Oneida Association & Presbytery; Dwight, Timothy; Backus, Abel; Beecher, Lyman; Davis, Cornelius. The Utica Christian Magazine. Vol. I. No. 1 - 12; Sermons by Timothy Dwight and others;16 items bound together. Utica, NY: Printed by Merrell & Camp for Cornelius Davis., 1812-1815. First Edition. [3768]
Plain brown leather spine & corners, marbled boards, worn and scuffed, joints good, tight. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, lacks the free end papers, no general title page but a collection of issues & pamphlets privately bound. Original blue printed wrappers for The Utica Christian Magazine bound in at the back. Several former owner's signatures, old light stains, tp to the tract by Backus removed (see below). Contents described below. A total of 648 pp. Good.
1. The Utica Christian Magazine, designed to prompt the spirit of research, and diffuse religious information: published under the inspection of a committee of Congregational and Presbyterian clergymen. Vol. I. 12 nos. July, 1813 - June, 1814. 476 pp. Also, the title pages and some contents pages of 8 issues from 1814 and 1815, these final 34 pp. printed on blue paper and bound in at the end of the volume.
This periodical was in print from 1813 to 1816.
Contents with Revival interest include:
- Revival of Religion in Durham, Green County, N. Y., Letter from Rev. Seth Williston.
- A Narrative of the state of Religion within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and of the General Association of Connecticut, of New-Hampshire, of Massachusetts, and of the General Convention of Vermont, during the last year.
- Revival of Religion in Monson, Mass.
- Revival of Religion in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
- Revival of Religion in Pawlet, Vermont
- Extract from the fifteenth Annual Account of the Missionary labors directed by the Trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, performed chiefly in the year 1813 [Missions, revivals, in western NY state]
- Revival of Religion in Springfield, New-Jersey
Additional Contents include:
- Moral causes of National Judgments [War of 1812]
- Account of William Cowper, Esq.
- Character of Dr. Samuel Hopkins
- On the Sovereignty of God
- Conference between a Calvinist and a Methodist on the possibility of falling from Grace
- On the ruinous effects of ardent spirits
- An historical view of the first planters of New-England
- Review of Dr. Dwight's Sermons
- The Necessity of the Atonement
- Mr. Backus' Masonic Sermon
- On casting lots
- Indifference to Religion in the Administration of a Government a great National Sin
- Memoirs of Miss Hannah Brewster
- On Superstitious Observances
- The Immutability of the Divine Purposes consistent with the Conditional Declarations of God
- A Narrative of Missions, directed the the Trustees of the Genesee Missionary Society, in the state of New-York
- On the Connexion between Conviction and Regeneration
- The Decrees of God display His Glory
2. The Dignity and Excellence of The Gospel, illustrated in a Discourse, delivered April 8, 1812, at the Ordination of The Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, as pastor of the First Church and Congregation in New-Haven. By Timothy Dwight, D. D., L. L. D., President of Yale College. To which are added, The Charge and Right Hand of Fellowship to the Minister, and the Charge to the People. New-York: J. Seymour for Cornelius Davis. 1812. 48 pp.
3. A Discourse in two parts, delivered August 20, 1812, On the National Fast, in the Chapel of Yale College, by Timothy Dwight, D. D., L. L. D., President of that Seminary. Published at the request of the Students. Utica: Re-printed by Ira Merrell, 1813. 48 pp.
[War of 1812] Utica Imprints, no. 117. Roberts, Revival Literature no. 1627. "This is an excellent example of those fast day sermons which were so common in the churches of America in its early days. Evangelical leaders of that period took the Bible more seriously than today. They really believed that when God had a controversy with His people he withdrew certain manifestations of his gracious presence from His people, allowing their enemies to rise and smite them. Days of Solemn Assembly were called for fasting, prayer and corporate repentance of corporate sins. Time after time, God graciously responded."
A discourse on prophecy, in which Dr. Dwight finds his times to be in the "concluding operations of the sixth [vial], or the commencing operations of the seventh." He relates the prophecies of the Revelation and of Daniel to "the Romish empire, its wickedness, and its influence over mankind; and a more minute description of its ruin," applying all to the Roman Catholic church. "Every Roman Catholic country, except Brazil, and some small Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Africa and Asia, has drunk deep of the cup of divine vengeance. Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Catholic Switzerland, Belgium, Catholic Germany, Poland, and the dominions of Austria, have been drenched in blood. The Spanish dominions in America are now reeking with slaughter. A considerable part of the inhabitants of Caraccas, or Venezuela, have been destroyed by an earthquake: and Ireland has also tasted the bitter draught. This is the very language of the predictions contained in the account of the vials. They are all poured out upon the Beast, and his Empire...The next subject of our investigation is the Millennium..."
4. [An Inaugural Discourse, delivered in the village of Clinton, December 3, 1812, by the Rev. A. Backus ... on the day of his induction into the office of President of Hamilton College. Utica: Ira Merrill, 1812] 20 pp. lacks title page. Utica Imprints 100. Sabin 2622.
[War of 1812] A sermon on Philippians 4:13, " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," encouraging the students to rely on God, to preserve the faith and religion of the first settlers of New England, to revere the founding fathers and American liberty - "I have adopted all the maxims of Washington as my own." - and to strive manfully toward Christian maturity.
5. A Reformation of Morals Practicable and Indispensable. A Sermon, delivered at New-Haven, on the evening of October, 27, 1812, by Lyman Beecher, A. M., Pastor of the First Church in Litchfield. Second Edition. Utica: Printed by Merrel and Camp. 1813. 32 pp. Includes A Constitution; "The following is the substance of the Constitution of the Moral Society in East-Hampton."
Utica Imprints, no. 113. Roberts, Revival Literature no. 420a. "A fervent call to a reformation revival based on Ezekiel 33:10."