ftrong crying and tears, unto him that was able to fave him from death, and was heard, in that be feared.

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TH HESE words evidently refer unto our Saviour's prayer, and agony in the garden recorded in Matthew xxvi; Mark xiv. and Luke xxii. at which time, Chrift began to be forrowful, fore amazed, and very heavy, and faid to his difciples, my foul is exceeding forrowful even unto death; and our Lord kneeled down, and fell on his face, and prayed to his Father that if it were poffible the hour

might pafs from him, and faid, Abba Father, all things are poffible unto thee, take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will but what thou wilt, and being in an agony, he prayed more earneftly and his fweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. This was the time when Chrift offered up prayers, and fupplications, with strong cryings and tears: Our Lord conflicted with the powers of darknefs, and a fupernatural horror impreffed his holy foul; and he was furrounded by infernal Spirits, who exercised all their force and malice to tempt, vex, and distract his innocent foul. Obferve the thing petitioned, that the cup might be taken away, and pafs from him. If we could with precifion afcertain what is intended by the cup, fuch a discovery might furnifh us with a key to the text under prefent confideration.-

It appears to me that the cup means, the fore terror and awful combatin which Chrift was then actually engaged: And was heard in that he feared: was heard, that is, was helped, delivered, God heard him and delivered him, in that he feared, from that particular which he fear

ed, viz. that cup of anguish, thofe terrors, and pains he suffered when the powers of darkness were set It is inconfiftent to upon him.

fuppofe our Lord prayed to be en tirely freed or excufed from death and fufferings: and to illuftrate, fee John xii. 27. Chrift faid, in profpect of all his fufferings, now is my foul troubled, and what fhall I fay? What petition fhall I prefer

unto my

Father on this diftreffed occafion. Shall I fay Father fave from this hour? as though he had faid I cannot make this prayer ; for this caufe came I unto this hour, I was born, and came to die to

redeem my people: and I appre hend that Chrift never did, and never would, pray that the final cup, of death fhould be taken a way; for if Chrift had not died, falvation would have been fruftra the whole plan of redemption, and ted, the divine perfections would not have appeared in their luftre; no atonement for fin, and not one of the pofterity of Adam would have been faved. This appears to be the most safe, and confiftent fense of the text.

Miffionary journal, you will pleafe to publifh, if you think it will fubferve the cause of truth and piety.

The former of these counties lies upon the head waters of the Sufquehannah river, the latter upon the head waters of Delaware river. The counties united comprehend a tract of country, almost as large as the State of Connecticut.

The moral ftate of the people in these counties, previous to the late awakenings, was much as it is in other parts of the new fettlements, which have not been vifited with the effufions of the Holy Spirit The people had little preaching, the fabbath was greatly profaned, and the few pious people fcattered through the country were much difcouraged; confequently a train of vices and errors fucceeded, which rendered the fituation of the country melancholy indeed. Some places were more enlightened and civilized than others, but a general stupidity reigned through the whole; and some settlements, where the power of divine grace has fince been gloriously difplayed, were truly fitting in the region and fhadow of death.

The firft tokens of the late religious attention in thefe counties, were visible in the town of Delhi, the capital of Delaware county. This place had been remarkable for ftupidity, religion was treated with contempt; and the little church, confifting of three or four male members, concluded that they muft foon become exrinct. The revival began in the month of March, 1800. Its fuft glimmerings were fmall, rendering it doubtful whether a day of grace was to fucceed. The fmall number of Chriftians were between hope and fear; fometimes, they thought the work increafed and there were profpecs of a joyful

harvest; at others, their profpects were covered with clouds, and they were afraid that the Holy One of Ifrael was departing. Thus the friends of Zion watched and pray. ed until near the last of April, when it became evident that the caufe had gained ground, and a deep folemnity fat upon the countenances of many people. The latent fpark, which had gradually made its way to the confcience began to burn with a gentle flame.

The work increased; in the month of May we had folemn days. Near the clofe of the month, in one part of the town, called Little Delaware, the power of divine grace appeared to bear down all oppofition before it. Whole families were under deep conviction of their loft ftate; they crowded to know what they must do to be faved. It was glorious to fee the difplays of divine grace; fome perfons appeared as tho' they had loft all their friends, and that their ruin was inevitable, while others were comforted with the hope of divine mercy. About the time the awakening became vifible at Little Delaware, the attention of the people was arrefted, in the fouthern part of the town. Here the caufe ftruggled with much oppofition, but was fucceeded, fo that a joyful number of people hopefully became the fubjects of the glorious work. The revival continued in the town without much alteration, for many months, until many finners were brought to experience in their fouls the merits of the Redeemer's purchase. About fifty perfons in this town, have become visible members of Chrift's church, fince the commencement of the late revival fome few others expect foon to make the fame public profeffion.

While the work was increafing

at Delhi, God was pleafed to fend his Holy Spirit into the town of Franklin, which lies feventeen miles weft of Delhi. The Rev. David Harrower preaches one half of the time in this place, the other half in the town of Wolton. The attention in this place, like that in Delhi, was gradual at its commencement; until God, in the difpenfation of his providence, visited that town with feme folemn instances of mortality. Thefe, under God, gave vent to the feelings of the people, which had been fuppreffed through timidity. The fear of the world vanifhed; and finners confeffed their guilt. It was a folemn time, for months; many people will remember it forever. How many people have made a public profeffion of religion in this place, fince the reformation began, I cannot tell, not having visited them for months; the number, however, is great.

Soon after the awakening commenced at Delhi, it began at Stamford, on Delaware river, ten miles north of Delhi. The attention has not been great among this people; they have received a pleafant hower. The little church, formed in this place, fome years fince, has been much refreshed, and confiderably strengthened by additions. Other places in the county have had fome fmail fprinkling of divine grace, and particular inftances of converfion have been in moft parts of the county.

fore the preaching of the gospel, The Miffionaries obferved among the people, in fome parts of this county, an unusual readiness to receive the word. The good people appear to have been given much to fecret prayer, and in fome inftances united together for focial prayer, and to read the best printed fermons. Some finners were convicted of their danger, and fome few hopefully converted, before the work became public.

At length, in Union fociety, at the head of Otfege creek, in the month of April, 1800, the awakening put on a public appearance. The friends of the church began to lift up their heads and fing, hoping that the day of its redemption drew. nigh. The attention was not great on its commencement one was awakened here, and one there, in almost every direction of the fociety, and fome without its bounds. It foon become evident, that the cloud of divine bleffing was gathering, and there was a found of abundance of rain. God evidently appeared to fet up his kingdom in the hearts of men, and ftout-hearted finners feemed to bow to the power of divine grace. Both the righteous and the wicked acknowledged, that God was prefent. Our public affemblies and conferences were crouded, full, and folemn. Many people, on the fabbath, come a great to divine worship; fome eight fome ten, and fome fifteen miles. Millionaries often preached to four, five, fix, and feven hundred peo ple. Only the reading of a text of feripture, or fome fentence from a fpeaker, would have more effect upon the audience than whole la

distance