already refpecting the Green-River and Cumberland revivals. I will juft obferve, that the laft is the fourth fummer fince the revival commenced in thofe places, and that it has been more remarkable than any of the preceding, not only for lively and fervent devotion among Chriftians, but alfo for awakenings and converfions among the careless. And it is worthy of notice, that very few inftances of apoftacy have hitherto appeared. As I was not in the Cumberland country myself, all I can fay about it depends on the teftimony of others; but I was uniformly told, by thofe who had been there, that their religious affemblies were more folemn, and the appearance of the work much greater, than what had been in Kentucky. Any enthufiaftic fymptoms, which might at firft have attended the revival, were greatly fubfided, whilft the ferious concern and engagednefs of the people were vifibly increased.

felves in finging or religious converfation. Perhaps about the last of May or the first of June, the awakenings became general in fome congregations, and spread through the country in every direction with amazing rapidity. Í left that country about the first of November, at which time, this revival in connection with the one on Cumberland had covered the whole state of Kentucky, excepting a small fettlement which borders on the waters of Green-River, in which no prefbyterian ministers are fettled, and I believe very few of any denomination.

The power with which this revival has fpread, and its influence in moralizing the people, are difficult for you to conceive, and more fo for me to defcribe. I had heard many accounts, and feen many letters refpecting it before I went to that country; but my expectations, though greatly raifed, were much below the reality of the In the older fettlement of Ken- work. Their congregations, when tucky, the revival made its firft engaged in worship, prefented appearance among the prefbyteri- fcenes of folemnity fuperior to ans laft fpring. The whole of what I had ever feen before. And that country about a year before in private houfes it was no uncomwas remarkable for vice and diffi-mon thing to hear parents relate to pation; and I have been credibly ftrangers, the wonderful things informed, that a decided majority which. God had done in their of the people were profeffed infi- neighborhoods, while a large famdels. During the laft winter ap-ly of young people collected round pearances were favorable among them would be in tears. On my the baptifts, and great numbers way to Kentucky, I was informed were added to their churches.- by fettlers on the road, that the Early in the fpring, the miniftra- character of Kentucky travellers tions of the prefbyterian clergy was entirely changed; and that began to be better attended than they were now as remarkable for they had been for many years be- fobriety as they had formerly been fore. Their worshipping affem- for diffolutenefs and immorality. blies became more folemn, and the And indeed I found Kentucky, to people after they were difmiffed appearance, the moft moral place fhewed a strange, reluctance about I had ever feen A profane exleaving the place. They generally preffion was hardly ever heard. A continued fome time in the meet-religious awe feemed to pervade the ing houfes, and employed them- country: and fome deistical char

acters had confeffed, that from | On each of these particulars I shall whatever cause the revival might give you fome remarks. proceed, it made the people better. Its influence was not lefs vifible in promoting a friendly temper among the people. Nothing could appear more amicable, than that undiffembled benevolence which governs the fubjects of this work. I have often wished, that the mere politician or the deift could obferve with impartiality their peaceful and amicable fpirit. He would certainly fee, that nothing could equal the religion of Jefus for promoting even the temporal happinefs of fociety. Some neighborhoods vifited by the revival, were formerly notorious for private animofities and contentions; and many petty lawfuits had commenced on that ground. When the parties in thefe quarrels were impreffed with religion, the first thing was to fend for their antagonists, and it was often very affecting to fee their meeting. They had both feen their faults, and both contended they ought to make the acknowledgments, till at laft they were obliged to request one another, to forbear all mention of the past, and to receive each other as friends and brothers for the future. Now, fir, let modern philofophifts talk of reforming the world by banishing Chriftianity, and introducing their licentious fyftems; the bleffed gofpel of our God and Saviour is fhewing what it can do.

Some circumstances have concurred to distinguish the revival in Kentucky from almost any other of which we have had any account. I mean the largenefs of their affemblies on facramental occafions -the length of time they continued on the ground, in the exercife of public or private devotion-and the great numbers who have fallen down under religious impreffions.

With refpect to the largeness of their affemblies. It is generally fuppofed that at many places, there were not lefs than eight, ten, or twelve thoufand people. At one place called Cane Ridge meetinghoufe, many are of opinion there were not lefs than twenty thousand. There were an hundred and forty waggons which came loaded with people, befides other wheel-carriages: and fome perfons attended who had come the distance of two hundred miles. The largenefs of these congregations was a confiderable inconvenience. They were too numerous to be addreffed by any one fpeaker. Different minifters were obliged to officiate at the fame time at different ftands. This afforded an opportunity to those who were but flightly impreffed with religion, to wander backwards and forwards between the different places of worship, which created an appearance of confufion and gave ground to fuch as were unfriendly to the work, to charge it with diforder. There was allo another caufe which conduced to the fame effect. About this time the people began to fall down in great numbers under ferious im preffions. This was a new thing among Prefbyterians. It excited univerfal aftonishment, and created a degree of curiofity which could not be restrained. "When people fell down even in the most folema parts of divine fervice, those who ftood near were fo extremely anx ious to fee how they were affected, that they frequently crouded about them in fuch a manner as to disturb the worship. But thefe caufes of diforder were foon removed. Different facraments were appointed on the fame fabbath which divided

the people; and the falling dewa

foon became fo familiar as to excite | perfons who wished to retire. Farno disturbance. I was in that mers gave up their meadows becountry during the month of Oc-fore they were mown to fupply the tober. I attended three facraments. The number of people at each was fuppofed to be about four or five thoufand; and every thing was conducted with ftrict propriety. When perfons fell down, thofe who happened to be near took care of them, and every thing continued quiet till the worship was concluded.

Lord is in this place-this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

horfes. But notwithstanding all this liberality, it would in many cafes have been impoffible to have accommodated the whole affembly with private lodgings. But befides, the people were unwilling to fuffer any interruption in their devotion, and they formed an attachment for the place, where they were continually feeing fo many careless finThe length of time the people ners receiving their first impressions, continued on the ground was an- and fo many deifts conftrained to other important circumftance of call on the formerly despised name the Kentucky revival. At Cane- of Jefus. They conceived a fenRidge the people met on Friday timent like what Jacob felt at Bemorning, and continued till Wed-thel, when he said, Surely the nefday evening, night and day without intermiffion, either in the public or private exercises of devotion; and with fuch a degree of earnestness, that heavy fhowers of rain were not fufficient to difperfe them. On other facramental occafions, they generally continued on the ground till Monday or Tuefday evening. And had not the ministers been exhausted and obliged to retire, or had they chofen to prolong the worship, they might have kept the people any length of time they pleased. And all this was or might have been done in a country, where, not a twelvemonth before, the clergy found it a difficult matter to detain the peo-ed in that country, the number that ple during the common exercifes of the fabbath. The practice of camping on the ground was introduced, partly by neceffity, and partly by inclination. The affemblies were generally too large to be received by any common neigh borhood. Every thing indeed was done which hofpitality and brotherly kindness could do, to accommodate the people. Public and private houses were both opened, and free invitations given to all

The number of perfons who have fallen down under ferious impreffions in this revival, is another matter worthy of attention. And on this I fhall be the more partic ular, as it feems to be the principal caufe, why this work fhould be more fufpected of enthusiasm, than fome other revivals. At CaneRidge facrament (the place mentioned above) it is generally fuppofed, that not lefs than one thousand perfons fell proftrate to the ground, and among them were many infidels. At one facrament which I attend

fell was thought to be upwards of thee hundred. Perfons who fall are generally fuch as have manifefted fymptoms of the deepest impreffions for fome time previous to that event. It is common to fee them fhed tears plentifully for about an hour. Immediately before they become totally powerless, they are feized with a general tremor; and fometimes though not frequently, in the moment of falling they utter one or two piercing

At the beginning of the revival in Shelby county, the appearances, as related to me by eye witneffes, were very surprising indeed. The

hrieks. Perfons in this state are affected in many different degrees. Sometimes when unable to stand or fit, they have the use of their -hands and can converse with per-revival had previously spread with fect compofure. In other cafes irresistible power through the adja. they are unable to speak, their cent counties; and many of the pulfe grows weak, and they draw religious people had attended dif a hard breath about once a minute. tant facraments, and were greatly And in fome infances their hands benefitted. They were much enand feet become cold, and their gaged, and felt unusual freedom in pulfe, and breath, and all the fymp- their addreffes at the Throne of toms of life forfake them for near- Grace; for the outpouring of the ly an hour. Perfons who have divine Spirit, at the approaching been in this fituation have uniform- facrament in Shelby. The facraly avowed, that they fuffered noment came on in September. The bodily pain, and that they had the entire command of their reafon and reflection; and when recovered they could relate every thing which was faid or done, near them, or which could poffibly fall within their obfervation. From this it appears that their falling is neither the common fainting nor the nervous affection. Indeed this strange phenomenon appears to have taken every turn it poffibly could to bafAle the conjectures of those who are not willing to confider it a fupernatural work. Perfons have fometimes fallen on their way home from public worship, and fometimes after their arrival. In fome cafes, they have fallen when pursuing their common bufinefs on their farms, or when they had retired for private devotion. I obferved above, that perfons generally are feriously affected for fome time previous to falling. In ma

ny cafes however it is otherwife. Numbers of careless perfons have fallen as fuddenly as if ftruck with a flash of lightning. Many profeffed infidels, and other vicious characters have been arrested in this way; and sometimes at the very moment, when they were uttering their blafphemies against the work.

people as ufual met on Friday, but they were all languid, and the exercises went on heavily. On Saturday and Sunday morning it was no better. At length the communion fervice commenced, and every thing was ftill lifelefs. The minifter of the place was fpeaking at one of the tables without any unusual liberty. All at once there were feveral fhrieks from different parts of the affembly. Perfons fell inftantly in every direction. The feelings of the pious were fuddenly revived; and the work went on with extraordinary power from that time till the conclufion of the folemnity.

These phenomena of falling are common to all ages and fexes, and to all forts of characters ; and when they fall they are differently exercifed. Some pious people have fallen under a fenfe of ingratitude and hardness of heart; and others under affecting manifef tations of the love and goodness of God. Many careless perfons have fallen under legal convictions, and obtained comfort before they arofe. But perhaps the most numerous clafs of all, are those who fall un der diftreffing views of their guilt, who arife with the fame fearful apprehenfions, and continue in that ftate for fome days, perhaps weeks,

before they obtain comfort. I have, their countenances. From a face converfed with many who fell un- of horror and defpair, they affuder the influence of comfortable med one which was open, luminfeelings, and the account which ous, and ferene, and expreffive of they gave of their exercifes, while all the comfortable feelings of relithey lay entranced, was very furpri-gion. As to those who fall down fing. I know not how to give you under legal convictions and contina better idea of them, than by fay-ue in that ftate, they are not difing, that they appeared in many ferent from those who receive con-cafes to furpafs the dying exercifes victions in other revivals; exceptof Doctor Finley. Their minds ing, that their diftrefs is more feappeared wholly fwallowed up in vere. Indeed, extraordinary powcontemplating the perfections of er is the leading characteristic of Deity as illuftrated in the plan of this revival. Both faints and finfalvation. And while they lay in ners have more striking discoveries all appearance fenfelefs, and almoft of the realities of another world, deftitute of life, their minds were than I have ever known on any more vigorous and active, and their other occafion. memories more retentive and accurate, than they had ever been befóre. I have heard refpectable characters affert, that their manifestations of gofpel truth were fo clear, as to require fome caution when they began to speak, left they fhould use language, which might induce their hearers to fuppofe they had seen those things with their nat

F truft I have faid enough on this fubject, to enable you to judges how far the charge of enthusiasm is applicable to it. Lord Littleton in his letter on the converfion of St. Paul obferves (and I think very juftly) that "Enthufiafm is a vain, felf-righteous fpirit, fwelled with felf fufficiency, and difpofed to glory in its religious attainments.' "" If this definition be a good one, there is perhaps as little enthufiafm in Kentucky as in any other revival. Never in my life have I feen more genuine marks of that humility, which disclaims the merit of its own duties, and looks to the Lord Jefus Chrift as the on

ural eyes. But at the fame time, they had feen no image or fenfible reprefentation, nor indeed any thing, befides the old truths contained in the bible. Among thofe whose minds were filled with the moft delightful communications of divine love, I but seldom observed any thing ecstatic. Their exprefly way of acceptance with God. fions were juft and rational; they converfed with calmnefs and compofure; and on firft recovering the ufe of fpeech, they appeared like perfons juft recovering from a violent fickness, which had left them on the borders of the grave.

I have fometimes been prefent when perfons who fell under the influence of convictions, obtained relief before they rofe. On thefe occafions it was impoffible not to obferve how strongly the change of their minds was depicted in

I was indeed highly pleased to find that Chrift was all and in all in their religion, as well as in the religion of the gofpel. Christians in their highest attainments were moft fenfible of their entire dependance on divine grace; and it was truly affecting to hear with what agonizing anxiety awakened finners inquired for Christ, as the only phyfician who could give themany help. Those who call thefe things enthufiam, ought to tell us what they underftand by the Spiri