party is the special work of the holy spirit, it must be in all; for the same features and characteristics are exhibited in all. Can you then believe that a God of truth sanctions error as much, and in the same manner, as he sanctions truth; which must be the case if these revivals are his special work; for Unitarianism and Calvinism cannot both be truth? Can you believe that he blesses Unitarianism with a greater outpouring of his holy spirit, than he does Calvinism; which must be the case if these excitements are his special work; for they are produced oftenest and most extensively under Unitarian preaching? If you cannot, then you must acknowledge that these revivals are not the special work of the holy spirit, but the natural fruit of human agency.

3. In the third place, you know these revivals are confined to those who believe in their divine origin. You sometimes find a society of Episcopalians and a society of Calvinists in the same village. Members of the same family belong to each; and near neighbors attend the different churches. The doctrinal opinions of both parties may be expressed in the thirty nine articles. The Calvinists believe in the divine origin of these excitements; they adopt the necessary measures for their production; nearly all their members become more or less excited. In the mean time, the Episcopalians regard their exertions as unscriptural and fanatical; they regard the revival as of human origin and pernicious tendency; while their friends and neighbors are deeply interested in the work, they remain calm and unaffected, and scarcely an individual has his feelings and passions aroused. Such instances are of frequent occurrence. Take Lowell for an example. You recollect the account which Mr Beckwith, the Calvinistic minister, gave of the powerful revival in that place, and for which document he obtained a ten dollar premium. You remember that he regarded the Episcopalians as enemies to the good work, and

that a member of that society exposed several errors in this premium statement. Now why is the excitement confined to those who believe in its divine origin? Why does it not extend to those who consider it the work of human beings and openly oppose its progress, and thus convince them of their dangerous mistake and aggravated wickedness? Can the mere belief on this point prevent the outpouring of the spirit? You must either admit that it can, which amounts to a perfect absurdity; or you must allow that these revivals are not the special work of the holy spirit, but the mere results of human opinion and action.

4. In the fourth place, you know these revivals are deliberately voted into being by orthodox ministers. I will illustrate this remark by a reference to the actual proceedings of your denomination. Your leaders saw and loudly lamented the rapid and extensive spread of Unitarianism. They concluded that its progress could be checked in no way so effectually as by a general religious excitement. One or two associations resolved to use the necessary means for its production. A large body of your clergy met in Boston at Election, and determined to do all in their power to secure the influence of the women, to cease controversy with Unitarians, and to make every possible exertion for the existence of a powerful revival. The same thing has been virtually done in several other meetings of the leaders in other States. Letters have been passed in relation to this desirable object. The conclusion of the whole matter seemed to be, that the work should be commenced in the cities, and then extended into the country. The revival preachers were accordingly stationed at their respective posts. It became convenient to have the notorious Beman in Charleston, S. C. When the train was well laid, the match was applied. The prayer bell rung at dawn of morning, from Maine to Georgia. All the revival machinery before used, and even some new inventions, were put into full operation.

And in many places some success has attended this mighty and combined effort. All this, and very much more of the same character, you know is literal truth. Now look at some of the votes of your ministers which have been brought to light. They resolved that it was their duty to have a revival of religion in their respective parishes, and that they would use greater means for its production. Now, if it was their duty to have a revival, was not the work their own? Can you believe that human beings are any where commanded to pour out the holy spirit? No. Then you must admit, that these revivals are not the special work of the spirit, but the natural result of increased human labor and

ment.

manage

5. In the fifth place, you know these revivals are got up according to certain prescribed rules. Dr Beecher preached a discourse on this subject in Beverly some time since, an abstract of which I have received. He stated explicitly that these excitements could be produced at any time, and even kept in continual operation. He compared the influence of the spirit, to the law of gravitation; and affirmed that nothing was wanting but human co-operation to secure constant conversions. He then described very minutely the various measures to be adopted, and the different parts each class were to act in the drama. Not only so; others have published books for this purpose, and instructed the leaders what must be said and done, to secure sucNow if these prescribed regulations will produce the desired revival, is it not the product of human machinery? Has God any where or in any manner authorized such publications, or promised to bestow his blessing on such human measures? Look at the political leaders in our country. Are they not laying plans and adopting means to secure the election of a certain President? Should their efforts be crowned with success, would they be justified in calling the result of their operations, the special work of the holy spirit?

cess.

Do not all parts of the apparatus for the production of a religious excitement depend equally on human agency and management? Can you then believe that the former is the work of man, and the latter the work of God? No. Then you must admit that these revivals are not the special work of the holy spirit, but the natural product of well contrived human machinery.

6. In the sixth place, you know these revivals are produced or checked by the efforts of the human will. Let me illustrate this remark by three well known facts. The first is this. When you have organized a feeble church in a Unitarian parish, you immediately commence operations for the production of a religious excitement. You seem to think that some thoughtless individuals may be drawn in by your new and extraordinary measures. The pastor of the society devotes his principal attention to the accomplishment of this object. The one you have stationed in Billerica lately informed his church that he must leave them unless they could get up a revival. He called upon all to rise who would aid him in this desirable work; and then instructed them when, and how often, and how long to

pray. Can you believe the Deity may be thus induced to aid in accomplishing a party and sectarian effort? Does he take sides with the Unitarian Christians when they meet with so much success in drawing from Calvinistic societies?

The second fact is this. When youare getting up an excitement in any place, you warn your hearers to avoid society; all places of innocent amusement; all meetings for literary instruction and improvement. In Northampton, an objection was made to the public celebration of Independence, for fear it might terminate the delusion. And even in Boston very lately, one of your preachers exhorted his hearers to retire home in silence, to avoid all conversation with each other, and to fasten their attention upon the solemn truths delivered. Can you believe the operation of the holy spirit is prevented by such slight

common sense.

and innocent causes? And finally, these revivals may be checked and suspended by an appeal to reason and I have known two instances in which they were terminated very suddenly by such an appeal. The Unitarian minister in each case plainly stated views similar to those I have here advanced, and the delusion was dissipated. Now can you believe that the Deity is thus at the disposal of his sinful children? Can you believe that his special presence can be secured at any time in aid of a party undertaking, or driven away at any time by a free expression of honest opinion? If you cannot, then you will acknowledge that these revivals are not the special work of the holy spirit, but the fruit of party and sectarian measures.

7. In the seventh place, you know there is a great difference of opinion on these revivals among your leaders. This has been fully manifested, and even published to the world. The circumstances are briefly these. About three years ago, a mighty effort was made to get up an extensive revival. In the state of New York, the most unprincipled measures were adopted, and the most disgraceful scenes were transacted. The leaders of this work were Messrs Beman and Finney. Dr Beecher and his coadjutors in New England had already succeeded in producing some considerable excitement. They feared an explosion would take place, should the proceedings of the New York revivalists be known in this vicinity. They accordingly wrote Dr Beman a long letter on the subject, and urged him to desist from, such dangerous practices. This gave offence; and eventually led to the famous New Lebanon convention, to which twenty-four of the leaders were invited by Messrs. Beecher and Beman. The object of the meeting was 'to see in what respects there is an agreement, between brethren from different sections of the country, in regard to principles and measures in conducting and promoting revivals of religion.' Resolutions were offered on each side, de