instead of putting upon your heads, crowns studded with souls as so many sparkling stars, Gabriel will say to you, "pass on, pass on, you old professors of Woodstock, that would'nt convert souls to God, and take your seats, away yonder, in the distance of the dim-twilight. You are too cold to stop here, among these burning christians and glorified martyrs, whose souls were fired with the love of souls that now glitter in their crowns.'

Mr. Burchard went on in a strain like the above, for a long time, repeating the same severe reproofs upon cold and inactive professors, declaring that if they did not come into the work, immediately, he would leave them, and so would the holy Spirit which was then hovering over them, and waiting for a chance to save sinners. He again named the several towns in which he had recently labored, and referred, in no measured terms of flattery, to the "young converts which were present from Springfield, and Charlestown," and some others; and to his Br. Bradford, [I think that's the name] from Grafton, and Burnap from Chester; adding, that he had received a line from his Br. Morton of Springfield, stating that the work was still going on in that place. All these things were ingeniously interwoven with the discourse, and well calculated, considering that "manner is matter," to induce the Church to acquiesce in his measures. Finally, the influential men dare not do otherwise, whether they were pleased or not. Had they taken offence and left the meeting, the Church would have been divided, at once, and the congregation torn asunder. The matter had gone so far, that submit they must.

After the sermon, Mr. B. proceeded in the most curious manner imaginable, to induce church members of all persuasions, to come forward and humble themselves publicly before God, or rather, as I understood it, before himself. He told of the marvelous conversions which had followed such exhibitions in New York and elsewhere, when four or five hundred of different sects had come into the aisles, and got upon their knees, though he did not regard that as indispensably necessary,-and made confession of their sins, and received forgiveness. This part of the work was done up in a mild and fascinating style. It was like smiling sunshine following a storm of thunder. Had any one happened to come into the meeting, at this time, he would

hardly have credited the reports of Mr. B's. ranting on other occasions, howsoever suspicious he might have been of the sincerity of his pretensions.

The preacher then read a form of CONFESSION which he had prepared. He read it for their consideration, and after some other exercises, he should repeat it.-I was so thunderstruck at the insulting nature of the instrument, and so fully convinced that no sensible people, making any pretensions to the Christian religion, would acknowledge themselves guilty of such baseness, iniquity, duplicity and hypocrisy, that I did not treasure up the precise language in my mind. Being somewhat acquainted with several members of the Church, whom I regarded as honest, goodhearted people, I could not believe that they would confess themselves guilty of almost all crimes, except "murder and treason."

Well, Mr. B. read from the prophets, Malachi, chap. iii; Nehemiah, ix; Daniel, ix; and remarked most ingeniously upon the sayings and confessions therein recorded.And I must confess, too, for I could not but smile in his face, when he looked at me, to see the adroitness with which he did the thing up. But, I was not alone; for Br. Southgate, leaning over the desk, smiled harder than I did; and, if my "specks are not too young for me," Mr. Burchard once smiled very perceptibly, as he gave me a glance. However, it was, on the whole, rather a serious matter. If I sinned, I hope this public confession will entitle me to forgiveness, without a clerical confessor.

The members of the several Churches, of the denomi nations under the auspices of the protestant Confessor, were sweetly invited to come into the broad aisle. At first, the work went on rather slow; but Mr. B's converts from abroad, who were disciplined to the manœuvre, setting the example, the audience was soon in commotion, and the old men and women, young men and maidens, were seen pressing for the strait and narrow walk; Mr. Burchard the meanwhile, in a soft and persuasive voice, crying out, "That's right,-come along brothers and sisters of all persuasions;-Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, and all. That's the way to get the blessing, just as the churches have in other places. God will forgive you, if you confess your sins, and help you

convert souls. Accessions will be made to all your Churches. Make room there, father, and let that daughter come out. Come, come, come right along. Very well; if any of you can't get into the aisle, stand up in the pews; that will answer. Now, as the people of God bowed themselves before God, when they confessed their sins, hold down your heads, and I will again read this form of confession." Then Mr. B. read over the same humiliating and shameful confession, the second time, and made the whole group assent to it, by bowing before him. And, all I need add is, that if I believed that the several professors of religion, males and females, who assented to that contemptible instrument, were a tenth part as corrupt, hypocritical, formal, prayerless, proud, dishonest and wicked as they confessed they were, I would not reside in the place another month, if I could command the means of removing. Were I to intimate that I considered the Churches here, made up of such a hollow-hearted, insincere, dissembling set of members, I should expect to be prosecuted for defamation. I am heartily glad that I can say sincerely, that whatever may be true of individuals, I do not believe the members in general, are so destitute of moral and christian principle, as Mr. B. pretended they were. Nor is it at all certain, that the confession will conduce to a reformation, even if they are something near as base as was confessed; for, as they were made to say, that they "had frequently confessed their sins, without forsaking them," I am suspicious the same will be true in future. When people get accustomed to falsehood and dissimulation, I am not inclined to repose much confidence in them.

Well, three prayers followed the Confession, viz. by Messrs. Burnap, Southgate [one of the confessing, sinful saints] and the would-be Pope. Then all their flagrant and secret sins were forgiven, of course! What a convenient method of squaring up long accounts! What pious knave would not be willing to huddle in with a crowd, and bow assent to a confession read by another, and do penance by standing up half an hour, to hear prayers, if that would cheat justice of its dues? Or what man or woman, who rolls sin as a sweet morsel on the tongue, or off of it, will not go and do likewise and sin again, if full

pardon can be purchased at that rate? That is an im-provement upon the Catholic religion; for, "absolution of all past offences," is obtained on cheaper terms.

The next movement was, to explain that part of the process which related to offering requests for prayers, asking people to rise who were willing to be prayed for,-setting apart certain pews for anxious seats, and having frequent fasts. Mr. Burchard seemed to be very fair; he cared nothing about "old measures or new measures." All he wanted was to convert souls. If any body could tell him of any method which was better than the one he pursued, he would be very thankful, and adopt it. True, he had been very successful in saving souls from hell;-naming over again, for the twentieth time perhaps, the hundreds which had been converted in the several towns which we have so often mentioned. He did not always pursue one set of measures, but varied them as circumstances required; and he would be glad to change his course, if any thing better could be adopted. He knew of none, however. He said that when called upon to take the anxious seats, somebody must make a beginning. "I recollect of being at a certain place," said he, "and when I invited the anxious to come forward, I observed a large number of persons, who appeared to be willing to take the seats, but kept looking at a certain gentleman, as though they wanted him to take the lead. The man observed it, and although he felt no moving of the Holy Ghost himself, yet he thought it could do him no hurt to take the anxious seats; and knowing he was hindering others, he rose and went forward; and instantly, one after another followed him, and the seats were soon filled. I found, said Mr. B. that the man was a Captain, and a very influential man, and he got religion on the spot with many others. Now, if he had held back, perhaps not a person would have taken the seats, and before they had had another chance of being saved, their souls might have been in eternal hell! How important it is, therefore, that our first men should take the lead. They can influence a great many others. This is just as it should be; for God works through the instrumentality of means. He makes use of professional and influential men, as means of converting others. And they must not wait till they feel anxious, before they take

the anxious seats; but come right forward, and very probable the moment they seat themselves, God Almighty will send his holy Spirit right into their hearts. So it was with the Captain that I mentioned, and I could name a hundred more cases just like it, if I had time."

But I shall not describe the anxious concern, as that will be made the subject of another section.

The services of THURSDAY EVENING, (12th Feb.) will barely be noticed. The preacher read and remarked on a part of Matt. v. and when speaking of persecution, observed, that from what he had heard before he came here, he had indulged a pleasing hope of having his head adorned with the diadem of a martyr, but he was afraid he should not be so highly honored! A fair challenge this, to the supposed friends of mobocracy. But, as it happened, there were none in the place. The preacher, having no such foes, fired into the air.

"Almost

His Sermon was founded on Acts xxvi, 23. 'hou persuadest me to be a Christian." A few things in he discourse, ought to be mentioned.

(1.) Mr. Burchard paraphrased the chapter, by repsenting "Saul of Tarsus," (as he almost uniformly calle St. Paul,) as "warning Agrippa of his exposure to eternal hell." He mentioned the word "Hell," about forty ties, in his introduction, and twice that number in the rest of his discourse. N. B. St. Paul did not use the word "bell," in all his writings. No, not once. Remember that, Candid reader.

(2.) The preacher asserted that there was a chance for every sinner to be saved. But if the sinner passed a certnline-the Rubicon, as he should call it, or the line of markation, his case was hopeless. Any time before he st to that line, he might be saved; but cross that line, d he was certain to be damned. God Almighty himself ould not save him.

And this, mark you, was said in the evening of the very lay, in which Mr. B. had preached the doctrine of Calinistic election! What a monstrous inconsistency. What, ould a non-elect sinner whom God had purposed to damn ternally, be saved? Nonsense.

(3.) Mr. Burchard declared in stormy eloquence, that esus Christ had said, in Mark xvi, "He that believeth