YOU have been probably waiting for something to be published from this quarter, may be a little surprised to find the Kentucky Revival our theme; as it is generally known that we profess to have advanced forward into a much greater work.

      Admitting this to be the case (which we do not deny) it would nevertheless be improper to forget, or set light by any operation or work of the true spirit, however small it might seem. But far from esteeming the Kentucky Revival a day of small things, we believe it was nothing less than an introduction to that work of final redemption, which God had promised in the latter days. And to preserve the memory of it among those who have wisely improved it as such, the following particulars have been collected for the press, by one, whose spirit was in it from the beginning, and who is a living witness of the most important particulars which occurred in every stage of it, until the present day.

      For the better understanding of the following history, it will be proper to make a few preliminary observations.

      It will be granted, that God has a particular order and manner of working, in which one thing goes before another. Thus: the law and the prophets were until John, after that the kingdom of heaven is preached. It then follows that all men press into it. The first thing is the law, which convinces of sin. 2. The Prophets who minister the promise and hope of salvation. 3. The kingdom of heaven is preached; the way and method of salvation made manifest in word and doctrine: and last of all we must press into it. This is the order of God, and there is no other. Nothing short of pressing into the kingdom can save the soul. Conviction may die away; hope and comfort desert the breast; and the [5] most lively views of the kingdom be forgotten. Hence the necessity of so often reviving these things among professors. But whatever can die away, is short of the kingdom of God; those who are in the kingdom have everlasting life. Therefore it is plain that the constituent parts of a revival (which are conviction of sin, a hope of deliverance from it, and a manifestation of the heavenly state) can only be preparative to entering into it. How many revivals have taken place in these latter days, which for a season would raise the people, as it were, to heaven's gate; and after all, leave them to fall back into their former listless state. And why so? Because they did not take the last step, and press into that state which in word and doctrine was opened.

      II. It will be granted, that whoever preaches the kingdom of heaven, must preach deliverance from all sin: For where sin is, there can be no heaven. Now when the kingdom has been preached, and honest souls have fixed their eye of faith upon it--longed with intense desire to be in it, and solicitously enquired for the footsteps of those who have already entered: then has been the time for the grand deceiver to come in with his doctrine of procrastination, and preach up sin for term of life;--appeal to the doleful experience of past generations, and confirm the fatal error by the doctrines and decrees of a corrupt church. Thus the most promising revivals have been blasted, and all that near sense of heaven's pure enjoyments (common under the preaching of the kingdom) extinguished by men of corrupt minds.

      But the Kentucky Revival, from the beginning, spoke better things. Those who were the genuine subjects of it, ever expressed the fullest confidence that it would not terminate as revivals had generally done. It was not a common portion of law conviction; nor that faith in the promise, which put heaven at a distance; nor merely preaching about the kingdom that drew out the multitudes to encamp for days and nights in the wilderness, &c. It was a near prospect of the true [6] kingdom of God, into which many were determined to press at the expense of all that they held dear upon earth. The late revival was not sent to RE-FORM the churches. It did not come with a piece of new cloth to patch the old garment, to mend up the old hope with some new experience; but to prepare the way for that kingdom of God, in which all things are new: and whether it be in many or few, the purposes whereunto it was sent, undoubtedly be answered.

      III. That this extraordinary work sprung from some supernatural cause has been universally granted; but whether the cause was good or evil, has been a matter of much debate, even among those who profess to take the scripture for their only guide. Christians so called, of all others have been the most divided in their judgment concerning it; and while some without hesitation have pronounced it a glorious work of God; others who professed to be children of the same father, followers of the same Saviour, and instructed by the same word of God, have with equal confidence pronounced it witchcraft, enthusiasm, fanaticism, and the very energy of delusion. Hence the various predictions concerning it: Some affirming that it would shortly terminate and leave the unhappy subjects of it, in a worse condition than ever; others that it should cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea, and gather the nations into one united body.

      IV. As the continuance of the revival was so strongly predicted and asserted by all its subjects, it will be proper to consider how far and upon what footing, those predictions and assertions are tenable. That it should always continue in the same measure and appearance without any increase, was never intended; therefore if that same power continues to work, though it should be in greater degree and more extraordinary manner, and tho' it should be among a different people, this will not prove the above predictions false, provided it be the same power working to the same end.

      While the extraordinary power of the revival was exterraneous; while irresistible beams of light [7] presented objects to the view which persons could not avoid seeing, and they were rushed into exercises of body by a force of operation which they could not withstand, the continuance of the work in this fashion, was precarious, knowing that God will not always work upon man like a machine. Therefore in order to the continuance of the work, a number of its subjects have found it necessary to receive this extraordinary power as an in-dwelling treasure, to unite with this supernatural agent, to dwell in him and he in them, and become workers together with him, and without force or violence, believe and practise whatever he teaches. And on this pivot the revival turns with each individual. The power or light of God, continues with those who continue in it, his spirit abides only with those who abide in him, and do continually the things that please him; of course such as are willing that Christ and Belial should have day about, light and darkness alternately prevail, must fall off and wither; for no man can serve two masters.

      V. Since the spirit and the power of the revival has been established upon the above principles, and the divine agent has found a habitation with men, less attention has been paid to former appearances. This new and strange doctrine of receiving Christ, and walking in him, has engrossed the general concern: and while the singular manner of worship, strange bodily exercises. &c. of those who stand in it, have furnished matter of speculation to the world around, their distinguishing faith has been a matter of serious enquiry with many; especially those who have begun to open their eyes on the hidden glories of the kingdom of Christ, and are beginning to move Zion-ward. But before the temple of God can be opened in heaven and the ark of his testament seen, it will be proper to recognise the various operations by which the materials of the tabernacle were prepared: According as it is written--"Behold I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple.

[KRSO v-viii]