and brother Daniel Wiers. These were followed by weighty and spiritual exhortations. One of these was from Elder R. Carey. He had been ill for years, yet he had come seventy-five miles, by short stages, to attend this meeting. A little son of his came to take care of him; and late in the afternoon, which was as soon as he was able, some brethren helped him ascend the stand, and being seated, he addressed the people. Every eye was fixed on his pale face, and every ear attentive to his voice. Several dropped a tear at his feeble appearance, and our sympathy was increased by the reflection, that his abundant labours to win souls to Christ, had increased his infirmities, and compelled him to retire from the gospel field. His words were few and weighty; and on leaving the stand he wept-as though conscious that he might no more meet his brethren in yearly meeting. Many were much affected. In Elders' Conference, on Monday, brother Daniel Wiers proposed to unite with the connexion,-on which six Elders were appointed to visit his native town and hold a two days' meeting. I have since learned that the council ordained him to the work of the ministry. The subject of Masonry was again introduced; and a resolve passed, I think in the following words: "Agreed, that, if any thing can be proved by human testimony, it is abundantly manifest that the institution of Free Masonry is wicked in the extreme; and we do most earnestly entreat all our brethren to renounce their masonic obligations; and have nothing to do with that system. The yearly meeting having appointed me their messenger to the General Conference to be holden in R. I., I received from the Elders' Conference a collection of about twelve dollars that was taken the day before. As we expected to continue our stay in New-England, perhaps a year, or more, we had a solemn parting with our dear brethren. Tuesday, I preached in Greece; and next day, to an assembly in Rochester. A revival had lately commenced in this village. Thursday, I spoke to an assembly in Penfield; and we sat together in a heavenly place. On Saturday, we met with our brethren at Canandaigua, and enjoyed 355 A RELIGIOUS NARY ation. the presence of the Lord. Aeavens who were added to the chs a shad- ode-Island; lessing 1 Thurs commenc business much una united by on anothe us?" l Conference My fifth joue meeting of g. In general, MONDAY, Sept. 6 hearts were so New-England, andid two disciples hundred and forty eart burn within Tyre and Fabius. reports received, of three other appion, seven yearly we attended the , four hundred and meeting, at Nevndred and ten orvious, Elder Ae of these numbers gathered the fira. there app meetings, thirty-six dained pre fall short Messeng parts. The qua every part of the connexion, es, about one Imeeting, from which. a refreshin ders, three During the sitting of Confere preacher. Dship were held at the meeting-ho courses: the forenoon of Thursday and Friday. reached the g, about two thousand people assen fifty miles tectedly, I was informed that the prea We were it would be my duty to preach. I had Baptists. subject on my mind, and wished some othe Vermont, forward; but all declined. A sense of the ima kind rof this hour-the responsibility of the speal worship the reflection that the aged and the learned we nd Mesent, and that I was but a outh, made my spir sink within me, and it seemed though I was less than the "dust of the balance." pout, as Erskine says, acce and "He cuts me down to build me up, He empties me to fill my cup." and brother Daniel Wiers. These were followed by weighty and spiritual exhortations. One of these was from Elder R. Carey. He had been ill for years yet he had come seventy-five miles. h to attend this meeting. A take care of him was as soon as he OUS NARRATIVE. a tear at his feeble appe were attentive and solemn. increased by the reflect us, and appeared to love to win souls to Christ, vening, I preached again and compelled him to reti week following we spent generally introduced reli- er. brother Daniel Wiers propos, we started for R. I., words were few and w his native town and hold a twe proved by human testimony, it is' since. We visited we also should be that the institution of Free Mas I attended hers. 1he week following extreme; and we do most earnest brethren to renounce their masoni bury, anges New-Mil dost thou have nothing to do with that systerton we passed meeting having appointed me their m once resided, General Conference to be holden in Fod; but nearly from the Elders' Conference a colle and strangers twelve dollars that was taken the day As we expected to continue our staytown, and tarland, perhaps a year, or more, we had at a change in ing with our dear brethren. Tuesday, 1- Graves and Greece; and next day, to an assembly in otted fever. A revival had lately commenced in th Calvinistic Thursday, I spoke to an assembly in Penople in the we sat together in a heavenly place. On distil we met with our brethren at Canandaigua, and of which upon → loss of he time little seemed more like home, than her empty habitation. Thus " man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.' Never did I feel a deeper sense of man's mortality, than at this time. O what is man? "He cometh forth like a flower-he fleeth also as a shadow." We tarried the night in Hartford, with an only sister of my father, and held a meeting. In two days, we arrived at Greenville in Smithfield, Rhode-Island; and rejoiced to meet with many dear brethren, particularly Elder E. Place, whose labours had been a blessing to us at the last Conference. Thursday, Oct. 14, 1830, the General Conference commenced at 9 o'clock, A. M. The meeting of business continued till Saturday evening. In general, much unanimity prevailed; and our hearts were so united by love, that we could say, as did two disciples on another occasion, "Did not our heart burn within us?" At this Conference, from the reports received, there appeared to be in the connexion, seven yearly meetings, thirty quarterly meetings, four hundred and thirty-six churches, and three hundred and ten ordained preachers. Probably some of these numbers fall short of a correct enumeration. Messengers were present from every part of the connexion, except Ohio yearly meeting, from which a refreshing letter was received. During the sitting of Conference, meetings of worship were held at the meeting-house, except on the forenoon of Thursday and Friday. Sabbath morning, about two thousand people assembled, and, unexpectedly, I was informed that the preachers thought it would be my duty to preach. I had no particular subject on my mind, and wished some other one to go forward; but all declined. A sense of the importance of this hour-the responsibility of the speaker, and the reflection that the aged and the learned were present, and that I was but a youth, made my spirit sink within me, and it seemed as though I was less than the "dust of the balance." "But, as Erskine says, aco "He cuts me down to build me up, He empties me to fill my cup." Second Tim. 3:16, occurred to my mind with some degree of light. I thought it a suitable text for the occasion, and concluded to speak from it. But while the messengers were giving a summary of the revivals reported from different parts of the connexion, my text went from me, and I could not recollect it. The time for speaking drew near- -I was empty and confused-I cried to the Lord for help; and just before I arose, the text was brought to my remembrance: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine." My mind was composed, the subject opened with unexpected clearness, and after some introduction, I proposed I. To present some of the many arguments that establish the divine authenticity of the Scriptures. II. To show what doctrine the Scriptures teach. On the first division, I argued the authenticity of the Scriptures, 1. From the prophecies and their fulfilment. 2. From the miracles-whose authenticity is supported by a greater weight of testimony than an other facts of equal antiquity. 3. From their internal evidences, and agreement with general history. 4. From their unparalleled number of martyrs, considering the varied character, circumstances, and manner, in which they have suffered. On the second proposition, I spoke, 1. Of God, his unity, and attributes. 2. Of the creation of man in purity, and in the image of God. 3. Of the accountability of man, and the law under which he is placed. 4. Of the transgression of Adam, his fall, and its effect on his posterity. 5. Of the atonement made by Christ. 6. Of regeneration. 7. Of the church of Christ. 8. Of its discipline and government. 9. Of its ordinances. 10. Of perseverance. 11. Of the general judgment. 12. Of the final destinies of all men. It pleased the Lord to give me unusual freedom, and I spoke nearly two hours. The Holy Spirit moved on the people, and much of the time many wept. Several became resolved to seek the Lord. Among these was a merchant at Greenville, who had hitherto trusted in morality for salvation; and a school teach |