Newspaper Page Text
54
(Drigiiutl.
For the Christian Index.
SOUL-PROSPERITY.—NO. 111.
Am I one of the Regcnrrule!
“Even as thy soul prospcrcih.”—3 John 2.
I have said that the foundation of soul-pros
perily is laid in regeneration. I would not need
lessly detain you, kind reader, from my main do
sign, yet it might not be amiss for you and me
to pause a little at this very point, and endeavor j
solemnly to consider the question “am I one of j
the regenerator I trust we have often endea- j
vbred to investigate this matter in the light of
God'* word, yet as it is olten profitable for schol
ars to review important lessons in literature and
science; so is it beneficial for pupil* in the school
of Christ,frequently to review the good they liavo
gone over, nnd especially to deal thoroughly with
the vital question now before us. What if af
ter all, we should ‘oe mistaken? What if after
all our professions ami hopes, we should at lust
be found amongst those to whom the Redeemer
shall say —l never knew you? O sad mislukc! O
fata), irretrievable overthrow!—lt is possible that
the eye of some professor of religion may trace
these lines, who from the limn lie was first re
ceived into the church, has taken for granted his
saving interest in the promiaos of the gospel, and
by the pressure of worldly cares, spiritual indo
lence, or some other cause, has boen prevented
for months, psrhaps for years, from taking a so
rious review of the evidences of Ill's acceptance
with God. Cun such negligence he too severely
reprohended? Come my brother, let us com
mune together for a little season? What do
you honestly suppose is your true condition?—
Do not waver, and linger, and stumble here.
Say my friend, have you passed from death to
life? Have you been delivered from the power
of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of
God's dear Son? llastho morn of soul-prosperi
ty ever dawned upon your bosom? Have you a
solid sciiptural hopo of snlvntion through the
merits of a crucified Redeemer? 1 hold you to
a speedy nnd honest settlement of this question.
I)o you fly from it? Do you say, to morrow?—
Stay, slay, thou reluctant one; 1 cannot, I will
not let tlice go. It is for your profit, your pence,
perhaps for your eternal well-being, that you
now grapple faithfully with this task, if you have
not done it before. To go rightly about this vi
tal and solemn work, prostrate yoursell hum
bly and meekly before the heart-searching Jeho
vah, and erv out to him, “search me O Clod, and
know my heart; try me nnd know my thoughts;
und see if there be uny wicked way in mo, nnd
lend me in tlio way everlasting;” Take hold of
soipe of the obv ions scriptural tests, nnd lay thorn
down (airly and carefully by the side of your
heart and life, and consider woll wliat discourses
they hold with each other. Sluill I aid you
somewhat in this investigation by a few plain and
simple suggestions? Cheerfully will Ido so.
1. “ Whosoever liclicvclh that Jesus is the
Cluisl, is lorn of God.” 1 John 5: 1. Does this
test come forward to assert some gracious change,
and confirm some hope o( heaven? If you arc
conscious of u sinccro and humble reliance upon
the merits of Christ, for acceptance with C!c<l,
you may know that you are n child of God.—
“For yo are nil the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.” Cal. 3: 20. Uut wo must ho
careful that we do not mistake os to the nature
of that faith which indicates this spiritual rela
tionship. It must ho a hearty, cordial, ami ap
proving faith. “With the heart man bclievelh
unto righteousness.” Rom. 10: 10. “If tliou be
lieves! with all thine heart thou irmyest.” Acts
8: 37. How stands the case with us? With a
cheerfully consenting heart do wo ombrnco the
truth that Jesus is the Cluiat, und renouncing all
all other grounds of acceptation with Jehovah, do
we rest upon tlio precious merits of the Redeem
er with a sincere and affectionate reliance? Hut
perhaps you may say, “I think I am a believer;
yet 1 find it difficult so to analyzo my faith that 1
can satisfactorily determine as to its true charac
ter. O that 1 knew whether or not, 1 do really and
scripturully believe in tho Savior of sinners!”—
Let me then carry you a little further.
2. “le are my friends, if ye. do whatsoever I
command you,” John 15: 14. A spirit of obedi
cnce makes the child of God —the true believers
in the Lord Jesus Christ. He desires to know
and do the will of his Heavenly Father, and
would not wilfully trample in the dust any known
command. That faith that unites us to Christ,
constrains us to work for Christ. We read of
the work of faith, hut not oflho idleness of faith.
‘•Faith without work is dead,” and n dead faith
js not a gospel faith. Faith is inseparably con- *
nected with that love which is “the fulfilling of
the law,” Rom. 13: 10; ttijd is “tlio end of the
commandment.” Tint. 1: .5. The obedience
therefore to which it prompts is not tho obedi.
enco of selfishness or terror, but that ol a ready,
childlike and affectionate choice. With more or
lass brightness and energy, the law ot God is writ-
len in the heart; and the prevailing desire of the
bosom is, “O that my ways tvero directed to
keep thy statutes!” Ps, 119: 5. How, my broth
er, does your heart respond to this inspired test?
3. IVe know that tec have passed from death
nnla life because we love the brethren.” 1. Joint
3: H- Have you tried yourself carefully by
this precious criterion? This is one of tho land
marks that the Holy Ghost has laid down for
our guidance and benefit. David could honest
ly say, ‘i am a companion of all them that fear
thee, and of them that keep thy precept*.” IV
119:63. This proved that he was a child ol
God. Has your heart, my friend, joined itself
in sweet affinity with those that fear and obey
God? .Do you love them, not simply because
they may be amiable, and honest, and respecta
ble, and because they may havd bestowed on
you some personal favors, tSbt chiefly, because
they lovo the Redeemefr, and reflect something
of his heaverily image? How is il? Here is an
apartment we will suppose filled with worldly
individuals, amiable wc will say, and in alTcnrth
ly respects decent and respectable; but they
fear not God, they love not the precious Re
deemer. And here i* another nparlmeny occu
pied by those who have learned the language of
Canaan, and delight to speak and sing of redeem
ing love. Now it so happens, we will further
suppose, that you must spend a thousand years
in one or the other of tho aparlmeir*. To which j
apartment do you honestly believe the present j
tastes and attachment of you heart would natu
rally impel you, and where would vou find your J
sweetest joy, your most peaceful entertainment?
4. Paul declared, ‘‘l dr light in the law of God
after the inward man.'” Rom. 7: 22; nnd David
exclaimed, “O hoto love 1 the late.” Ps. 119: 97. ,
These declarations have *inccre and true, and
consequently proved the gracious state of those
who uttered them. This is not the language ot
the carnal mind: the unreger.erate may pay their
intellectual homage to the word ot God, they
may wonder at its doctrines, and eulogize its
morality, but they do not delight in it nfinr the
inward man, It is not their food, their solace,
nnd their salvation. The regenerated mnn has
fallen into harmony with God, of course has fal
len into harmony with his word; ho loves its
doctrines, delights in its precepts, and sweetly
and joyfully leans upon its overinsting promises.
5. “Note if any man have not the spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.” Horn. 8: 0. A chri*.
finn is one that has tho mind, tho temper, the
Spirit of Christ. Perfect conformity to the im
ago of the Redeemer isnot to be looked for in this
sinful world; hut the outlines of that divine im
ago are engraven upon the heart of every child
of God. Christ was meek and lowly; tho be
liever posscssrs something of this blessed spirit,
and habitually desires to possess it in a more
abundant measure. Christ had a supremo re
gard to his Father's will and glory; this spirit
characterizes in a degree more or less percepti
ble all his sincere followers. He loved tho souls
of men, nnd those that love not the souls of men
can bo more of his. Ho denied himself for tlio ,
salvation ofmen; lie that makes no kind and n(- |
fectionato efforts for the salvation of perishing
immortals has yot to learn tho first lesson of
Christianity. Christ hud a heart perpetually
burdened with (ho interests of his cause und king
dom; his peojilo love that precious cause, de
light in it* triumphs and pray for tho pence of
Jerusalem. He loved and pitied his malignant
enemies; his disciples have n spirit of forgiveness,
can pray for their enemies, nnd sincerely desiro
their everlasting happiness. Consider these
things my brother, and then honestly inquire, do
1 possess the mind that was in my Lord and Sa
vior?
0. “/hate every false way.” Ps. 119: 101.—
“Create in me a dean heart O God, and renew a
right sjuril within me.” Ps. 51: 10. Hero is
uufolJed the experience of ono that has truly
fallen out with sin, and hungers nnd thirsts af
ter righteousness. This I suppose to he one of
tho evidences of a gracious state. When sin is
hated for its own inherent loathsomeness,and holi
ness is loved nnd sought for its own inherent
sweetness and beauty, wo truce tho footstep* of
God’s saving power, nnd tho basis of a svripturmS
hope ot everlasting fife.
7. “If any man come not to me and luHr not his
father, and mother, and wife, and clii/drcn, and.
brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also,
lie cannot be my disciple.” l.uko 14; 20. Is
tb.cre no way in which you can bring this test to
bear on your spiritual condition? Christ does
not boro require nil absolute hatred of friends
and life; hilt ho requires paramount, supremo
love to himself. That regard for the Saviour
which would not prompt us to value his favor
and approbation above all earthly tilings, is not
that which identifies us with tho people of God,
and justifies the liopo of heaven. “All these
things,” said the amiable young man in the gos
pel, “have 1 kept from my youth up; what lack
I yet?” Alas, one thing did ho lack, supreme
love to the Saviour; and in lacking that, he lack
ed every thing. When hidden to soil all and
follow Christ, he turned his back upon the
Saviour, and upon heaven; “ho went away sor
rowful for he Imd great possessions.” This lit.
oral command docs not fall upon us—yet in a
sense Christ requires us to sell all. Our su
preme affection must let go ot earth, and cling to ;
him; friends, possessions, comforts,ease, and even
lilo itself must hold a subordinate position, and
sooner must we give them all up than renounce
our allegiance to him, and he willingly estranged
from a sincere, decided, soul controlling prefer
ence for an interest in his favor. Thousands of
the professed followers of Christ, though for a
season visibly hopeful, havo not been able in the
finul issue to abide this searching test—instead of
saying with Peter, “to whom shall we go? thou
hast tho words of eternal life;” they stumbled
at their trying lot, and went back, and walked
no more with him.” Would you, my brother,
prcfr to join this company of miserable opos.
tates, rather than suffer tle loss of all earthly
good? May your faith never be subjected to
this fiery test; yet, i( you are a child of God, it
is your sincere desire, that should the time come,
you may bo efleclunlly sustained, and enabled
amidst the deepest peril, and want and suffering,
to maintain your grasp upon the cross of Christ.
Hut i must not needlessly enlarge. Gather
up these plain and hasty hints, with others which
the perusal of the word of God, and your own
prayerful reflections may suggest, and follow
them out in your privato meditations, lie care
ful that you do not embarrass the mailer under
considoration with foreign and unessential ques
tions. Perhaps you havo sometimes said, “1
might venture to hope, if I could recollect the
precise time when a change was wrought by the
bpirit of God.” And suppose you cannot; vour
case is by no moans peculiar; thousands of the
most eminent and godly believers have occupied
the position, it is far more important to
know that we now love the Saviour; than to fix
upon tho precise moment when that love was
THE CIIIUSTIAN INDEX
first kindled in our bosoms, *‘lJui I have not
felt those deep convictions for fin, and that pro
found sense of my need of a Saviour, which
others profess to have fell, and which it appears
to me are absolutely ewntial.” Here you felt
that conviction ol tho batefuljjcss of sin which
has made you willing to abandon it', thAl sense of
your need of Christ and at the same time of his
suitableness and excellency, whioh has drawn
you humbly to his feet, and gained your cordial
consent to commit the interest*##** yaar *onl to
his almighty cate? This is titi*d#int to he con
sidered. “But I do not love hit# ns 1 should.”
Ah, child, and who will love hjfn ns he should,
| till lie fully arrives in ItSavrlW ‘ But 1 have
heard no voice, forgiven; 1
have had no deep n on my
mind that 1 was u And suppose
you had heard a voico, that it were
so, and felt these deep and suepen impressions,
and yet the inward tempers ofsrour bosom, and
•he outward tenor of your life di§ not correspond
with what the scriptures declaim to be essential
to Christian character, would tlJ*e remarkable
signs make you still a christiap? Far from it.
The imagination is often an impertinent and
deceptive thing, and tho devil often assumes the
garb ol an angel ot light and misers
! bio delusions to the unmtspectw soul. The
testimony of God’s word is not to place to
i the voice of excited fancy—nor is any impression
ns to our good estate however stWingland over
powering to bo accounted as evideitse in the
absence of an humble, prayerful, bt-liwing and
obedient frame. Lay all these things aide as a
needless embarrassment of the question, nod
1 then ask yourself in tho fear of God, Ai I now
really ami heartily confide in the Son/of God;
1 do l delight to know and to do his ovdf blessed
j will, and can 1 trace in my bosom the lineaments
ofhis character? Do I delight in Uuictftje, and
delight in lii.s word? Do 1 ip hate,
fulness, nnd love holiness for i of
tlio Redeemer enn I truly say, “whom \iavo I
in heaven hut thee, and lhero is none onWrth
1 that 1 desire beside the*?” \
For the Christian Index. M
BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS—SOU 111-
ERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
Marion, Ai.a., March 15th, 1851
Dear Brother, —In view of the approaching
Biennial Session of the Southern Baptist Con
vention, to assemble at Nashville, on tit* 2d Fri
day in Muy next, tlio Board of Domestic Mis
sions takes this opportunity of explaining t the
churches in all candor the plan of its operntnns,
nnd of inviting their continued nnd inernsed
eo operation in this most important entcrptize.
This it would be happy to do in tho iouroof
two or three communications to your
Journal.
I. As to the rian of our Operations.
One great object which the Board lias in view
is to assist feeble churches throughout lift:’South
ern und South Western States nnd Territories,
to obtain tho staled preaching of the Gospel.
A church in some new city, or rising town or
village frequently desires to have a minister.
They liopo and believp tlqß if-siumorti'J •* * l —•
lm nr ri year or two, the town, the cohg'Cgn.
lion, or the church will grow, and become able
easily to hear tho expense. But if neglected for
a year or two, that church will dwindle, and the
congregation disperse to other denominations.
By pulling forth their utmost efforts, they can
raise enough for the hare support of the minister,
within SSO, SIOO, or S2OO, enough perhaps to
support him in tlio country, hut not enough to
pay also an expensive rent in tho city. Iftho
rest isnot raised, the minister cannot live.,there.
It is clear that tlio Board, by assisting them to
tho amount ol tho deficiency, will make nil the
difference as to the spiritual interests oif thnt
place, ol this whole amount raised, all 1 lie differ,
cnee between a preached gospel and node, be
tween n church established and one dispersed.
Enel) dollar thus given, multiplies itsulf a? once
fourfold, by leading others to contribute to that
amount, who otherwise would not give at all.
And further that church will very shortly ho
able in all probability to support itself, Mid will
continue to do so for hundreds of years, or as
long as tlio city lasts, wliilo without temporary
aid, tho materials of the congregation would
have been scattered, and tho church nipped in
the very hud.
Nor is this all. In a few years
will be able to contribute both of its w and
its members to form oilier colonics and churches,
nnd thus assist tile Board to do still further good.
Besides all this, if we consider the influence of
her Sabbath School, her congregation, her ex
ample, we shall sec by a single instance, the im
portance to our denomination, nnd to tho wliole
causo of Christ, of this feature in the plan of pur
Domestic Missionary Board.
lu tho city ol New Orleans, the First Presby
terian Church was supported some twenty years
ago by u Missionary Society. Now it tin# only
supports itself, but raises over and above for
Missionary and other benevolent purposes, about
$12,000 a year, while two or three other church
es have grown out of it. If a Baptist Ghurcli
Imd been properly fostered at that time, it would I
doubtless have been equally successful now.
Since the establishment in 1845, of the Board
ol Domestic Missions, probably not less
churches have been thus assisted. Aboutsf^Hl
have been appropriated to their benefit. lOarge
number of these churches have ceased to require
our aid, some havo even begun to return monav
into the treasury. About 3,500 have been added
by the Missionaries of the Board to thoir Coni
munion. These churches aro situated in differ,
ent places, all over the Southern States. There
is scarcely a State or Territory embraced within
the field of the Hoard, that has not thus been
assisted nt some point. New and growing com.
munities have however the greatest claim, as
being more emphatically Missionary ground,
and as affording the best prospect of the speedy
and sure establishment of self-sustaining church
e*. Nor is aid ever afforded, unless in the hope
of the churcli being able to maintain itself in a
few years. ‘
In a futuro number, other operations of the
Hoard will be presented.
R, IIQLMAN, Cor. Sec.
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1351.
arrearages are charged at
$2 50 per annum, or 5 cents per num
ber. For aJI payments in advance the
paper is furnished at $2 00 per annum,
or 4 cents per number.
Some of our Pedobaptist brethren bnving
been compelled to admit that the river Jordan is
deep enough for the performance of baptism,
have resorted to the argument, that its banks are
100 sleep for this purpose. The Editor of the
Christian Secretary thinks this is the straiglitejt
up and down argument that has been used in the
controversy.
Newton Theological Seminary.
YVe learn from the Watchman und Reflector,
l thatthc friends of Newton Theological Seminary
arc making an effort to raise an endowment of
@50,000 to relieve it from its present embarrass
cd condition. Though (his is one of the oldest
and most celebrated Baptist Institutions of .The
ological learning in the United States, it has been
relying for support upon the annual conti ibu
tions of its friends. The consequence is, that it
has been contracting n debt which threatens the
destruction of the institution, unless timely as
sistnnee is afforded. Newton has done much for
file education of ministers, and it would ho a
lasting disgrace to the Baptists of New England,
should it be allowed to becomo extinct for want
of pecuniary help.
Letter from Itev. A. IS. Csthnniss.
The following letter from brother Cabnniss
was written to the editor of the Biblical Recorder,
but as it describes his tour through Georgia, it
will be ns interesting to tho readers ol the Index,
ns to those of the Recorder. The editor says,
“it was not written for publication, having pro
bably been penned in n moment of leisure stolen
from the pressing claims constantly made upon
bis time und attention.” Though the visit of
brother Cnhaniss to our State was necessarily
hurried, the impression which lie loft will no
doubt be highly favorable to the cause of mis
sions; and when our minds turn to China, we
shall see there familiar faces; tho scenes ol the
missionary life will thus be presented more vivid
ly before us, and the cause of Christ in China
will obtain a'diigher place in our affections.
LaGrangi-:, Gn., March 5, 1851.
Dear Tiro. Tobey, —l am now in the “Bunny
South,” among warm-hearted Baptists : hut have
not forgotten the kind friends with whom I met
in tile Old Norili Stale. I met with a warm re
ception nt Murfreesboro, and trust that at least
some favorable impression was made for missions
while I remained. Bro. Fory has a very inter
esting stilPio'T there, and tTirtVc no doubt is doing
UJuch r..r ilmcq.i.— r mnl itTr^Ton"—
Atridentou l feudal brother Jones warmly enlist
ed in tho cause,—many of his members sub
scribing for tho Commission as well as contri
lulling to tho mission cause. At Murfreesboro
I got nearly GO subscribers to the. Commission in
nddilion to a number of copies already taken
there. At Wilmington, brethren McDaniel and
Repiton gave me a cordial welcome, and mani.
lasted deep interest in tho mission cause. 1 col
lected nearly 850 there.
As brother Whilden is our agent in South Ca
rolina, I mode nocfFort there. I met with lirothi r
Jennet’s church, at Augusta, one night in the
week; there were not many out; but from what
I could learn, they ate ready for every good
work My visit to Penfield was truly delightful.
It is the most beautiful College location 1 ever
saw. You may truly say of it, as you are nc
custnmed to say of Raleigh. rus in url/c. The
College is in the midst of a village, hut it is liter
ally a college village, ns nearly everything seems
to be connected with the Institution, save a few
stores, and they, 1 believe, are for the benrjit of
the inhabitants and the hoys,—as they are allow,
ed to sell no kind of liquors nt the risk of forfeit
ing to the Institution their title to their laud. I
j lectured there twice, and had a private interview
with the religious students. 1 think, from con
versntion held with thorn, that there are two or
three young men among them who will devote
themselves to the mission work, when they grad
uate, it the Lord opens the way. There were
several others whose consciences were very much
disturbed on the subject. What the result will
be, time only can tell. I trust my visit there
was a profitable one.
I lectured twice in Greenesboro, where I met
with some excellent brethren. I reached Madi
son in the morning, where the Baptists have n
tl iiirishing Female College. After lecturing to I
the young ladies in the afternoon, I received an
order to forward them 100 copies ot the Comtnis
sion. At night, I lectured in the church to a
crowded house, and made a handsome collection.
My next appointment was ot Atlanta, where the
Baptist church is not large, hut this is an import
ant place, ns the town is growing rapidly. From
, Atlanta, I came to this place, dtsliucd to lie the
Athens ol W estern Georgia. The Baptists have
here a Female College with 175 students, and a
male institution with 130 students; the Method
ists a Female Collego with some 205 students,
and the Presbyterians a high school with 80 or
90 students. All this, too, in a village of some
two thousand inhabitants. I nm told that there
are now in the place, about 600 students, male
and female. What an interesting assemblage;
and if they improve their talents aright, what a
good influence may they exert upon the world in
coming years! Sunday 1 had the pleasure ol
addressing the Baptist Subbalh School of some
300 scholars, many of them young men and la
dies. Bro. Mallory, the pastor, is a lovely man.
I have spent very pleasantly several days here,
visiting and lecturing at the different schools.—
Never before have I in any village met such
crowds of “young folks.” Some of them seemed
to get warmly enlisted in the mission cause. I
trust these impressions may be lasting. Who
knows, hut at some future tune, I may have the
pleasure of welcoming some of these very little
ones to tiie mission work in China ! By the way,
i I have been delighted by the reading of Mrs. Jud- ;
son’s account of the last days of brother Judson.
What a noble spirit he was! Well does he de
| serve the compliment she so handsomely pavs
him in the conclusion of the piece. “He could
have no more fitting monument liian the Idue
waves that visit every coast, for iiis warm sym.
palhies went forth to the ends of the earth, and
included the whole family of man.” Be it ours
to follow his noliie example.
Yours fraternally,
A. B. CABANISS.
P. S.—l leave in the morning for Columbus,
and thence over into Alabama. A U tter will
| reach meat New Orleans—care of Royal Parish,
; any time in the course of a month, as it will be
about that time ere I reach there.
Revivals ia Colleges.
A writer in the Christian Observer gives some
Statistical statements of revivals in Colleges, in
orcjpr to show the encouragements which are
afforded to Christians, to unite in prayer for
these institutions of learning. To the facts hero
recorded, wo have no doubt that many others
might bo added, which would illustrafe still
further, the valuo of prayer, and the claim which
the Colleges of our country have upon the sym
pathies and prayers of all Christians. Our
own Mercer University has repeatedly witness
ed an outpouring of Divine grace among its
students; and within its walls lias many a young
man first begun to learn to pray.
YV’e should like to see a complete account of
tho revivals that have taken place in the differ*
| ent colleges of our country. It would lie a
pleasant offset to the riots and disturbances which
are so common in these institutions; nnd might
serve to give a rtiorc favorable view ofthe moral
influence of colleges, than that possessed by those
who look only at the dark scenes ol college his
lory.
But there is a still doepnr interest connected
with this subject, arising from its bearing upon
tho future destiny of both Church and Slate.
A revival in a college! YY’ho con measure its
influence? The conversion of any sinner is a
j great, a joyful event, hut when young man
I whoso intellectual advantages qualify him to
j mould tho sentiment of a hundred minds, conse
j crates tlmt power to the service of Christ, Satan
! has peculiar reason to tremble for the safety of
i his kingdom. A revival in a College! What
| if ten students who entered the institution ns the
servants of the world, nnd the allies of Satan,
should go forth ns tho servants of God? Ten
, communities will perhaps receive an impulse,
nnd the work ot graco maj’ go on, even nfter he
whom God used ns the moving cause, is silent in
! death. A revival in a College ! Some of the
young men will probably become ministers of
tho word, each one of whom, if his labors are
blessed hj’ tho Lord ol the harvest, will bring
homo many sheaves ns tho fruits of his toils.
With the quiet and almost undiscovered revival
in the students’ prayer meeting, may be connect
ed the salvation of many hundred immortal souls.
Who then would not pray for God’s blessing
upon Colleges? What Baptist in Georgia would
not remember Mercer University nt the throne
of grace, and send up the fervent prayer, that
the young men of this institution might live in
tho midst of a constant revival ?
“From 1820 to 1823, inclusive, there were revi-
VI 1 - ■ Mwwrrmite tn THgTanfl
i 1325. in five different colleges; in 182(1, in six;
in 1827, in four; in 182-*, in five; and in 1831,
in nineteen colleges—resulting in the hopeful
conversion of between 300 ami 430 students. In
one ol these colleges, the revival commenced on
the very day of the Concert. In 1832, some
j few institutions were blessed with the effusions
:of the Spirit, and also in 1833. A larger num.
her were blessed with revivals in 1831, and no
| less than nineteen in 1835, and between one and
two hundred students were brought hopefully
into the kingdom of Christ. It has been esti
mated that fifteen hundred students were made
the hopeful subjects of grace in thirty-six differ-
I cut colleges, from 1920 to 1335, inclusive.
Revivals occurred in Amherst College in
1923, ’27, ’2B, ’3l, >35, ’39, ’42, ’4O, and ’SO,
and iu Wabash College in 1539, ’4l, ’43, ’46,
’47, ’4B, and ‘49. During a period of forty
j years previous to 1948, there was some twenty
i revivals in 5 ale College, or about one on an
! averago fir every other year; and the number
ofhopeful conversions in one of them was one
j hundred. Among the subjects of these revivals
were Evarts, Cornelius, Nevins, &c., and at
earlier periods in the history of the institution,
Hopkins and Edwards, and p i hups Dwight and
Bellamy. Scarcely had the doors of the first
college building nt Dartmouth been opened for
the reception of students, when the windows of
heaven were opened upon the infant institution
w hich had been consecrated to the cause of the
Redeemer. In the space of sixty-five years,
nine extensive revivals were enjoyed, besides
intervening seasons of more or less religious in.
tercst. It has been stated, on apparently good
authority, that during the first twenty-five years
oftho history of MidJlebury College, every class
but one was permitted to share in a religious
awakening, and that some classes received three
or four such visits of mercy while in College.
At the last College Concert in Boston, the Rev.
Mr. Stone stated that “olio revival which took
place in Yale College, (luring the presidency of
Dr. Dwight, raised up ministers who were in
strumentnl in ono generation, by estimation, of
j converting 50,000 souls.”
i The Rev. Mr. Stoddard, of the Ncstorian
i M ission, rose and said —“1 stand here to night
,as a witness to tlie efiicacy of prayer. Four
i teen years ago this evening I consecrated my
i s °lf’ to Christ at Yale College. I rejoice to hear
Missionary Seminaries remembered in prayer,
on this occasion. In Persia, it is my privilege
| to he an instructor in such a seminary. Forty.
, eight pious young men have gone forth from ,
1 that seminary, to spread the light of the gospel. [
If all the other missionaries were present this
evening, they would beseech you to pray for i
educational seminaries among the heathen.”
In the Congregational Journal it was stated ‘
that “in sixteen years, seven hundred students in I
the New Hampton Institution were converted to
God. Under the personal labors and influence <
of Miss Mary Lyon, during her connection with
different female seminaries, sixteen hundred ol
her pupils became the subject of divine grace.” i
The following notices of revivals embruce all
that I have fallen in with since the last Concert,
though they probably constitute a very imper.
feet view of what God has done for the colleges
of our country during the year: (1.) Revival at
Nassau Hall, said to be the most remarkable
witnessed there since 1815, and which occurred
in close connection with Concert of Prayer.— 1
Some thirty or forty students were hopefully l
converted. (2.) Amherst College. Peculiar so. i
Icmnity was given to the day of fasting and pray
erby the sudden death of one of the instructors
The revival went on silently but powerfully,
till as many as thirty of the students indulged
hope. (3.) Granville College, Ohio. On the
day of fasting and prayer for Colleges, nearly
’ all the students came together in the chapel, and
1 “scarcely had a prayer been offered before it was
manifest that the Holy Spirit was descending tip--
on the (dace; and the work extended from now
to room, till religion became the only fopi* of
conversation and thought. Number whoindul
gr-d hope not known. (4 ) Wesleyan Universi.
ly. “Concert of Prayer for Colleges—a pleas
ant and profitable season.” “Several conver
sions among the stmt-nts.” (5 ) The new Bap.
fist University at Leivisburg. About twenty hope
| fui conversions. (6 ) Colleges aided by the So.
i defy. In several of these, interesting cases of
conversion have occurred since the last Concerr,
though extensive revivals ennnot be reported.
Under date of July Bth, the President of Witten
berg College writes, “One young man who en
tered the Institution this spring without religion,
has been deeply impressed for some weeks past,
and for several days of last week was in suc!
agony that ho did not leave his room even* oo
the anniversary o( independence, aud 1 ant hap
py to say, experienced a more blessed deliver
ance than that which others were
1 he President of Beloit College, under dale of
January 23d, 1851, writes, “There are now some’
indications of the presence of God’s Spirit in our
village, and two or three of our students are In
dulging hope in Christ. We hope for extensive
and precious displays of divino grace ill the
midst of us, before tho term shall close.—
Our most ardent desire and highest ambition
for our College is, that it tnay, by the lavor of
God in revivals of religion, maintuin a char
acter for p ety andexerta sanctifying influence.”
NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS.
Minutes of the West Florida Association. —The
I fourth annual session of this body was held with
the Union Academy Church, Jackson co., Fla.,
| Oct. 20, 1850. Elder Joshua Mercer was cho
sen Moderator, and E. Minchin, Clerk. Amount
, contributed to the Association, @lB7 80. There
are 15 churches in this body, numbering 46ft
members, of whom 20 were baptized last year.
The Baptist Preacher. —The March number
of this useful periodical lias been received. Its
contents are:
The Duty of Individual Christian effort for the
salvation of souls. By Ilov. T. B. Ripley, of
Tcnn. ‘ f
Seed Time nnd Harvest. By Rev. A. Mc-
Dowell, of N. C.
The Churches and Sects of the United Slatei,
containing a brief account ot the origin, history,
doctrines, church government, mode of worship,
usages and statistics of each religious denomina
tion, so far as known. By Rev. P. Douglas*
Gorrie. Published by Lewis Colby, 122 Nas
sau street N. A'.
Works on the history nnd usages ofthe differ
ent denominations of professed Christians are by
no means rare. Most of them, however, are too
voluminous for those renders who do not wish tor
devote their time especially to Ecclesiastical lit
eraturc. Even the Encyclopedia of Religiotfi-
Knowlcdgo is too large for extensive circulation
nmong the laity. Tho work before ns is better
adapted to this purpose, comprising, as it doea
within 240 pages, 12 ruo., an account ol 47 dif
ferent religious sects. In this compendium, titer
most important facts connected with each denom
ination are presented in a lucid and attractive
nominational peculiarities may bo obtained from
a perusal of this book.
Ihe reader should, however, be cautioned
against expecting to find here an attempt to set
tle the conflicting claims of dilferentsects. Tho
compiler has, no doubt, endeavored to speak for
each party, as one ol their own number would
speak, without becoming responsible for any dis
crepancies that may be produced.
A Good I\amc. A Discourse, delivered in the
hirst Baptist Church, Charleston, before the
Giaduating Class of the Medical College ofS.
C., Feb. 23d, 18 >l. By Rev.J. R. Kendrick.
This discourse is founded upon Eccl. 7: I.
“A good name is better than precious ointment,”
and presents in the Author’s usual felicitous
style, the elements and the value of a good name.
The elements enumerated are industry, integrity,
self-control, and benevolence. The value ol a
good name is considered from its being a source.,
of happiness, essential to success tn life, and an.
I lns,rum ent of usefulness. These points are il
j l ustr ated in a manner peculiarly appropriate to
the character of the audience for whose benefit
the discourse was delivered.
ilfligiDiK Sfatfllignirp.
LATEST FROM BUR MAIL ~
A letter from Bro Ilarvey E. Knapp, dated
1 Akyab, Dec. sth, informs u that it was hi*
privilege to baptize on the 4th, “an interesting
young man from Ramree, who appears like ary
intelligent, meek and humble Christian. His
1 heart seems full of the love of Christ, and love to*
his friends, who are idolaters and opposers. He
has a superior Burman education, and is going
to Maulmain to study with Bro. Steve os and
StiUson.”
lie speaks of the Missionary Society in MaulY”
main,—auxiliary to the Union,—as celebrating
their thirteenth anniversary the 14th of Novem
ber, and that about 81,000 had been contributed ’’
the past year, and paid out to the support ot 1
schools and native assistants.
Bro. Knapp’s mission is among the Kemmees,
whose language has been reduced to writing by
Bro. Stillson, a work of no small importance.
M Idle at Maulmain for some time, he was ena
bled ,k> enjoy the instructions of Bro. S. which
have been invaluable in. preparing him for his
labor. He is favorably impressed in regard to
the Kemmees, and longs to engage in his labors
among them.
“The Karen Theological School, in charge of
Bro. Harris,” he says, “numbers thirty.three
students. The Bible is their text-book, in which
they are greatly interested, and are not satisfied
with superficial explanations. They are truly
young men of promise; yea, in this school, by the
divine blessing, is the great ground of hope for
the Karen people. It is to the Karens, in a good
[April