water. As this principle of life within shall never fail, but be springing up, in the holy tendencies of his heart and conduct, into everlasting life, until his holy fruits and joys terminate in fulness of joy and pleasures for ever more; so it will be to him as streams and rivers whose waters never fail. Further, out of the faints shall flow rivers of falutary and life giv. ing waters to others. By their faith and good works they are the falt of the earth, and the light of the world. They prevent its total darkness and corruption, and render it luminous and favoury. By their doctrines, heavenly conversation, and examples, they inftrumentally season it with piety and righteousness. Their inftructions, prayers, counsels and influence make others holy and happy. Others, beholding their good works, glorify their Father who is in heaven.: an hiding place from the wind, ❘ fruitful, be comforted and refreshand a covert from the tempeft : ed as with gentle dews and showas rivers of water in a dry place, ❘ers, as with streams and rivers of as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.* Pardon, deliverance from wrath, sanctification, peace with God and in his own foul, communion with Christ in his word and ordinances, assurance of his love and the hopes of glory, are far more welcome to the be liever than cold waters, streams and rivers to the thirty traveller in a land of drought and heat, These are the sweet fruits of faith to the believer himself. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The peace of God which passeth undersland- | ing keeps the hearts of the faints. It is the promise of the faithful Saviour, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, peither let it be afraid.+ In the exercises of faith the believer has always communion with God. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his fon Jefus Chrift. In believing, eternal life commences in the foul. The good feed is sown in good ground, and will fpring up and bear fruit, fome thirty, fome fixty and fome an hundred fold. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Thus out of the Christian shall flow rivers of living water as it refpects himself. He will be washed as with fountains and Streams of water, that he may be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. He will be made Faithful parents, who devote their children to God according to his institution, inftruct and pray with them abundantly, restrain them from fin, and wicked company, and fo train them up in the way in which they should go, more beneficial to them than rivers of water, or streams from Leb are By God's bleffing, they make them useful, pious, pure and blessed. They may be the means of God's keeping covenant with their posterity unto a thousand generations. Their children thus educated may become the ornaments of the churches, pillars in the house of God, pillars of the earth, upon whom the Lord shall set the government of the world.f How useful and refreshing may they | beauty, strength and opulence * Ifaiah xxxii. 2. + John xiv. 27. #1 John i. 3. anon. § 1 Sam. ii. 8. be to the churches, to the commonwealth, and to all good men! How happy are the effects of peace-makers, of righteous, prayerful, orderly, wife and charitable men? How falutary are their counsels and prayers, how refreshing their charity and alms deeds? When they warm the naked with the fleece of their flocks, feed the hungry from their tables, visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, and with good words and good deeds make the hearts of the poor, the fick, the fatherless, and widow to fing for joy? When by refreshing the bowels of the faints they cause many thankfgivings to redound to the name of the Lord! How far and wide do those refreshing waters flow forth, when by their charity and care, their labor and influence, the gof. pel is preached to the poor in diftant countries and settlements, and fouls are born, and churches gathered unto the Lord Jesus? When by their means the gospel is sent to the heathen, and the dark pla ces of the earth are illumined with the light of life, and the regions of death are peopled with Chriftians rejoicing in the name of the Lord? How falutary and refreshing are paftors after God's heart, who feed his people with knowledge and understanding, and are a favour of life unto life unto im mortal fouls? Who turn finners from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God.? Who perfect the faints and edify the body of Chrift? Such are the waters which flow forth from those who believe in the Lord Jesus Chrift. How much more use. ful and refreshing are they, than rivers which pour their waters through extenfive countries, fertilize a thousand meads, and give to the most renowned cities? Where these waters come the fick are healed and the dead live. How much better are these waters of Ifrael than Abana and Pharpar and all the waters of Damafcus? When the rivers shall be dried away, and there shall be no more fea, when the fun and stars shall shine no more, these waters shall increase their sweetness, rise higher and higher, and flow more extensively for ever and ever. How bleffed is the believer? His fruit shall never fail; he shall never come into condemnation. How rich is the grace bestowed. upon him? How immenfe are his obligations to gratitude, praise and new obedience? How should the faints take courage and be comforted, and all the children of Zion be glad in their King? (To be continued.) : TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- GAZINE. REV. GENTLEMEN, : : 1 AS it is your manifest defire to receive what religious information any can afford, and fince accounts, of the outpouring of God's spirit never fail to gladden the hearts of his children, no one needs an apology for tranfmitting you accounts of this kind, even though the work be not in the immediate place of his refidence. I N the society of New-Canaan, Columbia county, state of New-York, there has been experienced a confiderable degree of the special influences of divine grace. As it is a fociety deftitute of a stated minifter, and fince he who fends you these lines was more particularly acquainted with the circumstances than any other | feelings of discouragement, and The next spring, being called to supply in a neighboring parish, I vifited this people; and found one more inftance of hopeful conversion. There appeared also, one or two instances of awakening, which commenced some time before. A number of new instances of serious thoughtfulness were likewise now seen. I learnt, that ❘ the close of the autumn to the preacher; being also now fettled in an adjoining parish, he is requested to write you an account of the work. 1 In the month of November, 1800, I was passing through the place above mentioned, and from the influence of a neighboring minifter, received an application to return and fupply them a few Sabbaths. Accordingly I returned. On learning their religious state, it appeared that they had formerly enjoyed the stated administration of the gospel; but had then been destitute about three years. During this term they had been supplied with preaching but a small part of the time. Even the form of religion was now scarcely visible among them. It is true, there was the remains of a church, wherein were nine male members, and a few more than that number of females. Still, it would admit of a doubt whether it were any honor to the cause of religion to say there was a church in the place. When I first drew near the house of worship, I beheld from its forlorn appearance an affecting comment on that paffage of the prophecy of Ifaiah where he speaks of "a great forsaking in the midst of the land." The words of the prophet were also no less applicable when the people were convened. Between twenty and thirty persons compofed the whole assembly. As I came directly from a place in which people were quite attentive to divine worship, and having had but a few weeks experience in the trying work of preaching the gofpel, I returned to my quarters with a heavy heart. The next Sabbath presented much the fame fcene. The number was very nearly the fame. At this time my my view of being useless, led me to contemplate leaving them; al though I had given encourage. ment of tarrying a number of weeks longer. The Sabbath fol. lowing I felt fome more encour aged. Perhaps there were twice as many as attended the other two Sabbaths. About this number continued till my term expired. And blessed be God!" notwithstanding all this darkness, some rays of light had then begun to appear. The operation of the fpirit of God was visible in two or three instances. As I was converfing one evening on religious fubjects, in the family where I lodged, a young lady belonging to the family handed me a bible, pointing to this text, wishing me to preach from it, Pfalm xxv. 16. Turnthee unto me and have mercy upon me, for I am defolate and afflicted. A few general remarks were made in reply; and an opportunity was taken, the next day, to learn what this unexpected incident appeared to indi. cate. Accordingly, it was found, that two Sabbaths previously to this, which was the fecond of my preaching in the fociety, fuch impressions were made upon her mind as it was impoffible forher to erase; and which had been continually increafing. Soon after this, another young lady, refiding in the fame family, appeared to be specially awakened. course of a few days, the first received a happy relief through a crucified Saviour. On the Sabbath-evening previoufly to my leaving the place, a question was asked a young gentleman belonging to the family, to this import; whether he would deem it just should God now make him eternally miferable? He anfwered, In the that he must confess he could not realize the justice of it. At this the young lady who was mentioned as being last awakened, broke forth into a strain of astonishment, and addressed him thus: How can you think fuch vile worms as que do not deserve to be in hell for ever! It was then inquired, whether she had not, of late, experienced a particular change in her feelings? She observed that she had and then related, that very early in the morning, after a distressed night, light from the Lord shone most aftonishingly into her foul; that her views of God and the Saviour were such as the could not express. " This day," faid she, "was the first time I ever heard preaching. This has been a new day to me. I never properly heard a fermon till to day." The next morning I left the society; perceiving that the people in general were still remarkably indifferent withregardto either attending on preaching, or contributing to its support. This was in December. I had supplied them five Sabbaths. had also frequent lectures, by a candidate from an adjoining parish; whose labors among them appeared to be accompanied with divine power upon the hearts of a number. In the first part of this season, a number of the church appeared to be quickened, so that the ordinance of the supper was administered; which for a long time had been greatly neglected. At this period, three young perfons, who were the first that received a hopeful change, came forward and made public profeffion of their faith. This was a mean of striking the minds of a number of other youth, as afterwards appeared. Though in the summer there were not many instances of awakening, in the autumn, there was a more refreshing shower of divine grace than had been before experienced. The aspect of the principal young people was now remarkably changed. Youthful amusements, to which they were before greatly attached, were now entirely difcontinued. As the work first began among the youth, it appeared chiefly to continue among them. Those who were leadens in vanity seemed to be first arrefted. through the winter, they had been destitute of any stated preaching. The people were at this time engaged in repairing their meeting house. And their house being not finished till fall, they engaged no fupply through the fummer. During this season, they were, however, favored with preaching a number of Sabbaths by neighboring ministers. They Their meeting house being now finished, the pulpit was supplied, for the most part through the winter. I was told, that from abatement of winter, the people appeared folemn and attentive, but new instances of awakening were but few. Early in the following spring, which was 1802, there appeared another most special refreshing. This seemed to spread the gospel net still more extensively. Some of every class were by this time the subjects of the work. The number of conferences were now increased, and more fully attended than ever they had before been. Providence so appointed it, that foon after this refreshing commenced, I fupplied them a number of Sabbaths. Oh! how astonishing the contrast, in the appearance at this time on the Lord's day, from that which was exhibited when I first preached in the place. There was now a decent house, thronged with a numerous and folemn audience. A number of heads of families had become sharers in these blessed effects; and confequently, the small number of praying families were happily increased. In addition to the conferences which were then attended, the young people appointed one to be regarded weekly; which was statedly attended by a very good number, and which now still continues. In the course of the summer, new instances of awakening were seldom; and it no more increased. There is, however, ftill evidence | that the Lord has been there, and that he hath fet apart a number | for himself. Fifty-four have been added to the church. Of these, thirty were young unmarried people. A number of the others were perfons in quite the early part of life. The writer wishes that the youth would reflect on this with peculiar attention. You see that it is in the morning God generally calls his laborers into the vineyard. A few circumstances may be added, evincing the peculiar grace and fovereignty of God in this -work. Some families appear to be almost wholly taken; and others altogether left. In fome cafes, only one individual was taken from a neighborhood. One family, in which there were three young men, was remarkably visit ed. At first, the mind of one of the young men was arrested; which appeared to diffeminate through the family, till each of the three, and both the parents, were the hopeful subjects of regenerating grace. Formerly, this family were quite neglectful of divine things; and were remarkably engaged in pursuit of perishable wealth; but now, on communion days, all the adult members are seen commemorating a crucified Saviour. In another family, there are five young people, four fifters and a brother, all of whom have hopefully become pious. About the close of the visible awakening, I was called to attend the funeral of one of the late converts; who was a young lady a-. bout seventeen years of age. On the Sabbath preceding her death, which was ten weeks after she had publicly joined herself to the church, the was at meeting taking an active part with the fingers. Though her constitution had ever been infirm, she then enjoyed usual health. On Friday following, she was entombed in the filent grave. One year previous to this, divine revelation was almost entirely neglected in the family. The vile invectives of Thomas Paine were believed and read, by the head of the family, to the utter exclufion of God's revealed word. But, in the course of the preceding season, Jehovah was fo gracious as to fend his Spirit, which banished infidelity from their dwelling, and hopefully renewed the hearts of both the parents, as well as their child. Hereby they were prepared to part with a dear and first born member of their family; and through divine grace, their child also was hopefully prepared to part with her parents, leaving them to mourn, not without hope, either |