religion, than urging or permit. ting individuals to make a publick profession of religion, as soon as they have experienced some serious impressions, and flatter themselves that they have been renewed in the temper of their minds. All experience shows that such persons often and speedily dishonour their profession, and not unfrequently become open apostates, and sometimes avowed infidels. We know and admit, that after all possible care which the churches can take, instances of deception will occur; for it is the prerogative of God only to search the heart. But to use all proper means to preserve the purity of the church, and save religion from reproach, is a sacred duty, incumbent on all church officers; and it is a duty which, when faithfully performed, will, to a great extent, secure its object-the church will rarely be disgraced by self-deceived hypocrites, and eventual apostates. As well might men pretend that no care should be taken to preserve their health, because disease cannot always and certainly be avoided, as that no care should be taken to preserve a sound state of the visible church, because its members and its ministers do in some instances, and in despite of all precaution, become profligates and a publick scandal. Let the church do its duty, and leave the event to God.

10. Finally-let no measures for the promotion of religious revivals be adopted, which are not sanctioned by some example, or precept, or fair and sober inference, drawn from the word of God. This is a safe general rule, applicable to numerous particular cases, which we have neither time nor inclination to specify. Some variety of opinion will exist; and may lawfully and properly be indulged, in regard to the measures which are best calculated to produce revivals, and to conduct them, where they exist, to a happy result.

But we earnestly counsel, that for every measure contemplated, a warrant be carefully and impar tially sought in God's unerring word. If such a warrant can be fairly made out, let the measure be adopted; but otherwise, let it be promptly abandoned; for it must be remembered that the Bible contains not only a safe, but a complete rule of duty.

Thus, beloved brethren, we have raised our warning voice, to caution you against certain things, by which those displays of God's spe cial grace which we denominate revivals of religion, may be clouded and counteracted; and the incalculable benefits which might otherwise be derived from them, may be finally and irretrievably lost. Let us receive instruction from past times-let us for a moment turn away our attention from all that is now passing in our country, to what was witnessed in the days of the celebrated evangelist Whitefield, and at a still later period, in the southwestern parts of our land.

In both these instances, there was certainly a most powerful and promising religious awakening; and for a time the happiest effects were experienced. Numerous conversions of a solid and lasting character took place, and many and most desirable additions were made to the church of Christ. But through the subtility of Satan, and the inflamed and misguided passions of men, doctrines were at length taught and measures adopted-with a view, as it was loudly proclaimed, to promote and extend the revivals-which were speedily followed by the most disastrous consequences. The Holy Spirit was grieved away; excesses which shocked all sober minds succeeded; every form of fanatacism and religious error appeared; soon the passions, which had been raised to their highest tone, subsided into apathy, and carelessness in regard to all religion; a season of the most lamentable

spiritual declension and deadness followed; infidels multiplied, and infidelity proclaimed its triumphs; revivals of religion were reproached and ridiculed, and a deep prejudice against them was excited and fostered, which, in some places and in many minds, has not yet been removed.

It is, dear brethren, to prevent the recurrence of such evils as these, that with great solicitude for your welfare, we entreat you to be on your guard. Think not that vigilance, caution, and prayer, in relation to the abuse of revivals, is superfluous. Hear, on this subject, the eminent and justly venerated President Edwards. He remarks, that in a time of revival, the chief exertions of the great adversary will be likely to be made with the friends and promoters of the work, to drive them into such excesses and extravagances as shall ruin its credit, and ultimately bring all religion into disgrace. And in this his success will be rendered the more probable, if he can first persuade such persons, that they are in no danger on that side. It was "while men slept," that the enemy came and "sowed tares:" not while they were in a state of indifference, but while they were not watching against his devices. It is not while men are in a state of indifference, that the false conversions, represented by the tares, are brought in; but while men are asleep in a far different sense-while their passions are in such a state of excitement as blinds their minds to the danger. Then the great deceiver can work to the best advantage, both in promoting false conversions, and in leading into dangerous extremes those who are zealous promoters of the work.

Such is the monitory language, of at once the most powerful defender of revivals of religion, and the ablest corrector of their abuses, which our country has ever seen.

Let us hear and regard his voice, uttered as it is in concert with the voices of men the most distinguished for wisdom, piety, and prudence, from the period of the protestant reformation to the present hour. Doing thus, and looking earnestly to our covenant-keeping God to crown our endeavours with success, it is scarcely too much to hope, that revivals of religion will spread throughout our whole land; and that their heavenly influence and lustre will continue and increase, till they mingle with the noon-tide splendour of the millenial day.

Signed by order of the Assem

bly,

JAMES HOGE, Moderator.

June 1, 1832.

For the Christian Advocate. MEANS OF CONFIRMING A WEAK FAITH.

Having in a preceding number contemplated some of the evidences of a weak faith, we will now consider some of the means by which such a faith may be confirmed.

Meditation on God-on what he is in himself, and on what he is to us, is fitted to produce this effect. He is Almighty; the Being who weighs the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance; who taketh up the isles as a very little thing; who sustains by his Almighty arm, the whole burden of creation. He is all wise: looks with an intuitive survey through all the works of his hands, always has his eye intent upon the best purposes, and is able with infinite ease to devise the best means for their accomplishment. He is all gracious; spreads the tokens of his bounty through the whole creation, and delights to pour joy and blessing into the bosoms of his creatures, and has compassion even for the wretched and unthankful, and perishing. And

what is he to the Christian? He is a Creator, having given him his existence, and with it all his powers of action and enjoyment. He is a Preserver; upholding him from day to day by his beneficial hand, and crowning him with goodness, and causing his cup to run over with blessings. More than all, he is a Redeemer! has undertaken the benevolent work of ransoming him from all the miseries of the second death, and conducting him to glory, and honour, and immortality. And is there nothing in all this, Christian, to strengthen your languid faith? Can you hesitate to confide in a Being who is all this in himself, and all this to you? Rather are you not ashamed, are you not distressed, that with so much in the character and relations of God, to inspire you with a strong and vigorous faith, you should even for a moment, have yielded to dis

trust.

The same effect will be likely to be produced by suitable meditations on the providence of God. For that providence, Christian, is nothing less than his continual, allwise, and benevolent agency; an agency which extends to all your interests for time and eternity. It is not that general and partial oversight of his works, which some would denominate providence, but which really reflects upon the character of God, and even disrobes him of his perfection; but it is an agency in the highest degree particular-that reaches you in all exigences and all circumstances; and that reaches with the same minute regard, the case of every being in the universe. Are you asleep at midnight on your pillow? The providence of God reaches you there. Are you journeying in a land of strangers? The same providence reaches you there. Are you in circumstances of danger and difficulty? or are you pressed down with a weight of affliction on the

bed of illness, or at the grave of a friend, or in the agony of death? In all these various circumstances, the providence of God still reaches you, and if you are a Christian, as we here take for granted that you are, it is in the best sense a merciful providence; a providence which is employed, and which is pledged to bring you safe through every scene of trial, to a world of glory. Think of this, Christian, and let it serve to invigorate your faith. God governs the world. He governs it in wisdom, and goodness, and mercy. Say then-"All my interests for time and eter nity, are subject to his control, and are safe in his keeping. I will trust him therefore; yea, I will trust him though he slay me."

Meditation on the promises of God-is fitted to lead to the same happy result. True, indeed, God has not promised to any Christian, that he shall share largely in the riches, or honours, or emoluments of the world: he has not ever given him a pledge that the fires of mar tyrdom shall not kindle around him, or that he shall not bow his head to the block, and take his departure for heaven, while he is bathed in his own blood. But he has promised what is far better, that all things shall work together for his good; that though he may lead him by a path which he knows not, yet he will conduct him safely and certainly to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And the perfection of his nature is pledged for the accomplishment of these promises: though heaven and earth should pass away, his faithfulness can never fail. And may not the Christian rely with confi dence on such promises Is there not every thing to strengthen his faith in the consideration that whatever his present circumstances may be, the richest blessings in the universe, the blessings of a complete and eternal redemp

as these?

blessing that we need; and what blessing do we need more, than a strong and lively faith? We have a right, then, to expect that our faith will be increased, as a direct answer to prayer. But there is also a tendency in the very exercise of prayer, to the attainment of the blessing. He who lives much in a devotional atmosphere, and accustoms himself to frequent communion with God, will find his faith growing stronger, as a matter of course: the more he prays, the more simple, and humble, and affectionate will be the confidence which he reposes in God, as the God of Providence, as well as the God of Grace.

Let me now suggest two or three considerations, to illustrate the importance of obtaining a stronger faith.

It is important as a means of consolation in the hour of trial. There are none but have afflictions of some kind or other before them, under which they will need powerful support. It requires not the spirit of prophecy, to predict this; it requires nothing more than a knowledge of the fact, that our lot for the present is in this vale of tears. I cannot tell in respect to any individual, whether there is before him sickness, or bereavement, or poverty, or affliction in some other form; but of the fact that affliction in some form is before him, I may speak with confidence; because none of all the dwellers on the earth are exempt. Well, then, fellow mortal, whither do you look for support under your afflictions? To the gospel, you say; but of the support which the gospel furnishes, rely on it, a weak faith will never enable you to avail yourself. You must believe in the great truths of the gospel, with a conviction so strong, that they shall have in your mind the full weight of realities; your confidence in God's promises, must be a powerful and abiding

principle of action, or it will never sustain you while your heart is throbbing and smarting under the rod of the Almighty. Cultivate a stronger faith, then, as you would be saved from sinking in the day of your trouble.

That a weak faith should be confirmed is also essential to a profitable improvement of the dispensations of Providence. Let the hand of God be laid upon you in affliction as often as it may, even though your life should be an uninterrupted scene of adversity, it would do you no good-nay, it would only serve to increase your insensibility, unless you should receive your afflictions in the exercise of a humble confidence in God. You must realize from whose hand they come, and for what end they are sent, and your need of God's spirit to give them their legitimate effect on your heart. But without such an impression-in other words, without a humble and lively faith, you will never be able to say in receiving your trials, that it is good for you to be afflicted: You will never be able to realize that they are working out for you an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

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And finally, it is important that a weak faith should be confirmed means of glorifying God. What honour does the exercise of a strong faith put upon the perfec tions and government of God, in scenes of adversity! Behold that Christian whose earthly friends are dying around him, or perhaps have been dying till the last one is gone; and see how calm and cheerful he is, because he stays himself upon God! What practical testimony does he render to the wisdom and goodness, grace and faithfulness of that Redeemer who is chastening him with one hand, and pouring the oil of gladness into his soul with the other! And not only is a strong faith in itself a means of