Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

himself he would manifest his engagedness in the cause, by assuming the sole care of business at home, in order to enable his partner, Mr. T. Dwight Williams, (whose name is still fragrant in the memory of the pious,) to engage in these more delightful labors abroad. His horse and carriage were always at the service of the brethren in their missionary tours, and were in such constant employment that the animal became extensively known as "the missionary horse."

These visits to neighboring churches were greatly blessed in the promotion of revivals of religion. At least twenty-five out of thirty-one congregations in New Haven county, which were visited by the brethren of this association, were soon after favored with an out-pouring of the Spirit, and between fifteen hundred and two thousand souls, in this single county, were hopefully converted to Christ. The General Association of Connecticut state in their Report in June, 1822, that more than three thousand had been added to the Congregational churches in the State during the year which then closed. We have already seen that five thousand were added in the preceding year.

This statement is not intended to intimate that the labors of Mr. Dwight, or of the brethren associated with him, produced these wonderful effects. It was "the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our eyes.' The glory belongs to Him alone. Yet the Lord was pleased to employ this particular instrumentality for

[ocr errors]

the promotion of his great work; and as far as the labors and prayers of a private Christian (who was neither a Whitfield nor a Nettleton) can promote the salvation of sinners, so far the subject of this memoir has been honored and rewarded with the cheering welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

The preceding statements are made upon the authority of a gentleman who often accompanied Mr. Dwight on these errands of love, and who, with many others, can bear witness to his zeal and fidelity in his Master's service. It may be interesting to subjoin a somewhat similar narrative of these visits of the brethren, from the pen of Mr. Dwight himself. It is taken from a biographical sketch of Mr. Williams, published in the Christian Intelligencer in 1831. By substituting Mr. Dwight's name for that of Mr. Williams, the reader will see how faithfully he has portrayed his own character and labors in describing those of his friend and partner.

"As we have lately followed to the grave the remains of our much respected brother in Christ, Mr. T. Dwight Williams, whose labors in the cause of his Lord and Master were well known, and often witnessed by you and myself, I feel unwilling that the example he set in Christian activity, in obedience to the precepts of the gospel, should pass unnoticed. It

may be useful to the young men who have recently united with the family of Christ, to have the example of one whose light shone with no doubtful radiance, clearly exhibited, at least in some of its most striking characteristics.

66

ren.

'Many who read this article, will remember the great reformation which took place in New Haven, in the years 1820 and 1821. That gracious effusion of the Divine Spirit, exhibited to the eye of the intelligent disciple of Christ, several peculiarities; but none which to me seemed so remarkable as the earnest and long continued labors of our Christian brethThese exertions were reduced to system. A regularly organized plan was adopted. The individuals who were to be called upon to act, subscribed a written document, subjecting themselves on certain evenings of each week, to be in readiness to engage in conferences, at the house and place to which they should be directed by the Superintendent. These conferences were held in various parts of the city, and were extended to the villages, where the brethren were welcomed with entire cordiality. In the front of this band of working Christians, was ever found our much respected brother, whose departure we lament, and whose memory will be affectionately cherished by many a follower of the Lord Jesus, who has reason to trace the first serious impression on his own mind, to the truths which fell from his lips. As a part of the system of operations then adopted, these

brethren convened every Saturday evening, for prayer and praise. On this occasion, a report was made of each meeting which had been held; of the convictions and conversions which were known to have occurred; and of the revivals of religion in the neighboring towns and churches of which intelligence had been received. Of the striking exhibitions of brotherly love, of animation in the cause of truth, and of zeal, guided by knowledge, which were manifested on these occasions; and particularly of the hearty cooperation of our departed brother, the vivid traces can never be obliterated from the recollection of those who survive. And when we advert to the great numbers (not less than one hundred and seventy-five) who were converted in our villages during that revival, chiefly through the instrumentality of these brethren, for they often went out to the high-ways and hedges and compelled them to come in, through the force of truth, we have reason to believe that in the final day, many a sinner, saved from the wrath to come, will point to our departed brother as his spiritual father.

"But my object is not so much to insist on the labors in our villages, as to state and explain a different course of efforts, which, so far as my information extends, was new in our churches, commencing in the year 1821; and which, by the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, was crowned with surprising success. In order to place the subject clear

ly before the mind, I observe, that the revival of religion in New Haven, at the time I have mentioned, was a great work; an out-pouring of the Divine Spirit, more signal and powerful than had ever been known in the State. It extended to all denominations of Christians in the city, and the anxious inquirer was found in almost every family. The churches at that time, in this region of country, had settled down into a state of formalism. Christians, when they examined the evidences of their discipleship to Christ, were under the necessity of looking back to years which had passed by, and to exertions made at the time of their conversion, and not to the present state of their active obedience, or the ardor of their present religious affections. While the churches around us were in this state of apathy and indifference, the intelligence of the wonderful displays of divine grace, as exhibited in New Haven, was circulated far and wide. As the sound fell on the ear, the attention was excited, and some desires for a revival of religion among themselves, arose in the hearts of the followers of Christ; desires which, although at first faint and feeble, grew more distinct and vivid, as the subject was contemplated, and the intelligence repeated. Information concerning the wonderful works of God among us was transmitted by letters, which, in some instances, were read publicly before the congregations assembled on the Sabbath. By this means the churches were prepared for

« AnteriorContinuar »