ment is greatly endeared to us, so we beseech our ascended Savior, the Head of the church, long to continue him for a burning light and extensive blessing to our provinces; and in particular to use this faithful, judicious, and seasonable endeavor of his servant, for a guard and defence about its own sacred truths and his glorious work in the midst of us, which too many are ready to speak evil of and oppose. Benjamin Colman, Boston, Dec. 22, 1742. Some time after, a man of the separate society became a Saturday Baptist: who being dipped in the country, and having hands laid on him, thought himself a minister, drew five women after him, and proceeded to dip them: yet they all have since deserted him. But six males of the said society with one of Brookline a town about five miles off, went on to associate as a church, owning the Assembly's Confession of Faith, and professing themselves congregational according to our New England Platform: and have not yet returned to the several churches whence they went; though the Rev. Mr. Davenport has happily seen and most ingenuously confessed his abovesaid errors and misconduct, and published his Retractations. Besides the aforesaid four males and two or three females of the south church, I know not any who have left our communion. But the rest of our said numerous and former additions con tinue with us; and as far as I know, their conversation is as be-comes the Gospel. Nor do I hear of more than one of those who have left our church that has fallen into other censurable evil, nor in the other churches in town, except a few of the New North. July 7, 1743, there met in Boston one of the largest assemblies of ministers that ever convened here, to bear their testimony to this remarkable revival in the land: when ten ministers of this town, joined with many others in giving their public testimony to this happy work. On Dec. 13 following, this town and land received a great loss in the death of the Rev. Mr. Cooper. I would add the account of the Rev. Dr. Colman in his funeral sermon the Lord's day after, since published, in the following terms: "Mr. Cooper was as fixed and firm against the spirit of separation from the churches of New England, which he judged to be strongly settled on the platform of Scripture, as any rock on our coasts is unshaken by the furious waves that only break themselves into foam by dashing against it: And had he lived he would have been a most strenuous opposer of this defection: But at the same time he was immoveably determined, as we all know, that there has been a remarkable work of God going on among us, by what he had seen with his eyes, had looked upon, and as it were handled, in the resort to him (and some other ministers of the town) of a multitude of persons, younger and older, under strong convictions, humiliation, illuminations, godly fear, with strong crying and tears; faith, hope, trust, joy, with strong reliance on the righteousness of Christ for justification, and on the almighty Spirit of grace in a sovereign manner to enable them unto all the duties of a sober, righteous, and godly life; to work in them both to will and to do, to begin and carry on his good work in their souls; and to keep them by his mighty power through faith to salvation: And among these there were numbers overflowing with the joys and comforts of religion, in the utmost abhorrence of them selves and repenting as in dust and ashes; while the love of God seemed to be shed abroad in their hearts, in their fervent desires after, and pleasure in, the convictions and conversion of others: The numerous instances of this nature, with whom he daily conversed, gave him abundant satisfaction of the presence and power of the Sanctifier and Comforter in and with many of them. I think myself also now called by the providence of God to add, that as I was myself struck with wonder at what of this nature occurred to me two years ago among the young people of this flock, so the good fruits of their abiding profession unto this day, in a discreet, meek, virtuous, pious conversation, give me satisfaction and pleasure in them from day to day; while their exemplary face of grave devotion, and diligent attention to the word of God, on Lord's days and lectures, are also adorning to the doctrine of God their Savior." Of all who resorted to me from all the congregations in town, I remember no more than three or four who talked of their impulses: and but one or two of these a subject of the late revival; the other two had been communicants in two of our churches, and used to speak of those things before. Nor in all the preaching of the instruments of this work in town, did I ever hear any teach to follow impulses or any religious impressions but of the word of God upon our minds, affections, wills, and consciences; and which agreeably to the Holy Scripture, the most famous reformers and puritan ministers both in England, Scotland, and New England, have in their writings taught us. As to the doctrinal principles of those who continue in our congregations and have been the subjects of the late revival; they are the same as they have been all along instructed in, from the Westminster Assembly's shorter Catechism: which has been generally received and taught in the churches of New England from its first publication for these hundred years to this day; and which is therefore the system of doctrine most generally and clearly declarative of the faith of the New England churches. And though some have represented many of the subjects of this work as holding some or other of the following mischiev ous errors; viz. (1.) "That sanctifying grace in a minister is necessary to render the adminis trations of Gospel ordinances valid: (2.) That unconverted ministers are incapable to be instruments of converting people: (S.) That sanctification (as described in the Assembly's shorter Catechism) is no evidence of justification: (4.) That an unregenerate man ought not to pray: And (5.) That assurance is essential to saving faith, so as whoever believes is sure he believes in a saving manner, and is not in doubt or darkness about it:" Upon a careful inquiry I cannot find nor hear of any of the subjects of this work remain ing in our several congregations in town; no, nor,even in that which has drawn off from us, who hold these or any other Familistical or Antinomian errors. However, the sovereign Spirit in his awakening influence in the unconverted, and his enlivening efficacy in the hopefully renewed, in this town, has seemed these two last years in a gradual and awful manner to withdraw. For Thus have I endeavored a brief and plain account of the late re vival in this town; especially a mong the people who resorted to me, and more particularly those of the assembly I belong to, according to my observation and intelligence: relating only those facts which seemed to me, as I went along to be most material; avoiding personal reflections, and writing, as I always desire, with candor and moderation. I leave it as a grateful public testimony of the memorable work of the Divine power and grace among VOL. IV. New Series. us in my day, which my eyes have THOMAS PRINCE. P. S. The former part of this narrative I drew up near a year ago; the latter lately. And I have made several observations on what I have seen and heard; but for want of room must here omit them. LETTER FROM THE EARL OF The following letter was written by the Earl of Strafford while under sentence of condemnation, and only a day or two before his execution. This great statesman had been condemned in consequence of the intrigues and persecution of a profligate faction. The magnanimity, wisdom, paternal affection, and Christian principles, here exhibited, are truly admirable. My dearest Will, THESE are the last lines that you are to receive from a father that tenderly loves you. I wish there were a greater leisure to impart my mind unto you; but our merciful God will supply all things by his grace, and guide and protect you in all your ways: to whose infinite goodness I bequeath you; and therefore be not discouraged, but serve him, and trust in him, and he will preserve and prosper you in all things. Be sure you give all respect to my wife, that hath ever had a great love unto you, and therefore will be well becoming you. Never be awanting in your love and care to your sisters, but let them ever be most dear unto you, for this will give others cause to esteem and respect you for it, and is a duty that you owe them in the memory of your excellent mother and myself; therefore your care and affection to them must be the very same that you are to have of yourself; and the like regard must you have to your youngest sister; for indeed you owe it her also, both for her father and mother's sake. Sweet Will, be careful to take the advice of those friends which are by me desired to advise you for your education. Serve God diligently morning and evening, and recommend yourself unto him, and have him before your eyes in all your ways. With patience hear the instructions of those friends I leave with you, and diligently follow their counsel; for, till you come by time to have experience in the world, it will be far more safe to trust to their judgments than your own. Lose not the time of your youth, but gather those seeds of virtue and knowledge which may be of use to yourself, and comfort to your friends, for the rest of your life. And that this may be the better effected, attend thereunto with patience, and be sure to correct and refrain your self from anger. Suffer not sor row to cast you down, but with cheerfulness and good courage go on the race you have to run in all sobriety and truth. Be sure, with an hallowed care to have respect to all the commandments of God, and give not yourself to neglect them in the least things, lest by degrees you come to forget them in the greatest; for the heart of man is deceitful above all things. And in all your duties and devotions towards God, rather perform them joyfully than pensively; for God loves a cheerful giver. For your religion, let it be directed according to that which shall be taught by those which are in God's church the proper teachers therefore, rather than that you ever either fancy one to yourself, or be led by men that are singular in their own opinions, and delight to go ways of their own finding out; for you will certainly find soberness and truth in the one, and much unsteadiness and vanity in the other. The king I trust will deal graciously with you, restore you those honors and that fortune which a distempered time hath deprived you of, together with the life of your father; which I rather advise might be by a new gift and creation from himself, than by any other means, to the end you may pay the thanks to him without having obligation to any other. Be sure to avoid as much as you can to inquire after those that have been sharp in their judgments towards me, and I charge you never to suffer thought of revenge to enter your heart; but be careful to be informed who were my friends in this prosecution, and to them apply yourself to make them your friends also; and on such you may rely, and bestow much of your conversation amongst them. And God Almighty of his infinite goodness bless you and your children's children; and his same goodness bless your sisters in like manner, perfect you in every good work, and give you right understandings in all things. Amen. Your most loving father. Tower, this 11th of May, 1641. You must not fail to behave yourself towards my lady Clare, your grandmother, with all duty and observance; for most tenderly doth she love you, and hath been passing kind unto me: God reward her charity for it. And both in this and all the rest, the same that I counsel you, the same do I direct also your sisters, that so the same may be observed by you all. And once more do I, from my very soul, beseech our gracious God to bless and govern you in all, to the saving you in the day of his visitation, and join us again in the communion of his blessed saints, where is fulness of joy and bliss for evermore. Amen, Amen, REVIEWS. XXXII. Sermons on Important Subjects, by the late reverend and pious SAMUEL DAVIES, A. M. sometime President of the College in New Jersey; an additional volume never before published in America. Boston; Lincoln & Edmands. 1810. pp. 372. 8vo. We have long intended to bring this interesting volume before our readers; but have been prevented by various causes, which it would be useless to enumerate. Sixty-three sermons by the same author were published in London, not long after his death. They were eagerly republished in this country; and have been very extensively bought and perused by Christians, wherever the English language is read. President Davies may justly be considered as one of the most popular preachers of the last century, whether we regard the effect of his discourses as delivered from the pulpit, or as received from the press. The volume before us contains nine teen additional sermons, mostly occasional. We are not informed, in the advertisement prefixed to the London edition, from what sour ces the manuscripts were deriv. ed. It must be manifest to eve ry reader, however, that these sermons are the genuine productions of the man to whom they are attributed. They exhibit the same enlightened zeal, the same concern for the souls of men, the same animated and eloquent strains of persuasion and expostulation, that are to be found in the volumes heretofore published. We deem it needless to prepare a particular ac count of the subjects discussed, and of the manner in which they are treated. Such an ac count could by no means supply the perusal of the sermons, and, of course, could but very partially satisfy the admirer of President Davies. From Sermon 67th, which is entitled, The Religious Improve. ment of the late Earthquakes, and which was delivered June, 1756, |