THE

Christian History;

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

Saturday OCTOBER 8. 1743.

§ No. 32.

The Account of the late Revival of Religion at Wren

P

tham finished.

EOPLE have within this Time appeared as defirous as ever, or more fo (as to confiderable Numbers) of Sermons and focial Worship, than ever before.

• There have been a Variety of Inftances among us of * Perfons appearing in very great Diftrefs, even unto Agonies, ' for others Souls; beyond what we have ever feen before.

And fome among us have not been fo well fatisfied, nor fo much delighted with this late Revival, as they feemed to be two Years ago; and fome that feemed fomething awa→ 'kened then, have appeared to look fomething strange upon ' what we take to be the fame Work, now it hath been attended with fome uncommon Circumstances. And we are concerned leaft fome have been prejudiced against the powerful Manner in which GOD hath been pleased to carry < on his own Work; and fo have lain the less open to Con'victions and Benefit by Gospel Ordinances.

;

• We have not known Trances, Vifions, Revelations, or the like. We have had great Freedom from the Appearances of a cenforious Spirit in the Subjects of this bleffed Work 'tho' fome tender and compassionate Expressions have been mif'conftrued. We have not had a fingle Inftance, who hath pretended to authoritative Exhorting, nor any that ⚫ have pleaded for it; but Chriftian Conference hath been 'much encouraged and practised among elder and younger • People.

I i

• To

To conclude; We can, upon the whole freely declare our Opinion, That Almighty GOD hath begun,and now, for more than two Years, been carrying on a glorious Refor•mation and Revival of pure and undefiled Religion among the People of our Charge; convincing, hopefully converting, and greatly fanctifying, quickening and comforting many among Us, by a wonderful Effufion of the DIVINE SPIRIT, accompanying the Word, Ordinances and Providences. And that GOD hath been exceeding good to us in preferving us from fuch Errors, Seperations, and Disorders, which, we have heard have been in fome other Places. For which, may God have all the Glory.

Thus we have endeavoured to give a juft Account of the late remarkable Revival of Religion in WRENTHAM; with an exact Regard to Truth, according to our Obfervation and Remembrance, of Perfons, Converfations, and • Events.

Now, carneftly wifhing the Profperity of Zion; and begging the Prayers of GOD's People for us, and the People under our immediate Care. We Subfcribe

HENRY MESSINGER, Paftor of the first Church in WRENTHAM.

ELIAS HAVEN, Paftor of the Second Church in WRENTHAM.

Wrentham, Aug. 12. 1743.

N. B. The Rev. Mr. Prince has the following Information from the Rev. Mr. COTTON of Newton, referring to one remarkable Inftance, which fell under his Obfervation, when occafionally at Wrentham in Auguft 1742. Which we think proper to communicate to the Publick, in Addition to the foregoing Account.

"THE first Person that cried out under the preaching of the Word, in the first Parish of Wrentham, was aMan more than 40 Years old, at a Lecture, Aug. 19. 1742, when Mr. Cotton was preaching from Matth.11. 28. Towards the clofe of the Sermon, the faid Perfon fpake out with much Concern and Diftrefs about the State of his Soul. Soon after the Congregation was difmifs'd, he went to difcourfe with Mr.

Cotton;

Cotton; who afking him the Reafan of his crying out in the Aflembly, in the Manner he had done, the Man reply'd, That he could not avoid his doing fo; tho' he had often spake against other People's crying out,and had faid that they might, if they would, refrain from it, and not difturb the Congregation in hearing.

He then added, that he went to that Lecture, with a more ferious Concern upon his Mind, than he had commonly done, that he might get Good by that Opportunity; and he faid, that the Word he heard, came with fuch Power upon him, that he could not help crying out, and fpeaking as he did.---When Inquiry was made concerning his fpiritual State, he declar'd, He had been an honeft, moral Liver; had pray'd conftantly in his Family, tho' not fo conftantly in fecret; had made Confcience of attending the publick Worship of Gon, lov'd to hear (as he tho't) faithful Preaching;

and he had been ready to conclude, he was in a good and fafe State, and all was well with him. But now he was bro't to fee his Sin, Mifery, and Danger, in a natural State, and his Need of Chrift to help & fave him; and to fee that if a new & faving Change was not wrought by the SPIRIT of GOD upon his Heart, he fhould be undone for ever!--- And he exprefs'd his Fears that the Day of Grace was over as to him, and that there was now no Hope for him.--- Upon which it was fuggefted to him, that now the SPIRIT of GOD was fo friving with him, he might be affur'd, that there was Hope concerning him; and it look'd as tho' GOD was waiting to be gracious, if fuchConvictions were cherish'd.

Mr. Cotton gave him what Advice and Direction he tho't needful, for one in his State and Circumftances, upon his firft coming to him.--- He came again the next Morning, and was in as great Diftrefs as before, becaufe of the Provocations he had given to the SPIRIT of GOD to forfake him, and to strive no more with him; but yet declar'd, he was refolv'd to feck and plead (as he was able) for the LORD's Compaffion & Mercy to him; and faid, If GOD fhould not fhew him Mercy now, he believ'd the SPIRIT would never fo frive with him any

more.----

After confiderable Time fpent in converfing with him, he remain'd greatly concern'd and diftrefs'd, left he should not obtain Mercy from GoD: but still refolv'd to feek and cry for it.----

And uponInquiry Mr.Cotton has been inform'd there is now Reason to hope and believe that GOD has heard Prayer for this Man, and not turned away his Mercy from him."

As WESTERLY and CHARLESTOWN in RHODEISLAND Colony (of the Propagation of Religion in which two Towns we gave the Rev. Mr. PARK's Account in Page 2 are about a Hundred Miles to the Southward of BOSTON; we now prefent our Readers with an Account of the Revival of Religion at NEWARK & ELIZABETH-Town in the Province of NEWJERSEY, above twoHundred & eighty Miles to theSouth-Westward of BOSTON ; as drawn up by the Rev. Mr.DICKINSON, Paftor of a Church in the last mentioned Town, and fent in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. Foxcroft, as follows---

Rev. and dear Sir,

"IN

Elizabeth-Town, August 23. 1743.

N Compliance with your Defire, I fhall endeavour to give you a brief Account of the late Revival of Religion among us; tho' I dare not attempt to answer your Expectations, by a particular Representation of the extenfive Spread of the religious Concern in the diftant Parts of this Province, and in Penfylvania; having no particular Acquaintance with the wonderful Stir, that has been so much spoken of in fo manyPlaces in thoseParts; and being willing to limit my Narrative to what fell under my more immediate Obfervation, in this Town and in Newark which is contiguous to it.

[Revival of Religion at NEW AR K.]

In thefe Towns RELIGION was in a very low State; Profe fors generally dead and lifelefs; and the Body of our People carelets, carnal and fecure; that there was but little of the Power of Godlinefs appearing among us, till fome Time in August 1739, (the Summer before Mr. Whitefield came first into thefeParts) when there was a remarkable Revival atNE WARK, especially among their rifing Generation: Many of whom were now brought under Convictions; and instead of frequenting their vain Company as ufual, were flocking to their Minifter, with that important Inquiry, If hat fhall we do to be faved? This Concern increafed for a confiderable Time among the young People; (tho' not wholly confin'd to them).

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and

and in November, December and January following, it became more remarkable, as well as more general. There was an

apparent Reformation among the Youth of the Town: their cuftomary Tavern-haunting, Frolicking, and other youthful Extravagancies, were now laid afide: A new Face of Things appeared in the Town: All Occafions of religious Converfation were improv'd withDelight: A Serioufnefs, Solemnity, and devout Attention appeared in their publick Affemblies; and a folemn Concern about their eternal Welfare, was visible in the very Countenances of many.--- This Revival of Religion was chiefly obfervable among the younger People, till the following March; when the whole Town in general was brought under an uncommon Concern about their eternal Interests; and the Congregation appeared univerfally affected under fome Sermons that were then preached to 'em ; and there is good Reason to conclude, that there was a confiderable Number who experienced a faving Change about that Time.

The Summer following, this awak'ningConcern fenfibly abated, tho' it did not wholly die away; and nothing remarkable occured till Febr.1740,1. when they were again visited with the special and manifeft Effufions of the SPIRIT of GOD. A plain familiar Sermon then preached, without any peculiar Terror, Fervor, or affectionate Manner of Addrefs, was fet home with Power. Many were brought to fee and feel, that till then, they had no more than a Name to live; and Profeffors in general were put upon serious and folemn Inquiries into the Foundation of their Hope. There feem'd to be very few in the whole Congregation, but what felt more or lefs of the Power of GOD at this happy Seafon; tho' the greatest Concern now appeared among the rifen Generation. There is good Reason to conclude, that there were a greater Number now brought home to Chrift, than in the former gracious Vifitation.

It was remarkable at this Seafon, that as Sinners were generally under an awakening diftreffing Senfe of their Guilt and Danger; fo the Children of God were greatly refreshed and comforted; their Souls were magnifying the LORD, and rejoycing in GOD their Saviour, while others in diftreffing Agony were crying out, Men and Brethren what shall we do?