صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

at which he does not approve, is atirely improper. And if any easures are introduced, in which ne pastor cannot cordially co-opeate, it will be seen by the people, nd cannot fail to do mischief.

Individual members of a church need to act with great circumspecion, in their attempts to promote a revival where they belong. If they shly attempt to introduce any thing new, they may do more hurt than they can ever do good. It belongs to the pastor to adopt his own measures; and it is disorderly for any individual member of the church to attempt to dict te to him, or counteract what he does. He will doubtless be willing to receive from individual members their private suggestions respecting the course he should take, and to give their arguments due consideration, But after all, he must act according to his own judgment, or he cannot be expected to act to any good purpose. For an individual member to find fault with what he does, and make complaints about it to others, is directly adapted to promote discord and quench the spirit of a revival where it exists, and prevent it where it is hoped for. An itinerant may be successfully labouring in a neighbouring place, and members who have heard him may have a desire to have him come into their town. But it may be dangerous to indulge, and to spread that desire. It is quite possible that the pastor may know something, which it would be imprudent to mention, which may lead him to fear that the introduction of that itinerant would not be safe among his people. And yet, if a strong desire is created, and be manifests any reluctance, it is adapted to create discontent and disaffection. If any members of the church cannot co-operate with

their pastor in the measures which he adopts, it is their business to be silent, and not to do any thing to prevent the good they might do, nor to counteract them in any way, unless they are of such a nature as to be a violation of his duty, and re quire him to be subjected to discipline, according to the gospel; and then that should be done in the way that the gospel prescribes.

We think it has a disorganizing tendency, to encourage the young members of the church to be for ward to take the most prominent place in their meetings, and in the measures adopted to promote a re vival, while pains are taken to throw into the back ground those of greater age and experience, and those who have been the pillars of the church. It is desirable that the young should be trained to activity and usefulness; but one of the first lessons which needs to be learned in order to permanent usefulness, is that of subordination to superiors. It is the business of the older members to go forward and lead in the church, and to take the most prom inent place; and it is subversive of order, and mischievous in its tendency, to disregard the distinctions which God has established, and encourage young men and boys to encroach upon the province and assume the prerogative of grey hairs. It is part of a description which the prophet gives of a period of great depression and misery to the church, when he says, "as for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them: O my peo ple, they which lead thee, cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths,"

Not less subversive of order, and disorganizing in its tendency, is such a treatment of children and youth as leads them to despise the

authority of parents and instructors, and think it meritorious to treat with contempt, their advice and commands. To tell children "not to follow their parents who are lead ing them to hell," to bid them "pray for their ungodly parents," to tell them "not to regard the instructions of their cold and stupid parents," we cannot but consider as teaching them rebellion against the Lord.. Of the same nature, but more extensively mischievous in its tendency, "would it be, to advise the members of schools and literary institutions, to disregard the authority, and break through the regula tions, of those who are set over them, under spretence of showing their zeal for the honour of religion. Such things are striking at the root of all order, and cutting the bands which bind society to *gether. If parents or instructors ares in fault, their children and pupils are not the first to whom it should be told.

[ocr errors]

We have given our thoughts brig ly, upon these various topics, he cause we think the evils here poin ed out are evils to whichĐUT churches are more or less exposed, and against which they need an affectionate and faithful warding. We think the continuance of revivals, and the good influence they shall exert upon the community, as intimately connected with their character. We believe nothing tended so much to destroy the credit of revivals, and excite deep rooted prejudices against them, in many parts of New-England, as the disorders and extravagances which prevailed in many places during the extensive revival in the days of Whitefield and Edwards. The evils of which we have taken notice, in this address, are similar to the e that prevailed then. as appears from the history of that time. They were faithfully pointed out, by President Edwards, while that revival was in progress ; but his faithSuch measures as these are dis- ful warnings were disregarded; and orderly in their nature, and disor a long night of darkness, of more ganizing in their tendency. And than half a century, and a rapid it is no wonder to us that where growth of every species of erter, they are introduced they bring to a was the consequence. We would dis strous termination those revi- recommend to the careful attention vals which have commenced with of all under our care, Edward's the most encouraging prospects. Thoughts on Revivals, his treatise : It is the natural tendency of them: on. Keligious Affections, and his -to divide and distract the churches, Memoirs of David Brainerd. We to render individuals discontented think if these works were more stu- with their minister, to destroy the died at this time, such evils as we -efficacy of the stated ministration of have mentioned would be less likethe sanctuary, to promote the spir--ly to prevail. We cannot give it of separatism, to lead individuals countenance to the idea that such to withdraw from the churches men as Edwards and Brainerd where they belong, to unsettle min- knew nothing about revivals, and isters, to desolate churches, and to especially that they did not know lead to all those evils which dishon- how to pray. our religion, destroy the power of the church to do good, bring contempt upon the ordinances of the gospel, and in the end promote irreligion and error of every kind.

[ocr errors]

We think such revivals as they deliberately approved, will bear the test of time, better, than those of a different character. The evils which we have pointed out are by no means the necessary

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

at endants on a revival of religion; and the idea that they are, if it -should prevail, must go far towards destroying the character of revivals entirely. We hear of extensive and powerful revivals, in various parts of New-England, and elsewhere, at -the present time, and are assured vby our brethren abroad that such evils do not accompany them, but are carefully guarded against, as tending in their opinion, more than any thing else, to hinder a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. And it is the opinion of those ministers abroad, whose age and experience have qualified them to be the most competent judges, that such revivals as have been attended by these ⚫ things, would have been far greaterand more extensive, without them, as well as much better in their permanent effects. Revivals of extravagance and disorder never fail to excert an unhappy influence upon all. classes of society. If some souls are converted, and some good vis done, much evil is also done. The subjects of them are prepared to babink that revivals cannot take place in any other way; and of course, to exert their influence to "extend and perpetuate all the evils attending them. But there is no consequence of them which we more sincerely deprecate, than their adaptedness to excite the public prejudice against all revivals, and prevent the influence of those meas -ures which the scriptures author>ise, and which are adapted to promote revivals in their purest form. If revivals are of infinite importSance, as we are persuaded you be lieve, then how important it must be for their friends to correct, in their commencement, those evils which tend to their ruin! And how certain is the conclusion, that those professed friends of revivals, who

[ocr errors]

will not, with decision and firmness, correct such evils, but will look on in silence and suffer them to prevail, will prove, at last, in this particular, to have acted the part of their worst enemics! Let us be awake, then, to the dangers which surround us; let us watch against all the devices of the adversary; let us pursue such measures for the promotion of revivals, as the scriptures authorize, and let us do it with humility and engagedness: And let us pray more fervently for their success, till the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and divine influence descend, like the showers that water the earth

RALPH ROBINSON, Moderator; WILLIAM R. WEEKS, Scribe. Tis

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Of DEA. ELIHU CARPENTER OF
Seekonk, Muss. who deceased,
July 6th, 1827, in the 74th year
of his age.

With the parentage of Dea. Carpenter, the writer of this brief me moir is unacquainted; but it is understood to have been respectable. It is believed that he received early instruction in the truths and duties of religion. It was not, however, so far as is known, until he was more than twenty years of age, that his mind was seriously and anxiously turned to the consideration of r‹ ligious subjects. There was at this time, no special attention to religion in the place of his residence: but, in a neighbouring town, there existed a considerable revival; where he, with three or four other young men who accompanied him, occasionally heard the plain, instructive and faithful preaching of some of the ablest ministers of the day, by whose instrumentality the revival was produced. The minds

THEL AUGUST,

[graphic]

of these young men became deeply of the gospel-between salsy aris impressed; and ere long, they all of faith and holy exercise of heart. gave evidence of having experienced a

change of heart. Owing partly to peculiar circumin church, and partly to his own fears of self-deception, Dea. Carpenter delayed making a public profession for several years. In the mean time, with very little advantage from early education, and amidst the cares of a family and the labours of a farm, which he cultivated with his own hand, he quired a degree of knowledge, which few, in his situation, possessed. This he was enabled to do, by the uncommon strength of his mental powers and bodily constitution, which rendered him apable of reading and study, in the intervals of labour and the watches of the night, when others, less athletick and les inquisitive, would have sought rest and repose. His thirst 2191 for knowledge le led him to make exertions to obtain the best books, especially on Divinity, which, in his very retired situation, he read with little, interruption and great assiduity. Besides his private library which was equal to that of most ministers in the country, he prevailed with his neighbours to form a respectable social library, which was kept at his house. He soon gained such an acquaintance with philosophy and history, and especially with theology, as to attract the notice of literary men and ministers of the gospel, to whom his questions and Observations were always interest ing, and often instructive. His views of the doctrines of the gospel were clear, discriminating, and Scriptural, which he was able to ex press in a perspicuous and forcible manner er He saw clearly the intimate angi and indissoluble connexion between the doctrines and the duties

He was convinced that the best way to promote experimental religion and practical piety, is, to teach and inculcate, in the pl inest and fullest manner, the peculiar and essential trnths of Divine revelation. Hence he contended earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and expressed his highest approbation of those preachers, who, the most unreservedly and unequivocally declar

all the counsel of God. He set a high value on the writings of Dr. Bellamy, the Edwardses, Drs. West and Hopkins, and especially on the Sermons of Dr. Emmons, with which he was familiarly acquainted.

He was frequently employed, du ring the season of winter, as a teacher of both literary, and singing schools. It was in the winter of 1800-1801, that he was thus enployed in the North part of Seekonk, His school for sacred musick was fully attended by the youth from the neighbourhood in Seekonk, and the adjoining part of Attleborough. It

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

was his practice, at the close of his school in the evening, to give out a Hymn, to be sung by his pupils, which was followed by a pray er. Not long after this school be gan, in singing the concluding Hymn, a scene occurred, of an a fecting nature. But a verse or two had been sung, when one of the singers became too much impressed with the solemn import of the words to proceed, Soon the voice of another faultered-then of anotheruntil so many became affected, that the singing ceased. It was found upon enquiring, that a consider ble number of the young person's pres ent, without a knowledge of each others feelings, had become sensible of their guilty, lost state, ners, and were anxious respecting

[ocr errors]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

the welfare of their souls. singing school became a conference some time before they themselves and prayer-meeting A pleasing entertained a hope of salvation. and powerful revival of religion Rarely has a revival appeared to be commenced, which issued in the so pure from selfish joy and spurious hopeful conversion of from 30 to 40 experience. children and youth in the neighbourhood, as well as of perhaps 20 more further advanced in life. These converts, with a very few exceptions, if any, have made it evident, by their subsequent lives, that their exercises were something more than an excitement of the animal affections, and their conver ion more thorough and genuine than that, from which one may, and it is not to be regretted, that so many do, fall away. to anos

« السابقةمتابعة »