j /a:
NEW SERIES. NO.
FOR THE DIFFUSION OF T_^t¥ AND TH^l5^^
A. CONVERSE, EDITOR :-!34 Chestnut Street.
OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PRESBYIERIAN CHURc¥
IN THE UNITED STATES.
Southern lELelCjjfous EeUjjraph.
There is, perhaps, nothing of the kind in the composi¬
tions of living Poets, more truly beautiful than the follow.
in? stanzas, which exhibit the genius of philosophy and
the soul of eloquence happily united, and clothed in the
simplo drapery of the lyric Muse. They are from the pen
of William Pitt Palmer. We transfer them to our
rolumns from the « Opal," a superb Annual for the Ho¬
lidays of 1844, published by Mr. J. C. Riker, of New
York.
Hospes, comesque corporis!—Emfkboii Adhiaw.
Mvstkuious Powku! where is thy seated home 1
In the dark chambers of the haunted brain!
Or dost thou, like a restless Naiad, roam
The deep meanderings of the purple vein.
Forever coursing in thy swift career
Life's crimson river in its mazy round .
Or art thou found
Cradled within the heart's impassioned sphere,
Rocked by its solemn pulses, whose quick boat,
bike a weird death-watch at a dying ear,
Is chronicling the moments few and fleet,
Thy earthly span that bound?
And what art thou, invisible
And unimagined form ?
Wrapped in this dark, material shroud,
Liko lightning in the muffling cloud
Of midnight's brooding storm!
Thy presence makes me what I am;
Thy being is my own ;
And thongh thou quickenest every sense.
Thou art to all unknown.
Frail, feeble nursling of the dust,
With reason's glory crowned,
Man measures earth's stupendous globe,
And marks its mighty bound.
His search has solved the mystic tides
In their alternate course;
And sunward traced the viewless winds
Up to their flaming source:
Yea, his far ken hath read the skies
With all their starry blazonries
That o'er us nightly burn;
Hath marked the planet's boundless ring.
And fixed the certain years that bring
The comet's dread return :
Yet spirit! when his curious zeal
To thy deep quest applies,
How like to groping blindness shows
The wisdom of the wise!
Art thou a portion of the clay
That forms thy natal twin,
Typed by the mortal chrysalis
Its grosser shell within ?
Say, shall tho grave forever mock
Faith's high and holy trust,
And the worm waste thee as 'twill waste
Thy fellow of the dust 1
No, though while to earthliness
Bound by a brittle tie,
Germ of the Universal Soul,
It is not thine to die!
This truth so fraught with joyousness,
So grateful and sublime,
Defied the grasp of sage and seer
In the far olden time;
Though oft with yearning zeal they sought,
Nerved with the powers of mightiest thought,
To force the Stygian bars
That held them from thy doubtful fate,
Then died with boo**—-. <iea-i*»*.o
As night without her stars!
Then fear not thou whose being's hope
May match the cherubim's,
Though this dark mass of breathing clay
Awhile its glory dims;
For if on earth's probative scene
With thousand snares bespread,
Thou in the dust Temptation's lures
Unfalteringly shalt tread;
True to thy better nature, true
To virtue's stern behests
And to that warning oracle
Shrined in all human breasts;
Thou'st all to hope and nought to fear
From that which men call fortune here,
Or chance or fate adverse.
Comes it with want's imperious stress,
Ingratitude or friendlessness,
Or death's relentless curse :
For, ever in thy lornest hour,
Shall Faith still point the promised dower
That waits thy blest remove.
Cycles of unimagined years,
Unknown alike to change or tears,
Where all is peace and love.
Therefore bear nobly up, my soul,
Against all power of ill,
And with unshrinking fortitude
Thy destiny fulfil.
So when thy jubilee shall come,
As come it must to all,
And death shall kindly bid thee pass
From penance and from thrall ;
Thou, like caged bird to freedom given,
Thy bands of earthly durance riven,
With joyous wing shalt rise,
From all the foes that haunt thee here,
Sin, sorrow, scorn, and doubt and fear,
Up to thy native skies!
"-ffftrQ^&tt-t-t----
OBSERVANCE  OF THE SABBATH. '
BY REV. DR. CHALMERS.
We never, in the whole course ofour recollec¬
tions, met with a Christian friend,-who bore upon
his character every other evidence of the Spi¬
rit's operation, who did not remember the Sab¬
bath day, and keep it holy. We appeal to the
memory of all the worthies who are lying in
their graves, that, eminent as they were in eve¬
ry other grace and accomplishment of the new
creature, the religiousness of their Sabbath day
shone with equal lustre, amid the fine assemblage
of virtues which adorned them. In every Chris¬
tian household it will be found, that the discipline
of a well ordered Sabbath is never forgotten
among the old lessons of a Christian education ;
we appeal to every individual who   now
A COURTEOUS INTRODUCTION.
The National Intelligencer copies the follow¬
ing paragraph from the Carlisle Herald, to in¬
troduce the Rev. William T. Sprole, Pastor
elect of the First Presbyterian Church, to the
good citizens of Washington:
" Rev. William T. Sprole, Pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of this borough, has retired
from his charge, having accepted a call from
the First Presbyterian Church in Washington.
We shall not be accused of undue partiality,
when we briefly say, that in the departure of Mr.
Sprole, the pulpit of this town, adorned as'jt is
by piety, genius, and learning, has lost one of its
brightest ornaments, and the cause of religion
here one of the most eloquent and faithful ex¬
pounders of the truth, that is to be found in the
sacred office. Mr. Sprole occupied his pulpit
for the last time on the past Sabbath, and the oc¬
casion brought together a dense assemblage of
persons. And although it may not be proper
here to speak of the relations which bound him
to his congregation and to our citizens general¬
ly, no one could help observing and feeling, as
he pronounced a few parting words on that oc¬
casion, that the moment was a painful one; that
ties of deep and affectionate regard were being
severed, and many tearful eyes and hearts swell¬
ing with emotion testified 'the sorrow which was
felt at the words he spoke, that they should see
his face no more.'
••We believe that we but express the universal
feeling of this community, in saying that their
heart-warm wishes for his welfare attend his de¬
parture."
PHILADELPHIA, Fjnto NOVEMBER 17, 1843.
ss
VOL. XXII. NO. 46.
For the Ckrlstian Observer.
LEAVING- THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
Mr. Editor,—It has been stated in some ofthe
papers that the Rev. Mr. Coleman, formerly an
Episcopal minister in the province of Canada,
has withdrawn from that communion, and unit¬
ed wilh the Presbyterian Church. He has also
stated his reasons for changing his ecclesiastical
relations, of which I herewith send you a copy.
Will you have the goodness to insert it in the
Christian Observer, and confer a favor on many
who regard the subject as one of general inter¬
est to the Christian public. X.
" My reasons for withdrawing from the minis¬
try ofthe Church of England were, that Dioce¬
san Episcopacy, or Prelacy, is unscriptural, evil
in its tendency, and the original cause ofthe Pa¬
pacy—that the Queen is not the head of the
church—that dignity belonging to Christ alone—
that the admission of the children of nominal
Christians to baptism is unscriptural and evil—
that the doctrine of the spiritual regeneration of
infants in baptism, as set forth in the public Lit¬
urgy ofthe Church, is a figment of Eopery, and
a dangerous error—that the use of sponsors in
baptism is very wrong, as leading individuals to
the making of vows to God they neither intend to
fulfil, nor can fulfil—as causing them falsely to
assert to God that they are doing for another,
what they are not doing, what they never mean
to do. and what thev hav« nev^r he«n ablp to rln ■
even for themselves, and as being autnonzed by
no text of God's word—that the indiscriminate
use of the burial service, as universally prac¬
ticed, is blasphemous—that the form of thanks¬
giving for the regeneration of the infant by the
Holy Ghost, in the baptismal service, causes the
minister to utter a falsehood in the face of God-
that that part ofthe 21st article which asserts that
General Councils may not be gathered together
without the commandment and will of princes,
is erroneous—and that the constant repetition of
the same prayers, day after day, is deadening to
devotion.''
lution we have quoted, was very inconsiderable.
Lately the idea of connecting the domestic
missionary effort with the establishment of Sun¬
day-schools has been revived, and seems to have
been received in some quarters as quite a new
suggestion. There is no doubt that if such a
combination of effort is practicable, it is to a cer¬
tain extent desirable. It could not, however, in
any event do away with the necessity of that
class of Sunday-school missionaries, who give
themselves wholly to the work, and whose labors
will continue to be indispensable in vast regions
ofthe West, which no missionary efforts can, at
present, embrace. It may prove, (we trust it
will,) that the lapse of twelve years has so alter¬
ed the position of affairs in the Great Valley, that
what was impracticable then, is not only practi¬
cable, but easy and wise now; and in this hope,
the Board has adopted the important measure of
which notice is given in another place.
It will be observed that we do not propose, as
before, to give an independent commission to j
those who may be disposed to labor in the Sun¬
day-school field; but that we wish to avail our¬
selves ofthe medium of the Societies or Boards
by whom the missionaries are employed, to do
(as far as they can) the same kind of work. This
measure will more nearly accord with the views
which some of these Boards entertain on the ge¬
neral subject of benevolent effort, and will, per¬
haps, obviate some ofthe difficulties experienc¬
ed under the former system. At all events,
Sunday-school men have never found a better
way than to try.
mies, despite of its lukewarm friends it will live,
and my successor will find warmer friends than
unfortunately I have found. Physically and men-
ally opposed to the active duties of an agency,
by God a1 blessing I have had a crumb of success.
m ponder what is your duty, what you have
iailed to do, what you ought to do, and the im.
mense work yet to be done. Do it now to make
a happy life.   Do it now to secure a peaceful
S_? uV lt UOW that y°u ma7 l^ve a higher
rel.sh for eternity. Hear the Lord Jesus. -And
l say unto you, make to yourselves friends ofthe
mammon of unrighteousness, that, when ye fail,
they may receive you into everlasting habita-
£"•_    _ *, W> Garey c*an*.
Richmond, Oct; 19,1943.
^_*W-*~~—
•
For tlie Christian Ob»erver.
REVIVAL OF AN OLD MEASURE.
In the year 1830—1, a letter, of which the fol¬
lowing is a copy, was addressed and forwarded
by mail, to nearly two hundred and fifty mission¬
aries, then laboring in the Valley of the Missis¬
sippi, chiefly in the employment of the Ameri¬
can Home Missionary Society and the (Presby¬
terian) General Assembly's Board:
American Sunday School Union,")
Philadelphia, December, 1830.      5
Rev. and Dear Sir:—Having been furnished
with the following resolution of the Executive
Committee of the ''American Home Missionary
Society," passed on the 8th of June, 1830, and
published in the "Home Missionary " for July
following, viz:
"The Executive Committee of the American
Home Missionary Society, from the spirit mani¬
fested by their missionaries, and the result of
past operations, feel warranted to engage,
through them, to establish one thousand Sunday-
schools in the Valley ofthe Mississippi, within
two years:"
And being informed that you are one of the
missionaries of the above society, the Board of
the American Sunday-school Union, by their
committee of missions and agencies, confiding
in your ability, piety, prudence, zeal, and fideli¬
ty, are permitted by the Executive Committee of
the Home Missionary Society, to solicit your at¬
tention to the formation of Sunday-schools, as
contemplated in the above resolution, within the
field of your labors and its vicinity.
To aid you in the prosecution of your work,
we forward you a copy of the instructions fur¬
nished to all the missionaries appointed by this
Board. These instructions you will be expected
to follow, so far as they are appropriate to the
object of this resolution.
We refer you especially to the ninth and tenth
articles, as claiming your particular attention.
Respectfully yours,
Frederick W. Porter, Cor. Sec.
P. S. The above has been agreed upon by the
American Home Missionary Society and the
American Sunday School Union. Further in¬
formation and instructions may be expected in
the January number of the Home Missionary."
The 10th article of instructions authorized the
Every Sabbath image, with ev"prvVTv*w_u'm- missionary to make a donation of a five dollar
cumstance, is dear to him Helnvf.u Cir" library t0 every sch°°l which he mi^ht put into
ness of thathallowed morn. Helove^o^'u" successful operation: and the books were placed
bell sound which summons him to 'he w ^ as far as practicable, within his reach This do-
prayer. He loves to join the chorus of devn? naU°n was t0 be made t0_ *"?, **£?4?' T^M
and^ositand listen to that voic0 ^r2_.™ r3"1'^ l° the American Sunday School Union,
which is lifted in the hearing of     £2    or to some •**- or to none-provided there
He loves the retirement of th"s dav  W&S u?ly SUCh an organizat,on as afforded a rea"
■ »■---:' . ..    .     Qay I sonable prospect of permanency.
THREE  THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SUNDAY
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
IN THE VALLEY OF  THE MISSISSIPPI.
The American Sunday School Union have ap¬
propriated three thousand dollars of the Society's
collections for the next six months, to the supply
of destitute Sunday Schools in the Mississippi
Valley, with libraries wholly or partly gratui¬
tous.
Whenever a missionary in the service of the
Home or Domestic Missionary Societies, or
Boards of the Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal,
Methodist, Congregational or other evangelical
churches, shall establish a Sunday School in a
destitute neighborhood, with a prospect of its
permanency, and shall certify that such school
is unable to raise sufficient money for the pur¬
chase of a suitable library, such school shall be
entitled, upon the application of such missiona¬
ry, to a pro rata share of said appropriation.—
Whatever a school can raise for itself should be
remitted with the application.
The application should state particularly the
location of the school, the name of the superin¬
tendent, and the number of teachers and scho¬
lars in regular attendance at the date of the ap¬
plication. Also whether the school is supplied
with Bibles or Testaments, and Hymn-books,
whether application has been made elsewhere
for aid, and what amount, (if any) is raised by
the school.
The application should be forwarded to the
Society or Board, in whose service the applying
missionary is employed, and thence transmitted
to us ; and whatever donation is made, it will be
sent to the Society or Board through which the
application is received, to be forwarded by them
to the proper destination.
No application will be received under this no-
0-"3-_f any consideraDie portion 01 ui«r pul¬
iation lo be benefitted by the school are British
emigrants, the application should so state.
SUNDAY SCHOOL PERIODICALS.
The following important resolution explains
itself:
At the last meeting of the Board of Managers
ofthe New York Sunday School Union, it was
unanimously "Resolved, That this Board heartily
recommend the Sunday School Journal, pub¬
lished under the direction ofthe American Sun¬
day School Union, to all teachers and others
engaged in imparting instruction in Sabbath
Schools, as well calculated to encourage and di¬
rect them in their labors; and from its cheap-
j ness, being accessible to all, the Board trusts
that its circulation may be general amongst the
conductors of our schools. And they also cor¬
dially recommend the Youth's Penny Gazette,
published under the direction of the American
Sunday School Union, for general circulation
amongst the children of our schools."
By order of the Board,
M. C. Morgan, Rec. Sac, <
•  rrcftf.—\Q9*t'f'""
and
Y-Pnr*- i-c   „* *J      , -""»J    "luivjuuui    WI1U     I1UW
bosom of aft ^h0,carrie^he remembrance in his
bosom of a father's worth and a father's nietv if,
on the com ne round nf .1* iaiu*"*r s piety, u,
of necnW __? a I e seve«th day, an air
ot peculiar sacredness did not spread itself over
vaa :r:te ;iehdrew ^2,^
was taught to repeat his infant hymn and lisn
his infant prayer , Rest assured that the ChTi¬
tian, having the love of God written in his heart
and denying the Sabbath a place in ff ^
Uons, is an anomaly thatis no where to be found
multitude.
from the din of worldly business, and the inroads
of worldly men.   He loves the leisure it brings
along with it; and sweet to his soul is the exer-
Clse of that hallowed hour, when there is no eye
to witness him but the eye of Heaven, and when,
!" so)ernn audience with the Father, who seeth
lm ln s,-cret, he can, on the wings of celestial
^emplation, leave all the cares, and  all the
_,„XMl?ns,anJall the secularities of an alienated
worldbehind him.'»
The amount of labor and expense which were
given to the perfecting of this scheme of benevo¬
lence would scarcely be credited, if we should
state it. But it proved upon trial, that the mis¬
sionaries were so much occupied with their offi¬
cial engagements, that it was entirely impracti¬
cable for them to give to this lateral labor the di¬
rect and systematic attention, which was indis¬
pensable. The number of schools reported to
J the society as being established under the reso-
For the Christian Observer.
TO THE FRIENDS OF THE VIRGINIA TRACT
SOCIETY.
Expecting, in a few weeks, three, at the most,
to cease my labors as General Agent, it is my
duty, as a faithful steward, to render my ac¬
count.
Since the 1st of September, 1842,1 have tra¬
velled 2,424 miles in the State of Virginia, with¬
out naming two trips out of the State, have
preached 70 discourses in Eaptist Churches, 14 in
Episcopal Churches, 14 in "Old School" Presby¬
terian Churches, 16 in "New School" Presbyte¬
rian Churches, 12 in Methodist Episcopal Church¬
es, 6 in Protestant Methodist Churches, 9 in
Court Houses—in all 129 discourses. I have at¬
tended 3 Associations which I have addressed—
2 Presbyteries and 1 Episcopal Convention. I
have taken lip 70 collections, and have been
promised over 10 more by various ministers.
Up to April last, the receipts into our Treasury,
embracing a part of Rev. Mr. Bissell's and my
own collections during a Society year, were
$2,465 78; from April last to this time, they
amount to $1,306 87.
Our stock in Depository amounts to $823 23.
There is due the Society about $2,000. To the
American Tract Society we owe $856 57.
During the past summer I have employed five
colporteurs, four of whom report as follows;
Mr. O. B. Lockett was engaged two months in
Caroline, Stafford, and King and Queen. He sold
307 volumes in a region partially supplied before.
Mr. Jacob Fream labored twenty-three days in
Chesterfield, Powhatan, and Dinwiddie. He
sold 229 volumes, gave away 30 volumes, and
10,000 pages of tracts. He says he could have
given away many more, but found many per¬
sons in the little manufacturing towns about Pe¬
tersburg, who could not read.
Mr. Wm. Bradley labored two months in
Greenbrier, Montgomery and Giles. He sold 260
volumes, gave away 23 volumes, and about
2,000 pages of tracts. He met with one man who
had never been in any house of worship.
Mr. Azaridh F. Scott labored in Fluvanna, Al¬
bemarle and Nelson—sold485 volumes, and gave
away 16 volumes. He met with considerable op¬
position from infidels.
Books have been sent out on six months cre¬
dit. Tracts to the amount of 30,700 pagesliave
been distributed by domestic missionaries and
others. Thus, friends of an evangelical litera¬
ture, have my coadjutors and myself labored to
benefit you, your children, and the destitute at
home and abroad. Difficulties of no ordinary
character have environed me. Opposition the
most disheartening, added to an extreme pres¬
sure in the monetary affairs of the country, has
well nigh palsied my efforts. Thank God, the
Virginia Tract Society is alive, despite of itsene-
For the Oliristlnn Observer.
THE WORK OF THE LORD, AND THE MEANS
AND FRUITS OF ITS REVIVAL.
* O Lord, revive Ihy work," &c—Habokkuk iii. 2.
The prophet Habakkuk lived and prophesied
immediately before the great Chaldean invasion
under Nebuchadnezzar. As a pious Israelite he
saw the existing evils of his own day, and, as a
prophet, he foresaw the coming ones, and in
view of both he worshipped and prophesied. He
seems to speak as though he saw the Chaldean ar¬
my in the distance, and heard the tramp of their
cavalry. In his own graphic language—" They
are terrible and dreadful. Their horses also are
swifter than the leopards, and fiercer than lhe
evening wolves. They fly as an eagle that hast-
eth to its prey. They come all for violence.
They shall gather the captivity asthesand." "O
Lord," (says the prophet,) "I have heard thy
speech, and was afraid. O Lord, revive thy work
in the midst of the years, in the midst of the
years make known, in wrath remember mercy."
He writes out his prayer at length. He sets it to
plaintive music, and dedicates it to the children
of the captivity.   And doubtless it was sung in
tones of sorrow—when the prophet was at rest	
even till God came in his powerand restored the
captivity of his people.
In this prayer we have these thoughts:
I. The work of God.
II. The revival of the work of the Lord.
III. The means.
IV. The fruits of a revival.
I. The work of God. This language is not ge¬
neral, but special.
Creation is the work of God. " Of old hast thou
laid the foundations ofthe earth, and the heavens
are the work of thy hand." And to some extent
there is a revival of the work of God in this sense
every spring season. But this is not that to
which the prophet's language in the text refers.
Again, the judgments of God are his work, (said
to be his strange work.) To this our prophet re¬
fers. "Behold ye among the heathen, and re¬
gard and wonder marvelously, for I will work a
work in your days, which ye will not believe,
though it be told you, for lo! I raise up the Chal¬
deans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall
march through the breadth ofthe land to possess
the dwelling places that are not theirs." But nei¬
ther is this, the work, referred to in our text.
The work of the Lord here meant, " is the work
end of Sin, ana IO  OTXng'Vn Tin c-ucrxuavneg I »g»*n>-
ousness."    " O Lord, revive thy work."   This is
the most general sense ofthe work ofthe Lord,
the revival  of which the prophet so devoutly
prayed for. It was in promotion of this work that
God called Abraham from Ur ofthe Chaldees, and
established his covenant with him, and appoint¬
ed him the father of his covenant people, and
ordained him a blessing to all the families ofthe
earth.   So it was in promotion of this work that
he raised up Moses, and delivered his people
from Egypt, and established them under Joshua
in the promised land. Again.it was in promotion
of this work that he raised up David, and by him
recovered his chosen people from the anarchy
and wickedness which had prevailed from Joshua
to David's time.  And when Judah fell into sin,
and relapsed into heathen practices, as in the
days   of Manasseh,   God,   in   righteous   chas¬
tisement, sent the army of the Chaldeans, and
made his people captives under a foreign yoke
for seventy years, and then, in the days of Ne-
hemiah and Ezra, recovered and restored them.
It was all in fulfilment of hiscovenant with Abra¬
ham, and his oath unto Isaac, and which he had
confirmed unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for
an everlasting covenant. It was this work which
brought the Son of God from heaven. And it was
in performance of this work that he lived, and
ministered, and died.   In this work it had been
also   that John the Baptist labored; also the
evangelists, and apostles, and disciples.   To this
work the fathers of the ancient church, and the
martyrs, were devoted.   The   reformers,  too,
were servants of the Lord in it.   Serving in this
blessed work of God, such men as Baxter, and
Whitefield, and others such, have gotten them¬
selves a name and a praise.   This is thb work
which God is performing, not only in Christen¬
dom by all his ministers and people, but also in
heathen lands by his missionary friends, trans¬
lating the book of God into all languages—hold¬
ing forth the word of life to all kindreds of the
earth—gathering the people—instructing the ig¬
norant—teaching the babes—preparing earth for
judgment, and men for the presence of God. The
Father worketh hitherto, says the meek and low¬
ly Jesus, and I work. And addressing himself to
his Father in prayer for his disciples, he says,
"As thou hast sent me into the world, even so
have I sent them into the world." And to his dis¬
ciples he says, "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature, and lo! I
am with you."   This is the work of God—his pe¬
culiar glory. See Psalm cii. 16.
When this work was undertaken, the Lord said
in majesty, "As I live, the whole earth shall be
full of my glory." When this work is finished,
"none will have need to say unto his neighbor,
know the Lord, for all shall know him, from the
least to the greatest." The knowledge of the
Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters fill the sea.
Such is the work of God. "Lo! I come to do thy
will " said the messenger ofthe everlasting co¬
venant. "In the volume of the book it is written
of me; a body hast thou prepared me," &c. " To
finish transgression, make an end of sin, and
bring in an everlasting righteousness." This is
the will and work of God which filled and form¬
ed the heart of patriarchs, and prophets, and
apostles, and martyrs, and missionaries, and all.
It is the work of God. It is the chief business of
all who have the Spirit of Christ, and are dispos-
[ posed to be co-workers with God.—I proceed
to speak of what is meant.
it. By the revival of the work of God. All
along the history of the work of God there are
lights and shadows. The life time ofthe genera¬
tion which entered Canaan under Joshua, was
one of these brighter periods. The period of Da¬
vid and Solomon was, comparatively speaking,
another of these. The reign of Hezekiah was
of the building of the
another, and the period
second temple was of this nature
The ministry jointly of John the Baptist, and  future enlargement of the Church
■       i    ___  _.__*•_ 4 I  _il  _i— !__«_.«       ni->ivivYiiininrr with
above preceding ages. And the age of the Apos
ties commencing with the day of Pentecost, was
eminently an age of revival.
And again, the 16th century, or age ofthe re¬
formation, was of this nature. And this lastmay
be considered, in some sense, as having ex¬
tended itself to thisday. And there is in promise
and in prospect a great breaking forth of the light
ofthe Sun of Righleousness, which is to illumi¬
nate the whole earth, called "the latter day
glory."
What is thus true ofthe cause of God at large,
is true of it also in the several kingdoms,and coun¬
tries, and communities, and congregations where
it has prevailed. In Great Britain there was a
wonderful revival of religion in the time of White-
field and the Wesleys. Whitefield sometimes
addressed as many as twenty and thirty thousand
people ata time, in the open air. And often these
vast concourses of people would be seen under
the strongest religious excitement. On one occa¬
sion he addressed the coal miners af Kingswood,
near Bristol. They came out of their mines to
hear him in their working dress,at mid day, and
looking like a congregation of Africans, and it
is said in his biography that before lhe close of
his sermon, the trickling tears had washed a white
streak down the cheeks of the auditors, which
became visible to the speaker from the stand.
| This wonderful work of grace extended to this
country.andunderthissame Whitefield, and Ed¬
wards, and Belamy,andthe Tennants, and many
other such men, it extended through the entire
stretch of the Atlantic and Middle States, from
Massachusetts to Georgia. And many, many were
the heirs of glory born to God in that work. And
very many were the ministers ofthe gospel rais¬
ed up in it whose labors blessed the country in
that and the following ages. About the com¬
mencement ofthe present century, a most pow¬
erful work of God of this nature extended
through the western part of thisState and Penn-
sylvania.and in the statesof Tennessee-Kentucky,
and Ohio, hundreds of churches were built up
in this work in its several stages. The people
would come many days' journey to a protract¬
ed meeting, and stay as long as their supplies
would enable them. Dr. Baxter, recently of
Frince Edward Seminary, travelled from Lex¬
ington, in this State, to the State of Tennessee,
to see this work and its wonders, and counted
six hundred common plantation wagons atone
of these meetings, which had come loaded with
people, and their tents and provisions.
And other mighty works hath the Kingof grace
done in this country in some ofthe blessed pe¬
riods of its history, and many other such he will
do before the earth is full of the knowledge of
the Lord, as the sea is of water.   It is but four
yearssince thatwe have been assured thattheLord
added to the few  missionary  churches at the
Sandwich Islands, upwards of ten thousand souls.
And these islands contain in all a population
less less in number than the tide water counties
of this State.   And tbe ministry there are not so
strong in numbers as the ministry of the evange¬
lical denominations in the city of Richmond.
To show you the hold the subject of religion had
on the minds of that semi-barbarous people in
the wonderful season referred to, let this fact
speak. One of the brethren preached in the open
air to an assembly of some thousands during a
heavy rain,in which the clothes of preacherand
people were effectually soaked with water, and
yet the order of the assembly continued uninter-
These seasons and scenes of revival areas-'
cribed especially to the Holy Ghost.   And they
are set down as the peculiar characteristics of
the gospel dispensation.   God anciently predict¬
ed that he would bestow his Spirit without mea¬
sure in the latter day. ByJoelhesaid—"Itshall
come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit upon
all flesh, and your sons   and your   daughters
shall prophecy, and your old men shall dream
dreams, and your young men shall see visions,
and also upon my servants and upon my hand¬
maids in those days will I pour out of my Spirit,
and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall
call upon the name ofthe Lord shall be saved."
And in like strain spake all the prophets of the
gospel day.   Our Saviour regarded these things
as so valuable to his disciples, that he spake of
his own separation from them as a blessing ra¬
ther than otherwise.   "It is expedient for you
that I go away, for if I go not away the comfort¬
er will not come, but if I go I will send him unto
you, and when he is come, he will convince the
world   of sin, of righteousness, and   of judg¬
ment."
What did theTrophets and the Saviour mean
by all this J What event was it which they saw
would thus mark the gospel dispensation1! Let
unerring Scripture answer this question. "On
the morning ofthe day of Pentecost, the disciples
were all, with one accord, in one place, and sud-
denly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting, and there appeared clo¬
ven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of
them, and they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance." All this has
the appearance of miracle; and the only object
it seemed as yet to serve was to attract attention,
and cause the Apostles to be accredited by the
multitude as divine teachers. But when, in the
midst of these demonstrations, Peter rose and
spoke, bringing out of the Scriptures the things
concerning Jesus of Nazareth, the multitude were j
pricked in their heart, and cried out and repent¬
ed, and believed the gospel, and were baptized
three thousand of them. And this is set down as
the fulfilment of Joel's prophecy. This is the
consequence of the Saviour's return to his fa¬
ther. "I will send him (the Spirit) unto you,
and when he is come he will convince the world
of sin," fee.
But mark, these things were to be common to
the last days. "It shall come to pass in the last
days," saith God, " that I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh—and whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved."
The youth of Zion shall return to their King
in numbers like the dew drops of the morning.
A nation in a day is a rate of increase prophe¬
sied to the Church of Christ, under the dispen¬
sation of the Spirit.—The6e things are actually
treasured up for the church, and prayer unlocks
the treasury. "How much more (than an
earthly parent) will your heavenly Father give
his holy Spirit to them that ask him!" This
leads us to the third topic announced.
III. The Means of Revival.—Of these, the
first is a diligent cultivation of the understanding,
and of the heart through the understanding, with
reference to this subject. Abraham, by communion
with God, had his understanding enlightened to
know that, in his seed, all families of the earth
should be blessed—aud he saw the day of Christ
in which this should occur. Thus he came to
know lhat such was the divine plan.—Moses, in
communion with God, learned certainly of this
promise to Abraham, and wrote it down, and en¬
larged upon it, and was sustained by it; and
others prayed with confidence for the fulfilment
of the divine plan.—David studied the writings
of Moses prayerfully, and others abounded in
prophesyings as well as prayers concerning this
'""    ~"      '     And so of
dying the law and each the writings of his previ¬
ous brethren* the prophets, they became imbued
with the subject ofthe future glories of Zion, and
encouraged to pray and prophesy with con/i-
dence on the subject, and in this connection were
probably giAed with farther inspiration.
Thus it was with Daniel, in relation to the re¬
turn of the Jews from captivity, and the revival
of the work of God which then occurred. " I,
Daniel, understood from books the number of the
years whereof the word ofthe Lord came to Je-
remiah, the Prophet, &c, and I set my face Unt»
the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplica¬
tion, with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes, and
I prayed unto the Lord and made my confes¬
sion," &c. His understanding, thus informed on
so interesting a subjeet, affected his heart, and
brought forth prayer and supplication and fast*
ing, with confession. And so, if we would see
the promised wonders of the gospej-day dis-
played among us, we would do well, lfke Daniel,
to understand the subject prayerfully and deeply
from books, the writings of holy men—inspired
and uninspired. It is thus that the book of the
Scriptures, and other unctuous and spiritual wri¬
tings of men of God, contribute to revivals of
religion, and that spirit of prayer which brings
about the great things appointed of God, of this
nature. For this reason Paul exhorted Timothy
to give himself to reading.—And Christians who
[neglect this duty, and are behind the intelli¬
gence of the age on this great subject, the ad¬
vancement of the cause of Christ, and unac¬
quainted from books of its deep and heavenly
nature, are ordinarily not so much to be depend¬
ed on in the work. They are unfurnished, and
can do but little.
Prayer is a prominent means ofthe revival of
the work: " For this will I be inquired of by the
house of Israel to do it for them." "O Lord, re¬
vive thy work." Great earnestness in prayer is
evidently pleasing to God, and effective in pro¬
motion of this end. Daniel's prayer is an ex¬
ample to the Church in all ages.—"O, Lord,
hear; O, Lord, forgive. O, Lord, hearken, and
do: defer not, for thine own sake, O my God."
It was such a prayer that was answered, as
Daniel's was. When prayer grows earnest, it
employs fasting and other expressions of great
earnestness. It ia the prayer of praying people,
that is heard. And the Lord remembers and
knows those praying persons who drew near to
him in prayer, when the day was darkest—who
hung by their anchor, hope, when others seemed
to let go their hold, and forsake the place of
prayer.
Persuasion is to be used with men, as well as*
prayer to God. A praying person has a way of
speaking to the hearts of both the parties, whom
it is the province ofthe gospel to reconcile. He
is a servant of the days-man in both respects.—
A minister is the mouth of the people to God,
and of God to the people. It was thus with Si¬
meon—that devout man—who was waiting for
the consolation of Israel. He spake things that
caused marvellings. And so it was with Anna—
who served God, with fastings and prayer, night
and day. She spake of the Saviour to all who
looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And so it
was eminently with the Apostles and all the dis¬
ciples.—And so it will be with us.—Prayer
brings down a blessing, which cuts loose the
tongue.; It brings down the Spirit, a cloven
tongue of fire.
IV. The Frttits of a Revival of the work
It sets all the Church preaching the word.  They
that were scattered abroad, went every where
preaching the word.   Thc Apostles, the elders,
the deacons, the people, even the women, spake
to all they met of the great salvation—in a be¬
coming way, of course—but they spake.   "Upon
my servants and on mine hand-maids will I pour
out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall
prophesy."— Coznmunications and discoveries in
the things of divine grace, are among the fruits
of a  revival.—" Your old   men   shall  dream
dreams, and young men shall see visions.?'—
This does not mean, of course, additional reve¬
lation— butt scriptural communications and dis¬
coveries of gospel truth and grace.   O, how far
we live below our privileges.   "0, Lord, revive
thy work."—Conversions to. God are distinguish¬
ed among the fruits of a reyivaj.   "It shall come
to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name.of
the Lord, shall be saved." Humanly speaking, it
is easy for sinners to be converted in a revival—
The truth prevails with them as it does not at
other times.   They, come quickly to the light,
and obtain clear and comfortable views in a
short time compared with ordinary times—and
they come in greater numbers.—At such a time,
pre-eminently it is that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be saved.—It seems
to me that impenitent persons, who know of that
solemn eternity beyond the grave, ought to take
great interest in revivals of religion.   And when
there is such a season, they ought to improve it,
as  our Saviour says they did under his and
John's ministry—when the kingdom of God was
preached, and all men pressed into it.   My fel¬
low sinners, it was in reference to these pre¬
cious seasons of the gospel day, that Isaiah ut¬
ters the moving call—"Ho, every one that thirst-
eth, come ye to the waters."—And again, "Seek
ye the Lord while he may be found—call ye
upon him while he is near," &c.    Let such a
time pass by, and you may then seek to enter in
and shall not be able, and may have to take up
the lamentation, "the harvest is past, the sum¬
mer is ended, and I am not saved."   Now Chris¬
tians are praying for you, as they may not at
any other time.   Now the Spirit of God is pour¬
ed upon the Church when you come to seek sali¬
vation it may not be so to the same extent at
another time. Now others are coming to Christ,
and you have the natural advantage of company
and sympathy.—All this you may not have at
another time.—Now every means of grace or¬
dained for your salvation are, humanly speak¬
ing, better adapted for your aid than it maybe at
another time.
Brethren, Ihis work of God is worthy of its di¬
vine Author, and so are all the characteristics of
its progress. The wonderful plan originated in
the counsels, of eternity. O, when the minutes
of those counsels are unrolled, what wondering
adorations, will move the countless congregation
of the Saviour! and what loud peeling anthems
will echo through the broad arch of the heaven,
ly sanctuary! and how gloriously will the Son
of God—King of Zion—stand forth, to be bad in
reverence by all those that are round about bim.
"Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty."
How rapturously the 8th chapter of Proverbs
will then be studied and understood. "The Lord
possessed me in thebeginning of his way, before
his works of old. I was set Up from everlasting,
or ever the earth was."
"There are days in reserve, in Teferenee to
this subject, such as eye hath not seen nor ear
heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man ;
days wherein the Ught of the moon shall be as
tbe light of lhe sun, and the light of the,sun
seven fold; days wherein the child shall die an
hundred years old—when none shall have nee-d
to teach his brother, saying, "know the Lord, for
all shall know him ;" when Scripture shall be un¬
folded, and things revealed, which could not be
| borne now.
_iie ministry jimmy «-,» --....   .- r , . .*,  _-
ofour Saviour also, was marked in this respect | all the prophets—communing with God, and stu-1   Brethren, this wbtk, in its progress and changes-