at this, when so many of the former enemies of Christ were flying to him for mercy, or were now lying before him, submissive, in distress. And when so many, who were once the unhappy and deluded votaries of sin, were now exulting in the mighty change, and enjoying the most pure and sublime happiness of which they are capable, I thought, can this be delusion? Are they and myself deceived? But "meridian evidence put doubt to flight." I might as well doubt the existence of matter, or consciousness of sense.Many found the blessing of perfect love, and testified that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.Others were exhorted to seek it, nor did they seek in vain. Some were impressed to tell their experience, and clearer testimonies I never heard. So sensible was their experience, and strong their faith, that they described spiritual things with almost that distinctness that one would visible objects. It would be impossible to relate the exercises of individuals, and not at all easy to compute the number of those who experienced a change of heart; but we believe the effects of this meeting will be seen after many days.

I

had never before been in New England; but from my childhood had heard of the orderly conduct of its inhabitants, and their great respect for divine worship. I anticipated much, and all my anticipations were more than realized.

At an early hour on Friday we were called to the stand, and after receiving a farewell address, were dismissed in the name of the Lord. But it soon appeared the steamboat could not reach us. We returned to our tents, and soon to the sweet employment of prayer and praise. We continued these exercises the two succeeding nights and days: nor was it an unprofitable time. Many from New-York and New-Haven will bless God for this season, and regard what was termed the disappointment as an interposition of his grace. On the blessed sabbath our boat reached us, and every thing facilitating our progress, we reached the city in perfect safety, and in sufficient time to attend divine service in the afternoon. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful acts to the children of men!

New-Haven, Sept. 1, 1825. My dear brother-As the prosperity of the cause of religion, in any place, and in the smallest degree, is always good news to the friends of Jesus, I thought a few particulars respecting our stay on the camp ground, after its close, might be useful to the readers of the Magazine, should you think proper to insert them.

You saw the prospect in the praying circle below our tents in the afternoon. About five or six were brought to rejoice in the love of God then. In the evening we retired to the tents, where the work continued to go on with mighty power. One young man, a son of Methodist parents, about twenty-one years of age, after struggling for some time as in the agonies of death, came through happy in God, his Saviour. The account which he gave us of his conversion was rational, Scriptural, and edifying. Another, a young lady from New-Haven, who came to the meeting gay, proud, and to every appearance thoughtless, for several hours laboured in mighty prayer for deliverance from the burden of sin. The people of God prayed and laboured with her. About midnight the Lord appeared to her deliverance, light from heaven shone into her soul, and she shouted aloud the praises of her sin-pardoning God. Bat time would fail to detail all the particulars of every person converted.— About seven professed faith in Christ this night in one tent. On Saturday it rained, as you know; but the work continued to go on without intermission. On Saturday evening we held a general class meeting, where the young converts gave in a very intelligent account of their conviction, and conversion to God. Several more were converted in this meeting.

I thought it might be a good thing to join the young disciples together in a class, that they might be known and taken care of: accordingly fifteen gave me their names, and we have seen the benefit of this measure since our return home. On Sunday morning we had a love-feast, and a good one it was: the Master of assemblies was amongst us, "He brought us into his banqueting house, and his banner over us was love." Several more gave in their names to join class. We continued our meeting through the sabbath day,

after the campmeeting form-preaching at 10, 2, and 8 o'clock. Numbers came from the sloops lying in the river, and from the adjoining country, to hear the word of the Lord; and I trust that they did not hear in vain. Several more professed religion this day. About 12 o'clock at night we retired to rest, and slept sweetly.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances in which we were placed detained us three days and three nights longer than our first calculations, in the midst of wind and rain, I heard none complain-saw no sour looks; but, with a very few exceptions, we blessed and praised the Lord for our providential detention on the ground. Indeed, I never saw a more contented and happy company: the love of Jesus seemed to fill every heart. We had all things in common stock, and there was no lack. Our good Shepherd spread our table in the wilderness, and made our cup to run over.

On Monday, about 3 o'clock, P. M., we left the mouth of the river for home, rejoicing for the great things that the Lord had done for us, and arrived safely about 8 o'clock in the evening. It is

thought that about thirty found peace during our stay on the ground, eleven of whom belong to this station; and they all hold fast their confidence as yet. Several more have set out for the kingdom since our return, and the work is reviving amongst us. Our brethren and sisters are quickened; and indeed this is not one of the smallest benefits resulting from campmeetings, that old professors get quickened and rebaptized into the work of God; many get their backslidings healed, and show their faith by their works; and thus the work spreads into the different families and neighbourhoods. Our prospects are considerably promising. Our old members are, many of them, much alive in religion. Considerable religious excitement is visible in the congregation: several are under deep concern for their souls. Upon the whole, I greatly rejoice in the Lord for what he has done, and is doing now for us.

Pray for us, my dear brother, that we may be humble, thankful, and faithful.

Your affectionate brother,
H. BANGS.

Newburgh, August 29th, 1825.

THE meeting was appointed to commence on Monday, the 22d of August; but owing to the heavy rain immediately preceding, the people could not get there in time to make the necessary arrangements for its commencement on that day. And here permit me to remark that the providence of God seemed to be strikingly manifest in relation to the weather; for, during several weeks previous to this meeting, we were suffering in consequence of the severe drought, insomuch that some of our friends began to fear that the pasture and water would so fail as to render it very difficult, if not impossible, to hold the meeting. But the God of tender compassions was graciously pleased to send us a plentiful rain, to revive the grass, and make our springs

JOHN D. MORIARTY.

to abound with water; and then to disperse the clouds, and cause the sun to break forth in his brightness and splendour, and the gentle zephyrs to fan us with their cooling breezes: so that at the commencement, and during the progress of the meeting to its conclusion, the weather was as fine as I ever beheld at this season of the year.

Under these favourable auspices, the meeting was opened on Tuesday morning, at ten o'clock, by a sermon from the Rev. D. Ostrander, who gave us a very interesting and impressive discourse, from Mat. xi, 7: "What weat ye out into the wilderness to see," &c. The remaining preaching hours of this day were occupied by brothers Sellick and Willet, whose words seemed to be attended with a divine unction, which

made them interesting and profitable. During this day and night there was a number happily converted to God. On Wednesday morning the meeting became still more interesting: the hearts of ministers and people seemed to grow warm with holy fire. At ten o'clock the trumpet sounded to summon us again to the stand, when we were very pleasingly and profitably entertained by a discourse from brother G. Coles; and at two in the afternoon, and seven in the evening, by brothers Pierce and Dewolf, of Poughkeepsie and New Windsor-both of whom gave evidence that they were workmen that need not be ashamed. The intermediate hours were filled up as usual with prayer and exhortation in the circles, and the power of the Highest overshadowed us, and many sinners were made the happy subjects of converting grace. On Thursday morning God was with us, of a truth: the camp resounded with prayer and praise. That day, and the following night, success and victory, in a very peculiar manner, crowned the labours of God's ministers and people. At ten o'clock we were favoured with a discourse on the doctrine of Christian perfection, from our aged and venerable father in the gospel, the Rev. F. Garrettson; and at two, brother Scholefield, presiding elder of Rhinebeck district, who attended on the occasion, delivered a very solemn and weighty discourse, which was heard by listening thousands with deep and solemn attention; and at five in the afternoon, and eight in the evening, we had preaching again by brothers N. White and J. Kennaday. Many other brethren of the travelling connexion were presentwho, though they did not preach, laboured as faithfully, and perhaps as successfully, as those whose names have been mentioned. Prayer and

praise occupied the intermediate hours through the day, and the night was spent in active labours in the circles and tents; and the power of God unto salvation was gloriously manifest in the awakening and conversion of souls.In one praying circle there were fifty persons observed to be crying for mercy, and in a tent where prayer was made, twenty persons were happily converted to God; and in another, seven were enabled to rejoice in pardoning mercy. This was the work of the last night, and truly it was a season that will long be remembered by many.

We cannot ascertain precisely the number of conversions that took place at this meeting, but believe we may safely calculate on at least sixty, though some computed the number at eighty, and from that to one hundred. Besides which, many backsliders were reclaimed, and many lukewarm professors stirred up. In addition to which, many were awakened to a sense of their lost condition; some of whom, we may fairly calculate, will, through infinite mercy, be brought to the experience of grace in consequence of their attendance on this meeting.

On the whole, the character of this meeting was good, in relation to order observed and to the work wrought.Convictions seemed to be deep and pungent, conversions clear and satisfactory-giving evidence that it was of God, and not of man; to God be all the glory! I think I never attended a meeting of this kind where the preachers entered more heartily and cheerfully into the work; and I have no doubt that they will return to their ordinary labour with renewed ardour and courage. May the great head of the church go with them, and make the present a fruitful year in all parts of the vineyard where they labour, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

VOL. VIII. November, 1825.

tifully situate in the fertile valley of the Connecticut. In each of these towns there is a Congregational soci ety and church, and in some of them there are Baptists, and in three Unitarians. In some of these towns, our 56