suspect the genuineness of a revival, for the apostle says, "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. For God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,-that no flesh should glory in his presence." With the present popular system of revival measures in many places, if there is any ground to wonder, it is that there are not ten led to indulge a hope where there is one. With that view of God presented by Dr. C. we might naturally conclude, in the emphatic language of Dr. Taylor, "What child of wrath will not trust in such a God to save him." But the church has never prospered by taking the world into its bosom. One sinner destroyeth much good, and one aspiring hypocrite in the church, may do more injury than ten open enemies. And one spurious or mainly spurious revival in a place, in its permanent influence upon the church and cause of true religion, may lay a foundation for christians to say as king Phyrrus did after beating the Roman army, "One more such victory and I shall be undone."

But it is said the day is past to expect success in revivals by declaring all the counsel of God. That although revivals were formerly promoted by dwelling upon the distinguishing doctrines of grace, and in greater purity than late revivals, yet such has been the change in the views and feelings and taste of the age, that different measures must be adopted, or there is no reason to expect a revival. It is true it is much more difficult to promote revivals by honestly declaring all the counsel of God than it formerly was. Α strong combination among all religious denominations has been forming for several years against the faithful preaching and publication of the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism, particularly the universal decrees and agency of God, and the duty of unconditional submission to the absolute sovereignty of God in forming the vessels of mercy and of wrath. A current is setting deep and broad against genuine orthodoxy, which appears to be destined to sweep all those who are not fortified within its invulnerable bulwarks, into the broad ocean of general catholicism and moral ruin. Sinners all over the country have learned that they can become religious on much less self-denying and mortifying terms than were formerly insisted upon, and be sustained too in their pleasing delusions by the great mass of professors of religion even in the nominally orthodox churches. And therefore they utterly refuse to submit to the soul humbling terms of the gospel formerly insisted upon. Their hands are made stronger against these conditions of salvation than Samson's seven green withs, and that by the influence of professors of religion. But what if earth and hell are generally combined against the truth of God? Is there any reason to believe that God will relax his holiness, give up his sovereignty and lower the conditions of his salvation to the views of sinners, because the church generally take their side in their controversy against their Maker? And if he will not, what right have we to alter the conditions of salvation, or countenance a system that does it? Would sinners be willing to stay in

heaven, if they were taken there in their enmity against God's ultimate design, purposes, agency and sovereignty? And if not, why should we cease to contend for unconditional submission to the absolute sovereignty of God, as the lowest condition of salvation, in order to induce sinners to become religious. Now is about the time when God is trying the heads, and hearts, and patience, and fortitude, and firmness of his real friends all over the land. And he is putting this plain question to them, "Will you justify my designs, my word and my providence, against the enmity, deceit and reproaches of the church and world, or take the side of my foes." This question he intends they shall not be able to evade. "It is the fixed purpose of God to try all the churches and all their members, until they fully and plainly show themselves. Those that are faithful, he intends to try, until they manifest their faithfulness. And those that are unfaithful, he intends to try, until they manifest their unfaithfulness. He will continue, increase and change their trials, until faithful and unfaithful professors of religion appear as different and as opposite, as Samuel the faithful prophet, and Saul, the false king of Israel." When nominally orthodox churches become so corrupt as to prevent strict gospel discipline, oppose the faithful declaration of "all the counsel of God, and effectually strengthen the hands of sinners against the great truths and pure motives of the gospel of Christ, it is high time for those persons who know and believe and love those truths and motives, to study and obey the divine command, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins."

It is said that to offer selfish inducements, and present the motives of the gospel in the light of interest to totally depraved and stupid sinners, is much better adapted to induce them to attend to the great work of seeking salvation, than any motives which are repulsive to their hearts. This is freely admitted. But who does not know that their selfish desires after salvation is one of the greatest obstacles to their becoming holy? To encourage sinners therefore in such desires, in order to make them holy, is not only superlatively dangerous, but perfectly absurd. It is the very thing that must be discouraged and given up, before they can ever be saved. This course is directly counteracting the work of the Spirit in the business of their salvation. Sinners should be shown their guilt and danger, and induced to turn from all selfishness, to glorify God and save their sols. But to present selfish inducements and motives to induce than to turn from all selfishness, is like throwing on oil to extinguish fire. To urge sinners suitably to regard their immortal interests, and save their souls, because the salvation of the soul is important, is not presenting a selfish, but a benevolent inducement. We ought to love ourselves as our neighbor. But to encourage them to seek their salvation as a primary object, is encouraging them to destroy and not to save their souls.

But it is said that although revivals will be more spurious where the whole counsel of God is not proclaimed and enforced, yet rather

than have none, one that is mainly spurious is desirable. Is it not better to have some converted than none? In reply to this very plausible and successful objection, it may be said, that even gold may be bought too dear. A mainly spurious revival, where it secures the salvation of ten, may bring so much reproach and contempt upon religion, and delude so many with a false hope, as to secure the destruction of five or ten times that number in the end, who might otherwise have been saved. Spurious revivals with their attendants, spiritual pride, Phariseeism, enthusiasm and fanaticism, have done more to destroy the souls of men, and bring religion and the church into contempt in view of the world at large, than can easily be conceived.

But it is upon the character and condition of the church itself, that spurious or mainly spurious revivals exert their most destructive influence. Let one hundred converts be taken into a church of Christ, a majority of whom are the secret enemies of Christ, and what will be the consequence. The preaching, and discipline and management of the church must be lowered down, if it had not been before, to their views and feelings, or a "civil war in Zion" ensues. Either the peace or faithfulness of the church must be sacrificed. And then the discriminating friends of Christ begin to learn when too late, that even one Achan in the camp of Israel can destroy much good. This fatal step of taking in false converts, is the rock upon which the church of Christ has generally split. This is likely to be the ruin of the churches in this land. The world is coming into the church, assuming its government and discipline, and turning the doctrines and spirit of the gospel out of it. A LAYMAN. [To be continued.]

METHODISM.

EXTRACT FROM A REVIEW IN THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR.

That the system of Methodism has extensively exerted a reforming influence upon mankind, and that many individuals have been converted to God, by means of the truth which it embraces, we have no wish to deny. But, that the experience of a multitude who from time to time swell their lists of converts, is a mere transient excitement of natural feelings, the means employed for their conversion would lead us to fear; and their subsequent lives too painfully prove. The confidence with which they are inspired in their own sufficiency, at the outset of their religious inquiries; the application which is made to them, under their impenitent anxieties, of the promises of the gospel to the contrite; the rapturous congratulations which are poured out around them, at the first intimation of their transition from alarming apprehensions; and the mingled shoutings, ejaculations, thanksgivings, and strong appeals to the imagination,

In an ac

A number

which attend the scene, are but ill suited to the deep, subdued, enlightened, and heart-felt emotions of a soul, in passing from dark-ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. The excitement, accordingly, is in most instances as transient, as it is wild and tumultuous. We could name the places, within the circle of our personal observation, and those not two or three only, where conversions of this kind, a few years since, were frequent and many, of which scarcely any of them, Methodists themselves being judges, have resulted in "fruits meet for repentance." Nor is this peculiar to the Methodism of this country, or of the present day. It was the case under the conduct of its distinguished founder. -count of a revival in a school at Kingswood, he says, "The children were shown a corpse and exhorted to repentance. of them immediately covenanted, that they would not sleep until they had found peace. They prayed all night and the next day, and for several successive days, until all felt their justification. In the evening, all the maids, and many of the boys, not having been used to so long and violent speaking, (for this had lasted from Tuesday till Saturday,) were worn out as to bodily strength, and so hoarse, that they were scarce able to speak; but they were strong in spirit, and full of joy and peace in believing." Twelve months afterwards, he wrote in his journal as follows. "I spent an hour with our children at Kingswood. It is strange! How long shall we be constrained to weave Penelope's web! What has become of the wonderful work of grace which God wrought in them last September! It is gone! It is lost! It is vanished away! There is scarce any trace of it remaining." Still, in scenes like these, there are such resemblances of effects wrought by divine influence, that no inconsiderable part of the members of our churches eagerly resort to them, persuade their families to accompany them; and even charge with indifference to the work of God, their more cautious brethren who stand aloof. This we regard as one proof among others of a lamentable want of discrimination in our churches, concerning the nature of christian experience. Were Edwards on the Affections read now, as it was a few years since, many of our estimable members, who are now unconsciously giving their countenance to a spirit of fanaticism around us, would not only desist, but would give to revivals among ourselves, a better direction and a happier character.

From the Christian Mirror.

SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS.

Ye servants of Jesus come out from the world,
His beautiful banner is flying unfurl'd;
He's calling his soldiers to fight in his cause,
To save from destruction, his glory and laws. -

Awake from your slumbers, for battle prépare;
Gird on the whole armour; rush fearless to war:
Before you is marching your Saviour and friend,
Your Captain in battle, who'll always defend.

Your foes who are mighty are seeking your fall;
They watch their advantage, your feet to inthrall:
But obey Christ's instructions, they ne'er will succeed;
Yours is the victory, for 'tis so decreed.

Now since this contention on earth is begun,
Ne'er lay down your armour till victory is won,

Nor doubt you shall conquer, through rich soveriegn grace:
Then Jesus in glory, will give you a place.

VIRTELLUS.

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