The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

PORTSMOUTH.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman of the greatest veracity, dated Hanover, (Dartmouth College) March 12.

"I have had a most pleasing addition of labor thrown upon me by the pure mercy and grace of God, in reviving his work among us; a particular account of which, in this and the neighbouring places, I have taken the liberty to enclose--which follows:

"The remarkable revival of religion, with which a Sovereign God has astonished a sinful and ill-deserving people in these infant settlements, began first in a town called Newport, about the distance of thirty five miles from this place, the latter end of May last. The work was very rapid and powerful; within the compass of a week after the first appearance, it spread thro' every part of the town, and carried all opposition before it: the emphatical language of lamentations and tears was heard in almost every quarter. And notwithstanding they were destitute of preaching, excepting what was occasionally bestowed upon them; yet their regularity, order, and fear of error was very remarkable. No irregular or enthusiastic preacher was permitted to speak in their meetings, --or could gain any ground among them; and not one appeared to have any disposition to disorder, or schism; but a spirit of love, meekness, humility, brokenness of heart, and mourning for sin, appeared to possess the minds of those who were the hopeful subjects of the work. In July, the revival began in Woodstock, about fifteen miles from this place, where it soon became very general and genuine. It soon afterward spread into Windsor: in the west parish of which, it was very powerful indeed; even like a mighty rushing wind. Some other adjacent towns below, were visited with divine influence, about the same time. In this quarter, thro' the summer, people appeared to be very stupid and careless: and vice seemed to be advancing with strides uncommonly hasty and threatening; excepting in this place; in August and September, there was, here and there a scattered drop--some faint symptoms: scarcely visible to the common eye, but promoting some gleam of hope, that God was on his way to visit us.

"About the beginning of November some happy dawnings of a good work appeared among the young people in this town, they discovered a disposition to leave scenes of merriment and vanity; and to give a listening ear to religious instructions; and to meet in conference for that purpose.

"The Students of College, upon the expiration of vacancy, returned about the same time; a number of whom, were disposed to lend a ready attention to matters of the greatest importance--soon the minds of several in the town and college appeared to be genuinely impressed with a sense of their lost and undone state, by nature; and the perishing need they stood in of a remedy tho the work advanced by slow, and progressive steps; was like a still small voice for several weeks; and sometimes appeared scarcely to go forward (tho' several during this time were hopefully brought into the light and liberty of the gospel) till about the first of January, it became very universal--convictions were very solid, rational, and free from animal passion. It was a matter of astonishment to those who lived in the time of the reformation forty years ago, to see the work so powerful, and yet so pure. About this time, the work began to spread in the towns adjacent--and was as remarkable, or more so, in Hanover, than in any other town, for the suddenness, greatness and universality of it. In the compass of three or four days twenty or upwards gained a comfortable hope of their good estate--a large number of children in this town have been hopeful subjects of the work--in one school, to the amount of two or three and twenty; which may appear almost incredible; yet attested by so many witnesses, as renders the account indisputable. This work is in all the towns round about us, in a greater or lesser degree-- upwards of twenty towns have shared in the great mercy; which calls for high acclamations of praise and gratitude to that God, who is sovereign in his grace. The addition to this church, within the space of four months, amount to about seventy. A number of others now stand propounded. In the college and school, between twenty and thirty entertain a hope that they have obtained newness of life. And others who previously entertained a hope, have been much stirred up and animated. This must have a happy aspect upon the churches; and must rejoice the friends of Zion. If fountains of learning become pure; we may hope that the streams will be such as will make glad the City of God. The rulers of the college have but little to do by way of government. But 'tis time I hasten to describe the most important circumstance of this work, by which it must finally, in the judgment of men, stand or fall: I mean the visible fruits and effects of it on the morals and manners of the people where it has been. There has been very little opposition to the work: the artifices of Satan have been uncommonly restrained which have excited some to hope that the happy state of the church was dawning.

"The vicious and profane, in many instances, are greatly reformed. And the stout-hearted, and those who are far from righteousness, appear to bow to the scepter of grace and become good members of society. Taverns are thin and unfrequented; frolicks and merry meetings are all come to an end. The voice of profane language is scarcely to be heard. Long divisions and animosities in places, have been happily settled; and men who have before justified themselves in a line of bad conduct, have taken great pleasure in condemning themselves. On the other hand, family worship is almost universally attended to; places of public worship are crowded; assemblies are exceedingly solemn, attentive and candid; and the ministers, where this work has been, are all united as the heart of one man; which, under God, has doubtless been a happy means of the order and regularity that has been so conspicuous. I have not seen, as I remember, one instance of wildness or enthusiasm, or that savored of party zeal, or schism; and I have not heard of one that has turned to be a separate; or that has shewn a fondness of becoming a sectary. In short, the alteration is exceedingly great. Iniquity stops her mouth, vice flies into a corner; all the air is love--the righteous see it and rejoice. This is the Lord's doing and marvelous in our eyes. How happy should we be if such times should continue; and such a spirit should reign thro' the land.

"I have read this account to several gentlemen, to gain their assent to its veracity; being unwilling wholly to rely on my own private judgment to describe such a glorious scene of Divine Grace."