After the last of these came a far more degenerate time, (at least among the young People) I suppose, than ever before. Mr. Stoddard, indeed, had the Comfort before he died, of seeing a time where there were no small Appearances of a divine Work amongst some, and a considerable Ingathering of Souls, even after I was settled with him in the Ministry, which was about two Years before his Death; and I have reason to bless ⟨p. 4⟩God for the great Advantage I had by it. In these two Years there were near twenty that Mr. Stoddard hoped to be savingly converted; but there was nothing of any General Awakening. The greater Part seemed to be at that time very insensible of the things of Religion, and engaged in other Cares and Pursuits. Just after my Grandfather's Death, it seemed to be a time of extraordinary Dullness in Religion: Licentiousness for some Years greatly prevailed among the Youth of the Town; they were many of them very much addicted to Night-walking, and frequenting the Tavern, and lend Practices, wherein some, by their Example exceedingly corrupted others. It was their Manner very frequently to get together, in Conventions of both Sexes, for Mirth and Jollity, which they called Frolics; and they would often spend the greater part of the Night in them, without regard to any Order in the Families they belonged •o: and indeed Family-Government did too much fail in •he Town. It was become very customary with many of our young People, to be Indecent in their Carriage at Meeting, which doubtless, would not have prevailed to such a degree, had it not been that my Grandfather, through his great Age, (tho' he retained his Powers surprisingly to the last) was not so able to Observe them. There had also long prevailed in the Town, a Spirit of Contention between two Parties, into which they had for many Years been divided, by which, was maintained a Jealousy one of the other, and they were prepared to oppose one another in all public Affairs.
After the last of these came a far more degenerate time, (at least among the young People) I suppose, than ever before. Mr. Stoddard, indeed, had the Comfort before he died, of seeing a time where there were no small Appearences of a divine Work amongst some, and a considerable Ingathering of Souls, even after I was settled with him in the Ministry, which was about two Years before his Death; and I have reason to bless ⟨p. 4⟩God for the great Advantage I had by it. In these two Years there were near twenty that Mr. Stoddard hoped to be savingly converted; but there was nothing of any General Awakening. The greater Part seemed to be at that time very insensible of the things of Religion, and engaged in other Cares and Pursuits. Just after my Grandfather's Death, it seemed to be a time of extraordinary Dulness in Religion: Licentiousness for some Years greatly prevailed among the Youth of the Town; they were many of them very much addicted to Night-walking, and frequenting the Tavern, and lend Practices, wherein some, by their Example exceedingly corrupted others. It was their Manner very frequently to get together, in Conventions of both Sexes, for Mirth and Jollity, which they called Frolicks; and they would often spend the greater part of the Night in them, without regard to any Order in the Families they belonged •o: and indeed Family-Government did too much fail in •he Town. It was become very customary with many of our young People, to be Indecent in their Carriage at Meeting, which doubtless, would not have prevailed to such a degree, had it not been that my Grandfather, through his great Age, (tho' he retained his Powers surprizingly to the last) was not so able to Observe them. There had also long prevailed in the Town, a Spirit of Contention between two Parties, into which they had for many Years been divided, by which, was maintain'd a Jealousy one of the other, and they were prepared to oppose one another in all publick Affairs.
