: 1 the fashionable shame of appearing diftreffed foul!! Emilia is born religious almost vanished. It was again!! She who was dead now fuggested to her, whether it would lives: who was lost, is now found !! not be agreeable to see her minif- But you wish to know the manner ter? She confented. He was ac-in which this grace appeared. Afcordingly called-He came. But ter the folemn feason to which we what could he do? She could not just refered, Emilia continued a converfe upon religion, for fhe had number of days extremely anxious not ftudied it-and much lefs felt-truggling with fears of death, it. People of fashion must not but more especially the dread of know, or feem to know any thing those endless torments which awaitabout religion! ! True indeed, ed her afterward in confequence of Emilia had been brought up in a fin. Her fenfe of the entire justice family, who venerated religion, of God in her condemnation, inand always refpected the fabbath, creafed in proportion as her fins according to cuftom, and attended revived in her view, and filenced the preaching of the word: But all her hard thoughts of God, alfhe had never feriously thought of though his anger appeared inevitathefe things as having any perfonal ble and intolerable. Notwithstandconcern in them here lay the dif- ing fhe had never deviated in her ficulty. The clergyman, feeing conduct from the most rigid precepts her embarraffment converfed ten- of propriety in a worldly confiderderly with her, but plainly-en- ation, yet, at this time, fhe looked deavored to lay open the extreme upon herself the most depraved, finfulness of the human heart, and and finful of all human beings; let her fee, by plain inference that and could expect nothing but undoubtless he had fuch an one by utterable woe.-While revolving nature; and without repentance these things in her mind, and at and renewing grace, falvation was times wrought up to high agitation, impoffible. She affented to his re- a delightful calmnefs took place— marks with little or no reply.-It fhe felt relieved-her heart loft its was mentioned by fome one, that hardness-its darkness in a meafit would be agreeable to join with ure vanished-She could fay with him in prayer-He gladly compli- feeling, God be merciful to me a fined-The fcene was truly affecting ner! It felt right to be in God's and I may add folemn almost as the hands and at his difpofal-now he entrance into eternity-He then appeared infinitely excellent and withdrew with deep concern, but amiable every way confideredvery flight impreffions of the real every thing put on another appearftate of Emilia's mind.-But here, ance. She knew not what to reader, pause for a moment-if make of it: but was quite happy. you ever knew the grace of God This frame continued till next in truth-permit me to defire you; day. The Saviour, of whom she while your foul fits trembling for the knew little or nothing before exfate of the diftreffed, the defpairing cept the name, now appeared in ; to fall down before that Divine beauty, and to be the wif God, whofe ftupendous mercy, dom of God and the power of through the Saviour, wrefts the God to fuch as repent and trust in fouls of finners from eternal flames; him. A new and unspeakably and with holy gratitude praife him, pleasant feeling fprung up in her for his complete deliverance of this heart towards God, and Christ, Fff Emilia VOL. II. No. II. F the law of God, the way of falvation, and divine truth in general. While the contemplated thefe things her foul was filled with comfort. Her heart was fo full of joy, that fhe feemed to be compelled to entertain a gleam of hope for herself. But the dare not. Her fins looked worse than ever, and fhe did not know as the repented of them fincerely. She knew that pardon was promifed through Chrift, to penitents: but he had loft the fenfe of God's wrath, and her fins fo far exceeded her repentance, that the doubted, whether fhe repented at all. But ftill, her heart grew warm, at every view of the Divine character did not know that fuch a thing was customary) fhe wrote with her trembling hand the following fhort covenant and dedication of herself to God, and committed it to her confident to keep, as the only thing fhe was able to do for God, as a teftimonial of her repentance and defire to glorify him on this fide the grave "O my Creator, and bleffed Redeemer-Thou art all I love: all I adore: and whom I cannot ceafe to admire.-To thee I give up my Heart and Soul and all I have, (that is worthy of thee to accept) in a Covenant, never to be broken, nor forgotten, living or dying-And here I willingly, and with the most ardent love and fins cerity, fign, this inftrument. M...... Dec. 20, 179..." While fhe was thus engaged in the concerns of her foul and eter. nity, and feemed scarcely to think of her bodily complaints, they made rapid advances in undermin ing her houfe of clay-it trembled to fall. She was foon confined to her room, and almost directly to her bed. It was fuggefted to her, whether she did not wish to profess Chrift, and join herself to his vifi ble kingdom before the left the world. "O yes, replied the, by. all means if it can be done."- It was mentioned to her, there was no difficulty in the way provided fhe wifhed it, and the church being notified had no objection. Accordingly a day was fixed upon, as likewife the Saviour in all his offices, and the unfathomable grace manifefted to finners in his atonement: She felt as if he could rejoice in thefe things, whether pardoning mercy ever reached herfelf or not. While meditating upon thefe fubjects, and drinking in the pleasure, the loathed herself on account of fin, and her heart prayed without ceafing. She told me on the third day after this pleafing alteration, "That the had enjoyed more real, folid fatisfaction and pleafure, in the two preceding days than he had in all her life till that time." Directly upon this, her mind appeared to expand furprifingly, and comprise a general idea of the whole gofpel fcheme: and from her eafy and ready reception of the word of life, it was mani-foon as the prerequifites could be feftly an ingrafted word which accomplished, for her admiffion. was able to fave the foul. She The time being come a few of the refted on the alone merits of the church attended-and after praySaviour with the most entire confier, in which the appeared to have dence, as on the Rock of eternal the greatest intereft and fincerity fafety, and her heart was fatisfied while raifed a little from her pilas with "marrow and fatnefs." low fhe affented to a confeffion of About this time, prompted by im-faith and received the ordinance of pulfes from her own breaft, (for Baptifm-and gave up herself to The told her friend afterwards the her God and Saviour with unfpea able fatisfaction.-The very next day the trying conflict drew on. She felt her nature finking-her bodily pains were keen and tormenting-fhe wifhed to join with her pious friends in prayer and to plead for patience under her agonies. Her heart rofe in this exercife above he diftreffes, and fhe felt a fweet acquiefcence in the divine will refigned her body and foul and all which fhe had into the hands of God, and in a few moments was released from a world of forrows to join in the fong of the redeemed forever." Unto bim that loved us, and washed us from our fins in his own blood-to bim be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen:” The life and death of Emilia new, and as fruitless attempts to obtain it, in ceaseless rotation. Now is not this the real state of all perfons who depend upon their fuperior endowments and circumftances to make them happy?——— Certainly it is. It is faid of the Idolater* "He feedeth on afbes." So does the idolizer of himself or the world. For the natural appe tite to crave afhes, proves it difordered-while this diforder continues, let the perfon attempt ever fo often to fatisfy his cravings by receiving afhes, inftead of food, he neither is fatisfied nor refreshedthe confequences are his nature decays and his difappointment encrea fes. So in a moral view, to crave this world fupremely proves our moral tafte difordered; while this are replete with impreffive inftruc- diforder continues, let us actually tions. The writer cannot forbear hinting a few particulars. Natu ift. The vanity of trufting to any external perfonal qualifications or circumstances to make us happy. Emilia fhone in all, thefe. rally bright in her intellects-refined in her taste and fentiments eafy in her deportment-reputable every way-and well endowed receive the good things of the world in their profufion, and with the moft enlarged capacities to enjoy them, ftill we do but feed on afbes: our fouls find out the deceit, and mortification enfues. If therefore the most flattering abilities and circumftances terminate thus-we must be convinced of the vanity of trufting to any of these things to give us felicity. 2. We are taught the danger which accompanies the poffeffion of thofe fuperior gifts of nature and providence. They give their poffeffors an extended opportunity for indulgence-indulgence ftupifies and hardens the heart, and leads on to the most aftonishing temerity and prefumption. Emilia, filled with her own confequence and the fcenes of worldly amufement which invited her could not attend to fo with the conveniences and even elegancies of life, it feemed as if, The had nothing further to defire: But what of all these things? could they impart the rich boon of fatisfaction? Surely no. An alloy and difappointment attended every attempt to fill with joy her immortal fpirit. Every scene of fashionable amufement; however refined; carried this alloy with it, and ended in mortification. When moft gratified fhe was most deceived and ul-ferious a fubject as religion. Real timately disappointed proportiona- piety in its angel form of meekness bly. But ftill, no difappointment and humility, cafts a check upon diffuaded her from the purfuit. worldly pleafures. Emilia hated Her tafte for worldly pleafure remaining lively, gave a fpring to * Maiah xir. 20 this check-it feemed to reprove her in her innocent gratifications; and fhe faw plainly that people in high life difregarded it entirely excepting a very few. Religion therefore and the vaft concerns of eternity were rejected from her thoughts. Let fabbaths and the most lucid truths of the gofpel be prefented to her, as often as they might, the feriously thought of none of thefe things and prefently, when walking on the brink of the grave and endless perdition for months, fhe could not more readily think of them. Nay, the course the purfued, indicated a determination to difregard all admonitions, and to put off death, by appearing totally deaf to all his calls, and engaged in other things. What ftupidity! what prefumption! Yet Emilia acted perfectly upon natural principles, and in unifon with thousands. Superior abilities with opportunity for indulgence lead directly to this hardnefs of heart, and refiftance of religion and eternal concerns. Where thefe unite in the higher walks of life, the restraints and checks of religion are treated with difdain, and as fit only for the weak and vulgar-The proud and hard heart can yield to no caution, administered by the teachings of God's word, or the admonitions of death. Arguments are loft upon thefe felf-wife, elevated fpirits. Their cheeks would burn with blushes, to appear as if they regarded the fabbath or piety, or Heaven or Hell, any further than common decency and cuftom warrant and when the inexorable fummons of death arrests them, they foolfbly turn afide-bid him call again, and fo think of fomething elfe!!-How dangerous are elevated, unfanctified gifts. 3. The example before us prefents an aftonishing difplay, of the all-conquering power and grace of God-Confider Emilia in her dif pofition and habits of life-totally indisposed to reflect upon her future well being-and carrying her ref. olutions of worldly pleasure to the very confines of death and endless mifery-Who can help buddering for her fate!! But at this awful crifis, that almighty power which raifed the Lord Jefus from the dead, and that grace which flows from his atoning blood reached her, and faved her with an eternal falvation. While Heaven refounds with Alleluias to fovereign grace, for this difplay of it; O let christians univerfally join their feeble voices and fwell the praife! How many when they arrive at the trembling point, in which Emilia began to reflect, die as they have lived: and with the rich man lift up their eyes in torment-Their refolution is fuffered to continue firm; refifting with blind and unappalled audacity, the alarm of confcience and the terrors of death, till they fink, for. ever to eat of the fruit of their own ways and to be filled with their own devices!!-This mere escape of Emilia, while it permits others in like circumftances to look to the fame almighty power and grace in their extremity, yet, the multitudes who are left to pafs ftupid and blind into the quenchlefs lake, is a terrible admonition to them not to put off the concerns of their fouls to this critical moment-Will you bear with me, to urge you to treat yourselves better, and never be fo unwife as to think that by unconcern you can overcome Oninipotence-out-brave death-or efcape mifery! No. Treat yourfelves better-yield to eternal wif dom-confider, embrace the Saviour and be happy.-Finally, The tranquil and joyful ftate of Emilia's mind after the experienced the pow er of religion naturally introduces a question to which youth of every grade, and all who are difpofed to purfue worldly pleasures, are invited ferioufly to attend-viz. What there can be in the nature of religion which gave Emilia in her weak dibilitated condition fuch pure delight and folid fatisfaction, as to enable her to fay, that she had enjoyed more of this, in two days, than in all her life till that time? -A fickly, decaying state is not a time to enjoy, on natural principles-but a feafon of languor and univerfal infelicity. Youth, and health and opportunities for gratification till the age of twenty-two, forms a period in which the most exquifite earthly pleafures may be tafted-Emilia had gone through this latter period previously to her decay, and relifhed every innocent amufement equally with any one. Now, hear her fay on her dying bed, that in two days she had enjoyed more pure delight and folid pleafure, than in all her life before, and then think what there can be in the nature of religion to infpire this? -is religion vain? Are you purfuing the right road to happiness !!! counties of Addifon, Chittenden and Franklin other parts of the ftate, however, have been confiderably favored with revivals. In thefe three counties, there are a number of wealthy, flourishing towns, but many of the fsettlements are in their infancy. There have been no very great revivals of religion in thefe counties fince their firft fettlement; confequently they have but few Chriftians, churches, or houses of divine worship. The moral state of the inhabitants previous to the late religious attention, was fimilar to that in other newfettlements, where they do not enjoy the flated means of grace. There were a few excellent pious people scattered through the country, but the great body of the inhabitants were inattentive to the great concerns of eternity. God has been preparing the way. for this revival of religion, for many years. Miffionaries and fome ftationary minifters, who have preached in this country, have not labored in vain; they have fowed the field which now produces a rich harveft. It is not uncommon to hear the converts of the laft year, date their convictions to fermons, which they heard delivered years ago. Moft of the preachers of the gofpel, who have travelled through these counties, are cited by the people, as inftruments of a wakening fome finners. The progreffion of the work has been uncom monly gradual. It can only be faid of the minifters who have preached in this field of labors the laft that other men have la year, bored, and they have entered into their labors. In the fummer of the year 1800, finners began, in fome places in this country, to make more than common enquiry about the things of religion; particularly in the |