EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO ONE OF THE Belchertown, April 19, 1819. Rev. and dear brother, In answer to your request, that I would give you a correct statement of facts respecting the good work of the Lord in this place, I would briefly remark.-The first instance of awakening, that came to my knowledge in the revival, was of a woman belonging to our society. This woman came to my house on an afternoon visit, and while we were addressing the throne of grace, a petition was offered to the following effect, viz. that if there were any present who were out of the ark of safety, that Jesus would extend his arm of mercy, and take them to himself. All the adult persons present, except this woman, being professors, she was at once struck with an arrow of conviction, that she was the very character in that condition. She instantly burst into tears, and continued for some time to be in great distress of mind. She manifested a deep sense of her guilt and depravity; and for about a week went mourning as without the sun; she then obtained a hope in the mercy of God, and gave evidence of a work of grace on her heart. By this time it was ascertained that there were five or six more awakened by different means, who were under deep conviction. From this time the work spread into different parts of our society, it appeared to be glorious and powerful. Lord's day, October 4, I baptized six, the next Lord's day I baptized four. On both these days our meetings were unusually full; the news of the refor mation had spread into the neighbouring towns, and a number of people came believe, nine or ten miles to our meeting. Many came from Rev. Mr Porter's meeting to the water, to see the ordinance. The first baptizing season was very solemn; many wept, and numbers have dated their first awakening from that time. At the second baptizing season, it seemed as if the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God came down. It was, by many, thought to be the most solemn and joyful baptizing season that they ever saw. Previous to this baptizing day, there were two or three instances of awakening amongst Mr. Porter's people, who attended our meeting in the south part of the town, and who were awakened at our meetings. At our 2d baptizing season, among others, a considerable number of Mr. Porter's hearers were awakened; they had a meeting that week in a street near where we baptized, and a young manwho was awakened the Lord's day previous at the baptizing, had then obtained a hope, and told his experience. It had a wonderful effect on the minds of the people, and before that week was out, the work appeared to be powerful amongst the people in that street, nearly all of whom belonged to Mr. Porter's society. As they have given their own account, I for the present shall only farther say, that the work amorgst us, though gradual, has ap peared to be a good work. It has continued through the winter,and we still enjoy a comfortable season. Agood degree of harmony is still enjoyed in the church and society, and a gradual increase of numbers. I have baptized every month since October; and yet the number thus added is but 45; eleven have been added to this church by letter, &c. A number besides have joined our society, We have now 8 candidates for baptism, and a number more, we have reason to think, will come forward in that ordinance soon. Yours with sentiments of esteem, were three men and their wives, who were all between 60 and 70 years of age, four of whom were new born chil dren. Three households have been baptized upon a profession of their faith in Christ. The revival in Newport commenced in December last, and is now subsiding. A very powerful work began in the latter part of the winter past in Cornish, adjoining us. It is now rapidly spreading; a great number have become obedient to the faith. I am yours affectionately, LELAND HOWARD. A blessed work of grace commenced immediately upon the sitting of our Association, in September last, at NewLondon, (N, H.) It spread into every part of the town. I understand that about 80 hopeful converts have joined the Baptist church in that town, since the sitting of the Association. Our venerable father Seamans expressed his fervent longings that he might once more witness a revival in that place before he died. He expressed some fears lest he should not; but blessed be the Lord, he has lived to see it. Several of his children have been born again. But he has been called to drink a migled cup. He has lately buried the companion of his youth, and of his old age. In Newport, about twelve miles east of this, the Lord has wrought wonders; not far from two hundred have given comfortable evidence of a change of heart. Between 80 and 90 have joined the Baptist church, and not far from the same number have connected with the Congregationalists. A considerable number more will probably soon be buried with their Lord in baptism. I had the pleasure, during the cold of winter, to baptize 65. On one very cold day I baptized 16. These were glorious seasons. Among the number, EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. SAMUEL CHURCHILL, TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS, dated Elizabethtown, N. Y. Feb. 24, 1819. SIR, I observed in the Magazine a statement that I had baptized 48 during my last year's mission. It should have been 148. The Lord has done great things for part of the country. For about two the people, since my residence in this years the reformation progressed in different places in this vicinity, and I baptized about 300 persons. The Association has increased from between one and two hundred, to rising of 500. Three churches have been added to the Association, and one has been formed west of Plattsburg, which joined the St. Lawrence Association. to benevolent institutions as I could wish. This country is not so well adapted We have, however, formed a Bible Society, and supplied several hundreds with Bibles, and the prospects are encouraging. The Female Society has collected 17 dollars to aid in preaching. We have also set up a ministerial conference, which is designed to operate as a kind of theological school, for the benefit of candidates for the ministry. I trust the time is not far distant, when these churches will be supplied, and not be counted as a field for missionary labours. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. JOSHUA PHILLIPS, IN ELDRIDGE, OHIO. "PERHAPS a short account of the work of God, here will be interesting to the friends of Zion in Boston. The first of March, 1818, one brother and myself united together. On the eighth, two more united with us, and in a short time 3 more, all old members. In September, three were baptized by an Elder, the first who visited us, making our number ten. In the winter we were visited by Elders Hartwell and French, and we think the Lord blessed their labours. Our present number is between 40 and 50. Four other Baptist churches have arisen in this country since this church was organized, some of them nearly as large as this. Truly it may be said, "The wilderness is becoming a fruitful field." Almost all ages,from 8,up to 70,have been sharers in the work. There is great need of preachers." EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM JAMES MC. ABOY, DATED we creased until the place of the last dismissed members has been filled by new converts, and become about as large as before; so that upon the whole, the increase since 1815 exceeds 100; and we are still in a growing state. The Lord appears to be going forth, "conquering and to conquer." Being at a great distance from an Association, thought it best for these four churches, with one on Hughs's river, to form an Association, which was done the last month, and is called Parkersburgh Baptist Association. We have adopted the Constitution of the Boston Association, with only indispensable alterations. We are to meet on the 2d. Sabbath in September and the Friday and Saturday before at this place. Preachers are scarce; there is but one Baptist preacher beside myself, in the bounds of the above Association. I feel much encouraged in thework, and have the happiness almost every day, to hear some either Parkersburg, (Va.) Nov. 30, 1818. expressing their great anxiety about Dear brethren, As the spread of the gospel, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom on the earth, must be pleasing to every friend of Zion, I take the liberty to inform you of the state of religion in this place and its vicinity; particularly as it respects those in the Baptist connexion. In September 1815, I came to this place, and there was not a Baptist in or near it. The spring before, I sought in the surrounding country, and in the distance of about 30 miles, found ten or twelve Baptists, who were willing to be constituted into a church, about the centre of that extensive tract; which was done by the assistance of Elders Phinehas Wells, and John Drake. In the course of that year, the Lord began a gracious work in that church, so that at almost every meeting more or less of those who followed their Lord into the liquid grave, were added to it. So great was their increase, that, in about one year, it was thought necessary to dismiss a branch, which was constituted on Reedy Creek, near the upper extremity of the bounds of the mother church. The Lord continued to favour the mother church on the lower extremity, until it was again, in Septemher, 1817, thought necessary to divide, and then a church was formed in Parkersburg, with only 14 members, which increased in little more than a year to about 50, when it was again thought advisable to dismiss a part from the new church to form one in Marietta, which was done in September; and the church in Parker burgh has since in what they shall do to be saved, or rejoicing in a good hope through grace; and sometimes I have not for weeks together taken three nights of common rest, for attending to the cries of the convicted, or to the rejoicings of liberated souls. P. S. I wish, if consistent, to have this letter published in the Magazine, for the purpose of correcting an error published in Vol. 1, page 383, viz. That there was not a Baptist minister within 50 or 60 miles of this place:" as it is a fact that there are two, Elder Drake and myself, within much less than 50 miles of this place, and in this State. J. M. REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN NEW-LONDON, (N. H.) WITH A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE STATE OF THE CHURCH PREVIOUS TO THIS TIME. THE Baptist Church of Christ in New London was constituted October 23, 1788; consisting of eleven members; and is the only church of any denomination ever constituted in the town. The Rev. Job Seamans was installed as the pastor of this little church, January 21, 1789, consisting then of 14 members only. The pastor and first deacon are all that remain of that number in the church. Some account of the planting of the church, together with the reformation that took place a few years afterwards, have been published in Benedict's History. From the close of that reformation, during the period of about sixteen years, the church was called to wade through many heavy trials and difficulties, and received but few additions. In 1809, we enjoyed another time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in which forty were added to the church by baptism. But a winter season succeeded, and for eight years, only five were added to the church. In the same period of time, eighteen were removed by death, about the same number removed their residence from us, and some few were excluded: so that our number was reduced to about the same as before the revival. In the summer of 1818, the God of mercy was pleased to visit some of the brethren with living desires, to see the church once more arise and put on her beautiful garments, and to see sinners converted to God. They have had the happiness to see their desires granted. At our monthly prayer meeting, on the first Monday in October, one young woman (who had gained a hope some time before) came forward, and expressed a desire to go forward in the holy ordinance of baptism; which she did October 12. It was a solemn season, and some of the brethren had their faith strenghtened, that the Lord was about to revive his work among us. Lord's-day evening, October 18, at a conference meeting, a youth came forward, and in a very satisfactory manner related what the Lord had done for his soul. It was an interesting season; and a considerable number of young people, who afterwards came forward, dated their first serious impressions from the relation he gave. Lord's-day, Nov. 1, six persons came forward, and related their experience to the church, and stated their desire of going forward in the ordinance of baptism; which they did the Tuesday following. From this time the work spread more rapidly, and soon made its way into almost all parts of the town. Conference meetings were multiplied; and although there were two in a week in the same place, in several instances, they were crowded with solemn attentive hear ers. more applications for baptism, it was the desire of Elder Seamans, (on account of his age and infirmities,) that Elder Robinson should baptize the candidates, which he did Dec. 1, to the number of ten. As the work appeared to increase, and the coldness of the weather likewise, it was thought expedient to send for Elder Robinson to baptize the candidates, 19 in number, which he did Dec. 22; the next day, five more were buried in imitation of their Lord. Lord's-day, Jan. 3, 1819, an addition was made to the church of fifty members, who had been previously baptized after which the church communed at the Lord's table: and we think we can truly say, we sat together in a heavenly place in Christ Jesus; that our fellowship was with the Father, and with the Son, and one with another. The congregation, (which perhaps was as numerous as was ever known in the place on a Lord's-day.) nearly all tarried, and gave their serious attention to the solemn transactions, which we trust will be long remembered. Elder Robinson visited us again in the course of the week, and baptized thirteen more. From this time the work appeared to be on the decline. Yet from this time to the 5th of March, the pastor of the church baptized at different times, in all fourteen. Lord's-day, March 7, another addition was made to the church of twenty-seven members. By this time the work had nearly subsided. We have enjoyed the happiness, however, of assembling at our baptismal waters twice since; May 23, when one went forward, and June 7, two others were baptized. The reformation, though short, has been very powerful, and apparently a genuine work of grace. We have beheld some from whom we had been called heretofore to the painful duty of withdrawing the hand of fellowship, returning, (with other backsliders,) to their Father's house, with repentance and gladness of heart; while sinners have been enquiring the way to Zion with their faces thither. ward. The work has been unusually free from noise and confusion. It appears to have been the still small voice. operating steadily and powerfully upon the minds of the subjects of it, who have been, (in a good degree) understandingly led into the doctrines of the gospel, and solemnly impressed with a sense of their awful depravity, and of the absolute necessity of Christ's righteousness for justification. |