I do not intend to represent the preaching of _morality_, and pressing persons to the _external_ performance of duty, to be unnecessary _at any time_; especially when there is less of divine power attending the means of grace.――It is doubtless among the things that “ought to be done,” while “others are not to be left undone.”――But what I principally design is a plain matter of fact, viz. That the external compliance with the rules of Christianity, appearing among my people, is not the effect of any _merely_ rational view of the beauty of _morality_, but of the internal influence that divine truths have had upon their hearts.
_Thirdly_, It is remarkable, that God has so continued and renewed the showers of his grace: so quickly set up his kingdom among these people; and so smiled upon them in their acquirement of knowledge, both divine and human. It is now near a year since the beginning of this gracious out-pouring of the divine Spirit; and although it has often seemed to decline for some short time, yet the work of grace revived again: so that a divine influence seems still to attend the means of grace, in a greater or less degree: whereby religious persons are refreshed, strengthened, and established,――convictions revived and promoted in many,――and some newly awakened from time to time. Although it must be acknowledged, that for some time past, there has appeared a more manifest decline of this work. But (blessed be God) there is still an appearance of divine power, a desirable degree of tenderness, and devotion in our assemblies.
And as God has continued the showers of his grace among this people; so he has with uncommon _quickness_ set up his kingdom in the midst of them. I have now baptized, since the conclusion of my last journal, thirty persons, fifteen adults, and fifteen children. Which added to the number there mentioned, makes seventy-seven persons; whereof thirty-eight are adults and thirty-nine children: and all within the space of eleven months past.――And I have baptized no adults, but such as appeared to have a work of grace in their hearts: such as have experienced not only the awakening, but the renewing and comforting influences of the divine Spirit. Much of the goodness of God has appeared in their acquirement of knowledge, both in religion and in common life. There has been a wonderful thirst after _Christian knowledge_ among them, and an eager desire of being instructed. This has moved them to ask many pertinent as well as important questions. Many of the doctrines I have delivered, they have queried with me about, in order to gain further light into them: and from time to time manifested a good understanding of them, by their answers to the questions proposed.
They have likewise appeared remarkably apt in learning to sing psalms, and are now able to sing well.
They have also acquired a considerable degree of knowledge in the affairs of common life: so that they now appear like _rational_ creatures, fit for human society, free from that savage roughness and brutish stupidity, which they had in their Pagan state.
And as they are desirous of instruction, and surprisingly apt in the reception of it, so divine providence has smiled upon them in regard of _proper means_ in order to it.――The attempts made for a _school_ among them have succeeded, and they have a _school-master_, of whom I may justly say, I know of “no man like-minded, who will naturally care for their state.”
He has generally thirty or thirty-five children in his school: and when he kept an ♦evening-school (as he did in the long evenings), he had fifteen or twenty people, married and single.
♦ “evening” replaced with “evening-school” per Errata
The children learn with surprising readiness; so that their master tells me, he never had an English school that learned, in general, near so fast. There were not above two in thirty, although some of them were very small, but what learned to know all the _letters_ in the _alphabet_ distinctly, within three days, and divers in that space learned to _spell_ considerably; and some of them since the beginning of February last (at which time the school was set up) have learned so much, that they are able to read in a _Psalter_ or _Testament_ without spelling.
They are instructed in the duty of secret prayer; and most of them constantly attend it night and morning, and are very careful to inform their master if they apprehend any of their little school-mates neglect it.