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PART THIRD.

Mr. Burchard's discourses on Wednesday; his misquotation of Acts iii. 19; Evening sermon, in which he slew the Philistine, or got the Church under his control; reasons for his success; Hon. Charles Marsh and others, named; sundry Clergymen engaged in exhortation and prayer; every thing in commotion; resolute attempt to interrupt business of all descriptions.

Thursday's exercises; Elder Rand's anecdote; doctrine of Election; Mr. B's Calvinism at an end, and refuted; Gen. Mower, Dr. Palmer and Maj. Swan, mentioned; God's Purpose and Decrees; sinners passing the Rubicon, &c. with remarks.

Brief sketches of the exercises on Friday, first week; the Trinity, or Jesus Christ a robber; conversion of children; the millenium, &c.

Mr. Burchard's exercises on Wednesday, P. M. were the least exceptionable of any which I heard. His text was, Ephesians, iii. 21. "Unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." A considerable part of the Sermon was written, the style was good, and the preacher read it in a very acceptable manner. So far, there was little of his usual rant and dogmatism. It was a season of special mercy to the Bible, the cushion of the desk, and, I may add, to the congregation. Rarely did the speaker smite those objects with his fist, as he was wont to do, or exclaim, "hark! look here," "boys, keep still here in the gallery;" "boys don't keep poking that fire so much;" "Mr. Mitchell, go and stop those boys from putting any more wood into the stove;" when, lo! it was a venerable deacon who was "troubling" the "fiery furnace."

Mr. B. preached a thorough-going Calvinistic sermon, in which the leading points of the Genevan Reformer were distinctly and fairly stated, and the instrumentality of the church, in carrying the eternal purposes of God into execution, was earnestly argued. This was as it should be. We mean to be candid, and approve every man for maintaining manfully, what he believes or professes to be

lieve, to be the truth. But the preacher, having been so calm and consistent, for him to be, was less satisfied with his performance, we presume, than most of his hearers.Towards the close of his discourse, he became enraged, and "went off in a tangent." Looking into the gallery on the left, he screamed out, "Sinner," seizing the Bible with his left hand, and bringing it up violently against his side, and smiting it without mercy with his right hand fist, "Sinner, Peter says, Acts third chapter, "your soul is in danger of eternal death! repent ye, and flee from everlasting damnation." And this is a fair specimen of Mr. B's quotations of Scripture! What a monstrous, not to say, wicked, perversion of the sacred text! Does a speaker ought to be indulged in such palpable mis-statements, without interruption? These truthless declarations are calculated to alarm and deceive the young, the timid and uninformed. There is not a shadow of evidence in the chapter to which the preacher referred, to sustain his assertion. Let the candid reader examine the chapter for himself.

The only passage to which Mr. B. could have alluded, is the following, (Acts iii. 19.) "Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Now, reader, compare this, or rather contrast it, with the arrogant assertions of the wonder-working revivalist. "Sinner, your soul is in danger of eternal death! repent ye, and flee from everlasting damnation!" Can the friends of Mr. Burchard blame me for regarding him as an impostor? What! will they undertake to convince me, that God has commissioned "a worm of the dust" to convert souls to the truth, by falsifying the plain declarations of his word? I would be glad to appeal to them personally and affectionately, upon this subject. Let them care fully read the words of St. Peter in their connection, and see if they can find a shadow of excuse for their leader's misquotation. The apostle says, "Repent, therefore," which must refer to what preceded. Well, what was it that the sinner was in danger of eternal death? By ne means. The words are,-"But those things which God had before showed by all his prophets, that Christ shoule suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye, therefore," &e

Are any so blind as to misunderstand this? But it is added, "and be converted." Well, what was to be the fruit of their conversion? Were they to be saved from "everlasting damnation," as Mr. B. would have it? Not at all. Their sins were to be blotted out. "Repent ye, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing [not revivals,as the preacher quotes it] shall come from the presence of the Lord." And what next? Why, it is added, "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; [Peter preached Jesus Christ, not "eternal death" and "everlasting damnation"] whom the heavens must receive until the times of RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Can we conceive how the speaker could have done greater violence to the words of St. Peter, even had he intended to do his worst? And yet, strange to tell, we are required to believe, with this glaring evidence of a perversion of scripture, that the very perverter, Jedediah Burchard, was sent of God to Woodstock, to convert the people!— But suppose he should succeed and make proselytes to his faith and practice? Would they not, by following his examples, be "two-fold more the children of hell," than they were before? So it would seem, unless they had already become adepts at deception. We hope not to be considered uncharitable in saying, that we cannot believe that such measures can change people for the better. If they are proselyted by such a man, and yet speak the truth, as doubtless will be the case with some, it must be owing to unyielding habits, which were acquired before Burchard came among us. We do not mean to imply that all his disciples will follow his examples.

Being otherwise engaged, I did not attend Mr. B's meeting on Wednesday evening. I learned, however, that feeling confident he had got the Church under his control, he came out in bold style, and gave the people to understand, that he should manage things in his own way, as he had done at other places. He chose for his text, the words of David, (1 Samuel xvii. 47.) For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands."

He acted out the conquering David, in true theatrical flourish. He represented the old formal professors as wish

ing to impose upon him, restrictions and limitations, corresponding with the ponderous armour of Saul upon the stripling of Israel. And having removed one encumbrance after another, "the helmet of brass," and "the coat of mail," and thrown away "the sword," "he took his staff in his hand, and chose five stones out of the brook;" which, by the way, I suppose were the five points of Calvinism. Mr. Burchard then prepared his sling, acted out the intervening incidents, and at length, flourished his hand over his head, hurled the stone and smote the Philistine in the forehead, and brought him to the ground. He is said to have performed his part with the adroitness of an actor upon the stage; striking his hands together and causing a loud report, as the stone whirled from the sling, and bringing his own hand back upon his own forehead, in a startling manner. He continued to give scope to his unbridled zeal and ambition, virtually put the Church at defiance, and announced his determination to take his own course, manage the whole concern, and bring every thing into subjection to his demi-omnipotent dominion.

We give this brief outline of the evening's discourse, upon the authority of others, for two reasons, viz. first, to put the public upon their guard against being taken by surprise, by such theatrical flourishes; and secondly, to assign a reason, in this place, for the surrendry of the old church members, of their unquestionable right to give directions in regard to the measures to be pursued, as many of them disagreed in opinion with their champion. It will be considered, that Mr. B. had been invited here to get up a rivival; and a revival must be had. The Congregational church would rather make any sacrifice, than fail in this attempt. But had the influential members openly opposed Mr. Burchard, the whole concern would have been dished at once. Of course, they must yield to circumstances. Of two evils, they chose the least, and concluded to acquiesce, though not pleased with the management. I do not call in question their sincerity. My object is to state the facts of the case. But, that they did, for a while at least, acquiesce from motives of policy, is proved by their own concessions. We know not but that

a majority of the influential members acted upon this principle. It follows then, of course, that from motives of

policy, they gave the influence of their apparent approval, to measures which they at heart disapproved. Is it at all strange, therefore, that Mr. Burchard should succeed in his efforts, when talented and respectable professors of religion, will yield him their dearest rights, and to appearance countenance him, when they do not really approve his measures; and that too, for the sake of getting up a great excitement? Let them do the same in favor of any other fanatical scheme, and who can doubt of its success? Mr. Burchard came out a Calvinist, and with these auxiliaries he succeeded, to a certain extent. But had he advanced rank Arminianism, would not the result have been the same? Certainly. And even now, some of his proselytes discard the very doctrine which he preached, and and reject Calvinism with disgust. I do not believe that one out of ten; of those few who had come to years of maturity, believe a syllable of his Calvinistic election and reprobation. The inference is, that Mr. B's success can be accounted for, on natural principles. The marvel is, that he had not done more.

But it will probably be said by people at a distance, that the writer ought not to throw out such insinuations, without giving names. If certain gentlemen were not desirous of having Mr. Burchard visit this village, and yet consented to the measures after the manner here represented, surely they would not deem it disrespectful to have their names connected with the facts of the case. Very well, I am willing to be accommodating, though I would by no means publish what could be construed into disrespect towards the distinguished gentlemen, whose names I shall mention.

To begin then; "the HON. CHARLES MARSH stated publicly, [in a public house] a few weeks before the arrival of Mr. Burchard, that out of seven hundred converts made by Mr. B. in the western part of New York, there were but thirty of them that kept any where within the bounds of decency." Of this there can be no doubt. Indeed, I presume it will not be denied, by the gentleman himself. Again. I heard DAVID PIERCE, Esqr. declare in the meeting, about a week after Mr. Burchard came, that he was opposed to his coming and to his measures, but had become convinced that a great and good work was then

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