I fear, will not recover from it for many years to come. So great, for a considerable time, was the popularity and apparent success of protracted meetings, during which all business was nearly suspended by the multitudes who flocked to them, that both ministers and people came at length to feel, as if there was an inseparable connection between these meetings and powerful revivals. Indeed, many seemed to talk and act as ifthey could not expect revivals without them. Under this impression, if four days, (the period to which they were at first limited,) did not answer the purpose, they would add four, or six, or ten days more; and so they actually went on, increasing the length up to twenty, thirty and even forty days, without giving either preachers or hearers any time for rest. The consequence was, that hundreds of the most spiritual members of the churches sunk down exhausted under the pressure. All the excitability in the congregations, which could be brought under the influence of the meetings, was used up, and the collapse was in some cases truly deplorable. This, I know, was not the fault of the system, but of the abuse of it; and I am not ignorant, that this high pressure has recently been kept up for a long time in some of the Baptist churches of Boston, by a celebrated evangelist of that very respectable denomination. Of the fruits and results of this long protracted excitement, it will be safer to speak with confidence a year or two hence, than it is now. In the Congregational churches of New England, so far as my knowledge extends, there is now very little anxiety manifested for four days' meeting, upon the

old plan. Evening meetings have of late been extensively substituted in a quiet way, and often with the best results. The people are invited to assemble for a number of successive evenings, to hear the gospel preached by their own pastors, aided perhaps more or less by brethren in the immediate vicinity. Under this arrangement, where there is interest enough to secure a full attendance, and where “all things are done decently and in order," we may reasonably expect that good will be done. But this, in turn, will probably be pushed to extremes, and then the most judicious friends of revivals will resort to some other means, to wake up slumbering churches, and arrest the attention of stupid sinners.

Indeed it is my prevailing opinion, that any system of extra efforts, which can be devised, will be unwarrantably relied upon, or wear out in time, and must be laid aside. Whenever this is the case, it cannot be doubted that those who ask wisdom of God, in a right manner, will be directed to such other means, as he will bless for the building up of his church. But they must be scriptural means; means that have no tendency to throw the Sabbath or any of the divinely instituted ministrations of the sanctuary into the back-ground. Any system, which aims at doing up the whole work of the Lord in a few days, or which leads a people to undervalue the stated administration of his truth, on the day which he has set apart expressly for religious instruction, is danWhatever else may be right or wrong in gerous. our arrangements and efforts, we are sure, that it is right to make as much as possible of the Sabbath

and the regular preaching of the gospel, as well before a revival commences, as when it is in full progress.

Your next question, is, How shall I know when a revival is begun in my church and congregation? I should once have thought it much easier to answer this question, than I do now. I have so many times had my hopes raised by favorable appearances, and been disappointed; have so often thought there was "the sound of abundance of rain," and it did not come, that I am much slower to decide whether a revival has actually commenced, or not, than I used to be. No certain evidence of it can be drawn from observing that your meetings are crowded, still and solemn ; that some individuals are affected even to tears under your preaching; that enquirers begin to resort to your study, and that the church is very much encouraged. All these are favorable indications, and may well excite your hopes, while they stimulate you to increased effort and prayer. But they may pass away" as the morning cloud and the early dew." I have myself experienced several such alternations of hope and discouragement, before the revival actually came. There are, however, signs and evidences, on which you may rely. If there are great searchings of heart in the church; if old hopes are shaken ; if differences of long standing are healed by mutual confessions; if christians are remarkably humble and prayerful, if they speak often one to another, and if their bowels yearn over the impenitent, there is a revival begun. There can be no doubt of it. And when in connection with such a state of things in

the church, sinners in considerable numbers are awakened, when you find here and there cases of genuine conviction, and some individuals giving striking evidence that they have been born again, you need not doubt that a real work of grace has commenced in the congregation as well as in the church. But even then you should guard against expressing yourself too sanguinely, when you speak on the subject, and should exhort the church to "rejoice with trembling." It is not certain, that because God has begun to revive his work, he will carry it on, that because a few have been converted, many more will be. The Holy Spirit may be grieved, and may depart, ere you have sung out your first song. While the grace of God, which is displayed in a single conversion, is infinite, and worthy to be magnified in everlasting thanksgivings, I am convinced, that incipient revivals are sometimes checked by the confident and sanguine manner in which ministers speak of them. They run before the spirit of the Lord. Fewer are under deep religious impressions, than they imagine, though many may be enquiring. They "look for much, and it comes to little."

I hope, my dear son, there will soon be "a noise and shaking among the dry bones" around you. I hope you will have unequivocal evidence, that a revival has commenced both in your church and congregation. But should this be the case, write guardedly, if you write at all to your friends abroad on the subject; and caution your church to do the same. It tends to bring the work of the Lord into doubt and discredit, to have it noised abroad, that a powerful

revival has commenced in any place, and to have it prove transient and almost fruitless. The cause of religion, I believe, has sometimes suffered greatly in this way. Ask for the prayers of christians as earnestly and as widely as you can. Enter into the work with all your heart, and wait to see what the Lord will do. Should he work mightily in the conviction and conversion of sinners, when the proper time arrives, when the converts are after a suitable probation gathered into the church, then declare what God hath done for your people, that he may have the glory, and that his children, far and near, may unite with you in "praising him for his mighty acts."

I am very affectionately, &c.