two boys, Peter and John. One morning, he had a call from home, and directed his sons to take their sickles, go into such a field, and spend the day in reaping. At night, he returned and found nothing done. Calling his sons, the father inquires the cause of their idleness. Peter says: John wanted to begin to reap at the north end, but I thought it best to begin at the south end.' John says: Peter refused to begin with me and so I would not begin with him.' The father says in displeasure: 'You must both be punished with severity-not because you did not begin at some particular place, but because you refused to yield to one another, and did not begin at all.'

CHAPTER XI.

Revival of religion among his people in 1798 and 1799.-Letter, in which he gives some account of the work ;-its commencement-rapidity and power-false hopes renounced-critical moment-awful impressiveness of the scene-means of increasing the work-sovereignty of God-plain truths of Scripture useful and welcome-conversion of infidels.-Second letter, containing the confessions of several converted infidels-general effects on society and fruits of the work.-Mr. Hallock's labors. His texts.-Feelings.-An anecdote.-Address to persons on receiving them into the church.

NEAR the close of the last century, commenced in New-England, what has been appropriately termed the era of revivals. Not that revivals of religion were till then unknown, for they may be traced back to the memorable day of Pentecost, and to the earlier times of Ezra and Josiah,-but, that they have since been more extensive, continuous and powerful than before. At this period, so auspicious to Zion at large, very many churches in Connecticut awoke from the deep sleep of years. The influence of the Holy Ghost was now, to a broad extent, marked with uncommon power. Mr. Mr. Hallock's people were not left without a large share in the glorious work. After a sufficient trial of his faith-he having labored and looked for refreshing rain and received but a few scattering drops, until ready to sink in despondency—to his unspeakable joy, at the end of twelve dark, long years, the windows of heaven were opened, not to desolate but to make verdant the hills and vallies under his pastoral care, and to mature an abundance of fruit. It is stated by an eye-witness, that when the good man percei

ved the Lord to have come, in very deed, to dispel the gloom which had been so long thickening over his people, he could not suppress the swellings of his soul, but wept aloud in the meeting. To this interesting point in his life and ministry, we have now arrived. And the reader will rejoice to learn, that while the scene was yet fresh in his mind, Mr. Hallock drew up, for the public eye, a somewhat minute account of its general character.

A letter addresssd to the editors of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, and published in the first volume of that work.

"GENTLEMEN-Through the course of twelve tedious years, before this memorable period, the religion of Jesus gradually declined among us. The doctrines of Christ grew more and more unpopular; family prayer and all the duties of the Gospel were less regarded; ungodliness prevailed, and particularly modern infidelity had made and was making alarming progress among us. Indeed, it seemed to an eye of sense that the Sabbath would be lost, and every appearance of religion vanish; yea, that our Zion must die without an helper, and that infidels would laugh at her dying groans. But the God of Zion, who can do every thing, was pleased to appear and lift up the standard of the omnipotent Spirit against the enemy; and to him be all the glory!

"The first appearance of the work was sudden and unexpected: some particulars of which are as follows: The second Sabbath in October, 1798, I

exchanged with a brother in the ministry. On my return, the next evening, I found a young person under deep impressions of mind.

she was a poor sinner, going down her impressions began on the forenoon, but increased in the

She told me that to hell: and that Sabbath in the afternoon. And

in the evening, her concern was such that she could no longer keep it secret, though it had been her intention, that no one should know it. The next evening, at a conference, there was an unusual solemnity, and many were in tears. The morning following, I found two other youth with the one first awakened, whose minds were likewise impressed. On the evening of this day, a sermon was preached by a neighboring minister. The meeting was uncommonly full, and the arrows of conviction reached some hearts.

"After this meeting, about fourteen children and youth were found, whose minds appeared to be impressed. One of them said, 'I have been over a precipice all my days, and never saw it until now.' The next day, it was affecting to see, by the rising of the sun, awakened youth coming to my house to know what they should do to be saved. In the latter part of the day, I visited a number of families in another neighborhood, where these things had been hardly known; and found a remarkable attention. The tear often flowed on the first mention of eternal things. In the evening, there were found in the neighborhood, where the work began, at a house where a meeting had been appointed, about thirty children and youth, who appeared serious, and some

under deep concern. It was indeed an affecting scene; and one particular fact will not soon be forgotten.

"A young woman deeply impressed, said to another in the same situation, 'Do not weep so, what good can it do? God does not regard such selfish tears as you and I shed.' Upon this, the one spoken to, took the other by the hand and said, ' O you are trying to quiet me, but you tremble yourself;' which was truly the case.

"On the ensuing Sabbath the work was visible in the house of God; and the conference in the evening was full and very serious. But one week before, matters never appeared darker; but now the marvellous goings of the victorious Lamb were seen and felt. O how little we know, what is in the secret counsels of Immanuel! The following Monday, when a sermon was preached by a neighboring minister, almost the whole parish came to meeting, and the work appeared to be going on. And it was a trembling day, even among professors as well as others. It often brought these words to mind, But who may abide the day of his coming?'

6

"Being called, one evening, to visit a neighbor in distress of mind, I received from her the following information: 'I was sober and thoughtful when a child, used to attend secret prayer, thought I loved good people, and finally concluded that I was a Christian. But hearing that the work of God had begun among us, I thought it became me to examine on what foundation I stood; when I found I was building on the sand. On Monday night, my hope perished.' I do not know that I ever saw any one