hearts of others, and take care of them, in our own way, and to the danger, we fear, of our own souls. The appointed means of grace are contemned; we wish to do the work of the Spirit, as it were, by machinery; and instead of depending upon the Spirit of God, and seeking to catch the genial currents of that wind which bloweth where it listeth and of which we only hear the sound, but canno tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth, we are striving to raise hurricanes ourselves. But unless the writer is greatly deceived in his estimate of the facts detailed in the present volume, they ought to stand as a solemn warning against the indulgence of this ultra, self-righteous, and fanatical spirit— this seeking out of human inventions in matters of such high concernment as those of the salvation of men. How much wiser, safer, and better, than the running after every new thing, and the following of so many blind guides, would it be for Christian professors to obey the injunction of God himself: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, AND ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS, where is the GOOD WAY, and WALK THEREIN, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

The contents of this little volume also teach another lesson which should not be suffered to pass unheeded. It is not the low, the ignorant, and the vulgar who have been the subjects of the delusions we have been unfolding; but, at every stage of them, and in all their variety of aspects, those subjects have been found among highly respectable and intelligent citizens-ladies, educated, accom

plished, virtuous-and gentlemen of characteracute in business-men of wealth, of information, and of great public and private worth. How important, then, in view of our dependence, and the frailty of our nature, the caution, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." And again, in the language of God to Jeremiah, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME." The rule of action in all doubtful matters, both in religion and morals, is very clear and simple: "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.”

In conclusion, it may be remarked that ERROR can only be overcome by TRUTH, and that they who have the "TRUTH OF GOD" distinctly set forth in the book of Revelation, have an infallible criterion by which to test the true character of any religious opinion or practice. And in the gospel dispensation introduced by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the inspired volumes of the Old and New Testaments constitute the true and only infallible rule of faith and conduct; nor can any radical or fundamental error long escape detection when subjected to this plain and unerring standard.

APPENDIX.

[AFTER the present volume was more than half completed, and after that portion of it containing the principal extracts from Mr. Pierson's papers had been stereotyped, the writer obtained for examination some hundred or more pages of his manuscripts and journals, of the existence of which he was not before apprized. Had he received these papers at an earlier day, some farther use would have been made of them in their chronological order. Even as it is, a few additional extracts have been made, and are here added by way of appendix, as tending to the farther elucidation of the character of Mr. Pierson, and as matters of curiosity.]

A.

The following document is a copy of the prayer and covenant of Mr. Pierson, made, probably, on connecting himself with the church, Jan. 2, 1820. It was written out, and signed and sealed-a practice recommended by Dr. Doddridge and other eminent experimental Christian writers. Nothing can breathe a more fervent and delightful spirit of piety than this instrument, and the renewal of it six months afterward. How strange, that a sun which rose so brightly, should have gone down in deepest gloom!

O thou great and greatly exalted and incomprehensible Jehovah, who alone art God, and who alone art worthy of the praises and adorations of all thy creatures-thou who searchest the hearts of the children of men, search my heart, O my God, and make it sincere in the high privilege in which it is now to be engaged.

O my God, I, the creature of thy power, desire with great humility and abasement of soul to deplore my past rebellion

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against thee, and against thy holy and righteous laws, and desire to lay down the weapons of my rebellion against thee as my lawful Sovereign, Creator, and Preserver. Great and exalted God, who art the Lord of lords and King of kings, though thou art exalted above all comprehension, yet thou condescendest to become the Saviour of sinners through Jesus Christ thy dearly beloved Son.

In the name of this precious Saviour do I, who am a lost, perishing sinner, desire to come to thee and take hold of thy strength, that I may make peace with thee, O Lord, and be enabled to be at peace with thee. With a heart filled with gratitude at thy condescension to the children of men, I desire, by this solemn and deliberate act, to accept of this precious Saviour, Jesus Christ, as he is offered in the Gospel; to renew the vows made for me in baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and those vows which by thy grace thou hast enabled me to make in a public manner in thy sanctuary, and this day again renewedly to dedicate myself to thee, O my God, to be thine in an everlasting covenant, choosing and cleaving to thee as the desire of my heart, and only portion for time and for eternity, renouncing the world and its vanities, consecrating myself and all that I am and have to thy service and glory.

Be pleased, blessed God, to accept the offering here made thee (with an humble dependance on thy helping grace, which alone will enable me to perform my vows). Grant me, O my Father, the fulness of thy love and grace in Jesus Christ. Let me be washed in the precious blood of the dear Redeemer; let me be clothed in his righteousness; let me be sanctified by his spirit, and transformed more and more into his image. Number me among thy peculiar people; inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life; grant me the blessed Comforter to comfort me, to teach me, and to lead me in the way of all truth. Put thy fear in my heart, that it may never depart from thee; write thy law upon my heart that it may be a light to my feet and lamp to my path; grant me a double portion of meekness, lowliness, and humility. Enable me to walk humbly with thee, my God; grant me perfect resignation to thy holy will; enable me to spend the remainder of my days in thy service, and in the light and under the smiles of thy countenance. O my God and Father, when thou seest me going astray from thy holy commandments, let this cove

nant pass in remembrance before thee, O my beloved Father, and wilt thou in tender mercy lead me quickly back to the true and living way! Grant me grace to keep this covenant : and when it shall please thee to call me hence, wilt thou look down on me, thy languishing, dying child, and in covenant love strengthen and support me in that trying moment, and enable me with my latest breath to glorify thee, the faithful and everlasting God, and then receive my spirit, that it may dwell with Jesus its Redeemer, and behold his glory. And now, holy and blessed Father, for the sake of Jesus the Son of thy love, blot out all my manifold transgressions, and forgive me freely for his sake who died for sinners.

What thou seest amiss in this solemn transaction, forgive; what thou seest I need that I have not asked, grant.

Accept me now, 0 my beloved Father. My heart's desire is to be thine for ever. O that this desire might be sincere,

and come up acceptably before thee. To thee, the only true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be rendered everlasting praises. Amen. ELIJAH PIERSON. [L. S.] New-York, Sunday, January 2, 1820.

Most holy and blessed God, my heavenly Father, I desire to confirm this covenant, and renewedly to dedicate myself to thee, my God and Creator, to deplore and lament my past unworthiness and unprofitableness, and in view of them to be deeply humbled before thee, my God, and cast myself upon thy free and sovereign mercy in Jesus Christ; and with an humble dependance upon thy helping grace, desire to renounce the world and its vanities, to choose thee, my heavenly Father, as my portion for time and for eternity.

O Lord God, for Christ's sake, accept me; draw my affections from all created good, that they may centre in thee alone; give me holiness of heart; give me greater conformity to thee; fire my soul with holy love to thee; sanctify me by thy holy spirit; grant me sweet communion with thee, my Father, and give me the spirit of thy children.

Greatly strengthen thou me for all the duties and trials of life; as my day is, so let my strength be. Fit me to live, and prepare me for death; and when I shall have finished my course, may my spirit for ever rest in the bosom of Christ its Redeemer. Amen. ELIJAH PIERSON,

New-York, July 4, 1820,