great as to forgive sinners and enemies who deserve eternal rejection; and forgive them by the gift of the Son of God, to humble himself to death, even the death of the cross. By this we learn that God doth not punish from any delight in misery, but from love. By this we learn the nature of justice; and that it is the inflexibility of goodness, so inflexible that the Lord would not spare his own Son from suffering. Considering Jesus Christ as a divine person, how gloriously truth, justice and mercy are displayed on the cross! Here, their nature, their certainty, their infinite fulness are seen beyond all that could be conceived without this display. By looking into these things the angels know more of God than they knew before. Herein his holiness is opened to their understanding. The goodness that can forgive, the manner of purchase, the manner of applying by irresistible grace, against the sinner's self-destroying temper, and the divine patience, are a very wonderful discovery of what God is in himself. His love of righteousness and of mercy are a high example for creatures of the highest order. They see justice and judgment to be the habitation of his throne, and mercy and truth going before him.

By the gospel, through which men are saved, all creatures may learn the determination of God to maintain, in the highest dignity and obligation, the law under which they were created and must for ever exist. There were two reasons for giving the law; one that it might serve as a rule of duty; the other, to display the character of the lawgiver. To have the best conception of the law it must be seen in practice and execution. Thus we know how the lawgiver esteems his own commandment, and will act in executing it. The law of moral virtue never before appeared so dignified and obligatory on creatures, as it did when Christ died on the cross. The whole moral system never did before appear so full of light-so solemn-so certain-so fixed in the eternal counsels, and in the very nature of Godhead.

It is eminently by the gospel that creatures learn what goodness is. The great work of redemption is goodness displayed from its infinite source, so as to become an example of its nature to all creatures. This shows that sinners may be subjects of goodness; that there is nothing private and self-interested in its nature; and that general well-being is the end which it seeks. In these respects, redemption by such means as infinite wisdom hath chosen, is a new view of goodness and its most excellent nature, which the works of creation never could give. By the gospel God convinces angels that the awful justice of his nature is the same as his

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love; and that his holiness could not ordain a law, or his justice appoint a penalty, for the sake of general good, which his Son would not obey, to promote the same end.

Redemption is the highest possible display of divine wisdom, a greater display than the work of creation admits. It displays God turning evil to a good account, bringing light out of darkness; and making in the universe a greater quantity of holiness and happiness, than would have been without sin and misery. How astonishing the wisdom which doth this!!!

It may be remarked of all the effects of sin, so far as we have had opportunity to see their termination, that through the direction of infinite wisdom, they turn to the confusion of the kingdom of evil. Though the devices of sin may appear to prosper for a season, we do always see them finally blasted. So innumerable have been the instances of this, that the raised expectation of sinners, in their evil ways, shows a strong blindness of mind. How wonderful will the wisdom of God appear in the end, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe !" Then it will be seen, through a divine ordering, that this rebellion hath turned to the greatest glory of God and blessedmess of his kingdom. Thus all the hosts of heaven will behold the wisdom and holiness of their Lord.

The government of the Lord is a scheme of wisdom and holiness, in which all the parts from eternity to eternity, are connected. The admission of sin into the system has often excited the wonder of finite minds. When the elect angels saw the fall of their fellows in glory, and of mankind, doubtless their surprise at the event was great; but before this they have received full conviction that the Almighty is holy, wise and good in the permission; and that although many, both of the angelic and human natures, remain vile and miserable for ever, the sum of glory and blessedness is increased.

The admission of sin was connected with the scheme of redemption; and redemption, above all other means, unfolds to finite understanding, the plenitude of eternal Godhead.Thus he is revealed by the execution of his counsels to the understanding of creatures, and admired in the holiness and glory which he will give to his saints. Thus by the admission of sin and by redeeming grace, the nature of holiness will be infinitely better known by creatures, than if moral evil had never been.

This subject, when considered in its great extent, slows the credibility of the gospel revelation, and the weakness of

ness.

several objections made against it by some disbelievers.They have said, it is not credible that men should be a favored race above angels or other orders of intelligent creatures. They have said it is not credible, that the divine nature should become incarnate, and sinners be saved, by such expensive means as the gospel publishes. Such objections betray both a want of goodness in the objector, and ignorance of God's counsel and motives. It is true the goodness exercised to sinners is wonderful and unmerited; but in this great work God is not acting for the good of sinners only. He is promoting his own glory, and making himself happy, in the communication of his grace; this is his design, and his own happiness consists in making an infinite display of his goodTo do this it was necessary he should take a guilty, unworthy race to be the subjects of his mercy. This is grace and goodness indeed! At the same time he has the highest regard to his own glory, and derives to himself infinitely more blessedness from bestowing than guilty sinners will have in receiving. Neither are sinful men represented to be a favored race, in any such sense, as implies respect of persons, or a neglect of other intelligent creatures. God seeks the good of redeemed men by delivering them from sin and misery; and he seeks the good of angels, by redeeming men in such a way as unfolds to their understanding, in the greatest degree, his own infinite nature and the moral system depending on his will. Men are a race of beings prepared by God for the purpose of making this great display of himself in the face of the universe. For this, they were created, the condition of their existence in every respect appointed, permitted to fall and redeemed by the blood of Christ, The immediate end of redemption was to sanctify and pardon sinners; one greater than this, was to instruct and increase the happiness of angels, or other orders of creatures; and the ultimate and greatest end was to glorify God in the enjoyment of his own goodness.--Connecticut Evan. Mag.

REV. SIR,

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

To the Editor of the Connecticut Magazine.

AMIDST .he desolating judgments of God upon sinful nations, it affords a pleasing relief to the pious mind, to behold the walls of Zion going up in these troublous times. Religion is revived in various places in our land: God is calling in his people and completing the number of his chosen. In several towns, not far distant from this, the churches are favored with a season of refreshing from the

presence of the Lord and many sinners are effectually called to partake of the gospel feast. The people of this place have been visited by the Holy Spirit, and some during the past summer have been hopefully converted. Though the revival here has not been remarkable, yet it deserves notice; since, with respect to this people, it is something new, and since every instance of the triumphs of divine grace, evinces the truth and importance of religion.

In the summer of 1810, a certain neighborhood in the town was visited by the Spirit, and about 10 were awakened, and as we hope, added to the Lord. From that time, till June, of the past year, one and another were brought under serious impressions, and expressed a hope that they had passed from death unto life. During the last winter, Christians seemed to be more engaged in religion, and more Concerned than usual for the prosperity of the church, and for the salvation of sinners. Prayer meetings were appointed, and attended with solemnity and engagedness. And it appears now, although nothing special was then visible, that the Spirit was secretly operating upon the minds of some. About the first of June, several were deeply convicted of their lost and undone condition, and soon made to rejoice in the Lord. Conference meetings were frequently attended, and the assemblies were very solemn. Others were awakened, and madė carnestly to enquire, what shall we do to be saved? The work progressed gradually through the summer and autumn. No irregulari, ties of animal passion....no bodily agitation....no ravings of enthusiasm have as yet appeared. It has proceeded with stillness, but not with rapidity. The number of those who have been visibly subjects of the work, is small; yet they have been taken from all parts of the congregation, and are of different ages from 18 years to near 40. Some were held under the terrors of the law for a longer, and some for a shorter time, before they found relief. Some professed great joy and peace in believing, and have hitherto evinced their conversion to God, while others have been led to indulge a hope with trembling, under a deep sense of the deceitfulness of the heart. They have uniformly expressed a deep conviction of their depraved and helpless condition by nature of their opposition of heart to the ever blessed God-of their absolute dependance on his sovereign grace; and they have found no relief, till abandoning every other source of hope, they have fled for refuge to the Lord Jesus Christ. When made submissive to God, and enabled to believe in Jesus, they viewed the character and government of Jehovah and the riches of his grace with complacency, joy, and praise. Doctrines, before offensive, were cordially embraced, and became sources of comfort. That God would be just in their everlasting condemnation, they feelingly acknowledge, and say, let God be glorified, whatever becomes of us. They profess it their sole desire to be holy, and to love and serve the Lord. Christ appears to them exceedingly precious, and to the distinguishing truths of the gospel they manifest a strong and affectionate attachment. The num'ber which have been awakened is greater than that of those who have expressed a hope of conversion. Between 30 and 40 have given credible evidence that they have passed from death unto life. Nothing specially remarkable has occurred in the case of any. For a

warning to the self-righteous, one, a considerable time a member of the church, out resting on pharisaical ground, was led to abandon the delusive hopes of the hypocrite, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, as the only source of freedom, justification, and eternal life. Another, who had been long trusting in the error of universal salvation, was, after considerable struggle and deep conviction, induced totally to renounce this deceptive and fallacious error. This proves that the spirit of God does not teach nor approve of universalism. On the whole, we bave much reason for praise, that God has refreshed this barren corner of his vineyard, with some precious drops of his vivifying grace. But while we rejoice with trembling over those who, we hope, have tasted that the Lord is gracious, we fear that the attention is subsiding, and the gracious influence of the Spirit departing. No instance of conviction or conversion has appeared for several weeks. Our conferen ces are declining, and the deep solemnity apparent in our assemblies, has visibly diminished. Christians are lamenting, but the enemy is rejoicing. Arise, () Lord, and plead thine own cause. "In these days of rebuke and of blasphemy, what better news can be told to to the friends of Zion, than that the Spirit of the Lord is lifting up a standard against the enemy, and filling up the number of his elect?" Let it awaken their praises, and engage them earnestly in prayer, that he would pour down righteousness, and in wrath remember mercy. Monson, (Ms.) Jan. 1, 1813.

A. E.

Extract of another letter from the Rev. Alfred Ely, to the Editor of the Connecticut Magazine.

DEAR SIR,

WE have been favored with another season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The work of divine grace has been powerful. Some bitter opposers and the wild leaders in sinful amusement have become apparently the meek and humble disciples of Jesus. It commenced about the 1st of April, and spread with great rapidity, in a number of families. Immediately previous to this, we seemed to have relapsed into a great stupidity. But from this time, during nearly three months, instances of conviction and conversion were considerably frequent. The character of the work is much the same of that with which we were favored the last year. The subjects of it have, however, generally had more clear and affecting views of their total depravity, and opposition of heart to the ever blessed God, than was the case before; and they have been soon made willing to yield to the methods of his grace and to renounce all things for Christ. In some instances, God has, in a remarkable manner, suddenly humbled the proud objector, and brought the open enemy to the truth, into sweet subjection to himself. Opposition has been considerably excited, while the riches of divine grace have been displayed, and the power and necessity of true godliness appeared, to the view of unbelievers. The first sabbath in June, 9 persons, and yesterday 21 were received to the communion of the Church. A number more have expressed a hope that they have passed from death unto life. The work has not