as ufèlefs. [16. 4. For O | 20. 5. Planes: |24. 6. is also [P. 66. 1. 2. Comets, whether fince or before [P. 68. 1. 3. always | 39. 11. (or 105)|P. 70. 1. 15. to me and to fome Perfons

1. As to the Comet of 1680 I cannot but think the Inference of Mr Whiston to be very probable, when he concludes that its Paffage near the Earth was the Phyfical Caufe of the Deluge. And the fingular Care of the Spirit of God in mentioning not only the Year and the Month, but alfo the very Day of the Month, upon this Occafion, feems to have de fignedly paved the Way for that wonderful Difcovery, and for a Confir mation of Divine Revelation; whether that very Comet, or any other, occafioned the Deluge.

2. Hitherto I know of no Comets that did ever appear with Phases like Venus or the Moon. And fo they seem to me all of them to be fo many fiery Globes, or Globes fhining by their own proper Light, and not by a Light borrow'd from the Sun. Therefore the Comet of 1680 in its Return or Descent towards the Sun may poffibly occafion the Conflagration of the Earth. But in its Return from the Sun, it will always pass very far from the Earth. Accordingly the 38th Line of the 78th Page of the Mifcellaneous Correfpondence contains a manifeft Error, which ought to be corrected.

3. If it be thought improbable, That fo fmall a fiery Globe as the Comet of 1680, emitting every 575th Year fo vaft a Tail, fhould have lasted fo many Revolutions: It may be answered, Firft, That this Comet may probably have decreased in each of its Periods. And fecondly, That as the Sun feems not to decrease, though a prodigious Quantity of material Rays of Light flows continually from it; in like manner the fiery Globes of Comets may be nourish'd by the Ether, or by the decayed Rays of Light attracted by them. Of which decayed Rays there feems to be no want, throughout the Infinity of Space.

4. The main or over-ruling Power, in the vaft Syftem of the Sun, must be attributed to the Sun itfelf, in confequence of its being by much the largest Globe; and not to the Earth, though her Body be much more dense, and contains more Matter than does the Body of the Sun. Accordingly I did, fome Years ago, determine the Stereographic Sphere, in whose Surface the Attractions or Gravities towards the Sun and towards the Earth are every where equal. Which Determination I am forry cannot confift with fome Things published by two Members of a Royal Academy. My Demonstration being short, clear, and univerfally confirmed by aftronomical Obfervations; if you are difpofed to print it, I will send it to you, Sir, and leave it to the Examination of Others.

5. It is granted by Aftronomers, That the Center of any Comet, and of any Primary Planet, defcribes about the Center of the Sun equal Areas in equal Times, in an Elliptical Orbit, whofe Focus is the movable Center of the Sun, and whofe Axis is always directed fenfibly to the fame Point of the Heavenly Sphere. And this is found true in Fact, though the Centers of the Sun, or of any Primary Planet or Comet are at the fame time attracted directly towards O the Focus of the Solar System; which Focus is owned to be different from the Center of the Sun, and, according to my Demonftrations, is seven or eight times nearer to the Center of the Earth than the Center of the Sun itlelf. Some of thofe Demonstrations are already printed. I have ftill by me not a few more. And all of

other,

them are confiftent with one another, and with the found Part of Sir Ifaac Newton's Theory. And in particular the Distance of G the Common Center of Gravity of the Earth and Moon from O, (that is, from that Center of the Solar Syftem, about which both G and the Center of the Sun do revolve) is found in Feet, by the very fame Rule which Sir Isaac Newton has established; as well as by many other Ways. Now that compounded Attraction or Gravity towards O imports alfo neceffarily an equal Defcription of Areas about the Focus O. And the Poffibility of fuch a Duplicity of Foci is plainly owned by Sir Ifaac Newton. This Anfwer to the Objection drawn against me from the Theory of Comets, would be fufficient, without any further Demonstration. I am, SIR, yours, &c.

April 27, 1743.

N. FACIO DUILLIER.

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in York in the County of York, to the Reverend Mr in Boston, October 15, 1741.

I

Am next to inform you what has happen'd here fince laft Lord's Day was fev'nnight, when the Rev. Mr Wd of Biddeford, preached here concerning the Miraculous Descent of the Holy Ghoft, on the Day of Pentecoft.He was very pathetick, and mov'd the People to expect and pray for the like Defcent, in all its Effects; the cloven Tongues only excepted: And before the Exercise was over, fundry Perfons faid they experienc'd the Rufbing mighty Wind, &c. and were filled fo full of the Spirit, that they cried out, it is enough Lord, &c. this put the Audience into fome Confufion, and fundry Perfons were affected, but in different Ways; fome with utmost Terror, fancying all the Terrors of the invifible World, were vifibly fet before them: So that they could defcribe the Shape and Colour of the infernal Spirits; the Tortures of the Damned, &c.Others were ftruck dumb, and remain'd fo many Days, under the greatest Distress-others were violently, as they said, affaulted by the Devil, who threatened to tear them in Pieces; others, as they thought, fell into Trances, and were tranfported to Heaven, and faw the Glories of it, and could give a particular Defcription of its Scituation, Inhabitants and Exercises, and had full Affurances of their Title to that bleffed Place. The Generality of them had a harder Tafk to go through; remaining under Darknefs three, four, fix or eight Days, before they received any Light or Joy, and fome continue ftill in the fame diftreffed Condition. They that have not got through, as they call it, generally complain of Reafor, as their greatest Hindrance in coming to Chrift: This would often contradict their Faith and Visions, and put them into utmost Diftrels and Perplexity; till they had quite caft it away, with all the Doctrines of Religion, that feem'd to be built upon it;Then the Doctrines of Election, Reprobation, irresistible Grace, imputed Righteousnefs, Fufiification by Faith alone, &c. were, as they imagin'd, gradually clear'd up to them, and freed of their feeming Abfurdities. Some would difcourfe on them with a little Freedom, but as foon as they were pressed in

Mecell. Correfp. No I, p. 58, and see Gent, Mag, Vol. XI. p. 651, Vol.-XII, p. 6oz.

Extract of a Letter from York, &c.

99

in any Argument, they'd ftart, and with fome Abhorrence tell you
That's carnal Reafoning We are afraid of it-We have caft away
Reafon fome Days ago- And are afraid, you are an Instrument of datan
tempting us to UnbeliefAnd tho' they expreffed the greatest Respect
and Concern for you, dar'd not hear you talk a Word of what they call
Reason They had the ftrongest Evidences, they faid, of their Election,
Juftification, &c. Some were prefent with the Lamb, and faw him write
their Names in the Book of Life, and could defcribe the Book, Character,
Hand and Pen.They are free and open in relating their Experiences,
and strongly urge the Spectators to come and fee this wonderful Work of
God; they earnestly pray for the Converfion of all.And encourage
the greateft Sinners, to improve this remarkable Day of Grace, they ap-
pear heartily rejoiced at the Prefence of any of their old Acquaintance, in
Hopes they'll fhare with them, in this uncommon Effufion of the Spirit,
fuch an one as, they fear, is fcarce to be expected in any other Place;
they lay afide their Farming and other Employments, notwithstanding
the Seafon of the Year, fo that the People of the neighbouring Towns
were obliged to gather in their Harvest: Some of them profefs to have
all Things in common, and all chearfully and conftantly attend the publick
Worship, and Preaching, that has been carried on among us, every Day
fince the Work began. The Number of the affected is now about 150,
of all Ages and both Sexes, but chiefly Females, and of the younger fort;
and is daily encreafing. They are, for the moft Part, orderly at publick
Worship, but as foon as it is over, give a Loose to their Paffions and Af-
fections, and exprefs themfelves in a very uncommon Manner-fome
groan- -fome cry-fome fcream-fome pray- -fome fing-
fome laugh-fome fwoon-fome leap and dance: And fome of the
Minifters officiating, have been fo elevated thereat, that they have pro-
feffed themselves at a Lofs, to know whether they were on Earth, or in
Heaven: And it is fo very loud, it may be heard at a confiderable Di-
stance, and has affrighted many Strangers in their Approach to the Town:
They foon withdraw to private Houfes, or the Streets, and continue thus
to vent themselves, 'till their Warmth is a little abated. While they are
in Darkness, or as fome phrafe it, in the Pangs of the new Birth, they
generally appear to be in the greatest Agonies imaginable, and by their
Countenances, Groans and Shriecks, would move the Compaffion of the
most obdurate, and draw Tears from a Rock:-But as foon as they
are born again or got through, as they phrafe it, their Countenances change,
and they appear full of Joy.Young and old of both Sexes praise the
Lord aloud in any Place or Company.Sing Plalms-And behave
towards thofe of their Number, that are under Darkness, in a Way fo
mighty joyful, that to me it appear'd a little cruel;For they laugh at
'em Banter 'em-Clap 'em on the Back-And fhew so many
Tricks and antic Geftures, that were it not for their religious Talk, and
the many
Affurances they give of their Adoption; one would be apt to
think them truly frolick or distracted. They readily answer almoft any
Question; but in a Way peculiar to themfelves- -If you ask why they
are fo merry? they'll anfwerThey are full of the Spirit, and are glad
in the Lord-How are they certain they have the Spirit? Or when it
came? They felt the Rubing, &c. and ftill feel the Spirit.Now they
know that Chrift is formed in them; they feel him And feel the Love

1

of

of God in their Breafts, glowing with fpiritual Ardor, &.They in Diftrefs, are frequently tormented, with the Imaginations of the Devil's attending them, in the moft frightful Shapes, and defcribe him in the most horrid Manner. But as foon as they are got through, they treat him with utmost Contempt, and ftill the Power of feeing, or perceiving him in all his Approaches to 'em, they accoft him more like a Toad, or a little ugly Dog, than the Prince of the Power of the Air.Various are the Sentiments of People, concerning the Caufe of thefe Things; fome afcribe them to an over-heated Imagination, or enthusiastick Brain.Others call it a plain Delirium, or proper Distraction, but the Minifters of this, and the neighbouring Parishes who daily carry on the publick Worship here, doubt not to affure us, it is the Work of the Spirit of God, and the most wonderful of the Kind that has been known in the Country: The Converfions they fay, are quicker and clearer than those at Northampton, and the Joy of the Believers, much greater, and their extatic Flights much higher. Some fay, nothing like it has appeared fince the Apoftles Days.- -But these are Points fomewhat myfterious to me, and which I fhall not undertake to determine: I've therefore only given you a true, fhort, and general Account of Facts, and pray your Advice."

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman of unquestionable Veracity in Hopkington, to his Friend in Boston, dated March 1. 1742-3.

T

HERE has fuch extraordinaryThings happened lately in an adjacent Town, and in this Town alfo, of which I have been an Eye and Ear Witnefs, that I thought it would be acceptable to you to have the Account of. Last Thursday at Mendon there was a Meeting, the Ministers that carried on the Service of the Day, were Mr Prentice of Grafton and Mr Blifs of Concord, and one Byram, a young Man from Scituate. Blifs preached in the Morning (which was the only part of the Day that I attended) He began in a low and moderate Strain, and went on for fome Time in the fame Manner; but towards the Clofe of the Sermon, as it was called, he began to raise his Voice, and to use many extravagant Geltures, and then began a confiderable groaning amongst the Auditors, which as foon as he perceiv'd, he raised his Voice ftill higher, and then the Congregation were in the utmoft Confufion, fome crying out in the most doleful Accents, fome howling, fome laughing, and others hugging, and Blis ftill roaring to them to come to Chrift, they answering, I will, I will, I'm coming, I'm coming. I must confefs it fo fhock'd me, that I was oblig'd to leave the Place, for the Surprize was fo great, that I believe had I ftay'd much longer I fhould have fainted; but thofe that tarried the Afternoon, and the next Day, fay the Confufion was much greater. The last Lord's Day there happened much fuch a Confufion in the Time of publick Worfhip in this Town. While Mr Barret was in his Sermon, towards the Clofe, a Boy belonging to the New-light People began to cry out in a very extraordinary Manner, which as foon as Mr Barret perceived, he ftop'd from preaching, and spoke to the Friends of the Lad, defiring that

if

if he could not compofe himself, that they would take him out, that he might not difturb the Congregation: Upon that the Boy hallowed out, It is not I, but you, Mr Barret, that makes the Disturbance. Upon that our Juftice ordered the Constable to take the Boy away, and the Conftable attempting to obey his Orders, feveral ran to rescue the Boy, and declared, that if he touch'd him, he should have his Brains knock'd out: And several more of the Congregation cry'd out, and a Woman jump'd up on the top of a Pew and began to Exhort, and scream'd out, that he faw the Devil. A little Girl (who has lately been in a Trance) fays to her Aunt, you are mistaken, it is Jefus Chrift! And then in feveral Parts of the House they cry'd out, The Glory of the Lord is come down, and Chrift is come amongst us. Mr Barret behav'd like a Chriftian in the midst of all this Confufion. When he faw it was not poffible to perfwade them to Order, he left the Meeting-House and retired to his own, with a great Number of the Congregation, where he concluded the Service of the Morning with Prayer; and for an Hour and half after we left the Meeting, there was nothing but finging, praying and exhorting. Things you may affert for Facts.

The Girl hinted at to have been in a Trance, fays, fhe was carried to Hell, and a Perfon whom the fuppofes was Cbrift, took her by the Hand, led her out, and carried her up to Heaven, and fhewed her the Book of Life, where the faw a great many Names, among which were her Miftrefs's, and that the Book wanted but two Inches to be fill'd up, and that Cbrift told her, that if the good Work which was carrying on upon Earth fucceeded, he fhould come to Judgment in a fhort Time.-Ob! Wretched Delusion!

Extract of a Letter from Rhode-Ifland, dated March 11..

W

66

66

HAT follows is an Abstract of a Letter from New-London, which is confirmed by Word of Mouth by a credible Perfon.

"Mr Davenport came lately to New-London (as was fuppofed to ordain "Mr Curtis) and gave Thanks to God among other Mercies for his lame Leg, which obliges him to be carried about in a Chair. He warned "a Faft-for only the Children of God, because Jefus was to be a66 mong them.Many were refused Admittance, even of the New"Lights, to their Great Mortification.- -At laft the Lord revealed to "them, that they must publickly burn a Number of Books. This they performed with great Solemnity laft Lord's Day, P. M. the Saints finging round the Bonfire, Glory, Glory, Glory; and Monday Night "laft they would have burnt fome more, but the Mob prevented them. ·Davenport then told the dear Children of God, that fome of them "made Idols of their gay Cloaths; on which they fought the Lord whe"ther those Idols ought to be burnt too. After which one faid it was "revealed to him that they must not be burnt another, that his Things bould be burnt.A Strife arifing, Davenport order'd all the Things to be brought to him, till the Lord fhould determine the Cafe. "Hereon the Women brought in their Scarlet Cloaks, Velvet Hoods, "fine Laces, and every Thing that had two Colours; fo that it is fuppofed the Heap of Women's Idols, and the Men's Wigs, Velvet Collars, &c, &c. is worth three or four hundred Pounds." [There cannot be the leaft Reafon to doubt of thefe good Women's Sincerity, fince they have given up the deareft Enjoyments they bad on Earth.]