This was a critical time. The church was for some time convulsed; but only in one instance did the evil grow to a schism. This was in an obscure part of the state of Ohio, sometime in the year 1813; but most of the disaffected who had withdrawn, returned. A few of the preachers, however, fellby this error. It was not difficult to discover on this, as well as most other occasions of schism, that those persons who separa. ted from the doctrine and fellowship of the church had previously backsliden in heart, having lost their humility, and the love of God from their souls! The contest with these errors continued in a greater or less degree from the year 1810 to 1816, when the victory appeared to be complete, with the exceptions of the Newlights (so called) as a body. No individual contributed more to the discomfiture and final overthrow of these doctrines, than the Rev. Samuel Parker. Being happily qualified to manage cases of controversy, he was, by a discerning and watchful superintendency, removed from place to place, as the aspect was threatening, and the emergency required. Being so frequently removed to those parts of the country. where the evils most prevailed, he had an excellent opportunity of wielding the weapons of the gospel against the prevailing and dangerous errors of the day. In this good work he was aided and supported by a number of able ministers in the same community, whose names, connected with their labours, will be handed down to posterity, with grateful remembrance. A work entitled "Essays on the truth of the Christian Religion," published in 1811, by the Rev. William Beauchamp, contributed much to the downfall of Infidelity. In 1816 the same Author commenced the publication of a Monthly Magazine, under the title of "The Western Christian Monitor." This work, evangelical in its character, became an additional and efficient auxiliary in the extirpation of the prevailing antichristian doctrines. The advocates of the new order of things attempted, indeed, to suppress the circulation of both these publications, as embracing (as they pretended) some of the doctrines already vanquished. We might add a catalogue of the names of those zealous, devoted, and laborious itinerant preachers, who, under God, have been the instruments of carrying on the great work which has extended through the Western country; but so far as prudence may dictate, and circumstances require, their usefulness will be noticed in our sketches of revivals: nor shall we forget to notice the usefulness of our local ministers, who form an important column in our spiritual building. We shall also have occasion to mention our nursing fathers, though of a more private station, who climed the cloud-caped mountains, and traversed the wilds, and who became patriarchs of the church in the wilderness. These are they who, as St.Paul beautifully expresses it, 'refreshed the bowels of the saints.' Our great object, however, will be, first, the glory of God, and, secondly, the good of souls. So far as circumstances may tend to this end, they will be embraced in our narratives. It is also our design to develope, in our brief sketches, the wonderful dealings of the Lord with men in this our day, that posterity may learn what God has wrought for their predecessors. In this process we shall endeavour to relate simple facts without pressing in foreign matter. To praise or blame any one will be very distant from our design, knowing that time tries all things. Facts must be permitted to speak for themselves. Before we close we can but remark in our brief manner, that, the Camp meetings, the rise and progress of which have been given in the preceding numbers, after encountering all the prejudices of mankind and the powers of darkness engaged against them, were not only extended over the United States, but the happy effects of them, it is believed, have extended to the other side of the Atlantic. Our brethren in England, having received repeated accounts of these meetings in America, appeared to catch the fire; and the great and blessed revival in Cornwall, was very similar to the work which has prevailed at Camp-meetings in this country. It is also equally agreeable to remark, that from the great out-pouring of the Spirit at the camp-meetings, and other places, the budding of another general revival appears to have commenced. For fifty, sixty, and an hundred, and recently two hundred souls, to be united to the church at these meetings, is nothing unusual; most of whom, from their declarations, it is to be hoped, are soundly converted to God. The last year of the Ohio Conference closed in August, with the addition of more than six thousand new members. As an evidence of what I have already stated, the work appears again to revive in the same part of the country where the camp-meetings first took their rise, as heretofore stated. The following is an extract of a letter from an esteemed friend, (though personally unknown) Major SD. He is a gentleman of great respectability, and of the first connexions in the state of Virginia, from whence he migrated some years ago. "Mount-Pleasant, near Elkton, Christian county, Kentucky, 24th July, 1819. DEAR BROTHER H. I am thankful to you for the Spiritual Songs sent me : They have been attended with a blessing on my grandson, S-d, together with his being with you, and brother and sister C. Soon after he returned he saw the necessity of supplicating the Lord for his divine pardon; his brother also, and recently he and his brother have been drawn from darkness, and placed in the marvellous light of salvation. Several others of my connections have received showers of divine grace, and others deeply convicted. The Lord is good and bountiful in many parts of this circuit. Our preacher informed me about fifty had been added to the church in five or six weeks, and the work is going on. The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. May the Lord raise up more. They have appointed S-d a class leader, I hope by the grace of God to support him, he will not be a disgrace his profession. Give my love to your dear father and mother, brother and sister C. and all the connections. May we press forward for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord, and meet in those bright mansions on high to join the saints in heaven to sing hallelujah to God and the Lamb." Some of the Indians in Ohio, the native sons of America are now stretching forth their hands to receive the gospel of peace, and it is said that some of them are indeed patterns of piety! I may now conclude in the exclamation and exultation of Paul, in recurring to the plan of salvation. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 66 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been 'his counsellor ? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen." August 18, 1819. THEOPHILUS ARMENIUS. THE Editors have received several communications, which, for want of room, they are under the necessity of postponing till next month. We cordially agree with the sentiments of "A friend of man," and most ardently desire that all Christians may unite in suppressing an evil, (the distillation, sale, and use of ardent spirits) which threatens such extensive ruin; but we think some expressions in the communication partake of too great severity for publication at the present time. The sitting of the General Conference is at hand. MY GRAVE. Poetry. HOW sweet in the grave I shall sleep, My bones in lone silence will rest, While my flesh into dust shall return; But soon that loud voice shall I hear, Then up from my grave shall I rise, And enrob'd in bright garments so fair, Shall meet with delight and surprise, Those pure spirits which dwell in the air. Then why drops the tear from my eye? Because she has learned to complain? Or is it that powerful tie, Which soft sympathy binds round the heart, Which makes it so mournful to die, And for ever unwilling to part? A friend may still linger behind, Yet the days at the most will be few, Ere in heav'n that friend I shall find, Whose charms will be eternally new. Then cease all ye dolorous sounds, Nor tempt me in vain fancy to stray, Beyond the ethereal bounds Where melancholy takes her lone way. The cypres, and yew trees have gloom, And the willow does sadness express; But Jesus arose from the tomb, And enlightens the painful egress. To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine. Dear Brethren, IF you think the following lines on the Brevity and vanity of human life, worthy of a place in your Magazine, the insertion of them will greatly oblige yours, &c. ADJUSTUS. Like as a tale that's quickly told, Our years on earth we spend: How short, how fleeting, and how vain, Then the gay scenes of youth succeed When the bright sun his beams emits, But oh! how soon these charms are lost! The scenes of care, and toil, and pain, In quick advance come on; Then brought to life's last stage we sink Thus, like a tale that's quickly told, Our days on earth we spend. Nor stop in all our rapid course, 'Till life's short journey end N. York, Oct. 25, 1819. MIRANDA THE METHODIST MAGAZINE. FOR DECEMBER, 1819. Divinity. ON THE STUDY OF DIVINITY. (Concluded from page 406.) CHAPTER IX. Continued. ANOTHER recommendation of the Scriptures is, that they af ford the most awful and the most amiable manifestations of the GODHEAD. His glory shines, and his goodness smiles, in those divine pages, with unparalleled lustre. Here we have a satisfactory explanation of our own state. The origin of evil is traced; the cause of all our misery discovered; and the remedy, the infallible remedy, both clearly shewn, and freely offered. The merits of the bleeding Jesus, lay a firm foundation for all our hopes, while gratitude for his dying love, suggests the most winning incitement to every duty.-Morality, admired morality, is delineated in all its branches: Is placed upon its proper basis, and raised to its highest elevation.-The SPIRIT of GOD is promised, to enlighten the darkness of our understandings, and strengthen the imbecility of our wills. What an ample provision is made by these blessed Books, for all our spiritual wants! And in this respect, how indisputable is their superiority to all other compositions! Is any one convinced of guilt, as provoking heaven, and ruining the soul?-let him ask reason to point out a mean of reconciliation, and a refuge of safety. Reason hesitates as she replies: "The Deity may, perhaps, accept our supplications, and grant forgiveness." But the Scriptures leave us not to the sad uncertainty of conjecture. They speak the language of clear assurance. God has set forth a propitiation. He does forgive our iniquities: He will remember our sins no more. |