remember, that his minister had been faithful to warn him not to keep in his house, a book, which blasphemed the Savior of the world.

He

On one occasion, when he was present at a meeting of the School Society, an open infidel was appointed a school-visiter. Mr. Hallock knew this infidel to be a man of learning and influence. He was aware, that any interference, on his part, would certainly give great offence to the man and his friends. But the lambs of his own dear flock were in peril. The cause of God was concerned. dared not be silent. He felt constrained to take a bold stand, and risk consequences; though, as in Paul's case, no man should stand with him. He rose, fearless as Daniel prayed, and plead the cause of Christ and of souls against infidelity, with an eloquence which delighted the friends of Christ, astonished all, and procured, through divine favor, a reversal of the improper appointment.

ences.

This good man's heart was once grieved and broken by the opening of a dancing-school in the principal village of his parish. It had long been, with him, a favorite neighborhood for religious conferHe still continued his meetings there, as usual. One evening, he perceived several learners of the gay art, in the conference room, and remarked: that, though painful to himself, yet he felt constrained to give a solemn admonition. After a proper introduction, he said distinctly, that in his judgment, all who attended the dancing-school were unquestionably in the broad way to hell. In stating the matter, afterwards, to one of his aged deacons,

he said: "I didn't know but they would kill me for it, but then I thought, if they did, they could only kill the body."

When his people erected a house for public worship, there was a difference of opinion and some warmth of feeling, as to the form of the seats. Some were in favor of pews, others, of slips. To settle the question, a meeting of the Society was called. On the Sabbath preceding this meeting, Mr. Hallock, ever anxious to avert evil, closed one of his sermons with the following anecdotes :

"I was, last week, at C, and saw a poor sinner in great distress for his soul. He informed me that he received his first deep impressions under a particular sermon. I said to him, 'I want to ask you, sir, one question. Was you, when the arrow from God's quiver reached your heart, sitting in a slip or in a pew?' 'O sir,' said the astonished man, 'I cannot tell. My mind was so overwhelmed with what the preacher said, I paid no attention to other objects.'

"I found another person in transports of joy. His tongue was loosed in the praises of God. He spake in rapture of the love of Christ. I said to this man: Dear sir, will you tell me the fashion of the meeting-house where you was seated when you found this precious Savior? Had it pews or slips ?' He replied, with some impatience, 'I neither know nor care about that matter. It is enough for me, that God was pleased in his great mercy to appear there for my sinking soul.""

Mr. Hallock then added: "A certain father had

6

two boys, Peter and John. One morning, he had a call from home, and directed his sons to take their sickles, go into such a field, and spend the day in reaping. At night, he returned and found nothing done. Calling his sons, the father inquires the cause of their idleness. Peter says: John wanted to begin to reap at the north end, but I thought it best to begin at the south end.' John says: Peter refused to begin with me and so I would not begin with him.' The father says in displeasure: You must both be punished with severity-not because you did not begin at some particular place, but because you refused to yield to one another, and did not begin at all.'”

CHAPTER XI.

Revival of religion among his people in 1798 and 1799.-Letter, in which he gives some account of the work ;-its commencement-rapidity and power-false hopes renounced-critical moment-awful impressiveness of the scene-means of increasing the work-sovereignty of God-plain truths of Scripture useful and welcome-conversion of infidels. Second letter, containing the confessions of several converted infidels-general effects on society and fruits of the work.-Mr. Hallock's labors.-His texts.-Feelings.-An anecdote.-Address to persons on receiving them into the church.

NEAR the close of the last century, commenced in New-England, what has been appropriately termed the era of revivals. Not that revivals of religion were till then unknown,-for they may be traced back to the memorable day of Pentecost, and to the earlier times of Ezra and Josiah,-but, that they have since been more extensive, continuous and powerful than before. At this period, so auspicious to Zion at large, very many churches in Connecticut awoke from the deep sleep of years. The influence of the Holy Ghost was now, to a broad extent, marked with uncommon power. Mr. Hallock's people were not left without a large share in the glorious work. After a sufficient trial of his faith-he having labored and looked for refreshing rain and received but a few scattering drops, until ready to sink in despondency—to his unspeakable joy, at the end of twelve dark, long years, the windows of heaven were opened, not to desolate but to make verdant the hills and vallies under his pastoral care, and to mature an abundance of fruit. It is stated by an eye-witness, that when the good man percei

ved the Lord to have come, in very deed, to dispel the gloom which had been so long thickening over his people, he could not suppress the swellings of his soul, but wept aloud in the meeting. To this interesting point in his life and ministry, we have now arrived. And the reader will rejoice to learn, that while the scene was yet fresh in his mind, Mr. Hallock drew up, for the public eye, a somewhat minute account of its general character.

A letter addresssd to the editors of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, and published in the first volume of that work.

"GENTLEMEN-Through the course of twelve tedious years, before this memorable period, the religion of Jesus gradually declined among us. The doctrines of Christ grew more and more unpopular; family prayer and all the duties of the Gospel were less regarded; ungodliness prevailed, and particularly modern infidelity had made and was making alarming progress among us. Indeed, it seemed to an eye of sense that the Sabbath would be lost, and every appearance of religion vanish; yea, that our Zion must die without an helper, and that infidels would laugh at her dying groans. But the God of Zion, who can do every thing, was pleased to appear and lift up the standard of the omnipotent Spirit against the enemy; and to him be all the glory!

"The first appearance of the work was sudden and unexpected: some particulars of which are as follows: The second Sabbath in October, 1798, I