what an insult is such a course of instruction to the Supreme Legislator, who has clearly expressed his mind on the subject, and with whose decision the dictates of enlightened reason exactly coincide? What become of such phrases as a laudable ambition, an honest pride, and others like them, when compared with our Savior's instruction and example. Let children and others be told to do this, because it is right; to abstain from that, because it is wrong; to practise a course of duty, because God has commanded it; to avoid sin, because God has forbidden it; and they will never want motives sufficiently intelligible and powerful. O, if Christian nations would cast away to the moles and to the bats this miserable idol, the applause of men, we might soon experience a wonderful improvement in the character of Christendom.. ever The Lord's prayer is the most wonderful composition committed to writing. Its simplicity, its dignity, its comprehensiveness, its piety, its suitableness to the wants of men, well deserve the most attentive consideration. When I contemplate the several parts of this admirable compend, I am convinced, that even infidels would acknowledge it to have proceeded from God, if their ninds were not desperately blinded. When I hear a prayer, in which there is no reference to the holiness, glory, and will of God, nor to the sinfulness and spiritual wants and dangers of men, I conclude at once that such a prayer is not suited to the state of man, and cannot have sprung from a mind imbued with the genuine principles of the Christian religion. Yet such prayers are made. I have repeatedly heard them. Let the reader imagine prayers suited to the Socinian scheme, and he will have some conception of those to which I allude; though it is not probable he will make so low an estimate of what these prayers contain, as actually hearing them would enable him to do. How great must be the difference between the prayers of Luther, Calvin, Hooker, Baxter, Hale, Edwards, Brainerd, and those of Socinus, Priestley, and Belsham? And which of these classes would most resemble the plain, obvious, unė sophisticated language of the New Testament? In the 22nd and 23rd verses, our Savior gives most important instruction by a happy description of the dark and gloomy condition of a man, whose eye, the only medium of light, should be unfit to perform its office, and should thus become darkness itself. By this similitude he represents the case of those, who are involved in error, whose first principles are wrong, and whose progress in moral and religious inquiries is like the groping of a blind man. Well might he say, How great must the darkness be! The word rendered masters, in the 24th verse, is the same which is generally rendered Lord; and I could have wished it had been so rendered here. The meaning of our Savior is, evidently, that two Lords cannot possess the supreme authority at the same time. If Jehovah is served, he is the Lord; if Mammon, the service is idolatry. PHILALETHES. REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN GREEN WICH, (MASS.) The following account was sent for publication by the Rev. JOSEPH BLODGET, pastor of the first church in Greenwich, THE compassionate Head of the Church manifested his gracious and special presence in my first labors among this people, in December 1785. Immediately after my ordination, which took place in November 1786, there were sixteen persons, who gave such happy evidence of a change of heart, that they were admitted to Christian communion. We then enjoyed great harmony for about fifteen years, small additions being made to the church, without any general attention to religion, till it pleased God, in the year 1802, to awaken sinners and enliven saints, in such a manner as to astonish all classes of persons. The holy Sabbath was a day wished for, and greatly delighted in. The Holy Comforter visited almost every house. Many were aroused from the slumbers of infidelity, and cheerfully engaged in the cause of Immanuel. Some, who were before tolerably easy with our connexion, now became incensed, and joined the Universalists. We had conferences and lectures very frequently, and most happily without irregularities. Our communion Sabbaths were refreshing indeed. Some individuals, who had been inclining to join sectaries, were now drawn into our fraternal embrace. Thus were we graciously prospered. From March to December sixty three were received to communion, in a small parish of about eighty families. The subjects of the work were from the age of 65 down to 11. Some were under the most trying convictions for several months; others but a few days. When re lieved, they exulted in the doctrines of grace and gave up their cavils against the Bible sentiments. At this happy season, none were forward to profess Christianity, till they were satisfied that they possessed love to God. The half-way scheme of covenanting for baptism now entirely ceased. There was a manifest change in the habits and customs of old and young. Idle visits and festive season's were turned into occasions of speaking often one to another. on the subject of religion. Balls were laid aside. The dancing master found no employment. Parents and children were engaged in familiarizing the cate chism to their minds, and in searching the Scriptures daily. Family prayer was more attended to. We also had the pleasure to observe, that profane language, gambling, and tavernhaunting were less practised. There was scarcely a single house, where a pack of cards was kept. Sacred music was much cultivated; and our seasons of praising God were pleasant; eminently so on communion occasions. From this time of peculiar refreshing, there were but small additions to the church till eight years afterwards; when it pleas ed the Lord, in 1810, to cause a wonderful revival in Hardwick, a contiguous town. Many precious drops of the shower rejoiced us. Thirty two persons gave such evidence of conver sion, that they were admitted to the church. In general, they live according to their profession. We have had but few apostasies. Yet we have had the dismal sight of beholding some, who lived and died in a state of opposition to such heavenly operations; and some who have been awakened and greatly aroused, and appeared to be almost persuaded to be Christians, have yet sunk into the world, and given us reason to fear that they are ripening for eternal darkness. There are some; now aged, who have seen their children press into the kingdom, and yet remain unmoved themselves. On our communion occasions, they step aside as spectators. They see their companions, and their offspring partaking of the heavenly feast, but have no lot in this matter themselves. Since 1810, a very few are brought to realize their sinful condition. The serious dissension in politics prevents an attention to the weightier matters. Yet where the Lord began a good work, he is carrying it on. We learn several things from these kind interpositions of Heaven. 1. When the Lord works, none can hinder him. The powers of darkness are aroused, and many sinners are permitted to quench the Spirit, to their own confusion and final hardness; but the word of God accomplishes that whereto he sends it, and, in his own time and manner, his chosen are brought in. His people are made willing in the day of his power. Many, who are determined not to become subjects of the revival, are made eminent converts, powerfully confute gainsayers and opposers, and express great astonishment at their former madness and folly, The prince of darkness is busy at such times in sowing tares but a stronger than he often prevails. When the Lord adds to the church, the persons added are such as shall be saved. 2. A revival of religion is a time of great refreshing to the ministers of Christ, and all lovers of the truth, Though the labors of ministers are great, yet they are abundantly compensated by seeing the work of the Lord prospering, and the kingdoms of Antichrist falling. They may at such an animating season, ascertain whether they have any oil in their lamps; whether it is their meat and drink to do the will of God; whether they delight to feed the sheep and the lambs of the flock. Private Christians are also enlivened to prayer and religious conversation. They cherish every serious emotion, and are ready instruments in the hands of the Almighty to assist the inquirer, and confute the gainsayer. The more they see the powerful operations of God upon the hearts and consciences of sinners, the more they are humbled, and led to self-examination, and to ascribe all the glory and praise to God. Every thing the lover of God is enabled to do for the upbuilding of the Redeemer's kingdom increases his humility and enlarges his capacity of enjoyment. 3. The display of sovereign grace, which is observable in a revival, confirms Christians in the great and essential doctrines of the Bible. From a sense of the total depravity of the human heart, we learn the necessity of regeneration, and that the Soyes reign Spirit creates anew. Where he begins such a glorious work in the soul, he will continue it to the final decision. The new-born subjects are delighted with those sacred truths, which they abhorred while in a state of impenitency. They are now assured, that God has mercy on whom he will have mercy; and that he has a right to leave in hardness whom he will; that his holy and perfect will is the law of the universe, and his electing love the encouragement of fallen creatures. They a dore God on account of his having ordained a number to eternal life; and they rejoice while they realize the consistency of the Divine decrees and free a gency in the creature. They find themselves to be free indeed, and that none are bondslaves but the servants of sin. We find those who are brought into the kingdom, at such joyful seasons, firm against the great errors and heresies which assail the Church. 4. We find, that great peace and solid rest are the result of such refreshing seasons. There is an engagedness to live in Gospel purity, and keep up brotherly discipline, and stand in the light and strength of the Redeemer. When the building is upon the Rock, it is secure from falling, let the floods of atheism and infidelity be ever so raging. Although the mass of the nation are in pursuit of vanities, the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess it for ever, even for ever and ever. There remaineth a rest for the people of God. While the hostile and the vioVOL. IX. lent are rushing on to vexation and a final overthrow, the peacemakers are advancing to the heavenly Canaan. 5. We learn where is the source of all rejoicing, and the on ly sufficient aid. In such times of revival as have been described, the ministers of Christ have their minds deeply impressed with a sense of entire dependence on God, while they are full of delight, have many joyful hours, and realize the importance of diligent exertion in feeding the sheep and the lambs. When they feel less than the least of all saints, they find they can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth them. Their minds are more and more weaned from worldly concerns; they look forward to the great consummation, and humbly plead with God for assistance, that they may acquit themselves as faithful stewards of the mysteries of God. They see the importance of a life of prayer, and familiarity with the Scriptures. They strive to enjoy the friend ship of Christ, and to have some happy understanding of the great truths of revelation. All who come out boldly in the cause of God, exhibit true love and perseyering faithfulness, and in this time of revolutions, are more and more confirmed in the divine origin of the Bible, and rejoice that Jehovah rules over all; knowing that he will bring down the haughty uncircumcised, exalt the humble, and cause the righteous to shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Faș ther. 9 7 THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE OF MRS. E. H. EXTRACTED FROM HER DIARY. (Continued from p. 21. ) "FEB. 6, 1725. I was this evening in a dull frame, and under temptation to neglect secret prayer, which temptation I overcame. In the time of duty, I was led to a sense of my miserable estate by nature, which wrought in me an earnest desire after Christ, and led me to seek a discovery of him, by faith, in his excellency and glory, and as my Savior. I was earnest in prayer that he would shew me his glory, and that he would dwell in my soul and possess it with the gifts and graces of his Holy Spirit. And here I was particular for the grace of faith; for that faith whereby I may see spiritual things, which are spiritually discerned; and also for that faith whereby I may venture my soul upon Christ, and trust in him for all things; for the grace of love, repentance, and new obedience; for the of thankfulness and holy grace joy; for the gift of an enlarged heart, an elevated spirit, and fixed thought in contemplation; for the gift of self-government, for the gift of knowledge, and wisdom, and prudence; for the love and goodness, which come down from above; for that pleasantness in conversation which may render me a blessing; for dexterity and ingenuity in business "Feb. 10. It is now a good time with me, and I have much of God's presence compared with what I used to have. I have outward afflictions, but inward consolations, blessed be God. Rouse up, O my soul, and con sider what infinite obligations thou art laid under by these things. Shall the infinite God be present with a worm? Shall a Being of all possible perfection converse with a vile sinful creature, and hear, answer, and comfort dust and ashes? And wilt thou not be careful in all things to please Him? Wilt thou affront his holiness by sinning against him; his goodness by ingrati, tude; his majesty by contempt? Or wilt thou not rather endeavor to walk before him to all well pleasing, before him, who is the God and Giver of all thy mercies? O Lord, I come unto thee, my strength and my Redeemer, in whom all fulness dwells, for grace whereby I may walk answerable to thy just expectations. Fill me with a spirit of holiness, so that I may walk before God with fear and reverence, with new obedience and holy joy; with a spirit of goodness, so that I may be a blessing to my fellow-creatures. "Feb. 27. God has been pleased lately to withdraw from me much of his comforting presence. Though I have had assistance in duty, and some more than ordinary discoveries, yet I find not that confidence towards God, which I used, to find; neither can I with that assurance comfort myself that his power, goodness, and wisdom are engaged for me; (a supporting consideration which has yielded me much quietness.) I feel an uneasiness and vacancy in my mind, which excite my desires after the Lord's supper, that I may receive a sealed pardon for all my sins, and especially for the fore-mentioned want of confidence; that I may not only be |