season, unexpectedly found themselves animated with desires unfelt before, that God would, that very day, bring out his perfections to the view of the communicants: And this he did, to a degree that many had seldom or never seen before. On the evening of the following Monday, at a lecture preached in a private house, the first feelings which denoted the extraordinary presence of God, and the actual commencement of a revival of religion, were awakened, perhaps in every person that was present. It was no longer doubtful whether a work of divine grace was begun. During that and the following week, increasing symptoms of a most powerful influence were discovered. The appearance was as if a collection of waters, long suspended over the town, had fallen at once, and deluged the whole place. For several weeks, the people would stay at the close of every evening service, to hear some new exhortation; and it seemed impossible to persuade them to depart, until those on whose lips they hung had retired. At those seasons you might see a multitude weeping and trembling around their minister, and many others standing as astonished spectators of the scene, and beginning to tremble themselves. One sabbath, after the second service, when I had catechised and dismissed the little children, they gathered around me, weeping, and inquired what they should do. I presume not less than a hundred were in tears at once. The scene was as affecting, as it was unexpected. Having prayed with them again, and spent some time in exhortation, I attempted to send them away; but with all my entreaties, I could not prevail on them to depart, until night came on, and then I was obliged to go out with them, and literally force them from me. But this excitement of animal feelings, incident to the commencement of revivals of religion, soon subsided, and the work has ever since proceeded in profound silence.

Early in September, there were formed many private associations for prayer,-some male, and some female,-the happy influence of which has been manifestly and largely felt. I never before witnessed the communication of a spirit of prayer so earnest and so general, nor observed such evident and re

markable answers to prayer. The agonies of parents have been such as to drive sleep from their eyes, and for weeks together, have been seemingly as great as their nature could well sustain. And these parents, in every case that has come within my knowledge, have each several children, who are already numbered among the hopeful converts.

Many professors have been severely tried, and not a few have for a time, given themselves over for lost. The Lord has indeed come to search our Jerusalem with candles, and to discover the men that were settled on their lees. Awed by the majesty of a present God, many could say, with Moses, "I exceedingly fear and quake." I could not help saying, if this glimpse of light dissipated so many hopes, what effect will attend the final judgment?

This work, in point of power and stillness, exceeds all that I have ever seen. While it bears down every thing with irresistible force, and seems almost to dispense with human instrumentality, it moves with so much silence that, unless we attentively observe its effects, we are tempted, at times, to doubt whether any thing uncommon is taking place. The converts are strongly marked with humility and self distrust: instead of being elated with confident hopes, they are inclined to tremble. Many of them possess deep and discriminating views; and all, or almost all, are born into the distinguishing doctrines of grace.

I suppose there are from two hundred and thirty to two hundred and fifty, who hope that they have become the subjects of Divine grace; and many remain still under solemn impressions, whose number, I hope, is almost daily increasing. The subjects of this work are of all ages, from nine years old, to more than three score years and ten; and of all characters, including drunkards, apostates, infidels, and those who were lately malignant opposers; and of all conditions, including poor negroes, and some of them hoary with age. I cannot refrain from mentioning, among the hopeful converts, three young gentlemen of the first talents and education, and of excellent families, who have abandoned the study of the law, in

which they have been employed for years, to devote themselves to the gospel ministry.

We have had but one sacrament since the work commenced, at which time we received ninety-seven new members, out of one hundred and two persons, who had been propounded a fortnight before.

While we gaze with wonder and delight at these glorious triumphs of the Prince of peace, and weep for joy to hear our babes and sucklings sing hosannas to the Son of David, we cannot but join in a general response, and cry, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest"!

I am, dear sir, most affectionately yours,

EDWARD D. GRIFFIN.

During his first residence at Newark, Mr. GRIFFIN frequently travelled two or three weeks at a time in company with some brother in the ministry, in those parts of New-Jersey which were comparatively destitute of the means of grace, preaching the gospel with great power and sometimes with great success. "It was on one of these preaching tours," says the Rev. Doctor HILLYER, "that the following interesting circumstance occurred to him. One night when we were not together, he lodged at a house near a hill called the Sugar-loaf. In the morning he ascended the hill to take a view of the surrounding country. While he was enjoying a delightful prospect, a maniac at the foot of the hill was meditating his death. With a loaded fowlingpiece, he secreted himself behind a fence near a foot-path in which the Doctor was expected to descend. Providentially a neighbor passing by discovered him, and went to him and inquired what he was about to do with his gun. The maniac replied,

'Look up yonder, dont you see that man? He is a British spy sent over by the king of England to spy out our land, and as he comes down I intend to shoot him.' 'No,' said the neighbor, he is the minister who preached for us the last evening.' Upon this the unhappy man gave up his arms and retired; but it was fully believed by those who knew the state of his mind, that he would have shot our friend dead, if he had not been thus providentially prevented. The Doctor often mentioned this singular escape from sudden death with great sensibility."

In August, 1808, Mr. GRIFFIN was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Union College.

The Theological Seminary at Andover having just been established, Doctor GRIFFIN was appointed, in the course of this year, to the Bartlett Professorship of Pulpit Eloquence in that institution; and shortly after this appointment, he was elected by the infant church in Park-street, Boston, their stated preacher. For both these places he was considered as pre-eminently qualified; though it was not without much deliberation, and as it would seem many severe struggles, that he finally came to the determination of resigning his pastoral charge. Before the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1809, he requested the congregation to consent to his dismission; and having obtained their consent, he was dismissed at that meeting, though he continued his ministrations among them till the last of May. On the 28th of May he preached his Farewell sermon.

It was a noble effort, full of sublimity and pathos, worthy of the occasion and worthy of the man. It has had an extensive circulation, and been admired on both sides of the Atlantic. The following paragraph from the sermon, exhibits the wonderful success which had attended his ministry.

"Eight years ago, this church consisted of two hundred and two members, of whom one hundred and forty-six still remain. We have since admitted four hundred and thirty-four to our communion, of whom three hundred and seventy-six still remain. Of those whom we have admitted, sixty-two were received from other churches, and three hundred and seventy-two from the world. Of the latter we admitted a hundred and thirteen in one year, and at another time a hundred and seventy-four in six months. All the members which have belonged to this church, within that period, amount to six hundred and thirty-six; of whom a hundred and fourteen have, in various ways, been removed, and five hundred and twenty-two still remain."

Of the various testimonies of respect and affection which he received from his people on leaving them, the following letter, from the Hon. ELISHA BOUDINOT, dated "Baltimore, 18th May, 1809," may suffice as a specimen.

REV. AND Dear Sir,

My feelings were too much alive at the idea of those connections being rent asunder which I had fondly hoped would have continued until they had placed my remains in the house appointed for all living-to call upon you before I left home. I knew my feelings had too much the mastery of me to trust them where they were so much aroused. Nothing but the