These were supposed by some to be the effects of an extraordinary diabolical agency, by others to be the ef fects of a miraculous operation of divine power and grace. Both these mistakes contributed to raise these

they were hailed and courted every where, by well-meaning people, as the wonderful power of God, and that unrestrained freedom with which they have been permitted to operate, has been the hot-bed of every extravagance of opinion and practice which exists among us. We need not wonder that a schismatic spirit, or even Shakerism, has arisen up, and should still make progress, when we consider how corporeal agitation has been admired and fostered. This made religion a mere animal thing with great numbersfeeling became the test of truth, and thus the flood-gate was opened for a torrent of error, both in sentiment and religious practice. From that sympathy which exists between mind and body, there can be no doubt that the latter may be, and often is, considerably affected under real and genuine impressions of religion, but those agitations of the body should never be estimated-they should never be considered as distinguished marks of piety. That which may be the result of a certain irritable organization of fiber that which occurs in a great many cases of morbid excitement-that which may be, and often has been, successfully imitated by artificial stimulus-that which has been associated with pagan idolatry as well as with every hideous corruption of christianity, should never become matter of admiration, much less of triumph, with any one. Let those who have been in the habit of encouraging bodily exercises, read what history records of the violent, but similar agitations of poor savages, in worshipping false gods. Let them review the convulsions, and various animal motions, which happened among deluded thousands at the tomb of the Abbe de Paris. Let them peruse the biography of canonized saints of the Popish hierarchy, and the progress of the Mystics, the French Prophets, and many other fanatics, and if I am not mistaken, they will have little occasion to boast, and may, perhaps, learn how little confidence should be placed in things of this kind. There may be cases in which it will be christian to bear with bodily motions, without either praising or reviling them; but to look upon them as allied to animated religion, to halloo them as glorious eviden

agitations into vast consequence. The one made them matter of great dread, the other of ardent desire. Both helped to preserve, perpetuate, and extend them. The truth is, we knew not what was the cause, and this we ought modestly to have acknowledged. We ought, however, to have remembered that bodily convulsions, the jirks, &c. are never mentioned in scripture as evidences of a graceless state, or a delusion of the devil; nor yet as evidences of a work of God's grace. In a religious view, we ought to have thought but litttle of them, and endeavoured to have turned off the attention of the people from them to the great fundamental doctrines of religion, to the exercises of the mind, to the dispositions of the heart, and to a holy practice. Some, it is true, did this, but it was almost at the expense their reputation as Christians. Most acknowledged that religion did not consist in these bodily agitations; yet many were more offended at hearing them calmly opposed, than at hearing some of the great fundamen-tal principles of the Christian religion corrupted or contradicted by a warm lively preacher.

of

A careful observer of these bodily exercises, must sometimes have seen that the subjects of them were deeply affected with the truths of God's word, and at

ces of a great revival, and to interrupt the solemn services of the sanctuary for their full and unrestrained exercise, is to open a wide door for the introduction of hypocrisy and every evil work; and thus in an indirect way to subject the religion of the Divine Saviour to reproach and contempt. In this way the church has been stricken through with many wounds, and it will be long, I fear, ere she recover from them. May the Lord redeem Zion from all her troubles. Anon.

first view would be apt to think these impressions their only cause. In other instances, he would observe that religious impressions were very superficial. In other instances, again, it could not be discovered that a knowledge and sense of religion had any hand in producing the effect.

A number of instances of the first kind being observed by some good men, they were incautiously induced to draw the general conclusion, that all must be from a good spirit, and this led them to act improperly. In instances of the last kind, the cause was no doubt sympathy; a powerful principle, known to be sufficient to produce similar effects in cases where religion had nothing to do; but of which few instances had been known by any of the inhabitants of Kentucky. Where religious impressions were superficial, sympathy was, no doubt the principal, though not the sole agent. And even where the mind was deeply impressed with divine truth, it is not unreasonable to suppose that this principle co-operated-in producing the bodily affection, at least in a number of cases, in giving them their particular cast, and in spreading them through the land.

Where these bodily agitations were very great, and attended with some superficial impressions of religion, both together might very much terrify and alarm the subjects of them, and these terrors might be succeeded by transports of joy and songs of praise; the one without any knowledge of God and his law, the other without any knowledge of Christ and the gospel. Too of ten all was ascribed to the mighty power of God's

grace; the persons were said to have got religion, and proclaimed new born heirs of glory.

Thus the poor creatures were flattered into the belief, that they had passed from death to life, without any scriptural evidence to satisfy their own minds, or the mind of any body else. Of these, many have fal len into error or sin, and more may yet fall.*

Of such converts the opinion is frequently and confi dently advanced that they really had religion, but have fallen and lost it. It would be desirable if people would be more modest on a subject where, to say the least, all doubt, cannot be dissipated. For, indeed, I do not know how any one, unless indued with inspiration, is to know that such unfortunate persons ever had religion. There is the highest authority for believing just the contrary. Our Lord has said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." John viii. 31. Continuance in the word, or lasting obedience to the commands of Christ, is here made the test of discipleship, and of course there is reason to believe that those who do not continue in his word never were really disciples. St. John forms this very conclusion concerning apostates in his time. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." 1 John ii. 19. Christ himself guards against this peremptory kind of judging, or rather of pronouncing in favour of those who make, or may have inade, high pretensions to piety, by assuring us that it is not worldly zeal, and imposing appearances, that give evidence of religion, but obedience to the will of God, and by placing before us what will happen to many splendid professors at the day of judgment. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them I never knew you: Depart from me ye that work iniquity." Matt. vii. 21-23. The good shepherd "knows his sheep, and they follow him;" but these, with all their lofty

By mistaking the cause of these bodily exercises, we were led off from the simplicity of gospel truth and gospel worship; and many having a religion chiefly consisting in affections, not excited by the truths of God's word rightly applied, were prepared for being led into any error by such as could excite their feelings.

Another cause of the sad state of religion among us, I take to have been a wrong manner of preaching the word.

That manner of preaching is wrong, in which the enunciation, looks, gestures, and tone of voice have a greater effect than the truths delivered. Deeply wounding is that method of preaching which is more suited to terrify, or raise into transports of joy, than to inform the understanding, convince the judgment, convict the conscience, or open the way of life to dying souls. There is great mischief done, and sin committed in the pulpit, by warm, lively preaching, as well as by cold, lifeless preaching. The one inspires men with false hopes and joys, the other sinks them into a profound sleep.

When the terorrs of hell are denounced in the most awful terms, but the law not explained in the meaning of its precepts, in its spirituality and extent; when our obligations to obedience are omitted, or slightly touched, and the justice of the penalty not shewn, that man

claims to piety, he never knew-they were none of his. Comp. John x. 27-29. This is not written with a view to solicit controversy, for of that, alas, we have had enough already, but simply to suggest a caution against hasty and positive decisions on character, which may be false, and certainly are premature.

Anon.