Nol. From the Rev. Mr. BLUNT, Paftor of the Church in Newcastle, in the Province of NEW-HAMPSHIRE, to a Minifter in Bolton.

Rev. Sir,

HAVING been confin'd by Sickness for fome Weeks paft I heard nothing of the Intention the Minifters had of convening at Boston on the 7th Inftant, 'till the Day on which they convened.

I could heartily have joined with them in giving Teftimony to what I have been long convinc'd is a great Display of GOD's Grace in this and feveral neighbouring Parishes, particularly at York and Portsmouth: And alfo in declaring against those Errors in Doctrine and Disorders in Practice that have been or may yet be prevailing to blemish or obftruct it in any Parts of the Land.

The Parish I am fettled in is fmall; but GOD has I hope by the Influences of his gracious Spirit, made his Word and Ordinances effectual to the convincing and converting a confiderable Number among us.

The Awakening in Months paft was almost univerfal: Fear feem'd to fall on every Soul; and the great Enquiry was, What shall I do to be faved?

And altho I have Reason to fear the Impreffions are in a great Measure worn off from fame; yet the lafting good Effects on many I think very confiderable, and for which I defire to adore the rich and free Grace of GOD.

Fifty have been added to our Communion in about the Space of two Years; and most of them appear to have their Converfation as becometh the Gofpel.

Some of thofe who were Profeffors before this remarkable Day of GOD's Vifitation, have been of late much quickned and enlivened: And others, being convinced of their Formality in Times paft, declare how they have felt the Power of GOD's Grace upon their Souls.

My Heart's Defire and Prayer to GOD is, that he would ftill more abundantly pour out his SPIRIT upon his People, and his Bleffing on their Offspring; and that in Mercy he would heal the Divifions of Churches, and put an End to thofe Differences that have of late arifen, especially among the Minifters of GOD's Word; and that all who love our LORD JESUS in Sincerity may have their Hearts united, and

their

their Hands ftrengthened to promote that Religion which is "pure and undefiled before GOD and the FATHER. Defiring your Prayers for me who am lefs than the least of all Saints, I am Rev. Sir, your unworthy Friend and Servant, in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel,

New-Caftle, in NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
July 26th. 1743.

Y

JOHN BLUNT.

No. II. From the Rev. Mr. RUGGLES, Paftor of the Second Church in Middleborough, in the County of Plimouth, to a Minifter in Boston.

Reverend and dear Sir,

R Elating to the Revival of Religion, &c. I would give you

this fhort and plain Account. As to the Rife; On the 13th of August in the Year 1741. we had in our Precinct á Day of Fafting and Prayer on these two Accounts, viz. 1. For the Revival of Religion, and 2. for Rain, it being a very dry Seafon. We invited in to our Help the Rev. Mr. Thacher of Middleborough, the Rev. Mr. Ruggles of Rochester, and the Rev. Mr. Wales of Raynham. The Day was attended with very great Solemnity; and the Anfwer was very remarkable, and we may fay, as Ifaiah 65. 24. While they are yet speaks ing, I will hear. For a very confiderable Supply of Rain was fent us that Day, And as to the Revival of Religion; a wonderful Serioufnefs difcovered in fome that was more than common, I obferved from that very Time there was an apparent Difference in Relation to Perfons attending the publick Worship, and a greater Regard to the Sanctification of the Sabbath. Some Time after this, Convictions gradually proceeded, and openly evident; many of which I have all poffibleReason to think ended in found Converfion, A confiderable Number among us joining themfelves to the Church; their regular Converfations evidencing their Sincerity. As to the Sont's of Perfons; I must say it was very much on young ones of both Sexes. Alfo fome who before had profefs'd themselves of contrary Opinions were now reclaimed and brought off: Pray erlefs, to be prayerful in their Families, a

V

THE

Christian History;

Containing Accounts of the Propagation and Revival of Religion in England Scotland and America.

Saturday AUGUST 27. 1743. § No. 26.

T

The Remainder of Mr. RUGGLES's Attestation. HERE ftill are evident Manifeftations of the Power and Grace of GoD among us. Religion is more peculiarly the Subject of private Converfation: and religious Affemblies are fet up, both by young & old Perfons, and spent in Prayer, finging Praifes to GOD, and religious Conferences. From your humble Servant,

Middleborough, August

4th. 1743

BENJAMIN RUGGLES.

P. S. Rev. Šir, Altho' fome Perfons from the Disorders and Declenfions which have appeared in fome particular Perfons who evidenced their Convictions by Outcries, &c. have thought this Work not to be a Work of GOD's Special Grace and Proof of the Revival of Religion; yet I muft declare my Opinion otherwife, and fay I am full in it, and verily believe, that it is a very remarkable Day of GOD's Grace and plentiful Out-pouring of his HOLY SPIRIT on his People.

Teftified by me BENJAMIN RUGGLES, Paftor of the fecond Church in Middleborough.

AnAccount of the late Propagation of Religion at Wefterly and Charlestown in RHODE-ISLAND COLONY, in a Letter from theRev.Mr.PARK SPaftor of aChurch newly gathered there, To the Publisher of the CHRISTIAN HISTORY. Wefterly and Charles Town, RHODE-ISLAND COLONY, August 1. 1743•

Sir,

According to your Defire, I here communicate to you

fome general Account of the Lord's Vifitation of this Place, working Salvation in the midst of it.

And

And as it was the Occafion of the first planting of a Church in this Place, it may serve to give Light, and fet forth the Glory of the LORD, to give fome general Account of GOD's providential Dealings towards us from the Beginning of my Ministry.

In May 1733. I was fent by the Honourable and Reverend the Commiffioners for the Indian Affairs, to preach the Gospel to the INDIANS and fuch of the English as would attend.

At my Arrival I found a comfortable Appearance of Humanity and Courtefy among the People: But a Spirit of Profanenefs and Irreligion awfully prevailing. My Judgment concerning my felf is, That I was a moral religious Perfon, but extremely in the Dark as to the Way of Salvation by CHRIST.

I laboured in the Work of the Miniftry with fome Laboriousness and Faithfulness in the Discharge of my Truft: Endeavouring to reduce the People to Order, and the Practice of the Duties of Religion both moral and inftituted; by proving both, and establishing them upon as firm a Bafis as poffible, both from Reason and Scripture; and preffing them to Practice by the strongest Motives I could. And in that Method I miniftred among the People for several Years; but all in vain : There appeared no Impreffions of Religion and Virtue upon their Minds. But the more I laboured and contracted an Acquaintance, the more I faw of their Iniquity abounding: which was very difcouraging; that I could by no Means prevail upon them to be better, but that they rather grew worfe.

And God was graciously pleased not to fuffer me to overlook my felf; but by HIS SPIRIT made Application to me, and led me into the fecret Imagery of my own Heart: And there I had as hard Labour to repair the Breaches which Sin had made, as among others. And tho' I had been somewhat indoctrinated in Gospel-Truths, and had a Work of Conviction fo far graciously carried on in me, that I could by no Means embrace the ArminianPrinciples at large; yet fomething I had fecretly imagining, that there was fomething in Men to begin with, and that GofpelGrace came to make perfect: But could not get to that Pitch as to think my self ripe for Grace, and with any Confidence lay Claim to it; becaufe I found my Works were no better before God. But it pleafed GOD to come clofer to me still, and bring all into a ruinous Heap; 'till GOD was

graciously

graciously pleased to give me to fee his Glory in the Face of JESUS CHRIST, and difcover a new and living Way to the FATHER, which is JESUS CHRIST.

The Glory of a soVEREIGN GOD fhined bright in difpofing the Interests of Mankind as he had done both in the fift and Second ADAM,

I faw then, that the Way to help forward.the Good of Mankind, was not to go to repairing and mending, but to pull down as faft as I could, because there was no Foundation at all: and according to the Manifeftation of THE SPIRIT given me to profit withal, I laboured to fhew forth the total Ruin of the first Adam, and the compleat Reftoration in the fecond.

My Miniftry then began to be more contemptible: that I was fo much upon Original Sin and Election, Doctrines extremely abhor'd by the People. They could bear legal Preaching, tho' it was a Miniftration of Condemnation fo long as they could keep any Hope in themfelves, Satan and a corrupt Heart would carry Men along pretty comfortably; by flattering them either that what was preffed upon them, was not a Duty, or not to be done by them who were not fully perfuaded in their own Mind, however obligatory to fuch as were, or that in due Time they would engage in the Practice of their Duty, But when they came to be told, that THEY could do nothing; That all THEY did or could do fignified nothing toward their eternal Salvation: But all the Concerns of their Salvation were taken wholly out of their Hands and put into the Hands of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and that THEY must come to HIM, and take that Free Grace that the Gospel of the bleffed GOD fets forth in JESUS CHRIST, or be damned to all Eternity This, tho' their imaginary Power was of no Advantage, for they would not try to exert it; yet when it was denied them, ftirred up their Indignation.

But I know it was God's own Scheme, and must be Man's, if ever he attained to GoD or Godliness.

And therefore, tho' in much Weaknefs, Unbelief and Unfaithfulness, I was by the Grace of GoD enabled in a Meafure to contend for the Faith, and affert the great Doctrines of Grace for fome Years. And the more I continued therein, the more GOD gave me to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, the more I faw the Glory of GoD therein, and was enable 1 fpeak with more Boldness. Cc 2

Yet