Morning Star

II.

66

A GOOD CONFESSION.

A gentleman, who has recently passed thro' the Western part of N. York, gives us, in substance, the following account. A minister in a certain town where wickedness abounded, fearing that the blood of souls would be found upon his skirts, solemnly resolved before God, to give himself more entirely to the great business of his mission, than he had hitherto done. This was a new era in his public ministry. From this time, he commenced a course of plain-dealing with the consciences of his people. The change was visible alike, in his public discourses and his private visitations. To promote the Glory of God in the salvation of souls, was the all absorbing object with him. Soon a powerful revival commenced, (the glorious work in the town of S , of which we have all read;) the Sword of the Spirit, cutting its way through the ranks of the ungodly, laid multitudes in the dust, before God. It was an awfully wicked place. Public works employing hundreds of hands, were carried on as briskly upon the Sabbath as on other days of the week. An individual of large property, was extensively engaged in these works. The revival entered his dwelling, and set its seal upon one of its inmates--This threw him into a dreadful rage. He sent for the minister to meet him at his store--charged with having made personal allusion to him in his prayer, and in his public discourses; and told him, that he might make a suitable confession, or be horse-whipped, at his option. 'O,' said the minister, nothing daunted--'if a confession will satisfy you, very well: I am willing to make a full confession, and ask pardon. But, as you contend that the offence was of a public nature, it is but justice that the confession should be public also; and if you say so, on the next Sabbath I will make my confession before the whole congregation.' 'Very well,' said the man, 'that will do.' The thing was soon noised through the town; the enemies of God shouted their triumphs. while his friends scarcely knew what to think of this strange affair. The Sabbath came; an immense crowd early assembled to hear the confession. Every slip and aisle was filled to overflowing. At length the preacher rose in the pulpit, and in a solemn tone, remarked, that 'his own conscience condemned him; he had done very wrong; he ought to have commenced upon them two years ago, when he first settled among them,--and he hoped the Lord would forgive him.' 'See,' said he, 'the fruits of my labors for a few months past,--and O, if I had been
thus faithful from the commencement of my ministry among you, what might not the Lord have accomplished, in this wicked place!' The revival still continues, with great power, in that place.-Obs. & Tel.