Imatges de pàgina
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enthusiasm, and every evil work, while enjoying "the day of God's power." There are few, if any, of the hopeful subjects of the work, who do not furnish desirable evidence of a work of grace. The fruits which they bear are the fruits of righteousness and impressions favorable to the cause of truth have been made upon the minds of those who are still living "without God, and without hope in the world." There is also a desirable state of harmony in all our societies. The mode of preaching employed, and which God has blessed to the awakening and conversion of sinners, has been the plain and affectionate preaching of "the word." The doctrines of grace have been clearly maintained, such as the entire moral depravity of man ;-the necessity of regeneration, by the special agency of the Holy Spirit ;-the doctrine of Election, with other doctrines connected with them. The practical application of these truths we deem of great importance.

The other means employed have been-meetings for conference and prayer-visiting from house to house by the Pastor, and some of the lay brethren appointed to this service;-the Conference of churches ;-and Protracted meetings. From our own observation and experience, we are led to conclude, that the utility of these meetings will be greater or less according to the state of the church and people where they are held. There must be something like a preparation on the part of the church to make such meetings desirable. If the church come up to the work, Protracted meetings may be of great good in drawing off the attention of men from the world, and fixing it upon eternal scenes. There can be no doubt, that God has blessed these efforts, and that many rejoice in hope, who, but for these meetings, had now been the enemies of God. The manner of conducting these meetings should not be far different from that of conducting meetings on the Sabbath, or any other religious meetings. The great object is to present truth to the mind, that it may be there fixed, and press heavily upon conscience. More time should be spent in prayer and religious conference than at other times, because there is more time for such services. Unless there is something out of the usual course of things, some circumstances which call loudly for the measure, it may be questioned whether more than one Protracted meeting in a year will be useful in any church. Great care should be taken, that no one exercise be so long continued, as to fatigue and dissatisfy the hearers. Care should also be taken that so much time be not spent in religious meetings, as to occasion the neglect of other religious duties, and to give the impression, that religion

consists in being at meeting. We have observed no reason to caution against too great excitemeut in Protracted meetings.

There are no new errors, or irregularities, within our bounds, which demand special attention, and which we consider it important to unfold, and against which we would raise a warning voice before the churches. The good old way in which our Pilgrim Fathers walked, and the system of truth which they embraced, is substantially that which distinguishes our churches, and adorns their members.

That the special operations of the Holy Spirit may be granted, both Ministers and Christians, should pray more, be more humble, more like little children, and let their light shine with a clearer and brighter flame. They should make their religion more apparent in their conversation, exertions, and general character; that while ministers preach the truths of the gospel plainly and zealously, and Christians profess to receive the truth, its sanctified effects may be made to appear in their lives. It should be made more their single, and undivided aim to please God, to live for eternity. Let the truth of God be properly preached, affectionately received, and faithfully obeyed, and will the special operations of the Holy Spirit be withheld? Will it not rather be said, "Who are these that flee for refuge, and lay hold upon the hope set before them? Behold, what hath God wrought ?"

By order and in behalf of the Pilgrim Association,
FREEMAN P. HOW LAND, Scribe.

Plymouth, Dec. 22d, 1832.

FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION.

TO THE REV. DR. WOODS, &c.

Conway, Feb. 11, 1833.

The Franklin Association reports as follows:

With the exception of two or three, each of the seventeen churches connected with this Association, has been favored with special attention to religion within two years.-Number of hopeful conversions, [in each] from 8 to 120.

The characteristics and fruits of these revivals, have been -stillness, clearness and strength of conviction for sin-with an unusual degree of exemption from animal excitement.The progress of the mind from conviction to hope has been more rapid than in many revivals of former years. The

period of conversion has extended somewhat more than in former revivals, into childhood on the one hand, and old age on the other. In some prominent cases an entire revolution has been effected in theological opinions, (we mean in turning from error) and a full proportion of the subjects are from the more active and influential class of the community. The number of male, though not equal to the number of female subjects, bears a greater proportion to it than in former years.-The obvious effects of these revivals have been to promote selfdenial, awaken benevolent feelings, and prompt to personal ef fort. Among the fruits of these revivals may be mentioned a good degree of consistency and completeness of Christian char

acter.

Protracted meetings have been held in all, our Parishes, which have differed from the ordinary devotions of the Sabbath only in the following respects ;--prayer meetings have preceded the exercises; the anxious have been requested to retire to appropriate rooms, to be personally conversed withand in some cases toward the close of the meeting, the afternoon has been devoted to addresses, and to a more familiar and direct exhibition of truth by the minister; but in no cases have anxious seats been provided, nor have the impenitent (with a single exception) been called to perform any special act preparatory to repentance, in the presence of the congregation; and we may say in general, that we have been happily exempt from those doubtful measures which have been supposed to effect the purity of the Church in other places.-The doctrines preached were those usually denominated the doctrines of Grace.-In regard to the mode of preaching most successful among us, while there has been some little variety in different preachers, there has been, we are happy to say, an improved method in most. Truth has been presented in a more plain, simple, and direct manner, peculiarly exempt from theorizing, and confined to the representations of the Bible, accompanied with a good degree of Christian tenderness and feeling.

We esteem Protracted Meetings as highly useful with us God has evidently owned and blest them. Nor have we experienced from them those unhappy reactions which have been felt in other places; and we see not, at present, any peculiar need of changing our mode of conducting them. With regard to cautions:-we would say that while the doctrines should be clearly and simply presented, there should be a full acknowledgment of, and a manifest reliance upon, the special influences of the Holy Ghost. While the commands of

God to immediate repentance should be urgently pressed upon the sinner, he should be plainly and honestly told the true obstacle to his salvation. We cannot but regard as positively hurtful all those measures the tendency of which is to lower down the special work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration; as though conversion to God was as easily effected as any mere change of resolution, which leaves untouched the moral state of the heart. With regard to the frequency of these meetings, we feel it impossible to establish any general rule. The repetition of them is a question extremely difficult in the present state of the measure. In the providence of God, facts may yet be developed respecting them, which will form the basis of some general rule upon the subject. At present, the repetition of them must be decided in each individual case by past results and present circumstances.

We have seen and deplored in many parts of the community, a growing tendency to overlook the special influences of the Holy Spirit and to place an undue reliance upon human efforts and ability. Intimately connected with this, there are advanced, we think, those views of the depravity of man and of his moral agency, which attribute to him a competency in the great work not warranted in the Sacred Scriptures.While we regret to see a disposition any where manifested to carry these points beyond the sanction of the Bible, we also greatly lament the differences that exist among Evangelical Christians. We are sorry that there should be any ground for these differences, and we should regret still more to have them magnified.-In regard to errors in practice, it has appeared to us very desirable that the churches should be universally guarded against the practice of hasty admission of members, that Christian females, to whom the Bible has opened a very interesting and appropriate field of effort, should not transcend their scriptural sphere-and that sinners should not be urged to any public committal of themselves as a measure almost immediately connected with conversion. We wish also to express our disapprobation of all ostentatious display, either in first announcing protracted meetings, or in the performance of the services of them, and especially of all extravagance and coloring in what is said, or written, about the success and results of them.

To secure the continuance and increase of the special influences of the Holy Spirit,-we would suggest the propriety of more attention to the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel, -to increased fidelity in church discipline, and most of allthat the members of the churches should maintain the high

and distinctive character so much spoken of in the New Tes tament, and maintain it in such a degree that sinners every where and at all times may have a practical exhibition of the power of godliness. This, united with a spirit of prayer for the special influence of the Spirit, will, we think, secure for the gospel, a general and permanent influence, without the necessity of resorting to modes of presenting truth and to measures for impressing it, which, to say the least, are of doubtful authority and influence.

In behalf of the Association,
DANIEL CROSBY,

THEOPHILUS PACKARD, Jr.

Committee.

BROOKFIELD ASSOCIATION.

1. Revivals of religion have taken place,-principally in 1831, -in all our Congregations, seventeen in number, with two exceptions only, one of which had no pastor.

2. The characteristics were deep solemnity-deep but short conviction of sin, rapidity of progress and short continuance : The fruits were, the accession of more than 500 members to our churches, whose lives have generally borne witness to their faith.

3. The means by which they have been promoted are,Frequent meetings for public religious instruction and prayer, in promiscuous assembly,-meetings of anxious enquirers for particular conversation, direction and prayer,-together with protracted meetings and frequent parochial visits. The doc

trines preached, were the doctrines of grace,-the plain truths of the gospel pressed home upon the conscience with earnestness, in view of God's dread authority, the evil of sin, the sufficiency of Christ, and the duty of immediate submission to the King of Zion.

4. Protracted meetings, in many instances, have unquestion ably been useful, and may be useful again. It is far from being our opinion, that a Protracted meeting, or any human device whatever, will ensure a revival of religion. Such an opinion is not supported either by observation or by any inherent efficacy discoverable in such a measure.

A Protracted meeting should be conducted with the strictest order and decorum, like a religious meeting on the Sab

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