produced effeminacy, and ended in ruin. There are several important benevolent societies in our country, under the direction of men of piety and talents, which have the strongest claim to our charities, such as Bible Societies, Foreign and Domestic Missionary Societies, Tract Societies, Education Societies, and Societies for the reformation of Seamen. The most unexceptionable method of aiding these societies, by the great mass of our people, is through public contributions. We trust the time will come, when every member of the church of Christ will lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him," and from Sabbath to Sabbath cast in his free-will offering into the treasury of the Lord, for the conversion of the world. The first church that shall arrive at this eminence in christian liberality, will set an example, which may be as important to our world, as that of the man who first resolved to put an end to the slave trade, or who established the first Sabbath school. Until there is more of the spirit of Christ in our churches, such an attempt would be in vain. But we would suggest, whether a monthly contribution might not be regularly made on the Sabbath, to such of the great benevolent objects as should be agreed upon by the churches.

16. The stated meetings of ecclesiastical bodies ought to be more strictly religious. Meetings of our Sessions, of our Presbyteries, of our Synods, and even of the General Assembly, are mere meetings of business, and this business is too often done in the spirit of the world. Our pious people are uninterested, or grieved to see the ambitious and litigious spirit which too often prevails. Were He in whose name we act, to descend again, and appear in person, and witness our proceedings, could we expect his approbation? Were more time spent in prayer and other religious exercises, our business would be as soon done, and better done, and we should return with a "conscience more void of offence toward God and toward man."

THUS, brethren, we have endeavoured to perform the duty assigned us, according to the best of our ability. We hope and pray it may not be in vain to our churches, nor to those into whose hands this pamphlet may fall. If it should excite one minister or church to seek the glory of God with becoming zeal, or save one soul from the dread sentence, "Depart ye cursed," we shall have cause of thanksgiving and praise, that we were permitted to perform the duty you imposed. We are confident, that if ministers and churches through our land could be brought

to pursue with zeal the means suggested, from year to year, that the world would soon witness revivals more extensive and powerful than have ever been witnessed, compared with which what we have seen in this county would be almost nothing. Could our churches be brought habitually to pray for the influences of the Holy Spirit, they would be so filled with its fruits, that they would become terrible to opposition as an

army with banners. And we would specially urge this upon our brethren in the ministry, and upon our churches. A large measure of this influence is all we want to make us in the highest degree useful. It would lead to the wisest and best use of all our powers. And there is no blessing for which we have greater encouragement to pray. We are furnished with every argument to plead with the God of all grace for the influences of his spirit. God will be glorified in us. These influences

are the substance of all the blessings which Christ purchased by his death. There is no blessing promised more absolutely, none which God takes greater delight in bestowing. Our Saviour teaches us that "our heavenly Father is more ready to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him, than earthly parents are to give good gifts unto their children."* He is the Sanctifier and the Comforter; and could the church be brought suitably to value this gift, which Christ purchased by his groans and his blood, she would be filled with love, and joy, and peace, which would pass all understanding. The fires of the Holy Ghost would descend and kindle revivals, which would spread through the land, burning up its filth and pollution, as fires spread and roar through the parched forests, consuming every thing they meet in their resistless course.

* Pres't Edwards makes the following remarks on these words :—“ There is no blessing that we have so great encouragement to pray for, as the Spirit of God. The words imply that our heavenly Father is especially ready to bestow his Holy Spirit on them that ask him. Of the more excellent nature any blessing is that we stand in need of, the more ready God is to bestow it in answer to prayer. The infinite goodness of God's nature is the more gratified, and the grand design and aim of the contrivance and work of our redemption is the more answered, and Jesus Christ the Redeemer has the greater success in his undertaking and labours; and those desires that are expressed in prayer for the most excellent blessings, are the most excellent desires, and consequently such as God most approves, and is most ready to gratify."

APPENDIX.

THE letter of the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, alluded to in the preceding narrative, is as follows:

« GENTLEMEN—Since I forwarded you an account of the revival in the congregation of which I have the charge, there has appeared a pamphlet, entitled "Bunker Hill Contest," signed by Ephraim Perkins, as author. In the pamphlet are several statements relative to the revival in the Presbyterian congregation of this place. Now what I have to state is, that Mr. Perkins has given in general a false statement of the proceedings in the revival, so far as I am concerned, and so far as relates to the manner and means made use of in promoting the revival in my congregation. I am ready to say, and to prove if it were necessary, that the statements which he has made are a gross perversion of the truth. It will be recollected that he has himself been into none of our meetings during the revival, except in one instance on the Sabbath, in which he heard a part of a sermon. As for any combination from abroad, or in this place, to make desperate efforts to break down the Socinians in this village, it has been totally unknown to me; and I can truly say it is a base fabrication. We have had as little help from abroad, and I believe less than most of our sister churches, where the revival has been. The most we have received has been from the Rev. N. S. Smith, and his labours, under God, have been blessed to the salvation of souls; and I can truly say of him, that he has acted the part of a faithful minister of the gospel. We also enjoyed the services of a young gentleman from Auburn for about two months, whose services were highly blessed; and it becomes me to say of him, that among us he acted a judicious part, and no man has ever been more highly esteemed by those who knew him. He had no connexion with the Auburn theological seminary at the time he was with us, nor previous to that time.

"What I have further to notice at this time relative to the pamphlet, is a certificate at the end of the publication, signed by certain gentle

men. They say, "they are free to express their opinion, that it is a fair representation of events and occurrences that have transpired in this revival." This they certify particularly respecting Trenton. Now I ask, how these gentlemen can be witnesses to what has taken place in any of the meetings in the society to which I minister? They have not heard Mr. Wetmore or Mr. Smith preach, from the time the revival commenced until the pamphlet went to press. One of these gentlemen who signs the certificate, viz. John Mappa, is a resident in Boonville, eighteen miles from Trenton, and has in no one instance been into any of our meetings since my residence in the village of Trenton. The whole of them are members of the unitarian congregation. I ask, how any gentleman can certify to the thing's being correct, in which they can in no instance be competent witnesses? Mr. Perkins must certify who these gentlemen are. It may be asked, who is Mr. Perkins? He is a farmer, who deals much in horses, and is a deacon in the unitarian @hurch.

"It becomes me to state, that in the opposition which has been made to the revival from Unitarians, there are honourable exceptions; and without being invidious, I will mention the Honourable Adrian Vanderkemp, whose talents and affability of manners I highly esteem.

"December 1, 1826."

"OLIVER WETMORE.

THE pamphlet mentioned in the preceding letter contains upwards of a hundred pages, and has recently been published in this county, with the following warlike and imposing title :

A

"BUNKER HILL" CONTEST,

A. D. 1826,

Between the "Holy Alliance" for the Establishment of Hierarchy and Ecclesiastical Domination over the Human Mind,

On the one Side;

And the Asserters of Free Inquiry, Bible Religion, Christian Freedom, and Civil Liberty,

On the Other.

The Rev. Charles Finney,

"Home Missionary," and High Priest of the Expeditions of the Alliance in the Interior of New York: Head-Quarters,

County of Oneida.