CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

GENERAL CHARACTER OF REVIVALS.

Periodical-Distinguished from all former religious

excitements-Extra meetings-unusual agitation-

Body of society divided into the three classes of

"new converts," "the anxious," and the uncon-

cerned.

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LETTER II.

CAUSES OF REVIVALS.

Extraordinary character of these excitements-

Clerical influence-Process of feeling by which the

Revival commences in the mind of the Clergyman-

his ideas of Religion-his doctrinal views-Spread

of the Revival among the people-unusual reli-

gious meetings, instructions and combinations-itine-

rant preachers and others, who give an impulse to the

public mind-advantage taken of extraordinary events,

death of young persons, &c.-Motives of the leading

actors in these scenes.

LETTER III.

CAUSES OF REVIVALS,-CONTINUED.

Natural susceptibility of religious impression and

propensity to religious excitement-Claims of Revi-

vals to a supernatural character, increasing this ten-

dency-These claims discussed.

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LETTER IV.

METHODS OF PROMOTING THE REVIVALS.

Illustrated in an account of two religious meetings--

Human means and management-Circumstances con-

sidered with reference to the Revivals-Winter usual-

ly the season of them-time of general health said to

be favorable-Social plans and projects overruled

for their promotion-Religious meetings, in which the

converts, the anxious and unconcerned, are separa-

ted from each other--Domiciliary visitation--Secta-

rian zeal-Rumors.

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LETTER V.

THE RELIGION OF REVIVALS.

The great question, of what character it is and wheth-
er so much excitement is expedient-Conversation in
the stage-coach--Unnatural and extravagant charac-

ter of the Religion of Revivals-illustrated in the

manners of society, and especially in the notion of

conversion-Prevailing ideas of the suddenness of

conversion, suspected to be modern, and to have re-

sulted in a great measure from Revivals, or from the

Masters of Revivals, Whitfield, Wesley, Tennant and

Davenport-Sentiments of Calvin--Mathias Flacius

of Illyria--Hasty and unlearned criticisms upon the

New Testament language about Conversion.

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LETTER VI.

RELIGION OF REVIVALS.

Illustrated in the proceedings of the New Lebanon

Convention--Further reflections on the unnatural

character of this Religion.

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LETTER VII.

THE RELIGION OF REVIVALS,-CONTINUED.

The extraordinary and novel character of it-Fluctu-
ation-Tumult-Publicity-Monitorial system of re-
ligious instruction-Contracted views of religion and
of God-Observation of Dr. Paley-Contrast be-
tween our Saviour's manner of teaching and that em-
ployed in Revivals-Self-complacency and presump-
tion nourished by Revivals-Their tendency to resolve
religion into a set of passive impressions—The system

of Revivals fitted to enslave the mind-unfriendly to
morality-on what accounts and in what respects-
The Revival conscience not the true conscience-
Discriminations-the true conscience not empas-
sioned but calm-illustrated in the teaching of Christ
-Further views of Revivals-Their evils apt to be
overlooked by their friends in the estimate they form
of them-Admission, that they do some good-The
province of Revivals chiefly limited to less reflecting
and refined minds, which are less liable to be injured
by rude and harsh treatment--The prerogative of God
to bring good out of evil-Analogy between religion
and other works and ways of the Almighty-The little
prevalence which a true and exalted religion has yet
attained.

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