The Life of Asahel Nettleton, Chapter 6, Labors in Saratoga County, and now saw sketches. In July 1819, being very much exhausted by his labors in Connecticut, Mr. Nettleton repaired to Saratoga Springs for rest. He did not expect to preach in that region, as his sole object was to recruit his strength. After he had been there a short time, the Reverend Mr. Tucker of Stillwater, Now the Reverend Dr. Tucker of Providence, Rhode Island, called to see him. In the course of their conversation something was said respecting waste places. This led Mr. Tucker to give him some account of Malta, a town in that vicinity, which had long been a waste place and in which there was no Presbyterian or Congregational church. This account awakened in Mr. Nettleton and Dusar to visit that place. Mr. Tucker kindly offered to accompany him and introduce him to a Mr. Hunter, a professor of religion and a very respectable and worthy man. They spent a night at his house and attended a prayer meeting with a few neighbors who were invited in. Mr. Nettleton agreed to come again and pass the Sabbath with them. And accordingly, on the first day of August 1819, he preached in their meeting house to a congregation of about 50 souls. On Monday, he returned to Saratoga, and at the request of the Reverend Mr. Griswold, attended the monthly concert in the evening. He shortly after attended some other meetings when it became apparent that the Spirit of God was operating upon the minds of the people. Mr. Nettleton continued his labors principally to Saratoga, occasionally preaching in Malta till November. He then labored most of the time in Malta, occasionally preaching in the neighboring towns, until the beginning of March, when he went to Schenectady, where he continued till near the close of April. The revival which began in Saratoga spread into Malta, and from there into all the surrounding region, and into Union College. While Mr. Nittleton was at Schenectady, he wrote to a friend in Connecticut, and an extract of the letter was published in the fourth volume of the Religious Intelligenceer, which I insert here, quote, I can at present give you nothing more than the outlines of what the Lord is doing for this section of his church, this region, and especially the county of Saratoga. has up to now been as destitute of revivals of religion as any part of this state. The commencement of this work was at Saratoga Springs last summer. At the place about 45 made a profession of religion. These include some of the most respectable characters in the village. Directly south is the town of Malta. For a number of years there has been no Presbyterian church in that place, but the past year there has been a very interesting revival among that people. Our meetings have been crowded and solemn as a house of death. A church has been recently organized which now consists of 105 members. You can hardly imagine the interest which this revival excited in the surrounding region. Although the inhabitants are scattered over a large extent, yet I truly believe I have seen more than 1,400 people assembled at once to hear the gospel. On the east of Malta is the town of Stillwater. Here also there has been a very powerful revival. Although there has been some excitement to serious things in this place in years past, yet this revival exceeds any they have ever before witnessed. On the 27th of February last, 103 publicly presented themselves a living sacrifice to the Lord, and about 100 more are rejoicing in hope and expect soon to follow their example. The work is still advancing. Numbers are under conviction. In Ballston, adjoining Malta and the West, the work has been very powerful. At their two last communions, they admitted 118 to Sephardic revival, and the work is yet increasing. Directly north is the town of Milton. I visited that people the Sabbath before last and prayed three times to a crowded and solemn assembly. In this place a revival has just commenced. Twelve are rejoicing in hope and a number more are anxious for their souls. Eight miles to the northwest adjoining Melton is the town of Galway. Here the work is overwhelming. In less than two months past more than 150 have been brought to rejoice in hope. Dr. Knott from this college visited them last Sabbath and admitted 95 to the church and the work is still progressing. On the south of this is Amsterdam. Here, 50 have recently been led to rejoice and hope. Adjoining this is a place called Tripes Hill. Here, 30 are rejoicing and the work in both these places is increasing. South from Alta, about 12 miles, is the city of Schenectady and Union College. where I now reside with Dr. McCauley. He takes a lively interest in this good work. I first became acquainted with him last summer at the Springs, and more particularly at Malta, where he frequently visited us and preached and conversed and attended the meetings appointed for those anxious for their souls. On a Sabbath, when a number were to be admitted to the church in Malta, he brought with him a number of students from the college. Some of them became anxious. About this time, one of the students was called in to the eternal world. He was laid out in Dr. Macaulay's study. The doctor was anxious to improve this solemn providence to the best advantage. He assembled the students around the lifeless remains of their departed friend, and conversed and prayed with them in the most solemn manner. A number of them engaged to attend to the subject of religion in earnest. From that time, many of the students became deeply impressed with the sense of their lost condition. Meetings of inquiry were appointed for them, and in this very room, where they lately beheld the breathless corpse of their young companion, and where I am now writing, was witnessed a scene of deep and awful distress. About thirty of the students were brought to rejoice in hope. The revival is now very powerful in the city, such a scene than ever before witnessed. More than 100 have been brought to rejoice and hope. Besides these, we had more than 200 in our meeting of inquiry, anxious for their souls. We met in a large upper room called the Masonic Hall. The room was so crowded that we were obliged to request all who had recently found relief to retire below and spend their time in prayer for those above. This evening will never be forgotten. The scene is beyond description. Did you ever witness 200 sinners with one accord in one place, weeping for their sins? Until you have seen this, you can have no adequate conceptions of the solemn scene. I felt as though I was standing on the verge of the eternal world, while the floor under my feet was shaken by the trembling of anxious souls in view of a judgment to come. The solemnity was still heightened when every knee was bent at the throne of grace, and the intervening silence of the voice of prayer was interrupted only by the sighs and sobs of anxious souls. I have no time to relate interest in particulars. I only add that some of the most stout, hard-hearted, heaven-daring rebels have been in the most awful distress. Within a circle whose diameter would be 24 miles, not less than 800 souls have been hopefully born into the Kingdom of Christ since last September. The same glorious work is fast spreading into other towns and congregations. This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel. The above letter was dated Union College, April 28, 1820. In the same volume of the Religious Intelligence, sir, there is a letter from a student in Union College dated March 6, 1820, given a very similar account of this revival except that it had made greater progress at the date of Mr. Nettleton's letter. I quote one short paragraph from this letter to show the character of the revival in Malta, after having given some account of the revival at Saratoga Springs. The writer says, quote, it commenced then in Malta, about 10 miles from this place, under the labors of a Mr. Nettleton. a missionary from Connecticut. It commenced, as I said, in Malta, and with such displays of the power of God's Spirit and crushing the opposition of the natural heart to everything holy as are very seldom seen. The deist and universalist, the drunkard, the gambler, and the swearer were all alike made the subjects of this heartbreaking work. Four months ago, Christ had no church there. It was a place of great spiritual dearth. And like the top of Gilboa, it had never been wet by rain or dew. But the Lord has now converted that wilderness into a fruitful field. They have an organized church of 85 members, and the work of conviction is going on. This revival, which commences Saratoga Springs and spread into the surrounding region, resulted in the hopeful conversion of not less than 2,000 souls. In the month of April 1820, Mr. Nettleton commenced his labors in Nassau, a village a few miles east of Albany. Among his papers has been found the following sketch of the revival in this place, and he kept a similar journal of his labors in all the places in which he preached. It would have contained a vast amount of interesting intelligence, but this is the only thing of the kind to be found among his papers. It is here given as presenting a specimen of the revivals which occurred under his preaching. Quote, a sketch of a revival of religion in Nassau which commenced in April of 1820. The state of religion in this village and its vicinity has for years been deplorable. The village contains a house for public worship held in common by two denominations, the Dutch Reformed and the Presbyterians. The former, during the past winter, have had one sermon every other Sabbath. and the latter have had no settled minister and no regular preaching for years. Indeed, their little church has become nearly extinct. The revival of religion in this place commenced as follows, quote, In the month of February, a number of persons from this village visited Malta during the revival there. One of this number who was left in Malta became a hopeful subject of divine grace, and shortly after returned to this village. The sacred flame began to kindle in the hearts of a few old professors. The news of distant revivals began to excite inquiry, and a few sinners became more solemn. One, after a season of distress, became joyful. For a moment, hope that was cherished. Yet a glorious day had dawned, but the surrounding darkness prevailed and hope at length expired. For a few weeks I had been absent from Malta. On my return, I received repeated and present invitations to visit Nassau. Prompted by the state of things, instead of returning to Schenectady as was expected, I concluded to defer it for one week and visit Nassau. April 19th. Arrived at Nassau. Attended a meeting in the schoolhouse. About fifty assembled and nothing particular occurred. April 20th. This evening attended a meeting in the large dining hall in a public house. The room was crowded. A number stood around the doors and windows and listened with respectful silence and much solemnity. It afterwards appeared that not less than twelve or fifteen dated their first serious impression from that meeting. A Mr. P. subsequently observed, I went to that meeting full of prejudice. You began to tell me the feelings of my own heart, and I began to be vexed and angry at one or two of my neighbors for informing you what I had said. I thought you were a man of great brass. On returning from meeting, I asked Mr. P. how she liked it. She burst into tears, and we both wept. Another whose mind was impressed at this meeting was a young woman who had passed through a revival in the town of Salisbury, Connecticut, five years before. She had been somewhat anxious and lost her concern, and, as I have learned, had made light of the subject. She entered the room this evening accompanied with others without suspecting that the particular was a man whom she had ever seen before. She remarked afterwards, as soon as I saw the preacher I felt distressed. I observed it was the same man that preached in Salisbury. I was expecting a revival. From this time her former feelings returned and in addition she was overwhelmed with a sense of her guilt and having dropped the subject. April 21st, this evening, met those who were anxious at Dr. M's. About 30 were present. As I commenced speaking to them in general, all were very still and solemn. Suddenly a youth, sitting near the window as if pricked in the heart, cried out in distress, This produced no diversion of attention, but increased the solemnity, for the cause was perfectly understood. After conversing with each one, we bowed a knee together at the Throne of Grace, and in a solemn stillness retired in an early hour. A number of these anxious souls belonged to one family. They reached home weeping. The father of the family had retired to rest. As the carriage came up to the door, he heard the cry of distress and started from his bed to learn the cause. His daughter-in-law, on entering the house, threw her arms around his neck and exclaimed, My father, what shall I do, what shall I do? She continued for some time in great distress, but before morning was rejoicing in hope. April 22, Saturday. Was in some doubt what course to pursue as the meeting house on the next Sabbath was engaged. rode to Greenbush and negotiated an exchange with the Reverend Mr. Marcellus of the Dutch Reformed Church. April 23rd, Sabbath, Mr. Marcellus preached in Nassau with power and effect, and at the close of the services at my request read a letter from Dr. Macaulay containing an account of the Revival and Union College in Schenectady. This increase of solemnity. I preached at Greenbush in the forenoon, and at three o'clock p.m. preached again in a ballroom at a public house on the road about two miles from this village. When I arrived, I found the ballroom crowded to overflowing. At the close of the services, a number assembled around me, some from curiosity, but many in deep distress, weeping aloud. I requested them to suppress their cries and be as still as possible. At this meeting the number were awakened. This evening priests in the meeting house in this village for the first time to a crowded and solemn audience. April 24, this evening met about 60 in a meeting for anxious inquirers. Among them were many in deep distress. This I expected would be my last meeting in this place, but I found so many in distress for their souls and the number increasing that I announced the appointment of one more public meeting in the meeting house on the following evening. April 25, met in a meeting house more crowded than ever, and solemn as eternity, preached on the nature and reasonableness of gospel repentance and urged the duty of immediate compliance and the danger of delay. Never more expecting to meet my anxious hearers in this world, I urged them by all the solemnities of the judgment not to pass the threshold of the meeting-house that night with impenitent hearts. They seemed to hear as for their lives. One from deep distress found relief in the midst of the discourse and lifted up a joyful countenance. No sinner had I closed and stepped from the stage, and she came near and, taking her husband by the hand, urged him to come to Christ. It was like a two-edged sword that pierced him to the heart. At this moment the anxious one assembled around me. and took me some by the hand, some by the arm, and some by the coat, exclaiming, Don't leave us. What shall I do? What shall I do? Nearly the whole congregation tarried. Those who could not come near stood, some on the seats and some on the sides of the pews, to hear and see. From the midst of this scene of distress, I addressed the whole congregation for about five minutes. Among other things I said, my hearers, I now no longer hesitate to tell you what I have been afraid to speak up to now, that a revival of religion has begun in Nassau. Yes, from what I have seen, I can no longer doubt a fact. I believe you are about to witness a solemn and trying time in this place, and now you must prepare either to be taken or to be left. I then told them I would meet them in the morning at sunrise in the schoolhouse and pray with them before I left, if they chose. I advised them to depart as still as possible and to be retired through the night, April 26. Met them in the morning before sunrise. Two of those who went away in distress last night came to me rejoicing this morning. They found relief before they slept. I prayed and conversed with them a few moments and started first connectivity before breakfast. Heard of one more rejoicing this morning. I called and found it so, and found others in distress. The distress in one house led me to another and that to another until I visited nine families before I left the place. It was truly affecting to witness these strangers crying for mercy. In a state I left them and went to Schenectady. During my absence I felt a deep interest for them in Nassau. The scenes that I had witnessed there were continually before me. It rained and I tarried two nights. April 28 started from Schenectady for Nassau. Arrived at Mr. B's within three miles of the village late in the evening. In this house some of whom I had left in great distress met me with joyful countenances. Hera was informed that the Baptists had a meeting at the Meeting House this evening. Wishing to embrace the opportunity to make an appointment, I drove on to the Meeting House and found the house nearly full. All were standing and about to retire, as the meeting had just closed. I made my way through the crowd, as I suppose unobserved, stepping upon the stage and announced an appointment for the next Sabbath. The effect of this little circumstance was almost incredible. I could hardly say which was most prominent, the burst of joy or of grief. A number came to me with joyful countenances, while others were borne down with grief. It is this night, just one week since the first instance of hopeful conversion occurred, and now about thirty appeared to be the subjects of grace. Many of these, it was afterward found, obtained relief on the day, and some a few minutes afterwards I left them. This is a memorable day. For when they afterwards came together to give a relation of their Christian experience, we found that some on that day retired from the groves and fields and some into their chambers and closets to cry for mercy. I have sent thought to the effect of my Lebanon as I did, and the advanced stages of their conviction was evidently beneficial. It drove them from all human dependence. Distressing as it is, and cruel as it may seem, it is necessary for them to feel that no arm but God's can help them. Similar effects from like circumstances have previously been witnessed. April 30th, Sabbath. The congregation was crowded and solemn. This day an event took place unknown to me at the time, which was designed by the enemy to check and put a stop to the work, but which in the hand of God was made subservient to its advancement. May 1st, met about 85 in a meeting of inquiry. May 2nd, this evening, held a meeting in the Meeting House and took note of the common sayings of Christians, which are calculated to check a revival by lessening the sinner's sense of obligation and quieting him in his sins. May 4th, at this date, we find about 40 rejoicing in hope. From this date to the 14th, preached nine times and held one meeting for inquirers. May 15. This evening attended a meeting of inquiry and found the number and distress of anxious souls rapidly increasing. The distress of Mr. W. is greatly augmented. This is the person who had been a little anxious during the revival in Salisbury, and whose attention had again been excited on entering our meeting the second evening in this village. From this time her distress continued about three days and nights. Providentially she was in a family, a number of whom were thoughtless and far from religion. This is loud preaching. So great was her distress that she was unable to attend meetings and was confined to the house. Many called to witness her distress. She concluded that the day of grace was over and she was now past the fear of mortals. She continued crying, Lord have mercy on my soul, I am lost, oh forever lost. In this situation she sent for me to call and see her, that she might beg my pardon for what she had said before she died. I called, and such was her agitation that it was difficult to keep her in one position. Sometimes sitting and annealing in a piteous tone, she would cry out, Young people, take warning from me! Young people, take warning from me! The house was constantly visited by curious spectators. often till late at night. Many thought that she could not live long. One physician asked my opinion whether I thought she would die. From past facts I have noticed that this extreme distress does not generally continue long, especially in seasons of revival, sometimes but for a few moments. commonly a few hours and rarely over three days. And when this extreme distress exceeds his time, I begin to fear that it may subside, as it has sometimes done, without a change of heart. On the third day she was rejoicing in hope. The question is often asked, why is it that the convictions of some sinners are so much greater than those of others? My answer? I do not know. The sinner's distress does not always appear to be in exact proportion to his crimes. But one thing I have learned from observation, and it is that when persons of a particular description have been brought under conviction, they have been exercised with severe distress. Those who once were anxious for their souls and have been laughed out of it, and return to the thoughtless world, if again awakened are more distressed than ever. Those who once made it a business to retire and pray and have long since dropped the subject are usually, if their attention is again excited, greatly distressed. Those who have labored hard to stifle and throw off their convictions or those who have formerly resisted the striveness of God's Spirit are usually the subjects of keen distress if convinced of sin of a second time. Those who have scoffed at the subject of religion and have mocked the messengers of Christ and ridiculed the worship of God are usually filled with great consternation and agony when brought to a just sense of their character and state. Those who have made light of revivals of religion by calling them enthusiasts and fanaticism in the works of the devil especially those who have taken an active part in ridiculing the conviction and conversion of sinners in the season of a revival, those who have called revivals by the hardest names, who have expressed the greatest contempt of them, and who have done the most to bring them into disrepute. Persons of this description have been the most frightful monuments of distress that I have ever witnessed. They despair of ever becoming the subjects of that work which they have treated with so much contempt. We have sometimes heard the champion of infidelity expressing his horror for fear of having committed the unpardonable sin. I'm acquainted with the names of persons who have become perfectly deranged in consequence of their own opposition to the progress of revivals. Conscience, without any other accuser, has driven the enemy of revivals out of his reason into a state of subtle delirium. The confession and fate of Judas show the power of conscience and stand recorded as a warning to the opposers of religion to beware. May 17. This evening we met in the schoolhouse. The room was crowded, and the meeting was exceedingly joyful. Every word that was spoken seemed to find a place in some heart. Such a season of rejoicing is rarely witnessed. All things are passed away, and all things have become new. It is not yet quite one month since the war commenced, and about sixty are supposed to be the subjects of grace. May 19, this evening. We met in a private house, and at the close of the exercises one of the young converts spoke to a stout-hearted sinner who had been struggling against his conscience, and he dropped upon his knees in distress of soul. Another followed me nearly home, inquiring what he must do to be saved. In this situation I left him, but before we retired to rest he came in with a new song in his mouth. The other went home in a great distress, but found relief before morning. May 20th. This is a solemn day throughout this village. Mr. L., a young lawyer who had been anxious for a few days, and who had retired to rest in my chamber came to my bedside early this morning in distress. He sat down to breakfast with us, and while at the table heard the tidings that another of his mates had found the Saviour the previous night, he instantly left the table and retired to my chamber. Sometime after, I entered the chamber and found him prostrate on the floor, crying for mercy. Well, he just continued. Growing worse and worse, a number came up to see him, but he seemed to take no notice of them and continued pleading for mercy. About 10 a.m., whether with a new heart I cannot say, I only record the fact He came downstairs, expressing his joy that he had found his savior. At the same time, his fellow student, M., in a house a few rods distant, lay prostrate in his chamber. I called and found a number assembled around him, while he lay crying for mercy. The burden of his prayer was that God would pardon his self-righteousness. The fact was this. A few days previous, he and his brother Lawyer had shut themselves in the chamber, seeking and striving and praying together for a long time, thinking without doubt they would before long succeed in becoming Christians. Here they continued until both had become exceedingly self-righteous. They could see it in each other, and each was alarmed at it and asked my opinion if they had not better separate. By all means, I told him. This sight of his heart was doubtless what most distressed him. About three p.m. he arose in like manner rejoicing that he had found the Savior. May 21, Sabbath. Held a meeting in the public house, Mr. B's, four or five miles from this village. When I arrived, the rooms were filled, doors and windows thronged. Those who seemed the most anxious had placed themselves near the seat of the speaker. When I named the psalm, all was silence except the sighs and sobs of anxious souls. The moment I began to speak, I felt that God was there. I address them from Genesis 7-1. Come, you all, and all your house into the ark. I felt unusual freedom and satisfaction in speaking. The solemnity of the scene will long be remembered. When I had pronounced the benediction, I do not know that a foot moved. All were standing and still anxious to hear. I gave them an account of what I had witnessed up in the village the week past. Many had assembled from the surrounding regions of desolation, doubtless for motives of curiosity, having heard something of the wonderful movement in the village. While given a relation of these wonderful things, every year was attentive. Some were sighing, and some were gazing in awed amazement. The language of every look seemed to be, we never heard such things before. In one large room, which was crowded entirely full, nearly all were in deep distress, besides many crowding round the doors and windows, all apparently equally anxious, except here and there a joyful convert. They were crowded so closely together that I could not pass among them to converse. So I spoke to one and another here and there in the distance as I could catch their eyes as they lifted them, streaming with tears. All were utter strangers whom I addressed and not a one could I call by name. My only method of designation was by pointing and saying, I mean you, or you, or this sinner and that sinner. Never did I feel a deeper compassion for sinners and for these poor strangers, a number I know not how many were awakened this day. Preached in the village in the afternoon and evening, and to this time we concluded that the crisis of solemnity was passed in the village. May 22nd. This evening attended a meeting for inquirers and all things considered. It was the most distressing and painful scene up to then witnessed in this revival. Unexpectedly, a number who had never before attended came from the region of solemnity described above. Some came four or five miles and crowded the meeting and threw it into a scene of awful distress. The distress was so great and the suppressed sighs and sobs became so loud that I could scarcely hear my own voice. One or two found relief on the spot and some lost their strength so that they were obliged to help them out of the chamber. It was with the utmost difficulty that I could prevail on them to separate. Some would start to retire, but the cry of distress would call them back again, and in this state we were long detained. After leaving the chamber the distress was so great it was almost impossible to prevail on them to retire. At length all retired but one, who in great agony tarried through the night. But many who came from a distance remained overnight in the neighborhood. May 24. This evening, attending the meeting of Mr. Jeeves, a number sobbed and wept. May 25. This evening met again at the same place. One who formerly thought he had obtained a hope and lost it was again awakened, and at the close of the meeting cried aloud. He professes to have found relief. But I think without any good evidence of a change of heart, I fear he has again deceived himself. May 26th this evening met the young converts in a social meeting and began to hear a relation of the Christian experience. May 27th this afternoon held a general meeting of the young converts. And of all others who chose to attend, the object of which was to address the subjects of this work on the nature of a public profession of religion, spoke of the duty, the qualifications, requisite, and stated in answers, objections, to duty, one, to God, two, to yourself, three, to the church, four, to the world, and so on. May 28, Sabbath. preached thrice to a crowded, attentive, solemn, and yet joyful audience. May 29th, this evening, met nearly 200 in a meeting for inquirers. This meeting was anticipated by many with secret dread. Some Christians, doubtless among the rest who were present and witnessed the scene of distress at the last inquiry meeting, were heard to say that they dreaded to attend this evening. They could hardly endure the thought of passing through such a scene of distress a second time. And I can truly say that for the first time I felt the same reluctance. But, to the astonishment of all, instead of an anxious meeting we had a joyful one. Most of those in such distress at our last meeting for inquirers had found relief and were exceedingly joyful. What an astonishing change in one week! I felt that it could hardly be possible. We had lost our anxiety and had little else to do but to render united thanks to God for what He had done. But before we parted, I went round and collected them into a circle. A number of them, who were without hope, conversed with each one, addressed the whole, and prayed with and for them as those professing no hope. This is evidently the means of deepening their impressions. May 30th, this evening, met in the schoolhouse. The room was crowded, and the audience were still, solemn, animated, and joyful. The same was the general character of our meetings after this date. From this time, we spent a number of half-days and evenings in hearing a relation to their Christian experience, preparatory to a public profession. These were interesting and animating seasons, affording the best opportunity of learning the human heart and all of its foldings of depravity and opposition, and the astonishing change wrought by the power of God's grace. June 25, Sabbath. This day, 68 made a public profession of religion, 32 of whom were baptized, at a time more than A hundred had, to appearance, become the subjects of divine grace. A number more have since publicly professed Christ, and of these five young men are preparing for the gospel ministry. " This sketch was drawn up by Mr. Nettleton a few months after he left Nassau. from brief memoranda which he kept at the time. This, as I have said, is a specimen of the revivals which occurred under his preaching, and on less than forty or fifty places there were revivals in connection with his labors, quite as interesting as this, and in some of them the hopeful converts were twice or thrice as numerous. While I speak of this as a specimen of the effects of Mr. Nettleton's preaching, I should perhaps make one or two slight exceptions. When he first went to Nassau, he expected to remain there but a short time. This circumstance induced him to hold meetings more frequently than he did in ordinary cases. and as he was obliged to close his labors there in about two months from the time the revival began, and as the church was destitute of a pastor, he admitted some of the confers to the church sooner than he was prone to do. With these slight exceptions, the foregoing sketch will give the reader a very good view of his ordinary course of proceeding, and of the effects which accompanied his labors.