summer weather urges Christians forth. Not a day should be lost. The harvest is plenteous. O God of the harvest, send forth thy labourers! X. Y. Z.

It is abundantly evident, therefore, that when the Saviour's example has been followed, when his command to "preach the gospel to every creature" has been obeyed, by his servants going out into the lanes and streets, highways and hedges, or teaching from house to house, that the masses have been reached, new congregations have been formed, old ones doubled -sometimes trebled-vast numbers savingly converted to God, and a new face and a new tone given to society at large. Why is it, then, that we have not more out-door preaching, seeing that the Saviour constantly practised it, commanded his servants to copy his example, and has so signally owned it in the conversion of men, whenever and wherever attended to, from the first establishment of Christianity down to the present day? Why? It has been unfashionable; none, scarcely, save revivalists and primitives, for many years, have regularly attended to this matter. Persecution has been experienced. Members of Churches have sometimes set themselves against it. Methodist ministers, who would gladly, many of them, have done this work, have had to preach twice a-day in the chapels in large towns and cities on the Sabbath, and to go three or four miles and back to preach, to a mere handful of people, in the country on a Sabbath afternoon. Some ministers think that they have not been called to this work; others have not thought about it; others are reluctant to engage therein. Well, no matter what have been the reasons why it has been laid aside, it must be resumed. The times demand it; the state of our beloved country requires it; our Churches imperatively need it; the perishing thousands around us call for it; Christ commands it; and the Holy Spirit is now urging it powerfully upon the attention of the ministers and Churches. Already has a beginning been made; it must become general. Our first-rate men must go out and take the lead in this labour of love;

our Churches must allow their ministers more freedom of action on the Sabbath day. Church members must enter heartily into the work, and aid the ministry by their presence, their support, their prayers, instead of throwing cold water on such enterprizes. Tracts must be circulated; and the people must be, if possible, visited from house to house. Members must volunteer to go with their ministers from door to door. Every minister should have at least one laybrother with him in every visit. This is not too much for the ministry to expect. Town missionaries cannot do all that is needed. The whole Church, ministers and members, must put their hands to the work, and be determined to reach the masses by the Word of God and prayer. Then they will be reached; and in defiance of Satan and all his emissaries, the people will be turned "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God."

The gospel has lost none of its power-none of its adaptation to the wants of the masses of our race. As long as men are guilty, polluted, enslaved, miserable, dead in sin and exposed to eternal death, it cannot become an antiquated, useless thing. It has been well said, "The gospel never grows grey; its eye never grows dim; the beauty of its cheek is never bleached; its heart never faints; its arm never weakens; its feet never become weary." It is still the power of God to salvation. It will reach the hearts of the masses if brought to bear powerfully upon their minds, will raise them from their guilt, pollution, slavery, misery and death, and make them "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;" who will "shew forth the praises of Him who hath called" them "out of darkness into his marvellous light." If they will not come to our sanctuaries and hear the gospel, we must carry it to them, or we never can fulfil the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

To reach the people, we must go to them in the spirit of our Master.-Christ went to the people with his

heart full of love. "When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd." His looks were full of love; the people “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth." "Never man spake like this man!" His actions were so full of benevolence to the poor, the guilty, the afflicted, the oppressed with devils, that the masses felt, "Surely he bears our griefs and carries our sorrows." "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." Is it any wonder, then, that multitudes followed him? that it is recorded, "Then drew near all the publicans and sinners for to hear him?" that "the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God?" that one should climb up a sycamore-tree to behold him? that another should pass through the crowd only to touch the hem of his garment? that a third, " a woman in the city, which was a sinner," should bring an alabaster-box of ointment, and stand at his feet weeping, and begin to wash his feet with tears, and wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kiss his feet, and anoint them with ointment?" Let the servants of Christ be filled with compassion for the masses as he was, let them look upon the masses with kindness, let them speak to them in love, let them act benevolently towards them, and they will most effectually reach the masses and do them good. There is reason to fear that we, as the followers of Christ, have acted toward the masses too much in the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees, who said, "The people

who know not the law are cursed. Stand back, for we are holier than ye." If the Church of God thus act towards the people, they will never be reached by the Gospel. The masses must be made to feel that the ministers of Christ, and the members of Churches, do care for them, do feel for them, do sympathize with them in their griefs, and are willing and anxious to bear their burdens and carry their sorrows. The masses have heads to think and hearts to feel; and, depend upon it, if we carry the

Gospel to them in the spirit of our Master, they will take "knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus;" will flock around us as they did around Christ; will follow us to our sanctuaries and listen with attention to the word of God; and, like the publicans and sinners of old, will repent of their sins and enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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Christ was not to be hindered from seeking and saving the lost by the opposition of those in high places. Scribes and Pharisees murmured, saying, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." They said, "He hath a devil and is mad." They called him a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners." They represented him as an enemy of the civil government; they sought to entangle him in his talk; they attempted his life; they sent officers to take him: "And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him." But Jesus cared not for these things. His determination to reach the people, and to do them good, was not in the least shaken by all that he suffered -by all that he was threatened. In the same spirit we must go to the people. Reputation, health, life must be risked to seek and save the masses who are lost. If we go out into the streets and lanes, into the highways and hedges, we shall meet with opposition, and have to endure persecution: but we must mind it not. We must neither flinch nor turn aside. Had Christ and the apostles flinched, the Gospel would never have triumphed in the way it Idid at the commencement of the Gospel era. Had Wesley, Whitfield, and their coadjutors flinched, when they were so bitterly persecuted, religion would not have been revived in this kingdom in the way it was a century ago. Had they flinched,

where would have been our Sabbathschools, our tract-societies, our Bible-societies, our missions to the heathen? In all probability, they would not have come into existence. If we are to reach the masses we must imbibe the spirit and copy the example of Christ and his apostles,

of Wesley, Whitfield, and their coadjutors. We must enter fully into the meaning, and carry out the sentiment, of that noble declaration of Paul's, "And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth, in every city bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God." During this summer the Government of this country has interfered and stopped the out-door preaching in London of two excellent ministers, the Rev. Drs. Cox and Massie. We are sorry these men desisted. We do not think that Christ and his apostles would have done so, or that Wesley and Whitfield would have given heed to any such mandate. They, however, know best why they desisted; and we will not condemn, because we have not the means of judging of all the circumstances of the case. The following short letter on the subject appeared in the British Banner of the 14th of July last. It is highly temperate in its tone, and expresses thoughts on outdoor preaching which we do well to consider.

To the Editor of the British Banner.

SIR,-With sincere respect and Christian regard to our excellent friends, and with all due deference to the laws of our country, I am strongly of opinion that the Rev. Drs. Cox and Massie ought not to have desisted from preaching the gospel in the open air by the request of a Government officer. How would our Master himself have acted under the circumstances? Would he have feared the threats of his enemies, even though he were sure of their being carried into execution? Then why should his followers ? The commands of God on this point are very plain. "Go out into the highways and hedges," and "preach the Gospel to every creature." Obey God rather than man." If, then, man says, "You must not preach, the people must be taught by the clergy of a particular Church," to me the duty of a minister of Christ is very clear. Baxter, Bunyan,

and others were not so easily silenced. They boldly and fearlessly stood their ground, knowing that in the sight of the Most High they were right; and that greater was he that was for them than all that could possibly be against them. Therefore they preached; and though for so doing they were thrust into prisou, they ultimately triumphed, and, by their persecution, the cause of the Redeemer was forwarded. In the present day, ministers and Christians generally are too much afraid of being persecuted. There appears to me to be too much of a with-the-stream spirit manifested by religious people. They are willing to go through good, but not through evil report. They hoist their flag in the presence of friends; but at the sight of an enemy they hide it. Surely this is lowing him who went about doing good, not taking up the cross daily, and folyet everywhere met with enemies that molested him. If it is believed that at least nine-tenths of our fellow-sinners around us are living in sin, and every minute in danger of eternal punishment, while at the same time there is an allsufficient Saviour at hand who has suffered and died for them-for His sake open-air preaching and teaching must be carried on to a much larger extentour ministers, accompanied by their friends, must go out in greater numbers, and faithfully exhort the unconverted to turn from their downward course to the God of mercy, love, and peace, through Jesus the only mediator. Then, dear sir, and not till then, it is my humble opinion, will our Churches flourish and enjoy the peace of God to such an extent as they have not hitherto experienced.

To reach the people they must be addressed in the manner that Christ used to address them. The meekness of wisdom pre-eminently appeared in the Great Teacher. Though he uttered the most sublime truths, he uttered them in that manner that all could understand and feel what he said. Hence "the common people heard him gladly." Simple words, figures taken from surrounding objects which were familiar to all, and apt illustrations, secured for him attention

the most profound. The people were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Wesley and Whitfield, who gathered immense crowds in the open air to hear

them, were remarkable for simplicity of style; and all who would gain the attention of the masses must be natural, simple, and earnest in their addresses. We cannot dwell more on this point, as our space is filled; but we throw out the thought for the consideration of those who wish to be useful in carrying the Gospel to those who are not accustomed to attend places of worship.

In conclusion, we state that it is our solemn conviction that no new thing is wanted to enable us to reach the masses of the people and increase our congregations. The way is pointed out in the Scriptures; and if we go to the people with the Gospel, as Christ did, manifest the spirit that he exhibited, and talk to them in the same simple, earnest, dignified manner, the end we so ardently de

THE GREAT WANT OF OUR

FROM the hearts of thousands of our members and friends it may be assumed that, in connexion with the special services held on the 29th of August, the prayer has gone forth, "Send now prosperity!" With such a prayer, who that is spiritual has not the most cordial sympathy, and the most delightful associations? It expresses what many have long desired to witness, and ardently hoped to behold. Up to this date, however, some of our most devoted friends have not realized the prosperity for which they have prayed, and longed, and, to some extent, laboured. It is not necessary to specify Circuits in illustration of this remark. Such a course might be deemed invidious, and would, perhaps, awaken emotions the opposite of those which are essential to secure prosperity. We pen it with the utmost tenderness of spirit, but with deep, deep grief, that some of our Circuits have long presented in their statistics either a stationary or a retrograde aspect. What solicitude and anguish have many felt on this account? Blessed be God! in some towns we sustain a commanding position. We are not second in numerical strength or moral power to

sire will be gained. We have often preached out of doors with great pleasure; and nothing but severe and protracted affliction prevents us from doing so now. If we are not permitted to engage in this work of faith and labour of love, the Lord's will be done. Should health be restored, we shall gladly take our place in the open air, and call sinners to repentance. We urge all to do this who can. It must be done speedily. Time is flying. Eternity is hastening. Souls are perishing by thousands. "Awake! awake! Put on thy strength, O Zion," and "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city." Yea, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

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CIRCUITS IN LARGE TOWNS.

any other denomination. How is it that all our Circuits do not present this aspect? Especially, we ask, How is it that in our large towns (with some exceptions) our societies and congregations, instead of waxing stronger and stronger, are really waning, or, if not, discover little of that vigour and enterprize which always mark a living aggressive Church? Repeatedly have some of our most gifted ministers proposed the question, How is it that in our large towns we do not succeed? Looking at the number of years that we have had a name in certain towns, and then glancing at our present position, we anxiously urge the inquiry, How are we to account for our want of prosperity? In penning a few lines in reply to the query just proposed, it is not our intention to go into the matter with the same precision and detail that we should were we discussing the question in a leaders' meeting, but will confine ourselves to one retarding, damaging cause. We wish, further, to state that we have no bitterness of spirit at this moment, nor the most distant disposition to croak. We write, if not on our knees, at least in a prayerful spirit, and actuated by feelings of in

tense solicitude for the prosperity of the Connexion at large.

First, we ask, Is there anything in our polity which militates against our progress? Time was, when in our Church polity we were in advance of the times. This was the case, we think, with the first twenty years of our existence. Liberal principles were then at a discount. True, religious liberty was then prized and advocated, but only by a few. Hence our opponents succeeded in sinking us in public estimation, by attaching the epithets of Jacobins and Republicans to our fathers and founders! Thank God, those days have passed away! For almost thirty years the times have been with us. The principles of liberty have spread, and the right of the people to a voice in making the laws by which they are to be governed has been all but universally awarded. There cannot be anything in our polity which retards our progress. Do not our principles of Church government harmonize with the letter and spirit of the British

Constitution-accord, too, with the spirit of the age in which we live and with the general regulations of the Churches in apostolic times? All denominations of orthodox and practical Christians (except the Wesleyan body) are free in expressing their approval of our system of Church government. And even some of our bishops and peers of the realm have, within the last year or two, spoken in unmistakeable terms in the House of Lords, of the right of the laity to take a part in the management and government of the Church. Surely a form of government which, when rightly enforced and duly observed, secures the rights and liberties of all identified with us, cannot be justly viewed as having damaged our progress. Still the marvel with many is, that we do not, with a system of Church polity at once rational and scriptural, rapidly advance.

The question again occurs, How is it that we do not in our large towns progress? The absence of the aggressive spirit amongst our people in our large towns has contributed to retard our progress, nay, to palsy our

Churches in those towns. Religion is life. Christianity is a religion of aggression on the kingdom of Satan. But what manifestations of aggression have we seen in the history of some of our Circuits in our populous towns? To what extent have the Societies in such towns brought their power to operate on the population in immediate connexion with their chapels? No observation has been more repeatedly made by ministers and members of other bodies than this, that we have not, as a denomination, and especially in large towns, carried out the aggressive principle. The late Rev. R. Watson once said to the writer of these lines, "With the staff of men that you have in —, men of talent and piety, you ought to prosper, and certainly would but for the want of energy and enterprise amongst them." A popular and highly-esteemed minister of the Independent body once made to the writer a similar remark. "I know your people, and the estimation in which they are held, and have often thought that, were they to bring a tithe of the energy which they manifest in their secular affairs to bear on the Church, and if they were as anxious to vacate their small, ineligible, and uninviting chapels, for larger, more eligible and inviting ones, as they are to leave their shops and houses for more spacious and commodious ones, they would do much more good, and thus rank with the living and advancing Churches of the town."

In some of our towns we appear to be spiritless-lifeless. In Church and Connexional matters we walk by sight, and not by faith. Nay, in some instances we seem neither to see nor believe, though striking providential openings present themselves, and call loudly for action. We reiterate the words, there is a want amongst us of the aggressive spirit of our holy religion." More evils result from the want of this aggressive spirit than we have time to detail and illustrate. Our Churches sin in not caring for the masses that surround them, and they suffer for not caring for them. As they sow, so they reap. Their prosperity is in a great degree in their own hands. They may be